Ecologia trófica do gênero Haemulon (Cuvier, 1829) (Actinopterygii: Haemulidae) no Atlântico Tropical Sul

Abstract

Trophic ecology studies are important to understand ecosystems ecological interactions and their conservation in face of overexploitation caused by anthropic effects. The use of stomach contents in trophic ecology provides information about the individual's current diet, due stable isotopes has the ability to indicate eating habits in the medium term through isotopic assimilation in tissues. The Haemulon genus, of Haemulidae family, is one of the most abundant in the South Atlantic and Northeast of Brazil and, despite socioeconomic and ecological relevance, they are still little known in the region, mainly in relation to its trophic ecology. This study aims to describe H. aurolineatum, H. plumierii and H. squamipinna trophic ecology using stomach contents and stable isotopes as methods. Collects were carried out in August / September 2015 and April / May 2017 within the ABRAÇOS Project (Acoustic along the BRAzilian COaSt), in Northeast Brazil (04 ° to 09 ° S), making a total of 37 stations. For stomach contents, stomach repletion index and diet description were evaluated using %FO, %P and %N. Niche amplitude (Levins index) and niche overlap (Pianka index) between species were also evaluated. Carbon (δ13C) and Nitrogen (δ 15N) isotopes concentrations with scaled isotopic niche and trophic level were obtained. Stomach repletion index and stable isotopes were evaluated considering ontogeny, habitat, distance from the coast, capture period and latitudes. Mainly, H. aurolineatum and H. plumierii diet is composed by crustaceans and teleoste-ans. Food activity is higher at night, at latitudes below 08 ° S and within the first 20 km close to the coast. Regarding the niche range, H. aurolineatum (42%) is more specialized than H. plumierii (56%), who tends to generalism. H. aurolineatum and H. plumierii diets are similar, with a niche overlap of 77%. The canonical correlation showed a high correlation only for H. squamipinna where depth, latitude and ontogeny showed strong correlations with δ¹³C. This work presented relevant new data on the trophic ecology of species of the genus Haemulon, which has an environmental and socio-economic relevance, considering the ecosystem approach. The combined techniques use was also favorable, providing greater precision and reliability in the results.