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Marine Biodiversity Records

Table of Contents - Volume 2 - 2009  

Research Article

Fernando de Noronha as an insular nursery area for lemon sharks, Negaprion brevirostris, and nurse sharks, Ginglymostoma cirratum, in the equatorial western Atlantic Ocean

Ricardo Clapis Garlaa1a5 c1, José Garcia Jra2, Leonardo Bertrand Verasa3 and Norberto Peporine Lopesa4

a1 Laboratório de Biologia Pesqueira, Departamento de Oceanografia e Limnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59014-100, RN, Brazil

a2 Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psicobiologia, Departamento de Fisiologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970, RN, Brazil

a3 Museu dos Tubarões, Fernando de Noronha, 53990-000, PE, Brazil

a4 Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto – USP, 14040-903, SP, Brazil

a5 Departamento de Botânica, Ecologia e Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970, RN, Brazil

Abstract

Negaprion brevirostris and Ginglymostoma cirratum are large coastal sharks with a wide geographic distribution in the tropical western Atlantic Ocean whose southern populations are listed as vulnerable. Herein is reported the use of Fernando de Noronha Archipelago as a nursery habitat by both species in the equatorial Atlantic. Parturition time in N. brevirostris takes place between November and April whereas in G. cirratum it occurs from July to September.

(Received January 15 2008)

(Accepted May 28 2008)

Keywords

  • elasmobranch;
  • marine protected area;
  • parturition;
  • juvenile habitat;
  • reproduction;
  • Brazil

Correspondence:

c1 Correspondence should be addressed to: R.C. Garla, Laboratório de Biologia pesqueira, Departamento de Oceanografia e Limnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59014-100, RN, Brazil email: rgarla@hotmail.com