Abstract
Abstract: A total of 1,471 specimens of 16 species of flatfishes (Pleuronectiformes) were caught during 48 sampling campaigns between July 2005 and June 2007 at ten stations in Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Paralichthyidae was the dominant family, with Etropus crossotus as the dominant species. The outer stations, especially those on the western side of the lower estuary, were distinguished as a result of their higher abundance of flatfishes and number of species. The spatial distribution of E. crossotus and its population structure indicate that this species is an estuarine resident despite the apparent reduction in its area of occupation within the estuarine complex. Among the other species, nine were classified as marine stragglers (Achirus declivis, Bothus ocellatus, Cyclopsetta chittendeni, Etropus longimanus, Paralichthys orbignyanus, P. patagonicus, Syacium micrurum, Symphurus diomedeanus and Trinectes paulistanus) and three as estuarine opportunists (Bothus robinsi, Citharichthys macrops and Syacium papillosum); another three could not be classified due to the small number of captures or lack of previous data (S. tessellatus, A. lineatus and C. spilopterus).
Highlights
The species of Pleuronectiformes, commonly known as flatfishes, can be identified by their asymmetrically compressed body, being usually pigmented on the side with eyes and depigmented on the blind side
Three species were distributed across all five areas of the estuary: E. crossotus, S. tessellatus and C. spilopterus
Five species showed a frequency of occurrence that was greater than 50% in all studied months: E. crossotus, S. tessellatus, Citharichthys macrops, Syacium papillosum and C. spilopterus
Summary
The species of Pleuronectiformes, commonly known as flatfishes, can be identified by their asymmetrically compressed body, being usually pigmented on the side with eyes and depigmented on the blind side. They are demersal fishes with a carnivorous diet and have no swim bladder (Nelson et al 2016). Despite the economic importance of Pleuronectiformes, their interactions with the varied ecosystems in which they are found are poorly understood This is evident in environments such as estuaries, essential ecosystems for fish populations that are used as breeding and feeding grounds for several species, many of commercial value (SilvaJúnior et al 2012, Blaber 2013). Flatfishes play an important role in the trophic chain of estuaries by acting as top or second-order predators (West et al 2003, Bouchereau & Chaves 2003, Chaves & Bouchereau 2004)
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