Environmental Pollution and Phytoplankton Biodiversity in Lake Cajititlán

Abstract

Lake Cajititlán faces severe environmental health problems. A phytoplankton biodiversity study was undertaken to calculate biological contamination indicators and to determine the relative abundance of phytoplankton genera in its ecosystem. In the environment, algae produce both benefits such as oxygen and the conversion of light energy into chemicals, something which is reflected in the accumulation of biomass through photosynthesis collateral damage, such as the production of toxins: by Cyanophyta algae. Five monitoring points were established, and samples were collected monthly, in 2014. Phytoplankton identification and morphological classification were performed by microscopy. This paper is the first of its kind to describe the predominant communities in the lake chlorophytes, followed by cyanophytes and the evolutionary correlation of the genera using phylogenetic trees.

The study gave rise to expectations in different research fields since species with environmental health and human health applications (Scenedesmus spp. and Chlorella spp.), species which are sources of biomolecules with a high nutritional value as proteins and vitamins, such as Monoraphidium spp., a species with application in the synthesis of biofuels (Botryococcus spp.), and species with a therapeutic application as producers of antioxidants and immune modulators or as producers of toxins, such as Pseudanabaena spp., were identified. A strong correlation between the presence of the cyanophyte species found (Microcystis spp. and Anabaena spp.) and the death of fish during the summer was observed.