Aim To present an updated database of fish species recorded on south‐western Atlantic reef environments and to explore the ecological drivers of the structure, the latitudinal gradient of biodiversity and the centre of endemism in this peripheral province. Location South‐western Atlantic (SWA): Brazilian and Argentinian Provinces. Methods A database composed of 733 fish species along 23 locations in the SWA (00°55′ N to 43°00′ S) was compiled based on primary data, literature and museum records. Cluster and beta diversity analyses were carried out to evaluate faunal overlaps among locations and subprovinces. “Target‐area‐distance effect” and “stepping stones dispersal” hypotheses for assemblage composition were tested through Mantel tests. Relationships between the distribution patterns and ecological traits of reef fish species were investigated through generalized linear mixed‐effect models. Results Out of the 733 fish species, 405 are SWA resident reef fishes, of which 111 (27%) are endemics and 78 are threatened with extinction. Cluster analysis detected six subprovinces in the SWA structured following the target‐area‐distance model, and with no evidence for a latitudinal gradient in diversity. The greatest overall richness and endemic species richness were found in the east–south‐eastern region. Depth range, habitat use and body size were the main drivers of SWA reef fish assemblage structure. Main conclusions The Brazilian and Argentinian coasts constitute different provinces structured by oceanographic barriers and environmental filters. Similarities among oceanic islands indicate connectivity driven by stochastic and ecological factors. Species richness and endemism indicate that peripheral provinces may also bear centres of origin and biodiversity, patterns driven by parapatric/ecological speciation and the overlap between tropical and subtropical reef fish species. Ecological drivers of reef fish distribution, such as habitat specialization and body size, support hypotheses of speciation in the periphery. New approaches for spatial planning, marine protected areas and off‐reserve marine management are essential for the conservation and sustainability of SWA reef fishes.
ABSTRACT. REEF FlSIIES FROM PARAíBA, BRAZIL. The coral reef is an ecossystem which evokes great interest, for its beauty, 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. ln order to survey the reef fish fauna ofParaíba State, a total of 118 dives, utilizing SCUBA diving techniques, were carried out in 27 sampling points (depths: 0,5-66m), fram Februaly/1995 to May/1996. Specimens were collected whenever underwater identification was prec\uded. A total of 157 known species belonging to 59 tàmilies were found. Four unidentiíied species, one dasyatid, one haemulid, one scarid, and one labrid were recorded. Haemulidae was the most representative family in number ofindividuals, whereas Carangidae was the most speciose fami1y. This paper is part of a braader study of the nOltheast Brazi lian reeffishes. KEY WORDS. Brazil, Paraíba, reeffishes o recife de coral é um ecossistema extremamente rico, produtivo e diversificado, e faz parte de um sistema tropical costeiro, do qual muitas pessoas dependem. Ele fornece alimento à população, é uma notável fon te de emprego e renda (dos setores pesqueiro e turístico), protege fisicamente as praias tropicais, serve como habitat para muitas espécies e oferece materiais únicos para educação e pesquisa científica (WHITE et aI. 1994). Nesses locais os peixes alcançam grande diversidade (WELLS & HANNA 1992), encontrando-se mais de 4000 espécies nos recifes do Indo-Pacífico e cerca de 400 nos do Caribe (SALE el aI. 1994). Além dessa riq ueza taxonômica, observa-se também uma enorme diversidade de formas, hábitos, comportamentos e relações (SALE 199 1).Ecossistemas com composição faunística sim il ar àq uela dos recifes de coral são formados por navios naufragados, sendo comum a adoção do termo "recifes artificiais" para designar tais locais (POTTS & HULBERT 1994). De acordo com CHOU ( 199 1) as grandes placas metálicas de naufrágios servem de substrato para os corais e algas calcárias, e as fendas e túneis formados entre os destroços dos navios oferecem abrigo a diversas espécies de peixes.Com o desenvolvimento de eq uipamentos de mergu lho e sistemas de transporte modernos, os recursos naturais encontrados nos recifes, naturais e artificiais, tornaram-se mu ito mais acessíveis aos pesquisadores e à população de um modo geral (MOYLE & CECH 1996;BAKUS 1994) e, como não há um manejo adeq uado dessas áreas, a exp loração desordenada das mesmas torna-se cada dia mais ev idente (BREWER 1994; SALE el aI. 1994).
ABSTRACT. DIVERSITY OF THE TIDAL POOL ICHTHYOFAUNA OF CABO BRANCO BEACH, JOÃO PESSOA, PARAfBA, BRAZIL. Asurvey ofthe tidal pool fish community was carried out between february/1987 and january/1988, at Cabo Branco Beach, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazi!. Specimens were collected monthly at low tide, using rotenone. Atotal of 3143 specimens was obtained. The most speciose families were Ophichthidae (14% ofthe 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 Balhygobius soparalar (Valenciennes, 1837) and Abudefdufsaxalilis (Linnaeus, 1758). The presence of a large number ofjuveniles in the pools indicated the importance ofthe studied sites as nursery areas for severa! fish species. KEY WüROS. Ichthyofauna, diversity, Paraíba, Brazil A zona entre-marés, situada entre as linhas de preamar e baixamar, separa-se aproximadamente duas vezes ao dia do mar aberto, durante a baixamar. A água remanescente pode formar pocas de maré que, durante a preamar, religam-se ao mar e tornam-se sujeitas à acão das ondas e da turbulência (HORN & GIBSON 1988). As poças de maré constituem-se em habitat específico para numerosas espécies de peixes, servindo ainda como áreas de criadouro de larvas e jovens de várias outras espécies (CRABTREE & DEAN 1982).Durante a baixamar, quando os peixes se concentram em seu interior, as poças de maré tornam-se ambientes adequados para a amostragem e estudo quantitativo da ictiofauna. A maioria dos trabalhos recentes têm usado o ictiotóxico rotenona para esta finalidade (LARDNER et aI. 1993). RANDALL (1963) considera a rotenona como o mais valioso método para a coleta científica de peixes. Esta técnica também é propícia para estudos de recolonização dos nichos desocupados (LARONER et aI. 1993).A composição da ictiofauna e os padrões de diversidade, distribuição e abundância de espécies de peixes em poças de maré foram estudados em diversas áreas, sobretudo de regiões temperadas, como a costa da Califórnia (FITCH &
Reefs, mangroves and seagrass biotopes often occur in close association, forming a complex and highly productive ecosystem that provide significant ecologic and economic goods and services. Different anthropogenic disturbances are increasingly affecting these tropical coastal habitats leading to growing conservation concern. In this field-based study, we used a visual census technique (belt transects 50 m x 2 m) to investigate the interactions between fishes and microhabitats at the Mamanguape Mangrove-Reef system, NE Brazil. Overall, 144 belt transects were performed from October 2007 to September 2008 to assess the structure of the fish assemblage. Fish trophic groups and life stage (juveniles and adults) were recorded according to literature, the percent cover of the substrate was estimated using the point contact method. Our results revealed that fish composition gradually changed from the Estuarine to the Reef zone, and that fish assemblage was strongly related to the microhabitat availability, as suggested by the predominance of carnivores at the Estuarine zone and presence of herbivores at the Reef zone. Fish abundance and diversity were higher in the Reef zone and estuary margins, highlighting the importance of structural complexity. A pattern of nursery area utilization, with larger specimens at the Transition and Reef Zone and smaller individuals at the Estuarine zone, was recorded for Abudefduf saxatilis, Anisotremus surinamensis, Lutjanus alexandrei, and Lutjanus jocu. Our findings clearly suggests ecosystem connectivity between mangrove, seagrass and reef biotopes, and highlighted the importance of Mamanguape Mangrove-Reef System as a priority area for conservation and research, whose habitat mosaics should be further studied and protected.
Recifes, manguezais e bancos de fanerógamas marinhas são biótopos frequentemente associados, formando um ecossistema complexo e altamente produtivo que proporciona significativos bens e serviços ecológicos e econômicos. Diferentes impactos antrópicos estão crescentemente afetando esses habitats costeiros tropicais, trazendo preocupações acerca de sua conservação. Neste estudo de campo, utilizamos uma técnica de censo visual subaquático (transecções de 50 x 2 m) para investigar as interações entre os peixes e microhabitats no complexo estuarino-recifal de Mamanguape, no Nordeste do Brasil. Entre outubro de 2007 e setembro de 2008 foram realizadas 144 transecções para avaliar a estrutura da assembleia de peixes. Grupos tróficos e estágios de vida dos peixes (jovens e adultos) foram registrados segundo a literatura, enquanto a porcentagem de cobertura do substrato foi estimada através do método de pontos de contato. Nossos resultados mostraram que a composição da ictiofauna mudou gradualmente da Zona Estuarina para a Zona Recifal, e que a assembleia de peixes esteve fortemente relacionada com a disponibilidade de microhabitats - como sugerido pela predominância de carnívoros na zona estuarina e presença de herbívoros na zona recifal. A abundância e diversidade de ...
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