| The definition of algal communities has always been a very discussed subject. We applied a principal component analysis on quantitative phytoplankton data. This ordination technique made it possible to distinguish the algal groups present. This technique is very often applied in the phytosociology of higher plants but less frequently in the phytosociology of algae. Till now this ordination has been used in phycology, merely for marine- and freshwater benthic algae, e.g. the benthic diatoms of rivers (Descy 1976a, b). |
