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Reef Fish Identification: Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas
... Energy-biotopes with E D > 60 J/m 3 (high and high-intermediate energy density) contain Anthothelidae soft corals projecting perpendicularly from vertical walls, slope breaks, canyons, and crevices such as in the shelf-edge reefs (e.g., Santa Rosa wall) (Humann, 1993). In contrast, Rhodolites cover terraces and reef current channels in the shape of small free-living nodules at 0.03-0.3 ...
... In contrast, Rhodolites cover terraces and reef current channels in the shape of small free-living nodules at 0.03-0.3 m height (e.g., Corallineae, Peyssonneliaceae), forming habitats on which a wide variety of species can attach themselves, including corals and other algae (e.g., Halimeda spp., Caulerpa spp., Sargassum spp., Dictyota spp.) (Humann, 1993;Littler and Littler, 2000;Montaggioni, 2011) (Fig. 5 and Table 2). Organisms characteristically related to high-intermediate energy density levels (60 < E D < 250 J/m 3 ) and flow speeds of 0.34-0.7 m/s include the following seaweeds: a) Rhodophyta (red algae) families, such as Corallineae and Melobesiae, heavily calcified and attached to hard substrates, coral fragments, debris, and coarse sand, often in seabed grasses from shallow to 30 m depth; b) Melobesiae, which regulate bio-erosion of the substrate; and c) algae such as Chlorophyta (green algae) and Phaeophyta (brown algae) represented by Dasycladus spp. ...
... In this energy-biotope, soft corals (Briareum asbestinum Pallas, 1766) and green algae (e.g., Avrainvillea spp. and Rhipocephalus spp.) grow as large paths together with seagrass (e.g., Thalassia testudinum K. D. Koenig, 1805) or on sandy plains between reefs (Humann, 1993;Littler and Littler, 2000) ( Table 2) Table 2). Underwater marine activities in low energy density biotopes are limited due to shallow water and proximity to the shoreline. ...
A R T I C L E I N F O Keywords: Marine kinetic energy Cruise tourism Ocean currents Coral reefs Mexican caribbean A B S T R A C T In general, ocean energy refers to renewable energy for human consumption, but less often relates to conservation and environmental protection. Within this context, this study describes and investigates energy-biotopes as a new concept, based on energy features, to use as a relevant resource for reefs conservation, marine-based tourism, and the harvesting of renewable ocean energy for Cozumel Island. Cluster analyses and linear trend models indicate an energy-tourism-economy connection with a similarity >90% and a correlation >0.976 between tourist arrivals, total revenue (US$ 161.74), and electric energy consumption (~64.62 Wh), per tourist. Moreover, field measurements of ocean current velocities (U) were conducted to assess the spatial distribution of kinetic energy density (E D) over the western coast of Cozumel Island. These results were compared with information obtained from prior studies on reef cover, benthic distribution, and tourism activities to identify the environment-energy-tourism relationship. Results indicate that marine biotopes with low and intermediate energy values (E D < 60 J/m 3 , U < 0.34 m/s) correlate with reef structures that are highly attractive for tourism and with moderate flow velocities for drift-diving, which represents the basis of tourism and the primary source of income for Cozumel Island. In contrast, high-energy biotopes (E D > 250 J/m 3 , U < 0.70 m/s) may contribute to meeting energy demands through the use of marine energy and the resulting increase in tourism and economic development in the area. However, the effects on marine organisms that are not typically attractive for tourists, but are of ecological significance, should be considered. Environmental habitats and electric energy demands are discussed regarding the local economy, which supports a floating population of 4.10 million people and where the reef environment plays an essential role both as part of the marine landscape and in the formation of globally unique energy-biotopes.
... Atlantic coast of Florida. Palm Beach (Humann 1992;Humann & DeLoach 2002;Cairns et al. 2002).-Biscayne Bay (Jones 2002, as Plumularia dendritica). ...
... Bay (Jones 2002, as Plumularia dendritica). Florida (Humann 1992) and the Bahamas (Vervoort 1968, as Plumularia dendritica) to the Caribbean Sea (Calder & Kirkendale 2005;Galea 2010). ...
The morphological and genetic identification of hydrozoans collected in the reef patches of Santa Marta, Colombia was carried out. This study allows to present two new records of hydroids species for the Colombian Caribbean: Halopteris alternata and Dentitheca dendritica. A total of 11 species and 1 genus were found using morphological and genetic identification with partial sequences of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene. The order Leptothecata was the most abundant represented by 9 families: Aglaopheniidae, Clytiidae, Haleciidae, Halopterididae, Kirchenpaueriidae, Plumulariidae, Sertularellidae, Sertulariidae and Thyroscyphidae, while the order Anthoathecata was represented by 2 families: Eudendriidae and Pennariidae. Despite the lack of studies on this group of organisms in the country, the use of the 16S rRNA gene proved to be very useful to provide complementary evidence in our understanding of the biological diversity of hydrozoans in Colombia.
... Porites colonensis es un coral del mar Caribe (Veron, 2000) cuya distribución geográfica (Figura 1A) incluye las Antillas (De Beauville-Scott et al., 1999;Steiner, 2003) y toda la plataforma continental centroamericana, exceptuando al Golfo de México (Cortés y Guzmán, 1985;Guzmán, 1998;Guzmán y Guevara, 1998;Beltrán-Torres y Carricart-Ganivet, 1999;Fenner, 1999). Sus colonias son aplanadas y habita principalmente en taludes arrecifales a profundidades entre 3-30 m sobre esponjas o zonas muertas de otros corales scleractineos (Zlatarski, 1990;Humann, 1993;Veron, 2000). Es similar a algunas variedades de Porites astreoides y Porites branneri, dos especies del Caribe con quienes coincide geográficamente y también pueden crecer en forma aplanada (Zlatarski y Martínez-Estalella, 1982;Humann, 1993;Jameson, 1997;Veron, 2000), por Figura 1. A) Distribución geográfica de P. colonensis [tomado de Veron (2000)]. ...
... Sus colonias son aplanadas y habita principalmente en taludes arrecifales a profundidades entre 3-30 m sobre esponjas o zonas muertas de otros corales scleractineos (Zlatarski, 1990;Humann, 1993;Veron, 2000). Es similar a algunas variedades de Porites astreoides y Porites branneri, dos especies del Caribe con quienes coincide geográficamente y también pueden crecer en forma aplanada (Zlatarski y Martínez-Estalella, 1982;Humann, 1993;Jameson, 1997;Veron, 2000), por Figura 1. A) Distribución geográfica de P. colonensis [tomado de Veron (2000)]. B) Localización geográfica de los ejemplares colectados en el Caribe colombiano e identificados previamente como P. colonensis [modificado de Díaz y Acero (2003) lo cual podría ser confundido. ...
Porites colonensis is a coral from the Caribbean Sea; colonies are foliaceous, undulated, and plate-like. Polyps are dark brown or red with small bright white or green centers; pali are present in corallites and the septal plan is bisymmetrical, conformed by three fused ventral septa, a dorsal solitary septum, and two pairs of lateral septa at each side of the dorso-ventral axis. P. colonensis is similar and can be confused with the smooth varieties of Porites astreoides and Porites branneri. There are three specimens collected from Colombia and previously identified as P. colonensis: one from Golfo de Urabá (Darién ecoregion), other from Islas del Rosario (Coralline Archipelagos ecoregion), and another from an unspecified locality, in addition to one published observation from the Golfo de Urabá without collected specimens. A recent finding of other specimens in the Tayrona National Natural Park (TNNP, Tayrona ecoregion) and the absence of a rigorous taxonomic revision for all specimens collected from Colombia showed that it was necessary to review the presence and distribution of P. colonensis in the Colombian Caribbean. A taxonomic review was done for all specimens collected from Colombia and previously identified as P. colonensis. Then, the morphologic variability of specimens that were confirmed as P. colonensis was described. Only the specimens from TNNP agreed with the holotype description of P. colonensis, while others agreed with flat varieties of P. astreoides. Thus, the presence of P. colonensis is confirmed for the first time for Colombia, but its presence in other Colombian localities outside Tayrona ecoregion could not be demonstrated. This is the only confirmed record of this species for the South American continental shelf. Furthermore, the skeletal characteristics of Colombian P. colonensis corallites showed large variability, exceeding the ranges previously described for the species.
... Ecological tolerance among the transisthmian lineages does not correlate with divergence time. New World species of Apogonidae (genera Apogon, Astrapogon, Phaeoptyx, Paroncheilus, and Zapogon) are all marine, found in shallow coral or rocky reef habitats in their respective seas [42,43]. Eleotridae are generally more euryhaline, and inhabit brackish and freshwater as well as salt. ...
... Ecologically, generalist taxa are less susceptible to extinction than specialists when confronted with habitat change [48]. Sleepers and cardinalfishes are both widely distributed groups, with high diversification rates (Apogonidae, [23]), wide ecological tolerances (Eleotridae, [44]), and generalist feeding strategies [42][43][44]. Although impossible to measure from phylogenetic reconstructions based on extant taxa, extinction of more specialized or canalized phenotypes would be expected in a period of tectonic upheaval and environmental change. ...
Background
The Pleistocene closure of Isthmus of Panama, separating the basins of the Eastern Pacific and the Caribbean Sea, created a unique natural experiment that reveals how marine faunas respond to environmental change. To explore how fishes have been affected by this tectonic event, I compare transisthmian patterns in phylogeny and morphology for geminate lineages in two families, Eleotridae (sleepers) and Apogonidae (cardinalfishes).
Results
Time-calibrated phylogenies for these families show different diversification patterns. In Eleotridae, several independent shallow instances of transisthmian divergences occur, with one or a few species on either side of the Isthmus. Among Apogonidae, a single clade of Eastern Pacific species is nested within a broad Caribbean radiation that also includes a species known from the Mediterranean. Divergence time estimates for taxa isolated by closure of the Isthmus are broadly congruent. Hypotheses dated with deeper, fossil-based legacy calibrations put the divergences in the Miocene at 7.4–15.1 Ma, while those estimated with a shallow biogeographic calibration of final Isthmus closure range from 5.1 to 9.9 Ma, in the late Miocene/early Pliocene. Eleotridae are more euryhaline than Apogonidae, but do not exhibit shallower transisthmian divergences. In both families, descendent lineages on either side of the Isthmus of Panama exhibit significant shape differences, although that distinction disappears for Apogonidae when I apply a correction for phylogenetic relationships. To evaluate the tempo and mode of continuous character evolution, I fit several single and multiple rate evolutionary models to morphometric data reconstructed on the Apogonidae phylogeny. I find that the most highly favored model, as estimated on both legacy and isthmus calibrated hypotheses, is a multiple rate Ornstein-Uhlbeck model, with a mosaic of rate shifts postulated for shape changes among fishes in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.
Conclusions
Although many transisthmian taxa have been compared and their phylogenies calibrated to estimate the dates associated with population sundering, few studies correlate these timing estimates with morphological change. I show that in transisthmian fish lineages, morphometric distinctions are detectable across the Isthmus, and that rates and patterns of shape change have also shifted, with variable manifestations across the body and between the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.
Electronic supplementary material
The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12862-017-0957-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
... En el caso de aquellas especies que conforman grandes cardúmenes y no permanecen constantemente en las raíces de mangle, se registró su presencia mas no su abundancia (ejemplo: Clupeidae y Atherinidae). Para la identificación de las especies presentes se utilizaron claves de campo (Humann, 1996;Cervigón y Ramírez, 2012). ...
RESUMEN Los manglares son ambientes esenciales para el crecimiento y desarrollo de muchas especies de peces, especialmente en el Caribe donde son considerados guarderías. En el Parque Nacional Morrocoy existen zonas de manglar que, a pesar de presentar un alto grado de afectación, ocupan grandes extensiones, resaltando su importancia como ambiente marino-costero. Para evaluar su importancia para la ictiofauna, se identificaron las especies de peces presentes en estos ambientes, sus variaciones espaciotemporales y la relación con variables ambientales y ubicación dentro del parque. Se realizaron censos visuales en 5 sitios de manglar durante 4 muestreos, identificando las especies y su estadio (juveniles/adultos). Se estimó la densidad de raíces, profundidad, área y distancia a los pasos de corrientes. Se cuantificó un total de 2.729 individuos en 49 especies. Se observaron variaciones espaciotemporales en la densidad de juveniles, mientras que las densidades de adultos fueron bajas en todos los sitios y muestreos. Las densidades de juveniles fueron mayores en playa Mero y Pescadores (495,83±140,24 ind/100 m 2 en jul/2013 y 253,33±96,24 ind/100 m 2 en octubre/12 respectivamente); las altas densidades se debieron a la presencia de Haemulon flavolineatum y Lutjanus griseus. Las variables que explicaron mejor esta variación fueron: la distancia al paso de corrientes y la densidad de raíces. Las raíces de manglar constituyen un hábitat importante para la ictiofauna arrecifal, particularmente los manglares ubicados en las zonas más externas del parque ya que presentaron una mayor diversidad y funcionan como un refugio de juveniles, especialmente para especies de importancia comercial. Abstract Mangrove roots as nursery habitat for coral reef fishes in Morrocoy National Park, Venezuela Mangroves are essential habitats for the growth and development of many fish species, especially through their role as a nursery habitat in the Caribbean. At Morrocoy national park, mangroves cover extensive areas and are very important marine coastal habitats, despite their degradation. To evaluate the importance of
... The black scorpionfish Scorpaena plumieri (Figure 1a), known in Brazil as mangangá, niquim-de-pedra or mamangava, is one of the most venomous fish in the Brazilian coast, being responsible for accidents involving mostly fishermen and unadvised tourists . It usually dwells in shallow waters and reefs, disguised among rocks and plants (Humann 1994, Campos et al. 2016. Specimens reach up to 50 cm and display 12 dorsal, 2 pelvic and 3 anal short and thick mucus-covered fin spines (Figure 1b-d), which harbor primitive venomproducing glands (Moyle & Cech 1996. ...
The scorpionfish Scorpaena plumieri is one of the most venomous fish species in the Brazilian coast. Amongst many biological activities, the S. plumieri fish venom (SpV) promotes hemagglutination. Although this activity appears to be associated to the presence of C-type lectins in the venom, it has not yet been chemically or functionally characterized. In the present work we sought to advance the characterization of the hemagglutinating activity associated to this venom. By fractionating SpV through saline precipitation followed by size exclusion chromatography we obtained two purified fractions - HF1 and HF3 - with Ca2+-dependent agglutinating activity against rabbit erythrocytes, which remained stable upon storage at 4 and -80oC. HF1 and HF3 were bacteriostatic against Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus), displaying minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 50 and 200 μg/mL, respectively. In addition, a resazurin-based viability assay revealed that both fractions, at doses up to 370 μg/mL, were cytotoxic against tumor and non-tumor cell lines. Finally, a tendency towards edema formation could be detected when the fractions - particularly HF1 - were injected into mice footpads. We believe our data contribute to a better understanding of the biological properties of the so often neglected fish venoms.
... A atividade de pastoreio de peixes do gênero Acanthurus afeta as comunidades bênticas de recifes de corais de modo variado. Sua atividade de escavação do substrato duro contribui para o processo erosivo (bioerosão) e de sedimentação intensiva, influenciando na composição, desenvolvimento, abundância e padrão de distribuição da população de algas e comunidades associadas (Horn, 1989 (Böhlke & Chaplin, 1993;Humann, 1994). Esta espécie é amplamente capturada para fins de aquarismo e também utilizada na alimentação de pescadores na Paraíba (Dias et al., 2001). ...
In Brazil, studies on the ictyofauna reef are still rare and consequently little or nothing if
knows about the alimentary habits of fish herbivore reefs, except for some exceptions. The
Reserva Biológica do Atol das Rocas, has been attracting an enormous scientific interest, due
to the singularity of your system reef when compared to the Ocean Pacific typical formations.
It is done necessary the amplification of the scientific knowledge especially on the alimentary
habits of fish herbivore reef mainly in A. coeruleus in order to contribute for environmental
characterization the effects upon the benthic community. The collections of the A. coeruleus
specimens were made during the project: "Distribuição e aspectos ecológicos das macroalgas
da reserva biológica do Atol das Rocas", Biomar-UFF e Fundação Boticário, summing up 20
individuals in two samplings (winter of 2001 and summer of 2002). The analysis of the A
coeruleus diet was made starting from the application of the numerical method, the
gravimetric method, the frequency of occurrence method, and for the indexes of relative
importance (IRI) of Dias, index of relative Importance (IRI) of Pinkas and index of Specific
Prey (weigh and number) Amundsen. There have been identified and counted 44.750
macroalgae fragments belonging to 27 taxa in the 2 samplings (winter of 2001 and summer of 2002). The analysis of the stomach content based on the methods and alimentary indexes resulted in a great variety of ordinations of the degree of relative importance of the appraised alimentary items. The behavior of the results of the used indexes and methods may be on of the consequence of the characteristics of the stomach content of A coeruleus in presenting an enormous width of size of preys from fragments possessing measurement in micrometers to macroalgae pieces with some centimeters (2cm). The alimentary index considered as appropriate to describe and to evaluate the A. coeruleus diet, was IRI index of Relative Importance of Pinkas, Acanthurus coeruleus presented a diversified alimentary diet in which most of the consumed alimentary items belonged to the class Rhodophyta in which the macroalgae, Gelidium and Digenea were among the consumed alimentary items were the most abundant in the alimentary diet in the winter and in the summer
... La mayoría de los serpúlidos que se han observado asociados a corales (e.g., algunas especies de Spirobranchus), generalmente se ubican en secciones muertas de las colonias (Mak 1982, Nishi 1996. Algunas esponjas y octocorales pueden fungir como sustrato secundario para algunas especies de Spirobranchus (Skinner et al. 2012, Hoeksema et al. 2015, García-Hernández & Hoeksema 2017; además se han observado casos de simbiosis, como Hydroides spongicola que al parecer es simbionte obligado de la esponja Neofibularia nolitangere (Humann 1992, Fosså & Nilsen 1996. Asimismo, se ha observado que varias especies de espirórbinos están asociadas a frondas de macroalgas y otros invertebrados . ...
This chapter is dedicated to the serpulid worms from México and Tropical America, including identification keys for all species and discussion about questionable records.
... The perciform family Kyphosidae currently accommodates 12 species in two genera: Neoscorpis Smith, 1931 and Kyphosus Lacepède, 1801 (see Clements 2013, 2016;Knudsen et al. 2019). Their morphology is uniform with only subtle variations among species (Humann 1994). The genus Kyphosus is represented by 11 species widely distributed in the Atlantic, Indian, and the Pacific oceans (Sakai and Nakabo 1995, 2014Knudsen and Clements 2013). ...
One individual of the brassy chub, Kyphosus vaigiensis (Quoy et Gaimard, 1825) (41.5 cm TL, 1.27 kg TW), was caught off Annaba, on the eastern coasts of Algeria in December 2013. This circumtropical fish is found for the first time on the south-western Mediterranean coasts. The chronology of its records in the Mediterranean supports the hypothesis of its Atlantic origin.
... Taxonomic identification: Identification of all collected individual samples was performed following the published reference materials (Rahman et al. 2009, Allen 1985, Heemstra and Randall 1993, Humann 1994). All possible morphometric and meristic characteristics were carefully observed, measures and counted. ...
The study was conducted to know the diversity of coral associated fishes of the Saint Martin Island from December 2017 to April 2019. A total of 46 coral associated marine fish species were recorded, among them 12 species; sunajtuL iughcliug , Lutjanus russellii, Parupeneus indicus, Siganus sutor, Thalassoma lunare, Gazza achlamys, Pomadasys andamanensis, Pomadasys kaakan, Lethrinus crocineus, Argyrosomus regius, Istigobius ornatus and Cryptocentrus cyanotaenia under six family were newly recorded from this Island. We assume that there are more species to be explored and need proper management strategy for conservation of coral reef and its associated biodiversity.
... Consequently, it is important to understand the species diversity, biology, and ecology of Linuche. Several studies on the distribution (Kramp 1961), seasonal occurrence (Larson 1992), stings (Segura-Puertas et al. 1999, 2001, Humann 2002, feeding (Larson 1976), and life cycle (Ortiz-Corp s et al. 1987, Silveira & Morandini 1998) of the Linuche have been carried out in the Atlantic, while studies on Linuche are scarce in the Indo-Pacific, including Japan. ...
The order Coronatae is a unique group, with the following characters distinguishing them from other scyphozoans: a coronal furrow, a coronate pedalium, and oocytes that develop without accessory pigments. Coronatae polyps are enclosed in chitinous tubes and produce multiple ephyrae via polydisk strobilation. So far, eleven described species of Coronatae have been reported in Japanese waters: Atolla wyvillei, Atolla vanhoeffeni, Atolla russelli, Atorella vanhoeffeni, Atorella japonica, Nausithoe punctata, Palephyra pelagica, Periphylla periphylla, Periphyllopsis braueri, Stephanoscyphistoma corniformis and Nausithoe racemosa. The present study reports detailed observations of the morphology of one species newly recorded in Japan: Linuche draco. Development from ephyra to mature medusa was observed and recorded. Additional investigations are needed to understand the diversity of the order Coronatae in Japan.
... Todos os pescadores entrevistados mencionam que os cavalos-marinhos são animais sedentários e extremamente mansos, que usam sua cauda para agarrar-se a substratos de apoio (por exemplo, raízes ou folhas de árvores do mangue, algas, corais e rochas) (Figura 3), ou que são vistos flutuando ou inclinando seus corpos sobre o substrato lamoso. Uma comparação da percepção dos pescadores com os dados disponíveis na literatura científica (Humann 1994 Para a maioria dos pescadores, os cavalos-marinhos ocorrem e se criam exclusivamente no estuário, vivendo nas bordas dos manguezais, principalmente em "camboas" (n = 124; 68,5%), que são prolongamentos no leito dos rios, de águas mais paradas. Os pescadores mencionaram ainda que os cavalos-marinhos têm preferência pelos "remansos", locais onde não têm correntes de água e com pouca profundidade. ...
Cavalos-marinhos são peixes ameaçados de extinção devido a sua intensa
exploração comercial e à degradação ambiental. Dentro de uma perspectiva social, a
sua pesca direta representa uma fonte de renda em algumas comunidades pesqueiras. A
integração entre esses dois aspectos passa pelo reconhecimento de que pescadores
apresentam uma série de conhecimentos e habilidades que podem auxiliar quando da
implementação de planos de manejo os cavalos-marinhos e seus ambientes. Neste
capítulo apresentam-se informações acerca da percepção de pescadores ocasionais ou
intencionais de cavalos-marinhos do Norte e Nordeste do Brasil sobre a biologia e
ecologia do cavalo-marinho Hippocampus reidi, no sentido de que o conhecimento
ecológico por eles detido e o contexto sócio-econômico em que vivem sejam
considerados nas ações de conservação e em estratégias de manejo.
... A cleaning interaction was classified as such when the cleaner fish was directly observed biting or nipping a shark, and these interactions were captured on photo or video. Individual sharks were identified through photo-ID, and fish species were identified followingHumann (2002). Then the type of cleaning interaction was categorised based on the body part targeted by cleaner fish. ...
Cleaning interactions are essential for healthy marine ecosystem communities. This study reports the first documentation of the whale shark Rhincodon typus cleaning behaviour in the Indo‐West Pacific by two wrasse species, the blue‐streak cleaner wrasse Labroides dimidiatus and the moon wrasse Thalassoma lunare in Cebu, Philippines. This study documented 36 cleaning interactions with 14 individual whale sharks. The cleaning interactions appear opportunistic rather than targeted by the sharks, unlike that observed in other species of elasmobranchs. Further work should focus on understanding the drivers of these unique cleaning interactions.
... After thawing, the samples were washed, hand-sorted into morphospecies, quantified, and preserved in 70% ethanol. All decapods were identified to the lowest possible taxon using multiple sources [26,27,[50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58]. ...
The community composition of decapods associated with subtidal tropical seagrass meadows was analyzed in a pristine reef lagoon on the Mexican Caribbean coast in the summer of 1995 and winter of 1998. The macrophyte community was dominated by Thalassia testudinum followed by Syringodium filiforme, with interspersed rhyzophytic macroalgae and large patches of drift algae. In each season, 10 one-min trawls were made with an epibenthic sled (mesh aperture 1 mm) during the day and 10 during the night on each of five sites. In all, 53,211 decapods belonging to 119 species were collected. The most diverse taxa were Brachyura and Caridea, but the most abundant were Caridea and Anomura. Dominance was high, with three species (Latreutes fucorum, Cuapetes americanus, and Thor manningi) accounting for almost 50% of individuals, and 10 species accounting for nearly 90% of individuals. There was great similarity in community composition and ecological indices between seasons, but significantly more individuals and species in night versus day samples. In the 20+ years elapsed since the samples were taken, the reef lagoon has undergone substantial environmental changes due to extensive coastal development and, more recently, the decay of massive beachings of floating Sargassum macroalgae. This study constitutes a valuable baseline for future studies investigating the potential impact of these stressors on tropical seagrass-associated communities.
... The Kyphosidae has been considered a group that are taxonomically difficult for a long time (Humann 1994). Kyphosid species are found in temperate, subtropical, and tropical waters in the Indo-Pacific (Sakai and Nakabo 2004) and the Atlantic (Smith-Vaniz et al. 1999) regions. ...
The complete mitochondrial genome of smallscale blackfish, Girella melanichthys (Perciformes: Kyphosidae), was analyzed using MGISEQ-2000 platform. The assembled mitogenome had 16,518 nucleotides (overall A + T contents 56.2%), containing canonical 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, and 1 putative control region. Among 13 PCGs, seven genes (ND2, ND3, ND4, COII, COIII, CytB, ATPase6) had incomplete stop codons. The phylogenetic study revealed that G. melanichthys is more closely related to G. leonina than G. punctate. This study will be useful to shed light on the evolution of the family Kyphosidae and the genus Girella.
... Brachygenys chrysargyreum (Günther, 1859) Breder & Rosen (1966), Ogden et al. (1975), Courtenay & Sahlman (1978), Erdman (1983), Martin & Patus (1984), Bouchon-Navaro & Louis (1986), Robins & Ray (1986), Robins et al. (1991), Böhlke & Chaplin (1993), Cervigón 1993), Humann (1994, Lieske & Myers (1994), Randall (1996), Rosa & Moura (1997), Smith (1997), Aguilera (1998), Rocha & Rosa (1999) Brachygenys peruanus (Hildebrand, 1946) Xenistius peruanus Hildebrand, 1946: 235, fig figure) to D VIII,11 and A III,14 (Bloch's figure) and D VIII,11 and A III,12 (Bloch's text) (Fig. 3). Bauchot et al. (1983: 33) Eastern Pacific (4 species) and western Atlantic (1 species) with a total of five species (Johnson, 1980). ...
The present study gives an updated checklist of the species belonging to the family Haemulidae. Information on the status of 402 nominal species, including 131 valid species, 235 synonyms, 20 incertae sedis, 10 nomina nuda, and six non-haemulid species, are given.
... Zea, 1986) and field guides are now reliable enough (e.g. Humann, 1992) to allow quick recognition in surveys and ecological studies. Following the example from European waters, we are now turning towards (1) revision of 'generalized' widespread taxa with the purpose of testing morphological integrity, and (2) focussing on small and hidden taxa, so far largely ignored. ...
Thirteen new species of sponges are described from coral reefs of the Netherlands Antilles and the Colombian Caribbean. Species were collected during quantitative investigations of reef sponges performed by students of the University of Amsterdam in the period between 1984 and 1991. Most of the reported specimens were taken from undersides of coral rubble, crevices or reef caves (sciophilous habitats) and without exception are small encrusting or fistular sponges. The material reported in this paper includes a new genus and species of Placospongiidae, Placospherastra antillensis n. g. n. sp. , the first Caribbean representatives of the genera Triptolemma (Pachastrellidae) and Megaciella (Acarnidae), viz. Triptolemma endolithicum n. sp. and Megaciella incrustans n. sp., a new species of Timeidae, Timea curacaoensis n. sp., a new species of Microcionidae with peculiar colloscleres, Clathria (Thalysias) collosclera n. sp., two new species of Chondropsidae, viz. Batzella fusca n. sp., and Strongylacidon unguiferum n. sp., three new species of Coelosphaeridae, viz. Forcepia (Forcepia) minima n. sp., Forcepia (Forcepia) fistulosa n. sp., and Forcepia (Leptolabis) microlabis n. sp., a new species of Crellidae, Crella (Grayella) beglingerae n. sp., a new species of Hymedesmiidae, Hymedesmia (Hymedesmia) bonairensis n. sp., and a new species of Mycalidae, Mycale (Paresperella) vitellina n. sp. Most species are represented by only small fragments removed from the substrate by scalpel or diving knife, leaving little and often crumbled preserved type material. This study is intended to demonstrate that the small crusts dominating easily accessible shallow water coral rubble habitats in the Caribbean remain understudied.
... Here we introduce E. naucrates as a new host for conspecifics, list 17 additional hosts for this remora species and review briefly the echeneid-host interactions. juvenile visually estimated to be approximately 10 cm TL (adults reach about 80-90 cm, see Randall, 1996;Humann, 2002). The two E. naucrates remained attached for at least two hours, and were video-taped for a total of 4:52 min. ...
... Brachygenys chrysargyreum (Günther, 1859) Breder & Rosen (1966), Ogden et al. (1975), Courtenay & Sahlman (1978), Erdman (1983), Martin & Patus (1984), Bouchon-Navaro & Louis (1986), Robins & Ray (1986), Robins et al. (1991), Böhlke & Chaplin (1993), Cervigón 1993), Humann (1994, Lieske & Myers (1994), Randall (1996), Rosa & Moura (1997), Smith (1997), Aguilera (1998), Rocha & Rosa (1999) Brachygenys peruanus (Hildebrand, 1946) Xenistius peruanus Hildebrand, 1946: 235, fig figure) to D VIII,11 and A III,14 (Bloch's figure) and D VIII,11 and A III,12 (Bloch's text) (Fig. 3). Bauchot et al. (1983: 33) Eastern Pacific (4 species) and western Atlantic (1 species) with a total of five species (Johnson, 1980). ...
A checklist of the species belonging to the family Haemulidae is presented. Information about the status of 402 nominal species, including 131 valid species, 235 synonyms, 20 incertae sedis, 10 nomina nuda, and six non-haemulid species, are given. The nominal species Dentex diplodon Bowdich, 1825 placed in the Sparidae according to the ECoF is here recognized in the Haemulidae. The article will be published by the Iranian J. Ichthyiol.
... Six species have been documented to be found along the West Indian Region (Rodriguez, 1995). However, within the limits of the Bahamian islands may occur only three: Gorgonia ventalina, G. flabellum, and G. mariae (Human, 1994). ...
The chemical composition of the investigated gorgonians showed a high level of individual variation and the colonies, according to their major contributors, were assigned to 10 distinct chemical profiles, among which A , C, E , and G were them ost abundant ones. From the metabolites identified in the present study, either by means of GC /MS or using NMR techniques after conventional separation procedures, the novel cyclic ether 5,10-epoxymuurolane is found in significant quantities in D and I chemical profiles. Furanotriene, isofuranotriene and furanodiene could be referred as the most common metabolites of the genus, since they are found in 6 out of 10 chemical profiles. Isosericenine is, also, a significant contributor of H and I chemical profiles. A number of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, such as curzerene, bicyclogermacrene, valencene, β-bourbonene and β -elemene, along with the oxygenated sesquiterpenes elemanolide and furoventalene, are present at varying concentrations in the majority of the chemical profiles. Metabolites of high discriminant value are: α-himachalene for the K chemical profile, α -santalene and its oxygenated derivatives for the G chemical profile and the three geometrical isomers of germacrone for the F chemical profile.
Several chemical profiles show ed narrow geographic distribution. Most of the chemical profiles are located in the north, while F inhabits mainly southern sites and the others are equally distributed. Finally, 91 % of the chemical profiles of the gorgonian colonies appeared to grow in all depths, while 9 % did not inhabit deep -water environments. Most chemical profiles are less frequent at higher water depths with the exception of chemical profiles A and C.
... The bottom of the lagoon is covered with calcareous sand and stabilized by seaweed grasslands; patches of corals have colonized some areas becoming coral reef communities (Humann, 2002;Álvarez-Cadena et al., 2007) (Fig. 1). ...
ABSTRACT The present study provides information on the morphology of stomatopod larvae found in two different reef systems which are also considered national parks: the Sistema Arrecifal Veracruzano (SAVNP) and Arrecife Puerto Morelos (APMNP). Zooplankton samples were collected at 26 stations of the SAVNP and four stations of the APMNP. Stomatopod larvae were identified and classified by their larval stage. We found representatives of three stomatopod superfamilies: the superfamily Gonodactyloidea Giesbrecht, 1910 was represented by Neogonodactylus oerstedii (Hansen, 1895), Neogonodactylus wennerae Manning and Heard, 1997, and Pseudosquillidae genus and species indeterminate; the superfamily Lysiosquilloidea Giesbrecht, 1910 was represented by Lysiosquilloidea genus and species indeterminate, Lysiosquilla sp., Lysiosquilla scabricauda (Lamarck, 1818) and Nannosquilla adkisoni Camp and Manning, 1982; the superfamily Squilloidea was represented by larvae of Alima neptuni (Linnaeus, 1768), Squilla spp., and Squilla empusa Say, 1818. We were able to identify and describe four stages of larval development for representatives of these superfamilies. This is the first study describing several stages of larval development of different species of the stomatopods from the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea.
... Lifetime SSTs were calculated for each individual calibrated to the estimated age of fish. Individual annual fish age was obtained using the inverse function of the von Bertalanffy growth curve (VBGC)(Mackay and Moreau 1990) taking into account the parameter estimates of the VBGC for the species(Humann, 1999: L ∞ = 15 cm;Schwamborn & Ferreira, 2002: ...
... Böhlke y Chaplin (1993); Humann (1994); Froese y Pauly, (2000). Las categorías supraespecíficas se definen según Nelson (1994). ...
Se presenta una investigación dirigida a profundizar en el conocimiento del impacto
ambiental que la estructura del pedraplén Caibarién – Santa María ha tenido sobre la
ictiocenosis local. Se desarrolla una caracterización de las asociaciones de peces
registradas en las márgenes del pedraplén, a 9 años del establecimiento total de esta
obra ingenieril sobre el lecho marino.
En el año 2003 se realizaron 80 censos visuales que se distribuyeron en 4 estratos
de muestreo a lo largo del vial, en ambas épocas hidroclimáticas. Se utilizó la
metodología de transectos lineales (Brock, 1954) con algunas modificaciones.
Las familias mejor representadas por la cantidad de individuos fueron: Haemulidae,
Lutjanidae y Scaridae. La abundancia presentó diferencias significativas (p<0.05)
para la interacción de los factores: estratos y márgenes, permaneciendo semejante
entre épocas. La biomasa exhibió un resultado similar. Las tallas más frecuentes de
los individuos censados oscilan entre los 10-20 cm de longitud horquilla. El gremio
trófico dominante en cuanto al número de individuos resultó el correspondiente a los
zoobentófagos. La diversidad no resultó alta pues existe gran dominancia numérica
de pocas especies.
La composición por especies mostró alta similitud con la reportada para los
manglares de la región, aunque la estructura de la comunidad basada en la densidad
difiere de la registrada en los biotopos más cercanos. Las estimaciones de biomasa
íctica resultan semejantes a las obtenidas para los productivos arrecifes parches del
archipiélago Sabana - Camagüey.
Los resultados sugieren que la heterogeneidad espacial (incremento de refugios)
aportada por las rocas marginales del pedraplén ha creado condiciones favorables
para el desarrollo de ictiofauna que es exportada principalmente de los manglares del
área.
... Permukaan atas tersusun dari struktur menyerupai kipas yang mengandung kalsium (kalsifikasi) dan memutih, tetapi sisa tanaman berwarna kecokelatan. Habitat pada substrat berbatu di laut, terutama rataan terumbu yang dangkal (Humann 1993). ...
Setiawati T, Nurzaman M, Mutaqin AZ, Budiono R, Abdiwijaya A. 2017. Vitamin C content and potential of makroalga in the Coastal Region of Cigebang, Cianjur, West Java. Pros Sem Nas Masy Biodiv Indon 3: 39-44. This research aims to know the content of vitamin C macroalgae and its potential for the community in coastal area Cigebang Cianjur, West Java province. The methods used in the study is a quantitative descriptive approach. Techniques of sampling survey method using macroalgae, vitamin C test with the method iodometry, and to know the potential of macroalgae according to the community is carried out by the methods of questionnaire. The results showed that there is a difference of vitamin C on seven types of macroalgae are found namely Boergesenia forbesii 0.0167 mg/mL, Codium edule 0.0191 mg/mL, Padina sanctae-crucis 0.0686 mg/mL, Chaetomorpha antennina 0.0129 mg/mL, Ulva lactuca 0.0191 mg/mL, Cladophoropsis sundanensis 0.0211 mg/mL, and Sargassum sp. 0.0959 mg/mL. of the highest content of vitamin C contained in Sargassum sp. and the lowest at Chaetomorpha antennina. Based on the knowledge of local people, macroalgae are potentially economically and mostly sold to support the life of the community. Some people offer it as foodstuffs such as dodol, urab, stir fry, and even can be consumed directly. Other potential communities know about the macroalgae, i.e. as food ingredients gelatin, cosmetic ingredients, such as batik shirt-making materials, and medicines.
Anthropogenic stressors are causing widespread coral mortality, leading to loss of coral cover and decreased structural complexity that threatens reef biodiversity, functioning, and ecosystem services. Reef fishes are intimately linked to coral reef complexity, but we lack a generic understanding of which species are particularly affected by reef flattening and what traits make them susceptible. We used extensive species‐ and trait‐based analyses to build a framework for western Atlantic fish association with both structural complexity and coral cover to better understand the implications of reef degradation. These analyses also highlighted the relative importance of live coral versus the structure it provides to reef fishes, which currently remains unclear. We modeled how 25 biophysical and anthropogenic factors correlated with the densities of 109 fish species across 3292 Floridian reef sites. The importance of a metric of structural complexity and coral cover to the abundance of each species was then isolated. Species with positive associations were categorized as likely future ‘losers' and negative associations as ‘winners'. We predicted that 53% of species will be losers on low‐relief reefs, while only 11% were losers with decreased coral cover. We found morphological, behavioral, and ecological traits, not phylogeny, mediate species' responses to reef degradation and that the loss of structure seemed more critical than the loss of coral cover. Eight traits explained 79.7% of the variation in species' associations with relief and six traits explained 27.8% of associations with coral cover. Smaller, streamlined, habitat and trophic generalists are more likely winners on flattened reefs and large‐bodied predators, among other taxa, are likely losers of reef flattening. Identifying these important traits provides insight into mechanisms that may link fish and complex habitats, which allows us to better predict assemblage‐wide responses to future reef flattening.
This list is an update of the peer-reviewed 2017 list (Cairns 2017) of azooxanthellate coral taxa that occur predominantly deeper than 50 meters in the U.S. Caribbean region, which consists of Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Navassa Island that have been recognized through 2021. This updated list now includes 18 species of Antipatharia (two with incomplete taxonomy), 46 species of Scleractinia, 59 species of Octocorallia (53 Alcyonacea and six Pennatulacea – seven and one respectively with incomplete taxonomy), and 16 species of Stylasteridae, for a total of 139 species found in the relatively small geographic region of U. S. Caribbean territories.
Small cryptic fishes of the coral reefs and adjacent areas at Parque Nacional Morrocoy and Refugio de fauna de Cuare, Venezuela. The Morrocoy National Park and Cuare Faunal Refuge are two coastal marine protected areas of the northwestern region of Venezuela. Coral reefs are the dominant environments, with an important associated ictiofauna; however, cryptobenthic reef fish have not been studied. Monthly sampling from March 2001 through February 2003 yielded a total of 30 species: eleven Gobiidae, seven Chaenopsidae, six Blenniidae, three Labrisomidae, one Dactyloscopidae, one Tripterygiidae, and one Callionymidae. These records represent an increase of more than 25% in species richness for these localities and highlight the urge to incorporate these groups of small fishes in regional fish characterization, especially when we take into account the importance of these species in the trophodynamics. Rev. Biol. Trop. 56 (Suppl. 1): 247-254. Epub 2008 May 30.
Las especies exóticas invasoras amenazan la biodiversidad en ecosistemas
terrestres, de agua dulce y marinos. La mayoría de las especies invasores marinos
tienden a ocupar niveles tróficos bajos, y en particular los invasores vertebrados, que
ocupan niveles tróficos superiores son mucho más raros. El pez león es la primera
especie exótica invasora de peces de arrecife marino en la región del Atlántico
occidental y el mar Caribe. Honduras es el país con las densidades más altas de
peces león en la región del sistema arrecifal mesoamericano, y no se cuenta con
información sobre el estado e impactos de sus poblaciones. Se evaluó la densidad
poblacional, los hábitos alimentarios y se hizo un modelamiento cartográfico, para
proponer recomendaciones para el manejo en la bahía de Tela, Departamento de
Atlántida, Honduras. Se estimó la densidad poblacional del pez león en siete
localidades en la bahía de Tela. Se realizaron tres muestreos mensuales de octubre
del 2016 a marzo de 2017. Para aproximar la distribución de la densidad del pez león
en el área de estudio se realizó un modelamiento cartográfico por medio de un modelo
de interpolación. Para analizar los hábitos alimentarios, se capturaron ejemplares de
pez león y se extrajo el estómago. El contenido estomacal se identificó al mayor nivel
taxonómico, y se usaron dos tipos de métricas (porcentajes cuantitativos e índices de
importancia) para analizar la composición de la dieta. Se registraron 172 peces, 150
fueron capturados y 22 fueron avistados por la Iniciativa de Arrecifes Saludables. La
dieta del pez león estuvo compuesta principalmente de peces (71.62%), seguida de
camarones (27.70%) y en menor cantidad por cangrejos (0.67%). La densidad
poblacional promedio fue de 12.21 individuos/100m2 en las aguas someras de la bahía
de Tela. El modelamiento cartográfico de la densidad del pez león señaló un máximo
de 18 individuos/100m2
. La salinidad, la temperatura y pasto marino contribuyeron en
la predicción de la densidad poblacional del pez león. La bahía de Tela es la localidad
con las densidades más altas de peces león reportada para Honduras y para el ámbito
nativo, lo cual constituye una amenaza a la fauna marina de esta zona. Se deben
priorizar los esfuerzos de manejo del pez león dentro de los parques nacionales
Jeanette Kawas y Punta Izopo, así como en el sistema arrecifal coralino de Tela.
This volume represents a significant effort in beginning to standardize coral-reef surveys to obtain comparable information in order to solve one of the greatest questions of our time, “Are coral reefs ‘dying’ throughout the Caribbean?” (p. 307) or around the world? A List of Plates (p. vi) has three authors (presumably they prepared the plates, not just the list). Two “Forewords” are provided (p. vii-xx). Following these is a chapter on “Reef Health” synthesizing the 1997-2000 AGRRA data, then surveys of the Bahamas (2 papers), Belize, Brazil (2), the Cayman Islands (2), Costa Rica (2), Cuba (2), Mexico (4), the Netherlands Antilles (3), St. Vincent, the Turks and Caicos “Islands” (2), “United States” [of America] (only Texas), Venezuela (2), Virgin Islands (both British & U.S.) (2), “Additional Data,” “Supplemental Information,” and Appendices (2).
The Front and Back Covers, Table of Contents, and Foreword can be seen online [www.coral.noaa.gov/ agra/updates/agrra_bulletin.pdf]; however, the front cover color photograph of pillar coral with the polyps extended by Martin Moe, and the back cover color map both designed by Hunter Augustus, shown online, were not found on our copy (although they were listed on the inside of our front cover).
Bunkley-Williams, L. and E. H. Williams, Jr. 2004. Book Review: Status of coral reefs in the western Atlantic: Results of initial surveys, Atlantic and Gulf [of Mexico] Rapid Reef Assessment (AGRRA) Program. Judith C. Lang (Ed.) 2003. Atoll Research Bulletin 496, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, District of Columbia, USA, xxii + 630 pp., 175 graphs, 137 tables, 34 maps, 24 photographs, 1 line drawing. Caribbean Journal of Science 40: 164-166. Publons 23 Oct 2016 [302]
Resumen Los fondos de pastos marinos (PM) son importantes reservorios del carbono marino, sin embargo, su disminución en todo el mundo los ha convertido en ecosistemas amenazados. La adecuada comprensión y cuantificación de los sumideros de carbono proporciona elementos adicionales para su conservación y manejo. En este trabajo se evaluó el almacén de carbono aéreo de tres paisajes de pastos, en la reserva de APFFYB. Se determinaron mediante técnicas de percepción remota los tipos de fondo marino de 49 puntos de muestreo distribuidos al azar de manera estratificada. El almacén de carbono del componente vivo se calculó a partir del procesamiento de 29 muestras de pastos marinos y a partir de 23 núcleos se evaluaron características del sedimento. La extensión de PM fue de 20 220.74 ha con una mayor cobertura y estructura foliar en paisajes (PAA). La especie dominante fue Thalassia testudinum aunque también se observaron esporádicamente Syringodium filiforme y Halodule wrigthii. La biomasa aérea fue de 1014.7± 821.8 g m 2 y subterránea de 522.5 ± 343.7 g m 2. Los paisajes con mayor estructura foliar (PAA y PMAR) se distribuyen entre los 0.2 y 1.5 m de profundidad con mayor almacén de carbono aéreo 0.86 ± 0.04 y 0.44 ± 0.03 Mg C ha-1 respectivamente. Estos resultados sugieren una zonación importante en la capacidad para retener materia orgánica en los sedimentos que cada paisaje tiene. Paisajes PAA con mayor desarrollo de tejido rizoidal se distribuyen sobre zonas someras, hiperhalinas y más internas de la laguna Yalahau. Se estima que los pastos marinos en este ecosistema retienen en biomasa un total de 11 764.5 ± 699 Mg C. Palabras clave: almacén de carbono; laguna arrecifal; pastos marinos; emisiones de CO2; carbono azul. Abstract Seagrass beds (SB) are important reservoirs of marine carbon, however, their decline worldwide has made them threatened ecosystems. The proper understanding and quantification of carbon sinks provides additional elements for their conservation and management. In this work, the aerial carbon store of three pasture landscapes was evaluated, in the APFFYB reserve. The types of seabed from 49 sampling points randomly distributed in a stratified manner were determined by remote sensing techniques. The carbon store of the living component was calculated from the processing of 29 samples of seagrass and from 23 nuclei characteristics of the sediment were evaluated. The extension of PM was 20 220.74 ha with greater coverage and leaf structure in landscapes (PAA). The dominant species was Thalassia testudinum although Syringodium filiforme and Halodule wrigthii were also sporadically observed. The aerial biomass was 1014.7 ± 821.8 g m 2 and underground 522.5 ± 343.7 g m 2. The landscapes with the highest leaf structure (PAA and PMAR) are distributed between 0.2 and 1.5 m depth with the highest airborne carbon store 0.86 ± 0.04 and 0.44 ± 0.03 Mg C ha-1 respectively. These results suggest an important zonation in the capacity to retain organic matter in the sediments that each landscape has. PAA landscapes with greater development of rhizoidal tissue are distributed over shallow, hyperhaline and more internal areas of the Yalahau lagoon. It is estimated that the seagrasses in this ecosystem retain a total biomass of 11 764.5 ± 699 Mg C.
New records of the Indo-Pacific seastar Mithrodia clavigera (Lamarck, 1816) include the north-central Gulf of Mexico, southeastern Florida, and Ascension Island. Material includes in-situ photographs, specimens from our own field collections, and museum specimens. This species was previously reported in the Atlantic basin in the 1880s off Brazil and in the western Caribbean Sea in the late 1960s and early 1970s. More recent findings are attributable to the advent of SCUBA, seafloor photography, and genetic analysis. The presence of M. clavigera in the Atlantic Ocean and adjacent waters probably represents a former connection with populations in the eastern Pacific Ocean before the rise of the Isthmus of Panama. Our observations here of specimens collected off Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and the Gulf of Mexico add to our understanding of this species' behavior and ecology.
The comparative morphology of the family Sparidae is described comprehensively for the first time and is used to formulate character data for phylogenetic analysis. The data is found to be particularly character rich in areas such as the braincase, jaws and gill arches. Phylogenetic analysis, using PAUP* was performed in order to resolve the evolutionary relationships for 29 sparid genera and representatives sparoid families: Centracanthidae; Lethrinidae; Nemipteridae. Parsimony analysis of this data yielded three equally parsimonious trees. The Sparidae constitute a monophyletic group, with the inclusion of Centracanthidae, which is embedded within cladistically derived sparids. A grouping of derived sparids are found to be reasonably well supported when judged by Bremer support and bootstrapping, while relationships amongest those taxa more basal are found to be weakly supported. Further analysis of the data is assessed from 1) character quality through application of Le Quesne probabilities; 2) data partitioning; 3) influence of outgroups; 4) effects of ordering and 5) recoding, using non-additive binary coding. These analyses also support a hypothesis of relationships amongest derived sparids that is both well supported and resolved. However, the relationships of basal sparids are sensitive to these analyses, suggesting that not much confidence may be placed in the revealed theories of their interrelationships. The conflict between alternative trees reflects the high levels of homoplasy, which is not uncommon for percoid data sets. The geographic distribution is explained using three methods of cladistic biogeography, based on irreversible and reversible methods of ancestral area analysis and dispersal-vicariance analysis. The Indo-Pacific is identified as the most likely ancestral area for the Sparidae. Reconstruction of the evolution of feeding strategies among sparids suggests that there is a progressive transition from generalist to specialized feeders with four assemblages recognized. The diversification of feeding strategies within the Sparidae may have had important consequences for the evolution of the group which is discussed. Fossil sparid material from the Early to Middle Eocene is redescribed and included in the Recent matrix for further phylogenetic analyses. Comparison of the fossil material warrants the erection of a new genus and species, Ellaserrata monksi and a new genus Abromasta microdon is erected for Pagellus microdon. A minimum age of origin for the group can be postulated at 55Ma.
This checklist aims to reviews and summarize the results of the systematic researches on the Persian Gulf ichthyofauna that has been carried out for more than 200 years. Since the work of C. Niebuhr, a Danish biologist in the 18th century, the number of valid species has increased significantly and the systematic status of many of the species has changed, and reorganization and updating of the published information has become essential. Here we take the opportunity to provide a new and updated checklist of fishes of Persian Gulf based on literature and taxon occurrence data obtained from natural history and new fish collections. The total confirmed fish species of Persian Gulf comprise 744 species, 131 families, 445 genera and 27 orders. In the class Chondrichthyes, the most diverse family is Charcharhinidae with 23 species (41.89%), followed by Dasyatidae with 15 species (31.08%). Within the class Actinopterygii, Gobiidae with 65 species (9.70%), Carangidae with 45 species (6.27%), Serranidae with 25 species (3.73%), Apogonidae with 25 species (3.73%), Lutjanidae with 23 species (3.43%) and Blenniidae with 23 species (3.43%) are the most diverse families in the Persian Gulf.
Little is known about long-term changes in coral reef fish communities. Here we present a new technique that leverages fish otoliths in reef sediments to reconstruct coral reef fish communities. We found over 5,400 otoliths in 169 modern and mid-Holocene bulk samples from Caribbean Panama and Dominican Republic mid-Holocene and modern reefs, demonstrating otoliths are abundant in reef sediments. With a specially-built reference collection, we were able to assign over 4,400 otoliths to one of 56 taxa (35 families) though mostly at genus and family level. Many otoliths were from juvenile fishes for which identification is challenging. Richness (by rarefaction) of otolith assemblages was slightly higher in modern than mid-Holocene reefs, but further analyses are required to elucidate the underlying causes. We compared the living fish communities, sampled using icthyocide, with the sediment otolith assemblages on four reefs finding the otolith assemblages faithfully capture the general composition of the living fish communities. Radiocarbon dating performed directly on the otoliths suggests that relatively little mixing of sediment layers particularly on actively accreting branching coral reefs. All otolith assemblages were strongly dominated by small, fast-turnover fish taxa and juvenile individuals, and our exploration on taxonomy, functional ecology and taphonomy lead us to the conclusion that intense predation is likely the most important process for otolith accumulation in reef sediments. We conclude that otolith assemblages in modern and fossil reef sediments can provide a powerful tool to explore ecological changes in reef fish communities over time and space.
This chapter provides information on nomenclature and systematics, description, distribution, ecology, food and eating behavior, reproduction and reproductive behavior, economic importance, protection status, and conservation of Chelon labrosus. Mugilidae, also called as mullet fish, has a slender body covered with large adhering scales. Fish larvae can be identified through the shape of the fins, body pigmentation and the number and shape of pyloric caeca. Mullets belonging to the genus Chelon are characterized by the presence of eight or nine rays segmented at the anal fin; the feeble importance of the adipose tissue surrounding the eye; and the relative importance of the upper lip. Mullets belonging to the genus Liza are composed of pelago‐nektonic species frequenting coastal, lagoonal and estuarine marine waters. The genus Mugil are epipelagic to necto‐pelagic. They occupy coastal marine and lagoonal environments and low estuaries.
As marine ecosystems are influenced by global and regional processes, standardized information on community structure has become crucial for assessing broad-scale responses to natural and anthropogenic disturbances. Extensive biogeographic provinces, such as the Brazilian Province in the southwest Atlantic, present numerous theoretical and methodological challenges for understanding community patterns on a macroecological scale. In particular, the Brazilian Province is composed of a complex system of heterogeneous reefs and a few offshore islands, with contrasting histories and geophysical-chemical environments. Despite the large extent of the Brazilian Province (almost 8,000 kilometers), most studies of shallow benthic communities are qualitative surveys and/or have been geographically restricted. We quantified community structure of shallow reef habitats from 0° to 27°S latitude using a standard photographic quadrat technique. Percent cover data indicated that benthic communities of Brazilian reefs were dominated by algal turfs and frondose macroalgae, with low percent cover of reef-building corals. Community composition differed significantly among localities, mostly because of their macroalgal abundance, despite reef type or geographic region, with no evident latitudinal pattern. Benthic diversity was lower in the tropics, contrary to the general latitudinal diversity gradient pattern. Richness peaked at mid-latitudes, between 20°S to 23°S, where it was ~3.5-fold higher than localities with the lowest richness. This study provides the first large-scale description of benthic communities along the southwestern Atlantic, providing a baseline for macroecological comparisons and evaluation of future impacts. Moreover, the new understanding of richness distribution along Brazilian reefs will contribute to conservation planning efforts, such as management strategies and the spatial prioritization for the creation of new marine protected areas.
Species of the sabellid polychaete genera Anamobaea, and Notaulax, are some of the most attractive sabellid polychaetes from coral reef areas due to their large colorful radiolar crowns. Tube microstructures of Anamobaea orstedi, Notaulax tenuitorques, and Notaulax sp. nov. are described. The studied sabellid tubes have three different types of microstructure. Most simple is irregular mesh microstructure which is composed of thin, long, and variously curved fibers of somewhat chaotic orientation (Notaulax tenuitorques). The irregular mesh microstructure could be plesiomorphic among sabellid tube structures. Oriented fibers in homogeneous matrix microstructure involves some kind of chemical control mechanisms that asserts the same orientation of all fibers (Notaulax sp. nov.). Anamobaea orstedi shows the most advanced pattern, a regular plywood structure, which is composed of thin subparallel or parallel to each other fibers that have different orientation in adjacent lamellae. Regular plywood structure has apparently greatest strength among organic tube structures of sabellids combined with good flexibility. Organic sabellid tube microstructures are likely species specific and have a taxonomic value.
Due to the heavy exploitation of holothurians over the last few decades, it is necessary to implement fishing regulations aimed at reversing this situation. Holothurians require specific regulations that take into account their biology and ecology. Their behavior to group and form patches as a strategy for feeding, defense and reproduction, makes them vulnerable to overfishing. The higher the population density, the higher the catchability coefficient, and because they are sedentary organisms, the catchability does not change significantly until the density is very low. Hence, the stock assessment of holothurians can be improved by analyzing their spatial distribution. This paper proposes a stock assessment technique that considers the spatial distribution pattern of the sea cucumber Isostichopus badionotus from Yucatan, Mexico. A bioeconomic spatial model was developed to explain the interactions between fishing effort allocation, quasi-profits and the population in the short term. Because of the high price of the species and the low production costs, artisanal fishers preferred to maximize short-term quasi-profits, rather than the long-term benefits they could gain with low fishing mortality rates.
Documento Técnico del SAM No.18
Línea Base
del Estado del Sistema Arrecifal Mesoamericano
PRESENTACIÓN
El Sistema Arrecifal Mesoamericano (SAM) es un ecosistema extenso, complejo y de una alta
diversidad biológica. Se extiende desde el norte de la Península de Yucatán en México, Belice,
Guatemala, hasta las Islas de la Bahía, en Honduras. Una gran cantidad de personas de
múltiple origen social y étnico se benefician de los recursos marino-costeros a través de
diversas actividades relacionadas con la pesca, turismo y el desarrollo costero. Dichas
actividades continúan aumentando en la región, generando diversos niveles de presión en los
ecosistemas arrecifales, lagunas costeras, praderas de pastos marinos, bosques de manglares,
ríos, estuarios y humedales en general.
Debido a la importancia de los arrecifes coralinos y de los ecosistemas costeros en la región, es
necesario evaluar el estado de salud que presentan estos sistemas con la finalidad de mejorar
el manejo de los recursos costero-marinos a lo largo del SAM.
Con esta visión, el Programa de Monitoreo Sinóptico (PMS) del Proyecto SAM fue diseñado
para brindar y aplicar una serie de métodos de monitoreo estandarizados en la región. Con la
información generada se pretende identificar el cambio en el estado de algunos componentes
de los ecosistemas marino-costeros. Es importante contar con un monitoreo de largo plazo, ya
que las respuestas necesarias para el manejo requieren de información en el corto, mediano y
largo plazo.
Chronic anthropogenic disturbances on coral reefs in the form of overfishing and pollution can shift benthic community composition away from stony corals and toward macroalgae. The use of reefs for recreational snorkeling and diving potentially can lead to similar ecological impacts if not well-managed, but impacts of snorkeling on benthic organisms are not well understood. We quantified variation in benthic community structure along a gradient of snorkeling frequency in an intensively-visited portion of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. We determined rates of snorkeling in 6 water sections and rates of beach visitation in 4 adjacent land sections at Akumal Bay, Mexico. For each in-water section at 1–3 m depth, we also assessed the percent cover of benthic organisms including taxa of stony corals and macroalgae. Rates of recreational snorkeling varied from low in the southwestern to very high (>1000 snorkelers d⁻¹) in the northeastern sections of the bay. Stony coral cover decreased and macroalgal cover increased significantly with levels of snorkeling, while trends varied among taxa for other organisms such as gorgonians, fire corals, and sea urchins. We conclude that benthic organisms appear to exhibit taxon-specific variation with levels of recreational snorkeling. To prevent further degradation, we recommend limitation of snorkeler visitation rates, coupled with visitor education and in-water guides to reduce reef-damaging behaviors by snorkelers in high-use areas. These types of management activities, integrated with reef monitoring and subsequent readjustment of management, have the potential to reverse the damage potentially inflicted on coral reefs by the expansion of reef-based recreational snorkeling.
Shallow water zooxanthellate coral reefs grade into ecologically distinct mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) deeper in the euphotic zone. MCEs are widely considered to start at an absolute depth limit of 30m deep, possibly failing to recognise that these are distinct ecological communities that may shift shallower or deeper depending on local environmental conditions. This study aimed to explore whether MCEs represent distinct biological communities, the upper boundary of which can be defined and whether the depth at which they occur may vary above or below 30m. Mixed-gas diving and closed-circuit rebreathers were used to quantitatively survey benthic communities across shallow to mesophotic reef gradients around the island of Utila, Honduras. Depths of up to 85m were sampled, covering the vertical range of the zooxanthellate corals around Utila. We investigate vertical reef zonation using a variety of ecological metrics to identify community shifts with depth, and the appropriateness of different metrics to define the upper MCE boundary. Patterns observed in scleractinian community composition varied between ordination analyses and approaches utilising biodiversity indices. Indices and richness approaches revealed vertical community transition was a gradation. Ordination approaches suggest the possibility of recognising two scleractinian assemblages. We could detect a mesophotic and shallow community while illustrating that belief in a static depth limit is biologically unjustified. The switch between these two communities occurred across bathymetric gradients as small as 10m and as large as 50m in depth. The difference between communities appears to be a loss of shallow specialists and increase in depth-generalist taxa. Therefore, it may be possible to define MCEs by a loss of shallow specialist species. To support a biological definition of mesophotic reefs, we advocate this analytical framework should be applied around the Caribbean and extended into other ocean basins where MCEs are present.
The Cobia, Rachycentron canadum (Linnaeus 1766), is a large, fast-growing coastal pelagic fish belonging to the monotypic family Rachycentridae. In this study, we describe in detail the osteological characters of the Cobia from Indian waters. The skull, appendicular, and axial skeletons were disarticulated, examined, and illustrated. We characterize the species based on morphometry, meristic counts, and osteological features and briefly review the phylogenetic relationships proposed for the species.
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