Fish-based Index of Biotic Integrity for wadeable streams from Atlantic Forest of south São Paulo State, Brazil

Mauricio Cetra,Fabio Cop Ferreira

doi:10.1590/s2179-975x1216

Abstract

Abstract: Understanding the relationship between environmental quality of streams and biological integrity of fish assemblages is critical to successful ecosystem management. Aim We adapted the Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) using ecological data of the fish assemblages that occur in headwater streams from the Atlantic Forest in southern São Paulo State. Methods We sampled the ichthyofauna and collected environmental data in 27 streams stretches during the dry season of 2010. The fish species were categorized into trophic group, position in the water column and preference for rapid meso-habitats. Candidate metrics were screened for range, responsiveness and redundancy. Results Of the 17 metrics tested, four metrics were included in the IBI. They belonged to attributes species diversity: percentage of individuals as Loricariidae family; habitat use: percentage of individuals as benthic riffles; and trophic function: percentage of individuals as omnivores and percentage of individuals as herbivores/detritivores. Eight streams (30%) were classified as excellent or good and fourteen (50%) as poor or very poor. Conclusions On a regional scale, many aspects of biological integrity were altered but there are streams that can be used as biological reference.

Highlights

In urban areas, studies point to dramatic changes in the quality of streams, primarily due to sewage emission (Pinto et al, 2006)
Aim: We adapted the Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) using ecological data of the fish assemblages that occur in headwater streams from the Atlantic Forest in southern São Paulo State
In the present study we developed an IBI based on stream fish communities that can provide potential implications for the management in headwater streams that flow through the Atlantic Forest in the south of the São Paulo state

Summary

Introduction

Studies point to dramatic changes in the quality of streams, primarily due to sewage emission (Pinto et al, 2006). The IBI focus at the biological responses to physical or chemical characteristics of water bodies of the different organisms that make up the assemblages (Karr, 1981), by grouping multiple indicators of abundance, composition and functional organization patterns of these assemblages into a single index (Karr & Dudley, 1981). It can be used as an indicator for assessing and monitoring the quality of water bodies

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