Diatom fossils in mires: a protocol for extraction, preparation and analysis in palaeoenvironmental studies

When fossil diatoms are preserved in mires, they can be excellent indicators of ecological conditions and very useful in palaeoenviromental reconstruction, both alone and in combination with other siliceous fossils. Processing techniques for diatom frustules have varied and been modified according to the sediment from which the diatoms are being extracted. They differ from those used for palynological studies, which destroy the siliceous component. A procedure that was developed for diatom studies in the French Massif Central is presented, variations used by different workers are described, and some applications in palaeoenvironmental reconstruction and contemporary peatland science are reviewed.