Frugivoria e ictiocoria em uma área de várzea na Amazônia Central brasileira

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate the interaction between fish and plants through analysis of seeds taken entire from the digestive tract of fish, sampled in the Catalão Lake, Central Brazilian Amazon. Samples were collected in 2014 during periods corresponding to the flooding, peak of flood and receding waters. Seeds were consumed by 148 fish individuals, belonging to 14 species, two orders and six families, among them some migratory species, such as Colossoma macropomum, Pterodoras granulosus and species belonging to the genera Brycon and Triportheus. The most intense consumption was observed in May, June and July, corresponding to periods of flooding and early receding of waters. Eighteen plant species belonging to 16 families were identified. Cecropia spp., Ficus insipida and Laetia corymbulosa were the most abundant in the fish diets. Triportheus albus (n=33), Triportheus auritus (n=27) and Colossoma macropomum (n=19) had the largest number of sampled specimens containing seeds in their digestive tract. Seeds of 18 species were sown in a greenhouse with soil from várzea, in order to verify their viability; of these, only seeds of two species (Bactris riparia and Senna alata) did not germinate. For analysis of percentage, germination time and speed, were used two plant species, Cecropia spp. and Laetia corymbulosa, since they were the species most consumed by three species (Triportheus albus, T. angulatus and T. auritus), which were amongst the most abundant fish species in the study area. The percentage, speed and average time of germination of these two species did not differ from seeds taken from the stomach or intestine of the fishes evaluated. The same germination parameters were calculated for a subset of seeds taken only in the intestines (n= 100 seed) and those derived directly from the mother plants (n= 100). The results indicated significant difference for both species among the subsets of seeds taken from the intestines and from the mother-plants. Seeds subjected to the digestive process of the fish showed no germination increment. However, the fact that there were found viable seeds in the digestive tract of fishes with migratory habits, suggests that ichthyochory should be considered an highly important vector of seed dispersal in the várzeas.