Padrões de distribuição e ecologia trófica de espécies carnívoras no sistema de cascata de reservatórios do rio São Francisco

Abstract

Fish have an important role in the biocenosis reservoirs and are able to share efficiently the resources available in the environment, however, the formation of a reservoir causes large changes in these characteristics. The understanding of the dynamics of fish populations inhabiting reservoirs depends on the knowledge of the changes resulting from alterations in the habitats. In this context, this study aimed to evaluate the influence of reservoir’s cascade in the distribution of food resources, feeding activity and body condition of piscivorous fishes. Selected for this study were species from bimonthly samples taken along the Sobradinho, Itaparica, Moxotó, PA I, II, III, PA IV and Xingó reservoirs, from September 2006 to October 2010. Concomitantly, the water transparency was estimated by the average depth of visual disappearance of the Secchi disk. The specimens of Acestrorhynchus britskii, A. lacustris, Hoplias malabaricus, Pygocentrus piraya, Serrasalmus brandtii and Plagioscion squamosissimus were identified, measured and weighed. The diet of A. britskii and P. squamosissimus was evaluated as the relative proportion by weight of each food item consumed, was also estimated trophic niche breadth, dietary overlap and similarity of the diet in order to compare similarities between the food items in each reservoir. The feeding activity and body condition of all species were taken by ANCOVA, using the Statistica 7.0 software. The reading of the Secchi disk showed an increase in transparency due to the retention of solids along the reservoir cascade. The overall abundance of all piscivores declined from the second reservoir. A. britskii and P. squamosissimus showed low vaues of trophic niche breadth and feeding overlap. A. britskii was characterized as piscivorous and had a total of 16 items consumed, while P. squamosissimus showed a flexibility in t composition of the diet, with intake of 54 items, as indicated by the consumption of fish and invertebrates. The analysis of variance applied to the feeding activity and the length-weight relationship showed significant differences for all species. We can conclude then, cascades of reservoirs contribute to oligotrofication of the river, reflecting in the feeding activity and body condition of fish.