Fecundidad, fertilidad e índice gonadosomático de Poecilia reticulata (Pisces: Poeciliidae)en Heredia, Costa Rica / Fertility, fecundity and gonadosomatic index of Poecilia reticulata (Pisces: Poeciliidae) in Heredia, Costa Rica

Entre setiembre y noviembre de 1998 se determinó la fecundidad,fertilidad e índice gonadosomático de Poecilia reticulata (Peters 1859),a partir de especímenes recolectados en un estanque en Santo Domingo de Heredia,Costa Rica.Las hembras presentaron una longitud total promedio de 34.43 ± 7.26 mm con un ámbito entre 17.80 y 51.50 mm y un peso total promedio de 0.69 ± 0.48 g,con un ámbito entre 0.06 y 2.32 g.Se determinó que esta especie presenta superfetación,matrotrofía y se mantuvo sexualmente activa durante todo el período de estudio.La fertilidad se rigió por la ecuación F =0.527e0.1171Lt (r2 =0.9404)y con una fertilidad promedio para la población de 56.1 ± 43.6,con un ámbito entre 7.98 y 197.58 (huevos +embriones).La fecundidad se rigió por la ecuación Fo = 0.695e0.1076 Lt (r2 =0.9376)con una fecundidad promedio para la población de 48.95 ± 35.99, con un ámbito entre 6.98 y 178.99 (ovocitos +óvulos). El índice gonadosomático en hembras se rigió por la ecuación IGS =0.0014e 0.134 Lt (r 2 =0.8581)y se encontró un índice gonadosomático promedio de 0.25 ± 0.27% con un ámbito entre 0.02 y 1.31%

Between September and November of 1998,1 432 females of Poecilia reticulata were collected in a pond in Santo Domingo,Heredia,Costa Rica.The average total length of females was 34.43 ± 7.26 mm (range 17.80 and 51.50 mm)and the average total weight of 0.69 ± 0.48 g (range 0.06 and 2.32 g). This species is a viviparous matrotrofic and the specimens were sexually mature.The total length-fertility relationship was F =0.527e 0.1171Lt (r2 =0.9404).The average fertility was 56.1 ± 43.6 (eggs +embryos)(range 8.0 and 197.6).The total length-fecundity relationship was Fo =0.695e0.1076 Lt (r2 =0.9376).The average fecundity was of 49.0 ± 36.0 (oocytes +ova)(range 7.0 and 179.0).The total length-gonadosomatic index relationship was IGS =0.0014 e0.134 Lt (r2 =0.8581).The average gonadosomatic index was 0.25 ± 0.27%(range 0.02 and 1.31%)

Distribución y abundancia de Caiman crocodilus en el Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Caño Negro, Costa Rica / Distribution and abundance of Caiman crocodilus in the Caño Negro National Wild Life Refuge, Costa Rica

The distribution and abundance of a population of Caiman crocodilus fuscus were estimated by monthly counting of eye-shines at night, from February 1999 to March 2000 in six transects of Río Frío in the Caño Negro National Refuge (RNVSCN), Northern Costa Rica. March was the month with the greatest abundance of caimans observed. The visible fraction of the population (PV2 index) fluctuated between 42.59% to 54.71% during the wet season and 35.49% to 53.93% in the dry season. The transects of river with greater abundance of caimans were Terrón-Sabogal and Sabogal-Playuela. Significant differences were determined in the abundance of caimans between transects, except the transects Entrada San Sebastían-Las Cubas and Las Cubas-Entrada Caño Los Patos and Entrada Caño Los Patos-Terrón and Boca Sabogal-Playuela. The population of estimated brown caiman in this study was 2283.48 +/- 313.5. The statistical analysis by seasons did not show significant differences in the number of caimans observed. Estimated mean number of caimans per km of river was 74.36/km for 30.7 km of habitat. The results of this study indicated that the fluctuation in population density during the seasons is attributable to local movements.