Abstract
The distribution of phytoplankton species of a tropical blackwater reservoir is discussed on the basis of spatial differences in water composition and of species abundance and diversity. Spatial heterogeneity in water composition identified three different environments within the reservoir itself: (1) strongly colored waters, high turbidity and iron concentrations at the inflow; (2) calcium enriched, nearly uncolored waters at El Pao Bay; (3) lightly colored water, higher transparency and a higher ratio monovalent to divalent cations in the main body of the reservoir. Three corresponding phytoplankton associations were found. Principal Component Analysis helped to explore the relationship of particular species with the abiotic factors. Among them, water color, turbidity, and mineralization proved to be determinant in habitat diversification.
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Vegas-Vilarrúbia, T. Distribution of the phytoplankton from the Guri Reservoir (Venezuela). Hydrobiologia 310, 33–46 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00008181
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00008181