Comportamento reprodutivo e efeito do substrato na reprodução de Hypsolebias flagellatus

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate two types of substrate in the production of Hypsolebias flagellatus eggs, to make an etogram, to observe and describe the actions of the male in relation to the female in the entire reproduction process. Ten couples were used. In experiment I, two types of substrates were tested, namely in phase 1: S1 - coconut shell powder and S2 - 100% acrylic wool in brown color. Each treatment had five repetitions. Reproduction was monitored for 45 days. In phase 2 of experiment I, wool nests were replaced by nests with coconut shell powder and followed for another 45 days. For experiment II, a camera was installed in each aquarium. Five couples of H. flagellatus were used. A nest with coconut shell powder substrate was placed in each aquarium. After the adaptation period, phase 1 of experiment II began, where the couples were observed for four days. On the fifth day, phase 2 began, with the removal of the nests. The couples were observed for another 48 hours. After this period, the nests were replaced and the couples were observed for another four days (phase 3). In experiment I, the use of coconut shell powder substrate showed higher egg production in phase 1 (P <0.05). However, in phase 2, when acrylic wool was replaced by coconut shell powder, egg production was similar between treatments (P> 0.05). When comparing egg production over time, it appears that for coconut shell powder, egg production varied in both phases. For substrate 2 in phase 1 and 2, egg production was similar in all collections. In experiment II, the ethogram was made. There was no significant difference in the duration of any of the behaviors analyzed in phases 1 and 3 (P> 0.05). Regarding the preference of males and females for a specific location within the aquarium, a significant difference was observed in both sexes who spent most of their time close to the nest (p <0.05). In both phases 1 and 3, females spent more time outside the nest, while males in phase 1 spent more time inside the nest and in phase 3 there was no difference (P> 0.05). The frequency of entry and exit of the nest of the males was higher in relation to the females in the two phases (P <0.05). The coconut powder substrate showed the best result for reproduction and males of H. flagellatus do not show aggressiveness in reproductive behaviors.