Diatom assemblages on Shara and Nidze Mountains, Macedonia

The diatom microflora collected from glacial lakes, peat-bogs, springs, streams, rivers and wetlands on 352 localities on Shara Mountain and 124 localities on Nidze Mountain, Macedonia, was investigated between 1995 and 2003. A total of 418 taxa from 76 genera, were identified. The taxa are predominantly oligotrophic or dystrophic. Total floristic similarity between the neighbouring mountain sytems (100 km apart) was only 22.74%. One of the sites has been influenced by glaciation, while the other contained habitats that served as glacial refugia. Taxa from the refugia are highly similar to the those of the ancient Ohrid and Prespa lakes in Macedonia. The morphological features and taxomic position of 11 taxa are discussed.