Bent hie environment, Species diversity, Population density, Temporal variations, Spatial variations, Environmental factors, Sediment-water interface, Polychaeta, Continental shelf, São Paulo State, Brazil
Abstract
Density and diversity patterns of the polychaetous annelids from the northern continental shelf of São Paulo State, Brazil, were studied. Polychaetous densities were higher in the inner shelf, mainly in the southern transect. Temporal variations were observed at the northern and central transects in the 20 and 35 m isobaths, with higher summer values. Diversity values were lower in summer and higher during winter in the outer shelf. The inner shelf presented more complex diversity patterns with seasonal fluctuations in lower depths. Muddy sediments presented higher densities; diversity and richness were higher in fine sand sediments. Coarser sediments presented the highest values of evenness but low diversity. The higher diversity values in the shallowest stations were due to the higher number of species and in the deepest stations to the great evenness.
