Investigators of freshwater ecosystems inevitably are faced with various microphytes. It is generally accepted that algal species (among which phytoplankters) are important indicators of water quality. In particular desmids (a group of green algae) are excellent indicators of environmental conditions such as pH, conductivity and trophic state of a water body. 

In addition to that, because of their preferential occurrence in vulnerable habitats, desmids lend themselves well to figuring i...