Jônnata Fernandes de Oliveira

Effects of a Supraseasonal Drought on the Ecological Attributes of Plagioscion squamosissimus (Heckel, 1840) (Pisces, Sciaenidae) in a Brazilian Reservoir

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a supraseasonal drought on the ecological attributes of Plagioscion squamosissimus. The fish were caught quarterly from February 2010 to November 2014 using gill nets in the reservoir of Santa Cruz, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. The abundance of the species was evaluated with the catch per unit effort (CPUE) metric and then correlated with the accumulated rainfall and water volume of the reservoir. The diet of the fish was evaluated using the feeding index (IAi). The proportional similarity index (PSi) was used to evaluate the variation in the niches of the fish. The body condition was inferred through the relative condition factor, and its variation was assessed with ANOVA. A reduction in the abundance of the species that were positively correlated with the reservoir water volume was observed. The diet of the fish comprised shrimp, gastropods, fish, insects, shrimp larvae, and vegetable matter, with shrimp being the major component. PSi showed the occurrence of individual specialization during November 2013 and November 2014. The relative condition factor was not correlated with a reduction in the water volume of the reservoir. The supraseasonal drought did not affect the relative condition factor, diet, and the trophic niche, but it did affect the species abundance.

First record of an annual endemic fish from a semiarid environment in northeastern Brazil

EnglishStudies focusing the biology of annual fish are still scarce, and in the case of threatened species, research, as well as the adoption of protective measures for these populations, are needed. We present herein the first record of Hypsolebias antenori (Cyprinodontiformes: Cynolebiidae) in temporary pools of Lajedo de Soledade, located in a semiarid region, in Northeastern Brazil. Five individuals (two males and three females) were captured in three temporary pools in May 2017. For the capture, a sieve (50 x 50 cm) with a 4 mm of mesh size was used. The males showed a total length ranging from 3.5 to 4.7 cm (average: 4.1 cm) and body mass amplitude between 0.38 to 0.94 g (average: 0.66 g). The females had a total length from 3.5 to 3.9 cm (average: 3.67 cm) and body mass amplitude of 0.55 to 0.70 g (average: 0.64). Considering that the collection area is one of the most important archaeological sites in Brazil, this endemic species of Caatinga demonstrates the importance of conservation of the environment and serves to support the preservation of the present area that is not recognized and registered as cultural and environmental patrimony.Keywords: Karst, Jandaira Formation, Caatinga, temporary pools, Cynolebiidae, Hypsolebias antenori. portuguesEstudos que enfocam a biologia de peixes anuais ainda sao escassos e, no caso de especies ameacadas, sao necessarias pesquisas, bem como a adocao de medidas de protecao para essas populacoes. Apresenta-se, neste trabalho, o primeiro registro de Hypsolebias antenori (Cyprinodontiformes: Cynolebiidae) em pocas temporarias do Lajedo de Soledade, localizado em uma regiao semiarida, no Nordeste do Brasil. Cinco individuos (dois machos e tres femeas) foram capturados em tres piscinas temporarias em maio de 2017. Para a captura, foi utilizada uma peneira (50 x 50 cm) com 4 mm de tamanho de malha. Os machos apresentaram comprimento total variando de 3,5 a 4,7 cm (media: 4,1 cm) e amplitude de massa corporal entre 0,38 a 0,94 g (media: 0,66 g). As femeas tinham comprimento total de 3,5 a 3,9 cm (media: 3,67 cm) e amplitude de massa corporal de 0,55 a 0,70 g (media: 0,64). Considerando que a area de coleta e um dos mais importantes sitios arqueologicos do Brasil, essa especie endemica da Caatinga demonstra a importância da conservacao do meio ambiente e serve para apoiar a preservacao da area atual que nao e reconhecida e registrada como patrimonio cultural e ambiental. Palavras-chave: Carste, Formacao Jandaira, Caatinga, pocas temporarias, Cynolebiidae, Hypsolebias antenori.