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Published on: November 20, 2017
Beta Diversity of Fish Assemblage in Semi-arid Reservoirs Subjected to Prolonged Drought
Klisman José Santos-Dantas1, Juliana Dos S Severiano1, Silvia Yasmin Lustosa-Costa1,2
1Universidade Estadual da Paraíba- UEPB, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação (PPGEC), Laboratório de Ecologia Aquática (LEAQ), Campus I, Departamento de Biologia, Rua das Baraúnas, 351, Bairro Universitário, 58429-000 Campina Grande, PB, Brazil.
Abstract:
Prolonged drought events are expected to become more frequent due to climate change. Although they already occur in semiarid regions, their impact on fish assemblages in reservoirs remains unknown. This study aimed to assess the beta diversity of fish assemblages and the relative importance of spatial and environmental filtering within a period of prolonged drought. Samples were collected with trawl nets in five reservoirs in July, September, and November 2016 and March and June 2017. Beta diversity based on taxonomy and abundance was divided into species replacement and differences in richness/abundance. Limnological variables and geographic distance between reservoirs were used to test their effect on fish assemblages. Abundance decreased and taxonomic beta diversity increased in the month of lowest volume, due to geographic isolation (spatial filtering), which may have limited dispersal and caused the clustered distribution of fish. Both components of beta diversity were important in explaining it, demonstrating the need for different conservation strategies. Therefore, conservation strategies need to be adopted to conserve fish and ensure recolonization of fish assemblages during the subsequent rainy season, reducing local extinction events.
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