Heteromysis cocoensis n. sp. (Crustacea: Mysida: Mysidae) from coastal waters of Isla del Coco, Costa Rica

A survey of the invertebrate fauna of coral reef hard bottom communities in the shallow waters of Isla del Coco yielded a new species of mysid belonging to the genus Heteromysis S. I. Smith, 1873. Heteromysis (Olivemysis) cocoensis, n. sp. was collected from coral rubble at depths of 8 to 34 m. It differs from its congeners by having male pleopods 1, 3, and 4 with modified setae. Within the subgenus Olivemysis Băcescu, 1968, the new species is morphologically most similar to Heteromysis. ekamako Wittmann and Chevaldonne, 2017 from the Pacific, Heteromysis. gomezi Băcescu, 1970, H. mayana Brattegard, 1970, and H. rubrocinta, Băcescu, 1968 from the Western Atlantic, and Heteromysis. dardani Wittmann, 2008, Heteromysis. wirtzi Wittmann, 2008, and Heteromysis. sabelliphila Wittmann and Wirtz, 2017 from the Eastern Atlantic. However, H. cocoensis n. sp. is distinguished from these six apparently closely related species by the following combination of characters: flagellate, modified setae on articles 1 and 3 of the antennular peduncle, and setation of thoracic endopod 3, male pleopods 1, 3 and 4, uropodal endopods, and the apical and lateral margins of the telson. A diagnostic table separating these eight species is given.Universidad de Costa Rica/[]/UCR/Costa RicaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Ciencias Básicas::Facultad de Ciencias::Escuela de Biologí

Abundance and Distribution Patterns of Thunnus albacares in Isla del Coco National Park through Predictive Habitat Suitability Models

Information on the distribution and habitat preferences of ecologically and commercially important species is essential for their management and protection. This is especially important as climate change, pollution, and overfishing change the structure and functioning of pelagic ecosystems. In this study, we used Bayesian hierarchical spatial-temporal models to map the Essential Fish Habitats of the Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) in the waters around Isla del Coco National Park, Pacific Costa Rica, based on independent underwater observations from 1993 to 2013. We assessed if observed changes in the distribution and abundance of this species are related with habitat characteristics, fishing intensity or more extreme climatic events, including the El Niño Southern Oscillation, and changes on the average sea surface temperature. Yellowfin tuna showed a decreasing abundance trend in the sampled period, whereas higher abundances were found in shallow and warmer waters, with high concentration of chlorophyll-a, and in surrounding seamounts. In addition, El Niño Southern Oscillation events did not seem to affect Yellowfin tuna distribution and abundance. Understanding the habitat preferences of this species, using approaches as the one developed here, may help design integrated programs for more efficient management of vulnerable species.Marine Stewardship Council/[]/MSC/LondresUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Básicas::Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología (CIMAR

Distribution of whale shark ( Rhincodon typus

In the south-eastern Pacific Ocean, few studies of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) exist. In Peru, the northern coast has been identified as the area with the highest presence of whale sharks, yet their ecology in this area is poorly defined. This study predicts the spatial distribution of whale sharks off coastal northern Peru (03°00′S–04°30′S) during La Niña and El Niño seasonal conditions, utilizing maximum entropy modelling. Between 2009 and 2018 (except for 2011), 347 whale sharks were geo-referenced in northern Peru with greatest data recordings in the austral summer and spring during La Niña events. Depth was the most important predictive variable for spatial distribution of whale sharks, followed by chlorophyll-a. Sharks were predicted in shallower coastal waters in which chlorophyll-a values are higher. Habitat suitability was higher in the northern coastal part of the study area. Spring presents the most suitable environmental conditions for whale sharks, both during La Niña and El Niño conditions. The probability of whale shark presence in the north of Peru increases at higher chlorophyll-a and sea surface temperature values. Therefore, whale sharks appear to aggregate seasonally in northern Peru, potentially exploiting rich foraging grounds. In these areas of high suitability, whale sharks are susceptible to fisheries, bycatch, ship collisions, unmanaged tourism, and pollution; thus, management actions should focus in these areas. This study represents a first step to understand the distribution and habitat suitability of whale shark in Peruvian waters. Further studies should identify suitable habitat for whale sharks in offshore areas. Also, these should focus on the connectivity of these aggregations with other localities in the south-eastern Pacific in order to contribute to regional strategies for the conservation of this iconic species in this particular region