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1. The relationship between surficial sediment diatom taxa (Bacillariophyceae) and measured limnological variables in forty‐six British Columbia lakes was explored using canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). Lake‐water total phosphorus concentration (TP), maximum lake depth, conductivity, and calcium concentration each accounted for independent and statistically significant directions of variation in the distribution of diatom taxa.

2. Weighted‐averaging (WA) models were developed to infer lake‐water TP from the relative abundances of 131 diatom taxa in the surficial sediments of thirty‐seven lakes. WA regression and calibration with classical deshrinking provided the best model for TP reconstructions.

3. Our quantitative inference model has two major advantages over existing multiple linear‐regression models: (i) inferences are based on the responses of individual taxa to TP, and do not involve …