Climate crisis influence in the mesopelagic ichthyofauna during the Anthropocene

• Grant number: 23/09027-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: November 01, 2023
• End date: October 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Oceanography - Geological Oceanography
• Principal Investigator: Michel Michaelovitch de Mahiques
• Grantee: Natasha Travenisk Hoff
• Host Institution: Instituto Oceanográfico (IO). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 20/14356-5 - The Santos Bifurcation: present and past, AP.TEM

Abstract

The primary objective of this project is to evaluate the impact of global warming on mesopelagic ichthyofauna along the Brazilian Southeastern continental margin during the Anthropocene. This will provide valuable insights into the potential effects of temperature rise on marine fish and contribute to the development of paleoichthyological knowledge. We will focus on analyzing otoliths obtained from marine sediment cores, considering community, individual, and microstructural aspects. The research will proceed through the following steps: 1. examination of sedimentary core samples to assess temporal variations in mesopelagic ichthyofauna composition during the Anthropocene; 2. retrocalculation of the total body length of mesopelagic actinopterygians during the Anthropocene using the morphometric characteristics of otoliths and the body size of contemporary fishes; 3. evaluation of changes in otolith crystallization by examining the proportion of calcium carbonate polymorphs; 4. reconstruction of temperature variations during the analyzed period, establishing relationships with observed temporal changes in ichthyofauna composition, the total length of actinopterygians, and otolith crystallization. In addition to publishing scientific articles, we also intend to disseminate popular science works through the scientific communication platform "Bate-Papo com Netuno", as well as the Facebook and Instagram pages of the participating laboratories and institutions.