|Freshwater Stingray (Potamotrygonidae) Conservation Through Captive Breeding Programs
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|Freshwater Stingray (Potamotrygonidae) Conservation through Captive Breeding Programs |
| A Research Proposal |
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Abstract
There are only three large scale freshwater stingray breeding programs in the world. Of the three, only one is not dedicated to the pet trade. Dark Rivers Hatchery is the only AZA approved research site for fresh water stingray breeding in the United States. Studies are needed to help conserve wild populations of these apex predators. This proposed study would compare wild breeding rates and captive breeding rates of fresh water stingrays in order to consider, how we can ensure wild populations will not diminish due to over fishing in their natural environment. Environmental factors, such as food types, water quality and weather patterns, will affect spawning. Data will be compared from several sources, to note the stomach contents, types of prey available during spawning in the wild. If the types of prey found in the stomachs are given to the captive study subjects, as well as water tables kept the same, it will induce captive spawning. If captive stingrays are given larger amounts of food more often than their spawning cycle will be more frequent and they will have larger litters per birth cycle than the wild population stingrays.
Introduction
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Fresh water stingrays are found in several
|Freshwater Stingray (Potamotrygonidae) Conservation through Captive Breeding Programs |
| A Research Proposal |
| |
Abstract
There are only three large scale freshwater stingray breeding programs in the world. Of the three, only one is not dedicated to the pet trade. Dark Rivers Hatchery is the only AZA approved research site for fresh water stingray breeding in the United States. Studies are needed to help conserve wild populations of these apex predators. This proposed study would compare wild breeding rates and captive breeding rates of fresh water stingrays in order to consider, how we can ensure wild populations will not diminish due to over fishing in their natural environment. Environmental factors, such as food types, water quality and weather patterns, will affect spawning. Data will be compared from several sources, to note the stomach contents, types of prey available during spawning in the wild. If the types of prey found in the stomachs are given to the captive study subjects, as well as water tables kept the same, it will induce captive spawning. If captive stingrays are given larger amounts of food more often than their spawning cycle will be more frequent and they will have larger litters per birth cycle than the wild population stingrays.
Introduction
| |
Fresh water stingrays are found in several
Cited: (1) Charvet-Almeida, P., M. L. G. DE Araújo, and M. P. De Almeida and Barthem, RB.2010. Diet of the freshwater stingray Potamotrygon motoro (Chondrichthyes: Potamotrygonidae) on Marajó Island (Pará, Brazil). Braz. J. Biol. [online]. 2010, vol.70, n.1, pp. 155-162 (2) Silva, T.B. & Uieda, V.S. 2007. Preliminary data on the feeding habits of the freshwater stingrays Potamotrygon falkneri e Potamotrygon motoro (Potamotrygonidae) from the Upper Paraná River basin, Brazil. Biota Neotrop. 7(1): http://www.biotaneotropica.org.br/v7n1/pt/fullpaper?bn02007012007 (3) Charvet-Almeida, P., M. L. G. DE Araújo, and M. P. De Almeida. 2005. Reproductive Aspects of Freshwater Stingrays (Chondrichthyes: Patamotrygonidae) in the Brazilian Amazon Basin. J. Northw. Atl. Fish. Sci., 35: 165-171. doi:10.2960/J.v35.m502 (4) Oldfield, R.G. 2005. Biology, husbandry, and reproduction of freshwater stingrays I. Tropical Fish Hobbyist. 53(12): 114-116 (5) Oldfield, R.G. 2005. Biology, husbandry, and reproduction of freshwater stingrays II. Tropical Fish Hobbyist. 54(1): 110-112