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Quarterly collections of demersal fish were conducted between 2014 and 2018 on the adjacent continental shelf and in the Paranaguá Estuarine Complex (PEC). Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were used to determine the abundance, richness, and composition of demersal fish assemblages and to list predictor variables responsible for the variability in these ecological descriptors by applying generalized linear models. The collected specimens of demersal fish (n = 25,179) were distributed across 19 orders, 31 families, and 72 species. Fish richness was explained by the following predictor variables: the percentage of fine sand in the sediment, the richness of the benthic megafauna, and sampling sites. The abundance was associated with the predictor variables of the percentage of very fine sand in the sediment, percentage of silt in the sediment, salinity, and sampling sites. Canonical correspondence analysis showed that the fish assemblage composition was strongly associated with the salinity gradient and positively correlated with benthic megafaunal species richness. As it is one of the last remnants of the Atlantic Forest, declared by UNESCO as a Natural Heritage of Humanity, the patterns observed in this study will support PEC's coastal management of current developmental demands, particularly related to port activities.

A pesca de arrasto de camarões é considerada muito impactante aos sistemas bentônicos por ser pouco seletiva. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi caracterizar a ictiofauna acompanhante da pesca de arrasto das embarcações com potência acima de 45 HP. Foram realizadas amostragens mensais, entre agosto de 2000 e julho de 2001 para barco e agosto de 2004 e julho de 2005 para bote no litoral do Paraná. Foram capturados, com barco e bote, 45.277 e 57.387 peixes, respectivamente. Com ambas embarcações foram capturaram 99 táxons. A famí­­lia Sciaenidae foi a mais representativa em número de espécies e indiví­­duos. Houve diferenças na ictiofauna entre as estações do ano e entre as áreas ao sul e ao norte da desembocadura do Complexo Estuarino de Paranaguá tanto para barco como para bote. As diferentes frotas atuam sobre o mesmo recurso, mas incidem de maneira distinta com relação í­Â riqueza de espécies e abundí­¢ncia ictiofauna acompanhante e medidas de gestão, como a implementação de dispositivos de redução da captura acidental, devem levar em consideração as caracterí­­sticas não somente da embarcação mas também do petrecho de pesca utilizado.

Estuarine beaches are low energy environments found along the coast in several protected places around the world, such as estuaries, bays or areas protected by submerged bars or coral reefs. Although common, these places have been poorly studied. Using a seine net, six beaches were sampled along an environmental gradient for 12 months. During this period, an increase of the dominant species following the increase in salinity and energy values was observed, whilst the opposite pattern occurred for species richness and abundance. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed spatial and temporal variations between beaches and months. Depth and marginal habitats appear to be more important factors than wave height and period, temperature, salinity and pH, which are normally used to describe fish habitat utilization patterns in beaches and estuaries. Nevertheless, specific sampling designs should be proposed to evaluate properly these questions.

Using monthly otter-trawl deployments, spatial and temporal variability among the relative densities of marine debris were assessed in the Paranagua estuarine complex; a subtropical World Heritage Listed area in southern Brazil. During 432 deployments over 12 months, 291 marine debris items were identified; of which most (92%) were plastic, and more specifically shopping bags, food packages, candy wrappers and cups typically >21 mm long. The most contaminated sectors were those closest to Paranagua city and the adjacent port, and had up to 23.37±3.22 pieces ha(-1). Less urbanized sectors had between 12.84±1.49 and 9.32±1.10 pieces ha(-1). Contamination did not vary between dry or wet seasons, but rather was probably affected by consistent urban disposal and localized hydrological processes. Marine debris might be minimized by using more environment friendly materials, however a concrete solution requires adequately integrating local government and civil society.

This study aimed to describe the spatial-temporal variations of the fish fauna in an open coastal lagoon. Fish were collected in Lagoa da Conceicao, Florianopolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil, totaling 19 sampling months between October 1987 and November 1989. Sampling took place at 7 sites, and in each of them cast net throws of different meshes, ‘puca’ handheld fishing net, beach seine fishing net, and manual fishing hooks were used. A total of 8,299 individuals were collected, classified into 61 species belonging to 28 fish families, totaling 52,902.4 g. Regarding stay in the lagoon, 48 species (80%) were classified as visitors and the other 12 were residents. Significant differences were observed between seasons (n, biomass, species richness, and H’Loge), between areas (n and species richness), and in the interactions between the factors season and area (n and biomass). Data on fish fauna reinforce the ecological significance of the coastal lagoon environment as a nursery and feeding area, since most species are at recruitment stages within Lagoa da Conceicao. 14%). These results are significant to supplement the taxonomic inventories prior to the installation of large enterprises or environmental protection areas. alic'>seedlings.

Basic data on species composition and abundance are essential to subsidize the development of effective actions for conservation of biological diversity and to identifying the effects arising from these actions. This work provides an updated checklist of the fish species occurring in the proposed Baía da Babitonga marine protected area (southern Brazil) as well as their abundance, ontogenic stage and conservation status, based on multi-site data collected in shallow water and deeper zones of the main channel and from published literature. A total of 152 fish species belonging to 18 orders and 53 families were registered, with 29 species being reported for the first time in Baía da Babitonga. Among the registered species, the exotic blenny Omobranchus punctatus (Valenciennes) was the most unexpected. The most species-rich families were Sciaenidae (18), Carangidae (15), Engraulidae (9), Paralichthyidae (8), Epinephelidae (8) and Gobiidae (7). Nine species inhabiting Baía da Babitonga are classified as globally threatened, and 17 species are classified as nationally overexploited; four of these species are on both global and national red lists.