Rapid ecological assessment of benthic indicators of water quality: a successful capacity-building experience for Brazilian postgraduate students in ecology

M Callisto,F Gonçalves,Vb Santana,As Ribeiro,Cb Andrade,Wr Ferreira,L Rodrigues,Th Tupinambás,R Souza,Scm Sales,D Castro,R Ligeiro,Js França,B Souza,D Silva,D Santana

doi:10.1590/s1519-69842011000500014

Abstract

Rapid Ecological Assessment protocols are important tools for the training of postgraduate students, as well as the collection of data on poorly-known and protected areas with the potential for the preservation of water supplies for urban areas. The objective of this study was to perform a survey of water quality and diversity of benthic macroinvertebrates in two sub-basins at the Mata do Junco Wildlife Refuge in the Brazilian state of Sergipe. The collection of data in the field, laboratory processing, and the interpretation and discussion of data were conducted in groups by students from two postgraduate programmes in Ecology and Conservation (UFMG and UFS), personnel of the state environment agency (SEMARH), school teachers from the local town of Capela, and members of the reserve's voluntary fire brigade. The results of the assessment were organised, analysed, and presented at the reserve headquarters in the form of posters, for the development of environmental education activities with pupils from local schools, as well as contributing to a SEMARH seminar. Samples were characterised by distinct taxonomic compositions and diversity, as confirmed by MDS and additive partitioning of diversity analyses. The gravel substrate presented the lower mean taxonomic richness in each sampling unit (a1 = 28%), while the average difference among samples (b1 diversity) was elevated for both substrates (39% for leaf litter, 41% for gravel), reflecting the pronounced variation among samples, even adjacent ones within the same stream. Diversity between streams was lower in the case of leaf litter in comparison with gravel (b2 = 21 and 31%, respectively). A total of 57 fish specimens were collected with a predominance of individuals of the orders Characiformes (62%) and Perciformes (21%). This rapid ecological assessment confirmed the importance of the conservation unit and emphasised the need for its continuation, given its importance for the maintenance of water quality and its other ecological services, such as the conservation of the region's aquatic biodiversity and providing the local town of Capela (circa 20,000 inhabitants) with its water supply, the Mata do Junco being its only source.

Highlights

Protected areas are effective at safeguarding forest cover, when the principal objective is to conserve habitats and diversity, and avoid deforestation
The riparian vegetation within the study area presented three strata – arboreal, shrub, and herbaceous – with a canopy that varies in height between 12 and 23 m
The canopy is continuous on both stream sides, with few natural clearings

Summary

Introduction

Protected areas are effective at safeguarding forest cover, when the principal objective is to conserve habitats and diversity, and avoid deforestation. The decision of the United Nations to promote 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity highlights the shortcomings between the urgency of the measures required and the current levels of commitment (Stuart et al, 2010). Urgent investment in capacity-building is obviously needed, and this has been a priority in Brazil in recent years, where it has involved federal, state and local agencies and institutions, as well as NGOs, field technicians and managers of protected areas interested in conservation biology. The development of local leaderships and capacity-building initiatives has the potential to guarantee the success of conservation initiatives in terms of the area protected, reduction in deforestation rates and population decline, as well as influencing policy-making and legislation at local, regional, and national levels

Objectives

Methods

Results