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Abstract

Karst springs are considered among the most vulnerable groundwater-dependent ecosystems. Despite their ecological value and importance as strategic water sources, Mediterranean karst springs are still poorly investigated. The aim of this study was to analyse the epilithic diatom assemblages and to test their usefulness as indicators of environmental quality on the Su Gologone spring (central-eastern Sardinia, Italy), a biotope of great natural value and a precious source of drinking water. A total of 89 diatom taxa were found with 25 new records for Sardinian running waters. Species richness, Shannon-Wiener and Pielou indices showed good biotic integrity. The dominant taxa were alkaliphilous, halophobous-oligohalobous exigent, xeno-oligosaprobic and characteristic of oligotrophic waters. The eutrophication/pollution index ? diatom based (EPI-D) and the Navicula Nitzschia Surirella indices indicated respectively an excellent/good biological water quality and a low physical disturbance. However, the biological and chemical oxygen demand, and the microbiological variables (E. coli, fecal and total coliforms) revealed an organic contamination of the water, although moderate. The judgment provided by the EPI-D should be verified after updating of the index. In fact, 10 taxa found in this study are not currently considered by the EPI-D method.

Keywords

Bacillariophyta biological quality diatom indices groundwater-dependent ecosystems karst springs Mediterranean region physical disturbance Sardinia

Article Details

Author Biographies

Giuseppina Grazia Lai, "University of Sassari"

"Dipartimento di Architettura, Design e Urbanistica"

Bachisio Mario Padedda, Università di Sassari

Dipartimento di Architettura, Design e Urbanistica

Carlos Eduardo Wetzel, Public Research Centre-Gabriel Lippmann

Department of Environment and Agro-biotechnologies (EVA)

Antonella Lugliè, Università di Sassari

Dipartimento di Architettura, Design e Urbanistica

Nicola Sechi, Università di Sassari

Dipartimento di Architettura, Design e Urbanistica

Luc Ector, Public Research Centre-Gabriel Lippmann

Department of Environment and Agro-biotechnologies (EVA)
How to Cite
Lai, G. G., Padedda, B. M., Wetzel, C. E., Lugliè, A., Sechi, N., & Ector, L. (2016). Epilithic diatom assemblages and environmental quality of the Su Gologone karst spring (centraleastern Sardinia, Italy). Acta Botanica Croatica, 75(1). Retrieved from https://www.abc.botanic.hr/index.php/abc/article/view/1318

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