Periphytic algae assemblage in macrophyte roots in a Colombian tropical wetland

Abstract

The assemblage of periphytic algae (phycoperiphyton) associated to the macrophyte roots was studied in Paticos
wetland; a tropical lentic system belongs to the Ayapel wetland complex located in Colombia, located 20 m. a.s.l.
This ecosystem presents thermal stratification in the afternoon, a reduced fotic area, water little mineralized, with
characteristic oxidizers and lightly acid pH. Forty three periphytic species was reported, diatoms were predominant
in the macrophyte roots. Assemblages showed low variation on the community indexes, and there were no significant
differences between macrophyte roots, probably due to the high loads of inorganic material that limits the fotic zone
and the fixation to the different substrata types, generating a bottom-up type control. On the other hand, the density of
phycoperiphyton by unit area presented differences in various roots studied especially in Nymphoides humboldtiana
which has a single main root, submitting the lowest diversity, evenness and phycoperiphytic species richness, which is
attributed to combination of environmental, physical and chemical factors, as well as the type of substrate.y