Influence of macro and mesohabitats on fish distribution of Atlantic Forest Blackwater Rivers

• Grant number: 15/26728-6
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: June 01, 2016
• End date: September 30, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Fishery Resources and Fishery Engineering - Inland Water Fishery Resources
• Principal Investigator: Katharina Eichbaum Esteves
• Grantee: Katharina Eichbaum Esteves
• Host Institution: Instituto de Pesca. Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios (APTA). Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Maria Letizia Petesse

Abstract

Blackwater Rivers represent an important fraction of Atlantic Forest lotic environments, however information on its fish populations and its relationship with different spatial scales as macro and mesohabitats are still poorly understood in southeastern Brazil. This project aims to delimit the main macro and mesohabitats of some blackwater rivers located in the State Park of the Restingas of Bertioga - SP, in order to verify the influence of local spatial scale on the structure, composition and functional aspects of the fish communities. After a pilot sampling, up to twelve rivers will be selected in the dry season, adapting a classification of macro and mesohabitats. Fish will be sampled with electrofishing in each of macrohabitats (rivers) and mesohabitats, after morphological characterization of habitats parameters, and physical and chemical water quality. Total organic carbon content (TOC) and dissolved (DOC) will also be measured, since these environments possess high content of humic acids, which may be related to the composition and biomass of fish communities. Environmental data and fish populations will be grouped by macro and mesohabitat to calculate the abundance, biomass, richness and Shannon diversity, as well as the proportion of different functional groups. Data will be analyzed through an exploratory analysis, including multivariate analysis techniques such as scaling analysis Non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) and Canonical Correspondence Analysis to correlate species and environmental variables. The TOC and DOC data will be correlated to the biomass and abundance of fishes through linear techniques and simple correlations. Results will help to understand the species distribution patterns in these ecosystems, and to support river monitoring programs, as well as help to predict and evaluate the effects of anthropogenic pressures on similar ecosystems. (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)

VINICIUS DE CARVALHO CARDOSO; KATHARINA EICHBAUM ESTEVES. Life-History traits of Hollandichthys multifasciatus (Eigenmann & Norris, 1900) (Characiformes: Characidae) in coastal Atlantic Forest blackwater streams from Southeastern Brazil. Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia (São Paulo), v. 62, 2022-05-16. (15/26728-6)

ESTEVES, KATHARINA EICHBAUM; CANDIDO SILVA, MARCELO HORIKOSHI; NANINI-COSTA, MARESSA HELENA; PETESSE, MARIA LETIZIA. Organization of fish assemblages in blackwater Atlantic Forest streams. Neotropical Ichthyology, v. 17, n. 1, 2019. (15/26728-6)

GIONGO, MARIANA LANDUCCI; PETESSE, MARIA LETIZIA; ESTEVES, KATHARINA EICHBAUM. Fish responses to multiple scales in coastal blackwater Atlantic Forest streams in Southeast Brazil. Neotropical Ichthyology, v. 21, n. 2, p. 24-pg., 2023-01-01. (15/26728-6)