title: Age and growth of three Odontesthes species from Southern Brazil (Atherinopsidae), with reference to phylogenetic constraints in their life-history.
abstract: The age and growth of three silverside species are described, and a discussion on possible phylogenetic constraints on life-history characteristics is presented. Samples were collected monthly between March 1992 and February 1993 in three freshwater coastal lakes. Standard length-total length (Ls-Lt) and weight-length (Wt-Lt) relationships studied showed interspecific differences in comparisons between juveniles and adults, males and females. Age was determined by scales. The three species presented a life-cycle duration of 4 to 5 years, with growth coefficients values (K) between 0.37 and 0.63, and asymptotic lengths between 211 and 257 mm. Some interspecific differences may be useful for distinguishing between species (sexual and life-stage related patterns in Ls-Lt and Wt-Lt). The observed life-cycle ranges and maximum sizes were compared to those of other silversides and revealed a pattern coherent with available phylogenetic hypotheses at the supra-generic level, indicating that some life-history characteristics may be subject to phylogenetic constraints.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Ecologia de Vertebrados, Departamento de Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, 91501-970, Brazil.
authors.forename: F G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bruschi
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Peret
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes / Q000254:growth & development*; D005618:Fresh Water; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010802:Phylogeny; D012621:Seasons