On the Pampa plain, one of the most productive modified areas of Argentina, important changes in land uses have drastically altered the landscape during the last decades. This has led to an increased deterioration of surface waters affecting fish that inhabit them. We provide a list of fish species inhabiting an unsurveyed prairie stream of this region. Environmental variables were measured and fish samplings were conducted in 3 sites of the Langueyú stream. A total of 15 species belonging to 10 families and 6 orders were collected. Characiformes and Siluriformes were the richest orders. Characidae was the most representative family. Species richness was highest when compared with other similar regional environments without connection with the Salado river basin. Most of the fish species collected are typical of the region but others are species which typically do not progress beyond the Salado river basin. The role of human intervention in fish species distribution is discussed.

A myriad of factors affect stream fish assemblages, and most of them are intimately regulated by surrounding land uses. One of the most pernicious impacts on streams is the release of urban effluents. Accordingly, understanding the fish assemblage patterns as well as the environmental drivers that modulate them in the context of urban streams which also are exposed to other land uses is mandatory. We evaluated the longitudinal patterns of fish assemblages in an urbanised Neotropical prairie stream exposed to downstream patches of different surrounding land uses. Several variables of water quality, in‐stream habitat and riparian corridors were measured, and their relationships with fish metrics were explored. A fish metric selection protocol was implemented, and several multivariate analyses were used. Three main patterns of fish response were observed. Assemblage‐level attributes as diversity, richness, biomass, number of families and trophic guilds and proportion of Characiformes and intolerant species were responsive to the natural gradient in habitat (pools) and riparian (riparian width) conditions expected in non‐impacted lotic ecosystems. Conversely, a downstream continuum of recovery in water quality (dissolved oxygen, conductivity, NO3:NH4 and bacteriological loads) and habitat structure (sediment depth) would influence the distribution of fish species regarding their environmental tolerance and habitat preferences. Finally, local habitat aspects (nitrites, submerged macrophytes, bare soil cover and bank incisions by livestock) seemed relevant for the trophic structure (omnivorous species) of fish assemblages. A complex natural and anthropic longitudinal scenario together with local disruptions imposed by surrounding land uses were directive for fish.

Reinforcement corrosion is a main durability issue for reinforced concrete structures in the marine environment. Environmental actions on the corrosion rate have been documented by several researchers on actively corroding reinforced concrete structures. Therefore, considering the influences of ambient temperature and relative humidity is very important for prospective studies of corroding structures. In this paper, active corrosion of concrete members in the marine environment was observed for 4.8 years, and a relationship between the corrosion rate and ambient temperature and relative humidity is modeled. This very simple proposal is presented as a complementary tool to experimental measurements when assessing the deterioration rate of concrete structures in the marine environment.

Los usos del suelo generan profundos cambios en los ecosistemas acuáticos, sus organismos y las comunidades que los parasitan. En este trabajo analizamos los ensambles parasitarios de Corydoras paleatus bajo condiciones contrastantes de calidad de agua y hábitat en un arroyo pampeano impuestas por vertidos urbanos y ganadería. Los posibles efectos de estos aspectos sobre algunos atributos de las comunidades parasitarias de C. paleatus son discutidos. Se identificaron 136 parásitos pertenecientes a cuatro grupos taxonómicos: Phylocorydoras platensis (monogenos), Heterophyidae (digeneos larvales), Protocephalidea (cestodes lavales), y protozoos ciliados, Trichodinidae gen. sp. e Ichthyophthirius cf. multifiliis. Bajo condiciones de impacto urbano se registró una menor riqueza y diversidad. Contrariamente, el tramo ganadero mostró una mayor riqueza, diversidad y equitatividad parasitaria, y presencia de monogenos (P. platensis) y ciliados (Trichodinidae gen. sp.). Las poblaciones de digeneos registraron una mayor abundancia y la población de cestodes y I. cf. multifiliis fueron más prevalentes. El mayor deterioro en la calidad de agua y en el hábitat del tramo más cercano a la ciudad, podría explicar el empobrecimiento de las comunidades parasitarias. Una mejor calidad de agua con aporte de sustrato orgánico, menor velocidad de corriente y mayor desarrollo de macrófitas observadas bajo influencia del ganado, mejorarían las condiciones para el establecimiento de monogenos y ciliados en branquias, digeneos en aletas y cestodes en tracto digestivo. Este estudio brinda una primera aproximación al conocimiento de la ecología parasitaria de C. paleatus y los factores que podrían modelar o influir en la estructuración de las comunidades parasitarias de esta especie

Aim We evaluated the longitudinal patterns in distribution of native and non-native fish species in a hydrologically fragmented and environmentally variable lowland temperate river. Methods Four sites representing contrasting habitat and environmental conditions were sampled: a clear water reservoir, a turbid water lagoon and two river reaches with clear and turbid waters each. Environmental variables were measured in situ and in the laboratory. Fishes were sampled using trammel and beach seine nets. Results Two main environmental scenarios were identified: the upstream reaches, with colder, clearer and nutrient-oxygen poor waters (reservoir and its downstream river) and the downstream reaches, where turbidity, dissolved oxygen, water temperature, conductivity and nutrients largely increased (lagoon and its downstream river). Fourteen species with a high non-native/native (4:10) ratio were collected. Non-native species (NNS) were confined to lentic conditions, where the silverside Odontesthes bonariensis dominated. Native species (NS) better thrive in lotic conditions where the turbid scenario further favored tolerant species. Environmental conditions also seemed to influence the distribution of NNS. Fish assemblage structure considering either, all species, NNS or NS significantly differed among sampled reaches and habitat (lentic-lotic) conditions. Total fish abundance was higher in lentic reaches. Species richness and diversity were favored by the turbid scenario. Beta diversity was mostly explained by the replacement component revealing the substitution of species as the main pattern of variation. Water conductivity, nitrates and dissolved oxygen were the most important predictor variables in the best and most frequent explanatory models of fish assemblage structures. Conclusions Our results revealed that a low diversified Neotropical fish fauna is disrupted by habitat fragmentation due to the creation of artificial impoundments and the introduction of NNS. Environmental conditions further modulate the fish assemblage structure by affecting the distribution of species where tolerant species were favored by turbid, nutrient-rich waters with higher conductivity and pH.

Composición y estructura de los ensambles de peces en un arroyo pampeano con uso del suelo contrastante Abstract: Fish assemblage composition and structure in a pampean stream with contrasting land uses. Aquatic ecosystems and their biotic communities in the Pampa Plain have been negatively affected by the intensification of land use during the last years. In this scenario, streams are particularly vulnerable. This work characterizes the fish communities and riparian conditions of del Azul stream in different reaches with contrasting land uses: agricultural, urban and livestock. Riparian conditions and ichthyological samplings were conducted during two summers in the three studied sites. In order to characterize riparian conditions and fish communities different indices and metrics were calculated. The empirical relationships between fish metrics and two pampean riparian indices were calculated. The riparian condition differed among land uses, being lowest in the urban section. A total of 1180 fishes of 15 species were captured. The fish community structure of agricultural reach was diametrically different from the others. However, the species composition was similar between reaches. Fish richness was highest at the livestock reach whereas the agricultural reach showed the largest diversity. The abundance of Corydoras paleatus and the relative abundance of Siluriformes were inversely related with the riparian condition. Instead, the abundance of Oligosarcus jenynsii presented the opposite pattern. Fish communities and riparian conditions responded to different land uses and it also was evidenced an association between some fish community attributes and riparian condition. These results contribute to the basic knowledge needed for an efficient conservation and management of the freshwater resources.Key words: Pampa plain, fish community, riparian index, use of land.Resumen: La intensificación del uso del suelo en la región pampeana ha afectado negativamente sus ecosistemas acuáticos y las comunidades bióticas que en ellos habitan. En este escenario, los arroyos son particularmente vulnerables. Este trabajo caracteriza la comunidad de peces y las condiciones de ribera del arroyo del Azul en tramos con usos del suelo contrastantes: agrícola, urbano y ganadero. Para ello, se cuantificó la condición de ribera y se realizaron muestreos ictiológicos durante dos períodos estivales. Para caracterizar la ribera y las comunidades de peces se calcularon diversos índices y métricas. Además, se calculó el grado de asociación entre las métricas de peces y dos índices de riberas pampeanos. La condición de ribera bajo los distintos usos de suelo fue diferente, siendo menor en el tramo urbano. Se capturaron 1180 peces y 15 especies. La estructura de peces del tramo agrícola fue diametralmente diferente al resto. Sin embargo, la composición de especies fue semejante entre los sitios. El tramo ganadero presentó la mayor riqueza de peces y el tramo agrícola la máxima diversidad. La abundancia de Corydoras paleatus y la proporción de ...

Local habitat and riparian modifications imposed by surrounding land use drastically impact the water quality of streams. However, whether these effects could still be discernible when the watercourse also receives urbanization effluents has not been fully explored. We evaluated the water quality of a Neotropical prairie stream exposed to urbanization and explored the role of downstream patches of different surrounding land uses (cropland and livestock) in further regulating water quality. Forty-two variables of water quality, habitat structure and riparian condition were measured at four reaches of the Langueyú stream. Significant differences in water quality were observed. Water conductivity, dissolved oxygen, salinity, dissolved solids, chloride, inorganic nitrogen and bacteriological loads displayed a continuum of recovery from the urban reach. Indeed, almost 24 percent of the total variation in water quality was explained by the longitudinal arrangement of sites. Alternatively, pH, phosphorous, suspended solids and chemical oxygen demand showed a disruption in this continuum of recovery and were highly related with local aspects of habitat structure and riparian conditions imposed by cropland and livestock. Key aspects of effluent treatment, riparian integrity and in-stream habitat must be addressed within a comprehensive social context in order to design sustainable management of fluvial urbanised ecosystems.

Worldwide, land use changes and urbanization affect habitat and biota in streams, drastically disrupting environmental conditions and biotic interactions. We evaluated the trophic ecology of the tolerant fi sh Corydoras paleatus in a prairie stream with contrasting environmental conditions intimately aligned with different nearby land uses. Gut analyses was conducted at three stream reaches with contrasting ecological attributes regarding water quality, habitat structure and riparian condition. A total of 231 guts were analyzed and 15 prey items identifi ed. A signifi cant variation in composition and structure of the dietary assemblage, niche breadth and feeding patterns of C. paleatus under different environmental conditions was observed. Psychodidae prevailed in most deteriorated environmental conditions and Chironomidae, followed by nematodes, in stream reaches where environmental conditions improved. Maximum niche breadth and a larger proportion of generalist individuals were found at the most deteriorated site. Conversely, the proportions of specialized individuals were slightly higher at sites with better ecological conditions. Psychodidae and mineral fragments were positively correlated with the most detrimental conditions, while fi lamentous algae prevailed where these conditions improved. Overall, good evidence suggesting that trophic ecology of a tolerant species is affected by local environmental conditions in water quality, habitat structure and riparian corridor was observed.