Age validation and contrasted growth performances of Pseudoplatystoma punctifer (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae) in two river systems of the Western Amazon
Maricell Armas,
Hernán Ortega,
Aurea García-Vasquez
et al.
Abstract:The doncella Pseudoplatystoma punctifer is an economically and ecologically important catfish in the Amazon basin. However, little is known about its age, growth and population dynamics parameters. This study aims to validate the formation of growth marks in vertebrae of individuals collected from two rivers systems of the Peruvian Amazon (Amazon-Marañón-Ucayali and Putumayo) and compare growth parameters using the von Bertalanffy growth function between sexes and systems. A total of 372 individuals from the A… Show more
“…As noted above, these catfishes are large-bodied compared to other Neotropical species and can grow up to about 130 cm in total length and 100 kg in weight, depending on the species [56]. They can grow to 40 cm in their first year of life [14]. Females grow larger and faster than males.…”
Section: Growthmentioning
confidence: 94%
“…Most studies on the growth of Pseudoplatystoma found a similar pattern of growth rings in calcified structures such as otoliths and vertebrae, with opaque ring formation in the hard parts of Pseudoplatystoma, indicating fast growth occurring during the dry season [14,31,50,58,60]. Several studies showed that one opaque ring is formed annually during the dry season and the beginning of the rainy season for P. punctifer, P. tigrinum, and P. mataense in the Peruvian Amazon, Orinoco, and Mamore basins [14,31,57], probably because the dry season is when prey capture is more difficult due to competition with larger catfishes and dolphins and the beginning of the reproductive stage [14,31,33]. However, studies on central and eastern Amazon tributaries are necessary to determine whether the pattern of one ring per annual cycle is consistent for P. fasciatum and P. tigrinum.…”
Section: Growthmentioning
confidence: 96%
“…Other fish species-such as gilded catfish Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii (Castelnau, 1855) [58], mapara catfish Hypophthalmus marginatus (Valenciennes, 1840) [57], piaracatinga catfish Calophysus macropterus (Lichtenstein, 1819) [61], and pirarucu Arapaima spp. [59] in the central Amazon-form two growth rings per flood cycle [14]. Validation of ring formation has been done for P. punctifer, P. tigrinum, and P. fasciatum, but it is lacking for P. corruscans, P. reticulatum, and P. magdaleniatum [14,31] Generally, species that are distributed in tropical and temperate regions have faster growth rates in the warmer tropical waters because food availability is the main constraint for growth in tropical regions, while temperature constrains the growth in temperate regions [62,63].…”
Section: Growthmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…[59] in the central Amazon-form two growth rings per flood cycle [14]. Validation of ring formation has been done for P. punctifer, P. tigrinum, and P. fasciatum, but it is lacking for P. corruscans, P. reticulatum, and P. magdaleniatum [14,31] Generally, species that are distributed in tropical and temperate regions have faster growth rates in the warmer tropical waters because food availability is the main constraint for growth in tropical regions, while temperature constrains the growth in temperate regions [62,63]. For example, all species of the genus Pseudoplatystoma that are distributed in the tropical areas of the Amazon, Orinoco, and Magdalena basins grow faster than the Pseudoplatystoma catfishes distributed in the Paraná basin (references in Table 2).…”
Section: Growthmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…About one-third of all freshwater species occur in the Neotropics, with an estimated Fishes of the genus Pseudoplatystoma support important commercial and artisanal fisheries, and some species have become important to regional aquaculture [11]. Most species of the genus are under pressure from dam construction and overfishing [12][13][14][15][16][17][18]. Two species are of conservation concern: P. corruscans is classified as Critically Endangered [13] and P. magdaleniatum as Endangered by IUCN [19].…”
Species of the genus Pseudoplatystoma, the long-whiskered catfishes, are important in commercial and recreational fisheries in South America, and some species have become key to regional aquaculture. Some species of the genus are under pressure due to overfishing and the negative impacts of dams. Six questions are asked in this review: (i) What species are in the genus, and where are they distributed? (ii) What are the life histories and ecologies of Pseudoplatystoma species? (iii) What are the patterns of somatic growth for these species? (iv) What is known about the biomass, production, and population dynamics of Pseudoplatystoma? (v) What is the geographic distribution of genetic variation within Pseudoplatystoma species? (vi) What are the threats to the conservation of these species? The taxonomy of the genus currently includes eight species, respectively, distributed over the Orinoco, Amazon, Paraná, and São Francisco basins. Pseudoplatystoma catfishes typically exhibit longitudinal migrations for reproduction and lateral migration for feeding, but these patterns may vary among populations. The size of the first maturation of these catfishes varies between 57 cm to 82 cm in total length. Five of the eight species spawn during the rising water season. Pseudoplatystoma species can grow to about 130 cm in total length and 100 Kg in weight and live until 30 years of age, depending upon the species. Biomass production and population dynamics of these catfishes have not yet been fully described. Their life-history characteristics indicate that they are periodic strategists with associated population recruitment dynamics. Population genetic patterning varies among Pseudoplatystoma species, with some degree of homing behavior and genetic differentiation among populations, indicating the need for management by applying the Management Unit and perhaps Evolutionary Significant Unit concepts. The main threats to the persistence of these catfishes are overfishing and alterations in and obstruction of river flow due to the construction of hydropower dams. After synthesizing existing information on species of the genus Pseudoplatystoma, we offer suggestions for future research to fill critical gaps in the knowledge of this group.
“…As noted above, these catfishes are large-bodied compared to other Neotropical species and can grow up to about 130 cm in total length and 100 kg in weight, depending on the species [56]. They can grow to 40 cm in their first year of life [14]. Females grow larger and faster than males.…”
Section: Growthmentioning
confidence: 94%
“…Most studies on the growth of Pseudoplatystoma found a similar pattern of growth rings in calcified structures such as otoliths and vertebrae, with opaque ring formation in the hard parts of Pseudoplatystoma, indicating fast growth occurring during the dry season [14,31,50,58,60]. Several studies showed that one opaque ring is formed annually during the dry season and the beginning of the rainy season for P. punctifer, P. tigrinum, and P. mataense in the Peruvian Amazon, Orinoco, and Mamore basins [14,31,57], probably because the dry season is when prey capture is more difficult due to competition with larger catfishes and dolphins and the beginning of the reproductive stage [14,31,33]. However, studies on central and eastern Amazon tributaries are necessary to determine whether the pattern of one ring per annual cycle is consistent for P. fasciatum and P. tigrinum.…”
Section: Growthmentioning
confidence: 96%
“…Other fish species-such as gilded catfish Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii (Castelnau, 1855) [58], mapara catfish Hypophthalmus marginatus (Valenciennes, 1840) [57], piaracatinga catfish Calophysus macropterus (Lichtenstein, 1819) [61], and pirarucu Arapaima spp. [59] in the central Amazon-form two growth rings per flood cycle [14]. Validation of ring formation has been done for P. punctifer, P. tigrinum, and P. fasciatum, but it is lacking for P. corruscans, P. reticulatum, and P. magdaleniatum [14,31] Generally, species that are distributed in tropical and temperate regions have faster growth rates in the warmer tropical waters because food availability is the main constraint for growth in tropical regions, while temperature constrains the growth in temperate regions [62,63].…”
Section: Growthmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…[59] in the central Amazon-form two growth rings per flood cycle [14]. Validation of ring formation has been done for P. punctifer, P. tigrinum, and P. fasciatum, but it is lacking for P. corruscans, P. reticulatum, and P. magdaleniatum [14,31] Generally, species that are distributed in tropical and temperate regions have faster growth rates in the warmer tropical waters because food availability is the main constraint for growth in tropical regions, while temperature constrains the growth in temperate regions [62,63]. For example, all species of the genus Pseudoplatystoma that are distributed in the tropical areas of the Amazon, Orinoco, and Magdalena basins grow faster than the Pseudoplatystoma catfishes distributed in the Paraná basin (references in Table 2).…”
Section: Growthmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…About one-third of all freshwater species occur in the Neotropics, with an estimated Fishes of the genus Pseudoplatystoma support important commercial and artisanal fisheries, and some species have become important to regional aquaculture [11]. Most species of the genus are under pressure from dam construction and overfishing [12][13][14][15][16][17][18]. Two species are of conservation concern: P. corruscans is classified as Critically Endangered [13] and P. magdaleniatum as Endangered by IUCN [19].…”
Species of the genus Pseudoplatystoma, the long-whiskered catfishes, are important in commercial and recreational fisheries in South America, and some species have become key to regional aquaculture. Some species of the genus are under pressure due to overfishing and the negative impacts of dams. Six questions are asked in this review: (i) What species are in the genus, and where are they distributed? (ii) What are the life histories and ecologies of Pseudoplatystoma species? (iii) What are the patterns of somatic growth for these species? (iv) What is known about the biomass, production, and population dynamics of Pseudoplatystoma? (v) What is the geographic distribution of genetic variation within Pseudoplatystoma species? (vi) What are the threats to the conservation of these species? The taxonomy of the genus currently includes eight species, respectively, distributed over the Orinoco, Amazon, Paraná, and São Francisco basins. Pseudoplatystoma catfishes typically exhibit longitudinal migrations for reproduction and lateral migration for feeding, but these patterns may vary among populations. The size of the first maturation of these catfishes varies between 57 cm to 82 cm in total length. Five of the eight species spawn during the rising water season. Pseudoplatystoma species can grow to about 130 cm in total length and 100 Kg in weight and live until 30 years of age, depending upon the species. Biomass production and population dynamics of these catfishes have not yet been fully described. Their life-history characteristics indicate that they are periodic strategists with associated population recruitment dynamics. Population genetic patterning varies among Pseudoplatystoma species, with some degree of homing behavior and genetic differentiation among populations, indicating the need for management by applying the Management Unit and perhaps Evolutionary Significant Unit concepts. The main threats to the persistence of these catfishes are overfishing and alterations in and obstruction of river flow due to the construction of hydropower dams. After synthesizing existing information on species of the genus Pseudoplatystoma, we offer suggestions for future research to fill critical gaps in the knowledge of this group.
Fish is an important source of food and income for a significant portion of the Amazonian population, especially those who live along the rivers and lakes in the region. Pseudoplatystoma punctifer (Castelnau, 1855), known as surubim, is a species of Neotropical catfish widely exploited by fisheries and commercially valuable in the Guaporé River basin, Brazil. However, population dynamics are poorly known in the region. To understand the population structure and reproductive biology aspects of the surubim, monthly experimental fisheries were carried out in the São Miguel River, state of Rondônia, Brazil, between August 2020 and July 2021. The captured fish were weighed, and its gonads were removed and weighed for histological analyses (microscopic description) and classification of the maturation stages (macroscopic description). The collected gonads were fixed in 10% buffered formalin, dehydrated, cut into 4‐μm‐thick sections, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. A total of 34 individuals were collected (20 females and 14 males), showing positive allometric growth and condition factor from 0.81 to 1.79 for females and males, respectively. Females were larger in size and weight than males. P. punctifer reaches its first maturation at an average length of 68.30 cm, indicating the importance of respecting the minimum capture size as an alternative to ensure the natural stocks of this fishery resource in the region. The results provide support for the establishment of public policies and actions for conservation, management, and regulation of fishing.
The catfish Calophysus macropterus is heavily exploited in the Amazon basin, yet its life history characteristics are poorly documented, hampering proper fisheries management. In order to fill this gap, monthly sampling in the upper Putumayo River and in the Amazonas, lower Marañón and Ucayali (AMU) rivers were carried out over several years (2013-2015 in the AMU, 2013-2017 in the Putumayo) to provide detailed information about its reproduction, growth and mortality patterns (using length frequency data). Reproduction, which occurs during the dry and early flooding season, was only observed in the upper Putumayo River and not in the sampled portion of the AMU system, suggesting that the species reproduces closer to the Andes than other pimelodid catfishes. Size at first sexual maturity did not differ significantly among sex or among river systems, ranging from 25-28 cm SL. In both river systems, females had a faster growth than males and both genders also tended to have a better growth in the AMU than in the upper Putumayo. Mortality and exploitation estimate all indicated overexploitation of the species in both river systems. The implications of these results for fisheries management and conservation are discussed.
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