European Diatom Database-Italian Mountain Lake Dataset

The European Diatom Database (EDDI) is a web-based information system designed to enhance the application of diatom analysis to problems of surface water acidification, eutrophication and climate change. Surface sediment samples and lakewater chemical data from thirty-one high mountain lakes were used to derive a lakewater pH transfer function. The lakes selected lie along a pH gradient on the southern side of the Central Alps in South Tyrol, in the Ossola Valley, Italy and in Canton Ticino, Switzerland. The lakes selected are small (up to 0.2 km2) clearwater lakes most of which are located above the timberline. Samples were collected using gravity corers and the surface (0-0.5cm) was used to prepare a diatom sample. A total of approximately 600 diatom valves per sample was counted.