Environmental characterization and phytoplankton community structure in a shallow mesotrophic tropical reservoir in southeastern Brazil

Pontes, Darah Danielle; Rosini, Edna Ferreira; Osti, João Alexandre Saviolo; Tucci, Andréa

doi:10.1590/S2179-975X5325

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Sumário

Original Article • Acta Limnol. Bras. 38 • 2026 • https://doi.org/10.1590/S2179-975X5325 linkcopy

Environmental characterization and phytoplankton community structure in a shallow mesotrophic tropical reservoir in southeastern Brazil

Caracterização ambiental e estrutura da comunidade fitoplanctônica em um reservatório tropical raso e mesotrófico no sudeste do Brasil

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Abstract

Abstract

Aim The aim of the study was to characterize the temporal and spatial dynamics of the phytoplankton community structure using biomass (biovolume) data and biological indices.

Methods This study was conducted in the Biritiba Mirim Reservoir, São Paulo State, Brazil. The reservoir is used to supply water to the São Paulo Metropolitan Region. Four sampling campaigns were carried out during two distinct seasons (rainy and dry) over one year, across ten sampling stations along the reservoir. In situ parameters were measured using a multiparameter probe. Water samples were collected from the subsurface of the water column for physicochemical variable determination and phytoplankton laboratory analysis. The phytoplankton community was characterized based on biovolume and diversity indices. Exploratory and correlation analyses were performed to identify patterns and potential relationships between environmental variables and changes in community structure.

Results The reservoir was classified as mesotrophic in terms of trophic status. A total of 184 taxa were identified, distributed across 15 classes, with Chlorophyceae and Cyanobacteria being the most species-rich (42 and 29 taxa, respectively). During the dry season, longer water residence times and higher phytoplankton biomass were observed, correlating with increased nutrient concentrations. In the rainy season, shorter water residence times were recorded, with limnological variables significantly influencing phytoplankton community composition and distribution.

Conclusions These results highlight the importance of considering both seasonality and hydrological dynamics in the management and conservation of aquatic ecosystems such as the Biritiba Mirim Reservoir.

Keywords:
phytoplankton; water quality; reservoir; mesotrophic; seasonality

Sampling Stations	Station ID	Geographic Coordinates	Environmental Features	Minimum Depth (m)	Mean Depth (m)	Maximum Depth (m)
1	1RF	23º36.15’26.02”W, 46º5.40’29.12”S	Riparian Forest	5.0	5.9	6.5
2	2RF	23º37.91’23.04”W, 46º5.13’41.65”S	Riparian Forest	5.5	6.0	6.5
5	3RF	23º38.34’25.12”W, 46º5.42’04.09”S	Riparian Forest	3.0	3.8	4.5
6	4RF	23º38.67’03.03”W, 46º5.69’20.18”S	Riparian Forest	4.5	4.9	5.5
10	5RF	23º36.03’6.42”W, 46º04.85’42.17”S	Riparian Forest	6.0	6.3	6.5
3	1AZ	23º38.23’11.22”W, 46º5.35’40.05”S	Agricultural Zone	2.5	3.6	4.5
4	2AZ	23º39.01’32.37”W, 46º5.39’55.87”S	Agricultural Zone	3.5	3.9	4.0
7	3AZ	23º36.01’51.52”W, 46º5.01’16.90”S	Agricultural Zone	4.0	4.5	5.5
8	4AZ	23º37.13’02.39”W, 46º4.79’56.12”S	Agricultural Zone	2.5	3.5	4.0
9	5AZ	23º36.12’17.73”W, 46º04.42’0.16”S	Agricultural Zone	2.0	2.3	3.0

SITE	Measures	Secchi. (m)	Temp. (ºC)	Turb (NTU)	pH	Alk (mEq L^-1)	TDS (g L^-1)	EC (µS cm^-1)	DO (mg L^-1)	TN (µg L^-1)	DIN (µg L^-1)	TP (µg L^-1)	PO₄ (µg L^-1)	N:P molar ratio	Chl a (µg L^-1)
1RF	Mean	1.5	18.9	2.3	6.7	12.8	0.032	49.8	7.8	398.8	1.4	19.8	5.6	43.6	2.0
	Max.	1.5	21.2	4.5	7.2	13.8	0.035	54.0	8.5	494.7	2.7	26.0	7.1	46.9	2.2
	Mín.	1.5	15.6	1.1	6.4	11.4	0.029	44.0	7.5	354.7	1.0	17.1	4.3	40.8	1.8
2RF	Mean	1.4	18.6	1.2	7.2	14.1	0.031	49.5	7.3	400.0	1.3	19.4	5.0	45.1	2.3
	Max.	1.5	21.6	1.2	7.7	16.1	0.035	55.0	8.2	421.0	2.1	23.7	5.6	50.0	2.7
	Mín.	1.3	14.7	1.1	6.8	11.4	0.029	45.0	6.8	362.6	1.0	17.8	3.9	32.7	2.0
3RF	Mean	1.4	19.2	1.1	6.5	13.2	0.029	47.3	7.3	436.4	1.2	23.2	6.9	41.0	1.8
	Max.	1.7	22.1	1.1	6.8	13.8	0.034	52.0	8.4	465.7	1.6	27.4	8.9	45.9	1.9
	Mín.	1.2	15.2	1.0	6.1	12.4	0.025	43.0	6.5	385.9	1.0	21.1	4.9	30.1	1.7
4RF	Mean	1.5	19.0	1.0	6.4	15.7	0.038	57.0	7.1	298.9	1.1	25.7	7.6	41.1	2.8
	Max.	1.4	23.0	1.2	6.9	13.3	0.033	52.0	8.3	464.0	2.4	28.9	10.7	47.1	2.0
	Mín.	1.3	15.3	0.9	6.4	12.8	0.028	43.0	6.3	375.7	1.1	20.8	4.3	27.8	1.7
5RF	Mean	1.4	19.2	1.0	6.6	13.2	0.030	47.5	7.4	429.2	1.5	23.0	7.2	24.7	1.9
	Max.	1.6	22.1	1.4	6.5	17.0	0.042	64.0	7.8	416.5	2.4	31.9	10.7	28.0	3.4
	Mín.	1.4	15.0	0.4	6.1	13.3	0.033	52.0	6.3	251.4	0.6	23.1	5.0	22.4	2.3
1AZ	Mean	1.3	18.3	1.5	6.7	14.4	0.032	49.5	7.3	436.2	1.6	18.6	4.8	51.8	2.4
	Max.	1.7	21.5	2.3	7.2	15.1	0.034	53.0	8.2	461.5	2.7	23.7	5.4	59.6	2.8
	Mín.	1.1	14.5	1.0	6.2	13.3	0.029	43.0	6.6	375.7	1.3	16.3	3.9	33.9	2.0
2AZ	Mean	1.3	18.8	2.5	6.7	12.3	0.028	43.3	7.3	488.0	1.8	21.9	5.5	48.0	2.4
	Max.	1.4	21.5	7.5	6.9	13.3	0.031	48.0	8.4	523.6	2.0	23.7	6.9	54.0	2.8
	Mín.	1.1	15.2	0.3	6.3	10.9	0.026	41.0	6.8	396.0	1.5	20.8	3.6	35.8	2.0
3AZ	Mean	1.5	19.1	1.0	6.6	12.5	0.032	49.3	7.7	320.8	0.8	23.0	7.6	31.6	3.0
	Max.	1.6	22.1	1.5	6.9	13.8	0.035	54.0	8.4	333.6	1.2	34.1	12.5	36.9	3.9
	Mín.	1.3	15.2	0.5	6.3	11.5	0.029	45.0	6.5	301.9	0.6	18.5	4.3	21.0	2.1
4AZ	Mean	1.4	18.9	3.4	6.4	13.6	0.033	50.5	7.1	416.5	1.1	21.6	7.2	42.3	2.8
	Max.	1.8	21.9	10.0	6.8	14.3	0.036	55.0	7.7	515.2	1.8	30.4	10.7	46.7	3.7
	Mín.	1.1	15.0	1.0	6.1	13.0	0.030	45.0	6.4	373.4	0.9	17.8	3.9	36.3	2.1
5AZ	Mean	1.7	18.7	0.9	6.5	11.8	0.034	51.8	7.7	345.8	0.9	23.2	6.9	31.4	2.9
	Max.	1.8	21.6	1.3	6.9	11.9	0.036	55.0	8.6	523.9	1.4	28.2	8.9	39.8	3.6
	Mín.	1.6	15.6	0.7	6.2	11.7	0.031	47.0	6.7	279.9	0.7	20.8	4.2	27.4	2.1

Nº	Descriptor Taxa	ID	Taxonomic Class	Contribution (%)
1	Trachelomonas volvocinopsis Svirenko	TraV	Euglenophyceae	27%
2	Mougeotia sp.	Moug	Zygnematophyceae	11%
3	Dolichospermum planctonicum (Brunnthaler) Wacklin, Hoffmann & Komárek	DolP	Cyanophyceae	9%
4	Cosmarium contractum Kirchner	CosC	Zygnematophyceae	8%
5	Discostella stelligera (Cleve & Grunow) Houk & Klee	DisS	Mediophyceae	5%
6	Cryptomonas tetrapyrenoidosa Skuja	CryT	Cryptophyceae	4%
7	Radiococcus polycoccus (Korshikov) Kostikov, Darienko, Lukesová & Hoffmann	RadP	Chlorophyceae	3%
8	Aulacoseira granulata (Ehrenberg) Simonsen	AulG	Coscinodiscophyceae	3%
9	Chroococcus dispersus (Keissler) Lemmermann	ChrD	Cyanophyceae	3%
10	Botryococcus braunii Kützing	BotB	Trebouxiophyceae	3%
11	Cryptomonas curvata Ehrenberg	CryC	Cryptophyceae	3%
12	Sphaerocavum brasiliense Azevedo & Sant'Anna	SphB	Cyanophyceae	2%
13	Euglena polymorpha Dangeard	EugP	Euglenophyceae	1%
14	Peridinium sp.	Peri	Dinophyceae	1%
15	Staurodesmus cf. cuspidatus (Brébisson) Teiling	StaC	Zygnematophyceae	1%
16	Cryptomonas brasiliensis Castro, Bicudo & Bicudo	CryB	Cryptophyceae	1%
17	Pseudocryptomonas sp.	Pseud	Cryptophyceae	1%
18	Cryptomonas obovata Skuja	CryO	Cryptophyceae	1%
19	Trachelomonas hispida (Perty) Stein	TraH	Euglenophyceae	1%
20	Urosolenia eriensis (Smith) Round & Crawford	UroE	Coscinodiscophyceae	1%

Variables	Total Biovolume	H’	D’	U’	S’
TBv	-	0.51	-0.01	0.58	-0.07
WRT	0.79	0.28	0.22	0.40	-0.26
Precip.	-0.75	-0.28	-0.22	-0.42	0.25
TN	-0.26	-0.48	0.35	-0.38	-048
DIN	0.49	0.21	0.29	0.37	-0.43
TP	0.64	0.46	0.09	0.57	-0.25
N:P Ratio	-0.64	-0.70	0.20	-0.70	-0.21
Depth	0.08	0.04	-0.07	0.03	0.07
Secchi	-0.04	0.25	-0.44	0.13	0.45
Temp.	-0.47	-0.53	-0.23	-0.67	0.28
Turb.	-0.13	-0.32	0.03	-0.35	0.08
pH	0.25	-0.03	0.39	0.11	-0.33
EC	0.61	0.46	0.06	0.50	-0.03
DO	0.31	0.46	0.25	0.59	-0.29
PO₄	0.45	0.10	-0.03	0.15	-0.09
D’	-0.01	-0.23	-	-0.05	-0.61
U’	0.58	0.95	-0.05	-	0.01
H’	0.51	-	0.95	0.95	0.27
S’	-0.07	0.27	0.01	0.01	-

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[1] Abbreviations: Riparian Forest (RF), Agricultural Zone (AZ).