Vinicius J. Giglio

Recreational Diver Behavior and Contacts with Benthic Organisms in the Abrolhos National Marine Park, Brazil

Abstract In the last two decades, coral reefs have become popular among recreational divers, especially inside marine protected areas. However, the impact caused by divers on benthic organisms may be contributing to the degradation of coral reefs. We analyzed the behavior of 142 scuba divers in the Abrolhos National Marine Park, Brazil. We tested the effect of diver profile, reef type, use of additional equipment, timing, and group size on diver behavior and their contacts with benthic organisms. Eighty-eight percent of divers contacted benthic organism at least once, with an average of eight touches and one damage per dive. No significant differences in contacts were verified among gender, group size, or experience level. Artificial reef received a higher rate of contact than pinnacle and fringe reefs. Specialist photographers and sidemount users had the highest rates, while non-users of additional equipment and mini camera users had the lowest contact rates. The majority of contacts were incidental and the highest rates occurred in the beginning of a dive. Our findings highlight the need of management actions, such as the provision of pre-dive briefing including ecological aspects of corals and beginning dives over sand bottoms or places with low coral abundance. Gathering data on diver behavior provides managers with information that can be used for tourism management.

Diet and reproduction of the goliath grouper, Epinephelus itajara (Actinopterygii: Perciformes: Serranidae), in eastern Brazil

1 Instituto Meros do Brasil, Brazil 2 Grupo de Pesquisa em Ictiofauna – GPIC, Museu de Historia Natural Capao da Imbuia, Curitiba, PR, Brazil 3 Programa de Pos-Graduacao em Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Parana, Curitiba, PR, Brazil 4 Programa de Pos-Graduacao em Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil 5 Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo – UFES-DCAB – CEUNES, Sao Mateus, ES, Brazil 6 Instituto de Biologia, Depto de Biologia Marinha, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil 7 Universidade Federal da Paraiba, Centro de Ciencias Aplicadas e Educacao, Campus IV – Litoral Norte, Rio Tinto, PB, Brazil 8 Nucleo de Pesquisas em Limnologia Ictiologia e Aquicultura, Universidade Estadual de Maringa, Maringa, PR, Brazil 9 Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, La Jolla, CA, USA (present address)

Habitat use and abundance of goliath grouper Epinephelus itajara in Brazil: a participative survey

O desenvolvimento de estrategias de pesquisa para especies ameacadas e frequentemente limitado pelo acesso a individuos suficientes para adquirir informacoes necessarias para elaborar medidas de conservacao adequadas. Dentre essas especies, o mero (Epinephelus itajara) e um peixe recifal de grande tamanho, classificado globalmente como criticamente ameacado. No Brasil, a pesca e proibida desde 2002. Investigou-se o uso de habitat e abundância de E. itajara no Brasil atraves de uma pesquisa participativa, que engajou mergulhadores voluntarios na coleta dos dados. Um total de 188 relatos foram registrados entre 2005 a 2011 em 13 estados brasileiros. Os resultados revelaram que o tipo de habitat influenciou a relacao entre o comprimento total e profundidade de ocorrencia de E. itajara. Observou-se uma diferenca significativa entre habitats: habitat artificial apresentou uma relacao nao linear e habitat natural uma relacao assintotica. Este estudo ressalta a importância do desenvolvimento de medidas de conservacao abordando habitats e locais especificos visando a recuperacao populacional. Estruturas artificiais (naufragios e recifes feitos pelo homem) sao habitats criticos que devem ser considerados como areas relevantes para as estrategias politicas conservacao de E. itajara. Sugere-se a criacao e implementacao de areas marinhas protegidas como uma estrategia fundamental para a conservacao de E. itajara, especialmente em habitats artificiais e locais de agregacao.

Using scars to photo-identify the goliath grouper, Epinephelus itajara

Herein, we describe the use of scars to photo-identify the goliath grouper, Epinephelus itajara . Three individuals were photo-identified and re-sighted several times at the same site along the Brazilian coast, including the longest report for site fidelity, with more than four years.

Assessing Fishing Experts' Knowledge to Improve Conservation Strategies for an Endangered Grouper in the Southwestern Atlantic

The Atlantic goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara) is a critically endangered reef fish that has suffered from overfishing. In Brazil, the species has been under a fishing ban since 2002; however, there are no evidences of population recovery. In this context, data to help improve management programs are sorely needed. We assessed fisheries landings and interviewed key informants to investigate fishing, habitat use, and occurrence of goliath grouper in Abrolhos Bank, eastern Brazil. In mangroves, longline was the main fishing gear used to catch the species. Informants reported higher abundances of goliath grouper in red mangroves (Rizophora mangle) within shallow and complex channels. In marine reefs, the species was caught mainly through spearfishing. Goliath grouper occurrence was associated with coral and rocky reefs and was described as an aggregation site of up to 20 individuals. Informants also reported a decline in goliath grouper abundance across all habitats, primarily due to overfishing. Aggregation and nursery sites were mapped and described as essential for goliath grouper conservation. In Brazil, a scarcely enforced fishing moratorium alone is insufficient to guarantee the recovery of goliath grouper populations. Besides increasing the moratorium enforcement, we suggest implementing no-take zones, which encompass both nursery habitats and seasonal aggregation sites described in this study.

Using an educational video-briefing to mitigate the ecological impacts of scuba diving

ABSTRACT Recreational scuba diving is rapidly increasing, and the negative impacts to marine reef biota are of conservation concern. Educational approaches have been tested to mitigate diver damage to benthic organisms, but logistical constraints impede their implementation in many locations. We investigated the behaviors of scuba divers in terms of their contacts with benthic organisms, and assessed how an educational video-briefing caused changes in diver behavior. The video provided environmental information to divers, and enhanced their use of low-impact diving techniques. Divers who received the video-briefing exhibited significantly lower rates of contact with and damage to the benthos, than did divers who did not receive a briefing. The level of diving experience did not correlate with the rate of benthic contact in either group of divers. Male divers and photographers both contacted the benthos significantly less, and female divers and photographers both caused significantly less damage when they viewed the video-briefing prior to diving. Our findings highlight the importance of easily implemented, standardized educational approaches such as the use of video-briefings to mitigate the impacts of scuba diving. This study adds to the framework of tested strategies available to support the sustainable use of marine areas by the diving tourism industry.

Scuba diving and sedentary fish watching: effects of photographer approach on seahorse behavior

ABSTRACT Scuba diving tourism represents a growing non-extractive use of the marine environment, being an important income source for coastal communities. However, the activity can cause impacts on benthic sessile organisms by abrading tissues or breaking physical structures. The effects of scuba diving on fishes are less studied and there is no consensus about the impacts caused. We investigated if scuba divers are causing behavioral disruptions on seahorses. Divers using and not using cameras were observed while watching seahorses. We recorded the minimum distance that divers approached, the duration of interaction and physical contacts with seahorses, and the behavioral response of seahorses. Divers using action cameras attached to an extension pole approached the seahorses more closely, causing significantly more behavioral disruptions (escape) and physical contact with them. These repeated behavioral disruptions may negatively impact seahorse habits, such as feeding, reproduction, and resting. To mitigate the potential impacts on seahorses, we recommend the establishment of a minimum approach distance of 36 centimeters, the use of a pre-dive briefing to reinforce low-impact diving techniques, and close supervision by dive leaders to ensure appropriated in-water diver behavior.

Reef fish associations with sea urchins in an Atlantic oceanic island

Many reef fish are known to be associated with particular microhabitats that provide food and refuge, such as branching corals, gorgonians, macroalgal beds and sea urchins. We investigate the association of reef fishes with the long-spined sea urchin Diadema antillarum in shallow reefs of Trindade Island, southeastern Brazil. A total of 1283 fish individuals from seven families and nine species were associated with 495 sea urchins. Sea urchins provide important shelter especially for juveniles of the Noronha wrasse, Thalassoma noronhanum. Larger fishes were found at higher densities associated to sea urchins with larger spines. At reefs lacking structurally complex organisms, such as branching corals, sea urchins can be an important refuge for juveniles or small-bodied reef fish species, influencing their distribution and acting as ecosystem engineers.