Abstract The present study provides some parameters of the population biology of Charybdis (Charybdis) hellerii (A. Milne-Edwards, 1867), an invasive swimming crab inhabiting the estuarine portion of the Sergipe River, northeastern Brazilian coast. Samplings were carried out monthly from July 2015 to June 2016 with baited traps. The species was the second most abundant caught organism and its relative abundance ranged over the time from 11 to 59%. Sex ratio was 1:1 and all individuals were morphologically mature. Males were bigger than females. Ovigerous females were observed year-round and the smallest one was 31.35 mm carapace width. These findings show that the population is well established on the Sergipe coast. The entire distribution, and possible impacts, of C. (C.) hellerii on local environments need to be evaluated in further studies.

Abstract The goal of this study was to estimate the biometric relationships and sex ratio for the red-spotted shrimp Farfantepenaeus brasiliensis (Latreille, 1817) from the coast of Sergipe, northeastern Brazil. A total of 132 specimens of F. brasiliensis were collected and analyzed (65 females and 67 males) from May 2015 to May 2016. The overall sex ratio did not differ significantly from 1:1. Female size ranged from 20.73-46.43 mm of carapace length (CL), whereas male size ranged from 20.75-32.47 mm CL. Females were larger (34.78±6.05 mm CL, 152.61±19.68 mm of total length (TL)) and heavier (27.45±11.12 g of wet weight (WW)) than males (27.07±2.56 mm CL, 123.77±11.37 mm TL and 14.48±3.98 g WW). All biometric relationships were different between females and males. Both TL vs CL and WW vs TL relationships indicated positive allometric growth. Data shown here correspond to an adult population exploited by local shrimp fleets and are an important contribution to the biological knowledge of this species, especially in northeastern Brazil, where there is no information available.

Abstract The objective of this study was to describe the morphology and morphometry of saggitta otoliths of Polydactylus virginicus, Menticirrhus cuiaranensis and Conodon nobilis in a tropical environment. Fishes were caught with rod and reel in competitive fishing events promoted in 2014-2015 along the coast of Sergipe. A total of 174 pairs of sagitta otoliths of P. virginicus, 181 of M. cuiaranensis and 77 of C. nobilis was extracted. In general, the sagitta otoliths of all three species analyzed here presented different morphology and shape indices. The permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) demonstrated significant differences among species and ontogenetic phases within each species using morphometry and shape indices. The linear discriminant analysis (LDA) presented a 98.3% correct reclassification of the otoliths by species.

Resumo: Objetivo Esse trabalho tem como objetivo registrar pela primeira vez a presença do berbigão asiático Corbicula fluminea no Rio Poxim-Açu, região nordeste do Brasil. Métodos As amostragens foram realizadas em 20 de outubro de 2016 em cinco pontos ao longo do Rio Poxim-Açu. Em cada ponto foram coletadas cinco amostras com o auxílio de um tudo de PVC (diâmetro de 0,25 m). Todos os indivíduos presentes dentro do tubo foram coletados manualmente. Resultados A espécie esteve presente em todos os pontos amostrais com densidades variando entre 412±169 e 1692±1474 indivíduos/m2. Conclusão Esse registro amplia a distribuição de C. fluminea na região nordeste do Brasil.

Abstract: Aim The objective of this work is to provide a new occurrence record of the Asian clam Corbicula fluminea in the Poxim-Açu River, northeastern Brazil. Methods Samplings were carried out on October 20th of 2016 at five sites along Poxim-Açu River. At each site five samples were taken with a PVC core of 0.25 m of diameter and all individuals found inside core were sorted by hand. Results The species was recorded at all sites with densities ranging from 412±169 to 1692±1474 individuals/m2. Conclusion This record extends the distribution of C. fluminea at northeastern Brazil.

ABSTRACT Shrimp trawling is an important socioeconomic activity but catches a large number of non-target species, including Hepatus pudibundus. This study aimed at assessing the population structure of H. pudibundus, analyzing its sex ratio, length distribution, size at first morphological maturity and biometric relationships, and identifying latitudinal patterns. Four samples of 6 kg (shrimps plus by-catch) were monthly collected in March/2015-May/2016 in Pirambu, Sergipe. Carapace width (CW) and length (LC), and total weight (TW, g) were measured. Sex and stage of morphological maturity were defined. A total of 240 individuals wes collected from all samples and the sex ratio did not differ from 1:1. This was observed in low latitudes, but females dominated in higher latitudes. The carapace width was 20.8-60.1 mm for females and 19.1-60.8 mm CW for males. Larger sizes were observed in higher latitudes. The estimated carapace width-length relationships for females and males were not significantly different (CL=0.6764+0.7390∙CW; sex grouped). The estimated weight-length relationship was TW=0.0004∙CW2.8568 for females and TW=0.0001∙CW3.1225 for males. When compared with previous studies carried out throughout the Brazilian coast, slope values (b) for weight-length relationships were higher for males. The length at first morphological maturity for females and males was 28.9 and 29.6 mm, respectively, the lowest ever recorded for this species, reflecting the occurrence of smaller sizes in lower latitudes. These results are the first obtained for northeastern Brazil.

Abstract Shrimps are the main fishery resource in marine waters off Sergipe (northeastern Brazil), where they are landed in three categories: ‘espigão’, ‘escolha’ and ‘pistola’. The objective of this study was to identify which species are landed in each category, relating to the perception of stakeholders, and to analyze their effect on the interpretation of historical catch statistics. Samples of 3kg were collected monthly for each category before landing in Aracaju (May/2015-May/2016) to identify the shrimp species caught. All specimens were identified, measured (carapace length - mm) and weighed (total weight - g), and had their sex determined. We interviewed attendees of two meetings promoted by the Programa de Monitoramento Participativo do Desembarque Pesqueiro in Aracaju and Pirambu, the two main ports where shrimp catches are landed in Sergipe, and asked for their perception of shrimp species included in each category. Finally, we used all shrimp catch data available for Sergipe in a national reconstructed database to improve the reconstruction based on the species composition estimated here for the main shrimp species. The analysis of each category indicated the presence of commercially important species (Xiphopenaeus kroyeri, Penaeus subtilis, Penaeus brasiliensis, and Penaeus schmitti), and also species of no local commercial interest: Exhippolysmata oplophoroides, Nematopalaemon schmitti, Rimapenaeus constrictus, and Sicyonia dorsalis. The category ‘espigão’ was dominated by X. kroyeri (94.2%) and ‘escolha’ by P. subtilis (95.3%). ‘pistola’ was mostly P. subtilis (78.3%), almost all of them females, followed by P. schmitti (12.3%). The perception of stakeholders was correct for ‘espigão’ and ‘escolha’, but not for ‘pistola’, as 38% of the respondents classified it as ‘camarão-branco’ (P. schmitti). The mean carapace length for all species together was: 18.90mm (‘espigão’), 22.34mm (‘escolha’), and 30.96mm (‘pistola’). Decreasing catches of X. kroyeri, P. subtilis and P. schmitti in the last years raise concern.

ABSTRACT The cliff crab Plagusia depressa (Fabricius, 1775) is recorded for the first time from the state of Sergipe, northeastern Brazil. This new record fills the gap in the species distribution between Pernambuco (8°S) and Bahia (12°S).

RESUMO As praias brasileiras fornecem bens e serviços ecossistêmicos fundamentais, desempenhando papel importante para a manutenção de populações humanas e para a conservação da biodiversidade. Entretanto, apesar da sua importância ecológica e social, essas praias são amplamente impactadas por alterações humanas, turismo, poluição química e orgânica e mudanças climáticas globais. Esses fatores tornam urgente a melhor percepção e compreensão das mudanças ambientais nas praias brasileiras, assim como de suas consequências na biota. Com o objetivo de promover estudos integrados que possam detectar variações nas características das praias e de outros habitats bentônicos do litoral do Brasil, foi estabelecida a Rede de Monitoramento de Habitats Bentônicos Costeiros (ReBentos). Para fornecer subsídios para o planejamento amostral da ReBentos, realizamos um intenso levantamento sobre os estudos conduzidos nas praias brasileiras e sintetizamos o atual conhecimento relativo a esse ambiente. Os resultados do levantamento são apresentados no presente trabalho e demonstram as principais características físicas, biológicas e socioeconômicas dessas praias. A partir das informações, assim como de nossa experiência e de pesquisas realizadas em diversos países, apontamos estudos e medidas que devem ser considerados prioritários para a avaliação dos efeitos das mudanças regionais e globais sobre as praias brasileiras. Esperamos que esse trabalho possa fornecer subsídios para futuros estudos e que constitua um importante passo em direção à conservação das praias do Brasil e de sua biodiversidade.

ABSTRACT Sandy beaches constitute a key ecosystem and provide socioeconomic goods and services, thereby playing an important role in the maintenance of human populations and in biodiversity conservation. Despite the ecological and social importance of these ecosytems, Brazilian sandy beaches are significantly impacted by human interference, chemical and organic pollution and tourism, as well as global climate change. These factors drive the need to better understand the environmental change and its consequences for biota. To promote the implementation of integrated studies to detect the effects of regional and global environmental change on beaches and on other benthic habitats of the Brazilian coast, Brazilian marine researchers have established The Coastal Benthic Habitats Monitoring Network (ReBentos). In order to provide input for sample planning by ReBentos, we have conducted an intensive review of the studies conducted on Brazilian beaches and summarized the current knowledge about this environment. In this paper, we present the results of this review and describe the physical, biological and socioeconomics features of Brazilian beaches. We have used these results, our personal experience and worldwide literature to identify research projects that should be prioritized in the assessment of regional and global change on Brazilian sandy beaches. We trust that this paper will provide insights for future studies and represent a significant step towards the conservation of Brazilian beaches and their biodiversity.

A comparative study of the infaunal recruitment patterns among disturbed surface sediment mounds around Chasmagnathus granulata Dana, 1851 burrows and undisturbed adjacent sediments was done in two intertidal soft bottom habitats (an upper and a lower mudflat zone) in an estuarine inlet of Patos Lagoon, southern Brazil. The most abundant infaunal organisms were recruits of the polychaete Laeonereis acuta Treadwell, 1923 and of the tanaid Kalliapseudes schubartii Mañé-Garzón, 1949. The densities of these species did not differ significantly between upper and lower mudflat habitats. These species showed lower densities around crab burrows than in adjacent areas, where differences in sediment characteristics were observed as well. The results indicate that C. granulata disturbances may play an important role in regulating the soft bottom benthic community by controlling infaunal recruitment in the estuarine intertidal mudflats of the Patos Lagoon.