Resumo O Brasil é caracterizado como um país megadiverso e uma das prioridades no conhecimento e conservação dessa biodiversidade é seguramente a melhoria das coleções biológicas. Estas representam patrimônio biológico, científico, cultural e genético de um país, e sua preservação depende de um esforço coletivo de pesquisadores, instituições e do poder público. Com relação às coleções biológicas marinhas de invertebrados e algas, o estado de São Paulo representa uma alta porcentagem do acervo nacional, com cinco principais coleções depositadas em instituições estaduais. Atualmente estas coleções salvaguardam a grande maioria do acervo marinho estadual e compõem um dos maiores do país. Assim sendo, o objetivo desta pesquisa é o de apresentar informações sobre as coleções biológicas marinhas do estado de São Paulo, estado atual, financiamentos e perspectivas futuras, criando oportunidades de comunicação e considerando os fatores que impactam o desenvolvimento das mesmas. O apoio financeiro da Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) às instituições paulistas extravasa os limites do estado, visto que muitas pesquisas abordam áreas mais abrangentes e/ou estabelecem parcerias diversas com outras instituições não paulistas. Isso se reflete inclusive na abrangência taxonômica e geográfica das coleções biológicas do Estado, uma vez que estas mantêm espécimes/espécies de diferentes regiões do país, ou mesmo de outros países. No entanto, vale ressaltar que não basta investir em expedições de coleta para enriquecimento das coleções sem valorizar a formação de pessoal qualificado, tanto para a curadoria dos acervos quanto para o refinamento taxonômico.

Abstract Brazil is characterized as a megadiverse country, and one of the factors that guarantees the knowledge and preservation of this biodiversity is an improvement in the biological collections. They represent a country's biological, scientific, cultural, and genetic heritage and their preservation depends on a joint effort of researchers, institutions, and public authorities. Marine biological collections of invertebrates and algae of the state of São Paulo represent a high percentage of the national collections, with five biological collections deposited in state institutions. Currently, these collections safeguard the vast majority of the state's marine collection and make up one of the largest in the country. Therefore, the objective of this research is to present information on marine biological collections in the state of São Paulo, their current status, funding, and future perspectives, creating communication opportunities and considering the factors that impact their development. Support from the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) surpasses state limits, since many studies address broader areas and/or establish diverse partnerships with other institutions from outside São Paulo. This is reflected in the taxonomic and geographic scope of the biological collections in the state, since these host specimens/species from different regions of the country, or even from other countries. However, it is worth mentioning that it is not enough to invest in expeditions to enrich the collections without valuing the training of qualified personnel, both for the collections maintenance and for their taxonomic refinement.

The population biology and production of the stout razor clam Tagelus plebeius Lightfoot, 1786 were investigated on an intertidal sandflat on the southeast coast of Brazil (Enseada Beach, São Sebastião, state of São Paulo) between April 1997 and April 1998. Two rectangular sites of 50 X 10 m parallel to the waterline were established, site A (upper intertidal level) and site B (middle intertidal level), where the samples were taken in an 0.5 x 0.5 m quadrat. High abundances were recorded in winter and spring, with no significant differences between the sites. The high bivalve abundances were related to the presence of very fine homogeneous sediment with low salinities. Tagelus plebeius had negative allometric growth, characteristic of deep burrowers for the relationships DM/SL and AFDM/SL. Parameters of the modified von Bertalanffy growth function were: L∞ = 67.01 mm, K = 1.73 year-1, t0 = -0.11 year, C = 0.43, WP = 0.96. The instantaneous mortality (Z) was 3.12 year-1, relatively high in comparison to other tropical bivalve populations. Secondary production was 1.53 g AFDM m-2 year-1, with a P/B ratio reaching 1.37 year-1. This high turnover ratio (P/B) was related to a rapid population replacement, connected with the short life span and high mortality of the species.

The postlarval development of Nicolea uspiana (Nogueira, 2003), a small intertidal terebellid polychaete from rocky habitats on the southeastern and southern Brazilian coast, was studied based on postlarval, juvenile and adult specimens. The specimens, ranging from 8 to 43 segments, were collected between May 2006 and May 2007. The youngest postlarval specimen was found crawling outside of the tube. In specimens at different stages of growth, the number of ocelli and tentacles increased; the first pair of nephridial papillae appeared early (before 8-segmented specimen), and the second and third pairs appeared later (31-segmented specimen); the circulatory system only developed when the first pair of branchial bulbs arose (32-segmented specimen), and the second branchial pair appeared later (40-segmented specimen); and the inversion of the uncini positions in some rows occurred in the transition from larva to juvenile (17-segmented specimen). In the course of development, segments 2-3 lost the notochaetae, and segments 3-4 lost the neurochaetae. The changes involved in the development from postlarval to adult animals are illustrated by SEM micrographs and photographs.

Coletas intensivas da fauna bentônica marinha da costa norte do Estado de São Paulo, realizadas pelos programas de pesquisa "Fauna de Praia/UNICAMP" de agosto de 1995 a julho de 1997 e "Biota/FAPESP" de março de 2001 a dezembro de 2002 recolheram 2769 exemplares pertencentes a dezesseis espécies, doze gêneros e sete subfamílias. A caracterização de cada espécie foi ampliada com redescrição e ilustrações detalhadas, baseadas nos caracteres da concha. Tabelas comparativas dessas características e uma chave dicotômica de identificação das subfamílias são apresentadas neste estudo.

This study concerns the Veneridae bivalves sampled during the research programs "Fauna de Praia/UNICAMP" and "Biota/FAPESP" carried out between August 1995 and July 1997 and between March 2001 and December 2002 respectivelly, in the north coast of São Paulo State, Brazil. A total of 2769 individuals belonging to sixteen species, twelve genera and seven subfamilies were recorded and the characterization of each species improved with detailed redescription and illustrations based on the shell characters. Comparative tables and a identification dichotomic key for subfamilies focused in this study are provided.

The spatial distribution of mollusks in the intertidal zone was examined monthly from August 1995 through July 1997, in Enseada, Barra Velha and Araçá beaches in southeastern of Brazil. One study sector was selected in Enseada and Barra Velha, and two sectors in Araçá (Araçá I and Araçá II). The sectors were 10 m wide and equivalent in length to the width of the intertidal zone. Each sector was divided into three horizontal levels: lower, middle and upper, where the samples were taken with a cylinder corer with a base area of 0.16 m². In order to characterize the intertidal environment in these areas, some environmental variables were analyzed. In general, the mollusks were distributed in the sectors as follows: Enseada - Olivella minuta (Link, 1807) in the lower level and Tagelus plebeius (Lightfoot, 1786) in the upper level; Araçá I - O. minuta in the lower level, Tellina lineata Turton, 1819 and Anomalocardia brasiliana (Gmelin, 1791) in the middle levels; Araçá II - Cerithium atratum (Born, 1778) in the lower level, O. minuta in the lower and middle levels, and A. brasiliana and Corbula caribaea Orbigny, 1842 in the middle level; Barra Velha - Tagelus divisus (Spengler, 1794), Lucina pectinata (Gmelin, 1791) and Tellina versicolor De Kay, 1843 in the lower level, and A. brasiliana and Macoma constricta (Brugüìere, 1792) in the upper level. The intertidal zone of the study sectors could be divided into two biological zones: the upper zone, where T. plebeius, A. brasiliana and M. constricta were more abundant; and the lower zone, where O. minuta, C. atratum, T. lineata, T. versicolor, C. caribaea, T. divisus and L. pectinata were abundant.

Based on features of the holotype and seven Brazilian specimens examined under stereomicroscope, light microscope, and scanning electron microscope, Eunice rubra Grube, 1856 is redescribed, allowing for intraspecific variation and providing informationon characters not included in a previous redescription. Characters important for the taxonomy of the genus varied widely, although in some cases because of fixation artefacts.

Se estudiaron las comunidades bénticas de anélidos durante un periodo de un año (de agosto/95 a julio/96) en dos sectores de las playas Engenho d’Água and São Francisco, Canal de São Sebastião, donde el sustrato está compuesto por una mezcla de arena y fragmentos de roca. Se usaron parámetros abióticos como salidad del agua intersticial y propiedades de sedimento para caracterizar el ambiente. Los poliquetos estuvieron bien representados en los dos sectores y su distribución fue relacionada con el tiempo de sedimento. La densidad de los individuos y el número de táxones fuero mayores en São Francisco, mientras que la diversidad y la equidad fueron mayores en Engenho d’Água. Esta diferencia puede ser una consecueciade u enriquecimiento orgánico causado por una entrada doméstica y la salinidad más baja y variable en São Francisco. Debido a estos factores, la alta densidad de especiesoprtunistas como Capitella capitata ssp., Scolelepis squamata, Laeonereis acuta y varios oligochaetes, representó 75.5% de la abundancia local en ese sector

Benthic annelid communities were studied during a one-year period (August/95 to July/96) in two sectors of the beaches Engenho d’Água and São Francisco, São Sebastião Channel (São Paulo, Brazil), where the substrate is composed by a mixture of sand and rock fragments. Abiotic parameters such as salinity of interstitial water and sediment properties were used to characterize the environment. The polychaetes were well represented in the two sectors and their distribution was related with sediment type. The density of individuals and the number of taxa was higher at São Francisco, while the diversity and the evenness were higher at Engenho d’Água. This difference can be a consequence of organic enrichment caused by domestic input, and of the lower and more variable salinity at São Francisco. Due to these factors, a high density of opportunistic species, like Capitella capitata ssp., Scolelepis squamata, Laeonereis acuta and several oligochaetes, represented 75.5% of total abundance at this sector

Este trabalho foi realizado na região entremarés das praias Barra Velha, Perequê e Engenho d'Água, situadas na Ilha de São Sebastião (Estado de São Paulo, Brasil), com o objetivo de estudar a composição, abundância e zonação da taxocenose dos poliquetas. Quatro setores estruturalmente diferentes foram delimitados, sendo dois na Barra Velha (I e II), um no Perequê e um no Engenho d'Água. Cada setor foi dividido em 3 níveis entremarés (inferior, intermediário e superior), nos quais 5-6 amostras aleatórias foram tomadas sazonalmente utilizando um delimitador com 0,01 m2 de área. Laeonereis acuta, Capitella capitata e Heteromastus filiformis ocorreram predominantemente nos níveis superiores e Scoloplos (Leodamas) sp. e Cirriformia tentaculata nos inferiores. A complexidade estrutural do Engenho d' Água, caracterizado por fragmentos rochosos misturados ao sedimento, sustentou a fauna de poliquetas mais rica e diversificada dentre os setores. A salinidade da água intersticial e o teor de matéria orgânica foram os principais parâmetros determinantes da zonação nestes locais.

This study was performed in the intertidal zone of Barra Velha, Perequê, and Engenho d'Água beaches, located on São Sebastião Island (São Paulo State, Brazil), to assess the composition, abundance, and zonation of the polychaete community in the intertidal zone. Four structurally different sectors were established, two on Barra Velha (I and lI), one on Perequê, and one on Engenho d'Água. Each sector was divided into 3 tidal levels (lower, middle, and upper), in which 5 or 6 random samples were taken seasonally using a corer of 0.01 m2 in area. Laeonereis acuta, Capitella capitata, and Heteromastus filiformis dominated in the upper tidal levels, and Scoloplos (Leodamas) sp. and Cirriformia tentaculata in the lower levels. The structural complexity of Engenho d'Água, caused by rocky fTagments mixed with sand, supported the richest and most diverse polychaete fauna of ali the sectors. The salinity of the interstitial water and the organic matter content were the principal factors related to the zonation patterns at these sites.

Estudou-se a variação anual da comunidade de moluscos em dois ambientes entremarés constituídos por areia e fragmentos rochosos <300 mm) no Canal de São Sebastião, Brasil. As amostras foram obtidas mensalmente entre agosto de 1995 e julho de 1996 nas praias São Francisco (continente) e Engenho d'Água (Ilha de São Sebastião). Uma marcante redução na abundância e diversidade foi associada às mudanças estruturais do ambiente, causada por ressacas do mar no início do verão (dezembro), e ao aumento no fluxo de esgotos domésticos neste período. Em áreas onde estes eventos não foram evidentes, não houve grande alteração na composição faunística, e as pequenas oscilações foram atribuídas ao recrutamento de populações numericamente importantes. Ambos os fatores naturais e antrópicos podem estar atuando em conjunto para determinar a organização da comunidade nestes ambientes, tal como ocorre em praias arenosas típicas.

The temporal variation in molluscan communities was studied in two intertidal substrates composed of sand and rock fragments <300 mm) in São Sebastião Channel, Brazil. Samples were taken between August 1995 and July 1996 in São Francisco (mainland) and Engenho d'Água (São Sebastião Island) beaches. A pronounced decrease in abundance and diversity of molluscs was associated with changes in the structure of the environment, caused by sea storms in the beginning of the summer (December), and by the increase of waste water discharge in this same period. Areas not subjected to such events showed no evident modifications in mollusc fauna structure during the sampling period, and the small oscillations observed were attributed to population recruitment. Both natural and human factors may be acting together in determining the community organization in these environments, as is also in typical sandy beaches.

This isthe fifth fascicle of the series and deals with the polychaete families Psionidae, Chrysoptelidae, Aniphinomidae e Euphrosinidae whieh are represented in the Brazilian coast respectively hy 1,5, 9 and 2 species. The speciniens of ali the species examined are deposited in the Collection of the Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biologia of the Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo.

This work constitutes a systematic survey of the Annelida Polychaeta from the sublitoral of the São Paulo State coast (Ubatuba), southeast Brazil. From 105 identified species, 20 are new records for the brazilian coast. An analysis of affinity degree between the fauna of the studied region and of the adjacents biogeographic provinces shows that 25,5% of the species are endemic for the Paulista Province, 19,0% amphi-american, 17,0% cosmopolite and 16,8% amphi-atlantic. An affinity with species from the Patagonian (7,4%) and Caribbean (2,0%) Provinces is smaller than that of other authors, for the southeast Brazilian coast.

Phragmatopoda lapisosa Kinberg (Polychaeta, Sabellariidae), originaliy described from the Brazilian coast, has had its distribution much enlarged lately. As the original description is not sufliciently clear, I add here some characteristics for its recognition the shape of the opercular paleae is a decisive character for its identification.

Seven species of Syllidae (Annelida, Polychaeta) inhabiting colonies of the bryozoan Schizoporella unicornis (Johnston), a common species on the beaches of Ubatuba and São Sebastião, São Paulo State, Brazil are described: Exogone occidentalis Westheide, 1974; Haplosyllis spongicola (Grube, 1855); Opistosyllis corallicola Hartmann-Schröder, 1965; Syllis gracilis (Grube, 1840); Trypanosyllis taeniaformis (Haswell, 1866); Typosyllis maculata Imajima, 1966 and Typosyllis variegata (Grube, 1860). Among these, E. occidentalis, O. corallicola, T. taeniaformis and T. maculata are cited for the first time for the Brazilian coast. The most abundant of these species was S. gracilis.

Three species of the family Phyllodocidae and two of Hesionidae were found in colonies of the bryozoan Schizoporella unicornis (Johnston) on the beaches of Ubatuba and São Sebastião, São Paulo State, Brazil. Among these, Eumida sanguinea (Phyllodocidae) is registered for the first time on the Brazilian coast. Among the other species Ophiodromus pugettensis (Hesionidae) was one of the most abundant polychaetous annelids of the bryzoan fauna.

Considerando a reconhecida importância dos anelídeos poliquetos nas comunidades de fundo inconsolidados e para que se pudesse conhecer a composição de suas populaçoes, na região do infralitoral, bem como suas interrelações com esse ambiente, decidiu-se ampliar trabalho preliminar que abrangeu a faixa entre-marés. Foram amostradas 31 estações, sendo 24 na Enseada do Flamengo (continente) e 7 na Enseada das Palmas (Ilha Anchieta). As coletas que consistiram na amostragem quantitativa global da macrofauna béntica, foram cíclicas de março de 1976 a fevereiro de 1977. Foram efetuadas medidas de temperatura, salinidade e oxigênio da água de fundo, bem como a coleta de amostras de sedimento para analise granulométrica e mineralógica, conteúdo de agua, calcário e matéria orgânica. Como introdução é descrita a área abrangida pela pesquisa e discutida a metodologia, com vistas à avaliação dos parâmetros ambientais. A temperatura da ãgua variou de 19,5ºC em julho a 29,5ºC em fevereiro. A sanilidade oscilou entre 30,0035,60 ‰ e o conteúdo de oxigénio dissolvido alcançou em média 4,10 ml/l. É característica da area a diversidade de ambientes, onde em conseqüência do hidrodinamismo o fundo é composto por sedimentos que vão desde areia grossa até silte, predominando os compostos por areia muito fina. Na maioria das vezes os sedimentos se revelaram pobres em matéria orgânica e com teores de calcário em geral inferiores a 8%. Os parâmetros analisados constituem fatores ecologicos, cuja importância na distribuição dos anelídeos poliquetos será avaliada na segunda parte deste trabalho.

A programme was worked out to determine the composition of the population of polychaete annelids from shallow infralittoral and to evaluate the relationships of the population with environmental conditions. This paper describes the methods used and the seasonal fluctuations of the main physical and chemical parameters.