Abstract
The influence of tidal and diel changes on the exchange of Petrolisthes armatus planktonic larvae was studied at the Catuama inlet, which represents an intermediate system of marine and estuarine environments in the Northeast Brazil. To characterize the larval abundance and vertical distribution, samplings were carried out in August 2001 at neap tide and 3 stations, with 3 hours interval over 24 hours. Samples were taken at three or two depths at each station, with a plankton pump coupled to a 300 µm mesh size net. Petrolisthes armatus zoea I and II showed a mean of 26.3 ± 83.6 and 12 ± 38.8 ind m-3, respectively. During flood tides, the larvae were more concentrated in the midwater and surface, which avoided the transport to internal regions. In contrast, during ebb tides when the larvae were distributed in the three layers, the higher concentrations were found in the bottom, which avoided a major exportation. The diel dynamic of the larval fluxes was characterized by vertical migration behavior associated to the tidal regime, which suggested that the development of this decapod apparently occurs in the inner shelf (instead of the outer shelf) off this peculiar ecosystem.
Highlights
Larvae of estuarine invertebrates continually face possible exports from the parent estuary (Cronin 1982), and the consequences of this flow are ecologically important
The present study aims to evaluate the tidal and diel influences on the abundance and instantaneous transport of Petrolisthes armatus planktonic larvae in an intermediate system of marine and estuarine environments located in Northeastern Brazil
Vertical migration behavior of the Petrolisthes armatus zoea was associated with the tidal regime, which suggests that the development of this species probably occurs in the inner shelf off Catuama inlet
Summary
Larvae of estuarine invertebrates continually face possible exports from the parent estuary (Cronin 1982), and the consequences of this flow are ecologically important. Despite the extensive literature on recruitment and dispersal of estuarine and coastal crabs, little is known about the patterns of larval abundance in tropical estuaries and coastal ecosystems (Dittel and Epifanio 1990), especially in Brazil (Schwamborn et al 1999, NegreirosFransozo et al 2002, Koettker and Freire 2006). In Brazil, this species occurs in the coastal line from Maranhão to Santa Catarina states, beyond the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago (Melo 1999) The adults of this crab can be found in high densities under rocks, mainly in estuarine and coastal ecosystems (Gore and Abele 1976, Coelho 2000).
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