Spatial and temporal distribution of larvae and juveniles of Hoplias aff. malabaricus (Characiformes, Erythrinidae) in the Upper Paraná River floodplain, Brazil

Distribuição espaço-temporal de larvas e juvenis de Hoplias aff. malabaricus (Characiformes, Erythrinidae) na planície de inundação do alto rio Paraná, Brasil

SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL DISTRIBUTION OF LARVAE AND JUVENILES OF Hoplias aff. malabaricus (CHARACIFORMES, ERYTHRINIDAE) IN THE UPPER PARANÁ RIVER FLOODPLAIN, BRAZIL

BIALETZKI, A.,^1,2 NAKATANI, K.,^1,2 SANCHES, P. V.^1,3 and BAUMGARTNER, G. ^1,4

¹Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Departamento de Biologia, Pós-graduação em Ecologia de Ambientes Aquáticos Continentais, Av. Colombo, 5790, Bloco G-90, CEP 87020-900, Maringá, PR, Brazil

²Núcleo de Pesquisas em Limnologia, Ictiologia e Aqüicultura ¾ Nupélia

³Universidade Paranaense, Av. Parigot de Souza, 3636, Toledo, PR, Brazil

⁴Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná, Centro de Engenharias e Ciências Exatas, Rua da Faculdade, 2550, CEP 87030-900, Toledo, PR, Brazil

Correspondence to: Andréa Bialetzki, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Núcleo de Pesquisas em Limnologia, Ictiologia e Aqüicultura, Av. Colombo, 5790, Bloco G-90, CEP 87020-900, Maringá, PR, Brazil, e-mail: [e-mail]

Received September 14, 2000 ¾ Accepted July 12, 2001 ¾ Distributed May 31, 2002

(With 9 figures)

ABSTRACT

Spatial and temporal distribution of larvae and juveniles of trahira, Hoplias aff. malabaricus (Erythrinidae), and their relationship with environmental parameters in the Upper Paraná River floodplain were analyzed. Sampling of larvae and juveniles of H. aff. malabaricus has been conducted during the period from November 1991 through February 1995, with 42 sampling stations distributed in four sub-areas: Ivinhema I, Ivinhema II, Baía, and Paraná. During the same period, data were obtained for water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, electrical conductivity, river level, precipitation index, and photoperiod. The largest catches of larvae were in the Ivinhema I sub-area (47.06%), and of juveniles in the Paraná sub-area (54.55%). Larvae and juveniles were caught from October to February. Larvae were mainly collected at night and in all types of environments sampled (lotic, semi-lotic, and lentic). Principal Component Analysis of the environmental parameters and larval density showed that the largest catches were obtained in dry season months, with low values for temperature, electrical conductivity, river level, and photoperiod, and with high concentrations of dissolved oxygen and pH. This reproductive strategy may minimizes predation and maximizes food utilization, as it enables the fish to reach advanced developmental stages, while most other species are spawning.

Key words: Upper Paraná River, Hoplias aff. malabaricus, larvae, juveniles, floodplain.

RESUMO

Distribuição espaço-temporal de larvas e juvenis de Hoplias aff. malabaricus (Characiformes, Erythrinidae) na planície de inundação do alto rio Paraná, Brasil

Analisou-se a distribuição espaço-temporal de larvas e juvenis de Hoplias aff. malabaricus (Erythrinidae) na planície de inundação do alto rio Paraná e suas relações com algumas variáveis ambientais, verificando-se os habitats preferenciais para a reprodução e desenvolvimento inicial. As amostragens foram divididas em quatro fases realizadas durante o período de novembro de 1991 a fevereiro de 1995, sendo estabelecidas 42 estações de coleta distribuídas em 4 subáreas (Ivinhema I, Ivinhema II, Baía e Paraná). As coletas foram realizadas na coluna de água e na vegetação aquática marginal. Durante o período foram obtidos dados de temperatura da água, oxigênio dissolvido, pH, condutividade elétrica, nível fluviométrico, índice pluviométrico e fotoperíodo. As maiores capturas de larvas foram verificadas na subárea Ivinhema I (47,06%) e, de juvenis, na subárea Paraná (54,55%). As larvas foram encontradas entre outubro e fevereiro em todas as subáreas, já os juvenis foram encontrados até abril. As larvas foram capturadas principalmente durante o período noturno em todos os tipos de ambientes amostrados (lótico, semilótico e lêntico). A Análise de Componentes Principais, aplicada entre as variáveis ambientais e a densidade de larvas, revelou que as maiores capturas são obtidas em meses em que predominam baixos valores de temperatura, condutividade elétrica, nível fluviométrico e fotoperíodo e elevadas concentrações de oxigênio dissolvido e de pH, ou seja, em meses de seca. Esta estratégia reprodutiva minimiza a predação e maximiza o aproveitamento alimentar, uma vez que lhe permite alcançar estágios avançados enquanto a maioria das espécies está desovando.

Palavras-chave: alto rio Paraná, Hoplias aff. malabaricus, larvas, juvenis, planície de inundação.

INTRODUCTION

Floodplains are heterogeneous environments with particular characteristics. The formation of lakes, intermittently flooded areas, and channels enrich the habitat, which offers a wide availability of food, and refuges where many organisms find suitable conditions for development. Fishes inhabiting these environments show great diversity of reproductive strategies, as a result mainly of the rapid fluctuations in water level and the often extreme physical and chemical conditions imposed by this flood regime. The wide diversity of habitats allows the many species of fishes to utilize them in different ways, such as natural nurseries and habitats for adults, during their life cycles (Welcomme, 1979).

Hoplias aff. malabaricus (Bloch), the trahira (traíra in Portuguese), is one of the most widely distributed freshwater fish, occurring in almost all hydrographic basins of South America, except west of the Andes and rivers in the Patagonia (Fowler, 1950). This species can be found in a wide diversity of aquatic environments, including lakes, ponds, impoundments, reservoirs, and even in streams and occasionally larger watercourses with strong current flow (Azevedo & Gomes, 1942).

This species is sedentary, and develops its entire life cycle within a relatively small geographic area. According to Winemiller (1989), H. malabaricus has an equilibrium reproductive strategy, with well-developed parental care (by the males); a prolonged reproductive period; multiple spawning; size classes uniformly distributed throughout the year; a long period of reproduction; large ovocytes and body size; and small population fluctuations during the year. The eggs are adhesive and placed in nests prepared on the bottom of shallow, low-flow watercourses (Godoy, 1975; Vazzoler et al., 1997).

There is no published information at present on the initial development of H. aff. malabaricus in the Upper Paraná River floodplain. The objective of the present investigation is to analyze the spatial and temporal distribution of larvae and juveniles and their relationship with environmental parameters, and to determine preferential habitats for reproduction and initial development.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In the sampling area, 42 sampling sites were established, distributed in four sub-areas: Ivinhema I, Ivinhema II, Baía, and Paraná (Fig. 1).

Collections were made from November 1991 through February 1995. These were divided into four phases:

Phase 1 was November 1991 through January 1992, with sampling conducted in the Ivinhema I sub-area (stations 1 to 5). In this phase, as in the others, we used conical-cylindrical plankton nets, of 0.5 mm mesh, equipped with a flowmeter. The nets were attached to a cable stretched perpendicularly to the river current, and set out in it for 30 minutes, at the surface and bottom of the river. Collections were carried out in 24-hour cycles, with 3-hour intervals between samples.

Phase 2 was March 1992 through February 1993, with sampling done in the Ivinhema II (stations 6, 7, and 10), Baía (15, 17, and 18), and Paraná (31, 32, 33, and 40) sub-areas. The plankton nets were cast and held against the current for 10 minutes, with the boat moving slowly, at the surface and at the river bottom with the aid of a sledge drag. Collections were carried out in 24-hour cycles, with 4-hour intervals between samples. At stations 6, 10, 17, 18, 32, and 33 collections were made in the vegetation along the bank using a large screen, 1.5 m long by 1.0 m wide, with 0.5 mm mesh; the screen was cast three times at each station.

Phase 3 was March 1993 through February 1994, with sampling done at the Ivinhema II (stations 6 to 14), Baía (15 to 23), and Paraná (24 to 39, 41, and 42) sub-areas. The plankton nets were cast and held against the current for 10 minutes, with the boat moving slowly. Samples were taken only at the surface, and only a one-night collection was made at each station. At stations 6, 10, 18, 33, and 42, collections were made in the vegetation along the bank, using a large screen with three casts of the screen at each station.

Phase 4 was September 1994 through February 1995, with sampling done in the Ivinhema I sub-area (stations 1 to 4). The plankton nets were attached to a cable stretched perpendicularly to the river. The nets were held in the current for 30 minutes, at the surface and bottom of the river. The collections were made in 24-hour cycles, with 3-hour intervals between samples. At all the stations, collections were made in the bank vegetation, using a large screen cast three times at each station.

During the collections, water samples were taken for determination of environmental parameters (temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, and dissolved oxygen). Concentrations of dissolved oxygen were determined by the Winkler method as modified by Golterman et al. (1978). The results of these measurements are expressed as the monthly mean for each sub-area. Data for the precipitation index and river level were furnished by DNAEE (National Department of Water and Electric Energy) and Itaipu Binacional. Photoperiod data were obtained from Vazzoler et al. (1997).

For analysis of spatial and temporal distribution, the samples of larvae and juveniles of H. aff. malabaricus were standardized to a volume of 10 m³ of filtered water, following Tanaka (1973), with modifications. For samples collected in the littoral aquatic vegetation, the number of larvae or juveniles per m²(Z) was obtained using the following formula: Z = X/A . L, where X = the number of larvae or juveniles collected, A = the area of the sieve (1.50 m²), and L = the number of throws in which larvae or juveniles occurred.

The relative densities of fish per sampling station (D) for the pelagic zone (larvae or juveniles/10m³) and for the aquatic vegetation (larvae or juveniles/m²) were obtained by the following formula: D = C/B, where C = the total number of larvae or juveniles caught, and B = the number of stations where or throws in which larvae or juveniles occurred.

H. aff. malabaricus were separated into developmental stages: preflexion, flexion, postflexion, and juvenile, according to the terminology proposed by Ahlstrom et al. (1976).

For analysis of diurnal variation, collection schedules were grouped into classes (excluding phase 2, when only night collections were made). For analysis of distribution of larvae by type of environment, the stations were separated according to current speed into lotic (with high velocity current) (stations 1 to 6, 11 to 13, 20 to 22, 24 to 30, and 32 to 42), semi-lotic (with low velocity current) (7, 15, 16, 18, 19, and 31), and lentic (with no directional current) (8 to 10, 14, 17, and 23).

Larval distribution (larvae/10 m³) during collection period was analyzed by ANOVA with repeated measures (Von Ende, 1993). The model evaluated the influence on larvae distribution of the month (from January to December), time (6:00 to 17:00 h versus 18:00 to 5:00 h), and type of environment (lotic, semi-lotic, and lentic), together with the interaction of these variables. To achieve normal distributions the data were previously square-root-transformed with addition of a constant (1).

The association between environmental parameters and larval densities was calculated by Principal Components Analysis (PCA), in order to verify the interdependence among variables (Manly, 1995). The data matrix was composed of 7 variables (water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, electrical conductivity, river level, precipitation index, and photoperiod), with 24 observations in sub-areas Ivinhema II, Baía, and Paraná, and 9 observations in sub-area Ivinhema I. The data for the means were pre-standardized, since they were derived from different measurement units. The PCA scores applied to the environmental parameters were used as explanatory variables for larval densities, which were transformed as log (x + 1).

RESULTS

Spatial distribution

During the study period, 323 larvae and 22 juvenile fish were caught in the plankton and large screen samples. The largest catch of larvae was in sub-area Ivinhema I, which contributed 47.06% of the catch, followed by the sub-areas Ivinhema II (29.10%), Baía (17.96%), and Paraná (5.88%). For juveniles, the highest percentage catch was in the Paraná sub-area with 54.55%, followed by sub-areas Ivinhema I (27.27%) and Baía (18.18%) (Fig. 2a, b).

In all habitats sampled, larvae and juvenile H. aff malabaricus were found only at or near the surface. Larvae caught in plankton and in littoral aquatic vegetation were in the preflexion and flexion stages. Juveniles were also found in both types of sites. Figures 3 and 4 show the results for spatial distribution of larvae and juveniles collected in the plankton and littoral aquatic vegetation.

In the Ivinhema I sub-area, all five stations sampled yielded larvae in the plankton. The highest density was found at station 5 (0.44 larvae/10 m³). Juveniles were not caught in the plankton (Fig. 3). In the samples in littoral aquatic vegetation, there were larvae at stations 2 and 4 (0.67 and 2.22 larvae/m², respectively), as well as juveniles (1.00 and 0.67 juveniles/m², respectively) (Fig. 4).

For sub-area Ivinhema II, fish were caught at seven of nine stations sampled. The highest density was recorded at station 9, with 0.79 larvae/10 m³ (Fig. 3). No individual of this species was found in the material from the littoral aquatic vegetation.

In sub-area Baía, this species was caught at six of nine stations sampled. The highest density, 2.76 larvae/10 m³, was found at station 16. Only juveniles were caught at station 18 (0.19 juveniles/10 m³) (Fig. 3). In the littoral aquatic vegetation at station 18, larvae (0.67 larvae/m²) as well as juveniles (1.00 juveniles/m²) were found (Fig. 4).

In the Paraná sub-area, the species was caught only at stations 27, 30, 31, 33, 34, and 39, with the largest catch at station 33 (0.67 larvae/10 m³). Juveniles were caught at stations 34 and 39 (0.18 and 0.14 juveniles/10 m³, respectively) (Fig. 3). In the littoral aquatic vegetation, we caught juveniles only at stations 33 and 42 (both with 1.33 juveniles/m²) (Fig. 4).

Temporal distribution

The results of the analysis of variance with repeated measurements (Table 1) showed that the larvae density differed considerably from month to month (df = 11; F = 2.67; p < 0.05) and among collection periods (df = 1; F = 9.66; p < 0.05). In general, the highest catches were observed from October through February, and at night. The significant interaction between month and collection period (df = 11; F = 2.43; p < 0.05) indicates that the pattern of catch depends on both (Figs. 5 and 6).

Figure 5 shows the temporal variation of larval H. aff. malabaricus in each sub-area. Because of the small number of juveniles (only 3) caught in the plankton, they were not included in the graphs. The temporal variation of the collections in the littoral aquatic vegetation is presented only in descriptive form.

In the Ivinhema I sub-area, highest densities were seen in December 1991, with 0.38 larvae/10 m³, and in November 1994, with 0.50 larvae/10 m³ (Fig. 5). In the littoral aquatic vegetation, most larvae occurred in September 1994 (3.33 larvae/m²), and most juveniles in October (1.33 juveniles/m²).

In the Ivinhema II sub-area, highest densities were seen in December 1993, with 0.53 larvae/10 m³, and November 1993, with 0.42 larvae/10 m³ (Fig. 5). For the Baía sub-area, December 1993 showed a high density in relation to the other phases, with 1.02 larvae/10 m³, followed by October 1992, with 0.31 larvae/10 m³ (Fig. 5).

In the littoral aquatic vegetation, larvae were caught in December 1993 (0.67 larvae/m²), and juveniles in November 1992 (1.33 juveniles/m²).

In the Paraná sub-area, the highest densities were found in November 1992, with 1.03 larvae/10 m³, and October 1992 and 1993, both with 0.71 larvae/10 m³ (Fig. 5), while in the littoral aquatic vegetation there were only juveniles, with the largest catch in November 1992 (2.00 juveniles/m²).

Larvae were not taken in daylight samples (9:00-11:00 and 12:00-14:00 hours).

Most larvae were caught after midnight (0-2:00 hours, with 0.35 larvae/10 m³) and early evening (18:00-20:00 hours, with 0.44 larvae/10 m³) (Fig. 6).

Analysis of catch by type of environment, although not differentiated statistically (Table 1), showed a predominance of larvae in semi-lotic environments (0.64/10 m³), followed by lentic (0.38 larvae/10 m³) and lotic (0.30 larvae/10 m³) locations (Fig. 7).

Environmental parameters

The results for environmental parameters in the four sub-areas during the study period are shown in Fig. 8. Temperature varied similarly in the various sub-areas. Dissolved oxygen and pH changed most in Ivinhema II and Baía sub-areas. Lowest values for electrical conductivity were found in sub-area Baía and the highest in sub-area Paraná, with intermediate values in sub-areas Ivinhema I e II.

Relationship between larval density and environmental parameters

Table 2 shows the results of the Principal Components Analysis and Pearson's correlation between larval density and the environmental parameters measured in the four sub-areas. Only two of the possible principal components in the Ivinhema I, Baía, and Paraná sub-areas, and the first three components in the Ivinhema II sub-area were used for interpretation, since only these had eigenvalues greater than 1.0 (Kaiser-Guttman's criterion, see Jackson, 1993). PC1 and 2 together explained 81.91%, 71.68%, and 61.67% of the variability of abiotic data in sub-areas Ivinhema I, Baía, and Paraná respectively. For sub-area Ivinhema II, PC1, 2, and 3 explained 82.83% of the variability.

For sub-area Ivinhema I, PC1 was positively correlated with temperature, electrical conductivity, river level, and photoperiod, and negatively correlated with dissolved oxygen and the precipitation index, all with structural coefficients above 0.5. PC2 was positively correlated only with dissolved oxygen, pH, and the precipitation index.

In sub-area Ivinhema II, PC1 was related positively to temperature, electrical conductivity, river level, and photoperiod, and negatively to dissolved oxygen. PC2 showed positive correlations only with temperature, pH, and photoperiod, and PC3 with the precipitation index.

PC1 at the Baía sub-area was positively correlated with temperature, electrical conductivity, river level, and photoperiod, and negatively only with dissolved oxygen. PC2 showed positive correlations with dissolved oxygen and pH.

For the Paraná sub-area, PC1 was positively correlated with temperature, river level, and photoperiod, and negatively with dissolved oxygen. Electrical conductivity was negatively correlated with PC2.

Pearson's correlation between the scores of PC1, 2, and 3 and the log-transformed values for larval density was significant only for PC1 and 2 in sub-area Ivinhema II (Fig. 9).

For the remaining sub-areas, there were no significant correlations with any linear combination.

DISCUSSION

The role of lentic and semi-lotic environments as breeding habitats of small and medium-sized fishes is quite evident on the floodplain of the Upper Paraná River. Nevertheless, many of the species are also able to reproduce in the more lotic affluents of these environments (Vazzoler et al., 1997).

H. aff. malabaricus, a sedentary fish, is widely distributed in diverse habitats of the Paraná River. It occurs in low numbers or only sporadically at sites with high-velocity current and is abundant in permanent and temporary lakes. It reproduces in all these locations (Agostinho et al., 1997; Vazzoler et al., 1997). The higher densities at stations 5 (lotic), 9 (lentic), 16 (semi-lotic), and 33 (lotic) corroborate previous results.

Larvae found in lotic environments, mainly in the first stages of development (preflexion and flexion stages), probably came from the nests constructed nearshore and among littoral aquatic vegetation, mainly grasses and sedges, as observed by Machado-Allison (1990). At these early stages, the larvae have no developed organs of locomotion and, therefore, are caught more easily. Individuals in more advanced stages of development (postflexion or juvenile) tend to escape from sampling gears, as seen in our results, where the capture of some juveniles was possibly accidental.

In all the sub-areas except for Ivinhema II, larvae and/or juveniles were found associated with banks of macrophytes. This species probably completes its initial development in these banks, where it finds abundant food and shelter. The disruptive coloration patterns during early development blends in with a vegetation background (Machado-Allison, 1987, 1990). In studies in Amazonia, Araújo-Lima et al. (1986) and Araújo-Lima (1994) found juvenile H. malabaricus in aquatic vegetation, suggesting that when they are present in lotic environments, they spawn in the littoral zone.

The large catch of larvae in sub-area Ivinhema I corroborates results obtained by Vazzoler et al. (1997), who found H. malabaricus in full breeding condition in the Ivinhema River, mainly at stations 4 and 5. Although it is a predominantly lotic environment, this sub-area has many banks of macrophytes, favoring the development of this species as discussed previously. Moreover, this area is also important for those floodplain species which migrate during their breeding period, and is therefore a nursery for many species (Nakatani et al., 1997).

The period of highest larval density (September through February) found by us agrees with the results obtained by Vazzoler (1996) in the same environment. He established that between September and March the trahira has gonads in the reproductive state. According to Machado-Allison (1987), H. malabaricus in the Venezuelan llanos begin to mature sexually during the dry season. Maturation occurs before that of the migrating species, probably because of its independence from environmental factors such as the rise in water level.

H. aff. malabaricus has different food requirements during the course of its ontogenetic development. In the larval phase it is exclusively planktophagous, becoming insectivorous in the juvenile phase and essentially piscivorous as an adult, feeding during the evening and night (Oliveros & Rossi, 1991; Hahn et al., 1997). The large catches at night may have been caused by feeding behaviour observed for the early stages. The large quantities of food provided by the vertical migration of zooplankton lead to greater larvae movement during the nocturnal period. Moreover, at night the larvae are protected from plankton-feeding visual predators (Baumgartner et al., 1997).

Vazzoler (1996) suggested that the factors that initiate and stimulate reproduction of fishes in floodplains still remained undetermined, although very many have been implicated, including changes in physical conditions as well as the array of conditions that marks the beginning of rising water. It is probable that each species is affected differently by multiple factors, and that the external initiating factors are only effective when imposed on the internal physiology of the fish. The Principal Components Analysis between the environmental parameters and larval density showed that the largest catches were obtained in the dry months when low water temperature, electrical conductivity, river level, and photoperiod, and high pH and concentrations of dissolved oxygen obtained. The non-significant correlations in the remaining sub-areas may be a result of insufficient observations.

The reproductive strategy to spawn before the high water period, allows the H. aff malabaricus to reach more advanced developmental stages, while most other species are still spawning. In this way they can minimize predation and maximize use of available food, and consequently there should be better offspring survival.

Acknowledgments — We extend our thanks to the Núcleo de Pesquisas em Limnologia, Ictiologia e Aqüicultura (Nupélia) for logistical support; to PADCT/CIAMB for making the project possible; to CAPES for awarding a study grant; Dr. Luiz C. Gomes and Dr. Ricardo P. Ribeiro for the help given in statistical analyses; and to our friends Sebastião Rodrigues, Valmir Alves Teixeira, Francisco Alves Teixeira, Valdir Aparecido Capatti, and Alfredo Soares, for their assistance with fieldwork. Janet W. Reid translated the manuscript into English.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  26 Aug 2002
• Date of issue
  May 2002

History

• Accepted
  12 July 2001
• Received
  14 Sept 2000