Spatial structure of the zooplankton community in the Cabo Frio region (Brazil) influenced by coastal upwelling

Abstract

Cabo Frio area (Central-southern Brazilian littoral) is characterized by a coastal upwelling due to prevailing E-NE winds, mainly during the spring-summer season .The geographic distribution of the zooplankton was described in order to separate ecological areas in terms of specific communities . Cluster analysis by weighted pair-group method (W PGA) and principal component (PC) analysis was performed on the most important hydrological parameters and zooplankton taxa . The first PC, explaining 38% of the total zooplankton variability, represented the influence of the nearshore-offshore gradient . Zooplankton communities and ecological areas were defined as follows :i) nearshore neritic : the richest region with more than 5 000 org. M-3 . In this very narrow nearshore region we observed 3 groups of taxa deliminated by upwelling effects and trophic conditions : a) Ctenocalanus vanus, Penilia avirostris, Calanoides carinatus and Copepod larva, all herbivorous species associated with the phytoplankton blooms in the upwelling zone ; b) Creseis acicula and Temora stylifera; c) Siphonophora, Chaetognaths and a high diversity of Copepoda dominated by Coryceus amazonicus, C. giesbrechti, Eucalanus pileatus, Clausocalanus acuicornis, all carnivorous or omnivorous feeders representing a high degree of complexity of the ecosystem .ii) offshore neritic : characterized by appendicularians, this region constitutes an intermediate zone between coastal and oceanic waters .iii) oceanic : occupied by the Brazil Current where zooplankton is poor, but diversified, with typical copepods from tropical warm water

First record of Oithona attenuata Farran, 1913 (Crustacea: Copepoda) from Brazil

“…Oithona attenuata is recorded here for the first time off Brazil, even though several studies had previously been conducted in the same place (Valentin, 1984;Dias and Araujo, 2006;Dias et al, 2010;Rosa and Monteiro-Ribas, 2012;Rosa et al, 2016). Its absence in plankton samples over the last 30 years leads us to suggest that this species was brought to Brazilian waters as an exotic species.…”

Large-Scale Ichthyoplankton and Water Mass Distribution along the South Brazil Shelf

“…100 m −3 ) and larvae (>100 ind. 100 m −3 ), once the enhancement of the primary and secondary production ensure the availability of food for the future larvae [27], [33]. This is especially required during the critical period [75].…”

“…Coastal upwelling due to wind and topographic effects, occurs in the northern portion of the study area (CSTF) [32], [33], especially during austral spring and summer, due to prevalent northeasterly winds. The cold and nutrient-rich SACW is upwelled and provides special conditions for high primary production levels along the coastline.…”

Microbial Diversity of a Brazilian Coastal Region Influenced by an Upwelling System and Anthropogenic Activity

“…The Arabian Sea and coasts of Namibia, Chile, Peru and Benguela display areas where upwelling phenomena occur in a more pronounced way [1]–[4]. Some studies have confirmed the existence of a typical upwelling system on the southeast Brazilian coast and that the Arraial do Cabo region is the location where the main event occurs [5]–[7]. In this region, the South Atlantic Central Water (SACW) rises to the surface of the ocean in accordance with the east-northeast winds that occur more frequently between spring and summer and also due to the influence of cyclonic meanders [8]–[11].…”