Lipids and stable isotopes as maternal investment and neonatal nutritional strategies indicators in histotrophic stingrays

• Grant number: 16/09095-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: November 01, 2016
• End date: February 28, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Physiology of Recent Groups
• Principal Investigator: Renata Guimarães Moreira Whitton
• Grantee: Bianca de Sousa Rangel
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 14/16320-7 - Impacts of climate/environmental change on the fauna: an integrative approach, AP.PFPMCG.TEM

Abstract

The reproductive strategy lipid histrotrophy observed in Myliobatiformes rays, is characterized by the secretion of an histotroph ("uterine milk") substance rich in lipids, proteins and carbohydrates, that are ingested and/or absorbed by the embryo. Phylogenetically, more basal species exhibit a histotroph considerably more dilute with a lower lipid concentration than that found in species derived. The composition of fatty acids (FA) in the histotroph show a high degree of prenatal maternal investment in some species, similar to that found in human milk. Thus, the understanding of the physiological processes related to reproductive and energetic dynamics is important in order to bring new tools focused on conservation strategies in critical areas such as maternity and nursery areas. In this context, the objective of this study is to characterize the lipid and isotopic profile associated with maternal investment during pregnancy in Dasyatis guttata and the dependence on maternal resource and neonatal nutritional strategies in Rhinoptera bonasus and R. brasiliensis. Individuals will be obtained in two locations: Bertioga-SP (neonates and young of the year of Rhinoptera spp.) and in regions of the state of Pernambuco (pregnant females of D. guttata). The concentration of lipid and fatty acids profile in plasma, tissue and histotroph (pregnant) will be analyzed and compared to stable isotope values (´13C e ´15N) in pregnant females, embryos (D. guttata), neonates and young of the year (Rhinoptera spp.), assessing the nutritional status and energetic reserves in the females and cubs. These data will be important for qualitative information on maternal investment and the dependence of this investment during the early stages of life of these animals. (AU)

Scientific publications

(5)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

RANGEL, BIANCA S.; RODRIGUES, ALEXANDRE; MOREIRA, RENATA G.. Use of a nursery area by cownose rays (Rhinopteridae) in southeastern Brazil. Neotropical Ichthyology, v. 16, n. 1, 2018. (16/09095-2, 14/16320-7)

RANGEL, BIANCA DE SOUSA; SALMON, THIERRY; POSCAI, ALINE NAYARA; KFOURY, JR., JOSE ROBERTO; GRASSI RICI, ROSE ELI. Comparative investigation into the morphology of oral papillae and denticles of four species of lamnid and sphyrnid sharks. ZOOMORPHOLOGY, v. 138, n. 1, p. 127-136, MAR 2019. (17/25273-0, 16/09095-2)

RANGEL, BIANCA DE SOUSA; HUSSEY, NIGEL EDWARD; NIELLA, YURI; MARTINELLI, LUIZ ANTONIO; GOMES, ALINE DAL'OLIO; MOREIRA, RENATA GUIMARAES. Neonatal nutritional strategy of a viviparous elasmobranch with extremely low reproductive output. MARINE ECOLOGY-PROGRESS SERIES, v. 638, p. 107-121, MAR 19 2020. (16/09095-2, 14/16320-7)

RANGEL, BIANCA DE SOUSA; HUSSEY, NIGEL E.; GOMES, ALINE D.; RODRIGUES, ALEXANDRE; MARTINELLI, LUIZ A.; MOREIRA, RENATA GUINNARAES. Resource partitioning between two young-of-year cownose rays Rhinoptera bonasus and R. brasiliensis within a communal nursery inferred by trophic biomarkers. Journal of Fish Biology, v. 94, n. 5, p. 781-788, MAY 2019. (16/09095-2, 14/16320-7)

POSCAI, ALINE NAYARA; RANGEL, BIANCA DE SOUSA; DA SILVA CASAS, ANDRE LUIS; WOSNICK, NATASCHA; RODRIGUES, ALEXANDRE; GRASSI RICI, ROSE ELI; KFOURY JUNIOR, JOSE ROBERTO. Microscopic aspects of the nictitating membrane in Carcharhinidae and Sphyrnidae sharks: a preliminary study. ZOOMORPHOLOGY, v. 136, n. 3, p. 359-364, SEP 2017. (16/09095-2)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

RANGEL, Bianca de Sousa. Lipids and stable isotopes as indicators of maternal investment and neonatal nutritional strategies in histotrophic stingrays. 2018. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Biociências (IBIOC/SB) São Paulo.