Biodiversity and spacial structure of parasites of Loricariidae fishes (Teleostei: Siluriformes) from Brazil

Abstract

Few studies report the biodiversity of fish parasites in natural populations in order to improve information about their geographical distribution, biology and spacial structure of the parasite community. The limited knowledge about the biological aspects, biogeographic patterns of distribution and high morphological variability of Loricariidae fishes are factors that make the studies on biodiversity of this group difficult, including the parasitic diversity of these fishes. During 2012 and 2013, two annual samples (dry/rainy seasons) were carried out, in eight sites situated between three Small Hydro Power Plants (SHPs): Palmeiras, Anhanguera, and Retiro. Specimens of Loricaria prolixa (n=50), Hypostomus regani (n=50), Hypostomus ancistroides (n=50), Hypostomus strigaticeps (n=50), Hypostomus heraldoi (n=9), Hypostomus margaritifer (n=23), Hypostomus cf. margaritifer (n=18); Hypostomus topavae (n=10); Hypostomus aff. topavae (n=46) and Hypostomus n. sp. (n=23), were analised, totaling 329 fishes. The aim of this study is to survey the biodiversity of metazoan parasites of Loricariidae fishes in an area under the influence of the construction of Small Hydro Power Plants (SHPs) in the Sapucaí-Mirim River, São Paulo State, Brazil. Work will concentrate on evaluating the spacial structure of parasitic communities of these hosts (at both the component community and infracommunity levels), assessing the variation in parasite species composition among sites and fish species (Beta-Diversity), and determining the changes in infracommunity abundance based on explanatory variables, such as host size (body weight), space (sampled area), time (year and season of capture). (AU)