Length-weight relationship for seven freshwater fish species from Brazil

The present study reports length-weight relationships for seven native freshwater fish species (Triportheus angulatus, Psectrogaster rhomboides, Prochilodus brevis, Leporinus piau, Cichlasoma orientale, Crenicichla menezesi, and Pimelodella gracilis) captured in a semiarid Brazilian reservoir located in the state of Rio Grande do Norte.

The contrasting role of heterochromatin in the differentiation of sex chromosomes: an overview from Neotropical fishes

During the evolutionary process of the sex chromosomes, a general principle that arises is that cessation or a partial restriction of recombination between the sex chromosome pair is necessary. Data from phylogenetically distinct organisms reveal that this phenomenon is frequently associated with the accumulation of heterochromatin in the sex chromosomes. Fish species emerge as excellent models to study this phenomenon because they have much younger sex chromosomes compared to higher vertebrates and many other organisms making it possible to follow their steps of differentiation. In several Neotropical fish species, the heterochromatinization, accompanied by amplification of tandem repeats, represents an important step in the morphological differentiation of simple sex chromosome systems, especially in the ZZ/ZW sex systems. In contrast, multiple sex chromosome systems have no additional increase of heterochromatin in the chromosomes. Thus, the initial stage of differentiation of the multiple sex chromosome systems seems to be associated with proper chromosomal rearrangements, whereas the simple sex chromosome systems have an accumulation of heterochromatin. In this review, attention has been drawn to this contrasting role of heterochromatin in the differentiation of simple and multiple sex chromosomes of Neotropical fishes, highlighting their surprising evolutionary dynamism.

Estudio de las patologías y causas de muerte de cetáceos varados en el litoral de la provincia de Cádiz (2001-2004)

Programa de doctorado: Sanidad animal

Caratteristiche morfologiche della retina nei Cetacei

Le caratteristiche strutturali dell’occhio dei Cetacei sono state in passato oggetto di studio. Tuttavia, i dati relativi alla stratigrafia della retina ed alle caratteristiche morfologiche dei neuroni gangliari in essa presenti sono piuttosto ridotti; per questo motivo, l’obiettivo della presente ricerca è stato quello di studiare, mediante metodiche di immunoistochimica, l’uso della microscopia ottica e di opportuni software di analisi immagine, le caratteristiche morfologiche della retina e delle cellule gangliari in essa presenti in differenti specie di Cetacei. Per la presente ricerca sono stati utilizzate come specie di riferimento i seguenti Delfinidi: tursiope (Tursiops truncatus) e stenella striata (Stenella coeruleoalba). Le analisi sulle sezioni interessano l’area, la densità dei neuroni gangliari, la stratigrafia della retina e l’analisi morfometrica degli strati e dei neuroni. I risultati ottenuti indicano come la retina del tursiope e della stenella striata, nonostante un'organizzazione di base assai simile a quella degli altri Mammiferi, mostri caratteristiche qualitative sue proprie. Gli strati retinici sono quelli che si osservano in tutti i Mammiferi e lo spessore totale della retina è, nel tursiope (101,23 µm ) e nella stenella striata (108.35 µm ), pressochè simile ai Mammiferi terrestri (110-220 µm). Nell'ambito della retina, lo strato che presento lo spesso medio maggiore è quello dei granuli interni (SNE); tale dato non coincide con quanto osservato in altri Mammiferi. I neuroni gangliari presenti nella retina di tursiope e stenella striata mostrano, analogamente a quanto osservato in altri Cetacei, una bassa densità cellulare. Nel tursiope e nella stenella striata le aree a maggiore densità cellulare presentano neuroni multipolari di dimensioni minori rispetto a quelle con bassa densità. Questo dato potrebbe indicare una "cellularità" (quantità di superficie occupata da cellule) costante nei differenti distretti retinici. I neuroni gangliari presenti nella retina di tursiope e stenella striata sono disposti in un unico strato, come osservato in numerosi altri Cetacei, ma differisce da quanto osservato nel capodoglio (Physeter macrocephalus) dove tali cellule si dispongono in strati multipli. Neuroni gangliari di grandi dimensioni sono stati osservati sia nel tursiope che nella stenella striata. Tale dato coincide con quanto osservato in altri Odontoceti ed in alcuni Misticeti. Allo stato attuale non è ancora stato dato un chiaro significato funzionale alle cellule gangliari giganti. Un possibile ruolo potrebbe essere quello di condurre, in animali di grossa mole, l'impulso nervoso molto velocemente, grazie alla presenza di un assone provvisto di un diametro notevole. Tale interpretazione non è da tutti accettata in quanto Mammiferi terrestri di grandi dimensioni non presentano nella loro retina neuroni gangliari giganti.

Avistamiento de cetáceos en la Región de Murcia

En las aguas del golfo de Mazarrón se realizaron campañas para avistar cetáceos durante los años 1998, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 y 2008 a bordo de la goleta M/S Karyam, perteneciente a la empresa “Cetáceos y Navegación S.L.”. En todas las campañas de avistamiento las especies objetivo fueron las siguientes: Delfín mular (Tursiops truncatus), delfín listado, (Stenella coeruleoalba), delfín común (Delphinus delphis), calderón común (Globicephala melas), calderón gris (Grampus griseus), cachalote (Physeter macrocephalus), rorcual común (Balaenoptera physalus). Durante el periodo de muestreo se han realizado un total de 819 avistamientos con una estima aproximada de 21387 cetáceos, sin contar las salidas de avistamiento que aún se pueden hacer de octubre a diciembre del presente año. En los años comprendidos entre 2004 y 2008 las salidas de avistamientos exceden de las 100, repartidas entre los meses de marzo y diciembre, siendo la mayoría en los meses correspondientes a la estación de verano. En los años 1998 y 1999 se realizaron 31 y 67 días de campaña respectivamente, distribuidos prácticamente a lo largo de todo el año. Aún así se tienen en cuenta para establecer comparativas con años posteriores, ya que la diferencia en la abundancia de las especies avistadas es bastante notable. Con la información procedente de estas jornadas de avistamiento se realiza actualmente una caracterización de los cetáceos de las aguas de la Región de Murcia, en la que se detallan las características de cada una de las especies avistadas, una comparativa por años del número de individuos avistado por jornada, cantidad de grupos avistados por año, diversidad de especies por época del año y número de avistamiento por salida.

Evaluation of the use and management of fish resources in the pachitea river basin, Peruvian Amazon

The purpose of this study was to analyze the interrelations between the needs of local people and their usage and management of natural fisheries. Between June and August 2001, 177 households in the basin were interviewed regarding their fishing customs. The results were analyzed with parametric and nonparametric statistics considering a cultural and a geographic comparison. Results confirm that indigenous households rely more on fisheries as a resource than colonists. Fishing takes place throughout the year but is more common in the dry season. Fishing is commonly practiced using hooks and cast nets. More destructive techniques such as dynamite and "barbasco" (poisonous plant) were also used. Indigenous people use a greater array of techniques and they fish at a greater diversity of sites. Respondents also reported that fishing yields have decreased recently. Some of the most common fish genera captured are Pimelodus and Leporinus.

Diversidade Ictiofaunística e Ecologia reprodutiva de uma espécie nativa de peixe da Bacia Piranhas-Assu, RN

The Caatinga biome is rich in endemic fish species fauna. The present study the results of fish faunal surveys conducted in the hydrographic basin of Piranhas-Assu of the Brazilian Caatinga biome. The fish samples collected were distributed in four orders (Characiformes, Perciformes, Siluriformes and Synbranchiformes), 11 families (Characidae, Curimatidae, Auchenipteridae, Anostomidae, Prochilodontidae, Erythrinidae, Cichlidae, Sciaenidae, Heptapteridae, Loricariidae, Synbranchidae) and 22 species, of which 17 are endemic and five have been introduced from other basins. The order Characiformes was the most representative in number of species (46,35% ) followed by Perciformes (35,38%), Siluriformes (17,44%) and Synbranchiformes (0,5%). The Nile tilapia, Oreochomis niloticus, the only exotic species, was most expressive in number of individuals (24.92%) followed by the native species piau preto, Leporinus piau (18,77 %). Considering the relative frequency of occurrence of the 22 species, 13 were constant, five were accessory and four were occasional. This study investigated the reproductive ecology of an endemic fish black piau, Leporinus piau from the Marechal Dutra reservoir, Acari, Rio Grande do Norte. Samplings were done on a monthly basis from January to December 2009, and a total of 211 specimens were captured. The environmental parameters such as rainfall, temperature, pH, electrical conductivity and dissolved oxygen of water were recorded. The sampled population showed a slight predominance of males (55%), however females were larger and heavier. Both sexes of L. piau showed positive allometric growth, indicating a higher increase of weight than length. The first sexual maturation of males occurred at smaller size, with 16.5 cm in total length than females (20.5 cm). During the reproductive period, the condition factor and gonadosomatic index (GSI) of L. piau were negatively correlated. This species has large oocytes with a high mean fecundity of 54.966 with synchronous oocyte development and total spawning

Encalhes de Cetáceos ocorridos no período de 1984 a 2005 no litoral do Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil

Strandings of live or dead aquatic mammals constitute an important instrument to provide information regarding the occurrence, biology and ecology of these species. The aim of this study was to register the stranded species of cetaceans, the frequency and the spatial-temporal distribution of theses strandings during the period of 1984 to 2005, in the coast of Rio Grande do Norte. Data was acquired through the monitoring of strandings in the north, north-west and south coast of RN, and through information obtained from institutions and newspaper archives of the State. A total of 122 strandings of cetaceans were registered along the coast of Rio Grande do Norte. Of the 14 species of cetaceans registered, four species had higher frequencies: Sotalia guianensis (n= 65), Steno bredanensis (n = 6), Globicephala macrorhynchus (n = 6) and Physeter macrocephalus (n = 7). Out of 118 strandings, 93 occurred in the south coast (78.8 %), 23 in the north coast (19.5%) and 2 (1.7%) in the north-west coast of the State. The highest frequency of strandings occurred during the months of August to March and the maximum number of strandings occurred from 2000 onwards, as a consequence of the intense monitoring of the Pequenos Cetáceos Project in Rio Grande do Norte

Diversidade Ictiofaunística e Ecologia reprodutiva de uma espécie nativa de peixe da Bacia Piranhas-Assu, RN

The Caatinga biome is rich in endemic fish species fauna. The present study the results of fish faunal surveys conducted in the hydrographic basin of Piranhas-Assu of the Brazilian Caatinga biome. The fish samples collected were distributed in four orders (Characiformes, Perciformes, Siluriformes and Synbranchiformes), 11 families (Characidae, Curimatidae, Auchenipteridae, Anostomidae, Prochilodontidae, Erythrinidae, Cichlidae, Sciaenidae, Heptapteridae, Loricariidae, Synbranchidae) and 22 species, of which 17 are endemic and five have been introduced from other basins. The order Characiformes was the most representative in number of species (46,35% ) followed by Perciformes (35,38%), Siluriformes (17,44%) and Synbranchiformes (0,5%). The Nile tilapia, Oreochomis niloticus, the only exotic species, was most expressive in number of individuals (24.92%) followed by the native species piau preto, Leporinus piau (18,77 %). Considering the relative frequency of occurrence of the 22 species, 13 were constant, five were accessory and four were occasional. This study investigated the reproductive ecology of an endemic fish black piau, Leporinus piau from the Marechal Dutra reservoir, Acari, Rio Grande do Norte. Samplings were done on a monthly basis from January to December 2009, and a total of 211 specimens were captured. The environmental parameters such as rainfall, temperature, pH, electrical conductivity and dissolved oxygen of water were recorded. The sampled population showed a slight predominance of males (55%), however females were larger and heavier. Both sexes of L. piau showed positive allometric growth, indicating a higher increase of weight than length. The first sexual maturation of males occurred at smaller size, with 16.5 cm in total length than females (20.5 cm). During the reproductive period, the condition factor and gonadosomatic index (GSI) of L. piau were negatively correlated. This species has large oocytes with a high mean fecundity of 54.966 with synchronous oocyte development and total spawning

Encalhes de Cetáceos ocorridos no período de 1984 a 2005 no litoral do Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil

Strandings of live or dead aquatic mammals constitute an important instrument to provide information regarding the occurrence, biology and ecology of these species. The aim of this study was to register the stranded species of cetaceans, the frequency and the spatial-temporal distribution of theses strandings during the period of 1984 to 2005, in the coast of Rio Grande do Norte. Data was acquired through the monitoring of strandings in the north, north-west and south coast of RN, and through information obtained from institutions and newspaper archives of the State. A total of 122 strandings of cetaceans were registered along the coast of Rio Grande do Norte. Of the 14 species of cetaceans registered, four species had higher frequencies: Sotalia guianensis (n= 65), Steno bredanensis (n = 6), Globicephala macrorhynchus (n = 6) and Physeter macrocephalus (n = 7). Out of 118 strandings, 93 occurred in the south coast (78.8 %), 23 in the north coast (19.5%) and 2 (1.7%) in the north-west coast of the State. The highest frequency of strandings occurred during the months of August to March and the maximum number of strandings occurred from 2000 onwards, as a consequence of the intense monitoring of the Pequenos Cetáceos Project in Rio Grande do Norte