Luís Fernando Fávaro

Reprodução do peixe-rei, Atherinella brasiliensis (Quoy & Gaimard) (Atheriniformes, Atherinidae), em uma planície de maré adjacente à gamboa do Baguaçu, Baía de Paranaguá, Paraná, Brasil

The present study investigated the reproductive biology of silverside, Atherinella brasiliensis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825) in a tidal flat of Paranagua Bay, littoral of Parana State, Brazil. Fish were captured monthly from November 1998 to October 1999 by the mean of a seine-net. For each individual, total body length, total weight, sex, and gonadal weight were recorded. Gonadal development stages were also defined based on the histological examination of the ovaries and on the visual aspects of the testes. It was defined that the reproductive period of A. brasiliensis extends from June to December, based on he analyses of individual gonadosomatic index (GSI) values distribution in relation to the sampling periods, on the monthly variation of the GSI mean values (Curve of Maturation), both for males and females, and on the monthly variation of the relative frequencies of the female maturation stages. During this period, matured, partially spawned and spent females were found in higher frequencies in comparison to the other months. The sizes at first maturation were defined as 7,61cm and 6,92cm for females and males, respectively.

Aspectos reprodutivos de Sphoeroides greeleyi (Gilbert), Pisces, Osteichthyes, Tetraodontidae, da gamboa do Baguaçu, Baia De Paranaguá, Paraná, Brasil

The present study analyses the reproductive aspects of Sphoeroides greeleyi (Gilbert, 1900), such as morphology and histochemistry of carbohydrates in the oogenesis phases, maturity scale, time and type of spawn, sexual rate and first ripened mature size for females. From the monthly captured animais (Nov 1998 to Nov 1999) the morphometric data (entire length and total weight) were extracted and the sex and the gonadal maturity were determined. Some ovaries were prepared for microscopic analysis that charac-terized six phases for the development of the ovarian folheies. Through the carbohydrates analysis the acid carbohydrates could be related to the oogenesis maintenance and the neutral carbohydrates to the beginning of embryonic development. A maturity scale containing six stages of gonadal development was determined. The reproductive period is between August and January and the spawn time is from October to January. The first ripened mature size for females oceurs between 6,5cm and 7.5 cm of total length. The sexual rate shows that there are more females than males during the reproductive period.

Fishes of Paranaguá Estuarine Complex, South West Atlantic

The objective of this work was to present an updated checklist of the currently known fishes in the Paranagua Estuarine Complex (PEC) and provides comments on conservation status for the treated species. We used a large dataset derived from a pool of studies which have been conducted within there along the last 30 years. Each study was based on monthly samplings and conducted in several estuarine habitat; thus, the pool covers practically all estuarine habitats and takes into account the seasonal cycle in the system. The PEC ichthyofauna represents a mixture between that fauna typical from the tropical Brazilian coast and that with affinities of temperate Argentinean and Uruguayan zones. The PEC harbors a rich fish fauna of 213 species, inserted in the families that are common along the Brazilian coast. Only a minor part (8%) of the PEC fish fauna was evaluated as regards the conservation status, mostly because of the lack of basic biological and ecological information for most species. Despite part of the among-estuaries differences are due to different and incomplete sampling efforts, the richness in the PEC is surprisingly higher than other systems in Brazil and around world, which emphasize the importance of the region for global biodiversity conservation.

Biologia reprodutiva de Sphoeroides testudineus (Linnaeus) (Pisces, Osteichthyes, Tetraodontidae) da gamboa do Baguaçu, Baía de Paranaguá, Paraná, Brasil

The present study seeks to elucidatc reproduetive aspects of Sphoeroides testudineus (Linnaeus, 1758), Tetraodontidae. Monthly collections were accomplished for one year (November/98-October/99), in the gamboa do Baguacu, Bay of Paranagua with a Fyke net. The macroscopic analysis of the gonad stages allowed us to estimate the sexual proportion as 1:1 during the whole period, except in the months of May and October, when the proportions of two females for one male and two males for one female were observed respectively. The analysis of the relative frequency of the monthly gonad stages and the Curve of Maturation aided in the determination of the reproduetive period, that oceurred from September to January. Microscopic analyses of the female gonads allowed us to characterize four develo-pment phases of the ovarian follicle, six stages of ovarian development and the type of spawn, which was parceled. The first maturation for females was estimated to be betwecn 10-11 cm of length.

Effects of environmentally relevant concentrations of the anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac in freshwater fish Rhamdia quelen

The presence of pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment and its impact on humans and the ecosystem are emerging issues in environmental health. This study evaluated the potential biochemical, genetic and reproductive effects of the diclofenac by waterborne exposure, in a semi-static bioassay for 21 days. The fish Rhamdia quelen were exposed to environmental concentrations of diclofenac (0, 0.2, 2 and 20µg/L). The results showed that in the liver, diclofenac reduced the catalase and ethoxyresorufin- O- deethylase activities in fish exposed to 2µg/L, and superoxide dismutase in all exposed groups. The levels of reduced glutathione and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity increased at all tested concentrations. Lipid peroxidation (LPO) was reduced in the groups exposed to 0.2 and 20µg/L of diclofenac, but there was no protein oxidation. In the testis, the concentration of 0.2µg/L caused major changes as inhibition of SOD, glutathione peroxidase and GST activities and also LPO decrease. Diclofenac was not genotoxic and not altered plasma testosterone and estradiol levels and testicular morphology. In brain, there was a reduction of dopamine and its metabolite DOPAC (3, 4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid) in exposure to diclofenac, but this not disrupted the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis.

Environmental influences on the spatial and temporal distribution of the puffer fish Sphoeroides greeleyi and Sphoeroides testudineus in a Brazilian subtropical estuary

The spatial and temporal distribution of Sphoeroides greeleyi and Sphoeroides testudineus were established from collections (biological material and environmental data) conducted on a monthly basis from May 2000 to April 2001 in intertidal areas along the north-south axis of the estuarine complex of Paranagua, Parana State. In addition to characterizing a north-south spatial gradient, which fluctuates seasonally, the variation in the abiotic factors made possible the division of the estuary into three regions: north, central and south. Spatially, it was found that the number of individuals declines significantly for both species in the north-south direction of the estuary. Moreover, significant differences were found in the size of individuals across the estuarine regions. The largest S. greeleyi individuals were caught in the north, as well as the smallest S. testudineus individuals. The catches with the highest numbers of puffer fish occurred from late spring to early autumn, coinciding with the occurrence of specimens of smaller size and lower mean body mass. The results indicate that spatial and temporal variations in the environment impact the distribution patterns of both puffer fish species, suggesting that the co-occurrence of closely related species functions as a modulating factor in that distribution.

Reproduction of the flatfish Achirus lineatus (Pleuronectiformes: Achiridae) in Paranaguá Bay, state of Paraná, a subtropical region of Brazil

The present study characterizes the oogenesis and the ovarian maturation scale, and determines the reproductive period, type of spawning, recruitment period, and population variations in the reproductive process of the flatfish Achirus lineatus (Linnaeus, 1758). Specimens were sampled on a monthly basis in the shallow near shore area of the Paranagua Bay, state of Parana, Brazil, from March 2006 to February 2007. The specimens collected were measured for morphometric data (total length and total weight) and their gonads were exposed for macroscopic evaluation. The gonads were subsequently removed, weighed and processed for microscopic analyses. Six phases of the ovarian follicle development were defined, as well as five ovarian development stages. Growth patterns differed between the sexes: negative allometry for females and positive allometry for males. Based on the seasonal assessments of the distribution of individual GSI values, the distribution of stages of gonadal development, individual body size, sex ratio, the ratio of juveniles to adults, and histological examination of the ovaries, reproduction was found to occur in the spring (spawning in batches), and recruitment in the autumn. These results show that A. lineatus is an estuarine-resident species that uses the study area for reproduction and recruitment, providing an argument in favor of the need to conserve the estuarine environment in order to preserve stocks.

Reproductive biology of the dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus) at the southern limit of its distribution in the south-western Atlantic

We investigated the reproductive parameters of a dusky grouper Epinephelus marginatus population at the southern limit of its distribution in the south-western Atlantic. The analysed specimens were captured between January 2008 and April 2011 at Carpinteiro Bank (CB) (32°16′S; 051°47′W), a seamount located at the 20 m isobath ~16 nautical miles from the coast. The gonads of a total of 201 individuals (184 females, 16 males and 1 individual in sexual transition) with a total length (TL, mm) between 278 and 1160 mm were analysed microscopically. Histological analyses of the gonads suggested that the species is a partial spawner with a long spawning period (between November and March) and with a reproductive peak between November and January. The average female length at first maturity (L50) was 496 (TL, mm). We also observed partially spawned ovaries and partially spawned testes, which indicated reproductive activity, and we noted the presence of hyalinised follicles. These findings reveal that CB is the southernmost portion of the south-western Atlantic in which the dusky grouper reproduces. Additionally, an inshore-offshore comparison suggested that deeper (>20 m) rocky bottoms, such as the studied seamount, constitute higher quality habitats for this species when compared with littoral (<5 m) rocky reefs.

Estrutura da população e aspectos reprodutivos do peixe-rei Atherinella brasiliensis (Quoy & Gaimard) (Atheriniformes, Atherinopsidae) em áreas rasas do complexo estuarino de Paranaguá, Paraná, Brasil

The population structure and reproductive aspects of Atherinella brasiliensis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825) had been analyzed monthly from May 2000 to April 2001 in eight points of shallow areas of the estuarine complex Paranagua. The environment analyzes of the parameters pH, dissolved oxygen, transparency and salinity of the water suggest the existence of an increasing environment gradient in the direction North-South highway of the estuary. The temperature of the water evidenced the seasonal variation in the studied system, revealing related with the reproductive process. The peak of reproductive activity was determined for females and male, respectively, in the months of October and September, period where if it verified the ratio of two females for a male. The predominance of young individuals in the estuary occurred in the end of the spring and during the summer, after the reproductive period. The seasonal analyses of length and mass suggest the existence of a cyclical standard of growth to the long of the year, which reflects the reproductive period and the entrance of young individuals in the environment. Thus, it is concluded that A. brasiliensis is a resident estuarine species, revealing widely distributed in the estuarine shallow areas, being able to be considered key in evaluations of environmental impact and/or action of handling plans and conservation in estuarine environments.

In Situ Assessment of a Neotropical Fish to Evaluate Pollution in a River Receiving Agricultural and Urban Wastewater

We aimed to assess the quality of a midsize river that receives agricultural and urban wastewater. Nuclear abnormalities (NA), comet assays of blood and gills, and gill histopathology were evaluated in fish Astyanax aff. paranae during the summer and winter 2011 at three sites in Paraná State, Brazil: (1) a biological reserve (Rebio—reference area); (2) an agricultural site; (3) a downstream site that accumulates agricultural and urban effluents. We found the highest effects of pollutants in fish at the downstream site during the summer. The agricultural site showed an intermediate damage rate, and fish at Rebio generally had the least damage, with the exception of NA. Despite conflicting results from the biomarkers used, we observed an increase in damage associated with the accumulation of pollutants. Pesticides are probable xenobiotics in the agricultural area. Additionally, metals and substances such as pharmaceuticals and ammonia may be present at the downstream site.