The annual flooding of the rivers in the Amazonia extends over large forest areas known as várzeas or igapós. These areas play an important role in the life of the fishes, as a source of food and shelter. We believe that the deforestation of these areas may affect negatively the fish fauna mainly by decreasing the amount of food resources and consequently the diversity of food types available. The study of the relationship between the riparian forest cover and the diet of Parauchenipterus galeatus (Auchenipteridae, Siluriformes), Mylossoma duriventre (Characidae, Characiformes) and Triportheus elongatus (Characidae, Characiformes) allowed to refer for the first time on the direct influence of the flooded forest in the feeding ecology of fishes in Central Amazonia.
Amazonia; fishes; feeding; flooded forest; lakes; deforestation
