Diatoms in Kamchatka’s hot spring soils

Abstract

Diatoms inhabiting terrestrial habitats that are affected by thermal activity remain poorly studied, despite significant interest in the biodiversity of hot springs. The Kamchatka peninsula is characterized by the presence of 30 active volcanoes associated with hydrotherms. Our study involved a survey of diatom diversity in soils around the Malki, Upper Paratunka, and Dachnie thermal springs on the Kamchatka peninsula. A total of 49 diatom taxa were found. The genera Pinnularia, Planothidium, Fragilariforma, Epithemia, Halamphora, Gomphonema, Nitzschia, Aulocoseira, Sellaphora, Surirella, and Navicula were the most common. Pinnularia cf. subcapitata and Planothidium lanceolatum were dominant in all springs. Diatom communities in the soils near the thermal springs included both aquatic and terrestrial species, which may reflect the transitional nature of habitats at the borders of hot springs and soils. To gain a better understanding of the diversity of diatom communities in soils near thermal springs, broader worldwide studies are necessary.