COMPOSIÇÃO E RIQUEZA DE PEIXES EM DIFERENTES CORPOS D’ÁGUA NO PARQUE NACIONAL DAS ARAUCÁRIAS, SUL DO BRASIL

The knowledge of the species of a given environment is the basis for future ecological studies, as well as for the assistance in the management and conservation of priority areas. For this, this study aimed to invent the composition of fish species in different aquatic environments in the Araucarias National Park, Santa Catarina state. Ten sample points with distinct characteristics (streams, reservoir lake, pond and larger rivers) were evaluated along the Park area. For the sampling, different fishing gears were used in five collections with quarterly frequency. A total of 1,022 specimens were recorded, distributed in 22 species, seven families and four orders, of which Siluriformes presented the greatest wealth for the study area. Astyanax scabripinnis, Oligosarcus brevioris, Hoplias malabaricus and Rhamdia quelen presented the greatest range of distribution, while the others were restricted to one or a few environments. Also, the presence of Crenicichla empheres, a species considered endemic to the Chapeco River, besides Cyprinus carpio, exotic species, was recorded in a pond inside the Park. Moreover, through the accumulation curve, it was possible to infer that the largest plots of the species present in the NAP area were recorded, due to the tendency of the curve to reach the asymptote. Finally, we highlight the occurrence of Crenicichla lepidota, Pareiorhaphis vestigipinnis and Pareiorhaphis steindachneri, for which there were not yet records for the Chapeco river basin. It should be noted that the presence of some species is possibly associated with certain structural and environmental characteristics found in the Park area, reinforcing the importance of such areas for the maintenance of the biota, such as fish.