SHORT NOTE ON ADAPTIVE BEHAVIOR OF NILE TILAPIA(Oreochromis niloticus) IN RELATION TO THE DIFFERENT TIDE LEVELS IN THE DRAINAGE CHANNELS OF SANTOS-SP Caliê Altina Martins, Rebeca Ribeiro Miranda, Fabio Giordano

Abstract

Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) has been noticed in great abundance in drainage channels in the city of Santos. The adaptation of this exotic fish to these channels indicates that these fish have a great capacity to tolerate environments with brackish water, since these channels are subject to at least two major variations in the level of their water depending on the tidal cycle. The objective of the study was to monitor the behavior of this species during different periods of the tide, and consequently in different salinities, over two weeks twice a day when different schools of tilapia were recorded, it was observed that the reproductive behavior is quite territorial with the formation of nests and it is noted that the species is able to adapt to constant variations in salinity, changing its behavior throughout the tidal variations and always seeking a better abiotic condition, to maintain its ability to defend against predators and reproductive success