The horticultural belt of La Plata is a complex framework of lands with a marked urban influence. The unregulated use of agrochemicals is one of the most important sources of superficial and underground water contamination producing drastic changes in the biodiversity of natural communities. The shallowness of the temporary waters favors the macrophyte growth which, in turn, allows the colonization of the phytoepiphyton. Four samplings were carried out during spring 2011 and summer 2012 in four adjacent temporary waters of different agroecosystems, three of them with agricultural activity (site over 5 meters crops, CUL1 and CUL2; site within 5 meters of crops: CUL3) and one, taken as reference (REF), with livestock activity. Seven species of macrophytes were sampled, two submerged and 5 emergent. 88 phytoepiphytic species were recorded, being clorophytes and diatoms the dominant groups. The submerged macrophytes presented a higher mean abundance than the emergent ones in all the sampling sites. Oedogonium species were dominant in all temporary waters. L. peploides showed the highest total specific richness while S. californicus presented the highest mean diversity specific. The highest phytoepiphyton mean abundance was recorded in CUL1 while the least phytoepiphytic density was found in REF. Nygaard index shows that the four temporary waters are meso to eutrophic. The conductivity was the most significant factor in the distribution of diatoms species in temporary waters. | Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo

The horticultural belt of La Plata is a complex framework of lands with a marked urban influence. The unregulated use of agrochemicals is one of the most important sources of superficial and underground water contamination producing drastic changes in the biodiversity of natural communities. The shallowness of the temporary waters favors the macrophyte growth which, in turn, allows the colonization of the phytoepiphyton. Four samplings were carried out during spring 2011 and summer 2012 in four adjacent temporary waters of different agroecosystems, three of them with agricultural activity (site over 5 meters crops, CUL1 and CUL2; site within 5 meters of crops: CUL3) and one, taken as reference (REF), with livestock activity. Seven species of macrophytes were sampled, two submerged and 5 emergent. 88 phytoepiphytic species were recorded, being clorophytes and diatoms the dominant groups. The submerged macrophytes presented a higher mean abundance than the emergent ones in all the sampling sites. Oedogonium species were dominant in all temporary waters. Ludwigia peploides showed the highest total specific richness while Schoenoplectus californicus presented the highest mean diversity specific. The highest phytoepiphyton mean abundance was recorded in CUL1 while the least phytoepiphytic density was found in REF. Nygaard index shows that the four temporary waters are meso to eutrophic. The conductivity was the most significant factor in the distribution of diatoms species in temporary waters. | El cinturón hortícola de La Plata es un complejo marco de tierras con una marcada influencia urbana. El uso no regulado de agroquímicos es una de las fuentes más importantes de contaminación de aguas superficiales y subterráneas que produce cambios drásticos en la biodiversidad de las comunidades naturales. La poca profundidad de las aguas temporales favorece el crecimiento de macrófitos que, a su vez, permite la colonización del fitoepipitón. Se realizaron cuatro muestreos durante la primavera de 2011 y el verano de 2012 en cuatro aguas temporales adyacentes a diferentes agroecosistemas, tres de ellas con actividad agrícola (sitio de cultivos de más de 5 metros, CUL1 y CUL2; sitio dentro de los 5 metros de cultivos: CUL3) y uno, tomado Como referencia (REF), con actividad ganadera. Se muestrearon siete especies de macrófitos, dos sumergidas y cinco emergentes. Se registraron 88 especies fitoepífitas, siendo clorofitas y diatomeas los grupos dominantes. Los macrófitos sumergidos presentaron una mayor abundancia media que los emergentes en todos los sitios de muestreo. Las especies de Oedogonium fueron dominantes en todas las aguas temporales.  Ludwigia peploides mostró la mayor riqueza específica total, mientras que Schoenoplectus californicus presentó la diversidad específica media más alta. La mayor abundancia media de fitoepipton se registró en CUL1, mientras que la menor densidad de fitoepifitos se encontró en REF. El índice de Nygaard muestra que las cuatro aguas temporales son meso a eutróficas. La conductividad fue el factor más importante en la distribución de las especies de diatomeas en aguas temporales.