Effects of sandbar openings on the zooplankton community of coastal lagoons with different conservation status/Efeitos da abertura de barra sobre a comunidade zooplanctônica de lagoas costeiras com diferentes estados de conservação

• Published in: Acta limnológica brasiliensia Vol. 25; no. 3; p. 246
• Main Authors: Setubal, Rayanne Barros, Santangelo, Jayme Magalhães, Rocha, Adriana de Melo, Bozelli, Reinaldo Luiz
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Botucatu Associação Brasileira de Limnologia 01-07-2013
• ISSN: 0102-6712; 2179-975X

Artificial sandbar openings are a common management practice in coastal lagoons but they can be a threat when negative effects to the quality of water and to the aquatic biota are observed. The current study compared sandbar opening effects in two coastal lagoons located close to each other, but differing on trophic status and on sandbar openings' background. Limnological variables and zooplankton community were recorded monthly during one year before and one year after sandbar openings that occurred in the same month for both lagoons, giving 24 samples. The authors compared the effects of sandbar opening on response variables, according to the two types of system. The sandbar openings determined changes in some limnological features -- depth and salinity -- but such effects were different in the two types of system. The zooplankton structure displayed dramatic changes in the eutrophic and commonly opened lagoon. The occurrence and abundance of some species were closely related to changes in limnological variables.