In order to achieve effectiveness in conservation and management measures it is necessary to understand the origin and destiny of energy by which organisms compete in different environments. This study tested the hypothesis that there are differences in muscle energy content during the gonadal development of Salminus brasiliensis (Cuvier, 1816) in Manso Reservoir. Fish collections were carried out from October 2002 to September 2003. After biometry, muscle samples of all individuals were dried at 60ºC and dry weight calorie/gram was determined by acalorimetric pump. Condition factor and Gonad Somatic Relationship (RGS) were compared to caloric values. Significant differences were not detected for caloric values between males and females. However, caloric values of each sex were significantly different among stages of gonadal development. There are different tendencies between sexes for ripening individuals: energy content increases in females, while it remains the same in males. For both sexes, higher levels of energy occurred at the mature stage in relation to the other stages. Females presented better condition factor than males, with higher values for mature females and spent males. Females presented higher RGS than males in ripening and mature stages. Intraspecific differences in muscle energy content suggest that similar studies should take all stages of gonadal development into account for both sexes. Abiotic conditions of Brazilian water bodies can also conduct to alterations in fish issue energy concentrations. Studies of energy content should contribute especially to assess anthropogenic impact in aquatic environments, as well rational measures of resource exploitation.
Energetic content; Gonadal maturation; Salminus brasiliensis; Manso reservoir
