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Spawning calls by zulega, Prochilodus argenteus, a Brazilian riverine fish

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Abstract

We studied calling and spawning of the potamodromous fish zulega (Prochilodus argenteus, Prochilodontidae) in the São Francisco River (SFR), Brazil. The study reach was the 143 river km (rkm) downstream from Três Marias Dam (TMD), but most effort was at the Pontal spawning ground (PSG). PSG is located in the SFR at the mouth of the first major tributary (Abaeté River), 33 rkm downstream from TMD. Abiotic factor in the flooding by the Abaeté River due to rain was the major trigger for spawning by zulega at PSG. Size of PSG increased with magnitude of Abaeté River flooding. Zulega males called 24 h a day, but longer periods of calling occurred in the daytime than at night. Zulega males called in lek choruses, apparently in discrete arenas, and did not school while calling. Spawning calls from zulega occurred in the entire 110 rkm reach of the SFR downstream from PSG, but only during major flooding from the Abaeté River. The spawning trigger factor was absent in SFR water draining from TMD. A large spillage of 1700 m3*s−1 from this dam that was warmer than temperatures during zulega spawning inhibited spawning possibly due to alteration of the thermal regime of the São Francisco River. The best time for spillage to restore zulega fisheries downstream of TMD may be in the decreasing phase of a natural flood, but further tests are needed. Damming the Abaeté River may eliminate the spawning trigger for zulega at PSG and downstream in the SFR.

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Acknowledgements

We thanks MB Goulart, D Marzulo, F Andrade, Y Sato, Centro Integrado de Recursos Pesqueiros e Aquicultura de Três Marias of Codevasf, Consórcio Capim Branco, and Estação de Hidrobiologia e Piscicultura de Furnas. ALG had a Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico fellowship. All applicable national and institutional guidelines for care and use of animals were followed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fish Passage Center, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil

    Alexandre Lima Godinho & Clarissa Chalub Fonseca Silva

  2. Environmental Conservation Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA

    Boyd Kynard

  3. BK-Riverfish, LLC, 28 Echo Hill Rd, Amherst, MA, 01002, USA

    Boyd Kynard

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  1. Alexandre Lima Godinho
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  2. Clarissa Chalub Fonseca Silva
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Correspondence to Alexandre Lima Godinho.

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Online Resource 1

Spectrogram (top panel) and waveform (botton panel) of zulega chorus recorded at Pontal spawning ground made in Raven sound analysis software. The red box in the waveform panel is a tool used to measure sound duration. We used a similar tool of Xs to determine the call duration of zulega. (file: Supplementary material 1.png) (TIFF 1665 kb)

High Resolution image. (GIF 85 kb)

Online Resource 2

Choruses of spawning calls of zulega recorded at Pontal spawning ground, São Francisco River. There is one chorus in the first 14 s, and multiple choruses after 16 s. Starting around the 42 s, there is a chorus at a far distance and another chorus much closer that started calling at 46–47 s. (file: Supplementary material 2.mp3) (MP3 2311 kb)

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Godinho, A.L., Silva, C.C.F. & Kynard, B. Spawning calls by zulega, Prochilodus argenteus, a Brazilian riverine fish. Environ Biol Fish 100, 519–533 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-017-0582-5

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