Occurrence and abundance of three larval codlet species (Bregmacerotidae, Teleostei) in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean (12?22�S)

Abstract

Summary There are still only a few studies related to Bregmacerotidae larvae in Brazil, although these larvae are frequently collected in oceanic ichthyoplankton samples. Thus this study analyzes the occurrence and abundance of Bregmaceros larvae along the Brazilian central coast and describes larval characteristics. During three oceanographic cruises samples were collected between the Real River (12°S) and the Sao Tome Cape (22°S). Oblique hauls were conducted from a maximum depth of 200 m, using bongo nets of 330- and 500-μm mesh size. Among the 951 bregmacerotids collected, three species were identified corresponding to 89%Bregmaceros atlanticus, 8%Bregmaceros cantori and 3%Bregmaceros n. sp. B. atlanticus was widely distributed along the study area and was more frequent in stations situated beyond the 200-m isobath; this species was more abundant during the winter, showing a peak of density between Vitoria and the Sao Tome Cape (355 larvae per 10 m2). Bregmaceros cantori densities were very similar during the three cruises; the highest value (25.6 larvae per 10 m2) was recorded during the winter and higher concentrations were observed in neritic stations along the 200-m isobath. Bregmaceros n. sp. was rare in collections made during the three cruises; it was concentrated along the Bahia coast (12–18°S), and was more frequent in stations situated in the oceanic region. Bregmaceros atlanticus varying from 2.0 to 6.0 mm and Bregmaceros n. sp. larvae varying from 3.0 to 6.0 mm were present in all cruises, indicating that they spawn year-round. Bregmaceros cantori did not show a distribution pattern among the different length classes, probably associated with the fact that this species has a coastal distribution.