Diatom data from north Baffin Island

Purpose: Diatoms are unicellular algae found in aquatic environments. Since diatom species vary in their responses to limnological conditions, diatom assemblages are used as bio-indicators. Diatom assemblages in surface sediments were analyzed from twenty lakes and ponds in Sirmilik National Park (SNP), along with limnological data for each site, with the goal of quantitatively relating diatom assemblages to particular physico-chemical conditions. Lake sediment cores spanning at least 2 centuries were also collected from two sites for detailed analysis with the goal of measuring the impact of recent environmental change in the context of pre-industrial lake conditions.