Research Article

Spatial and temporal variation in species composition of ciliates communities (Alveolata, Ciliophora) from tropical urban and rural streams

¹ Núcleo de Pesquisa em Limnologia, Ictiologia e Aquicultura, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia de Ambientes Aquáticos Continentais, Universidade Estadual de Maringá - UEM, Av. Colombo, 5790, 87020-900 Maringá, PR, Brasil
² Universidade Cesumar − UniCesumar. Instituto Cesumar de Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação (ICETI)/Programa de Pós-graduação em Tecnologias Limpas: Sustentabilidade Ambiental. Av. Guedner, 1610, 87050-900 Maringá, PR, Brasil
³ Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Comparada, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Av. Colombo, 5790, 87020-900 Maringá, Paraná, Brasil
⁴ Centro Universitário Ingá − UNINGÁ, Rod. PR 317, 6114 Parque Industrial 200, Maringá − PR, 87035-510 Maringá, Paraná, Brasil

^* Corresponding author: fernando_toha@hotmail.com

Received: 29 June 2021
Accepted: 1 October 2021

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the spatial and temporal patterns in species composition of ciliates, in rural streams, affected by agricultural activities, and urban streams, impacted by domestic wastewater. Samplings were taken in two different periods of the year, in the headwater, middle and mouth stretch of ten streams. We recorded 143 species of ciliates, distributed in 14 groups, standing out Hymenostomatia, Peritrichia and Hypotrichia. Our results showed significant spatial (between rural and urban streams) and, especially, temporal differences (between winter and summer periods) in the ciliates taxonomic composition. Such differences seem to be not related to the organic load that was quite similar among streams and periods sampled. Rather, the changes in ciliates composition are probably driving mainly by other enviromental variables such as resources, determined by the spatial diferences in light availability, and flow water velocity and discharge, which present high temporal dissimilarity.