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Tambaqui, a species native to the Amazon and Orinoco Basins and their tributaries, has a history marked by biological resilience that makes this species a model for studies focused on ecology, physiology, and fish farming. In addition, it is of economic interest, due to its favorable characteristics for production in farms and its unique flavor. As the tambaqui responds in a unique way to several environmental disturbances of natural origin, the species is often used in environmental studies. Some of these studies have been revisited in this review. We revised aspects related to its natural history, habitats and geographic distribution, physiological and biochemical adaptations, and zootechnical performance. The extraordinary adaptation of the tambaqui is the fast expansion of its lower lip when exposed to low oxygen availability that is improved simultaneously with other adjustments. The resilience of this species to significant alterations in water pH is also surprising, and is incomparable with that of other species, as only when it is exposed to pH 3.5, does the tambaqui begin to present physiological-biochemical disturbances. The analysis of the gene expression of tambaqui specimens under different experimental conditions has shed light on the adaptive mechanisms used by this unique Amazonian species. In this sense, this review sought to gather information regarding the tambaqui, and its many biological features employed to survive environmental challenges.

While in all vertebrates, growth hormone (GH) promotes post-natal growth, in fishes it also affects such metabolic functions as foraging rate, digestion, osmoregulation, and reproduction. The promoter region of the GH gene is an important target for studies of mechanisms regulating its expression, and polymorphisms within the promoter have been associated with performance traits in fishes. We used Thermal Asymmetric Interlaced PCR (TAIL-PCR) to amplify and sequence the 5′-flanking regions of the Colossoma macropomum GH (cmGH) gene. Based on a sequence of 1,038 bp, we designed three specific nested primers (R-290, R-186 and R-26) which were used with shorter arbitrary degenerate primers to amplify the 5′ proximal region of the cmGH gene. We identified a tetranucleotide (ATCC)4 microsatellite motif in this region, exhibiting four alleles (118, 122, 126 and 130 bp) within the population study. Genotypes at this locus deviated significantly from Hardy–Weinberg expectations (p ≤.05) and showed a low level of polymorphism (polymorphic information content = 0.163). High homozygosity (FIS = 0.147) was observed in the overall population. The polymorphism at the microsatellite makes it an important candidate for association studies between the respective genotypes, growth rate and other traits in farmed populations. Such studies may contribute to future breeding programs using marker-assisted selection upon this aquaculturally important species. Accepted version

The tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) is a fish of primary importance in South American aquaculture, principally in the Amazon region and has a particularly unique diet in the wild. Oryza spp, or Wild rice as it is commonly known, is native to the floodplains of muddy rivers in the Amazon region. The aim of this study was to analyze the physical performance and the effects of dietary levels of Oryza spp. via the hematological parameters, total food intake, conversion efficiency, growth ratio and swimming performance of this fish. Diets containing 45% Oryza spp. induced the best performance in tambaqui. Diets containing 15% and 30% did not affect these indices, thus indicating that this amount of Oryza can be used as an alternative energy source for this important species within Brazilian aquaculture. Resumo O tambaqui Colossoma macropomum é um peixe de importância na aquicultura brasileira, especialmente na região amazônica. O arroz silvestre é comum nas planícies inundadas dos rios de aguas barrentas da Amazônia. O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar os efeitos combinados do treinamento físico e dos níveis dietéticos de Oryza spp. nos parâmetros hematológicos, consumo de alimentos, eficiência de conversão, taxa de crescimento e desempenho de natação deste peixe. Dietas contendo 45% de arroz apresentaram o melhor desempenho para tambaquis. As dietas contendo 15% e 30% não afetaram esses índices, indicando que alguma quantidade de arroz pode ser usada como fonte de energia alternativa para esta importante espécie dentro da aquicultura.

This study evaluated the effects of three climate scenarios predicted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change for 2100, on the growth and physiology of the tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum). Juveniles of tambaqui were reared in four rooms (current conditions, and the climate scenarios B1, A1B and A2) for 150 days. Twelve fish were regularly collected for blood analyses and to have their weight and length measured. The amount of food consumed over the experimental period was recorded. Feed intake, weight gain and food conversion showed an increase in all climate scenarios (P

The physiological responses of juvenile tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) fed commercial feed supplemented with different concentrations of camu camu (Myrciaria dubia) were evaluated. The design was completely randomized, with treatments arranged in a factorial design with three proportions of camu camu (15%, 30% and 45%) and a control treatment (100% commercial diet), with four replicates per treatment. A total of 96 tambaqui specimens were used, with a mean initial weight of 11.69 ± 2.68 g and a mean length of 7.06 ± 0.44 cm. After 30 days, hematological parameters, metabolic variables, growth and fish swimming performance were evaluated. The different proportions of camu camu in the diet did not cause significant changes to the tambaqui's hematological parameters during the feeding period, except for hemoglobin (Hb) concentration and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) after the 30th day, and hematocrit (Ht) after the swimming stress test, which increased significantly (p < 0.05). The significant increases in metabolic variables, such as cortisol, glucose, proteins and triglycerides, and in hematologic variables after the Ucrit test reflect, respectively, biochemical adaptations for maintenance of the energy mobilization process and a regulatory necessity in tissue oxygen demand during intense exercise. Fish fed 15% and 30% camu camu gained the most weight and achieved the best swimming performance, respectively. The results for camu camu concentrations above 30% suggest a saturation of its intrinsic properties in the diet at this level and a loss of nutrients from the commercial feed replaced by the fruit, reducing productive performance and nutritional assimilation. Resumo As respostas fisiológicas de juvenis de tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) alimentados com ração comercial suplementada com diferentes concentrações de camu camu (Myrciaria dubia) foram avaliados. As amostras analisadas foram inteiramente casualizadas, com os tratamentos arranjados em esquema fatorial com três proporções de camu camu (15%, 30% e 45%) e um tratamento controle (ração comercial 100%), com quatro repetições por tratamento. Um total de 96 amostras de tambaqui foram utilizadas, com um peso médio inicial de 11,69 ± 2,68 g e um comprimento médio de 7,06 ± 0,44 cm. Após 30 dias, foram avaliados os parâmetros hematológicos, variáveis metabólicas, crescimento e desempenho natatório de peixes. As diferentes proporções de camu camu na dieta não causou alterações significativas nos parâmetros hematológicos dos tambaquis durante o período de alimentação, com exceção de hemoglobina (Hb) e concentração de hemoglobina corpuscular média (CHCM), após o 30º dia, e hematócrito (Ht), após o teste de natação de estresse, que aumentou de forma significativa (p

Ao considerar a expans�o da piscicultura do tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) nas regi�es Norte, Nordeste, Centro-oeste e Sudeste do Brasil, a busca pela efici�ncia dos seus procedimentos se faz necess�rio no atual cen�rio competitivo. O mapeamento e envolvimento dos atores desta atividade mostram-se imprescind�vel para a reorganiza��o e a concep��o de um processo produtivo dentro do contexto de cadeia produtiva. Neste sentido, este artigo, ao levantar o estado da arte atual sobre os principais entraves da piscicultura desenvolvida no estado do Amazonas, aponta a necessidade da cria��o de um modelo log�stico de transporte intermodal, aproveitando, assim as caracter�sticas naturais da regi�o em estudo. O artigo inicia contextualizando a atividade de pesca do Amazonas, seguido da descri��o da cadeia produtiva do peixe assim como a caracteriza��o da piscicultura do tambaqui no estado e, terminar com a reflex�o em se pensar na log�stica de distribui��o desta cadeia valendo-se de uma plataforma log�stica intermodal. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Aquicultura; Colossoma macropomum; Plataformas Log�sticas; Produ��o de pescado.

Ultraviolet radiation is known to cause adverse effects to aquatic species and aquatic environments. The fish Colossoma macropomum (tambaqui) and Arapaima gigas (pirarucu) live in the Amazon basin, near the Equator, and thus receive high intensity of ultraviolet radiation. Deforestation further aggravates the situation by reducing shade at ground level. The aim of this study was to evaluate the genotoxic effects of UVA and UVB radiation on erythrocytes of tambaqui and pirarucu fish using Micronuclei test and Comet assay. Our study showed that UV radiation caused DNA damage in both species as detected by Comet assay. In addition, there were differences in response to genotoxicity between both species, which are possibly related to their evolutionary history. Tambaqui fish exposed to ultraviolet radiation for different periods presented clear dose–response in DNA damage profile. Significant damage repair was observed 24 h after cessation of ultraviolet radiation exposure. At the test conditions used, no significant increase in micronucleated cells was observed in tambaqui and pirarucu fish. Tambaqui proved to be more sensitive to ultraviolet radiation than Pirarucu, as detected by Comet assay, showing statistically higher baseline DNA damage. The present results demonstrated that alkaline Comet assay was very sensitive for detecting the UV-induced genotoxicity during the short exposure period in our study. In addition, the present study also suggests that tambaqui and pirarucu fish are useful sentinel organisms, as their UV sensitivity allows them to be effective monitors of biological hazards in the Amazon region.

Tambaqui, Colossoma macropomum, were fed with three vitamin C levels and two iron levels for 21 d: Diet 1 without vitamin C and with 30 mg of iron/kg; Diet 2 with 100 mg of vitamin C and 30 mg of iron/kg; and Diet 3 with 100 mg of vitamin C and 300 mg of iron/kg. Mortality was not observed during the feeding experiment. There were no changes in hematological parameters in fish that were fed the different diets. Iron contents in liver, muscle, and plasma were significantly different in fish fed with different iron content in the diets; when associated with vitamin C, changes were observed only for plasma iron. Therefore, tambaqui exhibits varied iron absorption in response to different levels of iron with and without vitamin C, a conclusion consistent with findings for other species of fish.

A primeira resposta ao estresse é a fuga, que depende do desempenho natatório e de ajustes fisiológicos. Este estudo investigou a velocidade crítica de natação (Ucrit) de matrinxã após exposição à hipoxia. Para isso, os peixes foram expostos à hipoxia, sendo uma parte do grupo analisada antes e outra após natação forçada, por meio da Ucrit. A hipoxia resultou no aumento de lactato, glicose, cortisol e hematócrito. Mudanças nos níveis de sódio e potássio, bem como os valores de Ucrit não foram observadas. Sugere-se que o matrinxã seja sensível à hipoxia, mas os ajustes fisiológicos são suficientes para manter seu desempenho natatório. Escape is the first response of fish to stress, that depends on the swimming performance and the physiological adjustments. This study has investigated the critical swimming speed (Ucrit) of matrinxã after exposure to hypoxia. To achieve that, the fishes were exposed to hypoxia and analyzed before and after forced swimming, using Ucrit. The hypoxia caused an increase of lactate, glucose, cortisol and hematocrit. No changes of plasma sodium and potassium levels, as well as the Ucrit, were observed. We suggest that matrinxã is sensitive to hypoxia, but the physiological adjustments are sufficient to keep its swimming performance.