Patrícia Giongo

Ichthyofauna, Uberabinha River (Upper Paranaíba River Basin), Triangle Mineiro region, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil

The Uberabinha River is a tributary to the Paranaiba River and, up to now, data about its ichthyofauna was still unknown. Currently the fish community suffers threats due to environmental degradation and the construction of hydroelectric dams. The present study sought to survey the ichthyofauna of the Uberabinha River. Samples were collected in November 2011 and January 2012 using gill nets, cast nets, trawls and sieves. We captured 844 individuals, totaling 36 species of fish. This is the first record of fish from the Uberabinha River and is probably an altered assemblage due to environmental impacts caused by human actions.

Ichthyofauna of the Carrapato, Mutum and Caba Saco streams (Araguaia River Basin), Serra dos Carajás region, southeastern Pará, Brazil

The ichthyofaunistic studies from the Tocantins-Araguaia River Basin are mainly concentrated in the main channel of the Araguaia and Tocantins rivers, due to faunal studies required for hydroelectric projects. Brooks and streams are usually neglected, though they represent the habitats most threatened by human activities. These small water courses present a great diversity of fishes, and they also have high rates of endemic species. The study was conducted from December 2009 to January 2010. For the inventory, the methodology used was the Rapid Assessment Program (RAP). In each sampled area three types of data collection were utilized: open interviews with local fishermen, naked eye fish surveying, and fishing with cast nets and gill nets. This study aimed to identify the main fish species that occur in the Mutum and Caba Saco streams, that form the Pau D’Arco River, and in the Carrapato Stream that flows to the Preto River, both belonging to the Araguaia River Basin.

Heterotilapia buttikoferi (Hubrecht, 1881) (Perciformes: Cichlidae), an introduced exotic fish in the upper Paraná river basin

Aquatic biodiversity loss can be attributed in part by the presence of invasive species that increase the risk of extinction of native species through competition, predation, transmission of parasites and disease, hybridization and introgression. This study reports the first record of Heterotilapia buttikoferi in the upper Paraná River basin, Brazil. Additionally, the effects of establishment of this invasive species and the lack of an effective political and environmental management in Brazil that hinder exotic species’ eradication are herein discussed.