A survey regarding the diel and seasonal distribution of brachyuran zoea was accomplished in the Jaguaribe estuary, state of Pernambuco, Brazil. Plankton samples were obtained bimonthly, throughout the year of 2001, in different tides and during day and night periods, at two sampling stations. Fourteen taxa were identified, among which Ocypodidae, represented by Ucides cordatus (Linnaeus, 1763) and Uca spp. zoea, was the most abundant one, followed by Xanthidae and Grapsidae. In the station close to the estuary opening, the taxa were well distributed, besides presenting a larger number of identified families. Ocypodidae, Grapsidae and Morphotype B zoea indicated a dispersion movement into coastal areas, while Pinnotheridae indicated a probable retention within the estuarine waters. The high occurrence of zoea in the first larval stages reinforces the important role of estuaries as nursery grounds for several crustacean species.
Estuaries; meroplankton; tropical
