Population Structure and Reproductive Biology of Loricariichthys Melanocheilus Reis & Pereira, 2000 (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) in the Rio Ibicuí, Brazil
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Neotropical Ichthyology, 13(2): 371-382, 2015 Copyright © 2015 Sociedade Brasileira de Ictiologia DOI: 10.1590/1982-0224-20140052 Population structure and reproductive biology of Loricariichthys melanocheilus Reis & Pereira, 2000 (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) in the rio Ibicuí, Brazil Éverton Luís Zardo1 and Everton Rodolfo Behr2 The objective of this study was to analyze population structure (spatial distribution, seasonal distribution and distribution by length classes, sex ratio and length-weight relationship) and aspects of the reproductive biology of Loricariichthys melanocheilus. Fish were sampled bimonthly using gillnets and trammel nets in lentic and lotic environments in the rio Ibicuí, between the years 2000 and 2001. Were collected 410 specimens: 230 females, 164 males and 16 specimens whose sex could not be determined. A greater number of specimens were collected in October/November and December/January and in lentic environments. The greater length classes had a higher amount of females (p < 0.05) and the sex ratio in all sampling periods was 1.38 females per male. Both males and females showed positive allometric growth (b = 3.299 and b =3.487, respectively). The highest values for gonadosomatic index (GSI) and gonadal condition factor (K) were observed from August/September and peaked in October/November, just like the highest frequencies of females at maturity stage C (mature), which is indicative that the breeding season occurs at this time. O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar a estrutura populacional (distribuição espacial, sazonal e por classes de comprimento, proporção sexual e relação peso-comprimento) e aspectos da biologia reprodutiva de Loricariichthys melanocheilus. Os peixes foram amostrados bimestralmente com redes de espera e feiticeiras em ambientes lêntico e lóticos no rio Ibicuí, entre os anos de 2000 e 2001. Foram capturados 410 indivíduos: 230 fêmeas, 164 machos e 16 indivíduos que não foi possível determinar o sexo. Foi capturado um maior número de indivíduos em outubro/novembro e dezembro/janeiro e em ambientes lênticos. As classes de comprimento superiores apresentaram maior quantidade de fêmeas (p < 0.05) e a proporção sexual em todos os períodos amostrados foi de 1,38 fêmeas para cada macho. Tanto os machos quanto as fêmeas apresentaram crescimento alométrico positivo (b = 3.299 and b =3.487, respectivamente). Os maiores valores do Índice Gonadossomático (IGS) e do fator de condição gonadal (K) foram observados a partir de agosto/setembro, com pico em outubro/novembro, assim com as maiores frequências de fêmeas em estádio de maturação C (maduro), indicando que o período reprodutivo se dá nesta época. Keywords: Armored catfish, Breeding season, Condition factor, Gonadosomatic index, Hepatosomatic index. Introduction genera and 209 species (Ferraris Jr., 2003). The species addressed by this study, Loricariichthys melanocheilus, Loricariidae is the most representative among also known as armored catfish, was described by Reis & Siluriformes, with about 684 recognized species and Pereira (2000) in the basins of the Paraná and Uruguay several others being validated each year (Nelson, 2006). rivers, and it differs from other species of the genus mainly It is spread over almost the entire Neotropics, from Costa because its caudal peduncle is not either very compressed Rica to Argentina (Reis et al., 2003). Loricariichthys or straight in lateral view, in addition to pre-maxillary Bleeker, 1862, is comprised of 18 recognized species and teeth and rostral edge, which are relatively short (Reis & is included in the Loricariinae, which consists of about 31 Pereira, 2000). 1Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Faculdade de Agronomia, Avenida Bento Gonçalves, 7712, 91540-000 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. [email protected] 2Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Centro de Ciências Rurais, Avenida Roraima, 1000, Camobi, 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil. [email protected] 371 372 Loricariichthys melanocheilus reproduction Studies addressing population and reproductive a given species is broadened when these studies are aspects of this family of fish have been conducted in coupled with data such as length-weight relationship, several Brazilian basins, focusing on several species such sex ratio, and spatial distribution. This knowledge is of as Rhinelepis aspera Spix & Agassiz, 1829 (Agostinho great importance, because several aspects of the survival et al., 1987; Agostinho et al., 1990), Hypostomus strategy of the species during energy allocation, whether commersonii Valenciennes, 1836 (Agostinho et al., 1991), for growth, reproduction or maintenance, are interpreted Rineloricaria latirostris (Boulenger, 1900) (Barbieri, through studies of this nature (Gurgel & Mendonça, 1994), Hypostomus ancistroides (Ihering, 1911) (Viana et 2001). al., 2008), Pareiorhina rudolphi (Miranda Ribeiro, 1911) Given the above, the purpose of this paper is to (Braga et al., 2009), among others. Studies conducted on characterize the population structure of Loricariichthys the genus Loricariichthys have focused primarily on L. melanocheilus as regards seasonal and spatial anus (Valenciennes, 1835), L. platymetopon Isbrücker distribution, distribution by length classes, and weight/ & Nijssen, 1979 (Tos et al., 1997; Querol et al., 2002; length relationship, as well as determine the breeding Marcucci et al., 2005; Bailly et al., 2011) and L. spixii season of this species by macroscopic evaluation of (Steindachner 1881) (Duarte & Araújo, 2001). So far, gonads and quantitative indexes. there is no record in the literature of studies addressing aspects of the biology of Loricariichthys melanocheilus, Material and Methods probably because it is a recently described species and is not widely distributed along several Brazilian basins, but Study area. The rio Ibicuí is a major tributary of the rio rather, restricted only to the southern region of Brazil. Uruguay, formed in its initial stretch by the Ibicuí-Mirim An exception is a recent study by Teixeira de Mello et al. and Santa Maria rivers, in the State of Rio Grande do (2011), which addresses the length-weight relationship of Sul, southern Brazil. The rio Ibicuí has sand substrate various fish species of the río Negro, Uruguay, including and although it is narrow, there are many marshes along L. melanocheilus. its banks and a broad floodplain (Rambo, 1994). Research studies that explore population and Sampling sites were chosen on the stretch between reproductive aspects have yielded important results for the municipalities of São Vicente do Sul and Itaqui. Point understanding the biology and ecological relationships 1 is located below the mouth of the rio Santa Maria, among the species researched and the environment. between São Vicente do Sul and Cacequi (ca. 29°48’S Studies on reproductive dynamics are important for 54°58W); point 2 is located in the middle stretch of the research on fishing activities in that they provide the rio Ibicuí, between the municipalities of Manoel Viana necessary support for developing programs aimed at the and Alegrete (ca. 29º29’S 55º45’W); point 3 is located rational exploitation and conservation of fish species in above the mouth of the rio Ibirocaí, between Itaqui and Brazilian rivers and lakes. In this line of research, studies Alegrete (ca. 29º25’S 56º37’W) (Fig. 1). particularly focus on breeding season, size and age of first gonadal maturity, fecundity, growth rate and type of spawning (Barbieri, 1994). Several researchers have characterized the reproductive dynamics and their relationship with the breeding season through knowledge of some quantitative indexes such as gonadosomatic index, hepatosomatic index and condition factor (Araújo et al., 1999; Querol et al., 2002; Gomiero & Braga, 2006; Braga et al., 2009; Holzbach et al., 2009; Freitas et al., 2011; Moraes & Braga, 2011). The condition factor is indicative of specimens’ health, and it is widely used both in research on aquaculture and fish ecology, in natural and laboratory environments (Camara et al., 2011). This index reflects recent nutritional conditions and/or expenditure of reserves in cyclical activities, which may be indicative of breeding season, a period of Fig. 1. Map with location of sampling points. P1 = Point 1; food and physiological changes, and accumulation of fat P2 = Point 2; P3 = Point 3. (Vazzoler, 1996; Gomiero & Braga, 2005). According to Vazzoler (1996), using these indexes is important to At each point, the specimens were collected in lotic counterbalance the possible subjectivity of data on the and lentic environments, respectively represented by the maturity stages, thus making results more reliable when main axis of the river and the lakes and side channels attempting to identify the breeding season of a species. that are connected with the river during most of the year. Moreover, knowledge of the population structure of In addition to the geographical distance between them, É. L. Zardo & E. R. Behr 373 lentic environments have other distinguishing features. investigate the differences in sex ratio and the differences At point 1, this environment is the channel of a small in distributions between length classes, the Chi-square stream, but when the water level is high, it forms a lake test (X2) was used. To evaluate the differences in average located about 40 m away from the river. In periods of low sizes and weights between sexes and between sampling water level, only the channel remains, without current, periods, the