The use of genus-level determinations and biovolume classes as surrogates to indicate environmental drivers of stream diatom communities in the Brazilian Pampa.

The demand for low-cost and time-efficient biomonitoring and ecological assessment strategies has increased due to threats to biodiversity. We evaluated the ability of surrogates (genera and biovolume classes) to access information provided by diatom species. Moreover, we investigated whether the relative importance of spatial and environment on diatom communities identified at the genus or classified at biovolume classes reflects the ecological responses at the species.

Diatoms as indicators in running waters: trends of studies on biological assessment and monitoring.

Despite the biodiversity and ecosystem services provided by lotic ecosystems, they are strongly affected by anthropogenic activities. Therefore, biological monitoring and assessment strategies are crucial in helping maintain these ecosystems and developing mitigation policies. We provide a global overview of the use of benthic diatoms as bioindicators in lotic environments, by analyzing 764 articles published in the past 20 years.