Effect of a dam on epilithic algal communities of a mountain stream: before-after dam construction comparison
In this study we evaluated the effect of a dam on epilithic algal communities by analyzing community response after dam construction and by comparing community composition, structure and biomass upstream and downstream of the dam. Samples of epilithic algae and environmental data were collected at e...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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PAGEPress Publications
2013-02-01
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| Series: | Journal of Limnology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.jlimnol.it/index.php/jlimnol/article/view/534 |
| _version_ | 1831760431750840320 |
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| author | Luciana Cibils Martina Romina Principe Noemí Gari |
| author_facet | Luciana Cibils Martina Romina Principe Noemí Gari |
| author_sort | Luciana Cibils Martina |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this study we evaluated the effect of a dam on epilithic algal communities by analyzing community response after dam construction and by comparing community composition, structure and biomass upstream and downstream of the dam. Samples of epilithic algae and environmental data were collected at each site during high and low water periods before and after dam construction in Achiras Stream (Córdoba, Argentina). Ordinations showed modifications in algal assemblages after dam construction and downstream of the dam. Ordinations also suggested a loss of seasonality at the downstream site since the assemblages were similar between hydrological periods after dam construction. Indicator species, obtained by the Indicator Value method, showed that, after dam construction, there could have been an increase in nutrient concentration and a release of plankton from the impoundment. Abundance, richness and diversity were altered after dam construction as assessed by ANOVAs derived from a modified BACI Design. Proportion of early-successional species was higher at the upstream site while late-successional species were dominant at the downstream site, as predicted. Lower fluctuations in discharge downstream of the dam may have helped succession advance, whereas at the upstream site, mainly during the high water period, floods could have caused sloughing of life forms from the outer layers of the biofilm, resetting the algal community to early successional stages. It may be concluded that the dam affected algal community and favored succession advance mainly by reducing current velocity and flow fluctuations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T03:54:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-488c33a0957a498ea44b00d5b5307f90 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1129-5767 1723-8633 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T03:54:08Z |
| publishDate | 2013-02-01 |
| publisher | PAGEPress Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Limnology |
| spelling | doaj.art-488c33a0957a498ea44b00d5b5307f902022-12-21T18:39:55ZengPAGEPress PublicationsJournal of Limnology1129-57671723-86332013-02-01721e7e710.4081/jlimnol.2013.e7493Effect of a dam on epilithic algal communities of a mountain stream: before-after dam construction comparisonLuciana Cibils Martina0Romina Principe1Noemí Gari2Universidad Nacional de Río CuartoUniversidad Nacional de Río CuartoUniversidad Nacional de Río CuartoIn this study we evaluated the effect of a dam on epilithic algal communities by analyzing community response after dam construction and by comparing community composition, structure and biomass upstream and downstream of the dam. Samples of epilithic algae and environmental data were collected at each site during high and low water periods before and after dam construction in Achiras Stream (Córdoba, Argentina). Ordinations showed modifications in algal assemblages after dam construction and downstream of the dam. Ordinations also suggested a loss of seasonality at the downstream site since the assemblages were similar between hydrological periods after dam construction. Indicator species, obtained by the Indicator Value method, showed that, after dam construction, there could have been an increase in nutrient concentration and a release of plankton from the impoundment. Abundance, richness and diversity were altered after dam construction as assessed by ANOVAs derived from a modified BACI Design. Proportion of early-successional species was higher at the upstream site while late-successional species were dominant at the downstream site, as predicted. Lower fluctuations in discharge downstream of the dam may have helped succession advance, whereas at the upstream site, mainly during the high water period, floods could have caused sloughing of life forms from the outer layers of the biofilm, resetting the algal community to early successional stages. It may be concluded that the dam affected algal community and favored succession advance mainly by reducing current velocity and flow fluctuations.http://www.jlimnol.it/index.php/jlimnol/article/view/534periphytonregulated streamsdiatom morphological guildsdetector specieslotic ecosystem |
| spellingShingle | Luciana Cibils Martina Romina Principe Noemí Gari Effect of a dam on epilithic algal communities of a mountain stream: before-after dam construction comparison Journal of Limnology periphyton regulated streams diatom morphological guilds detector species lotic ecosystem |
| title | Effect of a dam on epilithic algal communities of a mountain stream: before-after dam construction comparison |
| title_full | Effect of a dam on epilithic algal communities of a mountain stream: before-after dam construction comparison |
| title_fullStr | Effect of a dam on epilithic algal communities of a mountain stream: before-after dam construction comparison |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of a dam on epilithic algal communities of a mountain stream: before-after dam construction comparison |
| title_short | Effect of a dam on epilithic algal communities of a mountain stream: before-after dam construction comparison |
| title_sort | effect of a dam on epilithic algal communities of a mountain stream before after dam construction comparison |
| topic | periphyton regulated streams diatom morphological guilds detector species lotic ecosystem |
| url | http://www.jlimnol.it/index.php/jlimnol/article/view/534 |
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