Biodiversity of fish helminths from RPPN Foz do Aguapeí, Northwest of São Paulo State, Brazil

• Grant number: 12/09771-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: November 01, 2012
• End date: October 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Fishery Resources and Fishery Engineering - Inland Water Fishery Resources
• Principal Investigator: Reinaldo José da Silva
• Grantee: Érica de Oliveira Penha Zica
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The great diversity of habitats found in the Neotropical region leads to a significant increase in diversity of fish species and therefore the associated parasites. Many theoretical and empirical studies have shown that parasites are extremely important for the functioning and conservation of ecosystems. Parasites of fish have been used as important tools in the assessment of aquatic ecosystems, since they indicate changes and disruption of a natural and anthropogenic. Furthermore, the use of fish parasites in ecological analyzes may help us better understand the functioning of ecosystems, given that they are key in the environment. The scope of this project is to characterize the composition and structure of the helminth component communities of fish in streams and ponds of the protected area (Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Nacional - Foz do Aguapeí), located northwest of São Paulo (municipalities of Paulicéia, Castilho and São João do Pau d'Alho) and analyze the possible effect of hydrological changes on these communities of parasites. In this context, studies of helminth parasites of fish in streams and lakes are of great significance, contributing to increased knowledge of the patterns and processes of the host-parasite relationships. Moreover, in fish species have not yet studied for parasitic fauna (the example of the species proposed in this study), it is possible that new species of parasites are described, allowing future biogeographic and phylogenetic inferences of host-parasite association. This study will improve our understanding of ecological relationships among parasites, hosts and the environment. (AU)