Monogeneans parasites of Schizodon intermedius Garavello & BRITSKI, 1990 (Characiformes: Anostomidae) from Peixe River, Middle Tietê river, SP, Brazil

• Grant number: 11/11659-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2011
• End date: September 30, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology - Helminthology of Parasites
• Principal Investigator: Vanessa Doro Abdallah Kozlowiski
• Grantee: Karina Gabriele Alves Dias
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Brazil is among the countries with the so-called mega-diversity, possessing a large quantity of animal and plant species on the planet. Currently, the biodiversity of marine and freshwater ecosystems have been threatened, mainly by environmental problems resulting from the degradation of ecosystems, an example is the stretch of the middle Tietê River, where the Barra Bonita reservoir (SP) focuses almost the entire load of organic effluents from the metropolitan region of Sao Paulo, leading to eutrophication with the loss of water quality. This basin is located in the Peixes River, a tributary of the Barra Bonita dam whose springs are on the slopes of the Cuesta de Botucatu, presenting an altitudinal gradient, a good state of conservation and water quality, with a rich biodiversity of fish associated with the presence of numerous marginal lagoons. However, in the region of its mouth (transition River / Barra Bonita dam), there is a dramatic change in limnological conditions due to the influence of hyper-eutrophic reservoir. In recent years, the parasites have been recognized as important components of global biodiversity. Determine the integral role of parasites in natural ecosystems, identify hotspots of high parasite diversity, as well as areas of low diversity is crucial to fully understanding the functioning of the biosphere. Thus, the objectives of this project will diagnose qualitatively and quantitatively the monogeneans parasites Schizodon intermedius Garavello & Britski, 1990 collected from Peixes River and assess whether some biotic factors (length and sex) are influencing the host parasitism by monogeneans. (AU)