A simple method for the estimation of biovolume of diatoms Coscinodiscus curvatulus, C. nitidus, C. radiatus, C. wailesii and C. granii

Abstract

An attempt was made to measure diameter, pervalvar axis (height), long height, short height and height of half spheroid in order to propose the simple method for estimating biovolume of diatoms, the genus Coscinodiscus. Pervalvar axis (height), long height, short height and height of half spheroid increased linearly with increasing diameter, and species-specific regression equations of the diameter-height relationships were obtained for elliptically cylindrical C. curvatulus, C. nitidus, C. radiatus, C. wailesii and all these four species and of the diameter-long height, diameter-short height and diameter-height of half spheroid relationships were obtained for an asymmetrically cylindrical with add two half spheroids C. granii. For all of these cases, there are not statistically differences between biovolume estimated by the former Hillebrand’s equations and one estimated only from diameter using the simple equations obtained in the present study.