Quality Assurance 



Several steps were taken to assure that the study results are accurate and reproducible. 

 Upon receipt of the samples, station and sample attribute data were recorded in the Montana 

 Diatom Database and the samples were assigned a unique number, e.g., 3332-01 . The first part 

 of this number (3332) designates the sampling site (West Fork Yaak River, upper) and the 

 second part (01) designates the number of periph>lon samples that that have been collected at 

 this site for which data have been entered into the Montana Diatom Database. 



Sample observations and analyses of soft (non-diatom) algae were recorded in a lab 

 notebook along with information on the sample label. A portion of the raw sample was used to 

 make duplicate diatom slides. The slides used for the diatom proportional counts will be 

 deposited in the Montana Diatom Collection at the University of Montana Herbarium (MONTU) 

 in Missoula. Duplicate slides will be retained in the offices of Hannaea in Helena, Montana. 

 Diatom proportional counts have been entered into the Montana Diatom Database. 



Results and Discussion 



Results are presented in Tables 3, 4 and 5 and Figures I and 2, which are located near the 

 end of the report following the references section. Appendix A contains a diatom report for each 

 sample. Each diatom report includes an alphabetical list of diatom species in that sample and 

 their percent abundances, and values for 65 different diatom metrics and ecological attributes. 



Sample Notes 



Yaak River above East Fork. This sample was moldy and consisted mostly of moss 

 and macrophytes. The Stigeoclonium in this sample was senescent. 



