Das Projekt "Investigation of Spatial Connectivity of Fish Populations between and to Estuarine and Coastal Habitats and Life History - Information as Influenced by Environmental Variables" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Zentrum für Marine Tropenökologie an der Universität Bremen durchgeführt. Offshore populations of the weakfish Cynoscion acoupa will be investigated using chemical fingerprints from otoliths and genetic markers to determine spatial connectivity of the fish between estuaries along the northeast Brazilian coast. During two sampling expeditions otoliths and tissues from juveniles will be sampled from five different estuaries. Chemical composition and genetic characteristics will be compared with captured adult C. acoupa from the offshore areas. An improved understanding of recruitment processes will aid in the urgent need for better management of heavily exploited fish stocks. Connectivity between estuarine and coastal habitats can be quantified for the first time for C. acoupa.