No abstract

We have compiled available records in the literature for medusozoan cnidarians and ctenophores of South America. New records of species are also included. Each entry (i.e., identified species or still as yet not determined species referred to as "sp." in the literature) includes a synonymy list for South America, taxonomical remarks, notes on habit, and information on geographical occurrence. We have listed 800 unique determined species, in 958 morphotype entries: 5 cubozoans, 905 hydrozoans, 25 scyphozoans, 3 staurozoans, and 20 ctenophores. Concerning nomenclatural and taxonomical decisions, two authors of this census (Miranda, T.P. & Marques, A.C.) propose Podocoryna quitus as a nomen novum for the junior homonym Hydractinia reticulata (Fraser, 1938a); Euphysa monotentaculata Zamponi, 1983b as a new junior synonym of Euphysa aurata Forbes, 1848; and Plumularia spiralis Milstein, 1976 as a new junior synonym of Plumularia setacea (Linnaeus, 1758). Finally, we also reassign Plumularia oligopyxis Kirchenpauer, 1876 as Kirchenpaueria oligopyxis (Kirchenpauer, 1876) and Sertularella margaritacea Allman, 1885 as Symplectoscyphus margaritaceus (Allman, 1885).

Early naturalists suggested that predation intensity increases toward the tropics, affecting fundamental ecological and evolutionary processes by latitude, but empirical support is still limited. Several studies have measured consumption rates across latitude at large scales, with variable results. Moreover, how predation affects prey community composition at such geographic scales remains unknown. Using standardized experiments that spanned 115° of latitude, at 36 nearshore sites along both coasts of the Americas, we found that marine predators have both higher consumption rates and consistently stronger impacts on biomass and species composition of marine invertebrate communities in warmer tropical waters, likely owing to fish predators. Our results provide robust support for a temperature-dependent gradient in interaction strength and have potential implications for how marine ecosystems will respond to ocean warming.

This study is the first faunistic inventory of hydromedusae from the inner continental shelf of Paraná State. We describe the composition of hydromedusae species, collected with bottom-trawl and Hensen nets, in campaigns carried out from 1997 to 2006. We analyzed 17,797 specimens from 578 samples, and provide descriptions, photographs, and information about the biology of the 22 species found. All species had previous records from the Brazilian coast; however, this is the first record of Bougainvillia frondosa, Ectopleura dumortieri, Cirrholovenia tetranema, Eucheilota maculata, Gossea brachymera, Solmaris corona, and Amphogona apsteini for the coast of Paraná. Most species are typical of tropical and subtropical coastal waters from the South Brazilian Bight. However, Turritopsis nutricula, Niobia dendrotentaculata, Solmaris corona, and Aglaura hemistoma are abundant in oceanic waters, and Olindias sambaquiensis and Solmaris corona are associated with colder waters (<20°C). The current number of species known for the state is 26. Additional collection effort is needed in regions not sampled in this work, such as bays and offshore waters.

Abstract:The benthic hydroid fauna from shallow subtidal zone of six localities in the municipality of Bombinhas (state of Santa Catarina, Brazil) was surveyed and its morphology analysed. Cnidome was also examined when it was necessary for species identification. Twenty five morphospecies were found, from which five (20%) were recorded for the first time in Santa Catarina State and three (12%) were recorded for the first time in the south region of Brazil. There was a 12% and 5.5% increase in the records of benthic hydroid species for Santa Catarina and southern Brazilian coast, respectively.

The spatial and temporal variations of planktonic cnidarians were studied across the inner continental shelf (≤40 m) off the State of Paraná in southern Brazil. Monthly zooplankton samples were taken between November 1997 and March 1999 at five stations. The holoplanktonic Liriope tetraphylla and Muggiaea kochi dominated during the entire period, comprising .80% of the specimens. The coast-ocean gradient became evident due to a near-coastal (≤20 m) assemblage formed by L. tetraphylla, Solmaris corona and meroplanktonic medusae, and a distinct outer (25-40 m) assemblage formed by the medusae Corymorpha gracilis and Aglaura hemistoma and siphonophores. The estuarine runoff during warm rainy periods lowered the salinity (~30) at the inner stations (1, 2 and 3), providing appropriate conditions for the estuarine/ coastal species. Wind-driven onshore advection of outer-shelf species to the inner isobaths occurred from late autumn to winter, when the rainfall decreased and salinity increased (.35). Population peaks occurred in both summer and winter at the inner stations. For most species, the seasonal patterns were inconsistent with other studies conducted in the Southern Brazilian Bight, suggesting irregular and unpredictable seasonal distributions of abundance. Whereas in highlatitude ecosystems the dynamics of cnidarian populations follows the seasonal productivity cycle, here, complex hydrographic processes seem to be more important in determining the structure and seasonal dynamics of this community.

Staurozoa is a class of Cnidaria comprising stalked, benthic jellyfishes (Marques & Collins 2004) that encompasses about 51 species (Mills 1999; Zagal et al. 2011). Stauromedusae are distributed worldwide, but are more common in temperate and polar waters (Mills & Hirano 2007). Taxonomic knowledge of these cnidarians is inadequate, as is information on their biology and ecology, probably because of their cryptic habit and general inconspicuousness (Mills & Hirano 2007). Consequently, scarcity of material renders their taxonomy even more difficult, demanding basic knowledge of their life cycle (e.g., Miranda et al. 2010) and intraspecific morphological variation (e.g., Miranda et al. 2009). Revisions of unique records of unidentified species (e.g., Lucernariopsis from India by Panikkar 1944), and more complete studies of species known only from original descriptions, sometimes based on few individuals (e.g., Kishinouyea hawaiiensis Edmondson), are necessary and can produce interesting information.

ABSTRACT. The scyphozoan Phyllorhiza punctata von Lendenfeld, 1884 (Mastigiidae), known only from IndoPacific waters prior to the 1950s, is today found far from its original distribution, probably due to human activities. First seen in 1955 in Brazilian waters, medusae were found in southern and southeastern coasts, disappearing (at least as a medusa) in the early 1960's. Another population was found in the late 1990's, in the state of Bahia, and again in late 2001, many sightings were reported along the coasts of Paraná and Santa Catarina (25º20'S, 48º12'W to 27º26'S, 48º22'W). A large summer bloom, followed by decline and disappearance in winter and spring, occurs every year since then. The reasons for this recent mass occurrence are unknown. Despite few scattered records of the species in Brazil, it is probably widespread, occurring from the coast of Ceará (3º43'S, 38º28'W), in the northeast, to Santa Catarina, in the south.