The knowledge of embryonic and larvae development of fishes is a fundamental key which enables a closer approach to their biology and taxonomy. The present study aims to characterize piracanjuba (Brycon orbignyanus) embryonic and larvae development. During the whole embryogenesis, 15 to 20 embryos were sampled and analyzed. Eggs of B. orbignyanus are semidense, transparent, spherical, and bear a large perivitelline space. Hatching takes place 18 hours and 30 minutes after fertilization at 25 ± 0.8ºC. Total length and weight of just hatched larvae were 4.46 ± 0.39mm and 2.56 ± 0.73mg, respectively. Larvae presented entirely developed and pigmented eyes, as well as a vertical mouth opening of 15.2 ± 1.9% of body length, 36 hours after hatching, period from which intense cannibalism was observed.

Information on ichthyoplankton is an important tool in determining reproduction periods that -if associated to environmental variables -allows for inferences about the factors that regulate their intensity, beginning, and ending. In this context, this study aims to establish (i) ichthyoplankton composition; (ii) temporal variations in the overall density of eggs and larvae and among the most important taxa; and (iii) the influence of some abiotic and biotic variables on these organisms' abundance. Ichthyoplankton sampling was undertaken during the period between April 2005 and March 2006 at the Ivinhema River, upper Paraná River basin (MS/Brazil). Differences in the ichthyoplankton's temporal variation were evaluated using unifactorial ANOVAs. Principal Component Analysis and Pearson's correlation were used for the relationships between eggs and larvae densities and environmental variables. A total of 3,341 eggs and 2,896 larvae were captured during the period studied, and most of them were medium-sized and large species that carried out some type of reproductive migration. The highest densities of eggs and larvae occurred during the months of spring and summer, except for those of Bryconamericus stramineus, which was most abundant during the winter. The density of ichthyoplankton was most positively correlated with the water's outflow and temperature. However, Plagioscion squamosissimus was positively related to the increase in pH and in zooplanktonic organisms, while B. stramineus was inversely correlated with water outflow and temperature. The study concludes that spawning is most intense in the spring and summer, especially between November and January, and is related to the greatest values of water temperature and outflow. Nevertheless, the response and reproductive intensity in relation to the environmental variables vary according to the species.As informações sobre o ictioplâncton são ferramentas importantes para a determinação do período de reprodução que, se associado às variáveis ambientais, permitem inferências sobre os fatores que regulam sua intensidade, início e término. Nesse contexto, o presente estudo visa determinar: (i) a composição do ictioplâncton; (ii) as variações temporais na densidade de ovos, larvas e dos táxons mais importantes; e (iii) a influência de algumas variáveis abióticas e bióticas sobre a abundância destes organismos. As coletas de ictioplâncton foram realizadas no período de abril de 2005 a março de 2006, no rio Ivinhema, bacia do alto rio Paraná (MS/Brasil). Diferenças nas variações temporais do ictioplâncton foram avaliadas por ANOVAs unifatoriais. Análises de Componentes Principais e correlação de Pearson foram utilizadas para avaliar as relações entre densidade de ovos e larvas e as variáveis ambientais. Durante o período estudado, foram capturados 3.341 ovos e 2.896 larvas, sendo que a maior parte foi de espécies de médio e grande porte e que realizam algum tipo de migração reprodutiva. Ovos e larvas apresentaram suas maiores densidades nos meses de primavera e verão, ...

ABSTRACT

Studies that assess reproduction dynamics and ichthyoplankton distributions are scarce for the upper Uruguay River, especially in environments such as tributary mouths. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate: (i) ichthyoplankton composition; (ii) spatial and temporal variation in ichthyoplankton abundance; and (iii) relationships between environmental variables and the abundance of ichthyoplankton during one annual cycle in this region. Monthly samples were collected