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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

A Fish-Based Index of Biotic Integrity for the Assessment of Streams Located in a Sugarcane-Dominated Landscape in Southeastern Brazil

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Author(s):
dos Santos, Fernanda Bastos [1] ; Esteves, Katharina Eichbaum [2]
Total Authors: 2
Affiliation:
[1] Secretaria Agr & Abastecimento Estado Sao Paulo, Inst Fisheries, Postgrad Course Aquaculture & Fisheries, Sao Paulo - Brazil
[2] Secretaria Agr & Abastecimento Estado Sao Paulo, Fisheries Inst APTA, Ctr Pesquisa & Desenvolvimento Recursos Hidr, BR-05001970 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 2
Document type: Journal article
Source: Environmental Management; v. 56, n. 2, p. 532-548, AUG 2015.
Web of Science Citations: 4
Abstract

A multimetric, fish-based Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) was developed and tested to assess the ecological status of streams with different riparian conditions in the Piracicaba River Basin. Nine streams with three categories of riparian zone preservation were selected: native forest (NF) with preserved forest, secondary forest (SF) with forest in an advanced state of regeneration and surrounded by sugarcane plantations, and sugarcane (SC) without riparian vegetation and surrounded by SC crops. A continuous scoring system was employed, and candidate metrics were tested for range, responsiveness, and redundancy, resulting in the selection of eight metrics to compose the index. The final IBI score was positively correlated with an Environmental Index both in the dry (Spearman's rho = 0.76; P = 0.01) and rainy seasons (Spearman's rho = 0.66; P = 0.04), suggesting that this IBI is a suitable tool for the assessment of the biological conditions of these streams. The highest IBI values were observed in the rainy season at the NF and SF sites, with significant differences between the NF and SC sites (Kruskal-Wallis test: P = 0.03). The results indicated some variability in the biological integrity at SF and SC sites, suggesting a relationship with the intensity of the management of this crop. Patterns were consistent with other studies that have shown the effects of agriculture on the environmental quality of streams, which indicate the importance of the riparian zone to the maintenance of ecosystem integrity and supports the use of the IBI for biological monitoring in similar regions. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 10/52069-6 - Study offish and amphibian communities in streams under the influence of sugarcane crops: basis for conservation
Grantee:Katharina Eichbaum Esteves
Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants