Diatom flora in three Springs of Golestan Province

Springs are highly important habitats for biodiversity trend. Hence three springs in Golestan Province were selected for floristic study of diatom assemblages. Samples were collected seasonally from stony and sediment substrates. In total, 75 taxa belong to 38 genera were identified. Gomphonema and Nitzschia each with 7 species, Navicula with 6 species, Surirella with 5 species and Cymbella with 4 species were the most species-rich genera. Results revealed that Gol-e-Ramian Spring with 61 taxa had the highest species richness. Achnanthidium nanum,Cocconeis placentula, Fragilaria crotonensis, Gomphonema micropus, Meridion circulare, Nitzschia vermicularis, and Planothidium frequentissimum were the most abundant taxa. Most of the species identified in the present research have been observed within running water environments in Golestan province and other parts of Iran. Our study improved knowledge about the diatom communities ofsprings in Golestan province.