ISSN 1517-6770

Functional structure of benthic community in a tropical stream in northeast

Brazil: seasonal variation
Marden Seabra Linares1,2,3; Gregorio Guirado Faccioli1 & Liriane Monte Freitas2

¹Programa de Desenvolvimento e Meio Ambiente – UFS

²Museu de História Natural – UFAL

³Corresponding Author. E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract. The aim of this study was to describe the functional structure of the benthic community and how these patterns
vary among the rainy and dry season. The study site is the Salvia stream, a second order tributary of Mundaú River, Rio Largo
–AL. This stream drains a fragment of Atlantic forest and does not have any direct anthropic activity. The macroinvertebrates
were collected using a D net of 0,25mm mesh, during the rainy season (August) of 2010 and the dry season (March) of 2011.
The macroinvertebrates were identified and classified as one of the following functional feeding groups: Shredders, Gathering
Collectors, Filtering Collectors, Scrapers or Predators. The results showed a clear distinction among the two seasons, the rainy
season, dominated by Shredders, and the dry season, dominated by the Gathering Collectors, suggesting a difference between
the quality of the food available for the benthic community on the seasons. On the other hand, since both of the dominant
functional groups are dependent on allocthonous organic matter, its shows that the stream is highly heterotrophic on both
seasons. The study shows that the functional organization of the benthic macroinvertebrates in Salvia stream has clear seasonal
patterns and also reinforces the importance of the season to biomonitorng studies for this region.

Keywords: Aquatic macroinvertebrates, functional feeding groups, seasonality, shredders, gathering-collectors.

Resumo. Estrutura funcional da comunidade bentônica em um córrego tropical no Nordeste do Brasil: variação sazonal.
O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever a estrutura funcional da comunidade bentônica e como esses padrões variam entre a
estação chuvosa e seca. A área de estudo foi o córrego Salvia, uma segunda ordem afluente do rio Mundaú, Rio Largo-AL. Este
córrego drena um fragmento de Mata Atlântica e não tem qualquer atividade antrópica direta. Os macroinvertebrados foram
coletados por meio de uma rede D de 0,25 mm de malha, durante o período chuvoso (agosto) de 2010 e na estação seca (março)
de 2011. Os macroinvertebrados foram identificados e classificados em um dos seguintes grupos funcionais de alimentação:
trituradores, coletores, coletores de filtragem, raspadores ou predadores. Os resultados mostraram uma clara distinção entre
as duas estações, a estação chuvosa, dominado por trituradores, e a estação seca, dominada pelos coletores, sugerindo uma
diferença entre a qualidade dos alimentos disponíveis para a comunidade bentônica nas estações. Por outro lado, uma vez
que ambos os grupos funcionais dominantes são dependentes de matéria orgânica, mostrando que o córrego é altamente
heterotrófico em ambas as estações. O estudo mostra que a organização funcional dos macroinvertebrados bentônicos no
córrego Salvia tem padrões sazonais claros e também reforça a importância da temporada para estudos de biomonitoramento
desta região.

Palavras-chave: Macroinvertebrados aquáticos, grupos funcionais de alimentação, sazonalidade, trituradores, coletores.

Revista Brasileira de Zoociências 15 (1, 2, 3): 147-154. 2013

148. Linares et al.

Introduction tial, especially for consistency in regional applica-

tions in which species composition would change
Tropical rivers support a rich but incomplete-
but functional composition might not (Poff, 1997;
ly known biota and an important effort should be
Rabeni et al., 2005; Compim & Céréghino, 2007). It consti-
made to develop realistic models of the structure
tutes an important tool in biomonitoring programs
and functioning of natural tropical streams (Toma-
and provides basic knowledge for the identification
Nova et al., 2006). To characterize those ecosystems
of policies and proposal for conservation and main-
conditions, a functional approach may be more ap-
tenance use of natural resources of a given area
propriate, since it is more rapid, require lesser taxo-
(Oliveira & Nessimian, 2010).
nomic effort and also provide data more applicable
to other systems than the taxonomic methodolo- Studies based on macroinvertebrate feeding ha-
gies (Cummins et al., 2005; Santoul et al., 2005). bits and plasticity may allow more precise results
in relation to the spatial-temporal variations in the
The ability to view a faunal assemblage as a collec-
functional organization of benthic communities,
tion of functional groups provides valuable insight
which is of great ecological importance since, in
into which food resources are prevalent, and allows
combination with other monitoring procedures,
one to observe how different groups of organisms
the functional approach is clearly superior to the
respond to environmental variables (Allan & Castillo,
commonly used biomonitoring procedures (Chavet
2007). The functional feeding group (FFG) method,
et al., 1998). Many aspects of trophic organization
which has been developed, refined and applied over
and food web structure and functioning can reveal
the last 40 years, is based on morphological and
fundamental properties of stream ecosystem, lea-
behavioral adaptations to acquire the food resour-
ding to the understanding of relationships and pre-
ces (Cummins, 1973; Cummins, 1974; Merritt & Cummins,
dicting dynamics (Ueda & Motta, 2007). This appro-
1996; Cummins et al., 2005). This grouping reflects both
ach may allow more accurate assessment of water
convergent and parallel evolution leading to functio-
quality and ecological integrity which indeed could
nally similar organisms and reflects the four most im-
makes possible the application of more appropriate
portant food resources found in streams: periphyton,
conservation and restoration strategies in the re-
coarse particulate organic matter, fine particulate gional lotic ecosystems (Principe et al., 2010).
organic matter, and animal prey (Principe et al., 2010).
In the temperate zone, the pattern of FFG dis-
Functional feeding classification of aquatic or- tribution has been related to the environmental
ganisms enhances of trophic dynamics in aquatic gradient by Vannote et al. (1980), but ecological
systems, as macroinvertebrates derive their nutri- information about tropical species is very scarce,
tion from a spatially and temporally variable system fundamental research on this subject is necessary
since streams and rivers are characterized by sea- (Tomanova et al. 2006). In Brazil the number of stud-
sonal, local, and stream order differences in inputs, ies on has increased on the last decade, mainly on
production, and storage of food resources (Cummins the south and southeast regions (eg. Callisto et al.,
& Klug, 1979). The use of functional groups in moni- 2001; Cummins et al., 2005; Oliveira & Nessimian, 2010;
toring and assessment is considered to have poten- Righi-Cavallaro et al., 2010).

Revista Brasileira de Zoociências 15 (1, 2, 3): 147-154. 2013

 Functional structure of benthic community in a tropical stream in northeast Brazil .149

The seasonality plays an important factor at the the valleys, and with typical native vegetation for-
lotic ecosystems of Brazilian northeast region, as ming a canopy that filters the sunlight considerably,
rainfall, flow and current speed are the main factor but also contains patches of exotic species, espe-
that act directly on the benthic macroinvertebrate cially Asian bamboos (Bambusa sp.). Mata da Sálvia
fauna (Silveira, 2004), and there is a marked differen- is surrounded by sugarcane plantations, a common
ce among the dry and rainy seasons. Under the hy- characteristic for small Atlantic forest fragments in
pothesis that the seasonality cause significant diffe- Alagoas (Assis, 2000). It is located in the bioclimatic
rence on the benthic community on Salvia stream, zone, close to 75 biologically dry days, within the
the aim of this study was to describe the functional climate domain As’, according to the Köppen-Gei-
structure of a benthic community on Salvia stream ger climate classification, with dry summers, from
both on rainy and dry seasons. September to March, and rainy winters, from April
to August (Assis, 2000).
Methodology
The stream is kept free from mostly anthropoge-
Study Area
nic impacts, as its waters are used for irrigation and
This study was carried out in the Salvia stream, human consumption. The only exception is a small
a small water course that belongs to the Mundaú water treatment plant, located near the mouth of
river watershed, located in Rio Largo Municipality, the river, after the forest fragment delimitation.
Alagoas. This environment is a second order stream,
with a homogeneous substrate composed of sand,
Data Collect
without rocks or algae patches. Ten sampling sites were determined along the
river (Table 1), with two replicates each site. To re-
The draining area of the Salvia stream is Mata da
present the two seasons of the region the samples
Sálvia, a 100 ha remnant of Atlantic forest. Its topo-
were collected on August/2010, for the rainy sea-
graphy includes a very irregular relief, with altitude
son, and on March/2011, for the dry season.
ranging between 120 m in elevation and 40 m in

Table 1. Location of the sampling sites on the Salvia stream.

Site Coordinates
1 S09°31’02,9” W35°49’54,6”
2 S09°31’02,9” W35°49’56”
3 S09°31’01,3” W35°49’55,5”
4 S09°31’22,4” W35°49’34,6”
5 S09°31’11,1” W35°50’05,3”
6 S09°31’27,2” W35°50’15,8”
7 S09°31’29,2” W35°50’21,3”
8 S09°31’33,4” W35°50’33,9”
9 S09°31’38,6” W35°50’41,2”
10 S10°32’16,7” W37°14’01,7”

Revista Brasileira de Zoociências 15 (1, 2, 3): 147-154. 2013

150. Linares et al.

The macroinvertebrates were collected using a lectors (FC), that capture fine particulate organic
D net (0,250mm mesh), with two sampling units at matter from the water column using silken nets and
each site. All samples were preserved in 70% etha- filtering fans; Scrapers (SC), who feed on algae at-
nol and the biological material was sorted using a tached on stable surfaces; Predators (PR), who feed
stereomicroscope. The organisms were identified on living prey. Each taxon is assigned to a single
to Family level, except for Oligochaeta and Hydra- FFG, except for Chironomidae. For this family the
carina, using specialized literature (Mccafferty 1983; key requires that 10% of the specimens to be coun-
Mugnai et al. 2010). ted as Predators and the rest as Gathering Collec-
tors. In order to assess whether functional feeding
The Functional Feeding Groups (FFG) were de-
group abundances were different among periods,
termined using the key presented in Cummins et al.
a T Student test was performed using the software
(2005), which classified the macroinvertebrates as
PAST 2.5 (Hammer et al., 2001).
one of the following functional feeding groups:
Shredders (SR) invertebrates that chews conditio- Results
ned litter or live vascular plant tissue (coarse par-
A total of 743 were collected, belonging to se-
ticulate organic matter); Gathering Collectors (GC),
venteen taxa (Table 2). Chironomidae (Diptera) and
that acquire fine particulate organic matter from
Palaemonidae were the dominant taxa, consisting,
interstices in the bottom sediments; Filtering Col-
respectively, of 41,05% and 36,47% of the total.
Table 2. Functional classification and absolute frequency of the macroinvertebrate collected in rainy (August/2010) and dry (March/2011) seasons
in Salvia stream, Alagoas state.

TAXA Rainy Season Dry Season FFG

Turbellaria 02 03 PR
Oligochaeta 03 02 GC
Hydracarina 02 03 PR
Palaemonidae 245 26 SR
Calopterigidae 08 00 PR
Caenagrionidae 04 01 PR
Corduliidae 04 10 PR
Gomphidae 18 15 PR
Libellulidae 00 03 PR
Corixidae 00 01 SC
Hebridae 00 01 PR
Mesoveliidae 02 00 PR
Baetidae 20 21 GC
Leptophlebiidae 12 08 GC
Helicopsychidae 08 01 SC
Chironomidae 35 270 GC/PR
Tipulidae 02 07 PR
Elmidae 02 04 GC
Total 367 376 -

Revista Brasileira de Zoociências 15 (1, 2, 3): 147-154. 2013

 Functional structure of benthic community in a tropical stream in northeast Brazil .151

Considering the Functional Feeding Groups (Ta- season (66,76%) and the Gathering Collectors were
ble 3), the Shredders were dominant in the rainy dominant in the dry season (73,94%).
Table 3. Absolute and relative frequencies of the functional feeding groups collected in rainy (August/2010) and dry (March/2011) seasons in
Salvia stream, Alagoas state.

FFG Rainy % Dry %

Shredder 245 66,76% 26 06,91%
Gathering Collector 68 18,53% 278 73,94%
Scrapper 8 02,18% 2 0,53%
Predator 46 12,53% 70 18,62%
Total 367 100,00% 376 100,00%

The results of the T test showed a significant di- mits the growth of autotrophic producers, as des-
fference between the two seasons among the Shre- cribed by Vannote et al. (1980). This explains the
dders (t:2,7846; p<0,05) and Gathering Collectors rarity of Scarpers collected on this study. Scrapers
(t:6,2401; p<0,05). The Filtering Collectors (t:2,0494; and Filtering Collectors are also hindered by the
p:0,0658), Scrappers (t:1,7008; p:0,1061) and Preda- unconsolidated substrate. This king of substrate
tors (t:1,555; p:0,1373) didn’t show significant diffe- does not allow the attachment of the algae, further
rence between the two studied seasons. limiting the food source available for the Scarpers,
and explain the absense of the filtering collectors
Discussion
to attach themselves to consolidate substrata to
The results show that most of the macroinverte- capture their food on the water column (Cummins et
brates collected are associated to particulate orga- al., 2005).
nic matter. The macrobenthic community in Salvia
During the rainy season the benthic communi-
stream is dominated by Shredders and Gathering
ty is dominated by the Shredders, which indicates
Collectors, functional feeding groups dependent
a greater input of coarse particulate organic matter
on the input of riparian vegetation as primary food
originated from the surrounding terrestrial ecosys-
source. This is expected to a low order stream that
tem, which corroborates with the results from Rezen-
drains a forested area, as allocthonous organic mat-
de & Mazzoni (2005). It should be noted that the only
ter, mainly leaves from riparian vegetation, is a major
taxon characterized as a Shredder was Palaemoni-
energy source of low order woodland streams with
dae (Decapoda). Usually the process of shredding
well-developed riparian corridors (Benfield, 1997;
is carried by insect taxa, such as Trichoptera larvae
Wallace et al., 1997; Cummins et al., 2005; Tomanova et
and Plecoptera nymphs. Since none of these insect
al., 2006; Clarke et al., 2008; Uwadiae, 2010).
shredder taxa were collected at this study, the de-
The high proportion of both Gathering Collec- composition of plant material form coarse to fine
tors and Shredders to Scarpers indicate that the detritus in the Salvia stream is operated by macro-
Salvia stream is a very heterotrophic environment. consumers, a pattern that is common in tropical en-
The shading caused by the riparian vegetation li- vironments (Rosemond et al., 1998; Dobson et al., 2003;

Revista Brasileira de Zoociências 15 (1, 2, 3): 147-154. 2013

152. Linares et al.

Wantzen & Wagner, 2006; Landeiro et al., 2008; Benstead Banfield, E.F. 1997. Comparison of litterfall input to
et al., 2009; Uwadiae, 2010). streams. In: Webster, J.R & Meyer. J.L. Stream organic
matter budgets. Journal of North American
The dominance of the gathering collectors du-
Benthological Society 16: 104-108.
ring the Dry season indicates lower input of orga-
nic matter from the terrestrial vegetation during Benstead, J.P.; March, J.G.; Pringle, C.M.; Ewel, K.C. & Short,
this season, which turns the benthic community J.W. 2009. Biodiversity and ecosystem function in
dependent on the fine particulate organic matter species-poor communities: community structure
present at the interstices of the sediment. It cor- and leaf litter breakdown in a Pacific island stream.
roborates with other studies that show that the Journal of the North American Benthological
tropical aquatic insects has strong affinity to fine Society 28 (2): 454-465.
detritus, demonstrating the importance of this
Callisto, M.; Moreno, P. & Barbosa, F.A.R. 2001. Habitat
food resource and of the Gathering Collector role
diversity and benthic functional trophic groups at
in these ecosystems (Palmer et al., 1993; Tomanova et
Serra do Cipó, southeastern Brazil. Revista Brasileira
al., 2006; Carvalho & Ueida, 2009; Principe et al., 2010;
de Biologia 61 (2): 259-266.
Suga & Tanaka, 2013).
Carvalho, E.M. & Uieda, V.S. 2009. Diet of invertebrates
Conclusions
sampled in leaf bags incubated in a tropical
The functional organization of the benthic ma- headwater stream. Zoologia 26 (4): 694-704.
croinvertebrates in Salvia stream has clear seasonal
patterns, varying from a Shredder dominated sys- Chavet, S.; Kosmala, A. & Statzner, B. 1998. Biomonitoring

tem during the Rainy season to a Gathering Col- through biological traits of macroinvertebrates:
lector dominated during the Dry season. This show perspectives for a general tool in stream management.
that the available food resources vary qualitatively Archiv für Hydrobiologie 124: 415-432.
among the seasons and that they are critical to the Clarke, A., Mcnally, R., Bond, N. & Lake, P.S. 2008.
functional organization of the benthic community. Macroinvertebrate diversity in headwater streams: a
It also reinforces the importance of the season to review. Freshwater Biology 53: 1707-1721.
biomonitorng studies. However, it requires further
Compin, A. & Céréghino, R. Spatial patterns of
studies to fully understand the dynamics of this en-
vironment. macroinvertebrate functional feeding groups in
streams in relation to physical variables and land-
References cover in southwestern France. Landscape Ecology
Allan, J.D. & Castillo, M.M. 2007. Stream ecology: 22: 1215-1225.
structure and function of running waters.
Cummins, K.W. 1973. Trophic relations of aquatic insects.
Dordrecht, Springer.
Annual Review of Entomology 18: 183-266.
Assis, J.S. 2000. Biogeografia e conservação da
Cummins, K.W. 1974. Structure and function of stream
biodiversidade – projeções para Alagoas. Maceió,
ecosystems. Bioscience 24: 259-266.
Catavento, 200p.

Revista Brasileira de Zoociências 15 (1, 2, 3): 147-154. 2013

 Functional structure of benthic community in a tropical stream in northeast Brazil .153

Cummins, K.W. & Klug, M.J. 1979. Feeding ecology of communities in Serra da Bocaina streams,
stream invertebrates. Annual Review of Ecology southeastern Brazil. Acta Limnologica Brasiliensia
and Systematics 10: 147-172. 22 (4): 424-441.

Cummins, K.W.; Merritt, R.W. & Andrade, P.C.N. 2005. The use of Palmer, C.; O’keefe, J.; Palmer, A.; Dunne, T. & Radloff, S. 1993.
macroinvertebrate functional groups to characterize Macroinvertebrate functional feeding groups in the
ecosystem attributes in selected streams and rivers middle and lower reaches of the Buffalo river, eastern
in south Brazil. Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Cape, South Africa, I: dietary variability. Freshwater
Environment 40 (1): 69-89. Biology 29: 441-453.

Dobson, M.; Mathooko, J.M.; Ndegwa, F.K. & M’erimba, C. 2003. Poff, N.L. 1997. Landscape filters and species traits:
Leaf litter processing rates in a Kenyan highland towards mechanistic understanding and prediction
stream, the Njoro River. Hydrobiologia 519: 207- in stream ecology. Journal of the North American
210. Benthological Society 16: 391-409.

Hammer, O.: Harper, D.A.T. & Ryan, P.D. 2001. PAST: Principe, R.E.; Gualdoni, C.M.; Oberto, A.M.; Raffaini, G.B. &
paleontological statistics software package for Corigliano, M.C. 2010. Spatial-temporal patterns of
education and data analysis. Palaeontologia functional feeding groups in mountain streams of
Electronica 4 (1): 1-9. Córdoba, Argentina. Ecología Austral 20: 257-268.

Landeiro, V.L.; Hamada, N. & Melo, A.S. 2008. Response Rabeni, C.F.; Doisy, K.E. & Zweig, L.D. 2005. Stream
of aquatic invertebrate assemblages and leaf invertebrate community functional responses to
breakdown to macroconsumer exclusion in deposited sediment. Aquatic Sciences 67: 395-402.
Amazonian “terra firme” streams. Fundamental and
Rezende, C.F. & Mazzoni., R. 2005. Seasonal variation in the
Applied Limnology 172 (1): 49-58.
input of allochthonous matter in na Atlantic Rain
Mccafferty, W.P. 1983. Aquatic entomology: the Forest stream, Ilha Grande-RJ. Acta Limnologica de
fisherman’s and ecologists’ illustrated guide Brasiliensia 17 (2): 167-175.
to insects and their relatives. Boston, Jones and
Righi-Cavallaro, K.O.; Roche, K.F.; Froelich, O. & Cavallaro, M.R.
Bartllet Publishers.
2010. Structure of macroinvertebrate communities
Merritt, R.W. & Cummins, K.W. 1996. An introduction to in riffles of a neotropical stream in the wet and dry
the aquatic insects of North America. Dubuque, seasons. Acta Limnologica Brasiliensia 22 (3): 306-
Kendall/Hunt. 316.

Mugnai, R.; Nessimian, J.L. & Baptista, D.F. 2010. Manual de Rosemond, A.D., Pringle, C.M. & Ramírez, A. 1998.
identificação dos macroinvertebrados aquáticos Macroconsumer effect on insect detritivores and
do estado do Rio de Janeiro. Rio de Janeiro, detritus processing in a tropical stream. Freshwater
Technical Books. Biology 39: 515-523.

Oliveira, A.L.H. & Nessimian, J.L. 2010. Spatial distribution Santoul, F.; Cayrou, J.; Mastrorillo, S. & Céréghino, R. 2005.
and functional feeding groups of aquatic insect Spatial patterns of the biological traits of freshwater

Revista Brasileira de Zoociências 15 (1, 2, 3): 147-154. 2013

154. Linares et al.

fish communities in S.W. Journal of Fish Biology 66:

301-314.

Silveira, M.P. 2004. Aplicação do biomonitoramento

para avaliação da qualidade da água em rios.
Jaguariúna, EMBRAPA Meio Ambiente.

Suga C.M. & Tanaka M.O. 2013. Influence of a forest

remnant on macroinvertebrate communities in a
degraded tropical stream. Hydrobiologia 703: 203-
213.

Tomanova, S.; Goitia, E. & Helesic, J. 2006. Trophic levels and

functional feeding groups of maroinvertebrates in
neotropical streams. Hydrobiologia 556: 251-264.

Uwadiae, R.E. 2010. Macroinvertebrates functional

feeding groups as indices of biological assessment
in a tropical aquatic ecosystem: implications for
ecosystem functions. New York Science Journal 3
(8): 6-15.

Vannote, R.L.; Minshall, G.W.; Cummins, K.W.; Sedell, J.R. &

Cushing, C.E. 1980. The river continuum concept.
Canadian Journal  of Fisheries and  Aquatic
Sciences 37: 130-137.

Wallace, J.B., Eggert, S.L., Meyer, J.L. & Webster, J.R. 1997.
Multiple trophic levels of a forest stream linked to
terrestrial litter inputs. Science 277: 102-104.

Wantzen, K.M. & Wagner, R. 2006. Detritus processing by

invertebrate shredders: a neotropical-temperate
comparison. Journal of the North American
Benthological Society 25 (1): 216-232.

Recebido: 25/01/2013
Revisado: 02/07/2013
Aceito: 28/11/2013

Revista Brasileira de Zoociências 15 (1, 2, 3): 147-154. 2013