scholarly journals Indirect signals of spawning aggregations of three commercial reef fish species on the continental shelf of Bahia, east coast of Brazil

2015 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 289-301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aline Rocha França ◽  
George Olavo
Keyword(s):  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Annual Variation ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Exploratory Analysis ◽  
Spawning Activity ◽  
Spawning Aggregations ◽  
Mycteroperca Bonaci ◽  
Southern Bahia ◽  
Reef Fish Species ◽  
Unregulated Fishing

AbstractLutjanus analis (Mutton snapper), Lutjanus jocu(Dog snapper) and Mycteroperca bonaci (Black grouper) are reef fishes of high commercial value, and are among the principal exploited reef resources on the eastern and northeastern coast of Brazil. These species share the habit of forming transient spawning aggregations, predictable in time and space, which leaves them particularly vulnerable. The present study aimed to obtain indirect indicators of periods and places of spawning aggregations for these species, based on the exploratory analysis of available data on commercial catches and fishing efforts in Southern Bahia. Line fishery landings data were monitored in 12 locations in the region, and catch records of Mutton snapper (1320 landings), Dog snapper (654) and Black grouper (1162) were analyzed. A strategy was developed for exploratory analysis of monthly CPUE variation and individual distribution of CPUE per trip. The results showed the occurrence of aggregations in 26 specific sites, with values of relative abundance far above the annual mean, during spring/summer and autumn/winter. The occurrence of these anomalous catches was validated with the fishermen responsible for respective fishing trips. Additional studies are needed to confirm spawning activity at these sites. Analysis of inter-annual variation suggests a decreasing trend in relative abundance of Black grouper and Mutton snapper, possibly associated with unregulated fishing of spawning aggregations.

scholarly journals Red fluorescence increases with depth in reef fishes, supporting a visual function, not UV protection

2014 ◽  
Vol 281 (1790) ◽  
pp. 20141211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa G. Meadows ◽  
Nils Anthes ◽  
Sandra Dangelmayer ◽  
Magdy A. Alwany ◽  
Tobias Gerlach ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Light Emission ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Marine Fishes ◽  
Fluorescent Light ◽  
Red Fluorescence ◽  
Visual Contrast ◽  
Uv Irradiance ◽  
Reef Fish Species ◽  
Nm Range

Why do some marine fishes exhibit striking patterns of natural red fluorescence? In this study, we contrast two non-exclusive hypotheses: (i) that UV absorption by fluorescent pigments offers significant photoprotection in shallow water, where UV irradiance is strongest; and (ii) that red fluorescence enhances visual contrast at depths below −10 m, where most light in the ‘red’ 600–700 nm range has been absorbed. Whereas the photoprotection hypothesis predicts fluorescence to be stronger near the surface and weaker in deeper water, the visual contrast hypothesis predicts the opposite. We used fluorometry to measure red fluorescence brightness in vivo in individuals belonging to eight common small reef fish species with conspicuously red fluorescent eyes. Fluorescence was significantly brighter in specimens from the −20 m sites than in those from −5 m sites in six out of eight species. No difference was found in the remaining two. Our results support the visual contrast hypothesis. We discuss the possible roles fluorescence may play in fish visual ecology and highlight the possibility that fluorescent light emission from the eyes in particular may be used to detect cryptic prey.

scholarly journals DNA-based identification of predators of the corallivorous Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris) from fish faeces and gut contents

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederieke J. Kroon ◽  
Carine D. Lefèvre ◽  
Jason R. Doyle ◽  
Frances Patel ◽  
Grant Milton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Coral Reef Fish ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Fish Predation ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Positive Control ◽  
Gut Contents ◽  
Reef Fish Species

Abstract The corallivorous Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (CoTS, Acanthaster spp.) has been linked with the widespread loss of scleractinian coral cover on Indo-Pacific reefs during periodic population outbreaks. Here, we re-examine CoTS consumption by coral reef fish species by using new DNA technologies to detect Pacific Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris) in fish faecal and gut content samples. CoTS DNA was detected in samples from 18 different coral reef fish species collected on reefs at various stages of CoTS outbreaks in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, nine of which had not been previously reported to feed on CoTS. A comprehensive set of negative and positive control samples confirmed that our collection, processing and analysis procedures were robust, although food web transfer of CoTS DNA cannot be ruled out for some fish species. Our results, combined with the (i) presence of CoTS spines in some samples, (ii) reported predation on CoTS gametes, larvae and settled individuals, and (iii) known diet information for fish species examined, strongly indicate that direct fish predation on CoTS may well be more common than is currently appreciated. We provide recommendations for specific management approaches to enhance predation on CoTS by coral reef fishes, and to support the mitigation of CoTS outbreaks and reverse declines in hard coral cover.

scholarly journals Turtle cleaners: reef fishes foraging on epibionts of sea turtles in the tropical Southwestern Atlantic, with a summary of this association type

2010 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 187-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Sazima ◽  
Alice Grossman ◽  
Ivan Sazima
Keyword(s):  
Reef Fish ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Sea Turtles ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Oceanic Islands ◽  
Southwestern Atlantic ◽  
Cleaning Symbiosis ◽  
Turtle Species ◽  
Fernando De Noronha ◽  
Reef Fish Species

In the present study we record several instances of reef fish species foraging on epibionts of sea turtles (cleaning symbiosis) at the oceanic islands of Fernando de Noronha Archipelago and near a shipwreck, both off the coast of Pernambuco State, northeast Brazil. Nine reef fish species and three turtle species involved in cleaning are herein recorded. Besides our records, a summary of the literature on this association type is presented. Postures adopted by turtles during the interaction are related to the habits of associated fishes. Feeding associations between fishes and turtles seem a localized, albeit common, phenomenon.

scholarly journals Estimating relative abundance and species richness from video surveys of reef fishes

2014 ◽  
Vol 113 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan M. Bacheler ◽  
Kyle W. Shertzer
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Video Surveys

scholarly journals REEF FISHES BIODIVERSITY IN MARINE SANCTUARY AT MINAHASA UTARA DISTRICT, NORTH SULAWESI

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fakhrizal Setiawan ◽  
Sonny Tasidjawa ◽  
Efra Wantah ◽  
Hendri Johanis
Keyword(s):  
Reef Fish ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Fish Community ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Good Condition ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Fish Community Structure ◽  
North Sulawesi ◽  
Reef Fish Community ◽  
Reef Fish Species

<p align="center"><strong><em>ABSTRACT</em></strong></p><p><em>There are </em><em>some marine sanctuaries (DPL) which are managed together by its societies in North Minahasa regency. From 19 villages with DPL, we conducted surveys using point intercept transect in 14 villages both inside and outside DPL in the subdistrict West Likupang and East Likupang, North Minahasa. Result showed that l</em><em>ive coral cover was in general in moderate to excellent conditions both inside and outside DPL. Reef fish recorded in the study areas consisted of 267 reef fish species which categorized into 40 families. Bahoi village had the highest abundance and biomass within the DPL due to a very good condition of coral reef ecosystemn (&gt;75% coral cover) both inside and outside DPL. Biomass of reef fish outside DPL of Bahoi was small but its abundance was the highest. This conditions indicated that the size of reef fish outside of Bahoi DPL was small and this gave a positive perspective to supply fishes into the outside region of Bahoi DPL. Overall, marine sanctuary in North Minahasa contained reef fish community structure in good condition, moderate diversity, relatively labile of evenness index, and low dominance. </em><em>Grouping</em><em> by similarity, reef fish species were generally similar in all locations. The separation of DPL locations produced some different fishes group due to its different location, oceanographic conditions, and characters.</em><em></em></p><p> </p><p><strong><em>Keywords</em></strong><em>: Marine sanctuary, reef fish community, North Minahasa.</em></p>

Checklist of conspicuous reef fishes of the Bahía de los Ángeles region, Baja California Norte, Mexico, with comments on abundance and ecological biogeography

Zootaxa ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 2922 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
ISMAEL MASCAREÑAS-OSORIO ◽  
BRAD ERISMAN ◽  
JERRY MOXLEY ◽  
EDUARDO BALART ◽  
OCTAVIO ABURTO-OROPEZA
Keyword(s):  
Los Angeles ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Gulf Of California ◽  
Baja California ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Eastern Pacific ◽  
Frequency Of Occurrence ◽  
Tropical Eastern Pacific ◽  
Geographic Distributions

A first checklist of conspicuous reef fishes observed at 15 sites in the vicinity of Bahía de los Ángeles from 2008 to 2010 is presented. A total of 70 species representing 31 families were observed. Species composition was similar to well studied regions in the southern Gulf of California, in that most species had distributions that span the Tropical Eastern Pacific but species endemic to Mexico or the Gulf of California ranked highest in relative abundance, frequency of occurrence, and mean density. Several species with temperate geographic distributions were more abundant and frequent than on reefs in the southern Gulf. Large-bodied, predatory species such as sharks and the Gulf Grouper, Mycteroperca jordani, were rare or absent.

scholarly journals Diel rhythms in shallow Mediterranean rocky-reef fishes: a chronobiological approach with the help of trained volunteers

2012 ◽  
Vol 93 (2) ◽  
pp. 461-470 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ernesto Azzurro ◽  
Jacopo Aguzzi ◽  
Francesc Maynou ◽  
Juan José Chiesa ◽  
Dario Savini
Keyword(s):  
Marine Species ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Rocky Reef ◽  
Natural Environments ◽  
Rocky Shores ◽  
Natural Systems ◽  
The Hours ◽  
Sarpa Salpa ◽  
Reef Fish Species ◽  
Rocky Reef Fish

Behavioural rhythms in marine species have been mostly investigated in laboratory organisms and their expression within the animals' natural environments remains largely unknown. Here, we studied diel (i.e. 24-hours-based) and intra-diel (i.e. 12-hours-based) rhythmic variations in the abundance of seven shallow rocky-reef fish species, namely Coris julis, Epinephelus marginatus, Sarpa salpa, Serranus cabrilla, Serranus scriba, Sparisoma cretense and Thalassoma pavo, along the rocky shores of Linosa Island (Mediterranean Sea). Data were visually collected by trained volunteers along fixed transects at 3-hourly intervals throughout six consecutive 24-hours periods. Density estimates can vary greatly between consecutive days and during 24-hours periods according not only to the major day–night changeover but also to minor intra-diel variations at the daylight hours. In the case of T. pavo, C. julis, S. cabrilla and S. salpa waveform analyses showed midday troughs in abundance within the 24-hours period but significant variation within the hours of daylight was highlighted only for T. pavo. Although results were not conclusive at the intra-dial level, the employment of volunteers represented a valuable tool for chronobiology, suitable to improve our understanding of fish behaviour in natural systems.

Quantification of historic lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) spawning aggregations in Lake Michigan

1997 ◽  
Vol 54 (10) ◽  
pp. 2290-2302 ◽  
Author(s):  
K A Dawson ◽  
R L Eshenroder ◽  
M E Holey ◽  
C Ward
Keyword(s):  
Lake Michigan ◽  
Lake Trout ◽  
Salvelinus Namaycush ◽  
Catch Per Unit Effort ◽  
Spawning Activity ◽  
Commercial Catch ◽  
Northeast Section ◽  
Site Specific ◽  
Spawning Aggregations ◽  
Made In

We used commercial catch reports to determine site-specific characteristics of lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) spawning aggregations in Michigan's and Wisconsin's waters of Lake Michigan before reproduction ceased in the 1950s. One hundred sites where annual catches exceeded 25 kg/year were identified. Two thirds of the catch was made in offshore waters and nearly half was made in the northeast sector of the lake. Catch was a better descriptor of the size of spawning aggregations than catch per unit effort (CPUE). CPUEs were not significantly different among onshore, offshore, and southern deepwater reefs. Spawning activity as measured by CPUE had peaked by the week beginning 29 October at all locations. Spawning aggregations were strongly clustered in the northeast section of the lake where Devonian rocks were subject to brecciation, i.e., fracturing and recementing following slumping. Areas zoned as refuges in the current lake trout rehabilitation plan account for 36% of the historical catch targeted at spawning aggregations. We recommend a refocusing of rehabilitation efforts in northern waters from sites where historical catches were modest to sites that produced the largest catches of lake trout aggregated for spawning.

scholarly journals Effects of hypoxia and ocean acidification on the upper thermal niche boundaries of coral reef fishes

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 20170135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rasmus Ern ◽  
Jacob L. Johansen ◽  
Jodie L. Rummer ◽  
Andrew J. Esbaugh
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Ocean Acidification ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Thermal Range ◽  
Thermal Limits ◽  
Reef Fish Species ◽  
Progressive Hypoxia ◽  
Poleward Shift ◽  
Supply Capacity

Rising ocean temperatures are predicted to cause a poleward shift in the distribution of marine fishes occupying the extent of latitudes tolerable within their thermal range boundaries. A prevailing theory suggests that the upper thermal limits of fishes are constrained by hypoxia and ocean acidification. However, some eurythermal fish species do not conform to this theory, and maintain their upper thermal limits in hypoxia. Here we determine if the same is true for stenothermal species. In three coral reef fish species we tested the effect of hypoxia on upper thermal limits, measured as critical thermal maximum (CT max ). In one of these species we also quantified the effect of hypoxia on oxygen supply capacity, measured as aerobic scope (AS). In this species we also tested the effect of elevated CO 2 (simulated ocean acidification) on the hypoxia sensitivity of CT max . We found that CT max was unaffected by progressive hypoxia down to approximately 35 mmHg, despite a substantial hypoxia-induced reduction in AS. Below approximately 35 mmHg, CT max declined sharply with water oxygen tension ( P w O 2 ). Furthermore, the hypoxia sensitivity of CT max was unaffected by elevated CO 2 . Our findings show that moderate hypoxia and ocean acidification do not constrain the upper thermal limits of these tropical, stenothermal fishes.

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