DiaThor

DiaThor computes diatom metrics and biotic indices to assess water quality.

Key Features:

• Functions: Implements 18 R functions to extract metrics and compute indices from diatom sample data.
• Morphological metrics: Calculates number and shape of chloroplasts and total biovolume from diatom samples.
• Ecological metrics: Computes species richness, evenness, diversity, size classes, ecological guilds, and ecological preferences.
• Biotic indices: Computes established indices including Descy Index, EPID Index, Indice Diatomique Artois-Picardie, Swiss Diatom Index, Pampean Diatom Index, ILM index, Specific Pollution Sensitivity Index, Lobo Index, Sládecek index, SPEARherbicidesindex, and the Trophic index.
• Data formats: Defines input and output data formats and structures for diatom sample data and computed results.

Scientific Applications:

• Water quality assessment: Uses computed diatom metrics and biotic indices to evaluate water quality, including indications of nutrient levels and pollution sensitivity.
• Aquatic ecosystem monitoring: Detects changes in aquatic ecosystems by analyzing diatom assemblage responses to environmental conditions.
• Diatom-based ecological research: Enables analysis of diatom assemblages for studies in environmental monitoring and aquatic ecology.

Methodology:

Implements 18 R functions that extract morphological (number and shape of chloroplasts, total biovolume) and ecological (species richness, evenness, diversity, size classes, ecological guilds, ecological preferences) metrics from diatom samples and computes the listed biotic indices.