Phytoplankton primary production of the Paraná River in the area of its confluence with Paraguay River
This paper deals with the phytoplankton structure and its primary production in the Paraná River at the confluence with the Paraguay River, and their variations with tidal and hydrological cycles. Primary production estimations were carried out using in situ incubations of light and dark bottle colu...
Guardado en:
| Autores principales: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Formato: | Artículo revista |
| Lenguaje: | Español |
| Publicado: |
Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Litoral (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas - Universidad Nacional de Nordeste)
2025
|
| Acceso en línea: | https://revistas.unne.edu.ar/index.php/eco/article/view/8535 |
| Aporte de: |
| Sumario: | This paper deals with the phytoplankton structure and its primary production in the Paraná River at the confluence with the Paraguay River, and their variations with tidal and hydrological cycles.
Primary production estimations were carried out using in situ incubations of light and dark bottle columns, assessing ^14C fixation as described by Strickland and Parsons (1968).
The waters of the Paraguay River flow over a considerable distance until they fully mix with those of the Paraná River.
Towards the Chaco (right) bank, the influence of the Paraguay River is very clear; the water is more turbid, and conductivity is higher (averaging 120 μS/cm). Primary production ranged from near 0 to 120 mg C/m²·d, and phytoplankton density ranged from 80 to 1600 individuals/mL.
Towards the Corrientes (left) bank, water transparency increases and conductivity is lower (averaging 50 μS/cm). Primary production ranged from 3 to 285 mg C/m²·d, and plankton density from 85 to 2500 individuals/mL.
In both sampling sites, diatomophyceae were the prevailing phytoplankton group, with Melosira granulata as the most abundant species, and sporadic dominance of cyanophyceae during summer.
The pattern of carbon fixation throughout the year showed changes closely related to plankton concentration, water transparency, and river hydrometric levels. Primary production was low during flood periods due to great dilution of phytoplankton density and high turbidity, and it increased sharply during low water phases, favored by increased phytoplankton concentration and higher water transparency. |
|---|