EDP Baixo Sabor: Phytobenthos – Ecological Monitoring Program [2012]

Study Extent

The data were collected along the Sabor lower valley (Northeast Portugal), up to 70 kms upstream of the mouth, and in the Vilariça stream, in the municipalities of Torre de Moncorvo, Alfândega da Fé, Mogadouro, Macedo de Cavaleiros, Bragança and Vimioso.

Sampling

Five hard and submerged stones were scraped with a brush at each sampling point (composed sample totaling 100 cm2). The stones were selected at random in turbulent flow zones, preferably not shaded, among those that had a brownish tint film (with diatoms) and excluding all that were covered with filamentous algae. All procedures followed the guidelines recommendations of INAG technical documents (INAG, 2008). Some drops of fixative (Lugol solution 0.33%) were used, until the sample acquired a strong tea color, to fix and preserve the samples. The recommendations of Sournia (1978) for the sample treatment and study were also followed. Before proceeding to the taxonomic identification, samples were processed according to standard protocols (APHA et al., 1989; Sournia, 1978; Krammer and Lange-Bertalot, 2000) and methodologies of reference (APHA et al., 1989; Sournia, 1978; Lund et al., 1958). For the identification of the microalgae, several Floras (Germain, 1981; Krammer and Lange-Bertalot, 1986-1991; 2000; Lange-Bertalot, 2001; Round et al., 1990; Simonsen, 1987; Sims, 1996) and the IBD manual (Prygiel & Coste, 2000), were used. All individual valves were counted under an optic microscope, and identified to the lowest possible taxonomic category.(species level and / or infra-categories) specific). Whenever was necessary, a scanning electron microscope (JEOL JSM 6301) after adequate sample preparation was used (Lund et al., 1958; Sournia, 1978). The results were expressed as relative abundances (number or percentage of valves).

Quality Control

All identificatons were performed by accredited technicians

Method steps

1. To be completed

The taxonomic coverage of this dataset spans 1 phylum, 3 classes, 15 orders, 23 families, 32 genera and 78 species/infra-specific categories.

1. Bacillariophyta
   rank: phylum
2. Coscinodiscophyceae
   rank: class
3. Bacillariophyceae
   rank: class
4. Mediophyceae
   rank: class
5. Aulacoseirales
   rank: order
6. Bacillariales
   rank: order
7. Cocconeidales
   rank: order
8. Cymbellales
   rank: order
9. Eunotiales
   rank: order
10. Fragilariales
    rank: order
11. Licmophorales
    rank: order
12. Mastogloiales
    rank: order
13. Melosirales
    rank: order
14. Naviculales
    rank: order
15. Rhopalodiales
    rank: order
16. Stephanodiscales
    rank: order
17. Surirellales
    rank: order
18. Tabellariales
    rank: order
19. Thalassiophysales
    rank: order
20. Achnanthaceae
    rank: family
21. Achnanthidiaceae
    rank: family
22. Aulacoseiraceae
    rank: family
23. Bacillariaceae
    rank: family
24. Catenulaceae
    rank: family
25. Cocconeidaceae
    rank: family
26. Cymbellaceae
    rank: family
27. Diadesmidaceae
    rank: family
28. Eunotiaceae
    rank: family
29. Fragilariaceae
    rank: family
30. Gomphonemataceae
    rank: family
31. Melosiraceae
    rank: family
32. Naviculaceae
    rank: family
33. Naviculales incertae sedis
    rank: family
34. Pinnulariaceae
    rank: family
35. Rhoicospheniaceae
    rank: family
36. Rhopalodiaceae
    rank: family
37. Sellaphoraceae
    rank: family
38. Staurosiraceae
    rank: family
39. Stephanodiscaceae
    rank: family
40. Surirellaceae
    rank: family
41. Tabellariaceae
    rank: family
42. Ulnariaceae
    rank: family

Data were collected along the lower Sabor river valley, from the mouth to the Maçãs river, about 70 km upstream, as well as in the Vilariça stream, in the municipalities of Torre de Moncorvo, Alfândega da Fé, Mogadouro, Macedo de Cavaleiros, Bragança and Vimioso.