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Ecological assessment of a southeastern Brazil reservoir

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https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/articles/qj72p9136

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  • Reservoirs are artificial ecosystems with multiple functions having direct and indirect benefits to humans; however, they also cause ecological changes and influence the composition and structure of aquatic biota. Our objectives were to: (1) assess the environmental condition of Nova Ponte Reservoir, Minas Gerais state, southeastern Brazil; and (2) determine how the aquatic biota respond to disturbances. A total of 40 sites in the littoral zone of the reservoir were sampled to characterize physical and chemical habitat, land use, and benthic macroinvertebrate and fish assemblages. The predominant type of land cover near the reservoir was natural vegetation. A total of 29 fish species and 39 macroinvertebrate taxa were collected, including eight alien species. Most sites had intermediate levels of human disturbance, however, high levels of degradation were associated with high proportions of alien species. Disturbances at multiple scales may alter natural patterns and processes, leading to environmental changes and damaging biological communities. Our results reinforce the importance of assessing reservoir ecological conditions at several scales. The study of land use, littoral zone physical habitat characteristics, water quality, and assemblage structure set the ground for proposing actions to rehabilitate and conserve aquatic ecosystems.
  • Keywords: reservoirs, water quality, physical habitat, environmental quality, bioindicators
  • Keywords: reservoirs, water quality, physical habitat, environmental quality, bioindicators
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  • Martins, I., Sanches, B., Kaufmann, P. R., Hughes, R. M., Santos, G. B., Molozzi, J., & Callisto, M. (2015). Ecological assessment of a southeastern Brazil reservoir. Biota Neotropica, 15(1), 1-10. doi:10.1590/1676-06032015006114
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  • 15
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  • The authors acknowledge P&D ANEEL (GT-487) (Projeto de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento da Agência Nacional de Energia Elétrica) and CEMIG (Companhia Energética de Minas Gerais) - Programa Peixe Vivo for funding the project, CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior), CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico), FAPEMIG (Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do estado de Minas Gerais) and PROGRAD/UFMG (Pro-Reitoria de Graduação da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais) for financial support. Special thanks to colleagues from the Laboratório de Ecologia de Bentos - UFMG. MC was awarded research productivity grant CNPq No. 302960/2011-2) and Minas Gerais researcher grant FAPEMIG PPM-00077/13. Reviews by Bianca Terra and 2 anonymous referees improved the manuscript. This manuscript was subjected to review by the National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory’s Western Ecology Division and approved for publication. Approval does not signify that the contents reflect the views of the Agency.
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