ECOPHYSIOLOGY OF PEACOCK BASS SPECIES IN THE TARUMÃ-AÇÚ RIVER BASIN

In the Amazon region, hematological and biochemical parameters have been widely used to establish health and stress patterns in various vertebrate species. This study aims to determine the hematological and biochemical profiles of peacock bass (Cichla spp.) caught by sport fishing in the Tarumã-Açú River Basin (in all its tributaries) in Amazonas. This activity is prominent in the Amazon region's socioeconomic chain and in the urban area near Manaus. Furthermore, sport fishing involves capturing individuals for photographic documentation and subsequent release, demonstrating its perennial nature in the region and sustaining an entire chain of fishermen, canoeists, fishing agents, bait suppliers, and sporting equipment providers. We collect blood and plasma samples individually to analyze capture stress using established methodologies for Amazonian vertebrates. Preliminary data show that cichlids are predominantly caught in the morning (7 am to 10 am) on sunny days, using mid-water lures (30 to 60 cm deep) at an average depth of 2.8 meters. The physicochemical characterization of the water complements the analysis by showing distribution patterns of these predatory species.