Further observations on zooplankton of the Potengi Estuary (Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil) with special reference to the larvae of Brachyura (Crustacea, Decapoda)

Sankarankutty, C; Oliveira, J.E. Lins; Cunha, K.M.F; Silva, A.C.C; Barroca, E.V.G

doi:10.1590/S0101-81751995000200007

Abstract

The present paper deals with data on zooplankton collected from the estuary of Potengi, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil covering a period of one year from October 1992 to October 1993. Three fixed stations within the estuary located at varying distances from the mouth of the river were sampled. Sampling was done monthly when the tide was lowest. Analysis of the samples has shown clear pattern of seasonal variations in abundance of the dominant zooplankton components which are composed of Copepoda, Appendicularia, larvae of Brachyura, larvae of Cirripedia and Chaetognalha. A detailed study of the larvae of Brachyura was also attempted which showed that seven species can be identified in the samples, of which those of Aratus pisonii (H. Milne Edwards) and Cardisoma guanhumi Latreille have already been described. Other five species are designated here numerically and description of various stages present in the samples are given.

Brachyura; seasonal; abundance; taxonomy; larvae; estuary; Brazil

Further observations on zooplankton of the Potengi Estuary (Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil) with special reference to the larvae of Brachyura (Crustacea, Decapoda)

C. Sankarankutty^I,II; J.E. Lins Oliveira^I,II; K.M.F. Cunha^II; A.C.C. Silva^II; E.V.G. Barroca^II

^IDepartamento de Oceanografia e Limnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59014-100 Natal, Rio Grande do Norte. Brasil

^IIBolsista do CNPq

ABSTRACT

The present paper deals with data on zooplankton collected from the estuary of Potengi, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil covering a period of one year from October 1992 to October 1993. Three fixed stations within the estuary located at varying distances from the mouth of the river were sampled. Sampling was done monthly when the tide was lowest. Analysis of the samples has shown clear pattern of seasonal variations in abundance of the dominant zooplankton components which are composed of Copepoda, Appendicularia, larvae of Brachyura, larvae of Cirripedia and Chaetognalha. A detailed study of the larvae of Brachyura was also attempted which showed that seven species can be identified in the samples, of which those of Aratus pisonii (H. Milne Edwards) and Cardisoma guanhumi Latreille have already been described. Other five species are designated here numerically and description of various stages present in the samples are given.

Key words: Brachyura, seasonal abundance, taxonomy, larvae, estuary, Brazil

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. The present study was conducted during the period of fellowships awarded to us by CNPq and we are very much indebted to the Council. The analysis of the larvae of Brachyura was done by the senior author at the Department of Fisheries and Marine Biology of the University of Bergen (DFMB), Norway during the tenure of a senior fellowship offered by CNPq and he wishes to record his gratitude to the CNPq as well to the staff of DFMB. Our thanks are also due to the authorities of the Naval Base and Yacht Club. Natal for permission to carry out our sampling from their premises.

REFERENCES

Costlow, J.D. & C.G. Bookhout. 1968. The larval development of Callinectes sapidus Rathbun. Biol. Bull. 116:373-396.

______. 1968. The complete larval development of the land-crab, Cardisoma guanhumi Latreille in the laboratory (Brachyura, Gecarcinidae). Crustaceana, Suppl., 2:259-270.

Esnal, G.B.; C. Sankarankutty & R.J. Castro. 1985. Diurnal and seasonal fluctuations of Oikopleura dioica Fol., 1872 (Tunicata, Appendicularia) in the mouth of the River Pontengi (North Brazil). Physis, Buenos Aires, 43 (105):65-71.

Gohar, H.A.F. & A.A. Al-Kholy. 1957. The larvae of some brachyuran Crustacea. Publ. Mar. Biol. Sta. Al-Ghardaqa, Egypt, (9):146-176.

Huys, R. & G.A. Boxshall. 1991. Copepod evolution. The Ray Society, London, 468p.

Lebour, M. V. 1928. Studies of the Plymouth Brachyura. II. The larval stages of Ebalia and Pinnotheres. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U.K. 15 (1):109-118.

Montú, M. 1980. Zooplâncton do estuário da Lagoa dos Patos. I. Estrutura e variações temporais e espaciais da comunidade. Atlântica, Rio Grande, 4:53-72.

Nair, V.R. & C. Sankarankutty. 1988. Chaetognaths of the Potengi estuary (Natal, Northeast Brazil). Atlântica, Rio Grande, 10(1):5-20.

Noble, A. 1974. On the eggs and early larval stages of Pinnotheres gracilis Burger and Pinnotheres modiolicolus Burger. J. mar. biol. Ass. India 16:175-181.

Paranaguá, M.N.; D. A. Nascimento & S.J. Macêdo. 1979. Estudo ecológico da região de Itamaracá - PE. II. Distribuição do zooplâncton no estuário do Rio Igarassu. Trab. Oceanogr. Univ. Fed. PE 14:65-92.

Pregenzer, C. JR. 1979. A redescription of Pinnotheres hickmani (Guiler) and comparison with Pinnothres novaezelandiae Filhol and Pinnotheres pisum (L.) (Decapoda, Brachyura). Crustaceana, Suppl., 5:22-30.

Rice, A.L. 1975. The first zoeal stages os Cancer pagurus L., Pinnotheres pisum (Pennant) and Macrophthalmus depressus Rüppell (Crustacea, Decapoda, Brachyura). Bull. Br. Mus. nat. Hist., Zool., 28 (5):237-247.

Sandoz, M. & S.H. Hopkins. 1947. Early life history of the oyster crab Pinnotheres ostreum (Stay). Biol. Bull. 93:250-258.

Sankarankutty, C. 1991. Influence of tide on zooplankton of Potengi estuary, Natal, Northeast Brazil. Bol. Dep. Ocean. Limnol., Natal, 8:125-144.

Sankarankutty, C; A.G. Freire & L.C. Santiago. 1991. On the taxonomy and distribution of Callinectes Stimpson (Crustacea, Decapoda, Portunidae) in Rio Grande do Norte. Revta bras. Zool. 8 (1/2/3/4):17-22.

Sankarankutty, C. & G.F. Medeiros. 1985. Observations on diurnal variations of tidal estuarine zooplankton, p. 331-341. In: Proc. Indian Ocean. Biology of benthic marine Organisms. Techniques and methods as applied to the Indian Ocean. New Delhi, Oxford & IBH Publishing Co.

Sankarankutty, C.; G.F. Medeiros & N.Q. Santos. 1985. On diurnal variations of zooplankton in a tidal estuary. J. mar. biol. Ass. India 21:187-190.

Sankarankutty, C; G.F. Medeiros & J.E. Lins Oliveira. In press. On diurnal and seasonal fluctuation of estuarine zooplankton of Pontegi estuary, Natal, Northeast of Brazil. J. mar. biol. Ass. India.

Santos, N.Q. 1977. Contribuição ao conhecimento das condições físico-químicas de águas das comboas Jaguaribe e do Manimbu, Natal (RN), Brasil. Bol. Dep. Ocean. Limnol.; Natal, 6:31-34.

Tundisi, J. 1970. O plâncton estuarino. Contr. Inst. Oceanogr. Univ. S. Paulo, ser. Ocean Biol., São Paulo, 19:1-22.

Warmer, G.F. 1968. The larval development of the mangrove tree crab, Aratus pisonii (H. Milne-Edwards), reared in the laboratory (Brachyura, Grapsidae). Crustaceana, suppl., 2:249-258.

Recebido em 28.IX.1994; aceito em 19.VIII.1995.

References

Costlow, J.D. & C.G. Bookhout. 1968. The larval development of Callinectes sapidus Rathbun. Biol. Bull. 116:373-396.
______. 1968. The complete larval development of the land-crab, Cardisoma guanhumi Latreille in the laboratory (Brachyura, Gecarcinidae). Crustaceana, Suppl., 2:259-270.
Esnal, G.B.; C. Sankarankutty & R.J. Castro. 1985. Diurnal and seasonal fluctuations of Oikopleura dioica Fol., 1872 (Tunicata, Appendicularia) in the mouth of the River Pontengi (North Brazil). Physis, Buenos Aires, 43 (105):65-71.
Gohar, H.A.F. & A.A. Al-Kholy. 1957. The larvae of some brachyuran Crustacea. Publ. Mar. Biol. Sta. Al-Ghardaqa, Egypt, (9):146-176.
Huys, R. & G.A. Boxshall. 1991. Copepod evolution. The Ray Society, London, 468p.
Lebour, M. V. 1928. Studies of the Plymouth Brachyura. II. The larval stages of Ebalia and Pinnotheres. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U.K. 15 (1):109-118.
Montú, M. 1980. Zooplâncton do estuário da Lagoa dos Patos. I. Estrutura e variações temporais e espaciais da comunidade. Atlântica, Rio Grande, 4:53-72.
Nair, V.R. & C. Sankarankutty. 1988. Chaetognaths of the Potengi estuary (Natal, Northeast Brazil). Atlântica, Rio Grande, 10(1):5-20.
Noble, A. 1974. On the eggs and early larval stages of Pinnotheres gracilis Burger and Pinnotheres modiolicolus Burger. J. mar. biol. Ass. India 16:175-181.
Paranaguá, M.N.; D. A. Nascimento & S.J. Macêdo. 1979. Estudo ecológico da região de Itamaracá - PE. II. Distribuição do zooplâncton no estuário do Rio Igarassu. Trab. Oceanogr. Univ. Fed. PE 14:65-92.
Pregenzer, C. JR. 1979. A redescription of Pinnotheres hickmani (Guiler) and comparison with Pinnothres novaezelandiae Filhol and Pinnotheres pisum (L.) (Decapoda, Brachyura). Crustaceana, Suppl., 5:22-30.
Rice, A.L. 1975. The first zoeal stages os Cancer pagurus L., Pinnotheres pisum (Pennant) and Macrophthalmus depressus Rüppell (Crustacea, Decapoda, Brachyura). Bull. Br. Mus. nat. Hist., Zool., 28 (5):237-247.
Sandoz, M. & S.H. Hopkins. 1947. Early life history of the oyster crab Pinnotheres ostreum (Stay). Biol. Bull. 93:250-258.
Sankarankutty, C. 1991. Influence of tide on zooplankton of Potengi estuary, Natal, Northeast Brazil. Bol. Dep. Ocean. Limnol., Natal, 8:125-144.
Sankarankutty, C; A.G. Freire & L.C. Santiago. 1991. On the taxonomy and distribution of Callinectes Stimpson (Crustacea, Decapoda, Portunidae) in Rio Grande do Norte. Revta bras. Zool. 8 (1/2/3/4):17-22.
Sankarankutty, C. & G.F. Medeiros. 1985. Observations on diurnal variations of tidal estuarine zooplankton, p. 331-341. In: Proc. Indian Ocean. Biology of benthic marine Organisms. Techniques and methods as applied to the Indian Ocean. New Delhi, Oxford & IBH Publishing Co.
Sankarankutty, C.; G.F. Medeiros & N.Q. Santos. 1985. On diurnal variations of zooplankton in a tidal estuary. J. mar. biol. Ass. India 21:187-190.
Sankarankutty, C; G.F. Medeiros & J.E. Lins Oliveira. In press. On diurnal and seasonal fluctuation of estuarine zooplankton of Pontegi estuary, Natal, Northeast of Brazil. J. mar. biol. Ass. India.
Santos, N.Q. 1977. Contribuição ao conhecimento das condições físico-químicas de águas das comboas Jaguaribe e do Manimbu, Natal (RN), Brasil. Bol. Dep. Ocean. Limnol.; Natal, 6:31-34.
Tundisi, J. 1970. O plâncton estuarino. Contr. Inst. Oceanogr. Univ. S. Paulo, ser. Ocean Biol., São Paulo, 19:1-22.
Warmer, G.F. 1968. The larval development of the mangrove tree crab, Aratus pisonii (H. Milne-Edwards), reared in the laboratory (Brachyura, Grapsidae). Crustaceana, suppl., 2:249-258.

Publication Dates

Publication in this collection
21 July 2009
Date of issue
1995

History

Accepted
19 Aug 1995
Received
28 Sept 1994

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

[1] Costlow, J.D. & C.G. Bookhout. 1968. The larval development of Callinectes sapidus Rathbun. Biol. Bull. 116:373-396.

[2] ______. 1968. The complete larval development of the land-crab, Cardisoma guanhumi Latreille in the laboratory (Brachyura, Gecarcinidae). Crustaceana, Suppl., 2:259-270.

[3] Esnal, G.B.; C. Sankarankutty & R.J. Castro. 1985. Diurnal and seasonal fluctuations of Oikopleura dioica Fol., 1872 (Tunicata, Appendicularia) in the mouth of the River Pontengi (North Brazil). Physis, Buenos Aires, 43 (105):65-71.

[4] Gohar, H.A.F. & A.A. Al-Kholy. 1957. The larvae of some brachyuran Crustacea. Publ. Mar. Biol. Sta. Al-Ghardaqa, Egypt, (9):146-176.

[5] Huys, R. & G.A. Boxshall. 1991. Copepod evolution. The Ray Society, London, 468p.

[6] Lebour, M. V. 1928. Studies of the Plymouth Brachyura. II. The larval stages of Ebalia and Pinnotheres. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U.K. 15 (1):109-118.

[7] Montú, M. 1980. Zooplâncton do estuário da Lagoa dos Patos. I. Estrutura e variações temporais e espaciais da comunidade. Atlântica, Rio Grande, 4:53-72.

[8] Nair, V.R. & C. Sankarankutty. 1988. Chaetognaths of the Potengi estuary (Natal, Northeast Brazil). Atlântica, Rio Grande, 10(1):5-20.

[9] Noble, A. 1974. On the eggs and early larval stages of Pinnotheres gracilis Burger and Pinnotheres modiolicolus Burger. J. mar. biol. Ass. India 16:175-181.

[10] Paranaguá, M.N.; D. A. Nascimento & S.J. Macêdo. 1979. Estudo ecológico da região de Itamaracá - PE. II. Distribuição do zooplâncton no estuário do Rio Igarassu. Trab. Oceanogr. Univ. Fed. PE 14:65-92.

[11] Pregenzer, C. JR. 1979. A redescription of Pinnotheres hickmani (Guiler) and comparison with Pinnothres novaezelandiae Filhol and Pinnotheres pisum (L.) (Decapoda, Brachyura). Crustaceana, Suppl., 5:22-30.

[12] Rice, A.L. 1975. The first zoeal stages os Cancer pagurus L., Pinnotheres pisum (Pennant) and Macrophthalmus depressus Rüppell (Crustacea, Decapoda, Brachyura). Bull. Br. Mus. nat. Hist., Zool., 28 (5):237-247.

[13] Sandoz, M. & S.H. Hopkins. 1947. Early life history of the oyster crab Pinnotheres ostreum (Stay). Biol. Bull. 93:250-258.

[14] Sankarankutty, C. 1991. Influence of tide on zooplankton of Potengi estuary, Natal, Northeast Brazil. Bol. Dep. Ocean. Limnol., Natal, 8:125-144.

[15] Sankarankutty, C; A.G. Freire & L.C. Santiago. 1991. On the taxonomy and distribution of Callinectes Stimpson (Crustacea, Decapoda, Portunidae) in Rio Grande do Norte. Revta bras. Zool. 8 (1/2/3/4):17-22.

[16] Sankarankutty, C. & G.F. Medeiros. 1985. Observations on diurnal variations of tidal estuarine zooplankton, p. 331-341. In: Proc. Indian Ocean. Biology of benthic marine Organisms. Techniques and methods as applied to the Indian Ocean. New Delhi, Oxford & IBH Publishing Co.

[17] Sankarankutty, C.; G.F. Medeiros & N.Q. Santos. 1985. On diurnal variations of zooplankton in a tidal estuary. J. mar. biol. Ass. India 21:187-190.

[18] Sankarankutty, C; G.F. Medeiros & J.E. Lins Oliveira. In press. On diurnal and seasonal fluctuation of estuarine zooplankton of Pontegi estuary, Natal, Northeast of Brazil. J. mar. biol. Ass. India.

[19] Santos, N.Q. 1977. Contribuição ao conhecimento das condições físico-químicas de águas das comboas Jaguaribe e do Manimbu, Natal (RN), Brasil. Bol. Dep. Ocean. Limnol.; Natal, 6:31-34.

[20] Tundisi, J. 1970. O plâncton estuarino. Contr. Inst. Oceanogr. Univ. S. Paulo, ser. Ocean Biol., São Paulo, 19:1-22.

[21] Warmer, G.F. 1968. The larval development of the mangrove tree crab, Aratus pisonii (H. Milne-Edwards), reared in the laboratory (Brachyura, Grapsidae). Crustaceana, suppl., 2:249-258.