ABSTRACT. The methods "Jar", "Manual Removal" and "modified Ekman Dredge" were evaluated for sampling periphyton fauna associated with aquatic macrophytes. Sixty-three samples were collected from five lentic and three lotic water bodies at the Espinhaço Mountain Range Biosphere Reserve (Minas Gerais State, Brazil). Anova and Tukey statistical tests were performed for Protista, Rotifera and Crustacea richness, whereas the abundance of Protista, Rotifera, Crustacea, Gastrotricha, Tardigrada and Nematoda was evaluated by percentage. Of the three methods, the Dredge is less indicated for different water bodies systems in which there is interest in analyzing various microinvertebrate groups. The Protista and Rotifera represent 80% of the total abundance and richness in the invertebrate community. In the ecosystems evaluated, all methods are relevant for Protista analysis; on the other hand, Crustacea analysis required the Jar method. Manual Removal and Dredge methods are appropriate for Rotifera analysis. Gastrotricha and Tardigrada abundance presented better results with the Jar method; Nematoda with the Dredge method. The three methods are appropriate for periphyton fauna sampling in both water body systems; nevertheless, it is important to be aware that for each fauna community in a specified ecosystem, there is a specific method for best performance.

<p>This paper presents the applicability of ecohydromorphology assessment in differentiating ecophysical structure of river habitats of Rio das Velhas river basin upward of Rio de Pedras reservoir, Minas Gerais,Brazil. It also presents the identification of the factors conditioning the ecophysical structure of river habitats. This review associated with biological and physico-chemical conditions of the waters aims to assess the ecological integrity of the river system and also validate the characterization of water bodies identified on a large scale in the Rio das Velhas basin.</p>

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ResumoO artigo apresenta a tipificação dos ambientes lóticos no estado de Minas Gerais (macroescala) e nas áreas de contribuição dos reservatórios de Cajuru, Peti e Rio de Pedras (mesoescala), o que permitiu agrupar ambientes fluviais com características hidromorfológicas relativamente homogêneas. Considerando as ecorregiões aquáticas, a tipificação baseou-se na integração de informações do substrato rochoso e do relevo de Minas Gerais, por meio do agrupamento de rochas com respostas semelhantes ao intemperismo e à erosão, assim como pela divisão em classes altimétricas. Como produto dessa integração, obteve-se 21 tipos representados no mapa de tipificação abiótica dos ambientes lóticos do Estado. A tipificação em mesoescala foi baseada, também, nas variáveis: grupos litológicos e classes altimétricas, bem como inclinação do talvegue, padrão do canal e tipo do vale. Foram identificados 24 tipos de ambientes lóticos nas três áreas de contribuição.Palavras-Chave: ecorregião aquática, ambientes lóticos, tipificação abiótica de corpos de água. AbstractThe paper presents the classification of lotic environments in the state of Minas Gerais (large scale) and in the drainage basins contributing to Cajuru, Peti and Rio de Pedras reservoirs (meso scale), which allows the grouping the relatively homogeneous river environments based on hydromorphological features. Considering the aquatic ecoregions, the classification was based on integrating information from the bedrock and relief of Minas Gerais, by grouping rocks with similar responses to weathering and erosion combined with altimetric classes. Such integration resulted in 21 types represented on the map of abiotic classification for the lotic environments of MG State. The mesoscale classification was also based on the variables: lithological groups and altimetric classes, as well as the altitude, slope, channel pattern and valley shape. Twenty four types of lotic environments were identified in the three drainage basins.