Standards of Diversity functional zooplankton communities in the Pantanal biosphere reserve
Functional traits; hydrological periods; floodplain
The synchronicity between biodiversity and the hydrological processes of aquatic ecosystems is one of the hot topics, due to climate change and desiccation, with zooplankton being key organisms in the interpretation of these variations. We investigated the taxonomic and functional composition of zooplankton and possible community regulation factors in a tropical floodplain. The points were sampled between the years 2018 and 2021. Zooplankton and limnological variables were collected. Functional diversity, RaoQ, CWM-RDA and RLQ at the R interface were calculated. The most representative taxonomic group was rotifers. The highest richness in the dry season and ebb (environmental heterogeneity) and the lowest in the flood (environmental homogeneity). The limnological variables explain the distribution of functional traits, and in the flood period it has less richness and more specific functional composition, in addition to having higher concentrations of chlorophyll-α, being related to lower turbidity. The concentration of chlorophyll-α is negatively related to littoral species and positively to pelagic species. The biggest contributions were from filter feeders and scrapers, and yet most organisms have low escape capacity. Therefore, we conclude that environmental heterogeneity, as well as hydrological dynamics, are fundamental for the taxonomic and functional composition of the zooplankton community, and are still indispensable for several ecosystem services.