Rapid Assessment of Habitat Diversity Along the Araras Stream, Brazil

ABSTRACT Agriculture, urbanization, and industrialization are some of the anthropogenic activities that constantly generate negative impacts on natural environments. Part of this degradation directly affects aquatic systems. This study aimed to evaluate the visual characteristics of the Araras Stream, located in the municipality of Araras, São Paulo state, Brazil. Data was collected at six different assessment sites along the river in both rural and urban areas. The evaluation used a Rapid Habitat Diversity Assessment (RHDA) protocol composed of 22 parameters, which define levels of preservation of ecological conditions. According to this protocol, the 32 Km-long study transect along the Araras Stream was rated as impacted (39.6 points). A separate assessment by transects showed that only Transect 1 presented a natural level of preservation (71.8 points). Transects located in the urban area contributed the most to impacts on the aquatic environment. The RHDA protocol proved to be an important tool to evaluate and monitor aquatic environments.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Bentos,Adriel Barboza, Gallo,Anderson de Souza, Guimarães,Nathalia de França, Souza,Maicon Douglas Bispo de, Stolf,Rubismar, Borges,Maria Teresa Mendes Ribeiro
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Instituto de Florestas da Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro 2018
Online Access:	http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2179-80872018000100107
Tags:	Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!