Ichthyofauna in an ecological station in the Pantanal of Brazil: the hydrological cycle affecting species composition

H. Pains da Silva1, A. P. D. Barbosa2, L. N. L. Silva2, E. S. Oliveira Jr2, F. Corrêa3, D. L. Z. Kantek4, C. C. Muniz2, F. Corrêa5, Montse Ferrer6

1 Federal University of Mato Grosso-UFMT, 78060-900, Cuiabá, Brazil; 2 University of the State of Mato Grosso – UNEMAT, 78200-000, Cáceres, Brazil; 3 University of the State of Mato Grosso–UNEMAT, Nova Xavantina, Brazil; 4 Taiamã Ecological Station, ICMBio/MT, 78200-000, Cáceres, Brazil; 5 University of the State of Mato Grosso–UNEMAT, 78060-900, Nova Xavantina, Brazil; 6 Arxius de Miscel·lània Zoològica, Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona, Ps Picasso s/n, 08003, Barcelona, Spain

Corresponding author(s): H. Pains da Silva (painsbio@gmail.com)A. P. D. Barbosa (pauladalbem11@gmail.com)L. N. L. Silva (larissa_lima1507@hotmail.com)E. S. Oliveira Jr (ernandes@unemat.br)F. Corrêa (correafecologia@yahoo.com.br)D. L. Z. Kantek (daniel.kantek@icmbio.gov.br)C. C. Muniz (claumir@unemat.br), F. Corrêa (correafecologia@yahoo.com.br)

Received {date}; Revised {date}; Accepted {date}; Published {date}

Citation: Combination of authors, year of data paper publication (in parentheses), Title, Journal Name, Volume, Issue number (in parentheses), and doi of the data paper.

Resource Citation

Pains da Silva, H., Barbosa, A. P. D., Silva, L. N. L., Oliveira Jr, E. S., Corrêa, F., Kantek, D. L. Z., Muniz, C.  C., 2020. Ichthyofauna in an ecological station in the Pantanal of Brazil: the hydrological cycle affecting species composition. Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona. Dataset/Occurrence: https://doi.org/10.15470/jjpuuu https://doi.org/10.15470/jjpuuu

Abstract

This research aims to describe the ichthyological fauna in the area surrounding the Taiamã Ecological Station in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Three expeditions were carried out, in September 2014, February 2015 and May/2015, in seasons ranging from the hydrological conditions of high waters (flood), low waters (drought), and decreasing waters (ebbing). During the research we sampled 3,664 individuals from six orders, 28 families and 78 species. Characiformes was the most abundant order (̴ 81 % of individuals), followed by Siluriformes (̴ 13 % of individuals), and Gymnotiformes (̴ 4 % of individuals). The most representative species were Moenkhausia dichroura (Kner, 1858), Serrapinus calliurus (Boulenger, 1900), Odontostilbe pequira (Steindachner, 1882) and Pimelodella gracilis (Valenciennes, 1840). The dry period showed the highest abundance (1541 individuals), richness (61 species), diversity (H’ = 2.69) and equitability (J’ = 0.65). These results fill a gap concerning species composition in the Pantanal, mainly referring to data available on Conservation Unit, and its surroundings. Moreover, this research provides a database to update the checklist of fish species in a remote wetland, offering a tool for management and conservation.

Keywords: Diversity, Ichthyofauna, Wetland, Conservation Unit, Occurrence, Occurrence

Project details

Project title: Ichthyofauna in an ecological station in the Pantanal of Brazil: the hydrological cycle affecting species composition
Personnel: H. Pains da Silva
Study area descriptions/descriptor: The Taiamã Ecological Station (TES) is located in the Pantanal of Mato Grosso (between W 57o 24' and W 45° 40'; and S 16° 48' and S 16° 58'; fig. 1), 165 km t from the municipality of Cáceres. The TES covers an area of 11,550 ha, comprising the islands of Taiamã and Sararé, and limited by a bifurcation of the Paraguay River (Ikeda-Castrillon et al., 2011). The annual average temperature is 26oC, with highest temperatures in the rainy season (October to December) according to Neves et al. (2011). 
The flood pulse directly influences the area, promoting marked changes in the availability of aquatic habitats. The Pantanal is made up of several phyto physiognomies, such as wet fields, and permanent and temporary bays (Carvalho, 1986; Junk and Da Silva, 2000). The uniform geographical relief denotes a lentic water flow, with periodic flooding due to the flood pulse, which regulates the ecological process in this region (Fernandes et al., 2010). The annual droughts and floods lead to variations in the abundance of certain species (Da Silva et al., 2001; Junk et al. 2014).
Design description: We conducted three field excursions, in September 2014, February 2015, and May 2015. These three periods comprise the seasonal hydric periods of low waters (drought), decreasing waters (ebbing), and high waters (flooding). The study was approved by the Instituto Chico Mendes para a conservação da Biodiversidade–SISBIO num 46263-1). Fish samples were collected at three different points surrounding the TES. Fish capture were captured using a square metallic structure (1 m width  x 2 m length x 1 m depth) with a 3 mm nylon net that was passed underneath the macrophyte beds three times. Netting of several mesh sizes and a dragging net (5 mm internode, 25 m length and 4 m high) were also passed once in the limnetic region of the water body. After the samples were collected, the fish were anesthetized with Eugenol (Keene et al., 1998; Fernandes et al., 2017) and fixed in formalin (concentration of 10 %) until identification. Fish were identified following Britski et al. (2007) and manuscripts of species description. Specimens were then conserved in 70 % alcohol (and deposited in the Laboratory of Ichthyology of the Northern Pantanal – LIPAN, linked to the Research Centre in Limnology, Biodiversity and Ethnobiology of the Pantanal – CELBE/UNEMAT. Abundance, richness (Taxa S), diversity (Shaanon's index, H’) and equitability (Pielou, J’) were calculated for each season  with  PAST 3.0 free software (Hammer et al., 2001).

Data published through GBIF: https://ipt.gbif.es/resource?r=ichthyofauna_brazil

Taxonomic coverage

Taxonomic ranks
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Characiformes, Cichliformes, Cyprinodontiformes, Gymnotiformes, Siluriformes
Family: Acestrorhynchidae, Anostomidae, Characidae, Curimatidae, Erythrinidae, Hemiodontidae, Iguanodectidae, Lebiasinidae, Parodontidae, Serrasalmidae, Triportheidae, Cichlidae, Rivulidae, Gymnotidae, Hypopomidae, Rhamphichthyidae, Sternopygidae, Doradidae, Heptapteridae, Loricariidae, Pimelodidae

Spatial coverage

General spatial coverage: The Taiamã Ecological Station (TES) is located in the Pantanal of Mato Grosso (between W 57o 24' and W 45° 40'; and S 16° 48' and S 16° 58'; fig. 1), 165 km t from the municipality of Cáceres. The TES covers an area of 11,550 ha, comprising the islands of Taiamã and Sararé, and limited by a bifurcation of the Paraguay River
Coordinates: 16°56'45.6''S and 16°56'45.6''S Latitude; 57°35'38.4''W and 57°35'38.4''W Longitude 

Temporal coverage: September 1, 2014

Methods

Method step description: Fish samples were collected at three different points surrounding the TES. Fish capture were captured using a square metallic structure (1 m width  x 2 m length x 1 m depth) with a 3 mm nylon net that was passed underneath the macrophyte beds three times. Netting of several mesh sizes and a dragging net (5 mm internode, 25 m length and 4 m high) were also passed once in the limnetic region of the water body. After the samples were collected, the fish were anesthetized with Eugenol (Keene et al., 1998; Fernandes et al., 2017) and fixed in formalin (concentration of 10 %) until identification.
Study extent description: The Taiamã Ecological Station (TES) is located in the Pantanal of Mato Grosso (between W 57o 24' and W 45° 40'; and S 16° 48' and S 16° 58'; fig. 1), 165 km t from the municipality of Cáceres. The TES covers an area of 11,550 ha, comprising the islands of Taiamã and Sararé, and limited by a bifurcation of the Paraguay River (Ikeda-Castrillon et al., 2011). The annual average temperature is 26oC, with highest temperatures in the rainy season (October to December) according to Neves et al. (2011). 
The flood pulse directly influences the area, promoting marked changes in the availability of aquatic habitats. The Pantanal is made up of several phyto physiognomies, such as wet fields, and permanent and temporary bays (Carvalho, 1986; Junk and Da Silva, 2000). The uniform geographical relief denotes a lentic water flow, with periodic flooding due to the flood pulse, which regulates the ecological process in this region (Fernandes et al., 2010). The annual droughts and floods lead to variations in the abundance of certain species (Da Silva et al., 2001; Junk et al. 2014).
Sampling description: We conducted three field excursions, in September 2014, February 2015, and May 2015. These three periods comprise the seasonal hydric periods of low waters (drought), decreasing waters (ebbing), and high waters (flooding). The study was approved by the Instituto Chico Mendes para a conservação da Biodiversidade–SISBIO num 46263-1).
Quality control description: Fish were identified following Britski et al. (2007) and manuscripts of species description. Specimens were then conserved in 70 % alcohol (and deposited in the Laboratory of Ichthyology of the Northern Pantanal – LIPAN, linked to the Research Centre in Limnology, Biodiversity and Ethnobiology of the Pantanal – CELBE/UNEMAT. Abundance, richness (Taxa S), diversity (Shaanon's index, H’) and equitability (Pielou, J’) were calculated for each season  with  PAST 3.0 free software (Hammer et al., 2001).

Datasets

Dataset description
Object name: Darwin Core Archive Ichthyofauna in an ecological station in the Pantanal of Brazil: the hydrological cycle affecting species composition
Character encoding: UTF-8
Format name: Darwin Core Archive format
Format version: 1.0
Distribution: https://ipt.gbif.es/archive.do?r=ichthyofauna_brazil
Publication date of data: 2022-06-08
Language: English
Licences of use: Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 License

Metadata language: English
Date of metadata creation: 2021-01-11
Hierarchy level: Dataset

References
Pains da Silva, H., Barbosa, A. P. D., Silva, L. N. L., Oliveira Jr, E. S., Corrêa, F., Kantek, D. L. Z.,   Muniz, C.  C., 2020. Ichthyofauna in an ecological station in the Pantanal of Brazil: the hydrological cycle affecting species composition. Arxius de Miscel·lània Zoològica, 18: 183-193, Doi: https://doi.org/10.32800/amz.2020.18.0183 https://doi.org/10.32800/amz.2020.18.0183