Composição e diversidade de algas perifíticas em veredas sob diferentes impactos antrópicos (Goiás, Brasil)

Abstract

Given the high rate of degradation and the importance of phycoperiphyton in aquatic ecosystems, the present study aimed to test the hypothesis that palm swamps with intermediate levels of nutrients have a higher diversity of periphytic algae than others. Thus, we assessed the diversity of periphytic algae communities from 23 palm swamps in Goiás State, among six conserved, nine impacted from agriculture areas, and eight in the urban area. All environments had an acidic pH and high silica concentrations. Higher values of richness and diversity were recorded in impacted palm swamps. This study demonstrated that possibly the increase in light incidence on the water body caused by the reduction of riparian vegetation and an increased of allochthonous nutrient availability in impacted palm swamps provided these results. It was noted the importance of pH and silica in all palm swamps for epiphytic algae community composition, with greatest species richness of zignemaphyceae and diatoms.