The modern ostracode distribution in lakes of the north-central United States shows how ostracode abundances are related to concentrations of major ions such as calcium, sulfate, and bicarbonate. These relationships are quantified for species living in lakes that range from fresh water (200/~ S cm ~) to saline water (17 000 #S cm-~). Lakes located in the Minnesota forests have different ostracode assemblages and different water chemistry than lakes located on the prairie of North Dakota and South Dakota. These differences are attributed to differences in precipitation and rock-water interactions. Multivariate analyses of the ostracode and water chemistry data set indicate that different ostracode species are associated with different water types. For example, Limnocythere sappaensis and Heterocypris glaucus are found in bicarbonate-enriched sulfate-dominated waters, whereas Limnocythere staplini is found in bicarbonatedepleted sulfate-dominated waters. Candona ohioensis and Limnocythere itasca are found in fresh water, and Candona rawsoni is eurytopic and found in both bicarbonate-enriched and bicarbonate-depleted sulfate-dominated waters. Ostracodes can be used to identify changes in both ionic composition (solutes) and ionic concentration.