Riparian plant litter is a major energy source for forested streams across the world and its decomposition has repercussions on nutrient cycling, food webs and ecosystem functioning. However, we know little about plant litter dynamics in tropical streams, even though the tropics occupy 40% of the Earth’s land surface. Here we investigated spatial and temporal (along a year cycle) patterns of litter inputs and storage in multiple streams of three tropical biomes in Brazil (Atlantic forest, Amazon forest and Cerrado savanna), predicting major differences among biomes in relation to temperature and precipitation regimes. Precipitation explained most of litter inputs and storage, which were generally higher in more humid biomes (litterfall: 384, 422 and 308 g m−2 y−1, storage: 55, 113 and 38 g m−2, on average in Atlantic forest, Amazon and Cerrado, respectively). Temporal dynamics varied across biomes in relation to precipitation and temperature, with uniform litter inputs but seasonal storage in Atlantic forest streams, seasonal inputs in Amazon and Cerrado streams, and aseasonal storage in Amazon streams. Our findings suggest that litter dynamics vary greatly within the tropics, but point to the major role of precipitation, which contrasts with the main influence of temperature in temperate areas.

Macroinvertebrate shredders consume preferably leaves conditioned by fungi and bacteria which offer greater palatability to them. Plant species in Cerrado present high concentration of chemical elements such as lignin and cellulose, phenols and tanins thus making them less attractive for shredders consumption and limiting the palatability. This study aimed to evaluate the feeding preference of a macroinvertebrate shredder of the genus Phylloicus for plant material from two different biomes (Cerrado and Mata Atlântica), after conditioning in a stream of Mata Atlântica and observing their physical and chemical characteristics. Senescent leaves were collected, monthly from the litterfall of riparian vegetation in a 500 m stretch of a stream in each biome from August 2014 to January 201. The most abundant species in each stream was selected for the experiment. The experimental design consisted in with two treatments. The first (T1) comprised leaf discs from Chrysophyllum oliviforme (Cerrado species) together with leaf discs of Miconia chartacea (Atlantic Forest species) which were conditioned in the Atlantic Forest stream. The second treatment (T2) involved leaf discs of Miconia chartacea conditioned in Mata Altlântica and Cerrado streams. Both tests had showed significant differences between the two treatments (T1 and T2). For T1, there was consumption of M. chartacea leaf discs by Phylloicus sp., but there was no consumption of C. oliviforme discs. For T2, there was preference for M. chartaceae leaves conditioned in a stream of Mata Atlântica than in Cerrado stream. The results showed that Phylloicus sp., had presented preference for food detritus of the Mata Antlântica biome and rejection to the one from Cerrado biome.

ABSTRACT. The goal of this study was to evaluate the concordance amongst three zooplankton groups (Rotifera, Cladocera, and Copepoda) and between the zooplankton groups and the environmental variables in the Luis Eduardo Magalhães reservoir, in the Mid-Tocantins River, Tocantins State, Brazil. Concordance patterns were found in relation to environmental variables, cladocerans, and rotifers, although values were relatively low. These results indicate that one should be cautious about the use of indicative taxonomic groups to detect environmental changes, where divergent results annul extrapolation possibilities and indicate the existence of distinct environmental factors controlling different groups.Keywords: concordance, reservoir, rotifera, cladocera, copepoda. RESUMO. Padrões de concordância entre grupos zooplanctônicos do reservatório da UHE -Luís Eduardo Magalhães no Médio Tocantins -Estado do Tocatins,Brasil. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a concordância entre os três grupos zooplanctônicos (Rotifera, Cladocera e Copepoda) e entre os grupos zooplanctônicos e as variáveis ambientais no reservatório da Usina Hidrelétrica Luis Eduardo Magalhães no Médio Tocantins, Estado de Tocantins. Foram encontrados padrões concordantes em relação às variáveis ambientais e cladóceros e rotíferos, mesmo assim, com valores relativamente baixos de concordância. Estes resultados indicam que se deve ter cuidado no uso de grupos taxonômicos indicadores para detectar mudanças ambientais, em que os resultados divergentes anulam as possibilidades de extrapolação e indicam a existência de fatores ambientais distintos que controlam os diferentes grupos.

Generally, aquatic communities reflect the effects of anthropogenic changes such as deforestation or organic pollution. The Cerrado stands among the most threatened ecosystems by human activities in Brazil. In order to evaluate the ecological integrity of the streams in a preserved watershed in the Northern Cerrado biome corresponding to a mosaic of ecosystems in transition to the Amazonia biome in Brazil, biological metrics related to diversity, structure, and sensitivity of aquatic macroinvertebrates were calculated. Sampling included collections along stretches of 200 m of nine streams and measurements of abiotic variables (temperature, electrical conductivity, pH, total dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen, and discharge) and the Index of Habitat Integrity (HII). The values of the abiotic variables and the HII indicated that most of the streams have good ecological integrity, due to high oxygen levels and low concentrations of dissolved solids and electric conductivity. Two streams showed altered HII scores mainly related to small dams for recreational and domestic use, use of Cerrado natural pasture for cattle raising, and spot deforestation in bathing areas. However, this finding is not reflected in the biological metrics that were used. Considering all nine streams, only two showed satisfactory ecological quality (measured by Biological Monitoring Working Party (BMWP), total richness, and EPT (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera) richness), only one of which had a low HII score. These results indicate that punctual measures of abiotic parameters do not reveal the long-term impacts of anthropic activities in these streams, including related fire management of pasture that annually alters the vegetation matrix and may act as a disturbance for the macroinvertebrate communities. Due to this, biomonitoring of low order streams in Cerrado ecosystems of the Northern Central Brazil by different biotic metrics and also physical attributes of the riparian zone such as HII is recommended for the monitoring and control of anthropic impacts on aquatic communities.

Para que ocorra o desenvolvimento sustentável da piscicultura intensiva em reservatórios, é fundamental ter informações sobre as características limnológicas do corpo hídrico contribuinte, suas peculiaridades e capacidade de suporte. Portanto, o estudo teve como objetivo verificar a viabilidade de implantação de piscicultura intensiva em tanques-rede no reservatório da PCH Boa Sorte, Tocantins, avaliando os locais favoráveis para instalação de tanques-rede, as características limnológicas e a capacidade de suporte do corpo hídrico. O reservatório está localizado no rio Palmeiras que pertence à sub bacia do rio Palma e bacia Paranã, sendo este importante tributário da margem direita do rio Tocantins. Para identificar as áreas favoráveis à implantação do parque aquícola, foi analisada toda a área do reservatório, perfazendo uma área de 232 ha de lâmina d´água, onde a maior parte, 141 ha, foi considerada favorável. Em seguida, foram analisados os parâmetros limnológicos, a saber: Temperatura, pH, oxigênio dissolvido, transparência, clorofila-a, fósforo total, amônia, nitrito e nitrato. Todos os parâmetros, com exceção do fósforo total, atenderam aos valores preconizados na resolução n° 357 do CONAMA (2005). A concentração média de fósforo total durante o período de estudo foi de 0,13 mg.L-1, o que demonstra que a capacidade de suporte do reservatório da PCH Boa Sorte já foi ultrapassada. Diante dos dados apresentados neste estudo, concluiu-se que o cultivo de peixes em tanques-rede no reservatório da PCH Boa Sorte não é recomendado, pois tal atividade pode agravar o processo de eutrofização existente no corpo hídrico em estudo.