Diatom diversity, distribution and ecology in Mediterranean ecosystems of Abrau Peninsula, north-western Caucasus

Abstract

The North Caucasus is an extensive region with a multitude of landscapes and high biological diversity. Amongst various ecosystems, the xerophytic sub-Mediterranean forests of the Abrau Peninsula (Utrish State Nature Reserve) and its vicinity are unique but have been poorly studied. The diversity of diatoms in North Caucasian ecosystems have been studied partially and only little information is available about their presence and distribution on the Abrau Peninsula. Here, we present a comprehensive check-list of diatoms sampled during a July 2021 field campaign. Samples were collected in 67 sites, including 39 permanent streams, 21 temporal (puddles) and seven permanent waterbodies. Results of the current study contribute to improving the knowledge about diatoms in the north-western Caucasus and its sub-Mediterranean ecosystems in particular. Here, we provide a detailed dataset that contains 215 freshwater and brackish diatom occurrences collected during a field campaign in July 2021. A total of 88 diatom (Bacillariophyta) taxa which belong to 12 orders, 25 families and 39 genera were collected. The genera with the highest number of occurrences per site were Gomphonema (26), Nitzschia (22), Navicula (20), Cocconeis (14), Amphora (14), Achnanthidium (14) and Planothidium (11). The genera with the highest number of infrageneric taxa were Nitzschia (8), Navicula (7), Gomphonema (6) and Mastogloia (5). Navicula blazencicae, known as the endemic of the Lake Prespa (Levkov 2007) is found from two sites in our study. Three specimens of the genus Mastogloia could not be assigned to a known species and may represent new diatom species. Distribution and ecology data are provided for each taxa. Occurrence data are given. Statistical analysis of diatom communities showed a significant dependence on habitat type and their ecological conditions.