Resumen

HERNANDEZ, Esnedy et al. Classification of morphofunctional phytoplankton groups in six lentic systems of the Caribbean, Andean, and Amazonian regions of Colombia. Rev. acad. colomb. cienc. exact. fis. nat. [online]. 2020, vol.44, n.171, pp.392-406.  Epub 09-Jun-2021. ISSN 0370-3908.  https://doi.org/10.18257/raccefyn.1082.

The classification based on phytoplankton traits and functional groups allowed a feasible and objective approach in the evaluation of six tropical systems of different types, origin, morphology, and limnological condition in the Amazon, Andean, and Caribbean regions of Colombia. Specifically, this work established the relationship between continuous and categorical variables of phytoplankton (volume, surface area, maximum linear dimension, presence of aerotopes, mucilage, flagellum, and silica exoskeleton) and limnological parameters such as transparency, maximum depth, temperature, and inorganic ions concentration. We selected two to eight stations during three or four climatic periods in annual series between 2005 and 2007 taking samples in the limnetic area. The identified taxa were classified into morphology-based functional groups (MBFG) according to the morphological dimensions and the presence of specialized traits of each taxon. Group V (unicellular o colonial flagellates of medium to large size) predominated in shallow and turbid environments, except for the Caribbean Bajo Sinu plains where group VII (large mucilaginous colonies) dominated. In the deep and highly transparent mountain lakes, groups IV (organisms of medium size lacking specialized traits) and VII predominated. The groups proposed classification exposed the functional patterns of the phytoplankton assembly and significantly explained its variation in response to the characteristics of the systems.

Palabras clave : Phytoplankton; Morphology; Functional; Traits.

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