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Factors influencing spatial patterns of molluscs in a eutrophic tropical bay

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 September 2012

R.A.F. Neves ,
C.A. Echeverria ,
L.A. Pessoa ,
P.C. Paiva ,
R. Paranhos  and
J.L. Valentin
R.A.F. Neves*
Affiliation:
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Departamento de Ecologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, CEP 21941-902, Brazil Laboratório de Zooplâncton Marinho, Departamento de Biologia Marinha, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
C.A. Echeverria
Affiliation:
Laboratório de Pesquisas Costeiras e Estuarinas, Núcleo Interdisciplinar UFRJ-Mar, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Instituto Virtual Internacional de Mudanças Globais (IVIG–COPPE, UFRJ), Instituto Alberto Luiz Coimbra de Pós-Graduação e Pesquisa de Engenharia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
L.A. Pessoa
Affiliation:
Laboratório de Pesquisas Costeiras e Estuarinas, Núcleo Interdisciplinar UFRJ-Mar, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Marinha, Departamento de Biologia Marinha, Instituto de Zoologia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Brazil
P.C. Paiva
Affiliation:
Laboratório de Polychaeta, Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
R. Paranhos
Affiliation:
Laboratório de Hidrobiologia, Departamento de Biologia Marinha, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
J.L. Valentin
Affiliation:
Laboratório de Zooplâncton Marinho, Departamento de Biologia Marinha, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: R.A.F. Neves, Post-Graduation Program in Ecology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Laboratório de Zooplâncton Marinho, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil, CEP: 21941-902 email: raquelneves@ufrj.br
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Abstract

Samples were collected from 10 stations distributed through three sectors in Guanabara Bay during two consecutive years, in order to determine factors that influence the spatial pattern of molluscs and to describe the structure and composition of this community in a eutrophic estuarine system on the Brazilian coast. Although only one species, the gastropod Heleobia australis, comprised 77% of mollusc abundance, 59 species were identified in the bay. In addition to H. australis, three other species were dominant: the gastropod Anachis isabellei and the bivalves Americuna besnardi and Ervilia concentrica. The mollusc communities were significantly influenced by the spatial gradient; the outermost sector has marine conditions, and the other sectors are typically estuarine, leading to differences in the composition and abundance of molluscs. The outermost sector showed the highest diversity, which gradually decreased towards the innermost sector where the dominance of a few opportunistic species is favoured by highly organic mud sediments. Sediment type was strongly correlated with mollusc occurrence in the bay. Guanabara Bay showed two indicator species: the bivalve E. concentrica of the outer sector, and the gastropod H. australis of the intermediate sector. Our results suggest that benthic molluscs in Guanabara Bay show characteristics related to levels of environmental impact. A monitoring programme based on this community is needed to evaluate the effects of human impacts on this community and to monitor changes in its biodiversity in Guanabara Bay.

Keywords

indicator speciesmultivariate analysisGuanabara BayBrazil
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 93 , Issue 3 , May 2013 , pp. 577 - 589
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2012

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