IB05-42 POSTER

SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL DISTRIBUTION OF MICROPARASELLIDAE (CRUSTACEA-ISOPODA) ON A SANDY BEACH OF RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL

M. P. F. REIS (UNIVERSIDADE SANTA ÚRSULA, R. Jornalista Orlando Dantas, 59, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 22230-010, Brazil, marcelo@npoint.com.br); E. F. Albuquerque (UNIVERSIDADE SANTA ÚRSULA, R. Jornalista Orlando Dantas, 59, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 22230-010, Brazil, ealbuquerque@alternex.com.br); A. P. B. Pinto (UNIVERSIDADE SANTA ÚRSULA, R. Jornalista Orlando Dantas, 59, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 22230-010, Brazil, anapaula_pinto@hotmail.com); A. G. Dalto (UNIVERSIDADE SANTA ÚRSULA, R. Jornalista Orlando Dantas, 59, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 22230-010, Brazil, agdalto@usu.br)

The isopodes of the genus Angeliera Chappuis & Delamare, 1952 are found in the interstitial waters of coastal beaches with larger grain size, generally in the intertidal zone. This genus is well represented by one species in 'Praia Vermelha', coast of Rio de Janeiro, but specimens are found only in sublittOral. The aim of this study was to evaluate the spatial and tempOral distribution of this Isopode in 'Praia Vermelha' during a period of six months (from July to December 2000). Modifications of the population distribution are described in relation to environmental variables. In order to characterize this species distribution along the beach, animals were collected in 4 stations. Nine cores were taken in each station: 8 for the meiofauna, and 1 for granulometric and organic matter analyses. Sediment temperature and salinity of the water were noted for each station. Along with this Angeliera sp 8 other taxa were found in the meiofauna: Copepoda, Ostracoda, Microcharon sp, Mystacocarida, Nematoda, Oligochaeta, Polychaeta and Turbellaria. Copepoda and Ostracoda had the highest density, respectively 585 ind.10/cm2 and 307 ind.10/cm2. The number of individuals/core of Angeliera sp was higher in August (237 ind.10/cm2) and lower in September (29 ind.10/cm2). The other months had almost the same values, between 54 ind.10/cm2 and 65 ind.10/cm2. The stations 1(left side) and 4 (right side), showed the highest total number of individuals of Angeliera sp. The results are not sufficient yet to explain the distribution of this species at "Praia Vermelha".