Analysis of fish assemblages in sectors along a salinity gradient based on species, families and functional groups

Passos, Ana Carolina dos; Contente, Ríguel Feltrin; Abbatepaulo, Felippe Veneziani; Spach, Henry Louis; Vilar, Ciro C.; Joyeux, Jean‐Christophe; Cartagena, Beatriz Fernanda Chinhilla; Fávaro, Luís Fernando

doi:10.1590/s1679-87592013000400006

Cited by 31 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 59 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…The ichthyofauna of Brazilian estuaries have been studied under various aspects, such as its composition and abundance (FELIX et al, 2006, DIAS et al, 2011, diversity (CASTRO, 2001;CARVALHO NETO;CASTRO, 2008;BARLETTA et al, 2003), assemblages (CONTENTE et al, 2010;ARAÚJO et al, 2013;HOSTIM-SILVA et al, 2013;PASSOS et al, 2013), resource exploitation (BARLETTA; COSTA, 2009), structure and seasonal dynamics of ichthyoplankton (BARLETTA-BERGAN et al, 2002;PORCARO et al, 2014), influence of environmental variables on fish distribution (BARLETTA et al, 2005;BARLETTA et al, 2008), recruitment (BOLZAN et al, 2014), biological and socioeconomic aspects of fisheries exploitation (CHAVES et al, 2003), and also as indicator of environmental quality (VIANA; LUCENA FRÉDOU, 2014). The main hydrographic characteristics of estuaries that influence the fish distribution are salinity, temperature, turbidity and dissolved oxygen BLABER, 1980;BARLETTA et al, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ichthyofauna as an environmental quality indicator of the Bertioga Channel, São Paulo (Brazil)

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Ichthyofauna as an environmental quality indicator of the Bertioga Channel, São Paulo (Brazil)The aim of this study was to investigate the ichthyofauna structure in the region of the north outfall of the Bertioga Channel (São Paulo, Brazil) and the possible effects of the environmental quality loss. The samples were collected in a monthly basis, from September to December 2005, at two oceanographic stations with an otter-trawl. The fish fauna structure was evaluated by ecological indicators and the environmental quality evaluated by the ABC analysis and the Estuarine Fish Communities Index (EFCI). A total of 1553 individuals from 50 species were sampled. Ariidae and Sciaenidae amounted to 60 % and Cathorops spixii represented 36 % of all specimens collected. The highest richness and ecological diversity were recorded in December, while the highest numerical abundance was found in October. The majority of the species were represented by juveniles. The cluster analysis and canonical correspondence analysis showed a consistent and clear difference between the sampling stations, and the abiotic factors analyzed (temperature, depth and salinity) do not seem to have influence on the community structure. The ABC analysis suggested a moderate disturbed environment and the EFCI allowed classifying the area as "poor", due to the 12 metrics analyzed, concerning the reduction of the species diversity, composition and abundance, and modifications in the nursery function and trophic integrity of the area.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ichthyofauna as an environmental quality indicator of the Bertioga Channel, São Paulo (Brazil)

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In estuaries with a so-called normal salinity gradient (Table I), the composition of the fish assemblages along the gradient tends to change in response to this driver, e.g. in certain small and large Brazilian estuaries, there is a change in species composition that can be directly linked to the longitudinal salinity gradient within these systems (Neves et al, 2011;dos Passos et al, 2013). Even in those estuaries and bays that have relatively large freshwater inputs and low salinities in the upper reaches, freshwater fish taxa are often poorly represented (Leitão et al, 2007;Vilar et al, 2011;González-Ortegon et al, 2012;Flaherty et al, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Why are there so few freshwater fish species in most estuaries?

Whitfield

2015

Journal of Fish Biology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The freshwater fish assemblage in most estuaries is not as species rich as the marine assemblage in the same systems. Coupled with this differential richness is an apparent inability by most freshwater fish species to penetrate estuarine zones that are mesohaline (salinity: 5·0-17·9), polyhaline (salinity: 18·0-29·9) or euhaline (salinity: 30·0-39·9). The reason why mesohaline waters are avoided by most freshwater fishes is difficult to explain from a physiological perspective as many of these species would be isosmotic within this salinity range. Perhaps, a key to the poor penetration of estuarine waters by freshwater taxa is an inability to develop chloride cells in gill filament epithelia, as well as a lack of other osmoregulatory adaptations present in euryhaline fishes. Only a few freshwater fish species, especially some of those belonging to the family Cichlidae, have become fully euryhaline and have successfully occupied a wide range of estuaries, sometimes even dominating in hyperhaline systems (salinity 40+). Indeed, this review found that there are few fish species that can be termed holohaline (i.e. capable of occupying waters with a salinity range of 0-100+) and, of these taxa, there is a disproportionally high number of freshwater species (e.g. Cyprinodon variegatus, Oreochromis mossambicus and Sarotherodon melanotheron). Factors such as increased competition for food and higher predation rates by piscivorous fishes and birds may also play an important role in the low species richness and abundance of freshwater taxa in estuaries. Added to this is the relatively low species richness of freshwater fishes in river catchments when compared with the normally higher diversity of marine fish species for potential estuarine colonization from the adjacent coastal waters. The almost complete absence of freshwater fish larvae from the estuarine ichthyoplankton further reinforces the poor representation of this guild within these systems. An explanation as to why more freshwater fish species have not become euryhaline and occupied a wide range of estuaries similar to their marine counterparts is probably due to a combination of the above described factors, with physiological restrictions pertaining to limited salinity tolerances probably playing the most important role.

show abstract

“…In these species, osmoregulatory capacity develops early during the larval phase to allow them to migrate into the nursery areas in coastal zones where salinity and temperature are more favorable (Passos et al . ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Distribution and feeding ecology of three juvenile mojarras in a hypersaline tropical estuary in Northeastern Brazil

2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Although mojarra species usually demonstrate a wide distribution in tropical and subtropical estuaries, relatively little is known about the process influencing the spatial resource partitioning to nearshore habitats. Therefore, the aim of this study was check the existence of habitat and food partitioning among confamiliar species in a hypersaline estuary. The dietary compositions of three co‐occurring species of mojarras were determined, using samples collected with a beach seine from an inverse tropical estuary in Northeastern Brazil, during the rainy and the dry seasons of 2012. Eucinostomus argenteus and Ulaema lefroyi were abundant throughout the year, while Eugerres brasilianus was most abundant during the rainy season. Although these mojarras were found together in all areas of the estuary, there was evidence of habitat partitioning: E. argenteus and E. brasilianus were dominant in areas with submerged vegetation, while U. lefroyi was most abundant in areas with little habitat complexity and minimal shelter. All mojarras consumed, to different degrees, zooplankton, Bivalvia and Polychaeta. However, E. brasilanus also consumed a considerable amount of algae. Although the niches of the mojarra species appeared to significantly overlap, some resource partitioning patterns were apparent. While E. brasilanus was clearly different along the trophic niche, segregation of the other species was more important with respect to the spatial dimension. The different feeding strategies appear to minimize inter‐specific overlap and allow the co‐occurrence of these species in this hypersaline tropical estuary.

show abstract

Analysis of fish assemblages in sectors along a salinity gradient based on species, families and functional groups

Cited by 31 publications

References 59 publications

Ichthyofauna as an environmental quality indicator of the Bertioga Channel, São Paulo (Brazil)

Ichthyofauna as an environmental quality indicator of the Bertioga Channel, São Paulo (Brazil)

Why are there so few freshwater fish species in most estuaries?

Distribution and feeding ecology of three juvenile mojarras in a hypersaline tropical estuary in Northeastern Brazil

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About