Dieta do cascudo Aspidoras fuscoguttatus (Ostariophysi, Callichthyidae) em riachos com diferentes características limnológicas e estruturais / Diet of the armored catfish Aspidoras fuscoguttatus (Ostariophysi, Callichthyidae) in streams with different limnological and structural features

In the present study Aspidoras fuscoguttatus Nijssen & Isbrücker, 1976 diet was investigated based on specimens from 18 streams of São Paulo State northwestern region, upper Rio Paraná system. Stomach contents of 246 specimens were analyzed, with the registration of 26 types of feeding items showing high predominance of the autochthonous ones. Of these, Chironomidae, Simuliidae, and Ceratopogonidae aquatic larvae were the most important items, but the contribution of detritus, testate amoebas, and vegetal debris changed according to streams features. Whereas in clear waters feeding items can be visually selected by fishes, in turbid waters this selection may not occur. Thus, the species' ability in taking resources in sandy streams with turbid waters and the abundance of resources (Chironomidae larvae) are factors that seem to explain its high abundance and broad occurrence in the region.

Integridade biótica de um córrego na bacia do Alto Rio Paraná avaliada por meio da comunidade de peixes / Stream biotic integrity assessed by fish assemblages in the Upper Rio Paraná basin

Neste estudo avaliamos o estado de conservação do Córrego da Agua Limpa, uma importante fonte de abastecimento de água para a cidade de Monte Aprazível no noroeste do Estado de São Paulo. Atributos da comunidade de peixes foram selecionados para compor um índice de integridade biótica (IBI), visando gerar um protocolo para monitoramento daquela micro-bacia. O IBI de quatro trechos eqüidistantes ao longo do riacho foi calculado para dois protocolos de amostragem e nos períodos seco e chuvoso. As comparações de atributos selecionados foram realizadas com base em cenários referência, seguindo uma abordagem sítio-específico. Houve pouca influência do esforço de amostragem e da sazonalidade nos valores finais do IBI. De modo geral, os trechos 1 e 4 apresentaram integridade biótica regular, o trecho 2 foi considerado pobre e o trecho 3, muito pobre; tais resultados coincidem com aspectos da qualidade física do hábitat.

The state of conservation of the Córrego da Agua Limpa, an important water supply for the Monte Aprazível city in the northwestern portion of the São Paulo State, was evaluated. Attributes were selected to compose the fish index of biotic integrity (IBI), aiming to establish a long term monitoring analysis protocol for that basin. The IBI of four equidistant sites along the stream was calculated using two sampling protocols and during dry and wet periods. Biological attributes comparisons were carried out based on the reference scenarios, following a site-specific approach. Few influences of the sampling protocols and seasonality were detected in the IBI final values. Sites 1 and 4 showed fair IBI, site 2 was considered poor and site 3 very poor; such results agree with aspects of the physical habitat quality.