Abstract Marginal reefs can provide meaningful information about the structure and dynamics of ecosystems under suboptimal environmental conditions. In addition to their different characteristics, these environments can also occur in urbanized areas. In this note, we characterize marine animal forests (MAFs) on turbid-zone reefs on an urban coast in the equatorial southwestern Atlantic. Overall, the sandstone ferruginous reefs (6-10 m depth) exhibited a flat topography and gentle slope (1-2 m above the seabed). Benthic cover is composed mainly of sponge gardens and ascidians. In addition, we found a low-relief coral carpet with only one massive reef-building coral (Siderastrea stellata) and Zoantharia. The ascidians and sponges had a higher diversity (at least 15 species) than the cnidarians (two species) in these forests. The main animals forming this seascape are weedy and stress-tolerant species adapted to challenging environmental conditions, such as swell waves, mesotidal regimes, moderate turbidity waters, and periodic burial. In this regard, these conditions and human impacts have shaped a unique MAF. Remarkably, the studied formations seem similar to high-latitude marginal reefs or low-latitude reefs under the influence of upwelling, which sustains soft corals and non-framework building coral communities along with sponges and ascidians. In particular, the shallow MAFs along the semi-arid coast of Brazil seem to lack some of the characteristics of low-latitude reefs under high sedimentation, whose structure was described as coral rubble within sedimentary matrices. This suggests that factors other than periodic burials and low light availability affected these MAFs. These overlooked forests are widespread in this area and have been neglected in studies, despite their richness (> 31 taxa) and valuable ecosystem goods and services. In the context of urbanized areas subject to climate change and pollution impacts, jetties, and dredging activities, it is necessary to consider these lush forests in impact assessments and conservation policies. note (MAFs turbidzone turbid zone Atlantic Overall 610 6 10 (6-1 depth 12 1 2 (1- seabed. seabed . seabed) lowrelief relief reefbuilding reef Siderastrea stellata Zoantharia at two stresstolerant stress tolerant waves regimes waters burial regard MAF Remarkably highlatitude latitude lowlatitude upwelling nonframework non framework particular semiarid semi arid sedimentation matrices studies > ( 3 taxa services jetties activities policies 61 (6- (1 (6

RESUMO Um dos efeitos da dinâmica das marés é o acúmulo de grandes volumes de macroalgas durante a maré baixa, denominadas de “algas arribadas”. O trabalho objetivou analisar os efeitos da utilização de resíduos orgânicos de algas arribadas (ROAA) sobre o crescimento inicial de plantas de girassol avaliando-se: o crescimento das plantas, os teores relativos de clorofila e teores de solutos inorgânicos (Na, K, Cl e NO3 -). As algas foram coletadas na Praia do Pacheco em Caucaia-CE, Brasil, lavadas em água corrente e colocadas para secar a sol pleno durante sete dias, em seguida, secas em estufa de circulação forçada a 80 ºCe trituradas.As sementes de girassol foram semeadas em baldes de plástico com capacidade para cinco litros, contendo: 1) 100% (em volume) de areia; 2) areia + 100% da recomendação de nitrogênio - RN em fertilizante comercial (80kg de N.ha-1); 3) areia + 50% da RN em macroalgas; 4) areia + 100% da RN em macroalgas; e 5) areia + 150% da RN em macroalgas. A utilização de ROAA ocasionou melhoria nas variáveis de crescimento analisadas em relação às plantas crescendo em substrato com areia ou areia + fertilizante. Os melhores resultados foram observados a 50% da RN em ROAA. A adição de concentrações crescentes de ROAA possibilitou maior acúmulo de íons benéficos como K e NO3 -enquanto que não foram observadas diferenças significativas para íons tóxicos como Na e Clem relação às plantas suplementadas com fertilizante ou areia. A utilização de ROAA nos substratos pode ser uma alternativa aos fertilizantes no cultivo de plantas, reduzindo custos de produção, além de ser uma destinação sustentável.

ABSTRACT One effect of the tidal dynamics is the accumulation during the low tide of large volumes of macroalgae, named “arribadas algae”. The objective of this work was to analyze the effects of using arribada alga e organic residues (AAOR) on the initial growth of sunflower plants, where the following were evaluated: plant growth, relative chlorophyll content and inorganic solids content (Na, K, Cl and NO3). The algae were collected on Praia do Pacheco in Caucaia, state of Ceará, Brazil, washed in running water and placed to dry in the sun for seven days, then dried in a forced circulation oven at 80 ºC and crushed. The sunflower seeds were sown in 5L plastic buckets, containing: 1) 100% (in volume) of sand; 2) sand + 100% of nitrogen recommendation - NR in commercial fertilizer (80kg of N.ha-1); 3) sand + 50% of the NR in macroalgae; 4) sand + 100% of NR in macroalgae; and 5) sand + 150% of the NR in macroalgae. The use of AAORimproved the growth of the analyzed variables in relation to the plants grown in substrate with sand or sand + fertilizer. The best results were observed at 50% of the NR in AAOR. The addition of increasing concentrations of AAOR allowed a greater accumulation of beneficial ions such as K and NO3 while no significant differences were observed for toxic ions such as Na and Cl in relation to plants supplemented with fertilizer or sand. The use of AAOR in substrates can be an alternative to fertilizers in plant cultivation since it reduces production costs besides being a sustainable destination.

RESUMO Um recente levantamento florístico de Rhodophyta do Estado do Ceará (02º46'30''-07º52'15''S, 37º14'54''-41º24'45''W), Brasil, revelou a ocorrência de 113 espécies distribuídas em 14 ordens, 28 famílias e 63 gêneros. Dentre esses, 18 espécies pertencentes a sete ordens são novos registros, algumas pobremente descritas e ilustradas na literatura ou somente citadas em listas. Com o objetivo de expandir o conhecimento taxonômico acerca dessas espécies, são apresentadas descrições detalhadas, ilustrações e comparações com táxons relacionados. A ocorrência de Ceratodictyon scoparium é confirmada na costa do Atlântico Sul. Os gametófitos masculinos de Dohrniella antillarum var. brasiliensis e tetrasporófitos de Gracilariopsis silvana são ilustrados pela primeira vez. Ceramium fujianum é um novo registro para a costa nordeste do Brasil. Dentre as novas ocorrências, Callithamnion corymbosum, Ceramium clarionense, C. fujianum and C. scoparium mostraram uma expansão significativa da distribuição geográfica ao longo do litoral brasileiro. A maioria das espécies é filamentosa, diminutas ou formam tufos, demonstrando a necessidade de novas coletas para detectar a presença desses componentes.

ABSTRACT A recent floristic survey of Rhodophyta from Ceará State, Brazil (02º46'30''-07º52'15''S and 37º14'54''-41º24'45''W), revealed the occurrence of 113 species distributed into 14 orders, 28 families and 63 genera. Of these, 18 species belonging to seven orders are new records; some of them poorly described and illustrated in the literature or cited only checklists. Therefore, aiming to expand the taxonomic knowledge about these poorly known species, we present detailed descriptions, illustrations, and comments on related taxa. The occurrence of Ceratodictyon scoparium is confirmed for the South Atlantic coast. The male gametophytes of Dohrniella antillarum var. brasiliensis and tetrasporophytes of Gracilariopsis silvana are illustrated for the first time. Ceramium fujianum is a new addition to northeastern Brazil. Among the new records, Callithamnion corymbosum, Ceramium clarionense, C. fujianum and C. scoparium showed a significant expansion of their geographic distribution along the Brazilian coast. Most of the newly recorded species are filamentous, small-sized or tufted algae, highlighting the need for new collections to detect the presence of these components.

Resumo O presente estudo comparou assembleias de peixes em duas áreas adjacentes, uma com algas à deriva (A) e outra ausente de algas (WA), a fim de avaliar as mudanças sazonais na sua diversidade e composição. Ambas as áreas estão localizadas na praia de São Cristóvão, Rio Grande do Norte, na região semiárida, costa Norte-Nordeste do Brasil. Um total de 4988 indivíduos foram capturados, sendo as famílias mais ricas em espécies Ariidae, Engraulidae e Carangidae. A riqueza de espécies e abundância foi ligeiramente superior no local A, e a diversidade e equitabilidade no local WA. No entanto, com exceção da equitabilidade, tais diferenças não foram significativas ao longo do estudo. A composição de espécies também foi semelhante entre os dois locais ao longo do ano. No entanto, apesar das semelhanças, as mudanças sazonais de condições ambientais, particularmente precipitação, influenciaram as assembleias de peixes de forma diferente nas duas áreas. Isto causou mudanças na estrutura das assembleias, ocasionando uma diferenciação das comunidades na estação seca. O presente estudo traz evidências de que as assembleias de peixes em habitats com e sem algas à deriva não são estáticos e podem se tornar mais semelhantes ou diferentes, dependendo das condições ambientais, sugerindo a existência de uma complexa relação entre produtividade primária, nível trófico e estrutura da assembleia.

Abstract The present study compared fish assemblages in two adjacent areas, one with drifting algae (A) and another without it (WA), in order to assess seasonal changes in diversity and composition. Both areas were located in São Cristóvão beach, Rio Grande do Norte state, on the semi-arid North-Northeastern coast of Brazil. A total of 4988 individuals were caught, the most species-rich families being Scianidae, Ariidae, Engraulidae and Carangidae. Species richness and abundance were slightly higher in site A, but diversity and evenness were higher in site WA. However, with the exception of evenness, such differences were not significant at any time during the study. Species composition was also similar between the two sites over the year. Nevertheless, in spite of the similarities, seasonal changes of environmental conditions, particularly rainfall, seemed to influence fish assemblages differently in the two areas. This may have led to changes in assemblage structure, causing the differentiation of the communities in the dry season. The present study presents evidence that fish assemblages in habitats with and without drifting seaweeds are not static and may become more similar or different, depending on the environmental conditions, suggesting that there is a complex relationship between primary productivity, trophic level and the structure of fish assemblages.