Association of periphytic diatom species of artificial substrate in lotic environments in the Arroio Sampaio Basin, RS, Brazil: relationships with abiotic variables

Associations of diatom species were identified, in the Arroio Sampaio Basin, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, based on monthly samplings over a year along Arroio Sampaio and its main tributaries, using polyamide thread as an artificial substrate. The species groupings showed four different environments: medium-lower course of Arroio Sampaio; and lower course of Arroio Teresinha; upper course of Arroio Sampaio; and lower course of Arroio Duvidosa. Among the physical and chemical variables measured, water pollution, particularly organic contamination and eutrophication, measured from BOD5 and total phosphate concentration, respectively, appeared to be one of the most important environmental factors determining the composition and structure of species associations in the area studied.

Foram identificadas associações de espécies de diatomáceas na Bacia do Arroio Sampaio, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. O resultado baseou-se em amostragens mensais, no período de um ano, ao longo do Arroio Sampaio e seus afluentes, utilizando-se fio de poliamida como substrato artificial. Os agrupamentos de espécies revelaram quatro ambientes distintos: curso médio-inferior do Arroio Sampaio; curso inferior do Arroio Teresinha; curso superior do Arroio Sampaio; e curso inferior do Arroio Duvidosa. Dentre as variáveis físicas e químicas medidas, a poluição da água, particularmente, a contaminação orgânica e a eutrofização, determinadas a partir da DBO5, e a concentração de fosfato total, respectivamente, destacaram-se como os fatores ambientais mais importantes na determinação da composição e da estrutura das associações de espécies na área de estudo.

Association of periphytic diatom species of artificial substrate in lotic environments in the Arroio Sampaio Basin, RS, Brazil: relationships with abiotic variables

Associations of diatom species were identified, in the Arroio Sampaio Basin, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, based on monthly samplings over a year along Arroio Sampaio and its main tributaries, using polyamide thread as an artificial substrate. The species groupings showed four different environments: medium-lower course of Arroio Sampaio; and lower course of Arroio Teresinha; upper course of Arroio Sampaio; and lower course of Arroio Duvidosa. Among the physical and chemical variables measured, water pollution, particularly organic contamination and eutrophication, measured from BOD5 and total phosphate concentration, respectively, appeared to be one of the most important environmental factors determining the composition and structure of species associations in the area studied