Sea turtle (Reptilia, Testudines) diversity and occurrence in the Azores Archipelago (NE Atlantic).

Background: Six species of marine turtles occur in the Azores Archipelago. The loggerhead, Carettacaretta (Linnaeus, 1758), is by far the most common species and is being constantly monitored and tagged by a joint project between the University of the Azores and the University of Florida since 1989. With the implementation of the tuna fishery observers (for dolphin safe seals), an increment of sea turtle reports has been verified as expected. The leather back turtle, Dermochelyscoriacea (Vandelli, 1761) is the second most observed species in the Azores' EEZ, a fact probably also linked to the tuna fishery observation programme. All other species are occasional/vagrant albeit the green turtle, Cheloniamydas (Linnaeus, 1758) is more commonly seen than the others. Historically, sea turtles were occasionally taken for food in specific fishing villages and ports. Since 1986, sea turtles, as well as all marine mammals, are fully protected in the Azores although human-related activities (e.g. plastics, discarded fishing gear) do generate serious injuries and deaths. New information: In this paper, we update sea turtle species' checklist for the Azores and give detailed geographic coordinates on their known occurrences.

Nonfatal, Nonpredatory Jaguar Attacks in Brazil: A Case Series.

The jaguar, Panthera onca (Linnaeus, 1758), is the biggest felid in the Americas. Its range extends from the southwestern United States to northern Argentina. Herein, we present 5 nonfatal jaguar attacks that occurred in Brazil between March 2010 and November 2021. Most of the cases occurred when the victim encountered a jaguar guarding its food or cubs or devouring prey; none appeared to be the result of predatory behavior.

Pinniped (Carnivora, Phocidae) occurrences in the Azores Archipelago (NE Atlantic).

Background: The last Pinniped species update was in 2010, as part of the list of the terrestrial and marine biota from the Azores. This list includes a chapter dedicated to marine mammals, based on previously published bibliography. New information: No new species were added since that list was publlished. However, there were new occurrences since the last update.

FEEDING HABITS OF Paralonchurus brasiliensis (PERCIFORMES: SCIAENIDAE) FROM SOUTH OF BRAZIL / Hábitos Alimentarios de Paralonchurus brasiliensis (Perciformes: Sciaenidae) del sur del Brasil

ABSTRACT Shrimp trawling directly impacts target species and non-target species, altering micro-habitats and marine trophic webs. Thus, the objective of the present research was to analyze the feeding habits of Paralonchurus brasiliensis as a tool to evaluate the impact of trawling on the food chains in marine environments, in the South Atlantic of Brazil. One thousand and nineteen stomachs of P. brasiliensis were dissected after being captured as bycatch of shrimp Xiphopenaeus kroyeri, in Penha, on the north central coast of Santa Catarina, Brazil. The number of stomachs was enough to describe the feeding habits of P. brasiliensis, characterizing it as a carnivorous species and predominantly invertivorous. They also revealed that this species has a diversified and constant diet, with greater consumption of polychaetes, crustaceans, and ofiuroides, among other components of the macrobentos, all closely related to the sediment. It was also found that the target species X. kroyeri is not an important prey in the diet of P. brasiliensis, despite occupying the same habitat. According to the present study, P. brasiliensis can be characterized as a demersal-benthic species, predator, opportunistic and broad trophic spectrum. This work contributes to the understanding of trophic chains of the coastal ecosystems, using the P. brasiliensis as a model.

RESUMEN La pesca de arrastre de camarón afecta directamente a la especie de interes y a otras que no lo son, pero tambien quedan atrapadas, alterando los micro-hábitats y las vías tróficas marinas. Así, el presente estudio tuvo como objetivo analizar los hábitos alimentarios de Paralonchurus brasiliensis, como herramienta para evaluar el impacto de la pesca de arrastre sobre las cadenas alimentarias en ambientes marinos, en el Atlántico sur de Brasil. Se disecaron 1219 estómagos de P. brasiliensis capturados con "bycatch" del camarón Xiphopenaeus kroyeri, en Penha, litoral centro-norte de Santa Catarina, Brasil. El número de estómagos fue suficiente para la descripción de los hábitos alimentarios de P. brasiliensis, caracterizándola como una especie carnívora, predominantemente invertívora. Los resultados revelaron además que esta especie posee una dieta diversificada y constante, con mayor consumo de poliquetas, crustáceos y ofiuroides, entre otros componentes del macrobentos, todos íntimamente relacionados al sedimento. Se constató también que la especie de interes X. kroyeri no es una presa importante en la dieta de P. brasiliensis, a pesar de ocupar el mismo hábitat. De acuerdo con el presente estudio, P. brasiliensis puede ser caracterizada como una especie demersal bentónica, predadora, oportunista y de amplio espectro trófico. Este trabajo contribuye a la comprensión de las cadenas tróficas de los ecosistemas costeros, utilizando el caso de P. brasiliensis como modelo.

Testing a global standard for quantifying species recovery and assessing conservation impact.

Recognizing the imperative to evaluate species recovery and conservation impact, in 2012 the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) called for development of a "Green List of Species" (now the IUCN Green Status of Species). A draft Green Status framework for assessing species' progress toward recovery, published in 2018, proposed 2 separate but interlinked components: a standardized method (i.e., measurement against benchmarks of species' viability, functionality, and preimpact distribution) to determine current species recovery status (herein species recovery score) and application of that method to estimate past and potential future impacts of conservation based on 4 metrics (conservation legacy, conservation dependence, conservation gain, and recovery potential). We tested the framework with 181 species representing diverse taxa, life histories, biomes, and IUCN Red List categories (extinction risk). Based on the observed distribution of species' recovery scores, we propose the following species recovery categories: fully recovered, slightly depleted, moderately depleted, largely depleted, critically depleted, extinct in the wild, and indeterminate. Fifty-nine percent of tested species were considered largely or critically depleted. Although there was a negative relationship between extinction risk and species recovery score, variation was considerable. Some species in lower risk categories were assessed as farther from recovery than those at higher risk. This emphasizes that species recovery is conceptually different from extinction risk and reinforces the utility of the IUCN Green Status of Species to more fully understand species conservation status. Although extinction risk did not predict conservation legacy, conservation dependence, or conservation gain, it was positively correlated with recovery potential. Only 1.7% of tested species were categorized as zero across all 4 of these conservation impact metrics, indicating that conservation has, or will, play a role in improving or maintaining species status for the vast majority of these species. Based on our results, we devised an updated assessment framework that introduces the option of using a dynamic baseline to assess future impacts of conservation over the short term to avoid misleading results which were generated in a small number of cases, and redefines short term as 10 years to better align with conservation planning. These changes are reflected in the IUCN Green Status of Species Standard.

RESUMEN: Reconociendo que era imperativo evaluar la recuperación de especies y el impacto de la conservación, la Unión Internacional para la Conservación de la Naturaleza (UICN) convocó en 2012 al desarrollo de una "Lista Verde de Especies" (ahora el Estatus Verde de las Especies de la UICN). Un marco de referencia preliminar de una Lista Verde de Especies para evaluar el progreso de las especies hacia la recuperación, publicado en 2018, proponía 2 componentes separados pero interconectados: un método estandarizado (i.e., medición en relación con puntos de referencia de la viabilidad de especies, funcionalidad y distribución antes del impacto) para determinar el estatus de recuperación actual (puntuación de recuperación de la especie) y la aplicación de ese método para estimar impactos en el pasado y potenciales de conservación basados en 4 medidas (legado de conservación, dependencia de conservación, ganancia de conservación y potencial de recuperación). Probamos el marco de referencia con 181 especies representantes de diversos taxa, historias de vida, biomas, y categorías (riesgo de extinción) en la Lista Roja de la IUCN. Con base en la distribución observada de la puntuación de recuperación de las especies, proponemos las siguientes categorías de recuperación de la especie: totalmente recuperada, ligeramente mermada, moderadamente mermada, mayormente mermada, gravemente mermada, extinta en estado silvestre, e inderterminada. Cincuenta y nueve por ciento de las especies se consideraron mayormente o gravemente mermada. Aunque hubo una relación negativa entre el riesgo de extinción y la puntuación de recuperación de la especie, la variación fue considerable. Algunas especies en las categorías de riesgo bajas fueron evaluadas como más lejos de recuperarse que aquellas con alto riesgo. Esto enfatiza que la recuperación de especies es diferente conceptualmente al riesgo de extinción y refuerza la utilidad del Estado Verde de las Especies de la UICN para comprender integralmente el estatus de conservación de especies. Aunque el riesgo de extinción no predijo el legado de conservación, la dependencia de conservación o la ganancia de conservación, se correlacionó positivamente con la potencial de recuperación. Solo 1.7% de las especies probadas fue categorizado como cero en los 4 indicadores de impacto de la conservación, lo que indica que la conservación ha jugado, o jugará, un papel en la mejoría o mantenimiento del estatus de la especie la gran mayoría de ellas. Con base en nuestros resultados, diseñamos una versión actualizada del marco de referencia para la evaluación que introduce la opción de utilizar una línea de base dinámica para evaluar los impactos futuros de la conservación en el corto plazo y redefine corto plazo como 10 años.

Updated checklist of Azores Actinopterygii (Gnathostomata: Osteichthyes).

BACKGROUND: Since the first published comprehensive checklist of Azorean fishes - covering the whole Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) region - several new records have been published and an updated checklist published in 2010. This new dataset covers all confirmed species of actinopterygians for the Azorean EEZ. NEW INFORMATION: In this update, we made corrections to the previous checklists, updated the taxonomy according to the most recent bibliography and added two new species to the Azorean Actinopterygii checklist.

Updated checklist of Azores Chondrichthyes (Vertebrata: Gnathostomata).

Background: Several lists of marine fish from Azores have been published in the past. Most of those publications are difficult to access on line and several were not published in peer-reviewed journals. New information: This checklist updates all the chondrichthyan records for the Azores Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), according to the most recent taxonomic classification of cartilaginous fish, as well as providing information on the conservation status for all species. We also present recent literature data on rare species and recent records for Azores. This is the first comprehensive list of cartilaginous fishes from Azores to be published in the GBIF database.

Biota from the coastal wetlands of Praia da Vitória (Terceira, Azores, Portugal): Part 3 - Birds.

BACKGROUND: The data presented here come from field observations of Aves between August 2013 and October 2018 as part of a LIFE research project aiming to preserve and restore three coastal wetlands from Praia da Vitória (Terceira Island, Azores, Portugal). Systematic monthly observations were carried out for five years in order to provide a checklist and monitoring of bird species and subspecies observed in three sites: Paul da Praia da Vitória (PPV), Paul do Belo Jardim (PBJ) and Paul da Pedreira do Cabo da Praia (PPCP). Main objectives were to determine their ornithological richness while also adding data to the overall knowledge of Azorean Avifauna and to monitor seasonal and between-year variation on species abundance. NEW INFORMATION: During a five-year observation period (2013-2018), a total of 82,985 birds belonging to 108 species/subspecies were observed. From this, 16,663 were in PPV, 11,793 from PBJ and 54,529 from PPCP. The total richness was 55, 40 and 85, respectively. Three species are first records for the Azores: Aythya americana (Eyton, 1838); Chlidonias leucopterus (Temminck, 1815) and Tringa brevipes (Vieillot, 1816). One species is a new record for Terceira Island: Lophodytes cucullatus (Linnaeus, 1758).

Development and characterization of 20 polymorphic microsatellite markers for Epinephelus marginatus (Lowe, 1834) (Perciformes: Epinephelidae) using 454 pyrosequencing.

The dusky grouper, Epinephelus marginatus, is a well-known and widespread marine fish assessed as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Analyzing the genetic diversity of this species is, therefore, of utmost importance and necessary for conservation purposes. Microsatellites are molecular tools with advantages that are ideal for population analyses. This study provides the first set of species-specific microsatellite loci for E. marginatus that can be applied when assessing both intra- and interpopulation genetic variation. Twenty microsatellite loci were isolated and characterized for the dusky grouper by genotyping 20 individuals obtained from the North Eastern Atlantic Ocean (n = 4) and from the South Western Atlantic Ocean (n = 16). The number of alleles per locus varied from 2 to 11, while the observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.25 to 0.94 and 0.34 to 0.89, respectively. The polymorphic information content varied from moderately to highly informative. This suite of markers provides the first specific nuclear tools for E. marginatus and, thus, allows to assess with more specificity different populations' structures.

Survey of fish species from the Lower Roosevelt River, Southwestern Amazon basin / Levantamento de espécies de peixes do Baixo Rio Roosevelt, Sudoeste da Bacia Amazônica

Abstract: This study presents an inventory of the ichthyofauna of the lower Roosevelt River sub-basin and its associated tributaries. Fish sampling with fishing nets and measurements of environmental parameters of water occurred in November/2012 (rising water), February/2013 (flooding), May/2013 (falling water) and August/2013 (drought). Depth mean was 8.86 m, water transparency was 0.6 m, conductivity was 22.7 µS.cm-1, pH was 6.59, dissolved oxygen was 7.63 mg.l-1 and temperature was 28°C. The total estimated capture area was 68,829.6 m2 during 2,880 hours. The catch per unit Effort (CPUE) was 0.37 individuals m-2.day-1. Species were spatially aggregated in all sampling points and river water levels. A total of 5,183 individuals distributed in 7 orders, 29 families, 104 genders and 188 species were sampled in this survey. The diversity index was 4.121 and equitability index was 0.789. The Characiforms order was the most abundant with 106 species, followed by Siluriforms with 63 species and Cichliforms with 23 species. The most abundant species was Serrasalmus rhombeus (Linnaeus, 1766) with 327 individuals (5.9%), followed by Chalceus epakros (Cope, 1870) with 309 individuals (5.6%) and Acestrorhynchus microlepis (Schomburgk, 1841) with 250 individuals (4.5%). Trophicity was characterized by omnivorous (28.6%), piscivorous (14.3%), carnivorous (13.8%) and detritivorous (12.8%). According to IBAMA's regulation, 29.25% of captured species presents ornamental potential.

Resumo: Este estudo apresenta um inventário da ictiofauna da sub-bacia do baixo Rio Roosevelt e seus tributários associados. As coletas de peixes com malhadeiras e as medições de parâmetros ambientais da água ocorreram em Novembro/2012 (enchente), Fevereiro/2013 (cheia), Maio/2013 (vazante) e Agosto/2013 (seca). A média da profundidade foi 8,86 m, da transparência da água foi 0,6 m, da condutividade foi 22,7 µS.cm-1, do pH foi 6,59, do oxigênio dissolvido foi 7,63 mg.l-1 e da temperatura da água foi 28°C. A área total de captura estimada foi 68.829,6 m2 durante 2880 horas. A captura por unidade de esforço (CPUE) foi 0,37 indivíduos m-2.dia-1. As espécies foram espacialmente agregadas em todos os pontos de coleta e períodos de coleta. Um total de 5183 peixes em 7 ordens, 29 famílias, 104 gêneros e 188 espécies foram coletados. O índice de diversidade foi 4,121 e o índice de equidade foi 0,789. As ordens Characiforme, Siluriforme e Cichliforme foram as mais abundantes. As espécies Serrasalmus rhombeus Linnaeus 1766 com 327 indivíduos (5,9%), Chalceus epakros (Cope 1870) com 309 indivíduos (5,6%) e Acestrorhynchus microlepis Schomburgk 1841 com 250 indivíduos (4,5%) foram as mais abundantes. Os onívoros (28,6%), piscívoros (14,3%), carnívoros (13,8%) e detritívoros (12,8%) foram os indivíduos mais abundantes. De acordo com o IBAMA, 29,25% das espécies capturadas tem potencial ornamental.

Reproductive Dynamics of Sterna hirundinacea Lesson, 1831 in Ilha dos Cardos, Santa Catarina, Brazil.

In this work, we intend to describe the reproductive dynamics of Sterna hirundinacea in an island from South Brazil. We studied the reproductive biology of this species in its natural environment and provide data on their growth, survival, and reproductive success in Ilha dos Cardos, Santa Catarina, South Brazil. Samplings were carried out daily on the island throughout the reproductive seasons of 2003, 2005, and 2006 and the different stages of development of the chicks were characterized according to age, length of the beak, and plumage characteristics. We provide a basic equation Lm = 167.91 (1 - e (-0.062t-(-0.23))) to determine the approximate age of individuals using their body mass. The main cause of chick mortality on the island was natural (63.17% in 2003, 81.41% in 2005, and 79.96% in 2006), whereas predation contributed to mortality in a proportion of 38.83% in 2003, 18.59% in 2005, and 20.04% in 2006. The absence in the area of the chicks' main predator, Kelp gull (Larus dominicanus), the large number of chicks that reached the final stages of development, and their reproductive success demonstrate that Ilha dos Cardos is an important breeding site for the species in southern Brazil.

Reproductive biology of the dusky grouper Epinephelus marginatus (Lowe, 1834)

Investigations were carried out about the reproductive biology of the dusky grouper, Epinephelus marginatus (Lowe, 1834) a serranid protogynous hermaphrodite fish inhabitant of rocky bottoms from shallow waters up to 200 m depth. Samples were caught in the islands that form Arvoredo Biological Marine Reserve (SC - Brazil) and the coastal islands near Florianópolis region from March 1998 to May 2000. Data from samples of juvenile groupers on intertidal pools were used to link their occurrence in the pools to the post-spawning season. To describe the histological changes on gonads along the reproductive cycle and to establish maturation scales, 109 groupers were histologically tested for sex determination. First maturation size was determined for females (L50=470 mm; r²=0.99). The results of calculated gonadosomatic (GSI) and hepatosomatic (HSI) indexes, showed that maturation occurred along the spring months and the spawning activity during the summer with a peak in December. Liver recovery (HSI elevation) was evident in the autumn, was the post spawning season. The relationship between length and weight was W = 9 À 10-6 À TL3.1149 (r²=0.998; n=246)