The longshore distribution of the benthic macrofauna on Cassino beach, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil were studied during one year (from June 2004 to May 2005) on a monthly basis sampling. Three sites were chosen 50 m apart from each other. On each site three transects, 2 m apart from each other were anchored. Each transect extended from the base of the primary dunes to approximately 1 m depth into the infralittoral. The distances to the sampling levels in each transect were 20 m to the upper limit of the swash zone, from which the distances were of 10 m. The longshore variation of major species and community was highlighted in a 50 m to 100 m range in some occasions. This variation occurred, probably, due to the water level elevation because the meteorological factors.
Sandy beaches; benthic community; spatial-temporal distribution; richness
