Fish Trophic Guilds Research Articles

Influence of characteristics of tropical reservoirs on the fish trophic guilds structure

Influence of characteristics of tropical reservoirs on the fish trophic guilds structure

Spatial-temporal patterns of fish trophic guilds in a freshwater river wetland ecosystem of northeastern China.

Muling River, situated amidst cultivated lands in Heilongjiang Province, northeastern China, has long been subjected to sand-digging activities, resulting in severe damage to its riverbed. However, little research has been conducted on the impact of this disturbance on the status of fish community structure and trophic guilds in this river. In this study, environmental factors, fish community structure, and fish trophic guild biomass distribution patterns from the Muling River basin were investigated among seasons (spring, summer, and autumn) and sections (upper, middle, and lower stream) in 2015 and 2017. During the six sampling times periods, 46 species of five orders and 12 families of fish were classified into seven trophic guilds. Fish species number and biomass were higher upper reaches of the watershed. The insectivores (16.26%), phytoplanktivores (10.09%), benthivores (40.17%), and omnivores (11.86%) were the dominant trophic guilds. We found that fish trophic guilds biomass and environmental factors such as transparency, water depth, pH value, total phosphorus, and chemical oxygen demand were highest in the upper section compared to other sections. Variation partitioning revealed that fish trophic guilds biomass was influenced more by environmental factors (61.2%), followed by section (0.7%) and season (0.1%). Partial RDA ordination showed that fish trophic guilds were positively correlated with water depth and transparency, while negative with turbidity. This study underscores the importance of considering trophic guilds of freshwater fishes to inform management strategies in regions experiencing significant environmental change.

Spatial factors overcome seasonality regulating the consumption of allochthonous food resources by fishes from tropical lotic ecosystems

Abstract In lotic ecosystems, a higher availability of allochthonous food resources is expected during floods and rainfall events, which may yield a higher consumption of these resources by consumers. However, allochthonous input and seasonality in environmental conditions are locally dependent. Thus, dietary responses of freshwater consumers to seasonality should also be locally dependent. Herein, we applied a meta‐analytical approach to identify the spatial and seasonal environmental variables associated with the relative consumption of allochthonous food resources by fishes from tropical lotic ecosystems in different seasons. We gathered 566 observations of the diet of fish populations (i.e., restricted to the same sampling event) from 38 studies conducted in 70 localities across the tropics during flood and drought periods (hereafter, high‐water and low‐water periods, respectively). We retrieved latitude, seasonal channel width, elevation and two proxies for allochthonous input for each locality: terrestrial biomass (without considering seasonality) and the normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI; considering seasonality). Then, we applied meta‐regression models using these environmental variables as predictors and the proportion of allochthonous food resources in each consumer's diet (%Allo) as the response variable. Our models revealed that the diet of fishes from tropical lotic ecosystems is mostly autochthonous‐based, independent of the hydrological period (high‐water or low‐water), and aquatic invertebrates were the most consumed food items. Terrestrial vegetation biomass and elevation predicted increasing allochthony in the diet of tropical fishes for high‐water, but only terrestrial biomass predicted allochthony at low‐water periods. We found no relationship between latitude, channel width or NDVI with allochthony. Our study highlights the importance of considering the hierarchical level of biological organisation and fish trophic guilds for understanding seasonal patterns of relative consumption of allochthonous and autochthonous food resources by fishes. We also argue that variations in seasonality across the tropics are likely to have undermined its influence on allochthony in fish diets. The absence of a non‐relationship between channel width and allochthony provides evidence that the River Continuum Concept is better suited to temperate lotic ecosystems. Our results provide novel insights and the big‐picture of seasonal pattern in the diets of tropical fishes for use in future local empirical studies, improving forecasting of the relationship between the factors underpinning the availability of allochthonous and autochthonous food resources, and the diet of freshwater fishes.

Responses of trophic fish guilds upstream and downstream of the Balbina dam, Central Amazon, Northern Brazil

Abstract This study compared the diversity, richness, abundance, and biomass of fish collected in three environments in the Central Amazon: (1) the reservoir of the Balbina hydroelectric dam; (2) the Uatumã River downstream of the dam; and (3) the Abacate River. Through the analysis of food resources, we determined the fish trophic guilds for each environment. We hypothesized that the undisturbed environment of the Abacate River would present the highest values of diversity, richness, abundance, and biomass, followed by the Uatumã River and the reservoir, and that there would be significant differences among the trophic guilds among the three environments. The highest taxonomic richness was observed for the Uatumã River, followed by the Abacate River and the reservoir. There was no statistical difference in the species richness of the trophic guilds among the three sampled sites, but the three areas differed in abundance. The highest value of guild biomass was observed for the Uatumã River, followed by the reservoir and the Abacate River. Characteristics of the Uatumã and Abacate River systems, such as size, greater complexity and heterogeneity of habitats, and flood regime, may be the cause of the greater species richness in these rivers, compared to the reservoir.

Mercury Exposure in Two Fish Trophic Guilds from Protected and ASGM-Impacted Reservoirs in Zimbabwe and Possible Risks to Human Health

Despite a surge in mercury (Hg) pollution from artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) in Zimbabwe's drainage basins, little is known about Hg trophodynamics in the country's major reservoirs. We analyzed fish tissues for total mercury (THg) and stable isotopes of nitrogen and carbon (δ15N and δ13C) to compare patterns of biomagnification between two trophic guilds from a protected reservoir (Chivero) and an ASGM-impacted reservoir (Mazowe) and assessed consequences for human and fish health. Mean dry weight THg concentrations were significantly higher for both piscivorous and herbivorous fishes from Mazowe reservoir compared to fishes from similar feeding guilds in Chivero. Trophic magnification slopes (TMS), inferred from linear regressions between log10[THg] and δ15N, revealed significant Hg biomagnification in Mazowe (TMS = 0.28; p < 0.05) and no evidence for Hg biomagnification in Chivero (TMS = -0.005; p > 0.05). In Mazowe's piscivorous fishes, 32% had wet weight THg concentrations that surpassed 0.2µg/g ww, a threshold for susceptible human populations and biochemical and gene expression alterations in fish. In addition, 17% of Mazowe's piscivorous fishes surpassed the UNEP THg toxicity threshold for human consumption (0.5µg/g ww). To reduce exposure to Hg toxicity in humans, the maximum fish consumption for piscivorous species from Mazowe reservoir should not exceed 431g/week for both adult male and female consumers. Our findings demonstrate the importance of creating freshwater-protected areas to prevent direct Hg contamination of aquatic ecosystems and the need for health agencies to provide fish consumption advisories to vulnerable communities.

Dynamic of fish trophic guilds in the plateau-plain gradient in the Paraguay River, Northern Pantanal

This study aims to evaluate the dynamics of fish trophic guilds according to the longitudinal gradient of the Paraguay River, northern Pantanal, Brazil. Three river segments were sampled: plateau, confluence and plain. These segments have different physical and biological characteristics, with high water flow in forest areas in plateau and slow flow in meanders, with Pantanal typical vegetation. In total, 26,542 individuals distributed in 130 fish species were collected. The sampled species were characterized in seven trophic guilds. From the seven trophic guilds identified, only three were statistically related to the type of the environment; herbivores were more abundant in the plateau, piscivores in the confluence, and invertivores in the plain. According to values of corrected Akaike Information Criteria, the environmental variable that best explains the abundance of piscivorous fishes in the segments sampled in the Paraguay River was water transparency. For herbivores, the model that explained the variation in abundance was composed by temperature, altitude and dense forest proportion. The variable altitude best represented the abundance of invertivores. Water transparency, temperature, altitude, river width and dense forest proportion were determining factors for the distribution of piscivorous, herbivorous and invertivorous fishes as a response to an environmental gradient that meets its ecological requirements. Understanding the trophic relationships is fundamental for management actions, contributing to the maintenance of ecosystem services of different species. Therefore, future research must be taken into account regarding management and ecological relationships.

Reduced dry season fish biomass and depleted carnivorous fish assemblages in unprotected tropical oxbow lakes

The effectiveness of protected areas in maintaining biodiversity is increasingly under debate. Specifically, the responses of animal populations in freshwater ecosystems to disturbances outside protected areas are not well understood. Fish assemblages can serve as an indicator of such responses. We used dry season oxbow lake fish occurrence data implemented within a Measurement of Biodiversity framework to examine the influence of extractive activities on the richness, structure and abundance of fish assemblages. We compared oxbow lakes in protected areas with lakes subject to artisanal small-scale gold mining (ASGM) and other human activities. The main components of fish biodiversity maintained by lake protection were abundance and biomass. The strongest predictors of community structure were fishing intensity and water transparency. As variation in these factors are likely a consequence of ASGM, our results may indicate indirect impacts of ASGM on freshwater ecosystems. Our analysis of fish trophic guilds also suggested that carnivores dominated fish assemblages in protected lakes, whereas in disturbed lakes detritivores were more frequent, suggesting a trophic downgrading of freshwater ecosystems subject to ASGM. Taken together, our results indicate responses of fish assemblages to human activity associated with ASGM. In the western Amazon, protected and isolated areas appear to be successful at maintaining the integrity of fish assemblages. Given the vulnerability of freshwater habitats and their high value for ecosystem services, we recommend local community engagement and resource allocation to prevent the degradation of oxbow lake habitats and the depletion of local aquatic biodiversity in unprotected areas.

Use of stable isotopes in the evaluation of fish trophic guilds from a tropical hypersaline lagoon

AbstractEnvironmental factors, size-related isotopic changes of the most abundant species and isotopic niche overlap were investigated using stable isotopes in order to evaluate spatial changes of fish trophic guilds in the Araruama Lagoon. Based on 440 muscle samples, 17 fish species were grouped into five trophic guilds. Mean salinity was above 40 at both sites sampled and a significant spatial difference was observed. The highest δ13C mean value was observed for an omnivorous species, whereas the lowest carbon signatures were found for the three fish species belonging to the planktivorous guild. Analysis of the carbon signature of fish species in lower trophic levels showed influence of salinity variation, whilst size appeared to play a role for others. A narrow δ15N difference was observed, but the piscivorous fish species showed the highest δ15N values. The Standard Ellipses Analysis (SEA) detected spatial differences and varying degrees of isotopic niche overlap among trophic guilds, but the percentages of most overlaps (&lt;60%) suggest that, to some extent, the guilds had a unique isotopic niche space. These results are in agreement with data previously reported for the Araruama Lagoon, that found the same prey items with varying relative importance among the most abundant species. Further studies are necessary to understand how the interaction between salinity and other factors, such as migration patterns, changes in prey availability, changes in contribution of primary sources and changes in baseline isotopic signatures could affect the stable isotope signatures shown here.

Fish isotopic niches associated with environmental indicators and human disturbance along a disturbed large subtropical river in China

Stable isotopes are increasingly used to detect and understand the impacts of environmental changes on riverine ecological properties. The δ13C and δ15N signatures of fish with different feeding habits were measured in a large subtropical river to evaluate how fish isotopic niches respond to environmental gradients and human disturbance. From basal resources to fish consumers, the high values of epilithic periphyton (biofilm) δ13C and suspended particulate organic matter δ15N concurrently determined the niche ranges and space (e.g., convex hull area) of fish communities. Along a longitudinal gradient (except in the industrial zone), the number of fish trophic guilds identified by Bayesian ellipses continuously increased; meanwhile, higher trophic diversity and less redundancy were observed near the lower reaches and estuary. Variance inflation factors were estimated to detect the multicollinearity of 40 environmental variables, 14 of which were selected as indicators. Relative importance (RI) analysis was used to evaluate the explanatory power of these indicators for the spatial variation in isotopic niche metrics; the results showed that riffle habitat area, water nitrate concentration, gravel-cobble substrate, and riparian buffer width were the 4 key environmental indicators (average RI > 12%) that determined the longitudinal pattern of fish isotopic niches. These findings suggested that community-level δ13C signatures are more responsive to changes in habitats (e.g., riffle) and substrates (e.g., gravel-cobble) supporting the productivity of autochthonous diatoms while δ15N signatures respond to water quality altered by nitrogen pollution from manure-fertilized farming and poultry livestock effluent. Furthermore, δ15N may be more robust and interpretable than δ13C as an isotopic indicator of ecosystem change in rivers exposed to multiple or complex anthropogenic stressors.

Spatio-Temporal Changes in Basal Food Source Assimilation by Fish Assemblages in a Large Tropical Bay in the SW Atlantic Ocean

Understanding food pathways in estuarine communities is essential to improve our ability to cope with the increasing effects of man-made activities and climate variability on the biodiversity of coastal systems. Herein, we analyzed carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios of food web components in a large tropical bay in the southwestern Atlantic, in order to investigate spatial and temporal changes in the assimilation of basal food sources by fishes. Two hypotheses were evaluated: (i) continental-derived organic matter assimilation and isotopic niches of fish trophic guilds will increase during higher rainfall conditions and (ii) relative mangrove and macroalgae-derived nutrients assimilation will be directly proportional to their relative availability at each location. Our results did not corroborate our first hypothesis, while only partially corroborating the second one. As expected, macroalgae was one of the main assimilated basal food sources (especially by omnivore and zooplanktivore fishes) at the site where this primary producer was highly abundant. In contrast, only negligible amounts of mangrove-derived nutrients were assimilated by most trophic fish guilds at the site harboring an extensive mangrove area. Bayesian mixing models also revealed a substantial contribution of seagrass to herbivore and detritivore fishes. Some mechanisms like water divergence diminishing organic matter transport into the bay and the refractory characteristics of mangrove-derived detritus could partially explain these findings.

Fish trophic guild responses to damming: Variations in abundance and biomass

AbstractDams and associated reservoirs cause drastic changes in the composition and structure of ichthyofauna. Therefore, functional groups within a fish assemblage may respond distinctly to such human interventions in rivers. The objective of this study was to evaluate how fluctuations in fish abundance and biomass differ among trophic guilds. Fish were sampled before and after damming four reservoirs, in their inner areas (more heavily impacted areas) and upstream (less impacted areas). To evaluate possible changes, we used a before–after and control‐impact experimental design. Fish were classified into trophic guilds through diet analysis and based on information available from the literature. Six trophic guilds were identified. The effect of periods (before and after damming) and sites (more and less impacted) on abundance and biomass differed among the trophic guilds. Highly specialized trophic guilds, such as herbivores and detritivores, were negatively affected by damming. Invertivores were negatively affected in the impacted area and increased in abundance and biomass in the less impacted sites. The findings of this study show that modifications imposed by damming are reflected in the abundance and biomass of fish trophic guilds, but the degree of such impacts vary according to characteristics of the considered trophic guild.

Ecological River Health Assessments Using Chemical Parameter Model and the Index of Biological Integrity Model

River health is one of the important issues today because of various threats by multiple anthropogenic stressors that have long-term impacts on the physical habitats, biodiversity, ecological functions, and their services. The main objectives of this study is to diagnose the chemical and biological river health in the watershed of Geum River with regard to the chemical regimes (N, P) and fish community using multi-metric chemical pollution index (CPI), and the index of biotic integrity model (IBI), respectively. The empirical models of sestonic chlorophyll, nutrients (N, P), and nutrient ratios of N:P indicated that the watershed, including all sampling sites, was a phosphorus-limited system. Analysis of fish trophic and tolerance guilds showed that the omnivore fish species and tolerant fish species were dominant in the watershed, while the sensitive fish species decreased downstream because of nutrient enrichments (such as TN, TP) and organic matter pollutions (such as BOD, COD). The chemical model of CPI showed that 11 sampling sites were in the fair—good condition, and 8 sites were in poor—very poor condition. Species composition analysis indicated that Zacco platypus was most widely distributed in the watersheds and dominated the fish community. The biological health of the watershed, based on the multimetric IBI model, was in poor condition and was getting worse downstream. The degradation of the river health was matched with the chemical health and showed a decreased abundance of insectivores and sensitive fish species. The outcomes of the river health were supported by principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA) of fish model metrics and the physicochemical parameters. Overall, our study suggests that river health was directly influenced by the chemical pollutions of nutrients and organic matter inputs.

Synchrony patterns reveal different degrees of trophic guild vulnerability after disturbances in a coral reef fish community

AbstractAimChronic anthropogenic stressors are increasing in intensity, making ecosystems more vulnerable to acute disturbances. Recovery processes are not always well understood due to the complexity of ecosystems and the lack of appropriate indicators. Temporal synchrony is a valuable metric for assessing whether fluctuations in abundance of different species are homogeneous or heterogeneous over time. Theoretically, a great diversity of responses by species facing disturbances is associated with a stable ecosystem, with species turnover guaranteeing the persistence of key ecological processes. We analysed the fluctuations of synchrony of a fish community to assess its resilience in an ecosystem exposed to various disturbances.LocationMoorea (French Polynesia).MethodsUsing one of the longest time series available for coral reefs (ca. 35 years), we examined the variations in substrate cover, and the abundance, synchrony and composition of different fish trophic guilds. Multivariate analyses involving synchrony were used to determine the stability of trophic guilds.ResultsChanges in fish community composition indicated incomplete taxonomic resilience. However, community synchrony was lower during periods of low coral cover, indicating greater response diversity, while total fish abundance remained fairly stable. Synchrony drop was due to relationships with coral cover that differed by trophic guild, or the differences in species responses within guilds. Some guilds such as sessile invertebrate feeders exhibited a strong homogeneity of response over time, indicating a greater vulnerability. We also highlighted that various types of disturbances had different effects on the synchrony of particular guilds.Main conclusionsThe fish community appeared functionally resilient, with stability of total abundance and most trophic guilds. This could be a factor explaining the rapid recovery of Moorea's coral reefs from disturbances. However, the homogeneous responses of some fish groups to disturbances may compromise the reef recovery potential on the long term if disturbances become more frequent.

The influence of chemical water quality on fish trophic guilds, pollution tolerance, and multi-metric ecological health in the main streams of Mangyeong River

The influence of chemical water quality on fish trophic guilds, pollution tolerance, and multi-metric ecological health in the main streams of Mangyeong River

The application of chemical and biological multi-metric models to a small urban stream for ecological health assessments

Nutrient or/and organic pollutions have been used as one of the key factors influencing the stream health, so research approaches were frequently focused on chemical analysis rather and biological analysis. Our objective of the present study was to diagnose the chemical and biological stream health using chemical multi-metric model of nutrient pollution index (NPI) and biological multi-metric fish model of the index of biotic integrity (IBI), respectively in an urban stream. Seven years dataset from 2008 to 2014 were used for the health assessments. The nutrients regime (TN, TP), sestonic chlorophyll, total suspended solids (TSS), electrical conductivity, BOD, and COD showed a typical polluted stream with large temporal and spatial fluctuations due to variations of Asian monsoon rain. The analysis of fish trophic guilds and fish tolerance guilds showed that omnivore fish species and tolerant species were dominated the community and the proportions were directly determined by water chemistry (nutrient and organic matters). Chemical model of NPI showed “poor-very poor health condition” by the criteria of the model and showed same results with the biological model of fish IBI. The degradation of the stream health was mainly due to massive effluents from the wastewater treatment plants. Overall, our data suggest that the multi-metric chemical and biological models may be used as a key tool diagnosing the stream health condition in an urban stream.

Longitudinal variation in fish prey utilization, trophic guilds, and indicator species along a large subtropical river, China.

Due to the heterogeneous distribution of resources along large rivers, understanding prey utilization by basin‐scale fish assemblages remains a challenge, and thus, recognizing regional fish trophic guilds and indicator species is important. We analyzed the stomach contents of 96 fish species along the subtropical East River in China and identified 8 prey items (29 subcategories). Site‐specific differences in fish diet composition (DC) revealed longitudinal shifts in utilized prey taxa, from upstream lotic to downstream semi‐lentic items, and these were characterized by a decrease in the proportions of epilithic diatoms and aquatic insect larvae (Ephemeroptera and Chironomidae) accompanied by an increase in bivalves (Corbicula and Limnoperna), shrimps and fishes, and organic sediments. The relative prey consumption weighted by fish abundance and biomass indicated that decreasing insect consumption and increasing detritus consumption were two fundamental vectors governing fish‐centered feeding pathways. Seventeen prey‐oriented fish guilds that were clustered based on DC matrix determined the spatial variation in the fish trophic structure. The cumulative presence of (a) upstream guilds reliant on insects and epiphytes, (b) midstream guilds reliant on hydrophytes, molluscs, and nekton, and (c) downstream guilds reliant on detritus, annelids, and plankton resulted in a longitudinal increase in guild richness, but this continuity was interrupted near the industrialized estuary. The most abundant 28 fish species across the guilds were selected as trophic indicator species; their spatial distribution significantly (p < 0.05) explained >80% of the environmental and prey variables identified. These species signified the availability of predator–prey links in distinct habitats and the key environmental factors supporting these links. With a high contribution (>51%) of exotic species, an increase in detritivores downstream distinguishes the subtropical East River from temperate rivers. Particularly, in the disturbed lower reaches, the dominance of detritivores prevailed over the predicted increase in other feeding groups (e.g., omnivores and carnivores).

Changes in food web structure of fish assemblages along a river-to-ocean transect of a coastal subtropical system

There is an urgent need to understand how food web structure changes along environmental gradients. In this study we investigated changes in trophic organisation and the relative importance of autotrophic sources sustaining fish assemblages along a transect from river to ocean. In order to address these topics, we analysed fish stomach contents and isotopic composition of consumers and food sources. The findings revealed a greater number of autotrophic sources sustaining fish assemblages in the continental systems (especially in the river) than in the adjacent marine system. Bipartite networks depicting trophic relationships between fish and prey also changed along the transect, showing comparatively higher complexity in the estuary. These findings could be explained by the greater number of food web components (autotrophic sources, fish trophic guilds and prey) associated with pelagic and benthic food chains within the estuary compared with the adjacent systems studied. The findings of this study highlight the need to take into account river-to-ocean changes in food web structure of fish assemblages in management plans to mitigate human impacts in coastal systems.

Trophic structure of an African savanna river and organic matter inputs by large terrestrial herbivores: A stable isotope approach

Abstract Knowledge of trophic structure is important to understand sources and pathways of energy resources in community ecology and to identify determinants of ecosystem changes. Yet, little is known from rivers of African savanna receiving large inputs of terrestrial organic matter and nutrients by large mammalian herbivores. We used Stable Isotope (δ13C and δ15N) Bayesian Ellipses in R (SIBER) and Layman's community‐wide metrics to describe seasonal variation in trophic niches and trophic structures in midorder river reaches in the Mara River (Kenya) that differed in environmental conditions (agricultural vs. forested) and amounts of organic matter and nutrients (low vs. high inputs by livestock and hippopotami, Hippopotamus amphibius). These analyses were supplemented with data on the trophic diversity of macroinvertebrate functional feeding groups (FFGs) and fish trophic guilds. The δ13C and δ15N of basal resources and consumers differed between sites and changed with seasons. Sites in agricultural areas that were utilised by livestock and a site with hippopotami had higher δ13C than the forested site due to the presence of C4 carbon from egestion and excretion by the grazers. The forested site recorded the most taxon‐rich and trophic‐diverse invertebrate community, suggesting both autochthonous and allochthonous sources of energy were available. Agricultural sites and the site with hippopotami recorded high abundances of collector taxa in response to large inputs of organic matter. Fish trophic guilds were less diverse and were dominated by insectivores. The food web at the forested site had the widest trophic niche size and highest isotopic trophic diversity compared to sites in areas with large mammalian herbivores. Invertebrate and fish trophic niche sizes changed according to food resources varying with space and time. Invertebrates had higher δ13C values during the dry season. In contrast, fish showed higher δ13C values during the wet season, and trophic niche sizes were constricted and considerably overlapping, suggesting feeding on a narrow range of food sources with high trophic redundancy. This study showed that increased terrestrial organic matter by large mammalian herbivores affected trophic diversity and niche sizes for aquatic consumers in rivers draining the African savanna. Linking the density of terrestrial large mammalian herbivores to aquatic ecosystem structure and function could help manage their populations sustainably.

Changes of fish trophic guilds in Araruama Lagoon, Brazil: What can be inferred about functioning and structure of hypersaline lagoons?

In this paper, the diet and trophic structure of fish assemblages caught in two zones of the largest (∼220 km2) hypersaline coastal lagoon in South America were addressed quarterly along 2011, and the patterns were compared among seasons and to a previous study performed during typical hypersaline conditions (i.e. 1993) to assess the short- and long-term effects of desalinisation. Our results confirmed that in 2011, Araruama Lagoon experienced a strong decrease in salinity, particularly in the autumn, with the ranging values (i.e. 37–48) remaining below to the salinities (i.e. 52–67) reported for most of the 1965–2005 period, but matching those (i.e. ≤ 41 on the average) recorded during the atypical less-hypersaline conditions of 1989–1990. Fish trophic structure recorded during 2011 was composed of five guilds, in decreasing order of biomass: planktivores (31.14%), detritivores (26.24%), invertivores (25.65%), piscivores (15.09%), and omnivores (1.58%). This structure resembled more those of similar, but comparatively less hypersaline systems in Africa and Australia, than that of extreme hypersaline lagoons in Mexico or Araruama lagoon in a typically hypersaline year. Our findings indicate that increased contributions of planktivores and detritivores could be used as promising predictors of, respectively, salination and desalinisation processes and thus shifts in the ecosystem trophic state. Variations on the biomasses of piscivores and invertivores were apparently more related to short-term salinity changes among seasons and across the lagoon zones. Since the relationships between fish trophic structure and desalinisation and its associated effects were complex, long-term studies using complementary and integrative approaches, such as stable isotopes and functional traits, are recommended to confirm our findings for Araruama Lagoon and validate our hypothesis for other similar hypersaline ecosystems.

An influence of mesohabitat structures (pool, riffle, and run) and land-use pattern on the index of biological integrity in the Geum River watershed

Previous studies on the biological integrity on habitat and landuse patterns demonstrated ecological stream health in the view of regional or macrohabitat scale, thus ignored the mesoscale habitat patterns of pool, riffle, and runs in the stream health analysis. The objective of this study was to analyze influences on the mesohabitat structures of pool, riffle, and run reaches on the fish guilds and biological integrity in Geum-River Watershed. The mesohabitat structures of pool, riffle, and run reaches influenced the ecological stream health along with some close relations on the fish trophic and tolerance guilds. The mesoscale components altered chemical water quality such as nutrients (TN, TP) and BOD and these, then, determined the primary productions, based on the sestonic chlorophyll-a. The riffle-reach had good chemical conditions, but the pool-reach had nutrient enrichments. The riffle-reach had a predominance of insectivores, while the pool-reach has a predominance of omnivores. Also, the riffle-reach had high proportions of sensitive fish and insectivore fish, and the pool-reach had high proportions of tolerant species in the community composition. The intermediate fish species in tolerance and omnivorous fish species in the food linkage dominated the community in the watershed, and the sensitive and insectivorous fishes decreased rapidly with a degradation of the water quality. All the habitat patterns were largely determined by the land-use patterns in the watershed. Trophic guilds and tolerance guilds of fish were determined by land-use pattern and these determined the stream health, based on the Index of Biological Integrity. This study remarks the necessity to include additional variables to consider information provided by mesohabitats and land-use distributions within the selected stream stretch. Overall, our data suggest that land-use pattern and mesohabitat distribution are important factors to be considered for the trophic and tolerance fish compositions and chemical gradients as well as ecological stream health in the watershed.