Sperm quality of the Amazon catfish Leiarius marmoratus (Gill, 1870) after cold storage.

This study aimed at assessing the sperm quality of the Amazon catfish, Leiarius marmoratus ¸ after refrigeration without extenders. After capturing the animals and stripping of semen, the following parameters were analyzed: progressive motility, motility quality score, duration of motility and sperm morphology. An aliquot of fresh semen from each male was kept at room temperature (28 ± 2°C) as a control, for further comparison with cooled semen. The semen from each animal was stored in extenders-free individual syringes. The syringes were kept in ice within polystyrene boxes at 13 ± 2°C. For both fresh and cooled semen, seminal parameters were evaluated every one-hour interval, reaching seven hours of analysis. Fresh semen showed a significant decrease in motility, motility quality score and duration of motility remaining viable only for three hours. Progressive motility of the cooled semen displayed a negative linear pattern (P<0.05). The duration of motility increased (P<0.05), reaching its peak after three hours of storage. The motility quality score showed a quadratic pattern. No statistical differences were observed when sperm morphology was assessed (P>0.05), even though the mean values of total abnormalities have increased over the storage time. Further studies focusing on the application of this technique should be performed, including the addition of extenders and cryoprotectants for preservation of the sperm over longer periods.

Resposta à seleção de características de desempenho e morfométricas de tilápia-do-nilo ao longo do período de cultivo / Selection response for performance and morphometrics traits of Nile tilapia along the culture period

Estudou-se a resposta à seleção para características de desempenho e morfométricas de tilápia-do-nilo (Oreochromis niloticus) em diferentes períodos de cultivo. Realizaram-se análises unicaracter para todas as características estudadas e as análises bicaracter, associando-se o ganho de peso diário, mensurado em quatro biometrias, com as características morfométricas obtidas ao final do período de cultivo. As herdabilidades estimadas para peso vivo, altura e comprimento de cabeça foram mais altas em análises unicaracter do que as estimadas em análises bicaracter. Os valores de correlações genéticas, fenotípicas, Pearson e Spearman foram positivas e crescentes com o avanço da idade dos animais. As respostas à seleção indireta foram 87% mais altas que as obtidas pela resposta direta, indicando que a seleção pode ser realizada precocemente, utilizando como critério de seleção o ganho de peso diário total medido em biometrias intermediárias, sem apresentar perdas expressivas no ganho genético.

The objective of this work was to study the selection response for performance and morphometrics traits in Nile tilapias (Oreochromis niloticus) in different measurements of farming. The one-trait analysis was performed for all traits studied and the two-traits analysis, were associated with the daily total weight gain in four measurement among performance and morphometrics traits in the fourth measurement. The heritabilities estimated for live weight, height and head length were higher in one-trait analysis than two-traits analysis. The genetic correlations, phenotypic, Pearson and Spearman among weight gain and all other measurements were higher along the farming. The indirect response was estimated at over 87% of direct response, which indicates that the selection may be performed early, using the daily total weight gain as selection criteria in intermediate measurement, without significant losses in genetic gain and contributing to reduction of cost production.

A successful case of biological invasion: the fish Cichla piquiti, an Amazonian species introduced into the Pantanal, Brazil / Um caso de sucesso de invasão biológica: o tucunaré Cichla piquiti, um peixe amazônico introduzido no Pantanal, Brasil

The "tucunaré", Cichla piquiti, an exotic Amazonian fish has become established along the left bank of the Paraguay River in the Pantanal. It was introduced by escaping from culture ponds in the Upper Piquiri River and spread downstream, along the lateral flooded areas of that river, continuing through the clear waters of the left bank of the Paraguay River and reaching south as far as the Paraguai Mirim and Negrinho rivers. Adult spawners have been found in the region, meaning that it is a self-sustained population. Reproduction occurs in the period of low waters. They were found feeding on fishes of lentic environments belonging to the families Characidae, Cichlidae and Loricariidae. Until the end of 2004, its distribution was restricted to the left bank of the Paraguay River, but in March 2005, some specimens were found on the right bank, raising a question for the future: what will be the distribution area of the tucunaré in the Pantanal? Information about its dispersion is increasing: it is known to be in the Tuiuiú Lake, Pantanal National Park and in the Bolivian Pantanal, all of them on the right bank of the Paraguay River. The hypothesis that the "tucunaré" could not cross turbid waters, such as in the Paraguay River, was refuted by these recent findings. Possibly, the tucunaré's capacity to lay more than one batch of eggs in a reproductive period, as well as its care of eggs and young, lead them to establish themselves successfully in new environments, as has been observed in the Pantanal and other localities.

O tucunaré, Cichla piquiti, está estabelecido ao longo da margem esquerda do rio Paraguai, desde a área do seu escape no rio Piquiri para jusante, até as áreas alagadas laterais entre os rios Paraguai Mirim e Negrinho. Está completando o seu ciclo de vida no Pantanal com populações adultas desovantes. A reprodução ocorre no período de águas baixas. Na região em estudo, alimentou-se de peixes de ambientes lênticos das famílias Characidae, Cichlidae e Loricariidae. Até fins de 2004, sua ocorrência estava restrita à margem esquerda do rio Paraguai, mas, nos primeiros dias de Março de 2005, alguns indivíduos foram pescados na margem direita, o que coloca uma questão a ser respondida nos próximos anos: qual será efetivamente a sua distribuição no Pantanal? A hipótese inicial de que as águas turvas do rio Paraguai constituiriam barreiras a sua dispersão não foi confirmada. Já existem registros de ocorrência na Baía Tuiuiú, Parque Nacional do Pantanal e no Pantanal boliviano, todos eles localizados na margem direita do rio Paraguai. O tucunaré possui características biológicas como desova parcelada e cuidados com a prole, entre outras, que lhe está possibilitando estabelecer-se com sucesso no Pantanal, a exemplo do que já foi observado em outros ambientes onde foi introduzido.

A successful case of biological invasion: the fish Cichla piquiti, an Amazonian species introduced into the Pantanal, Brazil.

The 'tucunaré', Cichla piquiti, an exotic Amazonian fish has become established along the left bank of the Paraguay River in the Pantanal. It was introduced by escaping from culture ponds in the Upper Piquiri River and spread downstream, along the lateral flooded areas of that river, continuing through the clear waters of the left bank of the Paraguay River and reaching south as far as the Paraguai Mirim and Negrinho rivers. Adult spawners have been found in the region, meaning that it is a self-sustained population. Reproduction occurs in the period of low waters. They were found feeding on fishes of lentic environments belonging to the families Characidae, Cichlidae and Loricariidae. Until the end of 2004, its distribution was restricted to the left bank of the Paraguay River, but in March 2005, some specimens were found on the right bank, raising a question for the future: what will be the distribution area of the tucunaré in the Pantanal? Information about its dispersion is increasing: it is known to be in the Tuiuiú Lake, Pantanal National Park and in the Bolivian Pantanal, all of them on the right bank of the Paraguay River. The hypothesis that the 'tucunaré' could not cross turbid waters, such as in the Paraguay River, was refuted by these recent findings. Possibly, the tucunaré's capacity to lay more than one batch of eggs in a reproductive period, as well as its care of eggs and young, lead them to establish themselves successfully in new environments, as has been observed in the Pantanal and other localities.

First gonadal maturation of Pinirampus pirinampu (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae) in the Pantanal, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil.

Information regarding the reproductive cycle of commercially exploited fish species is extremely important for their appropriate management. The reproductive size of Pinirampus pirinampu (Spix, 1829) was determined for a population studied in the Pantanal wetlands of western Brazil. Samples were taken in September, October, and December 1997, and in February and March 1998. Gonadal stages were macroscopically determined and a monthly gonadossomatic index (GSI) was used to determine the breeding period. The length of the first gonadal maturation was determined by classifying male and female adults and immature fish into length classes. The data on the adult individuals were plotted on graphs and the median values estimated to find the length at which 50% of the individuals reached maturity (L50). L100 was also determined. Males and females in the gonadal maturation process were recorded from October on, and the highest frequency was found to occur in February. Individuals with empty gonads occurred from February onwards. The GSI showed that gonadal development began in September and reached its peak in February. The L50 was 574 mm for females and 536 mm for males, while the L100 was 590 mm for females and 580 mm for males.

First gonadal maturation of Pinirampus pirinampu (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae) in the Pantanal, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil

Informações sobre o ciclo reprodutivo de espécies exploradas pela pesca são imprescindíveis para o seu manejo adequado. O tamanho de início da atividade reprodutiva do Pinirampus pirinampu (Spix, 1829) foi determinado. Os exemplares foram capturados em setembro, outubro e dezembro de 1997 e fevereiro e março de 1998. O estádio de desenvolvimento gonadal foi identificado macroscopicamente. O índice gonadossomático médio (IGS), calculado mensalmente, foi utilizado como indicador da época de desova. Para determinação do comprimento da primeira maturação gonadal agruparam-se, separadamente, machos e fêmeas por classes de comprimento em imaturos e adultos. Os resultados referentes aos indivíduos adultos foram lançados em gráficos e a mediana correspondeu à estimativa do comprimento no qual 50% dos indivíduos atingem a maturidade (L50). Foi também determinado o L100, estimativa do comprimento em que todos os indivíduos estão aptos à reprodução. Machos e fêmeas em processo de maturação gonadal foram encontrados a partir de outubro, com maior freqüência em fevereiro, e, somente a partir deste mês, foram encontrados indivíduos com gônadas esvaziadas. O índice gonadossomático mostrou que a partir de setembro inicia-se o processo de desenvolvimento gonadal, com seu valor máximo em fevereiro. O L50 para fêmeas foi 574 mm e para machos foi 536 mm. O L100 para fêmeas foi 590 mm e para os machos, 580 mm.

Trophic structure of fish assemblages in the Lower Miranda River, Pantanal, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil

Of a total of 101 fish species caught in the Lower Miranda River floodplain, 29 were omnivorous, 16 ichthyophagous, 12 herbivorous, 18 detritivorous, 8 zooplanktophagous, 7 insectivorous, 2 lepidophagous, 4 ichthyophagous/insectivorous and 4 zooplanktophagous/insectivorous. Almost half of the species belong to omnivorous and detritivorous trophic guilds. The same is not true when biomass is considered. The number of fish species by trophic guild didn't change along the year whereas the biomass changed significantly. The frequency of abundant fish species was not the same for the sampled environments

Trophic structure of fish assemblages in the lower Miranda River, Pantanal, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil.

Of a total of 101 fish species caught in the Lower Miranda River floodplain, 29 were omnivorous, 16 ichthyophagous, 12 herbivorous, 18 detritivorous, 8 zooplanktophagous, 7 insectivorous, 2 lepidophagous, 4 ichthyophagous/insectivorous and 4 zooplanktophagous/insectivorous. Almost half of the species belong to omnivorous and detritivorous trophic guilds. The same is not true when biomass is considered. The number of fish species by trophic guild didn't change along the year whereas the biomass changed significantly. The frequency of abundant fish species was not the same for the sampled environments.