Journal of Environmental Biology

Annual phytoplankton dynamics in La Antigua River, Mexico

M.L. Gayt?n-Herrera¹, E. Cuna-P?rez² and P. Ram?rez-Garc?a¹*

¹Research and Postgraduate Division, UNAM, FES-Iztacala, Av. de los Barrios No. 1, 54090 Tlalnepantla, Estado de M?xico, M?xico

²PILT Project, Paleolimnology Laboratory, UNAM, FES-Iztacala, Av. de los Barrios No. 1, 54090 Tlalnepantla, Estado de M?xico, M?xico

*Corresponding Author E-mail: micro@unam.mx

Key words

Diatoms

La Antigua River

Phytoplankton

Tropical rivers

Publication Data

Paper received : 20.07.2016

Revised received : 21.04.2017

Re-revised received : 19.05.2017

Accepted : 06.06.2017

Abstract

Aim: To contribute to the knowledge of rivers in Mexico, we studied the phytoplankton abundance and diversity over a year in La Antigua River, east Mexico.

Methodology: Monthly sampling was performed for one year (March 2013 to February 2014), at 5 stations. Physicochemical parameters and chlorophyll-a were analyzed. A diagram of Holston-Tukey was performed to identify the dominant, constant, temporary and rare species Detrended Correspondence Analysis was applied to find possible links between species and environmental variables. Shannon-Wiener index was calculated.

Results: Mean water temperature was 26?C and depth was 1.7 m, dissolved oxygen was 8.9 mg l^-1, pH was 7.8, turbidity value was 10.6 NTU, conductivity was 488 ?S cm^-1, SRP and nitrate were 2.6 ?g l^-1 PO₄^-3-P and 0.6 mg l^-1 NO₃-N, chlorophyll-a was 5 ?g l^-1. About 200 taxa of microalgae were recorded. Diatoms were dominated. Chlorophyceae were rich in species. Cyanoprokaryota ranked third in species richness, Euglenophyceae, Dinophyceae, Cryptophyceae and Crysophyceae had a lower richness. ?

Interpretation: Stations 2 and 3 had the highest contamination by wastewater discharges of the population of La Antigua. Stations 4 and 5 were separated due to increases in salinity. These stations are the closest to the sea. Station 1 is likely to be cleaner and less salty.

Copyright ? 2017 Triveni Enterprises. All rights reserved. No part of the Journal can be reproduced in any form without prior permission. Responsibility regarding the authenticity of the data, and the acceptability of the conclusions enforced or derived, rest completely with the author(s).