Recently, reef fish studies have been receiving more attention from researchers. Five zoogeographical provinces were determined along the brazilian coast with the State of Paraná baing included within the south-southeast province. Reef fish fauna was accessed through underwater visual census at natural and artificial habitats. We observed that both sand matrix effect, which involves a artificial environment, and the attractor effect of these structures over the ichtyofauna, are evident on both sandy and pelagic species,respectively, and are the main responsible for differences found between natural and artificial assemblages. The apparent lower richness attributed to Paraná state when compared with other localities belonging to the same zoogeographic province could be a consequence of a local biological filter or just a outcome of regional studies absence.
Rocky reef fish; Zoogeographical provinces; Insular habitats; Artificial habitats
