Espacialización de las barreras físicas y de la ocurrencia de Chaetostoma Carrioni (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) en los ríos y arroyos de la Hoya de Loja

Abstract

Abstract: Urban growth implies permanent changes in the landscape such as the establishment of physical barriers (dams, roads) within the ecosystems. These disturbances can generate habitat and population fragmentation altering species distribution and reducing their resilience capacity. In this study, we determine the geographical location of the physical barriers (bridges, dikes, dams) and their relationship with the geographical distribution of the populations of Chaetostoma carrioniacross the fluvial network in southern Ecuador by applying GIS analysis. We found that most of the populations of C. carrioni within the study area are located near to a type of physical barrier, but there is still a good connectivity in the fluvial network. However, we observed that there are isolated populations restricted to the tributaries and separated along the main rivers which are highly polluted and present fluvial habitat degradation.