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Longitudinal variation of periphytic algal community structure in a tropical river

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Abstract

The present study evaluated the influence of abiotic factors on the periphytic algal community structure under different environmental conditions. Six sampling sites were established along the course of the São Mateus River: two upstream of the city of São Mateus (E1, E2), two along the city (E3, E4), and two downstream of the city (E5, E6). Biotic and abiotic samplings were performed every week, in September and October 2010, totaling four collections. The periphyton was collected from roots of Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms. removed by scraping with brushes and jets of distilled water, fixed and preserved with formalin 4 % (qualitative analyses) and with acetic lugol 5 % (quantitative analysis). Higher richness of taxa and total density of periphytic algal community were registered in the sampling sites along and downstream of the city of São Mateus, with a greater contribution of Bacillariophyceae (richness) and Cyanophyceae (total density) in all sampling sites. The periphytic algal density was influenced by nutrients (especially nitrogen) and turbidity, as evidenced by the CCA. Thus, it is suggested that the input of allochthonous matter, especially from human activities (intensive fish farming and discharge of domestic and industrial wastewaters) change the water quality (as evidenced by the PCA), as well as communities of periphytic algae present.

Resumo

O presente estudo avaliou a influência dos fatores abióticos sobre a estrutura da comunidade de algas perifíticas submetidas a diferentes condições ambientais. Ao longo do rio São Mateus, seis estações amostrais foram determinadas: duas a montante da cidade de São Mateus (E1, E2), duas ao longo da cidade (E3, E4) e duas a jusante da cidade (E5, E6). As amostragens bióticas e abióticas foram realizadas em intervalos semanais, em setembro e outubro/2010, totalizando quatro coletas. O perifíton foi coletado de raízes de Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms., removido por raspagem, com pincéis e jatos de água destilada, fixado e preservado com solução de formalina a 4 % (análise qualitativa) e com solução de lugol acético a 5 % (análise quantitativa). Maior riqueza de táxons e densidade total da comunidade de algas perifiticas foi registrada nas estações amostrais ao longo e a jusante da cidade de São Mateus, com maior contribuição das Bacillariophyceae (riqueza) e Cyanophyceae (densidade total) em todas as estações amostrais. A densidade total das algas perifiticas foi influenciada pelos nutrientes (principalmente nitrogênio), assim como pela turbidez, como constatado pela CCA. Assim, podemos sugerir que a entrada de material alóctone, proveniente principalmente das atividades antrópicas (piscicultura intensiva e lançamento de efluentes domésticos e industriais) alteram a qualidade da água (como evidenciado na PCA), assim como as comunidades de algas perifíticas presentes.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank to the Fishermen Association of the Juara Lagoon for logistic support and help, to the Laboratory of Taxonomy and Ecology of Freshwater Algae (LATEAC) for laboratory analysis and to the Laboratory of Environmental Sciences (UENF)—Ecology Laboratory, for helping in analyses of nutrients, and to CAPES (Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel) and to the Graduate Program in Tropical Biodiversity, for the scholarship to the first author.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratório de Taxonomia e Ecologia de Algas Continentais, Departamento de Botânica, CCHN, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Av. Fernando Ferrari no. 514, Campo Goiabeiras, Vitória, ES, CEP 29075-015, Brazil

    Thais de Almeida Pereira

  2. Programa de Pós-graduação em Biodiversidade Vegetal, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas I, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Campus Samambaia, Caixa Postal: 131, Goiânia, GO, CEP 74001-970, Brazil

    Sirlene Aparecida Felisberto

  3. PPGBV, Laboratório de Taxonomia e Ecologia de Algas Continentais, Departamento de Botânica, CCHN, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Av. Fernando Ferrari no. 514, Campo Goiabeiras, Vitória, ES, CEP 29075-015, Brazil

    Valéria de Oliveira Fernandes

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  1. Thais de Almeida Pereira
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  2. Sirlene Aparecida Felisberto
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Correspondence to Thais de Almeida Pereira.

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de Almeida Pereira, T., Felisberto, S.A. & de Oliveira Fernandes, V. Longitudinal variation of periphytic algal community structure in a tropical river. Braz. J. Bot 36, 267–277 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40415-013-0034-1

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