1. Based on a comprehensive data set collected monthly during 8 years (1997)(1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004), we evaluated the effects of mechanical removal of Eichhornia crassipes on the limnological characteristics and algal biomass of a polymictic shallow tropical reservoir. 2. Interrupted time series analyses indicated that the limnological responses to macrophyte removal can be classified as an 'abrupt permanent impact' implying that the overall mean of the time-series shifted promptly after intervention. These analyses indicated a significant increase for pH, total phosphorus, total phytoplankton and cyanobacterial biomass, and a decrease in water transparency and CO 2 concentrations in the surface water; also, the increase in water stability, increase of bottom soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) and decrease in bottom oxygen levels. 3. Cyclic anoxic periods previously observed during springs and summers were replaced by a persistent period of anoxic conditions in the sediment overlying water. Anoxic conditions were suitable for SRP release from sediments. Heavy cyanobacterial blooms became more persistent, maximum biomass (4229 mm 3 L )1 ) was 30 times larger, the blooms frequently reached 2 m and sometimes the bottom of the reservoir, contrasting to the preremoval period in which it reached at most 1 m deep. 4. The long-term P dynamics in the system, initially driven by allochthonous nutrient loadings were replaced by internal ecological processes. Water hyacinth removal markedly accelerated the process of eutrophication due to internal feedback mechanisms, leading to a switch to a more turbid state. Biological feedback mechanisms were driven by cyanobacterial blooms by enhancing water stability, oxygen anoxia at the bottom and by increasing suitable conditions for P internal loading. These data support the hypothesis of the role of cyanobacterial blooms as an important factor impairing water quality and driving the ecosystem towards a stable degraded state. 5. These findings have important implications for the restoration of shallow stratifying eutrophic lakes, as the alternative degraded state is most likely to occur when compared with their non-stratifying counterparts. Moreover, feedback mechanisms in tropical and subtropical shallow lakes seem to be stronger than in temperate ones, as stratification events are more likely to occur over the year, intensifying system resilience to restorative strategies.

This study aimed at describing the phytoplankton dynamics and structure in a shallow eutrophic reservoir, the Garças Pond, located in the Parque Estadual das Fontes do Ipiranga (23°38 0 40.6 00 S, 46°37 0 28.0 00 W), in the Municipality of São Paulo, southeast Brazil. Samples were collected monthly from January to December 1997 in five depths (subsurface, 1 m, 2 m, 3 m, and 20 cm above the bottom) in the pelagic zone (Z max = 4.7 m). Abiotic variables studied were: water temperature, turbidity, transparency, conductivity, pH, dissolved oxygen, alkalinity, inorganic carbon, and N and P dissolved and total forms. Altogether 236 phytoplankton taxa distributed among 10 classes were identified. Phytoplankton seasonal and vertical variation was related to shifts in the water chemical features as a consequence of a warm-wet season with stratified water column (phase 1, January-March and SeptemberDecember) alternating with a cool-dry season with mixed water column (phase 2, April-August). There were shifts in cyanobacterial dominance over the entire year. During phase 1, Raphidiopsis/Cylindrospermopsis was one of the most important taxon. During phase 2, Raphidiopsis/Cylindrospermopsis biomass decreased, whereas richness and diversity increased and diatoms were relatively abundant. In September, when the water column was markedly stratified, a cyanobacterial bloom (Sphaerocavum brasiliense) occurred. Changes in water chemical variables caused by the bloom allowed recognition of a phase 3, in which pH and chlorophyll a, TP and CO 3 2-concentration reached their highest values. According to Reynolds and collaborators' functional groups approach, phase 1 was marked by groups S/ W1/W2/H1/Y, phase 2 by groups K/L M /L O /D/P/X1/ F, and phase 3 by group M. This sequence was corroborated by canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) results.

The aquatic systems responsible for water supply in the Brazilian Federal District (FD) have been threatened by anthropogenic pressures, especially considering the expressive demographic increase in the region during the last decades. The purposes of this research were: (a) to assess the water quality in streams located in the FD by monitoring physical-chemical variables; (b) to define baselines for these variables among different ecological status categories. The 14 investigated streams were sampled between 2006 and 2009, in the dry (August-September, 2006, 2008, 2009) and rainy (March-April, 2008, 2009) seasons. All sampling sites were classified in four categories ("very impacted", "impacted", "in transition" and "natural") using an adaptation of a rapid habitat assessment protocol. Differences in water quality among sites were generally well predicted in the four ecological status categories defined by the protocol, which showed a gradient in nutrient concentrations from reference sites classified as "natural" (medians: electrical conductivity = 7.3 μS cm(-1); nitrate = 0.040 mg L(-1); ammonium = 0.039 mg L(-1); soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) = <0.001 mg L(-1); total phosphorus (TP) = 0.006 mg L(-1); ) to those classified as "very impacted" (medians: electrical conductivity = 87.7 μS cm(-1); nitrate = 0.247 mg L(-1); ammonium = 0.219 mg L(-1); SRP = 0.010 mg L(-1); TP = 0.035 mg L(-1)). Point sources inputs were the main factor for water quality deterioration. The nutrient baselines reported were relatively low when compared to data collected from reference areas in Brazil (e.g., São Paulo State) or temperate regions, especially for TP.

-(Biovolume of Cyanobacteria and algae from Brazilian tropical reservoirs with different trophic status). The present study aimed at presenting the biovolume of planktonic and periphytic cyanobacteria and algae from reservoirs with different trophic status at Parque Estadual das Fontes do Ipiranga, São Paulo, São Paulo State, Brazil. The study includes a proposal for determining the biovolume of colonial forms of Cyanobacteria such as Microcystis and Sphaerocavum. The list of biovolume will contribute to algal ecology studies, allowing the application of this information to research in this area of knowledge, besides serving as a comparative model for other tropical ecosystems. The list comprises the biovolume of 568 taxa, including information on their taxonomic classes, maximum linear dimension and surface/volume ratio. Keywords: phycoperiphyton, phytoplankton, quantitative studies RESUMO -(Biovolume de cianobactérias e algas de reservatórios tropicais do Brasil com diferentes estados tróficos). O presente estudo visou apresentar o biovolume de cianobactérias e algas fitoplanctônicas e perifíticas de reservatórios com diferentes estados tróficos do Parque Estadual das Fontes do Ipiranga, São Paulo, SP, Brasil. O estudo inclui uma proposta para determinação do biovolume de formas coloniais de Cyanobacteria como, por exemplo, Microcystis e Sphaerocavum. A lista de biovolume auxiliará os estudos sobre ecologia de algas, permitindo a aplicação dessa informação em trabalhos nessa área de estudo, além de servir de modelo comparativo em outros ecossistemas de região tropical. A lista inclui o biovolume de 568 táxons, incluindo informações sobre suas respectivas classes taxonômicas, máxima dimensão linear e razão superfície/volume. Palavras-chave: estudos quantitativos, ficoperifíton, fitoplâncton

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This study aimed at analyzing the environmental factors which determine the structure and dynamic of phytoplankton in a shallow reservoir with abundant macrophyte flora, Ninféias Pond (Brazil). It is hypothesized that, although its shallowness, periodic stratifications play an important role on its phytoplankton community. Water samples were collected monthly, from January to December 1997, in four depths (sub-surface, 1 m, 2 m, and bottom) of pelagic zone (Z max = 3.6 m). Community seasonal and vertical variations followed a hot-rainy season with water column stratification (phase 1; Q index: medium), alternating with a cool-dry season with water column mixing (phase 2: Q index: excellent). Nanoplanktonic flagellates dominated, mainly mixotrophic species. During phase 1, Chlamydomonas sp. (G) was the main species, dominating at the anoxic and nutrient-rich hypolimnion. At the same time, richness and diversity were relatively lower. During phase 2, lower water temperatures and higher dissolved oxygen concentrations favoured the prymnesiophyte Chrysochromulina cf. breviturrita (X2). Sequence of functional groups over phases 1 and 2 was: phase 1 = G ? transition = Y/P/E/D/F/W2/ X3 ? phase 2 = X2/Lo/X1; most of these groups have been associated to oligo-mesotrophic systems. Seasonal stratifications played a decisive role in determining the structure and dynamic of phytoplankton in the Ninféias Pond. However, in such a complex and heterogeneous system, other compartments of the food web (macrophytes, zooplankton, fishes) may also act as relevant driving forces, in synergy with the physical and chemical environment.

-(Periphytic desmids from five lagoons of the Federal District, Brazil: I -Genus Cosmarium Corda ex Ralfs). This study aimed a taxonomic survey on genus Cosmarium in five oligotrophic lagoons in the Federal District, Brazil: Lagoa Bonita, Lagoa Joaquim Medeiros, Lagoa do Cedro, Lagoa Taquara and Lagoa dos Gansos. Samples were realized between 2006 and 2009, by macrophytes squeezing and/or submerged substrates scraping; 18 samples were analyzed and deposited at the Herbarium of the University of Brasília. They were fixed in formalin solution (4%) and analized under 400× and 1000× magnification. Altogether 42 taxons were found. Among them, 30 are cited for the first time in the Federal District and probably eight for Brazil. Lagoa Bonita had the higher number of taxa (32)

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