Our study aimed to identify possible relationships between the structure of the benthic macrofauna and the intense use of vehicles in Cassino Beach. Physical changes in the sediment were identified, with high compaction in the sector most affected by the vehicles, especially during the summer. The benthic macrofauna was significantly affected by vehicles, with lower densities observed in the most impacted sector, mainly in the summer, unlike the control sector, where higher densities were observed during the pre-summer and summer. We concluded that the vehicle traffic changes the physical environment of the beach and consequently affects the benthic community in the face of this disturbance. We conclude that the benthic macrofauna is highly impacted by vehicle traffic at Cassino Beach, mainly in the period with the highest traffic, and alternatives are needed for this impact, helping to recover this ecosystem.

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This study aimed to identify the perception of beach users about the problem of marine litter, and to characterize them from the socioeconomic point of view. To this, 43 open questionnaires were conducted with users from Curva da Jurema and Ilha do Boi beaches, in Vitória, Espírito Santo, southeastern Brazil. From the socioeconomic point of view, our results showed that there were no significant differences between the users of the two beaches. With respect to marine litter, the interviewees showed a high level of knowledge about this issue, knowing what the proper disposal of the litter they produce should be and what damage it can cause to the environment and also to humans. It is noteworthy that respondents blame other beach users for the accumulated litter, suggesting that the lack of education and awareness of other people is the main factor for beach garbage. Thus, we conclude that users of both beaches perceive the problem of marine litter, but do not identify their actions as part of the problem. Thus, constant measures are required in public-private partnerships focused on education on the subject, in addition to the installation of various points of garbage collection and monitoring their effectiveness. As a final product, actions were suggested with the different actors involved in the problem, in order to minimize the effects of this pollution.

Sandy beaches are the main recreational ecosystems of the world, enabling high ecological impacts, especially on the benthic macrofauna, which inhabit the sandy matrix and have a low capacity of locomotion. Cassino Beach, located in southern Brazil, has intense vehicle traffi c during the summer, so the purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of vehicles on the key species Amarilladesma mactroides and Donax hanleyanus. For this purpose, samplings were performed in three sectors of this beach (High Impact, Moderate Impact and Control) during six periods of the year. The results showed lower densities of both bivalves in the High Impact sector than in to the other sectors in all periods, except in fi rst summer sampling, and a predominance of recruits throughout the study. Thus, it suggests that the two species were infl uenced by the intense vehicle traffi c, especially in the most impacted sector. In this way, we conclude that these bivalves could be used as good indicators of pulse disturbance by vehicle traffi c on this beach and the results can support in management plans regarding the use of Cassino Beach, considering ecological aspects of this ecosystem in addition to economic and cultural demands.

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