Impact of ecotourism on the fish fauna of Bonito region (Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil): ecological, behavioural and physiological measures

Abstract

Bonito, in Mato Grosso do Sul State, is an important destination for ecotourism in Brazil and the main challenge of sustainable ecotourism here has been to accommodate and adjust the increase of tourism without compromising the ecological integrity of the local ecosystems. In this study we aimed to assess the environmental impact of ecotourism on the fish fauna of Sucuri River in Bonito by integrating ecological, behaviour and physiological criteria and using the fish species Crenicichla lepidota and Moenkhausia bonita as indicators. Two distinct sites were defined to collect data: (1) affected daily by ecotourism (Tourism) and (2) undisturbed (No Tourism). The "stationary point count" method was performed to assess variations in ecological parameters and "ad libitum" and focal animal methods were used to collect behaviour data. The cortisol response of M. bonita to a stress protocol was measured from holding-water. Results showed a significantly increase in species richness, density and diversity at the Tourism site. Nevertheless, behaviour patterns indicated a higher stress at the Tourism site for both species as well higher cortisol levels for M. bonita. In opposition to the ecological measures, the behaviour and physiological ones may be interpreted as an early sign of negative impact caused by ecotourism, prior to changes at community level.Bonito, no estado de Mato Grosso do Sul, é atualmente um importante destino de ecoturismo no Brasil e o seu principal desafio tem sido o de acomodar e ajustar de forma sustentável a crescente procura de turistas sem comprometer a sua integridade ecológica. O objetivo deste estudo consistiu em avaliar o impacto do ecoturismo na ictiofauna do rio Sucuri localizado em Bonito, através da utilização integrada de critérios ecológicos, comportamentais e fisiológicos e utilizando as espécies de peixes Crenicichla lepidota e Moenkhausia bonita como indicadores. Para tal foram determinadas duas áreas distintas de amostragens no rio: (1) local onde ocorrem visitas turísticas diárias (Tourism) e (2) local sem qualquer tipo de impacto humano (No Tourism). O método de censos visuais por pontos fixos foi utilizado para determinar variações nos parâmetros ecológicos e os métodos "ad libitum" e animal focal foram utilizados para coletar dados comportamentais para as duas espécies em estudo. A resposta fisiológica à presença de turistas foi testada em M. bonita através da determinação de cortisol na água por um método não-invasivo de captura, transporte e confinamento. Os resultados obtidos indicam que no local exposto ao turismo há um aumento significativo da riqueza específica, densidade e diversidade de espécies. No entanto, a nível comportamental C. lepidota apresenta mudanças significativas de comportamento alimentar, agonístico, de fuga e guarda do ninho entre os dois locais. Moenkhausia bonita apresenta mudanças significativas não só a nível do seu comportamento alimentar e de fuga, mas também apresenta níveis de cortisol significativamente superiores no local com turismo. Contrari...

Tourism impact on stream fish measured with an ecological and a behavioural indicator

“…The overall activity pattern could be described as a smooth and large Gaussian curve representing the activity of fish from both MVAs and NVMAs, and a narrower Gaussian curve representing the activity of fish from RAs (Figure ). Lima et al () previously reported a more intense response in activity period both in C. lepidota and Moenkhausia bonita . Activity reverted to normal after tourists left at the end of the day, promoting a rebound compensatory effect that has been observed also after other stressors in other species and contexts (Ali, Cui, Zhu, & Wootton , ; Rubio, Sánchez, & Cerdá‐Reverter , ; Wu, Xie, Zhu, Cui, & Wootton, ).…”

“…Recently, interest has increased on the potential impact of such activity on species inhabiting popular tourist sites (Bessa & Gonçalves‐de‐Freitas, ; Geffroy, Samia, Bessa, & Blumstein , ; Praveena, Siraj, & Aris , ). Nevertheless, results in this field of research are inconsistent, with some studies indicating sustainable coexistence between conservation and tourism (White et al , ), while others report adverse impacts (Lima et al, ; Uyarra & Côté, ). It may be that the indicators used are inadequate in showing impacts or that nature‐based tourism has no effect, the latter being the less likely (Boyle & Samson, ).…”

Feeding wild fish for tourism—A systematic quantitative literature review of impacts and management

“…Fish feeding for tourism research has covered a wide range of species. For bony fish, researchers have examined impacts to the general fish assemblage with only a few articles targeting a certain species (Chateau & Laurent, ; Cole, ; Lima, Assis, Sayanda, Sabino, & Oliveira, ). For stingray feeding, 8 of the 10 stingray provisioning studies have been conducted on the Southern Stingray ( Dasyatis americana ).…”

“…The assessment of species composition and alterations in the behaviour of species have proved to be reliable approaches in understanding the impacts caused by tourism. Accounts of changes in local fish populations in the form of increased group sizes, increased population densities, home range reductions, disrupted migration, and negative health effects have all been reported (Araujo et al, ; Bessa & Gonçalves‐de‐Freitas, ; Brookhouse et al, ; Brunnschweiler & Adam Barnett, ; Feitosa, Chaves, Ferreira, & de Araújo, ; Lima et al, ; Milazzo, Badalamenti, Vega Fernández, & Chemello, ).…”

Caracterização e tendências de gestão dos impactos negativos e positivos do espeleoturismo

“…No turismo, os principais impactos negativos causados no ambiente são: a poluição da água, ar e solo, a descaracterização das paisagens, a perda de parcelas da biodiversidade, as alterações comportamentais nas espécies da fauna e os impactos físicos no solo e na vegetação (Soldateli, 2005;Lima, Assis, Sayanda, Sabino, & Oliveira, 2014). Estes e outros impactos também são observados nas atividades de espeleoturismo.…”