Variação do ictioplâncton entre as feições talude continental e bacia oceânica em um trecho do Atlântico Equatorial (Ceará - Brasil)

Abstract

The distribution of larvae and eggs of marine fish is spatially and temporally dynamic varying in composition and abundance vertically and horizontally. The present study evaluated the composition, abundance and spatial distribution of ichthyoplankton in the continental slope-ocean basin gradient in a section of the Equatorial Atlantic, Ceará. Sampling of larvae and physico-chemical variables was performed during January 2015, in 12 points covering continental slope and ocean basin. The ichthyoplankton was collected by oblique trawls with a mesh net of 330 μm and 500 μm, to the depth of 200 m. Physical-chemical variables (temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen) were recorded with CTD probe, and chlorophyll a by water samples with Niskin bottles. Density was calculated for taxa of larvae and eggs and relative abundance and frequency of occurrence were calculated for larvae. To evaluate the spatial distribution, density data were analyzed through PERMANOVAs and dissimilarity of Bray-Curtis. The values of the physical-chemical variables were similar to those recorded on the coast of the Brazilian coast. Three water masses were identified in the sampled water column. A total of 901 larvae belonging to 14 orders and 55 families were collected with few dominating taxa in abundance. Among these, 706 larvae belonging to 52 families were collected on the continental slope and 86 larvae belonging to 21 families were collected in the ocean basin. A total of 59 species and 47 genera were identified. For fish eggs, an order (Anguilliformes) and a family (Synodontidae) were identified. At the embankment stations, the mean density of larvae was 0.0089 larvae / 100 m³ and in the ocean basin was 0.0034 larvae / 100 m³. The average density of eggs was similar between the stations where they occurred (mean of 0.0278 eggs / 100 m³), but it differed between the features compared, being these practically absent in the ocean basin and indicating greater spawning activity in the slope. The PERMANOVA analysis identified significant differences in the distribution and abundance of larvae between slope and basin for the 330 μm mesh (F1,121 = 1,60, p = 0,03) and for the 500 μm net (F1,121 = 2.39, p = 0.006). The families Phosichithyidae, Paralepididae and Stomiidae were more abundant in the slope while the families Scaridae, Gobiidae and Holocentridae were more abundant in the basin. Gonostomatidae was similar in abundance in both features for the 300 μm mesh and Myctophidae was similar in abundance in both features in both networks. Most of the collected larvae have habit associated with the background in their adult phase, indicating that the area is used for spawning and breeding of these taxa. The difference between the features was evidenced by the decrease of the taxonomic richness and the abundance in the slope-basin sense and the distribution of the larvae, indicating a selection of habitats by the organisms.