Abstract
The diatom concentration of a uniform lake sediment sample was estimated in 15 laboratories. Whilst 21 of 35 estimates were between 13 and 19 × 107 valves g-1, values ranged from 8.2 × 106 to 2.0 × 109 valves g-1. However, counts from replicate sediment digestions, replicate slide preparations from a single digested slurry, and multiple counts from an individual slide all yielded internally consistent results, with acceptably low coefficients of variation (±4.5–6.3%). Without greater efforts towards harmonization, for example by calibrating techniques to a standard of known concentration, reported diatom concentration values, as well as derived data such as diatom accumulation rates, are not directly comparable between most laboratories. This sharply contrasts the strong reproducibility of diatom relative frequency data. A calibration exercise, using the Eucalyptus pollen spike technique to estimate a known concentration of Lycopodium spores, demonstrates that this method performs best when approximately equal proportions of microfossils and introduced markers are counted.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anderson, N. J., 1990.Variability of diatom concentrations and accumulation rates in sediments of a small basin. Limnol. Oceanogr. 35: 497–508.
Battarbee, R. W., 1973. A new method for estimating absolute microfossil numbers with special reference to diatoms. Limnol. Oceanogr. 18: 647–653.
Battarbee, R. W., 1986. Diatom analysis. In: B. E. Berglund (ed.), Handbook of Holocene Palaeoecology and Palaeohydrology. Wiley Interscience, Chichester, 527–570.
Battarbee, R. W. & M. J. Kneen, 1982. The use of electronically counted microspheres in absolute diatom analysis. Limnol. Oceanogr. 27: 184–188.
Benninghoff, W. S., 1962. Calculation of pollen and spore density in sediments by addition of exotic pollen in known quantities. Pollen et Spores IV: 332–333.
Bodén, P., 1991. Reproducibility in the random settling method for quantitative diatom analysis. Micropaleontology 37: 313–319.
Charles, D. F., S. S. Dixit, B. F. Cumming & J. P. Smol, 1991. Variability in diatom and chrysophyte assemblages and inferred pH: paleolimnological studies of Big Moose Lake, New York, USA. J. Paleolimnol. 5: 267–284.
Cumming, B. F., J. P. Smol, J. C. Kingston, D. F. Charles, H. J. B. Birks, K. E. Camburn, S. S. Dixit, A. J. Uutala & A. R. Selle, 1992. How much acidification has occurred in Adirondack region lakes (New York, USA) since preindustrial times? Can. J. Fish. aquat. Sci. 49: 128–141.
Davis, M. B., 1965. A method for determination of absolute pollen frequency. In: B. Kummel & D. Raup (eds), Handbook of Paleontological Techniques. W. H. Freeman, San Francisco, 674–686.
Engstrom, D. R., A. M. Swain J. C. Kingston, 1985. A palaeolimnological record of human disturbance from Harvey's Lake, Vermont: geochemistry, pigments and diatoms. Fresh. Biol. 15: 261–288.
Kaland, P. E. & B. Stabell, 1981. Methods for absolute diatom frequency analysis and combined diatom and pollen analysis in sediments. Nord. J. Bot. 1: 697–700.
Laws, R. A., 1983. Preparing strewn slides for quantitative microscopical analysis: a test using calibrated microspheres. Micropaleontology 29: 60–65.
Maher, L. J., Jr., 1981. Statistics for microfossil concentration measurements employing samples spiked with marker grains. Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol. 32: 153–191.
Moore, T. C., 1973. Method of randomly distributing grains for microscopic examination. J. Sed. Pet. 43: 904–906.
Peck, R. M., 1974. A comparison between four absolute pollen preparation techniques. New Phytol. 73: 567–587.
Regal, R. R. & E. J. Cushing, 1979. Confidence intervals for absolute pollen counts. Biometrics 35: 557–565.
Scherer, R. P., 1994. A new method for the determination of absolute abundance of diatoms and other silt-sized sedimentary particles. J. Paleolimnol. 12: 171–179.
Sweets, P. R., 1995. A beginner's guide to the Internet for paleolimnologists. J. Paleolimnol. 13: 285–289.
Vernal, A. de, A. C. Larouche & P. J. H. Richard, 1987. Evaluation of palynomorph concentrations: do the aliquot and the markergrain methods yield comparable results? Pollen et Spores XXIX: 291–304.
Wolfe, A. P., 1996. Spatial patterns of modern diatom distribution and multiple paleolimnological records from a small non-glacial Arctic lake, Baffin Island, Northwest Territories. Can. J. Bot. 74: 435–449.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wolfe, A.P. On diatom concentrations in lake sediments: results from an inter-laboratory comparison and other tests performed on a uniform sample. Journal of Paleolimnology 18, 261–268 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007937300347
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007937300347