Ecology of Cichla (Cichlidae) in Two Blackwater Rivers of Southern Venezuela

Winemiller, Kirk O.; Taphorn, Donald C.; Barbarino-Duque, Aniello

doi:10.2307/1447287

Cited by 69 publications

(87 citation statements)

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“…The tucunaré is a predator, mainly of small fishes (Zaret & Paine, 1973;Braga, 1990;Novoa, 1996;Jepsen et al, 1997;Winemiller et al, 1997), normally capturing prey with up to one third of its own length (Lowe-McConnell, 1975Machado-Allison, 1990;Gil et al, 1996). According to its abundance, it causes modifications in autochthonous fishes populations (Godinho & Formagio, 1992;Fonteles-Filho & Alves, 1995;Pompeu & Godinho, 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feeding of introduced species of Cichla (Perciformes, Cichlidae) in Volta Grande reservoir, River Grande (MG/SP)

Gomiero

Braga

2004

Braz. J. Biol.

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Both species studied, Cichla cf. ocellaris and Cichla monoculus, fed mainly on fish, the first on Cichla spp., Plagioscion squamosissimus, and Tilapia rendalli, and the second, Cichla monoculus, on Cichla spp. Both diets indicated a strong correlation among the food items. Remarkable ontogenetic change was noted in both species diet: the young fed on crustaceans and insects while the adults fed mainly on fishes. The species studied, which are highly adapted to a brief life span, cause serious damage to the fish communities by predation, competition, and cascade effects throughout the whole trophic chain.Key words: feeding, Cichla, tucunaré, reservoir, introduction, Rio Grande. RESUMOAlimentação de espécies introduzidas de Cichla (Perciformes, Cichlidae) no reservatório de Volta Grande, Rio Grande (MG/SP)A alimentação de Cichla cf. ocellaris e Cichla monoculus consistiu principalmente de peixes. Cichla cf. ocellaris alimentou-se de Cichla spp. (tucunaré), Plagioscion squamosissimus (corvina) e Tilapia rendalli (tilápia), enquanto Cichla monoculus alimentou-se de Cichla spp. As duas dietas foram analisadas e mostraram correlação entre os itens alimentares, ou seja, as dietas são iguais. Houve notória mudança ontogenética na dieta das duas espécies, sendo que os jovens se alimentaram com crustáceos e insetos e os adultos, principalmente com peixes. A introdução desses predadores altamente adaptados e de rápida proliferação causa sérios danos a essas comunidades ícticas pela predação, pela competição e pelos efeitos em cascata na cadeia trófica.Palavras-chave: alimentação, Cichla, tucunaré, reservatório, introdução, Rio Grande.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feeding of introduced species of Cichla (Perciformes, Cichlidae) in Volta Grande reservoir, River Grande (MG/SP)

Gomiero

Braga

2004

Braz. J. Biol.

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“…For this size range, small-sized Characidae and Cichlidae fish were the most consumed prey, probably because these groups dominate fish assemblages in South American reservoirs , and co-occur with Cichla in shallow littoral areas. In addition, these predators usually prefer small prey, with approximately one third of its size (Jepsen et al, 1997;Winemiller et al, 1997); in fact, most prey consumed were < 10 cm standard length. It is likely, therefore, that the strict piscivorous behavior of C. piquiti is associated with a high diversity and abundance of small-sized fish in littoral areas of the reservoir, as small-sized species are common in the rio Tocantins basin (Lucinda et al, 2007;Soares et al, 2009).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feeding and reproductive ecology of Cichla piquiti Kullander & Ferreira, 2006 within its native range, Lajeado reservoir, rio Tocantins basin

2015

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Cichla piquiti is endemic to the Tocantins-Araguaia river basin, but information about its biology is restricted to populations introduced in other basins. In order to fill this gap, we investigated the feeding ecology and reproductive dynamics of C. piquiti in Lajeado reservoir, rio Tocantins. A total of 270 fish were collected between November 2010 and October 2011. The diet is rich and composed of at least 23 resources, predominantly fish (at least 19 species). We observed no clear influence of sex, periods and ontogeny on diet, which was basically composed of Characidae and Cichlidae. Considering its reproductive dynamics, immature, reproductive and non-reproductive fish were recorded during the whole study, and reproductive effort did not differ among periods. Cichla piquiti also showed no pattern of energy allocation between reproductive and somatic activities. These results indicate that reproduction is occurring throughout the year and that this activity is not synchronized among individuals. In conclusion, this study presented valuable information on the ecology of C. piquiti within its natural range, which may subsidize management programs to conserve local stocks. This information may also provide theoretical insights to explain why C. piquiti, a voracious predator, is so harmful when introduced in non-Amazonian reservoirs.Cichla piquiti é uma espécie endêmica da bacia Tocantins-Araguaia, porém o conhecimento sobre sua biologia está amparado no estudo de populações introduzidas em outras bacias. Para preencher essa lacuna, o presente estudo investigou a ecologia alimentar e reprodutiva de C. piquiti no reservatório de Lajeado, rio Tocantins. Um total de 270 peixes foi coletado entre novembro/2010 e outubro/2011, na região superior do reservatório. A dieta da espécie é rica e envolveu a ingestão de pelo menos 23 recursos, com predomínio de peixes (pelo menos 19 espécies). Não observamos padrão de variação na dieta entre os sexos, períodos e ontogenia, com predomínio no consumo de Characidae e Cichlidae. Considerando a dinâmica reprodutiva, peixes imaturos, em reprodução e repouso foram registrados ao longo do ano, e o esforço reprodutivo (IGS) não diferiu entre os períodos. Cichla piquiti também não apresentou padrão claro de alocação de energia entre atividades somáticas e reprodutivas. Esses resultados indicam que a reprodução ocorre durante todo o ano e que essa atividade não é sincronizada entre os indivíduos. Concluindo, o presente estudo apresentou informações importantes sobre a ecologia de C. piquiti em sua área de distribuição natural, que devem embasar programas de manejo para a conservação dos estoques na região. Essas informações devem também fornecer suporte teórico para explicar porque C. piquiti, um predador voraz, é tão danoso quando introduzido em reservatórios não-Amazônicos.

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“…Natural mortality among young fish (larvae and juveniles up to 1 year) of peacock bass in Venezuela is very high and, under natural conditions, the recruitment of young adults in the population is very low (Winemiller, 2001). Other features of natural populations of Cichla were high values of asymptotic length, low values of growth and high longevity (Ruffino and Isaac, 1995;Novoa, 1996;Winemiller et al, 1997;Jepsen et al, 1999).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, in Leme, the L 50 (length at which 50% of the population of C. kelberi showed gonads in maturation or mature) was relatively lower than those found in C. kelberi and C. piquiti at Volta Grande (Gomiero and Braga, 2004c;Gomiero et al, 2009), so the peacock bass, in Leme, shows a certain degree of miniaturisation. Cichla ocellaris, Cichla temensis (Humboldt, 1821), Cichla orinocensis (Humboldt, 1821) and Cichla intermedia in Venezuela (native environment) (Machado-Allison, 1971) were ripe with lengths higher than those found in environments of introductions (Zaret, 1980;Winemiller et al, 1997). Sexual maturity can be achieved in different sizes or ages.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Growth and mortality of Cichla spp. (Perciformes, Cichlidae) introduced in Volta Grande Reservoir (Grande River) and in a small artificial lake in Southeastern Brazil

et al. 2010

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The growth and mortality parameters were estimated through the analysis of length frequency distribution for species of Cichla spp. introduced into a lake in Leme (SP), and in Volta Grande reservoir (SP-MG). In Leme, Cichla kelberi presented larger frequency in the inferior classes of lengths, larger instantaneous rate of natural mortality, and smaller number of cohorts than C. kelberi and C. piquiti in Volta Grande. The values of growth performance obtained for the species were similar, corroborating the validity of the estimated growth and mortality parameters. The increase of the growth rate in small and less diverse environments occurs due to predation. The genus Cichla adapts well in locations in which it is introduced, however this adaptation shows itself to be strongly adjusted to each particular location, determining great plasticity and establishment capacity.

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Ecology of Cichla (Cichlidae) in Two Blackwater Rivers of Southern Venezuela

Cited by 69 publications

References 0 publications

Feeding of introduced species of Cichla (Perciformes, Cichlidae) in Volta Grande reservoir, River Grande (MG/SP)

Feeding of introduced species of Cichla (Perciformes, Cichlidae) in Volta Grande reservoir, River Grande (MG/SP)

Feeding and reproductive ecology of Cichla piquiti Kullander & Ferreira, 2006 within its native range, Lajeado reservoir, rio Tocantins basin

Growth and mortality of Cichla spp. (Perciformes, Cichlidae) introduced in Volta Grande Reservoir (Grande River) and in a small artificial lake in Southeastern Brazil

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