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

ALFONSO MARIA BELEN; BALEANI CARLA ALEJANDRA; M. CLARA MENENDEZ; FERNANDA FORNERON; M. CINTIA PICCOLO

Biologia Acuatica

Instituto de Limnologia Raul A. Ringuelet

Lugar: La Plata; Año: 2020 vol. 34

1668-4869

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