Distribution and Aspects of the Ecology of the Genus Tabellaria Ehr. (Bacillariophyceae) in the Northcentral United States

Abstract

The ecology and distribution of 4 taxa of the diatom genus Tabellaria (Bacillariophyceae), recognized by Loppen in the northcentral USA were investigated. All 4 were abundant in the portion of the study area mantled with noncalcareous to weakly calcareous surficial deposits. The distribution of the genus correlated with the dominant presettlement vegetation pattern in the study area. T. fenestrata and T. flocculosa strain 4 were, for the most part, restricted to waters located in noncalcareous to weakly calcareous surficial deposits. These waters tend to be very soft to soft and oligodystrophic. The distribution of T. flocculosa var. linearis extends from the noncalcareous to calcareous drift areas, occurring in some lakes which are classified as moderately hard-water to hard-water and mesotrophic to eutrophic. T. flocculosa strain 3 was encountered in all types of waters described above, and was also found in many more lakes located in areas with calcareous deposits and considered as very hard-water and eutrophic.