Distribuição das espécies de corais azooxantelados na plataforma e talude continental superior do sul do Brasil

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Distribution of deep-sea azooxanthellate scleractinians from southern Brazilian waters. Amongst organisms reported in deep waters (> 100 m) from southern Brazil, the azooxanthellate scleractinians are of particular importance due to their capacity to form habitats which attract many species of invertebrates and vertebrates. Through statistical analysis of distribution, identification of specimens deposited in scientific collections, and revision of all preterite records of azooxanthellate scleractinians from southern and part of southeastern coast of Brazil, was noted that the coordinates covered by the present study represent an transitional distributional area between the Caribbean and marginal Antarctic fauna, especially for the solitary species. From a vertical distribution analysis, an increase in the number of species in the sector between the external continental shelve and 500 m depth was observed. A grouping analysis was performed, allowing the discrimination of 6 association biotopes of corals. Thus, we present the first attempt to understand the distribution of this fauna from the continental shelf and continental slope of southern Brazil, between 24°S and 34°S.KEYWORDS. South Atlanctic, deep-sea, latitudinal analysis, bathymetric analysis, grouping analysis, Scleractinia. RESUMO.Dentre os organismos registrados para águas profundas (> 100 m) no sul do Brasil, podemos destacar os corais azooxantelados pertencentes a ordem Scleractinia. Através de análises estatísticas, identificação de espécimes depositados em coleções científicas, e compilação de todos os registros pretéritos destes cnidarios ocorrentes no sul e parte do sudeste do Brasil, foi possível constatar que as coordenadas abrangidas no presente estudo representam uma área de transição entre os corais azooxantelados ocorrentes ao norte e as espécies mais características das zonas polares, principalmente em relação às espécies solitárias. Com a análise da distribuição batimétrica, foi observado um significativo aumento no número de espécies entre o setor de plataforma externa e 500 m de profundidade. Finalizando, foi realizada a análise de agrupamento, o que permitiu discriminar a formação de 6 biótopos das associações de corais azooxantelados para a área de estudo. Desta forma, apresentamos a primeira tentativa de se compreender a distribuição desta pouco conhecida fauna da plataforma e talude continental superior, entre 24ºS e 34ºS. PALAVRAS-CHAVE.Atlântico sul, mar profundo, análise latitudinal, análise batimétrica, análise de agrupamento, Scleractinia.

Management Strategies to Limit the Impact of Bottom Trawling on VMEs in the High Seas of the SW Atlantic

“…Oculina, Lophelia, Solenosmilia, Madrepora and Enallopsamia are known stony colonial coral genera that constitute the majority of deep sea coral reef structures around the world. In our surveys, the most frequent species was Bathelia candida, exclusively distributed on southern south America, from Rio Grande (south Brazil) to south Chile (Cairns, 1982;Kithara et al, 2009). This species, less known than Lophelia pertusa (EUNIS codes A5.631 and A6.611), but ecologically also very important as bioconstructor.…”

Sediment drifts and cold-water coral reefs in the Patagonian upper and middle continental slope

“…In our surveys, the most frequent of scleractinian species was Bathelia candida, exclusively distributed offshore southern South America, from Rio Grande (south Brazil) to south Chile (Cairns, 1982;Kithara et al, 2009). This species is less known than Lophelia pertusa (EUNIS codes A5.631 and A6.611), but ecologically also very important as bioconstructor.…”

New records and range extensions of azooxanthellate scleractinians (Cnidaria: Anthozoa) from Brazil

“…In Brazilian waters, the genus Polycyathus has been previously reported from St Peter and St Paul Archipelago (Edwards & Lubbock, 1983b;Amaral et al, 2002;2006). However, the specimens examined are the first identified to species level, and therefore, represent the first record of P. senegalensis for Brazil.…”

“…However, almost half of the extant scleractinians do not present this symbiosis (Cairns, 2007) and are able to inhabit aphotic zones and live heterotrophically (Kitahara, 2006;Roberts et al, 2009). Therefore, with no taxonomic validity, scleractinian corals can be grouped on the presence or absence of these symbionts, and are commonly referred to as zooxanthellate or azooxanthellate corals, respectively (Cairns, 1977;Schuhmacher & Zibrowius, 1985;Capítoli & Bemvenuti, 2004;Cairns et al, 2005;Cairns, 2007).…”