Biodiversity of parasites of Characiformes fishes (Teleostei) from streams of the Middle Paranapanema River Basin, Southeast Brazil

Abstract

Brazilian biodiversity is one of the richest in the world, with special emphasis given to its fish fauna, which has great richness and diversity. However, the number of parasite species of Brazilian freshwater fish is relatively low compared with the biodiversity of the host species, because it is estimated that only a small percentage of these parasite species has been described. Thus, the aim of this project is to conduct a study about the biodiversity of parasites of six fish species of the order Characiformes in streams of the Middle Paranapanema River Basin, Southeast Brazil, and to evaluate the parasite community structure of the hosts analyzed. Sampling will be carried out only in the dry season during two years (2016 and 2017), in 24 streams belonging to four micro-basins located in the south of the municipality of Avaré, São Paulo State. Sixty specimens of each fish species will be collected, and 30 will be collected in the first year and 30 in the second year. All specimens will be photodocumented and morphometry of systematic value structures of parasites will be obtained through computerized image analysis. The composition and structure of the parasite community of each fish species will be evaluated, and the following parameters of parasite communities will be analyzed, such as prevalence, mean intensity of infection, mean abundance, the pattern of parasite species distribution, dominance, richness and diversity.