Projetos de docentes ou pesquisadores - CEBIMar

Parecer da Comissão Científica

Projeto do CEBIMar

Dados do solicitante

Gabriel Soares de Araujo

Natureza do projeto

Projeto de docente ou pesquisador
Projeto de Pós-Doutorado

Pesquisadores ou docentes associados

Ronaldo Bastos Francini Filho
Hudson Tercio Pinheiro

Recursos

2019/24215-2
Fapesp

Descrição do projeto

Biodiversity, evolution, and biogeography of neglected Atlantic reef fishes
15-09-2023
31-03-2026
Reef ecosystems are one of the largest repositories of biodiversity on the planet, harboring about 25% of marine species in less than 1% of the oceans’ surface. One of the most conspicuous components of this biota is the reef fish fauna, represented by more than 6000 species of different Teleostei lineages. This splendid species richness is reflected in a myriad of shapes, colors, sizes, and habits, making reef fish one of the most popular marine groups. However, a large portion of the reef ichthyofauna remains unknown in terms of diversity, evolution, and biogeography. Such lack of knowledge is biased towards taxonomic groups and geographic regions. Cryptobenthic reef families are particularly understudied. Due to their ecological attributes (small sizes, close benthic associations, and cryptic behavior), they are generally under sampled in scientific surveys. The geographic component is reflected in pockets of information gaps in specific geographic regions, such as in the Brazilian Province and its oceanic islands, where the overall diversity of species is poorly known. In this context, this project aims to fill the gaps in the genetic information of the reef ichthyofauna of the Brazilian Province, with emphasis (but not exclusively) on cryptobenthic species and oceanic islands, through modern techniques and genomic analyzes. More specifically, the proposal is based on the following main objectives: (1) generate genetic data of Brazilian reef fish, with special attention to endemic species and traditionally neglected taxa and localities; (2) gather data in a comparatively and taxonomically diverse context to recognize the evolutionary dynamics between the Brazilian province and its oceanic islands; (3) examine the historical origins of the Brazilian reef ichthyofauna in a macrobiogeographical context. This proposal has the potential to turn the Brazilian Province into a model to address issues of great relevance in the scientific scenario, such as macrobiogeography, island biogeography, and evolution. The proposal will also expand the taxonomic/disciplinary scope of the Research Center for Marine Biodiversity (NP-BioMar, headquartered at CEBIMar), consolidating the research platform on the evolution and biogeography of reef fish at this institution.
Atol das Rocas, biogeographical provinces, Fernando de Noronha, genetics, historical biogeography, icththyology, macrobiogeography, oceanic islands, phylogeography, São Pedro e Sâo Paulo, speciation, taxonomy
This project is based on a dimensional triad that will culminate in a more refined knowledge of the Atlantic reef fauna and, in particular, of the Brazilian Province.
First dimension, Filling the genetic gaps of the Brazilian Province ichthyofauna: to generate genetic data of Brazilian reef fish, with special attention to traditionally neglected taxa and localities.
• Goals: Generate sequences of mitochondrial markers (mainly cytochrome oxidase I [COI] and/or cytochrome B [CytB]) from at least one sample of target species from the Brazilian coast not sampled in genetic databases.
• Products:
▪ A data paper on the new Brazilian reef fish sequences inventoried, containing the collection location and voucher information;
o Byproducts:
▪ Scientific articles formally describing any cryptic species detected and elucidating their phylogenetic position in relation to its congeners.
Second dimension, Patterns and evolutionary processes in peripheral outposts of the Brazilian Province: Gather phylogeographic data in a comparatively and taxonomically diverse context to recognize the evolutionary dynamics between the Brazilian province and its peripheral outposts.
• Goals: Sequencing single and multiple loci (NGS) of selected species based on their biological attributes (cryptobenthic vs. large species; good vs. poor dispersal; strict vs. wide depth range) on the Brazilian coast and on the oceanic islands of St. Peter and St. Paul Rocks, Fernando de Noronha Archipelago and Rocas Atoll.
• Products:
▪ A scientific article on the evolutionary history, modes of speciation, and temporal patterns of diversification of the endemics of St. Peter and St. Paul Rocks, Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, and Rocas Atoll (Manuscript 2);
▪ A scientific paper on the demographic fluctuations of coastal and oceanic island populations in response to Pleistocene sea-level and climate anomalies, testing the hypothesis of the role of oceanic islands for diversification and maintenance of biodiversity (Manuscript 3).
Third dimension, Origins of the reef ichthyofauna of the Brazilian Province: Examine the historical origins of the Brazilian reef ichthyofauna in a macrobiogeographical context.
• Goals: Build and fill in the phylogenetic hypotheses of the main reef families with branches from the Brazilian province that are missing from the current phylogenetic hypotheses and historical biogeography studies. Congregate the enhanced phylogenies with biogeographical and geological data associated with probabilistic models of ancestral distribution to propose evolutionary scenarios, historical relationships, and explore the role of the different biogeographical barriers of the Atlantic (Middle-Atlantic Barrier, Amazon-Orinoco Barrier, and Isthmus of Panama) in shaping the Brazilian reef community.
• Products:
▪ A scientific article addressing the evolution and macrobiogeography of the Brazilian reef fauna, proposing patterns of historical relationships of areas from the phylogenetic relationships of different taxonomic groups of reef fish.
The proposal is planned to be developed over 24 months, with the expectation of developing multiple byproducts beyond the proposed period. The first year will be devoted to obtaining primary data, i.e., tissues and sequences, and to preparing the manuscript 2. As samples are acquired, molecular procedures will be implemented to generate genetic data. At the end of the molecular procedures, the data paper containing the novel sequences is intended for publication. The second year of the project will be reserved for examining, pondering, reexamining, maturing, and finally publishing the essential elements of the proposal. At the same time, descriptions of detected cryptic species will be developed with scientific partnerships, such as the ongoing description of a new species of Gobioclinus.

Solicitações

Gabinete para o desenvolvimento dos artigos científicos; laboratório para manuseio e processamento de amostras em formalina e álcool, uso de microscópio estereoscópico e paquímetro; laboratório para procedimentos moleculares

Centrífuga, banho-maria, termociclador, pipetas, placa de petri, bisturi e lâmina, lupa, paquímetro, bombonas, potes, álcool, formol, freezers
Peixes recifais, Amostras não destrutivas
Ambientes recifais do litoral de São Paulo
Mar calmo
Sim
  • Montagem de alguma estrutura (estantes, aquários etc)
  • Colocação ou fundeio de alguma estrutura no mar
  • Auxílio técnico para manutenção de estruturas ou material biológico na ausência dos participantes da atividade
  • Utilização de embarcação do CEBIMar
  • Janeiro
  • Fevereiro
  • Março
  • Abril
  • Maio
  • Junho
  • Julho
  • Agosto
  • Setembro
  • Outubro
  • Novembro
  • Dezembro
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