Evidence for spawning aggregations of the endangered Atlantic goliath grouper Epinephelus itajara in southern Brazil.
In this study, seasonal numerical abundance of the critically endangered Atlantic goliath grouper Epinephelus itajara was estimated by conducting scuba dive surveys and calculating sightings-per-unit-effort (SPUE) at three sites in southern Brazil. Seasonal differences in size and reproductive condition of captured or confiscated specimens were compared. The SPUE differed significantly with season, increasing in late spring and peaking during the austral summer months. A significant effect was observed in the number of fish relative to the lunar cycle. All females sampled during the summer were spawning capable, while all those sampled during other seasons were either regressing or regenerating. What these data strongly infer is that the E. itajara spawning aggregation sites have been located in the southern state of Paraná and the northern state of Santa Catarina and summer is the most likely spawning season. Size frequency distributions, abundance and reproductive state were estimated and correlated with environmental variables.
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia Ambiental, Universidade Federal do Espírito, Santo - Base Oceanográfica - UFES, 565 Rodovia ES 010, km 16, Aracruz, ES, 29199-970, Brazil.|Instituto COMAR - Conservação Marinha do Brasil, 104 Helena Degelmann St, Joinville, SC, 89218-580, Brazil.|Instituto Meros do Brasil, 67 Benjamin Constant St, Curitiba, PR, 80060-020, Brazil.
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Bueno
Instituto Meros do Brasil, 67 Benjamin Constant St, Curitiba, PR, 80060-020, Brazil.|Laboratório de Ictiologia Teórica e Aplicada (LICTA), Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro - UNIRIO, 296 Pasteur Av., Urca, RJ, 22290-240, Brazil.
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Bertoncini
The Florida State University Coastal and Marine Laboratory, 3618 Coastal Highway, St Teresa, FL, 32358, U.S.A.
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Koenig
The Florida State University Coastal and Marine Laboratory, 3618 Coastal Highway, St Teresa, FL, 32358, U.S.A.
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Coleman
Instituto Meros do Brasil, 67 Benjamin Constant St, Curitiba, PR, 80060-020, Brazil.|Rede Abrolhos, Jardim Botânico St, 920, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 22.460-000, Brazil.
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Freitas
Instituto Meros do Brasil, 67 Benjamin Constant St, Curitiba, PR, 80060-020, Brazil.|Rede Abrolhos, Jardim Botânico St, 920, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 22.460-000, Brazil.
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Leite
Instituto COMAR - Conservação Marinha do Brasil, 104 Helena Degelmann St, Joinville, SC, 89218-580, Brazil.
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De Souza
Instituto Meros do Brasil, 67 Benjamin Constant St, Curitiba, PR, 80060-020, Brazil.|Centro Universitário Norte do Espírito, Santo/Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Rodovia BR 101 Norte, Km. 60, São Mateus, ES, 29932-540, Brazil.
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Hostim-Silva
D000818:Animals; D001492:Bass / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D016081:Moon; D010053:Ovary / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D012098:Reproduction; D012621:Seasons; D012919:Social Behavior
Epinephelidae; South Atlantic; artificial reefs; endangered species; reef fish