From Theory to Practice: Can LEAP/FAO Biodiversity Assessment Guidelines Be a Useful Tool for Knowing the Environmental Status of Livestock Systems?

Biodiversity loss is a global concern, and agriculture is one of the economic sectors responsible for this impact. The assessment of ecosystems under the influence of livestock production is essential for knowing their integrity and ability to provide ecosystem services. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the application of LEAP/FAO guidelines for quantitative assessment of biodiversity in the livestock sector at the local scale (farm level) in a group of six study cases in Uruguay. A set of 20 indicators was used, including seven key thematic issues: habitat protection, habitat change, wildlife conservation, invasive species, pollution, aquatic biodiversity, off-farm feed, and landscape-scale conservation. The results show that the LEAP biodiversity assessment guidelines can be useful to characterize the state of ecosystems under pastoral use and some specific components of their biodiversity, as well as assess the interaction of the production system with the environment and plan management accordingly. This work also provides an analysis of the methodology used and recommendations to facilitate its application by the sector. The results from the application of the indicators show a great deal of wild biodiversity that uses grazing systems based on native grasslands as habitats and the acceptable integrity of these ecosystems. On average, farms have 83% of their native ecosystem, with a value of 3.5 for the Ecosystem Integrity Index. In terms of the richness of different groups, there was an average number of species of 112 herbaceous plants, 48 woody plants, 48 spiders, 150 birds, and 14 fish. The main goal of this work is to help in the wider application of the guidelines by facilitating decisions about methodology, necessary resources, and technical support. Moreover, another goal is to show the importance of native grasslands-based livestock systems for biodiversity conservation.Fil: de Santiago, María Fernanda. Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias.; ChileFil: Barrios, Margenny. Universidad de la Republica. Centro Universitario Regional del Este.; UruguayFil: D'Anatro, Alejandro. Universidad de la República. Facultad de Ciencias; UruguayFil: García, Luis Fernando. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Mailhos, Ary. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Pompozzi, Gabriel Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas; ArgentinaFil: Rehermann, Sofía. Universidad de la Republica. Centro Universitario Regional del Este.; UruguayFil: Simó, Miguel. Universidad de la República. Facultad de Ciencias; UruguayFil: Tesitore, Giancarlo. Universidad de la Republica. Centro Universitario Regional del Este.; UruguayFil: Teixeira de Mello, Franco. Universidad de la Republica. Centro Universitario Regional del Este.; UruguayFil: Valtierra, Victoria. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Blumetto, Oscar. Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria; Urugua

Interacciones entre el mejillón dorado y macroinvertebrados bentónicos nativos del Río Uruguay

Los efectos que Limnoperna fortunei ocasiona sobre los ecosistemas vienen siendo estudiados en los últimos años a nivel nacional. No obstante, las interacciones que este invasor establece con la fauna bentónica nativa no han sido determinadas en detalle. El objetivo de este estudio fue recopilar información sobre las interacciones entre el mejillón dorado y macroinvertebrados nativos del Río Uruguay, a través de (a) relevamiento bibliográfico, (b) registro fotográfico obtenido en campo y (c) análisis de datos de un experimento de colonización realizado previamente en litorales rocosos de este río. Las interacciones reportadas en la bibliografía refirieron mayoritariamente a interacciones directas de biofouling de L. fortunei sobre especies de bivalvos y gasterópodos nativos, con potencial efecto negativo para estos individuos. La documentación fotográfica permitió reportar, por primera vez en la región, una interacción directa de L. fortunei con la familia Spongillidae, mediante la cual estos poríferos cubren y sofocan a mejillones ya asentados. Finalmente, a través del experimento realizado in situ se encontró que el mejillón genera efectos negativos indirectos sobre algunos macroinvertebrados bentónicos nativos. Según el análisis de datos, una alta abundancia de mejillones asentados se relaciona con una reducción en las abundancias de dos de los grupos bentónicos nativos dominantes de este río, como son los gasterópodos y dípteros

Interações entre o mexilhão dourado e os macroinvertebrados bentônicos nativos do Rio Uruguai

The ecosystem effects of Limnoperna fortunei have been studied nationally in recent years. However, the interactions that this invader establishes with the native benthic fauna have not been determined in detail. The objective of this study was to collect information on the interactions between the golden mussel and macroinvertebrates native to the Uruguay River, through (a) bibliographic survey, (b) photographic record obtained in the field and (c) analysis of data from an experiment of colonization carried out previously on rocky shores of this river. The interactions reported in the bibliography mainly referred to direct interactions of L. fortunei biofouling on native bivalve and gastropod species, with a potential negative effect for these individuals. The photographic documentation specifically made it possible to report for the first time in the region, a direct interaction of L. fortunei with the Spongillidae family, through which these porifers cover and suffocate already settled mussels. Finally, through the experiment carried out in situ, it was found that the mussel generates indirect negative effects on some native benthic macroinvertebrates. According to the data analysis, a high abundance of settled mussels is related to a reduction in the abundances of two of the dominant native benthic groups of this river, such as gastropods and dipterans.Los efectos que Limnoperna fortunei ocasiona sobre los ecosistemas vienen siendo estudiados en los últimos años a nivel nacional. No obstante, las interacciones que este invasor establece con la fauna bentónica nativa no han sido determinadas en detalle. El objetivo de este estudio fue recopilar información sobre las interacciones entre el mejillón dorado y macroinvertebrados nativos del Río Uruguay, a través de (a) relevamiento bibliográfico, (b) registro fotográfico obtenido en campo y (c) análisis de datos de un experimento de colonización realizado previamente en litorales rocosos de este río. Las interacciones reportadas en la bibliografía refirieron mayoritariamente a interacciones directas de biofouling de L. fortunei sobre especies de bivalvos y gasterópodos nativos, con potencial efecto negativo para estos individuos. La documentación fotográfica permitió reportar, por primera vez en la región, una interacción directa de L. fortunei con la familia Spongillidae, mediante la cual estos poríferos cubren y sofocan a mejillones ya asentados. Finalmente, a través del experimento realizado in situ se encontró que el mejillón genera efectos negativos indirectos sobre algunos macroinvertebrados bentónicos nativos. Según el análisis de datos, una alta abundancia de mejillones asentados se relaciona con una reducción en las abundancias de dos de los grupos bentónicos nativos dominantes de este río, como son los gasterópodos y dípteros.Os efeitos que o Limnoperna fortunei causa nos ecossistemas foram estudados nos últimos anos em nível nacional. No entanto, as interações que este invasor estabelece com a fauna bentônica nativa não foram determinadas em detalhes. O objetivo deste estudo foi coletar informações sobre as interações entre o mexilhão dourado e macroinvertebrados nativos do Rio Uruguai, por meio de (a) levantamento bibliográfico, (b) registro fotográfico obtido em campo e (c) análise de dados de um experimento de colonização realizada anteriormente em costões rochosos deste rio. As interações relatadas na bibliografia referem-se principalmente às interações diretas de L. fortunei bioincrustantes em espécies nativas de bivalves e gastrópodes, com potencial efeito negativo para esses indivíduos. A documentação fotográfica especificamente possibilitou relatar, pela primeira vez na região, uma interação direta de L. fortunei com a família Spongillidae, através da qual esses poríferos cobrem e sufocam mexilhões já assentados. Por fim, por meio do experimento realizado in situ, constatou-se que o mexilhão gera efeitos negativos indiretos sobre alguns macroinvertebrados bentônicos nativos. De acordo com a análise dos dados, uma alta abundância de mexilhões assentados está relacionada a uma redução nas abundâncias de dois grupos bentônicos nativos dominantes deste rio, como gastrópodes e dípteros

Diets and trophic structure of fish assemblages in a large and unexplored subtropical river: The Uruguay river

This article belongs to the Special Issue Trophic Interactions in Warm Freshwater EcosystemsThe Neotropics represent a hotspot for freshwater biodiversity with vast number of fish species of scarce ecological knowledge. This holds true for the Uruguay River, where fish assemblages and their diets remain unexplored. Fish assemblages were surveyed in 14 sites along the river main course, from headwaters to mouth (approximately 1800 km), with the aim to identify the trophic roles of fishes and to describe trophic structure of these assemblages, following standardized sampling campaigns and laboratory procedures. One hundred species (2309 gut contents) were analysed and classified into four trophic groups subdivided into eight lower-level groups: Piscivore, piscivore-invertivore, detritivore, omnivore-detritivore, omnivore-invertivore, omnivore-planktivore and omnivore-herbivore. The trophic structure of the assemblages varied along the river, with the relative species richness of fish consuming terrestrial invertebrates increasing towards the middle river section, probably driven by the large floodplains in that areas, supporting global theories such as the flood pulse concept. This study describes the feeding habits of fish along the Uruguay River, being the first dietary description for 29 species. This knowledge is essential for management and conservation, serving as baseline in the context of future environmental changes while generating novel evidence on the functioning of ecosystems in this scarcely studied climatic region

Does color play a predominant role in the intake of microplastics fragments by freshwater fish: an experimental approach with Psalidodon eigenmanniorum

Microplastics (MPs) have been reported in fish species from several freshwater environments. However, the mechanisms underlying MPs ingestion by fish are still unclear, although they are important to determine the pathway of MPs along freshwater environments food webs. Here, we investigates a fundamental question of why wild freshwater fish ingest plastic. To address this, we conducted a laboratory experiment to assess MP fragments intake according to color (red, green, yellow, white, black, and blue) by a small omnivorous fish species Psalidodon eigenmanniorum (Characidae). Results showed that yellow and blue were the most consumed fragments, whereas fish avoided white fragments. Although it is not yet clear how plastic coloration relates to the selectivity and feeding of freshwater fish, the visual skills at a species-specific level could plausibly explain why certain colors are attractive or deterrent to a particular fish species. This data set can be used as a screening tool that could help to understand the mechanisms underlying the patterns of plastic ingestion by fish, with special emphasis on the color of plastic particles. Future research on mechanisms MPs intake by fish, also providing a multi-species approach is highly recommended.Fil: Rios, Juan Manuel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Medicina y Biología Experimental de Cuyo; ArgentinaFil: Tesitore, Giancarlo. Universidad de la República. Centro Universitario Regional del Este; UruguayFil: Teixeira de Mello, Franco. Universidad de la República. Centro Universitario Regional del Este; Urugua

Incidence of Watershed Land Use on the Consumption of Meso and Microplastics by Fish Communities in Uruguayan Lowland Streams

Physical-chemical and biologicaldiversity of streams are influenced by the land use in their watersheds. Plastics currently make up the most important waste asset, representing an important part of the transported and accumulated material in water courses. This work analyzes the consumption of plastics debris by the fish communities in streams with two contrasting types of land use. We worked with threestreams impacted by urbanization and threeby extensive ranching. The stomach and intestinal contents of 309 individuals of 29 species were analyzed, by a modified alkaline digestion, and observed under a stereo microscope with polarized light. A total of 373 plastic itemswere found, of which the majority corresponded to fibers (318). A significant difference was found between the percentage of individuals that consumed plastic debrisbetween both systems (51.6% in ranchers and 76.6% in urban, p = 0.014 Mood’s Median), but no difference was found in the average ingested per individual. This study establishes the first baseline on plastic debris consumption by fish in Uruguayan streams, showing the extent of the plastic and microplastic pollution problem. Although there are differences between the analyzed sites, we also observed significant contamination in streams far from urbanization

Evaluating the role of predatory fish controlling the invasion of the Asian golden mussel Limnoperna fortunei in a subtropical river

The invasive Asian golden mussel Limnoperna fortunei is continuously expanding through South America, altering aquatic ecosystem structure and functioning. While several native fish species predate on this mussel, these interactions, and their consequences for the food web, have not been studied in depth. We combine a survey of the fish assemblage trophic structure using gut contents and stable isotope analysis with an in situ exclusion experiment in order to: (a) determine the main fish species predating on L. fortunei; (b) estimate the contribution of L. fortunei to the biomass of fish assemblage; and (c) evaluate the role of fish on the density and maximum shell length of L. fortunei in the lower Uruguay River (the Río de La Plata Basin). We found that about one third of fish species in the assemblage (28 out of 81 species) consumed L. fortunei, which was an important food item (>10% of the dietary volume and >30% of frequency of occurrence) for 11 fish species. Stable isotope mixing models consistently suggested that >14% of the total biomass of the fish assemblage was derived directly from carbon derived from L. fortunei tissues. In addition, the exclusion experiment demonstrated that fish predation reduces the mussel density by c. 70% and the mussel maximum shell length by c. 40%. Synthesis and applications. Our research suggests a top-down effect of fish on the invasive Asian golden mussel's abundance. This work highlights the need to preserve the native fish communities, particularly in South America, where many vulnerable migratory fish are of key relevance as Limnoperna fortunei consumers. In the light of these findings, actions such as implementing efficient fish passage technologies in the actual (and projected) dams of the Uruguay River basin and elsewhere become essential to avoid local extinctions of these natural invasion controls upstream of the dams