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Fifty years of ascidian biodiversity research in São Sebastião, Brazil

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 June 2012

G.M. Dias*
Affiliation:
Instituto Três Rios, DCAA, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Avenida Alberto da Silva Lavinas, 1847, Centro, Três Rios–RJ, 25802-180, Brazil Current address: Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Rua Santa Adélia, 166, Bangu, Santo André–SP, 09210-170, Brazil
R.M. Rocha
Affiliation:
Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba–PR CP 19020, 81531-980, Brazil
T.M.C. Lotufo
Affiliation:
Instituto de Ciências do Mar, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Avenida Abolição 3207, Fortaleza–CE, 60165-081, Brazil
L.P. Kremer
Affiliation:
Instituto Federal de Santa Catarina, Rua Tijucas 55, Itajaí–SC, 88.301-360, Brazil
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: G.M. Dias, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Rua Santa Adélia, 166, Bangu, Santo André–SP, 09210-170, Brazil email: [email protected]

Abstract

The city of São Sebastião (SS), in south-eastern Brazil, is one of the hotspots for marine research since the establishment of the Centre of Marine Biology of the University of São Paulo in the 1960s. The SS region experienced intense transformation during the past 50 years, including increasing urbanization and construction of maritime facilities. Ascidian surveys during the past 50 years have found 62 species, eight of which were described as new and 12 are introduced. Didemnidae and Styelidae are the most speciose families in São Sebastião Channel, with 20 and 15 species respectively. Phallusia nigra, Didemnum psammatodes, Trididemnum orbiculatum, Botrylloides nigrum and Symplegma rubra are the most common ascidians. Most of the species are of tropical origin and São Paulo is their southern geographical limit. Comparisons of reports of the ascidians from different time periods allowed detection of species introductions and shifts in assemblage structure in terms of both species composition and abundance. Additionally, we discuss the main taxonomic issues regarding ascidians from south-eastern Brazil and identify profitable areas for future research. We believe that the temporal data compiled here will serve as a baseline for monitoring and management of ascidians in SS. Additionally, this study provides one of the most detailed datasets of ascidian diversity from the south-western Atlantic Ocean.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2012

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