Abstract

RODRIGUEZ-FLOREZ, Clara N; VINOCUR, Alicia  and  IZAGUIRRE, Irina. Phytoplankton dynamics in three urban lakes with different management strategies: analysis of the summer algal blooms. Ecol. austral [online]. 2019, vol.29, n.1, pp.72-93. ISSN 1667-782X.

Urban lakes are ecosystems that tend to a rapid eutrophication, leading to the development of phytoplankton blooms in spring and summer. During the warm period, from September 2014 to April 2015 the structure and dynamics of the phytoplankton were studied in three urban lakes of the Buenos Aires city subjected to different strategies of management (Regatas, Rosedal, Centenario). The species composition and functional groups were analyzed, as well as the relationship between the community structure and the physical and chemical variables of the water and the main environmental parameters. Samplings were carried out fortnightly. The three lakes differ in their limnological characteristics, in the dominant species, their functional groups, as well as in the phytoplankton biomass, and their tendency to develop algal blooms. Rosedal Lake (hypereutrophic) showed a clear dominance of potentially toxic cyanobacteria that reached abundances proper of algal blooms. Regatas Lake presented the best water quality, with greater transparency and the lower phytoplankton biomass. Centenario Lake, with the highest values of conductivity and total nitrogen, was clearly dominated by diatoms. In this study it was evidenced that the analysis of the phytoplankton from functional groups constitutes a valuable tool for the monitoring of eutrophic urban lakes and to apply adequate management strategies in them.

Keywords : Urban lakes; Eutrophication; Algal blooms; Functional groups.

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