A Methods Manual for the Collection, Preparation and Analysis of ...
A Methods Manual for the Collection, Preparation and Analysis of ...
A Methods Manual for the Collection, Preparation and Analysis of ...
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The main source <strong>of</strong> variability is, however, <strong>the</strong> identification <strong>of</strong> individuals, that is whybiological quality controls focus mainly on counts <strong>and</strong> misidentification. Diatoms are suitable<strong>for</strong> such controls <strong>and</strong> proposals have been made by Kelly (1999).Prygiel et al. (2002) made recommendations which should be seen as <strong>the</strong> way <strong>for</strong>ward <strong>for</strong>South Africa in terms <strong>of</strong> quality control <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> validation <strong>of</strong> diatom analysis data:Most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> variability due to sampling <strong>and</strong> slide preparation can be avoided byorganising comparisons between different studies. Such comparisons are very usefulbecause, with field <strong>and</strong> laboratory approaches, <strong>the</strong>y make operators aware <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>consequences <strong>of</strong> not following protocols. They are also useful because <strong>the</strong>y highlightsome taxonomic problems.Diatoms are good subjects <strong>for</strong> photomicrography <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>re<strong>for</strong>e most diatomists use <strong>the</strong>internet to check problematic identifications. This approach should be encouraged by<strong>for</strong>malising expert-practitioner exchanges, by creating iconographic databases, <strong>and</strong> byorganising regular workshops to allow updating <strong>of</strong> knowledge.The archiving <strong>of</strong> permanent slides also facilitates <strong>the</strong> creation <strong>of</strong> reference collectionswhich are particularly useful <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> identification <strong>of</strong> difficult species.10. Recommended s<strong>of</strong>tware packagesPackage Applications/comments Available from:Opticount A counting programespecially designed <strong>for</strong><strong>the</strong> enumeration <strong>of</strong> algaespecies <strong>and</strong> calculation <strong>of</strong>biomass based on speciescounts.DoMix S<strong>of</strong>twareDr. Dominik HepperleDorstrasse 20D-18249 Klein RadenGermanyinfo@do-mix.deOmnidiaTaxIBDDiatom-based indexcalculation <strong>and</strong> archivingboth diatom samplein<strong>for</strong>mation <strong>and</strong> speciescounts. This is a veryvaluable tool containingabout 11 000 diatomsspecies with synonyms<strong>and</strong> references.A pictorial key containing<strong>the</strong> 209 species used <strong>for</strong><strong>the</strong> calculation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>French Indice BiologiqueDiatomées (IBD). This isa simple key accompaniedby photographs <strong>and</strong> ahttp://science.do-mix.de/s<strong>of</strong>tware.phpCLCIMrs. Ca<strong>the</strong>rine Lecointe :Fax: +33 5 53 61 26 73Give your computer type (Mac or PC <strong>and</strong>Windows version)Payment can be made by cheques orinternational postal orderPRICE: Euros 701,27 (07/2005)clci@club-internet.frhttp://membres.lycos.fr/rimetfrederic/links.htmll'Agence de l'Eau Artois Picardie200 Rue MarcelineBP 81859508 Douai CedexFrance45
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