Ekau, Werner ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4844-9654, Westhaus-Ekau, Petra and Medeiros, Carmen (1999) Large scale distribution of fish larvae in the continental shelf waters off North-East Brazil. Archive of Fishery and Marine Research, 47 (2/3). pp. 183-200.

Text Ekau.PDF - Published Version Restricted to Registered users only Download (3MB)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to describe the ichthyoplankton community in the continental shelf waters off North-East Brazil for the first rime and to determine possible relationships between community composition and the abiotic conditions, produced by the water masses of the South Equatorial Current (SEC). Bongo samples from 23 stations off the Brazilian State Pernambuco and 13 stations off Ceará were examined. Larvae were identified up to the family level. A total of 7 4 families was distinguished, 4 7 of these were found in the northern sector off Ceará, while 5 8 were found off Pernambuco. 31 families were found off both areas, Ceará and Pernambuco. Abundances were lower in the North (up to 40 larvae per 50 m3), showing a maximum near the shelf edge and a decrease towards offshore. The dominant groups from Pernambuco and Ceará differed significantly. Carangids, monacanthids and gobiids were the main taxa off Ceará. The samples from Pernambuco consisted mainly of Scaridae, Labridae, Labrisomidae, Clupeidae and Myctophidae (offshore). Four communities were separated by cluster analysis, indicating an inshore/offshore transition in taxonomic composition. The paper has shown the overwhelming dominance of the oligotrophic SECW on the ichthyoplankton community. The mangroves of North-East Brazil do not have a significant impact on the ichthyoplankton community of the shelf waters. Differences in biomass and larval assemblages were evident only between inshore waters, up to 10 km distance from the coast and the shelf waters beyond.

Document Type:	Article
Programme Area:	PA Not Applicable
Research affiliation:	Ecology > Fisheries Biology
Refereed:	Yes
Open Access Journal?:	No
ISSN:	0944-1921
Date Deposited:	30 Sep 2025 16:19
Last Modified:	30 Sep 2025 16:19
URI:	https://cris.leibniz-zmt.de/id/eprint/5724

Actions (login required)

View Item