Ecological analysis of periphytic diatoms in Mediterranean coastal wetlands (Empordà wetlands, NE Spain). 2007. (Diatom Monographs, 7). 123 micrographs (LM & SEM) on 16 plates. Many figs. and tabs. 210 p. gr8vo. Hardcover. (ISBN 978-3-906166-52-0)

Contents: General Introduction/ Study area (Empordà wetlands/ The saltmarshes of the Empordà Wetlands Natural Park)/ Material and Methods/Factors favouring the predominance of different types of aquaticprimary producers (phytoplankton - peiphyton - macrophytes) in lenticwaters of Empordà wetlands/ Diatom taxa of the salt marshes of theEmpordà wetlands (Check-list/ Diatom taxa of problematic taxonomy/Plates)/ Factors affecting periphytic diatom communities in the saltmarshes of Empordà wetlands/ Morphological variation of Nitzschiafrustulum as a response to changes in some environmental variables/General discussion/ Conclusions/ References/ Appendix I (Taxaacronyms)/ Appendix II (Relative abundance of the species by monthsand by waterbodies). - Diatoms are an important and often dominantcomponent of periphyton, and their contribution to primary productionin aquatic systems has largely been underestimated. Apart from thequalitative and quantitative importance of diatoms in the periphyton,the study of diatoms has the added value that they are excellentenvironmental indicators, since they are present in almost allaquatic habitats and react with speed and sesitivity to environmentalchanges.