Table 8.

Diatoms groups and criteria used for classification in this work by FlowCAM methodology.

Group	Shape	Colours	Description and examples
Centric single diatoms	Round	Green/Brown	Centric single diatom cells round in their valvar view. Mainly Thalassiosira and Coscinodiscus species.
Pennate diatoms	Oval	Green/Brown	e.g., Pleurosigma sp.
Linear chains of small cells	Straight	Green/Brown	Small cells making lineal chains. e.g.,: Some species of Chaetoceros, Skeletonema, etc.
Large individuals and linear chains of large cells	Straight	Light green	Long straight single cells or chains. e.g.,: Rhizosolenia and Proboscia species.
Helical chains	Helical	Light green	Species making helical chains. e.g.,: Guinardia striata, Chaetoceros debilis.
Other diatoms	−	−	Those diatoms not fitting in previous described groups. Always representing less than 8% in abundance. e.g., Thalassionema nitzschioides, Guinardia flaccida, Odontella sp.