Mat thickness associated with Didymosphenia geminata and Cymbella sp. in the southern rivers of Chile
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Abstract
Didymosphenia geminata is a diatom that can alter aquatic systems. According to the international literature, chemical and hydraulic factors have a greater influence on the proliferation of D. geminata, but the study of other microalgae that could be associated with it has been poorly addressed. The objective of this study is to evaluate the relationship between the structure of mat thickness D. geminata and another taxon that produces mucilage, Cymbella sp., while also considering physical and chemical factors. To do this, two samples were taken, one in the spring of 2013 and the other in the autumn of 2014, from eight rivers in central-southern Chile-South America, where the benthic community was characterized and the thickness of the mat was measured. The results indicate that in the presence of both taxa the thickness of the mat layer is doubled. However, antecedents suggest that D. geminata is the main producer of mucilage, being seconded by Cymbella sp. The present study contributes evidence about the relationship between mat thickness D. geminata and other microalgae contribution, and aquatic condition for this development.
Cite this as
2018. Mat thickness associated with Didymosphenia geminata and Cymbella sp. in the southern rivers of Chile. PeerJ Preprints 6:e26926v1 https://doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.26926v1Author comment
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Supplemental Information
Dataset used in analysis
ID , numerical indentification; season, season of sampling (S=spring, A=autumn); river, river name; altitude, m.a.s.l.; east , WGS 84 - UTM 19s; north , WGS 84 - UTM 19s; date, date of sampling; temp.w , °C; ph, unity; CE , µS/cm; Osat, %; other chemical variables in mg/l; prof , cm; depth.vel, m/s; density, total cel/mm3; richness, species number; cymbella.sp , cel/mm3; d.geminata, cel/mm3; mat.thick, cm.
Additional Information
Competing Interests
Daniel Zamorano is a member of Centro de Investigación e Innovación para el Cambio Climático - Universidad Santo Tomás. Diana J Lillo is a science communicators and works in Heureka. Dr. Matías Peredo-Parada is an employee of Plataforma de Investigación en Ecohidrología y Ecohidráulica limitada. Dr. Jorge Parodi is a member of Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Molecular aplicada - Universidad Mayor. Carilina Díaz is Chief of Amakaik Consultoría Ambiental.
Author Contributions
Daniel Zamorano conceived and designed the experiments, analyzed the data, prepared figures and/or tables, authored or reviewed drafts of the paper, approved the final draft.
Diana J Lillo conceived and designed the experiments, performed the experiments, authored or reviewed drafts of the paper, approved the final draft.
Jorge Parodi authored or reviewed drafts of the paper, approved the final draft.
Matias Peredo-Parada analyzed the data, authored or reviewed drafts of the paper, approved the final draft.
Carolina A Díaz conceived and designed the experiments, contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools, approved the final draft.
Data Deposition
The following information was supplied regarding data availability:
All data collected are provided in the supplementary file.
Funding
This work was supported by FIP 2013-25 project "Evaluation of <i>Didymosphenia geminata</i> (Didymo) in bodies of water in the south-central area," from the Subsecretaría de Pesca y Acuicultura through the Fondo de Investigación Pesquera, Chile. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.