Factors structuring fish assemblages in three distinct zones (river, mixture and coastal) of the rio Mambucaba estuary, Angra dos Reis-RJ. / Fatores estruturadores das assembléias de peixes em três distintas zonas (rio, mistura e costeira) do estuário do rio Mambucaba, Angra dos Reis- RJ.

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2009

RESUMO

The estuarine systems influence fish assemblages, throughout their longitudinal gradients and remarkable salinity changes. Such assemblages adapt to different habitat constraints and change in spatial and temporal scales. The aim of this study was to assess the ichthyofauna composition and structure in three zones of the Mambucaba estuary (CZ coastal zone; MZ mixture zone and RZ river zone) and their relationship with environmental variables and habitat characteristics. Systematic fish collections (2 months in each seasons) were performed between October 2007 and August 2008, by using otter trawl at two sites in CZ (C1 e C2), beach seine at three sites in MZ (M1, M2, M3) and mesh trays at two sites in RZ (R1 e R2). At each fish sampling occasion, both surface and depth environmental variables of temperature, salinity, conductivity, turbidity and dissolved oxygen were taken and depth was measured. A total of 14,320 individuals, in 111 species (RZ 18; MZ 50, and CZ - 66) were collected. Distinct fish assemblages were found for each zone, as indicated by low number of common species (14 - MZ and CZ; 8 - MZ and RZ; and 2 - CZ and RZ), and only one abundant species (>1% of the total number of fish within the zone) being common in more than one zone (Eucinostomus argenteus in CZ and MZ). Such pattern can be related to high salinity variation in MZ and narrow (20 m) channel width connecting the estuary with the sea, which can limit fish movement (into/out of the estuary). In CZ, the three more abundant species were Paralonchurus brasiliensis, Ctenosciaena gracillicirrhus, Anchoa lyolepis, Larimus breviceps and Stellifer brasiliensis, with large contribution of fish from the Scieanidae family in this zone (18 species). Spatial changes inf fish species were not consistent in CZ, probably due to lack of spatio-temporal estuarine plume influence on depth environmental variables (ANOVA, p>0.05). Depth was the main factor to influence spatial changes for Diapterus rhombeus (negative association) more abundant in C1 (average depth = 10 m; ANOVA, p<0.05) and Micropogonias furnieri, P. brasiliensis and Pellona harroweri (positive association) more abundant in C2 (average depth = 17 m; ANOVA, p<0.00). Diapterus rhombeus and Etropus crossotus occured mainly in Spring and Summer, and Eucinosomus gula in Spring. The most abundant species in CZ, typical of high salinty influence, is a indication that this zone have characteristics to inner continental shelf. In MZ, most abundant species (Eugerres brasilianus, Eucinostomus melanopterus, Trinectes paulistanus, Gobionellus shufeldti, G. oceanicus, Geophagus brasiliensis, Centropomus parallelus and Citharichthys arenaceus) have higher number and weight of individuals in M1 (ANOVA, p<0.01), an adjacent lagoon connected to the main channel. In spite of the significant negative correlation between this species and salinity (r-Spearman>0.32, p<0.01), the more sheltered areas in M1 seem to be more important to determine this pattern than salinity itself. The site M1 also have more number of individuals and species (ANOVA, p<0.01), and larger number of fish of smaller size (CT median = 58mm) compared to M2 and M3, located in the main channel (median = 106mm) according to Median and Kruskall-Wallis tests (p<0.01; 2 = 1167.5), indicating the importance of this area for species recruitment. Low average similarity (SIMPER) for sites M2 (38.7%) and M3 (17.8%) indicate larger variability of assemblage in these sites, probably due to lesser habitat structure e higher dynamism. In RZ, the fish assemblage have few species (5) with abundance higher than 1% of the total number of fishes, being dominated by Dormitator maculatus, Astyanax sp and Microphis brachyurus lineatus, species typical of upper estuaries and lower river reaches. Spatial variation was detected for D. maculatus only, more abundant at R2, a site with abundant riparian vegetation, mainly grass. Dormitator maculatus was more abundant in Summer and Autumn, M. brachyurus lineatus, in Spring, Autumn and Winter and Astyanax sp was absent in Spring only. Patterns in fish assemblage structure were at large scale, primarily species-specific responses to dominant environmental gradient, while at small scale, results of association with the habitat.

ASSUNTO(S)

ecologia de ecossistemas estuaries habitat structure. estrutura do habitat. estuários assembléia de peixes fish assemblages gradiente de salinidade salinity gradient

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