The use of morphometric analysis to predict the swimming efficiency of two Neotropical long-distance migratory species in fish passage

Lucileine De Assumpção,Ricardo Luiz Wagner,Maristela Cavicchioli Makrakis,Elaine Antoniassi Luiz Kashiwaqui,Ariane Furtado De Lima,Patrícia Sarai Da Silva,Sergio Makrakis

doi:10.1590/s1679-62252012000400012

Lucileine De Assumpção, Ricardo Luiz Wagner + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s1679-62252012000400012

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Abstract

This study investigated the external body morphology (based on morphometric data) and the swimming efficiency in fish passages (based on the ascent time in a fish ladder) of two Neotropical long-distance migratory species. The fish were collected in the fish ladder of the Porto Primavera Hydroelectric Power Plant (known as Engenheiro Sergio Motta), upper Paraná River, Brazil. The species differ in several morphometric ratios related to swimming performance. Prochilodus lineatus exhibited a higher muscle ratio and caudal fin length ratio. However, Leporinus elongatus showed higher values for the fineness ratio, a higher length from snout to pectoral fin base ratio, and a higher caudal peduncle depth factor. Although both species show good swimming performance, the characteristics listed above may enable L. elongatus to apply greater power and propulsion, allowing it to reach a high swimming speed and to exhibit greater efficiency than P. lineatus. Leporinus elongatus moves faster than P. lineatus and has a lower mean ascent time (1.39 hours) than P. lineatus (3.76 hours). Prochilodus lineatus would require a somewhat longer time to pass through the fish ladder.

Highlights

Most of the major rivers in South America have been severely segmented by dams, and this is the case for the Paraná River Basin
Given that morphological characteristics can be reliably used to predict fish swimming performance, this study aims to investigate the external body morphology and swimming efficiency in fish passages of two Neotropical long-distance migratory species, Leporinus elongatus Valenciennes, 1850, known as piapara, and Prochilodus lineatus (Valenciennes, 1837), known as curimbata
This study identified several aspects of external body morphology that are important for swimming efficiency in two long-distance migratory fish species

Summary

Introduction

Most of the major rivers in South America have been severely segmented by dams, and this is the case for the Paraná River Basin. The management actions taken to minimize the impacts of dams on migratory species in South American river systems include the construction of fish passages, fishery control and stocking (Agostinho et al, 2008; Pompeu et al, 2011). The factor of greatest concern in fish passage design is the swimming performance of migratory species (Beach, 1984; Santos et al, 2008). This factor is considered one of the primary determinants of survival because it defines the ability of the fish to conduct activities in which swimming is involved (Beamish, 1978; Plaut, 2001). Swimming performance can be influenced by the locomotion pattern, body size, shape, physiology, temperature and behavior (Beamish, 1978; Videler & Wardle, 1991; Hammer, 1995) and can limit the use of the habitat by a species (Sambilay, 1990; Bandyopadhyay et al, 1997; Gerstner, 1999)

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