Abstract:
ABSTRACT
Description of the diatom species existed in water column were of a key information
in forensic science, especially in diagnosing the drowning site. Examining the diatom
presence on the tissue, lung, blood, kidney as well as in the lymph of the victim (death
person), were performed to confirm whether the death due to drowning or that other reason.
Qualitative description of diatom in the part of body victim were compared to that in water,
prior to confirmation the location of death. The study were located in Siak river on Mempura
district, Siak Regency, in May and June 2012. The key identification of diatom were referred
to Masaharu (1977) and Yungfang (1995), while diatom density were calculated following
method of American Public Health Association (APHA). It revealed that 26 diatoms species
were identified which consisted of Actynodiscus sp, Amphora sp, Asterionella sp, Aulacoseita
sp, Cocconeis sp, Coscinodiscus sp, Cyclotella sp, Dactyliosolen sp, Diatoma sp, Eucampia
sp, Eunotia sp, Fragillaria sp, Hyalodiscus sp, Isthmia sp, Melosira sp, Nitzschia sp,
Navicula sp, Planktoniella sp, Pleurosigma sp, Rhizosolenia sp, Streptotheca sp,
Stephanodiscus sp, Surirella sp, Tabellaria sp, Triceratium sp, Thalassiosira sp. Total
abundance of diatom account 5987,5 cells/L. Apparently, Aulacoseira sp were dominant in
the water which abundance of 812,5 cells/L which average of all stations were 1197,5
cells/L.
