Diatoms have become important organisms for monitoring freshwaters and their value has been recognised for cross-border water quality monitoring in the European Union. If South Africa is to include diatoms in the current suite of bioindicators, then thorough testing of diatom-based techniques is required. This paper provides guidance on methods through all stages of diatom collection, preparation and examination for the purposes of water quality assessment.

A study was made of the type material of Achnanthidium exiguum (Grunow) Czarnecki. This often encountered and apparently ubiquitous species was originally described as Stauroneis exilis by K?tzing from the island of Trinidad and later re-named...