Ênio Wocyli Dantas

Phytoplanktonic associations: a tool to understanding dominance events in a tropical Brazilian reservoir

ABSTRACT – (Phytoplanktonic associations: a tool to understanding dominance events in a tropical Brazilian reservoir). The aim ofthis study was to characterize phytoplankton associations, as well as discuss controlling factors determining algal dominance in aeutrophic tropical reservoir, Mundau, Pernambuco, Brazil. Water samples were collected during the dry period (January/2005) and therainy period (June/2005). The samples were collected from both limnetic and littoral regions, and the phytoplankton assemblagesidentified from current literature after preservation in formaldehyde 4%. At the same time as sampling was done, in situ measurementsof water temperature, transparency, dissolved oxygen, and pH were also taken. Total phosphorus, total nitrogen concentration an d theTrophic State Index were subsequently determined in the laboratory. Phytoplankton density (ind. L -1 ) was estimated using an invertedZeiss microscope. Grouping of the phytoplankton associations was carried out using the Reynolds phytosociological classification.During the dry period, reservoir water showed low dissolved oxygen concentrations, alkaline pH and was relatively turbid compar ed tothe situation during the rainy season. Reservoir water is limited by nitrogen during both seasonal periods. The Trophic State Index isclassified as determining eutrophic conditions. Phytoplankton was represented by 70 infrageneric taxa grouped in 16 functional associations,with the majority typical of eutrophic systems. This fact is supported by quantitative analysis, which shows the dominance of

Cyanobacterial blooms in stratified and destratified eutrophic reservoirs in semi-arid region of Brazil

This study investigated the dynamics of cyanobacteria in two deep, eutrophic reservoirs in a semi-arid region of Brazil during periods of stratification and destratification. Four collections were carried out at each reservoir at two depths at three-month intervals. The following abiotic variables were analyzed: water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, water transparency, total phosphorus, total dissolved phosphorus, orthophosphate and total nitrogen. Phytoplankton density was quantified for the determination of the biomass of cyanobacteria. The data were analyzed using CCA. Higher mean phytoplankton biomass values (29.8 mm(3).L(-1)) occurred in the period of thermal stratification. A greater similarity in the phytoplankton communities also occurred in this period and was related to the development of cyanobacteria, mainly Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii (>3.9 mm(3).L(-1)). During the period of thermal destratification, this species co-dominated the environment with Planktothrix agardhii, Geitlerinema amphibium, Microcystis aeruginosa and Merismopedia tenuissima, as well as with diatoms and phytoflagellates. Environmental instability and competition among algae hindered the establishment of blooms more during the mixture period than during the stratification period. Thermal changes in the water column caused by climatologic events altered other physiochemical conditions of the water, leading to changes in the composition and biomass of the cyanobacterial community in tropical reservoirs.

Zooplanktonic community of six reservoirs in northeast Brazil

The aim of the present study was to investigate the zooplankton community at six reservoirs in the state of Pernambuco (Brazil). Zooplankton assemblages were identified using current literature and quantitatively analysed under a microscope and stereomicroscope. Concurrently to the sampling of zooplanktonic and phytoplanktonic communities, in situ measurements of abiotic variables, such as water temperature, dissolved oxygen and pH, were determined using field probes and transparency was determined with a Secchi disk. Total phosphorus concentrations were used for the determination of the Trophic State Index. The reservoirs were classified between eutrophic and hypertrophic, oxygenated, with pH varying from slightly acid to alkaline, high temperatures and low water transparency. A total of 27 zooplankton taxa were identified. Phytoplankton was represented by Cyanophyta, Chlorophyta, Baccilariophyta and phytoflagellates. The highest richness of species was observed for Rotifera (17), followed by Crustacea (8), Protozoa (1) and Insecta (1). Rotifers shared quantitative importance with Crustacea, which were mainly represented by juvenile forms. Jazigo Reservoir presented the highest diversity and equitability. Lowest diversity and equitability were recorded at the Poço da Cruz and Mundaú reservoirs, respectively. Dissimilarity was detected between the environments studied regarding zooplankton composition and structure.

Structure of the phytoplankton in a water supply system in the State of Pernambuco - Brazil

The aim of this work was to study the phytoplankton community composition at limnetic environment in Pernambuco, Brazil. Samplings were carried out from April/2001 to March/2002. Samples to analyses the biotic variables were taken using a recipient with a large overture, at the subsurface and with a Van Dorn bottle at the bottom. The rainfall data were recorded and the water transparency was used to calculate the light attenuation coefficient, photic zone and the determination of trophic state index. The concentrations of total phosphorus and total nitrogen were determined in a typical dry and rainy month. Equitability, also the, similarity and diversity indexes and the densities and correlation of total densities among depths were calculated. Forty-five taxa were identified in Chlorophyta (21spp), Cyanophyta (17spp) and Bacillariophyta (7spp), while flagellates were quantified in groups without identification. Cyanophyta presented highest diversity at both the depths and Planktothrix agardhii was the highest density species. Significant differences were not observed between subsurface and bottom densities. Results showed that the reservoir was eutrophicated and presented high densities of Cyanophyta.

Seasonal dynamics of cyanobacteria in a eutrophic reservoir (Arcoverde) in a semi-arid region of Brazil

Environmental conditions favor the predominance of dense populations of cyanobacteria in reservoirs in northeastern Brazil. The aim of this study was to understand cyanobacterial population dynamics in the rainy and dry seasons at two depths in the Arcoverde reservoir. Microalgae and cyanobacteria samples were collected during 24 hours with intervals of 4 hours (nycthemeral) at sub-surface and 10 m using a van Dorn bottle and a determined biomass. Physical and chemical variables were obtained and the data were analyzed using the principal component analysis (PCA). No nycthemeral variations in the taxonomic composition or distribution of the populations of cyanobacteria were found between the different times of day in either the rainy or dry season. In both seasons, the greatest biomass of the phytoplankton community was made up of cyanobacteria at two depths and all times of the day. Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii (Woloszynska) Seenayya et Subba Raju was dominant at all times of the day on both the surface and at the bottom. In the rainy season, the differences in cyanobacterial biomass between the surface and bottom were less significant than in the dry season. The differences in cyanobacterial biomass between surface and bottom were less pronounced than those found in the dry season. We concluded that a) physical variables better explain the alterations of species in the phytoplankton community in an environment dominated by cyanobacteria throughout the year; b) seasonal climatic factors associated to periods of stratification and de-stratification are important for alterations in the community and variations in biomass and, c) the turbidity caused by rainfall favored the emergence and establishment of other cyanobacteria, especially Planktothrix agardhii (Gomont) Anagnostidis & Komárek.

Micro-phytoplankton richness in Contas River, state of Bahia, northeastern Brazil

Phytoplankton composition in lotic environments has received less attention than that of lentic environments. The aim of the present study was to describe the micro-phytoplankton of the Contas River, which is one of the five most important water bodies in the state of Bahia, Brazil. Collections were carried out at 28 sampling sites at three-month intervals over a three-year period between December 2007 and September 2010. The micro-phytoplankton community was represented by 198 taxa distributed among Bacillariophyceae, Coscinodiscophyceae, Cyanophyceae, Fragilariophyceae, Chlorophyceae, Euglenophyceae, Dinophyceae, Cryptophyceae, Chrysophyceae and Xantophyceae. Geitlerinema amphibium (C. Agardh) Anagnostidis, Planktothrix agardhii (Gom.) Anagnostidis and Komarek, Pleurosira laevis (Ehrenberg) Compere and Ulnaria ulna (Nitzsch) P. Compere occurred in all samples. The majority of species (n = 111; 56.06% of the taxa) were classified as rare in the Contas River, as these organisms were only recorded during one or two months.

Phytoplankton community of Reis lake in the Brazilian Amazon

Reis Lake is located in the municipality of Caracaraí, state of Roraima (Brazil) and is subject to fluctuations in water level. The aim of this study was to analyze the structure of the phytoplankton community on the nictemeral and seasonal scales and determined the influence of limnological variables. Sampling was performed in the rainy season (June/2006) and dry season (November/2006), considering two nictemeral cycles. The phytoplankton community was assessed with regard to composition and density, abiotic variables were analyzed simultaneously. The lake had low concentrations of oxygen, clinograde profile and water stratified during the day and homogenous at night, with low concentrations of nutrients and waters ranging from slightly acidic to alkaline. The phytoplankton was represented by 43 taxa, 35 species in the dry season and 29 species in the rainy season. Low densities of phytoplankton occurred in both nictemeral cycles, with accentuated vertical gradient. The highest densities were recorded in the dry season. Reis Lake exhibits characteristics that classify it as a polymythic and oligotrophic environment. The variability in the data was more important seasonally than on the nictemeral scale, supporting the hypothesis of the influence of the hydrological cycle on the dynamics of phytoplankton communities in floodplain lakes.