ECOLOGIA DE PEIXES DE RIACHOS INTERMITENTES

Abstract

The ecology of fish from intermittent streams in the Brazilian semi-arid region is still little known. In the past twenty years, the number of researchers dedicated to this topic has increased considerably. However, significant gaps still exist when compared to the perennial streams of other regions of Brazil. Questions that address seasonal variations come up against the determination of capture methods and techniques that are efficient in the different phases of the hydrological cycle. In addition, techniques widely used in perennial systems, such as electrofishing, in most cases, have not been effective. Aspects related to biology, physiology, behavior, functional and taxonomic ecology of fish still need to be investigated taking into account seasonal and spatial scale variations. In view of the growing transformation imposed on the Brazilian semi-arid region by the extensive use of natural resources and by climate change, aquatic environments and their biodiversity are threatened by the transformation of riparian vegetation, the sewage release, the species introduction, the modification of its course and artificial perennialization. Thus, we will present and discuss, in this paper, the studies developed on the ecology of fish in the intermittent streams of the Brazilian semi-arid region and the gaps and challenges to be faced by future research.