Forest Streams: Introduction

Within the Amazon basin there are countless forest streams all of which hold rich fish faunas. Forest streams are the most extensive fish habitat within the region. Many species have evolved to live in the acidic waters of forest streams and occupy particular niches within the habitat. One of the most important of these niches is submerged litter, and you will find extensive information on the CD about this habitat and its fish. Because the streams are shaded by the forest canopy there are few plants growing in the water and the aquatic system is dependent on the forest.

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A generalised food web for the leaf litter community
A generalised food web for the leaf litter community

A bend in a small blackwater stream at low water. On the inside edge of the curve there is a small litter bank. The photograph was taken at low water. At high water the litter bank would be underwater and used by a variety of fish and insects as shelter and food. Note the light tea colour of the water. The bed of the stream is composed of light sand
A bend in a small blackwater stream at low water. On the inside edge of the curve there is a small litter bank. The photograph was taken at low water. At high water the litter bank would be underwater and used by a variety of fish and insects as shelter and food. Note the light tea colour of the water. The bed of the stream is composed of light sand

The Taruma Mirim , a blackwater forest stream in the catchment of the Rio Negro, near Manaus. The photograph shows a small litter bank that was sampled regularly for a number of years
The Taruma Mirim , a blackwater forest stream in the catchment of the Rio Negro, near Manaus. The photograph shows a small litter bank that was sampled regularly for a number of years

The Taruma Mirim , a blackwater forest stream in the catchment of the Rio Negro, near Manaus. The photograph was taken near the point where this stream joins the Rio Negro
The Taruma Mirim , a blackwater forest stream in the catchment of the Rio Negro, near Manaus. The photograph was taken near the point where this stream joins the Rio Negro

The Taruma Mirim , a blackwater forest stream in the catchment of the Rio Negro, near Manaus. The photograph shows a typical view of the stream at low water
The Taruma Mirim , a blackwater forest stream in the catchment of the Rio Negro, near Manaus. The photograph shows a typical view of the stream at low water

A large leaf litter bank on a curve of the Taruma Mirim , a blackwater forest stream in the catchment of the Rio Negro
A large leaf litter bank on a curve of the Taruma Mirim , a blackwater forest stream in the catchment of the Rio Negro

A blackwater forest stream, called in Amazonia an Igarape
A blackwater forest stream, called in Amazonia an Igarape

A blackwater forest stream, called in Amazonia an Igarape
A blackwater forest stream, called in Amazonia an Igarape
 

The author, Dr. Peter Henderson, collecting in leaf litter
The author, Dr. Peter Henderson, collecting in leaf litter