Impact of the 2009 extreme water level variation on phytoplankton community structure in Lower Amazon floodplain lakes

Abstract

AIM: This paper examines the effect of the extreme water level change in 2009 on the structure and diversity of the phytoplankton communities in lakes of the Lower Amazon Floodplain, and compares it to phytoplankton community structure data reported in the literature for 2002 and 2003 high water periods, closer to the normal hydrological conditions. METHODS: Sub-surface integrated water samples for phytoplankton and chlorophyll-a analyses were collected during high and low water phases in 2009. Water temperature (°C), pH, turbidity (NTU) and electrical conductivity (µS.m-1) were measured, and the Shannon diversity index was calculated. RESULTS: The results showed striking differences in taxonomic composition between phases (high and low) and also between normal (2002 and 2003) and extreme (2009) hydrological conditions, all related to the flood pulse intensity. CONCLUSIONS: Extreme water level fluctuations can result in shifts in phytoplankton community structure and diversity. This work represents a valuable contribution to phytoplankton research since presents the community structure under extreme hydrological events in the Amazon floodplain.