Abundance and length structure of Brycon nattereri (Osteichthyes, Bryconidae), an endangered fish species in central Brazil

Oscar Barroso Vitorino Júnior, Kelven Stella Lopes, Fernando Mayer Pelicice
2014 Acta Scientiarum : Biological Sciences  
Brycon nattereri is a threatened fish species restricted to small headwater rivers of the Paraná, São Francisco and Tocantins rivers. This species has been extirpated from many sites, and little is known about its ecology. In this sense, the present study investigated temporal variations in the occurrence, abundance and length structure of B. nattereri in the Dois Irmãos river, a small headwater river from the Tocantins river basin. Samples were taken monthly between January and November of
more » ... and 2010. The studied site comprised a 4.5 km river stretch, sampled with an active fishing method (fly fishing). Individuals caught were counted, measured and returned immediately to the river. We caught 302 individuals along two years. Brycon nattereri was present in the studied stretch in all sampling months, with higher abundance between November and May (wet season). We registered a wide range of lengths, with predominance of adult fish; young were captured in July and August, indicating recruitment in the region. The present study, therefore, showed that populations of B. nattereri, an endangered fish species, still persist in small headwater rivers of the upper Tocantins river.
doi:10.4025/actascibiolsci.v36i4.23857 fatcat:gxczrrx57bh7bcsjdgma7a3ywe