Distribution of non-marine diatoms in surface sediments of streams in Socotra Island, Yemen

Abstract

Abundance and species composition of non-marine benthic diatom assemblages were studied from surface sediments samples of 11 streams distributed in Socotra Island, located in the northwest Indian Ocean. A total of 145 diatom species, representing 44 genera, were identified. The overall diatom communities appear to be the first recorded off the island. Pennales and non-planktonic taxa were most dominant over centrales and planktonic forms, both in diversity of genera and species. The majority of recognized diatoms are of cosmopolitan distribution. The predominant diatom flora in the surface sediment samples follow: Synedra ulna, Synedra longissima, Encyonema caespitosum, Encyonema silesiacum, Encyonemopsis microcephala, Mastogloia braunii, Mastogloia dansei, Mastogloia elliptica, Navicula cryptocephala, Navicula cryptotenella, Navicula rhynchocephala, Navicula cincta, Nitzschia amphibian, Nitzschia frustulum, Nitzschia perminuta, Cocconeis placentula, Pleurosira laevis and Staurosirella pinnata. These are found in addition to the common occurrence of Amphora coffeaeformis, Amphora Montana, Anomoeoneis sphaerophora, Cyclotella meneghiniana, Cymbella affinis, Diploneis elliptica, Encyonema mesianum, Diploneis smithii, Gomphonema gracile, Gomphonema parvulum, Kobayasia subtilissima, Mastogloia smithii, Navicula minuscule, Navicula notha, Navicula tenelloides, Nitzschia obtuse, Nitzschia palea, Nitzschia scalaris, Synedra nana, Tryblionella acuminate, Tryblionella granulate and Tryblionella punctata. Multivariate statistical techniques including detrended correspondence and cluster analyses were used to summarize changes in the diatom assemblages present in the examined streams. The results indicated six major diatom assemblages with a variation in dominant species. Each assemblage reflects distinctive environmental conditions based on salinity preference of the recognized and dominant.