Zooplankton richness, abundance and biomass of two hypertrophic shallow lakes with different salinity

The zooplankton of lakes is controlled by biological and physico-chemical parameters. Among the former, predation by fish can determine the replacement of large-sized species by small-sized ones and among the latter, salinity exerts negative effects on richness and abundance. Since it has been suggested that saline lakes without fishes have higher zooplankton biomass than low salinity ones, the aim of this study was to determine the richness, abundance and biomass of zooplankton in two lakes with different salinity and test the hypothesis that in the presence of zooplanktivorous fishes and at equal concentrations of nutrients and chlorophyll a, saline lakes have higher biomass than those with low salinity. The study was conducted in two shallow lakes of the Province of La Pampa (central Argentina): a subsaline lake and a hyposaline lake, which shared high concentrations of chlorophyll a and total phosphorus, reduced transparency and presence of planktivorous fish. Zooplankton richness was different and higher in the subsaline lake, whereas abundance and total biomass were similar, even when the taxonomic groups were considered separately. It is suggested that the presence of a halotolerant planktivorous fish controlled the size of zooplankton due to the predation on larger species and prevented the development of higher biomass in the saline lake, which is an important difference from previously recorded situations. This study shows that, regardless of the differences in salinity, the top-down effect in the food chain may have been a factor that equalized the zooplankton biomass by allowing only the development of small species and highlights the possible importance of fish predation in determining chlorophyll a concentrations and water transparency.Fil: Echaniz, Santiago Andrés. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Vignatti, Alicia María. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Cabrera, Gabriela Cecilia. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Jose, Susana Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto Nacional de Limnología. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto Nacional de Limnología; Argentin

Flúor en cuerpos de agua superficiales de la provincia de La Pampa

The main source of fluoride in superficial or groundwater is the solubilization of fluorinated mineral compounds. Although it is an oligonutrient, its excess can be toxic to organisms. In La Pampa there is information about its concentrations in groundwater, the main source of many cities and towns. The information referred to superficial waters is scarce, which makes it difficult to estimate their possible effects on aquatic organisms. The objective was to know the fluoride concentrations in pampean aquatic ecosystems and analyze if they are superior to the guide levels for biota protection. Samples were taken between 2002 and 2017 in 27 aquatic ecosystems. Flouride determinations were made with the SPANDS colorimetric method. Concentrations varied between 0.2 and 13.89 mg.L-1 and exceeded the national guideline for aquatic biota protection (1.4 mg.L-1) in 22 ecosystems. There was a correlation with salinity, since higher concentrations were registered in saline shallow lakes. No regional distribution pattern was detected but the highest concentrations (>9 mg.L-1) were recorded in northern lakes. The values of La Pampa, slightly higher than those of most of the water bodies in the province of Buenos Aires, were similar to those of Chasicó Lake, in the southwest of that province.La principal fuente de flúor en aguas superficiales o subterráneas es la solubilización de compuestos fluorados de minerales. El flúor es un oligonutriente, pero su exceso puede ser tóxico para los organismos. En la provincia de La Pampa existe información sobre las concentraciones de fluoruro en aguas subterráneas, debido a que son la principal fuente de agua para consumo humano en muchas localidades. Sin embargo, la información sobre sus concentraciones en aguas superficiales es escasa y dificulta estimar sus posibles efectos sobre organismos acuáticos. El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar las concentraciones de fluoruro en ecosistemas acuáticos someros de La Pampa y analizar si son superiores a los niveles guía de protección a la biota. Se tomaron muestras entre 2002 y 2017 en 27 ecosistemas. Las determinaciones de fluoruro se hicieron con el método colorimétrico SPANDS. Las concentraciones de F variaron entre 0,2 y 13,89 mg.L-1 y superaron el nivel guía nacional para protección de la biota acuática (1,4 mg.L-1)  en 22 de los ecosistemas estudiados. Se encontró correlación entre la concentración de F y la salinidad y las lagunas salinas tuvieron concentraciones más altas de fluoruro. No se detectó un patrón de distribución regional, aunque los mayores niveles (>9 mg.L-1 F) se determinaron en lagunas del norte. Las concentraciones de fluoruro en la provincia de La Pampa, fueron más elevadas que las de la mayoría de las aguas superficiales de la provincia de Buenos Aires, aunque fueron similares a los de Chasicó, en el sudoeste bonaerense

Dynamics of the limnological parameters and zooplankton of La Brava, a shallow lake of the Atuel-Salado-Chadileuvú-Curacó system (La Pampa, Argentina)

La Brava is a shallow lake that is different from others of La Pampa, as it is part of the fluvial system of Desaguadero-Atuel-Salado-Chadileuvú-Curacó rivers. However, dams built upstream disrupt runoff, so water only enters when excessive snowfall in the Andes mountains forces the reservoirs to be opened. Once water enters, it is slowly lost through evaporation, which can lead to drying of the lake. As the ecology of La Brava is unknown, the objective of this study was to determine the limnological parameters, density and taxonomic composition of zooplankton during a period that contained water and salinity increased by evaporation. Samples between January 2009 and November 2010 were taken. The maximum depth (2.1 m) was recorded in October 2009 but declined and in November 2010 was 0.66 m. Na+ and Cl- predominated in ionic composition and the salinity rose from 15.83 to 49.89 g.L-1. The mean transparency was 0.65 m (±0.12) and despite the high concentration of nutrients (TP: 6.02 ±2.87; TKN: 11.17 ±5.92 mg.L-1) the phytoplankton chlorophyll-a concentration was reduced (1.29 ±1.27 mg.m-3). One cladoceran, four copepods and eight rotifers were registered. The greatest diversity was observed during the first month, specially provided by rotifers, when the group reached its greatest density (385.8 ind.L-1), especially given by Brachionus plicatilis Müller, 1786. Increasing salinity affects the diversity, so in June and August 2009 the copepod Boeckella gracilis (Daday, 1902) was recorded, later replaced by the halotolerant Boeckella poopoensis Marsh, 1906. October 2009 was the only occasion when the cladoceran Daphnia menucoensis Paggi, 1996 was registered, in low density (5.7 ind.L-1). Despite their differences with other Pampean environments, in La Brava the typical zooplankton association of the center of the country and northern Patagonia was found, but it differs from another lake of Curacó system where only the halophilic anostracan Artemia persimilis Piccinelli & Prosdocimi, 1968 was registered.Fil: del Ponti, Omar. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Cabrera, Gabriela Cecilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Confluencia; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Vignatti, Alicia María. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Confluencia; ArgentinaFil: Echaniz, Santiago Andrés. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Confluencia; Argentin

Características limnológicas de una laguna turbia orgánica de la provincia de La Pampa y variación estacional del zooplancton

In La Pampa province, shallow lakes (water bodies of low depth, generally polimictic and with high trophic level) are abundant and broadly distributed. Although previous contributions on these shallow lakes are about their ecology and zooplankton, only recently studies have shed light about nutrient concentrations, chlorophyll a and their influence on the zooplankton biomass. It has also been determined that phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations are higher than other shallow lakes of similar characteristics from other regions. The objectives of this contribution are to perform a limnological characterization of an extensive shallow seepage lake with medium salinity and high trophic level of the east-central region of La Pampa province, strongly influenced by human activity. We also present information on the taxonomic composition and abundance and biomass variations of the zooplankton. We took monthly samples from December 2005 to December 2006. In the past, this lake was a temporary lake, but recently it receives water from sewage treatment plants of Santa Rosa city and its pluvial drainages. This lake has now an important tourist and recreational value related to its condition of permanent lake and the presence of silversides (Odontesthes bonariensis). The zooplankton specific richness (15 taxa) was lower than other organic turbid shallow lakes of La Pampa, but closer to the observed in other high salinity shallow lakes. Another common feature with shallow saline lakes of La Pampa was the prevalence, among the microcrustaceans, of the halophilic calanoid Boeckella poopoensis. Cladocerans, on the other hand, were rarely registered; they had very low abundances and they were small-sized, since they could not prosper related to the predatory pressure by the planktivorous fish that inhabit this lakeInstituto de Limnología "Raúl A. Ringuelet

Características limnológicas de una laguna turbia orgánica de la provincia de La Pampa y variación estacional del zooplancton

In La Pampa province, shallow lakes (water bodies of low depth, generally polimictic and with high trophic level) are abundant and broadly distributed. Although previous contributions on these shallow lakes are about their ecology and zooplankton, only recently studies have shed light about nutrient concentrations, chlorophyll a and their influence on the zooplankton biomass. It has also been determined that phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations are higher than other shallow lakes of similar characteristics from other regions. The objectives of this contribution are to perform a limnological characterization of an extensive shallow seepage lake with medium salinity and high trophic level of the east-central region of La Pampa province, strongly influenced by human activity. We also present information on the taxonomic composition and abundance and biomass variations of the zooplankton. We took monthly samples from December 2005 to December 2006. In the past, this lake was a temporary lake, but recently it receives water from sewage treatment plants of Santa Rosa city and its pluvial drainages. This lake has now an important tourist and recreational value related to its condition of permanent lake and the presence of silversides (Odontesthes bonariensis). The zooplankton specific richness (15 taxa) was lower than other organic turbid shallow lakes of La Pampa, but closer to the observed in other high salinity shallow lakes. Another common feature with shallow saline lakes of La Pampa was the prevalence, among the microcrustaceans, of the halophilic calanoid Boeckella poopoensis. Cladocerans, on the other hand, were rarely registered; they had very low abundances and they were small-sized, since they could not prosper related to the predatory pressure by the planktivorous fish that inhabit this lakeInstituto de Limnología "Raúl A. Ringuelet

El Zooplancton de dos lagos someros del sur de la Formación Meauco (ProvincIa de la Pampa, Argentina)

The Meauco Formation, a dune region of the central Pampa province, has numerous shallow lakes. Although there is hydrological information about them, it is very scarce about their limnological characteristics. The objectives are to know the physical-chemical and zooplankton parameters of two nearby shallow lakes, with and without fishes: Santa Isabel I (SI I) and Santa Isabel II (I II) respectively, and determine the influence of zooplankton on phytoplankton biomass and transparency. It was sampled during 2018 and 2019. In both the mean salinity were less than 1g.L-1 and the Secchi disk depth was around 0.45m. The chlorophyll concentrations varied between 9.32 and 11.63 mg.m-3. Seven cladocerans, 4 copepods and 20 rotifers were recorded. Most of the taxa were shared by both lakes, however, 20 rotifers were recorded in SI I and 13 in SI II. The total zooplankton density did not differ, but SI I had greater abundance of rotifers (69% of total) and SI II of crustaceans (72%). The presence of fish influences the zooplankton composition but its small size, even in the absence of fish, makes it have little influence on the phytoplankton; therefore, no differences were found in the transparency and phytoplankton biomass of both lakes.La Formación Meauco, región medanosa del centro de La Pampa, tiene numerosas lagunas. Si bien existe información hidrológica, el conocimiento sobre sus características limnológicas es escaso. Los objetivos son conocer parámetros físico-químicos y del zooplancton de dos lagunas cercanas, Santa Isabel I (SI I), con una población de pejerrey (Odontesthes bonariensis) y Santa Isabel II (SI II), sin peces, y evaluar la influencia del zooplancton sobre la biomasa fitoplanctónica y transparencia. Se muestreó durante 2018 y 2019. En ambas la salinidad fue menor a 1 g.L-1 y la profundidad del disco de Secchi rondó 0,45 m. Sus concentraciones de clorofila-a variaron entre 9,32 y 11,63 mg.m-3. Se registraron 7 taxa de cladóceros, 4 de copépodos y 20 de rotíferos, la mayor parte compartidos por ambas lagunas. Sin embargo, en SI I se registraron 20 rotíferos y en SI II 13. La densidad total no difirió, pero SI I tuvo mayor abundancia de rotíferos (69% del total) y SI II de crustáceos (72%). La presencia de peces influye sobre la composición del zooplancton, pero el tamaño pequeño de éste, aún en ausencia de peces, hace que tenga poca influencia sobre el fitoplancton; por lo que no se encontraron diferencias en la transparencia y biomasa fitoplanctónica de ambas lagunas

Características limnológicas de una laguna turbia orgánica de la provincia de La Pampa y variación estacional del zooplancton

In La Pampa province, shallow lakes (water bodies of low depth, generally polimictic and with high trophic level) are abundant and broadly distributed. Although previous contributions on these shallow lakes are about their ecology and zooplankton, only recently studies have shed light about nutrient concentrations, chlorophyll a and their influence on the zooplankton biomass. It has also been determined that phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations are higher than other shallow lakes of similar characteristics from other regions. The objectives of this contribution are to perform a limnological characterization of an extensive shallow seepage lake with medium salinity and high trophic level of the east-central region of La Pampa province, strongly influenced by human activity. We also present information on the taxonomic composition and abundance and biomass variations of the zooplankton. We took monthly samples from December 2005 to December 2006. In the past, this lake was a temporary lake, but recently it receives water from sewage treatment plants of Santa Rosa city and its pluvial drainages. This lake has now an important tourist and recreational value related to its condition of permanent lake and the presence of silversides (Odontesthes bonariensis). The zooplankton specific richness (15 taxa) was lower than other organic turbid shallow lakes of La Pampa, but closer to the observed in other high salinity shallow lakes. Another common feature with shallow saline lakes of La Pampa was the prevalence, among the microcrustaceans, of the halophilic calanoid Boeckella poopoensis. Cladocerans, on the other hand, were rarely registered; they had very low abundances and they were small-sized, since they could not prosper related to the predatory pressure by the planktivorous fish that inhabit this lakeIn La Pampa province, shallow lakes (water bodies of low depth, generally polimictic and with high trophic level) are abundant and broadly distributed. Although previous contributions on these shallow lakes are about their ecology and zooplankton, only recently studies have shed light about nutrient concentrations, chlorophyll a and their influence on the zooplankton biomass. It has also been determined that phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations are higher than other shallow lakes of similar characteristics from other regions. The objectives of this contribution are to perform a limnological characterization of an extensive shallow seepage lake with medium salinity and high trophic level of the east-central region of La Pampa province, strongly influenced by human activity. We also present information on the taxonomic composition and abundance and biomass variations of the zooplankton. We took monthly samples from December 2005 to December 2006. In the past, this lake was a temporary lake, but recently it receives water from sewage treatment plants of Santa Rosa city and its pluvial drainages. This lake has now an important tourist and recreational value related to its condition of permanent lake and the presence of silversides (Odontesthes bonariensis). The zooplankton specific richness (15 taxa) was lower than other organic turbid shallow lakes of La Pampa, but closer to the observed in other high salinity shallow lakes. Another common feature with shallow saline lakes of La Pampa was the prevalence, among the microcrustaceans, of the halophilic calanoid Boeckella poopoensis. Cladocerans, on the other hand, were rarely registered; they had very low abundances and they were small-sized, since they could not prosper related to the predatory pressure by the planktivorous fish that inhabit this lake

Características limnológicas de una laguna turbia orgánica de la provincia de La Pampa y variación estacional del zooplancton

In La Pampa province, shallow lakes (water bodies of low depth, generally polimictic and with high trophic level) are abundant and broadly distributed. Although previous contributions on these shallow lakes are about their ecology and zooplankton, only recently studies have shed light about nutrient concentrations, chlorophyll a and their influence on the zooplankton biomass. It has also been determined that phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations are higher than other shallow lakes of similar characteristics from other regions. The objectives of this contribution are to perform a limnological characterization of an extensive shallow seepage lake with medium salinity and high trophic level of the east-central region of La Pampa province, strongly influenced by human activity. We also present information on the taxonomic composition and abundance and biomass variations of the zooplankton. We took monthly samples from December 2005 to December 2006. In the past, this lake was a temporary lake, but recently it receives water from sewage treatment plants of Santa Rosa city and its pluvial drainages. This lake has now an important tourist and recreational value related to its condition of permanent lake and the presence of silversides (Odontesthes bonariensis). The zooplankton specific richness (15 taxa) was lower than other organic turbid shallow lakes of La Pampa, but closer to the observed in other high salinity shallow lakes. Another common feature with shallow saline lakes of La Pampa was the prevalence, among the microcrustaceans, of the halophilic calanoid Boeckella poopoensis. Cladocerans, on the other hand, were rarely registered; they had very low abundances and they were small-sized, since they could not prosper related to the predatory pressure by the planktivorous fish that inhabit this lakeInstituto de Limnología "Raúl A. Ringuelet

Cambios en la diversidad y variación interanual de la abundancia del zooplancton de un lago somero urbano de La Pampa

Don Tomás is an urban, turbid and hypereutrophic shallow lake located in the west side of Santa Rosa. As it has an important silverside population (Odontesthes bonariensis) this lake is important for recreational and touristic activities. As many changes in many limnological parameters were observed, including zooplankton composition and abundance between 1995-96 and 2006, the main objective of this research was to compare these parameters with the ones obtained from September 2008 to August 2009. Salinity decreased along the three periods from 1.65 (1995-96) to 0.65 g.l-1 (2008-09) mainly due to the city runoff and the constant water pumping for irrigation. Water transparency also decreased from 0.24 (1995-96) to 0.14 m (2008-09). Zooplankton total richness did not change, but changes in taxonomical composition were observed when groups were separately analyzed (cladoceran richness decreased and rotifers increased during 2006. Cladoceran richness decreased from 9 species in 1995-96 to 4 in 2006, to only 2 species in 2008-2009. The same pattern was observed with copepod richness which decreased from 4 species in 2006 to only 2 species in 2008-09. Rotifer richness, on the other hand, increased from 8 species (1995-96) to 15 (2008-2009). The decreased water transparency could have been due to the lack of Daphnia (observed only in 1995-96) and the increased dominance of rotifers. Total zooplankton abundance showed important inter-annual differences, being the lowest in 2006. The obtained results reveal the wide variability of zooplankton in this type of environment.Instituto de Limnología "Raúl A. Ringuelet

Associations of ostracods in shallow lakes in the northeast of La Pampa province (Argentina)

Los lagos someros son frecuentes en La Pampa. Aunque muchas características de su biota son conocidas, la información sobre la distribución y ecología de los ostrácodos es escasa, a pesar de su importancia como indicadores biológicos y en actuopaleontología. El objetivo de este estudio es conocer la composición taxonómica, la densidad de ostrácodos y sus relaciones con parámetros ambientales en lagos del noreste de La Pampa. Se estudiaron cinco lagos desde septiembre de 2016 hasta marzo de 2017. Se tomaron muestras de sedimentos superficiales e in situ se midieron: conductividad, temperatura y transparencia y se tomaron muestras para determinar salinidad, pH y composición iónica. Los lagos difirieron en su salinidad, composición iónica y transparencia. Se registraron diez taxa, algunos hallados previamente en la provincia de Buenos Aires (Heterocypris similis, Heterocypris incongruens, Cypridopsis vidua y Chlamydotheca incisa), la cuenca de Llancanelo (H. incongruens y C. vidua) y lagos del norte de Patagonia (C. incisa, C. vidua, Potamocypris unicaudata, H. incongruens y Amphicypris argentiniensis). Se comprobó la influencia de la salinidad ya que algunas especies (A. argentinensis, Limnocythere rionegroensis y Limnocythere titicaca) se encontraron sólo en el lago más salino. La existencia en La Pampa de tres ecorregiones diferentes (Llanura Pampeana, Espinal y Estepa Patagónica) y la presencia en los lagos estudiados de ostrácodos del noroeste argentino (L. titicaca), de la llanura bonaerense (H. similis, H. incongruens) y otras de Patagonia (L. rionegroensis), permitiría afirmar que los lagos de La Pampa están en una zona de transición entre faunas diferentes.Shallow lakes are common in the center of Argentina. Although many characteristics of its biota are known, information on the distribution and ecology of ostracods is scarce despite their importance as biological indicators and in actuopaleontology. The objective of this study was to determine the taxonomic composition, the density of ostracods, and their relationships with environmental parameters in lakes in the northeast of La Pampa. Five aquatic ecosystems were studied from September 2016 to March 2017. Samples of superficial sediments were collected, and conductivity, temperature, and transparency were measured in situ. Water samples were collected to determine salinity, pH, and ionic composition. The lakes differed in salinity, ionic composition, and transparency. Ten taxa were registered, some previously found in the province of Buenos Aires (Heterocypris similis, Heterocypris incongruens, Cypridopsis vidua, and Chlamydotheca incisa), the Llancanelo basin (H. incongruens and C. vidua), and North Patagonia lakes (C. incisa, C. vidua, Potamocypris unicaudata, H. incongruens, and Amphicypris argentiniensis). The influence of salinity was verified because some species (A. argentinensis, Limnocythere rionegroensis, and Limnocythere titicaca) were found only in the most saline lake. The existence in La Pampa of three different ecoregions (Pampean Plains, Espinal, and Patagonian Steppe) and the presence of ostracods in the studied lakes of northwestern Argentina (L. titicaca), the Buenos Aires province plain (H. similis, H. incongruens), and Patagonia (L. rionegroensis) allowed for affirming that the lakes of La Pampa are in a transition zone among different ostracods faunas.Fil: Kihn, Romina Gisela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra y Ambientales de La Pampa. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra y Ambientales de La Pampa; ArgentinaFil: Echaniz, Santiago Andrés. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Vignatti, Alicia María. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Cabrera, Gabriela Cecilia. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Stella, Cesar A.. Museo Provincial de Ciencias Naturales; Argentin