Structure of rhodolith beds from 4 to 55 meters deep along the southern coast of Espírito Santo State, Brazil
Rhodoliths are one of the most extensive benthic communities of the Brazilian continental shelf, but their structure is poorly known. The richest marine flora of Brazil´ s coastal zone is found in Espírito Santo State and its diversity has been partly associated with the presence of extensive areas...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Universidad Autónoma de Baja California
2007-12-01
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| Series: | Ciencias Marinas |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cienciasmarinas.com.mx/index.php/cmarinas/article/view/1148 |
| _version_ | 1797279475619069952 |
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| author | GM Amado-Filho G Maneveldt RCC Manso BV Marins-Rosa MR Pacheco SMPB Guimarães |
| author_facet | GM Amado-Filho G Maneveldt RCC Manso BV Marins-Rosa MR Pacheco SMPB Guimarães |
| author_sort | GM Amado-Filho |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Rhodoliths are one of the most extensive benthic communities of the Brazilian continental shelf, but their structure is poorly known. The richest marine flora of Brazil´ s coastal zone is found in Espírito Santo State and its diversity has been partly associated with the presence of extensive areas of rhodoliths, extending from the intertidal zone to 120 m across the continental shelf. One species of kelp, Laminaria abyssalis, is endemic to this area and occurs between 45 and 120 m depth. Our objective was to determine the density and physical dimensions of the superficial rhodoliths between 4 and 55 m depth in the southern region of Espírito Santo State. The study area was 3 to 45 km offshore. Samples were obtained in 2004 and 2005 by Scuba diving in three depth zones: 4–18 m, 25–30 m and 50–55 m. Transect lines and video images were used to determine rhodolith density. The diameter and sphericity of at least 60 individuals from each zone were measured. Rhodolith size increased and density decreased from the shallow to the deeper zones. Spheroidal was the typical shape throughout the depth zones. Five rhodolith-forming genera were identified: Lithothamnion, Lithophyllum, Hydrolithon, Neogoniolithon and Sporolithon. Epibenthic biomass and species richness over the rhodolith bed in the shallow zone was lowest in winter, likely the result of disturbance caused by typical winter storms. Changes in light and temperature are probably the most important factors in the changes observed in the rhodolith beds from the deepest zones.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T16:25:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a0d77857ed904cc780e8c7b0c1ff2640 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0185-3880 2395-9053 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T16:25:54Z |
| publishDate | 2007-12-01 |
| publisher | Universidad Autónoma de Baja California |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ciencias Marinas |
| spelling | doaj.art-a0d77857ed904cc780e8c7b0c1ff26402024-03-03T18:18:14ZengUniversidad Autónoma de Baja CaliforniaCiencias Marinas0185-38802395-90532007-12-0133410.7773/cm.v33i4.1148Structure of rhodolith beds from 4 to 55 meters deep along the southern coast of Espírito Santo State, BrazilGM Amado-Filho0G Maneveldt1RCC Manso2BV Marins-Rosa3MR Pacheco4SMPB Guimarães5Instituto de Pesquisas Jardim Botânico do Rio de JaneiroUniversity of the Western CapeInstituto de Pesquisas Jardim Botânico do Rio de JaneiroInstituto de Pesquisas Jardim Botânico do Rio de JaneiroInstituto de BotânicaInstituto de Botânica Rhodoliths are one of the most extensive benthic communities of the Brazilian continental shelf, but their structure is poorly known. The richest marine flora of Brazil´ s coastal zone is found in Espírito Santo State and its diversity has been partly associated with the presence of extensive areas of rhodoliths, extending from the intertidal zone to 120 m across the continental shelf. One species of kelp, Laminaria abyssalis, is endemic to this area and occurs between 45 and 120 m depth. Our objective was to determine the density and physical dimensions of the superficial rhodoliths between 4 and 55 m depth in the southern region of Espírito Santo State. The study area was 3 to 45 km offshore. Samples were obtained in 2004 and 2005 by Scuba diving in three depth zones: 4–18 m, 25–30 m and 50–55 m. Transect lines and video images were used to determine rhodolith density. The diameter and sphericity of at least 60 individuals from each zone were measured. Rhodolith size increased and density decreased from the shallow to the deeper zones. Spheroidal was the typical shape throughout the depth zones. Five rhodolith-forming genera were identified: Lithothamnion, Lithophyllum, Hydrolithon, Neogoniolithon and Sporolithon. Epibenthic biomass and species richness over the rhodolith bed in the shallow zone was lowest in winter, likely the result of disturbance caused by typical winter storms. Changes in light and temperature are probably the most important factors in the changes observed in the rhodolith beds from the deepest zones. https://www.cienciasmarinas.com.mx/index.php/cmarinas/article/view/1148rhodolithscontinental shelfdistributionepibenthic community |
| spellingShingle | GM Amado-Filho G Maneveldt RCC Manso BV Marins-Rosa MR Pacheco SMPB Guimarães Structure of rhodolith beds from 4 to 55 meters deep along the southern coast of Espírito Santo State, Brazil Ciencias Marinas rhodoliths continental shelf distribution epibenthic community |
| title | Structure of rhodolith beds from 4 to 55 meters deep along the southern coast of Espírito Santo State, Brazil |
| title_full | Structure of rhodolith beds from 4 to 55 meters deep along the southern coast of Espírito Santo State, Brazil |
| title_fullStr | Structure of rhodolith beds from 4 to 55 meters deep along the southern coast of Espírito Santo State, Brazil |
| title_full_unstemmed | Structure of rhodolith beds from 4 to 55 meters deep along the southern coast of Espírito Santo State, Brazil |
| title_short | Structure of rhodolith beds from 4 to 55 meters deep along the southern coast of Espírito Santo State, Brazil |
| title_sort | structure of rhodolith beds from 4 to 55 meters deep along the southern coast of espirito santo state brazil |
| topic | rhodoliths continental shelf distribution epibenthic community |
| url | https://www.cienciasmarinas.com.mx/index.php/cmarinas/article/view/1148 |
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