Functional diversity and functional traits of periphytic algae during a short-term successional process in a Neotropical floodplain lake.

Due to the lack of knowledge in periphytic algae functional diversity patterns during successional processes in floodplains, the present study aimed to analyze the dynamics of the functional traits and functional diversity of periphytic species during a short-term successional process in a floodplain lake. The functional traits analyzed were size class, growth form, strength of attachment to the substratum, and functional strategies. We evaluated the dynamics of these traits, considering richness, density and biovolume during an 18-day colonization in two hydrological periods. The functional diversity was assessed using the mean pairwise distance index (MPD). Dominant functional traits during the colonization changed in association with the flood pulse. Under the pulse effect, higher development of C-S strategist, loosely attached, filamentous and nanoperiphytic species occurred. The highest values of functional diversity were associated with the algal biomass peak during the colonization and the high water hydrological period, possibly indicating greater efficiency in the ecosystem functioning. These findings show the importance of the functional traits approach in periphyton studies and that the selection of functional traits must be performed taking into account traits that represent the species niche.

Functional diversity and functional traits of periphytic algae during a short-term successional process in a Neotropical floodplain lake / Diversidade funcional e características funcionais de algas perifíticas em um curto processo successional em um lago de planície de inundação Neotropical

Due to the lack of knowledge in periphytic algae functional diversity patterns during successional processes in floodplains, the present study aimed to analyze the dynamics of the functional traits and functional diversity of periphytic species during a short-term successional process in a floodplain lake. The functional traits analyzed were size class, growth form, strength of attachment to the substratum, and functional strategies. We evaluated the dynamics of these traits, considering richness, density and biovolume during an 18-day colonization in two hydrological periods. The functional diversity was assessed using the mean pairwise distance index (MPD). Dominant functional traits during the colonization changed in association with the flood pulse. Under the pulse effect, higher development of C-S strategist, loosely attached, filamentous and nanoperiphytic species occurred. The highest values of functional diversity were associated with the algal biomass peak during the colonization and the high water hydrological period, possibly indicating greater efficiency in the ecosystem functioning. These findings show the importance of the functional traits approach in periphyton studies and that the selection of functional traits must be performed taking into account traits that represent the species niche.(AU)

Devido à ausência de conhecimento sobre os padrões para a diversidade funcional de algas perifíticas durante processo sucessional de curto tempo, o presente estudo objetivou avaliar a dinâmica das características funcionais e da diversidade funcional dessas espécies durante a sucessão em um lago de planície de inundação. As características funcionais analisadas foram classe de tamanho, forma de vida, intensidade de aderência ao substrato e estratégias funcionais. Foi avaliada a dinâmica destas características funcionais, considerando riqueza, densidade e biovolume, durante 18 dias de colonização, em dois períodos hidrológicos distintos. A diversidade funcional estimada pelo índice de distância média entre pares (MPD). As características funcionais dominantes se alteraram durante a colonização proporcionado pelo pulso de inundação. Sobre este efeito houve grande desenvolvimento de espécies C-S estrategistas, frouxamente aderidas, filamentosas e nanoperifíticas. Os maiores valores de diversidade funcional foram relacionados com o pico de biomassa algal ao longo da colonização e com o período de águas altas, e que isso provavelmente indica maior eficiência no funcionamento do ecossistema. Este estudo mostrou a importância de incluir as características funcionais nos estudos de algas perifíticas, e que a seleção de características deve ser feita levando em consideração o nicho das espécies.(AU)

Periphytic algae of the Garças Lake, Upper Paraná River floodplain: comparing the years 1994 and 2004.

The changes imposed by dams on hydrological regime, water transparence and nutrient concentrations downstream affect biodiversity in relation to species richness and specific composition of the community. The aim of this work was evaluate this effect on periphyton, comparing richness and composition of periphytic algae in the Garças Lake, Upper Paraná River floodplain, between the years 1994, before construction of the Porto Primavera Reservoir, and after its operation in 2004. This floodplain lake showed an increase in species, from 113 in 1994 to 159 in 2004. A few species, however, were common during the last year, dominated by Zygnemaphyceae and some Bacillariophyceae species. The increase in algal diversity in 2004 may be the result of the ability of the system to adapt to environmental changes. However, the large change in the periphyton species composition suggests further impacts on the food web, demanding continuity of long-term studies in order to determine their consequences on the biodiversity as a whole.

Periphytic algae of the Garças Lake, Upper Paraná River floodplain: comparing the years 1994 and 2004 / Algas perifíticas da Lagoa das Garças, planície de inundação do Alto Rio Paraná: comparação entre os anos de 1994 e 2004

The changes imposed by dams on hydrological regime, water transparence and nutrient concentrations downstream affect biodiversity in relation to species richness and specific composition of the community. The aim of this work was evaluate this effect on periphyton, comparing richness and composition of periphytic algae in the Garças Lake, Upper Paraná River floodplain, between the years 1994, before construction of the Porto Primavera Reservoir, and after its operation in 2004. This floodplain lake showed an increase in species, from 113 in 1994 to 159 in 2004. A few species, however, were common during the last year, dominated by Zygnemaphyceae and some Bacillariophyceae species. The increase in algal diversity in 2004 may be the result of the ability of the system to adapt to environmental changes. However, the large change in the periphyton species composition suggests further impacts on the food web, demanding continuity of long-term studies in order to determine their consequences on the biodiversity as a whole.

As mudanças impostas pela formação de reservatórios afetam a biodiversidade das algas perifíticas em relação à composição e riqueza de espécies. O objetivo deste trabalho foi comparar a riqueza e composição de espécies de algas perifíticas na Lagoa das Garças, planície de inundação do Alto Rio Paraná, entre os anos de 1994, antes da construção do reservatório de Porto Primavera, e em 2004, após seu funcionamento. Para a lagoa registrou-se um aumento na riqueza de 113 espécies em 1994, para 159 espécies em 2004. Contudo, poucas espécies foram comuns, sendo dominadas por Zygnemaphyceae e Bacillariophyceae. O aumento na riqueza de algas em 2004 pode estar indicando a capacidade do sistema em adaptar-se às alterações ambientais, com possíveis alterações na cadeia alimentar. Considera-se fundamental a continuidade de estudos de longo prazo para avaliar as conseqüências da alteração na riqueza e composição de espécies de algas perifíticas para a estrutura e o funcionamento da planície como um todo.

Phytoplankton biodiversity changes in a shallow tropical reservoir during the hypertrophication process / Mudanças na biodiversidade fitoplanctônica em um reservatório tropical raso durante o processo de hipereutrofização

Study aimed at evaluating phytoplankton biodiversity changes in a shallow tropical reservoir during its hypertrophication process. Samplings were carried out monthly during 8 consecutive years (1997-2004) in 5 depths. Conspicuous limnological changes in the reservoir derived from the presence and/or removal of the water hyacinth, characterized 3 different phases. Over the time series, reservoir changed from a typical polymictic eutrophic system to hypertrophic one, leading to a reduction of approximately 70 species (average 37 percent). Chlorophyceae accounted for the highest species richness (46 percent) among all algal classes and strictly followed total species richness variation. Internal feedback mechanisms intensification over phase III clearly promoted the sharp decrease in biodiversity. Highest decreases, mainly during springs, occurred simultaneously to the highest Cyanobacteria blooms. Increased turbidity due to heavy phytoplankton blooms suppressed all other algal groups, so that at the end of the present study even Cyanobacteria species richness decreased. Total dissolved phosphorous was included in most of the best selected models used to analyze the temporal patterns in species richness loss. Present data show that biodiversity loss following trophic change was not a single dimension of a single factor but, rather, a template of factors (e.g. light, stability) co-varying in consequence of the larger levels of biomass supported in the reservoir.

Estudo avaliou as mudanças na biodiversidade da comunidade fitoplanctônica em um reservatório tropical raso durante processo de hipereutrofização. Foram realizadas amostragens mensais durante oito anos consecutivos (1997-2004) em cinco profundidades. Mudanças limnológicas conspícuas no reservatório foram a conseqüência da presença e/ou remoção do aguapé, caracterizando três fases limnológicas. Durante a série temporal, o reservatório mudou de um sistema eutrófico polimítico típico para um sistema hipereutrófico, levando à redução de aproximadamente 70 espécies (média de 37 por cento). Chlorophyceae foi a classe com a maior riqueza de espécies (46 por cento) entre todas e seguiu, intimamente, a variação da riqueza total de espécies. A intensificação dos mecanismos internos de retroalimentação durante a fase III claramente promoveram uma acentuada queda da biodiversidade. Os decréscimos mais acentuados, especialmente durante as primaveras, ocorreram simultaneamente às maiores florações de Cyanobacteria. O aumento de turbidez provocado pelas florações maciças suprimiu outros grupos de algas de forma que, no final do presente estudo, até mesmo a riqueza de Cyanobacteria decaiu. Fósforo total dissolvido foi incluído na maioria dos melhores modelos selecionados para análise dos padrões temporais da perda da biodiversidade. Os presentes dados mostram que a perda da biodiversidade durante a mudança trófica não esteve relacionada a apenas um fator, mas a um conjunto deles (exemplos: luz, estabilidade), que co-variaram em conseqüência dos elevados níveis de biomassa mantidos pelo reservatório.

Phytoplankton biodiversity changes in a shallow tropical reservoir during the hypertrophication process.

Study aimed at evaluating phytoplankton biodiversity changes in a shallow tropical reservoir during its hypertrophication process. Samplings were carried out monthly during 8 consecutive years (1997-2004) in 5 depths. Conspicuous limnological changes in the reservoir derived from the presence and/or removal of the water hyacinth, characterized 3 different phases. Over the time series, reservoir changed from a typical polymictic eutrophic system to hypertrophic one, leading to a reduction of approximately 70 species (average 37%). Chlorophyceae accounted for the highest species richness (46%) among all algal classes and strictly followed total species richness variation. Internal feedback mechanisms intensification over phase III clearly promoted the sharp decrease in biodiversity. Highest decreases, mainly during springs, occurred simultaneously to the highest Cyanobacteria blooms. Increased turbidity due to heavy phytoplankton blooms suppressed all other algal groups, so that at the end of the present study even Cyanobacteria species richness decreased. Total dissolved phosphorous was included in most of the best selected models used to analyze the temporal patterns in species richness loss. Present data show that biodiversity loss following trophic change was not a single dimension of a single factor but, rather, a template of factors (e.g. light, stability) co-varying in consequence of the larger levels of biomass supported in the reservoir.