DataSheet_1_From fisher tales to scientific evidence: revealing the significance of estuarine and mangrove habitats as nursery grounds for juveniles of the largest Atlantic Ocean snapper.docx

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 to better guide management and conservation efforts, particularly for understudied species. Here, we investigated the habitat preferences, population status, fishing, sightings patterns, threats, and habitat characteristics of juveniles of the cubera snapper, the largest snapper in the Atlantic Ocean. We used a combination of empirical evidence from underwater surveys by using small-action cameras and an ethnological perspective based on fishers’ perceptions who are cubera-snapper fishing specialists to have a comprehensive understanding of the species and habitat use during its early life stages. A range of estuarine habitats was examined over a year to assess the association between cubera snapper juveniles and different estuarine characteristics and conservation scenarios. Both sources of data indicated that cubera snapper juveniles heavily rely on mangrove habitats, exhibiting a clear temporal pattern of residence within these habitats. However, the probability of occurrence varied based on the level of coastal development in each estuarine system. Estuaries with small drainage areas, directly connected to the ocean, and presenting larger mangrove areas accounted for the highest abundances of juveniles. Factors such as mangrove removal, overfishing, and water pollution significantly reduced the occurrence and reliance of cubera snapper juveniles in the studied estuaries. The study represents the first attempt to shed light on the ecological aspects of cubera snapper juveniles, addressing a gap in their life cycle. It underscores the importance of integrating complementary sources of evidence to understand the relationships between the crucial life stage of cubera snappers, their habitats, and the threats they face. The ecological and ethnographic knowledge gained from this research should be incorporated into biomonitoring and conservation policy to effectively preserve this vulnerable top predator.

地方及土著社群所持有的知识，已被公认为理解环境、地方条件及鱼类种群随时间变化的无价但尚未充分利用的资源。关于鱼类种群规模、生态及对鱼类物种及其栖息地的威胁的实证信息，可通过结合当地知识，以更好地指导管理和保护工作，尤其是对研究不足的物种而言。在本研究中，我们调查了加勒比海中最大鲷鱼——加勒比红鲷幼鱼的栖息地偏好、种群状况、捕捞、目击模式、威胁以及栖息地特征。我们结合了水下调查的实证证据，包括使用小型动作相机，以及基于加勒比红鲷捕鱼专家的感知的民俗学视角，以全面理解该物种及其早期生活阶段的栖息地利用情况。在一年内对一系列河口栖息地进行考察，以评估加勒比红鲷幼鱼与不同河口特征及保护情景之间的关联。两种数据来源均表明，加勒比红鲷幼鱼高度依赖红树林栖息地，在这些栖息地内的居住表现出明显的时序模式。然而，发生概率因每个河口系统的海岸开发水平而异。排水面积小、直接通向海洋且拥有较大红树林区域的河口，拥有最高的幼鱼丰度。如红树林砍伐、过度捕捞和水污染等因素，显著降低了加勒比红鲷幼鱼在研究河口中的出现频率和依赖程度。本研究首次尝试揭示加勒比红鲷幼鱼的生态学方面，填补了其生命周期研究中的空白。它强调了将互补的证据来源整合以理解加勒比红鲷关键生命阶段、其栖息地以及所面临的威胁之间关系的重要性。从本研究中获得的生态学和民俗学知识，应纳入生物监测和保护政策中，以有效保护这一易受威胁的顶级捕食者。