Abordagem multicriterial e indicadores ecológicos e econômicos utilizados na identificação de áreas prioritárias para a conservação da ictiofauna no Estuário Amazônico, Brasil

Abstract

This study was divided into three steps: (1) description of spatial and temporal distribution of fish fauna in the area of transition from marine and freshwater environments (Chapter 1), (b) use of descriptors of community as a way to determine the community structure and use of the habitat for fish fauna (Chapter 2) and (3) use of community descriptors studied in Chapters 1 and 2, as a criteria to development indicators (integrated in GIS environment) to define priority areas and scenarios for the conservation of the fish fauna (Chapter 3). The collections of the fish fauna in the main channel and tidal creek occurred from 2004 to 2011 during the dry period (July- December) and rainy period (January-June), using gill net, trawl and block net as fishing gears, and in three important areas of the Amazon estuary: the bays of Guajará and Marajó and Guamá River. A total of 41,516 specimens of 136 species, 38 families and 12 orders were captured. The spatial and temporal distribution of fish fauna in the area of transition from mesohaline and freshwater environments showed that species richness increases from the Guamá River towards the Marajó Bay, along with the increasing salinity. In relation to trophic functional groups, piscivores (PV) and zoobentívoros (ZB) were dominant in all areas. The community descriptors obtained in the main channel, showed the highest values of biomass and relative abundance in number in Marajó Bay. In relation to the tidal channel, the abundance of biomass was greater in Guajará Bay. The main channel is used for breeding and nursery, and 90% of the individuals were immature. The indicators of diversity of the environment (DA), habitat use (UH), relative abundance (CPUE), environmental health (SA) and relation to fisheries (PR), showed conservation priorities considered medium and high, along the area study. This trend was also observed considering the ecological and economic scenarios, that showed medium-high and high-very high priority for conservation of the fish fauna in the northern portion Marajó Bay in the dry period, respectively. The methodologies used determined the ecological importance of the study area, emphasizing the heterogeneity between them and therefore cannot be considered as a single environment. The multicriteral approach adopted has no precedent for the Amazon estuary. This methodology proved to be effective in providing, through the different scenarios, a range of options that allows the decision maker to explore the issue as best as possible or use it as part of a process of decision making.