Mesophotic fishes of the Abrolhos Shelf, the largest reef ecosystem in the South Atlantic.
Fishes inhabiting rhodolith beds and reefs at mesophotic depths on the Abrolhos Shelf, which encompasses the largest and richest coral reef formation in the South Atlantic Ocean, were assessed through technical diving and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). A total of 74 fish species were recorded, including at least one new species, one new record for the south-western Atlantic and six new records for the Abrolhos region. Overfishing, mining and port activities are already threatening many endangered and commercially important species recorded on the mesophotic reefs of Abrolhos Shelf, and the establishment of marine protected areas and off-reserve fisheries regulations are urgently needed.
Departamento de Oceanografia e Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Av. Fernando Ferrari 514, Goiabeiras, Vitória, ES, 29075-910, Brazil.
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Simon
California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA, 94118, U.S.A.|Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, 100 Shaffer Road, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, U.S.A.
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Pinheiro
Instituto de Biologia and SAGE/COPPE, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21944-970, Brazil.
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Moura
Fish Bizz Ltda., Rua Moncorvo Filho 51, São Paulo, SP, 05507-060, Brazil.
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Carvalho-Filho
California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA, 94118, U.S.A.|Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, 100 Shaffer Road, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, U.S.A.
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Rocha
Departamento de Oceanografia e Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Av. Fernando Ferrari 514, Goiabeiras, Vitória, ES, 29075-910, Brazil.
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Martins
Departamento de Oceanografia e Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Av. Fernando Ferrari 514, Goiabeiras, Vitória, ES, 29075-910, Brazil.
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Mazzei
Departamento de Engenharia e Meio Ambiente, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Rio Tinto, PB, 58109-753, Brazil.
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Francini-Filho
Instituto de Pesquisas Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 22460-030, Brazil.
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Amado-Filho
Departamento de Oceanografia e Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Av. Fernando Ferrari 514, Goiabeiras, Vitória, ES, 29075-910, Brazil.
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Joyeux
D063147:Animal Distribution; D000818:Animals; D001267:Atlantic Ocean; D044822:Biodiversity; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D057894:Coral Reefs; D017753:Ecosystem; D005399:Fishes / Q000502:physiology*; D011157:Population Dynamics
Brazilian Province; remotely operated vehicle; rhodolith beds; technical diving; twilight zone