PAPEL DOS PEIXES NA RECICLAGEM DE NUTRIENTES EM RIACHOS TROPICAIS

Abstract

Fish can contribute directly and indirectly to nutrient recycling in aquatic environments, affecting community structure and ecosystem processes. Through the excretion of metabolic waste, fish make inorganic nutrients available in the environment that can be used by algae and bacteria. Nitrogen and phosphorus are often limiting nutrients in streams, so fish can be a relevant source of these nutrients. Many factors can influence excretion rates, including diet, body nutrient demand (for reproduction and growth), ontogeny, body size, temperature and other abiotic factors. Currently, two theories propose to explain which factors control excretion rates: 1) The Theory of Ecological Stoichiometry is based on mass balance models and uses the amount of nutrients in the diet and the fish nutrient demand as predictors of excretion rates; and 2) the Metabolic Theory of Ecology that uses body size and temperature as factors that regulate an organism metabolic rates and, thus, its excretion rates. The relative importance of fish as nutrient recyclers in streams varies depending on species intrinsic characteristics and environmental factors. This includes the magnitude of excretion rates from the entire fish community, the nutrient concentration and nutrient input into the stream, the stream nutrient demand and the period of activity and behavior of the fish. For example, species that are abundant in oligotrophic streams have the potential to represent an important source of nutrients. But other peculiarities, such as diet, specific nutrient demands, or migratory behaviors, can make them important sources or sinks of nutrients in a stream. This article reviews studies that address the role of fish as nutrient recyclers and explains the most common techniques used in this type of studies.