Abstract
Water samples, zooplankton community and sediment samples were analyzed at three sites in a pond receiving wastes, bi-weekly for seven months, covering the rainy and dry seasons. Water quality parameters failed to show significant differences between the sites for turbidity, total suspended solids, dissolved oxygen, transparency, conductivity, alkalinity and total phosphorous. Only temperature was different between the seasons. In the case of sediment, only aluminum (Al) was not different during the experimental period when highest calcium (Ca) concentrations were reported. The relative abundance of Rotifera during the sampling period reached 80-96% (rainy season) and 59-98% (dry season) in total zooplankton. Current study demonstrated that the water quality of shallow pond associated with allochthonous materials from aquaculture farm significantly influenced the structure of zooplankton assemblage due to high nutrient concentrations, conductivity, alkalinity and chlorophyll-a causing more fertilized water. However, heavy rains (February-April) and continuous water flow favored aeration (dissolved oxygen >5.2 ± 1 mg L-1). The use of pond water for agricultural irrigation or for other purposes, must be analyzed more effectively, avoiding problems caused by its usage.
Highlights
The growth of aquaculture in Brazil has revealed that allochthonous material from aquaculture farms has caused serious problems in water quality, with wastes discharged without any type of treatment in the receiving bodies
Due to management practices of aquaculture farm, chlorophyll-a was high during the sampling period, mainly in the rainy season ranging between 65 ± 19 μg L-1 (FP) and 77 ± 17 μg L-1 (IW); in the dry season the highest concentration was reported at FP with 42 ± 12 μg L-1
Conductivity was above 99 ± 6 μS cm-1 (FP–rainy season) and dissolved oxygen concentrations was above 5.2 ± 1 mg L-1 (WO–rainy season), during the sampling period
Summary
The growth of aquaculture in Brazil has revealed that allochthonous material from aquaculture farms has caused serious problems in water quality, with wastes discharged without any type of treatment in the receiving bodies. Ponds receive good water quality which is transformed throughout its course within the aquaculture farm. The above, is due to management practices, producing several wastes such as fertilizers, Sipaúba-Tavares et al, Bol. Inst. The use of shallow ponds closes to the water bodies to receive wastes, may minimize the negative effects of aquaculture wastes. The pond under analysis used for agricultural irrigation. It is highly relevant to realize the importance of water quality in the irrigation of agricultural produce, frequently causing health problems
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