Benthic macroinvertebrates of a tropical lake: Lake Caçó, MA, Brazil

Benthic communities are highly relevant in the study of aquatic ecosystems, both for their role in the functioning of the ecosystem and also as markers or indicators of paleo-conditions. Their distribution, as in other communities, is conditioned by abiotic and biotic factors and to their interactions, which determine the structure of the community that is established. The aim of this study was to determine the taxonomic composition, abundance and spatial distribution of the benthic community, by collecting at 20 sampling sites in Caçó Lake (State of Maranhão, Brazil). Seasonal variation in these community parameters was analysed and related to the seasonal displacement of the Intertropical Convergence Zone. The results indicated that changes occur in the taxa richness, diversity and density of the benthic species of this lake that are mainly related to seasonality. All those parameters were higher in the dry than in the rainy period. The family Chironomidae (Diptera, Insecta) was the most important component of the community, representing approximately 50% of the total benthic fauna of the lake. The identification of the Chironomidae currently occurring in Lake Caçó is relevant, even at the genus level, considering the fact that this group produces fossilizing remains and could perhaps be good paleolimnological and paleoclimatic tracers that could be used to make inferences on past lake and climate conditions

Aquatic invertebrate's distribution in a freshwater coastal lagoon of southern Brazil in relation to water and sediment characteristics Distribuição de invertebrados aquáticos em uma lagoa costeira de água doce ao sul do Brasil em relação às características de água e sedimento

AIM: The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of water and sediment characteristics on the abundance, richness and diversity of the benthic invertebrate community in Peri lagoon, a freshwater coastal lagoon located in central coast of Santa Catarina State; METHODS: Samplings were performed in April, May and June 2009, in five different sites of Peri lagoon. The samples were taken with an Eckman-Birge drag, totalizing 60 for the invertebrate community, and 45 for sediment. Water physicochemical variables were also measured. Environmental influences in benthic community have been measured using a Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA). Linear regressions were also plotted for main correlations; RESULTS: A total of 5,535 specimens were collected, identified into 18 taxa. Tanaidacea was the most abundant representing 54% of relative abundance, followed by Diptera (23%), and Ostracoda (17%). The richest family was Chironomidae with 6 taxa. CCA results indicated positive correlation between Chaoborus and Stenocypris with local depth, and negative correlation between Odonata, Gastropoda, Cytheridella and Coleoptera with the finest grains of sediment, as well as between Tanaidacea, Lopescladius, Annelida and Nematoda with both organic matter (OM) content in sediment and local depth. Linear regression analysis demonstrated inverse relation of Tanaidacea in response to OM (y = 0.6 - 0.62.OM) and sand (y = 0.6 - 0.6.sand), and of Lopescladius in response to OM (y = 0.37 - 0.41.OM) and sand (y = 0.37 - 0.46.sand). The fact that Peri lagoon has no marine influence and has Tanaidacea as the most abundant taxa, a group not expected in freshwaters, gives to this lagoon a particular relevance among coastal lagoons. The study concluded that sediment characteristics and local depth are more significant than water variables in determining the benthic community structure in Peri lagoon, which varied in accordance with different local conditions.<br>OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a influência das características da água e sedimento na abundância, diversidade e riqueza da comunidade de invertebrados bentônicos na lagoa do Peri, uma lagoa costeira de água doce localizada em Santa Catarina. MÉTODOS: Foram realizadas 60 coletas para análise de invertebrados, e 45 para sedimento entre abril, maio e junho de 2009, em 5 diferentes pontos da lagoa com draga Eckman-Birge. Variáveis físicas e químicas da água também foram medidas. A influência dos fatores ambientais na comunidade foi medida através de uma Análise de Correspondência Canônica (CCA), e foram feitas regressões lineares para as principais correlações; RESULTADOS: Um total de 5,535 espécimes foram coletados, identificados em 18 táxons. Tanaidacea foi o mais abundante representando 54% da abundância relativa, seguido de Diptera (23%) e Ostracoda (17%). A família mais rica em gêneros foi Chironomidae (6 táxons). Os resultados da CCA revelaram correlação positiva entre Chaoborus e Stenocypris com a profundidade local, e negativa entre Odonata, Gastropoda, Cytheridella e Coleoptera com grãos finos, assim como entre Tanaidacea, Lopescladius, Annelida e Nematoda com a quantidade de matéria orgânica (MO) no sedimento e profundidade local. Regressões lineares demonstraram uma relação inversa de Tanaidacea em resposta a MO (y = 0.6 - 0.62.MO) e areia grossa (y = 0.6 - 0.6.are) assim como de Lopescladius em relação a MO (y = 0.37 - 0.41.MO) e areia grossa (y = 0.37 - 0.46.are). O fato da lagoa do Peri não ter influência do mar e ter Tanaidacea como táxon mais abundante, um grupo não esperado em ambientes de água doce, lhe confere destaque entre demais lagoas costeiras do Brasil. Através deste estudo concluímos que as características de sedimento e profundidade local foram mais importantes que variáveis da água na determinação da estrutura da comunidade de invertebradoss bentônicos na lagoa do Peri, que variou de acordo com características ambientais locais

Controlling factors of benthic macroinvertebrates distribution in a small tropical pond, lateral to the Paranapanema River (S\ue3o Paulo, Brazil)

AIM: The aim of the present study was to examine the benthic fauna in a marginal pond lateral to the Paranapanema River and to identify the main controlling factors of its distribution. Considering the small size of the lacustrine ecosystem, we expected that seasonal variations of the benthic community attributes are more important than spatial variations; METHODS: Two samplings, one in March and another in August, were carried out at nine sites in the pond. Sediment samples were obtained through a Van Veen grab for invertebrate sorting, granulometric analysis, and for quantification of organic matter in sediment. Other abiotic factors were measured, such as water transparency, dissolved oxygen, pH, electric conductivity, temperature, and depth of sediment sampling sites. Regarding the comparative analysis at spatial scale, no significant variations in density of the benthic invertebrate community were found. RESULTS: In relation to the studied abiotic factors, only depth presented significant differences among sampling sites; All the measured environmental parameters presented significant differences among sampling months, except depth and the physical and chemical characteristics of the sediment. The abundance of Chaoboridae and Chironomidae was the unique attribute with a significant difference in comparing the two months. A higher abundance of taxa occurred in August, especially for Oligochaeta, Nematoda, Chaoboridae, and Chironomidae; CONCLUSIONS: Because of the low structural complexity of the studied pond, we concluded that the changes in benthic macroinvertebrate community attributes were mainly due to seasonal effects