ABSTRACT We characterized the surf-zone fish assemblage structure of an ocean beach on the central coast of Brazil (Guriri Beach, Espírito Santo) and assessed its diel variability. Like the entire Espírito Santo coast, Guriri Beach was also affected by ore tailings from the Fundão dam, which collapsed on November 5, 2015. Monthly samplings were carried out before the dam collapse along a year cycle (May 2013-April 2014), during the day and night in the neap tide, using a beach seine. A total of 2217 specimens were caught (1017 during the day and 1200 at night), distributed in 36 fish species and 20 families. Juveniles of the kingcroaker Menticirrhus spp., great pompano Trachinotus goodei, Florida pompano Trachinotus carolinus, littlescale threadfin Polydactylus oligodon, and Atlantic sabretooth anchovy Lycengraulis grossidens dominated the fish fauna, accounting for 84% of the total capture. The fish assemblage structure changed irregularly between day and night throughout the year. P. oligodon and Menticirrhus spp. were more abundant at night, whereas T. carolinus and L. grossidens were more abundant during the day. In most cases, no significant change was detected in fish abundance and richness between the day and night; when significant differences were detected, abundance and richness were higher at night. Our findings could support a monitoring program of the local surf-zone fish fauna and serve as before-impact data, allowing more accurate quantification of the ore tailings' impacts on the local fish biodiversity.

Resumo: A estrutura populacional do cavalo-marinho Hippocampus reidi (Ginsburg 1933) foi avaliada em um sistema estuarino no nordeste do Brasil. Um total de 425 capturas foram realizadas no estuário de Vaza-Barris e 232 indivíduos foram marcados com Elastômeros Fluorescentes de Implante Visível. A população foi estimada em 428 peixes. A curva de crescimento de von Bertalanffy mostra um crescimento mais acentuado durante os primeiros meses de vida, até cerca de 17 meses, e estabilização após os 16 cm e 27 meses de idade. O presente estudo indica que o estuário Vaza-Barris é o lar de populações residentes de cavalos-marinhos de focinho comprido. Além disso, essas populações utilizam raízes de mangue como principal substrato de fixação e apresentam características ecológicas bem definidas, como fidelidade de habitat e organização social altamente estruturada.

Abstract: The population structure of the longsnout seahorse Hippocampus reidi (Ginsburg 1933) was evaluated in an estuarine system in northeastern Brazil. A total of 425 captures were performed in the Vaza-Barris estuary and 232 individuals were marked with Visible Implant Fluorescent Elastomers. The population was estimated to be composed of 428 fish. The von Bertalanffy growth curve shows a steeper growth during the first months of life, up to about 17 months, and stabilization after 16 cm and 27 months of age. The hereby study indicates that the Vaza-Barris estuary is home to resident populations of longsnout seahorses. Moreover, these populations use mangrove roots as the main substrate for attachment and present well-defined ecological characteristics, such as habitat fidelity and highly structured social organization.

ABSTRACT A large number of fish species use the mangrove mainly due to food availability and protection against predators. The knowledge of temporal and spatial dynamics of ichthyofauna allows us to identify patterns of occupation of this ecosystem and to support the assessment and preservation of local biodiversity. In this sense, samplings were conducted in 1988 at five areas of the Itacorubi River estuary, Santa Catarina Island. A total of 3,883 specimens were collected, distributed in 21 families and 41 species with the predominance of Cetengraulis edentulus, Mugil liza, Mugil curema, Genidens genidens, Mugil gaimardianus, Eucinostomus gula, Micropogonias furnieri, Pomatomus saltatrix and Sphoeroides testudineus. On average, abundances differed between seasons and sampled areas. Differences were detected between the fish faunas of fall and winter compared to summer and spring and between sampling sites. This study identified a fish assemblage in the mangrove of the Itacorubi River with a similar structure to other estuaries of southern Brazil.

Resumo: Este estudo teve como objetivo apresentar uma lista de peixes marinhos de ambientes costeiros da Ilha de Santa Catarina, incluindo comentários sobre as afinidades zoogeográficas, estado de conservação de cada espécie e grupos funcionais. Um total de 169 espécies de peixes, pertencentes a 30 ordens e 58 famílias, foram registradas. As famílias mais especiosas foram Sciaenidae, Carangidae e Engraulidae, representando 26,62% das espécies registradas. Anchoa foi o gênero mais rico, seguido por Sphoeroides e Cynoscion. A maioria das espécies tem sua distribuição limitada ao Atlântico ocidental, e dois grupos de peixes foram distinguidos de acordo com as distribuições de espécies: 1) espécies ocorrentes no Caribe e na Província Brasileira; e 2) espécies Transatlânticas. Treze espécies estão criticamente ameaçadas, 10 são superexploradas na costa brasileira e 2 estão ameaçadas de extinção. A maioria das espécies é composta por visitantes marinhos ou migrantes marinhos, sendo a maioria deles zoobentívoros, piscívoros ou ambos.

Abstract: This study aimed to present a checklist of marine fishes from coastal environments of the Island of Santa Catarina, including comments on the zoogeographic affinities, conservation status of each species, and functional groups. A total of 169 fish species belonging to 30 orders and 58 families were recorded. The most speciose families were Sciaenidae, Carangidae and, Engraulidae, representing 26,62% of the recorded species. Anchoa was the richest genus, followed by Sphoeroides and Cynoscion. Most of the species have their distribution limited to the western Atlantic, and two groups of fish were distinguished according to the species distributions: 1) species occurring in the Caribbean and in the Brazilian Province; and 2) Transatlantic species. Thirteen species are critically threatened, 10 are overexploited on the Brazilian coast, and 2 are threatened by extinction. Most of the species are either marine stragglers or marine migrants, and most of them are zoobenthivores, piscivores, or both.

ABSTRACT Within the Brazilian province, rocky reefs and submerged outcrops are among the most important habitats for reef fishes, providing suitable habitats for the development of reef fish communities and consequently sheltering a high ecological diversity. Rocky reef fish assemblages were sampled in seven coastal islands in South Brazil by strip transects of 40 m2 by the underwater visual census to obtain density (fish 40 m-2) and biomass (g 40 m-2). Fish species were also categorized according to trophic category and geographical distribution. In total, 526 strip transects were performed, covering an area of 21,040 m2, providing 19,377 fish, distributed among 73 species of 34 families. Itacolomis Island presented the highest density, followed by Veado Island. Regarding biomass, Itacolomis Island and Pedra da Baleia were the most representative rocky reefs. Mobile invertebrate predator was the trophic category with the highest density and biomass. A total of 60% of the species occur in the Western Atlantic, 20% are Transatlantic and 9.6% are endemic to the Brazilian Province. Our results indicate that despite the similarity in the taxonomic composition among islands, the observed differences in densities and biomass, highlight singular assemblage structures, whether by environmental and/or anthropogenic factors, and dominated by few species, both in density and biomass.

We use two taxonomic indexes to assess the variability of the taxonomic structure and diversity of the ichthyofauna of two low-energy environments in southern Brazil and to compare the temporal patterns of these two ichthyofaunas. Sampling was conducted in the infralittoral zones of Maciel (Paranagua Bay, PR) and Indio Beach (Norte Bay of Florianopolis, SC). A fyke net was set up at a depth of 0.5 to 2.0 m and left in place for 48 h for each of the samplings. A total of two diurnal and two nocturnal samplings were conducted monthly per one year. The ichthyofaunas at the two sites exhibited similar temporal dynamics, with their abundance and biomass presenting a tendency to increase with increasing temperature during the spring and summer months. A total of 113 species were captured, of which 47 were present at both sites. Harengula clupeola, Sphoeroides testudineus and S. greeleyi were especially abundant at both sites. The co-occurring species displayed similar day and night occupancy trends. In all seasons, the obtained values for the average taxonomic distinctness and variation in taxonomic distinctness were within the confidence intervals. The seasonal reproduction and recruitment patterns led to slight changes in taxonomic distinctness during the year, which were within the expected intervals.

Se utilizaron dos índices taxonómicos para evaluar la variabilidad de la estructura taxonómica y diversidad de la ictiofauna en dos ambientes de baja energía en el sur de Brasil, así como para comparar sus patrones temporales. Los muestreos se realizaron en las zonas infralitoral de Maciel (Bahía de Paranaguá, PR) e Indio Beach (Bahía Norte, SC). Se instaló una "fyke net" a una profundidad de 0,5 a 2 m, durante 48 h, para cada uno de los muestreos. Durante un año se realizó un total de dos muestreos diurnos y dos nocturnos. La ictiofauna en los dos sitios mostró dinámicas temporales similares, con su abundancia y biomasa presentando una tendencia a aumentar con el incremento de la temperatura durante los meses de primavera y verano. Un total de 113 especies fueron capturadas, de los cuales 47 estuvieron presentes en ambos sitios. Harengula clupeola, Sphoeroides testudineus y S. greeleyi fueron especialmente abundantes en ambos sitios. Las especies coexistentes mostraron tendencias similares de ocupación tanto de día como de noche. En todas las estaciones, los valores obtenidos para la distinción taxonómica media y para la variación en la distinción taxonómica estuvieron dentro de los intervalos de confianza. Los patrones de reproducción y reclutamiento estacionales llevaron a ligeros cambios en la distinción taxonómica durante el año, que estuvieron dentro de los intervalos esperados.

A interpretação dos registros da comunidade ictíica têm se mostrado um desafio por diversos motivos, entre eles a falta de dados pretéritos, existência de variações temporais cíclicas na comunidade e pelos métodos utilizados que geralmente subamostram a assembleia. Neste sentido, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi descrever o padrão de variação temporal (nictemeral e mensal) na composição e na estrutura da ictiofauna de uma praia abrigada da Baía Norte de Florianópolis, usando uma rede capéchade. Coletas foram realizadas mensalmente, integrando um período de 48 horas/mês. Durante os meses de dezembro de 2010 a novembro de 2011, 19302 indivíduos distribuídos em 89 espécies e 39 famílias foram capturados. O número de indivíduos capturados durante o dia e/ou noite foi dependente do mês de coleta. Em média, a assembleia foi mais abundante durante o dia, diferindo em estrutura e composição do período da noite. Das oito espécies com maior Índice de Importância Relativa (IRI%), cinco apresentaram maior variação (F ANOVA) entre o dia e a noite do que a verificada entre os meses, o que reforça a necessidade de amostragens durante o dia e a noite. A rede capéchade foi eficiente na captura de indivíduos demersais e pelágicos com ampla faixa de tamanho.

Interpreting fish community records is challenging for several reasons, including the lack of past ichthyofauna data, the cyclical temporal variations in the community, and the methodology employed, which usually underestimates fish assemblages. The objective of this study was to describe short-scale and meso-scale (nycthemeral period and months, respectively) temporal variations in the ichthyofauna composition and structure of a sheltered beach of Baía Norte (Florianópolis, Santa Catarina state, Brazil), using a capéchade net. Samples were collected monthly for a period of 48 hours. During the period from December 2010 to November 2011, a total of 19,302 individuals belonging to 89 species and 39 families were captured. The number of individuals that were sampled during the day and/or night was dependent on the sampling month. On average, the daytime assemblage was more abundant and different in structure and composition than the nighttime assemblage. Of the eight species that had the highest Index of Relative Importance (%IRI), five had higher variations (ANOVA F) between the day and night than between the months. This finding reinforced the need for sampling during both the day and night. The capéchade net effectively captured demersal and pelagic individuals in a broad range of sizes.