MBON POLE TO POLE: ROCKY SHORE BIODIVERSITY OF FERNANDO DE NORONHA - BRAZIL

Study Extent

The spatial coverage includes a unique locality (Fernado de Noronha Archipelago, Brazil) and three sites as described before (AirFrance, Boldró, Caieiras and Praia do Leão). Temporal coverage corresponds to a single field campaign conducted from February 21th to 25th, 2019.

Sampling

Field work sampling was carried out during low tide, usually in the morning, depending on weather and wave conditions at the site. Coverage and density measurements were made in situ using 0.25 m2 quadrats following transects from infra-littoral to supra-littoral zone. Data was recorded in a notebook, photos were taken with a digital camera and samples of some organisms were taken for further taxonomic identifications. In total 30 quadrats were sampled. MBON Pole to Pole protocol for rocky shore intertidal (2018) available at https://marinebon.github.io/p2p/methods_field_protocols.html. Sampling is organized following a stratified design, which includes LOCATIONS, SITES, and STRATA. Note that LOCATIONS are separated by 30 – 100’s of kilometers. For each LOCATION on this case it was only one. Those SITES will be separated by units of kilometers (maximum 5 km). The selected site was divided in THREE STRATA (tidal levels) parallel to the coastline using the almost universal biologically-based characteristics of rocky shores of high-, mid- and low zones. In each stratum 10 QUADRATS were sampled, pictures from relevant animals were taken and animals and macroalgae samples were considered for further taxonomic identifications. In the 10 QUADRATS within each stratum (tidal level), slow moving animals are counted and the percentage cover of space occupied by invertebrates and algae. The latter includes those organisms that cover a considerable fraction of the rock surface and that are too many to be counted or cannot be easily separated into individuals; e.g., barnacles, mussels, some colonial invertebrates, including zoanthids and ascidians, algal turfs or macroalgae. Organisms adhering directly to the rock surface and moving across it are considered the “primary layer”. If canopy-forming organisms such as macroalgae are present, then these are moved aside for counts, cover and photographs in order to effectively quantify the primary layer. The composition of the canopy- the secondary layer- should also be conducted.

Quality Control

Taxonomic validity was verified using the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS; www.marinespecies.org) and the Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS; https://obis.org/)

Method steps

1. Samples were processed following the rocky shore intertidal protocol developed during the Marine Biodiversity Workshop: from the Sea to the Cloud, at Praia do Segredo, São Sebastião, Brasil. August 6-10, 2018

1. Amphiroa sp.
   rank: genus
2. Anemonia sargassensis
   rank: species
3. Bryopsis sp.
   rank: genus
4. Bryopsis pennata
   rank: species
5. Caulerpa racemosa
   rank: species
6. Ceramiaceae
   rank: family
7. Ceramium sp.
   rank: genus
8. Chondrilla nucula
   rank: species
9. Cladophora sp.
   rank: genus
10. Colpomenia sinuosa
    rank: species
11. Cyanophyceae
    rank: family
12. Dictyosphaeria cavernosa
    rank: species
13. Echinolittorina miliaris
    rank: species
14. Euherdmaniidae
    rank: family
15. Fissurella mesoatlantica
    rank: species
16. Galaxaura rugosa
    rank: species
17. Gelidiella acerosa
    rank: species
18. Gracilaria sp.
    rank: species
19. Grapsus grapsus
    rank: species
20. Jania sp.
    rank: genus
21. Lithophyllum sp.
    rank: genus
22. Lottia noronhensis
    rank: species
23. Mytilaster solisianus
    rank: species
24. Nerita ascensionis
    rank: species
25. Padina gymnospora
    rank: species
26. Palisada perforata
    rank: species
27. Palythoa variabilis
    rank: species
28. Petaloconchus varians
    rank: species
29. Peyssonnelia sp.
    rank: species
30. Siderastrea stellata
    rank: species
31. Ulva lactuca
    rank: species
32. Zoanthus sociatus
    rank: species

The monitored sites are inserted in the National Marine Park of Fernando de Noronha which is one of the most visited parks in Brazil. Studied sites included both areas opened and closed for tourists. All areas are semi-exposed to waves, although depending on the time of the year all sites can be under high hydrodynamic action. As an oceanic island, the reefs have oligotrophic waters and low biodiversity when compared to mainland, but the endemism rates are higher.