Original paper

Limnological comparison of two peridunar ponds in the Doñana National Park (Spain)

López, Teresa; Toja, Julia; Gabellone, Néstor A.

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Archiv für Hydrobiologie Volume 120 Number 3 (1991), p. 357 - 378

38 references

published: Jan 22, 1991

DOI: 10.1127/archiv-hydrobiol/120/1991/357

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ArtNo. ESP141012003006, Price: 29.00 €

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Abstract

The ponds Santa Olalla and Dulce belong to the peridune pond system on the E—W coastline of the Doñana National Park. The water that fills these ponds originates in the groundwater tables of the dunar system, and these ponds also contain rainwater (run-off and drainage). Despite the fact that they are contiguous ponds, which join up during determined periods, they present differences, both in water chemical characteristics and in their phyto- and zooplanktonic communities. Santa Olalla shows conductivity values of 3 to 10mS/cm in the dry period, and of 0.5 to 3 mS/cm in the rainy one. Its water is sodium chloride enriched. The pH values vary between 7 and 11. It is a hypereutrophic pond with chlorophyll-a at higher concentration than 100mg/m3 in most of the samples. The phytoplankton community is dominated by Spirulina platensis, Anabaenopsis circulant, Microcystis aeruginosa, Aphanothece clathrata and Coelosphaerium kuetzingianum. The zooplankton is dominated by Brachionus plicatilis, Keratella quadrata, Daphnia magna and Acanthocyclops robustus. Dulce presents a lower salinity (conductivity values between 0.8 and 2.5mS/cm in the dry period and between 0.25 and 1.7 in the rainy one) and although it also has sodic chloride enriched water, the proportion of divalent cations is higher than Santa Olalla. The pH values vary between 6 and 9.5. Macrophyte develop in this pond. The phytoplankton community is dominated by Chroococcus dispersus, Merismopoedia punctata, Aphanocapsa elachista, Kirchneriella microscopica, Monoraphidium spp and Scenedesmus spp. The zooplankton is dominated by Acanthocyclops robustus and Arctodiaptomus wierzejski.

Keywords

Conductivity values • hypereutropic pond • Spirulina platensis • Anabenopsis circularis • Donana National Park (Spain)