The objective of this study was to characterize the reproduction of Cichla kelberi in an artificial lake, located in the municipality of Leme, in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Breeding occurred in spring, and summer. The L 50 and the L 100 of this species were 192 and 235 mm (L 50 ), for males and females, respectively, and 290 mm (L 100 ) for both sexes. Spawning was parceled. The oocytes matured at a size of 428.4 µm, reaching their maximum at 2,203.2 µm. A mean of fecundity were of 12,129.2 oocytes, with the mean of oocytes in each batch of 4,897.7. This species has external fertilization, is nonmigratory, and with parental care of the young. Various attributes of the peacock bass make their introduction a temptation. However, due to their feeding and reproductive characteristics, they have no natural predators, making it difficult to control their population growth or eradicate them.Keywords: exotic specie, fish, peacock bass, reproduction, Cichla kelberi. Reprodução de Cichla kelberi

Four biological aspects of Schizodon nasutus in the low Sorocaba river basin, São Paulo, Brazil were analysed. These were accomplished during the year seasons. The fish diet and the feeding activity were investigated by studying the repletion index, which showed no significant differences between seasons. The food items analysed by frequency of occurrence and dominance showed a predominance of vegetable items in the diet. The reproduction, analysed by using the gonadosomatic index, indicated that the reproductive period occurs during the summer period when temperatures are higher and rainfalls are more intense. The amount of accumulated fat and condition factor varied according to reproduction, especially for females.Keywords: feeding, reproduction, condition factor, seasonality. Aspectos da biologia de Schizodon nasutus Kner, 1858 (Characiformes, Anostomidae) no trecho inferior da bacia do rio Sorocaba, estado de São Paulo, Brasil ResumoForam analisados quatro aspectos da biologia de Schizodon nasutus no trecho inferior da bacia do rio Sorocaba, estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Esses aspectos foram abordados durante as estações do ano. Na dieta da espécie, a atividade alimentar averiguada pelo índice de repleção estomacal não mostrou diferença significativa entre as estações. Os itens alimentares analisados pela frequência de ocorrência e dominância mostraram a predominância de itens de origem vegetal na dieta. A reprodução, analisada pela relação gonadossomática, indicou que o período reprodutivo ocorre durante o verão, quando há aumento de temperatura da água e das chuvas. A quantidade de gordura acumulada e o fator de condição variaram de acordo com a reprodução, principalmente para as fêmeas.Palavras-chave: alimentação, reprodução, fator de condição, sazonalidade.

This study described the variations seasonal and ontogenetic of Salminus hilarii diet. Samples were collected in the Sorocaba River, São Paulo, Brazil, one of the few rivers where individuals of the species still occur in a higher frequency. The preys consumed were analyzed by Importance Alimentary Index (AIi). To determine similarities between year seasons, the AIi data were analyzed by the Morisita-Horn index and reduced in cluster analysis, along with a statistical comparison made by one-way ANOSIM test (5%). The feeding activity was analyzed according to the stomach repletion index and compared among the year seasons using non parametric variance analysis Kruskal-Wallis test (5%).Comparison of prey consumed between immature and adult individuals was made by Spearman correlation (5%). A Pearson correlation (5%) was applied between the standard length of the fish and prey consumed, as well as between the mouth and prey heights. The analyzes of stomach contents showed that the diet of this species was exclusively piscivorous, with significant difference of prey consumption during the period, the same happening among adult and immature individuals. It was observed that these fishes use to swallow their prey whole and that significant correlations between size of predator and prey size can be observed. There is also correlation between the mouth height and the maximum prey depth. Salminus hilarii feeds on the available prey, and the species food composition and feeding activity depends on prey`s abundance, their size and morphology, as do the water temperatures.Keywords: piscivorous, feeding activity, seasonality, ontogeny, Sorocaba river. Variações na dieta de Salminus hilarii (Ostariophysi, Characidae):efeitos da sazonalidade e ontogenia. ResumoEste estudo descreve as variações na dieta de Salminus hilarii em relação aos efeitos da sazonalidade e da ontogenia. As coletas foram realizadas no rio Sorocaba, São Paulo, Brasil, um dos poucos rios onde a espécie ainda é encontrada com frequência. As presas consumidas foram analisadas pelo índice de importância alimentar (AIi). Para determinar similaridades entre as estações do ano, os dados do AIi foram analisados pelo índice de Morisita-Horn e reduzidos em uma análise de agrupamento, em associação com uma comparação estatística realizada pelo teste one-way ANOSIM (5%). A atividade alimentar foi analisada pelo índice de repleção estomacal e comparada entre as estações do ano usando o teste de variância não paramétrico de Kruskal-Wallis (5%). A comparação das presas consumidas entre os indivíduos imaturos e adultos foi feita pela correlação de Spearman (5%). Uma correlação de Pearson (5%) foi aplicada entre o comprimento padrão do peixe e da presa, assim como entre a altura da boca e a altura da presa. As análises dos conteúdos estomacais mostraram que a dieta dessa espécie foi exclusivamente piscívora, com diferença significativa do tipo de presas consumidas ao longo do ano e entre adultos e imaturos. Foi observado que esta espécie engole as presas inteiras c...

The diet of Cichla kelberi introduced in an artificial lake in Leme-SP was predominantly composed of common fish species (Oreochromis niloticus and C. kelberi). In the spring and summer, the most consumed item was O. niloticus. However, cannibalism was very common for this species. The high frequencies of O. niloticus and C. kelberi reveal that this species is adapted to a seasonal cycle, feeding on the most common prey in each period of the year, with a reduction of foraging activity during the winter. The diets were different among the immature and mature individuals suggesting that there are ontogenetic differences, mainly related to prey type, such as: Ephemeroptera consumed by the immature peacock bass and fish by the mature ones, besides the size of the prey.

The growth and mortality parameters were estimated through the analysis of length frequency distribution for species of Cichla spp. introduced into a lake in Leme (SP), and in Volta Grande reservoir (SP-MG). In Leme, Cichla kelberi presented larger frequency in the inferior classes of lengths, larger instantaneous rate of natural mortality, and smaller number of cohorts than C. kelberi and C. piquiti in Volta Grande. The values of growth performance obtained for the species were similar, corroborating the validity of the estimated growth and mortality parameters. The increase of the growth rate in small and less diverse environments occurs due to predation. The genus Cichla adapts well in locations in which it is introduced, however this adaptation shows itself to be strongly adjusted to each particular location, determining great plasticity and establishment capacity.