Rocky reef incursions: challenges faced by reef fishes in a Brazilian Hope Spot region

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin 2023-08, Vol.193, p.115240-115240, Article 115240
• Main Authors: Machado, Augusto A., Masi, Bruno P., Aguiar, Aline A., Ozorio, Maria E.C., Salles, Caio N., Hostim-Silva, Maurício, Bertoncini, Áthila A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biodiversity; biodiversity conservation; Brazil; Conservation of Natural Resources; Coral Reefs; Environmental impacts; fish; fish communities; Fishes; introduced species; marine debris; Marine litter; marine pollution; Marine Protected Area; marine protected areas; Non-native species; plastics; Reef fishes; t-test; Tubastraea
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115240

Biodiversity conservation has been a critical challenge faced by environmental managers worldwide. From 2020 to 2022, a total of 576 underwater visual censuses focused on reef fishes, marine litter (ML), and non-native species were performed in the newest Brazilian Hope Spot, to understand the distribution, characteristics, and effects of ML and Tubastraea spp., on the reef fish community. Plastic was the main category recorded (34.54 %), followed by Metal and Line (mostly fishing gear within a Marine Protected Area). Tubastraea spp. was widely distributed, especially between 10‐20 meters deep. The t-test analysis showed that fish abundance and richness were significantly higher at low Tubastraea cover areas. Our efforts present the baseline of ML (mean 1.92 ± 1.5 items/100 m2) and non-native species occurrence (15) and distribution (including three new records) showing their negative impacts on rocky reef ecosystems and provide managers support in the elaboration of marine conservation strategies. •Marine litter represents a threat to marine biodiversity.•Marine litter may act as an artificial substrate for invasive species spread.•Sun coral (Tubastraea spp.) may cause negative effects on the ecological descriptors of fish community.•Monitoring Programs are essential to detect potential threats, especially in no-take zones.