The occurrence and larval recruitment of Teredinidae (Mollusca, Bivalvia) in Cananeia-Iguape Coastal System, São Paulo, Brazil

The occurrence and larval settlement of Teredinidae in Cananéia-Iguape Coastal System were observed for one year, by using laminated pinewood panels installed in three stations inside the mangrove forest (intertidal zone) and in one station, in the infralittoral. In the mangrove forest, the larval colonization occurred after four months in the most frequently flooded station and after eight months in the two less frequent flooded stations. In the infralittoral, the panels were highly infested after four months. Along the experiment, the number of individuals decreased, especially in the infralittoral, possibly due to competition between teredinids and pholadids for wood. Bankia fimbriatula was the most abundant teredinid, occurring in the infralittoral and in the mangrove area, followed by Bankia gouldi and Lyrodus floridanus, which occurred only in the infralittoral and Nausitora fusticula which was found only in the mangrove forest. In total, 704 individuals of Teredinidae were collected. Martesia striata, the single pholadid, was found in the infralittoral, and totaled 2,658 individuals.

Intertidal zone; infralittoral; mangrove forest; teredinids; pholadid