However, the new study conducted in the Western Ghats, one of the world’s most important biodiversity hotspots, challenges this assumption for tropical systems. By examining 40 sites across the Western Ghats, the research team found that the diatom communities on both surface types were nearly identical. In the Western Ghats, many streams were found to be naturally rich in phosphorus, a nutrient that often limits diatom growth elsewhere. The team also found that in the stable, warm conditions of the Western Ghats, diatoms tend to be generalists rather than specialists. As the Western Ghats face increasing pressure from urbanisation, agriculture, and climate change, the need for rapid and reliable water monitoring has never been greater.