Trophic ecology of three stingrays (Myliobatoidei: Dasyatidae) off the Brazilian north-eastern coast: Habitat use and resource partitioning.

Understanding the ecological role of species with overlapping distributions is central to inform ecosystem management. Here we describe the diet, trophic level and habitat use of three sympatric stingrays, Hypanus guttatus, H. marianae and H. berthalutzae, through combined stomach content and stable isotope (δ13 C and δ15 N) analyses. Our integrated approach revealed that H. guttatus is a mesopredator that feeds on a diverse diet of benthic and epibenthic marine and estuarine organisms, principally bivalve molluscs, Alpheus shrimp and teleost fishes. Isotopic data supported movement of this species between marine and estuarine environments. H. berthalutzae is also a marine generalist feeder, but feeds primarily on teleost fishes and cephalopods, and consequently occupies a higher trophic level. In contrast, H. marianae is a mesopredator specialized on shrimps and polychaetas occurring only in the marine environment and occupying a low niche breadth. While niche overlap occurred, the three stingrays utilized the same prey resources at different rates and occupied distinct trophic niches, potentially limiting competition for resources and promoting coexistence. These combined data demonstrate that these three mesopredators perform different ecological roles in the ecosystems they occupy, limiting functional redundancy.

Mercury concentrations in coastal Elasmobranchs (Hypanus guttatus and Rhizoprionodon porosus) and human exposure in Pernambuco, Northeastern Brazil.

Elasmobranchs are long-lived predatory fish that show high Hg concentrations generally reflecting environmental levels, notwithstanding they are widely consumed in Brazil increasing Hg exposure to humans. This study reports on Hg concentrations in largely consumed sharks (Rhizoprionodon porosus) and rays (Hypanus guttatus) from the Pernambuco coast, NE Brazil and the risk associated with their consumption. Muscle tissue concentrations of Hg in H. guttatus and R. porosus varied from 40 to 1,020 ng.g-1 w.w. (median = 125; mean = 124 ± 48 ng.g-1 w.w.) in sharks and from 129 to 2,130 ng.g-1 w.w. (median = 976; mean = 919 ± 139 ng.g-1 w.w.) in rays. Concentrations of Hg positively correlated with size in sharks, but not in rays. Concentrations reflect the local environmental contamination of a large urban center and industrial park concentrated in a short extension of mangrove-dominated coastline (50 km) and are higher compared to other Brazilian sites where Hg concentrations in these species have been reported. Sharks had a risk coefficient (HQ) range of 0.04 to 1.1, not surpassing the reference level of exposure. On the other hand, rays' HQ ranged from 0.14 to 2.3, and exceeds the reference level of exposure and suggests adverse effects to consumers.

Habitat use and nursery evaluation for the longnose stingray Hypanus guttatus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) using vertebral microchemistry.

Here, we use vertebral microchemistry to investigate the habitat use patterns of the longnose stingray Hypanus guttatus in the northern and northeastern regions of Brazil, and to evaluate the existence of potential nurseries of the species. Samples were collected in Maranhão, Rio Grande do Norte and Pernambuco states between 2008 and 2019. Trace element concentrations of Ba:Ca, Mg:Ca, Mn:Ca and Sr:Ca in vertebrae were determined through laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. We used one-step permutational ANOVAs to evaluate multi and single-element differences in element:Ca ratios among life stages and sexes across and within sites. Element signatures differed among all sites for both single and multi-element settings. However, there were few differences among life stages within sites, except for Mn:Ca between life stages for Maranhão state, and between sexes for Sr:Ca for both Pernambuco and Rio Grande do Norte, and Ba:Ca for Rio Grande do Norte. Furthermore, all multi and single-element analyses across locations were significant and highlight the strong differences by sites. We also performed a nonmetric multidimensional scaling analysis, which demonstrated the strong differences for samples from Rio Grande do Norte and the other two sites. By analysing the lifetime transects of each sample, we observed that there was little variation in all element:Ca ratios within sites. Therefore, we argue that the longnose stingray likely does not display extensive habitat use shifts and fulfils much of its life cycle within each area. Finally, we obtained no evidence of nurseries for any site and suggest this is likely a pattern across the species distribution. Future studies investigating habitat use with samples from larger specimens (disc width > 90 cm, >15 years) are needed to better understand the species habitat use patterns across all size ranges.

Genetic diversity in two threatened species of guitarfish (Elasmobranchii: Rhinobatidae) from the Brazilian and Argentinian coasts: an alert for conservation

The guitarfishes Pseudobatos horkelii and Pseudobatos percellens meet the criteria for threatened status as Critically Endangered (CR) and Endangered (EN), respectively. Both species occur in the Southern Atlantic Ocean. Considering the lack of data on the genetic structure of these species, the present study evaluated the genetic variability and population structure of the P. horkelii and P. percellens in the southern region of Brazil and the northern coast of Argentina, based on sequences of mitochondrial DNA, Control Region (D-loop). Samples of P. horkelii (n = 135) were analyzed in six localities situated in Northern Argentina, along the Brazilian states' coast. The mean of nucleotide diversity was 0.0053, the ΦST was 0.4277 and demographic analysis of P. horkelii suggests the existence of stability of the populations, with D = 0.9929, FS = 2.0155, SSD = 0.0817, R = 0.2153. In P. percellens (n = 101) were analyzed from six Brazilian localities along the coast of Santa Catarina, Paraná, and São Paulo. The mean nucleotide diversity was 0.0014 and ΦST value of 0.2921, the demographic analysis indicates a high migration rate of P. percellens among the localities evaluated, with D = 0.5222, FS = 0.3528, SSD = 0.01785, R = 0.3890.(AU)

As raias violas Pseudobatos horkelii e Pseudobatos percellens, são listados como "Criticamente em Perigo" (CR) e "Em Perigo" (EN), respectivamente. Ambas as espécies ocorrem no Sul do Oceano Atlântico. Considerando a falta de dados sobre a estrutura genética dessas espécies, o presente estudo avaliou a variabilidade genética e a estrutura populacional de P. horkelii e P. percellens na região sudeste do Brasil e litoral norte da Argentina, com base em sequências de DNA mitocondrial, região de controle (D-loop). Amostras de 135 indivíduos de P. horkelii analisados em seis localidades, situadas no norte da Argentina e ao longo da costa dos estados brasileiros. A média da diversidade nucleotídica foi de 0.0053, o índice ΦST foi de 0.4277 e a análise demográfica de P. horkelii, indicou a existência de estabilidade das populações, com D = 0.9929, Fus = 2.0155, SSD = 0.0817, R = 0.2153. Em 101 exemplares de P. percellens, foram analisados em seis localidades brasileiras ao longo do litoral de Santa Catarina, Paraná e São Paulo. A diversidade nucleotídica média foi de 0.0014 e o valor ΦST de 0.2921, a análise demográfica indicou uma alta taxa de migração de P. percellens entre as localidades analisadas, com D = 0.5222, FS = 0.3528, SSD = 0.01785, R = 0.3890.(AU)

Age structure and multi-model growth estimation of longnose stingray Hypanus guttatus (Dasyatidae: Myliobatoidei) from north-east Brazil.

We collected 729 Hypanus guttatus from the northern coast of the state of Rio Grande do Norte (RN), of which 196 were used to estimate age and growth. Ninety-five were male (12.7 to 57.0 cm disc width; WD ) and 101 were female (13.0 to 88.5 cm WD ); females were significantly larger than males. Cross sections of vertebrae showed band-pairs ranging from 0 to > 14 in females and from 0 to 9 in males. New-borns presented an opaque edge at birth in vertebrae without a birthmark. The average percentage of error (APE; %E) for the entire sample provided evidence that ages were repeatable. The mean monthly marginal increment (IM ) indicates annual band-pair formation from August to November. The annual cycle model for one band-pair deposition provided the best fit to data based on the AIC, with peaks between August and October, similar to that found in the IM analysis, suggesting an annual formation pattern. A multi-model approach that included four models based on the observed mean WD at age indicated a modified von Bertalanffy growth model as the best for describing the species growth: W0 (WD at birth) = 14.6 cm for both sexes; females W∞ = 98.61 cm (95% CI = 87.34-114.61 cm); k = 0.112 year-1 (CI = 0.086-0.148 year-1 ); males W∞ = 60.22 cm (CI = 55.66-65.35 cm); k = 0.219 year-1 (CI = 0.185-0.276 year-1 ). The age-at-maturity in males and females is 5 years and 7 years, respectively. The age composition shows that most (84%) specimens were aged 0 to 2 years. The information provided here is essential for analytical assessments of H. guttatus, which is subject to significant fishing pressure mainly on new-borns and juveniles.

Age and growth estimation of bigeye tuna, Thunnus obesus (Teleostei: Scombridae) in the southwestern Atlantic

The purpose of the current study was to supply the first information on age and growth for Thunnus obesus caught in the equatorial south-western Atlantic using dorsal spines, an approach that has been successfully employed for ageing tuna species. The study was conducted using a multi-model inference based on information theory for back-calculated and observed length-at-age data. Uncertainty associated with the parameter estimation was verified and results were compared to other accounts on the species, considering both the statistical and methodological contexts. Samples were collected in Natal city (Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil) from February 1999 to January 2000, of tuna vessels and from surveys, aimed at providing information on the Brazilian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the area around São Pedro and São Paulo Archipelago. Validation using marginal increment indicated that one ring is deposited per year. Mean length-at-age ranged of 54.3 to 177.5 cm (fork length) for ages 1 to 9 years. Von Bertalanffy, Richards, and Gompertz models were considered suitable for the bigeye tuna. Hence, the model-averaged asymptotic length ¯L∞ was estimated. The averaged model generated in the present study by back-calculation was considered appropriate for describing the growth of T. obesus.

A proposta do presente estudo foi fornecer a primeira informação sobre idade e crescimento de Thunnus obesus, capturado no Atlântico sudoeste equatorial usando espinhos dorsais, uma abordagem que tem sido utilizada com sucesso na determinação de idade de espécies de atuns. O estudo foi conduzido usando uma inferência de multi-modelos baseada na teoria de informação avaliada para dados de comprimento por idade retrocalculados e observados. Incertezas associadas aos parâmetros foram verificadas e os resultados foram comparados aos de outros estudos realizados para esta espécie, considerando os contextos estatísticos e metodológicos. As amostras foram coletadas na cidade de Natal (estado do Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil) de fevereiro de 1999 a janeiro de 2000, provenientes de embarcações comerciais e também prospecções, cujo objetivo foi prover informações sobre a Zona Econômica Exclusiva (ZEE) na área do entorno do Arquipélago de São Pedro e São Paulo. A validação usando incremento marginal indicou a deposição de um anel anual. Os comprimentos médios por idade variaram entre 54.3 a 175.7 cm (comprimento furcal) para idades de 1 a 9 anos. Os modelos Von Bertalanffy, Richards e Gompertz foram considerados adequados para a albacora bandolim e, desta forma, o comprimento assintótico para um modelo médio (¯L∞) foi estimado. O modelo médio gerado no presente estudo a partir dos comprimentos retrocalculados foi considerado apropriado para descrever o crescimento de T. obesus capturada no Atlântico.