Body traits variation of a reef building polychaete across a latitudinal gradient.

Body size is considered the most important trait in ecology, and as such, helps to understand the species-environment interactions. We explored the relationship between body traits and environmental variables along a gradient range using the polychaete Phragmatopoma caudata, with well-defined and diversified morphological structures. Measurements of five traits (body length, opercular crown, branchiae, tentacles and building organ sizes) were taken at nine sites along the Southwestern Atlantic coast and their relationships to temperature, salinity, tidal range, waves height, and dissolved oxygen were assessed.

Macrobenthic community responses to multiple environmental stressors in a subtropical estuary.

We assessed how multi- and univariate models reflect marine environmental health based on macrobenthic community responses to three environmental stressor categories: hydrodynamics, organic enrichment and metal contamination. We then compared the models with the benthic index AMBI (AZTI Marine Biotic Index). Macrobenthic community and physicochemical variables were sampled at 35 sites along Babitonga Bay, a subtropical estuary in Southern Brazil.

Four new Caribbean species (Annelida, Pilargidae), and clarifications of three other species.

Müller, 1858 has been reported from many different coastal environments in Brazil and the Grand Caribbean. However, more than one species was thought to be included under this species group name. After the study of several subtle and consistent differences in specimens fitting the description , a new Grand Caribbean species is herein recognized and described as Further, the study of other specimens prompted the examination of type specimens of (Hartman, 1947), and of Pettibone, 1966 to clarify some morphological features, and three other new species are recognized and newly described: and .

Cytotoxicity and enzymatic biomarkers as early indicators of benthic responses to the soluble-fraction of diesel oil.

Xenobiotics from oil tanker leaks and industrial discharges are amongst the main human impacts to confined coastal areas. We assessed the genotoxic responses to the water-soluble fraction of diesel oil in the polychaete Laeonereis culveri and the bivalve Anomalocardia flexuosa, two widespread benthic species in subtropical estuaries from the Southwestern Atlantic. We hypothesized that the highest responsiveness would be expressed by significantly different biomarkers responses between control and oil-impacted treatments.

Unraveling the performance of the benthic index AMBI in a subtropical bay: The effects of data transformations and exclusion of low-reliability sites.

We investigated the relationship between the AMBI index and different contamination proxies in an urbanized bay in South America (SE Brazil), and the effect of (a) abundance data transformation and (b) exclusion of low-reliability sites (high SD; low N) on the index' performance. Poor ecological quality and opportunistic species were related to an increase in contaminants concentrations and mud content. Good ecological status and sensitive species (EG I) were mainly related to increased hydrodynamics.

Spatial variability of three benthic indices for marine quality assessment in a subtropical estuary of Southern Brazil.

Indices based on macrobenthic responses to disturbance remain to be adequately tested for the detection of spatial variability by robust sampling designs. We present herein a congruence test to real-world data of the widely used indices AMBI, M-AMBI and BENTIX in tidal flats of a subtropical estuary. We used a hierarchical sampling design to evaluate the spatial variability of the indices in response to distinct levels of sewage contamination.