Fish biodiversity of Saint Peter and Saint Paul's Archipelago, Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Brazil: new records and a species database.

Saint Peter and Saint Paul's Archipelago (SPSPA), one of the smallest and most isolated island groups in the world, is situated on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, between Brazil and the African continent. SPSPA has low species richness and high endemism; nonetheless, the diversity of fishes from deep habitats (>30 m depth) had not been previously studied in detail. Several expeditions conducted between 2009 and 2018 explored the shallow and deep reefs of SPSPA using scuba, closed-circuit rebreathers, manned submersibles, baited remote underwater stereo-videos (stereo-BRUV) and fishing between 0 and 1050 m depth. These expeditions yielded 41 new records of fishes for SPSPA: 9 in open waters, 9 in shallow waters (0-30 m), 8 in mesophotic ecosystems (30-150 m) and 15 in deeper reefs (>150 m). Combined with literature records of adult pelagic, shallow and deep-reef species, as well as larvae, the database of the fish biodiversity for SPSPA currently comprises 225 species (169 recorded as adult fishes and 79 as larvae, with 23 species found in both stages). Most of them (112) are pelagic, 86 are reef-associated species and 27 are deep-water specialists. Species accumulation curves show that the number of fish species has not yet reached an asymptote. Whereas the number of species recorded in SPSPA is similar to that in other oceanic islands in the Atlantic Ocean, the proportion of shorefishes is relatively lower, and the endemism level is the third highest in the Atlantic. Twenty-nine species are listed as threatened with extinction. Observations confirm the paucity of top predators on shallow rocky reefs of the island, despite the presence of several pelagic shark species around SPSPA. Because all of the endemic species are reef associated, it is argued that the new marine-protected areas created by the Brazilian government do not ensure the protection and recovery of SPSPA's biodiversity because they allow exploitation of the most vulnerable species around the archipelago itself. This study suggests a ban on reef fish exploitation inside an area delimited by the 1000 m isobath around the islands (where all known endemics are concentrated) as the main conservation strategy to be included in the SPSPA management plan being prepared by the Brazilian government.

Oocyte development and ovarian maturation of the black triggerfish, Melichthys niger (Actinopterygii: Balistidae) in São Pedro e São Paulo Archipelago, Brazil

The oogenesis is a key stage in the reproductive development of an organism, which can be best understood from histological analysis of ovaries in different maturity stages. In order to provide information on the reproductive biology of the black triggerfish, M. niger, in particular on its oogenesis process, this study aimed at identifying and characterizing the oocyte development stages and its organization within the different stages of ovarian maturation based on specimens from São Pedro e São Paulo Archipelago. In this present report, a number of 294 ovaries were histologically analyzed. It was verified that they are composed of ovigerous lamellae containing oocytes at different development stages. Five different stages of oogenesis were identified: young cells, with an average size of 12.9 ìm; previtellogenic oocytes (perinucleolar), with an average size of 53.5 ìm; cortical-alveoli oocytes with an average size of 83.1 ìm; vitellogenic oocytes, with an average size of 160.4 ìm and mature oocytes, with an average size of 289.8 ìm. In addition to the germ cells, some somatic structures were also identified, such as: ovarian wall, follicular cells and blood vessels. Based on the type and number of oocytes observed, four stages of ovarian maturation were identified: early maturation, represented by only 2.2% of the sample; middle maturation, represented by 9.9%; mature, represented by 44.2% and resting, represented by 43.9%. The identification of five oocyte development stages in the ovarians from M. niger, suggested that the specie follows a pattern similar to that described for other marine fish.

A oogênese é um estágio chave no desenvolvimento reprodutivo de um organismo, o qual pode ser melhor compreendido a partir de análises histológicas dos ovários em diferentes estágios de maturidade. A fim de fornecer informações sobre a biologia reprodutiva do cangulo-preto, M. niger, em especial sobre o seu processo de oogênese, este estudo teve como objetivo identificar e caracterizar as fases do desenvolvimento ovocitário e sua organização dentro dos diferentes estágios de maturação ovariana, baseado em espécimes do Arquipélago de São Pedro e São Paulo. No presente estudo, um número de 294 ovários foram analisados histologicamente. Foi verificado que eles são constituídos por lamelas ovígeras contendo ovócitos em diferentes estágios de desenvolvimento. Foram identificados cinco diferentes estágios da oogênese: células jovens, com tamanho médio de 12,9 ìm; ovócitos pré-vitelogênicos (perinucleolares), com tamanho médio de 53,5 ìm; ovócitos alvéolo-corticais, com tamanho médio de 83,1 ìm; ovócitos vitelogênicos, com tamanho médio de 160,4 ìm e ovócitos maduros, com tamanho médio de 289,8 ìm. Além das células germinativas, algumas estruturas somáticas também foram identificadas, tais como: parede do ovário, células foliculares e vasos sanguíneos. Baseado no tipo e número de ovócitos observados, quatro estágios de maturação ovariana foram identificados: início de maturação, representado por apenas 2,2% da amostra; média maturação, representado por 9,9%; madura, representado por 44,2% e em repouso representado por 43,9%. A identificação de cinco estágios do desenvolvimento ovocitário nos ovários de M. niger, sugere que a espécie segue um padrão semelhante ao descrito para outros peixes marinhos.