Effects of algicide (copper sulfate) application on short-term fluctuations of phytoplankton in Lake Paranoá, central Brazil.

Abstract

Short-term fluctuations and structure of phytoplankton were examined for two months in the dry season (August-September/1997) in a eutrophic reservoir of central Brazil. Algicide treatment for the control of Microcystis aeruginosa bloom influenced the short-term variation pattern of the phytoplankton community. Algicide treatment was effective in controlling M. aeruginosa bloom, but it also influenced the Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii population. These species retained low densities, showing small colonies and trichomes, respectively. Drops in Cyanobacteria populations following algicide treatment were succeeded by progressive increase in Chlorophyta. The shifts in environmental conditions may have allowed the development of this group. In this study correspondence analysis of abundance data for phytoplankton assemblage in lake Paranoa revealed that available light, rather than chlorophyll-a, total suspended material, and water temperature, accounted for most of the short-term fluctuation in phytoplankton structure during algicide application. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) showed the primary importance of water transparency changes in abundance of taxa in the community. Algicide treatment for the control of nuisance blooms is discussed as a contribution to improved efficiency in reservoir management.