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Diatoms Of Northeastern Iowa Fens, Stephen P. Main, David E. Busch

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Analysis of water samples from 10 fens in NE Iowa, collected 13-14 November 1987, revealed a gradient from acid, low conductivity water conditions (pH 5.6, alkalinity 30 mg/I HCO, conductivity 65 μmho, total hardness 30 mg/I Ca) to circumneutral, moderately conductive conditions (pH 7 .2, alkalinity 390 mg/I, conductivity 705 μmho, total hardness 380 mg/I Ca). Three sites along this gradient were sampled 15 May 1988 and 3 September 1988 to evaluate seasonal variation in water conditions. Examination of composite diatom samples collected concurrently with the water samples yielded 150 taxa, of which 14 are new Iowa distributional records and …