Tommaso Giarrizzo

Universidade Federal do Ceará | UFC · Instituto de Ciências do Mar (LABOMAR)

Plastic materials have many destinies on the environment, and one of them is its continuous fragmentation, originating microplastics (MP). MP act as an adsorption surface for organic pollutants like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Due to its toxic and harmful properties, 16 PAH are defined as priorities in studies. Several works have evalua...

The knowledge held by local and indigenous communities has been recognized as an invaluable yet underused resource for understanding how the environment, local conditions, and fish populations change over time. Empirical information on population sizes, ecology, and threats to fish species and their habitats can be complemented with local knowledge...

Invasive species are continuously introduced in several ecosystems from human activities. Aquaculture activities are noteworthy among the many different species introduction vectors currently in place, generating a pattern of constant, frequent or massive release of propagules into aquatic ecosystems, increasing species establishment success rates....

Pollution by plastics is a worldwide problem on par with climatic change and biological invasions. In coastal sediments, plastic particles tend to accumulate and persist over the long term. We assessed the plastic pollution using a standardized surface sediment sampling protocol on 22 sandy beaches along >4600 km of the Brazilian coast. The abundan...

Intertidal ecology has been considered the cradle of modern marine ecology with insightful investigations on the biological and ecological mechanisms allowing “life between the tides”. Most of the early investigations focused on macrophytes (seagrasses and macroalgae) and benthic invertebrates inhabiting emerged intertidal substrata. However, tidep...

Metacommunity theory seeks to explain how local and regional processes contribute to the organisation of biological communities. Recent conceptual frameworks of this theory indicate that the dynamics of populations and communities are jointly established by dispersal, species responses to environmental conditions and biotic interactions dependent o...

The role of Amazon on the transport and as a source of microplastics (MPs) to the ocean is uncertain. This study is an assessment on the distribution of MPs and microfibers (MFs) in a portion of the Amazon delta. Guajará bay is a potential source for surrounding waters, since a metropolis is located at the right margin. Surface water samples were c...

Microplastic (MP) pollution has been detected in coral reefs, raising concerns regarding its global impact. Although they cover a small portion (<1%) of the total area of the world's oceans, coral reefs are geological and biological structures that trap MPs and disproportionately enhance their accumulation. In this review, we attempted to understan...

Graphical abstract Highlights d Ecological metadata were compiled for 7,694 sites across the Brazilian Amazon d Accessibility and proximity to research facilities influenced research probability d Knowledge gaps are greater in uplands than in wetlands and aquatic habitats d Undersampled areas overlap predicted hotspots of climate change and defores...

In 2020, multiple lionfish (Pterois spp.) records along the equatorial Southwestern (SW) Atlantic revealed a new expansion of these potentially damaging invasive populations, which could impact over 3500 km of Brazilian coastline over the next few years, as well as unique ecosystems and marine protected areas in its path. To assess the taxonomic st...

Aim: Additive diversity partitioning has been used to explain the accumulation of diversity at different spatial scales with relative success. In lotic ecosystems, the spatial extent is extremely relevant in studies of diversity accumulation, because it encompasses environmental variation that causes changes in the observed communities. Despite of...

The introduction of non-native species (NNS) and the resulting biological invasions are conspicuous features of the Anthropocene Epoch. Parallel to these phenomena, some initiatives (political, social and scientific) have sought to value and protect invasive populations, recognizing some benefits that NNS may deliver to people and nature. Given thi...

Falta de critério científico e distorções de informações no texto “Invasoras, Casuais ou Naturalizadas?Buscando uma classificação científica para as tilápias”, publicado na Revista Panorama da AQÜICULTURAem 20/04/2023, por Sergio Zimmermann, Renata M. Barroso Bertolini, Bruno M. Queiroz, Bernardo Baldisserotto e Danilo Streit. https://panoramadaaq...

Anthropogenic marine debris and invasive species are pervasive in the ocean. However, research on the mechanisms and dynamics controlling their distribution in marine systems (e.g.; by floating debris acting as vectors for invasive species) is limited. Applying a numerical modeling approach, we demonstrate that rafting invasive corals (Tubastraea s...

A global survey of coral reefs reveals that overfishing is driving resident shark species toward extinction, causing diversity deficits in reef elasmobranch (shark and ray) assemblages. Our species level analysis revealed global declines of 60 to 73% for five common resident reef shark species and that individual shark species were not detected at...

A global survey of coral reefs reveals that overfishing is driving resident shark species toward extinction, causing diversity deficits in reef elasmobranch (shark and ray) assemblages. Our species-level analysis revealed global declines of 60 to 73% for five common resident reef shark species and that individual shark species were not detected at...

Local Ecological Knowledge and social perceptions of human communities that depend on natural resources can provide important baseline information on local threats and impacts at a fine scale for conservation management. Seahorses play important economic role in Brazilian mangroves, being sought-after for seahorse-watching tours. This touristic act...

Brazil’s federal Law 12,651/2012 (popularly known as the “Forest Code”) requires “Permanent Preservation Areas”, known as “APPs”, which are strips of protected vegetation along the edges of watercourses. The widths of the strips vary, depending on the width of the watercourse, and the law applies to both rural and urban aquatic ecosystems. However,...

Purpose: Introduced or invasive fish are susceptible to new parasites but can simultaneously carry infectious parasites from their native range towards new hosts. Screening these parasites is key to address the health of fish populations and spread of diseases. Methods: In this study, we sequenced a Coccidia parasite, for the first time from the...

After successful invasions in the Caribbean and Mediterranean, lionfish (Pterois spp.) have recently invaded another important biogeographical region —the Brazilian Province. In this article, we discuss this new invasion, focusing on a roadmap for urgent mitigation of the problem, as well as focused research and management strategies. The invasion...

Analysis of small-scale inland fisheries (SSIFs) is often highly dispersed and tends not reflect the true magnitude of their contribution to society. This is partly due to the insufficient attention given to this sector by the relevant authorities, in addition to its highly diverse characteristics, with complex patterns of operation in a wide range...

The drift movement consists of the displacement of the organisms inside the water column which allows its passive locomotion. This movement will result in a variation of the communities of organisms along the river, generating spatial patterns. Based on this, we tested the hypotheses a) the drift of individuals in an upstream- downstream direction...

The abundance and dispersion of plastic particles in aquatic ecosystems has become pervasive resulting in the incorporation of these materials into food webs. Here we describe the first record of plastic ingestion by the freshwater white-blotched river stingray Potamotrygon leopoldi (Potamotrygonidae), an endemic and threatened species in the Xingu...

This paper was one of the most downloaded during its first 12 months of publication in FISHERIES

Aquatic ecosystems are often exposed to a complex mixture of pollutants that can have a negative influence on the health of the resident organisms. In this context, it is crucial to understand the biological responses of the different organisms that inhabit impacted areas to identify biomonitors that are representative of alterations in the local b...

Recent theoretical studies suggest that food webs are size-structured with top predators coupling different energy sources, but evidence for this hypothesis is still scarce, especially in highly diverse tropical rivers. Here, we explored the association between body size, trophic position, and the use of allochthonous and autochthonous basal produc...

Mangroves provide a vital role in mitigating climate change through sequestering large amounts of carbon. Brazil contains the second largest extent of mangroves in the world, with 77% of this adjacent to the Amazon estuary, a largely understudied region, due to its extent and inaccessibility. To address this, this study analysed rates of carbon seq...

Microphilypnus and Leptophilypnion are miniaturized genera within the family Eleotridae. The evolutionary relationships among these taxa are still poorly understood, and molecular analyses are restricted to mitochondrial genes, which have not been conclusive. We compiled both mitochondrial and nuclear genes to study the phylogenetic position of Mic...

Generating accurate estimates of the number of vessels in fishing ports using traditional methods (i.e., ground- and boat-based) can be challenging as observations are distorted by an horizontal perspective. Automated inspection using drones is an emerging research alternative for this type of investigation. However, the drone-based and ground- and...

Plastics are one of the most used materials in the world. Their indiscriminate use and inappropriate disposal have led to inevitable impacts, for instance ingestion, on the environment arousing the attention of the global community. In addition, plastic ingestion studies are often written in scientific jargon or hidden behind paywalls, which makes...

Here we report the use of plastics by Chrysomus ruficapillus (Vieillot, 1819) (Passeriformes: Icteridae), popularly known as “Garibaldi”, in its nesting activities. The phenomenon was registered on October 17, 2020 near Furnas reservoir, upper Paraná River Basin, in Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. We also discuss the possible negative effects —...

Lionfish are Indo-Pacific venomous fish that are present now in American waters of the Atlantic Ocean. This manuscript report the first envenomation caused by a lionfish in Brazilian Atlantic Ocean, in the Northeast region of the country and alert for new cases and the preventive measures to be applied.

Abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing nets (i.e., ghost nets) strongly affect biodiversity in marine ecosystems of numerous localities around the world. Based on videos posted by different people in YouTube™, we accessed the negative effects of these gears in the Mediterranean Sea. We identified 86 species, from 12 groups, in 12 countries...

Lionfish (Pterois spp.) evolved in the Indo-Pacific with predators and prey and invaded regions (e.g., the Caribbean Sea and Mediterranean) where no such balance yet exists. In 2020, four lionfish were recorded on mesophotic reefs of the Amazon offshore Coast and Fernando de Noronha Archipelago. However, until now, there were no records of invasive...

The presence of plastic waste in the marine environment has driven the scientific community to make significant efforts to study and mitigate its possible effects. One of the critical aspects is to determine if and how an increase in ingestion events may occur as a result of the accumulation of plastic waste on the seabed. In this study, G. melasto...

The frequency and duration of exceptionally intense droughts is increasing as a consequence of ongoing climate change in many regions of the planet. Lower rain fall in some regions and the increasing in the use of water resources by human populations is increasing the number of water bodies experiencing drying processes. Such changes in ecosystem d...

We examined advertisements for fishing nets and surveyed the mesh sizes and chemical compositions of the nets offered for sale by two major online markets in Brazil: AliExpress and Mercado Livre. Here, we discuss the ways in which this unregulated commerce facilitates illegal fishing and impacts biodiversity, and we provide suggestions for regulati...

Omobranchus punctatus is native to the Indo-Pacifc region and invasive in the Atlantic region, currently being considered one of the most widely distributed blenny species. However, recent molecular studies indicated that O. punctatus is a complex of species, with three divergent mtDNA lineages identifed to date, stressing the need for a taxonomic...

Trindade, P.A.A., J.S. Araújo, V.M. Azevedo-Santos, F.W. Keppeler, T. Giarrizzo & P.M. Fearnside. 2022. Guerra serve de desculpa para destruição da Amazônia. Amazônia Real, 09 de junho de 2022. https://amazoniareal.com.br/guerra-serve-de-desculpa-para-destruicao-da-amazonia/

The composition and distribution of microplastics (MPs) in the Brazilian Amazon Continental Shelf surface waters are described for the first time. The study was conducted during the 2018 rainy and dry seasons, using 57 water samples collected with aluminum buckets and filtered through a 64-μm mesh. The samples were vacuum filtered in a still-air bo...

Fishing monitoring to gather fishery dynamic data is usually land-based or carried from onboard inspections. However, direct georeferencing of fishing activities using aerial drones is a versatile and easy option that can potentially improve fishery studies , especially in Marine Protected Areas. We investigated the utility of aerial images to unde...

The red porgy (Pagrus pagrus) is a carnivore bottom dweller sparid, inhabiting flat sandy bottoms, rhodolith and seagrass beds of the Mediterranean Sea, the Western Atlantic (from Florida to Argentina) and the Eastern Atlantic (from Britain to Gabon). Along its native range, the red porgy is highly targeted by commercial and artisanal fisheries, in...

In the last decades, mega-diverse rivers worldwide (e.g., the Amazon and their tributaries) have experienced several human-driven transformations, although impact assessments oftentimes lack baseline data or reference values to better estimate observed disturbances. Herein, we assessed THg and δ15N in fish muscle tissue to determine biomagnificatio...

Hydropower is a threat to freshwater fishes. Despite a recent boom in dam construction, few studies have assessed their impact on mega-diverse tropical rivers. Using a before-after study design, we investigated the early impacts of the Belo Monte hydroelectric complex, the third-largest hydropower project in the world, on fishes of the Xingu River,...

While marine protected areas (MPAs) are increasing worldwide, it is still needed to assess the effectiveness of those already consolidated. Methods and ecological assessments to understanding integrated and habitat-specific management regimes are still scarce and insufficient for policy implications and biodiversity conservation. Through Baited Rem...

Geographic isolation, a relatively low species richness and high endemism make oceanic islands excellent natural laboratories for ecological and evolutionary studies. Here we used Baited Remote Underwater stereo-Video systems (stereo-BRUVS) to investigate the taxonomic, trophic and size structures of fish assemblages from pelagic and mesophotic ree...

The present study evaluated As, Hg, Pb and Cd burdens in both ecologically and commercially important 314 marine fishes belonging to 47 species sampled along the Amazon Coast. We specifically investigated variations in these four elements among different habitats and their relationships with trophic position and estimated potential human health ris...

The presence of plastic waste in the marine environment has driven the scientific community to make significant efforts to study and mitigate its possible effects. One of the critical aspects is to determine if and how an increase in ingestion events may occur as a result of the accumulation of plastic waste on the seabed. In this study, G. melasto...

Microphilypnus and Leptophilypnion are miniaturized genera within the family Eleotridae. The evolutionary relationships among these taxa are still poorly understood and molecular analyses are restricted to mitochondrial genes, which have not been conclusive. We compiled both mitochondrial and nuclear genes in order to study the phylogenetic positio...

Beach litter represents a worldwide problem impacting both terrestrial and aquatic environments. In the present study, we assessed beach litter pollution in a prominent touristic site in Brazil, the Jericoacoara National Park. In particular, we applied a delta-generalized additive modeling (GAM) approach in order to investigate pollution hotspots a...

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are increasingly used in marine wildlife research and have rapidly expanded across many scientific disciplines. As recent technological developments have improved the versatility and functionality of UAVs, the potential of these systems for research on small-scale and artisanal fisheries has grown considerably, altho...

Dozens of marine fish species are known to form spawning aggre-gations, a behaviour that often increases the species vulnerability to fisheries. Therefore, it is widely recommended for aggregation sites to be considered a conservation priority, and implementation of management measures on those sites is essential. Here, we report for the first time...

Niche partitioning occurs among coexisting populations to reduce the effects of competitive exclusion among species of similar niche. The aim of the present study is to verify the trophic niche partitioning and feeding behavior between two mustelids, the Giant otter and the Neotropical otter, through the dry and rainy season hydrologic of the Lower...

This study presents the first record of the occurrence of Cymothoa Fabricius, 1793 in northern Brazil, as well as in four- eyed fish Anableps anableps. The research was conducted in the Curuçá estuary, in northern Brazil, where 158 specimens of A. anableps were collected, with nine Cymothoa specimens being found on nine different fish. These isopod...

Tapajós Region, is an area with intense historical artisanal and small-scale gold mining. Therefore, the core objective of this study was to evaluate the environmental status of different rivers located in this region, using biomarker endpoints in Serrasalmus rhombeus as a tool. Fish and sediment were collected from two rivers, Tropas and Crepori,...

Abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) is responsible for the entanglement of several marine species. Based on a search of digital media (i.e., Google and YouTubeBR), we assessed the negative im- pacts of ghost nets—a type of ALDFG—on Brazilian marine biodiversity. We found that ghost nets negatively affected crustaceans, fi...

Dams cause profound changes in the structure of environments and local fishing practices. One example of these impacts is the Tucuruí dam, in the southeast of the state of Pará, in northern Brazil. The changes were gradual, but eventually established unique fishery systems and capture techniques that were consolidated over time. The present study u...

The natural flood pulse of the Amazon basin has been altered progressively by the installation of hydroelectric dams, which have had a potentially adverse impact on the local fauna. Fish are sensitive to environmental changes, and one the way to assess how they respond is through the analysis of life history traits, such as growth patterns and repr...