ICTIOFAUNA COMO INDICADOR DA INTEGRIDADE BIOTICA DE UM AMBIENTE DE ESTUARIO

Numerous methods are used to calculate the Index of Biotic Integrity (IIB) in diverse regions of the world. The objective of this work is to calculate the Index of Biotic Integrity (IIB), for an estuarine area in southern Brazil from fish community data and evaluate their fluctuations over the years. In this study, four ichthyofauna sampling points were established in the estuary "Saco da Fazenda", Itajaí-SC, in monthly samples taken during the period of May/2012 and April/2013. The samples were screened and the specimens identified at the taxonomic level of species. The value obtained for the Index of Biotic Integrity included 11 attributes, in four degrees of degradation over a year of sampling. Values were calculated and IIB classified into different levels to recognize its temporal and spatial variations. IIB was also calculated using historical data (2000 to 2005) to show the changes compared with recent field investigations. The results for the years 2000-2002 indicate a poor biotic integrity, being regular for the years 2003-2005 and regress to poor in the years 2012-2013.