Microalgas bentónicas de la laguna La Redonda y su relación con las características del ecosistema

Abstract

La Redonda lagoon has high richness of species and fishing and landscape values, because of that this water body is essential for the regional and national tourism. The ecology of this lagoon has been analyzed to research the causes of the trout (Micropterus salmoides) population decrease. Benthic microalgae species were identified and to establish their relationships with the characteristics of the ecosystem. The sampling was made on November, 2013, in ten sampling sites. The transparency was measured by a Secchi disc, and the temperature and the pH were measured with a portatil HACH pH-metro. A fluorimetric method was used for clorofila a quantification. The superficial sediment samples were extracted with a Van Veen dredge. Several classes of microalgae and cyanobacterias were registered, with a particular diversity of diatoms. The diatoms founded are typical of salinity, organic matter and eutrophic waters. Desmidian algae also were presented despite of the high pH of this lagoon.