Ecological Links between Pelagic and Mesophotic Reef Fishes in an Oceanic Archipelago of the Equatorial Atlantic Ocean
Geographic isolation, a relatively low species richness and high endemism make oceanic islands excellent natural laboratories for ecological and evolutionary studies. Here we used Baited Remote Underwater stereo-Video systems (stereo-BRUVS) to investigate the taxonomic, trophic and size structures o...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Diversity |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/14/4/273 |
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| author | Caio Ribeiro Pimentel Hudson T. Pinheiro Tommaso Giarrizzo Ronaldo B. Francini-Filho José Amorim Reis-Filho Luiz A. Rocha Carlos Eduardo L. Ferreira Moysés Cavichioli Barbosa Jean-Christophe Joyeux |
| author_facet | Caio Ribeiro Pimentel Hudson T. Pinheiro Tommaso Giarrizzo Ronaldo B. Francini-Filho José Amorim Reis-Filho Luiz A. Rocha Carlos Eduardo L. Ferreira Moysés Cavichioli Barbosa Jean-Christophe Joyeux |
| author_sort | Caio Ribeiro Pimentel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Geographic isolation, a relatively low species richness and high endemism make oceanic islands excellent natural laboratories for ecological and evolutionary studies. Here we used Baited Remote Underwater stereo-Video systems (stereo-BRUVS) to investigate the taxonomic, trophic and size structures of fish assemblages from pelagic and mesophotic reef ecosystems in the smallest archipelago of the equatorial Atlantic Ocean, the Saint Peter and Saint Paul’s Archipelago (SPSPA). The occurrence of steep reef walls favors studies on the ecological connections between pelagic and reef ecosystems. We performed five pelagic stereo-BRUVS deployments and fourteen benthic stereo-BRUVS deployments, totaling 1440 min of footage. We recorded 14 species from eight families in the pelagic ecosystem, with Carangidae and Balistidae as the most diverse families. The most abundant species were <i>Elagatis bipinnulata</i> (Quoy and Gaimard, 1825), <i>Melichthys niger</i> (Bloch, 1786), and <i>Caranx crysos</i> (Mitchill, 1815), which together accounted for over 75% of the total relative abundance. The carnivores were the most diverse and abundant trophic group. On the mesophotic reefs, 41 taxa were recorded, with carnivores and planktivores being the most diverse, whereas omnivores were the most abundant. Here, the most abundant species were <i>M. niger</i>, <i>Azurina multileneata</i>, <i>Chromis vanbebberae</i>, <i>Seriola rivoliana</i>, <i>Caranx lugubris</i> and <i>Stegastes sanctipauli</i>. Nine species were recorded in both ecosystems, with <i>Melichthys niger</i>, <i>Caranx lugubris</i> and <i>S. rivoliana</i> being the main species linking them (i.e., occurring in both). These species are known to forage in both pelagic and mesophotic reef ecosystems, and thus represent potential ecological links between them. Such links combined with the endangered status of some species, suggest the need for an integrated management strategy in this remote archipelago. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:56:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-75317b20c0b140fa9733a5371186e024 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:56:19Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-75317b20c0b140fa9733a5371186e0242023-12-01T01:37:03ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182022-04-0114427310.3390/d14040273Ecological Links between Pelagic and Mesophotic Reef Fishes in an Oceanic Archipelago of the Equatorial Atlantic OceanCaio Ribeiro Pimentel0Hudson T. Pinheiro1Tommaso Giarrizzo2Ronaldo B. Francini-Filho3José Amorim Reis-Filho4Luiz A. Rocha5Carlos Eduardo L. Ferreira6Moysés Cavichioli Barbosa7Jean-Christophe Joyeux8Department of Oceanography and Ecology, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitoria 29075-910, ES, BrazilDepartment of Ichthyology, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA 94118, USACenter for Aquatic Ecology and Fisheries in the Amazon, Federal University of Pará, Belem 66077-830, PA, BrazilCenter for Marine Biology, University of São Paulo, Sao Sebastiao 11612-109, SP, BrazilICHTUS Environment & Society, Salvador 41335-400, BA, BrazilDepartment of Ichthyology, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA 94118, USADepartment of Marine Biology, Fluminense Federal University, Niteroi 24220-900, RJ, BrazilDepartment of Marine Biology, Fluminense Federal University, Niteroi 24220-900, RJ, BrazilDepartment of Oceanography and Ecology, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitoria 29075-910, ES, BrazilGeographic isolation, a relatively low species richness and high endemism make oceanic islands excellent natural laboratories for ecological and evolutionary studies. Here we used Baited Remote Underwater stereo-Video systems (stereo-BRUVS) to investigate the taxonomic, trophic and size structures of fish assemblages from pelagic and mesophotic reef ecosystems in the smallest archipelago of the equatorial Atlantic Ocean, the Saint Peter and Saint Paul’s Archipelago (SPSPA). The occurrence of steep reef walls favors studies on the ecological connections between pelagic and reef ecosystems. We performed five pelagic stereo-BRUVS deployments and fourteen benthic stereo-BRUVS deployments, totaling 1440 min of footage. We recorded 14 species from eight families in the pelagic ecosystem, with Carangidae and Balistidae as the most diverse families. The most abundant species were <i>Elagatis bipinnulata</i> (Quoy and Gaimard, 1825), <i>Melichthys niger</i> (Bloch, 1786), and <i>Caranx crysos</i> (Mitchill, 1815), which together accounted for over 75% of the total relative abundance. The carnivores were the most diverse and abundant trophic group. On the mesophotic reefs, 41 taxa were recorded, with carnivores and planktivores being the most diverse, whereas omnivores were the most abundant. Here, the most abundant species were <i>M. niger</i>, <i>Azurina multileneata</i>, <i>Chromis vanbebberae</i>, <i>Seriola rivoliana</i>, <i>Caranx lugubris</i> and <i>Stegastes sanctipauli</i>. Nine species were recorded in both ecosystems, with <i>Melichthys niger</i>, <i>Caranx lugubris</i> and <i>S. rivoliana</i> being the main species linking them (i.e., occurring in both). These species are known to forage in both pelagic and mesophotic reef ecosystems, and thus represent potential ecological links between them. Such links combined with the endangered status of some species, suggest the need for an integrated management strategy in this remote archipelago.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/14/4/273Brazilian provinceconservationecologyecosystems linkingenergy fluxoceanic island |
| spellingShingle | Caio Ribeiro Pimentel Hudson T. Pinheiro Tommaso Giarrizzo Ronaldo B. Francini-Filho José Amorim Reis-Filho Luiz A. Rocha Carlos Eduardo L. Ferreira Moysés Cavichioli Barbosa Jean-Christophe Joyeux Ecological Links between Pelagic and Mesophotic Reef Fishes in an Oceanic Archipelago of the Equatorial Atlantic Ocean Diversity Brazilian province conservation ecology ecosystems linking energy flux oceanic island |
| title | Ecological Links between Pelagic and Mesophotic Reef Fishes in an Oceanic Archipelago of the Equatorial Atlantic Ocean |
| title_full | Ecological Links between Pelagic and Mesophotic Reef Fishes in an Oceanic Archipelago of the Equatorial Atlantic Ocean |
| title_fullStr | Ecological Links between Pelagic and Mesophotic Reef Fishes in an Oceanic Archipelago of the Equatorial Atlantic Ocean |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ecological Links between Pelagic and Mesophotic Reef Fishes in an Oceanic Archipelago of the Equatorial Atlantic Ocean |
| title_short | Ecological Links between Pelagic and Mesophotic Reef Fishes in an Oceanic Archipelago of the Equatorial Atlantic Ocean |
| title_sort | ecological links between pelagic and mesophotic reef fishes in an oceanic archipelago of the equatorial atlantic ocean |
| topic | Brazilian province conservation ecology ecosystems linking energy flux oceanic island |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/14/4/273 |
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