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The species composition and abundance of the zooplankton community of seven reservoirs of the Paranapanema River, located between 22 degrees 37'-23 degrees 11'S and 48 degrees 55'-50 degrees 32'W, were analysed over four periods, in the year of 1979. The zooplankton community was composed of 76 species of Rotifera, 26 species of Cladocera and 7 species of Copepoda. For a large part of the period under study the Rotifera were dominant, followed by Copepoda. The Piraju and Salto Grande reservoirs, which occupy intermediate positions in the cascade of reservoirs, were richest in species, most of them belonging to Rotifera and Cladocera. In the reservoirs Rio Pari and Rio Novo, lateral to the cascade of reservoirs, a lower species richness was observed, although higher densities of organisms were found than in the other reservoirs located in the main river body. Different rotifer species occurred in succession, being abundant in different periods, with no defined pattern. Among the copepods, Thermocyclops decipiens predominated in the majority of the reservoirs. Ceriodaphnia cornuta was the most abundant cladoceran in the intermediate reservoirs of the cascade, and Daphnia gessneri, Bosminopsis deitersi and Moina minuta, in the reservoirs lateral to the cascade. The most frequent zooplankton species were Notodiaptomus conifer, Thermocyclops decipiens, Ceriodaphnia cornuta cornuta and C. cornuta rigaudi, Daphnia gessneri, Bosmina hagmanni, Keratella cochlearis and Polyarthra vulgaris. Some relationships were found between the trophic state of the reservoirs and the zooplankton community.

The potential use of epilithic diatoms as indicators of organic pollution was evaluated in Gravataı´River, RS, (latitude 29°45¢-30°12¢ S; longitude 50°27¢-51°12¢ W). The river suffers agricultural impacts in its upper course and urban and industrial organic pollution in its lower course. Epilithic diatoms were sampled eight times from September 2000 to August 2002, at six sites. Species were identified and densities and relative abundances of populations were determined. Simultaneously, physical, chemical and microbiological variables were measured (water temperature, conductivity, turbidity, pH, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD 5 ), chemical oxygen demand, ammonium, organic nitrogen, total nitrogen, ortho-phosphate, total phosphate, chloride and faecal coliforms). In order to interpret the environmental and biological variables, discriminant analysis and the TWINSPAN methods (Two-Way Indicator Species Analysis) were applied. The results indicated that the concentrations of ortho-phosphate, ammonium, total organic nitrogen, BOD 5 and faecal coliforms characterized a pollution gradient along the river, where changes in the abundance or species composition were observed. Species were classified into three groups: Group A, including species more tolerant to heavy organic pollution and eutrophication, represented by

In the present study, two small lakes on the margins of the River Cuiabá were analyzed regarding taxonomic composition and population densities of the zooplankton. Diversity was evaluated for two groups, Rotifera and Cladocera; sampling was carried out on two dates: 2 March 1999, in the rainy season, and 25 August 1999, in the dry season. Seventy-nine rotifer taxa, 30 cladoceran taxa, and 6 copepod taxa were found. Comparing the species identified in the present study with those recorded by other authors for several water bodies in Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul states, it was found that 9 species of Cladocera, 2 of Copepoda, and 14 of Rotifera are new records for the region. The most abundant rotifer species were Keratella cochlearis, Brachionus angularis, Polyarthra vulgaris, and Keratella americana. Moina minuta and Bosminopsis deitersi were dominant among the cladocerans, and Notodiaptomus transitans and N. devoyorum among the copepods. Comparing both lakes, the greatest species richness of both Rotifera and Cladocera was observed in Lake Souza Lima, during the rainy season. This is probably linked to the fact that the littoral region of this lake is densely colonized by macrophytes. The lake also has better environmental conditions since it does not receive domestic sewage inputs, as does Lake Parque Atalaia. The diversity of the Rotifera was markedly low in Lake Parque Atalaia, during the dry season, again perhaps linked domestic sewage input found in this water body.

AIM: The reservoirs of the medium and low Tietê River are disposed as a "cascade series", in which time, physiographic features and influence from drainage basins present differences that determine variability in their dynamics. These reservoirs are submitted to different impacts from the urban centres which they drain, and also from agricultural activities.Considering these features, the aim of this work was to characterize the Medium and Low Tietê river stretches by limnological analysis (including water and sediments) considering dry and rainy seasons evaluating changes along the reservoirs sequence. METHODS: Based on physical and chemical measurements on water and sediments from 16 points along the reservoirs and in the river mouth of the main tributaries, it was possible to make an environmental characterization of the study area. RESULTS: This was performed focusing on water, sediment, habitat structure and time scale. Generally, the data showed a reduction in the values of the analyzed parameters along the reservoirs sequence. Moreover, it was possible to identify differences between the dry and rainy seasons for water and sediment parameters. Concerning habitat structure, there is a gradient along the river, which shows that the environmental quality improves from the river head to the river mouth. Differences in macrophyte composition, kind of sediments, transparency and habitats were also identified. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, modifications were identified in the habitats general structure along the medium Tietê stretch: emerging macrophytes and muddy bottom predominate upstream; and submerging macrophytes and sandy bottom predominate downstream. The water characteristics should be taken into consideration, because they reflect the impacts upon the drainage basin of each reservoir.

In order to verify the influence of chronic and acute ambient oxygen levels from egg to adult stage of the zebrafish, in vivo oxygen consumption (MO 2 ), critical tensions of oxygen (Pcrit), heart rate (f H ) and total body lactate concentration (Lc) were determined for Danio rerio (Hamilton, 1822) ) and exposed to acute hypoxia during different developmental stages. Our findings confirmed that very early stages do not respond effectively to ambient acute hypoxia. However, after the stage corresponding to the age of 30 days, D. rerio was able to respond to acute hypoxia through effective physiological mechanisms involving aerobic and anaerobic metabolism. Such responses were more efficient for the fishes reared under hypoxia which showed that D. rerio survival capability increased during acclimation to mild hypoxia. Measurements of body mass and length showed that moderate hypoxia did not affect growth significantly until the fish reached the stage of 60 days. Moreover, a growth delay was verified for the hypoxic-reared animals. Also, the D. rerio eggs-to-larvae survival varied from 87.7 to 62.4% in animals reared under normoxia and mild hypoxia, respectively. However, the surviving animals raised under moderated hypoxia showed a better aptitude to regulate aerobic and anaerobic capacities when exposed to acute hypoxia.Keywords: hypoxia, anaerobic metabolism, Danio rerio, lactate, fish.Metabolismo aeróbico e anaeróbico do paulistinha Danio rerio, mantidos sob normóxia e hipóxia moderada e expostos a hipóxia aguda durante diferentes estágios de desenvolvimento Resumo A influência de diferentes níveis de oxigênio no desenvolvimento (ovos a adulto) do peixe paulistinha Danio rerio (Hamilton, 1822) foi verificada por meio de medidas experimentais de consumo de oxigênio (MO 2 ), tensões críticas de oxigênio (Pcrit), taxa de batimentos cardíacos (fH) e concentração total de lactato nos tecidos (Lc), para os animais mantidos a 28 ºC sob níveis normóxicos de oxigênio (7.5 mgO 2 .L -1 ou 80 mmHg) e hipóxicos (4.3 mgO 2 .L -1 ) e submetidos a hipóxia ambiental aguda, em diferentes estágios de desenvolvimento. Os resultados obtidos indicam que os peixes em estágios iniciais do desenvolvimento não variam suas respostas fisiológicas em função das oscilações ambientais nos níveis de oxigênio, visto que tais respostas iniciaram-se somente no estágio de 30 dias de vida. A partir deste estágio D. rerio apresentou capacidade em responder à hipóxia aguda por meio de mecanismos fisiológicos efetivos envolvendo metabolismo aeróbico e anaeróbico. Tais respostas foram mais efetivas para os peixes mantidos sob hipóxia, o que mostrou que a capacidade de sobrevivência de D. rerio aumentou durante o período de aclimatação à hipóxia moderada. As medidas de massa e comprimento corpóreos mostraram que a permanência dos peixes em hipóxia durante o desenvolvimento não afetou esses parâmetro até os peixes atingirem o estágio de 60 dias. A partir deste estágio foi observado ligeiro atraso no crescimento dos espécimes mantidos sob hipóx...

An evaluation was made of the quality of samples of water and sediment collected from a series of reservoirs in the Tietê River (SP), based on limnological and ecotoxicological analyses. The samples were collected during two periods (Feb and Jul 2000) from 15 sampling stations. Acute toxicity bioassays were performed using the test organism Daphnia similis, while chronic bioassays were carried out with Ceriodaphnia dubia and Danio rerio larvae. The water samples were analyzed for total nutrients, total suspended matter and total cadmium, chromium, copper and zinc concentrations, while the sediment samples were examined for organic matter, granulometry and potentially bioavailable metals (cadmium, chromium, copper and zinc). The results obtained for the limnological variable, revealed differences in the water quality, with high contribution of nutrients and metals for Tietê and Piracicaba rivers, besides the incorporation and sedimentation, consequently causing a reduction of materials in Barra Bonita reservoir, thus promoting the improvement of the water quality in the other reservoirs. The toxicity bioassays revealed acute toxicity for Daphnia similis only in the reservoirs located below Barra Bonita dam. On the other hand, chronic toxicity for Ceriodaphnia dubia and acute for Danio rerio showed a different pattern, decreasing in magnitude from Barra Bonita to Três Irmãos, demonstrating an environmental degradation gradient in the reservoirs.Keywords: reservoirs ecology, limnology, ecotoxicology, Tietê River. RESUMO Estudos limnológicos e ecotoxicológicos na cascata de reservatórios do rio Tietê (São Paulo, Brasil)O presente trabalho visou avaliar a qualidade de amostras de água e sedimento dos reservatórios em cascata do rio Tietê (SP) através de análises limnológicas e ecotoxicológicas. Foram realizadas coletas de água e sedimento em dois períodos (fevereiro e julho de 2000) e em 15 estações de amostragem. Foram realizados bioensaios de toxicidade aguda para Daphnia similis, de toxicidade crônica para Ceriodaphnia dubia e para larvas pós-eclodidas de Danio rerio. Análises de nutrientes totais, material em suspensão total e cádmio, cromo, cobre e zinco foram realizadas para as amostras de água e análises de matéria orgânica, granulometria e metais biodisponíveis (cádmio, cromo, cobre e zinco) para o sedimento. Os resultados obtidos para as variáveis limnológicas, revelaram diferenças na qualidade da água, com elevado aporte 698 RODGHER, S. et al.

In order to verify the cascade-system effect in benthic macroinvertebrate communities, and the implications for policy making and proposals for conservation and sustainable use of the lower portion of São Francisco river basin (Bahia State, Brazil), a three-reservoir cascade system including two stretches downstream were studied during dry (June, 1997) and rainy (March, 1998) periods. The dominant groups found were Mollusca (Melanoides tuberculata), Oligochaeta, and Chironomidae larvae. Low Shannon-Wiener and Pielou index values were found, but with no significant difference between the sampling periods. However, density and taxonomic richness were significantly different (t (0.05; 31) = -2.1945; p < 0.05; e t (0.05; 31) = -3.0600; p < 0.01) between the sampling periods, with a reduction in the number of taxa and macroinvertebrate abundance during the rainy period. An increasing gradient in benthic macroinvertebrate community structures was noted along the reservoir cascade from the first reservoir (Apolônio Sales), followed by a decrease downstream from the third reservoir of the system (Xingó). Despite the negative consequences of rapid proliferation of dams, which have caused widespread loss of freshwater habitats, the reservoir cascade system promoted an increase in benthic macroinvertebrate diversity, due to water-quality improvement along the system. Key words: benthic macroinvertebrates, reservoir, biodiversity assessment, reservoir cascade concept, São Francisco river. RESUMO Avaliação da biodiversidade de macroinvertebrados bentônicos ao longo de uma cascata de reservatórios no baixo rio São Francisco (nordeste do Brasil)Com o objetivo de determinar o efeito da cascata de reservatórios nas comunidades de macroinvertebrados bentônicos e sua possível implicação para a definição de políticas e propostas para conservação e uso sustentável da porção baixa da bacia do rio São Francisco (Bahia, Brasil), amostragens foram realizadas em três reservatórios e dois trechos a jusante do último reservatório, durante os períodos de seca (junho de 1997) e chuvas (março de 1998