Diatom samples were cleaned from organic
material in the laboratory using wet
combustion with acid (HNO3: H2
SO4; 2:1)
and mounted in Dirax or Naphrax (I-VI).
Two or three replicate slides of each
sample were prepared. A total of 250-500
frustules per sample were identified and
counted using phase contrast light
microscopy (magnification 1000x).
Species were identified according to
Krammer & Lange-Bertalot (1986-1991)
and Lange-Bertalot & Metzeltin (1996). In
total, 430 diatom samples were counted for
this thesis by the author during years 2000-
2002. Benthic fauna was sorted in the
laboratory on a white, shallow tray and
identified to the lowest feasible taxonomic