Teratogenic processes in an embryo without gills and low yolk absorption of Zapteryx brevirostris (Elasmobranchii: Rhinobatidae)

Este é o primeiro relato de anomalias morfológicas em embriões de Zapteryx brevirostris, espécie comum no Brasil. As brânquias estiveram ausentes, e as nadadeiras peitorais mostraram-se assimétricas e não totalmente formadas e fundidas à cabeça. A nadadeira esquerda, a maior, se projetou destacadamente em direção à cabeça, quase alcançando a altura dos olhos. A nadadeira pélvica esteve ausente, não foi possível a determinação do sexo do animal. A causa da deformidade morfológica é incerta, mas sugere-se que possa estar relacionada a problema nutricional durante o desenvolvimento do embrião.This is the first report of morphological anomaly in embryos of Zapteryx brevirostris (Lesser guitarfish), a very common species in Brazil. The gills were absent, and the pectoral fins were not fully formed nor were they completely fused to the head. They were asymmetrical, with the larger left pectoral fin projecting more toward the head (almost at the height of the eyes). The pelvic fin was absent, making sexing impossible. The cause of the morphological deformity is uncertain, although a nutritional problem of the embryo is evoked

El uso de la maricultura como sitio de reproducción: reproducción de Hypleurochilus fissicornis (Actinopterygii: Blenniidae)

Mariculture in estuaries provides substrate for colonization by fouling organisms, thus attracting small cryptic fish species hitherto unknown in this environment. The blenny Hypleurochilus fissicornis is one of the species that is associated with this new system and is found in high abundance in bivalve farming. To understand the reproductive strategy that this species uses in this new environment, we collected specimens monthly in a mariculture on the southern coast of Paraná State (Brazil). After obtaining morphometric data, we removed gonads to determine sex and maturity stage. Gonads were weighed and analysed histologically. Oogenesis showed the same pattern as in other teleosts, but spermatogenesis showed a very complex dynamics. The spawning is multiple and synchronous between sexes, lasting eight months (May to December) and peaking in winter. Hypleurochilus fissicornis was reproductively successful using the mariculture as a breeding site. The species has a variety of tactics to protect its offspring (e.g. batch spawning, long reproductive period, reduced L50, parental care and a reproductive peak in winter).La práctica de la maricultura en estuarios porporciona el sustrato necesario para la colonización de organismos incrustantes, los cuales atraen a pequeños peces crípticos desconocidos hasta la fecha en este ambiente. El blénido Hypleurochilus fissicornis es una de las especies asociadas a estos nuevos sistemas, encontrándose en elevada abundancia junto al cultivo de bivalvos. Con el objeto de entender la estrategia reproductiva que esta especie usa en su nuevo ambiente, se muestrearon mensualmente especímenes en una instalación de maricultura en la costa sur del estado de Paraná (Brazil). Después de obtener los datos morfométricos, las gónadas fueron extraídas para determinar el sexo y el estado de madurez. Las gónadas fueron pesadas y analizadas histológicamente. La ovogénesis presentó el mismo patrón que otros teleosteos, mientras que la espermatogénesis presentó una dinámica compleja. La puesta es múltiple y sincrónica entre sexos, extendiéndose durante ocho meses (de mayo a diciembre), con un pico de puesta en invierno. Hypleurochilus fissicornis tuvo una reproducción exitosa empleando las instalaciones de maricultura como zona de cría. Dicha especie presentó una variedad de tácticas para proteger su descendencia (p.ej. desove en lotes, largos periodos de reproducción, L50 reducida, cuidado parental y pico de puesta invernal)

The ichthyofauna in the shallow waters of the Paranaguá bay estuarine complex, Paraná.

The present work investigated the ichthyofauna in the shallow waters of the Paranaguá Bay estuarine complex, Paraná state, Brazil, considering eight sample sites along the north-south axis. The analyses of the physical and the chemical data series of the water and the biological data monthly obtained, taking in account the sediment data series seasonally determined in each site, making possible the environmental characterization and the quali-quantitative assessment of the local ichthyofauna. The hydrological parameter values reflecting an environmental gradient defined by the increasing from the north to the south region of the estuary. The northern sample sites were characterized by higher continental water influence, lower hydrodynamic and higher fine granules amount in the sediment. The biological data analyses of the ichthyofauna in the studied area showed that the complete life cycles of some species take place in this area, emphasized by the relevant occurrence frequencies of juvenile and adult specimens. In the meantime, the highest values of the hydrological parameters were registered on the southern sample sites of the estuary, showing the influence of the marine salt water and characterized by the higher hydrodynamic forces reflected by the high amount of thick granules in the sediment. The ichthyofauna is mainly represented by juvenile fish of marine species that utilize the estuary in some periods of the year and by sporadic marine species. The shallow water ichthyofauna of the Paranaguá Bay estuarine complex is composed by 96 species with predominance of occasional species in comparison to the constant ones, indicating a dynamic environment. The quantitative data analyses of the ichthyofauna showed seasonal differences as in the species composition as in the catch proportion, resulting in a seasonal characterization of the specific richness, of the species diversity, of the eveness and of the similarity indices. The results of the present study emphasize the spatial-temporal heterogeneity of the environment, taking in account its characteristics and the ichthyofauna composition, revealing that the shallow waters of Paranaguá Bay estuarine complex constitute a highly dynamic environment.Financiadora de Estudos e ProjetosO presente estudo investigou a ictiofauna de áreas rasas no eixo norte-sul do complexo estuarino Baía de Paranaguá-PR considerando oito pontos amostrais no período de maio de 2000 a abril de 2001. Através de coletas mensais dos parâmetros físicos e químicos da água e de material biológico e de coletas sazonais de sedimento em cada área, foi possível caracterizar o ambiente e analisar a ictiofauna. Os parâmetros hidrológicos, avaliados nas áreas rasas, mostram variação espaço-temporal e definem um gradiente ambiental que aumenta da região norte para a região sul estuarina. Os pontos localizados ao norte do estuário caracterizam-se pela maior influência das águas continentais, com baixa hidrodinâmica e maior quantidade de grânulos finos no sedimento quando comparados à região sul do ambiente estuarino. A composição ictiofaunística do norte do estuário evidencia espécies que desenvolvem todo o ciclo de vida nestas áreas mostrando proporções relevantes de indivíduos jovens e adultos. O sul estuarino compreende os pontos que mostraram os maiores valores dos parâmetros hidrológicos analisados, sendo influenciados pelas águas marinhas e apresentando as maiores hidrodinâmicas, determinadas pela alta freqüência de grânulos grossos no sedimento. A ictiofauna é representada predominantemente por indivíduos jovens de espécies marinhas que utilizam o estuário em determinados períodos do ano e de espécies marinhas que visitam este ecossistema de forma esporádica. A ictiofauna das áreas rasas é constituída por 96 espécies, contendo um predomínio de espécies ocasionais sobre as constantes, sugerindo um ambiente dinâmico. As análises quantitativas da ictiofauna mostraram diferenças sazonais na composição de espécies e na proporção de captura, refletindo na sazonalidade da riqueza específica, da diversidade, da equitabilidade e da similaridade. Os resultados obtidos neste trabalho ressaltam a heterogeneidade espaço-temporal, tanto em relação às características ambientais quanto à composição ictiofaunística, revelando serem as áreas rasas estuarinas do complexo estuarino Baía de Paranaguá ambientes altamente dinâmicos

First record of anomalous otoliths of Menticirrhus americanus in the South Atlantic

Sagitta otoliths are usually formed of calcium carbonate polymorphs as aragonite. The objective of this study was to verify which carbonate polymorph is predominant in the sagitta otolith of Menticirrhus americanus and check whether this pattern remains in otoliths with morphological alterations. Otoliths of M. americanus were obtained from five sites on the southeast-south coast of Brazil (São Sebastião (SS) 23°45′S–45°24′O, n = 29; Cananéia-Iguape Estuarine Complex (CI) 25°02′S–47°54′O, n = 30; Paranaguá Estuarine Complex (PEC) 25°28′S–48°20′O, n = 35; Itapoá (IT) 26°07′S–48°36′O, n = 31; Laguna (LA) 28°28′S–48°46′O, n = 13). The characterization of carbonate polymorphs of otoliths was performed through Raman spectroscopy, a photonic and non-destructive technique that analyzes molecular vibrations induced by laser. We analyzed 138 pairs of M. americanus otoliths, of which eight otoliths from different pairs presented morphological alterations (SS n = 1, CEP n = 5, IT n = 1, LA n = 1). The Raman spectra show that normal otoliths, that is, without morphological alterations, presented only aragonite in their structure. Among the otoliths that presented morphological alterations, the Raman spectra allowed to identify in six otoliths the deposition of aragonite and in only two otoliths the deposition of vaterite (one specimen of the PEC and one of SS).Fil: Maichak de Carvalho, Barbara. Universidade Federal do Paraná; BrasilFil: Volpedo, Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Unidad Ejecutora de Investigaciones en Producción Animal. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Unidad Ejecutora de Investigaciones en Producción Animal; ArgentinaFil: Queiroz Albuquerque, Cristiano. Universidade Federal do Paraná; BrasilFil: Fávaro, Luís Fernando. Universidade Federal do Paraná; Brasi

Teratogenic processes in an embryo without gills and low yolk absorption of Zapteryx brevirostris (Elasmobranchii: Rhinobatidae)

Abstract This is the first report of morphological anomaly in embryos of Zapteryx brevirostris (Lesser guitarfish), a very common species in Brazil. The gills were absent, and the pectoral fins were not fully formed nor were they completely fused to the head. They were asymmetrical, with the larger left pectoral fin projecting more toward the head (almost at the height of the eyes). The pelvic fin was absent, making sexing impossible. The cause of the morphological deformity is uncertain, although a nutritional problem of the embryo is evoked

Age and reproduction of the southern king croaker menticirrhus americanus in subtropical south atlantic environments

Menticirrhus americanus were sampled (n = 393) from two beaches (P1 is an estuarine beach near the mouth of the Paranaguá Estuarine Complex, and P2 is a beach adjacent to the Paranaguá Estuarine Complex) in the subtropical region of the western South Atlantic waters between August 2015 and June 2016. This study aimed to identify the spawning season and the age structure for M. americanus using two sampling methods. For sampling at the P1 beach, seine, line, and pole were used, while samples from the P2 beach were obtained from the artisanal fishers. Females were numerically dominant in all sampling months at both sites except for February when the males became dominant. The species exhibited a protected reproductive season with multiple spawning peaks between August and December. Males and females were captured at all gonadal development stages and ages between 1 and 6 from both sites. At first maturity, the length of the females was 16.3 cm, and the mean age at first maturity was 1.3 years. Individuals aged between 1 and 3 years were dominant (68%). The results suggested that young and adults of the M. americanus use the same habitats throughout their ontogeny.Fil: de Carvalho, Barbara Maichak. Universidade Federal do Paraná; BrasilFil: Volpedo, Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Unidad Ejecutora de Investigaciones en Producción Animal. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Unidad Ejecutora de Investigaciones en Producción Animal; ArgentinaFil: Fávaro, Luís Fernando. Universidade Federal do Paraná; Brasi