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This study aimed to evaluate environmental influences on fish distribution and to assess the extent to which concepts in river ecology accommodate levels of spatio-temporal heterogeneity of fish assemblages in a 1,080-km long tropical river. A total of 25 sites were sampled between November 2002 and March 2003 in two seasons (summer/wet versus winter/ dry). A thermal gradient separating the upper reaches from the lower reaches was detected. The middle-upper reaches showed higher conductivity and lower dissolved oxygen and pH levels compared with the other reaches. Although some significant associations were found between some fish abundance and environmental variables, the most abundant species (Tilapia rendalli, Geophagus brasiliensis, and Oligosarcus hepsetus) occurred in most sites and under most environmental conditions. Fish community structure varied more in space (longitudinal) than through time (seasonal). The community in the lower reach species was more diverse in comparison with the other reaches. Differences in the fish assemblage structure among the longitudinal river sections appear to have been influenced by the effects of damming, and seem to be partially consistent with the Serial Discontinuity Concept, which views dams as discontinuities within the river continuum. Only the lower river reach showed seasonal differences in the fish community structure, attributable to the influence of flooding. Management plans and biodiversity conservation will benefit by considering the effects of dam disruption and flood increased connectivity to the lotic systems.

The biodiversity of many Brazilian rivers is seriously threatened by industrial and municipal pollution, and Rio Paraiba do Sul, located between two major industrial centers is one example of this situation. A survey of the fish assemblage was conducted from October 1998 to September 1999 and the data were used to develop an index of biotic integrity (IBI). We sampled three zones in bracketing a large urban-industrial complex to evaluate water quality changes and the usefulness of the IBI as a monitoring tool. Water quality was classified as poor upstream of the effluent discharges, very poor near the discharges, and poor-fair downstream of the discharges, with this latter situation revealing the current biological capacity of the river. Physical and chemical habitat characteristics were also measured at each site to construct an independent environmental index to validate the IBI. The habitat and IBI indices were highly correlated, suggesting this IBI would be applicable to other large rivers in southeast Brazil.

Adaptation of the index of biotic integrity based on fish assemblages in the Paraíba do Sul river, RJ, Brazil

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ABSTRACT1. Since most of the natural habitats critical for freshwater fish survival have been adversely affected by human disturbance, the effectiveness of artificial structures in providing new and suitable habitats for fish has been increasingly investigated.2. This paper evaluates the role of artificial structures as fish habitat in a structureless 30 km 2 Brazilian reservoir, through underwater surveys conducted monthly from April 1999 to March 2000.3. In total, 5759 fish in nine species were recorded, but only three cichlid species } one native, Geophagus brasiliensis and two non-native, Cichla kelberi and Tilapia rendalli } showed consistent association with the artificial habitats, suggesting that this family reacts to submerged structures.4. The absence of fish at control sites compared with high occurrences in sites provided with a physically complex structure suggests that artificial structures can play an important ecological role for cichlids smaller than 150 mm TL, probably related to shelter and/or feeding benefits.5. The level of structural complexity and position in the water column influenced fish use of artificial structures. C. kelberi was associated with highly complex structures, whereas moderately complex bottom structures were more effective in harbouring G. brasiliensis. Bottom structures are apparently more important than midwater structures in harbouring T. rendalli, but structural complexity seemed to play a secondary role.6. This study is the first in demonstrating that adding complex artificial structures can expand habitats for small fish (5150 mm TL), especially cichlids, in a neotropical impoundment. It seems reasonable to expect that deploying physically complex structures in other oligotrophic, structureless and cichlid-dominated impoundments in Brazil will lead to similar results to those found in this work.

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