Bacillariophyta in biomonitoring of river ecosystems. Current state and prospects for their use

Recent results of the Bacillariophyta use in biomonitoring of lotic systems have been generalized. Their high indicatory qualities relative to different parameters of water environment and advantages over other water organisms in biomonitoring of water ecosystems are shown. The classification of Bacillariophyta communities as a theoretical and practical base for biomonitoring of ecosystems is considered for the first time. The ways of solving certain problems arising in classification of microscopic plant communities are discussed on the example of Bacillariophyta communities.