CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE PHYTOPLANKTON OF THE LAKE OF THE PARQUE UNZUÉ (GUALEGUAYCHÚ, ARGENTINA)

Abstract

The lagoon of the Parque Unzué is located within an important recreational area of the tourist city of Gualeguaychú (Entre Ríos, Argentina). The objective of this work was to contribute knowledge about phytoplankton richness and composition during an annual period (2015–2016). Nine sampling were taken at 3 sites, and 30 genera were identified, representing the Bacillariophyceae (11), Chlorophyta (10), Euglenophyta (4), Cyanobacteria (4), and Dinophyceae (1). The genus Pediastrum, Scenedesmus, Phacus, Navicula, Gomphonema and Pinnularia were present throughout the study period, being genera common in urban lagoons of the Pampas ecoregion according to the literature. In addition, the presence of the genus Ceratium reported as an invasive genus as well as potentially toxic cyanobacteria such as Microcystis, Aphanocapsa and Merismopedia were found. This is the first systematic study carried out in the phytoplankton richness and composition lake, which can be used for environmental management actions.