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Diel variation of phytoplankton functional groups in a subtropical reservoir in southern Brazil during an autumnal stratification period

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Abstract

A knowledge of diel variation and the vertical distribution of phytoplankton communities may contribute to a better understanding of the driving factors of key species. Applying functional-group classification provides important information on the causes of species selection in the pelagic community. The diel variation of phytoplankton functional groups was analysed during an autumnal stratification period with the aim of understanding their changes in the vertical position related to light, mixing regime and grazing pressure. Phytoplankton and zooplankton communities were sampled every 4 h during a 24-h period in a vertical profile in a subtropical meso-eutrophic reservoir. Strong stratification during a 24-h cycle and a mixed clear epilimnion with partial atelomixis marked the autumn season in the Faxinal reservoir, southern Brazil. The highest phytoplankton densities and biomass were found during the second part of the day, a general pattern reported in the literature, and may be explained by zooplankton dynamics. During the 24-h cycle, phytoplankton functional groups lacking a self-regulating capacity and those able to regulate their vertical position were vertically segregated in the lake. The diel behaviour of both groups was driven by the mixing regime (including atelomixis), light and zooplankton grazing pressure.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the CT-Hidro/CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico), CAPES (Coordenadoria de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal Superior), Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Botânica)—Museu Nacional/UFRJ, and SAMAE (Serviço Autônomo Municipal de Água e Esgoto de Caxias do Sul). We are grateful to Dr. Judit Padisák for her kind revision and valuable comments on the manuscript. We also thank chemical engineer Fernanda B. Spiandorello; Graziela P. Monçani and Renivo Girardi, technicians from SAMAE, for technical support; and finally Haywood Dail Laughinghouse IV and Janet W. Reid for revising the English text.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratório de Ficologia, Museu Nacional do Rio de Janeiro, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Quinta da Boa Vista s/n°, São Cristovão, Rio de Janeiro, 20940-040, Brazil

    Vanessa Becker & Vera Lúcia M. Huszar

  2. Instituto de Biociências, Dept. Botânica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av., Bento Gonçalves 9500, Porto Alegre, 91501-970, Brazil

    Luciana de Souza Cardoso

Authors
  1. Vanessa Becker
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  2. Luciana de Souza Cardoso
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  3. Vera Lúcia M. Huszar
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Correspondence to Vanessa Becker.

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Becker, V., de Souza Cardoso, L. & Huszar, V.L.M. Diel variation of phytoplankton functional groups in a subtropical reservoir in southern Brazil during an autumnal stratification period. Aquat Ecol 43, 285–293 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10452-008-9164-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10452-008-9164-0

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