No abstract

This biodiversity inventory of the central coast of Sã o Paulo State presents species of demersal and pelagic fishes of Santos Bay, Bertioga Channel, and adjacent continental shelf, between São Sebastiã o and Peruíbe, from the coast till a depth of 100 m. Samples were taken during oceanographic campaigns using otter trawls, between November 2004 and February 2006. A total of 56,095 individuals were collected, belonging to the classes Chondrichthyes (three orders and fourteen species) and Actinopterygii (fifteen orders and 141 species). This list adds 27 species to those explicitly cited for the coast of Sã o Paulo state, contributing to the knowledge of this group.

Ichthyofauna as an environmental quality indicator of the Bertioga Channel, São Paulo (Brazil)The aim of this study was to investigate the ichthyofauna structure in the region of the north outfall of the Bertioga Channel (São Paulo, Brazil) and the possible effects of the environmental quality loss. The samples were collected in a monthly basis, from September to December 2005, at two oceanographic stations with an otter-trawl. The fish fauna structure was evaluated by ecological indicators and the environmental quality evaluated by the ABC analysis and the Estuarine Fish Communities Index (EFCI). A total of 1553 individuals from 50 species were sampled. Ariidae and Sciaenidae amounted to 60 % and Cathorops spixii represented 36 % of all specimens collected. The highest richness and ecological diversity were recorded in December, while the highest numerical abundance was found in October. The majority of the species were represented by juveniles. The cluster analysis and canonical correspondence analysis showed a consistent and clear difference between the sampling stations, and the abiotic factors analyzed (temperature, depth and salinity) do not seem to have influence on the community structure. The ABC analysis suggested a moderate disturbed environment and the EFCI allowed classifying the area as "poor", due to the 12 metrics analyzed, concerning the reduction of the species diversity, composition and abundance, and modifications in the nursery function and trophic integrity of the area.

The first record of Apterichtus kendalli in the Southeast Brazilian Bight is reported based on one leptocephalus collected at around the 100 m isobath during an oceanographic cruise in 1979. It is the southernmost record of this species in the Atlantic. The leptocephalus of A. kendalli was identified based on myomeres counts, fin positions, nine moderate gut swellings, and midline prominent patches of pigments.