Effects of habitat complexity on the structure of macrobenthic association in a Spartina altemiflora marsh

Abstract

. Abstract: The structure and seasonal variability 01'macrobenthic associations in four different patches on a Spartilla altemiflora bed at Arrozal Point, Canan6ia, São Paulo State are described and compared. In the local intertidal marsh, densities 01'S. a!temiflora plants appear in sparsely or densely arranged patches, both in tall and short forms.

Effects of plant cover on the macrofauna of Spartina marshes in northern Brazil

“…Densities of macroinvertebrates in salt marshes at Canela Island (number of individuals/m 2 in vegetated areas only) also varied widely, with values between 125-9250 m 2 . This range was similar to that found for North and South American salt marshes (Kneib, 1984;Rader, 1984;Flynn et al, 1996Flynn et al, , 1998Lana, 1996, 1997;Guiss, 1991, 1992). In comparison to other studies from the Bragança region, present estimates were higher than those from a mangrove tidal creek bank (0.59-6.6 individuals m 2 ) and intertidal flats (1.2-14.9 individuals m 2 ) (Acheampong, 2001).…”

“…Generally, polychaetes (Isolda, Nereis, Leonereis, Capitella), gastropods (Neritina, Littoraria, Heleobia) and isopod crustaceans (Sphaeromopsis, Tholozodium) tend to dominate salt marsh assemblages in Brazil (Flynn et al, 1996(Flynn et al, , 1998Guiss, 1991, 1992;Lana, 1996, 1997). Similar dominant taxa occurred in the present study, with the exception of Nereis, which was not found, and Heleobia, which has a southern Brazilian distribution (Rios, 1994).…”

Composition and seasonality of an Amphipod community assoiated to the algae Bryocladia trysigera

“…An increase in epiphytal amphipod abundance during the winter season in southeastern Brazil has been reported for algae associations by Tararam & Wakabara (1981) and for saltmarsh associations by Lana & Guiss (1991) and Flynn et al (1996Flynn et al ( , 1998. In Hawai, Russo (1989) also reported this density increase in winter and remarked that both Brazil and Hawai are in tropical latitudes.…”

“…Evidence has been provided by studies in sites with different species of seagrass, macroalgae or saltmarsh (Lewis & Stoner, 1983;Lewis, 1984;Virnstein & Howard, 1987;Lana & Guiss, 1991;Schneider & Mann, 1991;Attolini et al, 1997;Flynn et al, 1996Flynn et al, , 1998Dubiaski-Silva & Masunari, 1995, 1998Chananich & Wilson, 2000).…”

Estudo do papel da Spartina alterniflora como espécie bioindicadora de contaminação por elementos traço no Complexo-Estuarino Lagunar de Cananéia-Iguape (SP)

“…Também na Ponta do Arrozal, Flynn et al (1996) ao estudarem a macrofauna bêntica associada à gramínea, encontraram duas formas da estatura da Spartina, a forma baixa e a alta.…”