Seasonal changes of periphytic nutritive quality for Sicyopterus lagocephalus (Pallas, 1770) (gobiidae) in three streams of Reunion Island

Abstract

The biomass and the biochemical composition of periphyton were studied during one year in three streams of Réunion Island. The results revealed that nutritional conditions for fish development were most favourable during the dry season. The nutritive value of periphyton was highest in the Marsouins and Mât streams and remained the lowest in the Roches stream. Food availability was strongly affected by high flow, particularly during the exceptional hydrological events of February 1998 (cyclonic high flows). Study of seasonal variations of morphophysiological characteristics and biochemical composition (lipids, proteins) of the grazer gobiidae Sicyopterus lagocephalus showed that inspite of unfavourable nutritional conditions caused by hydrological disturbances, fish continue their reproduction which coincides with the summer high flow period. The significant depletion of lipid reserves which express a deterioration in animal condition is influenced by flooding period. At this time of gonad development involving an additional energy investment, fish were not able to recover a stable nutritional state after the complete achievement of the reproduction cycle. Except during this period, there is a weak participation of the reproductive physiological processes in the seasonal changes of somatic composition of this fish.