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Acta Fish. Aquat. Res. (2017) 5 (3): 61-67
DOI 10.2312/ActaFish.2017.5.3.61-67
Acta of Acta of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
ISSN: 2357-8068
Indexadores: Sumários (www.sumarios.org) - Diretórios: Diadorim (Diadorim.ibict.br) - Latindex (www.latindex.org)
ARTIGO ORIGINAL
61
Populacional structure of Apistogramma agassizii (Steindachner, 1875)
(Perciformes: Cichlidae) in aquatic environments of the Amana Sustainable
Development Reserve (Amazonas - Brazil)
Estrutura populacional de Apistogramma agassizii (Steindachner, 1875) (Perciformes:
Cichlidae) em ambientes aquáticos da Reserva de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Amanã
(Amazonas - Brasil)
Jomara Cavalcante de Oliveira1,2*, Sidinéia Aparecida Amadio2 & Helder Lima de Queiroz1
1 Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá – IDSM
2 Coordenação de Pesquisas em Biologia Aquática (CPBA), Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia - INPA
*jomaracoliveira@gmail.com
Recebido: 16 de março de 2017 / Aceito: 20 de novembro de 2017 / Publicado: 9 de dezembro de 2017
Abstract Apistogramma agassizii is a dwarf cichlid
species endemic of the Amazon basin, about which
there is little biological and ecological information
in their natural habitat, despite their ornamental
importance. This study evaluated the populacional
structure A. agassizii at Amana Sustainable
Development Reserve, Middle Solimões basin,
Amazonas, Brazil. Positive sexual dimorphism
found is probably related to the reproductive
behavior of the species. Some management
suggestions are offered to support the sustainable
use of the species for the studied sites.
Keywords Amazon, cichlids, reproduction.
Resumo Apistogramma agassizii é uma espécie de
ciclídeo anão endêmico da bacia amazônica, a qual
poucas informações sobre biologia e ecologia são
conhecidas para seu habitat natural, apesar de sua
importância ornamental. Neste estudo avaliamos a
estrutura populacional de A. agassizii na Reserva de
Desenvolvimento Sustentável Amanã (RDSA),
bacia do Médio Solimões, Amazonas, Brasil. O
dimorfismo sexual positivo encontrado
provavelmente está relacionado ao comportamento
reprodutivo da espécie. Algumas sugestões de
manejo são oferecidas para dar suporte ao uso
sustentável da espécie nos locais estudados.
Palavras-chave Amazônia, ciclídeos, reprodução.
_________
Financed by Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação MCTI, the Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável
Mamirauá - IDSM, INCT Adapta and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (Capes).
Oliveira, Amadio & Queiroz (2017)
Acta of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
62
Introduction
The structure of a population includes several attributes among them are the density and place occupied
by individuals in the habitat, number of individuals in each age group or size, sex ratio, and morphological
differences between individuals of a generation or population (Nikolsky, 1963; Ricklefs, 2013). Studies on
the structure of fish populations with ornamental potential are important as they provide information on the
ecology of the species in the natural environment as aspects of life strategy for growth and reproduction. In
additional, the relationship length-weight of the fish species can be used to estimate the weight of a certain
species through the survey on the length of group of individuals, vice-versa (Lemos et al., 2015),
collaborating as indirect measure of growth (Gomiero et al., 2010).
The species Apistogramma agassizii (Steindachner, 1875), is widely distributed in the Amazon, it is a
small cichlid of freshwater occupying lakes and streams in the Amazon environment. Apistogramma
agassizii can reach up to six centimeters in total length, shows sexual dimorphism in adults. The males are
larger, more colorful and more prolonged fins with the compared to females (Hercos et al., 2009). The
distribution of A. agassizii extends across the South American continent from the foot of the Peruvian Andes
to the Amazon delta, localities for members of this complex lie not only in the main river itself, but also in
the lower to middle courses of numerous tributaries as well as in the entire drainage region of the Negro river
(Römer, 2006).
The Amana Sustainable Development Reserve (RDSA) is located in the mid-Solimões basin (35º43 "S /
3º16 '13" W and 62º44' 10 " S/ 65º23 '36" W) between the Negro and Japurá river, characterized by white
waters. In addition, in the RDSA we find Amana lake, the largest lake in the reserve, reaching approximately
40 km in length and surface of approximately 100 km2. Amana lake is an environment of black water, but
with strong contribution of the white water of the Japura river (Ayres, 1993). In elevated areas of the RDSA
there are several strems (igarape, regional name), which form a dense local network of water bodies (Hercos
et al., 2009).
In black water environments are found species of small fish and attractive colors that have been targeted
by the ornamental trade. Since 1955, when Herbert R. Axelrod discovered and marketed the cardinal tetra,
Paracheirodon axelrodi in the middle Rio Negro (Amazonas State), this type of trade has developed
considerably (Chao et al., 2001). Anjos et al., (2009) report that approximately 100 million ornamental fish
were exported from the Amazon between 2002 and 2005 and the state of Amazonas accounted for about
93% of Brazilian exports in the period (IBAMA, 2007). The Middle Solimões region stands out for the
exploration of ornamental fish exported through the city of Manaus. Export records this region indicate that
the discus (Symphysodon aequifasciatus) and species of the genus Apistogramma are the most commonly
traded (Mendonça & Camargo, 2006). The capture and marketing managed ornamental fish has been taking
in the Amana Sustainable Development Reserve since late 2008, including S. aequifasciatus and species
Apistogramma genus (Hercos et al., 2009).
However, there are still many gaps on the biology and ecology of A. agassizii natural environment.
Studies on populacional structure are essential for a better understanding of the species life cycle, and to
support the management policies of establishing these fishing resources, contributing to the conservation of
stocks.
Material and Methods
The collect of A. agassizii occurred every two months between January and November 2013, in Amana
Lake and Igarapes Cacau and Ubim located in Amana Sustainable Development Reserve (RDSA) (Figure 1).
The Amana Reserve is located in the middle Solimões basin (1° 35 '43 "S / 3º 16' 13" W and 62° 44 '10' / 65°
23 '36 "W), between the Negro river, black waters and poor in nutrients and the Japurá river, characterized
by white or muddy waters, rich in nutrients. In the higher areas of RDSA occur several streams,
characterized by a well-defined streambed, forming a dense mesh of water bodies (Hercos et al., 2009).
We used as fishing device the hand net used in the shallow area of the investigated bodies water. The
collected samples were dipped in benzocaine hydrochloride solution at a concentration of 250mg / L even
the total loss of balance (according to Resolution No. 714 of June 2002 the Federal Council of Veterinary
Medicine), subsequently immersed in formalin, then in alcohol 70% and transported to the Laboratório de
Ecologia e Biologia de Peixes-ECOBP/IDSM in Tefé-AM, where the sample were measured (standard
length, mm) and weighed (total weight, g).
Oliveira, Amadio & Queiroz (2017)
Acta of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
63
Figure 1. Sites collects of Apistogramma agassizii in Amana Reserve.
The relationship between weight and standard length was established using a linear regression represented
by mathematical expression TW = a x SLb, the total weight data and standard length were logaritmizados and
adjusted by the least-squares method for calculating the linear regression where we obtain the values of b
(angular coefficient) and the (linear coefficient). The t test was used to verify the existence of significant
differences among the b values, when close to isometrics (b=3), respecting the confidence interval of 95%
(α=0.05) (Giarrizzo et al., 2015). The correlation between W and L was verified by Pearson analysis through
r-squared (r2) (Schmidt et al., 2015).
The sex ratio was compared by frequency of occurrence for males and females for each studied area and
sampling month. The G test was applied in order to verify possible differences in the expected ratio of 1: 1.
Significant differences were considered when the calculated value of G was higher 3.84.
All statistical analyzes were carried out using statistical software BioStat 5.0 (Ayres et al., 2007).
Samples of A. agassizii used in this study were collected in the project "Reproductive Biology
Apistogramma" whose procedures were approved by the Ethics Committee on Animal Use and Plants for
Sustainable Development Mamirauá Institute, with the protocol number CEUAP IDSM-003 / 2013.
Results
During the study period 900 specimens were captured, 300 of these were from Amana lake, 300
Igarape Ubim and 300 Igarape Cacau. Males and females of the Amana lake and igarape Ubim showed
significant difference between the relationship of weight and length, as evidenced by the values of the
intercepts (a), indicating sexual differentiation in the increase in length or weight (Table 1). When compared
the relationship of weight and length of the specimens with different sites, we observed significant
differences in all sites. The males were always greater in length and weight than females, featuring one of the
most important aspects of sexual dimorphism of A. agassizii.
Oliveira, Amadio & Queiroz (2017)
Acta of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
64
Table 1. Parameters of the linear regressions of standard length (SL) and total weight (TW) of females and males of
Apistogramma agassizii. N = number of samples; a = numerical value of the intercept; b = coefficient of regression; Ta
= t test between the intercepts; Tb = t test between the regression coefficients; r2 = coefficient of determination; r =
correlation coefficient. t test, 5%.
Parameters of the equation TW = a x SLb
Amana lake
N
a
Ta
b
Tb
R²
R
Female
151
-5.1742
0.0125
3.3828
0.1143
0.955
0.9773
Male
149
-5.0324
3.2649
0.9754
0.9876
Igarape Cacau
N
a
Ta
b
Tb
R²
R
Female
152
-4.8723
0.6923
3.1556
0.2198
0.9794
0.9897
Male
148
-4.9712
3.2321
0.972
0.9859
Igarape Ubim
N
a
Ta
b
Tb
R²
R
Female
167
-4.9093
0.0367
3.1873
0.5682
0.9185
0.9584
Male
133
-4.8547
3.1365
0.967
0.9834
The sex ratio, considering the total number of specimens was 1 male:1 female. However, we observed
some significant differences in sex ratio when the data were analyzed throughout the study period, when
there was a predominance of females relative to males for a few months of collection (Figure 2, Table 2,)
Figure 2. Size distribution by standard length classes of females and males of Apistogramma agassizii (a) Amana lake
(b) igarape Cacau and (c) igarape Ubim.
Oliveira, Amadio & Queiroz (2017)
Acta of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
65
Table 2. Sex ratio of Apistogramma agassizii for each collect site. *G test, significant G> 3.84, p <0.05.
Discussion
The presence of males larger than females in all environments studied, is the highest expression of sexual
dimorphism by A. agassizii (Nikolsky, 1963), as well as other differences already described, such as the
morphology of the fins and body color (Chellappa et al., 2005; Ismiño & Padilla, 2005). These
characteristics can be decisive in courtship processes and mating, particularly during the breeding season,
since larger males tend to win aggressive encounters with other males, keeping territories of better quality
and more access food (Cacho et al., 2006).
The length-weight relationship describes the ways of growth in the different stages of the life cycle of the
fish species, which becomes a good indicative of the food and reproductive activities (Silva Júnior et al,
2007). Le Cren (1951) indicate out that the b values for fish may range from 2.5 to 4.0, but they usually show
an isometric growth around 3.0. Therefore, when b = 3, the species has an isometric growth, where the
weight increases proportionally with the length. However, when b < 3, the growth is negative allometric
which indicates that the increment occurs due to the weight, and when b > 3, the growth is positive
allometric, and the increment in the length is higher than the weight. These differences which occur around
the allometric coefficient may be related to the biological aspects which characterize the specie, as the
different environmental and food variation of the enviromental where they reside (Silva et al., 2005), since
they were collected from different places and environments (lake and igarape/stream), consequently
differences in growth was be observed.
The sex ratio vary along the life cycle due to successive events that act differently on the individuals of
each sex, as the mortality be her caused by natural factors or fishing events, determine the predominance of
individuals from one of the sex or different stages of development. (Vazzoler, 1996; Nascimento et al.,
2012). During the study we observed the sexual ratio of 1: 1, but in detailed analyzes changes were observed
in this proportion, indicating the predominance of females in different length classes or at different times of
the study.
Therefore, the significant proportion of females observed during the study for the collect sites, can
probably be related to the fact that these sites in the years prior to this study, there was the ornamental fishing
A. agassizii. During the ornamental fishing had preference for male individuals, because morphologically are
larger and more colorful than females, showing greater interest in the ornamental market. Consequently, this
selection by males may have contributed to the higher proportion of female A. agassizii.
Acknowledgements
We thank the Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia, Inovação e Comunicação – MCTIC, the Instituto de
Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá – IDSM, and the INCT ADAPTA, by the financial support. The
Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) for granting master's scholarship.
We are also grateful to all assistants, all were essential for implementation of this project.
Months
samples
Amana lake
Igarape Cacau
Igarape Ubim
Female
Male
Proportion
F:M
G test
Female
Male
Proportion
F:M
G test
Female
Male
Proportion
F:M
G test
January/13
30
20
1.50
10.54*
26
24
1.08
1.35
39
11
3.55
26.31*
March/13
30
20
1.50
10.54*
23
27
0.85
-4.44*
19
31
0.61
-14.50*
May/13
18
32
0.56
-12.07*
20
30
0.67
-9.45*
27
23
1.17
-1.64
June/13
26
24
1.08
1.69
24
26
0.92
-2.60
30
20
1.50
4.49*
September/13
26
24
1.08
1.69
36
14
2.57
25.3*
27
23
1.17
-1.64
November/13
21
29
0.72
-7.60*
23
27
0.85
-4.44*
25
25
1.00
-5.36*
Total
151
149
1.01
2.43
152
148
1.03
2.74
167
133
1.26
3.82
Oliveira, Amadio & Queiroz (2017)
Acta of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
66
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