Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: FLAVIO FERREIRA DA SILVA JUNIOR

Uma banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO de MESTRADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : FLAVIO FERREIRA DA SILVA JUNIOR
DATE: 14/12/2021
TIME: 14:00
LOCAL: Remoto
TITLE:

Responses of reef fish assemblages to the zoning in a Marine Protected Area in the Southwest Atlantic

KEY WORDS:

Conservation Unit, Ichthyofauna, Geomorphology, Valuation, No-take zones.

PAGES: 26
BIG AREA: Ciências Biológicas
AREA: Ecologia
SUBÁREA: Ecologia Aplicada
SUMMARY:

Coral reefs stand out for their diversity, richness, and ecological and economic importance. Despite their importance, these reefs are constantly suffering from human impacts such as uncontrolled tourism and fishing, making these environments less resilient. The creation of Marine Protected Areas (MPA) and their spatial zoning, in addition to regulating these impacts, is essential for the protection and management of reefs. Our study aimed to test the following hypotheses: (I) Reef fish assemblages in the no-take (ZPVM) have a higher density than the tourism zone (ZV) and sustainable use zone (ZUS). (II) Reef geomorphology, in the same zone, influences fish density and biomass. (III) The ZPVM has a higher value (US$) of reef fish targeted by the fishery when compared to other zones of the APA Costa dos Corais (APACC), the largest coastal MPA in Brazil. 180 underwater visual censuses (UVCs) were carried out at two sampling times, short and medium-term after the return of suspended tourist activities due to the covid-19 pandemic. UVCs were carried out in ZV, ZUS, and ZPVM and two geomorphological areas in each zone: back reef and reef flat. A total of 5,946 individuals of 51 species were recorded. The ZV had the highest richness, density, and biomass among the zones. The PERMANOVA indicated significant differences in fish abundance and biomass between geomorphological areas in ZUS (p = 0.001) and ZV (p = 0.001) in the short term. Furthermore, biomass and density values were significantly higher in the ZV and ZUS in the short term. Territorialist herbivores and roving herbivores had higher densities and biomass in the ZPVM, while predators of mobile invertebrates in the ZV and ZUS. The number of tourists was higher in the medium-term after the reopening of activities. This increasing in the number of visitors changes the environment with trampling, exposing preys, and thus favoring opportunistic trophic groups. The ZPVM showed the highest economic value of fish that are fishing targeted, reaching US$ 2,117.7/ha in the medium-term. Our data reinforce the importance of management of uses through spatial zoning of reefs for conservation and maintenance of local economy. The reef fish assemblages of the ZPVM present greater density only in the short term, especially than the ZV. (II) The reef geomorphology, in the same zone, influences the density and biomass of the fish assemblage. (III). There is a difference in economic valuation between zones and periods. This financial value of the different zones in the APACC can be used for a more commitment of the local community to conservation, which has tourism and fishing as its main pillars of the economy.

BANKING MEMBERS:
Presidente - 1639893 - CLAUDIO LUIS SANTOS SAMPAIO
Interno - 2269625 - ROBSON GUIMARAES DOS SANTOS
Externo à Instituição - IGOR CRISTINO SILVA CRUZ - UFBA