Characterization of the aquatic vegetation of an Amazonian lake of the Ariaú river, Amazonas, Brazil

Abstract

The shores of a whitewater lake tend to be colonized by dense aquatic vegetation, in which various biological forms of vegetation can be found. This study aimed to characterize the composition of the aquatic vegetation of an Amazonian lake located in the Ariaú River basin, Amazonas, Brazil. The samples were taken during the high-water period and, for analysis of the composition, the specimens were identified in the Limnology Laboratory of the Federal University of Amazonas. A total of 15 species distributed in 12 families and 15 genera were recorded, and the families with the highest occurrence were Poaceae, Polygonaceae and Salviniaceae. Three biological forms were identified, emergent being the form with the highest occurrence. Our results can serve to better understand the bioecology of aquatic herbaceous species and their relationship with the environment, but we also emphasize the importance of future studies that take into account environmental variables.