Swimming performance of the small characin Bryconamericus stramineus (Characiformes: Characidae)

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Very little research has been conducted on the swimming capacity of Neotropical fish. The few studies available have focused on large migratory species. The present study used fixed and increasing velocity tests to determine prolonged and sustained speeds of the "pequira", Bryconamericus stramineus Eigenmann, 1908, a small, abundant species found in fish passages implemented at the Paraná basin, Brazil. The results of increasing velocity tests showed significant relationships between critical speeds, total and standard lengths, and body weight. When compared with other Neotropical fish, the "pequira" is able to swim faster than individuals of other species of similar length. The point of change from sustained to prolonged swimming was found to occur at an approximate speed of 8.7 lengths per second. These data provide guidance and criteria for design and proper maintenance of structures such as fishways, fish screens and other systems that aim to facilitate or avoid upstream passages as part of management strategies.

Hydropower Development, Riverine Connectivity, and Non-sport Fish Species: criteria for Hydraulic Design of Fishways

“…Moreover, the Brazilian characin Bryconamericus stramineus , similar to the native characin from Chile, C . galusdae , presented a critical velocity of 51 cm s −1 for individuals that have just reached sexual maturity at 590 mm total length (Castro et al ., ). As a result, when velocities are expressed in body lengths per second (bl s −1 ), C .…”

Application of the physical habitat simulation for fish species to assess environmental flows in an Atlantic Forest Stream in South-eastern Brazil

“…For example B. ornaticeps has fusiform body, forked caudal fin that confer good swimming ability to explore the water column (Castro et al, 2010). Ancistrus multispinis has a flatted body, a ventrally placed suckermouth and the ability to use the fins to move and adhere to hard substrate, a hydrodynamic advantage that reduces current drag when the fish is positioned against substrate in fastflowing (Geerinckx et al, 2008).…”

“…Species of the genus Bryconamericus (e.g. Bryconamericus stramineus) are able to swim faster than individuals of other species of similar length (Castro et al, 2010). Sampaio et al (2012) comparing swimming performance of five characin species found that B. stramineus ranked among the highest speed values.…”

Fish passage system in an irrigation dam (Pilcomayo River basin ): when engineering designs do not match ecohydraulic criteria

“…Beach, 1984;Zou, 1982;Videler, 1993;Keynard, 1993). Critical velocities have been estimated for non salmonid species inhabiting northern hemisphere (Pavlov, 1989) but swimming capabilities for neotropical species are still scant (de Castro et al, 2010;Santos et al, 2007Santos et al, , 2009. Most neotropical fishes are smaller than salmonids but compensate by displaying higher metabolic rates as they inhabit warmer rivers.…”