Habitat preferences in freshwater diatom communities from sub-Antarctic Iles Kerguelen

A limited sampling campaign on the main island of Iles Kerguelen revealed 1 70 freshwater diatom tare, belonging to 29 genera. Four different communiti es were distinguished in two major groups, being determined principally by habitat type. The Fragilaria vaucheriae-Fragilaria germainii assemblage occ urs exclusively in running waters. The three other communities, observed in standing waterbodies, are separated by their geographical position on the island with the Fragilaria exigua-Aulacoseira alpigena and the Fragilaria e xigua-Fragilaria vaucheriae assemblages, mainly found in the Lac Studer are a and the Fragilaria pinnata var. pinnata assemblage. recorded near the coa stal Line and the research station. Analysis of different waterbody types r evealed the habitat preference of the various diatom taxa and identified a diatom flora for running waters and one preferring stagnant waterbodies.