This study represents data on diatom composition in water samples collected in the Red River near Son Tay town, Hanoi. Diatom samples were selected from marcophyte and stone surfaces during dry season of 2014. 79 diatom species belonging to 8 families were identified. The most species rich genera are Nitzchia (16 species), Navicula (14 species), Gomphonema (5 species). | Vietnam Journal of Science and Technology 55 (4C) (2017) 90-96 DIATOM COMPOSITION IN THE RED RIVER NEAR SON TAY, HA NOI Hoang Thi Thu Hang1, 2, Le Thi Phuong Quynh 3, Duong Thi Thuy1, * 1 Institute of Environmental Technology, VAST, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Ha Noi 2 Graduate University of Science and Technology, VAST, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Ha Noi 3 Institute of Natural Product Chemistry, VAST, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Ha Noi *Email: duongthuy0712@ Received: 1 August 2017; Accepted for publication: 18 October 2017 ABSTRACT This study represents data on diatom composition in water samples collected in the Red River near Son Tay town, Hanoi. Diatom samples were selected from marcophyte and stone surfaces during dry season of 2014. 79 diatom species belonging to 8 families were identified. The most species rich genera are Nitzchia (16 species), Navicula (14 species), Gomphonema (5 species). There are five diatom species which are dominant in Red River diatom community including Navicularecens (30 % of the total community), Nitzschiapalea ( %), Synedra fasciculate ( %), Luticola minor (5 %) and Gomphonemaparvulum ( %). The Oligosaprobous and α -m esosaprobous diatom taxa make up only around 3% and to 20 % of the total community. However, polysaprobous and ß- mesosaprobous taxa dominate in the Red River accounted 13 to 51 % total community. Keywords: diatom, community, red river. 1. INTRODUCTION Diatoms are photosynthetic organisms, single-celled or monovalent organisms, and have size from 10 μm to 100 μm. Diatom has a silica (SiO2) skeleton [1, 2]. Diatoms are widely distributed throughout the various habitats on Earth. Because of the large biomass and species diversity, diatom provides about 20 – 25 % of total organic carbon and is a primary source of energy in aquatic ecosystems. Furthermore, it can be used as a food of many organisms and microorganisms [3]. Therefore, diatoms play an important role in the food chain and biogeochemical cycle, and they are
