Temporal and spacial assessment of water quality and plankton in an aquaculture farm of subtropical freshwater: changes during the last 15 years

• Grant number: 12/11558-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: November 01, 2012
• End date: February 28, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Fishery Resources and Fishery Engineering - Aquaculture
• Principal Investigator: Lúcia Helena Sipaúba Tavares
• Grantee: Rodrigo Ney Millan
• Host Institution: Centro de Aquicultura (CAUNESP). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Current project evaluates possible changes in water quality and the constitution of plankton communities during the last fifteen years in a subtropical fresh water aquaculture farm (CAUNESP). The plankton's quality and quantity analyses will be undertaken at all sampling sites (P1-P5) and all plankton will be collected and fixed. A functional classification based on ecological attributes and species behavior will be employed to interpret data on the plankton community and the physical and chemical analyses of water will be undertaken in all the above mentioned sites. Collections will be undertaken during five consecutive days each both in the dry and in the rainy seasons. Zooplankton community will be collected for more five consecutive days. Data will be compared with those of older projects done during the last ten years of research at the Laboratory of Limnology and Plankton Production so that the effect of intensive production of water organisms on water quality during the period could be reported. Results will pinpoint possible defects in the system and indicate improvements so that production could be achieved within an environmental excellence. Control of environmental conditions is currently relevant for the improvement of fish breeding system and the maintenance of aquatic organisms which depend on water monitoring through studies on allochthonous and autochthonous factors. They will thus furnish better information which may provide excellent types of management practice for fish breeding.