Diet, reproduction and population structure of the introduced Amazonian fish Cichla piquiti (Perciformes: Cichlidae) in the Cachoeira Dourada reservoir (Paranaíba River, central Brazil)

Abstract

Abstract:The Blue Peacock Bass (Cichla piquiti), native to the Tocantins-Araguaia river basin of the Amazon system, was introduced into the basin of the Paranaíba River, Paraná River system. Cachoeira Dourada reservoir is one of a series of dams on the Paranaíba River in central Brazil, where this fish has become established. A study of its feeding spectrum, combined with information about its reproductive characteristics and population structure, would enable the current state of this species in the reservoir to be assessed and might provide useful data for the management of other species native to this habitat. This study showed that the peacock bass has no predators or natural competitors in the reservoir and that reproduces continuously, with high reproductive rates, and has a smaller median length at first maturity (L50) than other species of Cichla. Its successful establishment in habitats strongly affected by human activity should cause changes in the whole structure of the local fish communities. Nonetheless, in this reservoir, there appears to be some sharing of the functions of this species with native carnivorous fish, a situation that may be sustained by the presence of a wide variety of foraging fish. Rev. Biol. Trop. 59 (2): 727-741. Epub 2011 June 01.

Equilibrium reproductive strategy of the peacock bass Cichla kelberi facilitates invasion into a Neotropical reservoir

“…Regarding size at first maturation, the values found for C. kelberi in the present study (♀ = 27.1-30.6 and ♂ = 28.5-32.3 cm L T ) were relatively higher than those observed for Cichla spp. in other reservoirs in southeastern Brazil (♂ = 19.2-21.5 and ♀ = 20.7-23.5 cm L T , minimum-maximum) as reported by Chellappa et al (2003), Gomiero and Braga (2004a), Gomiero et al (2009), Luiz et al (2011) and Souza et al (2008). The stable hydrological conditions and low densities of predators and native competitors in the Lajes Reservoir, e.g., could have favoured a greater investment in somatic growth before reproduction.…”

“…F I G U R E 7 Scatterplot diagram and trend line for Spearman's correlation coefficients between the gonado-somatic index I G (vertical axis) and environmental variables (horizontal axis); logarithm 10 transformed data found for C. kelberi. The observation of mature males and females during most of the year seems to be a general consensus for nonnative Cichla populations in altered environments in Brazil (Chellapa et al, 2003;Gomiero & Braga, 2004a;Gomiero et al, 2009;Vieira et al 2009;Normando et al 2009;Luiz et al, 2011;Souza et al, 2008), the United States (Shafland, 1999) and Panama (Zaret, 1980). A similar pattern was also reported for populations in native ranges of distribution (but impacted by dams), as in the cases of Cichla piquiti Kullander & Ferreira, 2006, in the Lajeado Reservoir (Tocantins-Araguaia River basin;Marto et al, 2015) and Cichla vazzoleri Kullander & Ferreira, 2006, in the Balbina Reservoir (Central Amazon;Horie, 2013).…”

Introduction of Invasive Peacock Bass (Cichla Spp.), Its Rapid Distribution and Future Impact on Freshwater Ecosystem in Malaysia

“…which is among the fiercest predators in the freshwater habitat of Malaysia. Similarly, the absence of predators and natural competitors has been documented in the successful invasion of peacock bass in the central Brazilian Paranaíba River (Ferraz et al, 2011). Peacock bass has a good quality meat which triggers its commercial fishing in various invaded areas in the world (Winemiller, 2001;Vieira et al, 2009;Silva et al, 2013).…”

Ficha de Chaetobranchopsis australis

“…Na região do Pantanal foi constatado que a espécie introduzida Cichla piquiti, nativa da bacia do rio Tocantins-Araguaia, está estabelecida e se alimentando de peixes nativos, dentre eles o Chaetobranchopsis australis (Resende et al, 2008, Luiz et al, 2011. Entretanto, isso não parece afetar significavamente as populações de C. australis.…”