Abstract
This paper presents information from different sampling surveys carried out along the Santa Catarina coast in order to outline the biogeographical characteristics of the zooplankton in this region and identify species or groups of species with potential use as bioindicators. Based on a checklist of species of the zooplankton community in the state, it was observed that, in the warmer months of the year, the fauna is similar to that of the states of Paraná and São Paulo (e.g. Creseis virgula f. virgula, Penilia avirostris; Acartia lilljeborgi and Oithona oswaldocruzi), while in the colder months there are coastal representatives of the fauna of Rio Grande do Sul (e.g. Acartia tonsa). However, the zooplankton consists predominantly of warm water species for most of the year, which is typical of Tropical Shelf Waters. Various species of zooplankton can be used as hydrological indicators, enabling a distinction to be made between coastal waters which are influenced by continental inputs (e.g. Paracalanus quasimodo and Parvocalanus crassirostris), common in the north of the state, and processes of upwelling (e.g. Podon intermedius) and the influence of the Subtropical Shelf Front (e.g. Pleopis polyphemoides), coming from the south. The different environments investigated present a zooplankton abundance that depends on the influence of continental inputs and the possibility of their retaining and contribution for the coastal enrichment, which varies seasonally.
Highlights
Zooplankton comprises groups of organisms commonly used as biological indicators, due to its short life cycle, high sensitivity, and abundance in aquatic ecosystems (Omori and Ikeda 1984)
There is a lack of information concerning the zooplankton community of the Santa Catarina coast, which has been highlighted in major review works on the subject presented by Valentin et al (1994), Brandini et al (1997) and Lopes (2007)
Drawn on the biogeographical characteristics of the Santa Catarina coast, compared with other areas that have been more exhaustively investigated to the north and south of the state, such as São Paulo, Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul
Summary
Zooplankton comprises groups of organisms commonly used as biological indicators, due to its short life cycle, high sensitivity, and abundance in aquatic ecosystems (Omori and Ikeda 1984) The knowledge on this community is vitally important in any type of environmental impact study for the installation and operation of enterprises in the coastal zone. There is a lack of information concerning the zooplankton community of the Santa Catarina coast, which has been highlighted in major review works on the subject presented by Valentin et al (1994), Brandini et al (1997) and Lopes (2007) This lack of information is reinforced by the lack of access to data published in scientific congresses, or data generated by large oceanographic campaigns that include the continental shelf of this state. Disperse information, both published and unpublished, can enable conclusions to be drawn on the biogeographical characteristics of the Santa Catarina coast, compared with other areas that have been more exhaustively investigated to the north and south of the state, such as São Paulo, Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul
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