Abstract
Aiming to evaluate temporal alterations in the dynamics of the phytoplankton community in response to environmental changes occurring during the filling phase of Santa Clara reservoir, samples were taken weekly from April to June 2005 in the region close to the dam, following vertical gradients of light and temperature. Sampling depths comprised the subsurface (sup), upper limit of the euphotic zone (Zeu), lower limit of the epilimnion (Zmix) and near the bottom (Zmax). Low light availability hindered phytoplankton growth throughout the period. Descriptor species (biovolume > 5%) were classified in 17 functional groups (FGs): X2, Y, D, C, P, Lo, E, B, Na, MP, A, J, K, S1, Ws, F and M. Phytoplankton biovolume was low during the filling phase, and characterized a meso-oligotrophic environment. Mixotrophic species belonging to functional groups X2, Y, Lo and E provided the greatest contribution to total biovolume and dominated throughout the period. Water column thermal structure and a tendency of a decrease in nutrient concentrations influenced the change in the dominance of FGs. Our results suggest that mixotrophic strategy was determinant for phytoplankton production and biomass, representing a competitive advantage over strictly autotrophic phytoplankton, suggesting that during the filling phase of Santa Clara reservoir, the microbial loop played an important role in the flow of energy and carbon to higher trophic levels of the food web. Therefore, our initial hypothesis that the disruption of longitudinal connectivity in the river and alterations in the mixing regime and light availability would change phytoplankton community structure causing a replacement in the dominance of FGs containing turbulence-tolerant species by FGs containing species with a higher demand for water column stability and light availability was not corroborated. Although a species replacement was observed, this was not due to enhanced resource availability, but rather due to the trophic abilities of the FGs.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ackerman WC, White GF, Worthigton EB (1973) Man-Made lakes: their problems and environmental effects. American Geophysical Union, Washington
Agostinho AA, Gomes LC, Pelicice FM (2007) Ecologia e Manejo de Recursos Pesqueiros em Reservatórios do Brasil. EDUEM, Maringá
Baxter RM (1977) Environmental Effects of Dams and Impoundments. Annu Rev Ecol Evol Syst 8:255–283
Bicudo CEM, Menezes M (2006) Gêneros de Algas de Águas Continentais do Brasil (Chave para Identifcação e Descrições), 2nd edn. RIMA, São Carlos
Cole GA (1994) Textbook of limnology. Waveland Press Inc, Prospect Heights
Companhia Paranaense de Energia Elétrica (COPEL) (2005) Available in http://www.copel.com. Viewed 15 Oct 2005
Gerea M, Saad JF, Izaguirre I, Queimaliños C, Gasol JM, Unrein F (2016) Presence, abundance and bacterivory of the mixotrophic algae Pseudopediella (Dictyochophyceae) in freshwater environments. Aquat Microb Ecol 76:219–232
Giné MF, Bergamin H, Zagatto EAG, Reis BF (1980) Simultaneous determination of nitrite and nitrate by flow injection analysis. Anal Chim Acta 114:191–197
Golterman HL, Clymo RS, Ohnstad MAM (1978) Methods for physical and chemical analysis of freshwater, 2nd edn. Blackwell Scientific Publication, Oxford, IBP
Harris GP (1986) Phytoplankton ecology, structure. Function and Fluctuation, Chapman and Hall
Hilebrand H, Dürselen CD, Kirschtel D, Pollingher D, Zohaty T (1999) Biovolume calculation for pelagic and benthic microalgae. J Phycol 35:403–424
Jensen P, Jeppesen E, Olrik K, Kristensen P (1994) Impact of nutrients and physical factors on the shift from cyanobacterial to chlorophyte dominance in shallow Danish lakes. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 51:1692–1699
Kimmel BL, Lind OT, Paulson LJ (1990) Reservoir primary production. In: Thorton KW, Kimmel BL, Payne FE (eds) Reservoir limnology: ecological perspectives. Wiley-Interscience Publication, New York, pp 133–193
Koroleff K (1978) Determination of Ammonia. In: Grasshoff K, Kremling E (eds) Methods of seawater analysis. Verlag Chemie, Winhein
Kusma CM, Ferrera FW (2010) Mecanismo de transposição de peixes de pequena central hidrelétrica. Ciencia Rural on line. http://scielo.br/pdf/cr/v40n1/a429cr1250.pdf
Maack R. (1981) Geografia Física do Paraná. 2(ed.) Secretaria da Cultura e do Esporte do Governo do Estado do Paraná, Curitiba
Mackereth FYH, Heron JR, Tailing JF (1978) Water analysis: some revised methods for limnologists. Amblesie: freshwater biological association. Titus Wilson and Sons Ltda., Kendal
Naselli-Flores L, Termine R, Barone R (2016) Phytoplankton colonization patterns. Is species richness depending on distance among freshwaters and on their connectivity? Hydrobiologia 150:1–11
Padisák J, Crossetti LO, Naselli-flores L (2009) Use and misuse in the application of the phytoplankton functional classification: a critical review with updates. Hydrobiologia 621:1–19
Reynolds CS (1980) Phytoplankton assemblages and their periodicity in stratifying lake systems. Holarctic Ecol 3:141–159
Reynolds CS (1997) Vegetation process in the pelagic: a model for ecosystem theory. Ecol Inst (Excellence in Ecology n 9), Oldendorf
Reynolds CS, Huszar VLM, Kruk C, Naselli-Flores L, Melo S (2002) Towards a functional classification of the freshwater phytoplankton. J Plankton Res 24:417–428
Rottberger J, Gruber A, Boenigk J, Kroth PG (2013) Influence of nutrients and light on autotrophic, mixotrophic and heterotrophic freshwater chrysophytes. Aquat Microb Ecol 71:179–191
Saad JF, Schiaffino MR, Vinocur A, farrell O´, Tell G, Izaguirre I (2013) Microbial planktonic communities of freshwater environments from Tierra del Fuego: dominant trophic strategies in lakes with contrasting features. J Plankton Res 35:1220–1233
Salmaso N, Naseli-Flores L, Padisák J (2015) Functional classifications and their application in phytoplankton ecology. Freshw Biol 60:603–619
Souza DG, Bueno NC, Bortolini JC, Rodrigues LC, Bovo-Scomparin VM, Franco GMS (2016) Phytoplankton functional groups in a subtropical Brazilian reservoir: responses to impoundment. Hydrobiologia 179:47–57
Stanford JA, Ward JV (2001) Revisiting the serial discontinuity concept. Regul Rivers 17:303–310
Stocker DK (1998) Conceptual models of mixotrophy in planktonic protists and some ecological and evolutionary implications. Europ J Protistol 34:281–290
Straskraba M (1999) Retention Time as a Key Variable of Reservoir Limnology. In: Tundisi JG, Straskraba M (eds) Theoretical Reservoir Ecology and its Applications. São Carlos, Backhuys Publishers, The Netherlands, Brazilian Academy of Sciences, Rio de Janeiro, International Institute of Ecology, pp 385–410
Straskraba M, Tundisi JG (1999) Reservoir Ecosystem Functioning: Theory and Application. In: Tundisi JG, Straskraba M (eds) Theoretical Reservoir Ecology and its Applications. São Carlos, Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, The Netherlands, Brazilian Academy of Sciences, Rio de Janeiro, International Institute of Ecology, pp 565–583
Sun J, Liu D (2003) Geometric models for calculating cell biovolume and surface area for phytoplankton. J Plankton Res 25:1331–1346
Takahashi EM (2008) Efeitos do Represamento sobre a Estrutura e Dinâmica da Comunidade Zooplanctônica. Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Tese de Doutorado
Thornton KW (1990) Sedimentary processes. In: Thornton KW, Kimmel BL, Payne FE (eds) Reservoir limnology: ecological perspectives. John Wiley & Sons, New York, pp 43–69
Tundisi JG (2005) Gerenciamento integrado de bacias hidrográficas–Estudos de Caso e Perspectivas. In: Nogueira MG, Henry R, Jorcin A (eds) Ecologia de Reservatórios: impactos potenciais, ações de manejo e sistemas em cascata. RIMA, São Carlos, pp 1–22
Unrein F, Gasol JM, Massana R (2010) Dinobryon faculiferum (Chrysophyta) in coastal mediterranean seawater: presence and grazing impact on bacteria. J Plankton Res 32:559–564
Utermöhl H (1958) Zur Vervollkommnung der quantitativen phytoplankton-methodic. Verhandlungen der Internationalen Vereinigung für Theoretische und Angewandte Limnologie 9:1–39
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the Center of Research in Limnology, Ichthyology, and Aquaculture of Maringá State University (Nupélia/UEM) and the Graduate Program in Ecology of Continental Aquatic Environments (PEA) for logistical and financial support. We also thank the Limnology Laboratory/Nupelia for providing the limnological data.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Electronic supplementary material
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jati, S., Bortolini, J.C. & Train, S. Mixotrophic species influencing phytoplankton community structuring during the filling phase of a subtropical reservoir. Braz. J. Bot 40, 933–941 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40415-017-0407-y
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40415-017-0407-y