Study offish and amphibian communities in streams under the influence of sugarcane crops: basis for conservation

• Grant number: 10/52069-6
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: December 01, 2010 - November 30, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Fishery Resources and Fishery Engineering - Inland Water Fishery Resources
• Principal researcher: Katharina Eichbaum Esteves
• Grantee: Katharina Eichbaum Esteves
• Home Institution: Instituto de Pesca. Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios (APTA). Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The riparian zone occurs at the interface between aquatic and terrestrial environments, and its importance has been recognized by several studies that indicate that important interactions occur in this region, with high biodiversity and great diversity of environmental processes. Considering the widespread cultivation of sugar cane in São Paulo State, and the limited information that exists about the effect of this culture on aquatic environments, this study aims to analyze its effects on the fish and amphibian communities in streams. Three streams with different riparian situations, located in regions of high density sugar-cane plantations in the basins of the Piracicaba-Capivari-Jundiaí (SP) will be sampled. These streams comprise riparian areas with sugarcane and presence of riparian vegetation, sugarcane without riparian vegetation and riparian vegetation with preserved native forest. The fish and tadpoles will be collected with electrofishing equipment at three sites under each condition, and amphibians by means of pitfall traps using fence guides and active searching by visual encounter. Several environmental parameters including physical and chemical water analysis and the integrity of the habitat will be recorded. Fish and anuran data will be analyzed through an exploratory analysis and application of multivariate techniques to correlate species and environmental variables. With this study we aim to identify the main environmental impacts on the studied communities, supporting adequate management and conservation strategies. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

BALDI, LUDMILA CRISTINA; DOS SANTOS, FERNANDA BASTOS; ESTEVES, KATHARINA EICHBAUM; FERREIRA, FABIO COP; ROCHA, MARIANE TARGINO; SANTANA, JULIANA MACEDO; TEIXEIRA, PATRICIA COELHO; FERREIRA, CLAUDIA MARIS. Anuran Communities in Different Riparian Habitats: Native Forest, Secondary Forest, and Sugarcane. South American Journal of Herpetology, v. 10, n. 3, p. 195-204, DEC 2015. Web of Science Citations: 2.

DOS SANTOS, FERNANDA BASTOS; ESTEVES, KATHARINA EICHBAUM. A Fish-Based Index of Biotic Integrity for the Assessment of Streams Located in a Sugarcane-Dominated Landscape in Southeastern Brazil. Environmental Management, v. 56, n. 2, p. 532-548, AUG 2015. Web of Science Citations: 4.

DOS SANTOS, FERNANDA BASTOS; FERREIRA, FABIO COP; ESTEVES, KATHARINA EICHBAUM. Assessing the importance of the riparian zone for stream fish communities in a sugarcane dominated landscape (Piracicaba River Basin, Southeast Brazil). ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY OF FISHES, v. 98, n. 8, p. 1895-1912, JUL 2015. Web of Science Citations: 18.