Temporary fat storage, an adaptation of some fish species to the waterlevel fluctuations and related environmental changes of the Amazon river

Abstract

Analysis of Amazonian freshwater fish exhibited great differences in water- and fat content. Migratory species which deposit huge amounts of eggs in a single spawning act accumulate at high water-level great amounts of fat in various parts of the body. Nonmigratory species which spawn small quantities of eggs several times per year show little or no seasonality in fat storage. Fat storage is related to the energy requirements of the species and is considered a very successful strategy by which many Amazonian fish species survive drastic environmental and related food supply changes, which are a result of the great monomodal waterlevel fluctuations of the Amazon and its big tributaries