Agonistic and mating behaviour of the endemic lizard Trachylepis atlantica from the Fernando de Noronha archipelago, Brazil

The skink Trachylepis atlantica is endemic to the Fernando de Noronha archipelago. Although this species is abundant in the archipelago, it is increasingly threatened by invasive species, predation, and anthropic interference. However, little is known about its natural history. Here we report on territory use, male-male combat, and mating behaviour of freeranging T. atlantica. During the dry season, we observed two bouts of male combat and two copulations, which suggests some mating seasonality. In male combat, T. atlantica displays ritualised agonistic behaviour with escalated aggressiveness that include - i) visualisation, approaching or following, ii) visual display, iii) bite and body confrontation, and iv) dominance. Adult males were always alert to invaders within their territories. After combat, resident males showed scars on their heads resulting from agonistic encounters. During the two copulations, we observed courtship, immobilisation, and mating.

Governança ambiental em áreas marinhas protegidas: o contexto do Arquipélago de Fernando de Noronha, Brasil

As áreas marinhas protegidas fazem parte de uma estratégia global de conservação da biodiversidade, uma vez que essas áreas apresentam alta riqueza biológica, sendo base para diferentes serviços ecossistêmicos. Em diversas ilhas e arquipélagos o turismo se constitui como principal atividade econômica, usufruindo dos resultados de um ambiente protegido. Porém, o turismo não controlado tornou-se a principal causa de degradação e destruição em ecossistemas insulares, sendo consequência direta de falhas na governança destes espaços. Neste contexto, o presente estudo teve como objetivo analisar a governança ambiental no Arquipélago de Fernando de Noronha (Brasil). Os dados foram coletados através de observação direta e entrevistas com atores-chave, sendo analisados pela abordagem da Policy Analysis e a partir da utilização do software MACTOR. Os resultados obtidos sugerem que, na ilha principal (a única habitada), o paraíso é substituído por graves conflitos socioambientais, caracterizados por problemas ambientais tipicamente urbanos e disputas de poder entre os atores sociais. A má gestão, a falta de integração entre as instituições e o não cumprimento às restrições ambientais podem gerar uma situação de colapso em termos sociais, ambientais e econômicos no arquipélago.

Comprehensive Spatial Distribution of Tropical Fish Assemblages from Multifrequency Acoustics and Video Fulfils the Island Mass Effect Framework

Tropical marine ecosystems are highly biodiverse and provide resources for small-scale fisheries and tourism. However, precise information on fish spatial distribution is lacking, which limits our ability to reconcile exploitation and conservation. We combined acoustics to video observations to provide a comprehensive description of fish distribution in a typical tropical environment, the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago (FNA) off Northeast Brazil. We identified and classified all acoustic echoes into ten fish assemblage and two triggerfish species. This opened up the possibility to relate the spatial different spatial patterns to a series of environmental factors and the level of protection. We provide the first biomass estimation of the black triggerfish Melichthys niger, a key tropical player. By comparing the effects of euphotic and mesophotic reefs we show that more than the depth, the most important feature is the topography with the shelf break as the most important hotspot. We also complete the portrait of the island mass effect revealing a clear asymmetry. While primary productivity is higher downstream, fish concentrate upstream. The comprehensive fish distribution provided by our approach is directly usable to implement scientific-grounded Marine Spatial Planning.

Tourism distribution channels and capacity management: the case of the Brazilian Island of Fernando de Noronha, a World Heritage Site

<p>This research investigates the tourism distribution channels of Fernando de Noronha, an island off the Northeast coast of Brazil recognised by UNESCO as natural World Heritage Site. The novelty of this study is the examination of capacity management of this destination as a factor influencing supplier’s distribution channels. With this main purpose, the structures of the channel mix and the factors influencing them were identified. The research took a supply-side perspective, recognising the challenges of both suppliers and intermediaries when selling the destination. 41 in-depth interviews were conducted with suppliers, intermediaries located at Recife and Natal and governmental organisations (local, regional and central). A mass-market approach on selling the destination is in place by both the public and the private sector. Most of the tourists to Fernando de Noronha make use of indirect channels (via online reservation websites or travel agencies) or utilize the internet to reach suppliers. There are many factors influencing the structures of distribution channels. These were classified in three categories: general factors (market opportunity, partnership issues, price of channels, product’s characteristics, reputation of the channel, business capacity and experience), the use of direct distribution (get higher profitability, market trend, ease and good results of word-of-mouth) and the reasons for indirect distribution (to get higher customer numbers, provision of payment ease for customers and price of information provision to consumers). Although the carrying capacity measures of the destination were created in order to protect the natural resources of the Island for future generations, this is having an impact on the businesses when selling the destination and on tourists' travel decisions. The reason for this are: the payment of a conservation fee to gain access to the destination, the limited number of regular flights to the island (and regulated number of seats available), the restricted amount of airlines allowed to provide flights for the island and the controlled number of people that can get to the destination by plane and cruise ships each day. The capacity management of the destination is influencing supplier’s distribution channels because it increases the price of the destination, it means a lack of flight tickets in the high season and consequently it creates an image of expensive destination. As a result, it is making suppliers (especially accommodation providers) be obliged to work with tour operators (and their respective travel agencies) due to the tour operators holding the transportation tickets (by sea on a cruise ship or by air) to the destination in advance. Thus, stakeholders of natural world heritage sites, national parks and islands should think of distribution channels as a key tool to strategically reposition their product in order to provide sustainable development for the destination and preserve its natural resources. Also, capacity management must be considered as an external constraint influencing stakeholders' distribution mix choices.</p>

Tourism distribution channels and capacity management: the case of the Brazilian Island of Fernando de Noronha, a World Heritage Site

<p>This research investigates the tourism distribution channels of Fernando de Noronha, an island off the Northeast coast of Brazil recognised by UNESCO as natural World Heritage Site. The novelty of this study is the examination of capacity management of this destination as a factor influencing supplier’s distribution channels. With this main purpose, the structures of the channel mix and the factors influencing them were identified. The research took a supply-side perspective, recognising the challenges of both suppliers and intermediaries when selling the destination. 41 in-depth interviews were conducted with suppliers, intermediaries located at Recife and Natal and governmental organisations (local, regional and central). A mass-market approach on selling the destination is in place by both the public and the private sector. Most of the tourists to Fernando de Noronha make use of indirect channels (via online reservation websites or travel agencies) or utilize the internet to reach suppliers. There are many factors influencing the structures of distribution channels. These were classified in three categories: general factors (market opportunity, partnership issues, price of channels, product’s characteristics, reputation of the channel, business capacity and experience), the use of direct distribution (get higher profitability, market trend, ease and good results of word-of-mouth) and the reasons for indirect distribution (to get higher customer numbers, provision of payment ease for customers and price of information provision to consumers). Although the carrying capacity measures of the destination were created in order to protect the natural resources of the Island for future generations, this is having an impact on the businesses when selling the destination and on tourists' travel decisions. The reason for this are: the payment of a conservation fee to gain access to the destination, the limited number of regular flights to the island (and regulated number of seats available), the restricted amount of airlines allowed to provide flights for the island and the controlled number of people that can get to the destination by plane and cruise ships each day. The capacity management of the destination is influencing supplier’s distribution channels because it increases the price of the destination, it means a lack of flight tickets in the high season and consequently it creates an image of expensive destination. As a result, it is making suppliers (especially accommodation providers) be obliged to work with tour operators (and their respective travel agencies) due to the tour operators holding the transportation tickets (by sea on a cruise ship or by air) to the destination in advance. Thus, stakeholders of natural world heritage sites, national parks and islands should think of distribution channels as a key tool to strategically reposition their product in order to provide sustainable development for the destination and preserve its natural resources. Also, capacity management must be considered as an external constraint influencing stakeholders' distribution mix choices.</p>

New records of two teleost species from two insular areas of the western equatorial Atlantic

We report the first record of two teleost species from two archipelagos in the western equatorial Atlantic. We recorded the occurrence of Cantherhines pullus (Ranzani, 1842) (Monacanthidae, Tetraodontiformes) from the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, a group of volcanic islands 345 km off the northeastern coast of Brazil. We also report the first regional record of Hemiramphus brasiliensis (Linnaeus, 1758) (Hemiramphidae, Beloniformes) from the Saint Peter and Saint Paul&rsquo;s Archipelago, which is a small and isolated group of rocky islands 520 km from the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

Portuguese America under Foreign Threat and the Creation of the Concept of uti possidetis in the First half of the 18th Century

The aim of this article is to discuss the relationship between invasions, cartography, and possessory law in the context of diplomatic relations between Portugal and Spain in the first half of the eighteenth century, in South America territories. The Castilian siege of Colônia do Sacramento and the French invasion of Fernando de Noronha island (1736 and 1737), awoke in the Portuguese ambassador D. Luís da Cunha the need to change the foundation on which the frontiers of Brazil were negotiated. He began to use the concept of uti possidetis as a strategy, which would become the directive for the diplomatic negotiations in the 1750 Treaty of Madrid. Despite its acceptance as a resource to demarcate frontiers, uti possidetis created various controversies at the moment of the demarcation of the territories and the Treaty was annulled by the Treaty of El Pardo (1761), when the legal frontiers returned to their previous positions.

Evolutionary Tracks of Chromosomal Diversification in Surgeonfishes (Acanthuridae: Acanthurus) Along the World’s Biogeographic Domains

Fishes of the genus Acanthurus (Acanthuridae) are strongly related to reef environments, in a broad biogeographic context worldwide. Although their biological aspects are well known, cytogenetic information related to this genus remains incipient. In this study, Acanthurus species from populations inhabiting coastal regions of the Southwest Atlantic (SWA), South Atlantic oceanic islands (Fernando de Noronha Archipelago and Trindade Island), Greater Caribbean (GC), and Indo-Pacific Ocean (the center of the origin of the group) were analyzed to investigate their evolutionary differentiation. For this purpose, we employed conventional cytogenetic procedures and fluorescence in situ hybridization of 18S rDNA, 5S rDNA, and H3 and H2B-H2A histone sequences. The Atlantic species (A. coeruleus, A. chirurgus, and A. bahianus) did not show variations among them, despite their vast continental and insular distribution. In contrast, A. coeruleus from SWA and GC diverged from each other in the number of 18S rDNA sites, a condition likely associated with the barrier created by the outflows of the Amazonas/Orinoco rivers. The geminate species A. tractus had a cytogenetic profile similar to that of A. bahianus. However, the chromosomal macrostructures and the distribution of rDNA and hisDNA sequences revealed moderate to higher rates of diversification when Acanthurus species from recently colonized areas (Atlantic Ocean) were compared to A. triostegus, a representative species from the Indian Ocean. Our cytogenetic data covered all Acanthurus species from the Western Atlantic, tracked phylogenetic diversification throughout the dispersive process of the genus, and highlighted the probable diversifying role of ocean barriers in this process.