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Drivers of seasonal dynamics of phytoplankton community in subtropical streams: a study case

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Abstract

Despite the importance of phytoplankton as a source of autochthonous organic carbon, only a few studies have explored the ecological determinants of phytoplankton community structure in lotic systems when compared with studies in lakes. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the seasonal phytoplankton dynamics in two distinct streams located in an area of environmental protection in subtropical Brazil, and to identify the main drivers of community structure. Phytoplankton community and environmental variables were sampled on a monthly basis, between September 2012 and August 2013, in Apepu and Gualberto streams, located in Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná, Brazil. We verified that both streams presented a seasonal distinction regarding the precipitation levels. Regarding the others environmental variables (e.g., nutrients, light, temperature), a temporal similarity was observed in both streams. A high taxonomic diversity was recorded, including Bacillariophyceae, Euglenophyceae, Chlorophyceae and Zygnematophyceae as the most representative groups. Low abundance, richness and diversity were recorded in Apepu and Gualberto streams, while high equitability was recorded in both streams due to the uniform distribution of the species. Low variability of phytoplankton was recorded with high temporal similarity between the two streams. This study shows that the factors determining phytoplankton diversity and dynamics in Apepu and Gualberto streams are related not only to hydrological and limnological conditions, but also to the local characteristics of the streams, such as low depth and small extension.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Dra. Ana Tereza Bittencourt Guimarães, for the statistical support in the first analysis; to the Margaret S. Nardelli for the great contributions; to the laboratory assistants Assis Escher and Ivone Wichocki, for their help in the field work; and we also thank the ICMBIO Geoprocessing Division, for preparing the map, the Research Group on Fishing Resources and Limnology—GERPEL—for the chemical and physical water analyses and to the State University of Western Paraná—UNIOESTE—for providing the laboratory. As for the financial support, we are grateful to the Araucária Foundation to support Scientific and technological development of the state of Paraná, for granting the scholarship of LCS and CNPq of Brazil for a Research Productivity Grant to NCB (process 307196/2013-5) and for providing postdoctoral scholarship to JCB (process 165796/2015-4).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Conservação e Manejo de Recursos Naturais, Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná, Rua Universitária, 2019, Jardim Universitário, Cascavel, Paraná, 85819-110, Brazil

    Liliane Caroline Servat & Norma Catarina Bueno

  2. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Recursos Pesqueiros e Engenharia de Pesca, Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná, Rua da Faculdade, 645, Jardim Santa Maria, Toledo, Paraná, 85903-000, Brazil

    Nyamien Yahault Sebastien

  3. Laboratório de Ficologia, Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná, Rua Universitária, 2019, Jardim Universitário, Cascavel, Paraná, 85819-110, Brazil

    Liliane Caroline Servat, Jascieli Carla Bortolini & Norma Catarina Bueno

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  1. Liliane Caroline Servat
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  2. Nyamien Yahault Sebastien
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  3. Jascieli Carla Bortolini
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Correspondence to Jascieli Carla Bortolini.

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Servat, L.C., Sebastien, N.Y., Bortolini, J.C. et al. Drivers of seasonal dynamics of phytoplankton community in subtropical streams: a study case. Braz. J. Bot 40, 727–734 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40415-017-0379-y

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