02066naa a2200217 a 450000100080000000500110000800800410001910000170006024500620007726000090013952014750014865000090162365000150163265000170164765000100166465000160167465000170169065300280170765300300173577300830176517916132017-04-05       1975    bl ---       0--  u    #d1 aBALON, E. K.  aReproductive guilds of fishesba proposal and definition.  c1975  aThe emergence of efficient ecosystem modelling is severely hampered by the need for an ecological classification of fishes. An earlier concept of ecological groups is here expanded to cover all living fishes. This eecological classification is based mainly on form and function in early developmental intervals, on preferred spawning grounds, and on features of reproductive bethavior. Within the adaptations for reproduction and embryonic develeopment two factors prevail - predators and the oxygen regime; consequently, spawning behavior and spawning grounds determine ensuing respiratory conditions and available protection from predators. The remaining factors are more or less associated with those two. From the point of view of resource exploitation, factors other than feeding habits governing density, biomass, and production are more important. In this sense reproductive guilds are more meningful than feeding strategies, to which one usage og "guild " was limited. Thirty-two guilds putatively encompass all the 30.000 living fish taxa (or about 20.000 species) and form an ecological classification unrelated to the Linnean classification. The guilds retain phyletic significance in respect to reproductive systems and form a basis for the construction of models on natural and cultural succession. Number of guilds and frequency of taxa within guilds in a given area reflect geochronological sequences and invasion abilities of members of different guilds.  afish  apopulation  areproduction  aPeixe  aPopulação  aReprodução  aClassificacao ecologica  aEcological classification  tJournal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canadagv.32, n.6, p.821-864, 1975.