Fish diversity along spatial gradients in the Itaipu Reservoir, Paraná, Brazil

Local and turnover patterns of fish diversity in the Itaipu Reservoir were evaluated and related to a longitudinal or river-dam gradient (composed of riverine, transitional, and lacustrine zones) and to transversal or upstream-downstream gradients of the tributaries (composed of lotic and lentic stretches of tributaries and reservoir shores). Thirteen stations were sampled quarterly during 2 years. A total of 85 fish species were caught. Local (alpha) and turnover (beta) patterns of fish diversity showed significant differences in reservoir spatial gradients. Along the longitudinal gradient, total and alpha-diversity were the highest in the riverine and transitional zones of the reservoir and lowest in the lacustrine zone. Along the transversal gradient, total and alpha-diversity increased from the lotic stretches of the tributaries to the reservoir shores. The lotic and lentic stretches of the tributaries presented the highest beta-diversity values, indicating heterogeneity in species compositions among the sub-basins. We conclude with recommendations for reservoir management based on the results of this study.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Oliveira,E. F., Goulart,E., Minte-Vera,C. V.
Format: Digital revista
Language:English
Published: Instituto Internacional de Ecologia 2004
Online Access:http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1519-69842004000300008
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