Assessing of biotic integrity of the fish community in a heavily impacted segment of a tropical river in Brazil

Pinto, Benjamin Carvalho Teixeira; Araújo, Francisco Gerson

doi:10.1590/s1516-89132007000300015

Cited by 53 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 33 publications

(58 reference statements)

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“…Similar distribution patterns for these two species were also found by Araújo et al (2001), with P. reticulata being the most abundant fish species at Z2, while P. caudimaculatus, ranked as the third most abundant species at Z3. The use of deteriorated areas by opportunistic fish species has been reported by several workers (Hughes and Gammon, 1987;Soto-Galera et al, 1998;Harris and Silveira, 1999;Pinto et al, 2006b;Pinto and Araújo, 2007). They have reported that the limitation of natural resources decreased specialist species which are replaced by opportunistic ones, since the latter can use the available resources and cope with the harsh environmental conditions of deteriorated areas.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…The Paraíba do Sul River receives high amounts of organic and industrial effluents that directly affect the ichthyofauna by decreasing fish abundance and limiting distribution of more sensitive species (Araújo et al, 2003;Pinto et al, 2006b;Pinto and Araújo, 2007). An amount of 160 m 3 /s is pumped from the study area for hydroelectric power and water supply purposes, increasing water quality concerns.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…8,000,000 people in Rio de Janeiro City (Silveira et al, 1979;Barroso, 1989). The river receives many organic and industrial effluents that affect directly the ichthyofauna (Coelho and Fonseca, 1986), especially in its middle reaches, where the major siderurgic-industrial complex is located at Volta Redonda City (Araújo, 1983;Negreiros and Wainsztain, 1978;Pinto and Araújo, 2007). Organic loads brought into these stretches are estimated in ca.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this scope, P. reticulata and P. caudimaculatus have been reported as indicators of poor water condition due to their ability to thrive in harsh environmental conditions (Araújo, 1983). Both species have been recorded along the Paraíba do Sul River mainly in more polluted stretches (Araújo et al, 2001;Teixeira et al, 2005;Pinto et al, 2006b;Pinto and Araújo, 2007). On the other hand, fish condition indicates health and can be influenced by environmental conditions (Vila-Gispert and Moreno-Amichi, 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Distribution of guppies Poecilia reticulata (Peters, 1860) and Phalloceros caudimaculatus (Hensel, 1868) along a polluted stretch of the Paraíba do Sul River, Brazil

et al. 2009

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Cyprinodontiformes fishes (guppies) are widely distributed in Neotropical regions and use deteriorated microhabitats in rivers where few species can occur. This study was carried out in a stretch of the Paraíba do Sul River in bracketing a large urban-industrial complex. The aim was to assess eventual effects that the industrial complex could have on distribution of two closely related fish species of guppies, Phalloceros caudimaculatus and Poecilia reticulata. The area was divided into three zones: Z1, 40 km upriver of the major urban-industrial complex of Volta Redonda; Z2, just down river of the complex; and Z3, 30 km down river of the complex. Six sites (two in each zone) were sampled monthly between November 1998 and October 1999, using a standardized fishing effort with cast net throws, trays lifts and seine hauls, covering different microhabitats, that is, riffles, pools and the proximity of the river's margins. Poecilia reticulata was widely distributed, peaking at Z2, the most polluted area, while P. caudimaculatus showed the highest abundance at Z3, being almost absent in Z1. Both species occurred in high numbers throughout the year but they were scarce between April and June. Females outnumbered males for both species in most size classes and at all sites. Juveniles were more abundant than adults, with non-pregnant females outnumbering pregnant ones. Condition factor was always higher in males than females but only males P. reticulata showed significant difference among the three zones, with the highest values at Z2. The higher number of females confirms the expectation that these species can use very polluted areas and that availability of food provided by organic loads allowed their distribution all over the area. Although these two species have shown indication of spatial separation in the study area, their similar seasonal patterns of occurrence suggest that they respond in a similar way to changes in environmental conditions. Keywords: pollution, distribution, Cyprinodontiformes, population structure, Paraíba do Sul River. Redonda; Z2, imediatamente abaixo do complexo industrial; e Z3, 30 km abaixo do complexo. Seis locais (dois em cada zona) foram amostrados mensalmente entre novembro de 1998 e outubro de 1999, usando um esforço de pesca estandardizado com tarrafas, peneiras e arrastos, cobrindo diferentes microhábitats, isto é, corredeiras, remansos e a proximidade da margem dos rios. Poecilia reticulata foi largamente distribuído, apresentando pico na Z2, área mais poluída, enquanto P. caudimaculatus apresentou a maior abundância na Z3, sendo quase ausente na Z1. Ambas as espécies ocorreram em elevados números ao longo do ano, mas foram escassas entre abril e junho. Fêmeas foram mais numerosas do que machos para ambas as espécies na maioria das classes de tamanho e em todos os locais. Jovens foram mais abundantes que adultos, com fêmeas não grávidas predominando sobre fêmeas grávidas. Fator de condição foi sempre maior nos machos do que nas fêmeas, mas somente machos de P. reticulata a...

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 95%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Distribution of guppies Poecilia reticulata (Peters, 1860) and Phalloceros caudimaculatus (Hensel, 1868) along a polluted stretch of the Paraíba do Sul River, Brazil

et al. 2009

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“…In Brazil, most IBI studies have been carried out in the states of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Araújo (1998), Araújo et al (2003), Pinto and Araújo (2007), Pinto et al (2006) developed studies to adapt the index to the Paraíba do Sul river in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Ferreira and Casatti (2006) did the same in the state of São Paulo, and Casatti et al (2009) in the Upper Paraná River basin.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The fish community as an indicator of biotic integrity of the streams in the Sinos River basin, Brazil

2010

Braz. J. Biol.

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The basin of the Sinos River, located in the northeastern part of Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, has been highly impacted by industrial and urban activities. Water quality is low because of domestic and industrial sewage discharges. Most of the tributaries have suffered drastic structural interventions like canalisations and the removal of riparian vegetation. The aims of this study were to: 1) assess the diversity of fish at 34 sampling sites in twenty-four tributaries of the Sinos River basin; 2) quantify impact level by the Shannon-Wiener diversity index and an adapted Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI); and 3) check the interference of environmental impacts, formerly quantified in a Stream Corridor Assessment Survey (SCAS), on the fish assembly and 4) compare the relationship between the IBI with stream order. Fish sampling was performed by electric fishing in the period from April 2004 to August 2006. A total of 4,869 individuals were sampled, representing 61 species, 14 families and six orders. Significant relationships of the Shannon-Wiener index and IBI with SCAS scores and stream orders were found. Of all impacts that make up the SCAS score, only channel modifications were significantly correlated with IBI. These results indicate that the adaptation of the IBI was effective and performed better than the Shannon-Wiener diversity index when related directly to specific impact categories. The application of the IBI with the SCAS and the other variables was efficient in the tributaries of the Sinos River basin because it showed the biotic degradation in accordance with changes in physical habitat. Keywords

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Development of an Index of Biotic Integrity Based on Fish Communities to Assess the Effects of Rural and Urban Land Use on a Stream in Southeastern Brazil

Esteves

Alexandre

2011

International Review of Hydrobiology

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A fish-based Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) was adapted for use in a stream of the heavily impacted Piracicaba River basin in southeastern Brazil. The influences of land use (mainly sugar-cane crops) and an urban area on the fish community were investigated at ten sites along a 17 km-long stream during the dry and rainy season. The IBI varied with the season and location along the stream, reflecting differences between the agricultural and urban sites, which were more pronounced during the dry season. The final index was positively correlated with a Habitat Quality Index (dry season) but not with a Water Quality Index. The results can be viewed as a tool for assessing and monitoring the ecological health of streams in this watershed.

show abstract

Assessing of biotic integrity of the fish community in a heavily impacted segment of a tropical river in Brazil

Abstract: A index of biotic integrity (IBI)

Cited by 53 publications

References 33 publications

Distribution of guppies Poecilia reticulata (Peters, 1860) and Phalloceros caudimaculatus (Hensel, 1868) along a polluted stretch of the Paraíba do Sul River, Brazil

Distribution of guppies Poecilia reticulata (Peters, 1860) and Phalloceros caudimaculatus (Hensel, 1868) along a polluted stretch of the Paraíba do Sul River, Brazil

The fish community as an indicator of biotic integrity of the streams in the Sinos River basin, Brazil

Development of an Index of Biotic Integrity Based on Fish Communities to Assess the Effects of Rural and Urban Land Use on a Stream in Southeastern Brazil

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