Abstract
We tested the hypothesis that streams in deforested areas shelter different fish communities to nearby forested areas, and that these disparities are due to environmental parameters that limit or benefit different species according to their functional traits. We compared the community composition of three south east Brazilian streams flanked by riparian forest with three nearby streams in deforested areas. The following functional traits were considered: diet, habitat use, water flow preference, size, and hypoxia tolerance. Differentiation between forested and deforested streams corresponded with the different contributions of three functional groups. Species reported in the literature to be hypoxia tolerant, and exhibiting a variable combination of the other traits prevailed in deforested streams, although we did not find substantial differences in oxygen levels between forested and deforested streams. In forested streams, benthic species associated with a high water flow and an insectivorous diet were dominant. Changes in streams induced by deforestation which are associated with habitat availability, food resources, and physicochemical conditions appear to restrict the occurrence of specialized species and instead benefit tolerant generalists.
Highlights
IntroductionBy altering abiotic conditions, such as temperature and dissolved oxygen, deforestation has long predicted to influence recruitment and survival of Neotropical aquatic organisms (Lowe-McConnell, 1987)
Ripar ian deforestation exer ts profou nd negative effects on rivers and streams
Because functional dendrograms have the same topological structure as a phylogenetic tree, we argue that Pavoine et al (2009a) approach can be modified for exploring whether species groups that share functional traits are important for differentiating communities - in this case from forested versus deforested streams
Summary
By altering abiotic conditions, such as temperature and dissolved oxygen, deforestation has long predicted to influence recruitment and survival of Neotropical aquatic organisms (Lowe-McConnell, 1987). Riparian deforestation may influence the input of allochthonous material, which provides food, shelter and breeding sites for aquatic animals (Fausch & Northcote, 1992; Schneider & Winemiller, 2008). Deforestation may reduce the input or retention of sediment and other material from the surrounding terrestrial environment (Pusey & Arthington, 2003), in turn influencing water quality and substrate composition (Cruz et al, 2013). Riparian deforestation may favour marginal grass and weed proliferation (Pusey & Arthington, 2003; Rocha et al, 2009), which benefits some fish species (Rocha et al, 2009)
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