Trophic ecology of Myloplus tiete (Characiformes, Serrasalmidae), a native and endangered species: integrated approach between stomach content and stable isotopes

• Grant number: 24/00127-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• Start date: April 15, 2024
• End date: September 14, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Ecosystems Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Igor Paiva Ramos
• Grantee: Natália Luiza da Silva
• Supervisor: Juan Antonio Balbuena Diaz-Pines
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia (FEIS). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Ilha Solteira. Ilha Solteira , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universitat de València, Spain
• Associated to the scholarship: 23/01779-3 - Trophic ecology of Myloplus tiete (Characiformes, Serrasalmidae), a native and endangered species: integrated approach between stomach contents and stable isotopes, BP.MS

Abstract

In Brazil, a significant number of fish species are threatened with extinction, such as Myloplus tiete, popularly known as "pacu rosa", "pacu prata" or "pacu peva". Endemic to Brazil, it is currently restricted to a few locations in the Paraná River. This species is classified as "Endangered" and its biology is little known. This proposal aims to evaluate the trophic ecology of M. tiete at population and individual levels using integrated approaches combining stomach content and stable isotope analyses. Eighty specimens of M. tiete have been collected from the reservoir of the Hydroelectric Power Plant "Engenheiro Souza Dias" (Jupiá), located on the Paraná River in the municipality of Itapura/SP. Stomach content analyses will be used to characterize the population's diet composition and evaluate dietary aspects at the individual level, seeking to assess individual variability. In addition, the analysis of stable isotopes of 13C and 15N will enable to examine the assimilation of food resources and confirm how the food items observed in the stomach contents are effectively assimilated. We expect that the results of this proposal will improve knowledge about the feeding biology of M. tiete. In addition, some aspects of population and individual dynamics will be elucidated, since the evaluation of the diet makes possible to identify strategies for greater stability and survival of the populations of this endangered species. We also anticipate that the results could foster future studies aiming to create strategies for the conservation of the species.