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Habitat, density, and spatial distribution of Rivulus giarettai (Actinopterygii, Cyprinodontiformes) in southeastern Brazil

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Abstract

We present data on the habitat, density, and spatial distribution of Rivulus giarettai, and discuss some biotic and abiotic variables related to its abundance in Free Flowing Waters (FFW) and Dam Reservoirs (DR) in palm grove (Mauritia flexuosa) marshes (Veredas) in Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. The mean density (individuals/plot) of R. giarettai was about 13 times higher in FFW than in DR. In FFW, the density of R. giarettai was highest at intermediate amounts of substrate (plant mass) and it was positively rank-correlated with the depth, and the number of arthropods. Individuals occurred in an aggregated distribution. The aggregated pattern could be related to a concentration of individuals in microhabitats neither too much exposed nor completely saturated by plants. R. giarettai was relatively abundant and tolerant to slight man-made habitat modifications. Damming appeared to be especially problematic by negatively affecting its density.

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Acknowledgements

Financial support by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais. A Grant by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico to AAG. J. W. E. M. Costa and O. T. Oyakawa identified the teleosts. L. B. Martins, L. Magrini, T. R. de Carvalho, and W. R. Silva helped in field woks.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculdade de Ciências Integradas do Pontal, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Av. João José Dib, 2545, 38302-000, Ituiutaba, MG, Brazil

    Luciano Elias Oliveira, Kátia G. Facure & Ariovaldo A. Giaretta

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  1. Luciano Elias Oliveira
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  2. Kátia G. Facure
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  3. Ariovaldo A. Giaretta
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Correspondence to Luciano Elias Oliveira.

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Oliveira, L.E., Facure, K.G. & Giaretta, A.A. Habitat, density, and spatial distribution of Rivulus giarettai (Actinopterygii, Cyprinodontiformes) in southeastern Brazil. Environ Biol Fish 93, 89–94 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-011-9892-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-011-9892-1

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