Composition, density and biomass of fish community from the surf zone as a function of the lunar cycle at Miramar Beach in Cabedelo, Paraíba

Willy Vila Nova Pessoa,Paulo Guilherme Vasconcelos de Oliveira,Jonas de Assis Almeida Ramos

doi:10.1590/1982-0224-20170042

Abstract

ABSTRACT The influence of the moon cycles on the ichthyofauna has been little studied in the surf zone. In this study, the number of species, density and biomass were evaluated as a function of the moon. A total of 49 species distributed in 24 families were captured in two areas of Miramar beach. The mean density was significant high in the weaning and low in the new moon, while density and biomass together showed differences for areas. The most abundant species were Anchoa tricolor and Trachinotus falcatus (new moon), and Anchovia clupeoides showed significant differences in the waning moon. The RDA indicates that turbidity influenced significantly the presence of two species group. The group I were represented by Stellifer brasiliensis, Trachinotus goodei, A. clupeoides, Chilomycterus spinosus and Conodon nobilis that occurred on the waning and new phases in both areas, while the group II were represented by Polydactylus virginicus and Haemulopsis corvinaeformis in the full moon. The surf zones may also be strongly governed by the lunar phases. Therefore, the results found in this study, showed that the biological interactions between the species with turbidity and moon might explain the density and biomass variations for some species in the surf zone.

Highlights

The behavior and abundance of various animals in nature change as a function of lunar cycles and tidal regimes (McDowall, 1969)
The lunar cycles and their effect on fish have been investigated by several authors (Quin, Kojis, 1981; Goldman et al, 1983; Rooker, Dennis, 1991; Laroche et al, 1997; deBruyn, Meeuwing, 2001, Das et al, 2005), research involving lunar and tidal cycles is important in understanding the larvae behavior, juveniles and adults of fish and marine invertebrates (Ramos et al, 2011; Lacerda et al, 2014, Lima et al, 2016)
The surf zones suffer significant impacts, due to, the exploitation of natural resources, including the ichthyofauna of commercial importance for artisanal fisheries. This zone acts as a nursery, feeding and refuge grounds for juveniles fish (Menegassi del Favero, Dias, 2013; Lacerda et al, 2014; Ramos et al, 2016); and at the same time, are vulnerable habitats to stressful environmental impacts on the living or passing ichthyofauna

Summary

Introduction

The behavior and abundance of various animals in nature change as a function of lunar cycles and tidal regimes (McDowall, 1969) These factors may be influence of biological processes important to fish life (Taylor, 1984). The surf zones suffer significant impacts, due to, the exploitation of natural resources, including the ichthyofauna of commercial importance for artisanal fisheries This zone acts as a nursery, feeding and refuge grounds for juveniles fish (Menegassi del Favero, Dias, 2013; Lacerda et al, 2014; Ramos et al, 2016); and at the same time, are vulnerable habitats to stressful environmental impacts on the living or passing ichthyofauna. These areas act as a migration route for larvae and juveniles, especially in environments close to estuaries (Cowley et al, 2001; Watt-Pringle, Strydom, 2003) and have a high ecological value, especially for juvenile fish species (Gaelzer, Zalmon, 2003)

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