TY - JOUR

T1 - Drivers and ecology of Ceratium furcoides invasion of a Brazilian subtropical reservoir and its interaction with the phytoplankton community

AU - Rojas-Castillo, Oscar Alberto

AU - Pereira, Leonel

AU - Buffon, Patrícia

AU - de Souza Cardoso, Luciana

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Authors

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - We analyzed the phytoplankton interactions during a Ceratium furcoides invasion along with the environmental variables contributing to its dominance and blooms in Marrecas, a south-Brazilian reservoir. We monitored Marrecas weekly/monthly (n = 116) from 2014 to 2018. C. furcoides avoided summer and preferred spring, which displayed optimal temperatures for the species (15–23 °C), exhibiting in October 2014 the maximum density ever reported (15,865 ind. mL-1). It showed direct correlation with iron, manganese, and turbidity; evidencing dependency of a mixing regime which triggers cyst resuspension (interrupting cysts’ dormancy). Cryptomonas spp., Komma caudata, Discostella stelligera and after 2016 also Chlamydomonas sp. were the only species present during C. furcoides blooms. Komma caudata, Cryptomonas sp., and Aulacoseira alpigena correlated positively with the invader, as all prefer turbulent waters. C. furcoides correlated negatively with Chlorophyta (mainly Chlamydomonas spp.) which is vulnerable to mixing, and Bacillariophyta (Urosolenia eriensis and Discostella stelligera) that prefers clear waters. It also showed a consistent negative correlation with Ochrophyta (Mallomonas spp.), Cyanobacteria (Microcystis), and Urosolenia eriensis; suggesting competition for resources. Furthermore, it correlated negatively with species richness. Notwithstanding, based on the decrease of blooms, the phytoplankton community appears to have reached a more stable state (homogeneous species representation). However, further monitoring is required for confirmation.

AB - We analyzed the phytoplankton interactions during a Ceratium furcoides invasion along with the environmental variables contributing to its dominance and blooms in Marrecas, a south-Brazilian reservoir. We monitored Marrecas weekly/monthly (n = 116) from 2014 to 2018. C. furcoides avoided summer and preferred spring, which displayed optimal temperatures for the species (15–23 °C), exhibiting in October 2014 the maximum density ever reported (15,865 ind. mL-1). It showed direct correlation with iron, manganese, and turbidity; evidencing dependency of a mixing regime which triggers cyst resuspension (interrupting cysts’ dormancy). Cryptomonas spp., Komma caudata, Discostella stelligera and after 2016 also Chlamydomonas sp. were the only species present during C. furcoides blooms. Komma caudata, Cryptomonas sp., and Aulacoseira alpigena correlated positively with the invader, as all prefer turbulent waters. C. furcoides correlated negatively with Chlorophyta (mainly Chlamydomonas spp.) which is vulnerable to mixing, and Bacillariophyta (Urosolenia eriensis and Discostella stelligera) that prefers clear waters. It also showed a consistent negative correlation with Ochrophyta (Mallomonas spp.), Cyanobacteria (Microcystis), and Urosolenia eriensis; suggesting competition for resources. Furthermore, it correlated negatively with species richness. Notwithstanding, based on the decrease of blooms, the phytoplankton community appears to have reached a more stable state (homogeneous species representation). However, further monitoring is required for confirmation.

KW - Artificial lake

KW - Dinoflagellate

KW - Dinophyceae

KW - Freshwater

KW - Invasion

KW - Phytoplankton dynamics

U2 - 10.1016/j.limno.2023.126080

DO - 10.1016/j.limno.2023.126080

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:85158885087

VL - 101

JO - Limnologica

JF - Limnologica

SN - 0075-9511

M1 - 126080

ER -