Spatio-temporal variation of planktonic decapods along the leeward coast of the Fernando de Noronha archipelago, Brazil

Abstract

Tropical island environments are considered hotspots due to their high diversity, endemism and ecological importance. However, reports that discuss the composition and ecology of planktonic decapods in these environments are still very few. In order to ascertain the composition, abundance and spatial-temporal distribution of planktonic decapods, zooplankton samples were taken by means of sub-surface hauls with a standard plankton net of 300 µm mesh size. Sampling was carried out at five stations in the nearshore leeward area of the Fernando de Noronha archipelago, in July and December 2013 and June and November 2014. A total of 22 decapod taxa were recorded, among which the most abundant were Brachyura (zoeae), Clibanarius sp., Caridea and Callianassidae. Characteristic annual distribution and temporal tendencies were observed for the larvae of the hermit crab Clibanarius sp. and for the larvae of burrowing shrimps (Callianassidae). Some taxa showed differences between sampling stations. In general, higher abundances were observed in the southern (downstream) stations of the island (Baía dos Golfinhos and Cacimba do Padre), and lower abundances in the northernmost (upstream) station (Porto de Santo Antônio), indicating the existence of larval retention in the nearshore coastal zone of this oceanic island ecosystem.

Body size and stable isotope composition of zooplankton in the western tropical Atlantic

“…We observed higher zooplankton abundance and biovolume over the slope than the shelf and in offshore areas (Figure 2). These results contradict the typical coastaloceanic gradient, previously found in the study area (Bueno et al, 2017;Campelo et al, 2018;Santana et al, 2018) and elsewhere (Dai et al, 2016;Giering et al, 2018). Indeed it is typically assumed that zooplankton abundance follows a continuous gradient with higher abundance nearshore (Neumann-Leitão et al, 2008;Marcolin et al, 2013;Leitão et al, 2019).…”

“…This region comprehends the extension from the shelf, slope and slope, seamounts and oceanic islands, all with low levels of nutrient supply and productivity and high zooplankton diversity . Numerous studies have investigated zooplankton communities in this region, most of which focusing on community structure, abundance diversity (e.g., Neumann-Leitão et al, 1999;Diaz et al, 2009;Brandão et al, 2013;Lira et al, 2014;Santana et al, 2018), and size spectra (Marcolin J o u r n a l P r e -p r o o f et al, 2013). In this region, the stable isotope composition (δ 13 C and δ 15 N) of zooplankton and particulate organic matter (POM) has been investigated in mangrove estuaries, on the shelf and at the adjacent slope, revealing that any measurable estuarine influence was limited to the line of intertidal coastal reefs, approximately 10 km from the coast (Schwamborn et al, 1999(Schwamborn et al, , 2002.…”

Connectivity Between Coastal and Oceanic Zooplankton From Rio Grande do Norte in the Tropical Western Atlantic

“…These nutrients stimulate the phytoplankton growth, favoring most zooplankton species, which are characteristically herbivores or omnivores (Johnson and Allen, 2005). This pattern is commonly found in Continental shelves (Neumann-Leitão et al, 1999, 2008Dias et al, 2015;Bueno et al, 2017) and oceanic islands (Campelo et al, 2018;Santana et al, 2018) in Brazil and reflect the typical coast-ocean gradient.…”

Molecular and morphometric analysis of nominal Brachidontes exustus (Mollusca, Mytilidae) in Brazilian waters

“…Intermediate individuals found in Boca Chica (named by Lee and Foighil as The Bahamas B clade), may represent introgressed individuals descended from dispersed mussels from Cape Verde and the Fernando de Noronha. Tropical island environments, such as Cape Verde and Fernando de Noronha archipelagos, are considered true hotspots due to their high diversity ( Santana et al, 2018 ). These archipelagos show high endemism resulting from their geographical isolation, and the colonization of these remote habitats generally depends on accidental colonization events, exhibiting a partial sample of continental biodiversity ( Cunha et al, 2011 ).…”

“…Scorched mussels (N = 75) were obtained from the open sea rocky shore of Cacimba do Padre Beach (3˚51’S, 32˚26’W), situated on the main island of Fernando de Noronha Archipelago (FN), at 545 km from the coast of Recife, State of Pernambuco. Salinities in this area were characteristic of marine waters (35.7-36.3), and with water temperatures varying from 26.5 °C to 29.2 °C ( Santana et al, 2018 ). 2.…”