The fish community of the Sorocaba River Basin in different habitats (State of São Paulo, Brazil).

A fish assemblage study was accomplished in different habitats of the Sorocaba River Basin. Fish were caught with gillnets, were weighed (weight total - g) and measured (standard length - mm). Several abiotic variables of selected sampling sites were measured in order to characterise their habitats in order to attempt establishing correlations with fish community traits. Fish numbers per species were adjusted to the lognormal and logseries species/abundance models The fish community totaled 38 species, distributed in 28 genera, 14 families and 4 orders. Diversity was calculated both in number and in weight and both presented higher values in better preserved sites. We did not detect any statistical differences between dry and rainy seasons. We also concluded that the abundance distribution was not influenced by abiotic variables.

The fish community of the Sorocaba River Basin in different habitats (State of São Paulo, Brazil) / As comunidades de peixes da bacia do Rio Sorocaba, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil em diferentes hábitats (São Paulo, Brasil)

A fish assemblage study was accomplished in different habitats of the Sorocaba River Basin. Fish were caught with gillnets, were weighed (weight total - g) and measured (standard length - mm). Several abiotic variables of selected sampling sites were measured in order to characterise their habitats in order to attempt establishing correlations with fish community traits. Fish numbers per species were adjusted to the lognormal and logseries species/abundance models The fish community totaled 38 species, distributed in 28 genera, 14 families and 4 orders. Diversity was calculated both in number and in weight and both presented higher values in better preserved sites. We did not detect any statistical differences between dry and rainy seasons. We also concluded that the abundance distribution was not influenced by abiotic variables.

Foi realizado um estudo das assembleias de peixes em diferentes ambientes aquáticos da bacia do Rio Sorocaba, São Paulo, Brasil. As espécies foram coletadas com redes de espera, sendo posteriormente identificadas. Foram obtidos dados relativos à abundância das espécies, pesos e comprimentos padrões, além de inúmeras variáveis abióticas das estações de amostragem para caracterização dos ambientes e correlação com a comunidade de peixes. A comunidade foi composta por 38 espécies de peixes, distribuídas em 28 gêneros, 14 famílias e 4 ordens. A comunidade de peixes se ajustou aos modelos lognormal e logsérie, característicos de comunidades com grandes riquezas e complexas, com múltiplas dimensões de nicho e superposição. A diversidade numérica apresentou maiores valores em estações mais preservadas, enquanto que para a diversidade em peso os maiores valores foram encontrados em locais mais preservados e também nos represamentos. Não foi detectada diferença nas diversidades entre as épocas seca e chuvosa. Para a comunidade de peixes da bacia do rio Sorocaba, a distribuição das abundâncias não foi influenciada pelas variáveis abióticas obtidas, devendo ser influenciadas pela estrutura do hábitat, não avaliada pelo presente trabalho.

The ichthyofauna of the marginal lagoons of the Sorocaba River, SP, Brazil: composition, abundance and effect of the anthropogenic actions

The marginal lagoons of the Sorocaba River fulfil important functions in their lotic ecosystems and for its fish communities, providing shelter, food, and area for fish early stages of development. The lagoons are also an escape from the river pollution since the physical-chemical characteristics of their water are more stable than the river water. Nevertheless, these lagoons are under a series of impacts that contribute to reduce their diversity and stability such as water pollution, deforesting and river dumping. These impacts decrease habitat availability, and modify the fish community structure by reducing the number of species in the Sorocaba River, the floodplains and its marginal lagoons

The ichthyofauna of the marginal lagoons of the Sorocaba River, SP, Brazil: composition, abundance and effect of the anthropogenic actions.

The marginal lagoons of the Sorocaba River fulfil important functions in their lotic ecosystems and for its fish communities, providing shelter, food, and area for fish early stages of development. The lagoons are also an escape from the river pollution since the physical-chemical characteristics of their water are more stable than the river water. Nevertheless, these lagoons are under a series of impacts that contribute to reduce their diversity and stability such as water pollution, deforesting and river dumping. These impacts decrease habitat availability, and modify the fish community structure by reducing the number of species in the Sorocaba River, the floodplains and its marginal lagoons.