Saquarema-Jaconé lagoonal system (SJLS) comprises a sequence of five interconnected shallow brackish lagoons with access to the sea by a single permanent tidal channel. It is a eutrophic system, receiving constant input of organic load from its urbanized catchments. The relationship between several environmental variables and the spatial-temporal distribution of the benthic macrofauna was assessed during four seasonal samplings (dry and wet periods of 2007-2009). Sediment replicates were sampled at seven sites for biological identification and analyzes of organic matter, carbonates, phytopigments, grain size and heavy metals. Salinity, dissolved oxygen and redox potential were measured in situ. SJLS was characterized by sandy bottoms with very reducing conditions. Redox potential significantly discriminated between the dry and wet periods and anoxic conditions were observed in the latter. No significant seasonal differences were observed in the macrofauna. A total of 37 taxa were identified, of which Capitella sp, oligochaetes and Laeonereis culveri (Webster, 1880) were the dominant, representing the early stage of community recovery following dystrophic crises. The faunistic pattern seems to be determined by complex combinations of silt+clay with salinity, organic matter and redox potential. On the other hand, the low concentrations of heavy metals found did not seem to influence the structure and distribution of the biota. SJLS is undergoing persistent environmental stress, dominated by first-order opportunistic species linked to organically enriched sediments.

A population of the fiddler crab Uca rapax (Smith, 1870) found in Itaipu Lagoon, southeast Brazil, was sampled monthly from July 2006 to June 2007 in order to study population and reproductive features. The sex ratio of the population was statistically different from the expected (1:1) in almost every month, with a predominance of males. The reproductive cycle and the recruitment of juveniles were continuous, with two peaks. The fecundity ranged from 1.110 to 13.189 eggs (4.984 ± 2.493.8), not differing statistically among seasons. In contrast, the relative fecundity (F') and the reproductive intensity index (RII) were highest in the summer. Female size at the onset of sexual maturity was estimated as 6.1 mm and egg diameter ranged from 0.20 to 0.28 mm. The anthropogenic impact on the environment of Itaipu Lagoon probably had adverse effects on the local U. rapax population, as inferred by its low fecundity rates, early maturation age and biased sex ratio.

A estrutura populacional do anfioxo Branchiostoma caribaeum Sandevall, 1853 foi analisada em quatro campanhas abrangendo todas as estações do ano, na Baía de Guanabara, sudeste do Brasil. A abundância de indivíduos foi maior na primavera e positivamente correlacionada com sedimentos grossos, tendo sua distribuição limitada a alguns setores da área amostral. O tamanho corpóreo e a biomassa diferiram sazonalmente, mas não entre os sexos. Indivíduos sexualmente maduros ocorreram em todas as estações do ano, sugerindo uma reprodução contínua, típica de espécies tropicais. Variações na freqüência de ocorrência de espécimes pequenos indicaram diferenças temporais na intensidade da reprodução. O tamanho corpóreo dos recrutas diferiu de populações de anfioxos de outros locais. O menor tamanho em que B. caribaeum atinge a maturidade sexual na Baía da Guanabara pode estar relacionada ao estresse ambiental ou à grande disponibilidade de alimento do local.

Population structure of the lancelet Branchiostoma caribaeum Sandevall, 1853 was studied in four surveys, corresponding to austral seasons, in a tropical bay, southeast of Brazil. Abundance was higher in the spring and was positively correlated to coarse sediments, limiting its occurrence to some sectors of the sampling area. Body length and biomass differed seasonally but not between sexes. Sexually mature individuals occurred in all seasons, suggesting continuous breeding that is typical of tropical species. Variation in the frequency of small specimens indicates temporal differences in the intensity of breeding. The body length of recruits differed from other population of lancelets and the small length which B. caribaeum attained sexual maturity in Guanabara Bay may be related to local environmental stress or the great availability of food.

Larvas eclodidas em laboratório e juvenis coletados em campo do tatuí Emeritabrasiliensis (Hippidae) foram cultivados em diferentes temperaturas e regime alimentar com a finalidade de avaliar as melhores condições para a manutenção da espécie em laboratório. O efeito da freqüência da substituição da água de cultivo sobre o desenvolvimento larvar também foi estudado avaliando-se a sobrevivência, o crescimento e a duração dos estádios larvares. A duração das fases larvares e o crescimento das três últimas fases de zoea correlacionaramse positivamente com a temperatura. As temperaturas testadas, entre 18 e 26ºC não influenciaram a sobrevivência das larvas. Não houve influencia da alimentação e nem da troca de água no desenvolvimento, crescimento e sobrevivência das larvas, bem como das dietas de microalgas na sobrevivência e desenvolvimento dos juvenis.

Hatched larvae and field sampled juveniles of the sand crab Emeritabrasiliensis were reared at different temperatures and food diet in order to evaluate the best conditions for laboratory maintenance. The effects of frequency of changing the aquarium seawater on larval development was also studied evaluating the survival, growth and duration of larval stages. The duration of larval stage and growth of the last three zoes phases correlate positively with temperature. Temperatures between 18 and 26ºC did not influence the larval survival. The kind of food and frequency of water exchange did not influence the development, growth, and survival of larvae, as well as the development, and survival of juveniles.

Os moluscos bivalves da plataforma continental do ecossistema da ressurgência do Cabo Frio foram amostrados mensalmente de fevereiro de 1986 a fevereiro de 1987, entre 30 a 60 m de profundidade. Mactra petiti e Tellina gibber Ihering, 1907 foram espécies constantes a 30 m; Nucula puelcha Orbigny, 1846, Adrana patagonica Orbigny, 1846, T. petitiana, T. gibber e Corbula patagonica Orbigny, 1846 a 45 m; e N. puelcha, T. gibber, C. patagonica e C. caribaea a 60 m. O número de espécies raras foi similar nas diferentes profundidades, variando entre seis a dez espécies. O número de espécies comuns foi maior a 60 m que a 30 m. Algumas espécies apresentaram distribuição contínua porém, com variação na freqüência e abundância ao longo do gradiente batimétrico. A densidde média foi maior a 45-60 m do que a 30 m., variando entre 15,6 ind.m-2 (30 m) a 68,1 ind.m-2 (60 m). Não foram observadas mudanças sazonais na densidade ou na estrutura da associação de bivalves durante o período estudado. Por outro lado, a taxocenose mostrou-se estruturada ao longo do gradiente batimétrico, mostrando mudanças consistentes de 30 para 60 m de profundidade.

Bivalve mollusks of the continental shelf of Cabo Frio upwelling ecosystem were sampled monthly from February 1986 to February 1987 along a 30 to 60 m depth gradient. Mactra petiti Orbigny, 1846, and Tellina gibber Ihering, 1907 were constant species in 30 m; Nucula puelcha Orbigny, 1846, Adrana patagonica Orbigny, 1846, T. petitiana, T. gibber, and Corbula patagonica Orbigny, 1846 in 45 m; and N. puelcha, T. gibber, C. patagonica, and C. caribaea in 60 m. The number of rare species was similar along the depth gradient, ranging from six to ten species. The number of common species was higher in 60 m than in 30 m. Some species showed a continuous distribution but changed the frequency and abundance along the bathymetric gradient. The mean density was higher in 45-60 m than in 30 m, ranging from 15.6 ind.m-2, in 30 m, to 68.1 ind.m-2, in 60 m. There was no seasonal change in density nor in the taxocene structure during the studied period. On the other hand, the bivalve assemblage was spatially structured along the depth gradient, showing consistent changes from 30 to 60 m depths. Diversity and richness also follow this distribution pattern.