Composition and seasonal variation of capitellidae from Balneário Camboriú, Santa Catarina, Brazil

Abstract

The objective of this study was to provide information about the structure and composition of the Capitellidae family in Balneário Camboriú, as well as evaluate its space-time variations. Four sampling campaigns were carried out at 16 stations, distributed in the Camboriú River and Balneário Camboriú Bay. A total of 1,769 ind.m² were collected and identified into five taxa: Capitella sp.; Capitella cf. nonatoi; Heteromastus sp., Heteromastus similis and Mediomastus cf. californiensis. The most abundant taxon was M. californiensis, showing the highest number of individuals during autumn, followed by Capitella cf. nonatoi in the summer. The distribution of M. californiensis was more related to the opportunistic habit of the species than to seasonality, while Capitella cf. nonatoi distribution was related to the high concentration of organic matter from the Camboriú River, which may be the result of residents and tourists visiting the city in the summer. These results denote the Capitellidae family bioindicator potential for anthropogenic disturbances.