Otolith morphometry provides length and weight predictions and insights about capture sites of Prochilodus lineatus (Characiformes: Prochilodontidae)

Here we choose the sábalo Prochilodus lineatus, to answer the following questions: How the otolith length and weight are correlated to fish measurements (length and weight)? How reliable are the otoliths measurements to predict the length and age of P. lineatus? Finally, we propose predictive equations of the length and weight of the fish using length and weight of the otolith. The otoliths were sampled from individuals collected in the Upper Paraná River floodplain during 2012 and 2013 years. The relationships among the otolith measurements and both length and weight of the fish were performed using linear regressions. To test whether the length and weight of the otolith differ between the sampled sites, Variance Analysis was performed. Finally, we made analysis of Kruskal-Wallis to verify if the measurements obtained through the otoliths could be used to distinguish the age of the fish. We demonstrate that the length and weight of the otolith are good proxies to predict the length and weight of the fish. Although some ages were statistically different, this result does not support the idea that the age of the fish can be accurately inferred only using otolith measures.(AU)

Neste trabalho o curimba Prochilodus lineatus foi utilizado para responder as seguintes questões: Como o comprimento e o peso dos otólitos são correlacionados com o comprimento e o peso do peixe? Até que ponto as medidas dos otólitos são confiáveis para predizer a idade do P. lineatus? Finalmente, nós propomos equações preditivas do comprimento e peso do peixe utilizando o comprimento e o peso do otólito. Os otólitos foram amostrados de indivíduos coletados na planície de inundação do alto rio Paraná durante os anos de 2012 e 2013. As relações entre as medidas dos otólitos e o peso e comprimento do peixe foram verificadas utilizando regressões lineares. Para testar se o comprimento e o peso do otólito diferem entre locais foram utilizadas Análises de Variância e para testar se as medidas dos otólitos são suficientes para distinguir as idades foram utilizados testes de Kruskal-Wallis. Nós demonstramos que o comprimento e o peso do otólito são bons preditores do comprimento e peso do peixe. Embora algumas idades foram estatisticamente diferentes entre as medidas dos otólitos, esse resultado não suporta a ideia de que a idade do peixe pode ser inferida de forma acurada somente utilizando as medidas dos otólitos.(AU)

Migration and brackish environment use of Prochilodus lineatus (Characiformes: Prochilodontidae) inferred by Sr:Ca ratio transects of otolith

The streaked prochilod, Prochilodus lineatus, represents the most important fishery in the La Plata Basin (South America). Our objective was to analyze brackish environment use by the streaked prochilod captured from Paraná and Uruguay rivers. To accomplish this, lapillus otolith sections were analyzed for Sr:Ca with laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA ICP-MS) to infer habitat use of fish. To the interpretation of transects, a threshold that represents the transition between freshwater and brackish environments was calculated using the Sr:Ca ratio of the otolith edge of specimens captured in the first section of the La Plata Estuary (salinity ≥ 0.5 PSU). The percentage of fish using the estuary was higher in the Paraná (37%) than the Uruguay River (5%). Change-point analysis showed that fish entered the estuary between 1 and 3 times throughout life at a wide range of ages (0-15 years). These incursions had no obvious periodicity. This information should be integrated into future management actions, which should also be specific to each area since migration patterns differ between the major rivers of the basin.(AU)

El sábalo, Prochilodus lineatus, representa la pesquería más importante en la Cuenca del Río de la Plata (Sudamérica). Nuestro objetivo fue analizar el uso del hábitat estuarino del sábalo proveniente de los ríos Uruguay y Paraná. Para esto, se analizó la relación Sr:Ca en secciones de otolitos lapilli por ablación láser acoplada a espectrometría de masas con fuente de plasma de acoplamiento inductivo (LA ICP-MS) para inferir el uso de hábitat. Para interpretar las transectas, un umbral que representa la transición entre los ambientes de agua dulce y estuarino, fue calculado usando la relación Sr:Ca del borde del otolito de especímenes capturados en la primera sección del estuario del Plata (salinidad ≥0.5 UPS). El porcentaje de peces que usaron el estuario fue más elevado para el Paraná (37%) en relación al Uruguay (5%). El análisis de cambio puntual mostro que los individuos ingresan al estuario entre 1 a 3 veces a lo largo de la vida en un amplio rango de edades (0-15 años). Las incursiones no mostraron una periodicidad notoria. Esta información debería integrarse a futuras acciones de manejo que deberían ser específicas para cada área considerando los patrones de migración que difieren entre los grandes ríos de la Cuenca.(AU)

Gill parasites of Prochilodus lineatus (Valenciennes, 1836) (Pisces; Curimatidae; Prochilodontinae) in the Middle Paraná System (Argentina) / Parasitos branquiais em Prochilodus lineatus (Valenciennes, 1836) (Pisces, Curimatidae, Prochilodontinae) no Sistema Paraná Médio (Argentina)

We studied gill parasites of Prochilodus lineatus in the San Javier River, which is connected to the Middle Paraná System (Santa Fe, Argentina). In 25 specimens, the parasite prevalence in branchial organs was 92% and the average intensity was 8.3 parasites/infested fish. The parasite community showed no dominance of any taxon, but the family Dactylogyridae represented 60% of the community. We found a significant association between Tereancistrum curimba and Dactylogyridae specimens. The prevalence of the parasites T. toksonum and T. curimba was higher than what has been recorded in the floodplain of the Upper Paraná River, Brazil, demonstrating that the geographic distribution of parasites belonging to Tereancistrum genus is thus expandeing.

Foram estudados os parasitos das brânquias de Prochilodus lineatus, do rio San Javier, Sistema Paraná Médio (Santa Fe, Argentina). Em 25 espécimes de peixes analisados, a prevalência de parasitos foi de 92% e a intensidade média de 8,3 parasitos/peixe parasitado. A comunidade parasitária não mostrou predomínio de um taxón, embora tenha sido observado que 60% da comunidade foi representada pela Família Dactylogyridae. Verificou-se associação significativa entre Tereancistrum curimba e indivíduos da família Dactylogyridae. Os índices de prevalência parasitária de T. toksonum e T. curimba se destacam como sendo superiores aos registrados na planície de inundação do rio Alto Paraná, no Brasil, demonstrando desta maneira expansão da distribuição geográfica de parasitas do gênero Tereancistrum.

Atresia Folicular en Ovarios de Prochilodus lineatus / Follicular Atresia in Ovaries of Prochilodus lineatus

Durante el período reproductivo, en el ovario de los teleósteos se forman cíclicamente folículos primarios, los que maduran y son liberados en el momento de la ovulación. Sin embargo, algunos de ellos desarrollan un proceso de atresia con degeneración y reabsorción, el que para ser considerado un evento fisiológico debería predominar al final del ciclo reproductivo. Las características morfológicas de ovarios de Prochilodus lineatus fueron analizadas para identificar la presencia de folículos atrésicos como indicadores de posibles modificaciones de su biología reproductiva que afecte la repoblación de la especie. En los ovarios de P. lineatus predominaron los cambios morfológicos que se corresponden con la denominada atresia tipo I, y los folículos atrésicos fueron observados en peces con índice gonadosomático bajo que se encontraban al final del ciclo reproductivo. La atresia folicular hallada no pudo vincularse con algún proceso patológico que provoque una disminución de la especie en el ecosistema del río Paraná.

During the reproductive period, primary follicles are formed cyclically in the ovary of teleost, which mature and are released at the ovulation time. However, some of them develop a process of atresia with degeneration and resorption, which to be considered a physiological event should prevail at the end of the reproductive cycle. Morphological characteristics of ovaries of Prochilodus lineatus were analyzed for the presence of atresic follicles as indicators of possible changes in their reproductive biology affecting the repopulation of the species. In the ovaries of P. lineatus dominated the morphological changes that correspond to the so-called type I atresia, and atresic follicles were observed in fish with low gonadosomatic index who were at the end of the reproductive cycle. Detected follicular atresia could not be linked to a pathological process that causes a decline of the species in the Paraná river ecosystem.

Population dynamics of the migratory fish Prochilodus lineatus in a neotropical river: the relationships with river discharge, flood pulse, El Niño and fluvial megafan behaviour

The relative importance of flood pulse dynamics and megafan behaviour for the Sábalo (Prochilodus lineatus) catches in the neotropical Pilcomayo River is studied. The Sábalo catches can mainly be explained by decreased river discharges in the preceding years resulting in smaller inundated areas during rainy season floods and thereby in a decreased area of feeding grounds for the fishes. The decreased river discharges and the related decline of Sábalo catches in the 1990's can be linked to the 90-95 El Niño event. In 2007 the Sábalo catches were comparable to the catches before the "El Niño" event. The connectivity (continuity) between the main river and flood plain areas, which is influenced by sedimentation processes, is also of great importance and very probably plays a more important role since the late 1990's.

Se ha estudiado la importancia relativa de la dinámica del pulso de inundación y el comportamiento del sistema megafan para las capturas del Sábalo (Prochilodus lineatus) en el río Pilcomayo. Las capturas del Sábalo puede explicarse fundamentalmente por los bajos caudales del río en los años anteriores, resultando en menores superficies de las zonas inundadas durante la temporada de lluvia y por lo tanto en una área menor de alimentación para los peces. La disminución del caudal del río y la declinación relativa de capturas de Sábalo en los años 1990 pueden estar relacionadas con el 90-95 evento de El Niño. En 2007, la captura de Sábalo fue comparable a las capturas antes del evento de "El Niño". La conectividad (continuidad) entre el río principal y las llanuras aluviales, que son influenciadas por los procesos de sedimentación, son también de gran importancia y muy probablemente juegan un papel muy importante desde finales de los años '90.