Abstract
Leaf litter represents a food source to many organisms that may directly contribute to organic matter decomposition. In addition, the physical presence of these vegetal detritus contributes for the modification of some environmental areas and produce microhabitats that may act as a refuge against predators and desiccation for many animals. The pulmonate gastropod Melampus coffeus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Ellobiidae) is a very common specie in Atlantic Coast mangrove forests and feeds on fallen mangrove leaves. It was hypothesized that the spatial distribution of Melampus coffeus is directly affected by mangrove leaf litter biomass deposition. Thus, this research aimed at evaluating the spatial distribution of these gastropods in relation to the biomass of mangrove leaf litter through a twelve-month period. The study area was established in the middle estuary of Pacoti River, state of Ceará, Brazil where two adjacent zones with different topographic profiles were determined. Samples of Melampus coffeus and leaf litter were collected monthly, throughout a year, from the mangrove ground surface. The results indicated that the presence of twigs in mangrove litter favor the occupation by smaller individuals of M. coffeus, probably because smaller individuals are more susceptible to predator attacks and desiccation than larger ones, and twigs and branches may provide a safe microhabitat.
Highlights
IntroductionNesse trabalho foi assumida a hipótese de que a distribuição espacial do Melampus coffeus é diretamente afetada pela deposição de serapilheira no manguezal
According to Crowe (1996), physical and biological environmental factors may promote the formation of different microhabitats that often structure different patterns of spatial distribution of many organisms
The negative strong correlation registered between twig biomass and population density of Melampus coffeus in zone A indicates that smaller snail population density was
Summary
Nesse trabalho foi assumida a hipótese de que a distribuição espacial do Melampus coffeus é diretamente afetada pela deposição de serapilheira no manguezal. The availability of such resources depends on the structure and composition of mangrove forest, structural disposition of rhizophores and pneumatophores, leaf litter production and deposition, sedimentological features, besides other natural factors (Primaveira, 1997; Chapman et al, 2005; Kon et al, 2009) These variables may influence the abundance and diversity of the mangrove fauna, especially macro invertebrates. Even though many studies have evidenced the importance of microhabitats as shelters against predators, Kon et al (2009) did not find such significance in Thailand red mangroves They observed more abundance of species in vegetated microhabitats. Microhabitats provide many mangrove animals, such as molluscs, crustaceans (Odum & Heald, 1972) and polychaeta (Skilleter & Warren, 2000), with food resources
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