- Zavora Beach
Inharrime
Inhambane Province
Mozambique
Yara Tibirica
Association of Coastal Conservation of Mozambique, Zavora Marine Lab., Department Member
- Marine Conservation, Marine biodiversity, Opisthobranchs, Opisthobranchia, Ecology and systematics of Opisthobranchia (Mollusca, Gastropoda), Sustainable Tourism, and 7 moreMozambique, Scuba Diving, Coastal impacts im Mozambique, Sea Slugs, Nudibranchs, Zavora Beach, and Nudibranchs of Mozambiqueedit
The nudibranch diversity of the western Indian Ocean is comparatively one of the least studied in the world. In this paper a spongelike Discodoridae nudibranch Jorunna liviae sp. nov. is described. The description is based on integrative... more
The nudibranch diversity of the western Indian Ocean is comparatively one of the least studied in the world. In this paper a spongelike Discodoridae nudibranch Jorunna liviae sp. nov. is described. The description is based on integrative anatomy, including molecular analysis of two genes (the mitochondrial COI and the nuclear H3), dissections, electron microscopy (SEM) of buccal elements, micro tomography of the spicule's arrangements and ecological observations. This study provides the first ever molecular data of Jorunna species from the western Indian Ocean, helping to fill the gap to further understand this apparent paraphyletic genus.
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Color ontogeny and variations associated with discrete morphological differences may generate taxonomical challenges, which requires multiple data types and in-depth historical review. The nudibranch known as the Spanish dancer,... more
Color ontogeny and variations associated with discrete morphological differences may generate taxonomical challenges, which requires multiple data types and in-depth historical review. The nudibranch known as the Spanish dancer, Hexabranchus sanguineus, is a classic example with over 200 years of taxonomic confusion. Currently, H. sanguineus is accepted by most authors as a single species from the Indo-Pacific Ocean with Hexabranchus morsomus as a valid species from the Atlantic Ocean. Yet, despite these species being highly studied, their systematic status remains debatable. Over 30 synonyms have been proposed for H. sanguineus and even a distinct genus for H. morsomus. Here we provide, for the first time, a comprehensive review of all proposed names and an integrative taxonomic revision of the genus including morphological and molecular data. Our results reveal that H. sanguineus is a complex of five species: four previously described and an undescribed species, one of the largest nudibranchs in the world: Hexabranchus giganteus sp. nov. The genus Caribranchus is considered a junior synonym of Hexabranchus Ehrenberg, 1828 and the ontogeny of color pattern is discussed.
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Resumen Los Nudipleura constituyen el grupo de gasteropodos heterobranquios marinos mas diverso, con un numero de 3000 especies aproximadamente. La mayor diversidad de Nudipleura en el mundo se encuentra en el Indo-Pacifico, estando el... more
Resumen Los Nudipleura constituyen el grupo de gasteropodos heterobranquios marinos mas diverso, con un numero de 3000 especies aproximadamente. La mayor diversidad de Nudipleura en el mundo se encuentra en el Indo-Pacifico, estando el Oceano Indico occidental la region menos estudiada. Previamente al presente estudio el conocimiento acerca de la diversidad de la fauna de Nudipleura de Mozambique, el tercer pais en longitud de costa del Africa oriental, era escaso. La presente Tesis Doctoral se centra en contribuir al conocimiento de la riqueza de los Nudipleura de Mozambique. La evaluacion de la misma se baso en 7 anos de muestreos de campo que se tradujeron en una recoleccion de mas de 1300 ejemplares. El muestreo fue llevado a cabo en 12 localidades del Norte y Sur de Mozambique. Los ejemplares fueron fotografiados, medidos, numerados, relajados y conservados en etanol al 96%. En algunos casos de identificacion incierta, se realizaron disecciones del sistema reproductor y / o bul...
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The purpose of the review was to analyse in detail the available information on the broad situation of the marine ecosystems of Mozambique, and highlight the critical gaps in available data or research. The report will enable Fondation... more
The purpose of the review was to analyse in detail the available information on the broad situation of the marine ecosystems of Mozambique, and highlight the critical gaps in available data or research. The report will enable Fondation Ensemble and its partner the Oak Foundation, or any other interested stakeholder, to deepen their understanding of the broad marine ecosystem situation in Mozambique and help establish intervention priorities for practical field initiatives and/or on research within the areas of marine biodiversity conservation, and/or sustainable fishing. Mozambique is located along the southern coast of East Africa. The 2,470 km coastline and a diverse and productive continental shelf area of about 104,300 km2 are of paramount importance for the country. The Mozambican coastline is characterized by a wide diversity of habitats including sandy and rocky beaches; sand dunes, coral reefs, estuaries, bays, seagrass beds and mangrove forests, which support pristine ecosy...
This paper provides the first comprehensive annotated and illustrated inventory of Nudipleura from Mozambique. A total of 267 species are recorded, including 61 putative new species, documented over a period of seven years from several... more
This paper provides the first comprehensive annotated and illustrated inventory of Nudipleura from Mozambique. A total of 267 species are recorded, including 61 putative new species, documented over a period of seven years from several localities along the coast. At least 20 species need further investigation through molecular and taxomic analysis. Of the 186 confirmed described species, 118 are new records for the Mozambican fauna. Sampling was carried in tidal reefs and depths up to 60m on the subtropical and tropical coast of Mozambique. The most representative families were Chromodorididae (69 species), Discodorididae (30 species), Facelinidae (23 species) and Phyllididae (16 species). Nevertheless, a vast area of Mozambique remains unexplored, thus it is likely that the species documented here represent only a fraction of the true Nudipleura diversity of the country.
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BackgroundThe trade in manta ray gill plates has considerably increased over the last two decades. The resulting increases in ray mortality, in addition to mortality caused by by-catch, has caused many ray populations to decrease in size.... more
BackgroundThe trade in manta ray gill plates has considerably increased over the last two decades. The resulting increases in ray mortality, in addition to mortality caused by by-catch, has caused many ray populations to decrease in size. The aim of this study was to ascertain how yearling and juvenile growth and survival, and adult survival and reproduction affect reef manta ray (Manta alfredi) population change, to increase our understanding of manta ray demography and thereby improve conservation research and measures for these fish.MethodsWe developed a population projection model for reef manta rays, and used published life history data on yearling and juvenile growth and adult reproduction to parameterise the model. Because little is known about reef manta ray yearling and juvenile survival, we conducted our analyses using a range of plausible survival rate values for yearlings, juveniles and adults.ResultsThe model accurately captured observed variation in population growth r...
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Although the knowledge about the floristic composition of the fragments of seasonal semidecidual forest had grown in the last few years, little is known about the liana communities (woody vines and herbaceous vines) in those fragments. To... more
Although the knowledge about the floristic composition of the fragments of seasonal semidecidual forest had grown in the last few years, little is known about the liana communities (woody vines and herbaceous vines) in those fragments. To collaborate with the knowledgement of the lianas and subsidize future works involving this life form, a floristic survey of the liana species occurring at the fragment Maravilha of the State Park of Vassununga (Santa Rita do Passa Quatro - SP) was carried out. The study area comprised 127.08ha, with average temperature of 22 ºC. The whole border of the forest fragment and three tracks inside the forest were surveyed monthly between August 2002 and September 2003. One hundred and twenty species of lianas, belonging to 30 families and 71 genera were identified where 51% of them were twiners, 42% tendrilous and 7% scandents. The most representative families in number of species were: Bignoniaceae (26), Malpighiaceae (14), Sapindaceae (12) and Asteraceae (9). Fragment Maravilha given low similarity with other fragments of semidecidual forest in São Paulo State.
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Although the knowledge about the floristic composition of the fragments of seasonal semidecidual forest had grown in the last few years, little is known about the liana communities (woody vines and herbaceous vines) in those fragments. To... more
Although the knowledge about the floristic composition of the fragments of seasonal semidecidual forest had grown in the last few years, little is known about the liana communities (woody vines and herbaceous vines) in those fragments. To collaborate with the knowledgement of the lianas and subsidize future works involving this life form, a floristic survey of the liana species occurring at the fragment Maravilha of the State Park of Vassununga (Santa Rita do Passa Quatro - SP) was carried out. The study area comprised 127.08ha, with average temperature of 22 ºC. The whole border of the forest fragment and three tracks inside the forest were surveyed monthly between August 2002 and September 2003. One hundred and twenty species of lianas, belonging to 30 families and 71 genera were identified where 51% of them were twiners, 42% tendrilous and 7% scandents. The most representative families in number of species were: Bignoniaceae (26), Malpighiaceae (14), Sapindaceae (12) and Asteraceae (9). Fragment Maravilha given low similarity with other fragments of semidecidual forest in São Paulo State.