Ecological parameter: nitrogen van Dam

Parameter group: habitat related parameters

Explanation:
Classification as nitrogen indicator (measure of eutrophication) following van Dam et al. (1994). Two different classifactions are provided: values modified by Coste (Lecointe et al., 1993) and values by van Dam et al. (1994).

Van Dam, H., Mertens, A. & Sinkeldam, J. (1994): A coded checklist and ecological indicator values of freshwater diatoms from the Netherlands. Netherlands J. Aquatic Ecol. 28 (1): 117-133.
Lecointe, C., Coste, M. & Prygiel, J. (1993): OMNIDIA software for taxonomy, calculation of diatom indices and inventories management. Hydrobiologia 269/270: 509-513.

Type of assignment: single category assignment system ()
A description of the coding system can be found here  Abbreviations/Coding Systems

Abbreviations:

Category name:	Abbreviations:	Explanation:
1	1	nitrogen-autotrophic taxa, tolerating very small concentrations of organically bound nitrogen
2	2	nitrogen-autotrophic taxa, tolerating elevated concentrations of organically bound nitrogen
3	3	facultatively nitrogen-heterotrophic taxa, needing periodically elevated concentrations of organically bound nitrogen
4	4	obligately nitrogen-heterotrophic taxa, needing continuously elevated concentrations of organically bound nitrogen