Assembléias de peixes em poças temporárias marginais a riachos de terra-firme, Amazônia Central

Abstract

The effect of habitat structural features and physico-chemical characteristics of the water on the composition and richness of fish assemblages in temporary ponds near streams were examined at three spatial scales: micro (between ponds), meso (between parcels) and macro (between drainage basins), in a terra-firme forest reserve in the Central Amazon. The fish assemblages were composed of subgroups of 18 small species. The species were widely distributed in the reserve. The assemblages had a hierarchical structure; where smaller ponds contained subgroups of the species found in larger ponds. The composition and species richness were similar between drainage basins. Fish assemblages structure was influenced by local factors related to habitat structure, such as pond area and depth, canopy cover, and hydroperiod. Physico-chemical caracteristics of the water in the ponds were similar between drainage basins and they had no detectable effect on the pond fish assemblages. No relationship was foud between the composition, richness or abundance of fishes in the ponds and these variables in stretches of streams adjacent to the ponds.