A Biological Assessment of the Aquatic Ecosystems of the Caura River Basin, Bolivar State, Venezuela
9781881173694
Distributed for Conservation International
A Biological Assessment of the Aquatic Ecosystems of the Caura River Basin, Bolivar State, Venezuela
For three weeks, in November and December of 2000, Conservation International’s Rapid Assessment Program collaborated with a group of fourteen scientists—from Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil, and the United States—to survey the aquatic ecosystem of the Caura River in Venezeula. The area, part of the Guayana Shield, represents one of the most pristine watersheds in South America, due in large part to the excellent stewardship of its principle indigenous group, the Ye’kwana. It nonetheless faces a number of threats, ranging from a major hydroelectric dam and increased fishing pressure to rises in both tourism and agriculture. This assessment documents the Caura River Basin’s aquatic biodiversity, with pleasing results, including the tripling of the number of fish species known by science in the upper Caura and the identification of almost 400 species of plants, 87 species of aquatic insects, and four species of crab. As always, the report includes several recommendations for conserving this ecologically significant area.
Table of Contents
ENGLISH VERSION
Preface
Participants and Authors
Organizational Profiles
Acknowledgments
Report at a Glance
Maps and Photos
Executive Summary and Overview
Chapter 1
Introduction to the Caura River Basin, Bolivar State, Venezuela
Antonio Machado-Allison, Barry Chernoff and Mariapia Bevilacqua
Chapter 2
Riparian Vegetation Communities of the Caura River Basin, Bolivar State, Venezuela
Judith Rosales, Mariapia Bevilacqua, Wilmer Diaz, Rogelio Perez, Delfin Rivas and Simon Caura
Chapter 3
A Limnological Analysis of the Caura River Basin, Bolivar State, Venezuela
Karen J. Riseng and John S. Sparks
Chapter 4
Diversity of Benthic Macroinvertebrates from the Caura River Basin, Bolivar State, Venezuela
Jose Vicente Garcia and Guido Pereira
Chapter 5
Survey of Decapod Crustaceans in the Caura River Basin, Bolivar State, Venezuela: Species Richness, Habitat, Zoogeographical Aspects and Conservation Implications
Celio Magalhaes and Guido Pereira
Chapter 6
Inventory, Relative Abundance and Importance of Fishes in the Caura River Basin, Bolivar State, Venezuela
Antonio Machado-Allison, Barry Chernoff, Francisco Provenzano, Philip W. Willink, Alberto Marcano, Paulo Petry, Brian Sidlauskas and Tracy Jones
Chapter 7
Ecohydrological and Ecohydrographical Methodologies applied to Conservation of Riparian Vegetation: the Caura River as an example
Judith Rosales, Nigel Maxted, Lourdes Rico-Arce and Geoffrey Petts
Chapter 8
The Distribution of Fishes and Patterns of Biodiversity in the Caura River Basin, Bolivar State, Venezuela
Barry Chernoff, Antonio Machado-Allison, Philip W. Willink, Francisco Provenzano-Rizzi, Paulo Petry, Jose Vicente Garcia, Guido Pereira, Judith Rosales, Mariapia Bevilacqua and Wilmer Diaz
Glossary
KUYUJANI
Tuna Medewadi, Wenesuweda de«wš
SPANISH
Prefacio
Participantes y Autores
Perfiles Organizacionales
Agradecimientos
Reporte a Primera Vista
Mapa y fotografias
Resumen Ejecutivo y Perspectiva
Capitulo 1
Introduccion a la Cuenca del Rio Caura, Estado Bolivar, Venezuela
Antonio Machado-Allison, Barry Chernoff y Mariapia Bevilacqua
Capitulo 2
Comunidades de Vegetacion Ribereoa de la Cuenca del Rio Caura, Estado Bolivar, Venezuela
Judith Rosales, Mariapia Bevilacqua, Wilmer Diaz, Rogelio Perez, Delfin Rivas y Simon Caura
Capitulo 3
Analisis Limnologico de la Cuenca del Rio Caura, Estado Bolivar, Venezuela
Karen J. Riseng y John S. Sparks
Capitulo 4
Diversidad de Macroinvertebrados Bentonicos de la Cuenca del Rio Caura, Estado Bolivar, Venezuela
Jose Vicente Garcia y Guido Pereira
Capitulo 5
Inventario de los Crustaceos Decapodos de la Cuenca del Rio Caura, Estado Bolivar, Venezuela: Riqueza de Especies, Habitat, Aspectos Zoogeograficos e Implicaciones de Conservacion
Celio Magalhaes y Guido Pereira
Capitulo 6
Inventario, Abundancia Relativa, Diversidad e Importancia de los Peces de la Cuenca del Rio Caura, Estado Bolivar, Venezuela
Antonio Machado-Allison, Barry Chernoff, Francisco Provenzano, Philip W. Willink, Alberto Marcano, Paulo Petry, Brian Sidlauskas y Tracy Jones
Capitulo 7
Metodologias Ecohidrologicas y Ecohidrograficas aplicadas a Conservacion de la Vegetacion Ribereoa: el Rio Caura como Ejemplo
Judith Rosales, Nigel Maxted, Lourdes Rico-Arce y Geoffrey Petts
Capitulo 8
La Distribucion de Peces y los Patrones de Biodiversidad en la Cuenca del Rio Caura, Estado Bolivar, Venezuela
Barry Chernoff, Antonio Machado-Allison, Philip W. Willink, Francisco Provenzano-Rizzi, Paulo Petry, Jose Vicente Garcia, Guido Pereira, Judith Rosales, Mariapia Bevilacqua y Wilmer Diaz
Glosario
APPENDICES
Appendix/Apendice 1
General description of georeference areas sampled during the AquaRAP expedition to the Caura River, Bolivar State, Venezuela
Antonio Machado-Allison, Barry Chernoff, Judith Rosales, Mariapia Bevilacqua, John S. Sparks, Celio Magalhaes, Jose Vicente Garcia, Guido Pereira, Wilmer Diaz, y Philip W. Willink
Descripcion general de las areas de georeferencia, estudiadas durante la Expedicion AquaRAP a la Cuenca del Rio Caura, Estado Bolivar, Venezuela
Antonio Machado-Allison, Barry Chernoff, Judith Rosales, Mariapia Bevilacqua, John S. Sparks, Celio Magalhaes, Jose Vicente Garcia, Guido Pereira, Wilmer Diaz, y Philip W. Willink
Appendix/Apendice 2
List of plants from the AquaRAP expedition to the Caura River Basin, Bolivar State, Venezuela
Lista de plantas colectadas y observadas durante la Expedicion AquaRAP a la Cuenca del Rio Caura, Estado Bolivar, Venezuela
Judith Rosales, Mariapia Bevilacqua, Wilmer Diaz, Rogelio Perez, Delfin Rivas and Simon Caura
Appendix/Apendice 3
Description of limnology sampling sites, with georeference and site numbers, for the AquaRAP expedition to the Caura River Basin, Bolivar State, Venezuela
Descripcion de sitios de muestreo limnologicos con nœmeros relativos a sitios de georeferencia y estaciones durante la Expedicion AquaRAP a la Cuenca del Rio Caura, Estado Bolivar, Venezuela
Karen J. Riseng and John S. Sparks
Appendix/Apendice 4
Limnological parameters of sampling sites in the Caura River Basin, State of Bolivar, Venezuela
Parametros limnologicos de los sitios muestreados en el Rio Caura, Estado Bolivar, Venezuela
Karen J. Riseng and John S. Sparks
Appendix/Apendice 5
Limnological descriptors of sampling sites in the Caura River Basin, Bolivar State, Venezuela
Descriptores limnologicos de sitios de muestreo en la Cuenca del Rio Caura, Estado Bolivar, Venezuela
Karen J. Riseng and John S. Sparks
Appendix/Apendice 6
Preface
Participants and Authors
Organizational Profiles
Acknowledgments
Report at a Glance
Maps and Photos
Executive Summary and Overview
Chapter 1
Introduction to the Caura River Basin, Bolivar State, Venezuela
Antonio Machado-Allison, Barry Chernoff and Mariapia Bevilacqua
Chapter 2
Riparian Vegetation Communities of the Caura River Basin, Bolivar State, Venezuela
Judith Rosales, Mariapia Bevilacqua, Wilmer Diaz, Rogelio Perez, Delfin Rivas and Simon Caura
Chapter 3
A Limnological Analysis of the Caura River Basin, Bolivar State, Venezuela
Karen J. Riseng and John S. Sparks
Chapter 4
Diversity of Benthic Macroinvertebrates from the Caura River Basin, Bolivar State, Venezuela
Jose Vicente Garcia and Guido Pereira
Chapter 5
Survey of Decapod Crustaceans in the Caura River Basin, Bolivar State, Venezuela: Species Richness, Habitat, Zoogeographical Aspects and Conservation Implications
Celio Magalhaes and Guido Pereira
Chapter 6
Inventory, Relative Abundance and Importance of Fishes in the Caura River Basin, Bolivar State, Venezuela
Antonio Machado-Allison, Barry Chernoff, Francisco Provenzano, Philip W. Willink, Alberto Marcano, Paulo Petry, Brian Sidlauskas and Tracy Jones
Chapter 7
Ecohydrological and Ecohydrographical Methodologies applied to Conservation of Riparian Vegetation: the Caura River as an example
Judith Rosales, Nigel Maxted, Lourdes Rico-Arce and Geoffrey Petts
Chapter 8
The Distribution of Fishes and Patterns of Biodiversity in the Caura River Basin, Bolivar State, Venezuela
Barry Chernoff, Antonio Machado-Allison, Philip W. Willink, Francisco Provenzano-Rizzi, Paulo Petry, Jose Vicente Garcia, Guido Pereira, Judith Rosales, Mariapia Bevilacqua and Wilmer Diaz
Glossary
KUYUJANI
Tuna Medewadi, Wenesuweda de«wš
SPANISH
Prefacio
Participantes y Autores
Perfiles Organizacionales
Agradecimientos
Reporte a Primera Vista
Mapa y fotografias
Resumen Ejecutivo y Perspectiva
Capitulo 1
Introduccion a la Cuenca del Rio Caura, Estado Bolivar, Venezuela
Antonio Machado-Allison, Barry Chernoff y Mariapia Bevilacqua
Capitulo 2
Comunidades de Vegetacion Ribereoa de la Cuenca del Rio Caura, Estado Bolivar, Venezuela
Judith Rosales, Mariapia Bevilacqua, Wilmer Diaz, Rogelio Perez, Delfin Rivas y Simon Caura
Capitulo 3
Analisis Limnologico de la Cuenca del Rio Caura, Estado Bolivar, Venezuela
Karen J. Riseng y John S. Sparks
Capitulo 4
Diversidad de Macroinvertebrados Bentonicos de la Cuenca del Rio Caura, Estado Bolivar, Venezuela
Jose Vicente Garcia y Guido Pereira
Capitulo 5
Inventario de los Crustaceos Decapodos de la Cuenca del Rio Caura, Estado Bolivar, Venezuela: Riqueza de Especies, Habitat, Aspectos Zoogeograficos e Implicaciones de Conservacion
Celio Magalhaes y Guido Pereira
Capitulo 6
Inventario, Abundancia Relativa, Diversidad e Importancia de los Peces de la Cuenca del Rio Caura, Estado Bolivar, Venezuela
Antonio Machado-Allison, Barry Chernoff, Francisco Provenzano, Philip W. Willink, Alberto Marcano, Paulo Petry, Brian Sidlauskas y Tracy Jones
Capitulo 7
Metodologias Ecohidrologicas y Ecohidrograficas aplicadas a Conservacion de la Vegetacion Ribereoa: el Rio Caura como Ejemplo
Judith Rosales, Nigel Maxted, Lourdes Rico-Arce y Geoffrey Petts
Capitulo 8
La Distribucion de Peces y los Patrones de Biodiversidad en la Cuenca del Rio Caura, Estado Bolivar, Venezuela
Barry Chernoff, Antonio Machado-Allison, Philip W. Willink, Francisco Provenzano-Rizzi, Paulo Petry, Jose Vicente Garcia, Guido Pereira, Judith Rosales, Mariapia Bevilacqua y Wilmer Diaz
Glosario
APPENDICES
Appendix/Apendice 1
General description of georeference areas sampled during the AquaRAP expedition to the Caura River, Bolivar State, Venezuela
Antonio Machado-Allison, Barry Chernoff, Judith Rosales, Mariapia Bevilacqua, John S. Sparks, Celio Magalhaes, Jose Vicente Garcia, Guido Pereira, Wilmer Diaz, y Philip W. Willink
Descripcion general de las areas de georeferencia, estudiadas durante la Expedicion AquaRAP a la Cuenca del Rio Caura, Estado Bolivar, Venezuela
Antonio Machado-Allison, Barry Chernoff, Judith Rosales, Mariapia Bevilacqua, John S. Sparks, Celio Magalhaes, Jose Vicente Garcia, Guido Pereira, Wilmer Diaz, y Philip W. Willink
Appendix/Apendice 2
List of plants from the AquaRAP expedition to the Caura River Basin, Bolivar State, Venezuela
Lista de plantas colectadas y observadas durante la Expedicion AquaRAP a la Cuenca del Rio Caura, Estado Bolivar, Venezuela
Judith Rosales, Mariapia Bevilacqua, Wilmer Diaz, Rogelio Perez, Delfin Rivas and Simon Caura
Appendix/Apendice 3
Description of limnology sampling sites, with georeference and site numbers, for the AquaRAP expedition to the Caura River Basin, Bolivar State, Venezuela
Descripcion de sitios de muestreo limnologicos con nœmeros relativos a sitios de georeferencia y estaciones durante la Expedicion AquaRAP a la Cuenca del Rio Caura, Estado Bolivar, Venezuela
Karen J. Riseng and John S. Sparks
Appendix/Apendice 4
Limnological parameters of sampling sites in the Caura River Basin, State of Bolivar, Venezuela
Parametros limnologicos de los sitios muestreados en el Rio Caura, Estado Bolivar, Venezuela
Karen J. Riseng and John S. Sparks
Appendix/Apendice 5
Limnological descriptors of sampling sites in the Caura River Basin, Bolivar State, Venezuela
Descriptores limnologicos de sitios de muestreo en la Cuenca del Rio Caura, Estado Bolivar, Venezuela
Karen J. Riseng and John S. Sparks
Appendix/Apendice 6