Benthic macrofauna from Areia Vermelha Marine State Park, Cabedelo, Paraíba, Brazil

Authors

  • Anne Isabelley Gondim Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Laboratório de Invertebrados Paulo Young, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas
  • Thelma Lúcia Pereira Dias Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Departamento de Biologia
  • Felipe Ferreira Campos Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Centro Acadêmico de Vitória,Rua Alto do Reservatório, Programa de Pós-graduação em Saúde Humana e Meio Ambiente
  • Carmen Alonso Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Laboratório de Invertebrados Paulo Young, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas
  • Martin Lindsey Christoffersen Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Laboratório de Invertebrados Paulo Young, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas

Keywords:

biodiversity, benthos, inventories, conservation units

Abstract

The Areia Vermelha Marine State Park (Cabedelo Municipality, Paraiba State, Brazil) was established by the State Government to preserve the local biodiversity and to regulate touristic activities in the area. More than a decade after the creation of this park, we provide the first inventory of the benthic macrofauna of this single exclusively marine conservation unit in our State. Specimens were collected between February and April of 2008. Animals were sampled through intensive searches in the diverse microhabitats available on the reefs. A total of 102 species were identified belonging to Cnidaria (13 spp.), Mollusca (57 spp.), Crustacea (15 spp.), Echinodermata (15 spp.), and Ascidiacea (2 spp.). Fourteen out of these represent new occurrences for the coast of Paraiba State: Pennaria disticha, Encope emarginata, Aplysia dactylomela, Arene brasiliana, Hipponix leptus, Olivella nivea, Mancinella deltoidea, Notocochlis isabelleana, Pilsbryspira albocincta, Pilsbryspira zebroides, Cymatium cynocephalum, Mactrellona alata, Mactrotoma fragilis, and Mulinia cleryana. Three are endangered species according to the Brazilian legislation: Millepora alcicornis (hydrozoan coral), Echinaster (Othilia) echinophorus, and E. (O.) brasiliensis (sea stars). One species, the lobster Panulirus laevicauda, is considered over-exploited. Among the mollusks, Voluta ebraea and Turbinella laevigata are endemic to northeast Brazil; they are particularly vulnerable in the area of the park because of their relevance to the commerce of marine ornamental species. Our pilot study has revealed the presence of species of particular ecological and economic importance, confirming the special relevance of the studied area for conservation. It now becomes imperative that management entities delineate an efficient plan for the conservation and monitoring of this important conservation unit.

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Published

2011-06-01

How to Cite

Gondim, A. I., Dias, T. L. P., Campos, F. F., Alonso, C., & Christoffersen, M. L. (2011). Benthic macrofauna from Areia Vermelha Marine State Park, Cabedelo, Paraíba, Brazil. Biota Neotropica, 11(2). Retrieved from //www.biotaneotropica.org.br/BN/article/view/762

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