In this paper the authors discuss the effects of cold fronts on the dynamics of freshwater ecosystems of southeast South America. Cold fronts originating from the Antarctic show a monthly frequency that promotes turbulence and vertical mixing in reservoirs with a consequence to homogenize nutrient distribution, dissolved oxygen and temperature. Weak thermoclines and the athelomixis process immediately before, during and after the passage of cold fronts interfere with phytoplankton succession in reservoirs. Cyanobacteria blooms in eutrophic reservoirs are frequently connected with periods of stratification and stability of the water column. Cold fronts in the Amazon and Pantanal lakes may produce fish killings during the process of "friagem" associated mixing events. Further studies will try to implement a model to predict the impact of cold fronts and prepare management procedures in order to cope with cyanobacteria blooms during warm and stable water column periods. Changes in water quality of reservoirs are expected during circulation periods caused by cold fronts.Keywords: cold fronts, ecological dynamics, reservoirs, stability, turbulence, cyanobacteria blooms, water quality.Frentes frias e limnologia de reservatórios: uma abordagem integrada para a dinâmica ecológica dos ecossistemas de águas interiores ResumoNeste trabalho, os autores discutem o impacto das frentes frias na dinâmica dos ecossistemas de água doce da região sudeste da América do Sul e com repercussões no Centro Oeste e Amazônia. Frentes frias com origem no continente Antártico mostram uma frequência mensal que tem como consequência o aumento da turbulência e a mistura vertical em represas, homogeneizando a distribuição de nutrientes, de oxigênio dissolvido e a temperatura da água. Termoclinas fracamente estabilizadas e o processo de atelomixia imediatamente antes, durante e após a passagem das frentes frias intervêm na sucessão fitoplanctônica em represas. Frentes frias na Amazônia e Pantanal podem ser a causa da mortalidade em massa de peixes devido à remoção das camadas anóxicas do fundo dos lagos de várzea (friagem). Florescimentos de cianobactérias em reservatórios eutróficos são frequentemente relacionados com períodos de estratificação e estabilidade vertical da coluna de água. Futuros estudos deverão implementar um modelo preditivo que poderá ser fundamental no gerenciamento de reservatórios de abastecimento de água. Estes modelos terão a capacidade de prever frequência de florescimentos de cianobactérias e gerenciar melhor a qualidade da água desses reservatórios.Palavras-chave: frentes frias, dinâmica ecológica, reservatórios, estabilidade, turbulência, florações de cianobactérias, qualidade da água.

RESUMO: Com objetivo de caracterizar espacial e temporalmente os riachos da microbacia do rio São Francisco Verdadeiro, Marechal Cândido Rondon -PR, em função de fatores limnológicos, foram estabelecidas seis estações de coleta em três riachos (Curvado, Ajuricaba e Arroio Fundo), sendo uma estação na foz e outra na nascente. As coletas de água foram obtidas entre junho de 2005 e maio de 2006, totalizando 72 amostras. Foram analisadas as seguintes variáveis: temperatura, pH, condutividade elétrica, oxigênio dissolvido, turbidez, material em suspensão, fósforo total dissolvido, ortofosfato, nitrogênio total e nitrogênio amoniacal. De acordo com a análise de variância, houve baixa variabilidade entre as estações de coleta, porém a variação temporal demonstrou a influência do ciclo hidrológico. A análise de componentes principais (ACP) discriminou o sistema com base nos maiores valores registrados para as variáveis limnológicas, ficando separados os períodos influenciados pelas secas e pelas chuvas. A maior parte das variáveis está associada com o período de chuvas, no entanto há concentrações esporádicas de nutrientes na seca e menores valores de oxigênio dissolvido, demonstrando a dificuldade de diluição nesse período, causada pela diminuição da chuva e, consequentemente, do volume de água dos riachos. PALAVRAS-CHAVE:variáveis físicas e químicas, limnologia, material alóctone. SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL VARIATION I OF LIMNOLOGICAL FACTORS IN STREAMS OF THE MICRO-BASIN OF THE SÃO FRANCISCO VERDADEIRO RIVERABSTRACT: In order to characterize spatially and temporarily streams of the São Francisco Verdadeiro river micro-basin in Marechal Cândido Rondon, State of Paraná, Brazil, according to limnological factors, six sampling stations were established in three streams (Curvado, Ajuricaba and Arroio Fundo) -one station at the mouth of the river and other at the spring of the streams. Water samples were collected between June 2005 and May 2006, totalizing 72 samples. The following variables were analyzed: temperature, pH, electric conductivity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, suspended matter, total dissolved phosphorus, orthophosphate, total nitrogen and amoniacal nitrogen. According to ANOVA (variance analysis) it was observed low variability among the sampling stations however the temporal variation demonstrated the influence of the hydrologic cycle. The Principal Components Analysis (PCA) discriminated the system based on the largest values registered for the limnological variables separating the periods influenced by droughts and rains. Most of the variables are associated with the rain period; however, sporadic concentration of nutrients in the drought and smaller dissolved oxygen values indicates a dilution difficulty in this period, caused by decrease of rain and consequently decrease of water volume in the streams.

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Aim: This study aimed at analyzing the phytoplankton community in two stabilization ponds of a subtropical region regarding spatial and temporal composition, richness, and abundance, as well as the respective relationships with local abiotic factors. For this purpose, we tested the hypothesis that eutrophic discharges of sewage results in the maintenance of high-density phytoplankton community, mainly Cyanobacteria and Chlorophyceae, both spatially and seasonally, as well as the occurrence of a spatial and seasonal similarity between phytoplankton richness and density in stabilization ponds. Methods: We carried out monthly samplings of the phytoplankton community and environmental variables, between March 2011 and February 2012, in two stabilization ponds located in the city of Cascavel, West Paraná State, Brazil. Results: We observed that the sampled months presented a clear distinction regarding environmental variability, which did not occur for the ponds. We identified 39 taxa, with Cyanobacteria as the most representative group both in richness and density. We records low diversity and evenness of species and low phytoplankton spatial and temporal variability without significant differences between the richness and density mean values according to the periods and sampling station. Conductivity, nutrients, dissolved oxygen and turbidity were the major structuring environmental variables of phytoplankton. Conclusion: Our results corroborated our hypotheses considering the similar spatial and temporal phytoplankton distributions because of abiotic conditions behaving similarly, as well as the direct connection of the ponds. This paper points out the importance of such studies to proper management, including cyanobacteria control and operational decisions regarding stabilization ponds and the export of undesirable inoculum for receiving water bodies.