Benthic macroinvertebrates in the Paranapanema reservoir cascade (southeast Brazil).

In this study, the composition, specific richness and abundance of benthic macroinvertebrates (<250 microm) from sediments of eight reservoirs of the Paranapanema River (southeast Brazil), as well as from the main tributaries (Taquari, Pardo and Tibagi) and the mouth zone into the Paraná River were analyzed. Nineteen points distributed along 700 km were sampled quarterly (8 campaigns) during a two-year period (2000 and 2001). The zoobenthos was characterized by a high species richness, (c.a. 100 taxa), with the predominance of Diptera Chironomidae (c.a. 50 taxa). There was a great spatial variation in the assemblage structure, mainly when compared the lacustrine zones of the reservoirs in relation to the fluvial stretches. The Oligochaeta Narapa bonettoi was dominant in sampling stations with sandy sediments and high water velocity, mainly in the Pardo River and in the upstream and downstream of the Paranapanema river mouth (Paraná River). Branchiura sowerbyi, other numerically important Oligochaeta, was abundant in regions of the upper and middle Paranapanema basin. The mollusk bivalve Corbicula fluminea was widely distributed, occurring in most stations and sampling periods. A certain increment in richness and abundance of taxa occurred in the middle Paranapanema. Lower depth, higher flow and increase in the trophic conditions seem to favor the benthic fauna development in this region. A seasonal variation pattern during the two years of study could not be detected, especially concerning the zoobenthos abundance.