Microhabitat use by Phalloceros harpagos Lucinda (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae) from a coastal stream from Southeast Brazil

Abstract

The size-related microhabitat use of Phalloceros harpagos Lucinda, 2008 from Mato Grosso stream (Saquarema - RJ) was examined. We analyzed, during 8.3 h of underwater observation, a 200 m long reach in the upper Mato Grosso stream, quantifying the following microhabitat descriptors: (i) distance from the stream bank, (ii) water column depth, (iii) occurrence on riffle, pool or run mesohabitat, (iv) water velocity, (v) substratum, and (vi) subaquatic vegetal cover. Microhabitat selectivity was analyzed by comparing the microhabitat used by fish and the microhabitat available in the study site. Complementary analyses, based in the Ivlev Electivity Index were applied in order to test selectivity for the microhabitat use. We did not found differences in the microhabitat used by juvenile and adult individuals. Phalloceros harpagos was selective for five among the six analyzed microhabitat descriptors. The occurrence of Phalloceros in the studied stream was limited to shallow pools, close to the river bank, with low water velocities and mud substratum. Vegetal cover was not an important factor in the occurrence of the studied species.