Upstream and Downstream Migration Speed of Prochilodus Costatus (Characiformes: Prochilodontidae) in Upper São Francisco Basin, Brazil
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Neotropical Ichthyology, 17(2): e180072, 2019 Journal homepage: www.scielo.br/ni DOI: 10.1590/1982-0224-20180072 Published online: 18 July 2019 (ISSN 1982-0224) Copyright © 2019 Sociedade Brasileira de Ictiologia Printed: 30 June 2019 (ISSN 1679-6225) Original article Upstream and downstream migration speed of Prochilodus costatus (Characiformes: Prochilodontidae) in upper São Francisco basin, Brazil João de Magalhães Lopes1, Carlos Bernardo Mascarenhas Alves2, Alexandre Peressin1,3 and Paulo Santos Pompeu1 Details of migration dynamics of Neotropical fishes are poorly understood. This study aimed to examine upstream (spawning) and downstream (post-spawning) migration speeds, of curimatá-pioa (Prochilodus costatus) in the São Francisco River basin, southeast Brazil. Most upstream movements were recorded in October and November, in two well-defined migration windows, and downstream movements were frequent from December to March. Fish migrated upstream at an average migration speed of 34.4 km day-1 and no significant differences were detected in their speed between sexes and migration window they selected to migrate. No relationship was detected between upstream migration speed and biometric measures of tagged individuals. Upstream migrations speeds were significantly higher for fish that swam longer prior to reach telemetry stations in the same season, indicating that swimming performance may take some time to achieve its peak in upstream migration. Fish migrated downstream at an average migration speed of 97.7 km day-1, what is close to passive swimming in São Francisco River, and no significant differences in speed were detected between sexes or capture sites. The migration speeds measured here are the highest ever recorded for the genus Prochilodus and are among the highest reported for Neotropical migratory fish. Keywords: Downstream migration, Migratory characteristics, Migration window, São Francisco River, Upstream migration. Detalhes acerca da dinâmica migratória de peixes neotropicais são pouco conhecidos. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar as velocidades em migração ascendente (reprodutiva) e descendente (pós-reprodutiva) da curimatá-pioa (Prochilodus costatus) no rio São Francisco, Brasil. A migração ascendente concentrou-se nos meses de outubro e novembro, em duas janelas migratórias, e a descendente de dezembro a março. Os peixes alcançaram velocidade migratória média de 34,4 km dia-1 em migração ascendente não sendo observadas diferenças nas velocidades em relação ao sexo e janela migratória em que o peixe migrou. Não foi observada relação entre velocidade migratória e características biométricas dos peixes. Diferenças nas velocidades migratórias ascendentes foram observadas para peixes que nadaram maiores distâncias antes de passar pelas estações de telemetria, indicando que o pico de desempenho natatório é alcançado algum tempo depois de iniciado o movimento ascendente. Em migração descendente a média de velocidade migratória foi de 97,7 km dia-1, próxima à natação passiva, e não foram observadas diferenças entre as velocidades em relação a sexo e ponto de marcação dos peixes. As velocidades migratórias medidas neste estudo são as maiores já registradas para o gênero Prochilodus e estão entre as maiores registradas para peixes migradores neotropicais. Palavras-Chave: Características migratórias, Janela migratória, Migração ascendente, Migração descendente, Rio São Francisco. Introduction (Godinho et al., 2010), but there are many knowledge gaps with respect to specific aspects of their migration dynamics The Neotropical fish fauna is the most diverse on earth (Schulz, Leal, 2012). For example, there is a dearth of with over 5000 freshwater species described to date (Reis knowledge on the upstream and downstream migration et al., 2016), some of which exhibit migratory behavior speeds of the vast majority of tropical fish species (Lucas et to some degree. Neotropical freshwater fish species that al., 2001) and few studies have measured the speeds attained undertake long-distance migrations between spawning and by Neotropical species during spawning and post-spawning feeding areas are mostly potamodromous and iteroparous migrations. 1Programa de Pós Graduação em Ecologia Aplicada, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Departamento de Biologia, Universitário, 37200-000 Lavras, MG, Brazil. (JML) [email protected], https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9558-0025 (corresponding author); (PSP) pompeups@ gmail.com, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7938-1517 2Bio-Ambiental Consultoria, Rua Rio de Janeiro, 1758/902, Lourdes, 30160-042 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. cbmalves@gmail. com, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1731-6541 3Cemig Geração e Transmissão S.A., Av. Barbacena, 1200, Santo Agostinho, 30190-131 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. alexandre. [email protected], https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0026-1713 e180072[1] Neotropical Ichthyology, 17(2): e180072, 2019 2 Migration speed of Prochilodus costatus Even though data on swimming capacity derived from a critical role in cycling organic material within the basins laboratory experiments is available for some species (Santos where they occur (Flecker, 1996; Stassen et al., 2010). et al., 2009, 2012; Castro et al., 2010; Duarte et al., 2012; Prochilodus is distributed across South America (Castro, Vari, Sampaio et al., 2012; Duarte, Santos, 2014), little research 2004), and are considered long-distance migrants (Godoy, has examined the swimming performance of Neotropical 1962; Bonetto et al., 1981; Sato, Godinho, 2003; Agostinho migratory species in natural river systems and most data are et al., 2004; Agostinho et al., 2007; Bailly et al., 2008). Fish derived from mark-recapture studies that may considerably of the genus Prochilodus are single batch spawners that underestimate actual speeds (Godoy, 1975; Delfino, Baigun, produce semi-buoyant eggs with large perivitelline space that 1985). Few studies have measured the migration speeds drift downstream over long distances (Godoy, 1975; Sato et of Neotropical species during spawning or post-spawning al., 2003). Prochilodus costatus initiate spawning migration migrations using field-collected biotelemetry data (Godinho from September to December in the study area, triggered by et al., 2007; Andrade Neto, 2008; Fries, 2013; Pérez, 2014). rain and water level increase (Lopes et al., 2018a). Knowledge of migration speeds of Neotropical Two hundred and fifteen individuals of P. costatus were freshwater fishes is essential for a better understanding of tagged with radiotelemetry transmitters (MCFT2-3EM, life history and migration characteristics including, among Lotek Wireless Inc.; 10 g in air; 5 to 6,5 seconds burst rate, others, migration interval, energy costs of migration, and 528-860 days of estimated life) from early September to dates of arrival on spawning and feeding areas (Lucas et mid-October for three consecutive years (2014 to 2016). al., 2001). This information can be useful in the analysis of Fish were captured and radio-tagged at two capture points, temporal changes in migration dynamics of migratory fish the first located in the São Francisco River (CSF) 10 rkm caused by hydrological disruption, for example damming (river km) upstream from the confluence with the Pará River and dredging by humans (Hanson et al., 2008). Human and the second in the Pará River (CPA) 15 rkm upstream impacts that affect the swimming performance of migratory from the confluence with the São Francisco River (Fig. fish can increase travel times and reduce reproductive 1). The capture points were chosen to evaluate migratory success through increased en route mortality and delayed characteristics of fish that reside in each river. In 2014, 43 arrival at spawning sites (Venditti et al., 2000). were tagged in São Francisco River and 54 in Pará River. In Because knowledge of migration behavior in fishes 2015, 40 individuals were tagged in São Francisco and Pará is important for understanding their life cycles, this study rivers and in 2016, 38 fish were tagged only in Pará River. In aimed to measure the migration speeds of Prochilodus the third year, fish were tagged only in Pará River (CPA) due costatus Valenciennes, 1850 individuals during (upstream) to the number of available transmitters. Fish were captured spawning and (downstream) post-spawning migrations in with a cast net by boat and transported in aerated containers the upper São Francisco River, Brazil. to the river bank where the tagging platform was installed. All fish were tagged within 24 h of capture, with most being Material and Methods tagged within a few hours. Tag burden did not exceed 2% of the weight of the fish (i.e., a minimum body weight of 500 The São Francisco River is one of the largest rivers in g) as recommended in the literature (Nielsen, 1992; Winter, Brazil, rising in the Canastra Mountains in southern Minas 1996). Voucher specimens were deposited at Lavras Federal Gerais and flowing for 2,863 km before emptying into the University Ictiological Collection (CI-UFLA09989991000). Atlantic Ocean in Northeast Brazil (Fig. 1). Over 200 fish species have been described in its watershed, of which approximately 8% - usually those of greater commercial value and with higher yields - are considered migratory (Sato, Godinho, 2003). The study was conducted in the upper part of the basin along the lotic stretch upstream from the Três Marias reservoir, 400km of free flow river, at the confluence of the São Francisco River and Pará River, one of its important tributaries. The climate of the region