Limnology in the Upper Paraná River floodplain: large-scale spatial and temporal patterns, and the influence of reservoirs

Brazilian Journal of Biology

Mc. Roberto²  Nf. Santana¹  Sm. Thomaz¹ 

[1] ,Universidade Estadual de Maringá Núcleo de Pesquisa em Limnologia, Ictiologia e Aqüicultura Laboratório de Limnologia BásicaMaringá PR ,Brazil

关键词: floodplain;    abiotic factors;    temporal and spatial variation;    productivity;    planície de inundação;    fatores abióticos;    variação temporal e espacial;    produtividade;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S1519-69842009000300025

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

Knowledge of abiotic limnological factors is important to monitor changes caused by humans, and to explain the structure and dynamics of populations and communities in a variety of inland water ecosystems. In this study, we used a long term data-set (eight years) collected in 10 habitats with different features (river channels, and connected and isolated lakes) to describe the spatial and temporal patterns of some of the principal limnological factors. In general, the degree of connectivity of the lakes, together with the rivers to which the lakes are connected, were important determinants of their limnological characteristics. These differences are expected, because rivers entering the floodplain come from different geological regions and are subject to different human impacts. At large spatial scales, these differences contribute to the increased habitat diversity of the floodplain and thus to its high biodiversity. With regard to temporal variation, Secchi-disk transparency increased, and total phosphorus decreased in the Paraná River main channel during the last 20 years. Although these changes are directly attributed to the several reservoir cascades located upstream, the closing of the Porto Primavera dam in 1998 enhanced this effect. The increase in water transparency explains biotic changes within the floodplain. The lower-phosphorus Paraná River water probably dilutes concentrations of this element in the floodplain waterbodies during major floods, with future consequences for their productivity.

【 授权许可】

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