Cladocera de água doce do estado de são paulo – brasil: taxonomia, ecologia e diversidade de espécies

Abstract

Studies on Cladocera diversity are of great relevance since this group is one of the three main components of freshwater zooplankton, together with Rotifera and copepods. They provide information for understanding energy and nutrient transport along trophic chains and ultimately the food web structure, besides interactions between species and processes structuring communities. Therefore, works involving taxonomy, molecular biology, species functionality, and aspects of the life of organisms are fundamental to ecological studies. In order to contribute to the knowledge of these aspects regarding the Cladocera of freshwaters of São Paulo state, 284 bodies of water were sampled once, from 2012 to 2015. Some physical and chemical characteristics of the water body (pH, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen concentration and temperature) were simultaneously measured, besides analysing biological variables (Cladocera community species composition and diversity). From the results, diversity Shannon-Wienner and Simpson indices were calculated and species were classified regarding their functional role. For one species of the Chydoridae family, Oxyurella cilliata, the study of the life cycle and the molecular DNA barcode was obtained after obtaining a laboratory culture. The environments are heterogeneous and most of the water bodies are small, shallow and impacted by anthropic action. Great species richness of Cladocera (86 taxa) was recorded, with 5 new occurrences recorded (Coronatella paulinae, C. undata, Anthalona cf. acuta, A. cf. brandorffi and A. cf. neotropica). Eight functional groups were formed with information on resource utilization and trophic web complexity. Most species are characteristic of littoral region as the chydorids. This family has the highest specie richness and wide geographic distribution around the world. Many species are being reviewed and on the light of molecular biology are being subject of taxonomic reviews, changing from genus up to subfamily and some new species added. Among chydorids, Bergamina lineolata, Graptoleberis occidentalis, Dadaya macrops and Dunhevedia odontoplax had their distribution area expanded in São Paulo state, although showing habitat specificity and to be restrict to certain types of environments. Results from the life cycle and molecular biology analyses evidenced significant morphological and molecular diferences to between Oxyurella cilliata and O. longicaudis, suggesting the need for an updated taxonomical review of this genus.