<b>Influence of aquatic plants on the predation of <em>Piaractus mesopotamicus</em> larvae by <em>Pantala flavescens</em></b> - doi: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v32i2.5167 <b>Influence of aquatic plants on the predation of <em>Piaractus mesopotamicus</em> larvae by <em>Pantala flavescens</em></b> - doi: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v32i2.5167

• Main Authors: Carlos Eduardo Bento Fernandes, Claudemir Martins Soares, Carmino Hayashi, Carlos Henrique Figueiredo Lacerda
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade Estadual de Maringá 2010-05-01
• Series: Acta Scientiarum : Biological Sciences
• Subjects: Larvae; Piaractus mesopotamicus; Pantala flavescens; predation; aquatic plants
• Online Access: http://www.periodicos.uem.br/ojs/index.php/ActaSciBiolSci/article/view/5167

The experiment aimed to study the influence of the aquatic plants <em>E. najas, P. stratiotes</em> and S. <em> auriculata</em> on the predation of P. <em>mesopotamicus</em> larvae by P. <em>flavescens</em>. One hundred and twenty larvae of P. <em> mesopotamicus </em>and 24 larvae of P. <em> flavescens</em> were placed in 24 aquariums with capacity of 12 L, with one Odonate per aquarium. Treatments were different regarding the species of aquatic plants E<em>. najas, S. auriculata </em>and P. <em> stratiotes</em>, with one control treatment without aquatic plants. One aquarium (12 L) containing one Odonate and 30 P. <em> mesopotamicus </em>larvae was considered one experimental unit. After 18 hours, the Odonates were removed from the aquariums and fish larvae left (alive) were counted in each experimental unit. The survival rate of P<em>. mesopotamicus </em>larvae in the treatment without aquatic plants (control) was significantly lower than in the treatment with E<em>. najas</em>. However, the survival rates in the aquariums with floating aquatic plants did not differ from the control. The morphological characteristics of E<em>. najas</em> promoted higher structural complexity in the environment, offering more protection to the fish larvae, and increasing their survival. We concluded that the presence of the submerged aquatic plant E<em>. najas</em> promoted the reduction of predation of P. <em> mesopotamicus</em> larvae by <em>Pantala flavescens. </em> Larvae; Piaractus mesopotamicus; Pantala flavescens; predation; aquatic plants<br>The experiment aimed to study the influence of the aquatic plants <em>E. najas, P. stratiotes</em> and S. <em> auriculata</em> on the predation of P. <em>mesopotamicus</em> larvae by P. <em>flavescens</em>. One hundred and twenty larvae of P. <em> mesopotamicus </em>and 24 larvae of P. <em> flavescens</em> were placed in 24 aquariums with capacity of 12 L, with one Odonate per aquarium. Treatments were different regarding the species of aquatic plants E<em>. najas, S. auriculata </em>and P. <em> stratiotes</em>, with one control treatment without aquatic plants. One aquarium (12 L) containing one Odonate and 30 P. <em> mesopotamicus </em>larvae was considered one experimental unit. After 18 hours, the Odonates were removed from the aquariums and fish larvae left (alive) were counted in each experimental unit. The survival rate of P<em>. mesopotamicus </em>larvae in the treatment without aquatic plants (control) was significantly lower than in the treatment with E<em>. najas</em>. However, the survival rates in the aquariums with floating aquatic plants did not differ from the control. The morphological characteristics of E<em>. najas</em> promoted higher structural complexity in the environment, offering more protection to the fish larvae, and increasing their survival. We concluded that the presence of the submerged aquatic plant E<em>. najas</em> promoted the reduction of predation of P. <em> mesopotamicus</em> larvae by <em>Pantala flavescens. </em>