Estrutura e dinâmica da comunidade de macroinvertebrados em uma bacia hidrográfica do sul do Brasil

Abstract

Lotic ecosystems have a range of ecological variables that change from source to mouth, having direct influence on succession of aquatic biota. In temperate regions rivers are different from those located in tropical regions. In tropical regions the flood pulse has a strong influence on communities of macroinvertebrates. Distribution and composition of the community of macroinvertebrates respond to variations in biotic and abiotic factors and are related to different regions and types of habitat available in the systems. Studies on diversity, structure and dynamics of macroinvertebrates provide essential information on the biodiversity and for programs of management and monitoring of water resources. In this sense, the general objective of this master’s dissertation was to investigate the richness, abundance, composition and trophic groups of macroinvertebrates in nine small-sized streams in a hydrographic basin in southern Brazil and to analyze the influence of physical and chemical parameters of water and d