REMOTE SENSING APPLIED TO THE STUDY OF ABUNDANCE IN REEF FISH COMMUNITY ASSEMBLY

We performed a hierarchical analysis of the biomass variations in  a reef fish community from  Arraial do Cabo (Rio de Janeiro - BR) influenced by the presence of coastal upwelling. Selected variables related to the occurrence of upwelling such as Sea Surface Temperature (SST), Surface Chlorophyll Concentration (SCC) and the Meridional Wind Component (MWC), where used to capture the role of the upwelling as an environmental filter. Results showed that biomass is more influenced by random effects, such as if the community is protected or exposed to upwelling (locality) and sampling site, than environmental covariates. This result points to the importance of stochastic  processes and biotic interactions in the assembly of reef fish communities in upwelling-dominated areas.