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Fogliarini CO, Ferreira CEL, Bornholdt J, Barbosa MC, Giglio VJ, Bender MG. Telling the same story: Fishers and landing data reveal changes in fisheries on the Southeastern Brazilian Coast. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0252391. [PMID: 34061860 PMCID: PMC8168859 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
An understanding of the effects of fishing on marine ecosystems relies on information about the conserved state of these environments. Non-conventional approaches such as the use of historical data and local ecological knowledge can provide information and help adjust our references of changes in the environment. Also, the combination of different types of data can indicate a fisheries trend that would be undetectable when evaluated separately. Here we investigated changes in fisher's perceptions regarding overexploited and new target species in artisanal fisheries in a secular fishing village of the subtropical, southeastern Brazilian coast. We identified temporal changes in landings and in the mean trophic level (MTL) of high trophic level species (≥ 3.5 and >4) over 16 years. Fishers' knowledge revealed shifts in perception associated with years of fishing practice. More experienced fishers recognized a greater number of overexploited and new target species than fishers in the beginning of their careers. Landing data has revealed declining trends of 72% for five mesopredators species. Due to the overfishing of mesopredators, there was a shift in target species, towards fish that were previously discarded. Temporal changes in landings and in the MTL metric are concordant with previous reports on the overexploitation of species caught by local fishers. Our work reveals that multiple sources of information can be combined to establish historical baselines and improve the detection of change in marine ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carine O. Fogliarini
- Departamento de Ecologia e Evolução, Marine Macroecology and Conservation Lab, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Bairro Camobi, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
- * E-mail:
| | - Carlos E. L. Ferreira
- Departamento de Biologia Marinha, Reef Systems Ecology and Conservation Lab, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | - Jéssica Bornholdt
- Departamento de Ecologia e Evolução, Marine Macroecology and Conservation Lab, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Bairro Camobi, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Moysés. C. Barbosa
- Departamento de Biologia Marinha, Reef Systems Ecology and Conservation Lab, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | - Vinicius J. Giglio
- Marine Conservation and Ecology Lab, Instituto do Mar, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Santos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mariana G. Bender
- Departamento de Ecologia e Evolução, Marine Macroecology and Conservation Lab, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Bairro Camobi, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
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Lucena MB, Mendes TC, Barbosa MC, Cordeiro CAMM, Eggertsen LM, Ferreira CEL. Does the colors of light matter? Testing different light color in nocturnal underwater visual censuses. Mar Environ Res 2021; 166:105261. [PMID: 33493683 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2021.105261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Most methods for assessing reef fish assemblages at night require artificial light, but the use of different colors of light may influence the results. We used data from 135 underwater visual censuses (UVCs) performed with different colors of light (red, blue and white) to evaluate the structure of fish assemblages on subtropical rocky reefs along three depth intervals. We did not detect any effect of the color of light on total density or fish species richness per transect, nor on the structure of the entire assemblage. However, the density of some of the most abundant species varied according to the color used. Red light showed the highest values of frequency of occurrence for most species, while the white light resulted in decreased abundance of some fish species. Our results emphasize the importance of choosing the color of light depending on the type of studies to be conducted. This will depend on the objectives of the research (e.g. inventory, behavior or community dynamics) and the target fish fauna (e.g. mobile or sedentary).
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos B Lucena
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-901, Brazil; Reef Fish Ecology and Conservation Lab, Departamento de Biologia Marinha, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, 24020141, Brazil.
| | - Thiago C Mendes
- Instituto do Mar, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Santos, SP, 11070-100, Brazil
| | - Moysés C Barbosa
- Reef Fish Ecology and Conservation Lab, Departamento de Biologia Marinha, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, 24020141, Brazil
| | - Cesar A M M Cordeiro
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-901, Brazil; Reef Fish Ecology and Conservation Lab, Departamento de Biologia Marinha, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, 24020141, Brazil
| | - Linda M Eggertsen
- Reef Fish Ecology and Conservation Lab, Departamento de Biologia Marinha, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, 24020141, Brazil; Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação Marinha, Centro de Formação em Ciências Ambientais, Universidade Federal do Sul da Bahia, Porto Seguro-Eunápolis, Brazil
| | - Carlos E L Ferreira
- Reef Fish Ecology and Conservation Lab, Departamento de Biologia Marinha, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, 24020141, Brazil
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Yarlett RT, Perry CT, Wilson RW, Harborne AR. Inter-Habitat Variability in Parrotfish Bioerosion Rates and Grazing Pressure on an Indian Ocean Reef Platform. Diversity 2020; 12:381. [DOI: 10.3390/d12100381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Parrotfish perform a variety of vital ecological functions on coral reefs, but we have little understanding of how these vary spatially as a result of inter-habitat variability in species assemblages. Here, we examine how two key ecological functions that result from parrotfish feeding, bioerosion and substrate grazing, vary between habitats over a reef scale in the central Maldives. Eight distinct habitats were delineated in early 2015, prior to the 2016 bleaching event, each supporting a unique parrotfish assemblage. Bioerosion rates varied from 0 to 0.84 ± 0.12 kg m−2 yr−1 but were highest in the coral rubble- and Pocillopora spp.-dominated habitat. Grazing pressure also varied markedly between habitats but followed a different inter-habitat pattern from that of bioerosion, with different contributing species. Total parrotfish grazing pressure ranged from 0 to ~264 ± 16% available substrate grazed yr-1 in the branching Acropora spp.-dominated habitat. Despite the importance of these functions in influencing reef-scale physical structure and ecological health, the highest rates occurred over less than 30% of the platform area. The results presented here provide new insights into within-reef variability in parrotfish ecological functions and demonstrate the importance of considering how these interact to influence reef geo-ecology.
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Mendes TC, Quimbayo JP, Bouth HF, Silva LPS, Ferreira CEL. The omnivorous triggerfish Melichthys niger is a functional herbivore on an isolated Atlantic oceanic island. J Fish Biol 2019; 95:812-819. [PMID: 31198985 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2018] [Accepted: 06/05/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
This study evaluated the functional role of the highly generalist omnivore Melichthys niger in the remote St. Peter and St Paul's Archipelago (SPSPA), Brazil, where grazing herbivorous fishes are very scarce. We analysed patterns of distribution from zero to 30 m deep during three time intervals during the day and sampled different aspects of their feeding behaviour, including diel feeding rate, feeding substrate and diet. The density of M. niger increased with depth (26-30 m) and decreased by the end of the day. Although M. niger did not present a typical herbivore diel feeding pattern, they targeted the epilithic algal matrix as their primary feeding substrate, ingesting predominantly algae and detritus. The characteristic Caulerpa racemosa var. peltata from SPSPA was ingested only as detached fronds. We suggest that in the isolated SPSPA, the single species M. niger may perform a unique role as a link between benthic primary production and higher levels. Further studies on the trophic ecology of omnivorous species are necessary to better understand their roles in a reef system, especially in impoverished areas where they are likely to play a crucial role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thiago C Mendes
- Department of Ecology, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Reef System Ecology and Conservation Laboratory, Department de Biologia Marinha, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Brazil
- Instituto do Mar, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Santos, SP, 11070-100, Brazil
| | - Juan P Quimbayo
- Reef System Ecology and Conservation Laboratory, Department de Biologia Marinha, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Brazil
- Macroecology and Biogeographic Laboratory, Department of Ecology and Zoology, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Helena F Bouth
- Reef System Ecology and Conservation Laboratory, Department de Biologia Marinha, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Brazil
| | - Luana P S Silva
- Reef System Ecology and Conservation Laboratory, Department de Biologia Marinha, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Brazil
| | - Carlos E L Ferreira
- Reef System Ecology and Conservation Laboratory, Department de Biologia Marinha, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Brazil
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Morais RA, Ferreira CEL, Floeter SR. Spatial patterns of fish standing biomass across Brazilian reefs. J Fish Biol 2017; 91:1642-1667. [PMID: 29076535 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.13482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2017] [Accepted: 09/09/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
A large fish-count dataset from the Brazilian province was used to describe spatial patterns in standing biomass and test if total biomass, taxonomic and functional trophic structure vary across nested spatial scales. Taxonomic and functional structure varied more among localities and sites than among regions. Total biomass was generally higher at oceanic islands and remote or protected localities along the coast. Lower level carnivores comprised a large part of the biomass at almost all localities (mean of 44%), zooplanktivores never attained more than 14% and omnivores were more representative of subtropical reefs and oceanic islands (up to 66% of total biomass). Small and large herbivores and detritivores varied greatly in their contribution to total biomass, with no clear geographical patterns. Macrocarnivores comprised less than 12% of the biomass anywhere, except for two remote localities. Top predators, such as sharks and very large groupers, were rare and restricted to a few reefs, suggesting that their ecological function might have already been lost in many Brazilian reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- R A Morais
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina 88040-900, Brazil
- Marine Macroecology and Biogeography Lab, Departamento de Ecologia e Zoologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina 88040-900, Brazil
| | - C E L Ferreira
- Reef Systems Ecology and Conservation Lab, Departamento de Biologia Marinha, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro 24001-970, Brazil
| | - S R Floeter
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina 88040-900, Brazil
- Marine Macroecology and Biogeography Lab, Departamento de Ecologia e Zoologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina 88040-900, Brazil
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