Selene Setapinnis Research Articles

Molecular analyses of carangid fish diets reveal inter-predation, dietary overlap, and the importance of early life stages in trophic ecology.

Carangid fishes are commercially important in fisheries and aquaculture. They are distributed worldwide in both tropical and subtropical marine ecosystems. Their role in food webs is often unclear since their diet cannot be easily identified by traditional gut content analysis. They are suspected to prey on pelagic and benthic species, with clupeiform fishes being important dietary items for some species, though it is unknown whether carangids share food resources or show trophic segregation. Here, we used metabarcoding to overcome traditional challenges of taxonomic approaches to analyze the diet of seven carangid species caught as bycatch in the Brazilian southwest Atlantic sardine fishery. Stomach contents were processed from the following species: Caranx crysos, Caranx latus, Chloroscombrus chrysurus, Hemicaranx amblyrhynchus, Oligoplites saliens, Selene setapinnis, and Trachinotus carolinus. Identified diets were dominated by teleost fishes. The C. latus diet was the most distinct among the seven species, preferentially consuming Engraulis anchoita, but H. amblyrhynchus, O. saliens, and S. setapinnis also showed a trend of predominantly consuming small pelagic fishes. Finally, we found evidence of inter-predation in carangids, especially strong between S. setapinnis and C. crysos, suggesting that consumption of early life stages may result in indirect competition through reduced recruitment in these fishes. These findings provide unprecedented insights into the biodiversity in marine ecosystems, especially the poorly known diet of carangid fishes.

Patterns description of hyperostosis observed in Atlantic moonfish Selene setapinnis and lookdown Selene vomer.

Hyperostosis manifests itself and develops differently in taxonomically related species. Radiographic images of individuals belonging to different size classes of Atlantic Moonfish Selene setapinnis and Lookdown Selene vomer were obtained from two different estuarine areas of Rio de Janeiro/Brazil. In S. setapinnis, hyperostosis occurred in 65.22% of the specimens analyzed in three different skeletal regions. All specimens of S. vomer had hyperostosis in four regions. Patterns of occurrence were detected in both species, and the affected regions did not coincide in the same bone region, except for the cleithrum. Hyperostosis in S. setapinnis were observed in high frequencies of seventh dorsal pterygiophore, whereas in specimens of S. vomer this condition was detected to a greater extent in the neural spines of the second abdominal vertebra and first to third caudal vertebrae. The data demonstrated a relationship between the sexual maturity and the occurrence and development of hyperostotic bones in ageing process of individuals. It is the first description of S. vomer with a hyperostosis phenomenon for the species on the Brazilian coast.

On the trophic role of pelagic fishes and fishery landings shifts in the South Brazil Bight

Knowledge of the feeding habits of pelagic fishes off the Brazilian coast is scarce, making the analysis of trophic interactions often inaccurate. Here, we investigated the diet and trophic role of 12 pelagic fish species by revisiting samples obtained by the ECOSAR II Program (FURG/IO/IBAMA) between 23°S and 28°40'S, an area also known as South Brazil Bight. In addition, we analyzed their biomass and fisheries landings in order to examine shifts over time. The content of 432 stomachs was analyzed at the lowest taxonomic level possible. The frequencies of occurrence were used to cluster species, revealing three trophic guilds: "Planktivorous Clupeiformes", "Planktivorous Carangiformes", and "Piscivores". Most Carangidae consumed mainly copepods and other small crustaceans, except Selene setapinnis which clustered in the piscivorous guild together with Scombriformes specimens. In terms of biomass, the dominance of Trachurus lathami, Sardinella brasiliensis, and Trichiurus lepturus was evident. The species' trophic levels ranged from 2.98 to 4.5, showing that these fishes occupied intermediate to high trophic position. Comparing fisheries landings in two study periods (1986-2002 and 2003-2019), six species showed a decrease, while three an increase. Correlations between landings of the Brazilian sardine (Sardinella brasiliensis) and other pelagic fishes indicate that when the former's decreases, the catch of alternative species, such as Opisthonema oglinum and Chloroscombrus chrysurus, increases. The intermediate position of small pelagics in the food web may affect the availability of commercial species by controlling the abundance of lower and upper trophic-level organisms. These findings fill essential gaps for ecosystem modeling, suggesting that ecosystembased fisheries management should address multispecies issues of the pelagic realm rather than only singlespecies approaches. Combining past survey data with yield trends provides evidence for both natural and humaninduced ocean changes.

The presence of hyperostosis in Atlantic moonfish, Selene setapinnis (Mitchill, 1815) in the Brazilian Coast ˗ case report

ABSTRACT The occurrence of hyperostotic bones is common in marine fish, especially in the Carangidae family, despite few records of this condition in fishes from Brazilian waters. The present study describes the occurrence of hyperostosis in Atlantic moonfish (Selene setapinnis) in, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. Radiographs of the fish specimens were taken and all of them presented hyperostosis in at least three different regions: cleithrum, pterygiophores and pleural ribs. The observed pattern is different from previously described for other species of the same genus. It is the first record for the species and a valuable contribution to the study of bone diseases in fishes from the Brazilian coast.

Spatio-temporal patterns of the oceanic conditions and nearshore marine community in the Mid-Atlantic Bight (New Jersey, USA).

Oceanic environmental conditions influence, shape, and control the geographical range, spatial distribution, abundance, and size composition of marine fauna. Water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, depth, and sediment type influence select fish life-history characteristics and community structure. Marine communities are vulnerable to major changes in environmental conditions, but the response and severity depends on various biological or ecological factors, such as resilience to stress or adaptation. Researchers around the world have predicted and documented numerous alterations in fish communities caused by ongoing significant physicochemical shifts associated with natural and potentially unnatural sources, but published studies describing the historical conditions are lacking for most regions around the world, including the coastal waters off New Jersey. Given the need to understand these processes, a multifaceted investigation was undertaken to describe, evaluate, and compare the oceanic conditions and nearshore marine fauna community off New Jersey during 1988 through 2015. Findings showed the oceanic conditions varied over time and space. Mean surface water temperature increased significantly about 0.6 °C per decade, mean salinity decreased about 1.3 psu per decade, and dissolved oxygen increased 0.09 mg/l per decade. Over 20.4 million fish and invertebrates (1,338.3 mt) representing 214 (water temperature preference classified) species (not including unidentified species) were collected within 15 strata (areas: 12−26) off the coast of New Jersey from 1988 to 2015. Three marine fauna water temperature preference groups (coldwater-adapted, warmwater-adapted, and subtropic-adapted) were identified in the study area. The main coldwater-adapted species collected were longfin squid (Loligo pealei) (n = 2, 225, 975), Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) (n = 544, 032), and little skate (Leucoraja erinacea) (n = 316, 356), while Atlantic butterfish (Peprilus triacanthus) (n = 2, 873, 138), scup (Stenotomus chrysops) (n = 1, 318, 569), and northern searobin (Prionotus carolinus) (n = 503, 230) represented the warmwater-adapted group. Bay anchovy (Anchoa mitchilli) (n = 9, 227, 960), striped anchovy (Anchoa hepsetus) (n = 245, 214), and Atlantic moonfish (Vomer setapinnis) (n = 38, 691) denoted the subtropic-adapted group. Subtropic-adapted species were the most abundant and coldwater-adapted were the least abundant water temperature preference group. The estimated abundance of coldwater-adapted species declined, warmwater-adapted species slightly increased, and subtropic-adapted species decreased with time, which suggest the environmental conditions are influencing and thereby shifting the marine community.

CHARACTERIZATION OF ARTISANAL FISHING IN FISHWEIRS, THE NORTH COAST OF PARAIBA, BRAZIL

Estratégias tradicionais de pesca são utilizadas por comunidades de pescadores em todo o mundo, dentre elas os “currais”, que são armadilhas fixas construídas na zona costeira. O objetivo do presente estudo foi caracterizar e descrever as formas de manejo destes “currais” pelos pescadores do litoral da Paraíba. Foram utilizadas entrevistas livres, “rapport”,“Snow ball” e formulário semiestruturado nas visitas mensais aos cinco “currais” entre os meses de novembro 2012 até março de 2013. Foi quantificada a produção dos currais e identificada as espécies mais capturadas. Os dados mostraram que estas armadilhas são constituídas por compartimentos e passam por fases em terra e mar até serem totalmente ativadas. O total da produção de peixes foi de 303 kg. As espécies predominantes foram: Mugil curema and Mugil liza, Trichiurus lepturus, Caranx hippos, Selene vomer, Selene setapinnis, Diapterus auratus e Diapterus rhombeus. Conclui-se que este tipo de pesca é utilizado há décadas no litoral da Paraíba, demonstrando existir manejo e técnicas próprias com relações de trabalhos inerentes a este tipo de armadilha.

Influence of oceanographic conditions on abundance and distribution of post‐larval and juvenile carangid fishes in the northern Gulf of Mexico

AbstractRelationships between abundance of post‐larval and juvenile carangid (jacks) fishes and physical oceanographic conditions were examined in the northern Gulf of Mexico (GoM) in 2011 with high freshwater input from the Mississippi River. Generalized additive models (GAMs) were used to explore complex relationships between carangid abundance and physical oceanographic data of sea surface temperature (SST), sea surface height anomaly (SSHA) and salinity. The five most abundant carangid species collected were: Selene setapinnis (34%); Caranx crysos (30%); Caranx hippos (10%); Chloroscombrus chrysurus (9%) and Trachurus lathami (8%). Post‐larval carangids (median standard length [SL] = 10 mm) were less abundant during the spring and early summer, but more abundant during the late summer and fall, suggesting summer to fall spawning for most species. Juvenile carangid (median SL = 23 mm) abundance also increased between the mid‐summer and early fall. Most species showed increased abundance at lower salinities and higher temperatures, suggesting entrainment of post‐larval fishes or feeding aggregations of juveniles at frontal convergence zones between the expansive river plume and dynamic mesoscale eddy water masses. However, responses were species‐ and life‐stage specific, which may indicate fine‐scale habitat partitioning between species. Ordination methods also revealed higher carangid abundances at lower salinities for both post‐larval and juvenile life stages, with species‐ and life‐stage specific responses to SST and SSHA, further suggesting habitat separation between species. Results indicate strong links between physical oceanographic features and carangid distributions in the dynamic northern GoM.

Anisakidae and Raphidascarididae larvae parasitizing Selene setapinnis (Mitchill, 1815) in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Between February and August, 2012, thirty specimens of Atlantic moonfish, Selene setapinnis, were purchased in local markets in Niterói, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with the aim of analyzing the presence of anisakid nematodes, establishing their rates of parasitism and infection sites, due to importance in the sanitary inspection. A total of sixty nematode larvae, belonging to at least two species were found: nine larvae of Terranova sp., Anisakidae, with prevalence (P) of 13.3%, mean intensity (MI) of 2.25, mean abundance (MA) of 0.30 and range of infection intensity (RI) from 1 to 6; and 51 larvae of Hysterothylacium fortalezae, Raphidascarididae, with P = 26.7%, MI = 6.40, MA = 1.70, and RI = 1-17. The infection sites for Terranova sp. were the mesentery and liver serosa; and for H. fortalezae, the infection sites were the mesentery, abdominal cavity and liver serosa. New morphological data from scanning electron microscopy, on the external structures of H. fortalezae (mainly at the posterior end), are presented. This is the first report of H. fortalezae parasitizing S. setapinnis.

Atlantic moonfishes: independent pathways of karyotypic and morphological differentiation

Fish of the genus Selene, known as lookdowns or moonfish, are one of the most morphologically derived groups of the family Carangidae, whose phylogenetic relationships are still largely unknown. In this study, we discuss karyoevolutionary aspects of three representatives of this genus from the Western Atlantic: Selene brownii (2n = 48; FN = 48), Selene setapinnis (2n = 46; FN = 48), and Selene vomer (2n = 48; FN = 50). Their body patterns were also investigated and compared to one another and in relation to two other species of different genera. Two mechanisms of karyotypic evolution seem to have acted in the diversification of this genus, namely pericentric inversions and centric fusions. Mapping of rDNA sequences showed that chromosome pairs bearing 5S rDNA sites are similar, whereas those bearing 18 rDNA sites are morphologically distinct while apparently also exhibiting interspecies synteny. Although the nucleolar organizer-bearing chromosomes are extremely efficient cytotaxonomic markers among Selene species, others cytogenetic patterns of these species are relatively conserved. Hybridization with telomeric probes (TTAGGG)n did not exhibit interstitial telomeric sites (ITS), especially in S. setapinnis, where, along with a reduction in diploid number, a large metacentric pair derived from centric fusion is present. Data obtained by geometric morphometrics enable a clear morphological distinction among the three species, as well as in relation to two other species of the genus Caranx and Oligoplites. Data obtained suggest that morphologic evolution in Selene species was primarily dissociated from visible changes that occurred at the chromosomal level.

New records of warm-temperate water fishes in central Patagonian coastal waters (Southwestern South Atlantic Ocean)

In the Province of Chubut (43°S–47°S), from 2001 to 2005 an on-board observers program analyzed 18 903 fishing hauls captured at depths of 19–104 m. Sport fishing tournaments near Puerto Rawson, Chubut, were also monitored from 2004 to 2006. The aim was to document the southward expansion of five cartilaginous fish species and ten bony fish species caught in Central Patagonian waters (Argentina): Psammobatis extenta, Psammobatis bergi, Atlantoraja castelnaui, Sympterygia acuta, Torpedo puelcha, Selene setapinnis, Oncopterus darwini, Dules auriga, Mullus argentinae, Cynoscion guatucupa, Prionotus nudigula, Conger orbignyanus, Urophycis brasiliensis, Trachurus lathami, and Trichiurus lepturus. Reproductive populations of S. acuta, O. darwini and C. guatucupa were detected in the Engaño Bay area close to Puerto Rawson (43°10′S–43°19′S). The newly reported fishes pertain to warm-temperate waters, where most of the species are native to the Argentinean Zoogeographic Province. One likely hypothesis explaining their occurrence in the area is the prevalence of higher water temperatures in recent times in the San Jorge Gulf and adjacent waters. Another likely hypothesis is the increase in sampling and catch efforts in Patagonian coastal areas and also improved capabilities in taxonomic recognition of the species.

Occurrence and distribution of Carangidae larvae (Teleostei, Perciformes) from the Southwest Atlantic Ocean, Brazil (12-23°S)

The objective of this study was to identify larvae species composition, distribution and abundance of carangids along the Brazilian coastal shelf area in order to provide background information on the reproductive community patterns. All carangid larvae used in this study are from the larval fish collection of the Zooplankton and Ichthyoplankton Integrated Laboratory of Federal University of Rio de Janeiro – Brazil (DZUFRJ). Carangid larvae were collected in 13 surveys (nine in the dry season and four during the rainy season) between 1998 and 2008, from Bahia (12°S) to Rio de Janeiro (23°S), comprising 158 sampling stations (45 coastal; 98 oceanic; 15 over seamounts). A bongo net with 330 and 500-μm mesh size was towed at a speed of about two knots, obliquely (surface-bottom-surface) from a maximum depth of 200 m. Samples were collected both during the day and at night and combined in the analysis. A total of 1321 carangid larvae were identified representing 14 species: Decapterus punctatus (56.7%), Chloroscombrus chrysurus (16.8%), Caranx crysos (8.4%), Selar crumenophthalmus (6.3%), Trachurus lathami (6.3%), Caranx latus (2.4%), Carangoides bartholomaei (1.3%), Oligoplites spp. (0.6%), Pseudocaranx dentex (0.3%), Seriola dumerili (0.2%), Elagatis bipinnulata (0.2%), Selene setapinnis (0.2%), Trachinotus carolinus (0.2%) and Selene vomer (0.1%). There was no significant difference in carangid density (P = 0.17) or in species composition (P = 0.09) among the coastal, oceanic and seamount stations. Although there was a significant difference in larval densities between the dry and rainy periods (P = 0.000264), the community composition did not vary significantly (P = 0.47). Therefore, seasonality (rainy and dry periods) seems to be the main factor affecting carangid densities although the community composition is not influenced by sampling periods or by the gradient coast-ocean.

Distribution and abundance of carangidae (Teleostei, Perciformes) associated with oceanographic factors along the northeast brazilian exclusive economic zone

This work had as objective to study the distribution and abundance of the Carangidae larvae and to analyze the influence of the hydrological (temperature and salinity) and biological factors (phytoplanktonic biomass and zooplanktonic biomass), on the space and temporal distribution of the larvae. Ichthyoplankton was collected during four expeditions from the Northeast Exclusive Economic Zone. Six species (Trachurus lathami, Decapterus punctatus, Chloroscombrus chrysurus, Selene setapinnis, Selene vomer and Elagatis bipinnulata) and Caranx- Carangoides complex were identified. D. punctatus was the species most abundant (52% of the total), with higher abundance during the Period 3, while the Period 2 was the period of low abundance. C. chrysurus was the second species in abundance representing 30% of the total of carangid. This species had higher abundance during the Period 2 and the Period 1. However, in Period 3 abundance were lesser. The third species in abundance was T. lathami that corresponded 8% of the total of carangid larvae. S. setapinnis, S. vomer and E. bipinnulata were the species less abundant, representing together 2% of the total identified larvae. The larvae of Caranx- Carangoides complex represented 9% of the carangid total.

Atividade reprodutiva de peixes (Teleostei) e o defeso da pesca de arrasto no litoral norte de Santa Catarina, Brasil

Desembarques de arrasto visando à pesca do camarão sete-barbas, Xiphopenaeus kroyeri, foram acompanhados de 2005 a 2007 no município de São Francisco do Sul, Santa Catarina. Setenta e seis espécies de teleósteos foram registradas como captura incidental e seus indivíduos foram avaliados quanto ao estádio de maturação e Índice de Atividade Reprodutiva. Constatou-se que indivíduos de metade das espécies são capturados com gônadas maduras, em estações que variaram conforme a espécie. Em Isopisthus parvipinnis a atividade enquadrou-se na categoria "muito intensa" na primavera de 2005 e no verão de 2007; em Menticirrhus americanus, Stellifer sp., Pomadasys corvinaeformis, Stellifer brasiliensis, Syacium papillosum, Larimus breviceps, Diapterus rhombeus, Symphurus tessellatus, Chirocentrodon bleekerianus, Pellona harroweri, Anchoa tricolor e Selene setapinnis apenas em uma estação, dependendo da espécie. O verão de 2007, seguido da primavera de 2005, foram as estações em que o arrasto incidiu sobre maior número de espécies em atividade reprodutiva "intensa" ou "muito intensa". No verão de 2007 o arrasto camaroeiro incidiu sobre um conjunto de espécies em atividade reprodutiva maior que na mesma estação em 2006. Atribui-se esse fato à proibição legal do arrasto de camarão no trimestre de outubro-dezembro de 2006, favorecendo a atividade reprodutiva das espécies na estação subseqüente. Recomenda-se que a gestão da pesca camaroeira na região mantenha o defeso de arrasto na primavera, assim beneficiando não apenas as espécies de peixes que desovam nesta estação, mas também aquelas que se preparam para a desova no verão.

Artisanal fisheries production in the coastal zone of Itaipu, Niterói , RJ, Brazil

Artisanal fisheries in the coastal zone of Itaipu-RJ play an important role in the local market, but little is known about production and productivity of the fisheries. From April 2001 to March 2003, we monitored a total of 618 landings from the beach-seine (99), the gill nets ("corvineira" - 331, "linguadeira" - 40 and "rede alta" - 25), the hook and line (98), the squid jigging (17), and the spear fishing and trap fisheries (five and three, respectively). The total monitored production was 21866 kg and the catch per unit effort (CPUE) 35.4 kg.trip-1. Considering the number of effective fishing days and the average daily production per fishing gear, the annual production was estimated at 136687 kg (0.2% of the state's production in 2004). Predominant resources were: Micropogonias furnieri,Trichiurus lepturus, squids (Loligo spp.), clupeiform fishes (Sardinella brasiliensis, Cetengraulis edentulus, Pellona harrowerii and Harengula clupeola), Eucinostomus spp., Cynoscion spp., Menticirrhus spp., Caranx crysos and Selene setapinnis. The combined analysis using hierarchical and non-hierarchical classification methods, separated four fishing gears and five species groups, based on their similarity patterns, identifying gears that most effectively capture the different fish groups. The beach-seine was less selective and most productive fishery in the summer. The "corvineira" was the second most productive fishery with higher yields in the summer and fall. Catches of "linguadeira" included rays and Paralychthys spp., wherereas the "rede alta" caught primarily M. furnieri,Mugil spp. and sharks.

Community ecology of the metazoan parasites of Atlantic Moonfish, Selene setapinnis (Osteichthyes: Carangidae) from the coastal zone of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Eighty-nine specimens of Selene setapinnis (Mitchill, 1815) collected from the coastal zone of the State of Rio de Janeiro (21-23 degrees S, 41-45 degrees W and 23 degrees 05'S, 44 degrees 30'W), Brazil, from August 2001 to May 2002, were necropsied to study their metazoan parasites. Eighty-one (91%) specimens of S. setapinnis were parasitized by one or more metazoan species. Twenty-one species of parasites were collected: 8 digeneans, 3 monogeneans, 2 cestodes, 5 nematodes, and 3 copepods. The endoparasites (digeneans, cestodes, and nematodes) were 74.1% of total number of parasite specimens collected. The monogenean Pseudomazocraes selene (Hargis, 1957) was the most dominant species with the highest prevalence in the parasite community of S. setapinnis. The metazoan parasites of this host species showed the typical aggregated pattern of distribution. Only one parasite species (Acanthocolpoides pauloi Travassos, Freitas & Buhrnheim, 1955) showed positive correlation between the host total length and parasite abundance in S. setapinnis. Caligus robustus Bassett-Smith, 1898, P. selene, and Terranova sp. demonstrated positive correlation between the host total length and prevalence. Larvae of Terranova sp. showed influence of the host sex on its prevalence. A pair of ectoparasite species, P. selene-C. robustus, exhibited positive covariation between their abundances. Two pairs of endoparasite species, L. microstomum-P. merus and A. pauloi-P. merus showed significant covariation among their abundances; and the pair Terranova sp.-Raphidascaris sp. had positive co-ocorrence and covariation in the infracommunities of S. setapinnis. Like the parasite communities of the other carangid fishes from Rio de Janeiro, the parasite community of S. setapinnis is apparently only a slightly ordered species complex, characterized by dominance of endoparasite species.

Mudanças temporais na abundância e diversidade da fauna de peixes do infralitoral raso de uma praia, sul do Brasil

Abundance and diversity of the fish fauna in the shallow infralittoral region of Atami Beach, Parana, Brazil, were studied through monthly collections between July 1998 and June 1999. A total of 7553 fishes from 70 species and 26 families, mainly juvenile forms, was captured in the area. The mean captures in number of species, number of fish and biomass were larger from the end of spring to the middle of autumn; seasonal tendency in richness, diversity (number) and equitability indices were not observed. The largest mean dissimilarity in the composition of the ichthyofauna occurred between June and May in comparison to the period between July and October. The species that contributed most to this dissimilarity were Selene setapinnis (Mitchill, 1815), Conodon nobilis (Linnaeus, 1758) and Stellifer rastrifer (Jordan, 1889). Three great groups reflecting patterns of temporal occurrence of the most abundant species were identified.

Larval Distribution and Abundance of Carangidae (Pisces), from the Southern Gulf of Mexico, 1983-1984

The larval distribution and abundance of several taxa of the carangids from the southem Gulf of Mexico are analyzed, based on data from four oceanographic cruises conducted between 1983 and 1984. The material was collected with a bongo net fished to maximum depths of 200 m. The species collected were Chloroscombrus chrysurus (54.2%). Decapterus punctatus (15.8%), Truchurus Iathami (1 1.8%), Selene setapinnis (6.1%), Selur crumenophthalmus (6.0). Caranx hipposllatus (0.9%), Curunn crysos (0.7%) and Selene sp. (0.3%). The higher frequency of occumnce and greater abundance of larvae of all species was found over the continental shelf, and in some cases, in the oceanic zone near the slope. Almost all the species were present year-round with highest larval densities in the wann months, except for T. Iuthumi which occurred in greatest abundance during winter and early spring.