Talitridae (AMPHIPODA, CRUSTACEA) in estuarine beaches of Paranaguá Bay, southern Brazil: spatial distribution and abundance
Published date: 12/11/2008
The only family of Amphipoda with terrestrial representatives is the Talitridae. Four species are present along the Brazilian coast, three of which appear in the Bay of Paranaguá Complex, Atlantorchestoidea brasiliensis, Talorchestia tucurauna and Platorchestia monodi. Samples collected at the wrack line of eleven beaches of the complex showed that drift line was composed by vegetal fragments from mangroves and salt marshes, except for one beach where macroalgae prevail. T. tucurauna showed the highest densities, but occurred at only 5 beaches. This species was positively correlated with salinity suggesting weak osmotic tolerance, which could explain the restricted spatial distribution. In spite of the low abundance of P. monodi, the species occurred in all the eleven beaches. P. monodi was also positively correlated with the wrack biomass, probably using this material for protection against predation and desiccation.