Fish biomarker responses to perturbation by drought in streams

ABSTRACT Drought can be viewd as a perturbation in running waters and fish are often trapped in isolated pools, where deterioration of water quality may be stressful. We investigated how this extreme condition influences response of oxidative stress biomarkers. The response of the characid Astyanax elachylepis was assessed during the dry and rainy seasons in intermittent and perennial (control) sites in streams from Brazilian savannah (Cerrado). We predicted that the biomarkers would be enhanced in the dry season in intermittent streams only due the environmentally harsh conditions in the few isolated pools that remain filled with water. As predicted, fish from the intermittent stream in the dry season presented higher gill MDA values, indicating greater stress. In the liver, MDA values were higher in the dry season for both intermittent and perennial streams, suggesting a generalized seasonal response. As expected, some antioxidant response enzymes changed in the intermittent sites during the dry season. Therefore, oxidative stress biomarkers vary seasonally, with greater increase in intermittent sites. These evidences contribute for the understanding of the spatio-temporal variation of the fish responses and fish resistance to perturbations by drought in tropical environments.

RESUMO A seca pode ser vista como uma perturbação em ambientes aquáticos lóticos e, em alguns casos, os peixes podem ser aprisionados em trechos lênticos (poços), onde a perda da qualidade da água pode causar estresse. Investigamos como esta condição extrema influencia biomarcadores bioquímicos de estresse oxidativo. Para isso, a resposta do caracídeo Astyanax elachylepis foi avaliada durante as estações seca e chuvosa em trechos intermitentes e perenes (controle) de riachos da savana brasileira (Cerrado). Predizemos que os biomarcadores seriam aumentados somente em peixes dos trechos intermitentes durante a estação seca, devido as condições restritivas dos poucos poços isolados que contém água. Como predito, os peixes do riacho intermitente apresentaram altos valores de MDA nas brânquias durante a estação seca, indicando maior estresse oxidativo. No fígado, os valores de MDA foram maiores na estação seca em ambos riachos, intermitente e perene, sugerindo uma resposta sazonal generalizada. Como esperado, algumas enzimas antioxidantes foram alteradas em peixes de trechos intermitentes durante a estação seca. Portanto, os biomarcadores de estresse oxidativo variam sazonalmente e essa variação é maior em trechos intermitentes. Essas evidências contribuem para a compreensão da variação espaço-temporal da resposta dos peixes e da sua resistência às perturbações por seca em ambientes tropicais.

Fish biomarker responses to perturbation by drought in streams

Drought can be viewd as a perturbation in running waters and fish are often trapped in isolated pools, where deterioration of water quality may be stressful. We investigated how this extreme condition influences response of oxidative stress biomarkers. The response of the characid Astyanax elachylepis was assessed during the dry and rainy seasons in intermittent and perennial (control) sites in streams from Brazilian savannah (Cerrado). We predicted that the biomarkers would be enhanced in the dry season in intermittent streams only due the environmentally harsh conditions in the few isolated pools that remain filled with water. As predicted, fish from the intermittent stream in the dry season presented higher gill MDA values, indicating greater stress. In the liver, MDA values were higher in the dry season for both intermittent and perennial streams, suggesting a generalized seasonal response. As expected, some antioxidant response enzymes changed in the intermittent sites during the dry season. Therefore, oxidative stress biomarkers vary seasonally, with greater increase in intermittent sites. These evidences contribute for the understanding of the spatio-temporal variation of the fish responses and fish resistance to perturbations by drought in tropical environments.(AU)

A seca pode ser vista como uma perturbação em ambientes aquáticos lóticos e, em alguns casos, os peixes podem ser aprisionados em trechos lênticos (poços), onde a perda da qualidade da água pode causar estresse. Investigamos como esta condição extrema influencia biomarcadores bioquímicos de estresse oxidativo. Para isso, a resposta do caracídeo Astyanax elachylepis foi avaliada durante as estações seca e chuvosa em trechos intermitentes e perenes (controle) de riachos da savana brasileira (Cerrado). Predizemos que os biomarcadores seriam aumentados somente em peixes dos trechos intermitentes durante a estação seca, devido as condições restritivas dos poucos poços isolados que contém água. Como predito, os peixes do riacho intermitente apresentaram altos valores de MDA nas brânquias durante a estação seca, indicando maior estresse oxidativo. No fígado, os valores de MDA foram maiores na estação seca em ambos riachos, intermitente e perene, sugerindo uma resposta sazonal generalizada. Como esperado, algumas enzimas antioxidantes foram alteradas em peixes de trechos intermitentes durante a estação seca. Portanto, os biomarcadores de estresse oxidativo variam sazonalmente e essa variação é maior em trechos intermitentes. Essas evidências contribuem para a compreensão da variação espaço-temporal da resposta dos peixes e da sua resistência às perturbações por seca em ambientes tropicais.(AU)

Hydrologic cycle and dynamics of aquatic macrophytes in two intermittent rivers of the semi-arid region of Brazil

The dynamics of aquatic macrophytes in intermittent rivers is generally related to the characteristics of the resistance and resilience of plants to hydrologic disturbances of flood and drought. In the semi-arid region of Brazil, intermittent rivers and streams are affected by disturbances with variable intensity, frequency, and duration throughout their hydrologic cycles. The aim of the present study is to determine the occurrence and variation of biomass of aquatic macrophyte species in two intermittent rivers of distinct hydrologic regimes. Their dynamics were determined with respect to resistance and resilience responses of macrophytes to flood and drought events by estimating the variation of biomass and productivity throughout two hydrologic cycles. Twenty-one visits were undertaken in the rewetting, drying, and drought phases in a permanent puddle in the Avelós stream and two temporary puddles in the Taperoá river, state of Paraíba, Northeast Brazil. The sampling was carried out by using the square method. Floods of different magnitudes occurred during the present study in the river and in the stream. The results showed that floods and droughts are determining factors in the occurrence of macrophytes and in the structure of their aquatic communities. The species richness of the aquatic macrophyte communities was lower in the puddles of the river and stream subject to flood events, when compared to areas where the run-off water is retained. At the beginning of the recolonization process, the intensity of the floods was decisive in the productivity and biomass of the aquatic macrophytes in the Taperoá river and the Avelós stream. In intermediate levels of disturbance, the largest values of productivity and biomass and the shortest time for starting the recolonization process occurred.

A dinâmica de macrófitas aquáticas em rios intermitentes está relacionada com as características de resistência e resiliência das plantas as perturbações hidrológicas da cheia e da seca. A região semi-árida do Brasil apresenta rios e riachos intermitentes, com ocorrência de eventos de perturbação em diferentes graus de intensidade, freqüência e duração ao longo de um ciclo hidrológico. O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a ocorrência e variação de biomassa de espécies de macrófitas aquáticas em dois rios intermitentes de regime hidrológico distintos. A dinâmica foi determinada pelas respostas de resistência e resiliência das plantas aos eventos de cheia e de seca, através da variação da biomassa e produtividade ao longo de dois ciclos hidrológicos. Foram realizadas 21 visitas de campo durante as fases de reinundação, vazante e seca, em uma poça permanente localizada no riacho Avelós e duas poças temporárias no rio Taperoá, estado da Paraíba, Brasil. A amostragem foi feita de acordo com o método dos quadrados. Durante o estudo ocorreram cheias de diferentes magnitudes no rio e no riacho. Os resultados mostram a cheia e a seca como fatores determinantes na ocorrência e na estrutura da comunidade de macrófitas aquáticas. A riqueza da comunidade de macrófitas aquáticas foi menor nas poças do rio e riacho, sujeitos a eventos de cheia, quando comparada com a área de retenção de água, formada principalmente por escoamento superficial. A intensidade das cheias foi determinante no início da recolonização, na produtividade e na biomassa das espécies de macrófitas aquáticas no rio Taperoá e no riacho Avelós. Os maiores valores de produtividade, biomassa e o menor tempo para o início da recolonização ocorreram em níveis intermediários de perturbação.

Hydrologic cycle and dynamics of aquatic macrophytes in two intermittent rivers of the semi-arid region of Brazil

The dynamics of aquatic macrophytes in intermittent rivers is generally related to the characteristics of the resistance and resilience of plants to hydrologic disturbances of flood and drought. In the semi-arid region of Brazil, intermittent rivers and streams are affected by disturbances with variable intensity, frequency, and duration throughout their hydrologic cycles. The aim of the present study is to determine the occurrence and variation of biomass of aquatic macrophyte species in two intermittent rivers of distinct hydrologic regimes. Their dynamics were determined with respect to resistance and resilience responses of macrophytes to flood and drought events by estimating the variation of biomass and productivity throughout two hydrologic cycles. Twenty-one visits were undertaken in the rewetting, drying, and drought phases in a permanent puddle in the Avelós stream and two temporary puddles in the Taperoá river, state of Paraíba, Northeast Brazil. The sampling was carried out by using the square method. Floods of different magnitudes occurred during the present study in the river and in the stream. The results showed that floods and droughts are determining factors in the occurrence of macrophytes and in the structure of their aquatic communities. The species richness of the aquatic macrophyte communities was lower in the puddles of the river and stream subject to flood events, when compared to areas where the run-off water is retained. At the beginning of the recolonization process, the intensity of the floods was decisive in the productivity and biomass of the aquatic macrophytes in the Taperoá river and the Avelós stream. In intermediate levels of disturbance, the largest values of productivity and biomass and the shortest time for starting the recolonization process occurred.

A dinâmica de macrófitas aquáticas em rios intermitentes está relacionada com as características de resistência e resiliência das plantas as perturbações hidrológicas da cheia e da seca. A região semi-árida do Brasil apresenta rios e riachos intermitentes, com ocorrência de eventos de perturbação em diferentes graus de intensidade, freqüência e duração ao longo de um ciclo hidrológico. O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a ocorrência e variação de biomassa de espécies de macrófitas aquáticas em dois rios intermitentes de regime hidrológico distintos. A dinâmica foi determinada pelas respostas de resistência e resiliência das plantas aos eventos de cheia e de seca, através da variação da biomassa e produtividade ao longo de dois ciclos hidrológicos. Foram realizadas 21 visitas de campo durante as fases de reinundação, vazante e seca, em uma poça permanente localizada no riacho Avelós e duas poças temporárias no rio Taperoá, estado da Paraíba, Brasil. A amostragem foi feita de acordo com o método dos quadrados. Durante o estudo ocorreram cheias de diferentes magnitudes no rio e no riacho. Os resultados mostram a cheia e a seca como fatores determinantes na ocorrência e na estrutura da comunidade de macrófitas aquáticas. A riqueza da comunidade de macrófitas aquáticas foi menor nas poças do rio e riacho, sujeitos a eventos de cheia, quando comparada com a área de retenção de água, formada principalmente por escoamento superficial. A intensidade das cheias foi determinante no início da recolonização, na produtividade e na biomassa das espécies de macrófitas aquáticas no rio Taperoá e no riacho Avelós. Os maiores valores de produtividade, biomassa e o menor tempo para o início da recolonização ocorreram em níveis intermediários de perturbação.

Diversity and stability of fishes (Teleostei) in a temporary river of the Brazilian semiarid region

The effects of hydrological disturbances by flooding and drought on the diversity and stability in a temporary river fish community in the Brazilian semiarid region were analyzed over the 1996 hydrological cycle. Twelve collections of fishes were made during the wet and dry phases, and 789 individuals of 16 species were collected. Diversity was measured using Simpson's Index (S) and community stability was analyzed by the variation in abundance using Kendall's W concordance test. Fish diversity in the Taperoá river was subjected to hydrological disturbances by flooding and drought. During the wet phase the diversity was higher (S = 0.855) than during the dry phase (S = 0.771). The community was considered stable during the whole annual hydrological cycle (W = 0.418 p 0.001), but a higher stability in the community was found during the dry phase. During the dry phase the number of dominant species was smaller than during the wet phase.

Diversity and stability of fishes (Teleostei) in a temporary river of the Brazilian semiarid region

The effects of hydrological disturbances by flooding and drought on the diversity and stability in a temporary river fish community in the Brazilian semiarid region were analyzed over the 1996 hydrological cycle. Twelve collections of fishes were made during the wet and dry phases, and 789 individuals of 16 species were collected. Diversity was measured using Simpson's Index (S) and community stability was analyzed by the variation in abundance using Kendall's W concordance test. Fish diversity in the Taperoá river was subjected to hydrological disturbances by flooding and drought. During the wet phase the diversity was higher (S = 0.855) than during the dry phase (S = 0.771). The community was considered stable during the whole annual hydrological cycle (W = 0.418 p 0.001), but a higher stability in the community was found during the dry phase. During the dry phase the number of dominant species was smaller than during the wet phase.

Diversity and stability of fishes (Teleostei) in a temporary river of the Brazilian semiarid region

The effects of hydrological disturbances by flooding and drought on the diversity and stability in a temporary river fish community in the Brazilian semiarid region were analyzed over the 1996 hydrological cycle. Twelve collections of fishes were made during the wet and dry phases, and 789 individuals of 16 species were collected. Diversity was measured using Simpson's Index (S) and community stability was analyzed by the variation in abundance using Kendall's W concordance test. Fish diversity in the Taperoá river was subjected to hydrological disturbances by flooding and drought. During the wet phase the diversity was higher (S = 0.855) than during the dry phase (S = 0.771). The community was considered stable during the whole annual hydrological cycle (W = 0.418 p 0.001), but a higher stability in the community was found during the dry phase. During the dry phase the number of dominant species was smaller than during the wet phase.