title: Spatial patterns of benthic foraminifera as a support to the oceanographic characterisation of Arvoredo biological marine reserve (South Atlantic, Brazil).
abstract: This paper analyses the distribution of benthic foraminifera in a sector of the inner continental shelf of Santa Catarina State (Brazil), which comprises a Marine Protected Area (MPA). Species indicators of continental input suggest that waters under the influence of continental drainage can eventually reach the southwestern part of the reserve, which might jeopardise the ecosystems of this MPA due to the transport of contaminants related to human activities. Species known to be indicators of high marine benthic productivity were more abundant below 30 m, and were associated with areas under the stronger influence of nutrient-enriched water mass. The high density of foraminifera and the low dominance of species found in most samples inside the reserve might be evidence for the positive effects of the prohibition of bottom trawling, ensuring a higher ecological equilibrium of benthic communities. These results can contribute to the current debate about the reclassification and change in the extent of this MPA.
authors.affiliation: Coastal Oceanography Laboratory, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil. Electronic address: marielaurence17@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Marie-Laurence
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Paquette
authors.affiliation: Coastal Oceanography Laboratory, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil. Electronic address: carla.bonetti@ufsc.br.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bonetti
authors.affiliation: Coastal Oceanography Laboratory, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil. Electronic address: volneybitencourt@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Volney
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bitencourt
authors.affiliation: Coastal Oceanography Laboratory, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil. Electronic address: jarbas.bonetti@ufsc.br.
authors.forename: Jarbas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bonetti
mesh_terms: D044822:Biodiversity; D001938:Brazil; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D056908:Foraminifera / Q000502:physiology*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis
keywords: Coast-open sea gradient; Continental shelf; Foraminifera; Indicator species; Marine protected area; Productivity