Effects of local hydrodynamic regime on the individual's size in intertidal Sabellaria (Annelida: Polychaeta: Sabellariidae) and associated fauna at Cabo Branco beach, north-east Brazil

Sabellaria wilsoni(Polychaeta: Sabellariidae): an ecosystem engineer and promoter of zoobenthos diversity in the Brazilian Amazon coast

“…The composition of the associated fauna is nevertheless similar among reefs, given that these structures offer similar habitats and resources. A considerable proportion of the diversity of sabellarid reefs is composed of infaunal organisms (Anádon, 1981; Dias & Paula, 2001; Dubois et al ., 2002; Sepúlveda et al ., 2003; Dubois et al ., 2006; Lomônaco et al ., 2011; Gravina et al ., 2018; Jones et al ., 2018). These organisms are favoured by the conditions of the rigid and stable reef architecture and the refuges it offers, as well as the availability of resources typical of soft substrates, as discussed above.…”

“…Hydrodynamic exposure is considered to be a modulating factor for sabellariid reefs, affecting the biology (McCarthy et al ., 2003), distribution and growth of its constructors (Lomônaco et al ., 2011), the morphology of its aggregates (Gruet, 1986) and the settlement of the associated fauna (La Porta & Nicoletti, 2009; Lomônaco et al ., 2011). A number of hypotheses might explain the lower density and size of sabellariids in more hydrodynamic areas, including (i) in exposed areas, settlement and recruitment may be hampered by the constant erosive process, resulting in higher mortality and shorter life expectancy, with resident organisms being constantly eliminated and replaced by new juveniles (Gruet & Lassus, 1983), and (ii) survival in exposed areas entails higher energetic costs for the capture of grains and reconstruction of tubes, resulting in a reduced amount of energy available for conversion into body mass (Lomônaco et al ., 2011). Taking the limitations of our sample effort (in time and space) into account, and the fact that recruits settle in a highly gregarious fashion, resulting in extremely patchy recruitment patterns, any such conclusions should be treated with caution, although they may be validated through the collection of additional data in future studies.…”

“…While studied widely in temperate European waters, sabellariid reefs in tropical and subtropical regions are poorly known (Fournier, 2010; Eeo et al ., 2017). Sabellaria wilsoni Lana & Gruet, 1989 is endemic to the Atlantic Ocean, occurring in the shallow waters of estuaries and the continental shelf (Lana & Gruet, 1989; Lana & Bremec, 1994; Lomônaco et al ., 2011). This species usually forms small aggregates on rocky substrates (Lana & Gruet, 1989), and has been reported to form reefs only when associated with other sabellariids (Lomônaco et al ., 2011).…”

Inventory of mollusks from the estuary of the Paraíba River in northeastern Brazil

“…The biodiversity of marine invertebrates (mainly mollusks and polychaetes) in this coastal area has been increasingly studied (Duarte et al 2014, Santos et al 2010, Lomônaco et al 2011, De Assis et al 2012, Brito et al 2013, Fukuda et al 2013, Lima et al 2014, Prata et al 2014, Lucena et al 2015, Lima & Christoffersen 2016, 2016, however, the mollusk diversity of large areas, such as basin of the Paraiba River remains unknown.…”

Reproductive biology ofSabellaria wilsoni(Sabellariidae: Polychaeta), an important ecosystem engineer on the Amazon coast

“…Sabellaria wilsoni Lana & Gruet, 1989 is endemic to the Atlantic coast of South America, from French Guiana to Argentina (Lana & Gruet, 1989; Lana & Bremec, 1994). The species is found in the intertidal zone to depths of up to 25 m, inhabiting mixohaline and polyhaline environments in estuaries, beaches and shallow depths of the continental shelf (Lana & Bremec, 1994; Lomônaco et al , 2012; Ataide et al , 2014). Sabellaria wilsoni typically forms small aggregations on rocky substrates (Lana & Gruet, 1989).…”