TEMPORAL AND SPATIAL VARIABILITY OF FISH ASSEMBLAGES IN A RIVER

HUED , A. C; DARDANELLI, S.; BISTONI, M. A.

COMMUNITY ECOLOGY

AKADEMIAI KIADO RT

Año: 2010 vol. 11 p. 41 - 50

1585-8553

In this study we analyzed long-term data to address temporal and spatial variation in fish assemblages from five sites along Suquía River Basin (Córdoba, Argentina). We described fish assemblage structure and composition to determine if water quality variations generate changes in fish assemblages along the river. Despite of the water quality deterioration fish assemblages could be characterized as qualitatively persistent and quantitative stable, indicating that the specific composition and assemblage structure were relatively constant over time. However, at temporal scale, fish assemblages from the most polluted areas responded to the negative impact with a greater variation of species abundance than those from pristine sites. At spatial scale changes in fish assemblage structure were related with watershed disturbance gradient and indicated a strong association between fish species distribution and water quality variation. The alterations registered in our study suggest a potential unbalance of fish assemblage structure in long term.