Thematic maps, a tool to establish the spatial patterns of eutrophication and the zooplanktoncommunity structure in a tropicalurban reservoir (Pampulha Reservoir, MG) in Brazil

In this chapter we evaluated the effect of inputs of nutrients, mainly nitrogen and phosphorus, on the structure of the zooplankton community, including diversity, evenness, dominance and richness, in PampulhaReservoir in the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The samples were taken on 15 September 2009 at 23 sampling stations, covering the entire reservoir. A spatial analysis showed that the species richness gradually decreased in those sites where increased nutrients and several highly opportunistic species increased in density along this same spatial gradient (such as Thermocyclops decipiens, Metacyclops mendocinus and Brachionus calyciflorus). Thematic maps describing the horizontal distribution of each variable showed that areas with higher nutrient concentrations were associated with increases in dominance and decreases in diversity and species richness. Finally, establishing the horizontal distribution patterns of zooplankton organisms in a reservoir allow us to perform a detailed ecological zonation of the water body and one of the most interesting applications of this zonation is the identification of ecological gradients related to pollution sources. © 2014 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.

• Fecha de publicación: 2014
• Institución: Universidad de Medellín
• Repositorio: Repositorio UDEM
• Idioma: eng
• OAI Identifier: oai:repository.udem.edu.co:11407/2311
• Acceso en línea: http://hdl.handle.net/11407/2311
• Palabra clave: Brazil; Diversity; Eutrophication; Nutrients; Pampulha reservoir; Thematic maps; Tropical reservoir; Zooplankton
• Rights: restrictedAccess
• License: http://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_16ec