Características reprodutivas de três espécies de Erythrinidae (Pices: characiformes) da bacia do São Francisco, submetidas à hipofisação

Abstract

The majority of information related to reproductive strategy of Erythrinidae species has its origin from observations on natural environment. In this context, several tactics are not effectively evaluated and precious collection of information relevant to commercial fishing culture or even to effort of fauna reconstitution are simply lost. Studies on induced reproduction of Hoplerythrinus unitaeniatus Hoplias malabaricus and Hoplias lacerdae were performed at the Fish culture and Hydrobiology Station of the CODEVASF-Três Marias-MG, from September to December of the years 2000 and 2001 with the objective of search its reproductive characteristics. The Hoplerythrinus unitaeniatus presented to be the most fecund of the three studied species with smaller eggs and larvae sizes, followed by the Hoplias malabaricus presenting intermediate values between Hoplerythrinus unitaeniatus and Hoplias lacerdae, the least fecund one but with bigger eggs and larvae than the other two species. The larvae of the two species of Hoplias did not presented the vertical movement on the water column observed on Hoplerythrinus unitaeniatus. This behavior is considered of extreme importance to the larvae dispersion in different environment. The Erythrinidae eggs are in general big with yellow color and opaque, presenting good adhesive property and light hydration. Comparing this group with others Characiformes from São Francisco river basin it was observed that these three species present as major peculiarities, the low fecundity and enhanced parental care, evidenced by the eggs and larvae characteristics, representing a high unit value of reproductive investment, placing the Erythrinidae here studied next to the strategic group of k-selected equilibrium proposed by Winemiller in 1989 and in the nest spawner guild proposed by BALON in 1985. At the present work we found out the importance of knowing a few breeding tactics/strategies that results in benefits that certainly yield specialization on handling reproductors, eggs and larvae.