Species Abundance Counts of Benthic Diatoms in Response to Phosphorus Fertilization: Data from the Upper Kuparuk River Experiment (UKRE), Alaska, 1997-2022

This dataset contains species abundance data of epilithic diatoms collected from the Upper Kuparuk River, Alaska (USA), spanning from 1997 to 2022. The dataset is part of a long-term study aimed at understanding the ecological impacts of phosphorus enrichment in Arctic freshwater ecosystems. Samples were collected annually from both phosphorus-fertilized and reference reaches of the river to assess the influence of nutrient enrichment on diatom community composition. The dataset includes detailed records of diatom species identified and their relative abundances in the phosphorus reach only.
Analyses of this dataset using permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) and Redundancy Analysis (RDA) revealed significant shifts in diatom communities attributable to phosphorus enrichment. Indicator Species Analysis identified key diatom species that are reliable indicators of phosphorus-enriched conditions. This dataset provides valuable insights into the long-term responses of diatom communities to nutrient enrichment and the ecological interactions with mosses that colonized the fertilized reach. It serves as an important resource for researchers studying nutrient dynamics, ecological monitoring, and the impacts of climate change on Arctic freshwater systems.