Influence of environmental factors on the bathymetric distribution of the flecked box crab Hepatus pudibundus (Herbst, 1785) (Crustacea: Aethroidea) in the Southeastern Brazilian coast

Authors

  • Veronica Pereira Bernardes Universidade Estadual Paulista, Instituto de Biociências, Departamento de Zoologia
  • Fernando Luis Mantelatto Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Departamento de Biologia
  • Thiago Elias da Silva Universidade Estadual Paulista, Instituto de Biociências, Departamento de Zoologia
  • Aline Nonato de Sousa Universidade Estadual Paulista, Instituto de Biociências, Departamento de Zoologia
  • Camila Hipólito Bernardo Universidade Estadual Paulista, Instituto de Biociências, Departamento de Zoologia
  • Adilson Fransozo Universidade Estadual Paulista, Instituto de Biociências, Departamento de Zoologia

Keywords:

Brachyura, sediment texture, Decapoda, distribution, Coastal Water

Abstract

Abstract: This study evaluated the relationships between environmental factors and the spatio-temporal distribution of H. pudibundus, with the hypothesis of differential occupation in coastal areas of southeastern Brazil. The samplings took place monthly in January-December 2000 period, along nine transects from 2 to 40 m of depth, in Ubatuba region, northern coast of São Paulo. We collected 1808 individuals of H. pudibundus. The highest abundance was recorded in winter in the transects 10-25 m deep. Abundance was positively correlated with organic matter content and texture sediment (phi values). With the retreat of the South Atlantic Central Water (SACW) in autumn and winter, the sediment swirls, suspending the detritivore and filter-feeding macrofauna, increasing the food availability. Sites characterized by finer sediment offer higher food availability, besides facilitating H. pudibundus burying behavior. Due to its opportunistic predatory behavior, this species feeds on a variety of organisms, including mollusks, annelids and foraminifera, which are preys more abundant in the studied area and in sediments of finer grain size.

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Published

2019-01-01

How to Cite

Bernardes, V. P., Mantelatto, F. L., Silva, T. E. da, Sousa, A. N. de, Bernardo, C. H., & Fransozo, A. (2019). Influence of environmental factors on the bathymetric distribution of the flecked box crab Hepatus pudibundus (Herbst, 1785) (Crustacea: Aethroidea) in the Southeastern Brazilian coast. Biota Neotropica, 19(1). Retrieved from //www.biotaneotropica.org.br/BN/article/view/1610

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