2 minute speedtalk given in Berlin 2018 (International Diatom Symposium). 2nd prize in the Young International Society of Diatom Research (ISDR). To the tune of Flanders and Swann ("Ill wind"), based on W. A. Mozart's Horn Concerto E flat, K. 495.

1. Andrea Burfeid Castellanos
Ill flows-
Diatoms in dwindling rivers
Hommage to Flanders and Swann

2. Ill flows (IRES – Intermittent Rivers and
Ephemeral Streams)
I once had a whim and I had to obey it
To sample diatoms
In Mediterranean flows
I followed it up and I started to sway as
It diverged completely
from what I know.
2

3. Ill flows (IRES – Intermittent Rivers and
Ephemeral Streams)
I had found some streams,
They were slimey and brown with diatoms
I had found some streams
To be watery flowing and nice,
So artfully wound
Descending the mount
Just parting the ground,
So rich and round.
Oh! The hours I had to scrub
Amongst just every odd kind of shrub

4. Ill flows (IRES – Intermittent Rivers and
Ephemeral Streams)
But that was yesteryear and just this year I looked in the usual place
There was the reach, but the stream itself was missing
Oh, where can it have gone?
Haven’t you hasn’t anyone seen my flow.
Oh where can it have gone?
What a blow! I don’t know
How to sample my diatoms
Where is my flow?
Unconnected pools!
Still, diatom rules!

5. Ill flows (IRES – Intermittent Rivers and
Ephemeral Streams)
Since Spaniards* use rivers regardless of discharge
Their quality matters, both eco and all,
For Europe established the WFD law (2000/60/CE)
To ameliorate rivers against their downfall.
But when flow’s not there,
There was no established protocol
When stream’s not there, stream’s not there…
Diatoms were!
Though ecosystems may change and all, our protists will endure.
* And others

6. Ill flows (IRES – Intermittent Rivers and
Ephemeral Streams)
Since those diatoms are tough enough
To survive desiccation or change (Antonelli et al 2017)
Samples still will remain and permit to bioindicate
Since status just changed in flow
We will have to change the protocols.
Aquatic State Hyperrheic Eurheic Oligorheic Arheic Hyporheic Edaphic
Discharge
After Núria Cid

7. Ill flows (IRES – Intermittent Rivers and
Ephemeral Streams)
A project arose we want those IRES known,
Thus, TRivers is a multi-disciplinary plan
To study bioindication and diatoms.
We found IRES everywhere and they will increase (IPCC 2012)
Arheic, hyporheic are still states of flow (Gallart et al 2012)
So diatoms dwell, no matter how short-lived the river,
stream or flow anyhow.
IPCC 2012

8. Ill flows (IRES – Intermittent Rivers and
Ephemeral Streams)
The future is grim, and our rivers will dwindle and therefore we should
be prepared,
The summers are dry and our streams will reduce and therefore we
should be prepared.

9. Ill flows (IRES – Intermittent Rivers and
Ephemeral Streams)
But even if all that should fail
No river, no stream in the dale,
Diatoms will always prevail.
Andrea Burfeid Castellanos

10. Ill flows (IRES – Intermittent Rivers and
Ephemeral Streams)
Andrea Burfeid Castellanos
Thanks to
Núria Cid & Life TRivers (http://www.lifetrivers.eu/background/)
SMIRES COST ACTION (www.smires.eu)
• Antonelli, M., C. E. Wetzel, L. Ector, A. J. Teuling, and L. Pfister. 2017.
“On the Potential for Terrestrial Diatom Communities and Diatom
Indices to Identify Anthropic Disturbance in Soils.” Ecological Indicators
75. Elsevier Ltd: 73–81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2016.12.003.
• European Commission. 2000. “Directive 2000/60/EC of the European
Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 Establishing a
Framework for Community Action in the Field of Water Policy.” Official
Journal of the European Communities 327: 2–72.
• Gallart, F., N. Prat, E. M. Garca-Roger, J. Latron, M. Rieradevall, P.
Llorens, G. G. Barbera, et al. 2012. “A Novel Approach to Analysing the
Regimes of Temporary Streams in Relation to Their Controls on the
Composition and Structure of Aquatic Biota.” Hydrology and Earth
System Sciences 16 (9): 3165–82. https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-
3165-2012.
• IPCC, 2012: Summary for Policymakers. In: Managing the Risks of
Extreme Events and Disasters to AdvanceClimate Change
Adaptation[Field, C.B., V. Barros, T.F. Stocker, D. Qin, D.J. Dokken, K.L.
Ebi, M.D. Mastrandrea,K.J. Mach, G.-K. Plattner, S.K. Allen, M. Tignor,
and P.M. Midgley (eds.)]. A Special Report of Working Groups I and II
of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge
University Press, Cambridge, UK, and New York, NY, USA, pp. 1-19.
Flanders & Swann
W. A. Mozart
For inspiration