Spatial and temporal distribution of the zoobenthos community during the filling up period of Porto Primavera Reservoir (Paraná River, Brazil).

This study is part of the limnological monitoring undertaken by the Energy Company of the State of São Paulo (CESP) during the filling up process of the Porto Primavera Reservoir (Hydroelectric Power Plant Engenheiro Sérgio Motta). This reservoir, located in the high Paraná River between the States of São Paulo and Mato Grosso do Sul, is the fourth largest in the country. The first filling up phase started in December 1998 and the second phase in March 2001. Samples for benthic community and sediment characteristics analysis were quarterly collected between August of 1999 and November 2001 and also in August of 2002 (11 sampling campaigns). Samplings were carried out at 13 stations distributed in the reservoir, and at one point located downstream of the dam. 128 invertebrate taxa were identified, being Mollusca, Annelida, Insecta and Nematoda the dominant groups during almost the whole study period. Insecta was the best represented class (9 different orders), and Diptera contributed with higher number of taxa, 63. The exotic species of bivalve Corbicula fluminea was recorded in all sampling stations showing its great capacity to colonize new habitats in the neotropical region. Noticeable variations in the fauna density were observed, considering both different periods and locations. The maximum density of organisms (mean value of 7812 ind.m-2) was recorded in the center of the reservoir, and the minimum (mean value 9 ind.m-2) in the more lacustrine area near the dam. The greatest species richness per sample (24 taxa) was observed in the reservoir upstream (fluvial zone). The maximum diversity (Shannon-Wiener Index) per station/period, 3.82 and 3.86 bits.ind-1, were calculated in the transitional river/reservoir zone during the beginning (August 1999) and in the reservoir central zones in the end (August 2002) of the filling up period, respectively. There was no clear relation between the distribution of the different faunistic groups and the sediment granulometric characteristics. However, the decrease or even total absence of organisms was observed at stations with high organic matter concentration (>40%) in a low degradation state (coarse detritus). This fact may be related to the lack of sediment deposits, which would cause difficulties to the fixation of the benthic fauna. Additionally, in those conditions more reduced chemical conditions are expected in function of the intense decomposition process of the flooded vegetation.