“…It is one of the most biodiverse and endangered ecosystems in the world (Myers et al 2000). Threats to the Atlantic Forest ecosystems include the degradation of natural streams and rivers caused by loss of riparian vegetation, erosion, siltation, organic and chemical pollution, sand mining, damming and introductions of exotic species (Menezes et al, 1990;Faria and Marques, 1999). Many stream fishes have been particularly affected by alterations in the forest ecosystem because it influenced light incidence, turbidity, pH, temperature and food resources (Menezes et al, 1990;Uieda and Kikuchi, 1995).…”