Life-history of the South American darter, Characidium pterostictum (Crenuchidae): evidence for small scale spatial variation in a piedmont stream

A new species of Characidium (Characiformes: Crenuchidae) from the rio Madeira basin, Brazil

This study describes Characidium nambiquara, a new species from the upper rio Guaporé, rio Madeira basin, Brazil. The new species differs from most congeners by the presence of isthmus and area between the contralateral pectoral-fin bases completely naked. From congeners with some degree of scaleless ventral surface of the body C. nambiquara differs by having 10 circumpeduncular scales. The new species is also distinguished from congeners by the spotted colour pattern on body of the large-sized specimens and by having black dashes on all fins and conspicuous midlateral longitudinal dark stripe or conspicuous vertical bars absent. Characidium nambiquara further differs from most congeners by the presence of 34-36 pored scales on the lateral line, 3 horizontal scale rows above the lateral line and 3 horizontal scale rows from the lateral line to the midventral scale series. Remarks on intraspecific colour variation within the genus, not related to sexual dimorphism, are also provided.

Life history traits of Characidium pterostictum (Characiformes, Crenuchidae) along the longitudinal gradient of a Neotropical river in southern Brazil

ABSTRACT Life history traits of Characidium pterostictum Gomes, 1947 (Characiformes, Crenuchidae) from three different reaches of the upper Sinos river, southern Brazil, were described and comparatively analyzed according to the longitudinal gradient. For all reaches, results indicated a seasonal reproductive strategy with a higher intensity during warmer months of higher photoperiod (November to February). Only females were found in the upstream reach and they were more numerous than males in all the sampled reaches. Mean absolute fecundity ranged from 5189 (±2131 SD) to 7394 (±3807 SD), whereas mean relative fecundity (oocytes per mg of female total weight) ranged from 1.08 (±0.40 SD) to 1.12 (±0.29 SD). Oocyte development was characterized as synchronic in two groups, typical of total spawning. Longitudinal gradient comparison suggests that body size (standard length) of C. pterostictum individuals and sex ratio were the only characteristics that differed between sampled reaches. Larger individuals and thus females tended to be more frequently found in upstream reaches of the Sinos river, with a decrease in body size and in the proportional number of females towards downstream.

Changes in ichthyofauna composition along a gradient from clearwaters to blackwaters in coastal streams of Atlantic forest (southeastern Brazil) in relation to environmental variables

The lack of knowledge of the freshwater ichthyofauna of coastal streams in the State of São Paulo (Brazil) is a cause of concern, as these streams are inserted in the Atlantic forest, a hotspot highly threatened. The aim of the present study is to investigate the freshwater ichthyofauna composition of clear and blackwater streams in a preservation area of Brazilian Atlantic forest. Fish samples were taken using electrofishing. A total of 20 species were registered, with Astyanax ribeirae, Hollandichthys multifasciatus, and Mimagoniates microlepis (Characiformes, Characidae) as the more representative. In general, the observed pattern of occurrence and distribution of fish species varied according to habitat characteristics, due to the longitudinal gradient in clearwaters, and among clearwaters and blackwaters. In clearwater streams, the headwater stretches had lower species diversity, while the opposite occurred in the middle and lower sites. These longitudinal variations of ichthyofauna were related with habitat characteristics (depth, stream flow, and bottom type) in which they were found, since the diversity of habitats was higher in headwaters and lower in downstream reaches (middle and lower sites). The physical and chemical variables of water do not seem to have influenced the distribution of species in clearwater streams, but the clear and blackwater fish composition was influenced mainly by pH concentration. Unlike the spatial differences, significant temporal differences were not registered in fish assemblages, probably due to the absence of a pronounced dry season in the studied region.

Seasonal changes in the gonadossomatic index, allometric condition factor and sex ratio of an auchenipterid catfish from eastern Amazonia

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the seasonal pattern of the gonadosomatic index (GSI), condition factor (K), and sex ratio in the catfish Auchenipterichthys longimanus (Siluriformes: Auchenipteridae) as an approach to identify its reproductive period. A total of 589 A. longimanus specimens (251 males and 338 females) were captured in the rivers of the Caxiuanã National Forest, in the Brazilian state of Pará, between July, 2008 and July, 2009. Among the male specimens, 171 were classified as adults and 80 as juveniles, while there were 249 adults and 89 juvenile females. Using a sinusoidal equation, analysis of the GSI revealed a reproductive asynchrony between the genders, with males attaining their highest GSI values in January, while females peaked in March. For males, the sinusoidal regression for GSI values was significant only when used the complete data set (P=0.001), wears no trend was identified for bimonthly means (P=0.136). For females, by contrast, significant values were obtained for both the complete data set (P=0.012) and bimonthly GSI means (P=0.026). For the condition factor, the sinusoidal equation returned significant seasonal variation in both raw data (P=0.02) and with mean values (P=0.00) for males, but only with raw data for females (P=0.04), which appears to reflect variation in the energy budget between genders. With regard to the sex ratio, more reproductive females were captured than males in January and March, 2009, which suggests a pattern of segregation related to the reproductive process. These parameters are fundamental to the assessment, protection, and management of natural fish stocks, as well as providing guidelines for the development of conservation strategies.

Compartilhamento de recursos por duas espécies de peixes nectobentônicas de riachos na bacia do rio Cachoeira (BA)

O presente estudo teve como objetivo buscar particularidades e aspectos em comum relacionados com as condições ambientais de ocorrência e recursos alimentares utilizados por Trichomycterus bahianus e Characidium aff. zebra, duas espécies típicas de riachos coletadas durante o período chuvoso na bacia do rio Cachoeira, sudeste da Bahia, uma região da Mata Atlântica, utilizando-se um equipamento de pesca elétrica em oito trechos de riachos de cabeceira. Foi verificada a correlação entre os dados ambientais e a abundância das espécies, através de uma análise de componentes principais. Para os itens alimentares verificou-se a amplitude da dieta, a sobreposição de nicho e a existência de diferenças na exploração dos recursos alimentares. Além disso, testou-se a existência de diferenças na composição e no grau de preferência alimentar em diferentes estágios de desenvolvimento. Foram coletados 55 exemplares de C. zebra e 124 de T. bahianus. Verificou-se que a abundância das duas espécies está relacionada com o gradiente gramínea-rocha na margem e areia-matacão no fundo. Pode-se afirmar que independente da espécie, as fêmeas foram maiores e mais pesadas que os machos (p < 0,001). A proporção sexual de C. zebra diferiu do esperado (Χ² = 4,091; gl = 1; p = 0,043). As duas espécies foram classificadas como invertívoras, consumindo principalmente formas imaturas de insetos aquáticos. Não houve diferença significativa no número de itens consumidos pelas espécies. A sobreposição alimentar foi elevada (Oj,k = 0,895), porém, as espécies apresentaram diferença significativa na exploração dos recursos alimentares (p < 0,001). Observou-se também que, apesar da alta sobreposição alimentar, as espécies exploraram praticamente os mesmos recursos, porém, com estratégias distintas. Isto foi evidenciado quando se levou em consideração os diferentes estágios de desenvolvimento, mostrando que a dieta de C. zebra é mais generalista que a de T. bahianus. Provavelmente o compartilhamento de recursos abundantes e as diferenças na ocupação de micro-hábitats e nas estratégias de vida de C. zebra e T. bahianus, permita a coexistência das duas espécies nos riachos da bacia do rio Cachoeira durante o período chuvoso.