Descrição do ciclo gametogênico do ouriço-branco, Tripneustes ventricosus (Lamarck, 1816), no Arquipélago de Fernando de Noronha PE, Brasil

Sea urchins are common benthic organisms on coastal ecosystems of tropical and temperate shallow waters. The impact of sea urchins populations in shore communities is density-dependent, and therefore, knowledge of the life history of these animals is important to understand these interactions. Between 2000 and 2005 a population boom of Tripneustes ventricosus was observed in the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago. In 2004 a research program was started to monitor the population dynamics of T. ventricosus in the archipelago, when it noted a lack of basic information on the biology and reproduction of this species, despite its broad geographic distribution and economic importance in parts of its occurrence. In this context, this work focuses on the reproductive biology of T. ventricosus with emphasis on the description of the gametogenic stages. Between December 2006 and July 2007, ten urchins were collected by snorkeling in two sites of the archipelago, totaling 120 individuals. Gametogenic stages were described for both sexes through microscopic analysis, and were defined as: Recovery, Growing, Premature, Mature and Spawning. Results showed increasing in Gonad index throughout of months of sampling and suggest that the reproductive cycle of the species in the archipelago is annual

Dieta do ouriço-branco, Tripneustes ventricosus (Lamarck, 1816), no Arquipélago de Fernando de Noronha, PE

Sea urchins are benthic macroinvertebrates that inhabit shallow coastal waters in tropical and temperate zones. Urchins are usually classified as generalists or omnivores as they can adjust their diet according to the food resources available in the environment. Due to the strong grazing pressure they may exert, urchins have an important role in marine ecosystems, occupying different trophic levels and stimulating the intensification of the dynamics of communities where they occur. In 2004, a monitoring program focused on the population dynamics of the white sea urchin, Tripneustes ventricosus, has been initiated in the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago. At the same time, a surprisingly lack of information on the species biology has been noted, despite their wide geographical distribution and economic importance in many parts of its range. Hence, this work was developed to provide information on the feeding habits of T. ventricosus in the archipelago. Ten specimens were collected between December 2006 and July 2007 at two sites of the archipelago, Air France and Sueste Bay for biometrics and analysis of gut contents. Test diameters ranged from 9.19 cm (± 1.1) to 10.08 cm (± 0.58). Calculated stomach repletion index (IRE) was higher (p <0.05) in the Air France site and also during January and July. The IRE was not correlated to the gonad index. Fifteen different species of algae were detected in a total of 120 stomachs examined: 4 Chlorophytas, 4 Phaeophytas and 6 Rhodophytas. Food diversity (p <0.05) was higher in December 2006 and January 2007. Although several items had a high frequency of occurrence, they were low represented in terms of weight, and consequently, had a low level of relative importance. The brown algae Dictyopteris spp and Dictyota spp, followed by the green algae Caulerpa verticillata accounted for the greatest importance in T. ventricosus diet, comprising about 90% of the consumed items

Distribuição espacial, formação de grupos, uso do hábitat e ecologia comportamental de jovens de tubarão limão, negaprion brevirostris (poey 1868), no arquipélago de fernando de noronha

Lemon sharks, Negaprion brevirostris, are common in the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, but detailed information about the species in this site is lacking. The aim of this study was to describe the spatial distribution, grouping behavior, habitat use and behavioral ecology of juvenile lemon sharks in the archipelago, and their interaction with some environmental and ecological factors. During 2006 and 2007, the presence and spatial distribution of juvenile sharks were quantified through scuba diving and snorkeling at several sites of the archipelago. In 2008 the habitat use of juvenile sharks was quantified through visual census while snorkeling along 300 x 8 m strip transects. During these transects the grouping behavior of lemon sharks was quantified by ad libitum. Results indicate that Fernando de Noronha Archipelago is used as a nursery area for lemon sharks, and the parturition occurs from November to April. Juveniles preferred using shallower areas available by the tide variation and formed groups only in the presence of adult conspecifics. This preference for shallower habitats and the group behavior probably are anti-predatory tactics used by juvenile lemon sharks, in response to the low availability of shelter and high predation risk of the studied areas. Quantifications of prey availability and predation risk of juveniles showed that, in general, lemon sharks are trading-off food by security and investing in sites with higher possibility of energetic return. Behavioral observations enabled to record juvenile carangid fishes following juvenile lemon sharks, remora host-parasite and juvenile sharks foraging on schools of herrings and octopuses. We also recorded the behavior of juvenile sharks following conspecifics of similar size, circling with two or three individuals and smaller individuals giving way to larger juveniles. When adults are present, juvenile lemon sharks are more social than solitary, indicating that predation is one of the factors that contribute to social behaviors of the species. Results also suggest that when grouped the juveniles have a hierarchical organization according to body size. Furthermore, observation of large adult females with several fresh mating bites and scars in the same habitats used by juvenile lemon sharks, indicates that Fernando de Noronha Archipelago is used as nursery and mating grounds by this species

Ocorrência e Interações de Recém-nascidos e Filhotes de golfinho-rotador Stenella longirostris na Baía dos Golfinhos, Fernando de Noronha

Studies indicate that spinner dolphins use the Baía dos Golfinhos, in Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, for resting, reproduction, parental care and protection against shark attacks. The present study had the purpose of verifying the seasonality of spinner dolphin newborns and calves in relation to the months of the year and the pluviometric seasons (dry and rainy), as well as their interaction with the number and gender of accompanying adults and their positioning in relation to the adults (vertical, horizontal, and depth) in the above mentioned bay. The analysis were made out of photo records of dolphins collected between 2000 and 2006 (seasonality) and between 1995 and 2006 (interaction) both using ad libitum sampling method during free dives. To determine the age category, the reason between the smaller dolphin s total body length and the bigger dolphin s total body length was calculated. The dolphins were then divided into three age groups: adults, newborns and calves. Those with total body length ≥ 170cm were considered adults, newborns up to 105cm, and calves from 106cm to 128cm. In addition, the secondary characters described in literature were used to identify newborns and calves. The adults had dimensions of total lenght ≥170cm , the newborns until 105cm and calves between 106cm and 128cm. I addition, secondary characteristics described in the literature were used to indentify newborns and calves. The number of spinner dolphin newborns was greater in the month of April and higher during the rainy season. Throughout the months and pluviometric seasons (pluviometer/pluvial metric), the number of calves did not have a significant difference. Concerning to the presence of newborns and calves age groups at Baía dos Golfinhos, there was not a significant difference. It was possible to identify the gender of the escorting adults as (42), 95.24% being females and 4.76% males. Newborns were more frequently seen in the company of two adults, whereas calves were more often accompanied by more than two adults However, there was not a significant difference for the newborns, whereas for the calves there was a significant difference for those classified as loners and those accompanied by more than two adults. When in vertical positioning, the newborns and calves were more frequently observed in inferior position with some difference demonstrated between some of that. While in horizontal positioning both age groups were more often seen in posterior position, also with differences between them. In the depth perspective newborns and calves were positioned anterior, however with significant difference for the calves. The occurrence of a peak of newborns in the months of April may indicate the existence of a birth seasonality pattern for the beginning of the rainy season, with births scattered throughout the year. The results for the positions and escorting of newborns and calves are related to protection and suckling. These conditions reinforce the importance of the area when it comes to the care for offspring, which calls for the creation of conservation rules to the area, especially during those months with greater occurrence of newborns

Descrição do ciclo gametogênico do ouriço-branco, Tripneustes ventricosus (Lamarck, 1816), no Arquipélago de Fernando de Noronha PE, Brasil

Sea urchins are common benthic organisms on coastal ecosystems of tropical and temperate shallow waters. The impact of sea urchins populations in shore communities is density-dependent, and therefore, knowledge of the life history of these animals is important to understand these interactions. Between 2000 and 2005 a population boom of Tripneustes ventricosus was observed in the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago. In 2004 a research program was started to monitor the population dynamics of T. ventricosus in the archipelago, when it noted a lack of basic information on the biology and reproduction of this species, despite its broad geographic distribution and economic importance in parts of its occurrence. In this context, this work focuses on the reproductive biology of T. ventricosus with emphasis on the description of the gametogenic stages. Between December 2006 and July 2007, ten urchins were collected by snorkeling in two sites of the archipelago, totaling 120 individuals. Gametogenic stages were described for both sexes through microscopic analysis, and were defined as: Recovery, Growing, Premature, Mature and Spawning. Results showed increasing in Gonad index throughout of months of sampling and suggest that the reproductive cycle of the species in the archipelago is annual

Dieta do ouriço-branco, Tripneustes ventricosus (Lamarck, 1816), no Arquipélago de Fernando de Noronha, PE

Sea urchins are benthic macroinvertebrates that inhabit shallow coastal waters in tropical and temperate zones. Urchins are usually classified as generalists or omnivores as they can adjust their diet according to the food resources available in the environment. Due to the strong grazing pressure they may exert, urchins have an important role in marine ecosystems, occupying different trophic levels and stimulating the intensification of the dynamics of communities where they occur. In 2004, a monitoring program focused on the population dynamics of the white sea urchin, Tripneustes ventricosus, has been initiated in the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago. At the same time, a surprisingly lack of information on the species biology has been noted, despite their wide geographical distribution and economic importance in many parts of its range. Hence, this work was developed to provide information on the feeding habits of T. ventricosus in the archipelago. Ten specimens were collected between December 2006 and July 2007 at two sites of the archipelago, Air France and Sueste Bay for biometrics and analysis of gut contents. Test diameters ranged from 9.19 cm (± 1.1) to 10.08 cm (± 0.58). Calculated stomach repletion index (IRE) was higher (p <0.05) in the Air France site and also during January and July. The IRE was not correlated to the gonad index. Fifteen different species of algae were detected in a total of 120 stomachs examined: 4 Chlorophytas, 4 Phaeophytas and 6 Rhodophytas. Food diversity (p <0.05) was higher in December 2006 and January 2007. Although several items had a high frequency of occurrence, they were low represented in terms of weight, and consequently, had a low level of relative importance. The brown algae Dictyopteris spp and Dictyota spp, followed by the green algae Caulerpa verticillata accounted for the greatest importance in T. ventricosus diet, comprising about 90% of the consumed items

Variações horárias na entrada e saída dos golfinhos-rotadores e sua relação com fatores ambientais, na Baía dos Golfinhos em Fernando de Noronha PE

The dolphins are found in all world s marine environments, except for poles. On Brazil, the major concentration of this animals is on Fernando de Noronha Islands, wich have a tropical climate with two well-defined rainfall seasons: dry and rainy season. The Baía dos Golfinhos, wich is the most crowded piece of dolphins on the archipelago. These research looks for to characterize the circadian rhythms of the spinner dolphin behavior, Stenella longirostris, on the Baía dos Golfinhos occupation, at the Fernando de Noronha islands, Brazil s northeast, according to the fluctuations of environment that they all are inserted. The research was realized daily between 1991 January and 2009 December, with observations from a fixed point up to Mirante dos Golfinhos, located on Baía dos Golfinhos. The data was examined with the PASW Statistics 18 program, up to nonparametric tests, being analyzed on the incoming and out coming time of the spinner dolphins and the relationship with moon phases, the wind incidence, and the rainfall season, the dolphins were inserted. The spinner dolphins diurnal rhythms are influenced by moon phases, the spinner dolphins arrival at Baía dos Golfinhos earlier when it s full moon because of the high luminosity at night cause a bigger food efficiency for these animals. The outgoing time of spinner dolphins didn t show statistic difference between moon phases, despite follows the same pattern for the incoming time. When the spinner dolphins are submitted to bigger wind incidence conditions around the archipelago, the dolphins come early to the Baía dos Golfinhos, since that one is protected from wind that reaches Fernando de Noronha, the spinner dolphins tends to arrive later and leave earlier of the bay because the rain may cause adverse conditions for your rest.

Desenvolvimento dos filhotes de atobas-de-pés-vermelhos (Sula sula) no aquipélego de Fernando de Noronha/PE

Parental care s costs increase with the time spent due to incapacity of parents give assistance to increasing offspring food s requirement. This parental care deficits is crucial to offspring s emancipation that involve abilities development to they survive independently. In this work we observe 16 Red-footed boobies chick (Sula sula) on different stages of development, at area of Parque Nacional Marinho of Fernando de Noronha s archipelago, from August to October of 2005. Our data show the parents presence decrease during chick development and an activity frequency modification, in move and fly, which suggest the emancipation s chick development. We observe also the action of Kleptoparasits and the influence with offspring parental care. Our data show consistency with the literature. However, we consider that studies carried through during the peak of the reproductive station can support the hypothesis of that the conflicts, together with the initial period of development of the flight, can be representative in terms of mortality of chicks for the studied species

Análise da relação entre apego ao lugar, satisfação e fidelidade dos visitantes em destinos turísticos ambientais: um estudo em Fernando de Noronha/PE

The competition among tourist destinations environmental generates the emergent need to find different strategies to close down if the purpose of delight and retain their visitants. A customer satisfaction, loyalty and the development of attachment to place form a solid compound in search of promotion a tourist destination. This study presents the general objective analysis of the relationship between attachment to place, satisfaction and loyalty of visitors, in the archipelago of Fernando de Noronha / PE. Therefore, a model will be used as reference, where they will be analyzed various constructs related to attachment to place, satisfaction and loyalty, as well as the relations between them. The methodology used in the study consists of an exploratory, descriptive, where the sample is random and consists of individuals who visited Fernando de Noronha on a pre-defined period of ten days. Based on a sample table, we defined a quantitative equivalent of 246 questionnaires, which will be applied when the visitor leaves the destination, the departure lounge of airport. A proposal focuses on the possibility to get results able to understand the subjective and intriguing relationship that involves the triad attachment to place, satisfaction and loyalty, trying to thus provide subsidies for optimizing environmental tourist destination

Diversidade de cefalópodes e o seu papel no nicho trófico de seus principais predadores nos Arquipélagos de Fernando de Noronha e São Pedro e São Paulo

This study aims, to characterize the diversity of cephalopods by analyzing the stomach contents of fishes caught in the islands of St. Peter and St. Paul (ASPSP) and Fernando de Noronha (AFN). Also, verify the participation of cephalopods in the diet of their main predators. A total of 723 stomachs were collected, from 8 species of fish, caught by the fishery, 471 stomachs were from ASPSP and 252 were from the AFN. It was recorded the occurrence of food items (fish, cephalopods and crustaceans) and the cephalopods were identified to the lowest taxa possible, according to specialized literature. The Ommastrephidae family represented 84.46% of occurrence in the ASPSP and 63.48% in the AFN, confirming the importance of this family in the area studied and also in the diet of their predators. Among the species with greatest occurrence Ornitoteuthis antillarum was the most representative in both regions. This species had an average mantle length of 54.25 mm, thus demonstrating that the majority of this population is in the juvenile stage of development. The smallest species found was Argonauta nodosa with a mantle length of 4.06 mm and the largest was Ommastrephes bartrami, with 223.33 mm. In the AFN, the species richness (d) was 2.318, the diversity index (H ') was 1.454 and the measure of evenness (J) was 0.585. In the ASPSP, the species richness (d) was 2.66, the Shannon diversity index (H ') was 1.013 and the measure of evenness (J) was 0.373. AFN has a greater cephalopod diversity than ASPSP, confirming the pattern suggested by the Theory of Island Biogeography. Among the occurrence of prey items for all predators, the cephalopods are secondary preys. The most important cephalopod species in the diet of Thunnus albacares and Acantocybium solandri was Ornithoteuthis antillarum. These predators have different niche width the diet of Thunnus albacares is more specialized, but they have an overlap of 84.684% in the trophic niche, suggesting that in the ASPSP these two species may use similar niches

Ocupação de área e interações de golfinhos-rotadores (Stenella longirostris) com o turismo náutico no Arquipélago de Noronha/PE, Brasil

Several works characterize the presence of spinner dolphins at Fernando de Noronha Archipelago in the Dolphins Bay. Though, the dolphins abidance inside this cove has decreased and a new area has been occupied by the animals to achieve the same behaviors, that are resting, breeding and nursing. This area comprises the Inside Sea northeast border of Fernando s de Noronha Island, including the opposing Middle and Dog shore area, the San Antonio Bay and the Between Islands region. The aim was to characterize the dolphins occupation and describe their interactions with the tourism in this area. Data were collected in 2008 and 2009 through a fixed point observation. The study area was divided into seven sub-areas, recording: presence/absence of dolphins, days abidance endurance, abidance length in each area, estimated number of individuals, dolphins direction and speed of displacement, boats presence, interaction period, monitoring, boats attitude and velocity. The dolphins abidance time displayed the same pattern during both years of study, with the higher occupancy in the Between Islands region. Groups with farther than 200 individuals were more frequent both 2008 (46.2%) and 2009 (42.3%). Thus the displacement s slow speed as the preferred direction towards Rat Island also showed the same pattern in both years. The Between Islands region also presented the boats major abidance near the dolphins groups. Boats moved farther in slow speed (95%) than at high speed (5%). The legislation s compliance for the cetaceans protection occurred in 89.7% of 2.839 interactions between boats and spinners, in which this variable was recorded. Whenever boats moved at a slow speed during the meetings with spinner dolphins groups, animals also moved at a slow speed (n = 337), significantly more than the fast displacements (n = 128) ix or "porpoise" (n = 4) (X2 = 318.543, p = -0.001). When boats quickly passed by groups, a significant difference between the dolphins displacement speeds was observed (X2 = 18.264, p =- 0.001), however, the slow (47%) and fast (47% ) displacements frequency was equal, noted the difference with the porpoise displacements (6%), which had the lowest frequency. Data indicate the establishment of a new occupation pattern of the spinner dolphins at Fernando de Noronha, with the Between Islands area being of great importance to the dolphins habits and currently the main area of the boats meeting with the dolphins, showing the need of new conservation measures in this area

Caracterização da frequência de atividades aéreas do golfinho-rotador, Stenella longirostris (Gray, 1828), na Baía dos Golfinhos do Parque Nacional Marinho de Fernando de Noronha

The aerial activities, leaps and slaps with parts of the body in the surface of water, are part of the behavioral repertoire of several species of cetaceans. Among them, the spinner dolphin, Stenella longirostris, shows greater diversity in such behavior. For the spinner dolphins of Fernando de Noronha, the aerial activities are classified as vertical and horizontal, with eight patterns to be noted (tail slap, head slap, motor boating, partial leap, leap, spin, tail over head and tail over head with spin) discriminated between these categories. Such behaviors can be used as a parameter to identify behavioral changes, as well as patterns of daily and seasonal activity. In this manner, this study aimed to characterize the frequency in performance of such activity while the dolphins were within the Dolphin Bay of Fernando de Noronha, and verify possible daily and seasonal hourly fluctuations on such behaviors. The data analyzed in this study was acquired during the period of January 2006 through December 2010, totaling 1431 days of observation from land set point, with 113027 aerial activities registered, daily average of 72,27 (SD=96,10). During 5478h and 54 min of observation the horizontal aerial activity was the most observed and rotation was the most executed pattern. Greater frequency of execution of aerial activity was observed in adults, but for both adults and calves, was observed a predominance of horizontal activities, with spin being the pattern most executed. Positive correlation was observed between the amount of aerial activity performed and the number of animals inside the Bay. Hourly daily fluctuation was observed in the expression of aerial activities by spinner dolphins, and was observed a peak of activity between 8h and 8h59min for the overall frequency relative of aerial activities, as well as for the categories and patterns. Seasonal differences were observed between the rainy and dry season with the greater amount of activity being observed during the rainy season. Nevertheless, the same profile of frequency relative of aerial activity was observed in both seasons with the peak amount being during the same period. When discriminated the aerial activities in categories and patterns, for both seasons, there was a similar pattern of hourly fluctuation; for most of parameters, higher frequency relative of execution of aerial activity remain between 8h and 8h59min

Um enfoque psicológico da educação ambiental no contexto da gestão: uma experiência de Fernando de Noronha

Currently, many companies pay attention to the necessities of change of attitude in relation to the use of the natural resources and the environment quality of its products, mainly to keep a positive and competitive image in the market. This new concept of management associates the productive activities to the care with environment using the education of environment as a tool of programs of qualification directed toward the promotion of pro-environment behaviors. For effectiveness of this management it is essential the attachment of the employees and the major understanding of the importance of the preservation of the environment. This was the objective of the qualification process carried out in a lodge in Fernando de Noronha island. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to verify the power of this management system which fulfills the objectives of the environmental education. It was applied questionnaires to employees of three Inns and carried out a interview, in one Inn, with the participants of the program of qualification. The analysis of the data showed that the actions as care with the environment are strongly associates to the management system, which includes garbage control, as well water economy. It was observed that the environment accomplishment (EcoAntro) of the employees with environment decreases in proportion to their qualification. In the same way, as higher the instruction level, of the speaker and/or of the father, less is the apathy for environmental questions. It was also noticed that the knowledge about the development sustainability was very poorly used by the interviewed. The pro-environment behavior mentioned before, is not necessarily related to a local autonomy posture that could express a behavior related to job but not to environment it self. Therefore, a complete understanding about the reverberation of environment information an all the placed factors in a life stile facing a construction of sustainability remains as a question to be studied in future researches

Estrutura genética de Chromis multilineata (Guichenot, 1853) (Perciformes Pomacentridae) na costa NE do Brasil e ilhas oceânicas: evidências de um passado evolutivo instável.

The fauna of Brazilian reef fishes comprises approximately 320 species distributed along the coast of the mainland and islands ocean. Little is known about the levels of connectivity between their populations, but has been given the interest in the relations between the offshore and the islands of the Brazil, in a biogeographical perspective. The oceanic islands Brazilian hosting a considerable number of endemic species, which are locally abundant, and divide a substantial portion of its reef fish fauna with the Western Atlantic. Among the richest families of reef fish in species are Pomacentridae. This study analyzed through analysis of sequences of the mitochondrial DNA control region (D-loop), the standards-breeding population of C. Multilineata in different areas of the NE coast of Brazil, involving both oceanic islands (Fernando de Noronha Archipelago and of St. Peter and St. Paul) and continental shelf (RN and BA). To this aim, partial sequences were used in the region HVR1 of mtDNA (312pb). The population structure and parameters for the estimates of genetic variability, molecular variance (AMOVA), estimation of the index for fixing (FST) and number of migrants were determined. The phylogenetic relationships between the populations were estimated using neighbor-joining (NJ) method. A group of Bayesian analysis was used to verify population structure, according to haplotype frequency of each individual. The genetic variability of populations was extremely high. The populations sampled show moderate genetic structure, with a higher degree of genetic divergence being observed for the sample of the Archipelago of St. Peter and St. Paul. At smaller geographical scale, the sample of Rio Grande do Norte and the Archipelago of Fernando de Noronha do not have genetic differentiation. Three moderately differentiated population groups were identified: a population group (I), formed by the Rio Grande do Norte (I') and the archipelago of Fernando de Noronha (I''), and two other different groups formed by the island population of the archipelago of Saint Peter and St. Paul (II) and Bahia (III). The genetic patterns found suggest that the species has suffered a relatively recent radiation favoring the absence of shared haplotypes. C. multilineata seems to constitute a relatively homogenous population along the West Atlantic coast, with evidence of a moderate population genetic structure in relation to the Archipelago of St. Peter and St. Paul. These data supports the importance of the dispersal larvae by marine current and the interpopulation similarity this species.

Análise da estrutura genética populacional da piraúna (cephalopholis fulva: serranidae) ao longo da costa e ilhas oceânicas brasileiras

Brazil has about 8,500 km of coastline and on this scale, fishing is a historically important source of animal protein for human consumption. The national fishing background shows a growth of marine fishery production until 1985 and within this period it was recorded a steady decline. From the year 2003 fishing statistics aim to some "recovery" of the total fisheries production, which probably is related to a change in industry practice. The target of commercial fishing became smaller species with low commercial value, but very abundants. The coney, Cephalopholis fulva (Serranidae), is one of these species that have been suffering a greater fishing pressure in recent years. In order to provide data about the current situation of the genetic diversity of these populations, several molecular markers have been being used for this purpose. The prior knowledge of genetic variability is crucial for management and biodiversity conservation. To this end, the control region sequences (dloop) of mtDNA from Cephalopholis fulva (Serranidae) from five geographical points of the coast of Brazil (Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Bahia and Espírito Santo) and the Archipelago of Fernando de Noronha (FN) were sequenced and their genetic diversity analyzed. The FST values were very low (0.0246 to 0.000), indicating high gene flow between the sampled spots. The indices h and indicate a secondary contact between previously allopatric lineages differentiated or large and stable populations with long evolutionary history. Tests of Tajima and Fu showed expansion for all populations. In contrast, the mismatch distribution and SSD indicated expansion just for coastal populations. Unlike other species of the Atlantic which have been deeply affected by events on later Pleistocene, the population-genetic patterns of C. fulva may be related to recent events occurred approximately 130,000 years ago. Moreover, the data presented by geographical samples of the specie C. fulva showed high genetic diversity, also indicating the absence of deleterious effects of over-exploitation on this specie, as well as evidence of complete panmixia between all sampled populations