Abstract
Artificial reefs (ARs) have been deployed on the inner shelf of Paraná, Southeast Brazil, as protection against destructive trawling activities, and to offer habitat for local fauna for recovery of biodiversity. The purpose of this study was to develop a preliminary characterization of the ichthyoplankton community associated with both artificial and natural reefs in the Currais Archipelago, and perform a comparison of fish larvae composition between ARs and nearby unconsolidated substrate. Two sampling methods were used, light traps and a plankton net. A total of 12 families and 14 species were identified, expanding the total species list in the area by eight species and three families. Differences among assemblages on ARs and unconsolidated substrate indicate that ARs seem to be effective attractors to fish larvae. Particular attention is drawn in regard to the "attractor effect" for exotic species that do not naturally reside in the area, such as Omobranchus punctatus. The large abundance of fish eggs on ARs suggests that these artificial structures can improve local production. These results are the first step needed to better define guidelines for sustainable use and management of ARs and Currais Archipelago, a Marine National Park.
Highlights
The bottom geomorphology of the Paraná state in Southern Brazil is dominated by mud and sand (Brandini and Silva, 2011) and since the late 1970s, its inner shelf ecosystems have suffered degradation, mainly related to commercial shrimp fisheries, including their associated bycatch and use of destructive fishing methods such as bottom trawling (Andriguetto et al, 2012)
Consolidated substrate is uncommon in the area, but provides rare rocky reef habitats, such as the ones found in the Currais Archipelago and in Itacolomis Island
The Artificial reefs (ARs) deployed on unconsolidated substrate off the coast of Paraná seem to be acting as attractors to fish larvae
Summary
The bottom geomorphology of the Paraná state in Southern Brazil is dominated by mud and sand (Brandini and Silva, 2011) and since the late 1970s, its inner shelf ecosystems have suffered degradation, mainly related to commercial shrimp fisheries, including their associated bycatch and use of destructive fishing methods such as bottom trawling (Andriguetto et al, 2012). Submitted: 20-Jan-2021 Approved: 10-Jun-2021 Associate Editor: Hans Dam were first implanted in the area to act as anti-trawling units in 1997, and later, further units were installed between 2011 and 2012 in a line parallel to the coast (Brandini, 2014). These ARs were intended to offer habitat for local fauna, allowing the recovery of the biodiversity associated with natural reef habitats on the Paraná coast (Brandini and Silva, 2011; Brandini, 2014). ARs may allow marine species to spread over long distances through a series of dispersion events or short-distance colonization, acting as stepping stones or even corridors that facilitate the dispersion of both indigenous and non-indigenous species (McNeill et al, 2010; Airoldi et al, 2015), especially those associated with hard substrate habitats (Vaselli et al, 2008)
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