Research analyzes the seabed in Fernando de Noronha to identify causes of changes in species

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Global warming, tourism and even lionfish are analyzed. The work was requested by ICMBio and has the support of diving operators. Researchers assess the seabed in Noronha Fábio Di Dario/Disclosure A group of researchers began studying the seabed of Fernando de Noronha. The objective is to analyze the so-called benthos, substrate areas where corals, algae and small fish live. The first results already show that there are changes and now the researchers want to know what is the influence of global warming, tourism and even lionfish, an invasive and poisonous species identified on the island since December 2020, in this scenario. Professor at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Liana de Figueiredo Mendes, coordinates the study. She has been researching the Noronha sea for 25 years and received a request from the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity (ICMBio) to compare past and current aquatic environments. “We know that in some areas where sponges and corals used to occur, there is no such record anymore. The seabed supports the entire production chain on the reef,” said Liana Mendes. Share on WhatsApp The researcher has been surveying the areas for over 20 years. The survey will compare submerged regions with the same method used in the past, which is quadrant sampling. In the methodology, video images and photographs are used. “We will evaluate the same points recorded 25 years ago, we will use the same method. Let’s sample by quadrant; we dived, recorded the percentage and coverage of existing species”, explained Liana Mendes. Corals are evaluated in the study Fábio Di Dario/Disclosure She said that, in the preliminary analysis, it was possible to identify that some areas are preserved and other places do not have good background coverage, such as the so-called Laje Dois Irmãos. “Laje Dois Irmãos had a lot of corals and you can see that they are decreasing. It is still not possible to know the reason. We are going to evaluate and the expectation is that in two years we should have some answers”, said the teacher. As for the area known as Ponta da Sapata, initial studies indicate that the region is preserved. At the end of the work, the researchers can propose to ICMBio a management of the diving areas, for example, to help in the recovery of the region. Researchers assess the areas and note the current status Fábio Di Dario/Press Release Global Warming Global warming may be one of the main factors responsible for changes in the sea floor in Fernando de Noronha. 25 years ago, the sea water in Noronha, in the coldest period, had a temperature of 25 degrees; currently it reaches 26 degrees. In the hottest periods it was between 28 and 29 degrees; today are recorded up to 30 degrees in summer. Lionfish can also threaten deep-sea species. “We are going to collect the lionfish and analyze the genetics of the stomach. We want to know if they are feeding on the small fish on the island,” said Liana Mendes. ALSO READ: g1 infographic details animal that threatens local ecosystem Understand lionfish risks to nature and humans Lionfish is captured for the first time off the coast of PE; animal is invasive, poisonous and predator The work also counts on the participation of master’s student André Reis and with the collaboration of professor Sérgio Queiroz Lima. Data collection is done through apnea diving and scuba diving, with the support of companies that carry out the activity in Fernando de Noronha. VIDEOS: most viewed from Pernambuco in the last 7 days

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