Percepção ambiental sobre a medusa não nativa Cassiopea Andromeda na costa semiárida do Brasil

Abstract

The present work will analyze the environmental perception of a coastal community about seasonal variation, invasion routes and impacts of a bioinvasion in the west coast of Ceará. To answer this objective 18 semi-structured questionnaires were applied and divided among researchers, fishermen, shrimp farmers and sportsmen. The time of activity developed in the estuary among the interviewees is from 1 to 65 years (average = 21 years), with 59% prevailing between 1 and 22 years. The results indicate the occurrence of C. andromeda in 4 locations along Itarema’s coast namely Ilha do Guajirú Beach (near a coastal barrier) and mangrove in Ilha do Guajirú. The jellyfish also ocurred in 4 locations along Acarau’s coast: a shrimp farm, estuary of Acarau river (in the mangrove region), fishing ground and a region in Curral Velho commonly called by lagoon by the residentes associated with mangroves. There was seasonal variation for the mangroves of Guajirú Island, Itarema, and Acarau’s mangrove; In addition, the seasonal variation also occurred in the fishing ground of Arpoeiras beach where in the mangroves there was presence of the organism in the dry season and in the fishing corral in the rainy season. The main vectors of invasion of the organism were vessels (31%), currents (19%) and the river itself (19%). The main reported impacts were burns, economic losses due to interference with shrimp farming and threatening local biota. The value of community understanding is an important factor as it helps to gain information about the distribution of exotic species and their impacts on the local community which assists in monitoring bioinvasion and in creating mitigation and eradication strategies for exotic species which are increasing due to maritime traffic.