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We introduce the work providing a synthetic description of the diversity and phyletic structure of freshwater fish in the Neotropical Region, especially emphasizing that of Brazil. This is accompanied by a discussion about environments of fish from small to medium sized to large, taking into account how it shaped their respective biologies/ecologies, as well as what they imply for their use by humans. We present, as figures, the results of our exploratory analysis of Brazilian Red Book of Threatened Species of Fauna (2018), focusing on the small-sized ones, with up to 15 cm of standard length. We continue to present the main human impacts in small fish environments, along with those suffered by medium to large fish environments, and then follow by their respective deleterious effects. Finally, we present a general synthesis, reinforcing the enormous importance of small fish conservation and their respective preferred environments, followed by our main conclusions, and possible conservation strategies.

Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservacao da Biodiversidade (ICMBio) É iminente que o Brasil desenvolva ferramentas para monitorar o sistema de áreas protegidas do país, formado especialmente pelas Unidades de Conservação e tendo como foco a proteção efetiva da biodiversidade. Nesse contexto, esse trabalho discute métricas de referência (ou linhas de base) para compor um Índice de Integridade Biótica (IIB) baseado nas comunidades de peixes, tendo como área de estudo o Parque Nacional do Pantanal Matogrossense. Os hábitats encontrados no Parque foram agrupados em quatro estratos ambientais: rios, corixos (cursos d´água que se conectam à planície de inundação) e baías permanentes e temporárias. As coletas de peixes foram realizadas em 12 pontos amostrais durante o período seco (out/nov de 2010 e 2011). Foram identificadas 146 espécies de peixes, totalizando 18.954 exemplares coletados em amostragens padronizadas. Não houve associação entre a estrutura da comunidade e os estratos ambientais, sugerindo homogeneidade de hábitats. O IIB final foi composto por nove métricas, a maior parte alocada na classe excelente de integridade biótica, poucas na classe regular e nenhuma na classe pobre. Não houve diferença significativa no IIB entre os dois anos consecutivos. Esses resultados oferecem subsídios técnicos para a tomada de decisão sobre a gestão das áreas alagáveis no Pantanal brasileiro Considering the need for the Brazilian government to develop tools for environmental monitoring for biodiversity conservancy purposes in the national protected areas system, this paper focuses on determining reference site metrics (or baselines) for adapting the Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) based on the fish assemblages in the Pantanal National Park (PNP). The habitats in the PNP were grouped into four categories: main rivers, corixos (channels connecting the floodplain), permanent bays, and temporary bays. Fish samplings were performed at 12 points during the dry season (Oct-Nov 2010 and 2011). 146 fish species were identified from the total 18,954 individuals collected with standardized fishing gear. There was no association between the structure of the fish assemblage and categories, suggesting a theory on homogeneity of habitats. The final IBI PNP consists of nine metrics, most of them were framed in excellent class, some in fair, and none in poor. There was no significant difference in IBI PNP scores between the two sampled years. This approach provides a direct application for wetland management purposes. Univ Sao Paulo, Ctr Recursos Hidr & Ecol Aplicada, Escola Engn Sao Carlos, Programa Posgrad Ciencias Engn Ambiental, Rod Domingos Innocentini,Km 13,292, Sao Carlos, SP, Brazil Inst Chico Mendes Conservacao Biodiversidade, Ctr Nacl Pesquisa & Conservacao Biodiversidade Aq, Rod Pref E Nemesio Pereira de Godoy SP 201, Pirassununga, SP, Brazil Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Ciencias Mar, Campus Baixada Santista, BR-11030400 Santos, SP, Brazil Univ Santa Cecilia, Programa Posgrad Sustentabilidade Ecossistemas Co, Rua Oswaldo Cruz,277 Boqueirao, BR-11045907 Santos, SP, Brazil Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Ciencias Mar, Campus Baixada Santista, BR-11030400 Santos, SP, Brazil Web of Science