Reproductive ecology of Hassar affinis

[lfinley58]

Reproductive ecology of the catfish, Hassar affinis (ACTINOPTERYGII: DORADIDAE), in three lakes of the Pindaré-Mearim Lake System, Maranhão by Lorrane Gabrielle Cantanhêde, Irayana Fernanda da Silva Carvalho, Karla Bittencourt Nunes, Nayara Barbosa Santos and Zafira da Silva de Almeida. Revista Ciência Agronômica, v. 48, n. 3, p. 464-472, jul-set, 2017.
ABSTRACT -Reproductive biology affords fundamental features for the establishment of protective measures for fish. The aim of the present work therefore was to determine the reproductive features of the catfish, Hassar affinis, known locally as bico-deflor, in three lakes of the Pindaré-Mearim Lake System, in the state of Maranhão, with the aim of subsidising the closed season. Monthly collections were carried out between July 2014 and July 2015, when 206 individuals were sampled from Lake Aquiri (LA), 247 from Lake Cajari (LC), and 126 from Lake Viana (LV). In the laboratory, each individual was weighed and measured; a ventral longitudinal incision was then made in order to observe the gonads macroscopically. They were then fixed in Bouin’s solution for microscopic analysis and in Gilson’s solution for an analysis of fecundity. Positive allometry was recorded at the three study sites. The sex ratio for the total period was 3.29F:1M (LA), 2.43F:1M (LC) and 2.15F:1M (LV). Mean length at first sexual maturity was estimated at 10.60 cm (LA), 10.84 cm (LC) and 11.12 cm (LV). The period from March to May was defined as the breeding season for this species in the three lakes. Mean absolute fecundity was 21,634 oocytes (LA), 16,357 oocytes (LC) and 25,898 oocytes (LV). The information obtained through this study indicates that, in addition to being important spawning areas, the three lakes are interconnected in relation to the migratory dynamics of H. affinis, so it is necessary to arrive at a model that would satisfactorily cover the three lakes, considering that the dam has a negative effect on Lake Viana.
Open access at:
http://ccarevista.ufc.br/seer/index.php ... /4784/1575

[bekateen]

This paper has almost the exact same author list (one new author added) and similar title (different number of lakes) as this paper in Acta Amazonica: viewtopic.php?f=14&t=43762&p=298527#p298527

[lfinley58]

Hi.
It is good to see that we have similar areas of interest.

Yes, it looks like they have expanded out the study to include a couple of more lakes. Another potentially good aspect of the newer publication is that it is published in English instead of Portuguese. This is not a bad thing, and I am getting modestly good at working my way through the language, but English should make it more available to at least some part of the interested audience herein.

Another mention: The link that you provided for the 2016 paper opens in a University of the Pacific log-in area instead of the paper itself. For interest, I tried the noted guest log-in but it would not accept me. The link directly to the 2016 paper is below (it is open access).
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/aa/v46n2/1809- ... -00219.pdf

Take care and have a good weekend.

Lee