High Profile Escort in Abu Dhabi 0524076003 Abu Dhabi Escorts
ย
Toroparu Fish Survey
1. Toroparu Ichthyofauna Baseline Report
2014
Guyana, the only English speaking country in South America, has two rainy or wet season: Long
wet season (late April to mid-August) and a short wet season (from December to early February). During
the short wet season, an Aquatic Biodiversity survey was conducted at the Toroparu Deposit located in
Region 7 (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), the Upper Puruni Concession. This survey, which focused on the
ETK/Sandspring Resources Tailings Disposal Site, located in the north eastern end of the concession, its
access roads, and other water bodies within the target area, recorded a total of thirty eight (38) species
from seventeen (17) families.
A reconnaissancewalk through the targeted study area identified a total of seven major sampling
sites (creeks, streams and ravines), along with twenty five minor sample sites, both lying at different
elevations within disturbed and undisturbed areas. Three of the major sample sites were within the
Tailings Disposal site (size approximately 20 km2): TDS site 1 UTM 20N 831375E 723548N,TDS site 2
UTM 20N 831725E 722516N and TDS site 3 UTM 21N 170435E 721962N,with the other four sample sites
TAR site 1 UTM 20N 829610E 723126N,TAR site 2 UTM 20N 829271E 720855N,TAR site 3 UTM 20N
828937E 717225N and TAR site 4 (Wainamu creek bridge) UTM 20N 826718E 714051N along the Access
road (11 km). The Puruni River (UTM 20N 825413E 713375N)which was previous sampled in 2006, 2008
and 2010 (Toroparu Baseline Report), was also sampled. The major sample sites were 450m โ 500m in
length, while the minor sites were 250m in length, running the length of the creek, stream or ravine
sampled. Each sample site was located at different elevations, thus, possess creeks, streams and ravines
which were either dried up or consisted of very little water (highly elevated areas), swampy (resulting
from blockage in water flow) or had normal or overflowing banks (areas of low elevation).
Sampling of fishes was conducted using a number of different sampling methods dependent on
various factors within the study area and water level. The specific methods used to assess the
Ichthyofauna diversity at the area of study were tangle seines, cast-nets, fishing rods (hook & line), drag
nets and hand nets. The hours of fishing started early in the morning around 5:30 am to noon and then
resumed at in the afternoon at 16:00 hrs to 20:00 hrs. Cast net and Tangle seines were only used in creeks
along the Access road (TAR site 3 and 4) and in the Puruni River. These areas were within depth range
and also had less disturbances within the water (fallen tree, branches, etc.) thus allowing the full use of
the equipment to capture fishes. The drag net was used at TAR sites 3 and 4 and TDS site 3 and its
surrounding minor sample sites. This was due to some of the areas being too deep or too steep for the
drag net to touch the bottom of the creek or ravine to capture bottom dwelling fish species. The
remaining methods of collection, fishing rods and hand nets, were effectively used at each sample sites.
Bait for the fishing rods were made from fish, mostly Curimatella immaculata, since this species of fish was
readily caught. The hand nets were dragged along the sides and corners of the creeks and ravines or to
scoop up surface dwellers. It was also used mainly during night surveys to catch sleeping or surface
dwelling fishes. In addition to sampling the identified area, temperature, velocity, appearance/turbidity,
length and depth were noted for each site. The depth of the sample site was taken with an improvised
meter rule; the temperature was measured with the use of the hands being placed in the water for
approximately one minute and also noted based on the weather the survey was conducted in. The
velocity of the water was noted by placing a freshly picked leaf into open water at a graduated distance
and noting the speed at which the water transported it.
2. Table 1 shows the Site and Habitat description of the Aquatic Sampling location
Site GPS In-stream feature/Appearance Reach Habitat Description and Anthropogenic
disturbances
Temp
(0C)
Velocity
(ft/s)
Turbidity/Appearance
(water colour)
Length Depth
TDS site 1 UTM 20N
831375E
723548N
28 0-0.5 ft/s Orange (loam) to
murky (tan)
> 500m 0.5-4
ft
Undulating freshwater habitat characterized by
85% mixed forest canopy. Shallow heavily
silted water along with leaf littered bottom.
TDS site 1
Opportunistic
Sample sites
UTM 20N
830280E
723558N
30 0-0.5 ft/s Murky (light tan) > 500m 2-5 ft Natural undulating freshwater habitat
interrupted by an access road crossing a
bridge made from fallen trees. Possession of
shallow and deep pools with leaf littered,
clayey and loamy bottom.
TDS site 2 UTM 20N
831725E
722516N
29 0 ft/s Murky (light tan) > 500m 5 ft Undulating freshwater habitat characterized by
heavy siltation upstream, murky water about
800m downstream, leaf littered bottom,
deforested trees in water reducing siltation,
gradually sloping edges, small riparian area
and loamy then clay filled bottom.
TDS site 2
Opportunistic
Sample sites
UTM 21N
169116E
722203N
28 0.5 ft/s Clear > 500m 4 ft Natural undisturbed freshwater habitat lined
and canopied 50% by understory fruit, hard
and softwood trees. Very steep eroded edges
exposing tree roots that houses rover predators
and bottom feeding fishes. Leaf littered, clayey
bottom. Evidence of fallen trees and branches
protruding water.
TDS site 3 UTM 21N
170435E
28 1-1.5 ft/s Murky (light tan) > 500m 3-6 ft Natural disturbed gradually flowing, slightly
silted (upstream) freshwater habitat, thus,
3. 721962N slightly leaf littered on the surface to the very
steep edges which expose the mixed forest tree
roots that line and canopied 60% of the sample
area.
TDS site 3
Opportunistic
Sample sites
UTM 21N
169707E
721498N
28 0 ft/s Orange (loam) > 500m 2 ft Man-made: Cut-off creek resulting in swampy-
like area. Heavily littered with leaf, muddy
smell, heavily siltation, mixture of clay and
loam bottom. Wide open, not canopied by
trees, but lined by shrubs to one edge and an
exposed clay bank to the other side.
TAR site 1 UTM 20N
829610E
723126N
29 1 ft/s Clear > 500m 5 ft Natural undulating undisturbed freshwater
stream lined and canopied 70% of the sample
area by hardwood and fruit tree. Slightly still,
leaf littered glossy surface with evidence of
water striders, snails, spiders on fallen
branches and trees protruding water surface.
Clayey loam bottom with sloping and steep
water edges exposing tree roots. Leaf littered,
clayey loam bottom.
TAR site 1
Opportunistic
Sample sites
UTM 20N
829338E
722084N
30 0.5 ft/s Light brown > 500m 3-7 ft Natural undisturbed freshwater habitat lined
and canopied 85% by mixed forest trees. Leaf
littered bottom and surface. Visibility of small
and large lurking fishes along with macro
invertebrates (snails. Spiders, water skimmers,
ants) along the sloping edges of exposed tree
roots. Leaf littered, loamy bottom.
TAR site 2 UTM 20N
829271E
720855N
28 1-2 ft/s Murky (tan) > 500m 4 ft Naturally undisturbed undulating freshwater
habitat canopied 45% by hardwood and fruit
trees. Riparian zone possessing small fishes
4. and macro invertebrates. Crossing of access
road resulted in cut-off stream and new
passage of water carrying heavy silt into
riparian area downstream.
TAR site 2
Opportunistic
Sample sites
UTM 20N
829314E
721614N
28 1 ft/s Orange (loam) to
Murky (tan)
> 500m 2 ft Highly disturbed freshwater habitat
characterized by undulation through a densely
mixed forest (epiphytes, lianas), silt-filled
bottom, pools of tan coloured water and steep
eroded edges showing trees roots.
TAR site 3 UTM 20N
828937E
717225N
29 0-1 ft/s Black and orange
(loam) water
> 500m 8 ft Natural, opened freshwater creek at hill base,
lined by densely mixed vegetation of fruit trees
and hard wood. Heavy siltation in riparian
zone downstream due crossing of access road.
Leaf littered loamy-clay bottom with fallen tree
and branches protruding a smooth and slightly
leaf littered water surface. Gradually sloping to
very steep (sudden drop) water edge.
TAR site 3
Opportunistic
Sample sites
UTM 20N
829641E
719199N
28 0 ft/s Black > 500m 1-3 ft Undisturbed riparian zone filled with grasses,
shrubs and sapwood (home to Tapir โ
sightings of feces). Shallow streams with
sudden drop or sloping edges. Gravel filled
and leaf littered bottom with evidence of small
fishes (Pyrrhulina sp) and snails.
TAR site 4 UTM 20N
826718E
714051N
29 3-4 ft/s Black > 500m 2-11 ft Natural, opened, rapidly flowing freshwater
creek lined by shrubs in riparian zone
upstream and dense mixed primary forest
(shrubs, fruit trees โ plum, hardwood) in
riparian zone downstream. Silted, leaf littered
bottom with small gravels in riparian zone.
5. Evidence of small densely shrub-filled islands
with creek and a large bridge leading into a
mixed forest area.
TAR site 4
Opportunistic
Sample sites
UTM 20N
827398E
715127N
30 0 ft Black to murky (tan) > 500m 2-4 ft Large shallow pool of still water. Disturbed
freshwater habitat with crossing of access
road and deforested area (fallen burnt trees
and branches). Clay filled bottom. Evidence of
young plant growth within water.
Puruni River UTM 20N
825413E
713375N
29 0.5-1 ft/s Murky (tan) > 1000m 9 ft A gently flowing, natural, slightly undulating
freshwater habitat with very steep edges, over
flowing banks, riparian area at interval, lined
with epiphytes and mixed forest trees
(hardwood, softwood, fruit trees) and log-filled
at weak banks.
Table 2 shows the comparison for the species of fishes recorded from different surveys conducted at Toroparu Mining Area
Family Scientific name Common name February
2014
Survey
Survey
2006
Survey
2007-
2008
Survey 2010 IUCN/CITES
July
(open
mining
pits)
November
(expanded
project
footprint
area)
Acestrorhynchidae Acestrorhynchus falcatus Fox fish X
Acestrorhynchidae Acestrorhynchus
microlepis
Fox fish/Dogfish X X
Anostomidae Leporinus arcus Daray X
Anostomidae Leporinus friderici Three-spot
leporinus
X X
Anostomidae Leporinus sp Daray X
Anostomidae Leporinus maculatus Spotted leporinus X
Auchenipteridae Ageneiosus inermis Dawalu X X
Auchenipteridae Auchenipterichthys Driftwood Catfish X
6. punctatus
According to
the IUCN Red
List, these taxa
have not yet
been assessed
for the IUCN
Red List, but
are in the
Catalogue of
Life.
Out of the
seventy two
(72) species of
Auchenipteridae Trachycorystes obscurus Boots X
Auchenipteridae Ageneiosus brevifilis Dawalu X
Auchenipteridae Ageneiosus sp Dawalu X
Auchenipteridae Trachycorystes sp. Imiri X
Characidae Roeboides descalvadensis Scale eater X
Characidae Hemigrammus sp Glow light tetra X
Characidae Brachychalcinus
orbicularis
Discus tetra X X
Characidae Charax gibbosus Glass head
stander
X X X
Characidae Hyphessobrycon sp. Tetra X
Characidae Hyphessobrycon sp. Tetra X
Characidae Astyanax bimaculatus Big-eye Seriba X X
Characidae Moenkhausia oligolepis Glass tetra X X
Characidae Tetragonopterus chalceus X
Characidae Astyanax fasciatus Banded astyanax X X
Characidae Roeboides guatemalensis Headstander X
Characidae Tetragonopterus sp. Glass headstander X
Cichlidae Guianacara dacrya Patwa X
Cichlidae Guianacara sp. Patwa X
Cichlidae Biotodoma cupido Cupid cichlid X X
Cichlidae Aequidens potaroensis Patwa X
Cichlidae Crenicichla lugubris Red pike X X
Cichlidae Crenicichla alta Sun fish X X
Cichlidae Crenicichla multispinosa Pike X X
Cichlidae Cichlasoma bimaculatum Common patwa X X
Cichlidae Crenicichla sp Sunfish X X
Cichlidae Guianacara sphenozona Sandspringer
patwa
X X X
Cichlidae Aequidens geayi Sandgrinder
patwa
X
Cichlidae Aequidens sp Sandgrinder
patwa
X
Cichlidae Aequidens sp Sandgrinder
patwa
X
7. Curimatidae Curimatella immaculata Cuticuri X fishes recorded
from surveys
conducted
within the
Toroparu
Mining Area
(mentioned
within this
table), none of
them are
documented
within the
sixteen (16)
species of
fishes listed in
Appendix I
and the eighty
seven (87)
species of
fishes listed in
Appendix II of
the CITES
Appendices.
Curimatidae Cyphocharax spilurus Cuticuri X
Doradidae Platydoras costatus Raphael catfish X X
Doradidae Acanthodoras
cataphractus
Spiny catfish X
Erythrinidae Hoplias aimara Haimara X X
Erythrinidae Hoplias malabaricus Huri X X X X X
Erythrinidae Hoplias macropthalmus Huri X X X
Erythrinidae Hoploerythrinus
unitaeniatus
Yarrow X X X X
Gasteropelicidae Gasteropelecus sternicla Hatchet fish X
Gymnotidae Gymnotus sp. Knife fish X
Gymnotidae Electrophorus electricus Electric eel X X
Hemiodontidae Hemiodopsis thayeria X
Heptapteridae Pimelodella cristata Kassi X
Heptapteridae Pimelodella sp X
Heptapteridae Rhamdia quelen Kassi X X
Heptapteridae Rhamdia holomelas Kassi X X
Lebiasinidae Pyrrhulina beni Pencil fish X
Lebiasinidae Pyrrhulina filamentosa Pencil fish X
Loricariidae Peckoltia sp. Hassar X
Loricariidae Peckoltia sp. Hassar X
Loricariidae Peckoltia sabaji Hassar X
Loricariidae Hypostomus sp. Hassar X
Loricariidae Lasiancistrus
schomburgkii
Rock hassar X
Loricariidae Sturisoma monopelte Whiptail catfish X
Pimelodidae Pimelodus blochii Four-lined Pim/
Catfish
X
Pimelodidae Pimelodus ornatus Ornate Pim /
Catfish
X
Pimelodidae Hypophthalmus
edentatus
Highwaterman
Catfish
X
Pimelodidae Pimelodus sp. Pim/ Catfish X X
Poeciliidae Poecilia reticulata Guppy X
Serrasalmidae Serrasalmus rhombeus Piranha X X
8. Serrasalmidae Serrasalmus eigenmanni Piranha X
Serrasalmidae Metynnis argenteus Silver dollar X
Serrasalmidae Serrasalmus sp Piranha X X
Sternopygidae Sternopygus macrurus Glass knife fish X
Sternopygidae Eigenmannia limbata Glass knife fish X
Sternopygidae Eigenmannia macrops Glass Knife fish X
Triportheidae Triportheus rotundatus Elongated hatchet
fish
X X X
Table 2 shows the species of fishes identified at different sample sites from within the Toroparu Mining area during the short wet season
(February 2014)
Family Scientific name Common name TDS
1
TDS
2
TDS
3
TAR
1
TAR
2
TAR
3
TAR
4
Puruni
river
Total
Acestrorhynchidae Acestrorhynchus falcatus Fox fish 2 2
Anostomidae Leporinus arcus Daray 1 6 13 20
Auchenipteridae Ageneiosus inermis Dawalu 2 2 4
Characidae Roeboides descalvadensis Scale eater 1 1 2
Characidae Hemigrammus sp Glow light tetra 3 2 6 1 4 4 7 27
Characidae Brachychalcinus orbicularis Discus tetra 1 2 2 2 3 10
Characidae Charax gibbosus Glass head stander 2 2 4
Characidae Hyphessobrycon sp. Tetra 3 2 11 1 6 5 7 35
Characidae Hyphessobrycon sp. Tetra 5 3 4 2 7 3 24
Characidae Astyanax bimaculatus Big-eye Seriba 1 2 3 2 2 3 13
Cichlidae Guianacara dacrya Patwa 4 2 2 23 3 34
Cichlidae Guianacara sp. Patwa 2 2 3 7
Cichlidae Biotodoma cupido Cupid cichlid 1 1
Cichlidae Aequidens potaroensis Patwa 3 4 5 2 14
Cichlidae Crenicichla lugubris Red pike 1 2 3
Cichlidae Crenicichla alta Sun fish 1 1 2
Curimatidae Curimatella immaculata Cuticuri 3 5 9 1 8 11 7 44
Erythrinidae Hoplias aimara Haimara 1 1 3 2 4 11
Erythrinidae Hoplias malabaricus Huri 2 5 1 1 2 11
10. Based on previous surveys conducted during the long wet seasons of 2007 โ 2008,thirteen (13) and eleven
(11) fish species respectively were documented. During the short wet season five additional species, not
previously recorded in the area, were recorded namely Astyanax fasciatus, Crenicichla, Moenkhausia
oligolepis,Rhamdia quelen and Triportheus rotundatus. The most abundant species collected during that
survey were Aequidens tetramerus, Rhamdia holomelas and Astyanax fasciatus. During the previous long wet
season 22 individuals of fishes within eight genera were documented at the Bush camp and subsidiary
sites.
In 2010,a total of nine families and fourteen species were documented during the surveys conducted. It
was stated that the most common families Loricariidae and Cichlidae were represented by three species
each. The total number of individuals collected from the Puruni River and Wainamu Creek was 40.
Hoplias malabaricus, Crenicichla sp, Pimelodus sp and Guianacara were documented in both wet season
surveys. Ten additional species of fish were recorded during another 2010 survey in an expanded project
foot print area.
This study area, Toroparu Tailings Disposal Site was previously sampled as an Expanded Project
Footprint in November of 2010. Its Access road to the Wainamu creek bridge was not previously
sampled. Based on the results of the sampled sites within this area, it is evident that there is a moderate
diversity of species of fishes. Sampling of this area resulted in the documentation of new species of fishes
not recorded elsewhere in the Toroparu. These species of fishes are the Hyphessobrycon sp, Hemigrammus
sp, Aequidens potaroensis, Gasteropelecus sternicla, Eigenmannia limbata, Sternopygus macrurus, Serrasalmus
eigenmanni, Gymnotus sp, Pyrrhulina beni and P. filamentosa. Based on the survey conducted in the 2010 at
the expanded footprint area, seven of those species of fishes were again recorded. These are Ageneiosus
inermis, Brachychalcinus orbicularis, Hoplias malabaricus, Hoplias aimara, Hoploerythrinus unitaeniatus, Charax
gibbosus and Triportheus rotundatus.
The most abundant species recorded of the four hundred and nineteen (419) individuals were Cuticuri
(Curimatella immaculata) with forty four (44) individuals. The species of fish with the lowest number of
individuals recorded were the Glass knife fish (Eigenmannia limbata), Cupid cichlid (Biotodoma cupido),
Ornate Pim (Pimelodus ornatus) and Four-lined Pim (Pimelodus blochii), each with one (1) individual being
recorded in the area of interest. Each of the seven aquatic sample sites sampled had their own species
abundance and richness. TAR site 3 had the highest species richness (twenty four species of fishes
recorded from this area) while TAR site 1 had the lowest species richness (nine species of fishes recorded
from this area). The most abundant fish species recorded within an aquatic sample site was Guianacara
dacrya, a total of twenty three (23) in TAR site 3 while the least abundant fish species recorded within an
aquatic sample site was Hyphessobrycon sp and Poecilia reticulata, each recording five individuals in TDS
site 1.
Based on the various methods employed to sample the Ichthyofauna Biodiversity of the study area, it was
noted that the fishing rods caught a total of twenty three (23) species from which eight were only caught
with the fishing rod (Erythrinidae, Pimelodidae, Rhamdia quelen, Eigenmannia limbata). The hand net was
second in line with fourteen (14) species which mainly caught the surface dwellers out of which five
individuals species were caught (Hemigrammus sp, Hyphessobrycon sp, Pyrrhulina filamentosa, Pyrrhulina
beni and Poecilia reticulata). The tangle seines collected a total of eleven (11) species from which three
species (Acestrorhynchus falcatus, Charax gibbosus and Roeboides descalvadensis) were only collected by the
11. tangle seine. The cast net and the drag net collected the lowest species of fish, seven (7) and two (2)
respectively, with the cast net collecting one (1) species (Biotodoma cupido) respectively.
Fewer species of fishes were recorded in the Tailings Disposal Site as compared to the Access road, but
more species of fishes were recorded combined as compared to the other areas such as the Puruni River
and Wainamu creek previously sampled in other surveys. Anthropogenic disturbances mainly heavy
siltation of streams and creeks due to building of access road altered the natural freshwater habitat that
was present there, thus, resulting in migration of fish species. In addition, species such as Serrasalmus
rhombeus, Charax gibbosus, Roeboides descalvadensis, Gasteropelecus sternicla, Pimelodus blochii and Pimelodus
ornatus seem to be endemic to low elevations or large body of water since they were not found in the
Tailings site. It was further noted that species of the families Erythrinidae, certain species of Characidae
and Cichlidae such as Aequidens sp, Guianacara sp, Hemigrammus sp, Curimatella immaculata and
Brachychalcinus orbicularis are migratory species since they were found in 80% of the sampled sites.
In addition it was noted that several species previously collected were not recorded. These were
Moenkhausia oligolepis,Tetagonopterus chalceus, Hypophthalmus edentatus, Aunchenipterichthys punctatus,
Trachycorystes obcurus, Cyphocharax spilurus, Astyanax fasciatus, Acestrorhynchus microlepis, Crenicichla
multispinosa, Eigenmannia macrops, Cichlasoma bimaculatum, Rhamdia holomelas, Metynnis argenteus,
Leporinus friderici, Electrophorus electricus, and Ageneiosus brevifilis.
When conducting the surveys, questions were asked about fish caught in the area by workers and it was
noted that several fish species recorded in the footprint area have economic and social values. These
include Haimara (Hoplias aimara), Huri (Hoplias malabaricus), Daray (Leporinus arcus) and Yarrow
(Hoploerythrinus unitaeniatus) which are used as important food sources.
According to the IUCN Red list, the species of fishes identified from this aquatic survey at Toroparu
during the short wet season are not evaluated. In addition, none of these species of fishes are present or
emphasized within the CITES Appendices.
12. Map 1 showing the various sampling sites sampled for fishes during the short wet season at Toroparu,
Upper Puruni Concession.
Square black line โ Tailings Disposal Site
Blue โ major sample sites within the Tailings Disposal Site
Green โ major sample sites on the Access road
Black circle โ minor or opportunistic sample sites
Purple dot โ Sample site on Puruni River
Turquoise โ Camp
15. Picture 1 shows the result of creeks flowing across the road โ murky water being pushed away by
clean freshwater
Picture 2 showing a filled up mining pit that turned into a creek and surrounded by dense vegetation
16. Picture 3 showing a creek flowing through an undisturbed mixed forest in the Tailings Disposal Site
(TDS)
Picture 4 showing a log-filled creek sampled 300m from the Tailings Access Road (TAR)
17. Picture 5 showing a creek flowing across a road (TDS) with the use of trees as a passageway for the
water to flowing
Picture 6 shows heavily silted murky water which is the result of shallow creeks or streams flowing
across the road in TDS
18. References
Axelrod, Glen S.; Pronek, Neal; Burgess, Warren E. and Axelrod, Herbert R. 2007 Dr. Axelrod's Atlas of
Freshwater Aquarium Fishes 11th edition TFH Publications pg. 215 - 577
Gardiner, Stephen L. (bulletin Editor), Collette, Bruce B. (review Editor), 10 September 2009 Bulletin of
the Biological Society of Washington Checklist of the Freshwater Fishes of the Guiana Shield Number 17
The Custodian of Publications Washington D.C.
Holland, W. H. (editor) 1912 Memoirs of the Carnegie Museum Volume 5 Serial No. 67 Eigenmann: The
Freshwater Fishes of British Guiana Carnegie Institute Pittsburgh