Effects of biological traits on capture-induced parturition in a freshwater stingray and perspectives for species management |
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Authors: | Bianca de Sousa Rangel Douglas de Castro Ribeiro Jumma M. A. Chagas Lucas Spada Renata G. Moreira Cristiéle da Silva Ribeiro |
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Affiliation: | 1. Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Laboratório de Metabolismo e Reprodução de Organismos Aquáticos, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil;2. Departamento de Zoologia e Botânica, Laboratório de Ictiologia, Rua Cristóvão Colombo, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas, São José do Rio Preto, Brazil;3. Departamento de Biologia e Zootecnia, Laboratório de Ecologia do Parasitismo, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Ilha Solteira, Brazil;4. Departamento de Biologia e Zootecnia, Laboratório de Estudos em Fisiologia Animal, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Ilha Solteira, Brazil |
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Abstract: | Elasmobranchs are particularly vulnerable to overexploitation and population depletion, especially due to their life-history traits, such as low reproductive output and slow growth. Given that capture-induced parturition (abortion or premature birth) is a common consequence of fisheries in elasmobranchs, but still little studied, we investigated how the abortion/premature birth process varies in response to reproductive traits in a freshwater stingray, Potamotrygon amandae. Our results revealed that capture-induced parturition was affected by reproductive traits, such as litter size (one to seven) and gestation stage. The event occurred faster in pregnant females with high litter size during late pregnancy. Also, as found in other elasmobranchs, litter size was positively correlated with maternal size. These findings indicate that larger pregnant females in late pregnancy are more vulnerable to capture-induced parturition. This study improves our understanding of the capture-induced parturition process in stingrays, and provides useful information for management strategies and future recommendations for elasmobranch conservation. |
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Keywords: | conservation fisheries management fishing stress premature birth upper rio Paraná viviparity |
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