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Abstract

In this research work, biology of Creole perch, Percichthys trucha, the largest top predator in the North Patagonia’s freshwater communities, in a deep oligotrophic lake in the region, focusing on (i) the differential use of littoral depth strata by age, (ii) age at maturity and spawning season and (iii) occurrence of reproductive migrations to vegetated shorelines has been described. Individuals from 12 locations within the lake were sampled and found that P. trucha makes differential use of the littoral zone through the year and through its life stages. From hatching and through their first year, juveniles prefer shallow vegetated littoral strata; 50% of the individuals have reached maturity at 1-year-old, and all are reproductive by 3-year-old. Overall, our results show that the reproductive behavior of P. trucha improves habitat connectivity between different zones of the lake and between the lake and other lakes connected to it by tributary streams.

Keywords

Patagonia Reproductive behavior Spawning season Habitat connectivity.

Article Details

Author Biographies

María Valeria FERNÁNDEZ, Evaluation and Management of Ichthyological Resource Group (GEMaRI), Biodiversity and Environment Research Institute (INIBIOMA), National council of scientific and technical research (CONICET), Comahue National University (UNCo), Argentina.

Dra. María Valeria Fernández Grupo de Evaluación y Manejo de Recursos Ícticos (GEMaRI) INIBIOMA-CONICET Universidad Nacional del Comahue Quintral 1250 tel. 2944428505 int, 450-452

Magalí RECHENCQ, Evaluation and Management of Ichthyological Resource Group (GEMaRI), Biodiversity and Environment Research Institute (INIBIOMA), National council of scientific and technical research (CONICET), Comahue National University (UNCo), Argentina.

Grupo de Evaluación y Manejo de Recursos Ícticos (GEMaRI) INIBIOMA-CONICET Universidad Nacional del Comahue Quintral 1250 tel.

Mailén E. LALLEMENT, Evaluation and Management of Ichthyological Resource Group (GEMaRI), Biodiversity and Environment Research Institute (INIBIOMA), National council of scientific and technical research (CONICET), Comahue National University (UNCo), Argentina.

Grupo de Evaluación y Manejo de Recursos Ícticos (GEMaRI) INIBIOMA-CONICET Universidad Nacional del Comahue Quintral 1250 tel.

Eduardo E. ZATTARA, Evaluation and Management of Ichthyological Resource Group (GEMaRI), Biodiversity and Environment Research Institute (INIBIOMA), National council of scientific and technical research (CONICET), Comahue National University (UNCo), Argentina.

Grupo de Evaluación y Manejo de Recursos Ícticos (GEMaRI) INIBIOMA-CONICET Universidad Nacional del Comahue Quintral 1250 tel.

Santiago M. JUAREZ, Evaluation and Management of Ichthyological Resource Group (GEMaRI), Biodiversity and Environment Research Institute (INIBIOMA), National council of scientific and technical research (CONICET), Comahue National University (UNCo), Argentina.

Grupo de Evaluación y Manejo de Recursos Ícticos (GEMaRI) INIBIOMA-CONICET Universidad Nacional del Comahue Quintral 1250 tel.

Alejandro SOSNOVSKY, Evaluation and Management of Ichthyological Resource Group (GEMaRI), Biodiversity and Environment Research Institute (INIBIOMA), National council of scientific and technical research (CONICET), Comahue National University (UNCo), Argentina.

Grupo de Evaluación y Manejo de Recursos Ícticos (GEMaRI) INIBIOMA-CONICET Universidad Nacional del Comahue Quintral 1250 tel.

Gustavo E. LIPPOLT, Evaluation and Management of Ichthyological Resource Group (GEMaRI), Biodiversity and Environment Research Institute (INIBIOMA), National council of scientific and technical research (CONICET), Comahue National University (UNCo), Argentina.

Grupo de Evaluación y Manejo de Recursos Ícticos (GEMaRI) INIBIOMA-CONICET Universidad Nacional del Comahue Quintral 1250 tel.

Marcelo F. Alonso, Evaluation and Management of Ichthyological Resource Group (GEMaRI), Biodiversity and Environment Research Institute (INIBIOMA), National council of scientific and technical research (CONICET), Comahue National University (UNCo), Argentina.

Grupo de Evaluación y Manejo de Recursos Ícticos (GEMaRI) INIBIOMA-CONICET Universidad Nacional del Comahue Quintral 1250 tel.

Pablo H. VIGLIANO, Evaluation and Management of Ichthyological Resource Group (GEMaRI), Biodiversity and Environment Research Institute (INIBIOMA), National council of scientific and technical research (CONICET), Comahue National University (UNCo), Argentina.

Grupo de Evaluación y Manejo de Recursos Ícticos (GEMaRI) INIBIOMA-CONICET Universidad Nacional del Comahue Quintral 1250 tel.

Daniela MILANO, Fish Ecology and Physiology Group (GEFiP), INIBIOMA-CONICET, Argentina.

Laboratorio de Fotobiología, INIBIOMA-CONICET, Bariloche, Río Negro, Argentina.

Patricio Jorge MACCHI, Evaluation and Management of Ichthyological Resource Group (GEMaRI), Biodiversity and Environment Research Institute (INIBIOMA), National council of scientific and technical research (CONICET), Comahue National University (UNCo), Argentina.

Grupo de Evaluación y Manejo de Recursos Ícticos (GEMaRI) INIBIOMA-CONICET Universidad Nacional del Comahue Quintral 1250 tel.
How to Cite
FERNÁNDEZ, M. V., RECHENCQ, M., LALLEMENT, M. E., ZATTARA, E. E., JUAREZ, S. M., SOSNOVSKY, A., LIPPOLT, G. E., Alonso, M. F., VIGLIANO, P. H., MILANO, D., & MACCHI, P. J. (2019). Seasonal and reproductive migrations in the Creole perch Percichthys trucha (Actinopterygii: Percichthydae) promote both intra-lake and inter-lake habitat connectivity. Iranian Journal of Ichthyology, 6(3), 226–239. https://doi.org/10.22034/iji.v6i3.359

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