Distribuição espaço-temporal de larvas de Sciaenidae em um estuário subtropical (Santa Catarina, Brasil)

Abstract

This work studied the use of the Babitonga Bay (26º02’-26º28’S and 48º28’-48º50’W) by early life stages of Sciaenidae, considering the spatial-temporal distribution of species and their relationship with environmental factors. Samples were obtained at nine stations between October 2007 and August 2008, with 2 minutes oblique tows using a 40cm diameter conical plankton net fitted with 200µm mesh and 2 five minutes oblique tows with a 50cm diameter cylindrical-conical plankton net fitted with 500µm mesh. A total of 249 fish larvae of Sciaenidae were captured, being Cynoscion spp. (50%), Umbrina spp. (16%) e Stellifer spp. (17,6%) the most abundant taxa. Fish larvae showed the highest densities during spring and summer months, and occupied the whole estuary. Temperature and salinity were the main factors structuring the distribution of Sciaenidae larvae. Preflexion stage was the most abundant, but vitelinic, flexion and postflexion larvae were also reported. The presence of different early life stages of Sciaenidae in Babitonga Bay reveals the important role of this ecosystem as a nursery for target species of South-Southeast Brazil fisheries.