Abstract
Macrobenthos distribution along the salinity gradient and the pattern of species temporal changes were investigated in the Itanhaém River Estuary. Environmental variables such as grain size, sediment organic content, water salinity, water temperature and dissolved oxygen were examined as factors likely to influence the distribution of species. A total of 2130 individuals, distributed in 16 taxa (species/genera) were collected from the 12 samples obtained. The most abundant species were Cyprideis salebrosa, Heteromastus similis, Scololepsis squamata, Nephtys squamosa, Diplodonta sp. and Tellina sp. The canonical ordinations analysis indicated the presence of three benthic associations: a marine Diplodonta sp. - Tellina sp. community; a brackish water C. salebrosa - N. squamosa community and a wide spread S. squamata - H. similis community. The distribution of the estuarine macrozoobenthic species seems to be mainly controlled by salinity and the observed gradient in species compositon and dominance in the marine and brackish part of the Itanhaém River Estuary is similar to the one occurring in other mixohaline habitats of the Brazilian South eastern Coast. Composición estacional y distribución espacial de asociaciones macrobentónicas en un gradiente estuarino de Itanhaém, Sí£o Paulo, Brasil La distribución de los macrobentos a lo largo del gradiente de la salinidad y el patrón de los cambios temporales de las especies fueron investigados en el estuario del Río Itanhaém. Las variables ambientales tales como tamaño de grano, contenido orgánico del sedimento, salinidad del agua, temperatura del agua y el oxígeno disuelto fueron examinados como factores que determinan la distribución de las especies. Se recolectaron un total de 2130 individuos, de 16 taxa (especies/géneros) de las 12 muestras obtenidas. Las especies más abundantes fueron Cyprideis salebrosa, Heteromatus similis, Scololepsis squamata, Nephtys squamosa, Diplodonta sp. y Tellina sp. El análisis canónico de correspondencia indicó la presencia de tres asociaciones bentónicas: una comunidad marina, Diplodonta sp. - Tellina sp.; una comunidad de agua salobre, C. salebrosa - N. squamosa y una comunidad de extensión amplia, S. squamata - H. similis. La distribución de la especies macrozoobentónica de estuario parece ser controlada principalmente por la salinidad y el gradiente observados en composición. La dominancia de especies en las partes marina y salobre del estuario del Río de Itanhaém es similar a la de otros hábitats mixohalinos de la costa del sudeste brasileño.
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