Neotropical Ichthyology, 16(1): e160140, 2018 Journal homepage: www.scielo.br/ni DOI: 10.1590/1982-0224-20160140 Published online: 26 March 2018 (ISSN 1982-0224) Copyright © 2018 Sociedade Brasileira de Ictiologia Printed: 31 March 2018 (ISSN 1679-6225) Original article Life-history characteristics of Pseudoplatystoma metaense (Teleostei: Siluriformes: Pimelodidae) from the northwestern Orinoco River Basin Alfredo Pérez1 and Nidia Noemí Fabré2 The tiger shovelnose catfish (Pseudoplatystoma metaense) identified in literature prior to 2007 as P. tigrinum is the most important catfish species in the Orinoco River fishery, because of its abundance and high market price. The aim of this study was to obtain age, growth and population parameters of the of tiger shovelnose catfish. A total of 2,183 catfish, were sampled during 1996-2003 from the commercial fishery of the northwestern Orinoco River Basin in Venezuela, and were aged by examination of otoliths. Validation of otolith annuli was achieved with marginal increment analysis. Results suggest that, the opaque and translucent zones of otoliths were formed once per year. Length-weight relation and the von Bertalanffy growth model parameters were used to evaluate growth and other population parameters. A strong link between the annual flood pulse and opaque zone formation was confirmed in tiger shovelnose catfish. The total mortality (Z) and natural mortality (M) were estimated. Based in the reference points for optimal and limit fishing mortality rates (Fopt and Flimit) this species is exploited above optimum levels. We thus recommend a closed fishing season during their seasonal reproduction, and establishment of a system of fish refuges to help sustain the population. Keywords: Age, Growth, Otoliths, Overfishing, Venezuela. O bagre capararí (Pseudoplatystoma metaense) identificado na literatura antes de 2007 como P. tigrinum é uma das espécies de bagres mais importantes da pesca no noroeste do rio Orinoco, por sua abundância e alto preço de comercialização no mercado. O objetivo deste estudo foi obter parâmetros populacionais sobre a idade e crescimento do bagre capararí. Um total de 2.183 exemplares de P. metaense foram examinados desde 1996 até 2003, coletados da frota comercial artesanal do rio Apure na Venezuela. A idade foi determinada pela examinação dos otólitos. A validação da idade foi estimada com a análise de incremento marginal. As zonas opacas e translúcidas dos otólitos foram formada anualmente. A relação comprimento-peso e a equação de von Bertalanffy foram usadas para avaliar o crescimento e outros parâmetros populacionais. Uma forte relação entre o pulso anual de inundação e a formação de zonas opacas foi confirmada emP. metaense. A mortalidade total (Z) e a mortalidade natural (M) foram estimadas. Portanto, baseado nos pontos de referência biológicos (Fopt e Flim) esta espécie encontra-se sobreexplotada acima do nível ótimo. Recomenda-se que o período de defeso deva ser sincronizado com o período de reprodução da espécie e um sistema de reservas de pesca deveria ser utilizado para ajudar a sustentabilidade da população. Palavras-chave: Crescimento, Idade, Otólito, Sobrepesca, Venezuela. Introduction In the inland fisheries of Venezuela, the “bagres rayados” (Pseudoplatystoma orinocoense Buitrago-Suárez & Burr, The large-bodied catfishes of the family Pimelodidae 2007 and P. metaense Buitrago-Suárez & Burr, 2007, in are among the dominant commercial species in the Orinoco literature prior to 2007 identified as P. fasciatum and P. River Basin, forming an important part of the landed catch tigrinum, respectively) have composed on average 15.7% of in inland fisheries (Castillo et al., 1988; Novoa, 2002). In the landed catch from 1996 to 2003 (contributing on average Venezuela, these highly valued resources are marketed 6,121 t·year-1). whole, usually fresh on ice, at markets in various state The tiger shovelnose catfishPseudoplatystoma metaense capitals. They are also seasonally exported to Colombia Buitrago-Suárez & Burr, 2007, occurs in benthic or near (Novoa, 2002). bottom habitats of main rivers throughout the Orinoco Basin 1Laboratorio de Biología, Programa Ciencias del Agro & Mar UNELLEZ-APURE, San Fernando, ZP 7001, Edo. Apure, Venezuela. [email protected], http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4954-2236 (corresponding author) 2Instituto de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (ICBS), Setor Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, 57072-900 Maceió, AL, Brazil. [email protected] e160140[1] Neotropical Ichthyology, 16(1): e160140, 2018 2 Age and growth of Pseudoplatystoma metaense and it is landed in commercial quantities from all along the northwestern Orinoco River Basin; it is based on age Apure River (Barbarino Duque, Winemiller, 2003; Castillo estimates from asterisci otoliths. Results will be important et al., 1988; Machado-Allison, 1987; Novoa, 2002). for sustainable management of this economically important There is a lack of reliable information on the longevity, fishery resource. growth parameters, mortality rates, and population characteristics of P. metaense, despite its ecological and Material and Methods commercial importance. The juveniles inhabit floodplain areas (inundated savannas) of the Apure River (Barbarino, Commercial landings of Pseudoplatystoma metaense 2005). In Venezuela, there has been only one study on age from the northwestern Orinoco River Basin were sampled and growth of P. metaense but without age validation (Reid, opportunistically from July 1996 to December 2003 (Fig.1). 1983). Samples obtained from January 2000 to December 2003 The accurate determination of fish age is the key to were collected on a monthly basis among all fishing boats in estimating growth and mortality rates (Beamish, Fournier, the artisanal fleet from the lower Apure River. 1981; Marriott, Cappo, 2000). Errors in determining fish Specimens were compared with reference collections of age can result in ambiguous demographic parameters and this species in the Museo de Ciencias Naturales de Guanare provide misleading impressions of the production potential of Universidad Nacional Experimental de los Llanos of fish stocks (Brothers, 1983). Occidentales Ezequiel Zamora (e.g., voucher MCNG 31287, This work represents the first comprehensive study Laguna Tineo, 08º11’25”N 63º28’20”W, Orinoco River, of age, growth, and mortality of P. metaense from the Anzoátegui, Venezuela) to verify identification. Fig. 1. Location of the sampling points in the study area of the northwestern Orinoco River Basin of the fishery for Pseudoplatystoma metaense. e160140[2] Neotropical Ichthyology, 16(1): e160140, 2018 A. Pérez & N. N. Fabré 3 All specimens were captured with gillnets (3 m x 120 m x The periodic regression model is a useful tool to 8 cm stretch mesh) along the main river channel. Additional evaluate biological rhythms (Angelini et al., 1992). MIA juvenile specimens were obtained by our research team data were fitted to a periodic regression model (Bliss, using gillnets of 3 cm stretch mesh. 1970) to evaluate possible periodic formation of mark in For all fish, total length (TL, cm) was measured from the otoliths, using the following equation: tip of upper jaw to tip of longest caudal lobe, eviscerated weight (Wev to nearest g) was recorded, and whenever y = α + β1 * cos(q) + β2 * sen(q) + d possible, sex was determined by examination of the gonads. The relationships between TL and Wev, were described by Where: y = dependent variable; β = regression b the power function: Wev = a*TL , where: “a” and “b” are coefficient; α = mean general; q = angular frequency regression coefficients from simple linear regression. These (2p*t/k); t = independent variable; k = number of days relationships were fitted to log10-transformed data. An or months; p = pi; d = random error. The model was analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to determine if evaluated by the significance of the F value and analysis of there were significant differences (P=0.05) in the TL versus studentized residuals (Kleinbaum et al., 1988). Parameters Wev relationships between sexes for P. metaense. Multiple of the periodic model were estimated by a sub-routine comparisons were performed with Least Significant (macro) implemented in spread sheet software. Difference test (LSD; Sokal, Rohlf, 1981). Trends in length Because the peak spawning period of P. metaense and weight relationships of fish over time also were assessed usually occurs in late May (Castillo et al., 1988; Pérez et using ANCOVA. al., 2012), all fish were assigned a birth date of 1 June to assure proper year-class identification. Ages were assigned Otolith preparation and analysis. Otolith removal, from counts of annual growth increments consisting of measurement, and preparation followed the procedures alternating opaque and translucent rings from asteriscus described by Pérez, Fabré (2003). All age estimates otoliths (opaque rings were counted). Annual growth were based on the analysis of growth annuli in asteriscus annuli were counted without reference to fish length or otoliths. The whole otoliths were examined under a Leica date of capture. MZ5 stereoscopic microscope at 1.65x magnification with Each asteriscus otolith was read twice, with a separation reflected light on a black background. of 15 days between each reading by the same reader. When Otolith images were recorded using a digital video the counts differed, these otoliths were re-examined a third camera connected to the microscope. The images were time. Otoliths with