Victoria Isaac

Food categories reconstruction and feeding consumption estimates for the Sciaenid Macrodon ancylodon (Bloch & Schneider), and the congeneric fishes Stellifer rastrifer (Jordan) and Stellifer naso (Jordan) (Pisces, Perciformes) in the Caeté Estuary, Northern Coast of Brazil

Um metodo quantitativo para se estimar o consumo alimentar e o aporte energetico das diferentes categorias alimentares e apresentado atraves da reconstrucao das presas ingeridas com base em estruturas corporais nao digeriveis. Para tal, o presente estudo estabelece, atraves do exame dos conteudos estomacais de 1.086 exemplares dissecados de Macrodon ancylodon (Bloch & Schneider, 1801), Stellifer rastrifer (Jordan, 1889) e Stellifer naso (Jordan, 1889), as equacoes das relacoes funcionais entre o peso das presas e estruturas corporais. Com as categorias reconstruidas foi possivel quantificar o alimento ingerido pelos especimes. Os resultados indicaram que existe uma marcada diferenca, tanto na composicao das categorias alimentares, bem como no aporte energetico acompanhando o desenvolvimento ontogenico do predador.

Dinâmica populacional do Surubim-tigre, Pseudoplatystoma Tigrinum (Valenciennes, 1840) no médio Amazonas (Siluriformes, Pimelodidae)

Catch and effort data and length data series of striped catfish Pseudoplatystoma tigrinum obtained through 1993 to 1996 in the Lower Amazon, Brazil, were used to describe the fishery and to estimate growth and mortality rates. Mean population parameters estimated were = 180,0cm (total length), Woo = 56,56 kg, k = 0,29 year1, C =, WP = November, M = 0,47 year-1, Z = l,42 year1, F = 0,95 year1 e Lc = 87,0 cm. Yield-per-rccruit analysis shows that the stocks are being exploited near to limit of sustainability.

Flood pulse effects on multispecies fishery yields in the Lower Amazon

Seasonally fluctuating water levels, known as ‘flood pulses’, control the productivity of large river fisheries, but the extent and mechanisms through which flood pulses affect fishery yields are poorly understood. To quantify and better understand flood pulse effects on fishery yields, this study applied regression techniques to a hydrological and fishery record (years 1993–2004) for 42 species of the Amazon River floodplains. Models based on indices of fishing effort, high waters and low waters explained most of the interannual variability in yields (R2=0.8). The results indicated that high and low waters in any given year affected fishery yields two and three years later through changes in fish biomass available for harvesting, contributing 18% of the explained variability in yields. Fishing effort appeared to amplify high and low water effects by changing in direct proportion to changes in fish biomass available for harvesting, contributing 62% of the explained variability in yields. Although high waters are generally expected to have greater relative influence on fishery yields than low waters, high and low waters exerted equal forcing on these Amazonian river-floodplain fishery yields. These findings highlight the complex dynamics of river-floodplain fisheries in relation to interannual variability in flood pulses.

Reproductive biology and spatio-temporal distribution of Stellifer rastrifer, Stellifer naso and Macrodon ancylodon (Sciaenidae) in the Caeté estuary, northern Brazil

This study analyses the spatial and temporal distribution of the dominant Sciaenids in the Caete estuary on the northern coast of Brazil. Samples were taken by otter trawls in four areas of the Caete estuary between October 1996 and August 1997 six bimonthly. Stellifer rastrifer, Stellifer naso and Macrododon ancylodon presented the highest biomass out of eleven species of Sciaenidae caught. Minimum and mean length at first maturity were calculated and the main spawning periods determined. Changes in the spatio-temporal distribution of the three species were related to seasonal changes in estuarine salinity and spawning pulses. Larvae and juveniles of S. rastrifer, S. naso and M. ancylodon were found in the inner estuary while larger specimens were more abundant in the outer estuary with higher salinities. M. ancylodon spawned from October to February and rested from April to August whereas S. rastrifer and S. naso spawned throughout the year, though with two peaks, in October-December and June.

Feeding ecology of juvenile dog snapper Lutjanus jocu (Bloch and Shneider, 1801) (Lutjanidae) in intertidal mangrove creeks in Curuçá estuary (Northern Brazil)

The diet and feeding ecology of juvenile dog snapper (Lutjanus jocu) were investigated in 92 specimens collected in four intertidal mangrove creeks of Curuca estuary, Northern Brazil, between September 2003 and July 2004. No significant differences in total length were found between the sampling months. Feeding intensity was high as indicated by high stomach fullness index and low vacuity index. The most important prey was Penaeidae, followed by Grapsidae and Porcellanidae. The diet of juvenile dog snapper showed clear seasonal differences. Specimens from dry season (September and November) and dry / wet season transition (January), were specialists feeding exclusively on Penaeidae. However, the specimens from wet season (March and May) and wet /dry season transition (July) that consumed mainly Grapsidae, Penaeidae and Porcellanidae were generalist. These seasonal changes in diet could be related to variations in food availability.

Food consumption as an indicator of the conservation of natural resources in riverine communities of the Brazilian Amazon

The present study analyzed and compared the daily consumption of foods of animal origin in eleven communities of the Lower Amazon, Trombetas and Purus Rivers, representing three different management systems and levels of conservation in the Brazilian Amazon. All food items of animal origin were weighed by at least 10% of the families in the study communities during a week in each period of the flood cycle between 2006 and 2008. Fish was the most important food, and was consumed during six days of the week, with an average rate of 169 kg.person(-1).year(-1). Game was second in importance, with 37 kg.person(-1).year-(1). This yearly rate of fish consumption is one of the highest in the world and is almost double the minimum recommended by the World Health Organization. The dietary patterns reflect both the isolation of the communities from large urban centers and the better preservation of the local environments due to the existence of protected areas. Environmental degradation may thus have effects on the health and food security of local populations. The study emphasizes the need for the implementation of public policies and participative management initiatives.

Effects of plant cover on the macrofauna of Spartina marshes in northern Brazil

Dados sobre a densidade e diversidade da macrofauna em relacao a altura e densidade de Spartina brasiliensis foram obtidos em bancos de marismas em um estuario tropical no norte do Brasil. A amostragem foi realizada quatro vezes durante um ano, nas estacoes chuvosa, seca e nos periodos de transicao entre estas. A amostragem foi realizada em marismas de tres classes de tamanho: pequeno, medio e grande. As variaveis foram analisadas em relacao as estacoes do ano e das classes de tamanho das marismas. Um total de 46 taxons foram encontrados, com os poliquetos, isopodos e o gastropodo Neritina virginea dominando a fauna, resultados similares a estudos realizados em marismas no sul do Brasil. A densidade e a diversidade da macrofauna foram correlacionadas positivamente com a densidade de colmos da vegetacao, indicando um possivel papel da vegetacao em protecao contra predacao. Todas as tres variaveis foram maiores durante os periodos transicionais entre as estacoes chuvosa e seca e mudancas sazonais em precipitacao, salinidade e disponibilidade de luz possam influenciar mortalidade, disponibilidade de alimento e assentamento da macrofauna. Nao houve um efeito de tamanho da marisma sobre a macrofauna ou a vegetacao. O efeito beneficial da vegetacao sobre a macrofauna e apoiado por outros estudos de marismas brasileiras.

Multidisciplinary approach to identification of fishery production systems on the northern coast of Brazil

A pesca artesanal na costa Norte do Brasil e caracterizado por um conjunto de modalidades de pesca diferentes. Utilizando uma abordagem multidisciplinar, 20 sistemas de producao pesqueira foram identificados, com caracteristicas distintas em relacao a tecnologia e finalidade. As caracteristicas de cada sistema foram classificados em cinco dimensoes (ecologicas, economicas, sociais, tecnologicos e politicos). A analise de escalonamento multidimensional revelou que alguns destes 20 sistemas tem semelhancas maiores. Assim, um total de 10 grupos distintos foram identificados.

Population and biological parameters of selected fish species from the middle Xingu River, Amazon Basin

This study estimates the main biological parameters, including growth rates, asymptotic length, mortality, consumption by biomass, biological yield, and biomass, for the most abundant fish species found on the middle Xingu River, prior to the construction of the Belo Monte Dam. The specimens collected in experimental catches were analysed with empirical equations and length-based FISAT methods. For the 63 fish species studied, high growth rates (K) and high natural mortality (M) were related to early sexual maturation and low longevity. The predominance of species with short life cycles and a reduced number of age classes, determines high rates of stock turnover, which indicates high productivity for fisheries, and a low risk of overfishing.

DIETA, AMPLITUDE E SOBREPOSIÇÃO DE NICHO ENTRE Hypostomus plecostomus (LINNAEUS, 1758) E Hypostomus emarginatus (VALENCIENNES, 1840) (SILURIFORMES) DO RESERVATÓRIO DA UHE COARACY NUNES, FERREIRA GOMES, AMAPÁ-BRASIL

The stomach contents of 172 individuals of Hypostomus plecostomus and 94 specimens of Hypostomus emarginatus from the Coaracy Nunes reservoir in northern Brazil were analyzed in order to evaluate the feeding ecology of the two fish species from this site. Data were collected in eight campaigns conducted every two months between May, 2010 and July, 2011, four in the dry season and four during the flood period. The analysis of the stomach contents was based on the volumetric frequency (VF%) and frequency of occurrence (FO%), combined with the feeding index (FI). Nine different dietary items were identified: detritus, plant fragments, zooplankton, arthropods, chlorophytes, bacillariophytes, cyanobacteria, dinophytes, and unidentified material. Detritus was the principal component of the diet during both seasons, with all the other items representing only complementary or accidental portions of the diets of both species. Niche breadth was low overall, but slightly greater in H. plecostomus in comparison with H. emarginatus. Niche overlap was accentuated in both seasons, which indicates that seasonality is not a major factor influencing the characteristics of the niches of these species, possibly because of the marked abundance of detritus in the study area, specifically in the impounded sector. The two species can be characterized as detritivores, which share dietary resources with no clear evidence of any negative effects of interspecific competition on the coexistence of the two populations.