Monteiro, L.C.; Muricy, G. (2004). Patterns of sponge distribution in Cagarras Archipelago, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. 84, 681-687.

200360

Monteiro, L.C.; Muricy, G.

2004

84, 681-687

Publication

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The structure and distribution of the sponge community in ¢ve sites and four habitats in Cagarras Archipelago, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, are described. The archipelago has three major islands (Cagarra, Palmas, and Comprida), and four islets. Qualitative samples were taken by SCUBA diving in the three islands and in two islets, and quantitative samples were taken in Palmas Island only. Cluster analysis using Jaccard’s coeficient on qualitative data grouped the two islets (Cagarra Bank and Cagarra Islet), which are more exposed to wave action, and the three islands formed a group of relatively sheltered sites. Cluster analysis using Bray^Curtis coe/cient on quantitative data from di¡erent habitats in Palmas Island allowed distinction of three groups of samples: overhangs, shallow horizontal surfaces (6m depth), and vertical walls plus deeper horizontal surfaces (17m depth). Sponge abundance was greater in overhangs (61.2 indm2), which were dominated by Protosuberites sp. and Clathrina conifera. Abundance was reduced in vertical walls (31.1indm2) and deep horizontal surfaces (16.8 indm2). Pachychalina sp. dominated the deep horizontal surfaces and Clathrina conifera was dominant in overhangs. Values of Shannon’s diversity in overhangs, vertical walls (both with H0¼2.1bits ind1) and deep horizontal surfaces (H0¼1.7 bits ind1) were moderate and similar, whereas in shallow horizontal surfaces the sponges were both less diverse (H0¼0.37) and less abundant (8.5 indm2). Shallow horizontal surfaces were dominated by Hymeniacidon heliophila. The reduced species richness of the sponge community in Cagarras Archipelago when compared with other sites in Brazil and elsewhere is probably due in part to the pollution from the city of Rio de Janeiro. Wave action appears to reduce the number of sponge species at a local scale, whereas substrate inclination a¡ects more strongly the species composition and abundance than the diversity of sponges.

South Atlantic

Ecology

Porifera

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