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Baseline assessment of reef fish assemblages of Parcel Manuel Luiz Marine State Park, Maranhão, north‐east Brazil
Journal of Fish Biology
Abstract
A rich and apparently undisturbed fish community (132 species from 57 families) is found in the Parcel Manuel Luiz Marine State Park. Brazil. Comparisons with data obtained in other sites in Brazil and the Caribbean, using the same visual census technique, demonstrate high Variation in community structure. The absence of some species found along the Brazilian coast suggests an ecological barrier between the study area and the remaining coastline. (C) 2001 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles.
... trispinosus abundances within Abrolhos are found in no-take areas (Francini-Filho and Moura 2008a, b; Roos et al. 2020a). Scarus trispinosus was also registered as the second most abundant species in Manoel Luís State Park, a no-take Marine Reserve (Rocha and Rosa 2001). Sparisoma amplum shows higher abundances on fully protected reserves within oceanic and coastal islands such as Fernando de Noronha, Atol das Rocas, Trindade and Abrolhos (Rosa and Moura 1997;Gasparini and Floeter 2001;Rocha and Rosa 2001;Ferreira et al. 2004;Francini-Filho and Moura 2008a, b;Hoey et al. 2018). ...
... Scarus trispinosus was also registered as the second most abundant species in Manoel Luís State Park, a no-take Marine Reserve (Rocha and Rosa 2001). Sparisoma amplum shows higher abundances on fully protected reserves within oceanic and coastal islands such as Fernando de Noronha, Atol das Rocas, Trindade and Abrolhos (Rosa and Moura 1997;Gasparini and Floeter 2001;Rocha and Rosa 2001;Ferreira et al. 2004;Francini-Filho and Moura 2008a, b;Hoey et al. 2018). Interestingly, Sp. axillare was the only species (2020) to present higher abundances outside protected areas compared to adjacent MPAs (Francini-Filho and Moura 2008a, b). ...
... Such discrepancy may be related to the habitat plasticity of the species, which may adapt to the harsh conditions of highly fished, algae-dominated areas (Ferreira et al. 2004). Sp. frondosum also presents increased abundances inside notake MPAs (Rosa and Moura 1997;Rocha and Rosa 2001;Francini-Filho and Moura 2008a), and sightings of large females and terminal males outside MPAs are relatively rare (ICMBIO 2015). Unfortunately, more flexible MPA categories-those intended for multiple and extractive uses-present low abundances of Sc. trispinosus, Sp. amplum, and Sp. ...
Given the increasing exploration of endemic Brazilian parrotfishes and their classification as threatened, there is an emergent need to gather biological and fisheries information to assess their stocks. We performed a comprehensive review of 134 studies addressing key topics of information related to stock assessments: (1) the distribution and population structure; (2) age, growth and mortality; (3) reproductive biology; (4) feeding ecology; (5) fishing data, and (6) management actions. This review focused on the most explored Brazilian parrotfish species: Scarus trispinosus, Scarus zelindae, Sparisoma amplum, Sparisoma axillare, and Sparisoma frondosum. The most abundant species, Sp. axillare, and the most threatened, Sc. trispi-nosus, are better studied; hence data-moderate stock assessments are viable for both species. As information gaps are largest for Sp. zelindae, only simple Risk analyses are possible for this species. Stock productivity and status may be obtained for the remaining species, enabling data-limited assessments. The few official fisheries statistics available are inaccurate and have been discontinued since 2010; scientific studies represent the main source of information about Brazilian parrotfishes' captures but are sparse. How stocks are structured and distributed along the coast must be defined, thus genetic structuring and site fidelity studies are necessary. Life-history traits such as mortality, growth, sexual modes, social organization, and maturity must be a subject prioritized for all species. Brazilian fisheries statistics programs must be resumed and improved urgently. The academic community and stakeholders must focus on filling these essential knowledge gaps to promote the successful evaluation of their stocks and solid recovery actions. Otherwise, Brazilian parrotfish populations-and the fisheries and ecosystem functions dependent on them-may be at risk.
... Features traditionally associated with near pristine reef ecosystems include substantial contribution of high trophic level and large-bodied species to community structure (León et al. 2016;Robinson et al. 2017), as well as high taxonomic, phylogenetic or functional diversity (Mouillot et al. 2014;D'Agata et al. 2016) due to lower direct anthropogenic pressures such as overfishing and habitat degradation. The Parcel de Manuel Luís (PML) was declared a no-take marine protected area (Parcel de Manuel Luís Marine State Park) in 1991 due to its singular reef formations, composed of pinnacles rising abruptly from soft bottom in an otherwise featureless continental shelf, and also its diverse benthic communities dominated by coralline algae, sponges, hard corals and ascidians (Rocha and Rosa 2001). Its relative isolation (* 84 km from the coast), perilous surrounding waters with strong tidal currents (tidal amplitude * 6 m), and the traditional favoring of non-reef fishes for marketing purposes in the region have helped to keep the PML reefs under relatively low anthropogenic pressure (Coura 2016). ...
... Its relative isolation (* 84 km from the coast), perilous surrounding waters with strong tidal currents (tidal amplitude * 6 m), and the traditional favoring of non-reef fishes for marketing purposes in the region have helped to keep the PML reefs under relatively low anthropogenic pressure (Coura 2016). However, the same difficulties of access have kept scientific information about the PML scarce (Rocha and Rosa 2001;Amaral et al. 2006Amaral et al. , 2007. These conditions make the PML one of the few places along the Brazilian coast that could fulfill some of the expectations of a near-pristine reef, and potentially provide insights on what coastal ecosystems used to be like. ...
... Integrated assessment of different components of reef communities (e.g., benthos, fishes) have the potential to help understand the relative contribution of anthropogenic and natural disturbances to community patterns Meirelles et al. 2015). Previous studies on the PML focused on corals (Moura et al. 1999), reef fishes (Rocha and Rosa 2001), and hydroids (Amaral et al. 2007). Other large-scale studies have included data on reef fish assemblages, benthic communities and ecological interactions from the PML (e.g., Rocha et al. 2002;Ferreira et al. 2004;Morais et al. 2017;Aued et al. 2018;Longo et al. 2019). ...
The Parcel de Manuel Luís (PML) is located at the southern end of the Amazon Reef System, which comprises the northernmost reef formations of the Brazilian biogeographical province. Its unique position and singular seascape make the PML an important stepping-stone for marine organisms between the Brazilian and Caribbean provinces. Yet, due to its distance from the shore, high tidal amplitude, and strong currents associated with a series of pinnacles exposed during low spring tides, the PML is one of the least studied reefs in the Western South Atlantic. Here, we integrated sessile benthic community data, fish assemblage surveys, and remote filming of fish interactions to establish the most complete community assessment of the PML reefs to date. In our surveys, we documented 78 sessile benthic taxa, with a taxonomic dominance of macroalgae (54 taxa), including two new occurrences of sponges for the North Brazilian Shelf, as well as four endemic species, such as the fire coral Millepora laboreli. The fish assemblage comprised 59 reef fish species, with biomass dominated mainly by large carnivorous species (e.g., groupers and snappers). Intra-and interspecific interactions were dominated by herbivorous fishes, particularly underpinned by grazing behavior and chasing by Topic Editor Mark Vermeij Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (https://doi. territorial species. The considerably high biomass and large-bodied species found in our surveys is rarely seen elsewhere in the Western South Atlantic, suggesting a low level of fishing compared to most other places, and only a few changes were observed in the fish assemblages since the first assessment made in 1998. We also highlight the usefulness of an integrated approach for continued assessment of Western South Atlantic reefs, particularly given emerging threats from mining and oil exploration, and the heavy traffic of commercial vessels in the region. Our findings support the PML as an area of critical conservation interest for reef systems, emphasizing the need for continued enforcement of this marine protected area and its integration in long-term plans of offshore oil and gas development projects.
... The similarity matrix was calculated using the Sørensen index, and the clusters generated by the hierarchical agglomerative method using the UPGMA amalgamation strategy. The seven areas included in this study were: (1) Ceará -CE (present study; Araújo et al., 2000;Cunha et al., 2007Cunha et al., , 2008Freitas et al., 2009); (2) Maranhão -MA (Rocha & Rosa, 2001;Nunes et al., 2011a, b); (3) Risca do Zumbi RN -ZU (Feitoza, 2001); (4) Paraíba -PB (Rocha et al., 1998;Souza et al., 2007;Honório et al., 2010); (5) Abrolhos -AB (Moura et al., 2006); (6) Atol das Rocas (Rocas Atoll) -AR (Rosa & Moura, 1997;Floeter et al., 2008); and (7) Arquipélago de São Pedro e São Paulo (St Paul's Rocks) -SPSP (Lubbock & Edwards, 1981;Feitoza et al., 2003). ...
... The second approach was quali-quantitative, using data from stationary visual censuses at the subtidal zones (12 -26 m) (Supplementary material). For this analysis, the data from the Risca do Meio site was used along with data from three different studies that used the same method, comprising: Parcel do Manuel Luís -MA (Rocha & Rosa, 2001), Rocas Atoll (Rosa & Moura, 1997) and Risca do Zumbi -RN (Feitoza, 2001). The abundance data were transformed by square root analysis and the distance matrix was calculated using the Bray -Curtis index. ...
... The list presented here (Table 2) is, at the moment, the most comprehensive assessment for the reef fish from Ceará State, one of the least known regions of the Brazilian coast regarding reef organisms, and we believe that it represents the great majority of local reef species. Nevertheless, this list would include more species if anaesthetics or ichthyotoxics were used to capture the more cryptic species, as done in other regions (Rosa & Moura, 1997;Feitoza, 2001;Rocha & Rosa, 2001). Within a regional perspective, the reef fish from Ceará stand out with 167 species of bony fishes, representing 51% of the north-eastern region species (Rocha, 2003). ...
Based on data from 151 underwater surveys (scuba) between 2002 and 2007, the present study assessed the reef fish fauna from a scarcely known region on the north-eastern Brazilian coast (Ceará State). A checklist of 179 taxa is provided and the zoogeographic patterns are analysed and discussed, including six other localities. Based only on assemblage composition, the reef fish fauna from Ceará showed a strong resemblance (73%) with the reefs of Risca do Zumbi (RN) and Paraiba (PB). The data from the visual censuses including abundance values corroborate the evaluation based only on composition and suggest ecological factors as the main drivers of the fish assemblages in the region.
... According to Fricke et al. (2020b), P. brasiliensis is widely distributed along the Southwestern Atlantic in the brazilian coastl, occurring in freshwater, brackish, and marine environments. However, this species was never recorded for any hydrographic system or area of the Maranhão state, including the estuarine portions, as well as its costal region (see Martins-Juras et al. 1987, Garavello et al. 1998, Piorski 1998, Rocha & Rosa 2001, Castro 2001, Castro et al. 2002, Piorski et al. 2003, Araújo-Junior et al. 2005, Soares 2005, Piorski et al. 2007, Neta & Castro 2008, Castro et al. 2010, Barros et al. 2011, Martins & Oliveira 2011, Nunes et al. 2011, Sousa et al. 2011, Fraga et al. 2012, Almeida et al. 2013, Ribeiro et al. 2014, Lima et al. 2015, Matavelli et al. 2015, Ramos et al. 2014, Melo et al. 2016, Piorski et al. 2017, Brito et al. 2019a, Lima et al. 2019, Teixeira et al. 2019. In a recent collection expedition conducted in April 2016, two specimens of this species were collected in a coastal river basin discharging at the Parnaíba River Delta, located in the east of Maranhão, Northeastern Brazil. ...
... The fish fauna inhabiting the river systems of this state, including estuarine portions, as well as marine coastal regions, remain poorly known and scarcely studied, mainly in relation to small sized fish species (Guimarães et al. 2017b, Guimarães et al. 2018, despite recent efforts to sample and inventory this area (e.g. Martins-Juras et al. 1987, Garavello et al. 1998, Piorski 1998, Rocha & Rosa 2001, Castro 2001, Castro et al. 2002, Piorski et al. 2003, Araújo-Junior et al. 2005, Soares 2005, Piorski et al. 2007, Neta & Castro 2008, Castro et al. 2010, Barros et al. 2011, Martins & Oliveira 2011, Nunes et al. 2011, Sousa et al. 2011, Fraga et al. 2012, Almeida et al. 2013, Ramos et al. 2014, Ribeiro et al. 2014, Lima et al. 2015, Matavelli et al. 2015, Melo et al. 2016, Piorski et al. 2017, Brito et al. 2019a, Lima et al. 2019, Teixeira et al. 2019. The present study is an example of the lack of knowledge on the composition of the state's ichthyofauna when compared to other regions of Brazil, especially on small sized species, which are generally not recorded in inventories conducted in the state. ...
The present study fills knowledge gaps about the geographic distribution of Pseudophallus brasiliensis, registering it for the first time for a water system from the state of Maranhão, Northeastern Brazil. The present study is an example of the lack of knowledge on the composition of the state's ichthyofauna when compared to other regions of Brazil, especially on small sized species, which are generally not recorded in inventories conducted in the state. In order to fill the discontinuity of knowledge especially on small sized estuarine/marine fish species occurring in Maranhão, more collecting effort should be conducted, focusing and using methodologies appropriate for collecting these species. These kinds of collections are rarely conducted in Maranhão, which usually focus on species of commercial and fisheries importance. Resumo O presente estudo preenche lacunas de conhecimento em relação à distribuição geográfica de Pseudophallus brasiliensis, registrando a espécie pela primeira vez para um sistema hídrico do Estado do Maranhão, nordeste do Brasil. Este estudo é um exemplo da falta de conhecimento relacionado a composição da ictiofauna do Estado quando comparado a outras regiões do Brasil, especialmente em relação a espécies de pequeno porte, que geralmente não são registradas em inventários conduzidos no Estado. Com o objetivo de preencher esta descontinuidade do conhecimento em relação a espécies estuarinas/marinhas de peixes, de pequeno porte, que ocorrem no Maranhão, mais esforços de coleta devem ser realizados, focando e utilizando metodologias apropriadas para coletar esses peixes. Esses tipos de coletas são raramente realizadas no Maranhão, que geralmente focam em espécies de importância comercial e para pesca. Palavras-chave. Delta do Parnaíba, Ictiologia, peixe cachimbo, Pseudophallus mindii, Syngnathinae.
... doce (19) . Contabilizou-se, ainda, dois especialistas externos que contribuíram com dois importantes e pioneiros levantamentos ictiofaunísticos do Maranhão (20,21) , sendo enquadrados na categoria de "especialistas externos". Vale destacar a contribuição de Rocha e Rosa (21) que documentaram de forma pioneira a diversidade de peixe no Parque Estadual Parcel Manuel Luiz (uma riqueza de 132 espécies). ...
... Contabilizou-se, ainda, dois especialistas externos que contribuíram com dois importantes e pioneiros levantamentos ictiofaunísticos do Maranhão (20,21) , sendo enquadrados na categoria de "especialistas externos". Vale destacar a contribuição de Rocha e Rosa (21) que documentaram de forma pioneira a diversidade de peixe no Parque Estadual Parcel Manuel Luiz (uma riqueza de 132 espécies). O estado de conhecimento do grupo dos peixes marinhos no Maranhão foi classificado como de nível três, em que menos de 50% das espécies são descritas, em relação ao total de espécies da costa brasileira; não há guias de identificação para peixes marinhos e três especialistas pesquisam o táxon na região. ...
This study aimed to synthetize the knowledge on the number of species, the number of experts and identification guides of three marine taxa of the coast of Maranhão State: fish, mollusks, and crustaceans. For this research, metrics were used to classify the state of knowledge: species richness, number of exotic species, number of identification guides and specialists. The main databases of scientific journals were searched between 1990 and 2015. The state of knowledge of each marine taxonomic group ranged from one to five, five = very well-known and one = unknown. The "fish" taxon is represented by 303 species and the group crustaceans by 205 species, both having a knowledge state equal to three. The group of mollusks counted 81 species, being classified as two in the state of knowledge scale. The number of marine species recorded highlights the importance of
public policies and national incentives aimed at increasing studies in the area of diversity, both for the development of biological conservation and maintenance measures and for the understanding of the natural resources of the region.
... Ichthyological surveys at Trindade Island date back to the early 1900's [19][20][21]. Present knowledge depicts a rich reef fish fauna [22][23][24][25][26] connected to the continental coast through a stepping-stone process across the VTC seamounts [22,23,27]. However, the high number of endemic species at the islands indicates that genetic connectivity between the continent and islands is limited, although it could have been more effective during low sea levels [25,26,28]. ...
... Macro-carnivores composed the richest trophic guild (117 species), followed by macroinvertivores (58), planktivores (47) and roving herbivores (14). Most of the species are pelagic spawners (192) and the remainder lay demersal eggs (27) or are viviparous (28). Twenty-four species are considered endangered: 20 of them are listed in the IUCN Red List as critically endangered (CR; n = 2), endangered (ED; n = 2) or vulnerable (VU; n = 16). ...
Despite a strong increase in research on seamounts and oceanic islands ecology and biogeography, many basic aspects of their biodiversity are still unknown. In the southwestern Atlantic, the Vitória-Trindade Seamount Chain (VTC) extends ca. 1,200 km offshore the Brazilian continental shelf, from the Vitória seamount to the oceanic islands of Trindade and Martin Vaz. For a long time, most of the biological information available regarded its islands. Our study presents and analyzes an extensive database on the VTC fish biodiversity, built on data compiled from literature and recent scientific expeditions that assessed both shallow to mesophotic environments. A total of 273 species were recorded, 211 of which occur on seamounts and 173 at the islands. New records for seamounts or islands include 191 reef fish species and 64 depth range extensions. The structure of fish assemblages was similar between islands and seamounts, not differing in species geographic distribution, trophic composition, or spawning strategies. Main differences were related to endemism, higher at the islands, and to the number of endangered species, higher at the seamounts. Since unregulated fishing activities are common in the region, and mining activities are expected to drastically increase in the near future (carbonates on seamount summits and metals on slopes), this unique biodiversity needs urgent attention and management.
... A maioria das informações existentes compreende dados e registros pontuais em pesquisas mais amplas acerca da ictiofauna recifal de algumas localidades (e.g. Rosa & Moura 1997, Rocha et al. 1998, Rocha & Rosa 2001). Estudos sobre ocorrência e biologia básica de elasmobrânquios associados a substratos consolidados foram realizados no Arquipélago de São Pedro e São Paulo (Edwards & Lubbock 1982, Hazin et al. 2008), no Atol das Rocas, Rio Grande do Norte (Castro & Rosa 2005, Freitas et al. 2006, Oliveira et al. 2007, Wetherbee et al. 2007), no Arquipélago de Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco (Soto 1997, Garla et al. 2005) e na Laje de Santos, São Paulo (Luiz Jr et al. 2008). ...
... Ainda com relação aos hábitos alimentares, Silva & Almeida (2001) citam, com base no exame de exemplares provenientes de águas costeiras do Maranhão, que R. porosus é um predador oportunista, alimentando-se predominantemente de peixes abundantes nestas áreas costeiras de fundos moles. Apesar de os peixes recifais da família Scaridae, que são particularmente abundantes nos recifes Manuel Luís (Rocha & Rosa 2001), terem representado o item mais freqüente nos conteúdos estomacais de R. porosus, o pequeno número de exemplares analisados no presente estudo impede uma análise mais detalhada do caráter oportunista versus especialista na atividade de forrageio de R. porosus. O conhecimento sobre a distribuição e a biologia do tubarão-dos-recifes, C. perezi, é extremamente fragmentário, adicionando valor às observações aqui reportadas para essa espécie classificada como próxima de ameaça de extinção ( " Near Threathened " ) pela União Internacional para Conservação da Natureza (IUCN 2009). ...
Data on the reproductive and feeding biology of elasmobranchs from Manoel Luís Reefs, Maranhão State, Brazil. Nine species were recorded and evidences that the area is important for the reproduction and feeding activity of sharks and rays were obtained.
... A new Western Atlantic pufferfish is hereby described, based on molecular and morphological characters, as follows: Sphoeroides spengleri: Jordan and Evermann 1898, Miranda Ribeiro 1915, Carvalho-Filho 1999, Rocha and Rosa 2001Menezes 2003, Sampaio and Nottingham 2008, Pinheiro et al. 2015, Gasparini 2017, Guimarães-Costa et al. 2020, Rotundo et al. 2021. Diagnosis: Sphoeroides camila sp. ...
Tetraodontidae is the most speciose family of Tetraodontiformes and is represented by fish popularly known as pufferfishes. They are characterized by modified jaws with four dental plates and the ability to inflate their bodies. Tetraodontids are distributed throughout the world and have a wide range of habitat use. One of its genera, Sphoeroides, shows a biogeographical pattern, with 19 of its 21 species restricted to coastal regions of the Americas. Although represented in large-scale phylogenies, the evolutionary history and biogeography of the genus have not been explored in detail. The present study aims to understand the historical and biogeographic processes that shaped the evolutionary history of Sphoeroides. Including samples from all biogeographic regions of its occurrence, we reconstruct a phylogenetic/biogeographic history hypothesis for the genus. Our results show that Sphoeroides is a paraphyletic group comprising Colomesus; indicate a central role of the biogeographic barriers of the Atlantic Ocean in the diversification of the genus; and identified a cryptic species in Brazilian waters, formally known as S. spengleri, described here through integrative taxonomy. We also propose nomenclatural changes given the position of Colomesus deeply nested within Sphoeroides.
... Priolepis dawsoni, described from Rocas Atoll, occurs along the Brazilian tropical coast from the Parcel de Manuel Luiz to São Paulo state (00° 50'S-24° 15'S latitude). It is also known from the seamounts of the Vitoria-Trindade chain and all Brazilian oceanic islands except St. Paul's Rocks (Greenfield 1989;Rocha et al. 2000;Rocha and Rosa 2001;Simon et al. 2013;Pinheiro et al. 2015). Although considered a Brazilian endemic (Moura and Sazima 2000;Pinheiro et al. 2018), P. dawsoni has also been recorded in the southern Caribbean (Trinidad and Tobago; Rocha 2003). ...
Priolepis (Gobiidae) is a genus of cryptobenthic fishes with a cosmopolitan distribution in tropical oceans. In the Atlantic, it is represented by P. ascensionis, P. dawsoni, P. hipoliti, and P. robinsi. With the exception of the latter, these species have their distribution limited by known biogeographic barriers signaling allopatric origins. In the present study, we used phylogenetic/phylogeographic approaches to uncover the evolutionary history of Priolepis in the Atlantic by testing three hypotheses: (i) The closure of the Tethyan Passage gave rise to a monophyletic Atlantic lineage; (ii) The formation of the Amazon Barrier divided the species into southwestern and northwestern Atlantic lineages; and (iii) Dispersal from Brazil across the Mid-Atlantic Barrier gave rise to the Santa Helena and Ascension Islands lineage. Neither hypothesis was refuted by our results. Phylogenies recovered the monophyly of the Atlantic Priolepis clade and its isolation from the Western Indian/Pacific Ocean ~ 16.9 million years ago. A few million years later (14-10 Mya), the emergence of the Amazon Barrier divided Priolepis into a southwestern and a northwestern ancestral. The closure of the Isthmus of Panama, as well as Pliocene and Pleistocene climatic variations, had an important influence on the formation of the different lineages within P. dawsoni, and P. hipoliti. During the Pleistocene, the occupation of the Vitoria-Trindade chain may have favored dispersal to the Mid-Atlantic islands, influencing the origin of P. ascensionis. Our results also highlight the great ability of P. dawsoni and P. hipoliti to maintain connectivity between remote areas and different habitats, a singular pattern among Brazilian cryptobenthic fishes.
... According to D' Agostini et al. 38 , the region is also under the influence of the surface divergent flow between NBSC and the BC, which is evident in Figs. 3 and 6. The arrival of sun-coral larvae in the northern coast of Brazil (receiving areas of PAMA and AM in Fig. 8) can be a threat to the unique 1000 km long mesophotic carbonate reef system between French Guiana and Brazil 62,63 , which include the Parcel Manuel Luís Marine State Park containing reef formations mainly composed of calcareous algae 64 . In addition to the competition with the anthozoan Palythoa caribaeorum 65 , the arrival of sun-coral larvae in the region can affect the survival of Brazilian endemic coral species such as Siderastrea stellata, Favia gravida, and Mussismilia hispida 66 . ...
Most marine species have a planktonic larval phase that benefit from the surface oceanic flow to enhance their dispersion potential. For invasive species, the interaction of environmentally resistant larvae with different flow regimes and artificial substrates can lead to complex larval dispersion patterns and boost geographic expansion. In the Southwest Atlantic, the invasive corals Tubastraea spp. (sun-coral) have been recorded biofouling on oil platforms since the late 1980s. These platforms are considered important vectors for the established populations throughout the Brazilian coast. However, we still do not know how the position of these structures relative to regional flow contribute to the natural dispersion potential of these invaders on a regional scale. Herein, we used an eddy-resolving ocean model (ROMS) and an Individual Based Model (IBM-Ichthyop) to simulate the natural dispersion patterns of sun-coral larvae from all oil platforms on Brazilian oil-producing basins, for the austral summer and winter along 6 years (2010–2015) in 90-day simulations. We found that mortality rates by advection were significantly higher during the winter (p = 0.001) and when sources of larvae were compared throughout this season (p = 1.9 × 10–17). The influence of two western boundary currents and persistent eddy activity contribute to the dispersal of larvae to distances up to 7000 km. The effectiveness of each oil-producing basin as vectors for the entire Brazilian coastline, measured as the percentage of larval supply, highlights the importance of the northern Ceará (59.89%) and Potiguar (87.47%) basins and the more central Camamu (44.11%) and Sergipe-Alagoas (39.20%) basins. The poleward shift of the Southern branch of the South Equatorial Current during the winter causes larvae released from the Sergipe-Alagoas and Camamu basins to enter the North Brazil Current, expanding their dispersion towards the north. The Brazil Current disperses larvae southwards, but strong mesoscale activity prevents their dispersion to the coast, especially for those released from the oil platforms on Campos and Santos basins. Within this complex hydrodynamic setting, a few source areas, like those in the Sergipe-Alagoas and Camamu basins, can potentially contribute to the spread of larvae along nearly all the Brazilian coast. Therefore, oil platforms act as possible chronic sources of sun-coral propagules to the coast, emphasizing the urgency for a more detailed set of actions to control and monitor these invasive exotic species.
... The fauna of the coastal and reef environments of the region is also poorly documented (Eskinazi & Lima, 1968, Collette & Rutzler 1977, Rocha & Rosa, 2001, Espírito-Santo & Isaac 2005, Moura et al., 2016, Marceniuk et al., 2017. However, several advances have been achieved in recent years, mainly through inventories conducted by the Research and Conservation National Center of Northern Marine Biodiversity, ICMBio/CEPNOR , with important advances being made in the accumulation of specimens that confirm the presence of endemic species in the region , as well as records . ...
The North Coast of Brazil is a biogeographical area of the Exclusive Economic Zone of Brazil that share environmental features with region under influence of the Plume of the rio Amazon and Orinoco. Despite the relevance of the region's fish fauna, in biogeo-graphic, ecologic, and commercial terms, this area is poorly known. This study presents the most complete and updated list of the bony fish fauna from the North Coast of Brazil, aiming to minimize our knowledge gap on such region's biodiversity. The main sources of information were records from zoological collections, inventories obtained during the surveys of the Research and Conservation National Center of Northern Marine Biodiversity and collections from the authors. A total of 787 species of the Teleostei were recorded off the North Coast of Brazil and adjacent waters, representing 156 families and 45 orders. Most (531) of these species are coastal, 256 inhabit deeper water, and 31 pelagic (oceanic) species are common to both the internal and external continental shelf, of which 54 represent new records. Given the progressive intensification of fisheries and increasing incentives for the exploitation of the local gas and oil reserves, a more adequate inventory of the marine fish fauna of the North Coast of Brazil is fundamentally important for the management of the region's aquatic biodiversity.
... Natural environmental observations (in situ) were performed on August 6, 2011, during a night dive, where an O. vespertilio individual was filmed at a depth of 34 m, at the Parcel Manuel Luiz Marine State Park (00°52'S, 44°16'W), a reef formation in Maranhão (Brazil), located 86.3 km from the coast (Rocha et al, 2001). The video focused on the feeding behavior of the species with an emphasis on illicium use. ...
... Despite its considerable importance in ecological, biogeographical, and economic terms, the fish fauna of the North Coast is still poorly known (Marceniuk et al., 2013(Marceniuk et al., , 2019. Although some inventories on the coastal fish fauna have been conducted (Eskinazi, Lima, 1968;Rocha, Rosa, 2001;Espírito-Santo, Isaac, 2005;Moura et al., 2016;Marceniuk et al., 2017Marceniuk et al., , 2019, information on the deep-sea fishes is restricted basically to the results of two long-term surveys. One of these surveys was undertaken by the Oregon, a research vessel of the North American National Marine Fisheries Service, while the other was part of the Brazilian National Program for the Assessment of the Sustainable Potential of Natural Resources in the Exclusive Economic Zone (REVIZEE). ...
Data on the deep sea fishes found off the northern Brazilian coast are restricted to the results of the surveys of the RV Oregon, a research vessel of the North American National Marine Fisheries Service, and the REVIZEE Program. The REVIZEE Score-Norte Program focused on commercial fish species and natural resources with potential for exploitation on the continental shelf and slope off the northern coast of Brazil. In this sense, the REVIZEE Score-Norte Program generated little information on species of no commercial value, did not catalog its inventory in zoological collections, and did not publish species lists. Given this considerable knowledge gap on the deep-sea fish found off the North coast of Brazil, we compiled all the available data on the deep-sea fish of this region and also retrieved photographic records from the REVIZEE Score-Norte Program, including the PRODEMERSAL and PROTUNA projects. Considering the published records, specimens deposited in zoological collections, and the interpretation of photographic records, we compiled a list of 63 species of deep-sea fish from the North coast of Brazil. An additional 30 species were found in the published records from the PRODEMERSAL and PROTUNA, but were considered to be doubtful or pending confirmation.
... This scaly blenny is associated with shallow reefs where it preys on small benthic invertebrates. : Springer, 1959a: 477;Springer & Gomon, 1975;Feitoza et al., 2005;Rocha & Rosa, 2001;Guimarães et al., 2010;Nunan, 1992;Dantas et al., 2014;Garcia Jr. et al., 2015;Dias et al., 2019. Malacoctenus aff. ...
The labrisomid genus Malacoctenus from Southwestern Atlantic is reviewed. Two new species of scaly blennies formerly reported by several authors as Malacoctenus triangulatus are described. One is found at the oceanic islands Fernando de Noronha Archipelago and Atol das Rocas, and the other is distributed along the Brazilian coastline. The two new species differ from other species of the genus and from each other by different combinations of the number of lateral-line scales, number and size of head cirri, and color pattern. Molecular data also support species' distinctiveness between M. triangulatus and the species described herein. Two additional recognized Brazilian species, M. delalandii and M. brunoi are described and illustrated and an identification key to all recognized Atlantic species is provided.
... The specimen was morphologically identified based on the following diagnostic characters proposed by Stehmann et al. (1978), indicated in the original description (Werner, 1904) and State; see Figure 1). This area comprises estuaries, other sandy or muddy bottoms, and reef environments located on the coastlines of the Brazilian States of Pará (Barthem, 1985;Camargo & Isaac, 2001;Freitas et al., 2019b;Pinheiro & Frédou, 2004;Rodrigues-Filho et al., 2020;Santo et al., 2005;Silva et al., 2016), Maranhão (Almeida et al., 2011;Aragão et al., 2019;Guimarães-Costa et al., 2019;Lessa, 1986;Martins-Juras et al., 1987;Nunes et al., 2005Nunes et al., , 2011Rocha & Rosa, 2001;Silva et al., 2018), Piauí (Aragão et al., 2019;Guimarães-Costa et al., 2019;Mai et al., 2012;Melo et al., 2016) and ...
The present study established the southernmost distribution range for the Chupare stingray Styracura schmardae based on a specimen caught on the easternmost portion of Ceará State, northeastern Brazil. Identification was based on diagnostic morphological characters and molecular data (sequence of the mitochondrial DNA gene nd2; 1046 bp). This record expands the known distribution range for this species by more than 1200 km and confirms that S. schmardae is distributed in more than one biogeographical province.
Significance statement
There are few records of the Atlantic Chupare stingray for Brazil and most of them are associated with the Amazon River mouth. New records indicate that this species is also present in the South Atlantic portion of the Brazilian coast. Apparently having a low abundance throughout its range, these new records increase the range of occurrence of this species.
... In addition, most of the inventories and studies including marine and estuarine ichthyofauna of the Maranhão State have been used sampling methodologies such as gill nets, corking nets, and longline, which are not efficient to collect small sized specimens, and usually focusing on large-sized species, with fisheries importance (e.g. Martins-Juras et al., 1987;Rocha & Rosa, 2001;Ribeiro & Castro, 2003;Santos et al., 2003;Araújo-Júnior et al., 2005;Pinheiro-Júnior et al., 2005;Carvalho-Neta & Castro, 2008;Nunes et al., 2011). ...
This study presents the first records of the C. smaragdus in the Maranhão State, found on the Raposa Channel Estuary, Brazilian Amazon Coast. The new record could be justified by use of the inappropriate sampling methods and the focus of ichthyology researches in the Maranhão State. RESUMOO presente estudo registra pela primeira vez Ctenogobius smaragdus para o Estado do Maranhão, o exemplar foi encontrado no canal da Raposa, Costa Amazônica Brasileira. A falta de registro no pretérito pode ser justificada pelo uso de metódos inapropriados e diferentes foco dos estudos localizados no Maranhão.Palavras-chave: Maré; Litoral equatorial; Manguezais; Macromarés; Sistema estuarino.
... Malacoctenus Gill comprises 16 valid species of small reef-dwelling fishes distributed along the tropical and sub-tropical waters of the Western Atlantic and Eastern Pacific (Greenfield and Johnson, 1981;Springer, 1959;1995;Springer and Gomon, 1975). Two species are currently recognized in the southwestern Atlantic: Malacoctenus triangulatus Springer, recorded from Atol das Rocas (Nunan, 1992), Fernando de Noronha Archipelago (Springer & Gomon, 1975;Mendes, 2006), St. Paul's Rocks (Lubbock & Edwards, 1981;Feitoza et al., 2003), Parcel de Manoel Luíz (Rocha & Rosa, 2001) and along the coast of Brazil from Paraíba (Feitoza et al., 2005) southwards to Rio de Janeiro (Bacellar, 1997); and Malacoctenus delalandei Quoy and Gaimard, recorded from along the Brazilian coast from Rio Grande do Norte (Springer, 1958) south to Santa Catarina (Lucena & Lucena, 1982). Nunan (1992), Guimarães et al. (2001) and Gasparini (2004) also reported a third form from Trindade Island, which is herein described as a new species. ...
Malacoctenus brunoi n. sp., a scaled blenny endemic to Trindade Island, is distinguished from its southwest Atlantic congeners by the combination of a higher number of lateral-line scales (typically 62-66), a more elongated body (depth 19-22 % SL), and the presence of two longitudinal series of dark brown spots alongside the body.
... Despite there being a number of studies of the ichthyofauna of Brazil's north-eastern coast, there still appears to be some major knowledge gaps (Rosa, 1980;Ferreira et al., 1995;Rocha et al., 1998;Carvalho-Filho, 1999;Rocha & Rosa, 2001;Feitosa et al., 2002Feitosa et al., , 2005Souza et al., 2007;Garcia Junior et al., 2010Marques & Ferreira, 2010;Nunes et al., 2012;Freitas & Lotufo, 2015). Specifically, more data are needed on the geographic distribution and ecology of L. maximus due to its conservation status and its commercial and recreational value. ...
Based on material deposited in collections, photographic records and other reports from fishermen and divers, the occurrence of the hogfish Lachnolaimus maximus (Labridae) is confirmed in the south-western Atlantic Ocean, near the Brazilian coast as far south as southern Brazil. The recognized range of this species should therefore be extended c. 3000 km further south.
... The recent range expansion of E. figaro, herein recorded, fits within Floeter et al. (2008) and Briggs & Bowen (2012) arrangement of Brazilian Province (Fig. 1). Except by the Parcel Manuel Luiz, the northernmost coral reef communities in Brazil (Castro & Pires, 2001), the lack of E. figaro in most of the northern portion of the province, where the reefs are not well developed, is probably due the presence of a barrier between the Parcel and the rest of the Brazilian coastal reef (Rocha & Rosa, 2001). ...
Background A new record for Elacatinus figaro, an endangered Brazilian species, is documented for Pedra do Sal, Piauí coast. We present new data about its distribution, discussing on the limits of the Brazilian Province and commenting on the IUCN criteria for evaluation on threatening status. Results Five specimens of E. figaro were collected about 550 km northward from its previously known boundary, overtaking the expectations around its real distribution as presented in the original description. Conclusions Results from E. figaro range expansion and new records of species in Brazilian coast fit the hypothesis presented in Floeter et al. (J Biogeogr 35: 22-47, 2008) of a Brazilian Zoogeographic Province, also assigned by Briggs & Bowen (J Biogeogr 39: 12-30, 2012) on a review of Marine Zoogeographic Provinces.
... The shallower Southern Sector is an area with higher wave energy and episodic plume influence (23,44), resembling the typical turbid zone reefs [for example, Perry and Larcombe (4)] with few species and sparse corals and hydrocorals (Fig. 1C). When compared to other reefs within the Brazilian Province and the Caribbean [for example, Wilkinson (45)], coral and coralline algal diversity is still relatively low, but carbonate accumulation is positive, as indicated by the dating of the structures. ...
Large rivers create major gaps in reef distribution along tropical shelves. The Amazon River represents 20% of the
global riverine discharge to the ocean, generating up to a 1.3 × 106–km2 plume, and extensive muddy bottoms in
the equatorial margin of South America. As a result, a wide area of the tropical North Atlantic is heavily affected in
terms of salinity, pH, light penetration, and sedimentation. Such unfavorable conditions were thought to imprint a
major gap in Western Atlantic reefs. We present an extensive carbonate system off the Amazon mouth, underneath
the river plume. Significant carbonate sedimentation occurred during lowstand sea level, and still occurs in the
outer shelf, resulting in complex hard-bottom topography. A permanent near-bottom wedge of ocean water,
together with the seasonal nature of the plume’s eastward retroflection, conditions the existence of this extensive
(~9500 km2) hard-bottom mosaic. The Amazon reefs transition from accretive to erosional structures and encompass
extensive rhodolith beds. Carbonate structures function as a connectivity corridor for wide depth–ranging
reef-associated species, being heavily colonized by large sponges and other structure-forming filter feeders that
dwell under low light and high levels of particulates. The oxycline between the plume and subplume is associated
with chemoautotrophic and anaerobic microbial metabolisms. The system described here provides several insights
about the responses of tropical reefs to suboptimal and marginal reef-building conditions, which are accelerating
worldwide due to global changes.
... No mesmo período, existia uma clara diferença do esforço de inventariamento e estudo da biologia dos peixes das diferentes regiões do Brasil. O estuário Amazônico (0° S-3° S) e a Lagoa dos Patos (32° S), os dois principais sistemas estuarinos-lagunares brasileiros, composição de peixes marinhos-estuarinos da costa Norte do Brasil, e os poucos trabalhos disponíveis têm caráter local(Martins-Juras et al. 1987, Camargo & Isaac 2001, Rocha & Rosa 2001, Espírito- Santo et al. 2005, Feitoza et al. 2005, impedindo a realização de extrapolações regionais da biodiversidade. Na revisão da literatura sobre a ictiofauna estuarina do Brasil, realizada porRibeiro (2007), é reconhecida a elevada riqueza de espécies estuarinas, com o registro 530 espécies pertencentes a 114 famílias. ...
The tropical western South Atlantic, which includes a substantial portion of the Brazilian Exclusive Economic Zone, is a region of endemism broadly recognized as being of prime importance for the conservation of the marine biodiversity. The north coast of Brazil, which comprises the states of Amapa, Para and Maranhao from the mouth of the rio Oiapoque to the mouth of the rio Parnaiba, harbors the largest continuous mangrove in the world, with approximately 8,900 km(2). The high discharge of freshwater and continental sediments in the delta of the Amazonas affects the regime of tides, ocean currents, and several oceanographic processes of the north coast, with direct impact on the composition of the biota found in the region. Despite its economic value and intrinsic biological relevance, several aspects of the diversity of the marine and estuarine fishes of the region are poorly known. This situation results mainly from a historical imbalance in terms of the number of studies devoted to increasing the knowledge of the marine biota along the Brazilian coast, such as those dealing with species inventory and taxonomic revisions, which are typically concentrated in the south and southwestern portions of the country. The scientific production focused on marine organisms of the north coast is also imbalanced, and reflects the relatively small number of taxonomists and research groups working on that subject. The insufficient knowledge of the biodiversity of the marine and estuarine fishes of the north coast is an impediment to the implementation of adequate public policies aimed at the management of natural resources in the region. In the long term, that situation is potentially harmful in terms of conservation of a still poorly known biota. A better understanding of the marine fish fauna of the north coast of Brazil will be achieved only through the investment in scientific research and personnel training in systematics and biogeography, coupled with the modernization of the current infrastructure and expansion of scientific collections of the region.
... Oceanic sites experience extreme isolation and relatively small shallow water area, thus diminishing the chances of larval input from the continental margins as well as limiting the availability of suitable habitats for the adults . Only after the mid-1990s, a significant increase in sampling effort resulted in some knowledge of the Brazilian reef fish fauna (Floeter & Gasparini, 2000Joyeux et al., 2001, Luiz Jr. et al., 2007Rocha & Rosa, 2001;Feitoza et al., 2003). Nevertheless, the Brazilian reef fish community beyond 30 m remains broadly unknown (Feitoza et al., 2005). ...
An individual of the scorpaenid St. Helena deepwater scorpionfish, Pontinus nigropunctatus (Günther, 1868) was caught by a fisherman close to the rocks of the Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago, Brazil (0°55′N; 29°21′W). It is the first record of the species for the archipelago, early reported only as an endemic species of the St. Helena Island. The specimen measured 42.5 cm total length, weighed 1100 g, and was caught by hand line at night at 150 meters local depth.
... Malacoctenus Gill comprises 16 valid species of small reef-dwelling fishes distributed along the tropical and sub-tropical waters of the Western Atlantic and Eastern Pacific (Greenfield and Johnson, 1981;Springer, 1959;1995;Springer and Gomon, 1975). Two species are currently recognized in the southwestern Atlantic: Malacoctenus triangulatus Springer, recorded from Atol das Rocas (Nunan, 1992), Fernando de Noronha Archipelago (Springer & Gomon, 1975;Mendes, 2006), St. Paul's Rocks (Lubbock & Edwards, 1981;Feitoza et al., 2003), Parcel de Manoel Luíz (Rocha & Rosa, 2001) and along the coast of Brazil from Paraíba (Feitoza et al., 2005) southwards to Rio de Janeiro (Bacellar, 1997); and Malacoctenus delalandei Quoy and Gaimard, recorded from along the Brazilian coast from Rio Grande do Norte (Springer, 1958) south to Santa Catarina (Lucena & Lucena, 1982). Nunan (1992), Guimarães et al. (2001) and Gasparini (2004) also reported a third form from Trindade Island, which is herein described as a new species. ...
Malacoctenus brunoi n. sp., a scaled blenny endemic to Trindade Island, is distinguished from its southwest Atlantic congeners by the combination of a higher number of lateral-line scales (typically 62-66), a more elongated body (depth 19-22 % SL), and the presence of two longitudinal series of dark brown spots alongside the body.
... No mesmo período, existia uma clara diferença do esforço de inventariamento e estudo da biologia dos peixes das diferentes regiões do Brasil. O estuário Amazônico (0° S-3° S) e a Lagoa dos Patos (32° S), os dois principais sistemas estuarinos-lagunares brasileiros, composição de peixes marinhos-estuarinos da costa Norte do Brasil, e os poucos trabalhos disponíveis têm caráter local(Martins-Juras et al. 1987, Camargo & Isaac 2001, Rocha & Rosa 2001, Espírito- Santo et al. 2005, Feitoza et al. 2005, impedindo a realização de extrapolações regionais da biodiversidade. Na revisão da literatura sobre a ictiofauna estuarina do Brasil, realizada porRibeiro (2007), é reconhecida a elevada riqueza de espécies estuarinas, com o registro 530 espécies pertencentes a 114 famílias. ...
Um levantamento preliminar da ictiofauna que ocorre na Estação Ecológica Serra Geral de Tocantins, situada no Sudeste do Estado do Tocantins e Noroeste do Estado da Bahia, é apresentado. A Estação Ecológica Serra Geral de Tocantins situa-se no divisor de águas entre as bacias do Rio São Francisco (Rio Sapão) e Rio Tocantins (bacias dos Rios Novo, Balsas e Manuel Alves). A cabeceira comum ou "água emendada" do Rio Sapão e Rio Galheiros, este um afluente do Rio Novo, situa-se no interior da estação e é considerada na literatura como uma possível área de intercâmbio ictiofaunístico entre a bacia do Rio São Francisco e a bacia do Rio Tocantins. Trinta e cinco espécies de peixes foram registradas dentro da Estação Ecológica Serra Geral de Tocantins e em seu entorno imediato, algumas delas desconhecidas da ciência e possivelmente endêmicas da região. Um total de 111 espécies de peixes foi registrado regionalmente (incluindo espécies de peixes registrados nos trechos do Rio Sapão e do Rio Novo/do Sono abaixo da estação). O acará Cichlasoma sanctifranciscense é aqui registrado pela primeira vez na bacia do Rio Tocantins. A ocorrência desta espécie, bem como do lambari Astyanaxnovae, no Rio Sapão e no Rio Novo/do Sono, são considerados os únicos exemplos inequívocos de transposição natural de espécies de peixes entre as bacias do Rio São Francisco e Tocantins efetuado pelas águas emendadas dos rios Sapão e Galheiros.
... Holocentrids (squirrelfishes and soldierfishes) are an examplar lineage to investigate how the evolution of contemporary biodiversity hotspots is shaped by geographic changes in patterns of species richness through geologic time. Holocentrids are at their highest species richness in the IAA and are among the most conspicuous members of the nocturnal reef community (Rocha and Rosa 2001;Nelson 2006). These fishes also possess a very good fossil record, with stem lineages first appearing approximately 93 million years ago (Ma) in the Cretaceous (Gaudant 1978;Gayet 1980;Gallo-Da-Silva and De Figueiredo 1999), and crown clade taxa that are the most abundant fish fossils found in Mediterranean West Tethyan deposits (Sorbini and Tirapelle 1974;Sorbini 1975aSorbini ,b, 1979Bellwood 1996). ...
One of the most striking biodiversity patterns is the uneven distribution of marine species-richness, with species diversity in the Indo-Australian Archipelago (IAA) exceeding all other areas. However, the IAA formed fairly recently, and marine biodiversity hotspots have shifted across nearly half the globe since the Paleogene. Understanding how lineages have responded to shifting biodiversity hotspots represents a necessary historic perspective on the formation and maintenance of global marine biodiversity. Such evolutionary inferences are often challenged by a lack of fossil evidence that provide insights into historic patterns of abundance and diversity. The greatest diversity of squirrelfishes and soldierfishes (Holocentridae) is in the IAA, yet these fishes also represent some of the most numerous fossil taxa in deposits of the former West Tethyan biodiversity hotspot. We reconstruct the pattern of holocentrid range evolution using time-calibrated phylogenies that include most living species and several fossil lineages, demonstrating the importance of including fossil species as terminal taxa in ancestral area reconstructions. Holocentrids exhibit increased range fragmentation following the West Tethyan hotspot collapse. However, rather than originating within the emerging IAA hotspot, the IAA has acted as a reservoir for holocentrid diversity that originated in adjacent regions over deep evolutionary timescales.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
... Oceanic sites experience extreme isolation and relatively small shallow water area, thus diminishing the chances of larval input from the continental margins as well as limiting the availability of suitable habitats for the adults . Only after the mid-1990s, a significant increase in sampling effort resulted in some knowledge of the Brazilian reef fish fauna (Floeter & Gasparini, 2000Joyeux et al., 2001, Luiz Jr. et al., 2007Rocha & Rosa, 2001;Feitoza et al., 2003). Nevertheless, the Brazilian reef fish community beyond 30 m remains broadly unknown (Feitoza et al., 2005). ...
An individual of the scorpaenid St. Helena deepwater scorpionfish, Pontinus nigropunctatus (Günther, 1868) was caught by a fisherman close to the rocks of the Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago, Brazil (0°55´N; 29°21´W). It is the first record of the species for the archipelago, early reported only as an endemic species of the St. Helena Island. The specimen measured 42.5 cm total length, weighed 1100 g, and was caught by hand line at night at 150 meters local depth. Resumo. Registro do peixe-escorpião-de-água-profunda-de-Santa-Helena Pontinus nigropunctatus (Günther) (Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae), no Arquipélago de São Pedro e São Paulo, Brasil. Um exemplar de peixe-escorpião, o peixe-escorpião de Santa Helena, Pontinus nigropunctatus (Günther, 1868), foi capturado por um pescador próximo ao Arquipélago de São Pedro e São Paulo, Brasil (0°55´N; 29°21´W). É o primeiro registro da espécie para o arquipélago, anteriormente reportado somente como espécie endêmica da Ilha de Santa Helena. O espécime mediu 42,5 cm de comprimento total, pesou 1100 g, e foi capturado com linha de mão durante a noite a 150 m de profundidade local. Palavras chave: Espécies endêmicas, novo registro, arquipélago Atlântico, peixe de profundidade, pesca de mão de linha de fundo.
... Até o início do século XXI havia sido publicado apenas um estudo sobre os peixes do estuário Amazônico e da plataforma continental adjacente (Barthem 1985), condição bastante diferente daquela observada para a Lagoa dos Patos, intensamente estudada em relação à composição da ictiofauna (ver Chao et al. 1985) e à biologia das espécies (ver Haimovici 1997). Atualmente, praticamente inexistem publicações a respeito da composição de peixes marinhos-estuarinos da costa Norte do Brasil, e os poucos trabalhos disponíveis têm caráter local (Martins-Juras et al. 1987, Camargo & Isaac 2001, Rocha & Rosa 2001, EspíritoSanto et al. 2005, Feitoza et al. 2005 Figueiredo et al. 2002, Bernardes et al. 2005), Central (Rocha & Costa 1999) e Nordeste (Lessa & Nóbrega 2000, Coelho 2004, Vaske Junior et al. 2004). Os resultados disponíveis até o momento para costa Norte são em grande parte focalizados em poucas espécies de importância pesqueira (e.g. ...
A região tropical do Atlântico Sul ocidental, que inclui uma porção substancial da Zona Econômica Exclusiva brasileira, é uma região de endemismo amplamente reconhecida como sendo de importância primária para a conservação da biodiversidade marinha. A costa norte do Brasil, que inclui os Estados do Amapá, Pará, e Maranhão, desde a foz do rio Oiapoque até a foz do rio Parnaíba, abriga o maior manguezal contínuo do mundo, com aproximadamente 8.900 km2. A alta descarga de água doce e sedimentos continentais no delta do Amazonas afeta o regime das marés, correntes oceânicas, e uma série de processos oceanográficos da costa norte, com impactos diretos na composição da biota encontrada na região. Apesar de seu valor econômico e relevância biológica intrínseca, diversos aspectos da diversidade de peixes marinhos e estuarinos da região são pouco conhecidos. Esta situação resulta principalmente de um desequilíbrio histórico em termos do número de estudos voltados ao conhecimento da biota marinha ao longo da costa brasileira, como aqueles que tratam do inventariamento de espécies e revisões taxonômicas, que são tipicamente concentrados nas porções sul e sudeste do país. A produção científica focalizada nos organismos marinhos da costa norte também é desequilibrada e reflete o número relativamente baixo de taxonomistas e grupos de pesquisa trabalhando com o tema. O conhecimento insuficiente da biodiversidade dos peixes marinhos e estuarinos da costa norte é um impedimento à implantação de políticas públicas adequadas voltadas para o manejo dos recursos naturais na região. À longo prazo, essa situação é potencialmente prejudicial em termos da conservação de uma biota ainda pouco conhecida. Um melhor conhecimento da fauna de peixes marinhos da costa norte do Brasil será atingido apenas através do investimento em pesquisas científicas e formação de pessoal em sistemática e biogeografia, acoplado à modernização da infra-estrutura e expansão das coleções científicas da região.
... Our results also appear to be comparable to results from some Indo-Pacific systems (Roff and Mumby 2012) (summarized in Table 2). The counts of acanthurids and scariness were also found to be generally 1-3 orders of magnitude higher in Brazil (Rocha and Rosa 2001;Floeter et al. 2007) and Kenya (McClanahan 2011) than in Abu Shosha. The study by Bouchon-Navaro and Harmelin-Vivien (1981) also reports densities of herbivores in the Gulf of Aqaba which average about ten times higher than our grand means of fish counts per square meter in both Abu Shosha (0.09 fish/m 2 ± 0.01) and Coastguard 1 Reef (0.04 fish/m 2 ± 0.01). ...
A healthy herbivore community is critical for the ability of a reef to resist and recover from severe disturbances and to regain lost coral cover (i.e., resilience). The densities of the two major herbivorous fish groups (the family Acanthuridae and scarine labrids) were comparatively studied for an inshore reef that was severely impacted by a mass coral bleaching event in 2010 and an unaffected reef within the same region. Densities were found to be significantly higher on the affected reef, most likely due to the high algal densities on that reef. However, densities of herbivores on both reefs were found to be on average about 1–2 orders of magnitude lower than previously published reports from some Pacific reefs and from Red Sea reefs in the Gulf of Aqaba and only slightly higher than Caribbean reefs. Thus, it is predicted that recovery for this reef and similarly affected reefs may be very slow. The protection of herbivores from overfishing and the introduction of other management strategies that maximize reef resilience in Saudi Arabian waters are highly recommended.
... Morphology. Over the years, the second author accumulated data from numerous visual surveys on Brazilian and Caribbean reefs (eg.: Rocha and Rosa 2001, Smith-Vaniz et al. 2002), where he recorded coloration patterns of Acanthurus bahianus. Color photographs of A. bahianus were also obtained from several locations in Brazil and the Caribbean. ...
The ocean surgeonfish, Acanthurus bahianus, has been historically recorded from Bermuda and Massachusetts to southern Brazil and the islands of the central Atlantic. We have found that individuals in the southwestern and central Atlantic con-sistently have a posterior bright yellow margin on the caudal fin and an orange/red margin on the dorsal fin. This coloration is different from the characteristic white/blue fin margins on individuals from the northwestern Atlantic. In addition, there is a clear genetic distinction (d= 2.4% mtDNA, CytB) between these two lineages. With the corroborating coloration and genetic differences, we suggest that these two lineages represent distinct species. The South Atlantic species retains the name of A. bahianus and we propose to resurrect A. tractus (Poey 1860) as the valid name for the northwestern Atlantic species.
... With 196 recorded species, the reef fish assemblage of the Laje de Santos Marine State Park has a relatively high richness when compared to other localities along the Brazilian coast. Despite its higher latitude position (i.e., subtropical), our study site has an equal or even a larger number of species than similarly-sized tropical reefs of Northeastern Brazil (Rosa & Moura 1997, Feitoza 2001, Ferreira & Cava 2001, Rocha & Rosa 2001, Souza et al. 2007). This is probably due to the co-occurrence of tropical and subtropical/temperate species on Brazil's southeastern coast. ...
7 Corresponding author 8 Retired and associated as voluntary researcher Abstract A check-list containing 196 species of reef fishes recorded at the Laje de Santos Marine State Park is presented. Most of them occur along the tropical western Atlantic or occur on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. A minor part ranges to the temperate rocky reefs of Patagonia or are endemics to southeastern Brazil. Moringua edwardsi, Antennarius multiocella- tus, Scorpaena dispar, Aulostomus strigosus, Lutjanus buccanella, Mulloidichthys martinicus and Halichoeres penrosei have here their ranges extended southwards to the São Paulo coast. Basic data on species abundance at the study site, dis- tribution of species between habitat types, trophic structure, feeding symbiotic associations, and conservation are com- mented upon.
The present work presents the first record of Myrophis punctatus and a photographic record, after more than four decades, of Gymnothorax ocellatus for the State of Maranhão. The authors confirm the identification of the species using external morphological characters of the specimens collected in the Maranhão Gulf, an estuarine complex that divides the east and west coasts of the Maranhão.
Coastal islands of Grande Rio, located south Rio de Janeiro and Maricá cities have been under multiple anthropogenic impacts. Despite these problems, these insular systems shelter a high diversity of fish species. Reef fishes are essential components of tropical marine coastal communities, also providing food and income for millions of people around the world. In this work, we generated an updated checklist from Cagarras Islands Natural Monument and surrounding areas based on fisheries data, literature records and multiple sampling techniques, including the Submersible Rotating Video technique, used for the first time in Brazil. We present an inventory of 282 fish species representing 91 different families, with 21 new records for the study area, including a non-native species (Heniochus acuminatus). In addition, our results show a moderate endemism level for the Brazilian province (approximately 6.0%), while 10.5% of species are assigned to one of IUCN's threatened categories. Our efforts show the fish biodiversity scenario and their distribution on coastal islands more than 10 years after the C agarras Islands Natural Monument establishment, reinforcing the importance of monitoring research programs for the management of this Marine Protected Area and surrounding waters, that play a key role for artisanal fisheries.
Quando se fala em ictiologia no Brasil, a primeira coisa que nos vem mente a bacia do rio Amazonas que, sem
d vida, cont m a ictiofauna mais diversificada do mundo. Essa simples lembran a geralmente leva a maioria dos
jovens icti logos brasileiros a estudar peixes de gua doce, enquanto a fauna de peixes marinhos recebe aten o
relativamente menor. Isso se reflete claramente na escassez de guias de identifica o e cat logos de peixes marinhos
do Brasil. Uma das principais caracter sticas da costa norte do Brasil a descarga de volume elevado de gua doce e
sedimentos no ambiente marinho, o que contribui para a forma o da mais extensa rea de manguezais do planeta.
Esse fator confere regi o condi es ambientais nicas que influenciam fortemente a sua biodiversidade, tanto nas
reas costeiras quanto em zonas mais profundas. Entretanto, apesar da fauna de peixes marinhos da costa norte
brasileira possuir imensa import ncia biol gica, at ent o a menos conhecida do pa s, embora tenha significativa
import ncia na vida das comunidades costeiras e na economia da regi o.
Tal lacuna no conhecimento deve-se, possivelmente, ao fato de haver poucas comunidades desenvolvidas ao longo
da costa, enquanto as grandes cidades e, por consequ ncia, as universidades e centros de pesquisa, est o localizados
no interior e margem de grandes rios. Por m, a costa norte respons vel pela segunda maior produ o
pesqueira marinha do Brasil, o que contrasta com a baixa produ o de conhecimento taxon mico e biol gico dos peixes
marinhos que comp em a sua fauna, com pequeno n mero de exemplares depositados em cole es zool gicas
brasileiras. Embora a atividade pesqueira concentre-se na explora o de reas costeiras, como na pesca da Pescada
Amarela e do Gurijuba, a pesca nos recifes mesof ticos da Amaz nia tamb m importante, como na pesca do Pargo,
com impacto direto sobre recursos naturais muito pouco conhecidos.
Tanto as esp cies end micas, t picas de zonas estuarinas como a Pescada Negra, quanto as esp cies marinhas, encontradas
em recifes profundos ao longo da quebra da plataforma continental, compartilham uma hist ria influenciada
por mudan as ambientais ocorridas ao longo dos ltimos 11 milh es de anos que moldaram a bacia do rio Amazonas,
com efeitos diretos na fauna marinha com h bitos costeiros ou de formas exclusivamente marinhas, conferindo caracter sticas
e padr es de distribui o nicos aos peixes marinhos descritos neste livro.
O primeiro e maior desafio para a conserva o ambiental a descri o e a cataloga o dos organismos de uma
dada regi o. Produzir listas de esp cies e guias de identifica o um fator important ssimo para o conhecimento e
manejo da fauna, e fundamental para que medidas de conserva o possam ser implementadas. Permitem, ainda,
que recursos naturais possam ser explorados de forma sustent vel e esp cies invasores possam ser monitoradas.
Esse conhecimento b sico tamb m contribui para o estabelecimento de diretrizes e limites da explora o de recursos
naturais, como o petr leo.
Assim, este livro representa ferramentas necess rias para que pescadores amadores e profissionais, cientistas, conservacionistas
e curiosos conhe am a diversidade dos peixes marinhos da costa Norte do Brasil. O livro composto
por chaves de identifica es, fichas descritivas e ilustra es de todas as esp cies costeiras com registros confirmados
para a regi o. Al m disso, cientificamente correto, muito bem organizado e de f cil utiliza o. Sua consulta vai ser
indispens vel e extremamente til para o avan o dos esfor os de conserva o da regi o. Parabenizo a todos os
autores pela elabora o deste manual, que vai preencher uma das grandes lacunas do conhecimento da ictiofauna
marinha brasileira.
Luiz A. Rocha
Curador e Follett Chair de Ictiologia, California Academy of Sciences
O período de defeso da lagosta foi criado para estabelecer as
regras de ordenamento, monitoramento e controle da pesca,
do transporte, do processamento, do armazenamento e da
comercialização desses recursos, o que torna sua pesca e
comercialização mais sustentável durante os anos.
A costa do Estado do Maranhão possui uma grande concentração de peixes, e entre eles encontram-se os elasmobranquios. O estudo da biodiversidade e dinamica populacional de elasmobranquios é de fundamental importancia para a sustentabilidade e manutenção das espécies exploradas, assim como para o ordenamento das atividades pesqueiras Durante os anos de 1997 e 1998 foram realizados prospecção pesqueiras usando o barco Labohidro I, assim como foram efetuados acompanhamentos de desembarques comerciais para conhecer a fauna, a alimentação e reprodução dos elasmobranquios da ZEE. um total de 34 espécies, 18 tubarões e 16 raias foram identificados, predominando as familias Carcharhinidae e Sphyrnidae.
An integrative approach by the congruence of genetics, morphology and ecological niche modelling (ENM) was used to delimit a new species of Hypanus (Rafinesque, 1818), a recently resurrected genus of marine stingrays comprising eight species, five of which occur in the western Atlantic. The species with the widest distribution, Hypanus americanus (Hildebrand and Schroeder, 1928), from the northeastern coast of the United States to southeastern Brazil, was demonstrated to be paraphyletic based on protein‐coding mitochondrial genome analyses. This data set also indicates that the genetic distance between the new species Hypanus berthalutzae sp. nov. and its three closely related species (H. americanus, H. longus and H. rudis) varies from 0.82% to 3.14%. In addition, Bayesian Analysis of Population Similarity using the mitochondrial gene mt‐nd2 supports the separation of H. berthalutzae sp. nov. (southwestern Atlantic) from its sister species H. rudis (eastern Atlantic). Similarly, morphological and morphometric analyses corroborated four morphotypes within the H. americanus species group and indicated the ventral caudal fold height and length and interspiracular and interorbital lengths as useful measurements to distinguish among them. Claspers of adult males also exhibit morphological differences among species. The ENM agreed with molecular and morphological analyses and delimits the distribution of H. berthalutzae sp. nov. to shallow areas close to shore along the Brazilian coast, from the mouth of the Amazon River to São Paulo State, including the northeastern oceanic islands, suggesting that the great outflow of fresh water and sediments and the Mid‐Atlantic Ridge might act as barriers. The integration of these data to describe a new species provides information relevant to their conservation status, because all species of the H. americanus species group are under the “data‐deficient” status.
O mergulho recreativo (MR) é uma das atividades turísticas que mais cresce no mundo, gerando emprego e renda, além de poder contribuir com a conservação dos ambientes recifais, impulsionando a criação de unidades de conservação (UC) e auxiliando com insumos financeiros a manutenção de UCs já existentes. Apesar das vantagens socioeconômicas, quando realizado sem controle, o MR pode provocar impactos negativos ao ecossistema recifal, como alterações na estrutura das comunidades, danos físicos aos recifes e redução na resisliência do recife. Diversos estudos em recifes de corais no mundo têm caracterizado tais impactos propondo estratégias de manejo e indicadores biológicos para monitoramento. As peculiaridades dos recifes brasileiros, com baixa cobertura coralínea e elevada cobertura de algas e esponjas, torna necessário identificar e definir estratégias de manejo próprias para esse tipo de uso. O presente estudo avaliou o impacto que o mergulho recreativo provoca em ambientes recifais tropicais do Brasil. O primeiro capítulo é uma análise cienciométrica que indica as tendências dos estudos sobre os impactos do MR nos ambientes recifais brasileiros. Os resultados mostram o crescimento do número de publicações com esse tema ao longo do tempo e aponta a carência de uma análise integrada dos impactos que o MR causa na biota recifal. Além disso, observou-se a necessidade de delineamento do perfil, preferências e do comportamento dos mergulhadores. Nosso trabalho indica ainda que os recifes do Ceará e recifes urbanos da Paraíba e Alagoas são áreascom maior carência de estudos no tema. No segundo capítulo foi caracterizado o comportamento de mergulhadores recreativos em uma Área de Proteção Ambiental Marinha (AMP) no nordeste brasileiro, quantificando-se a frequência de toques no substrato recifal relacionado ao perfil do mergulhador e características do tipo de mergulho realizado. A frequência média de toques (FT) observada foi notadamente inferior no recife estudado, quando comparado a outros estudos em recifes de corais do mundo. As variáveis que influenciaram na FT foram: tipo de mergulho (scuba > snorkel), sexo (homens > mulheres) e na faixa etária (acima de 50 anos, maior que nas demais faixas etárias). A discussão deste capítulo aborda como as características físicas do local de estudo pode ter influenciado na redução da FT, e também a postura dos profissionais do turismo. O terceiro capítulo trata dos impactos do MR na ictiofauna e na comunidade bentônica em um ambiente recifal tropical do Brasil. Nesse capítulo a realização de uma análise integrada de múltiplas variáveis da biota marinha identificou importantes alterações na estrutura da comunidade recifal em função do MR. Essa abordagem permitiu a observação de possíveis relações de causa e efeito que a avaliação de apenas um grupo biológico poderia não detectar. As principais alterações documentadas foram: maior frequência relativa de areia e cascalho na cobertura do substrato e menores valores das categorias coral duro, coral mole e algas filamentosas nas áreas de Alto uso. A densidade média de corais não variou entre as áreas, contudo, a espécie de coral Favia gravida apresentou menor densidade nas áreas turísticas. As áreas de Alto uso exibiram ainda maior abundância relativa de ouriços pretos e invertebrados sésseis. As áreas de Baixo uso apresentaram maior cobertura de algas folhosas. Com relação a ictiofauna observou-se maior abundância, menor diversidade e dominância da espécie Haemulon aurolineatum nas áreas de alto uso. Nessas áreas destacaram-se as maiores abundâncias dos grupos tróficos invertívoros móveis, onívoros e carnívoros, com predominância de peixes da categoria de tamanho entre 11 – 20 cm. As áreas Controle apresentaram um padrão diferente com menor abundância total de peixes, maior diversidade e homogeneidade, com maior abundância de herbívoros, especialmente os territoriais, e destaque para as categorias de tamanho de 6 – 10 cm e de 21 – 30 cm. Nas áreas de Baixo uso observou-se valores intermediários e de maior semelhança com as áreas Controle. Essas alterações podem ser causadas diretamente pelo MR ou por efeitos indiretos, que é resultado da complexa forma como os diferentes táxons respondem aos danos oriundos da atividade turística. Apesar disso, essas modificações são espacialmente pontuais e com mais estudos, monitoramento, fiscalização e manejo adequado, acredita-se que os impactos possam ser reduzidos nas áreas turísticas. Neste trabalho ainda são sugeridas medidas de manejo para redução do impacto do MR e indicadores biológicos que podem otimizar o monitoramento de áreas recifais submetidas a atividade turística O quarto e último capítulo relata como o uso de uma abordagem metodológica diversificada em um projeto de Educação Ambiental (EA), cujo tema foi “os impactos do mergulho recreativo”, foi eficaz em uma escola pública do entorno de AMP alvo da especulação turística. Os resultados indicam que a combinação do conhecimento científico, conhecimento local, uso de mídias e visitas à ambientes não-formais são fundamentais para a eficácia de um projeto de EA. Esta tese apresenta dados pioneiros sobre os impactos que o mergulho recreativo gera em ambientes recifais brasileiros, contribuindo efetivamente para o manejo e desenvolvimento de um turismo sustentável em áreas protegidas marinhas.
The Brazilian-endemic greenbeack parrotfish, Scarus trispinosus Valenciennes, 1840, is the largest herbivorous reef fish in the South Atlantic. Following the sharp decline of large carnivorous reef fishes, parrotfishes (Labridae: Scarinae) were progressively targeted by commercial fisheries in Brazil, resulting in a global population decline of 50% for S. trispinosus . Most of its remnant population is concentrated in the Abrolhos Bank, where the present study was conducted. We present novel information on age, growth and the reproductive cycle of S. trispinosus , based on 814 individuals obtained from commercial fisheries’ landings and scientific collections, between 2010 and 2013. Sex ratio was biased toward females (1:8), and spawning occurred year-round with discrete peaks in February-March and June-December. Increment analysis indicated annual deposition of growth rings in otoliths, which presented 1–22 rings. The asymptotic length at which growth is zero ( L∞ ) was estimated from a Bayesian logistic regression at 85.28 cm, growth rate ( K ) at 0.14 year ⁻¹ , and the theoretical age at zero size ( t0 ) at 0.16. Subregional demographic structuring was detected, with predominance of slower-growing individuals in shallower inshore reefs and predominance of faster-growing and older individuals in deeper offshore sites. We demonstrate that S. trispinosus is highly vulnerable to over-exploitation due to its large size, long live and slow-growth, and review the management measures proposed since its Red List assessment in 2012.
In reef environments, fish assemblages are characterized by great species diversity in a vast spectrum of niches. In addition, many species constitute important resources for fisheries and tourism activities, with some included in lists of endangered species. In this socio-ecological context, data from fish assemblages has frequently subsidized the creation and/or management of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). With the purpose of providing a baseline assessment of reef fish to subsidize the management of Pedra da Risca do Meio Marine State Park / Ceará - Brazil (whose acronym in Portuguese is PEMPRM), we describe the composition and assemblages structure of the fishes in this MPA. To inventory the species, we conducted 112 SCUBA dives with the intensive search method at eight sites inside the PEMPRM during six years of sampling. In parallel, to assess the structure of the assemblages, we conducted 63 stationary visual censuses distributed among three of these sites during one year of sampling. In total, 131 taxa belonging to 54 families were identified representing approximately half of the regional diversity. Thirteen of these species (10%) are included in categories with some level of threat IUCN or Brazilian red list categories and six are considered endemic to the Brazilian Biogeographic Province. The assemblages of the three studied sites varied in species richness, number of endangered species, and trophic structure. These results were corroborated by multivariate analyses (PERMANOVA) that indicated significant differences among the assemblages of the three sites. Our results point to a spatial zoning approach for the management of PEMPRM.
A new species of jawfish, Opistognathusthionyisp. n. , is described from the Vitória-Trindade Chain and Fernando de Noronha Archipelago off Brazil, a disjunct distribution of ca. 1,800 km. Opistognathusthionyi and its allopatric Caribbean sister-species, Opistognathusmaxillosus , both have a wide, fan-like upper margin of the subopercular flap and mostly over-lapping meristic data. The new species differs from O.maxillosus in having the darkest spot on the spinous dorsal fin, when present, between spines 2–5, versus always present between spines 6–9, the buccal area surrounding the esophageal opening pale versus very dark and fewer oblique scale rows in longitudinal series (45–52 vs. 69–85). A second new species, Opistognathusvicinussp. n. , known from Brazil’s mainland, has completely over-lapping meristic values with its allopatric Caribbean sister-species O.whitehursti , but differs in lacking vomerine teeth and a supramaxilla and retaining the juvenile color pattern of the latter species in adults. Diagnoses, photographs, an identification key, and distributional maps are given for all Brazilian species of Opistognathus .
Molecular phylogenetic analysis of partial cytochrome c oxidase subunit-I sequences indicates that specimens of the two allopatric pairs, O.thionyi – O.maxillosus and O.vicinus – O.whitehursti , form reciprocally monophyletic groups that differ from each other on average by 9 to 11%, with less than 1% average pair-wise genetic distance within-species. Similar patterns of phylogenetic structure were observed between reciprocally monophyletic (predominately allopatric) groups within nominal species of Opistognathusaurifrons , suggesting the possibility of at least two additional undescribed species from the Brazilian Province.
An updated and annotated checklist of the endemic reef fishes of the tropical and sub-tropical southwestern Atlantic
A molecular phylogenetic analysis with complete species sampling of the family Kyphosidae revealed several discrepancies with the current taxonomy. We thus undertook a complete taxonomic revision of all kyphosid genera, i.e. Kyphosus Lacepède, 1801, and the monotypic Hermosilla Jenkins and Evermann, 1889, Sectator Jordan and Evermann, 1903 and Neoscorpis Smith, 1931. Species delimitation was determined on the basis of congruence between (a) monophyletic groupings in the molecular phylogeny, and (b) clusters of morphological variation in type material. Twelve species are supported and redescribed. Both Hermosilla and Sectator are considered junior synonyms of Kyphosus. Kyphosus azureus (Jenkins & Evermann, 1889) and K. ocyurus (Jordan & Gilbert, 1882) are redescribed accordingly. We designate a neotype for Kyphosus cornelii (Whitley, 1944), as the original material is lost, and new material was collected at the type locality for this study to facilitate comparison with other species of Kyphosus. Kyphosus sandwicensis (sensu Sauvage, 1880) was found to be a junior synonym of K. elegans (Peters, 1869). Kyphosus incisor (Cuvier in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1831) and K. analogus (Gill, 1862) are considered junior synonyms of K. vaigiensis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825). Kyphosus gallveii (Cunningham, 1910), K. pacificus Sakai and Nakabo, 2004 and K. lutescens (Jordan & Gilbert, 1882) are all considered junior synonyms of K. sectatrix (Linnaeus, 1758). One of the two syntype specimens of K. sectatrix was identified as the holotype of Pimelepterus bosquii (Lacepède, 1802), and proved to be a specimen of K. bigibbus Lacepède, 1801. This specimen is re-assigned as a non-type of K. bigibbus. Full re-descriptions of the following valid species are presented: K. bigibbus, K. cinerascens (Forsskål, 1775), K. cornelii, K. elegans, K. hawaiiensis Sakai and Nakabo, 2004, K. gladius Knudsen and Clements, 2013, K. sydneyanus (Günther, 1886) and K. vaigiensis, together with a key to the family. The distribution of Kyphosus species is reconsidered based on our taxonomic revision, indicating that four species (K. bigibbus, K. cinerascens, K. sectatrix and K. vaigiensis) occur in both the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions.
Species of the tropical gobiid genus Gnatholepis have been misidentified and confused for many years. A gobionelline, Gnatholepis is the only strictly marine genus of that subfamily. Gnatholepis was reviewed from a morphological viewpoint, as recent publications distinguishing species (morphologically and genetically) have not always been in agreement. The genus is considered to include nine described species, with two distinctive sister-taxa (G. argus and G. gymnocara) and seven less easily distinguished taxa: one species-group formed by G. anjerensis, G. knighti, G. ophthalmotaenia andG. yoshinoi and another species-group of G. cauerensis, G. pascuensis and G. thompsoni. Of these, the G. cauerensis species-group is the most complex, with several subspecies-names available. There is also a distinctive taxon from the Red Sea that represents a new species, described herein.
Rocky reef fish assemblage structure in seven coastal islands of Southern Brazil was characterized by underwater visual census (20 m x 2 m transect method 40 m2), average depth of six meters, to obtain density (fish/40 m2) and biomass (grams/40 m2). Fish species were categorized according to their trophic category and geographical distribution. In total, 526 strip transects were performed, covering an area of 21,040 m2, totaling 19,377 individuals (means of 36.83 fish/40 m2 and 1,790.23 g/40 m2), distributed among 73 species from 34 families. Among these, 60% of the species occur in the western Atlantic, 20% are transatlantic and 9.60% occur only in the Brazilian Province. The species Stegastes fuscus was the most frequent and with highest density. Acanthurus chirurgus showed the highest biomass, followed by S. fuscus. Itacolomis Island presented the highest density, 48.18 fish/40 m2, followed by Veado Island with 43 fish/40 m2. Regarding biomass, Itacolomis Island and Pedra da Baleia were the most representative with mean values of 3,253 and 3,028 g/40 m2, respectively. Mobile invertebrate predator was the trophic category with the highest density, represented by 26% of species registered, also having the highest density (12.57 fish/40 m2). Mobile invertebrate showed the highest biomass (780.48 g/40 m2). Our results indicated that despite the similarity in taxonomic composition between islands, there are differences in density and biomass, highlighting singular assemblage structures, whether by environmental and/or anthropogenic factors, and dominated by few species, both in density and biomass.
A molecular phylogenetic analysis with complete species sampling of the family Kyphosidae revealed several discrepancies with the current taxonomy. We thus undertook a complete taxonomic revision of all kyphosid genera, i.e. Kyphosus Lacepède, 1801, and the monotypic Hermosilla Jenkins and Evermann, 1889, Sectator Jordan and Evermann, 1903 and Neoscorpis Smith, 1931. Species delimitation was determined on the basis of congruence between (a) monophyletic groupings in the molecular phylogeny, and (b) clusters of morphological variation in type material. Twelve species are supported and redescribed. Both Hermosilla and Sectator are considered junior synonyms of Kyphosus. Kyphosus azureus (Jenkins & Evermann, 1889) and K. ocyurus (Jordan & Gilbert, 1882) are redescribed accordingly. We designate a neotype for Kyphosus cornelii (Whitley, 1944), as the original material is lost, and new material was collected at the type locality for this study to facilitate comparison with other species of Kyphosus. Kyphosus sandwicensis (sensu Sauvage, 1880) was found to be a junior synonym of K. elegans (Peters, 1869). Kyphosus incisor (Cuvier in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1831) and K. analogus (Gill, 1862) are considered junior synonyms of K. vaigiensis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825). Kyphosus gallveii (Cunningham, 1910), K. pacificus Sakai and Nakabo, 2004 and K. lutescens (Jordan & Gilbert, 1882) are all considered junior synonyms of K. sectatrix (Linnaeus, 1758). One of the two syntype specimens of K. sectatrix was identified as the holotype of Pimelepterus bosquii (Lacepède, 1802), and proved to be a specimen of K. bigibbus Lacepède, 1801. This specimen is re-assigned as a non-type of K. bigibbus. Full re-descriptions of the following valid species are presented: K. bigibbus, K. cinerascens (Forsskål, 1775), K. cornelii, K. elegans, K. hawaiiensis Sakai and Nakabo, 2004, K. gladius Knudsen and Clements, 2013, K. sydneyanus (Günther, 1886) and K. vaigiensis, together with a key to the family. The distribution of Kyphosus species is reconsidered based on our taxonomic revision, indicating that four species (K. bigibbus, K. cinerascens, K. sectatrix and K. vaigiensis) occur in both the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions.
We present a species checklist, characterizing the ichthyofaunal composition of four coastal archipelagos in waters off the metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Data were obtained from ~120 h of underwater observations, published and unpublished information, including new species records. A total of 197 fish species (78 new records), belonging to 130 genera and 61 families, were observed. The family Carangidae (17) dominated in number of species, followed by Labridae and Serranidae (10 each), Epinephelidae and Scaridae (9 each). Most species are distributed along the tropical western Atlantic (51.8%) or on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean (20.5%). A minor part is endemic to Brazil (9.7%) or range to temperate rocky reefs of Patagonia (6.7%). Fourteen species are threatened, according to the IUCN, and listed under the Brazilian Ministry of the Environment red list (6.6%). Despite an increment of fish species listed herein, and the recent establishment/creation of a Marine Protected Area (Monumento Natural das Ilhas Cagarras—MoNa Cagarras), research efforts are clearly needed along these archipelagos, as nearshore environmental threats increase due to lack of regulatory practices.
Genetic surveys of widely distributed marine species often find previously undetected biodiversity. In the present study, populations of three species of Halichoeres were sampled across their entire geographical ranges: Halichoeres cyanocephalus and Halichoeres maculipinna were sampled on both sides of the Amazon freshwater outflow, the main biogeographic barrier in the tropical western Atlantic; and Halichoeres garnoti was sampled in the Caribbean and Bermuda. Genetic divergences between populations separated by the Amazon ranged from 2.3% in H. cyanocephalus to 6.5% in H. maculipinna. There is inconsistency between color differences and genetic partitions in the species surveyed. The color differences between populations of H. cyanocephalus and H. maculipinna correspond to deep genetic partitions at the cytochrome b locus. However, genetic similarity at this same locus was observed between populations of H. garnoti with striking color differences. Based on the combination of the observed genetic differences with diagnostic color differences, the Brazilian species Halichoeres dimidiatus (Agassiz) and Halichoeres penrosei Starks, 1913 are revalidated. In addition, a neotype is designated to H. cyanocephalus (Bloch, 1791), to clarify its taxonomic status and type locality. All species analyzed have a similar larval dispersal potential, but varying degrees of genetic divergences were observed, indicating that benthic stage ecology may also play a role in speciation in this group.
Reef fish assemblage survey results using Transect, Point, and Random in situ visual assessment techniques were evaluated and compared on a coral reef biotope off SW Puerto Rico. Parameters compared were: number of species, number of individuals, and species diversity. Divers using the Random technique recorded the highest number of species per survey; assemblage parameters recorded using Transect and Point methods were statistically similar for most dependent variables. Point surveys, however, had a higher and less variable species diversity. Divers were more efficient in sampling numbers of individuals when using the Transect method. -from Authors
A survey of the tidal pool fish community was carried out between february/1987 and january/1988, at Cabo Branco Beach, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil. Specimens were collected monthly at low tide, using rotenone. A total of 3143 specimens was obtained. The most speciose families were Ophichthidae (14% of the total number of species), Mugilidae (11%) and Muraenidae (9%), and the most representative ones in number of individuais were Gobiidae (48%), Pomacentridae (13%) and Labrisomidae (10%). The main resident species were Bathygobius soporator (Valenciennes, 1837) and Abudefduf saxalilis (Linnaeus, 1758). The presence of a large number of juveniles in the pools indicated the importance of the studied sites as nursery áreas for several fish species.
The coral reef is an ecossystem which evokes great interest, for its beaury, species diversity and fisheries potential. The coast of Paraíba State, northeast Brazil, possesses several natural reefs and shipwrecks which are inhabited by a rich fish fauna. In order to survey the reef fish fauna of Paraíba State, a total of 118 dives, utilizing SCUBA diving techniques, were carriedoutin 27samplingpoints (depths: 0,5-66m), from February/1995 to May/1996. Specimens were collected whenever underwater identification was precluded. A total of 157 known species belonging to 59 families were found. Four unidentified species, one dasyatid, one haemulid, one scarid, and one labrid were recorded. Haemulidae was the most representative family in number of individuais, whereas Carangidae was the most speciose family. This paper is part of a broader study of the northeast Brazilian reef fishes.
Haemulon squamipinna n. sp. is described from the northeastern Brazilian coast. It is distinguished from its congeners by the combination of the presence of 10-12 yellow stripes on the body (the broadest midlateral) a black blotch below the lower edge of the preopercle, and scales covering more than three-quarters of the pectoral fins. Haemulon squamipinna occurs in the depth range of 2-30 m. At depths below 10 m, during the day, adults form schools which may number in the thousands. /// Haemulon squamipinna n. sp. é descrita da costa do Nordeste do Brasil. Ela se distingue dos seus congêneres pela combinação da presença de 10-12 faixas amarelas, a mais larga sendo a média, uma mancha negra sob a margem inferior do preopérculo e escamas cobrindo mais que tres quartos das nadadeiras peitorais. Haemulon squamipinna ocorre entre 2 e 30 m de profundidade. Em profundidades maiores que 10 m, durante o dia, os adultos formam cardumes nos quais o número de indivíduos pode chegar a milhares.
The Brazilian coast, the Caribbean and the tropical South Atlantic oceanic islands reef ichthyofauna separated into two major clusters: (1) the western Atlantic continental margin and Bermuda, further divided into (1a) the western North Atlantic, and (1b) the Brazilian coast; and (2) the South Atlantic oceanic islands, also divided in (2a) the Brazilian offshore islands, and (2b) Ascension and St Helena. Species geographic ranges suggest the recognition of only two western Atlantic zoogeographic provinces for tropical marine shore fishes. A Brazilian Province, including the offshore localities of Atol das Rocas, Fernando de Noronha, Trindade and St Paul's Rocks, and an expanded West Indian Province that includes Bermuda. Ascension and St Helena should be regarded as a separated Central Atlantic Province.
New occurrences of 11 species of reef fishes are reported for the western South Atlantic, range extensions are recorded for additional 37 reef species along the Brazilian coast, and the distribution of reef ichthyofauna along the eastern coast of South America is commented upon.
The Brazilian coast, the Caribbean and the tropical South Atlantic oceanic islands reef ichthyofauna separated into two major clusters: (1) the western Atlantic continental margin and Bermuda, further divided into (1a) the western North Atlantic, and (1b) the Brazilian coast; and (2) the South Atlantic oceanic islands, also divided in (2a) the Brazilian offshore islands, and (2b) Ascension and St Helena. Species geographic ranges suggest the recognition of only two western Atlantic zoogeographic provinces for tropical marine shore fishes. A Brazilian Province, including the offshore localities of Atol das Rocas, Fernando de Noronha, Trindade and St Paul's Rocks, and an expanded West Indian Province that includes Bermuda. Ascension and St Helena should be regarded as a separated Central Atlantic Province.
The community of demersal, resident reef fishes of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands was studied to determine the various roles of fishes within the piscivorous trophic subweb. Relative abundance estimates for 160 fish species were made on the basis of extensive visual censuses and four chemical collections. Diet information was collected by gut analysis of 52 piscivorous species from 16 families. Twenty species were termed major piscivores and 32 minor piscivores. Twelve to 31% of the biomass of the entire fish community at the four chemical stations was piscivorous. The Apogonidae, Labridae, Mullidae, Scorpaenidae, Pomacentridae, Holocentridae and Gobiidae were the most important prey families, providing over 70% of all prey. The families producing largest piscivorous impacts were the Muraenidae, Synodontidae, Congridae, Labridae, Scorpaenidae, Holocentridae, Priacanthidae and Cirrhitidae. Several families contained a number of intermediate level species whose combination of relatively high abundance, moderate degree of piscivory, and substantial vulnerability to predation gave them a wide trophic scope and an important place in the total trophic activity. The quantitative approach used here to analyze community trophics by estimating predation by and upon whole interacting populations offers promise for improved understanding of these complex systems.
This section provides an overview of the phylogenetically extremely diverse groups collectively regarded as ‘microorganisms’. This term is misleading as by no means all are microscopic. The definition accepted here is: organisms which either belong to phyla many members of which cannot be seen by the unaided eye, or where microscopic examination, and in many cases growth in pure culture, is essential for identification (Hawksworth, 1992). Some of the themes touched on here with specific reference to microorganisms are developed from a broader perspective elsewhere in the report (Chapter 4). The glossary should be consulted for definitions of certain terms.
A quick dip into the literature on diversity reveals a bewildering range of indices. Each of these indices seeks to characterize the diversity of a sample or community by a single number. To add yet more confusion an index may be known by more than one name and written in a variety of notations using a range of log bases. This diversity of diversity indices has arisen because, for a number of years, it was standard practice for an author to review existing indices, denounce them as useless, and promptly invent a new index. Southwood (1978) notes an interesting parallel in the proliferation of new designs of light traps and new permutations of diversity measures.
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