Population and feeding structure of Steindachnerina notonota Miranda-Ribeiro, 1937 (Actinopterygii, Characiformes, Curimatidae) in Taperoá II dam, semi-arid region of Paraíba, Brazil

Estrutura populacional e alimentar de Steindachnerina notonota Miranda Ribeiro, 1937 (Actinopterygii, Characiformes, Curimatidae) no Açude Taperoá II, na região do semi-árido da Paraíba, Brasil

Population and feeding structure of Steindachnerina notonota Miranda-Ribeiro, 1937 (Actinopterygii, Characiformes, Curimatidae) in Taperoá II dam, semi-arid region of Paraíba, Brazil

Estrutura populacional e alimentar de Steindachnerina notonota Miranda Ribeiro, 1937 (Actinopterygii, Characiformes, Curimatidae) no Açude Taperoá II, na região do semi-árido da Paraíba, Brasil

Ana Karla Araujo Montenegro^I; Jane Enisa Ribeiro Torelli^III; Maria Cristina Crispim^III; Ana Maria Alves Medeiros^II

^I,IIPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Ecologia Aquática, Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia, Centro de Ciências Exatas e da Natureza, Universidade Federal da Paraíba - UFPB, Cidade Universitária, Campus I, CEP 58059-900, João Pessoa, PB, Brazile-mail: [e-mail]; [e-mail]

^IIILaboratório de Ecologia Aquática, Departamento de Sistêmica e Ecologia, Centro de Ciências Exatas e da Natureza, Universidade Federal da Paraíba - UFPB, Cidade Universitária, Campus I, CEP 58059-900, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil, e-mail: [e-mail]; [e-mail], [e-mail]

ABSTRACT

AIM: The present study investigated population structure, weight-length relationships, sex ratio and associations between feeding activity and reproductive period, diet and alimentary regime of Steindachnerina notonota at Taperoá II dam, semi-arid region of Paraíba State.

METHODS: The region has the lowest pluviometric rates of Brazil. Fishes were collected during six sampling periods (October and December/2005, and March, June, August and October of 2006) encompassing two dry periods, and one rainy period. Cast, seine and gill nets were used to collect the individuals.

RESULTS: Throughout the study period 120 individuals were collected, with total length ranging between 2.2 and 10.7 cm and weight between 0.31 and 43.1 g. A recruitment period, identified due to a higher abundance of small individuals in the population, was observed in the beginning of the rainy period of 2006, lasting until the beginning of the dry season. S. notonota showed a negative allometric growth type, i.e., individuals 'elongate' during their development. A significantly higher proportion of females were observed throughout the study period. The relationship between feeding and reproductive activities were not significant, given that individuals showed high feeding rates regardless of the intensity of their reproductive activities. Although the diet of S. notonota comprised several items such as plant debris, eggs, organic matter, phytoplankton, zooplankton, Nematoda, Ostracada, Conchostraca, among others, the most important feeding item was detritus, suggesting a predominant detritivirous feeding habit.

CONCLUSIONS: Biological aspects of S. notonota observed in the present study suggest that this species has potential to attain great population sizes, as consequence of both diet and feeding dynamics, as well as its reproductive characteristics and growth type.

Keywords: diet, Curimatidae, population structure, semi-arid, fishes.

RESUMO

OBJETIVO: O presente estudo investigou a estrutura da população, a relação peso-comprimento, a razão sexual, as associações entre atividade alimentar e período de reprodução, dieta e regime alimentar de Steindachnerina notonota, no açude Taperoá II, semi-árido paraibano.

MÉTODOS: A região tem os menores índices pluviométricos do Brasil. Os peixes foram coletados em seis amostragens (Outubro e Dezembro de 2005, e Março, Junho, Agosto e Outubro de 2006), compreendendo 2 períodos de estiagem e 1 chuvoso. Para a captura dos exemplares, utilizou-se tarrafa, redes de espera e de arrasto.

RESULTADOS: Ao longo do estudo capturou-se um total de 120 indivíduos, que mediram entre 2,2 e 10,7 cm de comprimento total e pesaram de 0,31 a 43,1 g. Evidenciou‑se intenso recrutamento durante todo o período estudado, demonstrado pela maior abundância de indivíduos em estádios gonadais “em maturação” (2) e “maduros (3)”. S. notonota apresentou um crescimento do tipo alométrico negativo (quando os indivíduos se tornam mais “alongados” durante o seu desenvolvimento), com uma proporção sexual significativamente maior de fêmeas ao longo do período estudado. Observou-se que a relação entre a atividade alimentar e a atividade reprodutiva não foi significativa, tendo em vista que os indivíduos apresentaram alta atividade alimentar independente da intensidade da atividade reprodutiva. Embora a dieta alimentar de S. notonota tenha sido composta por diversos itens, a exemplo de restos vegetais, ovos, matéria orgânica, fitoplâncton, zooplâncton, Nematoda, Ostracoda, Conchostraca, dentre outros, o item de maior importância alimentar foi detritos, indicando um regime alimentar predominantemente detritívoro.

CONCLUSÕES: Os aspectos da biologia de S. notonota observados no presente estudo, remetem a uma espécie com potencial para atingir grandes tamanhos populacionais, tanto pela sua dieta e dinâmica alimentar, quanto pelas suas características reprodutivas, e tipo de crescimento.

Palavras-chave: dieta, Curimatidae, estrutura populacional, semi-árido, peixes.

1. Introduction

Given their great diversity, abundance and mobility, fishes play a key role in food chains of aquatic ecosystems (Soares et al., 1986). However, recent estimations indicate that this group has lost approximately 20% of its global diversity, mainly due to habitat degradation, overfishing and introduction of exotic species (Fernando, 1991; Latini, 2001).

Specific knowledge on the biology and population dynamics is, therefore, necessary to understand and preserve natural fish stocks by means of sustainable utilization. Furthermore, studying these aspects provides important information on possible environmental disturbances, given that fishes ultimately show specific responses to these variations. Within Brazilian northeastern micro-regions, in the semi-arid the water levels vary from total absence (dry periods) to great discharges (rainy season) in most aquatic environments.

As a consequence, semi-arid communities have developed adaptations of morphological, physiological and behavioral nature to cope with these harsh conditions, thus perpetuating individual survival and, ultimately, the maintenance of local populations throughout time (Cowx et al., 1984).

The length-frequency distribution of a species provides essential support to estimate fish age and growth, particularly for juveniles (Benedito-Cecílio and Agostinho, 1997). These distribution patterns and their possible alterations through time and space provide knowledge on the population dynamics and may also identify problems such as low recruitment, slow growth and excessive annual mortality. Quantitative information regarding weight-length relationships, condition factors, sexual proportion, growth, recruitment and mortality of a particular fish species is an important tool for studies aiming to provide information for fisheries and essential for management and environmental conservation (Vazzoler, 1996; Lizama and Agostinho, 2003; Vicentini and Araujo, 2003), aside from being good indicators of feeding and reproductive activities (Teixeira and Gurgel, 2005).

Steindachnerina notonota (Miranda-Ribeiro, 1937), regionally known as “saguiru”, belongs to the Curimatidae family. The family comprises small individuals that feed on bottom debris and lack iliophag teeth, feeding on bottom debris (Britski, 1972). This species is endemic to the ecoregion of Maranhão-Piauí and to the Mid-Northeastern region of Brazil, but its phylogenetic relationships are still poorly defined (Rosa et al., 2005). Individuals of this species also migrate during reproductive periods.

Considering the lack of detailed investigations on the population structure and feeding habits of Brazilian semi-arid fishes of the Caatinga, the aim of this work was to determine the population structure based on length classes, weight-length relationships, sexual ratio, associations between feeding activity and reproduction period, and feeding habits of S. notonota in Taperoá II Dam, Paraiban semi-arid region.

2. Material and Methods

2.1 Study area

The semi-arid in Northeastern micro-regions is known for its deficit of water resources caused by low precipitation and high evaporation rates which, as a consequence, accelerate the eutrophication processes of aquatic systems. Also, periodically and during a relatively short period, these aquatic systems may shift from dry to overflow.

In the semi-arid region of Paraíba state, Northeastem Brazil, hydrological cycles have a major influence on population structure of fish assemblages, and although a recent increase in studies accomplished in this area is noticeable (Cardoso et al., 2004; Chaves et al., 2009, Montenegro et al., 2006; 2010), it remains relatively understudied.

Taperoá II Dam is a permanent section of the Taperoá River Basin, located in Taperoá municipality, central Paraíba State (Figure 1). It has a maximum volume capacity of 15,148,900 m3 of water and has a surface area of 4.6 km2 and a maximum depth of 5 m.

The study area is under two well-defined seasons, namely, the rainy season, which typically lasts between three and four months, and the dry season, which prevails during most of the year. The climate is semi-arid, hot and dry, and the rainy season usually takes place during the Summer/Autumn (Köppen, 1900) in the Southern hemisphere, which corresponds usually to as few months in the first semester. With approximately 300 mm/year, this area has the lowest precipitation rates in Brazil (Pimenta-Filho et al., 2004).

2.2 Sampling

Fishes were collected in October and December of 2005 (dry season), March and June of 2006 (rainy season), and August and October of 2006 (dry season), at sites highlighted in red (Figure 1). Precipitation rates and dam volume during the study period are shown in Figure 2.

Fishes were collected with the following fishing gears: 2 cast and 2 seine nets (mesh size of 15 mm between adjacent knots, nylon bags with 0.2 mm of net aperture); and 5 gill nets (meshes of 15, 20, 25, 35 and 40 mm between adjacent knots), during six sampling periods, along 24 hours, checked every 4 hours. These different types of gear were used to enhance fish capture from various size classes and microhabitats, both during the day and night periods.

Specimens were fixed in a 10% buffered formalin solution in field, and, later, taken to the laboratory of Aquatic Ecology/DSE/UFPB, where taxonomic identification was confirmed based in Vari (1991) and with the aid of a taxonomic specialist. Voucher specimens were deposited in the Icthyological collection of UFPB (under n° 6180).

2.3 Population structure

To determine population size structure, specimens were measured (standard length), being classified as males, females or immature by the observation of the maturation stage of gonads (Vazzoler, 1996). The t-test was applied to evaluate the differences in size between male and female through the studied period, and by isolated seasons.

The length-weight relationship was analyzed using the mathematical expression ln Wt = ln a + b ln sL, where: Wt = total weight, a = intercept, b = slope and sL = standard length (Santos, 1978, adapted by Braga, 1986). The regression model was tested with F-test performed on R (R Development Core Team, 2011). A t-test was run on Bioestat (Ayres et al., 2007) to verify if the slope is different from three, i.e. to search for allometric relationships: positive if the slope is higher than three, and negative if it is lower than three (Benedito-Cecílio and Agostinho, 1997).

Sex and stage of gonad maturation of the captured fish, were determined by macroscopic inspection (Vazzoler, 1996) and, subsequently, sex ratio was calculated. Immediately after capture, a 10% buffered formalin solution was injected through the body wall into the stomach cavity (Montenegro et al., 2006). The significance of differences between the proportions of both sexes throughout the different seasons was evaluated using chi-square (χ2) tests in Statistica software, version 6.0 (Statsoft, 1998).

2.4 Reproductive and feeding structures

Maturation stages of the gonads were determined following Vazzoler (1996) and, subsequently, the species' reproductive activity was determined. To test the level of significance between maturation stages throughout the seasons, chi-square tests (χ2) were conducted using R software (R Development Core Team, 2011).

To determine if the sex ratio of S. notonota individuals was different than expected, considering an even male to female proportion, a chi-square (χ2) test was conducted. Further, chi‑square was also employed to test seasonal changes in sex ratio (data pooled together as 2005 dry season, 2006 rainy season and 2006 dry season). These tests were conducted on Statistica software 6.0 (Statsoft, 1998).

Feeding activity was determined based on stomach repletion degree, and reproductive activity based on degree of gonad maturation. The degree of stomach fullness was classified according to Hahn et al. (1997), whereas the degree of gonad maturation followed Vazzoler (1996).

The relationship between feeding and reproductive activities were evaluated with Spearman's correlation (significance level of 0.05) by correlating individuals with concomitant feeding and reproductive activities.

Feeding habitats (diet and alimentary regime) were investigated with the analysis of stomach of the same individuals whose reproduction had been previously determined. Stomach contents were removed in laboratory and preserved in a 75° GL ethanol solution, until further macroscopic and microscopic analyses. Food items were identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level, based in specialized references (e.g. Edmonson, 1959; Germain, 1981; Menezes and Dias, 2001) and with the aid of taxonomy experts in various areas.

Diet was determined using the frequency of occurrence method, which estimates the number of occurrences of an item relative to the total number of analyzed stomachs (Zavala-Camim; 1996). Additionally, the points method (Hynes, 1950; Fugi et al., 1996; Resende et al., 2000; Peret, 2004) was employed. In the latter method, the point of each food item was multiplied by the respective stomach weight (Hynes, 1950). The Alimentary Index (IAi) for each item consumed was calculated to identify the most important food items in the diet of S. notonota, following Kawakami and Vazzoler (1980) (Equation 1):

where: IAii = relative alimentary importance index for the ith species, Foi = frequency of occurrence of the ith species, Fpi = point frequency of the ith species.

3. Results

3.1 Population structure

A total of 120 individuals were captured, as seen in Table 1. S. notonota individuals varied between 2.2 to 10.7 cm in total length with a mode of 7.8. Through whole study period, the highest standard length values observed were 10.7 cm for females (mean: 8.8 cm) and 9.7 cm for males (mean: 8.1), with no significant differences in the size between sexes (t = 1.97; df = 58; p = 0.053). Also, no significant differences were found between sexes when analyzing isolated dry/2005 (t9.9, 2(0.05) = 1.72, p = 0.117) and rainy/2006 (t12.93, 2(0.05) = 1.13, p = 0.278) seasons. There were no enough specimens to test the dry/2006 season (Figure 3).

Gonad maturation analyses indicated that the majority of individuals feel within the categories 'in maturation' (2) and 'mature' (3) (Figure 4). This pattern was observed during a hydrological cycle, suggesting a multivoltine reproduction for S. notonota. Although temporal differences were observed in the frequency of maturation stages (χ²6, 2(0.05) = 16.294; p = 0.012), these differences were mostly observed within stage 1, and may explained by chance alone, as observed from the standardized residual results (Table 2).

Weight of S. notonota individuals varied from 0.31 to 43.1 g, with an amplitude of 42.8 g. The regression model to the weight-length relationship is ln Wt = -1.35 + 2.83. ln sL (F1 and 118(0,05) = 948,7; p < 0.001). The slope shows a negative allometric growth (b = 2.829: t118, 1(0,05) = -1,86, p = 0,032; Figure 5). S. notonota had a significantly higher proportion of females throughout the study (χ2 = 14.25, df = 1, p < 0.01), with a male-female ratio of 1.0:3.0 (Figure 6).

3.2 Reproductive activities and feeding structure

Feeding activity of S. notonota was higher than 80% throughout the study period while the reproductive activity was low (less than 30%) (Figure 7). Furthermore, the relationship between feeding and reproductive activities was not significant when analyzed by the Spearman correlation coefficient (rs = 0.05; p = 0.92).

S. notonota individuals used for stomach content analysis ranged from 2.2 to 10.7 cm total length. A total of 88 items were identified, 82.95% of which were encountered during the dry season of 2005, 68.17% during the rainy season of 2006 and 26.14% during the dry season of 2006 (Table 3).

Debris was the most important feeding item, followed by plant remains. Furthermore, the highest amplitude of diet was recorded during the 2005 dry season, where items such as sediment, algae (e.g. Amphora sp., Melosira italica, Oocystis sp., etc) and Chironomidae larvae and pupae were exclusively recorded during this season.

4. Discussion

The observed reduction in the number of Steindachnerina notonota indivuals throughout the study period was, certainly, related to the overflow of the reservoir during the 2006 rainy season, which dislodged individuals downstream. This is supported by the fact that sampling effort was temporally standardized and by intensive local fishermen activities at the study site.

Sizes very similar to those reported here were recorded by Gurgel et al. (2005), in Ceará Mirim River, Rio Grande do Norte State, that found individuals of S. notonota slightly larger (3.2 to 11.0) than those the present study. Further, most individuals fell within 8-9 cm size in the present study.

Large individuals (i.e. adults) ranging between 8 and 10.7 cm predominated during the 2005 dry season and during the 2006 rainy season, whereas a single small individual (2.2 cm) was recorded during the 2006 dry season. However, reproductively active individuals were observed throughout the whole study period, suggesting that this species has a broad recruitment period. Also, this is indicative that S. notonota does not rely strongly on hydrological regimes.

Length-weight relationship investigations contribute to the knowledge of species morphology and provide a basis for comparisons with other populations. The angular coefficient (b) is an allometric value which determines the growth type of a species (condition factor) and, according to Benedito-Cecílio and Agostinho (1997), it is generally constant, gently fluctuating close to the 3.0 value, where there is a corresponding increase in the weight of different fish body parts, illustrating an isometric type of growth. On the other hand, values higher and lower than 3.0 suggest, respectively, positive and negative allometric types of growth. In these cases, the weight of different body parts increase independently.

In the present study, S. nototona had a negative allometric growth type. According to Orsi et al. (2002), a higher increase in length relative to weight is observed during the development of a given individual with this type of growth. Also, according to Santos et al. (2004), populations with large fishes usually show low allometric coefficients, given that they stop allocating energy for body growth. Values below 3.0 indicate that individuals become more 'elongated' throughout their development.

Length-weight relationships can be influenced by several factors such as food availability, population density and environmental factors which in interaction may affect the values of these variables. They may also suffer the influence of body biomass, gonad maturity, fish growth, degree of parasitism, gender, age and fishing (Lambert et al. 1994; Ribeiro and Castro, 2000).

The type of growth observed for Steindachnerina notonota is common for many species. For example, S. insculpta, a related species from the same genus investigated by Holzbach et al. (2005), also showed a negative allometric type of growth, for both females and males (b = 2.79 and b = 1.97, respectively).

The higher proportion of females in the present study is also an adaptation to food supply, given that, according to Nikolsky (1969), females prevail when food availability is high. Feeding activity, in this case, would be influencing metabolism through hormonal activity, resulting in changes in production of individuals of a given sex. This was also observed in Taperoá Dam II, mostly due to the presence of macrophytes and, therefore, an increase in the availability of shelter and food.

The relationship between feeding and reproductive activities was not significant throughout the study period, given that the individuals maintained a high feeding activity, above 80%, and a low reproductive activity, lower than 29%. Another fact to consider is that, according to Moreira-Hara et al. (2005), the reproductive cycles of organic detritus consumers (e.g. S. notonota) is only subtly influenced by the effects of seasonality, given that this food item is abundantly available along the year. However, the availability of detritus was not evaluated in the Taperoá dam.

As widely registered before (Montenegro et al., 2006), this species has a very broad diet, but debris and plant remains (Table 2) were the most important food items during all periods, indicating a detritivorous diet.

In the dry season of 2005 a wider diet was observed and some food items, such as sediment, some algae (Amphora sp., Aulacoseira granulata, Oocystis sp., among others) and Chironomidae larvae and pupae, were unique for this period. This was probably related to a higher concentration of food items during the dry period. However, this was not observed in the drought of 2006, probably due to the unusual large volume of water in the dam and thus, the resulting dilution of food items in the environment.

Teixeira and Gurgel (2005) studied feeding dynamics of Steindachnerina notonota in the Cross Creek dam (RN) and detected a diet based mostly on debris, like the present study. The same observation was made by Montenegro et al. (2006), who studied the influence of methodology on diet analysis of this species in Taperoá II dam, and Gurgel et al. (2005), which also found a diet composed mostly by sediments (IAi = 0.53) and algae (IAi = 0.35).

The results of the present study, corroborate the available literature about the family Curimatidae, providing information on another species that is also detritivorous (e.g. Pereira and Resende, 1997; Giora and Fialho, 2003; Melo et al., 2004).

We highlight the lack of studies on the population dynamics of S. notonota, which preclude meticulous comparisons that make conservation and management studies impracticable. Also, from an ecological point of view, this species is prey for other species, such as Hoplias malabaricus (Bloch, 1794)(Montenegro, 2007), and, despite the fact that it is not of high commercial importance, it is commonly consumed by local people.

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Long Term Ecological Research, PELD/Caatinga - CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico) for the support and CAPES (Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education) for a master degree grant to Ana Karla Araujo Montenegro and CNPq.

Received: 14 February 2011

Accepted: 14 December 2011

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  16 Feb 2012
• Date of issue
  Sept 2011

History

• Accepted
  14 Dec 2011
• Received
  14 Feb 2011