Fish trophic structure in a first order stream of the Iguatemi River basin, Upper Paraná River, Brazil / Estrutura trófica de peixes em riacho de primeira ordem da bacia do rio Iguatemi, alto rio Paraná, Brasil

We described the spatial distribution of fish trophic groups in the Água Boa Stream, MS, Brazil. Specimens were caught using electrofishing in the upper, intermediate and lower stretches of the stream, between March and November 2008. We analyzed 415 stomach contents of 24 species. Detritus/sediment and aquatic invertebrates were the main exploited resources. Ordination analysis categorized the species in six trophic groups. Aquatic invertivores showed the highest richness (10 species), followed by detritivores (08 species), omnivores (03 species), terrestrial invertivores (03 species), algivores (02 species) and herbivore (01 species). Three trophic groups occurred in the upper stretch, six in the intermediate and five in the lower. Detritivores, omnivores and algivores showed the highest density, while detritivores and aquatic invertivores presented the highest biomass. Autochthonous resources were particularly important to the studied fish fauna, especially aquatic invertebrates, so, conservation actions reducing the simplification of the habitat by silting and recovering the riparian forest are essential to maintain the ichthyofauna of the Água Boa Stream.(AU)

Este trabalho descreve a distribuição espacial de grupos tróficos de peixes do riacho Água Boa, MS, Brasil. Os espécimes foram coletados por meio de pesca elétrica nos trechos superior, intermediário e inferior do riacho, entre março e novembro de 2008. Foram analisados 415 conteúdos estomacais de 24 espécies, sendo detrito/sedimento e invertebrados aquáticos os recursos mais explorados pela ictiofauna. A análise de ordenação discriminou as espécies em seis grupos tróficos. Os invertívoros aquáticos foram os de maior riqueza (10 espécies), seguidos dos detritívoros (08 espécies), omnívoros (03 espécies), insetívoros terrestres (03 espécies), algívoros (02 espécies) e herbívoro (01 espécie). Três grupos tróficos ocorreram no trecho superior, seis no intermediário e cinco no inferior. As maiores contribuições em densidade foram de detritívoros, omnívoros e algívoros. Em biomassa, detritívoros e invertívoros aquáticos foram predominantes. Recursos autóctones foram particularmente importantes para a manutenção da ictiofauna estudada, especialmente invertebrados aquáticos, portanto, ações conservacionistas que reduzam a simplificação do hábitat pelo assoreamento e que recuperem a mata ciliar são essenciais para manter as populações de peixes do riacho Água Boa.(AU)

Impact of castor meal on root-knot and free-living nematodes

Soil amendment may enhance soil quality as well as reduce plant-parasitic nematode. Despite the many applications already undertaken using castor meal, its efficiency in controlling root-knot nematodes (RKN, Meloidogyne incognita) when applied to melon (Cucumis melo) is still not clear. Three different amounts of castor meal (Ricinus communis) applied were evaluated in microplots planted with melon either with or without RKN. The impact of castor meal on soil free-living nematode communities was also determined. Total nematode genera richness was estimated as 37 for the entire set of microplots sampled across both sampling dates. Rarefaction analysis resulted in 12 collector's curves out of the total of 30 that reached the horizontal asymptote. Univariate ANOVA with two factors yielded differences (p 0.05) only with regard to the time factor. Simpson, Shannon, Evenness and Equitability indices showed a trend toward moderate increases by the end of the experiment, while the other indices were higher for tomato in pre-transplant sampling compared to harvest. Nematode community and diversity changed during the course of the experiment, although there was substantial confounding heterogeneity within and between the factorial combinations from the beginning. Root knot population was not reduced by the castor meal but increased throughout the period, regardless of treatment. RKN reduced melon yield, number and weight of melon.

Impact of castor meal on root-knot and free-living nematodes

Soil amendment may enhance soil quality as well as reduce plant-parasitic nematode. Despite the many applications already undertaken using castor meal, its efficiency in controlling root-knot nematodes (RKN, Meloidogyne incognita) when applied to melon (Cucumis melo) is still not clear. Three different amounts of castor meal (Ricinus communis) applied were evaluated in microplots planted with melon either with or without RKN. The impact of castor meal on soil free-living nematode communities was also determined. Total nematode genera richness was estimated as 37 for the entire set of microplots sampled across both sampling dates. Rarefaction analysis resulted in 12 collector's curves out of the total of 30 that reached the horizontal asymptote. Univariate ANOVA with two factors yielded differences (p 0.05) only with regard to the time factor. Simpson, Shannon, Evenness and Equitability indices showed a trend toward moderate increases by the end of the experiment, while the other indices were higher for tomato in pre-transplant sampling compared to harvest. Nematode community and diversity changed during the course of the experiment, although there was substantial confounding heterogeneity within and between the factorial combinations from the beginning. Root knot population was not reduced by the castor meal but increased throughout the period, regardless of treatment. RKN reduced melon yield, number and weight of melon.(AU)