Development of an Index of Biotic Integrity Based on Fish Communities to Assess the Effects of Rural and Urban Land Use on a Stream in Southeastern Brazil

Autor(es)

Esteves, Katharina Eichbaum ^[1] ; Alexandre, Cleber Valim ^[2]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Secretaria Agr & Abastecimento Estado Sao Paulo, Inst Fisheries, Ctr Pesquisas & Desenvolvimento Recursos Hidr, BR-05001900 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Secretaria Agr & Abastecimento Estado Sao Paulo, Inst Fisheries, Postgrad Course Aquaculture & Fisheries, BR-05001900 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF HYDROBIOLOGY; v. 96, n. 3, p. 296-317, JUN 2011.
• Citações Web of Science: 5

Resumo

A fish-based Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) was adapted for use in a stream of the heavily impacted Piracicaba River basin in southeastern Brazil. The influences of land use (mainly sugar-cane crops) and an urban area on the fish community were investigated at ten sites along a 17 km-long stream during the dry and rainy season. The IBI varied with the season and location along the stream, reflecting differences between the agricultural and urban sites, which were more pronounced during the dry season. The final index was positively correlated with a Habitat Quality Index (dry season) but not with a Water Quality Index. The results can be viewed as a tool for assessing and monitoring the ecological health of streams in this watershed. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 05/02182-2 - Distribuição longitudinal da comunidade de peixes do ribeirão Guamium (Bacia do Piracicaba, SP) e avaliação da sua integridade biológica
• Beneficiário: Katharina Eichbaum Esteves
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular