Jurumirim is a large tropical reservoir with remarkable spatial gradients. This structure seems to be determined by a longitudinal gradient in the trophic conditions along the main axis of the reservoir. Nutrient‐rich waters enter from the main tributary river, Paranapanema, and towards the dam there is a lacustrine zone that is deeper and more oligotrophic. Additional variability is derived from two important lateral components: the entrance of the Taquari River, the second largest tributary, bringing waters with higher pH and alkalinity; and the Ribeirão das Posses arm, a sheltered bay where the hydrodynamic conditions promote a high growth of phytoplankton. However, such a spatial pattern is not static. It can become either more defined, during the dry season (late autumn and winter), or less evident, during the expansion of the lotic conditions in the rainy period (late spring and summer). Seasonal processes of stratification/destratification determine the temporal changes in the lacustrine zone but, unlike the upstream regions, the dam zone of the reservoir seems to be little affected by periodic pulses of modifications produced by intensive rains. The presence of extensive wetlands and oxbow lagoons in the mouth zones of the main rivers also constitutes an important source of spatial variability and should be considered in the future.

The phytoplankton assemblages from eight reservoirs of the Paranapanema River were studied during two consecutive years. Chlorophyceae and Bacillaryophyceae dominated in richness. The observed high number of taxa, 234, reflects the extensive sampling programme and evidences the necessity of considering the whole hydrograph basin to assess the biodiversity status of inland water ecosystems. The dams had a negative effect on phytoplankton richness, with higher number of taxa associate to riverine (non-regulated) stretches. The tributary rivers also exhibited high species richness, showing the importance of considering the lateral dimension, in addition to the longitudinal one, for aquatic biota inventories in large river basins/reservoirs. Richness and diversity were also positively influenced by the connectivity with lateral wetlands (macrophyte-dominated lakes) due to the periphyton influence. The phytoplankton abundance/ biomass was not influenced by higher water retention time. Higher values occurred in the middle basin stretches (riverpassage reservoirs) due to the increase in the trophic conditions. There was a positive correlation with phosphorus. Poorer light conditions in the cascade do not limit the phytoplankton biomass, with assemblages dominated by species tolerant to turbulent conditions and high mineral turbidity. Bacillariophyceae and Cryptophyceae dominated numerically. The first group (unicellular forms) was prominent in the large and oligotrophic upstream reservoirs. The second was highly abundant in the river-passage (low retention time), and more eutrophic, reservoirs. Cyanophyceae growth is probably controlled by advection processes (wash-out effect). The zooplankton does not control the phytoplankton biomass and the diversity of both groups is positively associated in the cascade. The structure of the phytoplankton assemblages showed to be a good indicator of the operationally distinct reservoirs of the Paranapanema cascade and also reflected the changes in the trophic conditions along the basin.Keywords: Paranapanema River, Chlorophyceae, Bacillaryophyceae, Cryptophyceae, reservoir limnology.Assembleias fitoplanctônicas de reservatórios em cascata de um rio tropicalsubtropical de grande porte (SE, Brasil) ResumoAs assembleias fitoplanctônicas de oito reservatórios do rio Paranapanema foram estudadas durante dois anos consecutivos. Chlorophyceae e Bacillaryophyceae foram os grupos dominantes em riqueza. O elevado número de táxons observado, 234, reflete o extensivo programa de amostragem e evidencia a necessidade de se considerar a bacia hidrográfica como um todo em programas de avaliação da biodiversidade de ecossistemas aquáticos interiores. As barragens tiveram um efeito negativo sobre a riqueza do fitoplâncton, sendo o maior número de táxons associado aos trechos fluviais (não regulados). Os rios tributários também exibiram um elevado número de espécies, mostrando a importância de se considerar a dimensão lateral, além do gradiente longitudinal, para os inventários da biota aquát...

Brazil has a variety of aquatic ecosystems and rich freshwater biodiversity, but these components have been constantly damaged by the expansion of unsustainable activities. An array of different conservation strategies is needed, especially the creation of protected areas (PAs, hereafter). However, Brazil's PAs are biased towards terrestrial ecosystems and we argue that current PAs have limited efficacy in the protection of freshwater biodiversity. New PAs should better consider aquatic environments, covering entire basins, rivers and other freshwater habitats. We recommend ways to implement these PAs and provide guidance to avoid social impacts. Freshwater systems in Brazil provide essential goods and services but these ecosystems are being rapidly degraded and will be lost if not adequately protected.

In this study, the composition, specific richness and abundance of benthic macroinvertebrates (<250 µm) from sediments of eight reservoirs of the Paranapanema River (southeast Brazil), as well as from the main tributaries (Taquari, Pardo and Tibagi) and the mouth zone into the Paraná River were analyzed. Nineteen points distributed along 700 km were sampled quarterly (8 campaigns) during a two-year period (2000 and 2001). The zoobenthos was characterized by a high species richness, (c.a. 100 taxa), with the predominance of Diptera Chironomidae (c.a. 50 taxa). There was a great spatial variation in the assemblage structure, mainly when compared the lacustrine zones of the reservoirs in relation to the fluvial stretches. The Oligochaeta Narapa bonettoi was dominant in sampling stations with sandy sediments and high water velocity, mainly in the Pardo River and in the upstream and downstream of the Paranapanema river mouth (Paraná River). Branchiura sowerbyi, other numerically important Oligochaeta, was abundant in regions of the upper and middle Paranapanema basin. The mollusk bivalve Corbicula fluminea was widely distributed, occurring in most stations and sampling periods. A certain increment in richness and abundance of taxa occurred in the middle Paranapanema. Lower depth, higher flow and increase in the trophic conditions seem to favor the benthic fauna development in this region. A seasonal variation pattern during the two years of study could not be detected, especially concerning the zoobenthos abundance.Keywords: zoobenthos, spatial distribution, temporal distribution, tropical river. Macroinvertebrados bentônicos dos reservatórios em cascata do rio Paranapanema (sudeste, Brasil) ResumoNeste estudo, foi analisada a composição, riqueza específica e abundância de macroinvertebrados bentônicos de oito reservatórios do rio Paranapanema, assim como nos principais tributários (Taquari, Pardo e Tibagi) e zona de desembocadura no rio Paraná. Dezenove pontos distribuídos ao longo de 700 km foram amostrados trimestralmente (oito campanhas) durante dois anos consecutivos (2000 e 2001). O zoobentos foi caracterizado por uma alta riqueza de espécies (c.a. 100 taxa), com a predominância de Diptera Chironomidae (c.a. 50 taxa). Foi observada uma grande variação espacial na estrutura das assembléias, principalmente quando comparadas às zonas lacustres dos reservató-rios e aos trechos fluviais. O Oligochaeta Narapa bonettoi foi dominante em estações de amostragem com sedimento arenoso e elevada velocidade de correnteza, principalmente no rio Pardo e na montante e jusante da zona de desembocadura do rio Paranapanema no rio Paraná. Branchiura sowerbyi, outro Oligochaeta numericamente importante, foi abundante no trecho superior da bacia. O molusco bivalve Corbicula fluminea mostrou-se amplamente distribuído, ocorrendo na maioria dos locais e períodos amostrados. Uma elevação da riqueza e abundância ocorreu no médio Paranapanema. Menor profundidade, maior fluxo e aumento da trofia parecem favorecer o desenvolvimento d...

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ABSTRACTthe annual variability of the photosynthetic production (PP) by phytoplankton in the lacustrine zone of the Jurumirim reservoir (São Paulo, Brazil) was evaluated in a three-year study to identify recurrent patterns and their causes. Variability in PP was measured daily during two periods of the year (the dry and rainy seasons). An analysis of the PP data failed to identify a recurrent pattern, since the PP values showed no correlation with hydrological factors (rainfall, water level and discharge, and washout) nor, apparently, with the water's nutritional conditions. A principal component analysis revealed that the PP and assimilation ratio were higher when the Po 4 3-and n-nh 4 + contents were low and the z eu /z miX ratios were at their highest. Areal primary productivity can be predicted based on the ratio between the maximum volumetric productivity and the coefficient of vertical extinction of light. however, the biomass integrated for z eu was a poor predictor of areal primary productivity. no correlation was found between water temperature and areal and maximum volumetric productivity. thus, the three-year PP study indicated that the variability pattern is typically chaotic. As for the short-term measurements, the PP was found to be higher in the dry season than in the rainy, although both seasons showed an areal PP variability of 35 to 40%. this pattern was attributed to the daily variation in the nutritional conditions and the magnitude of light penetrating through the water, combined with the mixing of phytoplanktonic cells. A comment about the relationship between primary production by phytoplankton and fish yield is also briefly discussed here.Keywords: primary productivity, phytoplankton, variability, reservoir, light, nutrients. RESUMOVariabilidade anual e de curto prazo na produtividade primária pelo fitoplâncton e fatores abióticos correlatos na Represa de Jurumirim (São Paulo, Brasil)A variabilidade anual da produção fotossintética (PP) pelo fitoplâncton na zona da barragem da represa de Jurumirim (São Paulo, Brasil) foi medida após um estudo no período de três anos sucessivos, com o objetivo de identificar padrões recorrentes e suas causas. medidas da variabilidade da PP em escala diária foram obtidas em dois períodos do ano (estações seca e chuvosa). nenhum padrão recorrente foi verificado nos dados de PP, visto não haver relação de sua variabilidade com nenhum fator hidrológico (precipitação, nível e vazão de água e washout) nem, aparentemente, com as condições nutritivas da água. A análise de componentes principais revelou que a PP e a taxa de assimilação foram mais elevadas na época do ano em que o conteúdo de Po 4 3-e n-nh 4 + foi mais baixo e quando as razões z eu /z miX foram mais elevadas. A produtividade primária/área pode ser estimada pela razão entre a produtividade volumétrica máxima e o coeficiente de extinção vertical da luz. entretanto, a biomassa integrada na z eu foi um pobre preditor da produtividade primária/área. nenhuma correlação foi encontrada entre a temperatura d...

During three consecutive years, monthly samples of zooplankton were taken in the lacustrine (dam) zone of Jurumirim (São Paulo, Brazil). The seasonal effect on basic limnological features (thermal regime, oxygen distribution, phytoplankton biomass, etc.) was also examined. The influence of the seasonality on the fluctuation of the zooplankton composition and abundance was not clearly detected (low degree of recurrent patterns). Rotifers (32 taxa) were the most abundant organisms during almost the entire study period with some seasonal alternations in the maximum abundance peaks of the main taxa (Conochilus unicornis, Keratella americana, K. cochlearis and Hexarthra spp.), except for Polyarthra (mainly P. vulgaris). Only occasionally copepods were numerically dominant. Higher copepod abundance was positively associated to periods of increase in the water retention time. Among the Copepoda (10 taxa) the calanoids (mainly Notodiaptomus iheringi) were more abundant, especially in warmer periods. Conversely, cyclopoids had higher abundance in autumn and winter. The species Thermocyclops minutus and T. decipiens co-occurred, but the first attained higher abundance. Some evidence of co-existence strategies between both species are considered. Cladocera (17 taxa) was never numerically dominant and the main taxa (Bosmina spp., Ceriodaphnia spp. and Diaphanosoma spp.) occurred almost the whole study period and did not present a seasonal pattern of fluctuation. Diaphanosoma (mainly D. birgei) attained the highest abundance among cladocerans. Most organisms were always found at the surface, but they also occupy the whole water column, even in periods of stratified conditions and low oxygen concentration in the bottom layers. Among the main zooplanktonic taxa, only Hexarthra avoids deep layers. An exceptionally high concentration of Copepoda nauplii on the surface was influenced by low transparency, high concentration of phytoplankton at this layer and low oxygen concentration at the bottom. In periods of higher retention timevariability there was a more heterogeneous distribution of the zooplankton in the water column. The increase in the retention time seems also to favor the copepod development. Finally, some inter-decade changes are considered on the basis of zooplankton assemblage structure observations. Keywords

This study aimed to evaluate the zooplankton structures and environmental conditions in the interface reservoir‐downstream river and tributaries. Zooplankton structure and environmental variables were analyzed in the lacustrine zone of Itaipu Reservoir and downstream this dam at Paraná River and in two lateral tributaries. A total of nine sites were sampled in July 2009 and January 2010 (winter/dry vs. summer/wet). In the free‐flowing section downstream of the Itaipu Reservoir (Paraná River), the physical–chemical influence of the dammed water can persist for approximately 15 km in the dry period and 30 km in the rainy period. The lateral tributaries (Iguaçu and Monday Rivers) introduce sediments (particulate organic and inorganic matter), nutrients and potamoplankton biota that contribute to fluvial restoration, particularly in the dry period when the main river flow is low. The zooplankton community structure and composition varied over space (longitudinal) and time. Rotifers dominated in the lateral tributaries, whereas microcrustaceans from the reservoir were abundant in the Paraná River. The density of zooplankton downstream of the reservoir decreased, with the highest reduction occurring in the first 5 km downstream of the dam, however, the species composition persisted in the all free‐flowing section downstream studied. Associations were found among zooplankton abundance and environmental variables, mainly the current velocity and water discharge; zooplankton groups had different responses to these variables. Differences in the zooplankton ecological structure along a stretch of the Paraná River clearly indicate the effects of damming and tributaries.