Spatial and temporal dynamics of the mesozooplankton (Crustacea: Cladocera, Copepoda and Decapoda) in a Pampean shallow hyposaline lake during drought conditions.

MARÍA BELÉN ALFONSO; BALEANI, CARLA A.; MARIA CLARA MENÉNDEZ; FERNANDA FORNERÓN; PICCOLO, M. CINTIA

Biología Acuática

Instituto de Limnología "Dr. Raúl A. Ringuelet"

Año: 2020

1668-4869

The Sauce Grande Lake, a shallow, eutrophic, and hyposaline lake, was studied through15 monthly samplings during a year (December 2009- November 2010). The drought that affected16 the region since 2009 and during the entire study period interrupted the regular inflow from the17 river and outflow to the Atlantic Ocean. The lake presented an increase of salinity values and18 highly turbid conditions as a result of the drought conditions and wind resuspension. Small19 cladocerans such as Moina micrura and the copepod Boeckella poopoensis dominate the20 mesozooplankton community. The salinity determined the mesozooplankton composition;221 meanwhile, the seasonal mesozooplankton abundance dynamic was ruled by temperature in22 conjunction with the eutrophic conditions during the study period. In a global context of climate23 change, and in a region where drought and wet cycles are frequent, these results further24 contribute to understanding the processes affecting the zooplankton community structure and25 dynamics during extreme climate events.