Benthic diatoms play a crucial role as highly diverse primary producers in stream ecosystems, serving as the foundation for food webs that support various animal life, including insects and fish like trout.
Benthic diatoms are the most important and biodiverse primary producers in streams and form the basis for food webs, supporting creatures such as insects and stream fish like trout.
“Diverse diatom communities are known for their exceptional efficiency in oxygen production,” states Professor Janne Soininen from the University of Helsinki.
“Islands have long been regarded as natural laboratories due to their distinct environments for living organisms, significantly contributing to global biodiversity as they are often considered hotspots for diversity,” explains Ramiro MartÃn-Devasa, a postdoctoral researcher in the Aquatic Community Ecology group at the University of Helsinki and the lead author of a recent study on island diatom biodiversity, published in the journal Global Ecology and Biogeography.
The study found that islands that are farther away from mainland areas tend to have lower diatom biodiversity compared to those situated closer to continents. This reduction in biodiversity may lead to decreased oxygen production by diatoms.
Islands have served as intriguing subjects for exploring plant and animal diversity since the advent of biodiversity research. Their separation from other landmasses limits species with limited dispersal capabilities from colonizing these areas. However, this isolation also fosters evolutionary processes, resulting in many unique endemic species found on islands.
The research emphasizes that diatom biodiversity on islands is influenced by factors such as dispersal mechanisms, evolutionary dynamics, and specific environmental conditions. Additionally, it varies based on the island’s geographical location, its age, and its distance from continental landmasses. These elements are likely to be significant for the oxygen production capacity of diatoms in freshwater habitats.
