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Sinkhole-like structures as bioproductivity hotspots in the Abrolhos Bank

2013; Elsevier BV; Volume: 70; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.csr.2013.05.011

1873-6955

Giselle S. Cavalcanti, Gustavo Bueno Gregoracci, Leila de Lourdes Longo, Alex Cardoso Bastos, Camilo M. Ferreira, Ronaldo B. Francini‐Filho, Rodolfo Paranhos, Renato David Ghisolfi, Ricardo Henrique Krüger, Arthur Z. Güth, Paulo Yukio Gomes Sumida, Thiago Bruce, Oswaldo Maia-Neto, Eidy de Oliveira Santos, Tetsuya Iida, Rodrigo L. Moura, Gilberto M. Amado‐Filho, Fabiano L. Thompson,

Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies

We performed a biological survey in the novel system of sinkhole-like structures ("buracas") of the Abrolhos Bank, Brazil. We found dissimilar benthic assemblages and higher nutrient concentration, microbial abundance (and activity) and fish abundance inside the buracas than in the surrounding rhodolith beds. Our results support the view that these cup-shaped structures trap and accumulate organic matter, functioning as productivity hotspots in the mid and outer shelf of the central portion of the Abrolhos Bank shelf, where they aggregate biomass of commercially important fishes. This distinctive system is being increasingly pressured by commercial fisheries and needs urgent management measures such as fishing effort control and representation in the network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAS).