WOMEN IN AMAZONIAN ELASMOBRANCH RESEARCH: A TRIBUTE TO THE BRAZILIAN RESEARCHERS

ABSTRACTHistorically, women have been excluded from the scientifi c and academic world. It was only in the second half of the twentieth century that women had access to scientifi c education and started their professional careers, with low female participation in science and technology and a trail of gender discrimination and prejudice. Nowadays women continue to continue to struggle to overcome the barriers imposed by patriarchal society and culture, and several changes are still needed to introduce a gender perspective in science, and every step taken is a victory towards inclusion and recognition. Here is a list of women who have engaged in elasmobranch research in the Amazonian region and dedicated their careers to improving knowledge of sharks and batoids. We hope that with this special edition we will not only be able to honor these strong women who have paved our way, but also to inspire young scientists to do the same. ResumoHistoricamente, mulheres foram excluídas do mundo científi co e acadêmico. Foi apenas na segunda metade do século XX que elas tiveram acesso à educação científi ca e iniciaram suas carreiras profi ssionais, com baixa participação feminina na área de ciência e tecnologia e um enorme rastro de discriminação de gênero e preconceito. Atualmente as mulheres continuam lutando para vencer as barreiras impostas pela sociedade e cultura patriarcais, e inúmeras mudanças ainda são necessárias para se introduzir uma perspectiva de gênero na ciência e cada passo dado é uma vitória em direção à inclusão e reconhecimento. Aqui trazemos uma lista de mulheres que se engajaram na pesquisa de elasmobrânquios na região amazônica e dedicaram suas carreiras à pesquisa e conservação de tubarões e raias. Esperamos que a presente homenagem a estas mulheres fortes que pavimentaram nosso caminho possa inspirar jovens cientistas a fazerem o mesmo.Palavras-chave: Chondrichthyes; Amazônia; Gênero; Ciência

Assessment of the physiological vulnerability of the endemic and critically endangered Daggernose Shark: A comparative approach to other Carcharhiniformes

IntroductionThe current Isogomphodon oxyrhynchus (Daggernose Shark) population status Q7points to 99% losses in the last decade due to certain biological traits, site fidelity, and historical high representativeness as bycatch in artisanal fisheries. This species is listed as Critically Endangered (CR), both in the IUCN and the Brazilian Red Lists. Its vulnerability is so high that its recovery potential requires protection from ongoing fishing pressure.ObjectiveIn this context, this study aimed to evaluate the health status of Daggernose sharks and their ability to cope with allostatic overload in a comparative analysis with other Carcharhinid and Sphyrnid sharks.MethodsSharks incidentally caught by the artisanal fleet in the state of Maranhão, on the Brazilian Amazon Coast, were sampled for blood, and serum was used to assess biochemical markers.ResultsThe findings indicate significant differences in Daggernose Shark homeostatic capacity for ALP, ALT/GTP, creatinine, lactate, urea, total cholesterol, and triglycerides, pointing to lower health scores and recovery capacity when compared to other Carcharhiniformes inhabiting the same region.Discussion and conclusionsIt is possible that such vulnerability is a result of fisheries-induced evolution, leading to remaining populations with very low chances of fully recovering. Conservation planning is thus urgent, as current legislation based on fishing bans does very little for the species. International collaboration and longterm recovery measures are necessary, including the creation of MPAs specially designed for the species and captive maintenance aiming to monitor health status and carry out breeding attempts

USO DE MÍDIAS DIGITAIS APLICADO À ESTUDOS DE CONSERVAÇÃO DO MERO Epinephelus itajara NO LITORAL AMAZÔNICO BRASILEIRO = USE OF DIGITAL MEDIA APPLIED TO CONSERVATION STUDIES OF THE ATLANTIC GOLIATH GROUPER Epinephelus itajara (LICHTENSTEIN, 1822) IN THE BRAZILIAN AMAZON COAST

O mero Epinephelus itajara é uma espécie ameaçada atualmente classificada como Vulnerável (VU) de acordo com a Lista Vermelha da União Internacional para a Conservação da Natureza (IUCN) e Criticamente em Perigo (CR) na Lista Vermelha Brasileira do Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade (ICMBio). Uma pesquisa utilizando as mídias digitais como base para a obtenção de dados sobre essa espécie mostrou que existe uma pesca contínua desse animal no litoral do Estado do Maranhão, mesmo protegido pela legislação nacional. Além disso, as mídias digitais têm um grande potencial para serem utilizadas como uma ferramenta de inspeção ambiental e uma importante estratégia para identificar áreas de captura e locais de desembarque de espécies ameaçadas, como o Epinephelus itajara.ABSTRACTThe Atlantic goliath grouper Epinephelus itajara is one of the largest species in the Serranidae family. E. itajara is an endangered species currently categorized as Vulnerable (VU) according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List (IUCN) and Critically Endangered (CR) on the Brazilian Red List of the Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade (ICMBio). A survey using digital media as a basis for obtaining data on this species showed that there is a continuous fishing of this animal across the coast of the Maranhão State, even protected by national legislation. In addition, digital media have great potential to be used as an environmental inspection tool and an important strategy for identifying capture areas and landing places of threatened species such as Epinephelus itajara.

USO DE MÍDIAS DIGITAIS APLICADO À ESTUDOS DE CONSERVAÇÃO DO MERO Epinephelus itajara NO LITORAL AMAZÔNICO BRASILEIRO = USE OF DIGITAL MEDIA APPLIED TO CONSERVATION STUDIES OF THE ATLANTIC GOLIATH GROUPER Epinephelus itajara (LICHTENSTEIN, 1822) IN THE BRAZILIAN AMAZON COAST

O mero Epinephelus itajara é uma espécie ameaçada atualmente classificada como Vulnerável (VU) de acordo com a Lista Vermelha da União Internacional para a Conservação da Natureza (IUCN) e Criticamente em Perigo (CR) na Lista Vermelha Brasileira do Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade (ICMBio). Uma pesquisa utilizando as mídias digitais como base para a obtenção de dados sobre essa espécie mostrou que existe uma pesca contínua desse animal no litoral do Estado do Maranhão, mesmo protegido pela legislação nacional. Além disso, as mídias digitais têm um grande potencial para serem utilizadas como uma ferramenta de inspeção ambiental e uma importante estratégia para identificar áreas de captura e locais de desembarque de espécies ameaçadas, como o Epinephelus itajara.ABSTRACTThe Atlantic goliath grouper Epinephelus itajara is one of the largest species in the Serranidae family. E. itajara is an endangered species currently categorized as Vulnerable (VU) according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List (IUCN) and Critically Endangered (CR) on the Brazilian Red List of the Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade (ICMBio). A survey using digital media as a basis for obtaining data on this species showed that there is a continuous fishing of this animal across the coast of the Maranhão State, even protected by national legislation. In addition, digital media have great potential to be used as an environmental inspection tool and an important strategy for identifying capture areas and landing places of threatened species such as Epinephelus itajara.

Molecular identification of ray species traded along the Brazilian Amazon coast

Overfishing can lead to stock collapses of both target and bycatch species. In some cases, unregulated fishing activities can even drive species towards extinction. Batoids comprise a significant portion of the bycatch of fisheries targeting teleost fishes. In Brazil, the Amazon coast is the second largest landing area in the country for these organisms. The present study aimed to identify batoid species captured and traded along the Brazilian Amazon coast, as well as to analyze the batoids species most commercialized in the region by using the cytochrome oxidase c subunit 1 (COI) mitochondrial gene. In total, 118 samples were collected and nine species identified. Dasyatidae was the most abundant family (two genera, three species, and 52 individuals), followed by Aetobatidae (one genus and one species), Rhinopteridae (one genus, two species), and Narcinidae (one genus, one species), each with 14 individuals. Finally, Gymnuridae and Pristidae were represented by one genus, one species and 12 individuals each. Threatened species, such as Pristis pristis and Rhinoptera brasiliensis, were found to be commonly traded in the fish markets. Results also pointed the presence of a third and undescribed Narcine species. Finally, genetic differences between populations of the same species were found for Hypanus guttatus, Aetobatus narinari, and Rhinoptera bonasus - indicating possible geographic and/or reproductive separations. Therefore, we reinforce the need of forensics research to incorporate DNA-based evidence. This information could support improvements on management and law enforcement of batoid fisheries and trade in Brazil