Can a benthic diatom community complement chemical analyses and discriminate between disturbed and undisturbed saline wetland habitats? A study of seven soda pans in Serbia

Soda pans are protected in the European Union as Natura 2000 areas category of “Pannonic saline steppes and marshes”. There at least six soda reference status Serbia only a half have strict legal protection. The number similar, but disturbed (modified) habitats that could be reconstructed is still unknown. We conducted sampling five natural two aiming to compare difference physical chemical water properties benthic diatom communities. In addition, we tried apply recently developed Diatom Index for Pans (DISP) Trait-based index (TBI) test applicability taxonomic trait-based approaches ecological assessment southern part Carpathian Basin. contrast pans, lower pH nutrients levels were recorded pans. A total 86 taxa diatoms, including 11 new flora Serbia, identified. species richness Shannon was Nitzschia austriaca, N. supralitorea, Navicula veneta wiesneri dominant diatoms status. Both indices average this statistically significant DISP index. concluded indices, supplemented with indicator values some local species, can promising tool pan conservation