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

Deep-Water Sharks, Rays, and Chimaeras of Brazil

The deep-water fishery in Brazil is currently in expansion due to depletion of most neritic economic species. This increasing deep-water effort brings concern on the bycatch impact, its specific composition, the need for capture’s evaluation and development of bycatch reduction devices. The impact is particularly aggressive on deep-water elasmobranchs, which have an extreme ecological k-strategy due to their reproductive constraints (lower fecundity and late first maturity age). Scientific deep-water surveys and intensive research programs (REVIZEE) along the past decade indicate that Brazilian elasmobranch diversity is higher than previously imagined. However, the deep-water fishery threatens this poorly known community of sharks and rays on the Brazilian continental slope as they become bycatch of a fast-growing and uncontrolled fishery. The recent study case of the monkfish (Lophius gastrophysus) fishery dynamics, well presented and discussed by the Brazilian scientific community, provided evidence of the need of bycatch-specific monitoring programs and fast-response fishery regulations. The present work discusses the Brazilian deep-water elasmobranch bycatch problem under the light of its biological diversity and completely unknown population status. Suggestions and management considerations are presented in order to coordinate and manage the establishment and growth of this deep-water fishery in Brazil

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

Biologia reprodutiva da raia dasyatis guttata (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) (Myliobatiformes: Dasyatidae) no litoral do Pará

Camara beach is located in an Amazonian estuary in Pará State, northern Brazil, where fishing is a traditional activity and there is capture of several species of rays. The longnose stingray, Dasyatis guttata, is the most common in the catches, and as regional information on its biology is scarce, this study aimed to investigate aspects of reproductive biology of D. guttata and to determine its reproductive cycle in this area. Monthly samplings were performed from April 2011 to March 2012, through monitoring of artisanal fisheries with longline and trapping fence barriers ( currais ). A total of 81 specimens of D. guttata were collected, and the class with the largest number of individuals sampled was 100-200 mm disc width (DW), comprised of neonates and young. The presence of neonates observed throughout the year indicates Camara beach as a primary nursery area for this species. The presence of males is restricted to few months of the year and indicates a tendency to sexual segregation. The monthly variation in the abundance of individuals of D. guttata followed the variation of temperature and salinity number of specimens, suggesting seasonal migration. The disc width class in which 50% of females mature was estimated as 600-650 mm LD, and as 401-500 mm LD, for males. The largest male presented 635 mm DW and the largest female, 1130 mm DW. Dasyatis guttata females have only the left side of the reproductive system functional and the vitellogenesis occurs concomitantly with pregnancy. The average fertility is two uterine embryos and the estimated size at birth is 130 mm DW. The results suggest that individuals reproduce all year, with two reproduction peaks and a gestation of four months. These data should be considered in management plans and conservation of D. guttata.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPESA praia de Camará localiza-se em uma região estuarina amazônica, no estado do Pará, norte do Brasil, onde a pesca artesanal é uma atividade tradicional e captura várias espécies de raias. A raia bicuda, Dasyatis guttata, é a mais comum nas capturas, e, como as informações regionais sobre sua biologia são escassas, o presente estudo teve como objetivos investigar aspectos da biologia reprodutiva de espécie e determinar seu ciclo reprodutivo nesta área. Amostragens mensais foram efetuadas durante o período de abril de 2011 a março de 2012, por meio do acompanhamento da pesca artesanal de curral e espinhel. Um total de 81 exemplares de D. guttata foi coletado, e a classe com maior número de indivíduos amostrados foi de 100 200 mm de largura de disco (LD), composta por neonatos e jovens. A presença de neonatos ao longo do ano aponta Camará como uma região de berçário primário para esta espécie. A presença de machos observada em poucos meses do ano possivelmente indica uma tendência à segregação sexual. A variação mensal da abundância de indivíduos de D. guttata acompanhou as variações de temperatura e salinidade, o que sugere a ocorrência de migração sazonal. A classe de tamanho em que se estimou 50% de fêmeas maturas é a de 600 650 mm LD, e a de 401 500 mm LD, para os machos. O maior macho apresentou 635 mm LD e a maior fêmea, 1.130 mm LD. As fêmeas de D. guttata possuem somente o lado esquerdo do sistema reprodutivo funcional e apresentam vitelogênese concomitante à gestação. A fecundidade uterina uterina é de dois embriões e o tamanho estimado dos indivíduos ao nascer é de 130 mm LD. Os resultados sugerem que os indivíduos reproduzem-se ao longo do ano inteiro, com dois picos de reprodução e gestação de quatro meses. Esses dados devem ser considerados nos planos de manejo e conservação da espécie D. guttata

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