Fish fauna of the São Francisco River Interbasin Water Transfer reservoirs

Authors

  • Silvia Maria Millan Gutierre Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco, Centro de Conservação e Manejo de Fauna da Caatinga, Laboratório de Ictiologia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1905-3535
  • Augusto Luís Bentinho Silva Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco, Centro de Conservação e Manejo de Fauna da Caatinga, Laboratório de Ictiologia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5296-4077
  • Giancarlo Arraes Galvão Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco, Centro de Conservação e Manejo de Fauna da Caatinga, Laboratório de Ictiologia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8859-2703
  • Luanny Rainy de Almeida Silva Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco, Centro de Conservação e Manejo de Fauna da Caatinga, Laboratório de Ictiologia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1855-7427
  • Luiz Cezar Machado Pereira Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4028-6424
  • Patricia Avello Nicola Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde e Biológicas https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3562-6295

Abstract

Abstract Artificial impoundments are frequently built to mitigate the water scarcity in the drylands such as the Caatinga region in Brazil. The São Francisco Interbasin Water Transfer (SF-IWT) megaproject implemented many artificial reservoirs for that purpose. A checklist of fish species from the SF-IWT reservoirs is provided based on samples from eight years of monitoring. The collections were conducted semiannually at 28 reservoirs divided into three groups: the East Axis, North Axis, and Agreste Branch. The SF-IWT reservoirs presented a total of 47 species, 46 were recorded in the North Axis, 27 in the East Axis, and only seven in the Agreste Branch. Characids and cichlids represented most of the species. The three analyzed groups of reservoirs presented distinct communities and the reservoirs’ age, richness and abundance were relevant variables responsible for fish composition. The SF-IWT reservoirs present a diverse and heterogeneous ichthyofauna, typical of lentic environments. The main colonizers of the SF-IWT reservoirs were fish from the São Francisco donor basin, invasive species anthropically released in those sites, and eventual species from the surrounding receiving basins. As the accumulation curves suggested, a continuous effort could reveal additional species, patterns in long-term colonization, and contribute to data on the reservoirs’ future stabilization phase. Since invasive species were present in most reservoirs, along with donor-basin native species with potential to disperse to the receiving basins, a continuous and detailed monitoring is key for management planning and possible impacts assessment.

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Published

2023-01-01

How to Cite

Gutierre, S. M. M., Silva, A. L. B., Galvão, G. A., Silva, L. R. de A., Pereira, L. C. M., & Nicola, P. A. (2023). Fish fauna of the São Francisco River Interbasin Water Transfer reservoirs. Biota Neotropica, 23(3). Retrieved from //www.biotaneotropica.org.br/BN/article/view/2016

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