Abstract Morphological abnormalities in crustaceans have been registered and several are attributed to pollution and others anthropogenic activities. This study reports for the first time a temporal record of the amount and variety of morphological abnormalities in Acartia lilljeborgii, in an impacted neotropical estuary. The specimens were obtained from Suape port area, Northeast Brazil, between May 2009 and September 2010 using a 300 µm plankton net. Seven types of abnormalities were observed in one of the terminal spines of the prosome, but no temporal variation of abnormalities was found in our study. The deformities were registered in 85.7% of samples and they were found in up to 10% of the individuals (3.2 ± 2.9%). The proportion of females with abnormalities was greater than for males, in opposite to most previous reports. Due to its high distribution and abundance in part of the neotropical Atlantic coastal area, A. lilljeborgii has the potential to be used as a bioindicator of environmental conditions, although the reasons of the abnormality occurrences should be accurately investigated.

Abstract Specimens of the hydromedusa Cnidocodon leopoldiBouillon, 1978 were collected in waters off the northeast Brazilian coast between 7.4°S, 34.3°W and 8.7°S, 34.8°W. The genus can be distinguished from other anthomedusae by the presence of four marginal perradial bulbs having an adaxial nematocyst cushion and branched capitate tentacles, an umbrella with scattered nematocysts, and gonads around a cylindrical manubrium shorter than the umbrella. Specimens were assigned to C. leopoldi due the tentacles with 4-5 branches and the absence of ocelli on tentacle bulbs differing from the congeneric Cnidocodon ocellataHuang, Xu, Lin & Qiu, 2008. This study represents the first record of the species in the Atlantic Ocean.

Abstract Specimens of Teissiera polypofera Xu, Huang & Chen, 1991 were found in waters off the northeast Brazilian coast between 8.858°S, 34.809°W and 9.005°S, 34.805°W and 56 to 717 m depth. The genus can be distinguished from other anthomedusae by the two opposite tentacles with cnidophores and four exumbrellar cnidocyst pouches with ocelli. Specimens were assigned to Teissiera polypofera due to the long and narrow manubrium transposing bell opening and polyp buds with medusoid buds on it, issuing from the base of manubrium. This study represents the first record of the genus in the Atlantic Ocean.

Abstract In the area around the archipelago of São Pedro e São Paulo (ASPSP), a set of small rocky islands in the Equatorial Atlantic, the thermocline begins at a more superficial depth than in the surrounding waters. This raises the question if there is any change in heterotrophic microplanktonic protists assemblages occurring in the surface mixed layer and in the subsurface layer. To answer this question, we sampled seawater in seven depths (between 1-100 m) with a 10L Niskin bottle and obtained temperature and salinity profiles with a CTD at eight sites around the ASPSP. The depth of the surface mixed layer varied between 18-63 meters. Dinoflagellates dominated in terms of abundance representing over 80% and 65% of the individuals found in the surface and subsurface layers, respectively. A PERMANOVA test revealed significant differences (p < 0.001) among the dinoflagellate and tintinnid assemblages occurring in both layers, but no evidence for difference in the radiolarian assemblage was detected. Good ecological indicators were found mainly within the dinoflagellate assemblage. The thermocline induced stratification allowed the development of different microplanktonic protists assemblages above and under the depth of the surface mixed layer in the upper 100 m of the water column.

Resumo Neste presente trabalho, são apresentadas as flutuações espacial e sazonal da abundância e diversidade do mesozooplâncton, com especial atenção para assembleia de copépodes da área costeira do Arquipélago de Fernando de Noronha (AFN) (3°50'24''S and 32°24'48''W). A amostragem foi realizada durante as estações seca e chuvosa de dois anos consecutivos (julho e dezembro de 2013) e (junho e novembro de 2014). Um total de 37 taxa do mesozooplâncton foram registrados, sendo os copépodes o grupo mais diversificado (15 taxa). A Subclasse Copepoda dominou em ambos os períodos amostrados, com valores de abundância relativa equivalentes a 53% e 86%, respectivamente, nas estações seca e chuvosa. As espécies consideradas abundantes foram: Calanopia americana, Undinula vulgaris, Oithona plumifera e Corycaeus speciosus. A estação chuvosa favoreceu um aumento significativo na abundância do mesozooplâncton e copépodes. No entanto, um baixo valor do índice de diversidade de Shannon-Wiener foi observado para este mesmo período sazonal. Isso foi explicado pelo domínio das espécies C. americana e U. vulgaris na área estudada. Diferença espacial não foi verificada. A assembleia de copépodes apresentou um maior número de espécies consideradas carnívoro-predador de grande importância na teia trófica pelágica, indicadoras de condições oligotróficas e componente de grande porção dos itens alimentares dos peixes. Assim, sugerimos que a área costeira do Arquipélago de Fernando de Noronha é caracterizada por uma comunidade do mesozooplâncton espacialmente homogênea, onde as mudanças observadas estão principalmente relacionadas ao fator sazonal.

Abstract In the present work, spatial and seasonal fluctuations of the abundance and diversity of mesozooplankton are presented, with special attention being given to copepod assemblages from coastal area of the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago (FNA) (3°50'24''S and 32°24'48''W). Sampling was carried out during the dry and rainy seasons of two consecutive years (July and December 2013) and (June and November 2014). A total of 37 mesozooplankton taxa were recorded, being the copepods the most diversified group (15 taxa). The Subclass Copepoda dominated in both periods sampled, comprising 53% and 86% of the total abundance in the dry and rainy season respectively. The species considered abundant were: Calanopia americana, Undinula vulgaris, Oithona plumifera and Corycaeus speciosus. The rainy season favored a significant increase in the abundance of mesozooplankton and copepods. However, a low value of the Shannon-Wiener diversity index was observed in this same seasonal period. This was explained by the dominance of the species C. americana and U. vulgaris in the studied area. Spatial differences have not been verified. The copepod assemblages was composed mostly by species considered as predator-carnivours of greater importance on the pelagic trophic web, indicators of oligotrophic conditions and components of a major portion of fish food items. Thus, we suggest that a spatially homogeneous mesozooplankton community characterizes the coastal area of Fernando de Noronha Archipelago with variations related mainly to the seasonal factor.

Resumo Ambientes insulares tropicais são considerados verdadeiros hostspots devido a sua alta diversidade, endemismo e importância ecológica. Contudo, ainda são poucos os trabalhos que abordam a composição e ecologia de decápodes planctônicos nesses ambientes. Para determinar a composição, abundância e distribuição espaço-temporal dos decápodes planctônicos, as amostras de zooplâncton foram coletadas por meio de arrastos subsuperficiais em rede cônico-cilíndrica com 300 µm de abertura de malha. A amostragem foi realizada em cinco estações na área costeira a sotavento do Arquipélago de Fernando de Noronha, em julho e dezembro de 2013 e junho e novembro de 2014. Foram registrados 22 táxons de Decapoda, dos quais Brachyura (zoea); Clibanarius sp.; Caridea e Callianassidae foram os grupos mais abundantes. Foram observadas tendências de distribuição anual e temporal para as larvas de Clibanarius sp. e Callianassidae, respectivamente. Alguns táxons apresentaram diferenças entres as estações de amostragem. De forma geral, as maiores densidades larvais foram observadas nas estações ao sul da ilha (Baía dos Golfinhos e Cacimba do Padre) em relação aos menores valores registrados para a estação mais ao norte (Porto de Santo Antônio), indicando a existência de uma possível retenção larval à jusante, na zona costeira interna desse ecossistema insular oceânico.

Abstract Tropical island environments are considered hotspots due to their high diversity, endemism and ecological importance. However, reports that discuss the composition and ecology of planktonic decapods in these environments are still very few. In order to ascertain the composition, abundance and spatial-temporal distribution of planktonic decapods, zooplankton samples were taken by means of sub-surface hauls with a standard plankton net of 300 µm mesh size. Sampling was carried out at five stations in the nearshore leeward area of the Fernando de Noronha archipelago, in July and December 2013 and June and November 2014. A total of 22 decapod taxa were recorded, among which the most abundant were Brachyura (zoeae), Clibanarius sp., Caridea and Callianassidae. Characteristic annual distribution and temporal tendencies were observed for the larvae of the hermit crab Clibanarius sp. and for the larvae of burrowing shrimps (Callianassidae). Some taxa showed differences between sampling stations. In general, higher abundances were observed in the southern (downstream) stations of the island (Baía dos Golfinhos and Cacimba do Padre), and lower abundances in the northernmost (upstream) station (Porto de Santo Antônio), indicating the existence of larval retention in the nearshore coastal zone of this oceanic island ecosystem.

Abstract Specimens of Pegantha laevis H.B. Bigelow, 1909 and Pegantha triloba Haeckel, 1879 were found in oceanic waters off the northern Brazilian coast. The former species is clearly distinct due to the thickness and shape of peripheral channels, while the latter is recognized mainly due to the exumbrellar furrows and long otoporpae. This study represents the first actual record of P. laevis inside the Brazilian Economic Exclusive zone, since previous reports were far away from the coast, and clarifies the presence of P. triloba off Brazil.

Resumo Medidas simultâneas de produção (PB) e respiração bacterianas (RB) são indispensáveis para o entendimento da magnitude do ciclo do carbono nos níveis tróficos mais basais dos sistemas aquáticos, mas são ainda escassas nos trópicos. O presente estudo foi realizado em um estuário extremamente produtivo (Porto do Recife, 08°03'S; 34°52'W, NE do Brasil), onde a demanda bacteriana por carbono (DBC=PB+RB) e a eficiência de crescimento bacteriano (ECB=PB/DBC) foram determinadas para estimar o principal papel do bacterioplâncton: fonte ou captador de carbono orgânico. Apesar das altas taxas de PB (0.03-0.4 µMC h-1), as taxas extremas de RB (0.5-4.1 µMC h-1) levaram a baixa ECB (0.02-0.29), provavelmente devido às altas temperaturas (>25ºC) e forte limitação por nitrogênio inorgânico (razão N:P) A alta DBC e a baixa ECB indicam que o bacterioplâncton esteja atuando principalmente como remineralizador da matéria orgânica dissolvida, alimentando a produção primaria do sistema. Esses resultados contradizem o que seria esperado baseado em estudos conduzidos em estuários eutróficos temperados (onde geralmente ECB > 0.30) e apontam para a importância de se aumentar estimativas in situ de PB e RB em sistemas estuarinos tropicais a fim de se promover um melhor entendimento do papel desses sistemas na ciclagem de carbono global.

Abstract Simultaneous measurements of bacterioplankton production (BP) and respiration (BR) are imperative to understand the magnitude of carbon cycle in the lower trophic levels of the aquatic systems, but are still scarce in the tropics. The present study was performed in a highly productive estuary (Recife harbor, 08°03'S; 34°52'W, NE Brazil) where bacterial carbon demand (BCD=BP+BR) and growth efficiency (BGE=BP/BCD) were evaluated in order to estimate the major role of bacterioplankton: source or sink of organic carbon. In spite of the high BP rates (0.03-0.4 µMC h-1), the extremely high BR rates (0.5-4.1 µMC h-1) led to low BGE (0.02-0.29), possibly due to the high temperatures (>25ºC) and strong inorganic nitrogen limitation (N:P ratios) The high BCD and low BGE indicate the major role of bacterioplankton as dissolved organic matter remineralizers, fueling the primary productivity of the system. These findings contradict what could be expected from studies in highly productive temperate estuaries (where BGE is usually > 0.30) and highlight the importance of increasing in situ BP and BR estimates in tropical estuarine systems in order to better understand the role of these systems in global carbon cycling.

Abstract The deep-sea copepod Megacalanus princeps Wolfenden, 1904 was previously recorded from the northern and southeastern Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans, but not previously observed from southwestern Atlantic. Here we report its first occurrence in Brazilian waters. The current record increases the knowledge on the species distribution and on the deep-sea copepod fauna in the south Atlantic.

Composition changes of decapod larvae in a neotropical estuarine inlet (Catuama inlet, northeast Brazilian coast) were studied in a complete tidal cycle in August 2001. Sampling was performed at three stations at two or three depth levels that were located along a transect across the inlet. The collections were performed in 3 h intervals under a neap tide regime. Samples were taken with a pump and the water was filtered through 300 μm plankton net. 27 planktonic decapod taxa were identified, which included the first larval stages of the coastal and oceanic shrimps Lucifer faxoni and Acetes americanus, besides larvae of the estuarine and coastal decapods Pinnixa spp., Uca spp., Petrolisthes armatus, Upogebia spp. and Alpheidae, which were the most frequent taxa. All of the planktonic larval stages were observed for most of the decapods, suggesting that the probable exportation from the estuary is to the inner adjacent shelf area, instead of the outer oceanic area.

Se analizaron los cambios en la composición de las larvas de decápodos en la desembocadura de un estuario neotropical durante un ciclo completo de marea en agosto de 2001. Las colectas se realizaron en 3 estaciones, en dos o tres profundidades, localizadas en una transecta interior. Los muestreos se realizaron a intervalos de 3 h durante la marea de cuadratura. Las muestras se colectaron con una bomba y se filtraron a través de una red de plancton (300 μm). Se identificaron 27 taxa de larvas de decápodos, incluyendo el primer estadio larval de los camarones costeros y oceánicos Lucifer faxoni y Acetes americanus, seguidos de las larvas de los decápodos estuarinos y costeros Pinnixa spp., Uca spp., Petrolisthes armatus, Upogebia spp. y Alpheidae, que fueron los taxa más frecuentes. Se observaron todos de los estadios larvales de la mayoría de los decápodos, lo que sugiere que probablemente la exportación del estuario es hacia el área interior de la plataforma adyacente, en vez de hacia el área oceánica exterior.

Esta nota é o primeiro registro da ocorrência de Mormonilla phasma(Copepoda) no Sudoeste do Oceano Atlântico Tropical. Indivíduos fêmeas foram encontrados em águas superficiais na quebra da plataforma do estado do Rio Grande do Norte (Nordeste do Brasil) e entre 60 e 100 m de profundidade, na camada epipelágica ao largo do Arquipélago de São Pedro e São Paulo (Atlântico Equatorial). Este achado estende o limite vertical da espécie.

This communication is the first report of the occurrence of the order Mormonilloida (Mormonilla phasma) in the tropical Southwestern Atlantic Ocean. Female individuals were found in surface waters from the shelf break state of Rio Grande do Norte (Northeastern Brazil) and between depths of 60 and 100 m in the epipelagic layer around the St. Peter and St. Paul Archipelago (equatorial Atlantic). This finding extends the vertical limits for this species.

A comunidade dos tintinídeos da região de Abrolhos (Bahia, Brasil) foi estudada durante o período de fevereiro de 2012. Nossas hipóteses são de que a estrutura da comunidade dos tintinídeos varia em uma escala temporal curta (fotoperíodo), além de variar espacialmente, tanto em curta escala (sobre o recife e distante dele) como em larga escala (distância da área recifal em relação à costa). Três áreas em Abrolhos foram estudadas. Em cada área foram delimitados dois pontos de amostragem, nos quais se coletou tintinídeos através de arrastos horizontais subsuperficiais de rede de plâncton (20 μm abertura de malha), a cada 6 horas, ao longo de 24 horas. 24 espécies foram encontradas, sendo todas de distribuição nerítica, cosmopolita e de águas quentes. A única hipótese não rejeitada está relacionada com a variabilidade da comunidade em uma escala espacial extensa. Existem diferenças significativas entre as três áreas estudadas (ANOVA p = 0,017). Análises de agrupamento realizadas com as espécies revelaram um gradiente continente-oceano. Existe uma comunidade típica do arco interno, formada basicamente por espécies neríticas, além de uma comunidade típica do arco externo, formada basicamente por espécies hialinas cosmopolitas e de águas quentes. O grande fator influenciando a comunidade dos tintinídeos em Abrolhos é a distância da costa.

The tintinnid community in the region of Abrolhos (Bahia, Brazil) was studied during February 2012. We hypothesized that the tintinnid community structure varies significantly over a short temporal scale (photoperiod), as well as spatially over a short scale (on and away from the reefs), and a broad scale (distance of the reef area from the coast). Three areas in Abrolhos were studied. Two sampling points were delimited in each area, where the tintinnids were collected by horizontal subsurface plankton net (20 μm mesh-size) hauls. Sampling was undertaken every 6 hours, during 24 hours in each area. 24 species were found, all of which are of neritic, cosmopolitan, and of warm-water distribution. The only hypothesis that is not rejected is that related to variability on an extensive spatial scale. There are significant differences between the samples collected in the three areas studied (ANOVA p = 0.017). The clustering of the species highlights a continent-ocean gradient. There is one community typical of the internal arc, composed mainly of neritic agglutinated tintinnids, and another community typical of the external arc, composed mainly of hyaline warm-water and cosmopolitan tintinnids. The factor which exercises the greatest influence on the tintinnid community in the Abrolhos region is the distance from the coast.

O arquipélago de São Pedro e São Paulo (ASPSP) está localizado próximo ao Equador, no oceano Atlântico. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar variações espaciais nos padrões de abundância da comunidade de Copepoda, e da biomassa e produção das três espécies de Calanoida mais abundantes no ASPSP. Amostras de plâncton foram coletadas com rede com 300 µm de abertura de malha, ao longo de quatro transectos (norte, leste, sul e oeste do ASPSP), com quatro estações cada. Todos os transectos exibiram uma tendência de redução da densidade dos Copepoda com o aumento da distância do ASPSP, provado estatisticamente para o Norte. A densidade variou de 3,33 a 182,18 ind.m−3, e diferenças também foram observadas entre o primeiro perímetro (primeira faixa de distância circular) e os demais. A biomassa total variou de 15,25 a 524,50 10−3 mg C m−3e a produção de 1,19 a 22,04 mg C m−3d−1. A biomassa e produção de Undinula vulgaris (Dana, 1849),Acrocalanus longicornis Giesbrecht, 1888 eCalocalanus pavo (Dana, 1849) apresentaram diferenças entre alguns transectos. Uma tendência de declínio da biodiversidade e produção com o aumento da distância do arquipélago foi observada, sugerindo que pequenas feições como o ASPSP podem afetar a comunidade em áreas oceânicas oligotróficas tropicais.

The Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago (SPSPA) are located close to the Equator in the Atlantic Ocean. The aim of this study was to assess the spatial variations in the copepod community abundance, and the biomass and production patterns of the three most abundant calanoid species in the SPSPA. Plankton samples were collected with a 300 µm mesh size net along four transects (north, east, south and west of the SPSPA), with four stations plotted in each transect. All transects exhibited a tendency toward a decrease in copepod density with increasing distance from the SPSPA, statistically proved in the North. Density varied from 3.33 to 182.18 ind.m−3, and differences were also found between the first perimeter (first circular distance band) and the others. The total biomass varied from 15.25 to 524.50 10−3 mg C m−3 and production from 1.19 to 22.04 10−3 mg C m−3d−1. The biomass and production of Undinula vulgaris (Dana, 1849), Acrocalanus longicornis Giesbrecht, 1888 andCalocalanus pavo (Dana, 1849) showed differences between some transects. A trend of declining biodiversity and production with increasing distance from archipelago was observed, suggesting that even small features like the SPSPA can affect the copepod community in tropical oligotrophic oceanic areas.

A influência dos ciclos de maré e fotoperíodo sobre o fluxo de larvas planctônicas de Petrolisthes armatus foi estudada na barra de Catuama, que representa um ambiente intermediário entre os sistemas marinho e estuarino no nordeste do Brasil. Para caracterizar a abundância e a distribuição vertical das larvas, foram feitas coletas em agosto de 2001, durante a maré de quadratura, em 3 estações fixas e com intervalos de 3 horas, ao longo de um ciclo de 24 horas. Em cada estação, amostras foram coletadas em três ou duas profundidades, com o auxílio de uma bomba de sucção acoplada a uma rede de plâncton com 300 µm de abertura de malha. Os zoés I e II de Petrolisthes armatus apresentaram médias de 26,3 ± 83,6 e 12 ± 38,8 ind m-3, respectivamente. Durante as marés de enchente, as larvas estiveram mais concentradas nas camadas do meio e da superfície, evitando um transporte para regiões mais internas. Por outro lado, durante as marés de vazante, período em que as larvas estiveram distribuídas nas três camadas, as maiores concentrações foram encontradas no fundo, evitando uma maior exportação. A dinâmica do fluxo larval relacionada ao fotoperíodo foi caracterizada por migração vertical associada ao regime de marés, sugerindo que o desenvolvimento deste decápode aparentemente ocorre na plataforma interna adjacente (ao invés da plataforma mais externa) deste peculiar ecossistema.

The influence of tidal and diel changes on the exchange of Petrolisthes armatus planktonic larvae was studied at the Catuama inlet, which represents an intermediate system of marine and estuarine environments in the Northeast Brazil. To characterize the larval abundance and vertical distribution, samplings were carried out in August 2001 at neap tide and 3 stations, with 3 hours interval over 24 hours. Samples were taken at three or two depths at each station, with a plankton pump coupled to a 300 µm mesh size net. Petrolisthes armatus zoea I and II showed a mean of 26.3 ± 83.6 and 12 ± 38.8 ind m-3, respectively. During flood tides, the larvae were more concentrated in the midwater and surface, which avoided the transport to internal regions. In contrast, during ebb tides when the larvae were distributed in the three layers, the higher concentrations were found in the bottom, which avoided a major exportation. The diel dynamic of the larval fluxes was characterized by vertical migration behavior associated to the tidal regime, which suggested that the development of this decapod apparently occurs in the inner shelf (instead of the outer shelf) off this peculiar ecosystem.