Spatial distribution of epibenthic molluscs on a sandstone reef in the Northeast of Brazil.
The present study investigated the distribution and abundance of epibenthic molluscs and their feeding habits associated to substrate features (coverage and rugosity) in a sandstone reef system in the Northeast of Brazil. Rugosity, low coral cover and high coverage of zoanthids and fleshy alga were the variables that influenced a low richness and high abundance of a few molluscan species in the reef habitat. The most abundant species were generalist carnivores, probably associated to a lesser offer and variability of resources in this type of reef system, when compared to the coral reefs. The results found in this study could reflect a normal characteristic of the molluscan community distribution in sandstone reefs, with low coral cover, or could indicate a degradation state of this habitat if it is compared to coral reefs, once that the significantly high coverage of fleshy alga has been recognized as a negative indicator of reef ecosystems health.
Laboratório do Oceano, Departamento de Botânica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil. aline_oceano@yahoo.com.br
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Martinez
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Mendes
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Leite
D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D057894:Coral Reefs; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D008974:Mollusca / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D011156:Population Density; D011157:Population Dynamics