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Fish fauna as an indicator of environmental quality in an urbanised region of the Amazon estuary
Author(s) -
Viana A. P.,
Lucena Frédou F.,
Frédou T.,
Torres M. F.,
Bordalo A. O.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1111/j.1095-8649.2009.02487.x
Subject(s) - bay , fauna , estuary , biology , amazon rainforest , fishery , abundance (ecology) , fish <actinopterygii> , channel (broadcasting) , relative species abundance , ecology , water quality , geography , archaeology , engineering , electrical engineering
This study describes the biological importance of Guajará Bay (Belém, Pará, Brazil) for fish fauna and presents a diagnosis of water quality in the main channel and creeks, using the icthyofauna as an ecological indicator. A total of 567 individuals from 40 species were identified. About 58% of these use Guajará Bay as a nursery ground, 49 and 81% use the bay as a breeding and feeding ground, respectively. There were no significant differences between environments as measured by the diversity index; however, fish relative abundance (catch per unit of effort) was greater in the creeks than in the main channel. A significant difference was detected in the fish fauna inhabiting the main channel compared with the creeks. In the main channel, icthyofauna significantly differed during December relative to other months.