Epibiont algae on planktic microcrustaceans from a subtropical shallow lake (Argentina)

Abstract

Studies on taxonomy and seasonal variations of density and biomass were carried out over a year on epibiont algae on planktic microcrustaceans from a subtropical shallow lake (Corrientes, Argentina). Four taxa, 3 Chlorophyta and 1 Euglenophyta, were documented. Among them, Chloromonas anuraeae (KOR-SHIKOV) GERLOFF et ETTL and Chlorangiopsis systilis KORSHIKOV were docu-mented for the first time for South America, and Korshikoviella setosa(FILARSZ.) SILVA for the first time in Argentina. Colacium vesiculosum EHRENB. was the most frequent taxon observed. The infestation percentage was high in adult microcrus-taceans of calanoid copepods. The absence of a significant correlation between the density of epibionts and microcrustaceans or between both populations and the environmental variables suggests that epibiont algae might not play a key role in the regulation of planktic microcrustaceans.