Floods increase the similarity of the abiotic water characteristics of the rivers with those of the surrounding floodplains and are the main factors that influence the ecosystem dynamics. The aim of this paper was to examine the alterations in abiotic characteristics of the Paranapanema River and three lateral lagoons with different degrees of connectivity to the river during the flood period. Samplings were performed twice a week during a three-month period. Water quality in the Camargo and Coqueiral lagoons, connected to the Paranapanema River, presented patterns of variation similar to those of the lotic ecosystem, evidenced by the principal component analysis. In Cavalos Lagoon, changes in water quality were observed in all the environments, such as a function of dilution after the water level increased and greater nutrients resulting from littoral plant decomposition after submersion. In conclusion, the marginal lagoons and river were influenced by two anthropogenic actions: water storage in a dam reservoir, which acted like a buffer against hydrological pulses, and the widening of the channel uniting Camargo Lagoon with the river, changing the connectivity level and causing an ever-greater similarity of the lagoon with the lotic system.

Las inundaciones asemejan las características abióticas del agua de los ríos a la de los entornos de planicies aluviales y son los principales factores que influyen en la dinámica del ecosistema. El objetivo de este trabajo fue analizar las alteraciones en las características abióticas del río Paranapanema y de tres lagunas laterales con distintos niveles de conectividad al río durante el período de inundación. Los muestreos se realizaron dos veces por semana durante un período de tres meses. La calidad del agua en las lagunas Camargo y Coqueiral, conectadas al río Paranapanema, presentó patrones de variación similar a aquellos del ecosistema lótico, demostrado por medio de análisis de componentes principales. En la laguna de Cavalos se observaron cambios en la calidad del agua de todos los ambientes, tales como una función de dilución después del aumento del nivel de agua y del incremento de nutrientes como resultado de la descomposición de las plantas litorales después de la inmersión. En conclusión, las lagunas marginales y el río fueron influenciados por dos acciones antropogénicas: el almacenamiento de agua en la presa, que actúa como un sistema de amortiguación de pulsos hidrológicos y la ampliación del canal de la asociación de la laguna Camargo con el río, cambiando el nivel de conectividad, y causando una similitud cada vez mayor de la laguna con el sistema lóticos.

Este estudo visou analisar os efeitos da variação do nível hidrométrico na estrutura do fitoplâncton do Rio Paranapanema e de uma lagoa marginal na zona de desembocadura no Reservatório de Jurumirim (SP). As amostragens foram realizadas em duas estações em cada ambiente de julho/2004 a julho/2005. Os maiores valores de riqueza e diversidade foram encontrados na estiagem, enquanto que as maiores densidade e biovolume foram registradas na cheia. A espécie Cryptomonas brasiliensis Castro, C. Bicudo & D. Bicudo (R - estrategista) foi constante ao longo de todo o estudo, sendo dominante, principalmente, no final da estiagem e na enchente, quando os eventos de distúrbios foram mais freqüentes. As diatomáceas foram predominantes quanto à biomassa, representadas, principalmente, por Aulacoseira granulata (Ehrenberg) Simonsem e suas variedades. Conclui-se que, o volume de água acumulada no reservatório à jusante não permite que o pulso hidrológico ocasione um distúrbio que resulte em elevado aumento da diversidade nos ambientes estudados, após a enchente.

The aim of this study was to show the effects of hydrometric level variation on phytoplankton structure of the Paranapanema River and a marginal lake in its mouth zone into Jurumirim Reservoir (SP). The samplings were collected in two stations in each environment from July 2004 to July 2005. The highest species richness and diversity of phytoplankton species were found in dry season, while them highest density and biovolume were recorded during the high water period The specie Cryptomonas brasiliensis Castro, C. Bicudo & D. Bicudo (R-strategist) was constant along whole the study, being dominant, mainly, in the end of the drought and in the inundation, when the events of disturbances were more frequent. Diatoms predominated in biovolume in relation to other algae, mainly, for Aulacoseira granulata (Ehrenberg) Simonsem and their varieties. The great water volume stored in Jurumirim Reservoir acts as a "plug system" and the flood pulses of the main tributary are relatively weak. Thus, the stable water level is not a disturbance event that results in high increase of diversity in the studied environments, after the inundation.