La biologie des extinctions

Changes in the structure of fish assemblages in streams along an undisturbed-impacted gradient, upper Paraná River basin, Central Brazil

The João Leite River is located in the upper Paraná basin, Central Brazil. It drains areas covered by Cerrado vegetation interspersed with urban and agricultural areas. This study aims to asses changes of the fish assembleges structure along a undisturbed-impacted gradient in ten stream stretches using ecological descriptors, a similarity index and the abundance-biomass relationship (ABC curves). The fish were collected during the dry period using electrofishing gear in stretches of 50 m. Results show that the environmental variation observed along the undisturbed-impacted gradient considered influences on fish assemblage structure. Both richness and diversity differences between fish assemblages are partially influenced by stream stretch orthonian order and anthropogenic impacts. ABC curves classified six stream stretches located in preserved or impacted areas as undisturbed while four stretches were classified as disturbed. This is attributed to the influence of the undisturbed habitat within the conservation unit and the presence of K- or r- strategist species. This type of study contributes to an understanding of the effects of aquatic environment conservation on the Brazilian Cerrado core area, where the choice of conservation areas prioritizes terrestrial over aquatic aspects.

Variations temporelles des paramètres physicochimiques et microbiologiques de trois écosystèmes aquatiques (Sud-Est de la France) envahis par des Ludwigia

In France, two amphibious hydrophytes of alien Ludwigia (Onagraceae) have for about the past twenty years been causing serious ecological and economic problems: L. peploides (Kunth) Raven et L. grandiflora (Michaux) Greuter & Burdet. This bacteriological and physicochemical study, focused on three different Mediterranean aquatic ecosystems, reveals, for the first time, a direct negative impact of these American invaders. During summer, while plant growth is intensive, and the appearance in the water column of anoxic conditions and production of toxic compounds may be observed, notably in L. grandiflora stands. The toxicity is linked to a proliferation of sulphate-reducing bacteria producing sulphides that are very harmful for aquatic organisms.