Cichla kelberi in the Jupiá-SP reservoir: diet, bromatology and parasitological aspects

Abstract

One of the most alarming consequences of dam constructions for hydroelectric power generation in Brazil is the introduction of non-native species into the reservoirs, causing ecological, social and economic problems. In the Jupiá reservoir, between the State of São Paulo and Mato Grosso do Sul, there are several non-native species such as Geophagus proximus, Plagioscion squamosissimus, Oreochromis niloticus, Clarias gariepinus, Hoplias cf. malabaricus, Crenicichla lacustris, Cichla piquiti and Cichla kelberi the yellow peacock, native to the Amazon and Tocantins-Araguaia basin. This last species presents a carnivorous food habit, being considered top of the food chain in the upper Paraná river basin. Like most species of the genus Cichla in Brazil, this species is used by the local population for sport and extractive fishing, promoting the trade of fillets, which are not submitted to quality inspection or nutritional evaluation and food risks. Thus, the objective of the present proposal is to evaluate the composition of the diet of Cichla kelberi and its physiological reflexes on the hepatic and muscular metabolic profile and to evaluate the profile of fatty acids of fillets. In addition to the physiological parameters and composition of the diet, perform fillet quality evaluation, with parasitological analysis and centesimal bromatological composition. For this purpose, samples will be taken in two periods of the year (dry and wet) in the Jupiá reservoir, by means of fishing with artificial baits, aiming at the capture of 25 fish per period. Muscular and hepatic tissue will be collected, as well as samples of food items, that will be submitted to evaluations to determine the diet of the animals in the dry and rainy periods and to "draw" a physiological profile of the diet and quality of fillet. A parasitological analysis of muscle tissue will be performed through a candling table. Statistical analysis will be conducted following the specificities of each aforementioned evaluation, all with a significance level of p <0.05. Therefore, the results obtained will provide information on ecological aspects (diet composition), sanitary (presence of parasites) and food (organoleptic properties), which may be used to regulate the fishing and consumption of this important protein resource in the upper Paraná river basin. (AU)