Composição, abundância e distribuição espacial do zooplâncton no complexo estuarino de Paranaguá durante o inverno de 1993 e o verão de 1994

Abstract

Zooplankton community structure was investigated in the estuarine complex of Paranaguá (Southem Brazil) during July.1993 (winter) and February-March 1994 (summer).Copepods belonging to the genera Acartia, Paracalanus, Parvocalanus, Pseudodiaptomus, Temora, Oithona and Euterpina dominated the zooplankton associations, attaining up to 90% of total densities. Pseudodiaptomus richardi was the dominant estuarine copepod in oligohaline stretches with salinities below 15. Estuarine marine species such as Acartia tonsa, Oithona hebes and Oithona oswaldocruzi reached high densities in salinities ranging ftom 17 to 25. Other abundant estuarine marine species including Acartia lilljeborgi and Pseudodiaptomus acutus occurred in a broader salinity range. Marine euryhaline copepods were found in salinities as low as 15, but were usually more abundant in areas under the influence of coastal waters. Several marine stenohaline species associated with the warm waters of the Brazil Current were recorded in the euhaline areas. Other important zooplanktonic groups in this estuarine complex were tintinnids, appendicularians, cladocerans and meroplanktonic larvae of polychaetes and decapods. Density maxima (up to 82400 org.m,3) were found in the intermediate stretches -in salinities varying ftom 15 to 30corresponding approximately to the distributional pattern of phytoplankton biomass.

Zooplankton community of the Vitória Bay estuarine system (Southeastern Brazil): Characterization during a three-year study

“…Although not significant, highest temperature values in the upper estuarine regions occurred because these areas are shallower and more confined, being subjected to greater influence of the air-water interactions in the heating processes and also due to warmer continental water contribution. Lopes et al (1998) observed a similar pattern at the Paranaguá estuarine complex (Paraná State), presenting higher temperature values and salinity decrease in the upper region of the estuary.…”

Morphology and distribution of two epizoic diatoms (Bacillariophyta) in Brazil

“…From these copepods, only A. tonsa had been recorded as a host for F. hyalina; thus, our findings add three new hosts to the list of Hiromi et al (1985). To date, the copepods mentioned above correspond to the most abundant species of the year-round zooplankton community of Paranaguá bay and adjacencies (Lopes et al, 1998).…”

Zooplankton and ichthyoplankton distribution on the southern Brazilian shelf: an overview

“…Some abundant species such as Parvocalanus crassirostris, Labidocera fluviatilis, Acartia lilljeborgi and Euterpina acutifrons are restricted to estuaries and the inner shelf, disappearing under the influence of oceanic waters (Sartori and Lopes, 2000). Acartia tonsa belongs to this "true" coastal group but only towards more southern areas close to the Patos Lagoon system; north of Cape Santa Marta this species seems to be restricted to meso-and polihaline waters inside estuaries (Lopes et al, 1986(Lopes et al, , 1998.…”