Distance decay as a descriptor of the diatom compositional variation in tropical reservoirs

Author(s)

Marquardt, Gisele C. ^[1] ; Blanco, Saul ^[2] ; Bicudo, Carlos E. de M. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Inst Bot, Dept Ecol, Ave Miguel Estefano 3687, BR-04301012 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Inst Environm, La Serna 58, E-24007 Leon - Spain

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: MARINE AND FRESHWATER RESEARCH; v. 69, n. 1, p. 105-113, 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 2

Abstract

In the present study, distance decay was used as a descriptor of the compositional variation in diatom communities' similarity between different habitats (phytoplankton and surface sediment) and seasons (summer and winter; only for phytoplankton) along a geographical gradient of similar to 64 km over six reservoirs located in south-east Brazil. Whether rates of decay in similarity changed with distance in tropical biological communities was tested, and the degree to which dispersal (geographic distance) and niche (habitat association) processes explain variation in the diatom communities was estimated. In addition, whether the diatom assemblage captured in the surface sediment reflected the water column assemblage events was evaluated. Distance-decay curves were estimated using linear regressions. Partial Mantel tests were performed to examine the significance of relationships among the biological, environmental and spatial datasets. Similarity decreased significantly with distance between habitats and seasons, but the results were not statistically significant for surface sediment assemblages. All diatom communities were controlled more by limited dispersal than by environmental factors, probably as a result of the water quality and scale of the study area. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 98/04955-3 - Algaflora of the State of São Paulo
• Grantee: Carlos Eduardo de Mattos Bicudo
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 13/10314-2 - Comparison of biodiversity and distribution of planktonic diatoms, periphytic and surface sediments in six reservoirs in the southern state of São Paulo
• Grantee: Gisele Carolina Marquardt
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 09/53898-9 - Paleolimnological reconstruction of Guarapiranga Reservoir and diagnosis of water and sediment current quality of SPMR water supply reservoirs facing their management
• Grantee: Carlos Eduardo de Mattos Bicudo
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants