Organic pollution impact on the phytoplankton of a stream of the pampas plains

This paper analyzes the influence of water quality on phytoplankton, focusing on the euglenoid assemblages of a periurban stream in the province of Buenos Aires (Argentina), strongly impacted by urban and industrial wastewater. The ICA water quality index (Berón 1984) calculated for the main channel...

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Publicado: 2017
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Acceso en línea:https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_03275477_v27_n3_p437_Padulles
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_03275477_v27_n3_p437_Padulles
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Sumario:This paper analyzes the influence of water quality on phytoplankton, focusing on the euglenoid assemblages of a periurban stream in the province of Buenos Aires (Argentina), strongly impacted by urban and industrial wastewater. The ICA water quality index (Berón 1984) calculated for the main channel and its tributaries showed a marked deterioration of the waters and evidenced a clear spatial pattern. In addition, in some of the sampled sites, water quality indicators exceeded the ranges established by national standards. The phytoplankton was dominated by chlorophytes, with codominance of cyanobacteria and euglenophytes. Euglenophyta species were identified and the occurrence of morphological anomalies was associated and evaluated in relation with organic pollution. Given the importance of autotrophic communities in lowland streams, we suggest the use of euglenophyte assemblages as sentinels of changes produced by the excess of organic matter, which is characteristic of urban watercourses. © 2017, Asociacion Argentina de Ecologia. All rights reserved.