Influence of environmental factors on spawning of sciaenids from the Buenos Aires Coastal Zone, Argentina

MILITELLI, M. I.; RODRIGUES, K. A.; CORTÉS, F.; MACCHI, G. J.

CIENCIAS MARINAS

INST INVESTIGACIONES OCEANOLOGICAS, U A B C, APARTADO POSTAL 423

Lugar: Ciudad de México; Año: 2013 vol. 39 p. 55 - 68

0185-3880

The fish community in coastal waters of the Buenos Aires Province is dominated by seven sciaenid species: Micropogonias furnieri, Cynoscion guatucupa, Macrodon ancylodon, Pogonias cromis, Umbrina canosai, Paralonchurus brasiliensis and Menticirrhus americanus. The relation between sciaenids spawning females and environmental factors was examined, in order to describe the spawning strategy of these species in Argentine coastal waters. Sciaenid species were classified into three groups according to the thermohaline range of spawning areas: a) Estuarine spawner associated to the bottom salinity front: these are the species that spawn in the inner area of the estuary in accordance with the main horizontal salinity gradients in the bottom (M. furnieri, P. chromis and M. ancylodon); b) Estuarine spawner not associated to the bottom salinity front: the spawning of these species was mainly located in the middle of the estuary in brackish water with salinities ranging between 24 and 30 psu (P. brasiliensis and M. americanus); c) Marine spawner: reproduction occurred always in salt water (values higher than 30 psu) in the outer area of the Rio de la Plata estuary or El Rincón, at the south of Buenos Aires Province (C. guatucupa, U. canosai and M. furnieri).