Reproductive biology of the armored catfish Neoplecostomus microps in a coastal Atlantic Forest stream, southeastern Brazil

ABSTRACT The physical habitat simulation sub-routine of the Instream Flow Incremental Methodology (IFIM) uses hydraulic modeling and suitability indices of target fish species to predict how differences in-stream flows affect the microhabitat occupation by fish species. This habitat modelling approach was adopted to assess the ecological effects of running flows on three neotropical fish species of different orders (Bryconamericus ornaticeps , Ancistrus multispinis and Geophagus brasiliensis ).The study encompassed two reaches of an Atlantic Forest stream in Southeastern Brazil where topographic and hydraulic (depth, velocity and type of substrate) characteristics were measured to implement one-dimensional hydraulic simulation. Sub aquatic observation of fish was performed to collect data on microhabitat use and these data were used to develop habitat suitability curves that were used in the habitat simulation to obtain the habitat suitability index (HSI) and weighted usable area (WUA) versus flow curves. Upon these curves minimum and optimum environmental flows for the target fish species were proposed. Bryconamericus ornaticeps and A. multispinis selected microhabitats around 0.6 m depth, whereas G. brasiliensis showed a wider suitable range (0.35-0.9 m). All the three species were mainly observed in microhabitat with low flow velocity (0.1 m/s). Bryconamericus ornaticeps selected more frequently coarse substrate (e.g. boulders) but it appeared also over sandy substrate, whereas A. multispinis and G. brasiliensis selected preferably boulders. The range of 0.65-0.85 m3/s was found as the optimum to meet the needs of the three fish species. Our results agree with the necessary objective information to perform grounded management actions in the frame of a management program aiming at ecosystem conservation. Thereby it can be considered a successful pilot study in environmental flow assessment in an Atlantic Forest stream of Brazil.

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Use of Shelters by the Neotropical River Otter (Lontra longicaudis) in an Atlantic Forest Stream, Southeastern Brazil

Journal of Mammalogy ◽

10.2307/1383304 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 80 (2) ◽

pp. 600-610 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

R. Pardini ◽

E. Trajano

Keyword(s):

Atlantic Forest ◽

Southeastern Brazil ◽

River Otter ◽

Forest Stream ◽

Lontra Longicaudis

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Following food clouds: feeding association between a minute loricariid and a characidiin species in an Atlantic Forest stream, Southeastern Brazil

Neotropical Ichthyology ◽

10.1590/s1679-62252007000300011 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 5 (3) ◽

pp. 307-310 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Rafael P. Leitão ◽

Érica P. Caramaschi ◽

Jansen Zuanon

Keyword(s):

Atlantic Forest ◽

Freshwater Fishes ◽

Marine Fishes ◽

Southeastern Brazil ◽

South American ◽

Freshwater Species ◽

The South ◽

Forest Stream ◽

Forest Streams

Following behavior is a widespread feeding tactic among marine fishes, but remains poorly documented for freshwater fishes. The present study describes such association between two freshwater species: the minute armored catfish Parotocinclus maculicauda and the South American darter Characidium sp. During underwater observations in an Atlantic Forest stream, we recorded Characidium sp. closely following P. maculicauda (<5cm), catching the particles dislodged by this catfish's grazing activity. The following behavior displayed by the darter is considered opportunistic and possibly favors the capture of preys associated to the periphyton. This study is one of the few records of nuclear-follower feeding association between freshwater fishes and the first one in Atlantic Forest streams.

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Mate Choice And Reproductive Biology Of Hypsiboas Albomarginatus (Anura: Hylidae) In The Atlantic Forest, Southeastern Brazil

South American Journal of Herpetology ◽

10.2994/1808-9798(2007)2[157:mcarbo]2.0.co;2 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 2 (3) ◽

pp. 157-164 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Luís O. M. Giasson ◽

Célio F. B. Haddad

Keyword(s):

Mate Choice ◽

Reproductive Biology ◽

Atlantic Forest ◽

Southeastern Brazil

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Fish movement in an Atlantic Forest stream

Neotropical Ichthyology ◽

10.1590/1982-0224-20170065 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Rosana Mazzoni ◽

Miriam Plaza Pinto ◽

Ricardo Iglesias-Rios ◽

Raquel Costa

Keyword(s):

Life History ◽

Body Size ◽

Atlantic Forest ◽

Life History Traits ◽

Southeastern Brazil ◽

Fish Length ◽

Fish Movement ◽

Species Identity ◽

Forest Stream ◽

Specific Behaviour

ABSTRACT Given the importance of fish movement to the dynamics and maintenance of stream dwelling fish communities from the Atlantic Forest, we analysed patterns of fish movement in a coastal stream from Southeastern Brazil, using mark-recapture technique. Displacement distance of each species were presented and discussed considering seasonal (rainy and dry) and body size patterns. We marked 10 species along the stream and recaptured 440 (34.6%) of the 1,270 marked fishes. The species with significant number of upstream moving individuals were Astyanax janeiroensis, Characidium interruptum, Astyanax hastatus, Parotocinclus maculicauda and Awaous tajasica. Only Pimelodella lateristriga presented significant differences between resident and moving individuals. Characidium interruptum and A. tajasica demonstrated greater downstream and upstream movement, respectively, moving up to 2,100 m. Even after controlling for species identity we found no significant correlation between fish length and individual displacement distance. Fishes moved longer distances during the rainy season, in accordance to the breeding season. Patterns of fish movement were in agreement to life-history traits of many of the studied species and can be reflecting specific behaviour and morphologies.

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