a b s t r a c tThe ecology of phytoplankton reservoir communities plays a pivotal role in their management and in the development of inland fisheries in the water scarce semi-arid regions of Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil. The hydrological conditions characterizing these reservoirs include infrequent rainfall and high evaporative loses. The phytoplankton assemblages in tropical climate are structured primarily on dry and wet cycles, not the annual temperature and light regime. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the ecological aspects of phytoplankton communities from three reservoirs during the period of July 2003-June 2004, which include atypical summer rainfall and reservoir overflow. The environmental data broadly divided into two categories, stress factors and disturbance factors. The stress factors deals with the impact of high particulate organic matter and low dissolved oxygen concentrations and disturbance factors, linked to water level fluctuation through flushing and reservoir drawdown, and these events are associated with the phytoplankton assemblages. Results indicated that the three distinct hydroperiods determined the structure of phytoplankton and chlorophyll levels and limited the presence and relative abundance of cyanobacterial species. Phytoplankton succession accompanied changes in clear and turbid water phase represented by the alternate dominance between diatoms and chlorophytes. Inundation and complete filling of reservoir stimulated ''s'' and ''r'' strategists species (o20 um) of unicellular and some colonial members of chlorophytes and cryptomonads in highly turbid water environment, and ''c'' strategist species in rest of the wet period following disturbance gradients. Statistical analysis elicited a significant relationship between particulate organic matter and relative abundance of smaller chlorophytes, which was deemed as stress factor. The flushing and reservoir drawdown indicate disturbance gradient and as a consequence high diversity. Furthermore, a substantial reduction in chlorophyll levels was registered in turbid water phase is related to the reduction of light penetration and re-suspension of sediments. Considering these results, it can be suggested that the well-managed reservoir drawdown can possibly maintain an environment free of eutrophication and cyanobacterial dominance.

The current study analysed spatial-temporal modifications of the phytoplankton community and water quality, during dry and wet seasons. The phytoplankton community was studied in three areas: Armando Ribeiro Gonçalves Reservoir (ARG), which is an important public use reservoir in RN, Pataxó Channel (PC-before water treatment), Itajá, RN, and after the water treatment (WTP). Water samples from the reservoir were collected during both dry (January, February and November, 2006) and wet seasons (March to June, 2006). Quali-quantitative analyses of phytoplankton were carried out. Results indicated a qualitative similarity of the phytoplankton community in the three areas. However, significant differences were registered in these areas in relation to species relative abundance, with dominance of potentially toxic cyanobacteria, such as Planktothrix agardhii Gomont (dry season) and Microcystis aeruginosa Kutz (wet season). Ecological indexes obtained higher values before water treatment. Nevertheless, densities of cyanobacteria (organisms/mL) gradually reduced in the waters of the reservoir and of the Pataxó Channel before and after water treatment. After the treatment, density values of cyanobacteria were adequate for human consumption, according to the values established by the Health Ministry.Keywords: Pataxó Channel/RN, Phytoplankton, biological indicator, water quality. Comunidade fitoplanctônica: indicadora da qualidade da água no Canal do Pataxó/RNResumo O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar as mudanças espaço-temporais da comunidade fitoplanctônica e a qualidade da água, durante os períodos de estiagem e de chuvas. A comunidade fitoplanctônica foi estudada em três estações distintas: na Barragem Armando Ribeiro Gonçalves (ARG -um importante reservatório de abastecimento públi-co no RN), no Canal do Pataxó (PC -antes do tratamento da água), Itajá, RN; e depois da Estação de Tratamento da Água (WTP). Na barragem foram realizadas amostras da água em ambos os períodos de estiagem (janeiro, fevereiro e novembro 2006) e de chuvas (março a junho 2006). A metodologia compreendeu análises quali-quantitivas do fitoplâncton. Os resultados indicaram uma semelhança qualitativa da comunidade fitoplanctônica nos três pontos de estudo. Contudo, ocorreram diferenças significativas entre a abundância relativa das espécies, com a dominância de cianobactérias potencialmente tóxicas, como Planktothrix agardhii Gomont (período de estiagem) e Microcystis aeruginosa Kutz (período de chuvas), nas três áreas estudadas. Os índices ecológicos obtiveram maiores valores antes da Estação de Tratamento da Água. Todavia, as densidades de cianobactérias (organismos/mL) diminuíram gradativamente nas águas da barragem, canal antes e após o tratamento, tornando-se, após o tratamento da água, apropriada ao consumo humano, segundo os valores preconizados pelo Ministério da Saúde. Palavras-chave:Canal do Pataxó/RN, fitoplâncton, indicador biológico, qualidade da água. Chellappa, NT., Câmara, FRA. and Rocha, O. 242 Braz. J. Biol.,...

The present study focuses on the structure and function of phytoplankton community during periods of marked changes in hydrological traits, influenced by an atypical climatic event (La Niña) and its impact on Armando Ribeiro Gonçalves Reservoir of Rio Grande do Norte, situated in the Caatinga biome of northeastern Brazil. The main questions addressed were: What are the effects of environmental factors on the temporal variation of Morphologically Based Functional Group (MBFG) of phytoplankton community? How does the composition of cyanobacterial species shift in relation to high and low trends of phytoplankton diversity? The samples were collected monthly during 2008-2009 and analyzed for pH, temperature, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen content and the nutrients, such as, nitrate-nitrogen, ammoniacal nitrogen, total nitrogen and orthophosphate. Phytoplankton samples were collected for both qualitative and quantitative analyses to evaluate species richness index and species diversity index. The data was divided into two distinct hydrodynamic periods of instability and stability. The results demonstrate considerable changes in dissolved oxygen content, water transparency and nitrogen nutrients, which directly influenced the MBFG of phytoplankton community in space and time. The instability of reservoir water was caused by heavy rainfall, which exerts atypical external disturbances. The seasonal variation of MBFG demonstrates a change in cyanobacterial composition and their diversity during instability and stability periods. MBFG VII, composed by colonial cyanobacteria with mucilage, was associated with reduced values of electrical conductance and alterations in pH. The predominance of filamentous species with heterocyst (MBFG III) occurs only during the hydrodynamic stability period and did not show significant association with analyzed parameters. The co-dominance of MBGFs III, V and VII along with high species diversity of phytoplankton community occurred during the second hydrodynamic instability period which was associated with the reduction in water temperature. It is concluded that the decrease in cyanobacterial species dominance and the general increase in the diversity of phytoplankton community are influenced by pluvial anomaly. The higher water level during the period of pluvial anomaly resulted in nutrient pulse and the mixing of water column in the reservoir, which determined the MBPG phytoplankton community distribution.Keywords: hydrodynamism, environmental factors, phytoplankton community, morphofunctional groups. Alterações morfofuncionais da comunidade fitoplanctônica durante anomalia pluvial em um reservatório tropicalResumo O presente estudo centra-se na estrutura e função da comunidade fitoplanctônica nos períodos de alterações marcantes nas características hidrológicas, influenciado por um evento climático atípico (La Niña) e seu impacto sobre o Reservatório: Armando Ribeiro Gonçalves, no Rio Grande do Norte, situado no bioma Caatinga, localizado na Região Nordeste do Brasil. ...

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