For many years, the Galápagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean have been known as a true sanctuary for unique species, such as giant turtles and marine iguanas. This may now change, and Brazilian oceanic islands, such as Fernando de Noronha, São Pedro e São Paulo, and Trindade, may start sharing the title of the most diverse on the planet.
The study *Escalas de Endemismo Marinho em Ilhas Oceânicas e o Endemismo Provincial-Insular*, published on Wednesday (10) by the scientific platform Peer Community Journal, highlights the massive presence of exclusive species of great relevance to science on Brazilian oceanic islands.
“Fieldwork has contributed to a more accurate survey of our biodiversity. We have found and described many new species that are endemic, exclusive to our islands. And with that, we observe that Brazilian islands have great global importance in relation to the proportion of these endemic species,” explains Hudson Pinheiro, a researcher with the Nature Conservation Experts Network (RECN), who led the study.
Along with the team, which includes various researchers from around the world, Pinheiro analyzed more than 7,000 species of reef fish on 87 islands worldwide. Among the conclusions, the researchers revealed that 40% of the species are present on more than one island in the same region but do not colonize nearby continental areas.
Based on this discovery, the group proposes a new scientific concept of Provincial-Insular Endemism, which would lead these species to be considered endemic. According to Pinheiro, the term would bring more interest to locations that have not gained fame as centers of endemism and therefore attract fewer studies and conservation initiatives.
The researcher explains that the same behavior is treated unequally by science.
“For example, Fernando de Noronha Island has some species that only occur there, but it also has many species that occur there and on Atol das Rocas Island. Or only on Fernando de Noronha and São Pedro e São Paulo Island. So, they share some species that were not being counted as endemic,” he says.
Vulnerability
For Pinheiro, this more detailed scientific look at the species inhabiting oceanic islands, beyond allowing a greater understanding of evolutionary and ecological processes in reef environments, also enables the discovery of more endemic species.
“Oceanic islands are much harder to study than the continental coast, which is closer to us. Oceanic islands depend on scientific expeditions and consequently end up having fewer study opportunities. So, there is a risk that some species have already gone extinct before being discovered,” he states.
Climate changes caused by global warming reinforce the urgency of advancing these studies, says the scientist.
“On the continent, with more intense warming occurring in the tropics, many species are able to migrate to higher latitudes, and therefore cooler regions. In other words, it is possible for a transition of marine environments or species that can migrate. But on oceanic islands, this does not happen,” he explains.
Cooperation
For the scientist, this vulnerability of species inhabiting oceanic islands requires a collective effort to enable initiatives supporting research in these regions. He explains that the results presented by the group of scientists were only possible due to the commitment of the Brazilian Navy, with the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) and social organizations that support the research.
“By revealing the richness of endemism on Brazilian islands, we reinforce the urgency of protecting this heritage. It is not just about preventing biodiversity from disappearing, but ensuring that the ocean continues to provide resources, regulate the climate, and inspire new solutions for the future,” states Marion Silva, Biodiversity Conservation Manager at Fundação Grupo Boticário.
Another initiative that advanced research on Brazilian islands was the creation of the first mesophotic scientific diving station in Latin America by the Marine Biology Center of the University of São Paulo (Cebimar USP), which prepared researchers for data collection and observation of environments up to 150 meters deep.
“Our support is based on the belief that science, when applied, generates concrete benefits for society. The expeditions we have supported on Brazilian islands in recent years have already updated species lists and revealed new records for science,” concludes Marion Silva.
Source: Agência Brasil