INVESTIGADORES
SANCHEZ Maria laura
artículos
Título:
Drivers of phytoplankton diversity in Patagonian and Antarctic lakes across a latitudinal gradient (2150 km): the importance of spatial and environmental factors
Autor/es:
IZAGUIRRE, IRINA; SAAD, JUAN; SCHIAFFINO, ROMINA; VINOCUR, ALICIA; TELL, GUILLERMO; SÁNCHEZ, MARÍA LAURA; ALLENDE, LUZ; SINISTRO, RODRIGO
Revista:
HYDROBIOLOGIA
Editorial:
SPRINGER
Referencias:
Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2015
ISSN:
0018-8158
Resumen:
We investigated the phytoplankton structure
in 60 lakes across a latitudinal gradient (2150 km),
from Austral Patagonia to Antarctica, including environments
ranging from oligotrophic to eutrophic. We
analysed the latitudinal variation of species richness
(local and regional) and evenness, as well as the
similarity decay in phytoplankton composition in
Patagonia and Antarctica. The following hypotheses
were tested: (1) there is a decline of phytoplankton
species richness with increasing latitude; (2) phytoplankton
structure is influenced by both geographical
and environmental factors. (3) The predominant algal trophic strategy (autotrophic vs mixotrophic) is influenced
by lake trophic status. Phytoplankton was
analysed using a polyphasic approach (morphologically
based species diversity, functional diversity,
dominant molecular diversity). We found a significant
decline in phytoplankton richness with increasing
latitude. Multivariate analyses showed that phytoplankton
is structured by the lake geographic position
(mainly latitude) and variables related with trophic
state (nutrients, conductivity and pH). The autotrophs/
mixotrophs ratio increased towards higher trophic
states. The initial similarity was higher in Antarctica
than in Patagonia, whereas the halving distance was
lower for Antarctic lakes. The three biodiversity
approaches of this meta-analysis evidenced that both
geographic and environmental factors influence phytoplankton
diversity at large spatial scale, although the
local effect was stronger.