Mesophotic reeffish assemblages (30-90 m depth) of the small and remote St. Peter and St. Paul's Archipelago (SPSPA), Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Brazil, were characterized using remotely operated vehicles. Ordination analyses identified distinct fish assemblages in the upper (30-50 m) and lower (50-90 m) mesophotic zones, the former characterized by high abundances of species that are also abundant at euphotic reefs (Caranx lugubris, Melichthys niger, Stegastes sanctipauli and Chromis multilineata) and the latter dominated by two mesophotic specialists (Prognathodes obliquus and Chromis enchrysura). Planktivores dominated fish assemblages, particularly in the upper mesophotic zone, possibly due to a greater availability of zooplankton coming from the colder Equatorial Undercurrent in mesophotic depths of the SPSPA. Turf algae, fleshy macroalgae and scleractinian corals dominated benthic assemblages between 30 and 40 m depth, while bryozoans, black corals and sponges dominated between 40 and 90 m depth. Canonical correspondence analysis explained 74 % of the relationship between environmental characteristics (depth, benthic cover and complexity) and structure of fish assemblages, with depth as the most important independent variable. Juveniles of Bodianus insularis and adults of P. obliquus and C. enchrysura were clearly associated with branching black corals (Tanacetipathes spp.), suggesting that black corals play key ecological roles in lower mesophotic reefs

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Small-scale fisheries have a great socioeconomic importance in Brazil. Different regional characteristics along the coast, mostly related to landing sites, equipment used, and targeted species, renders its assessment and monitoring difficult. The aim of this paper is to present a list of species of bony fishes (Teleostei) caught by artisanal fisheries along the São Paulo coast, southeastern Brazil and to provide comments on the relative abundance and conservation status of those species. A total of 315 fishing fleet landings were surveyed, and 106 species distributed among 38 families were recorded. Sciaenidae and Carangidae were the most frequent families in species number. The southern king weakfish, Macrodon atricauda, was the most abundant species, representing 28.03% of the total number of specimens caught. Eleven of the most abundant species are classified as Overexploited in the country or as Near Threatened in the state of São Paulo. These findings reinforce the relevance of assessing and managing artisanal fisheries.

This thesis focuses on the investigation of reef communities of the Saint Peter and Saint Paul´s Archipelago (SPSPA) across an euphotic/mesophotic depth gradient. Sampling was performed on shallow and mesophotic areas (0 to 90 m depth) using SCUBA and a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV). The present work is composed of four chapters: Chapter 1 deals with the quantitative assessment of reef fish communities, which were divided in three distinct communities associated with different depth strata. Clear shifts in habitat use and in size-frequency distributions were recorded for some species. Abundance of black-corals and depth were the most important factors affecting the structure of fish communities, with a clear association of fish with branching blackcorals in the mesophotic zone. Chapter 2 presents the first detailed qualitative assessment of benthic communities of the SPSPA. The influence of biotic and abiotic variables shaping the structure of the benthic communities was evaluated. A total of 77 benthic taxa belonging to six major functional groups were recorded. Macroalgae was the richest group (41 infrageneric taxa), with 17 new records for the SPSPA. Turf algae were the most abundant group on both shallow and mesophotic reefs. Two distinct communities were detected: a shallow one composed primarily by the zoanthid Palythoa caribaeorum (Duchassaing and Michelotti, 1861), the fleshy alga Caulerpa racemosa (Forsskål) J. Agardh, crustose coralline algae (CCA) and Bryopsis spp., and another deeper community dominated by CCA, bryozoans and scleractinian corals. Abiotic variables were the most important predictors of benthic community structure. Chapter 3 brings information on abundance, distribution size and associated fauna (epibionts) of black-corals. Although two species of black-corals, Tanacetipathes hirta (Gray, 1857) and T. thamnea (Warner, 1981), are known to occur in the SPSPA, they are undistinguishable underwater. Epibiosis, mainly by zoanthids and entanglement by fishing monofilament were important factors negatively affecting the health of blackcoral colonies. Black-corals were intensively used as refuge by reef fish, especially by the endemic oblique butterflyfish Prognathodes obliquus (Chaetodontidae). A single black-coral colony repeatedly visited and monitored for ten years showed a decrease in vitality since the first observation, mainly related to fouling by algal detritus and entanglement by fishing monofilaments. Chapter 4 discusses the ecology (abundance, distribution and habitat preferences) of the fireworm Hermodice carunculata, a major predator on mesophotic zone of SPSPA. A total of 278 individuals of bearded fireworm were observed, with significant difference in abundance between euphotic and mesophotic zones. A direct association of H. carunculata with black-corals (Tanacetipathes spp.), the scleractinian Madracis decactis and depth was found. A final session with concluding remarks wraps up information on the ecology of Mesophotic Reef Ecosystems highlighting their possible importance ...