Metals in fish of different trophic levels in the area of influence of the AHE Foz do Chapecó reservoir, Brazil

Abstract

In regions where there is intense polluting activity, a greater availability of metals in water impounded by dams increases the availability and contamination of the fauna and flora. Thus, we assessed the accumulation of metals in muscle and gills of fish of different trophic levels in the area of influence of Foz do Chapecó hydroelectric plant on the Uruguai river. We analyzed the metals Pb, Cd, Cu, Cr, Mn, Zn, and Fe in Hypostomus isbrueckeri (cascudo), Pimelodus maculatus (mandi), and Salminus brasiliensis (dourado). We collected specimens from both upstream and downstream of the reservoir in February and March 2014. We also measured the allometric condition factor of the fish to determine their physiological status. Physical and chemical variables of the water were measured to determine the influence of these abiotic variables on the bioavailability of metals and on the condition factor of the fish. Gills had a higher concentration of metals than muscle. Hypostomus isbrueckeri and Pimelodus maculatus possessed high concentrations of metals, indicating greater bioaccumulation in benthic species. Only chromium in muscle varied significantly between upstream and downstream, with higher concentrations in H. isbrueckeri and P. maculatus upstream. Chromium contamination, however, did not change the condition factor, which did not vary between upstream and downstream for any of the studied species. We found no influence of abiotic variables of the water on the bioavailability of the metals in the environment. Although the data do not indicate trophic magnification, the different species react differently to environmental changes and their trophic plasticity makes it difficult to assign them to specific guilds.