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Transfer functions for estimating paleoecological conditions (pH) from East African diatoms

  • Part One: Method and Their Application
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Abstract

Our purpose is to establish the quantitative relationship between recent diatom floras and ecological parameters, in order to extrapolate the results to the past. The parameter pH is here considered as an example.

This work is based on the study of about I60 diatom samples from East Africa and of their corresponding biotopes. We propose some statistical methods to interpret the data.

Correspondence analysis allows us to define the pH-indicator species. The regression calculations allow pH values to be calculated using the percentage of the diatom species in a sample.

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Gasse, F., Tekaia, F. Transfer functions for estimating paleoecological conditions (pH) from East African diatoms. Hydrobiologia 103, 85–90 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00028433

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