Papers by Sergio R . Floeter
Global Biogeography of Reef Fishes: A Hierarchical Quantitative Delineation of Regions
PLoS ONE, 2013
Environmental Biology of Fishes, 2017
In marine ecosystems, cleaning is a mutualistic relationship in which so-called cleaners remove e... more In marine ecosystems, cleaning is a mutualistic relationship in which so-called cleaners remove ectoparasites, diseased tissue, or mucus from the body of their clients, and thus help to maintain a healthy reef community. In spite of its importance in many marine habitats, this interaction remains poorly understood, particularly at oceanic islands. Here, we present the first comprehensive study of cleaning interactions in a reef fish assemblage at Rocas, the only atoll in the South Atlantic. We recorded 318 cleaning events, in which six fish species, including two endemic ones, and two shrimp species acted as cleaners. The clients serviced by these cleaners were 21 bony fish species, one shark
Neotropical Ichthyology, 2010
The reproductive strategies of surgeonfishes of the genus Acanthurus are well known for all Atlan... more The reproductive strategies of surgeonfishes of the genus Acanthurus are well known for all Atlantic species except the Monrovia doctorfish, Acanthurus monroviae, an eastern Atlantic surgeonfish whose biology remains largely unknown. We provide here the first account on the spawning behavior of A. monroviae, an exotic fish on rocky reefs of southeastern Brazilian coast.
Journal of Fish Biology, 2004
The presence of 'vagrants' of the eastern Atlantic surgeonfish Acanthurus monroviae is confirmed ... more The presence of 'vagrants' of the eastern Atlantic surgeonfish Acanthurus monroviae is confirmed for the south-eastern coast of Brazil. Three other species, Aulostomus strigosus (Aulostomidae), Parablennius pilicornis (Blenniidae) and Epinephelus marginatus (Serranidae) have apparently also crossed the Atlantic from east to west, whereas the great majority of 'amphi-Atlantic' species appears to have their origin in the western Atlantic.
Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 1998
Herbivory by the Dusky Damselfish Stegastes fuscus (Cuvier, 1830) in a tropical rocky shore: effe... more Herbivory by the Dusky Damselfish Stegastes fuscus (Cuvier, 1830) in a tropical rocky shore: effects on the benthic community a ,b , b
Coral Reefs, 2004
Overfishing is a well recognized anthropogenic impact in the oceans worldwide. One century of hum... more Overfishing is a well recognized anthropogenic impact in the oceans worldwide. One century of human fishing had cause tremendous shifts in marine communities and ecological processes . Environmental consequences from intense fishing are very dependent on intensity, species target and the system. Long term experimental studies have been showing that fishing effects in complex trophic webs as found in coral reefs, could dramatically alter the system framework, causing shifts of coral to algae dominance . Much of this change have been associated to eutrophication, but overfishing for herbivorous fishes has great guilt on that process. The succession escalate of fishing pressure in tropical coral reefs is typically reported. As top predators start to shrink, other trophic levels start to be used as protein source. Parrotfishes appear in the sequential overfishing process, reaching large sizes and living in huge schools, they consist a profitable resource to be explored. These fishes are known to be engaged in important reef bottom up processes as energy flux, reef erosion and sedimentation transport. However, the real consequences extension of their lack on reef systems is still begin to be detected, as the potential for replacement of their ecological function by other functional groups is limited (Bellwood et al. 2003). In the huge Brazilian coast (ca: 8,000 Km) there is register of 3 species of Scarus, 5 of Sparisoma, 1 Cryptotomus and 1 Nicholsina. At least 6 species of Brazilian parrotfishes are confirmed to be endemic , with 2 other deserving molecular approach confirmation. The documented largest Brazilian parrotfishes are the Scarus aff. guacamaia (< 60 cm) and the green beak Scarus trispinosus (< 50 cm), followed by Sparisoma amplum and S. axillare (both with max. 45 cm). Although those large fishes have been detected along several sites along the coast in extensive recent surveys, S. guacamaia registers in Brazil are restricted to museum specimens and one jaw obtained from a spearfishman in the southeastern coast in the 80s ( Fig. ). Based on museum specimens and old underwater descriptions (Isyward 1954), this species was distributed in the Brazilian coast, from north to the southeastern. No other register along the coast was detected since the date reported to the jaw in figure . As all large Brazilian parrotfishes are endemic, the S. aff. guacamaia occurred at local reefs was probably a different species from its Caribbean sister S. guacamaia ( Fig. ). Spearfishing is the only rationale explanation to the extirpation of this fish from Brazilian reefs. As reported for fished and unfished reef comparisons, little species thrive well even on high fishing pressure , while large parrotfishes decline in abundance and size ( Ferreira & Gonçalves, 1999). Some register of S. aff. guacamaia juveniles inhabiting mangroves as Caribbean counterparts do, suggest that habitat degradation would also had contributed to extirpation, however, large individuals inhabiting shallow or deep reefs ( > 30 m) are essentially spearfishing targets. Although some examples from nature suggest that by targeting large individuals fishing could exert evolutionary pressure for fish to be smaller and grow slower and hence maintain reproductive populations, we don't know what intrinsic population parameters make these large species to be comparatively more susceptible to extinction, or else, high selectivity pressure upon them. The reported characteristics associated to extinction susceptibility as restricted geographic distribution, restricted habitat and limited dispersal abilities ( Roberts and Hawkins 1999), are not promptly applicable to other large Brazilian parrotfishes and so, at first instance would not be considered for S. aff. guacamaia. Additional life cycle traits like sex change and large
Zootaxa, 2009
A population of Pronotogrammus martinicensis (Guichenot, 1868) is described and recognized as a u... more A population of Pronotogrammus martinicensis (Guichenot, 1868) is described and recognized as a unique shallowwater variation of the species from the Brazilian South-Eastern coast, based on genetic, morphologic and ecological data. It is distinguished from the deep water population by its smaller eye, longer snout, shorter pectoral-fin, color of the adults, and habitat depth.
Journal of Fish Biology
Saint Peter and Saint Paul's Archipelago (SPSPA), one of the smallest and most isolated island gr... more Saint Peter and Saint Paul's Archipelago (SPSPA), one of the smallest and most isolated island groups in the world, is situated on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, between Brazil and the African continent. SPSPA has low species richness and high endemism; nonetheless, the diversity of fishes from deep habitats (>30 m depth) had not been previously studied in detail. Several expeditions conducted between 2009 and 2018 explored the shallow and deep reefs of SPSPA using scuba, closed-circuit rebreathers, manned submersibles, baited remote underwater stereo-videos (stereo-BRUV) and fishing between 0 and 1050 m depth. These expeditions yielded 41 new records of fishes for SPSPA: 9 in open waters, 9 in shallow waters (0-30 m), 8 in mesophotic ecosystems (30-150 m) and 15 in deeper reefs (>150 m). Combined with literature records of adult pelagic, shallow and deep-reef species, as well as larvae, the database of the fish biodiversity for SPSPA currently comprises 225 species (169 recorded as adult fishes and 79 as larvae, with 23 species found in both stages). Most of them (112) are pelagic, 86 are reef-associated species and 27 are deep-water specialists. Species accumulation curves show that the number of fish species has not yet * These authors contributed equally to this study.
Revista de Biología Tropical
The genus Pseudoboletia was recently reported off coast of Brazil (Trindade-Martin Vaz insular co... more The genus Pseudoboletia was recently reported off coast of Brazil (Trindade-Martin Vaz insular complex). This study reports the first record of this genus to southern of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro and Santa Catarina coasts. Morphological and molecular data showed that sea urchins from Brazil and São Tomé are the same species, genetically distinct of individuals from Indo-Pacific. However, taxonomic identity of Brazilian species remains as a challenge. Two hypotheses to explain the recent records of this species on Brazilian coast are discussed: a recent natural invasion by long-distance dispersal and a recent population expansion in the Brazilian coast after absence or low density period. Rev. Biol. Trop. 65(Suppl. 1): S299-S308. Epub 2017 November 01.
Marine Biodiversity
Two Brazilian endemic parrotfishes of the genus Scarus are recorded for the first time in oceanic... more Two Brazilian endemic parrotfishes of the genus Scarus are recorded for the first time in oceanic reef environments of the Southwestern Atlantic. A few juveniles, and initial and terminal adults of Scarus trispinosus were observed at Rocas Atoll and one adult was recorded at Fernando de Noronha Archipelago. Conversely, an established population of Scarus zelindae was found in the middle of the Vitória-Trindade Chain, at the Davis seamount. Since dispersal potential is not a limitation for the pantropical distribution of the genus Scarus, historical and contemporary ecologic features are possibly the main processes driving these unique records in the Southwestern Atlantic. Here, we highlight the potential ecological reasons of such intriguing biogeographic pattern.
Diversity patterns are determined by biogeographic, energetic, and anthropogenic factors, yet few... more Diversity patterns are determined by biogeographic, energetic, and anthropogenic factors, yet few studies have combined them into a large-scale framework in order to decouple and compare their relative effects on fish faunas. Using an empirical dataset derived from 1527 underwater visual censuses (UVC) at 18 oceanic islands (five different marine provinces), we determined the relative influence of such factors on reef fish species richness, functional dispersion, density and biomass estimated from each UVC unit. Species richness presented low variation but was high at large island sites. High functional dispersion, density, and biomass were found at islands with large local species pool and distance from nearest reef. Primary productivity positively affected fish richness, density and biomass confirming that more productive areas support larger populations, and higher biomass and richness on oceanic islands. Islands densely populated by humans had lower fish species richness and biomass reflecting anthropogenic effects. Species richness, functional dispersion, and biomass were positively related to distance from the mainland. Overall, species richness and fish density were mainly influenced by biogeographical and energetic factors, whereas functional dispersion and biomass were strongly influenced by anthropogenic factors. Our results extend previous hypotheses for different assemblage metrics estimated from empirical data and confirm the negative impact of humans on fish assemblages, highlighting the need for conservation of oceanic islands.
Environmental Biology of Fishes, 2018
Cleaning associations are one of the most dynamic and complex mutualistic interactions of reef en... more Cleaning associations are one of the most dynamic and complex mutualistic interactions of reef environments and are often influenced by local conditions. In the Western Atlantic (WE) most studies concentrate in tropical areas, with little attention to subtropical areas. We examined an assemblage of cleaner fish and their clients on the rocky reefs of the coast of Santa Catarina state, South Brazil, the southern limit of tropical reef fishes in the WE. We recorded 150 cleaning interactions, in which four fish species and one shrimp species acted as facultative cleaners. The grunt Anisotremus virginicus and the angelfish Pomacanthus paru serviced most clients. Fifteen fish species acted as clients, among which the most frequent was the planktivorous grunt Haemulon aurolineatum (31%). Cleaning interactions occurred mostly (87%) with non-carnivorous clients and the number of interactions was not related to the abundance of the species involved. The absence of dedicated cleaner fishes at...
Aim: To present an updated database of fish species recorded on south-western Atlantic reef envir... more Aim: To present an updated database of fish species recorded on south-western Atlantic reef environments and to explore the ecological drivers of the structure, the latitudinal gradient of biodiversity and the centre of endemism in this peripheral province. Location: South-western Atlantic (SWA): Brazilian and Argentinian Provinces. Methods: A database composed of 733 fish species along 23 locations in the SWA (00°55′ N to 43°00′ S) was compiled based on primary data, literature and museum records. Cluster and beta diversity analyses were carried out to evaluate faunal over- laps among locations and subprovinces. “Target-area-distance effect” and “stepping stones dispersal” hypotheses for assemblage composition were tested through Mantel tests. Relationships between the distribution patterns and ecological traits of reef fish species were investigated through generalized linear mixed-effect models. Results: Out of the 733 fish species, 405 are SWA resident reef fishes, of which 111 ...
In marine ecosystems, cleaning is a mutual-istic relationship in which so-called cleaners remove ... more In marine ecosystems, cleaning is a mutual-istic relationship in which so-called cleaners remove ectoparasites, diseased tissue, or mucus from the body of their clients, and thus help to maintain a healthy reef community. In spite of its importance in many marine habitats, this interaction remains poorly understood, particularly at oceanic islands. Here, we present the first comprehensive study of cleaning interactions in a reef fish assemblage at Rocas, the only atoll in the South Atlantic. We recorded 318 cleaning events, in which six fish species, including two endemic ones, and two shrimp species acted as cleaners. The clients serviced by these cleaners were 21 bony fish species, one shark and one sea turtle. The cleaner wrasse Thalassoma noronhanum and the cleaner goby Elacatinus phthirophagus were the cleaners with the greatest number of events and species richness of clients. Additionally , 82% of clients in the cleaning events were non-piscivores, and the abundance of both c...
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 2016
Isolated oceanic islands may give rise not only to new and endemic species, but also to unique be... more Isolated oceanic islands may give rise not only to new and endemic species, but also to unique behaviours and species interactions. Multi-species fish interactions, such as cleaning, following, mob-feeding and others are understudied in these ecosystems. Here we present qualitative and quantitative observations on cleaning and mob-feeding reef fish associations at the isolated Ascension Island, South Atlantic Ocean. Cleaning interactions were dominated by juveniles of the facultative fish cleaners Bodianus insularis and Pomacanthus paru, with lesser contributions of Chaetodon sanctaehelenae, Thalassoma ascensionis and the cleaner shrimp Lysmata grabhami. Two types of feeding mobs were consistently identified: less mobile mobs led by the surgeonfish Acanthurus bahianus and A. coeruleus and the more mobile mobs led by the African sergeant Abudefduf hoefleri. This is the first record of A. hoefleri from outside of the Eastern Atlantic and also the first report of this species displayin...
the most important items in seven study sites. Therefore, C. striatus may be considered as a non-... more the most important items in seven study sites. Therefore, C. striatus may be considered as a non-coral generalist feeder, as it feeds on a wide variety of items and substrata along the studied range, with no consistent selectivity pattern for foraging substratum across sites. Individuals from all sites but Salvador (NE Brazil) had similar RNA/DNA ratios, suggesting that C. striatus nutritional condition is similar along its extensive distribution. Our findings highlight the importance of assessing different sites within the distribution range of generalist butterflyfishes, and different variables , to a better comprehension of the feeding ecology of these species.
An experimental evaluation of macroalgal consumption and selectivity by nominally herbivorous fishes on subtropical rocky reefs
Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 2015
Between-Habitat Variation of Benthic Cover, Reef Fish Assemblage and Feeding Pressure on the Benthos at the Only Atoll in South Atlantic: Rocas Atoll, NE Brazil
PLOS ONE, 2015
High prevalence of dermal parasites among coral reef fishes of Curaçao
Marine Biodiversity, 2015
Community structure of reef fishes on a remote oceanic island (St. Peter and St. Paul’s Archipelago, equatorial Atlantic): the relative influence of abiotic and biotic variables
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Papers by Sergio R . Floeter