Fauna marinha ameaçada de extinção do Nordeste do Brasil

Abstract

On a global scale, there has been an increasing number of species becoming endangered or even extinct. Brazil is not different in this aspect, and accounts for 627 endangered species, both marine and continental. The main goal of this study is, to compile, integrate and analyze information about marine organisms that are currently officially considered endangered by Brazilian, and occurrs in the Northeast region of Brazil, based on the volumes of the book “Livro Vermelho da Fauna Brasileira Ameaçada de Extinção”, published in 2008. First, species with proven occurrence in the region were identified and compiled. Ten categories of threats and 29 categories of conservation strategies were created. Cluster analysis were performed on threatened species datasets through hierarchical grouping, by the minimum variation method, using JMP software. Two clusters were generated: species by threats and species by conservation strategies. We found 55 endangered marine species with distribution in the Northeastern Brazil. The sates with higher number of endangered species are: Bahia and Pernambuco. The states that have the greater number of protected areas are: Bahia, Maranhão and Pernambuco. The protected areas with the higher number of endangered species are: National Marine Park of Abrolhos, National Marine Park of Fernando de Noronha and Biological Reserve Atol das Rocas. The main threats to the endangered species are: pollution, degradation of habitat, bycatch and ornamental trade. The main conservation strategies are: enforcement of environmental crime laws, education and local development and, the creation and maintenance of marine protected areas.