Mangrove sedimentary characteristics and implications for crab Ucides cordatus (Crustacea, Decapoda, Ucididae) distribution in an estuarine area of the Amazonian region

Acta Amazonica

José Diego Gomes²  Fernando Araújo Abrunhosa¹  Darlan De Jesus De Brito Simith¹  Nils Edvin Asp¹ 

[1] ,Universidade Federal do Pará Faculdade de Engenharia de Pesca Bragança PA ,Brazil

关键词: coastal plain;    sediment distribution;    tides;    vegetation;    North Brazil;    mangrove crab;    planície costeira;    distribuição de sedimentos;    maré;    vegetação;    norte do Brasil;    caranguejo de mangue;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S0044-59672013000400010

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

At the coastal zone sediments, water and organisms interact intensely. At equatorial tidal-dominated coast mangroves are abundant. These areas are well-known for their ecological importance. Considering the mangroves of Atlantic South America, the mangrove crab, Ucides cordatus has ecological and economic prominence. High densities of this crab are found on the Amazon coast. This study investigates the sediment distribution of the Bragança mangrove area (Amazon coast, Brazil) and its correlations with vegetation and mangrove crab distribution. Sediments of 47 sites, as well as crabs from sites with different sediment and vegetation, were sampled. Results show that surface sediment of the area is mainly composed by silt (59%), with 21% sand and 20% clay. Variations in sorting and skewness are the product of local variations in clay and sand content. The vegetation type was significantly correlated to mangrove crab characteristics, abundance and weight/size. Sediment characteristics are also substantially different according to the vegetation type. Areas where Avicennia germinans prevails have more sand and clay than areas of Rizophora mangle, in which silt is dominant and crabs were significantly heavier. The present results have showed that the distribution of sediments, crabs and vegetation at mangrove areas are strongly correlated. Thus, they should be studied in conjunction.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
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