Conectando para conservar: la importancia de la Reserva Extractiva Marina da Lagoa do Jequiá para el mero guasa, Epinephelus itajara (Lichtenstein, 1822)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37002/biodiversidadebrasileira.v15i4.2781Palabras clave:
Atlántico Suoccidental , área marina protegida , Epinephelidae , especie amenazado, desarrollo ontogenéticoResumen
La costa sur de Alagoas, en el noreste de Brasil, alberga ecosistemas marinos costeros de gran importancia ecológica, contemplados por la Reserva Extractiva Marina de Lagoa do Jequiá (RESEX Jequiá). Esta zona representa una unidad de conservación estratégica para especies en peligro de extinción, como el mero guasa (Epinephelus itajara), un pez que depende de diferentes habitat a lo largo de su vida. Entre 2019 y 2024, investigamos la distribución del mero en la RESEX Jequiá y áreas adyacentes, analizando el uso de habitat estuarinos (manglares) y marinos (arrecifes de arenisca, corales y artificiales) en diferentes etapas ontogenéticas de la especie. Durante el estudio, registramos 23 individuos: los juveniles (<60 cm) se encontraron principalmente en manglares y arrecifes costeros poco profundos, mientras que los subadultos y adultos (>120 cm) se encontraron en arrecifes más alejados de la costa y en aguas más profundas. El análisis de agrupamiento basado en la distribución del tamaño de los individuos indicó una mayor similitud entre los arrecifes costeros y los manglares. La presencia de individuos en diferentes etapas ontogénicas, distribuidos longitudinal y verticalmente entre ambientes estuarinos y marinos, destaca la necesidad de considerar el conocimiento sobre la conectividad entre habitat en las estrategias de conservación del mero guasa y en las áreas marinas protegidas. También creemos que la ampliación de los límites actuales de la RESEX Jequiá tiene un mayor potencial para proteger todo el ciclo de vida de Epinephelus itajara, especialmente en su fase juvenil, contribuyendo directamente al mantenimiento de la población de la especie y a la conservación de los ecosistemas abarcados por esta área marina protegida.
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