Ictiofauna comercializada no mercado do peixe do município de Tabatinga na região do Alto Solimões, Amazonas, Brasil.

Abstract

The Amazon region boasts the largest and most diverse freshwater fish fauna in the world. Changes in the hydrological regime, such as periods of drought and flooding, modify ecosystems and influence ecological dynamics, impacting fishing activity and the local economy, which are essential for the subsistence of indigenous, riverside, and urban populations. Despite their natural wealth, many regions, such as the Upper Solimões, still lack studies that enhance the local fish trade, requiring further research to support the conservation and sustainable management of these resources. In this context, the objective of this study was to inventory the ichthyofauna sold at the Fish Market in the municipality of Tabatinga, Amazonas, as well as to analyze the influence of the hydrological regime on species composition and trade dynamics. Therefore, a quantitative and qualitative approach was adopted in field research conducted between June 2023 and April 2024, with two weekly visits during the dry and flood periods. Taxonomic methods were used to identify the species, along with photographic records and structured interviews with 20 local traders to document marketing practices. Statistical analyses were also performed to quantify the frequency of species occurrence and compare species richness across different periods. The data obtained enabled the identification of 71 commercialized fish species, distributed across five orders and 19 families. The most representative order was Characiformes, accounting for 34 species (69% of total occurrences), followed by Siluriformes, with 24 species (15% of occurrences). The Serrasalmidae family stood out for the highest number of species occurrences, with Colossoma macropomum (Tambaqui) being one of the most frequent in both periods. Species richness was higher during the dry season, with 62 species identified, in contrast to 42 species during the flood season. Therefore, it can be seen that the hydrological regime directly influences the composition of fish species sold in the Tabatinga market, with greater richness during the dry season, also impacting marketing practices and dynamics.