Connecting to conserve: the importance of the Marine Extractive Reserve Lagoa do Jequiá for the Atlantic Goliath Grouper, Epinephelus itajara (Lichtenstein, 1822)

Authors

  • Márcio José Costa de Albuquerque Lima-Júnior Universidade Federal de Alagoas/UFA, Programa de Pós-graduação em Diversidade Biológica e Conservação nos Trópicos, Maceió/AL, Brasil. Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Unidade Educacional Penedo, Laboratório de Ictiologia e Conservação, Penedo/AL, Brasil. Instituto Meros do Brasil, Curitiba/PR, Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2454-3926
  • José A.C.C. Nunes Instituto Meros do Brasil, Curitiba/PR, Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2743-797X
  • Ana Carolina Sena Barradas Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade/ICMBio, Reserva Extrativista Marinha da Lagoa do Jequiá. Jequiá da Praia/AL, Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5509-7178
  • Johnatas Adelir-Alves Instituto Meros do Brasil, Curitiba/PR, Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8882-4009
  • Leonardo Schlogel Bueno Instituto Meros do Brasil, Curitiba/PR, Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1874-6030
  • Sergio R. Albuquerque Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade/ICMBio, Reserva Extrativista Marinha da Lagoa do Jequiá. Jequiá da Praia/AL, Brasil. https://orcid.org/0009-0003-3332-8635
  • Matheus O. Freitas Instituto Meros do Brasil, Curitiba/PR, Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0122-0980
  • Tiago Albuquerque Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Unidade Educacional Penedo, Laboratório de Ictiologia e Conservação, Penedo/AL, Brasil. Instituto Meros do Brasil, Curitiba/PR, Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7854-4997
  • Rosy Valéria Rocha Lopes Universidade Federal de Alagoas/UFA, Programa de Pós-graduação em Diversidade Biológica e Conservação nos Trópicos, Maceió/AL, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2020-820X
  • Áthila A. Bertoncini Instituto Meros do Brasil, Curitiba/PR, Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6310-0127
  • Cláudio L. S. Sampaio Universidade Federal de Alagoas/UFA, Programa de Pós-graduação em Diversidade Biológica e Conservação nos Trópicos, Maceió/AL, Brasil. Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Unidade Educacional Penedo, Laboratório de Ictiologia e Conservação, Penedo/AL, Brasil. Instituto Meros do Brasil, Curitiba/PR, Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0389-2302

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37002/biodiversidadebrasileira.v15i4.2781

Keywords:

Southwest Atlantic, marine protected area, Epinephelidae , endangered species , ontogenetic distribution

Abstract

The southern coast of Alagoas, in northeastern Brazil, is home to ecologically important coastal marine ecosystems, covered by the Lagoa do Jequiá Marine Extractive Reserve (RESEX Jequiá). This area represents a strategic marine protected areas for endangered species, such as the Atlantic goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara), a fish that depends on different habitat throughout its life. Between 2019 and 2024, we investigated the distribution of the grouper in RESEX Jequiá and adjacent areas, analyzing the use of estuarine (mangroves) and marine (sandstone, coral, and artificial reefs) habitat at different ontogenetic stages of the species. During the study, we recorded 23 individuals: juveniles (<60 cm) occurred mainly in mangroves and shallow coastal reefs, while subadults and adults (>120 cm) were found in reefs further from the coast and in deeper waters. Cluster analysis based on the size distribution of individuals indicated greater similarity between coastal reefs and mangroves. The presence of individuals at different ontogenetic stages, distributed longitudinally and vertically between estuarine and marine environments, highlights the need to consider knowledge about connectivity between habitat in Atlantic goliath grouper conservation strategies and marine protected areas. We also believe that the expansion of the current boundaries of the Jequiá RESEX has greater potential to protect the entire life cycle of Epinephelus itajara, especially during its juvenile stage, directly contributing to the maintenance of the species’ population and the conservation of the ecosystems encompassed by this marine protected area.

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Published

2025-12-19

Issue

Vol. 15 No. 4 (2025): Fluxo Contínuo

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Fluxo contínuo

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