Rainfall increases the biomass and drives the taxonomic and morpho-functional groups variability of phytoplankton in a subtropical urban lake

Abstract

Aim To explore the short-term effects of rainfall events on the biomass, density, and richness of the phytoplankton community during dry and rainy periods, as well as on the selection and response of Morphology-Based Functional Groups (MBFG). Methods The phytoplankton community and abiotic environmental variables were sampled over a short period in a subtropical urban lake during the dry and rainy seasons (2018-2019). Generalized Linear Models (GLMs) were generated to analyze the relationship between phytoplankton biovolume, density, and richness with abiotic variables. The predictability of phytoplankton functional groups was assessed using Redundancy Analysis (RDA). Results There was an increase in the density and biovolume of the phytoplankton community during the rainy period. Species richness decreased with increased rainfall. The lake exhibited a high dominance of Cyanobacteria (MBFG VIII), mainly represented by Raphidiopsis raciborskii (Woloszynska) Aguilera in both periods studied. Conclusions We found evidence supporting the hypothesis that rainfall events increase the density and biovolume of phytoplankton. Morphology-based functional groups served as efficient indicators of the lake's environmental conditions.