Variação sazonal na composição isotópica e química da água na Planície de Inundação do Lago Grande de Curuai, (PA)

Abstract

The understanding of the biogeochemical dynamics is a central point for the implementation of sustainable resources management and to minimize the impacts of human activity over the Amazonian aquatic systems. It becomes more critic when we consider the role of Amazon region plays in the global carbon cycle. The present study tries to contribute to this approach by examining the seasonal variation in isotopic and chemical composition of the water in Lago Grande de Curuai floodplain, Brazil, a complex system of lakes linked to the Amazon River by several channels. Water samples were taken from surface of the Lago Grande in three different phases of the hydrological cycle. The δ13C (from -28,4 to -23,3‰) and δ15N (from 2,0 to 5,0‰) values and concentrations of the fine suspended sediments (FSS) revealed considerable variability in the lake organic matter abundance and composition. These patterns are a result of system internal functioning along the hydrological cycle. If on the one hand water and material inputs from the catchment area and Amazon river do influence the isotopic signal of the FSS the during rising water, on the other hand an effect of the primary production seems to be recovered in the FSS during periods of high water and falling. Additionally, the DIC isotopic composition seems to reflect the seasonality in organic matter inputs to the “varzea”. The water chemical composition is quite similar to that of the main river and was probably more related to the flood pulse and drainage basin lithology. A greater influence of the local drainage was observed during the falling water period, especially over the Cl- and HCO-3 concentrations. This work brings evidences that the flood pulse and the internal dynamics of the floodplains in the Amazon basin are ultimately decisive to its biogeochemistry.