The effect of natural radioactivity on diatom communities in mineral springs Fanny Millana,b, Cheilla Izerec, Vincent Bretonc,b, Olivier Voldoirea, David G. Birond,b, Carlos E. Wetzele, Didier Miallierc, Elisabeth Allaina, Luc Ectore and Aude Beaugera,b aUniversité Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, GEOLAB, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France; bLTSER “Zone Atelier Territoires Uranifères”, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, 63178 Aubière Cedex, France ; cUniversité Clermont Auvergne, CNRS/IN2P3, Laboratoire de Physique de Clermont, UMR6533, 4 avenue Blaise Pascal TSA 60026, CS 60026, 63178 Aubière cedex, France; dCNRS UMR 6023, Université Clermont-Auvergne, Laboratoire "Microorganismes: Génome et Environnement" (LMGE), 63178 Aubière Cedex, France; eDepartment Environmental Research and Innovation (ERIN), Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Belvaux, Luxembourg CONTACT Aude Beauger
[email protected] Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, GEOLAB, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France ABSTRACT Diatoms are good indicators of water quality because of their great diversity and wide ecological range. They are also interesting in assessing the impact of radioactivity on ecosystems because of their capacity to absorb radioelements. They also show radio-induced deformities, observed in many species. In order to assess more precisely the impact of natural radioactivity, diatom communities were monitored during a 9-month survey in two mineral springs characterized by radioactivity levels ranging within two orders of magnitude. The experimental data obtained were analyzed using different multivariate and clustering analyses. The richness was high with the dominance of Planothidium frequentissimum and Crenotia angustior. In the most radioactive spring known in Auvergne (above 4000 Bq L-1 radon activity), the average deformation was 24.7%, in contrast with lower teratological rates observed in the less radioactive spring.