Southeastern Brazilian Coast Research Articles

Cumulative threats to juvenile green turtles in the coastal waters of southern and southeastern Brazil

Management of marine turtles at broad spatial scales is challenging due to the costs and the logistical feasibility of collecting ecological data and information on multiple threats at this scale. Spatially explicit assessments of the exposure of marine turtles to cumulative threats provides an alternative approach by identifying regions that are impacted by multiple threats at broad scales. To inform future management of juvenile green turtles, Chelonia mydas, off the southern and southeastern Brazilian coast we determined their cumulative exposure to five pertinent anthropogenic activities (marine traffic, port areas, and artisanal, trawl and gillnet fisheries). Information on the spatial distribution of juvenile green turtles was obtained by satellite tagging 14 wild-caught turtles in the Paranagua Estuarine Complex, off the Parana coast in southern Brazil and human activity information was obtained from various databases. This allowed us to identify the anthropogenic activities that provide the greatest risk to marine turtles (artisanal fisheries and marine traffic) and five “hotspot” threat areas that require prompt local management intervention to protect marine turtles in the region. These results can be used to inform on the ground efforts where further impact assessments and management interventions can be prioritized and undertaken.

Sexual maturity of the small shrimp Potimirim brasiliana Villalobos, 1959 (Crustacea, Atyidae), from the southeastern coast of Brazil

The shrimp Potimirim brasiliana plays an important role in streams along the Brazilian coast as it feeds on the organic debris from the surrounding ecosystem. We determined the morphological sexual maturity of P. brasiliana by means of relative growth. Monthly throughout a year, we used sieves (2 mm mesh diameter) to collect the specimens in a coastal stream. A total of 3,521 specimens had their carapace length (CL) measured, as well as their second pleura length (PL) and the length (AML) and width (AMW) of the appendix masculina. The studied relationships were the following: CL vs. PL; CL vs. AML and CL vs. AMW, with the data adjusted to a logistic equation. All the relationships tested among the demographic groups differed statistically. The CL50 of females measured 3.45 mm, while the CL50 of males measured 2.75 mm. Two adult morphological groups were set apart for each sex. The CL vs. AMW relationship is the best at demonstrating the separation of the morphological groups for males. This fact is an intriguint issue as it suggests the presence of morphotypes in males, probably, playing different roles in the reproductive process.

Growth, age at sexual maturity, longevity and natural mortality of Alpheus brasileiro (Caridea: Alpheidae) from the south-eastern coast of Brazil

Abstract We estimated the growth patterns, age at the onset of sexual maturity, longevity, and natural mortality of the snapping shrimp Alpheus brasileiro Anker, 2012. The sampling occurred monthly from April 2015 to March 2016 in the estuarine intertidal zone of Cananeia, Sao Paulo, Brazil. To estimate the growth parameters, all cohorts were adjusted to the Bertalanffy growth model. Longevity was estimated by the inverse growth equation. Natural mortality was calculated following the decrease in abundance over time of each cohort. We obtained the following estimates: CL∞ = 9.49 mm, k = 0.0077 day-1 (1.64 year-1), t0 = - 0.7628 for males, and CL∞ = 9.31 mm, k = 0.0095 day-1 (1.32 year-1), t0 = 0.0374 for females. The estimated age at the onset of morphological sexual maturity was 94 and 74 days for males and females, respectively. Females take 89 days to reach functional maturity, and have a higher mortality (4.35 year-1) than males (3.67 year-1). We rejected the hypothesis that males and females of A. brasileiro have the same growth patterns, longevity, mortality and, reaches sexual maturity at the same age. Our results suggest that physiological aspects and energy allocation strategies modulate the growth, longevity, and mortality of these snapping shrimps.

Economic evaluation of the impacts of water quality on fishery production in the Estuary Complex of Santos, São Vicente and Bertioga cities, in southeastern coast of Brazil

The present study proposes a diagnosis of water quality and fishery production in the Estuarine Complex of Santos, São Vicente, and Bertioga Cities as a requirement for economic valuation of water pollution impacts on fishing production. In the study period (2009–2014), three water quality parameters were identified (dissolved oxygen, total phosphorus, and nitrate), which occurred more frequently in non-conformity with Brazilian water standards, according to reports released by the Environmental Company of São Paulo State (Companhia Ambiental do Estado de São Paulo — CETESB). For data collection of fishery production, data from the monitoring of Institute of Fisheries of Santos City (Instituto de Pesca de Santos) were used, and 15 species were identified with higher occurrence in the study area. The relation between water quality parameters and fishery production was analyzed with mixed linear models, in which significant values for dissolved oxygen parameters, total phosphorus (positive relation), and nitrate (negative relation) were found. Environmental valuation considered only the direct use values (DUV) component of the valuation of fishery production variation in relation to water quality variation. For this purpose, the Marginal Productivity Method (MPM) of the dose-response function was used, which resulted in a range of monetary loss between US$ 24,760,550.22 and US$ 60,635,978.78. The obtained values represent only a portion of the valuation of economic and environmental loss in the fishing activity (part of DUV). Therefore, economic value calculated is conservative, and although it did not reached the total amount corresponding to all the impacts caused by poor water quality, given the limitations of methods and study period, the obtained values represent the minimum environmental monetary loss.

Evaluation of the stomach contents of Eriphia gonagra from a rocky shore in the southeastern Brazilian coast

ABSTRACT The rocky shores of Praia Grande, in Ubatuba (São Paulo, Brazil), are formed by rock and Sabellaridae polychaete sandy reefs. These microenvironments offer shelters and foraging areas for several marine organisms and attracts many tourists. The crab Eriphia gonagra (Fabricius, 1781) inhabits these structures and can be used as a bioindicator, since they may be affected by anthropogenic actions. This study evaluated the stomach contents and characterized the feeding habits of an E. gonagra population, inhabiting the rocky shores from Praia Grande, taking into account the sex, size, and microhabitat. Monthly samplings were performed in 1996 and 1997 and the crabs were manually captured on the rocky surface or into of the sand reefs. So, the specimens sampled were characterized according to their capture site (microhabitat) as rocky (RO) or sand reef (SR). The most abundant food items were Mollusca, algae, Polychaeta, and Crustacea, being observed the importance of these groups as a nutritive resource in the studied environment. Mollusks were more abundant in the stomachs of crabs sampled on the rocks, while the other items increased in the sand reefs crabs. In the specimens sampled in the SR, polychaetes were the item food more common, indicating that this biotope is also used as a rich source of protein. The proportion of items differed also between size classes. Knowledge of such habits is essential for nutritional requirements studies, monitoring relationships among organisms, as well as assessing future environmental impacts in consolidated coastal regions.

Gonadosomatic index and weight/length relationship in females of three penaeoidean shrimps impacted by fisheries on the southeastern Brazilian coast

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the gonadosomatic index (GSI) and the weight/length ratio in important shrimp populations (Xiphopenaeus kroyeri (Heller, 1862), Litopenaeus schmitti (Burkenroad, 1936), Rimapenaeus constrictus (Stimpson, 1874)) from the northern littoral of Sao Paulo State. The samples were collected between 2015 and 2016, with 212 females that were identified, classified according to their gonadal development stage, and measured (CL). The gonads were macroscopically classified into immature, spent and developed, and were then removed. Both body (BodW) and gonad (GonW) dry weights were obtained in order to calculate the gonadosomatic index. Weight/length relationship and weight gain rate were assessed. The weight gain presented negative allometry, indicating that the animals grow faster than they gain weight. The weight/length relationship showed a pattern of continuous reproduction, as previously determined for tropical species. From the GSI values, it was possible to separate the three predetermined gonadal stages, proving that macroscopic evaluation is reliable for evaluating the reproductive period of these shrimps. These results can be used as a guide for fishery stocks management and monitoring.

Health assessment of juvenile green turtles in southern São Paulo State, Brazil: a hematologic approach.

We assessed the health status and hematologic and blood chemistry values of 48 juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas) on the southeastern coast of Brazil (25°S 48°W). We investigated the impact of size and weight, nutritional condition, and presence of epibionts and fibropapilloma tumors. Nutritional status was good for 39 animals; these animals had higher serum albumin, cholesterol, and phosphorus concentrations than 9 animals with a fair nutritional score. Reference values for hematology and biochemistry were calculated for 39 individuals without fibropapillomas (FPs). Turtles with epibionts (n = 33) had lower hemoglobin (Hb) than turtles without epibionts (n = 15; t = -2.09, p = 0.04), and the area occupied by epibionts was positively correlated with the white blood cell count (r = 0.37, p = 0.03). FP turtles had significantly lower hematocrit (Hct), Hb, and red blood cell (RBC) counts than non-FP turtles; serum albumin and cholesterol were higher in non-FP than FP turtles. A negative correlation between curved carapace length (CCL) and Hct (r = -0.51, p = 0.0002) and RBC (r = -0.47, p = 0.0007), and between serum cholesterol, sodium, and uric acid and CCL (r = -0.53, p = 0.0001; r = -0.38, p = 0.007; r = -0.35, p = 0.014, respectively) were identified. The health of turtles appears to deteriorate as they get larger, which manifests in more FPs, decreased body condition, and systemic physiologic changes consistent with chronic disease including lower Hct, RBC counts, serum cholesterol, sodium, and uric acid.

Response of tropical and subtropical chthamalid barnacles to increasing substrate temperatures

Marine invertebrates inhabiting low-latitude shores are exposed to both extremely hot and highly variable conditions. Further changes in habitat temperature may pose a risk to these populations. In this study, we examined the early life stage response of foundation species from subtropical and tropical latitudes to changes in the thermal habitat. We manipulated the color of settling surfaces for barnacle species that occupy the same ecological niche, Chthamalus bisinuatus (southeastern coast of Brazil), and Chthamalus proteus (northwestern coast of Panama). Using an in situ experimental approach, we assessed: 1) the combined effects of temperature and other abiotic parameters, and 2) the significance of larval and early juvenile traits in determining post-settlement performance for the first three days of benthic life. We found that the biological outcomes differed for the two species, according to the local thermal regime experienced. C. bisinuatus juveniles responded positively to higher temperatures, through a positive interaction between larval energetic condition, post-metamorphic size and temperature on their initial growth. Conversely, C. proteus juveniles grew slower at higher temperatures, although a positive effect of size at settlement was found. Continuous air- and sea-surface temperature measurements revealed that the tropical chthamalids experienced temperatures ≈6 °C higher than their subtropical congeners, as well as harsher thermal conditions during aerial exposure. This suggests that manipulated temperatures likely exceeded the tolerance of the Caribbean population, already living on the edge of their thermal threshold. Our findings contribute to the understanding of the factors underpinning the critical post-settlement events that drive patterns of abundance and distribution of barnacles in low-latitude systems.

Biomagnificación de mercurio en la cadena trófica del Delfín Moteado del Atlántico (Stenella frontalis), usando el isótopo estable de nitrógeno como marcador ecológico

Se realizó una evaluación de las concentraciones del mercurio (Hg) y del isótopo estable de nitrógeno (δ15N) en la cadena trófica del Delfín Moteado del Atlántico (Stenella frontalis), incluyendo fitoplancton, zooplancton, peces planctívoros y sus principales presas (peces depredadores y una sola especie de cefalópodo), componentes de una cadena trófica tropical de la costa sureste de Brasil. Una de las presas del delfín, un pez depredador voraz, el pez sable (Trichiurus lepturus), presentó una concentración mediana del Hg 9,8 veces inferior que la del delfín. El valor de 15N es más bajo que al de su depredador. Los datos del isótopo han sugerido que ha habido diferencias significativas para el 15N a lo largo de la cadena trófica, en la que en el mayor depredador (delfín) se ha mostrado más pesado, seguido por el pez depredador y el pez bentófago, la corvina (Micropogonias furnieri). Se ha observado que el fitoplancton presentó el 15N más liviano, seguido por el zooplancton y el pez planctófago, el lebranche (Mugil liza). Este pez y el cefalópodo han mostrado la mediana más baja de Hg. Se han encontrado transferencias mayores que 1 en todos los vínculos de la cadena evaluada. Se ha obtenido una relación significativamente positiva entre la concentración del Hg (en logaritmo) y el nivel trófico (TL), incluyendo todas las especies investigadas, presentando una pendiente positiva (δ= 0,87). El factor de magnificación trófica (FMT= 7,44) indica que la concentración del Hg ha aumentado por TL, y también que toda la cadena trófica costera presentó un poder de biomagnificación de Hg dentro de un rango previamente reportado para ecosistemas costeros tropicales.

The nocturnal boundary layer transition from weakly to very stable. Part I: Observations

AbstractThe nocturnal boundary‐layer regime transition from weakly stable (strong wind) to very stable (weak wind) is analyzed using 10 levels of turbulence observations made at a 140 m micrometeorological mast near the southeastern Brazilian coast. The combination of synoptic and local flow favors the systematic occurrence of such a transition, typically 5 to 7 h after sunset. The regime transition is marked by decreases in temperature, wind speed, turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) and absolute heat flux. The decrease in temperature is often abrupt and the inflection point in the temperature series marks the regime transition. Absolute heat flux peaks before the transition during the weakly stable period, while temperature variance peaks near the transition. Composites from 36 cases when the cooling rate exceeded 2 °C/h are used to describe the vertical structure of the stable boundary layer (SBL) in both regimes. For these abrupt transitions, dimensionless variables that relate thermal and mechanical properties of the flow are compared as indicators of the SBL regime, and the gradient Richardson number is found to be better for that purpose. The absolute heat flux is shown to be proportional to the cube of the wind speed only in the strong wind limit of the very stable regime. Simulations of similar transitions using a second‐order model are described in Part II.

Population structure of the Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis) inferred through ecological markers

Population structure studies play an increasingly integral role in conservation and management of marine mammal species. Genetic markers are commonly used; however, ecological markers (i.e. chemical compounds) are a fairly recent and useful tool to investigate ecological management units. The objective of this study is to investigate the population structure of the Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis) within its distribution in the Atlantic Ocean using data from stable isotopes of δ13C and δ15N and persistent organic pollutants as ecological markers. Based on previous studies that addressed distribution, morphometric analyses and molecular and ecological markers, we hypothesize that there are several ecological management units within the Atlantic Ocean. Our results confirmed population differentiation previously detected using genetic markers. Additionally, dolphins from the south-eastern coast of Brazil do not show complete ecological segregation from the Caribbean ones, while molecular analyses suggested genetic differentiation between the two regions. In the light of these results, we propose that at least two ecological management units should be considered, east and west of the Atlantic Ocean; however, the presence of one or two management units along the Atlantic coast of Central and South America needs further investigation.

Understanding Canoe Making as a Process of Preserving Cultural Heritage

Canoes are deeply ingrained elements of the Caiçara culture, not only for their historical and current practical uses, but also for their socio-cultural outcomes. Caiçara people are the descendants of Europeans, Africans, and Indigenous peoples who inhabit parts of the Atlantic Forest in the southern and southeastern coast of Brazil. Despite this, canoe making has been declining in several Caiçara communities, while many ongoing initiatives have attempted to encourage the maintenance of this practice. This article explores some of the Caiçara-canoe relationships within the Juatinga Ecological Reserve, in southeastern Brazil. We discuss how canoes are an appropriate technology for some fishing techniques, and are thus not easily replaced by fiberglass or aluminum boats. We also explore some socio-cultural dimensions of canoe making in light of the relationships of Caiçara canoe makers and fishers with the forest and with other community members. This article contributes to a growing body of knowledge to protect elements of Caiçara identity, including initiatives to help maintain canoes, canoe making, and the people involved with them.

Subtropical Cyclone Anita's Potential to Tropical Transition Under Warmer Sea Surface Temperature Scenarios

AbstractOn 6 March 2010, Anita, the first subtropical cyclone observed over the South Atlantic Ocean, formed near the southeastern coast of Brazil, and during its life cycle, Anita almost acquired a tropical structure. The potential of Anita to undergo tropical transition in scenarios of increased sea surface temperature (SST) was investigated through a set of numerical sensitivity experiments. The results show that, if the SST had been 2°C warmer throughout Anita's life cycle, the system would have undergone tropical transition in its maturity stage; however, if the SST had increased only during Anita's quasi‐stationary period, the tropical transition completion would have occurred only with higher values of SST (6°C).

Removal of the MCSST MODIS SST Bias During Upwelling Events Along the Southeastern Coast of Brazil

Remotely sensed sea-surface temperature (SST) retrievals with a significant positive bias during the occurrence of upwelling phenomena along the southeastern coast of Brazil were reported in our companion paper. As a result, this paper proposes an automated bias correction algorithm to improve the MODIS long-wave multichannel SST (MCSST) retrievals during the abovementioned conditions in this region. In this paper, MODIS daytime SST data (SSTMODIS) and differences between brightness temperatures in MODIS channels 31 and 32 (BT31 − BT32) are analyzed simultaneously with hourly wind surface conditions, in situ SST at 0.3 and 10 m in depth (SSTbuoy03 and SSTbuoy10), and sensible and latent heat fluxes from the Cabo Frio buoy data (at 23° S, 42° W) during 2014. The obtained results show that some upwelling events present air temperature ( $T_{\mathrm {air}}$ ) greater than SSTbuoy03 and low-atmospheric water vapor content. A simultaneous occurrence of these factors during upwelling conditions may lead to a warm-skin layer effect and may cause BT31 to be greater than SSTbuoy03 and BT31 − BT32 to be small (−0.18 °C ± 0.22 °C), affecting the MCSST performance. The proposed bias correction algorithm uses a least-squares curve between SSTbuoy03 and SSTMODIS retrievals when BT31 − BT32 ≤ 0.5 °C (i.e., dry atmospheric conditions). The bias correction algorithm has significantly improved the SSTMODIS bias (RMSE) from 1.43 °C to −0.2 °C (1.60 °C to 0.58 °C) when applied to 22 cloud-free pixels of MODIS during January–March of 2015.

Calliostomatidae, Colloniidae, Margaritidae, and Solariellidae (Gastropoda: Trochoidea) collected by the Marion Dufresne (MD55) expedition in southeastern Brazil, with description of a new species of Calliostoma.

The deep-water mollusks collected during the Marion Dufresne (MD55) expedition to the southeastern Brazilian coast in 1987 have been studied in several recent works. The present paper lists and diagnoses 19 species belonging to the vetigastropod families Calliostomatidae, Colloniidae, Margaritidae, and Solariellidae. A new species, Calliostoma valkuri sp. nov., is described. It is mainly characterized by a very short teleoconch I, with limits marked by conspicuous varices and sculpture consisting of 3 spiral threads; sculpture of the teleoconch II consisting of spiral cords with thorn-like projections; and the presence of two strongly marked cords on the median portion of the whorls. Based on the MD55 samples and complementary specimens from other expeditions, the following species have their geographical and/or bathymetrical range extended: Bathymophila euspira, Calliostoma gemmosum, Calliostoma rude, Callogaza watsoni, Gaza compta, Falsimargarita terespira, Homalopoma boffii, Lamellitrochus cancapae comb. nov., Lamellitrochus pourtalesi, Margarites imperialis, and Solariella quinni.

Osteochondromatosis (multiple cartilaginous exostoses) in an immature killer whale Orcinus orca.

An immature killer whale Orcinus orca found dead on the southeastern Brazilian coast had multiple bone proliferations: on the skull, vertebrae, hemal arches, and ribs. The bony formations were characterized as multiple osteochondromas, as defined by osteochondromatosis. The diagnosis was based on macroscopic and radiographic observations. These benign osseocartilaginous tumors affect young individuals and grow until skeletal maturity is achieved. Case reports of this condition, besides humans, include other mammals, with most reports for pets and domestic mammals such as cattle, and a report in a fossil canid (Hesperocyon) from the Oligocene. The etiology, diagnosis, developmental characteristics, and occurrence of osteochondromas are distinct among different species. This report describes the first case of multiple osteochondromas in a wild cetacean.

Two generations of mafic dyke swarms in the Southeastern Brazilian coast: reactivation of structural lineaments during the gravitational collapse of the Araçuaí-Ribeira Orogen (500 Ma) and West Gondwana breakup (140 Ma)

Mafic dyke swarms emplaced in regional NW-SE trending structures crosscutting the Precambrian basement in the Southeastern Brazilian coast are commonly interpreted as associated to West Gondwana breakup. Recently, however, U-Pb dating suggested that at least some of those dykes were emplaced earlier, at ca. 500–490 Ma, during the gravitational collapse of the Araçuaí Orogen. In order to clarify this issue, we studied dykes from the southern Espírito Santo State. Our results indicate that dykes emplaced in the same regional lineaments can be separated into two distinct groups, according to petrographic, geochemical, isotopic and geochronological characteristics. Group 1 is tholeiitic, with 87Sr/86Sr(i) of 0.7041–0.7065, εNd(t) of −3.4 to −5.5 and TDM ages between 0.8 and 1.5 Ga. Zircon crystals from a dyke of this group yielded the first robust lower Cretaceous U-Pb age for mafic dykes of SE Brazil with a Concordia age of 141.9 ± 1.9 Ma and εHf(t) in a range of −5.5 to −7.9. Group 2 is alkaline, shows higher 87Sr/86Sr(i) of 0.7064–0.7088, evolved εNd(t) < −12 and older TDM ages of 1.7–1.9 Ga. The youngest zircon crystals from a dyke of this group yielded a Concordia age of 504.7 ± 6.9 Ma and εHf(t) of −18.9. Our results suggest that the regional NW-SE trending lineaments of the Brazilian coast were active in at least three episodes, serving as conduits for mafic magmatism of distinct sources and tectonic settings: First, in the Cambrian, during the Araçuaí-Ribeira Orogen collapse, when they served as conduits for both the post-tectonic G5 Supersuite (530–490 Ma; composed of granitic and mafic plutons) and the alkaline dykes of Group 2; second, during the lower Cretaceous breakup of West Gondwana, when they served as conduits for the tholeiitic dykes of Group 1, synchronous to syn-rift evolution of the Phanerozoic Brazilian coast basins; and third, during the Cenozoic, when they were reactivated as normal brittle faults.

Effects of macroalgal host identity and predation on an amphipod assemblage from a subtropical rocky shore

Seaweeds play a key role in the rocky-shore fauna by providing shelter and food for many invertebrate species, which in turn compose the diet of benthic and pelagic predators. This study investigated the effect of the macroalgal host species on an assemblage of associated amphipods, and tested if the host mediates the vulnerability of amphipods to predation. The association of amphipods with the macroalgal hosts Dichotomaria marginata, Padina gymnospora, and Sargassum filipendula was evaluated seasonally for 1 year on a subtropical rocky shore on the southeastern coast of Brazil. The density of amphipods did not vary with season or host. However, the composition of amphipod species was sensitive to the host macroalgal species and varied temporally. A field experiment showed no clear effect of predation on the amphipod assemblage. Also, predation did not explain the spatial or temporal variation of the amphipod assemblage. Our results indicate that the identity of the macroalgal host drove the composition of the associated amphipods, while predation may have a minor role. Therefore, the loss of habitat-forming organisms such as seaweeds is expected to have drastic consequences for the composition of associated fauna, and consequently on the flow of matter and energy in coastal ecosystems.

Testing the importance of predation refuge vs. food quality in determining the use of macroalgal hosts by a generalist marine mesograzer

Bottom-up (e.g. resource quality) and top-down (e.g. predation) factors have strong effects on the fitness and distribution of small herbivores. Herein, we investigated how food quality and refuge offered by macroalgal hosts influence the distribution of a mesograzer. We used the herbivorous amphipod Cymadusa filosa and seasonally evaluated its association with the macroalgal hosts Sargassum filipendula, Padina gymnospora, and Dichotomaria marginata on a subtropical rocky shore from the Brazilian southeastern coast. Feeding experiments were conducted to test the food value of hosts, while predation experiments in the field and laboratory were performed to investigate the refuge value of the macroalgae. Cymadusa occurred on Padina in a density greater than that observed on Dichotomaria and Sargassum, while Dichotomaria harbored more amphipods than Sargassum. Adults of Cymadusa showed a higher consumption of Padina and Sargassum in both choice and no-choice feeding experiments and juveniles had greater growth and reproductive potential when feeding on such macroalgae. In the predation experiment in the field, Padina was a better refuge for Cymadusa than Sargassum. However, no difference in refuge value among hosts was observed in the laboratory assays. The distribution of Cymadusa was explained by a balance between food and refuge values of hosts, with higher abundances being observed in the high-quality food alga that provides refuge against predators (e.g. Padina), while fewer individuals occurred in other high-quality food that was less suitable as refuge (e.g. Sargassum). Therefore, predation may be more of a determinant for distribution of that mesograzer than resource quality.

A comparative study of intense surface cyclones off the coasts of southeastern Brazil and Mozambique

An analysis of two groups of near‐surface intense cyclonic vortices, one off the southeastern Brazil coast and the other off the Mozambique coast, in the period 1979–2012 is undertaken for comparison of their characteristics with the help of the TRACK algorithm and the NCEP2 Reanalysis data sets. The aim is to understand the nature of intense cyclogeneses in those two subtropical coastal regions. Although the two groups form in almost the same latitude belt and under similar conditions and thus have some common features, they differ in several evolution and movement characteristics. The South American intense cyclones are more frequent. They move rapidly into southern South Atlantic while the African cyclones remain quasi‐stationary during the first 2 days of their life time. Thermal structures show that the Mozambique Channel region presents more conditional instability. The South American intense cyclones present more kinetic energy than their counterparts in the first 2 days. The precipitation around the South American cyclones decreases gradually. The Mozambique Channel cyclones gain kinetic energy after moving away from the Madagascar Island and preserve their baroclinity longer and therefore the mean precipitation rate around their centres remains constant. The sea surface temperature, the geographical features and the circulation characteristics of the two regions are responsible for the differences. Eventually, after 4 days of their formation, cyclones of both the groups join the Southern Hemispheric extratropical storm‐tracks.