A comunidade de invertebrados bentônicos nos reservatórios de Promissão, Nova Avanhandava e Três Irmãos (Baixo Rio Tietê - SP)

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to characterize the benthic community of Promissão, Nova Avanhandava and Três Irmãos reservoirs, in relation to the composition of taxa, population densities and also to verify the occurrence of exotics mollusks in this reservoir system. Moreover, it aimed to evaluate possible relations between the physical and chemical characteristics of the water and of the sediment and the structure of the community considering the spatial (upper, middle and lower portions of each reservoir) and temporal scales (dry and rainy periods). Sampling was carried out through November 2002 (rainy period) and August 2003 (dry period). Sediment samples for the analyses of the benthic community were obtained using a van Veen grab. The benthic communities of Promissão, Nova Avanhandava and Três Irmãos Reservoirs, were represented, in the rainy period, for a total of 24, 23 and 15 taxa, and in the dry period, for a total of 25, 25 and 17 taxa, respectively. In both sampling periods, and in all reservoirs, there were representatives of Phylum Arthropoda, Annelida, Mollusca and Platyhelminthes. Only in Nova Avanhandava Reservoir the occurrence of individuals belonging to the Phylum Crustacea were registered. The main groups in the benthic communities were Mollusca, Oligochaeta and Chironomidae. Amongst the Mollusca, three exotic species were found: Melanoides tuberculata, Corbicula fluminea and Helisoma sp. M. tuberculata was the most abundant species, corresponding to more than 60 % of the total individuals. C. fluminea and Helisoma sp were less abundant and they did not register in all the portions of the reservoirs. Among the representatives of the Oligochaeta, the species Branchiura sowerbyi was the most abundant and unique, occurring in all reservoirs and periods sampled, being registered with a maximum abundance of 6 %, during the rainy period in the upper portion of Promissão Reservoir. Chironomidae had the highest species richness, and Coelotanypus sp was the most abundant taxon, in all the reservoirs studied. The highest diversity of taxons was found in Promissão Reservoir. It is possible that eutrophication have favored the primary production, the survival and the establishment of certain species. The low values of uniformity found in all three reservoirs and in both periods of sampling reflects the presence of highly dominant species, as it is the case of M. tuberculata. The present study evidenced the high capacity of invasion of this species, which is widely distributed in all the reservoirs, evidencing the necessity of control or erradication of these exotic and invasive species in the reservoirs.