Efeito da maturação gonadal sobre a energia dos músculos de duas espécies de piranhas do reservatório do rio Manso, Estado de Mato Grosso

Abstract

Aiming to investigate the allocation of energy and the correlation between this energy and the condition factor (K) of two piranhas species, Serrasalmus marginatus and S. maculatus, from the reservoir of the Manso river, (located among the parallels 14°52' south latitude and 55°48' west longitude). The collections were carried between September, 2002 and March, 2004. The muscle samples of individuals from both genders belonging to different stages of gonadal maturation and environment had their energy content determined by a calorimetric pump and the results compared with K. There were significant differences among the maturation stages only for the males. The two species make distinct use of the energy obtained from the food. The gonadal maturation had an effect on the allocation of energy and K. It did not correlated with the energy stored in the muscles.