Abstract Worldwide, land use changes and urbanization affect habitat and biota in streams, drastically disrupting environmental conditions and biotic interactions. We evaluated the trophic ecology of the tolerant fish Corydoras paleatus in a prairie stream with contrasting environmental conditions intimately aligned with different nearby land uses. Gut analyses was conducted at three stream reaches with contrasting ecological attributes regarding water quality, habitat structure and riparian condition. A total of 231 guts were analyzed and 15 prey items identified. A significant variation in composition and structure of the dietary assemblage, niche breadth and feeding patterns of C. paleatus under different environmental conditions was observed. Psychodidae prevailed in most deteriorated environmental conditions and Chironomidae, followed by nematodes, in stream reaches where environmental conditions improved. Maximum niche breadth and a larger proportion of generalist individuals were found at the most deteriorated site. Conversely, the proportions of specialized individuals were slightly higher at sites with better ecological conditions. Psychodidae and mineral fragments were positively correlated with the most detrimental conditions, while filamentous algae prevailed where these conditions improved. Overall, good evidence suggesting that trophic ecology of a tolerant species is affected by local environmental conditions in water quality, habitat structure and riparian corridor was observed.

Resumo: Objetivo Neste trabalho avaliamos os padrões longitudinais de distribuição de espécies nativas e não-nativas de peixes em um rio de planície fragmentado hidrologicamente e variável limnologicamente. Métodos Quatro locais representando condições ambientais e de habitat contrastantes foram amostrados: um reservatório de águas claras, uma lagoa de águas turvas e dois trechos do rio, um de águas claras e outro de águas turvas. As variáveis ambientais foram medidas in situ e no laboratório. Os peixes foram amostrados com redes de arrasto e de espera. Resultados Dois cenários ambientais foram identificados. Um à montante, com águas mais frias, claras e pobres em nutrientes e oxigênio dissolvido (o reservatório e o trecho do rio abaixo do mesmo) e outro, à jusante, onde a turbidez, oxigênio dissolvido, temperatura da água, condutividade e os nutrientes aumentaram consideravelmente (a lagoa e o trecho do rio abaixo da mesma). Quatorze espécies com uma alta proporção entre espécies não-nativas e nativas (4/10) foram coletadas. As espécies não-nativas (NNS) estiveram confinadas a condições lênticas, onde o peixe-rei Odontesthes bonariensis dominou as assembleias de peixes. As espécies nativas (NS) proliferaram melhor em condições lóticas onde o cenário de águas turvas favoreceu as espécies tolerantes. As condições ambientais também parecem ter influenciado a distribuição das NNS. A estrutura da assembleia de peixes considerando todas as espécies em conjunto ou NS e NNS em separado, foram significativamente diferentes entre os trechos amostrados e condições de habitat (lêntico-lótico). A abundância total de peixes foi maior em trechos lênticos. A riqueza de espécies e a diversidade foram favorecidas pelo cenário de turbidez. A análise da diversidade beta foi explicada em maior parte pelo turnover revelando a substituição de espécies como o principal padrão de variação. A condutividade elétrica da água, os nitratos e oxigênio dissolvido foram as variáveis preditivas mais importantes nos melhores e mais frequentes modelos explicativos das estruturas da assembleia de peixes. Conclusões Nossos resultados revelaram que uma fauna de peixes Neotropicais pouco diversificada é alterada pela fragmentação do habitat devido à construção de barragens e pela introdução de NNS. As condições ambientais modularam ainda mais a estrutura da assembleia de peixes afetando a distribuição de suas espécies onde as espécies tolerantes foram favorecidas por aguas turvas, ricas em nutrientes, com maior condutividade e pH.

Abstract: Aim We evaluated the longitudinal patterns in distribution of native and non-native fish species in a hydrologically fragmented and environmentally variable lowland temperate river. Methods Four sites representing contrasting habitat and environmental conditions were sampled: a clear water reservoir, a turbid water lagoon and two river reaches with clear and turbid waters each. Environmental variables were measured in situ and in the laboratory. Fishes were sampled using trammel and beach seine nets. Results Two main environmental scenarios were identified: the upstream reaches, with colder, clearer and nutrient-oxygen poor waters (reservoir and its downstream river) and the downstream reaches, where turbidity, dissolved oxygen, water temperature, conductivity and nutrients largely increased (lagoon and its downstream river). Fourteen species with a high non-native/native (4:10) ratio were collected. Non-native species (NNS) were confined to lentic conditions, where the silverside Odontesthes bonariensis dominated. Native species (NS) better thrive in lotic conditions where the turbid scenario further favored tolerant species. Environmental conditions also seemed to influence the distribution of NNS. Fish assemblage structure considering either, all species, NNS or NS significantly differed among sampled reaches and habitat (lentic-lotic) conditions. Total fish abundance was higher in lentic reaches. Species richness and diversity were favored by the turbid scenario. Beta diversity was mostly explained by the replacement component revealing the substitution of species as the main pattern of variation. Water conductivity, nitrates and dissolved oxygen were the most important predictor variables in the best and most frequent explanatory models of fish assemblage structures. Conclusions Our results revealed that a low diversified Neotropical fish fauna is disrupted by habitat fragmentation due to the creation of artificial impoundments and the introduction of NNS. Environmental conditions further modulate the fish assemblage structure by affecting the distribution of species where tolerant species were favored by turbid, nutrient-rich waters with higher conductivity and pH.

Aquatic ecosystems and their biotic communities in the Pampa Plain have been negatively affected by the intensification of land use during the last years. In this scenario, streams are particularly vulnerable. This work characterizes the fish communities and riparian conditions of del Azul stream in different reaches with contrasting land uses: agricultural, urban and livestock. Riparian conditions and ichthyological samplings were conducted during two summers in the three studied sites. In order to characterize riparian conditions and fish communities different indices and metrics were calculated. The empirical relationships between fish metrics and two pampean riparian indices were calculated. The riparian condition differed among land uses, being lowest in the urban section. A total of 1180 fishes of 15 species were captured. The fish community structure of agricultural reach was diametrically different from the others. However, the species composition was similar between reaches. Fish richness was highest at the livestock reach whereas the agricultural reach showed the largest diversity. The abundance of Corydoras paleatus and the relative abundance of Siluriformes were inversely related with the riparian condition. Instead, the abundance of Oligosarcus jenynsii presented the opposite pattern. Fish communities and riparian conditions responded to different land uses and it also was evidenced an association between some fish community attributes and riparian condition. These results contribute to the basic knowledge needed for an efficient conservation and management of the freshwater resources.

La intensificación del uso del suelo en la región pampeana ha afectado negativamente sus ecosistemas acuáticos y las comunidades bióticas que en ellos habitan. En este escenario, los arroyos son particularmente vulnerables. Este trabajo caracteriza la comunidad de peces y las condiciones de ribera del arroyo del Azul en tramos con usos del suelo contrastantes: agrícola, urbano y ganadero. Para ello, se cuantificó la condición de ribera y se realizaron muestreos ictiológicos durante dos períodos estivales. Para caracterizar la ribera y las comunidades de peces se calcularon diversos índices y métricas. Además, se calculó el grado de asociación entre las métricas de peces y dos índices de riberas pampeanos. La condición de ribera bajo los distintos usos de suelo fue diferente, siendo menor en el tramo urbano. Se capturaron 1180 peces y 15 especies. La estructura de peces del tramo agrícola fue diametralmente diferente al resto. Sin embargo, la composición de especies fue semejante entre los sitios. El tramo ganadero presentó la mayor riqueza de peces y el tramo agrícola la máxima diversidad. La abundancia de Corydoras paleatus y la proporción de Siluriformes estuvieron asociadas inversamente a la condición de las riberas. La abundancia de Oligosarcus jenynsii manifestó el patrón opuesto. Los peces y las riberas respondieron a los diferentes usos del suelo. Se evidenció asociación entre algunos atributos de las comunidades de peces y la calidad de ribera. Estos resultados contribuyen al conocimiento de base necesario para una conservación y manejo eficientes de los recursos acuáticos continentales.