ABSTRACT
The experiment had as objective to study the survival of Piaractus mesopotamicus and Oreochromis niloticus larvae subject to predation by Pantala flavescens larvae with different length classes. We used 120 larvae of P. mesopotamicus, 120 of O. niloticus, and also 24 larvae of Pantala flavescens, distributed in 24 aquariums with useful volume for 2 L, being placed one Odonate for aquarium. The treatments differed as regard to the prey species and the predator size, being kept a control treatment. An aquarium (2 L) containing one larvae of Odonate and 10 larvae of fish were considered an experimental unit. After the beginning, each three hours (18:00, 21:00, 0:00, 3:00, 6:00, 9:00, 12:00, 15:00 and 18:00h), the remnant larvae of fish (alive) in each experimental unit was quantified, and we replaced the consumed larvae, so that we always had 10 larvae of fish at each aquarium after each counting. For both fish species, there was a slight increase in consumption by the Odonate with intermediate size, but the values did not differ statistically (p > 0.05). Larvae of Odonate in the treatments with greater length presented a lower consumption (p 0.05) than in other treatments.
The experiment had as objective to study the survival of Piaractus mesopotamicus and Oreochromis niloticus larvae subject to predation by Pantala flavescens larvae with different length classes. We used 120 larvae of P. mesopotamicus, 120 of O. niloticus, and also 24 larvae of Pantala flavescens, distributed in 24 aquariums with useful volume for 2 L, being placed one Odonate for aquarium. The treatments differed as regard to the prey species and the predator size, being kept a control treatment. An aquarium (2 L) containing one larvae of Odonate and 10 larvae of fish were considered an experimental unit. After the beginning, each three hours (18:00, 21:00, 0:00, 3:00, 6:00, 9:00, 12:00, 15:00 and 18:00h), the remnant larvae of fish (alive) in each experimental unit was quantified, and we replaced the consumed larvae, so that we always had 10 larvae of fish at each aquarium after each counting. For both fish species, there was a slight increase in consumption by the Odonate with intermediate size, but the values did not differ statistically (p > 0.05). Larvae of Odonate in the treatments with greater length presented a lower consumption (p 0.05) than in other treatments.
ABSTRACT
The experiment had as objective to study the survival of Piaractus mesopotamicus and Oreochromis niloticus larvae subject to predation by Pantala flavescens larvae with different length classes. We used 120 larvae of P. mesopotamicus, 120 of O. niloticus, and also 24 larvae of Pantala flavescens, distributed in 24 aquariums with useful volume for 2 L, being placed one Odonate for aquarium. The treatments differed as regard to the prey species and the predator size, being kept a control treatment. An aquarium (2 L) containing one larvae of Odonate and 10 larvae of fish were considered an experimental unit. After the beginning, each three hours (18:00, 21:00, 0:00, 3:00, 6:00, 9:00, 12:00, 15:00 and 18:00h), the remnant larvae of fish (alive) in each experimental unit was quantified, and we replaced the consumed larvae, so that we always had 10 larvae of fish at each aquarium after each counting. For both fish species, there was a slight increase in consumption by the Odonate with intermediate size, but the values did not differ statistically (p > 0.05). Larvae of Odonate in the treatments with greater length presented a lower consumption (p < 0.05) than in other treatments.
O experimento teve como objetivo avaliar a sobrevivência de larvas de P. mesopotamicus e O. niloticus submetidas à predação por larvas de Pantala flavescens de diferentes classes de comprimento. Foram utilizadas 120 larvas de cada espécie de peixe e 24 larvas de Odonata, distribuídas em 24 aquários (2 L), sendo colocada uma Odonata por aquário. Os tratamentos diferiram quanto à espécie de presa e o tamanho do predador, sendo mantido um tratamento-controle. Um aquário (2 L) com uma Odonata e dez larvas de peixe foi considerada uma unidade experimental. As Odonatas foram colocadas nos aquários 1h antes das larvas de peixe. Foram efetuadas contagens a cada 3h (18, 21, 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 e 18h) das larvas de peixe remanescentes (vivas) em cada unidade experimental, sendo repostas as larvas consumidas, de modo a ter dez larvas de peixe em cada aquário logo após cada contagem. Para ambas as espécies de peixe, foi observado leve aumento no consumo das larvas pelas Odonatas de tamanho intermediário, porém os valores não diferiram estatisticamente (p > 0,05). As larvas de Odonata nos tratamentos em que apresentavam maior comprimento tiveram consumo menor (p < 0,05) que nos demais.