Studies on changes of vegetation and Oncomelania hupensis snails in Poyang Lake after impoundment of Three Gorges Project / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To explore the impact and change regularity of Oncomelania hupensis snails and vegetation in the marshlands of Poyang Lake caused by the impoundment of the Three Gorges Project. Methods By using the methods of stratified systematic sampling and pinpoint navigation,the succession of vegetation was observed and the distribution of O. hupensis snails was investigated in a period of 8 years on 4 typical marshlands in Poyang Lake. The regularity of changes in vegetation and O. hu-pensis snails was analyzed on the marshlands at high,medium and low elevations,respectively. Results After the impoundment of Three Gorges Project,the average flooding days of these 4 marshlands in 2004 and in 2008 were reduced of 74.8 and 65.8 days compared with those in 2002,the year just before the impoundment of the project,respectively. The change of spatial distribution pattern and the succession of dominant species of vegetation on the marshlands of Poyang Lake have taken place since 2005,and several vegetations showed a trend of moving toward the center of the lake. The hygrophilous vegetation has degenerated and gradu-ally been replaced by mesophily meadow in the marshland area above 14 m elevation. Carex,Phalaris arundinacea and Polygo-num appeared in large area and expanded slowly towards the center of the lake on the marshland below 14 m elevation. O. hupensis snails were mostly found under the Carex association. The tendency of decreasing in density of snails and of migration of snail habi-tats towards low terrain was observed. Conclusions The impoundment of Three Gorges Project has had a significant impact on hy-drological regimes,and a new succession of vegetation has taken place in the marshlands of Poyang Lake. O. hupensis snails and the mesophily vegetation show a trend of migrating slowly to the areas of low elevation in the marshlands.

Seasonal and spatial variations in limnological conditions of a floodplain lake (lake Catalão) connected to both the Solimões and Negro Rivers, Central Amazonia / Variações espaciais e temporais nas condições limnológicas de um lago de planície de inundação (lago Catalão) conectado aos rios Solimões e Negro, Amazônia Central

Lakes play an important role in biogeochemical, ecological and hydrological processes in the river-floodplain system. The aim of this study was to evaluate the dynamics of the limnological conditions of Catalمo Lake, an Amazon floodplain lake. Thus, some of the main limnological environment variables (O2, temperature, pH, nutrient, electrical conductivity) of the Catalمo Lake were analyzed under temporal and spacial scales. The study was conducted between November/2004 and August/2005. Sampling excursion were carried out every three months; one excursion for each of the four different hydrological periods (low water, rising water, high water and falling water). Sampling points were chosen so that it could be obtained a gradient of the distance from Negro River. Limnological profiles in Catalمo Lake showed generally acidic to slightly alcaline water, with low levels of dissolved oxygen and low concentrations of soluble reactive phosphorous. The Negro River seems to exert the main influence during the rising water period, while the Solimُes River is the principal controlling river during peak water. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) grouped the seasonal collections by hydrological period, showing the formation of a north-south spatial gradient within the lake in relation to the limnological variables. Multivariate dispersion analysis based on distance-to-centroid method demonstrated an increase in similarity over the course of the hydrological cycle, as the lake was inundated in response to the flood pulse of the main river channels. However, the largest spatial homogeneity in the lake was observed in the epilimnion layer, during the falling water period. The daily analysis of variation indicated an oligomitic pattern during the years in which the lake was permanently connected to the Negro River...

Os lagos exercem um papel importante nos processos biogeoquímicos, ecológicos e hidrológicos no sistema rio-planície de inundação. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a dinâmica das condições limnológicas do lago Catalão, um lago da planície de inundação amazônica. Algumas das principais variáveis limnológicas (por exemplo, O2, temperatura, pH, condutividade elétrica, nutrientes) do lago Catalão foram analisadas em uma escala temporal e espacial. O presente estudo foi realizado no período de novembro de 2004 a agosto de 2005. As amostragens foram trimestrais, com um total de quatro coletas, uma em cada fase do ciclo hidrológico (Seca, Enchente, Cheia e Vazante). Os pontos de amostragem foram escolhidos de modo a obter um gradiente de distância em relação ao rio Negro. No geral, as águas do lago Catalão mostraram-se pouco oxigenadas, ácidas a levemente alcalinas e com baixas concentrações de Fósforo Solúvel Reativo (FSR). A Análise de Componentes Principais (ACP) agrupou as estações de coleta por fases do ciclo hidrológico e evidenciou a formação de um gradiente espacial na distribuição das variáveis limnológicas, que vai da região mais ao norte até mais ao sul do lago. A influência do rio Negro sobre as águas do lago parece ser maior na enchente e a do rio Solimões na cheia. A análise de dispersão multivariada com abordagem baseada na distância ao centróide evidenciou o aumento da similaridade espacial em função da inundação. Contudo, a maior homogeneidade espacial do lago foi registrada no epilímnio, na fase de vazante. Os resultados da análise de variação diária indicaram que o lago Catalão apresenta comportamento oligomítico nos anos em que permanece conectado permanentemente ao rio Negro. Apesar de receber grande aporte de águas pretas (rio Negro) e brancas (rio Solimões), as características físicas e químicas das águas do Catalão permitem classificá-lo como um sistema mais próximo dos lagos de várzea típicos do que daqueles de águas preta.

Resource use by the facultative lepidophage Roeboides affinis (Günther, 1868): a comparison of size classes, seasons and environment types related to impoundment

We report the consumption of scales and other food resources by the facultative lepidophage Roeboides affinis in the upper Tocantins River where it was impounded by the Serra da Mesa Hydroelectric Dam. We compared the diet among size classes, between dry and wet seasons, and between sites with distinct water flow characteristics (lotic vs. lentic) related to the distance from the dam and phase of reservoir development. As transparency and fish abundance increased after impoundment, we expected a higher consumption of scales in lentic sites. Likewise, habitat contraction, higher transparency and decrease in terrestrial resources availability, would promote a higher consumption of scales. Scales were consumed by 92% of individuals and represented 26% of the total volume of resources ingested by R. affinis. Diet composition varied significantly among size classes, with larger individuals consuming more scales and larger items, especially odonatans and ephemeropterans. Scale consumption was not significantly different between dry and wet seasons. Roeboides affinis incorporated some food items into the diet as a response to the impoundment, like other species. Scale consumption was higher in lotic sites, refuting our initial hypothesis, what suggests that the lepidophagous habit is related the rheophilic nature of R. affinis. .

Caracterizamos o consumo de escamas e outros recursos alimentares por Roeboides affinis, um lepidófago facultativo, no alto rio Tocantins, na região represada pela Usina Hidrelétrica de Serra da Mesa. A dieta foi avaliada em relação a classes de tamanho, estações chuvosa e seca, e entre locais com características distintas de fluxo d'água (lótico vs. lêntico) relacionadas com a distância da barragem e fase de desenvolvimento do reservatório. Com o aumento da abundância de peixes e da transparência da água após o represamento, esperamos um maior consumo de escamas nos locais lênticos. Da mesma forma, na época seca, o habitat menor e mais transparente, além da redução da disponibilidade de itens terrestres, levaria a um maior consumo de escamas. Escamas foram consumidas por 92% dos indivíduos e representaram 26% do volume total de itens ingeridos por R. affinis. A composição da dieta variou significativamente entre classes de tamanho, com indivíduos maiores consumindo mais escamas e itens de maior porte, especialmente odonatas e efemerópteros. Não houve diferença no consumo de escamas entre as estações seca e chuvosa. Roeboides affinis incorporou itens à sua dieta como resposta ao represamento, a exemplo de outras espécies na bacia do alto rio Tocantins. O consumo de escamas foi maior nas localidades lóticas, contrariando a hipótese inicial e sugerindo que o hábito lepidofágico está ligado à natureza reofílica de R. affinis.

Condición somática de la almeja Polymesoda solida (Veneroidea: Corbiculidae) durante el periodo lluvioso, enel Parque Natural Isla de Salamanca, Caribe colombiano

Somatic condition of the clam Polymesoda solida (Veneroidea: Corbiculidae) in the rainy season of the Salamanca Island Natural Park, Colombian Caribbean. The estuarine clam Polymesoda solida is the main fishery resource in the Salamanca Island Natural Park. I sampled the clam in three interconnected lagoons (Poza Verde, El Torno and Atascosa) during the rainy period (April to November 2004). Sixty individuals were monthly collected by hand on each lagoon; 30 to analyze two condition indexes (relationship between body and shell weight and between soft dry and wet weight), yield (meat percentage) and length-weight relationships. Maturity of female gonad smears was assessed on the remaining individuals. Measures of salinity, temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, transparency and depth, were also taken at the collection places. Increases of the condition indexes occurred when the Magdalena River showed some decreases in its level, especially at Poza Verde and El Torno. The condition indexes were higher at 27-33mm, (range where maturity size was reached). Clams from Poza Verde, the lagoon nearest to the Magdalena River, had the highest values in condition indexes, yield, fresh weight and maturity frequency. Yield was directly correlated to the condition indexes and sexual maturity. The condition index (body weight/shell weight) showed a highest multiple regression coefficient with salinity, pH and transparency (R²=74%), indicating the relevance of the hydrological regime in the regulation of the condition of the organisms. P. solida seems to be more adapted to the lowest salinities of the system (0.0-0.4), corresponding to Poza Verde, where the influence of the Magdalena river is more direct and steady. Additionally, differences found between sites in the assessed variables, emphasize the importance of considering spatial heterogeneity of this kind of lagoon estuaries, and should be taken into account for future fisheries management in the rainy period and conservation of P. solida populations. Rev. Biol. Trop. 58 (1): 131-145. Epub 2010 March 01.

Se evaluó la condición somática de la almeja Polymesoda solida en tres lagunas del Parque Isla de Salamanca (abril a noviembre de 2004), durante el periodo lluvioso. En 60 individuos por laguna, se analizaron mensualmente índices de condición, rendimiento, relación talla-peso y madurez gonadal en fresco. También se midió salinidad, temperatura, pH, oxígeno disuelto, transparencia y profundidad del agua. Los mayores índices de condición coincidieron con descensos en el nivel del río Magdalena, especialmente en Poza Verde y El Torno. Estos índices fueron más altos en tallas entre 27mm y 33mm, donde también se ubicó la talla media de madurez sexual. En Poza Verde, laguna con mayor influencia del río, se presentaron los mayores índices de condición, rendimiento, peso húmedo y frecuencia de madurez, revelando una mejor condición de los organismos. El índice de condición (peso cuerpo/ peso concha) presentó mayor coeficiente de regresión múltiple con la salinidad, pH y transparencia, sugiriendo la importancia del régimen hidrológico en su regulación. Las diferencias espaciales en las variables evaluadas, resaltan la necesidad de tener en cuenta la heterogeneidad de este tipo de estuarios para la conservación y manejo adecuado de la pesquería de P. solida.

Diet analysis of Cricotopus sp. larvae (Diptera: Chironomidae), fourth stage, in different artificial substrates and hydrological phases, in the upper Paraná river - DOI: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v31i4.3522 / Análise da dieta das larvas de 4º estádio de Cricotopus sp. (Diptera: Chironomidae), em diferentes substratos artificiais e fases hídricas, no trecho superior do rio Paraná - DOI: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v31i4.3522

In Brazil, studies on the diet of Chironomidae larvae are still scarce and these data are important to understand the trophic structure and organization of aquatic ecosystems. In this study, we identified the main food items consumed by Cricotopus sp. and compared possible differences in the larval diet at different artificial substrates and hydrological phases. We used four types of artificial substrates: X-shaped wood (MADX); X-shaped nitacetal plates (NITX); tube-shaped PVC (PVCT) and tube-shaped galvanized metal (METT), each with three replicates. Samplings were undertaken fortnightly, between August 2004 and December 2005. Cricotopus sp. diet was composed by detritus, algae and fungal hyphae. Detritus was the main food item, with values above 50% of total intake. The results indicated that Cricotopus sp. is a collector species and, regardless of substrate, these larvae feed on available resources in the environment. However, the changes in hydrological regime of the Paraná river can influence the food resource availability, mainly some Diatoma genera such as Melosira sp., which were consumed in high quantity only during the low water phase

No Brasil, estudos sobre hábitos alimentares das larvas de Chironomidae ainda são escassos e estas informações são importantes para entender a estrutura trófica e a organização dos ecossistemas aquáticos. Neste estudo, teve-se como objetivo identificar os principais itens alimentares ingeridos por Cricotopus sp. e comparar as possíveis diferenças na dieta das larvas em diferentes substratos artificiais e fases hídricas. Foram utilizados quatro tipos de substratos artificiais: madeira em forma de X (MADX), placas de nitacetal em forma de X (NITX), PVC em forma de tubo (PVCT) e metal galvanizado em forma de tubo (METT), cada um com três réplicas. As coletas foram realizadas quinzenalmente, entre os meses de agosto de 2004 e dezembro de 2005. A dieta de Cricotopus sp. foi constituída por detritos, algas e hifas de fungos. Detrito foi o principal item alimentar, com valores superiores a 50% do total consumido. Os resultados indicaram que Cricotopus sp. é uma espécie coletora e, independentemente do substrato, as larvas alimentam-se dos recursos disponíveis no ambiente. Entretanto, mudanças no regime hidrológico do rio Paraná podem influenciar a disponibilidade de alimento, principalmente algumas diatomaceas como Melosira sp., consumidas em maior quantidade apenas na fase de águas baixas