The use of otoliths as a tool to evaluate the habitat use of two species of socioeconomic importance in the Ribeira de Iguape River, South of the state of São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

The lack of information about fish stocks in the Ribeira Valley, south of São Paulo, has led to the disorderly exploitation of fishery resources of social and economic value. In view of this scenario, the present study will investigate the habitat use by the broadband anchovy, Anchoviella lepidentostole, and the fat snook, Centropomus parallelus, in the Ribeira de Iguape River Basin, an important fishing area of Southeastern Brazil. Through the chemical composition of the otoliths, it is expected is expected to gain a better understanding about the habitat use, especially the migratory patterns, of these two important species of anadromous fish. The results may have direct application in the management of these resources, since the tendency of overexploitation of both species in the region since the 1990s has been reported.