55
5.1 Introduction
Throughout the last few centuries, human use of freshwater resources for a variety of purposes has resulted in the
degradation of aquatic ecosystems (Tundisi and MatsumuraTundisi 2003). Increasing human populations and the expansion of industrial and agricultural activities have been important driving factors for the rapid deterioration of freshwater
ecosystems. These impacts have resulted in water bodies
with poor water quality and limited potential uses (Straskraba and Tundisi 1999).
The unplanned human occupation of aquatic basins can
deteriorate water quality and limit the quantity and availability of freshwater resources, although the scale of this impact can vary with the economic and social organization of
5
Eutrophication of Lakes
Marcos Callisto, Joseline Molozzi and José Lucena Etham Barbosa
Abstract
Human activities and the unplanned occupation of land in aquatic basins can drive cultural
eutrophication, which leads to the degradation of water quality, an increase in the concentrations of nutrients, and the depletion of biodiversity. This chapter will describe the basic
concepts of trophic status, ecological changes, and alterations to the composition of freshwater biodiversity, as well as current threats and global perspectives of these issues. Additionally, selected case studies from Brazilian freshwater using benthic macroinvertebrates
in urban reservoirs and cyanobacteria in semiarid lentic ecosystems are discussed.
Keywords
Eutrophication · Human alteration · Biodiversity loss
a particular region (Tundisi et al. 1991). Human activities
tcan also often result in a considerable increase in nutrient
concentrations in aquatic ecosystems, especially nitrogen
and phosphorus, which can lead to the process of cultural
eutrophication (Callisto et al. 2004).
Cultural eutrophication, which follows a clear sequence
of cause and effect, can disrupt the homeostasis of lake ecosystems and result in an imbalance between the production,
consumption, and decomposition of organic matter (Esteves
2011). Thus, algae and macrophyte blooms are often observed in eutrophic systems and can be responsible for the
diminished multiple uses of lentic ecosystems. Additionally,
a bloom of primary production is one of the main difficulties
in the treatment of water for human consumption or industrial utilization (Tundisi et al. 1993). These ecological changes,
including altered physical and chemical characteristics, can
lead to changes in biological communities and a drastic loss
of freshwater biodiversity (Barbosa et al. 1998; Maberly
et al. 2002; Callisto et al. 2004, 2005).
Water quality biomonitoring programs commonly use
benthic macroinvertebrates as bioindicators of environmental pollution, in addition to utilizing a suite of chemical, microbiological, and toxicological tests of water quality (Valdovinos and Figueroa 2000; Callisto et al. 2001). Benthic
A. A. Ansari, S. S. Gill (eds.), Eutrophication: Causes, Consequences and Control,
DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-7814-6_5, © Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014
M. Callisto ()
Depto Biologia Geral, Lab Ecologia de Bentos,
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, ICB, CP. 486,
30161-970 Belo Horizonte-MG, Brazil
e-mail: callistom@ufmg.br
J. Molozzi · J. L. E. Barbosa
Dep. Biologia/PPGEC. Av. das Baraúnas, Universidade Estadual
da Paraíba, CCBS, 351, Bairro Universitário, 58429-500 Campina
Grande-PB, Brazil
5.1 Introduction
Throughout the last few centuries, human use of freshwater resources for a variety of purposes has resulted in the
degradation of aquatic ecosystems (Tundisi and MatsumuraTundisi 2003). Increasing human populations and the expansion of industrial and agricultural activities have been important driving factors for the rapid deterioration of freshwater
ecosystems. These impacts have resulted in water bodies
with poor water quality and limited potential uses (Straskraba and Tundisi 1999).
The unplanned human occupation of aquatic basins can
deteriorate water quality and limit the quantity and availability of freshwater resources, although the scale of this impact can vary with the economic and social organization of
5
Eutrophication of Lakes
Marcos Callisto, Joseline Molozzi and José Lucena Etham Barbosa
Abstract
Human activities and the unplanned occupation of land in aquatic basins can drive cultural
eutrophication, which leads to the degradation of water quality, an increase in the concentrations of nutrients, and the depletion of biodiversity. This chapter will describe the basic
concepts of trophic status, ecological changes, and alterations to the composition of freshwater biodiversity, as well as current threats and global perspectives of these issues. Additionally, selected case studies from Brazilian freshwater using benthic macroinvertebrates
in urban reservoirs and cyanobacteria in semiarid lentic ecosystems are discussed.
Keywords
Eutrophication · Human alteration · Biodiversity loss
a particular region (Tundisi et al. 1991). Human activities
tcan also often result in a considerable increase in nutrient
concentrations in aquatic ecosystems, especially nitrogen
and phosphorus, which can lead to the process of cultural
eutrophication (Callisto et al. 2004).
Cultural eutrophication, which follows a clear sequence
of cause and effect, can disrupt the homeostasis of lake ecosystems and result in an imbalance between the production,
consumption, and decomposition of organic matter (Esteves
2011). Thus, algae and macrophyte blooms are often observed in eutrophic systems and can be responsible for the
diminished multiple uses of lentic ecosystems. Additionally,
a bloom of primary production is one of the main difficulties
in the treatment of water for human consumption or industrial utilization (Tundisi et al. 1993). These ecological changes,
including altered physical and chemical characteristics, can
lead to changes in biological communities and a drastic loss
of freshwater biodiversity (Barbosa et al. 1998; Maberly
et al. 2002; Callisto et al. 2004, 2005).
Water quality biomonitoring programs commonly use
benthic macroinvertebrates as bioindicators of environmental pollution, in addition to utilizing a suite of chemical, microbiological, and toxicological tests of water quality (Valdovinos and Figueroa 2000; Callisto et al. 2001). Benthic
A. A. Ansari, S. S. Gill (eds.), Eutrophication: Causes, Consequences and Control,
DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-7814-6_5, © Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014
M. Callisto ()
Depto Biologia Geral, Lab Ecologia de Bentos,
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, ICB, CP. 486,
30161-970 Belo Horizonte-MG, Brazil
e-mail: callistom@ufmg.br
J. Molozzi · J. L. E. Barbosa
Dep. Biologia/PPGEC. Av. das Baraúnas, Universidade Estadual
da Paraíba, CCBS, 351, Bairro Universitário, 58429-500 Campina
Grande-PB, Brazil