ARTICLE / ARTIGO

Holocene invertebrates from the Rocas Atoll: A contribution for the ecological history of South Atlantic islands*

Invertebrados holocénicos do Atol das Rocas: contribuição para a história ecológica das ilhas do Atlântico Sul

 

 

Marcelo de Oliveira Soares^{@, 1, 2}; Cristiane Xerez Barrosoa¹; Ítalo Cesar Camelo Soares Limaa¹; Maria Marlúcia Freitas Santiago³; Valesca Brasil Lemos⁴

 

^@Corresponding author to whom correspondence should be addressed: Soares <bio_marcelo@yahoo.com.br>
¹Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Instituto de Ciências do Mar (LABOMAR), Av. Abolição, 3207, CEP 60165-081, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
²Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals (ICTA), Edifici Z, 081093, Barcelona, Spain.
³Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Departamento de Física, Av.Mister Hull, 60455-760, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
⁴Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Departamento de Paleontologia e Estratigrafia, Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500, CEP 91509-900, Proto Alegre-RS, Brasil.

 

 

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ABSTRACT

The South Atlantic Ocean is the youngest of the world’s oceans and one of the most important biodiversity hotspots; however, there is a lack of scientific knowledge about its ecological history. Here, we present the first results of a fossil invertebrate survey from the Rocas Atoll. By using radiometric dating (¹⁴C) and a survey of fossilized benthic invertebrates on this atoll, we provide new paleobiogeographic and paleoceanographic information. The results suggest eight taxa (five mollusks, two corals, and one decapod). Dates ranged from 3449 ± 790 y BP to 3033 ± 620 y BP. The data represent new invertebrate records for the middle Holocene in this atoll, and evidence of sea-level changes in this period. Considering that the Rocas Atoll is one of the newest marine atolls in the world, these results suggest recent colonization by species from the Southwestern Atlantic Coast and Fernando de Noronha Archipelago.

Keywords: Paleoceanography, Benthic communities, Paleobiogeography

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RESUMO

O Atlântico Sul é o oceano mais recente e um dos mais importantes hotspots de biodiversidade; entretanto, há uma lacuna no conhecimento científico sobre sua história ecológica. Aqui, são apresentados os primeiros resultados de um estudo sobre invertebrados fósseis do Atol das Rocas. Utilizando datação radiométrica (¹⁴C) e levantamento de invertebrados bentônicos fossilizados desse atol, são fornecidas novas informações paleobiogegráficas e paleoceanográficas. Os resultados mostram a ocorrência de oito táxons (cinco moluscos, dois corais e um crustáceo decápoda), com datas variando de 3449 ± 790 a 3033 ± 620 anos antes do presente. Os dados revelam novos registros de invertebrados para o Holoceno Médio nesse atol e novas evidências de mudanças no nível do mar durante esse período. Considerando que o Atol das Rocas é um dos mais recentes atóis do mundo, esses resultados sugerem uma colonização recente por espécies advindas da costa do Atlântico Sul Ocidental e do Arquipélago de Fernando de Noronha.

Palavras-chave: costa sudeste brasileira, elementos potencialmente tóxicos, extração sequencial, Risk Assessment Code (RAC)

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1. Introduction

The South Atlantic Ocean is the youngest of all oceans and one of most important biodiversity hotspots in the world (Neraudeau & Mathey, 2000; Roberts et al., 2002; Miloslavich et al., 2011). This ocean has some important and particular biogeographic and ecological characteristics such as isolation, biogeographic barriers, geomorphology, reef types, and oceanic islands (Hachich et al., 2015). St. Helena is one of the most isolated oceanic islands. Other islands located far from the Brazilian coast are Ascension, Trindade, and St. Paul’s Rocks. Closer to the continental shores, but still far enough to demonstrate the effects of isolation are Fernando de Noronha Archipelago and Rocas Atoll (Joyeux et al., 2001). The paleobiogeography and paleoecology of the Indian and Pacific Ocean islands have been more frequently studied than those of the South Atlantic Ocean (McDowall, 2005; Hickerson & Meyer, 2008). The South American marine biodiversity is the least well known among tropical sub-regions (with the exception of Costa Rica and Panama) (Miloslavich et al., 2011).

Beach rocks are common inorganic deposits in tropical areas (Irion et al., 2012) and form in the oceans and along the coast, such as the calcarenites in atolls (Pereira et al., 2007, Woodroffe, 2008). Beach sandstone banks are structures that provide evidence for coastline dislocation in relation to the continent (Davies & Kinsey, 1973, Mauz et al., 2015), provide paleobiogeographic data (Shen et al., 2013), and cause vertical variations in the sea level (Spurgeon et al., 2003; Morais et al., 2009, Erginal et al., 2013). Studies on tropical Atlantic reefs, particularly of the barrier reefs and atolls in the Caribbean region (Stoddart et al., 1982, Beier, 1985, Gischler & Lomando, 1997) have shown that beach rocks can be used as indicators of sea-level oscillations and ecological history of atolls during the Holocene.

Atolls are ring-shaped oceanic reefs that commonly include an internal lagoon and islands formed by sandy Holocene deposits (Barry et al., 2007). Calcarenites have been reported on islands from Atolls (Stoddart & Cann, 1965; Woodroffe, 2008), although few studies have been conducted on the paleobiogeographic and paleoceanographic features of the tropical South Atlantic (Leão & Kikuchi, 2005, Irion et al., 2012, Angulo et al., 2013).

The Rocas Atoll is a unique atoll formation and potentially one of the most “pristine” reefs in South Atlantic (Longo et al., 2015). Several studies have been recently conducted on the atoll (for example, Gherardi & Bosence, 1999, 2001, 2005; Soares et al., 2011; Pereira et al., 2010, 2013, 2015; and Longo et al., 2015).

These studies involved the collection of geomorphological and biological data, but to our knowledge, no studies have been conducted on fossilized benthic invertebrates that could provide information about the recent ecological history. The Rocas Atoll is the only atoll in the tropical southwestern Atlantic and is one of the smallest in the world (Gherardi & Bosence, 2005). This makes the reef a significant source of information about the ecology and history of the South Atlantic Ocean (Longo et al., 2015). This study has two objectives: 1) to identify the fossilized benthic invertebrates in calcarenites on the Rocas Atoll, and 2) to determine, by radiometric dating (¹⁴C), the age of these records.

 

2. Material and Methods

2.1. Study site

The Rocas Atoll is located 267 km to the northeast of Brazil (mainland) and 148 km west of the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago (Supporting Information I). The tectonic setting and substrate character of the atoll were reviewed by Kikuchi & Leão (1997), who states that the Rocas Atoll and Fernando de Noronha Archipelago belonged to an alignment of seamounts, which is a branch of the meso-oceanic chain. In the Rocas Atoll, seawater temperature averages 27°C, but can reach 42°C in pools, and surface salinity varies between 36‰ and 37‰. The tide regime is semidiurnal and mesotidal, with the maximum variation of 2.7 m, leaving the reef flat and the calcarenites exposed at low tide (Gherardi & Bosence, 1999, 2001, Soares et al., 2011). According to the review by Kikuchi & Leão (1997), 80% of the waves come from E and 15% from NE, at a range of 4 to 7 s and heights of 1 to 2 m.

The atoll reef rim has a slightly elliptical shape, 3.5 km long (E-W) and 2.5 km wide. There are two sand cays on the atoll, Farol and Cemitério Islands, located on the leeward side and oriented SW-NE and SE-NW, respectively. They are accumulations of bioclastic calcareous sediments, mainly coralline algal fragments, generated by mechanical and biological breakdown (Gherardi & Bosence, 2001). Farol Island is the largest, with a length of 850 m and width of 250 m. Cemitério Island is 350 m long and 170 m wide. The maximum elevation of Farol Island is 3.7 m, and of Cemitério Island, 2.8 m (Kikuchi & Leão, 1997).

2.2. Methods

The field survey included identification of the calcarenite facies (Bioclastic / Peloidal Grainstones) in Cemitério Island in order to understand the geological context of the collected taxa. Samples (gastropod shells) for radiometric dating (¹⁴C) were collected from calcarenites 2.0 m above mean sea level (MSL). ¹⁴C datings were performed in the Physics Laboratory of Federal University of Ceará (UFC). Detailed methods are available in the Supporting Information II.

 

3. Results

Qualitative analysis revealed an assembly constituted by marine invertebrates such as mollusks (gastropods and bivalves), corals, and crustaceans (Table I). Gastropods were the most prevalent animal group including four species.

 

 

Gastropods showed the greatest diversity, represented by Lithopoma tectum (Lightfoot, 1786), Hipponix incurvus (Gmelin, 1791), Malea noronhensis (Kempf and Matthews, 1969), and Tonna pennata (Morch, 1853). The only bivalve observed was Codakia orbicularis (Linnaeus, 1758), which is representative of the infauna of unconsolidated sediments. The scleractinian corals, Favia gravida (Verrill, 1868) and Siderastrea stellata (Verrill, 1868), are represented by fossilized components identified in this survey. The decapod Johng-arthia lagostoma (Milne-Edwards, 1835) was also recorded.

Radiometric dating of the calcarenite ranged from 3449 ± 790 y BP to 3033 ± 620 y BP, situating the samples in the middle Holocene (Quaternary). Considering this data, a theoretical model of these benthic communities can be proposed. This invertebrate assembly is probably representative of a low-energy subtidal environment; most likely, a back-reef lagoon ecosystem with a benthic community represented by two assemblies (I and II). Assembly I is indicative of an unconsolidated bottom assembly (T. pennata, M. noronhensis, C. orbicularis, and J. lagostoma). On the other hand, Assembly II indicates consolidated bottom community of coralline patch-reefs distributed on the bottom of the lagoon (H. incurvus, L. tectum, S. stellata, F. gravida).

 

4. Discussion

The gastropods T. pennata and M. noronhensis, belonging to the family Tonnidae, inhabit unconsolidated substrates (sand) in shallow water from the intertidal zone to a depth of 15 m (Kempf & Matthews, 1969, Rios, 1994, 2009). T. pennata is an anfiatlantic species widely distributed in the western Atlantic (records ranging from Bermuda, Florida, Caribbean Sea, Colombia, Venezuela, and Brazil) and the archipelagos of Madeira, Canary, and Cape Verde in the eastern Atlantic (Rios, 1994, 2009).

In Brazil, T. pennata occurs in the Brazilian northeast coastal zone (from Ceará to Bahia), in the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, and on the Rocas Atoll (Rios, 2009). The wide geographic distribution of T. pennata is likely due to its planktonic larval stage (planktotrophic veliger larvae), which increases its ability to disperse (Leal, 1991). On the other hand, M. noronhensis is endemic to the southwestern tropical Atlantic Islands (Fernando de Noronha Archipelago and Rocas Atoll). This species was described by Kempf & Matthews (1969) from empty shells, and no live specimens (with soft parts) have been collected so far. Kempf & Matthews (1969) also mention that this is the first recent record of the genus Malea from the Atlantic Ocean. Previous records were only of Tertiary fauna from Jamaica and Florida (Woodring, 1928).

The species H. incurvus (Gastropoda: Hipponicidae) inhabits consolidated substrates (mainly corals) in shallow waters (Rios, 1994, 2009; Simone, 2002). Restricted to the western Atlantic, H. incurvus shows a wide latitudinal distribution, occurring from North Carolina (USA) to Santa Catarina (Brazil), including the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Rocas Atoll, Abrolhos Archipelago, and the chain Vitoria-Trindade (Trindade Islands, Martin Vaz Archipelago, and some submarine mountains) (Leal, 1991; Rios, 1994, 2009; Simone, 2002). Similar to T. pennata, H. incurvus has a larval planktonic stage (lecithotrophic veliger larvae) that increases its ability to disperse.

L. tectum (Gastropoda: Turbinidae) is a species that inhabits consolidated substrate from the intertidal zone to a depth of 10 m (Rios, 1994, 2009). This species has only been recorded in the western Atlantic (Bahamas, Mexico, Caribe, Venezuela, and Brazil). In Brazil, L. tectum occurs in the costal zones of Rio Grande do Norte to Santa Catarina, Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Rocas Atoll, and Trindade Island (Leal, 1991, Rios, 1994, 2009). Similar to H. incurvus, L. tectum has a lecithotrophic veliger larva.

The species C. orbicularis (Bivalvia: Lucinidae) inhabits unconsolidated substrates (sandy and muddy) in shallow water (depth, 2–55 m) (Rios, 1994, 2009). This species has a restricted geographical distribution - the western Atlantic, with records from North Carolina to Brazil (from Ceará to São Paulo) (Rios, 1994, 2009). According to Gomes et al. (2006), C. orbicularis also occurs in Saint Paul’s Rocks and Fernando de Noronha Archipelago. To our knowledge, this is the first record of this species on the Rocas Atoll.

Corals are indicators of environmental variables in the ecosystems of the middle Holocene. S. stellata is known to exhibit tolerance for wide temperature variation, high rates of sedimentation and turbidity, and resistance to hydrodynamics (Leão et al., 2003). F. gravida is highly resistant to environmental variation, particularly variations in temperature, salinity, and turbidity. S. stellata and F. gravida are very common modern reef coral in the tropical southeast Atlantic coast and on the Rocas Atoll (Longo et al., 2015). J. lagostoma is a species of crab that lives on Ascension Island and on three other islands in the South Atlantic (Trindade Island, Fernando de Noronha, and Rocas Atoll) (Hartnoll et al., 2009). The biogeography of this species across a small number of islands in the southern Atlantic Ocean is very unusual and difficult to explain by planktonic dispersal. Hartnoll et al. (2009) suggested the existence of former islands, now submerged, which could have acted as “stepping stones” for the colonization of Ascension Island.

Gischler & Lomando (1997) reported that the main invertebrates found in the calcarenites of the barrier reefs and atolls of Belize were mollusks and corals. Kikuchi & Leão (1997) and Gherardi & Bosence (2005) noted the presence of coral and mollusks fragments on the Rocas Atoll; however, the benthic invertebrates were not identified. For the first time, to our knowledge, we identify eight invertebrate (mainly mollusks) fossilized species on the Rocas Atoll. Nevertheless, high levels of endemic species restricted to the northeast coast of Brazil or to the South Atlantic Islands were observed. Thus, islands present a diversity and stability paradox. They are often extremely poor in the number of species, but have considerable biological interest in terms of extraordinary endemic genera and taxonomically isolated groups (Cronk, 1997). The answer to this paradox is isolation from the continent and location in the ocean. The Rocas Atoll is located approximately 300 km from the South American continent. However, the data show species commonly found in the coastal zone (S. stellata and F. gravida are abundantly found corals on the coast of Brazil). The data also indicate invertebrate species such as M. noronhensis restricted to the South Atlantic Ocean Islands (J. lagostoma) and endemic to the insular Rocas Atoll / Fernando de Noronha complex.

Because of the extreme isolation of the shallow water, the tropical biota of the southwestern Atlantic region has stimulated much interest in terms of its taxonomic composition, origin, and evolution (Hachich et al., 2015). Large areas of biogeographic interest in the southern Atlantic are not well known; among these environments are oceanic islands with a reef fauna of low species diversity, presenting isolation effects (Floeter & Gasparini, 2000). Considering that the islands may vary in their age of formation, size, and distance from the coast, comparative studies among their paleofauna may reveal considerable information on the evolution patterns and distribution of sea species (Joyeux et al., 2001).

Centers of endemism predominate in areas isolated by distance or oceanography. For example, isolated islands rich in endemic species include St. Helena and Ascension Islands in the Atlantic Ocean. These endemism centers also occur where no reversing currents move water from the tropical to temperate latitudes (Roberts et al., 2002). The islands of the Rocas Atoll and Fernando de Noronha are situated in the Caribbean Province, in the Antillean sub-region, by virtue of their malacofauna. Faunal invasion probably occurs from St. Helena and the Ascension islands. The South Equatorial Current from the Gulf of Guinea, which flows into Cape São Roque, may be the main avenue for species introduction. The South Equatorial Current flows in the direction of Fernando de Noronha, crosses the region of the Rocas Atoll, with a constant westward drift at a speed of 0.8–1.0 knot (Kikuchi & Leão, 1997), and then to the southeastern tropical coast.

Radiometric datings of the calcarenite situate the samples in the middle Holocene (Quaternary). Gherardi & Bosence (2005) suggests that the development of beach rock can occur when a sufficiently large amount of detrital biogenic material is allowed to accumulate. Conditions necessary to ensure detrital material for beach rock formation includes constant, strong wind direction and absence of devastating storms. The same authors suggest that the present day Rocas Atoll topography may be the result of late Holocene SW Atlantic sea-level changes. The geologic history of the Rocas Atoll finishes at a short geological period with the oldest date only 4860 y BP ¹⁴C (Kikuchi & Leão, 1997). The data of Kikuchi & Leão (1997) and Gherardi & Bosence (2005) and the new biogeographic data from this study suggest a hypothesis of recent colonization on the Rocas Atoll, probably only in the Holocene, from the Tropical Southwestern Atlantic coast and Fernando de Noronha Archipelago.

 

5. Conclusions

Benthic invertebrates (mollusks, corals, and crustaceans) discovered on the Rocas Atoll constitute new records of species with radiometric dates ranging from 3449 ± 790 y BP to 3033 ± 620 y BP. These oceanic reef fossils provide important paleoceanographic (evidence of sea-level changes) and paleobiogeographic (new invertebrate records) data for the middle Holocene in the South Atlantic. Knowledge of the main fossilized benthic species in this scarcely known region in the Equatorial South Atlantic is important for understanding the paleobiogeography of marine islands. Therefore, future studies on quantitative benthic assemblages in the Rocas Atoll should use paleoecology and sea level history to understand the geological history of this island. This information can promote effective management of tropical oceanic reefs in the face of rising sea levels in the Anthropocene. In particular, stratigraphic changes in the distribution of benthic organisms can be used as indicators of sea level changes. To understand the recent ecological history of South Atlantic Islands, comprehensive surveys over a range of islands in the tropical Atlantic Ocean are required.

 

Acknowledgments

The first author thanks the CNPq (National Scientific Research and Development Board) (Process 479198/2012-8 and Process 233808/2014-0), PETROBRAS and Fundação SOS Mata Atlântica for financing the field work, and ICMBIO for granting the research license and supporting the field activities (mainly the coordinator of Reserva Biológica Maurizélia Brito). We wish to acknowledge the editor and the anonymous referees for comments provided on the manuscript, which significantly improved this paper. We thank the biologist and diver Carlos Augusto Meirelles for his support in collecting paleontological material.

 

 

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*Submission: 26 OCT 2015; Peer review: 29 NOV 2015; Revised: 11 JAN 2016; Accepted: 21 FEB 2016; Available on-line: 26 FEB 2016

Appendix

This article contains supporting information online at http://www.aprh.pt/rgci/pdf/rgci-651_Soares_Supporting-Information.pdf