Mesophotic ecosystems at Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Brazil (South-western Atlantic), reveal unique ichthyofauna and need for conservation

Abstract Although several studies on the ichthyofauna of the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago have been carried out, its mesophotic fish diversity has never been surveyed before. Here we used SCUBA and technical rebreather diving, baited remote underwater videos and remotely operated vehicle to record shallow (≤ 30 m depth) and mesophotic (31 to 150 m depth) fishes. Nineteen fish species belonging to 14 families are reported here as new records, representing an increase of 8.2% in marine fish richness for the region, which now has a total of 250 species and 77 families. These new records include four potential new species and highlight the importance of surveying mesophotic ecosystems, even in well studied sites. Our results also emphasize the need for protection and attention to the unique ichthyofauna found at mesophotic depths.(AU)

Resumo Apesar de muitos estudos sobre a ictiofauna do Arquipélago de Fernando de Noronha terem sido realizados, sua diversidade de peixes mesofóticos nunca foi estudada antes. Neste estudo utilizamos mergulho autônomo e mergulho técnico, vídeos subaquáticos remotos com isca e veículo operado remotamente para registrar peixes de ecossistemas rasos (≤ 30 m de profundidade) e mesofóticos (31 a 150 m de profundidade). Dezenove espécies de peixes pertencentes a 14 famílias são apresentadas aqui como novos registros, representando um aumento de 8,2% na riqueza de peixes marinhos da região, que agora possui um total de 250 espécies e 77 famílias. Esses novos registros incluem quatro prováveis novas espécies e reforçam a importância de estudos em ecossistemas mesofóticos. Nossos resultados também enfatizam a necessidade de proteção e atenção à essa ictiofauna única encontrada nesses ecossistemas profundos.(AU)

Mesophotic ecosystems at Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Brazil (South-western Atlantic), reveal unique ichthyofauna and need for conservation

Although several studies on the ichthyofauna of the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago have been carried out, its mesophotic fish diversity has never been surveyed before. Here we used SCUBA and technical rebreather diving, baited remote underwater videos and remotely operated vehicle to record shallow (≤ 30 m depth) and mesophotic (31 to 150 m depth) fishes. Nineteen fish species belonging to 14 families are reported here as new records, representing an increase of 8.2% in marine fish richness for the region, which now has a total of 250 species and 77 families. These new records include four potential new species and highlight the importance of surveying mesophotic ecosystems, even in well studied sites. Our results also emphasize the need for protection and attention to the unique ichthyofauna found at mesophotic depths.(AU)

Apesar de muitos estudos sobre a ictiofauna do Arquipélago de Fernando de Noronha terem sido realizados, sua diversidade de peixes mesofóticos nunca foi estudada antes. Neste estudo utilizamos mergulho autônomo e mergulho técnico, vídeos subaquáticos remotos com isca e veículo operado remotamente para registrar peixes de ecossistemas rasos (≤ 30 m de profundidade) e mesofóticos (31 a 150 m de profundidade). Dezenove espécies de peixes pertencentes a 14 famílias são apresentadas aqui como novos registros, representando um aumento de 8,2% na riqueza de peixes marinhos da região, que agora possui um total de 250 espécies e 77 famílias. Esses novos registros incluem quatro prováveis novas espécies e reforçam a importância de estudos em ecossistemas mesofóticos. Nossos resultados também enfatizam a necessidade de proteção e atenção à essa ictiofauna única encontrada nesses ecossistemas profundos.(AU)

First record of a breeding colony of masked booby (sula dactylatra lesson, 1831; sulidae) in the main island of the archipelago of fernando de noronha (pernambuco, brazil)

ABSTRACT Fernando de Noronha Archipelago is one of the places with the highest richness of seabirds in Brazil; however, little information about the breeding biology of many species is available. Here we report a breeding colony of the Masked Booby (Sula dactylatra) in the main island of Fernando de Noronha, and present new data about the natural history and breeding biology of this species.

FIRST RECORD OF A BREEDING COLONY OF MASKED BOOBY (SULA DACTYLATRA LESSON, 1831; SULIDAE) IN THE MAIN ISLAND OF THE ARCHIPELAGO OF FERNANDO DE NORONHA (PERNAMBUCO, BRAZIL)

ABSTRACT Fernando de Noronha Archipelago is one of the places with the highest richness of seabirds in Brazil; however, little information about the breeding biology of many species is available. Here we report a breeding colony of the Masked Booby (Sula dactylatra) in the main island of Fernando de Noronha, and present new data about the natural history and breeding biology of this species.

First record of a breeding colony of Masked Booby (Sula dactylatra Lesson, 1831; Sulidae) in the main island of the archipelago of Fernando de Noronha (Pernambuco, Brazil)

Fernando de Noronha Archipelago is one of the places with the highest richness of seabirds in Brazil; however, little information about the breeding biology of many species is available. Here we report a breeding colony of the Masked Booby (Sula dactylatra) in the main island of Fernando de Noronha, and present new data about the natural history and breeding biology of this species.

First record of a breeding colony of Masked Booby (Sula dactylatra Lesson, 1831; Sulidae) in the main island of the archipelago of Fernando de Noronha (Pernambuco, Brazil)

Fernando de Noronha Archipelago is one of the places with the highest richness of seabirds in Brazil; however, little information about the breeding biology of many species is available. Here we report a breeding colony of the Masked Booby (Sula dactylatra) in the main island of Fernando de Noronha, and present new data about the natural history and breeding biology of this species.(AU)

Litter size, effects of maternal body size, and date of birth in South American scorpions (Arachnida: Scorpiones)

We present new data on litter size and date of birth (month) for 21 South American scorpions species. We provide data for one katoikogenic species, the liochelid Opisthacanthus cayaporum Vellard, 1932 (offspring = 3; birth month: Jan); and for several apoikogenic species, such as the bothriurids Bothriurus araguayae Vellard, 1934 (53; Sep), B. rochensis San Martín, 1965 (22-28; Jan, Aug); the buthids Ananteris balzanii Thorell, 1891 (10-34; Jan-Mar), Physoctonus debilis (Koch, 1840) (2; Sep), Rhopalurus amazonicus Lourenço, 1986 (19; Nov), R. lacrau Lourenço & Pinto-da-Rocha, 1997 (30; Dec), R. laticauda Thorell, 1876 (41; Nov), R. rochai Borelli, 1910 (11-47; Dec-Jan, Mar-Apr), Tityus bahiensis (Perty, 1833) (4-23; Oct-Mar), T. clathratus Koch, 1844 (8-18; Nov-Jan), T. costatus (Karsch, 1879) (21-25; Jan, Apr), T. kuryi Lourenço, 1997 (4-16; Mar), T. mattogrossensis Borelli, 1901(8-9; May), T. obscurus (Gervais, 1843) (16-31; Jan-Feb, May, Jul), T. serrulatus Lutz & Mello, 1922 (8-36; Dec, Feb-Apr), T. silvestris Pocock, 1897 (5-14; Dec-Jan, Apr), T. stigmurus (Thorell, 1876) (10-18; Nov, Jan, Mar), Tityus sp. 1 (T. clathratus group - 7-12; Feb-Apr), Tityus sp. 2 (T. bahiensis group - 2; Mar); and the chactid Brotheas sp. (8-21; Jan, Apr). We observed multiple broods: R. lacrau (offspring in the 2nd brood = 27), T. kuryi (6-16), T. obscurus (2-32), T. silvestris (8), T. stigmurus (4-9), T. bahiensis (offspring in the 2nd brood = 2-18; 3rd = 1), and T. costatus (2nd brood = 18; 3rd = 4). We found statistically significant positive correlation between female size and litter size for T. bahiensis and T. silvestris, and nonsignificant correlation for T. serrulatus.

Litter size, effects of maternal body size, and date of birth in South American scorpions (Arachnida: Scorpiones)

We present new data on litter size and date of birth (month) for 21 South American scorpions species. We provide data for one katoikogenic species, the liochelid Opisthacanthus cayaporum Vellard, 1932 (offspring = 3; birth month: Jan); and for several apoikogenic species, such as the bothriurids Bothriurus araguayae Vellard, 1934 (53; Sep), B. rochensis San Martín, 1965 (22-28; Jan, Aug); the buthids Ananteris balzanii Thorell, 1891 (10-34; Jan-Mar), Physoctonus debilis (Koch, 1840) (2; Sep), Rhopalurus amazonicus Lourenço, 1986 (19; Nov), R. lacrau Lourenço & Pinto-da-Rocha, 1997 (30; Dec), R. laticauda Thorell, 1876 (41; Nov), R. rochai Borelli, 1910 (11-47; Dec-Jan, Mar-Apr), Tityus bahiensis (Perty, 1833) (4-23; Oct-Mar), T. clathratus Koch, 1844 (8-18; Nov-Jan), T. costatus (Karsch, 1879) (21-25; Jan, Apr), T. kuryi Lourenço, 1997 (4-16; Mar), T. mattogrossensis Borelli, 1901(8-9; May), T. obscurus (Gervais, 1843) (16-31; Jan-Feb, May, Jul), T. serrulatus Lutz & Mello, 1922 (8-36; Dec, Feb-Apr), T. silvestris Pocock, 1897 (5-14; Dec-Jan, Apr), T. stigmurus (Thorell, 1876) (10-18; Nov, Jan, Mar), Tityus sp. 1 (T. clathratus group - 7-12; Feb-Apr), Tityus sp. 2 (T. bahiensis group - 2; Mar); and the chactid Brotheas sp. (8-21; Jan, Apr). We observed multiple broods: R. lacrau (offspring in the 2nd brood = 27), T. kuryi (6-16), T. obscurus (2-32), T. silvestris (8), T. stigmurus (4-9), T. bahiensis (offspring in the 2nd brood = 2-18; 3rd = 1), and T. costatus (2nd brood = 18; 3rd = 4). We found statistically significant positive correlation between female size and litter size for T. bahiensis and T. silvestris, and nonsignificant correlation for T. serrulatus.

Litter size, effects of maternal body size, and date of birth in South American scorpions (Arachnida: Scorpiones)

We present new data on litter size and date of birth (month) for 21 South American scorpions species. We provide data for one katoikogenic species, the liochelid Opisthacanthus cayaporum Vellard, 1932 (offspring = 3; birth month: Jan); and for several apoikogenic species, such as the bothriurids Bothriurus araguayae Vellard, 1934 (53; Sep), B. rochensis San Martín, 1965 (22-28; Jan, Aug); the buthids Ananteris balzanii Thorell, 1891 (10-34; Jan-Mar), Physoctonus debilis (Koch, 1840) (2; Sep), Rhopalurus amazonicus Lourenço, 1986 (19; Nov), R. lacrau Lourenço & Pinto-da-Rocha, 1997 (30; Dec), R. laticauda Thorell, 1876 (41; Nov), R. rochai Borelli, 1910 (11-47; Dec-Jan, Mar-Apr), Tityus bahiensis (Perty, 1833) (4-23; Oct-Mar), T. clathratus Koch, 1844 (8-18; Nov-Jan), T. costatus (Karsch, 1879) (21-25; Jan, Apr), T. kuryi Lourenço, 1997 (4-16; Mar), T. mattogrossensis Borelli, 1901(8-9; May), T. obscurus (Gervais, 1843) (16-31; Jan-Feb, May, Jul), T. serrulatus Lutz & Mello, 1922 (8-36; Dec, Feb-Apr), T. silvestris Pocock, 1897 (5-14; Dec-Jan, Apr), T. stigmurus (Thorell, 1876) (10-18; Nov, Jan, Mar), Tityus sp. 1 (T. clathratus group - 7-12; Feb-Apr), Tityus sp. 2 (T. bahiensis group - 2; Mar); and the chactid Brotheas sp. (8-21; Jan, Apr). We observed multiple broods: R. lacrau (offspring in the 2nd brood = 27), T. kuryi (6-16), T. obscurus (2-32), T. silvestris (8), T. stigmurus (4-9), T. bahiensis (offspring in the 2nd brood = 2-18; 3rd = 1), and T. costatus (2nd brood = 18; 3rd = 4). We found statistically significant positive correlation between female size and litter size for T. bahiensis and T. silvestris, and nonsignificant correlation for T. serrulatus.