Macrofauna bentônica em estuários protegidos subtropicais: padrões e subsídios para a gestão de ecossistemas costeiros

• Ano de defesa: 2016
• Autor(a) principal: Laurino, Ivan Rodrigo Abrão [UNIFESP]
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Tipo de acesso: Acesso aberto
• Idioma: por
• Instituição de defesa: Universidade Federal de São Paulo
• Palavras-chave em Português: Estuarine systems; Climate change; Benthic ecology; Marine protected areas; Coastal management; Sistemas estuarinos; Mudanças climáticas; Ecologia bêntica; Áreas protegidas marinhas; Gerenciamento costeiro
• Link de acesso: https://sucupira.capes.gov.br/sucupira/public/consultas/coleta/trabalhoConclusao/viewTrabalhoConclusao.jsf?popup=true&id_trabalho=4770012; https://repositorio.unifesp.br/handle/11600/46777

Understanding spatial and temporal patterns of biodiversity in estuaries is still a contemporary challenge, in view of the inherent complexity and dynamism in these ecosystems. Estuaries inserted in Marine Protected Areas (MPA) in particular, have a lack of studies aiming to identify biota patterns, especially considering subtropical regions. This gap limits the development of integrated management strategies and adaptation, keeping unknown the vulnerability of these ecosystems to climate change. This study evaluated spatial and temporal patterns of biota in subtropical protected estuaries, generating subsidies for the management and monitoring plans in the context of climate change. The benthic macrofauna was selected as a biological model of study and sampling occurred in estuaries inserted in Jureia-Itatins Conservation Units Mosaic (Peruibe-SP, Brazil). We assess the seasonal patterns of macrofauna in the Una river estuary, over four years in two different intertidal habitats. For spatial assessment, we observe the changes in macrofauna over the abiotic gradient in the Una and Guaraú estuaries. Meetings with managers and the local community involved in the MPA were conducted to identify what were the implications of biodiversity data for the management of this estuaries. We identified a seasonal pattern for macrobenthic assemblies in both habitats assessed, which was dependent on the specific climatic characteristics of each year. Normally, the rainy and hot season had lower abundance and species richness than cold and dry season. Months with the highest climate variability degree demonstrated negative effects on organisms richness and abundance. Differences in macrofauna along the estuarine gradient occurred, and the patterns vary between estuaries. Overall, the higher salinity zone (lower estuary) has greater macrobenthic richness and diversity, compared to lower salinity zones. The sediment properties were the main responsible for the variations in richness. Our results suggest that increased rainfall predicted for the region may promote the loss of macrobenthic biodiversity. Managers and the local community point out that these data have implications for decision-making related to zoning, fisheries resources use and the adaptation of these MPA to climate change. Future guidelines are suggested in order to support integrated strategies for local management.