Population structure and habitat connectivity of Pogonias courbina (Perciformes, Sciaenidae) in two Brazilian lagoon systems on south-east coast of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, inferred from otolith shape and elemental signatures

The delimitation of fish stocks and how species use habitats are essential keys to develop and to implement fishery resources management and rational sustainable programs. Otolith shape and microchemistry analyses can provide helpful information for defining population units and solving ecological connectivity issues. The black drum, Pogonias courbina, is an important fishery resource in the southeastern Brazil lagoon systems, and is considered a vulnerable fish according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Thus, the present study aimed to understand the population structure and habitat connectivity of P. courbina in two lagoon systems in the south-east coast of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A total of 60 individuals were collected from the lagoons of Saquarema (SQ) and Araruama (AR), between November 2019 and April 2020. Thirty individuals from each location, all estimated to be two years old based on the counting of the annual growth increments, were used. The composition (multi-elemental signatures – MES) and shape (elliptic Fourier descriptors – EFD) of the sagittal otoliths were integrated to evaluate the population structure and the habitat connectivity of the fish inside these lagoon systems. EFD showed differences between lagoon systems, with an overall reclassification rate of 97%. The MES exhibited distinct patterns between lagoon systems, mainly driven by differences in Ba/Ca, Co/Ca, Li/Ca, Mg/Ca, Ni/Ca, Sr/Ca, and Zn/Ca ratios. The overall reclassification rate for MES was also 97% (93% and 100% for SQ and ARA, respectively). The overall reclassification rate obtained using both EFD and MES was 98%. The results suggest a clear spatial discrimination and low connectivity between these groups of two years old P. coubina individuals living in the studied lagoon systems. These findings imply that small-scale artisanal fisheries in the lagoon systems require more attention, aiming to maximize local management strategies for commercially exploited species.