Amazon reefs: a systematic review

Abstract

The Great Amazon Reef System (GARS) is a mesophotic reef composite located in 50 to 200m deep, with the estimated extension measured in 56.000km² on the states of Pará, Amapá and Maranhão’s coast. It is an environment characterized by its high biodiversity and by being important commercial species’ habitat that is still little known. Although its ecologic and economic relevance, the description of this ecosystem was effectuated only in 2016. The objective of this research was to accomplish a systematic survey about the published GARS scientific studies. The searches were carried out on the platforms: Academic Google, Web of Science and Scielo, using the keywords: “Amazon Reef”, “Amazon River” and “Great Amazon Reef System”. The studies we found belonged to the categories of scientific articles, scientific note, book chapter and complete works published in scientific events. The obtained results identified 61 published studies between the years 1977 and 2022, the most part of these studies occurred from 2016 (90% publishments). The periodic Biote Amazon (N=5) and Frontiers in Marine Science (N=6) published the most of the studies. Among the group or theme studied, 22 studies addressed issues regarding to marine invertebrates; 17 studies carried out analysis about structural and physicochemical aspects involving GARS, to characterize its extension, biodiversity aspects, the reef’s age, GARS evolution, influence, brightness, etc.; and 16 studies focused on ichthyofauna. Athwart publishment analysis, was possible to notice that GARS has a huge potential to identify new species, biogeographic comprehension of various marine species and to the biotechnology branch. Becoming necessary to provide governmental actions that guarantee GARS preservation, even as to encourage research groups’ implementation and strengthening, focusing on Brazil’s north marine science.