Long-term monitoring projects of Brazilian marine and coastal ecosystems.

Biodiversity assessment is a mandatory task for sustainable and adaptive management for the next decade, and long-term ecological monitoring programs are a cornerstone for understanding changes in ecosystems. The Brazilian Long-Term Ecological Research Program (PELD) is an integrated effort model supported by public funds that finance ecological studies at 34 locations. By interviewing and compiling data from project coordinators, we assessed monitoring efforts, targeting biological groups and scientific production from nine PELD projects encompassing coastal lagoons to mesophotic reefs and oceanic islands. Reef environments and fish groups were the most often studied within the long-term projects. PELD projects covered priority areas for conservation but missed sensitive areas close to large cities, as well as underrepresenting ecosystems on the North and Northeast Brazilian coast. Long-term monitoring projects in marine and coastal environments in Brazil are recent (<5 years), not yet integrated as a network, but scientifically productive with considerable relevance for academic and human resources training. Scientific production increased exponentially with project age, despite interruption and shortage of funding during their history. From our diagnosis, we recommend some actions to fill in observed gaps, such as: enhancing projects' collaboration and integration; focusing on priority regions for new projects; broadening the scope of monitored variables; and, maintenance of funding for existing projects.

Sexual Maturity of an Endemic Insular Land Crab: Priority Information toward the Conservation of Johngarthia lagostoma.

AbstractInsular land crabs (Gecarcinidae) can transit between terrestrial and aquatic environments and inhabit vacant ecological niches that other species do not occupy in oceanic islands. During the reproductive period, these crabs migrate between residential and reproductive areas; this is a critical moment because individuals are more vulnerable to stressful conditions, especially species occupying anthropized islands. Currently, many insular crab species are considered threatened; yet few studies have evaluated the biology of this group, especially the size at which individuals reach sexual maturity. Here, we evaluate the size at the onset of morphological, physiological, and functional maturity for the insular land crab Johngarthia lagostoma in Trindade Island (Brazil) and assess the chronology of the events underlying those processes. Males and females exhibited the same order of occurrence of the different maturity processes, starting by being morphologically, physiologically, and, finally, functionally mature at similar sizes (about 56 mm carapace width). This value corresponds to at least half of the maximum size that J. lagostoma reaches in Trindade Island and is close to the average relative value registered to other Gecarcinidae species. Considering the current decline in the population of insular crabs, such estimates can be used in management programs, mainly for the definition and protection of breeding and recruitment areas. Specifically, our results can be used toward the conservation of J. lagostoma, which is currently classified as endangered in Brazil, especially in the isolated population of Trindade Island.

Macroscale patterns of oceanic zooplankton composition and size structure.

Ocean plankton comprise organisms from viruses to fish larvae that are fundamental to ecosystem functioning and the provision of marine services such as fisheries and CO2 sequestration. The latter services are partly governed by variations in plankton community composition and the expression of traits such as body size at community-level. While community assembly has been thoroughly studied for the smaller end of the plankton size spectrum, the larger end comprises ectotherms that are often studied at the species, or group-level, rather than as communities. The body size of marine ectotherms decreases with temperature, but controls on community-level traits remain elusive, hindering the predictability of marine services provision. Here, we leverage Tara Oceans datasets to determine how zooplankton community composition and size structure varies with latitude, temperature and productivity-related covariates in the global surface ocean. Zooplankton abundance and median size decreased towards warmer and less productive environments, as a result of changes in copepod composition. However, some clades displayed the opposite relationships, which may be ascribed to alternative feeding strategies. Given that climate models predict increasingly warmed and stratified oceans, our findings suggest that zooplankton communities will shift towards smaller organisms which might weaken their contribution to the biological carbon pump.

Lysmata arvoredensis nov. sp. a new species of shrimp from the south coast of Brazil with a key to species of Lysmata (Caridea: Lysmatidae) recorded in the southwestern Atlantic.

Lysmata arvoredensis sp. nov. inhabits temperate waters in the south coast of Brazil and is named in tribute to the Marine Protected Area REBIO Arvoredo. This is the fourth species belonging to the genus Lysmata recorded for the region and the ninth for Brazil. L. arvoredensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from other species of Lysmata by the presence of a nearly completely fused accessory branch with a single free unguiform segment on the outer antennular flagellum; a rostrum with seven dorsal (2+5) and three ventral teeth; a stylocerite with a pointed tip bearing mesial setae; a second pereiopod with 22-24 carpal subsegments and 14-16 subsegments in the merus; a merus of the third pereiopod with five ventrolateral and 12 ventral spines on the propodus; and its color pattern, with red bands and patches in pleonites 2-3 that resemble a mask in dorsal view. Molecular characters demonstrate that L. arvoredensis sp. nov. is most closely related to other species of Lysmata belonging to the Neotropical and Cleaner clades. To support future ecological studies in the region, identification keys to the species of Lysmata recorded in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean are provided.

A molecular method for the detection of sally lightfoot crab larvae (Grapsus grapsus, Brachyura, Grapsidae) in plankton samples.

The decapod Grapsus grapsus is commonly found on oceanic islands of the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of the Americas. In this study, a simple, quick and reliable method for detecting its larvae in plankton samples is described, which makes it ideal for large-scale studies of larval dispersal patterns in the species.

A molecular method for the detection of sally lightfoot crab larvae (Grapsus grapsus, Brachyura, Grapsidae) in plankton samples

The decapod Grapsus grapsus is commonly found on oceanic islands of the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of the Americas. In this study, a simple, quick and reliable method for detecting its larvae in plankton samples is described, which makes it ideal for large-scale studies of larval dispersal patterns in the species.

Spatial and temporal distribution of fish eggs and larvae in a subtropical coastal lagoon, Santa Catarina State, Brazil

This study investigated the variation in abundance, distribution and composition of ichthyoplankton in a lagoon in southern Brazil through the year and at different stations within the lagoon. Ibiraquera Lagoon is a shallow coastal lagoon connected to the sea by a semi-permanent sandbar. Ichthyoplankton samples were collected monthly from December 2003 to December 2004, with a 200 µm mesh net using horizontal surface hauls. A colder, drier period was detected, contrasting with warm months during which salinity varied depending on rainfall and whether the sandbar was open or closed. The mean abundance of ichthyoplankton over the study period was 459.6 ± 76.2 (SE) eggs · 100 m-3 and 63.6 ± 7.9 (SE) larvae · 100 m-3, and they were present during all months. Significantly higher abundances of eggs and larvae were observed during warm months. The community was dominated by the family Engraulidae followed by Clupeidae, Gobiidae and Mugilidae. Engraulidae and Clupeidae were present throughout the year, with greater abundances in months with higher temperatures. Some coastal fish species spawn in Ibiraquera Lagoon, mainly near to the sandbar, demonstrating that the lagoon is a spawning area for coastal stock. We recommend the establishment of environmental procedures to promote the conservation of Ibiraquera Lagoon and its ichthyoplankton community.

A abundância, distribuição e composição do ictioplâncton foram investigadas em uma lagoa no sul do Brasil durante um ano e em diferentes estações dentro da lagoa. A lagoa de Ibiraquera é uma lagoa costeira rasa, conectada ao mar através de uma barra semi-permanente. As amostras de ictioplâncton foram coletadas mensalmente entre dezembro de 2003 e dezembro de 2004, com uma rede cônico-cilíndrica de 200 µm de malha em arrastos horizontais e de superfície. Foi detectado um período frio e seco em contraste aos meses quentes e com variação na salinidade em função das chuvas e da barra estar aberta ou fechada. A abundância média do ictioplâncton, durante o período de estudo, foi de 459,6 ± 76,2 (SE) ovos · 100 m-3 e 63,6 ± 7,9 (SE) larvas · 100 m-3, e ocorreram em todos os meses. As abundâncias de ovos e larvas foram significativamente maiores nos meses quentes. A comunidade foi dominada pela família Engraulidae seguida pelas famílias Clupeidae, Gobiidae e Mugilidae. As famílias Engraulidae e Clupeidae ocorreram principalmente nos meses com maiores temperaturas. Alguns peixes costeiros desovam dentro da lagoa, principalmente próximo a barra, evidenciando que a lagoa é uma área de desova para o estoque costeiro. Recomenda-se o estabelecimento de ações ambientais que promovam a conservação da lagoa de Ibiraquera e da comunidade ictioplanctônica.