Influência espacial, luminosa e lunar sobre a população de Lucifer faxoni (Borradaile 1915) no sistema estuarino do Canal de Santa Cruz, Pernambuco, Brasil.

Abstract

In order to assess the population structure of Lucifer faxoni at different seasons, lunar phases, tidal cycles and day times, sampling was carried out at three stations at the northern mouth of the Santa Cruz Channel, Pernambuco -Brazil. The samples were collected throughout the day, during the stages of syzygy and quadrature, along 2 full the tidal cycles in August 2001. The zooplankton was collected from surface hauls, with a simple 300 µm mesh and 60 cm mouth plankton net. In the laboratory, individuals of three 5.3 mL sub-samples were counted, identified and classified into protozoeae, mysis, post-larvae, males and females. The highest densities were the larval forms, at the continent station, during the night, during quadrature, and during flood tide. These observations demonstrate that L. faxoni stages exhibit selectivity by sites, daytime and tides for survival and a better development.