Qualidade da água e comunidade zooplanctônica, praia do ideal, Fortaleza/CE

Abstract

Plankton constitutes the link between producers and consumers in the transfer of energy in aquatic ecosystems and serves as bioindicators of environmental conditions, as it responds promptly to physical and chemical changes in the ecosystem. Beaches are important leisure areas and the health conditions of beaches are important for public health and the environment.The objective of this work was to verify the composition of the zooplankton community and the presence of bioindicators at Praia do Ideal, in Fortaleza/CE.Monthly collections were carried out from February to April 2023, using a plankton net, with a mesh opening of 63 μm, and mouth diameter of 25 cm, 100 liters of water being filtered, which was concentrated to 10 mL and fixed in 4% formaldehyde in a 1:1 ratio. On average, 10 subsamples of 0.1 mL were analyzed under a microscope.Data on transparency, salinity, temperature and pH of the water were also obtained, as well as the concentration of dissolved oxygen, ammonia and phosphate in situ.The results showed water with good physical and chemical conditions, with mesotrophic characteristics and a community composed of zooplankton species included in the Classes Rotifera, Cladocera and Crustacea, with greater abundance for individuals of the Calanoida Order, in addition to insect and crustacean larvae, with the presence of bioindicators of pollution and/or eutrophication not being verified.