Phytoplankton community structure of the São Francisco river estuary (Piaçabuçu-Alagoas-Brazil): a study of its diversity

Authors

  • Enaide Marinho Melo-Magalhães UFAL
  • Ariadne Nascimento Moura Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco-UFRPE
  • Paulo Ricardo Petter Medeiros Universidade Federal de Alagoas-UFAL
  • Elvidio Landim do Rego Lima CHESF/ANEEL
  • Maria Luise Koening Universidade Federal de Pernambuco-UFPE

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14210/bjast.v15n1.p95-105

Abstract

Studies aimed at determining phytoplankton composition, biomass, ecology and some physical-chemical characteristics of the São Francisco estuary were conducted at 7 sampling stations located in Piaçabuçu-Alagoas (10º25’-10°30’S and 36º23’-36º27W) during the rainy and dry seasons. The samples were obtained from the subsurface layer at neap and spring tides, during high and low tides, using a plankton net with 45 um mesh size. The waters from this estuary are characterized by low salinity, high temperatures, pH between alkaline and slightly acid, transparency greater than 1 meter. The phytoplankton was composed of 205 taxa, mainly distributed between the divisions Chlorophyta and Bacillariophyta, considered the most representative. The diatom Aulacoseira ambigua was considered dominant. Most of the species identified were planktonic and of freshwater origin. Specific diversity and equitability were considered average and high, indicating conditions of environmental equilibrium in the studied area. The analysis of variance in taxonomic richness revealed higher averages for the dry season and for high tides. Chlorophyll a content ranged between 0.4ug/L and 24,4ug/L. The annual variation of phytoplankton and physical-chemical parameters was related to rainfall.

Author Biographies

Enaide Marinho Melo-Magalhães, UFAL

Universidade Federal de Alagoas (UFAL). Instituto de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (ICBS). Laboratórios Integrados de Ciências do Mar e Naturais (LABMAR)

Ariadne Nascimento Moura, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco-UFRPE

Programa de Pós-Graduação em Botânica

Paulo Ricardo Petter Medeiros, Universidade Federal de Alagoas-UFAL

Laboratórios Integrados de Ciências do Mar e Naturais (LABMAR)

Maria Luise Koening, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco-UFPE

Programa de Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia

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Published

2011-09-26

Issue

Vol. 15 No. 1 (2011)

Section

Research Articles

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