Periphytic diatoms from an oligotrophic lentic system, Piraquara I reservoir, Paraná state, Brazil

Angela Maria Da Silva-Lehmkuhl,Thelma A Veiga Ludwig,Priscila Izabel Tremarin,Ilka Schincariol Vercellino

doi:10.1590/1676-0611-bn-2018-0568

Abstract

Abstract: Knowledge of biodiversity in oligotrophic aquatic ecosystems is fundamental to plan conservation strategies for protected areas. This study assessed the diatom diversity from an urban reservoir with oligotrophic conditions. The Piraquara I reservoir is located in an Environmental Protection Area and is responsible for the public supply of Curitiba city and the metropolitan region. Samples were collected seasonally between October 2007 and August 2008. Periphytic samples were obtained by removing the biofilm attached to Polygonum hydropiperoides stems and to glass slides. The taxonomic study resulted in the identification of 87 diatom taxa. The most representative genera regarding the species richness were Pinnularia (15 species) and Eunotia (14 species). Five species were registered for the first time in Brazil and seven in the State of Paraná. Taxonomic and ecological comments of the species registered are provided.

Highlights

Diatoms are considered one of the most representative groups of microalgae due to the number of described species
We used stems of the macrophyte Polygonum hydropiperoides Michaux that were collected near the reservoir margin
The artificial substrates were placed at about 80 meters far from the margin of the reservoir to prevent being eventually trapped in the macrophytes by the wind action

Summary

Introduction

Diatoms are considered one of the most representative groups of microalgae due to the number of described species. Diatoms release mucilage through raphe, rimoportulae and apical pore fields, facilitating the frustule adhesion to different types of substrates. This strategy contributes to diatoms representativeness in the periphytic community (Round et al 1990, Lowe 1996). Inventories using substrates with different surface types usually hold a great algal diversity (Ács et al 2000). Diatom inventories should be carried out in a great number of different environments and using diverse substrates to maximize the recovery of new species, extend the distribution of known species and better define their ecological preferences, which increase the reliability of environmental diagnostics

Methods

Results

Conclusion