Diversity of EPT (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera) Along Streams Fragmented by Waterfalls in the Brazilian Savanna.

In stream ecosystems, waterfalls intercept the fluvial continuum and limit the dispersion of aquatic organisms. However, the barrier effect may be minimized or absent for insects whose life cycle is not restricted to the aquatic environment (i.e., winged adults), such as the orders Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (EPT). In this study, we investigated EPT diversity (abundance, richness, and composition) in savanna headwater streams (Cerrado Domain, Brazil) to investigate the hypothesis that large waterfalls have little effect on instream assemblage structure. During 2017 and 2018, we sampled EPTs and measured environmental conditions at reaches adjacent (downstream and upstream) to waterfalls (5 to 70 m high). We collected 2532 immature specimens of 33 genera, including the first record of 14 genera of Ephemeroptera, 11 Trichoptera, and three Plecoptera for the Tocantins State. Hydro-geomorphic and streambed conditions varied among sites, but they were not related to the presence of waterfalls. Assemblage structure was similar between downstream and upstream reaches, with no significant difference in taxa richness, abundance, and composition. This pattern was consistently observed considering all data combined, and each order separately. These results support the hypothesis that physical barriers have weak effects on EPT assemblages at small spatial scales, where strong dispersal and habitat similarity probably homogenizes the structure of local assemblages in stream corridors adjacent to large waterfalls. The study provides important information about factors driving the distribution of biodiversity in savanna streams, which are relevant to support conservation and management plans in the Brazilian Cerrado.

First record of pughead deformity in Cichla kelberi (Teleostei: Cichlidae), an invasive species in an estuarine system in south-eastern Brazil.

The first record of pughead deformity in a Neotropical freshwater fish not raised in captivity is provided, based on an adult male of Cichla kelberi introduced into an estuary of Rio de Janeiro State, south-eastern Brazil. A general biological characterization of the specimen is provided and aspects of its aberrant anatomy are described. Environmental and biological factors that may cause pughead deformity in fishes are discussed.

Dams and the fish fauna of the Neotropical region: impacts and management related to diversity and fisheries / Represamentos e a fauna de peixes neotropicais: impactos e manejo relacionados à diversidade e à pesca

Reservoirs have been built in almost all of the hydrographic basins of Brazil. Their purposes include water supply for cities, irrigation and mainly, generation of electricity. There are more than 700 large dams and associated reservoirs in the large rivers of the country. These reservoirs favor local and regional economic development, but they also bring serious and irreversible alterations in the natural hydrologic regime of rivers, affecting habitat quality and the dynamics of the biota. In the impounded area, the main impact is the change from lotic to lentic water, which influences aquatic fauna, including fishes. Impacts of reservoirs present relevant spatiotemporal variations. Immediately after reservoir formation, fish species richness usually increases due to incorporation of surrounding habitats, but richness decreases as reservoirs age. However, impacts downstream of dams appear to be similar or stronger than those that occur within the reservoir. Dams promote discharge control, altering the seasonal cycles of floods. These effects are augmented when dams are constructed in cascades. Therefore, dams profoundly influence composition and structure of fish assemblages. Most affected species are the rheophilics and long distance migratory that require distinct habitats to fulfill their life cycles. Populations of migratory species may collapse or even disappear in intensely regulated stretches. Management actions taken to minimize impacts of dams in Brazil historically considered construction of fish passages, fishery control and stocking. The results of these actions are questionable and/or with clear failures. In this paper, we give emphasis to the Paraná River basin, the most affected by dams in Brazil. We describe some patterns in the alteration and decline in fish diversity in areas influenced by dams. We also discuss negative consequences in the fishery and ecosystems functioning. Finally, we argue the relevance and the success...

No Brasil, reservatórios foram construídos nas principais bacias hidrográficas, para fins de abastecimento humano, irrigação e, principalmente, geração de energia elétrica. Como resultado, praticamente todos os grandes rios estão hoje sob influência de barragens, sendo que mais de 700 grandes reservatórios encontram-se espalhados pelos rios do País. Apesar de importantes para o desenvolvimento econômico, os barramentos promovem alterações graves e irreversíveis no regime hidrológico natural dos rios, alterando também a qualidade dos hábitats e a dinâmica de toda a biota. Na região do reservatório, o principal impacto é decorrente da alteração de ambiente lótico para lêntico, que influencia sobremaneira a fauna aquática, inclusive peixes. Esses impactos apresentam variações temporais e espaciais relevantes. Logo após a formação de um reservatório, há aumento da riqueza de espécies de peixes devido à incorporação de diversos hábitats, que tende a diminuir à medida que o reservatório envelhece. Porém, os impactos a jusante de reservatórios parecem ser tão ou mais importantes que os de montante, devido a alterações no ciclo de cheias sazonais (controle de vazão). Estes efeitos são mais relevantes quando os reservatórios são construídos em cascatas. Barragens, então, causam profundas alterações na composição e estrutura das assembléias de peixes. As espécies mais afetadas são as reofílicas e aquelas que desempenham longas migrações e que precisam de diferentes tipos de hábitats para completar seus ciclos de vida. As populações dessas espécies podem, em certas circunstâncias, entrar em colapso ou mesmo desaparecer. As ações de manejo tomadas para minimizar os impactos das barragens historicamente incluem a construção de mecanismos de transposição e a estocagem, mas com resultados questionáveis e/ou claro insucesso na conservação da ictiofauna. Neste trabalho, será dada ênfase à bacia do alto rio Paraná, a mais afetada por represamentos no Brasil...

Dams and the fish fauna of the Neotropical region: impacts and management related to diversity and fisheries.

Reservoirs have been built in almost all of the hydrographic basins of Brazil. Their purposes include water supply for cities, irrigation and mainly, generation of electricity. There are more than 700 large dams and associated reservoirs in the large rivers of the country. These reservoirs favor local and regional economic development, but they also bring serious and irreversible alterations in the natural hydrologic regime of rivers, affecting habitat quality and the dynamics of the biota. In the impounded area, the main impact is the change from lotic to lentic water, which influences aquatic fauna, including fishes. Impacts of reservoirs present relevant spatiotemporal variations. Immediately after reservoir formation, fish species richness usually increases due to incorporation of surrounding habitats, but richness decreases as reservoirs age. However, impacts downstream of dams appear to be similar or stronger than those that occur within the reservoir. Dams promote discharge control, altering the seasonal cycles of floods. These effects are augmented when dams are constructed in cascades. Therefore, dams profoundly influence composition and structure of fish assemblages. Most affected species are the rheophilics and long distance migratory that require distinct habitats to fulfill their life cycles. Populations of migratory species may collapse or even disappear in intensely regulated stretches. Management actions taken to minimize impacts of dams in Brazil historically considered construction of fish passages, fishery control and stocking. The results of these actions are questionable and/or with clear failures. In this paper, we give emphasis to the Paraná River basin, the most affected by dams in Brazil. We describe some patterns in the alteration and decline in fish diversity in areas influenced by dams. We also discuss negative consequences in the fishery and ecosystems functioning. Finally, we argue the relevance and the success of the management actions taken and present some suggestions to improve conservation of the ichthyofauna in South American basins influenced by dams.