INVESTIGADORES
PEREZ Alejandra Patricia
artículos
Título:
UV Radiation as a Potential Driving Force for Zooplankton Community Structure in Patagonian Lakes
Autor/es:
MARINONE, MARÍA C.; SILVINA MENU MARQUE; AÑÓN SUÁREZ, DIEGO; DIEGUEZ, MARÍA DEL CARMEN; PEREZ, A. PATRICIA; P. DE LOS RÍOS; D. SOTO; ZAGARESE HORACIO E.
Revista:
PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY
Editorial:
WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC
Referencias:
Lugar: Londres; Año: 2006 p. 962 - 971
ISSN:
0031-8655
Resumen:
This article explores the potential role of UV radiation (UVR) as an
influence on zooplankton communities. In the first section we provide a general
overview of UVR effects on freshwater zooplankton, with an emphasis on
Argentine and Chilean environments. In the second section we present the results
of a survey involving 53 temperate lakes across a gradient of UVR exposure to
determine patterns of species richness and specific diversity. These community
characteristics decreased at high potential UVR exposure (i.e. high mean water
column irradiance or low lake optical density). A threshold value of mean water
column irradiance of approximately 10% of the surface level seems to limit both
richness and diversity to minimum values. On the basis of the collected evidence
it is not possible to definitely conclude that UVR rather than another
covarying factor is responsible for the decrease in specific diversity observed
at the lowest end of lake optical depth. However, lakes with values above the
previous threshold are likely to exhibit highly depauperate zooplankton communities
regardless of the mechanism. As a cautionary note we suggest that changes in
the optical characteristics (i.e. changes due to atmospheric conditions,
precipitation patterns or vertical displacement of the tree line) may result in
sudden shifts in zooplankton community structure.