Structure seasonal of the algae periphyton community in Ninféias Lake (PEFI, São Paulo)

• Grant number: 12/09027-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2012
• End date: December 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Ecosystems Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Carla Ferragut
• Grantee: Vanessa Moraes Camargo
• Host Institution: Instituto de Botânica. Secretaria de Meio Ambiente, Infraestrutura e Logística (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The present study aims to assess the structural attributes of the periphytic algal community in the shallow mesotrophic reservoir, in order to identify the main environmental factors regulating the temporal variability of structural attributes in a natural substrate (Ninféias Lake, PEFI, São Paulo). This study will contribute information to the project "Influence of spatial heterogeneity on the structure and nutrient status (C, N, P) of periphyton, phytoplankton and metaphyton in the Ninféias Lake (PEFI, São Paulo)" (FAPESP: 2009/52253-4) recently completed. This proposal will contribute to the identification of species descriptors, diversity, and species richness of periphytic algal in Eleocharis R. Br., because among the natural substrates only this genus has not been studied. The water samples were taken within a macrophyte stand to determine the physical and chemical variables in four seasons, which were concomitant periphyton sampling. To better understand the seasonal variation of algal communities in aquatic macrophytes will be jointly analyzed climatic variables (rainfall, air temperature, and solar radiation) and the physical and chemical variables of water (transparency, radiation, temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, alkalinity, pH, total and dissolved nutrients). The Periphyton community will be analyzed by species composition (qualitative analysis), species density, species descriptors, and biological indices (diversity, dominance, evenness) and classified into functional groups of periphytic algae. Overall, the study may contribute to the understanding of the community structure of periphytic algae in the natural substrate in a shallow tropical reservoir.(AU)