ABSTRACT
Boeckella poopoensis Marsh, 1906 is the dominant copepod in saline lakes from northern Patagonia to southern Peru. It is a tolerant species, which has been registered at salinities between 20 and 90 g.L-1, and is important because it integrates the diet of flamingos and fishes of commercial and sport interest. The aims of this study were to analyze the characteristics of populations of B. poopoensis in the central region of Argentina and to establish their relationships with environmental parameters. Monthly samples during 2007 were taken in four temporary lakes of La Pampa province. Environmental parameters and density, size, biomass, number and size of eggs were determined. The salinity ranged between 13.38 and 32.90 g.L-1. In three lakes that had previously continuously contained water, B. poopoensis was registered throughout the whole study. In the fourth lake, which was filled in January, it was present only when salinity exceeded 15 g.L-1. The population of the lake that was filled differed from that of the other lakes in terms of the density and biomass of adults and copepodites. The number of ovigerous females represented a higher percentage of the population during the colonization of the lake that had been dried and these produced the highest number of eggs. In the three lakes in which B. poopoensis was always recorded, its characteristics were more influenced by the availability of food than by temperature or salinity. It was found that the strategies of the species vary throughout the hydroperiod; at the beginning, thrives when the salinity rises and impedes the presence of less tolerant species. At this point, the production of relatively small eggs is high, allowing rapid colonization. When the lakes become relatively stable, B. poopoensis allocates more energy to reach larger sizes and although egg production is not so high, they are larger, allowing it to maintain stable populations.
Boeckella poopoensis Marsh, 1906 es el copépodo dominante en lagos salinos desde el norte de Patagonia hasta el sur del Perú. Es una especie halotolerante registrada con salinidades entre 20 y 90 g.L-1 y es importante dado que integra la dieta de flamencos y de peces de interés comercial o deportivo. El objetivo del estudio fue analizar características de poblaciones de B. poopoensis en la región central de Argentina y establecer sus relaciones con los parámetros ambientales. Durante 2007 se tomaron muestras mensuales en cuatro lagos temporarios de la provincia de La Pampa. Se determinaron parámetros ambientales y la densidad, espectro de tallas, biomasa, número y tamaão de los huevos. La salinidad varió entre 13,38 and 32,90 g.L-1. En tres lagos que habían contenido agua en forma continua, B. poopoensis se registró durante todo el estudio. En el cuarto, que se llenó en enero, sólo estuvo presente cuando la salinidad superó 15 g.L-1. La densidad y biomasa de los adultos y copepoditos de la población del lago que se llenó difirieron de las de los otros. El número de hembras ovígeras representó un mayor porcentaje del total de la población durante la colonización del lago que había estado seco y fueron las que produjeron el mayor número de huevos. En los tres lagos en los que B. poopoensis se registró siempre, sus características fueron influidas más por la disponibilidad de alimento que por la temperatura o salinidad. Este estudio mostró que las estrategias de la especie varían a lo largo del hidroperíodo; al principio, prospera cuando la salinidad aumenta e impide la presencia de especies menos tolerantes. En este momento, la producción de abundantes huevos relativamente pequeãos permite una rápida colonización. Cuando los lagos alcanzan una relativa estabilidad, B. poopoensis destina más energía a alcanzar tamaãos mayores y, aunque la producción de huevos no es tan elevada son más grandes, permitiéndole mantener poblaciones estables.
ABSTRACT
The zooplankton of lakes is controlled by biological and physico-chemical parameters. Among the former, predation by fish can determine the replacement of large-sized species by small-sized ones and among the latter, salinity exerts negative effects on richness and abundance. Since it has been suggested that saline lakes without fishes have higher zooplankton biomass than low salinity ones, the aim of this study was to determine the richness, abundance and biomass of zooplankton in two lakes with different salinity and test the hypothesis that in the presence of zooplanktivorous fishes and at equal concentrations of nutrients and chlorophyll-a, saline lakes have higher biomass than those with low salinity. The study was conducted in two shallow lakes of the Province of La Pampa (central Argentina): a subsaline lake and a hyposaline lake, which shared high concentrations of chlorophyll-a and total phosphorus, reduced transparency and presence of planktivorous fish. Zooplankton richness was different and higher in the subsaline lake, whereas abundance and total biomass were similar, even when the taxonomic groups were considered separately. It is suggested that the presence of a halotolerant planktivorous fish controlled the size of zooplankton due to the predation on larger species and prevented the development of higher biomass in the saline lake, which is an important difference from previously recorded situations. This study shows that, regardless of the differences in salinity, the top-down effect in the food chain may have been a factor that equalized the zooplankton biomass by allowing only the development of small species and highlights the possible importance of fish predation in determining chlorophyll-a concentrations and water transparency.
El zooplancton lacustre es controlado por parámetros biológicos y fisicoquímicos. Entre los primeros, la depredación por peces puede determinar el reemplazo de especies de talla grande por pequeñas y entre los segundos la salinidad ejerce efectos negativos sobre la riqueza y abundancia. Dado que se ha indicado que los lagos salinos sin peces tienen mayores biomasas zooplanctónicas que los de baja salinidad, el objetivo de este trabajo es conocer la riqueza, abundancia y biomasa del zooplancton de dos lagos de diferente salinidad y probar la hipótesis de que a iguales concentraciones de nutrientes y clorofila "a" los lagos salinos tienen mayor biomasa que los de baja salinidad. El estudio se desarrolló en dos lagos de la provincia de La Pampa, en el centro de Argentina, uno subsalino y otro hiposalino, que compartieron elevadas concentraciones de clorofila a y fósforo total, reducida transparencia y presencia de un pez planctófago. Aunque la riqueza resultó diferente y más elevada en el lago subsalino, no ocurrió lo mismo con la abundancia y biomasa totales, ni al considerar los grupos taxonómicos por separado. La presencia de un pez planctívoro halotolerante controló la talla del zooplancton debido a la depredación sobre las especies de mayor tamaño e impidió el desarrollo de mayor biomasa en el lago salino, lo que constituye una importante diferencia con situaciones registradas anteriormente. Este estudio mostró que a pesar de la diferencia en la salinidad, el efecto en cascada en la cadena trófica (top down) es un factor que iguala la biomasa zooplanctónica al permitir sólo el desarrollo de especies pequeñas y pone en evidencia la importancia de la depredación por peces en la determinación de las concentraciones de clorofila y transparencia del agua.
ABSTRACT
The Pantanal of Nhecolândia, the world's largest and most diversified field of tropical lakes, comprises approximately 10,000 lakes, which cover an area of 24,000 km² and vary greatly in salinity, pH, alkalinity, colour, physiography and biological activity. The hyposaline lakes have variable pHs, low alkalinity, macrophytes and low phytoplankton densities. The saline lakes have pHs above 9 or 10, high alkalinity, a high density of phytoplankton and sand beaches. The cause of the diversity of these lakes has been an open question, which we have addressed in our research. Here we propose a hybrid process, both geochemical and biological, as the main cause, including (1) a climate with an important water deficit and poverty in Ca2+ in both superficial and phreatic waters; and (2) an elevation of pH during cyanobacteria blooms. These two aspects destabilise the general tendency of Earth's surface waters towards a neutral pH. This imbalance results in an increase in the pH and dissolution of previously precipitated amorphous silica and quartzose sand. During extreme droughts, amorphous silica precipitates in the inter-granular spaces of the lake bottom sediment, increasing the isolation of the lake from the phreatic level. This paper discusses this biogeochemical problem in the light of physicochemical, chemical, altimetric and phytoplankton data.
O Pantanal da Nhecolândia é o maior e mais diversificado campo de lagos da região tropical do planeta, com cerca de 10.000 lagos de variadas salinidade, pH, alcalinidade, cor, fisiografia e atividade biológica dispostos em uma área de 24.000 km². Os lagos hipossalinos têm pH variável, baixa alcalinidade, macrófitas e baixa densidade de fitoplâncton. Os lagos salinos tem pH acima de 9 ou 10, elevada alcalinidade, alta densidade de fitoplâncton e praias de areia. A causa da diversidade desses lagos é uma questão ainda em aberto que é abordada nesta pesquisa. Propõe-se como principal causa um processo híbrido, geoquímico e biológico, baseado em (1) clima com um déficit hídrico importante e pobreza em Ca2+na água superficial e do freático e (2) na elevação do pH durante florações de cianobactérias. Estes dois aspectos desestabilizam a tendência geral de pH neutro para as águas superficiais da Terra. Este desequilíbrio resulta em aumento do pH e dissolução da areia quartzosa do fundo dos lagos salino-alcalinos. Durante secas extremas há precipitação de sílica amorfa nos espaços inter-granulares dos sedimentos de fundo destes lagos, aumentando seu isolamento do freático. O artigo discute este processo biogeoquímico, à luz de dados físico-químicos, químicos, fitoplânctonicos e de altimetria de precisão.