Spatial Response of Epilithic Diatom Communities to Downstream Nutrient Increases

Abstract

To monitor water quality and investigate relationships between downstream nutrient increases and diatom communities in the Pardo River Basin, Brazil, water and diatom samples were collected between 2005 and 2009. There were significant differences in diatom community composition among all river zones, with the greatest differences found between the upper and lower reaches. Significant changes were detected in relative abundances of diatom species and spatial structuring was evident. Dissolved oxygen, phosphates, turbidity, Eicherichia coli, and total dissolved solids were the most important variables shaping diatom communities, characterizing an organic pollution and eutrophication gradient. However, the hypothesis of sensitive species prevailing upstream and their gradual downstream replacement for more tolerant species was not confirmed because shifts in relative abundances of the same group of species in both the upper and lower reaches of the rivers were identified.

Comparative responses of dominant and subordinate periphytic diatom species to environmental gradients in Donghu Lake, China

“…Relative abundance is widely used in research on environmental assessments (Maraslioglu et al, ; Schuch et al, ; Tan et al, 2015). Gillett et al () separated all species into four groups: core species (high abundance and high occurrence) and satellite/rare species (low abundance and low occurrence), urban species (low abundance and high occurrence) and rural species (high abundance and low occurrence).…”

“…The impacts of human activities on freshwater ecosystems have resulted in a continuous deterioration of water quality. Growing overloads of nutrients, phosphorus, and nitrogen, lead to the phenomenon known as eutrophication (Schuch et al, ). Thus, efficient assessment tools for monitoring water environment are necessary.…”

Water quality assessment methods of the highland Andean rivers: A scoping systematic review

“…According to Schuch et al [ 73 ], more than traditional techniques based on physical, chemical, and bacteriological characteristics are required to efficiently evaluate freshwater bodies due to the versatility of the uses they may have. Therefore, integrated quality analyses that consider the biological aspects of the system may be methodologies of greater assertiveness compared to traditional ones.…”

Diatomeas como bioindicadores: Aspectos ecológicos de la respuesta de las algas a la eutrofización en América Latina

“…El uso de diatomeas para la evaluación de la calidad del agua ha recibido poca atención, y la mayoría de las investigaciones se han concentrado en el uso de índices bióticos, especialmente en la región sur (p. ej., Lobo et al, 2002Lobo et al, , 2004aLobo et al, ,b, 2010Lobo et al, , 2014Lobo et al, , 2015Lobo et al, , 2016aLobo et al, ,b, 2017Hermany et al, 2006;Salomoni et al, 2006Salomoni et al, , 2011Düpont et al, 2007;Bes, et al, 2012;Schuch, et al, 2012Schuch, et al, , 2015Böhm, et al, 2013;Heinrich, et al, 2014). En Lobo (2013) y Lobo et al (2014) se presenta una revisión detallada de los estudios relacionados con el uso de diatomeas epilíticas como organismos indicadores en los sistemas lóticos del sur de Brasil.…”