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Temporal distribution of cyanobacteria in the coast of a shallow temperate estuary (Río de la Plata): some implications for its monitoring

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the temporal distribution of phytoplanktonic cyanobacteria in a site located in the freshwater tidal zone near the extraction point for the drinking water supply. Samples were taken considering three timescales as follows: hours, days, and weeks, during the period of highest development of cyanobacteria. The phytoplankton density, microcystin concentration (LR, RR, YR), and chlorophyll-a were related to meteorological variables (wind and temperature), tidal high, and physical-chemical variables (nutrients, pH, conductivity, light penetration). The results obtained in this study showed that the variables that primarily modulate the temporal distribution of cyanobacteria were temperature, pH, light penetration, conductivity, and nutrients (particularly NO3 − and NH4 +), while the winds and tide had a secondary effect, only evidenced at an hourly scale. Therefore, this timescale would be the most suitable for monitoring cyanobacterial populations, when the amount of cyanobacterial cells exceeds the alert I level proposed by the World Health Organization. This recommendation is particularly important for the water intake zones in Río de la Plata, which are vulnerable to the damage generated by cyanobacteria on the water quality.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank to the technical staff of ILPLA, Mr. Roberto Jensen for his invaluable field assistance, and Dr. Delia Bauer for the help with the statistical analysis. Also, we are very grateful to Dr. Joaquín Cochero for the critical revision of the English version and to the anonymous referees whose comments substantially improved the manuscript. Financial support for this study was given by CONICET, PIP 296.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Limnología Dr. Raúl A. Ringuelet, UNLP-CONICET, C. C. 712, 1900, La Plata, Argentina

    María B. Sathicq, Nora Gómez & Jorge L. Donadelli

  2. Area de Toxicología, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, UNLP-CONICET, Calle 47 y 115 S/N, 1900, La Plata, Argentina

    Darío Andrinolo & Daniela Sedán

  3. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Calle 122 y 60 S/N, 1900, La Plata, Argentina

    Nora Gómez

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  1. María B. Sathicq
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Correspondence to María B. Sathicq.

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Sathicq, M.B., Gómez, N., Andrinolo, D. et al. Temporal distribution of cyanobacteria in the coast of a shallow temperate estuary (Río de la Plata): some implications for its monitoring. Environ Monit Assess 186, 7115–7125 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-014-3914-3

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