Mauricio Hostim-Silva

Seasonal and diel variations in fsh occupation are observed
on beaches. This study aimed at analyzing short and long term variations of fsh fauna on Araça Beach, coast of Santa
Catarina State. Biological material was collected monthly over 10 months, at four times over the day (6:00, 12:00, 18:00
and 24:00). We collected 19,964 specimens of 75 species, 59 genera and 38 families. A higher number of species was
found in families Carangidae, Sciaenidae and Tetraodontidae, with 19 families in the area represented by only one species
each. The most abundant species were Licengraulis grossidens, Harengula clupeola, Eucinostomus argenteus, Atherinella
brasiliensis, Hemiramphus brasiliensis, Cetengraulis edentulus, Sardinella brasiliensis, Mugil curema and Orthopristis
ruber. On average, the number of individuals was signifcantly different between the seasons, with higher mean values in
the summer compared to the winter and fall, with no signifcant differences between the other seasons and times of the
day. Signifcant differences were also found in the mean species richness between the seasons, with higher values in the
summer compared to the winter and spring, and in the fall compared to winter and spring. No statistical differences were
detected in the mean species richness between the other seasons and times of the day. Also, no signifcant difference was
found between the seasons and times of the day in the Shannon­Wiener diversity index and Pielou evenness. Statistical
differences between the seasons and times of the day were observed in fsh composition. The taxonomic structure showed
no seasonal trend in the sample period.

The Atlantic goliath grouper, Epinephelus itajara, is a critically endangered species, threatened by illegal fishing and the destruction of its habitats. A number of other closely related grouper species found in the western Atlantic are also fished intensively. While some countries apply rigorous legislation, illegal harvesting followed by the falsification of fish products, which impedes the correct identification of the species, is a common practice, allowing the catch to be marketed as a different grouper species. In this case, molecular techniques represent an important tool for the monitoring and regulation of fishery practices, and are essential for the forensic identification of a number of different species. In the present study, species-specific primers were developed for the Cytochrome Oxidase subunit I gene, which were applied in a multiplex PCR for the simultaneous identification of nine different species of Epinephelidae: Epinephelus itajara, E. quinquefasciatus, E. morio, Hyporthodus flavolimbatus, H. niveatus, Mycteroperca acutirostris, M. bonaci, M. marginata, and M. microlepis. Multiplex PCR is a rapid, reliable and cost-effective procedure for the identification of commercially-valuable endangered fish species, and may represent a valuable tool for the regulation and sustainable management of fishery resources. O mero, Epinephelus itajara, encontra-se criticamente ameaçado, resultado da pesca ilegal e destruição dos habitas. Filogeneticamente relacionadas a este táxon encontram-se garoupas que atualmente são intensamente pescadas no Atlântico Oeste. Apesar de leis mais restritivas aplicadas em alguns países, a captura ilegal com a descaracterização morfológica é uma prática comum que impossibilita a identificação correta da espécie permitindo que seja comercializada como garoupas, badejos ou chernes. A este respeito, técnicas moleculares representam ferramentas importantes para o monitoramento e fiscalização da pesca, provando ser essencial, na identificação forense de diversas espécies. Primers espécie-específicos foram desenvolvidos com base no gene Citocromo Oxidase subunidade I que aplicados em PCR-Multiplex possibilitam a identificação simultânea de nove espécies Epinephelidae: Epinephelus itajara, E. quinquefasciatus, E. morio, Hyporthodus flavolimbatus, H. niveatus, Mycteroperca acutirostris, M. bonaci, M. marginata e M. microlepis. A identificação via PCR multiplex de espécies de peixes ameaçadas e comercialmente importantes é um método rápido, prático, seguro e de baixo custo, que poderá ser útil o controle do uso e manejo sustentável de recursos pesqueiros.

The Abrolhos Bank is an area of high ecological, socioeconomic importance and harbour the richest and most-extensive coral reefs in the South Atlantic. Here we report the discovery of shallow (12–25 m depth) reef complex with ten large biogenic structures, intermediate between the typical mushroom-shaped pinnacles of the northern Abrolhos Bank (17°–18° S) and the small patch reefs found on the central/southern coast of the Espírito Santo State (19°–20° S). The newly discovered reefs harbour a relatively rich and abundant reef community, with 73 fish and 14 benthic cnidarian species, including endangered and commercially important ones. We discuss on urgent needs of properly mapping and understanding the ecological functioning of this reef system. Information provided here is a baseline for future impact evaluations, particularly considering the recent worst environmental disaster of Brazil from a dam collapse in Doce river that affected the region.

This work presents the weight-length relationship of 35 species of fish belonging to 27 families. The samples were carried out bimonthly from 2001 to 2003 using seines in Saco dos Limões, Baia Sul, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina state, Brazil. The total weight (TW) and total length (TL) data of the species with n ≥ 30 were log-transformed and plotted graphically to identify and remove outliers. The regression analysis was performed to define parameters a and b, from which the weight-length relationship of each species was verified. Growth type determination were classified according to three types: isometric (19 species), positive allometric (12) and negative allometric (4). The weight-length relationship estimate of two species is presented for the first time in Brazil, bringing new information on the life history of species, as well as important results for the evaluation of regional fishery.

Genetic diversity, population structure and demographic history of Chaetodipterus faber in SW Atlantic were investigated using mitochondrial DNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (620 bp) and D-loop (817 bp) sequences. Individuals were collected in five sampling units (SUs) located in latitudes between 2 °S and 27 °S, southernmost limit of species distribution. The COI sequences from Brazilian sampling units were compared with eight sequences from the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean, resulting in no significant genetic differences (K2P b 0.32%). On the contrary, pairwise F ST analysis based on D-loop datasets from the five SUs indicated divergence between Tropical and Subtropical clades of SW Atlantic C. faber. The SAMOVA approach was consistent with this divergence and revealed maximal variance among groups (63.59%) when two clades are simulated (k = 2), setting apart Tropical and Subtropical SUs. Demographic analyses support the hypothesis of population expansion, both for Tropical and Subtropical clades. Moreover, Subtropical population size increase was dated after the Tropical clade reached the demographic stability, around 10 kyr ago, during the beginning of interglacial Pleistocene– Holocene transition. The historical demographic results, along with the lower genetic diversity and the star-shaped haplotype network of the Subtropical clade corroborate an ancient scenario of the species' adaptive radiation southward.

The aim of this study is to describe small-scale fishing for Atlantic seabob shrimp and to analyse the perceptions of traditional fishers regarding the temporary suspension of fishing accompanied by financial compensation-closed season-along the northeastern and southeastern coasts of Brazil. Ethnographic interviews were conducted with 80 artisanal fishers of the Barra de Caravelas (n ¼ 36) and Santa Cruz Cabr alia (n ¼ 12) communities in the state of Bahia in northeastern Brazil, and Anchieta (n ¼ 18) and Barra Nova (n ¼ 14) in the state of Espírito Santo in the southeastern Brazil. The fishers shrimp are predominantly male (100%) with a mean age of 47 years. The vessels length used are up to 10 m. According to the fishermen, the amount paid by the Brazilian government as a subsidy during the closed season is not sufficient to support their families. Fishermen are against the current closed season of Atlantic seabob fishing, claiming that this period does not actually correspond whit the breeding season or the recruitment of the species. Even during the Atlantic seabob closed season, some fishermen catch this resource and thus break the law, as seen in Anchieta (56%, n ¼ 10) and Barra de Caravelas (9%, n ¼ 03). The fact that the fishers disagree with the closed season and do not obey the law shows that the management measure enforced on the northeast and southeast coasts of the country is not as effective as originally proposed. This demonstrates the need to understand local perceptions of this issue and to include the fishers in decision-making related to management and public measures involving shrimp fishing.

The Atlantic goliath grouper is a critically endangered species that inhabits estuarine and reef environments and is threatened primarily by fishing activities and habitat destruction. Despite the urgent need for protection, its genetic conservation status remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the gene flow among the populations of the species along the coast of Brazil based on the control region of the mitochondrial DNA. The results indicate low haplotype diversity (0.40-0.86) and very low nucleotide diversity (0.1-0.5%). They also show that the genetic diversity of the species varies considerably along the coast and that this finding may be especially important for the identification of priority areas for its conservation. The population analyses indicate a low but significant degree of genetic structuring (ΦST =0.111), probably due to the occurrence of rare haplotypes at some locations, although the genetic differentiation between sites was not correlated with geographic distance (r=0.0501; p=0.7719), and the shared haplotypes indicate that gene flow occurs among all locations along the Brazilian coast. The results of the pairwise FST indicate a high degree of genetic differentiation between locations. The incipient population structuring detected in the present study is not related systematically to the geological or physical features of the Brazilian coast. The complex interaction of fluctuations in sea level, marine currents, and the reproductive characteristics of the species hampers the identification of the specific role of each of these processes in the gene flow dynamics of the population units of the Atlantic goliath grouper. The low overall levels of genetic diversity, the pairwise FST values and the significant population structuring among groups (ΦCT) identified in the present study all reinforce the critically endangered status of the species and are inconsistent with the presence of a single, panmictic population of groupers on the Brazilian coast. The results of this study suggest that, though it may be incipient, the observed genetic structuring must be taken into account in order to prevent potential problems, such as outbreeding depression, in the management of wild stocks.