Abstract ID: 551

PIRARUCU (ARAPAIMA GIGAS) POPULATION DYNAMICS OF MAMIRAUÁ SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT RESERVE (MRSD), AMAZONIAN:THE INFLUENCE OF PARENTAL CARE AND FISHING

Pirarucu (Arapaima gigas) is the one of the most important natural fishing resources of the Amazon region. Adult males can reach up to 3,0m long, and weight around 200 kg (Queiroz & Sardinha, 1999). They live mainly in clear water lakes of Amazonian flooded forests, the várzea (Queiroz, 2000).Due to its economic importance on one hand, and the necessity to preserve the species on the other hand, field research concerning the habits and behavior of the pirarucu has been increasing for the last 20 years. A model that could provide basic indication about the population dynamics is however still missing. The aim of this work is to present a mathematical model for the pirarucu population dynamics considering the species peculiarities and the different fishing rates to supply subsides for its conservation. In order to differentiate its respective role in breeding, the population is divided into two groups: female and male. The parameters introduced in this paper are derived from limited but reliable field data collected at the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve (MSDR) in the Brazilian Amazonian Region. Complementary parameters are estimated from biological considerations and commonsense.

Session:  Public Policies and Sustainable Development - Sustainable management of natural resources and biodiversity in central Amazonian floodplains.

Presentation Type:  Poster