Reproductive biology and feeding of Curimatella lepidura (Eigenmann & Eigenmann) (Pisces, Curimatidae) in Juramento reservoir, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Abstract

Reproductive biology and feeding of Curimatella lepidura (Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1889) were studied in Juramento reservoir, São Francisco River basin, Southeastern Brazil. Histological analyses and gonadosomatic indexes revealed females and males in reproductive activity from October to March and total spawning occurring from January to March coupled with the peak of spermiating males. In the dry season, the fishes accumulated energetic reserves for reproduction during a short rainy season. The species presented sexual dimorphism, being females larger than males and sexual maturation occurring close to 7.7 cm standard length for females and 7.1 cm for males. C. lepidura presented iliophagous feeding habit, ingesting mainly sediment/detritus and a small amount of acari, algae, Tricoptera insects and Ostracoda crustaceans, suggesting a probable role in nutrient recycling of the Juramento reservoir.

How does diet influence the reproductive seasonality of tropical freshwater fish?: A case study of a characin in a tropical mountain river

“…The peaks of availability of different sorts of foods were not synchronized with the breeding seasons. This asynchrony is not unusual among tropical fish (Kramer, 1978;Esteves & Pinto Lobo, 2001;de Alvarenga et al, 2006), either from floodplain rivers (e.g. Bryconamericus emperador and Brycon petrosus, Kramer, 1978; Salminus brasiliensis (as Salminus maxillosus), Esteves & Pinto Lobo, 2001; Curimatella lepidura, de Alvarenga et al, 2006) or from mountain rivers (e.g.…”

“…Most studies on the diet of tropical freshwater fish have focused on the comparison between feeding and hydrological cycle (Prejs & Prejs, 1987;Esteves & Pinto Lobo, 2001;de Alvarenga et al, 2006), but there are few analyses that have focused on the interaction between feeding and reproductive seasonality. It has been shown that many fish totally or partially shift their diets across seasons (Prejs & Prejs, 1987;Mazzoni & Rezende, 2003), and the highest feeding activity usually occurs during the rainy seasons when the availability of prey is relatively higher (Prejs & Prejs, 1987).…”

“…It has been shown that many fish totally or partially shift their diets across seasons (Prejs & Prejs, 1987;Mazzoni & Rezende, 2003), and the highest feeding activity usually occurs during the rainy seasons when the availability of prey is relatively higher (Prejs & Prejs, 1987). Many tropical freshwater fish reproduce during or after peak food availability and consumption (Rinne & Wanjala, 1983;Esteves & PintoLobo, 2001;de Alvarenga et al, 2006). Others can diminish or even cease food ingestion during the reproductive season (Ikomi, 1996;Santamaría-Miranda et al, 2005).…”

Mobilization of energetic substrates in the endangered catfish Steindachneridion parahybae (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae): changes in annual reproductive cycle in captivity

“…In contrast, HSI remained unchanged throughout the reproductive cycle and did not correlate with GSI. In some wild fish species carnivorous an inverse correlation between GSI and HSI have been observed such as Ctenolabrus rupestris (Sayer et al, 1995), Perca fluviatilis (Blanchard et al, 2005) and Curimatella lepidura (Alvarenga et al, 2006). It suggests an intense mobilization of energetic substrates from the liver to ovaries during vitellogenesis, when the feeding activity is reduced or interrupted (Bennemann et al, 1996).…”

Estrutura trófica da ictiofauna em um reservatório do semiárido brasileiro

“…Os peixes da guilda detritívora/ iliófaga pertencentes a Loricariidae e Curimatidae representa 37% da biomassa total de peixes capturados no alto rio São Francisco, evidenciando a importância do recurso detrito/ sedimento para ictiofauna dessa bacia (Alvim & Peret, 2004). Estudos realizados no reservatório de Juramento (MG) caracterizaram o hábito alimentar da C. lepidura como iliófaga (Alvarenga et al, 2006). Em nosso trabalho essa espécie foi classificada como detritívora/iliófaga, pois apresentou predomínio de sedimento em relação ao detrito na sua dieta, já que a constituição do conteúdo estomacal era de partículas finas associadas a material orgânico, pouco detrito e algas unicelulares (Bacillariophyta, Chlorophyceae, Zygnemaphyceae e Cyanophyceae).…”