Role of diatoms as indicators of pollution gradients

The impact of liquid wastes from a paper mill on the benthic diatoms in flowing waters has been studied for a period of two years. Water and algal samples were analysed at monthly intervals at three sites along the course of the river, along with raw effluents. The water before the confluence of effluents was well oxygenated with an alkaline pH. Organic matter, NH₃ and nutrients were recorded at low concentrations. At the entry of effluents, the water showed considerable decline in dissolved oxygen content, increase in organic matter, hardness, Cl, HCO₃ and total dissolved solids. Diatoms constituted 61% by numerical abundance and were reduced to 25% of total algae at the entry of effluents. Multiple regression analysis was employed to discover the relative importance of various physicochemical variables on the abundance and distribution of diatoms at various sampling stations. Mathematical equations were derived involving the physicochemical variables for better prediction of algal number.