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Structural changes and dynamics of the phytoplankton along a highly polluted lowland river of Argentina

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Journal of Aquatic Ecosystem Health

Abstract

The phytoplankton of the Matanza-Riachuelo river (Buenos Aires, Argentina) was studied for a period of 15 months together with different physical and chemical variables, along an increasingly eutrophic in character downstream. 281 taxa were recorded within a seasonal succession, among these 49 percent were euglenophyta, 25 percent bacillariophyta, 15 percent chlorophyta and 10 percent cyanophyta. Multivariate procedures included cluster analyses and ordination by PCA of both species and samples, and stepwise multiple regression analyses were employed to assess the impact of the pollution on the phytoplankton. The effect of the alteration was different in each studied site. With one exception, the changes in the community structure described herein involved modifications of the basic species composition. According to the species present, it was deduced that the main pollutant was the high concentration of organic matter. Results of the Matanza-Riachuelo, Reconquista, and Luján Rivers studies are further discussed.

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Conforti, V., Alberghina, J. & Urda, E.G. Structural changes and dynamics of the phytoplankton along a highly polluted lowland river of Argentina. J Aquat Ecosyst Stress Recov 4, 59–75 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00043344

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