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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Zooplanktons are a keystone in the ecosystem functions transferring energy to higher
trophic levels. Moreover, zooplankton community is susceptible to quick responses
with changes in the environment. Therefore, this community can be regarded as a
valuable indicator of ecological integrity and water quality. Serra Serrada is a mountain
meso‐eutrophic reservoir (latitude: 41º57'12''N; longitude: 6º 46' 44''W; altitude 1300
m) in Portugal, which is prone to water level fluctuations. Despite of being an artificial
lake, zooplankton showed high biodiversity including 13 taxa of Rotifera, 12 taxa of
Cladocera and 3 of Copepoda. Some of these species, such as Ceriodaphnia
quadrangula, Drepanothrix dentate and Holopedium gibberum are classified as rare in
the context of Iberian Peninsula. In order to assess the role of zooplankton community
composition as environmental indicator, the present research aimed to compare the
values obtained for Carlson's Trophic State Index (TSI) (based on total phosphorous
concentration (TP), water transparency (SD) and chlorophyll ‘a' concentration) to the
obtained zooplankton metrics like: (1) The trophic state index of rotifer abundance (TSI
N rot); (2) the ratio of crustacean abundance to rotifer abundance and (3) the ratio of
large (>10 μg) cladoceran abundance to total cladoceran group abundance. All the
components of TSI increased during the low level phase. Although, rotifer being
dominant in all phases (except in the emptying phase, where Copepoda was
dominant), TSI N rot increased in the low level phase, when TP and Chl a
concentrations increased and SD decreased. Crustacean/Rotifer ratio also followed the
same pattern, showing the lowest value in the low level phase. Results for large
Cladocera/total Cladocera ratio were not so elucidative. Therefore, zooplankton
metrics were in line with TSI, confirming that zooplankton community can be a good
indicator of reservoir water quality and of ecological integrity.
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Keywords
Citation
Geraldes, Ana Maria; Pasupuleti, Rajeev; Alonso, Miguel (2016). Can zooplankton biodiversity be used to evaluate trophic state and water quality of a mountain reservoir? In I International Conference on Research for Sustainable Development in Mountain Regions. Bragança: Instituto Politécnico. ISBN 978‐972‐745‐214‐9
Publisher
Instituto Politécnico de Bragança