são cíclicas e outras, estão correlacionadas com mudanças periódicas, no ambiente físico, através de alternações de dia para noite, de estação para estação e de períodos úmidos pa-

-The effects of food concentration and temperature on embryonic and postembryonic duration of three tropical species, Daphnia gessneri (1.5mm), Diaphanosoma sarsi (1.2mm) and Moina reticulata (0.8mm), were investigated as part of life cycle studies which included growth, body size and reproduction. These are the very first experimental studies undertaken on these species. The long-term growth experiments were performed under controlled laboratory conditions at all combinations of temperature (22"C, 27"C and 32"C) and constant food concentration (0.03, 0.05, 0.10, 0.25, 0.50 and 1.00 mgC/L) of the unicellular green alga Scenedesmus acutus. Animals were examined twice daily throughout their life cycle from the neonate to third adult instar. In all three species, temperature exerted the most powerful influence on embryonic duration but there was also a smaller food effect. In D. gessneri, postembryonic durations remained more or less the same at food levels 0.25 mgC/L but were influenced by temperature. At food concentrations of 0.1 mgC/L or lower, postembryonic durations became increasingly prolonged, particularly at high temperatures. This threshold concentration is affected by temperature: in D. gessneri, it was 0.1 mgC/L at 22 o C and 27 o C but higher at 32 o C (between 0.25 and 0.50 mgC/L). At the same temperature of 27 o C, the food threshold level varied between species: it was higher (0.25 mgC/L) for D. sarsi and lower (0.05 mgC/L) for M. reticulata compared with D. gessneri (0.1 mgC/L). In both embryonic and postembryonic durations there is a body size effect as the absolute durations were longest in the largest species and shortest in the smallest species In all three species, prolongation of postembryonic duration at combinations of high temperature and lowered food levels was accompanied by increased number of juvenile instars. RESUMO -Os efeitos de temperatura e concentração de alimento na duração do desenvolvimento embrionário e postembrionário de três espécies tropicais, Daphnia gessneri (1.5mm), Diaphanosoma sarsi (1.2mm) and Moina reticulata (0.8mm), foram investigados como parte dos estudos de ciclo de vida incluindo crescimento, tamanho do corpo e reprodução. Estes são os primeiros estudos experimentais realizados com estas espécies. Os experimentos de crescimento de longa duração foram feitos em condições controladas de laboratório em todas as combinações de temperature (22°C, 27°C e 32°C) e concentração constante de alimento (0. Key-words:

All the biocenose possesses a particular structure that corresponds to the disposition of the individuals of the various species in relation to each other, in both the vertical and horizontal plane. According to WILLIAMSON et al. (1996), many planktonic organisms exhibit daily vertical migrations in response to the daily oscillations of several environmental variables. The distribution of planktonic communities is influenced by the intermediate disturbance hypothesis proposed by CONNELL (1978), that is, high diversity is at intermediate levels of disturbance.The intermediate disturbance hypothesis furnishes an explanation for the fact that the majority of ecosystems are far from being at climax or dynamic equilibrium or in a stable state, in accordance with the theory of ecological succession. This holds true as long as for the majority, a period of time has elapsed sufficient for this to be attained. ABSTRACT. The aim of investigation was to study the model of vertical distribution in Lago Amapá, taking into consideration the seasonality of its zooplanktonic composition. Lago Amapá (10º2'36"S and 67º50'24"W) is located in the floodplain of the Rio Acre. Samplings were conducted at three different depths of the water column, to study the vertical distribution of zooplankton populations and determine some physico-chemical and biological parameters of Lago Amapá. Weekly samples were taken with a Van Dorn sampler. The species showed greater concentrations at the by means of water column. Thirty-eight zooplankton species were found in the samples represented by Rotifera (30), Cladocera (5) and Cyclopoida (3). The temperature of the water column showed a tendency toward relatively high values (about 30°C) with little variation, consequently resulting in low viscosity. Based of Jaccard's index, it was seen that during the low-water phase, S1 and S3 of the three sampling stations studied, had greater similarity (C j = 0.7058) in the middle of the water column. Lago Amapá showed characteristics in line with the intermediate disturbance hypothesis model, favoring colonization by opportunistic species such as rotifers. KEY WORDS. Floodplain, intermediate disturbance hypothesis, zooplankton species.RESUMO. O objetivo desta investigação foi observar a distribuição vertical da comunidade do zooplâncton no Lago Amapá (10º2'36"S e 67º50'24"W), localizado na planície de inundação do Rio Acre. Amostragens foram conduzidas em três diferentes profundidades da coluna da água, considerando aspectos sazonais do zooplâncton, parâmetros físicos, químicos e biológicos. Coletas foram realizadas semanalmente com Garrafa de Van Dorn. As espécies apresentaram maiores concentrações no meio da coluna da água. Foram encontradas 38 espécies, assim distribuídas: Rotifera (30), Cladocera (5) e Cyclopoida (3). A temperatura da coluna da água em geral apresentouse alta, em torno de 30°C, com pequena variação, resultando em baixa viscosidade. O índice de Jaccard, comparando-se as três estações de coletas, demonstrou que durante a fase de águas baixa...

The rotifer community in Lago Amapá (abandoned meander lake of the Rio Acre floodplain) was investigated with respect to seasonal changes. Sampling was performed at three collection stations, generally weekly, during the dry season between May 8, 1997 and October 31, 1997, and during the rainy season between January 2, 1998 and February 24, 1998. The density and composition of rotifer species (48 taxons of rotifers) were determined, and their diversity and abundance were observed to be greater, respectively, at high-water and low-water. Anova was performed, by means of the F test, to test for seasonal differences in environmental variables and rotifers, showing that there was a highly statistically significant difference for pH and transparency (p < 0.01). Pearson's correlation was used to show that rotifer numbers during the low-water phase correlated negatively with electrical conductivity (r = -0.8824, p < 0.05) and during the high-water phase correlated negatively with depth (r = -0.7513, p < 0.05). Seasonal changes, caused by an increase in water levels and the low diversification of niches, influenced the composition and abundance of the animal group studied.
A comunidade de rotíferos do Lago Amapá (meandro abandonado da planície de inundação do Rio Acre) foi investigada sazonalmente. As amostragens foram realizadas semanalmente em três estações de coletas, em dois períodos: estação seca entre 08/V/1997 e 31/X/1997 e estação chuvosa, entre 02/I/1998 e 24/II/1998. A densidade e composição de rotíferos (48 táxons de rotíferos) foram determinadas. A diversidade e abundância foram caracterizadas por serem maiores, respectivamente, nas águas altas e águas baixas. Anova e teste F foram usados, visando observar diferenças sazonais nas variáveis ambientais e rotíferos. Transparência e pH foram estatisticamente altamente significativos (p < 0,01). As análises de correlações de Pearson revelaram que a condutividade elétrica foi negativamente correlacionada com a densidade de rotíferos (r = -0,8824; p < 0,05), na fase de águas baixas, bem como, profundidade, na fase de águas altas (r = -0,7513; p < 0,05). Mudanças sazonais, causadas pelas flutuações do nível da água, e baixa diversificação dos nichos influenciaram a composição e abundância do grupo estudado

The diel mixing patterns of two small floodplain lakes, Lago Jacaretinga in the Amazon drainage, and Lago Cristalino in the Rio Negro system, were investigated during both the high-water and low-water states of the Amazon River hydrograph. Measurements included temperature, oxygen, ammonia, phosphate, and chlorophyll. In both lakes thermal stratification developed during the day and was eroded at night. During the low-water period when the lakes were shallow, nocturnal circulation extended to the lake bottom, whereas when the lakes were deeper (greater than about 5 m), circulation did not reach the bottom and an anoxic hypolimnion developed. During the low-water period, percent of oxygen concentrations were relatively high but always less than saturation. Low oxygen concentrations were observed during the high-water period. At all times nocturnal mixing supplied a significant amount of oxygen to the lake ecosystems. Nighttime upward mixing of recycled nitrogen and phosphorus also appeared to be important nutrient sources for algal productivity.

Summary In May 1980 Lago Calado was 9 meters deep, the water level was rising slowly, and below 4 meters the water was anoxic. Virtually all of the zooplankton was in the oxygenated layer. Adult and juvenile Daphnia gessneri, the most abundant crustacean species, occurred between 0.5 and 4.5 meters. Copepod nauplii tended to occur nearer to the surface, in the 0—2 meter stratum. No clear vertical migration was observed. The epilimnion was undersaturated ( < 40% oxygen) and contained < 0.1 μ M phosphate, ammonium and nitrate. The hypolimnion contained substantial phosphate ( > 2 μ M) and ammonium ( > 5 μ M), but little nitrate ( < 0.1 μ. M). A peak in particulate carbon and nitrogen occurred between 4-5 meters, just below the thermocline, and was associated with a pigment maximum.

No abstract

RESUMO -Três espécies de algas clorofíceas, Scenedesmus quadricauda (Brèbisson, 1835), Ankistrodesmus gracilis (Korsikov, 1953) e Pediastrum duplex (Meyen, 1829), foram cultivadas no laboratório, usando como meio de cultura adubo químico N: P: K. na proporção 20:5:20, respectivamente. O valor nutricional das algas foi avaliado pela concentração de clorofila-a e pelo carbono orgânico. As três espécies algais apresentaram alto valor nutricional, particularmente Scenedesmus quadricauda, que apresentou a maior percentagem de carbono em relação ao peso seco (21%), sendo considerada como alimento adequado para os organismos filtradores.Palavras-chave: Algas, clorofíceas, Cultivo, Análise química. Nutritional Quality of Three Species of Chlorophyceae Cultured in the LaboratoryABSTRACT -Three species of Chlorophyceae algae Scenedesmus quadricauda (Brèbisson, 1835), Ankistrodesmus gracilis (Korsikov, 1953) and Pediastrum duplex (Meyen, 1829), were cultivated in the laboratory, using as a culture medium chemical fertilizer N: P: K in the