Hierarquia de influência dos fatores locais na diversidade zooplanctônica, em lagoas de uma planície de inundação Neotropical.

Abstract

The zooplankton diversity is mainly influenced by local factors, such as area, structure and productivity, which interfere in the occurrence of the species. We assessed the degree of importance of local factors (pond area, macrophytes coverage and chlorophyll-α) on the zooplankton diversity; and If organisms with different lifestyles (planktonic and non-planktonic) responds similarly to these factors, in 23 lakes of a Neotropical floodplain. Of the 150 identified species, 67 are planktonic, and 83, non-planktonic. According to the ranking of the factors influence on the diversity, the product TREE was the formation of four groups. The first group was determined according to the macrophytes coverage. In these lakes there was the greatest species diversity, and the mainly contribution was non-planktonic species. The area was the second most important factor on diversity, separating the bigger lakes than the smaller lakes. The third factor in hierarchical order of importance, which separated the smaller lakes in two groups was the concentration of chlorophyll-a. In these lakes, there was a greater contribution of planktonic species. With the deconstruction of community based on the life habits of the species, it was observed that the diversity of planktonic species was positively related to the area and negatively with the concentration of chlorophyll-α and macrophytes coverage. The opposite was observed for non-planktonic species, which were positively related to macrophytes coverage, and negatively with the area and the concentration of chlorophyll-α. The cover of macrophytes was the most important factor for the community diversity. The maintenance and management of this vegetation are relevant strategies to enhance the structure of the environment, and assist in the conservation of aquatic biodiversity. Additionally, the organisms' strategy of life (planktonic and non-planktonic) defines the area, structuring the environment and productivity effect on diversity