Strontium isotopes ( 87 Sr / 86 Sr ) reveal the life history of freshwater migratory fishes in the La Plata Basin

AVIGLIANO, ESTEBAN; DOMANICO, ALEJANDRO; CLAVIJO, CIRSTHIAN; CAFFETTI, JACQUELINE D.; BÉRAIL, SYLVAIN; POUILLY, MARC; SÁNCHEZ, SEBASTIAN; SCARABOTTI, PABLO; DEL ROSSO, FRANCO R.; VOLPEDO, ALEJANDRA V.; BOUCHEZ, JULIEN; LLAMAZARES VEGH, SABINA; FACETTI, JUAN F.; PECHEYRAN, CHRISTOPHE; AVIGLIANO, ESTEBAN; DOMANICO, ALEJANDRO; CLAVIJO, CIRSTHIAN; CAFFETTI, JACQUELINE D.; BÉRAIL, SYLVAIN; POUILLY, MARC; SÁNCHEZ, SEBASTIAN; SCARABOTTI, PABLO; DEL ROSSO, FRANCO R.; VOLPEDO, ALEJANDRA V.; BOUCHEZ, JULIEN; LLAMAZARES VEGH, SABINA; FACETTI, JUAN F.; PECHEYRAN, CHRISTOPHE

RIVER RESEARCH AND APPLICATIONS

JOHN WILEY & SONS LTD

Año: 2020 p. 1985 - 2000

1535-1459

Strontium isotopes (87Sr/86Sr) were evaluated as a potential method for studying thegeographical origin of populations and movements patterns of migratory fish fromthe La Plata Basin (Paraná, Uruguay and Bermejo Rivers and Río de la Plata Estuary,South America). Surface water samples were collected at 43 sites during austral summerand winter (2018) while, Surubí (Pseudoplatystoma corruscans), Patí(Luciopimelodus pati), dorado (Salminus brasiliensis) and sábalo (Prochilodus lineatus)fishes were collected at seven locations. Water 87Sr/86Sr ratio was analysed by MCICP-MS (N = 74) and otolith core-to-edge 87Sr/86Sr transects (N = 50) were measuredby LAfs-MC-ICP-MS. Several water bodies presented significantly different (p < 0.05)water 87Sr/86Sr values. A 1:1 relationship was found between 87Sr/86Sr measuredin edge otolith and water. Data provide novel perspectives about migratory behaviourfor all species, such as potential cross-border migrations between countries of morethan 1,000 km recorded for L. pati, S. brasiliensis and P. lineatus. These species seemto move between the Paraná and Uruguay rivers, which imply using the delta or the estuary as a corridor between them. Discriminant analysis based on otolith core87Sr/86Sr suggested that the four species studied originate in sub-basins differentfrom those that were collected and revelled the presence of several potentialspawning/nursery areas. The otolith 87Sr/86Sr profiles also suggested movementsbetween different environments such as reservoirs, large plain rivers, mountainstreams, floodplain valleys and estuaries. These results show the potential of87Sr/86Sr as a tool for tracking the life history of fishes, and depict for the first time acomplex use of the La Plata basin by the fishes, providing new information for managementplans at the regional level.