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De Carvalho, J. L. and B. De Merona (1986). Studies on two migratory fish from Lower Tocantins River before closure of Tucurui Dam. Amazoniana. 4:595-607.
Migratory fish species are generally the most important species for the fishing industry as well as for artesanal fishing. In the lower Tocantins, Brazil, two species of migratory fish dominate the captures: the mapara, Hypophthalmus marginatus and the curimata, Prochilodus nigricans. These species were studied before the damming of this river by the Tucurui hydroelectric dam as part of a larger study of commercial fisheries encompassing the Tocantins basin from the mouth to Maraba (Para). Based principally on landing records, this study describes the migration cycles of the two species. A classical and simple pattern of migration can be recognized: an upstream movement of immature forms and adults in the upper part of the distribution area, and the reverse or downstream movement of larvae and adults in a dispersion phase. The main difference between these two species lies in the size of the distribution area. The mapara is limited to part of the river downstream from the dam, and so would not be affected by its presence. The curimata has a much larger geographic range in the Tocantins basin. The part of the population living downstream will probably be profoundly perturbed by the dam due to the blockage of its migratory route.
U.S. Department of the Interior |
U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://www.umesc.usgs.gov/data_library/fisheries/fish_passage/de_carvalho.html
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