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Fish as Indicators of Disturbance in Streams Used for Snorkeling Activities in a Tourist Region

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Abstract

A set of metrics that reflect various aspects of population and fish community structure in streams used for snorkeling was evaluated in the tourist region of Bodoquena Plateau, Brazil, with the purpose of biomonitoring the impacts of such activities. Observations were made while snorkeling in two sites (active = with tourism; inactive = without tourism) and along the gradient of daily tourist activity (before, during and after the passage of tourists) in two streams. Five metrics discriminated active from inactive sites: (i) the abundance of Crenicichla lepidota and (ii) the incidence of reproductive activity in Crenicichla lepidota which were greater in inactive sites, regardless the gradient of daily tourist activity; (iii) the feeding pattern of Prochilodus lineatus, which differed among sites and along the gradient of daily tourist activity; (iv) the abundance of Moenkhausia bonita, which was higher in the active sites and significantly increased along the gradient of daily tourist activity in one stream but decrease along the gradient in other stream; (v) the abundance of Hyphessobrycon eques, which was greater in inactive sites, regardless the gradient of daily tourist activity. With the exception of metric “iv”, the metrics were mediated by the reduction in habitat structural complexity due to snorkeling disturbance. The definition of these metrics is relevant because the degradation of ecosystem structural elements is one of the main impacts of recreational activities on aquatic environments. The easy recognition of target species and high water transparency throughout the year ensures the feasibility of these metrics in monitoring programs and may be applied by technicians after quick guides and training.

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Acknowledgments

This study is part of the projects “Fish as indicators of water quality in urban and tourist areas of Bodoquena Plateau, Mato Grosso do Sul” (MCT/CNPq/CTHidro 39/2006) and “Biodiversity and conservation of the ichthyofauna in Bodoquena Plateau: index of biotic integrity, eco-physiology and behavior applied to tourism development” (FUNDECT/Call 04/2005—Research Network). Authors are grateful to Eduardo F. Coelho and staff for permission and logistical support provided to conducting this study at Cabeceira do Prata Farm and to Geraldo Magela and family, for permission and logistical support to study at São Geraldo Farm. We also thank anonymous reviewers that made valuable suggestions on the manuscript. FBT and RMR received doctoral fellows from FAPESP (2008/03583-9, 2007/05400-6), LC and JS receive grants from CNPq (303647/2007-8, 306169/2008-8).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratório de Ictiologia, Departamento de Zoologia e Botânica, IBILCE, UNESP-Universidade Estadual Paulista, Rua Cristóvão Colombo, 2265, São José do Rio Preto, SP, 15054-000, Brazil

    Fabricio Barreto Teresa, Renato de Mei Romero & Lilian Casatti

  2. Laboratório de Biodiversidade e Conservação de Ecossistemas Aquáticos, Universidade Anhanguera-Uniderp, Campo Grande, MS, 79003-010, Brazil

    José Sabino

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  1. Fabricio Barreto Teresa
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  2. Renato de Mei Romero
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  3. Lilian Casatti
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  4. José Sabino
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Correspondence to Lilian Casatti.

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Teresa, F.B., Romero, R.M., Casatti, L. et al. Fish as Indicators of Disturbance in Streams Used for Snorkeling Activities in a Tourist Region. Environmental Management 47, 960–968 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-011-9641-4

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