DEEP-OCEAN: sorting and identification of deep-sea fishes

• Grant number: 22/07651-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2022
• End date: June 30, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Oceanography - Biological Oceanography
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Roberto Souto de Melo
• Grantee: Julia Yumi Ibanhez
• Host Institution: Instituto Oceanográfico (IO). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 17/12909-4 - Diversity and evolution of deep-sea fishes: DEEP-OCEAN, AP.BTA.JP

Abstract

Two oceanographic cruises were conducted onboard the N/Oc Alpha Crucis during the DEEP-OCEEAN Project, focusing the Brazilian continental slope off Ilhabela (SP) and Florianópolis (SC), in 2019 and 2022, respectively. The captures were obtained in depths from 250 to 1,500 m and resulted on the collections of about 6,000 fish specimens, including both chondrichthyans and osteichthyans. The specimens were fixed onboard in formalin 10% and then transferred for permanent preservation in ethanol 70% at the Laboratory of Diversity and Evolution of Fishes of the Oceanographic Institute of the USP. Prior to fixation, about 1,500 samples of musculature were collected from all species obtained for the molecular analyses. The objectives of the present proposal are to sort and identify the fish species collected, including a literature review about select taxonomic groups and the organization of the molecular samples for further deposit in scientific collections. Besides, the 4th DEEP-OCEAN expedition is predicted to happen in December 2022, when the student will have her first opportunity to participate in a scientific expedition.(AU)