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Abstract The study of benthic meiofauna has been undertaken in Latin America since the beginning of the 20th century, recently gaining attention due to its recognized role on the ecological functioning of meiofauna assemblages. Bibliometric data provide information regarding research results, explain the degree to which a subject has advanced, and identify its major strengths and weaknesses. In Latin American countries, this type of review is scarce for meiofauna communities. This study analyzes knowledge of marine meiofauna by focusing on the documents Latin American authors published from 1990 to 2021. Documents from three bibliographic databases were analyzed to obtain the most relevant bibliometric indicators. Moreover, the interrelationships between authors, countries, and concepts were analyzed using science mapping techniques. Latin American research on marine meiofauna has increased since the 1990s, producing a total of 399 documents over three decades by almost 1,000 authors. Brazil produced the majority of these documents (predominantly published by Brazilian authors and institutions). The number of documents by country was associated with five development indicators. Their main sources and keywords indicate that ecology, oceanography, and biogeography were the main addressed topics, especially on deep marine environments. Most productive authors were clustered into main research groups with varying degrees of links. We conclude that research efforts on marine meiofauna are gaining importance despite the small number of documents by a relatively low number of research groups. We found a high centralization of documents by countries and a relation with four indicators, such as country size and research spending. Greater regional collaboration could further expand the knowledge of marine meiofauna in Latin America.

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Abstract Trait-based approaches have gained prominence in assessing the relationships between benthic diversity, habitat structure, and functioning in marine ecosystems. We reviewed the popular trait-based approaches currently used to evaluate the connections between macrobenthic communities and marine soft sediments. We examined techniques mainly based on response traits (i.e., that reflect animal responses to the environment), including benthic quality indices, metrics of community functional diversity, and biological trait analysis (BTA). We also discussed approaches focused on effect traits (i.e., reflecting the impact of animals on the environment). These approaches also use functional diversity indices and BTA, but specific indices such as community bioturbation potential (BPc) and community bioirrigation potential (BIPc) enable a more direct assessment of the impacts of macrobenthic communities on soft sediment habitats. We highlight the advantages and limitations of these techniques and discuss the need for standardized protocols and improved data collection methods. Despite their limitations, trait-based techniques are valuable tools for marine ecologists because they are closely related to ecosystem functioning and can be used for investigating many hypotheses of animal-sediment relationships in marine ecosystems.

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Abstract The exploited mangrove crab Ucides cordatus, an important ecosystem engineer in South American mangroves, has a biphasic lifecycle with pelagic larvae developing offshore. Megalopae return to the mangrove forest to settle, i.e., metamorphose into benthic juveniles but its environmental drivers remain poorly understood. We postulate that conspecific crabs facilitate recruitment. In the field, we investigated whether the number of recruits is higher near conspecific burrows than in areas without conspecific bioturbation. Recruit sampling was conducted monthly from April 2008 to May 2009 along an environmental gradient. First, U. cordatus recruits of that year emerged from March to July. Intraspecific facilitation was indicated by significantly higher recruit numbers in bioturbated than in non-bioturbated substrates. Recruits were most abundant in zones with intermediate conditions of inundation, leaf litter standing stock, sediment consistency, luminosity, temperature, salinity, and pH. Avoidance of more inundated zones likely reduces predation by fishes and of less inundated zones helps individuals escape more stressful, drier environmental conditions. The observed habitat-specific recruitment pattern must be considered when designing field assessments of the population structure of U. cordatus (which should include sampling recruits) and enhancing stocks by releasing laboratory-cultivated larvae and first juveniles into the wild.

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ABSTRACT We describe a new species of Loimia, from shallow waters off Northern Papua New Guinea and compare morphologically to other species recorded from the region and a key is provided. We provide a Maximum likelihood tree for species of Loimia for which we have data and it forms a distinct clade from other species. Finally, we discuss characters that we consider as useful specific characters in this large genus, which includes many poorly described species.

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Abstract Alitta succinea (Leuckart, 1847) is an errant segmented worm from the Nereididae family (Annelida) and is broadly distributed around the greater Atlantic basin. A. succinea is a resilient mobile omnivore that plays an important role in connecting lower and upper levels of the food web. Like many other nereidids, A. succinea metamorphoses into reproductive swimming forms, called epitokes, before entering the water column to spawn. In Galveston, Texas the species A. succinea is commonly found in fouling communities attached to artificial structures in marinas. This study presents a two-year survey of a population found in the Texas A&M University at Galveston Boat Basin. Over the two-year period, we collected over 2,000 A.succinea individuals for a gross comparison of population dynamics and morphometrics. During the summer, we found high numbers of small individuals, indicating a primary recruitment period. This was further corroborated by the high number of epitokes in the summer compared to the winter and spring. During the summer and fall, the observed epitokes were significantly smaller than those found in the winter and spring, which supports previous research that shows a positive relationship between temperature and developmental rates. The continual presence of epitokes indicates the existence of a recruitment process that occurs continuously throughout the year. In terms of morphometrics, atokes and epitokes, both females and males, had their own unique profiles. As we expected, epitokes have larger eyes and wider posterior segments compared to atokes. Interestingly, we found females to be significantly larger than males, no matter the season. This study presents an updated approach to staging sexually reproductive individuals to help standardize taxonomic descriptions.

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ABSTRACT Harmful algal blooms (HABs) can negatively affect coastal water quality, aquatic fauna, and human health from the consumption of toxin-contaminated seafood. Estuaries are especially prone to the incidence of these noxious events and sensitive to the associated damage. This study represents a comprehensive overview of previous investigations reporting the occurrence of harmful algae and/or phycotoxins in the Paranaguá Estuarine Complex (CEP), in Southern Brazil. Secondary data from 2002 to 2021 were combined with new results obtained from widely spaced sampling campaigns performed from 2018 to 2019 to assess the periods and estuarine sectors at greater risk for the incidence of HABs. In total, about 600 water/sediment samples containing harmful microalgae and 675 tissue samples of phycotoxin-contaminated fauna were analyzed. The most frequent and abundant species of potentially toxic microalgae were dinoflagellates belonging to the species complexes Dinophysis acuminata and Prorocentrum lima, producers of diarrhetic shellfish toxins (DSTs), and diatoms of the genus Pseudo-nitzschia, producers of amnesic shellfish toxins (ASTs). Okadaic acid, a DST, was by far the most common toxin in the fauna, reaching higher levels in primary consumers such as bivalve mollusks (mussels, oysters, and clams), zooplankton, and suspension-feeding crustaceans (ghost shrimps), and moderate to low levels in cephalopods, fishes, gastropods, echinoderms, sea turtles, seabirds, and cetaceans. Less rainy periods (winter-early spring) were associated with the highest incidence of DSTs and blooms of their producing algae P. lima and Dinophysis spp., mainly in the middle region of Paranaguá Bay and on the shallow continental platform adjacent to the estuarine mouth. However, certain HAB-forming species may be more successful in inner estuarine areas ( Prorocentrum cordatum) and during different periods, such as late summer—early fall ( Pseudo-nitzschia spp.). Continuous monitoring of harmful algae and toxins is therefore highly recommended to mitigate the effects of HABs in the entire estuary.

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Abstract Biomarkers of environmental contamination have been frequently used in the assessment of marine ecosystem quality because they provide quantitative measures of biological changes in organisms exposed to pollutants such as hydrocarbons from oil spills. Polychaetes have been tested as sentinel organisms of marine environmental health because they are abundant taxa of benthic assemblages and their sedentary lifestyle ensures chronic exposure to toxins in impacted areas. In this study, we evaluated whether the polychaete Scolelepis goodbodyi can be used as a reliable sentinel species for exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from an experimental diesel spill in a dissipative sand beach in the Southern Atlantic. The design used in this study comprised replicated control and diesel impact sites sampled four times (one, two, four and seven days) before and after the impact. Total PAH levels reached 114.0 ng g -1 in the impact site one day after the diesel spill; however, the pattern of biomarker responses in S. goodbodyi was primarily influenced by spatial variation rather than being attributed to the simulated diesel spill. The apparent absence of a contaminating effect may be linked to the low levels of the toxins retained in the sediment after the spill was simulated to elicit a response or to the presence of an efficient repair system within the organism. Furthermore, the sediments tested in this study, composed of sandy fractions, had a low capacity to concentrate PAHs after the simulated diesel spill, which may have contributed to the low significant changes in their biomarker activities. Based on our results, further studies testing other Polychaeta species and simulating oil spills in sedimentary environments composed of fine sediments such as salt marshes and mangroves may help produce evidence on more effective biomarker responses in these organisms.

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Abstract Drones have proven to be versatile tools for scientific studies aimed at assessing the environmental quality of various ecosystems. This study diagnosed the restinga vegetation in the coastal municipality of Pontal do Paraná, in the state of Paraná, Southern Brazil. This vegetation, which extends over 21.72 km of the coastline of the municipality, was grouped into eight sectors to optimize 27 drone flight plans. The images obtained were transformed into orthomosaics and classified into eight classes, following the random forest classifier: herbaceous, shrubby, arboreal, sand, degraded area, irregular construction, water, and other. We observed 289.11 ha of restinga, of which 183.66 ha (63.5%) corresponded to conserved areas and 105.45 ha (36.5%), to a total degraded area with irregular constructions, vegetation suppression, and introduction of exotic species. Sectors 1 and 5 showed the lowest (8.19 ha) and highest (21.00 ha) values of degraded areas, respectively. Sectors 6 and 8 were the most critical: their degraded areas exceeded the conserved areas of restinga by 4.15 and 3.95 ha, respectively. The main causes of the degradation n in this study refer to irregular occupation. Drone images are a valuable tool for environmental management and vegetation analysis of difficult-to-access sites.

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Abstract A new syllid species belonging to the genus Sphaerosyllis ( Claparède, 1863 ) was found in Southeast Brazil during the development of the project “Environmental, social and economic susceptibility of Ilha Grande Bay to spillage and the presence of oil at sea.” Hence, this paper contains its morphological description, obtained after careful examination of several specimens under light and scanning electron microscopy. The new species can be diagnosed by the presence of intersegmental brown stripes along all body segments, fused palps for most of its length, a prostomium semicircular with three antennae, one simple dorsal chaeta, one simple ventral chaeta and 3–4 falcigers bearing unidentate blades. Finally, an identification key and a comparative table are provided for all the species formally recorded in Brazil to date.

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ABSTRACT Functional traits, short life cycles, and the pivotal role in the ocean make copepod diversity a solid foundation for assessing the effect of global changes in marine food webs and ecosystem functioning. Climate change and extreme events, particularly El Niño, can affect coastal ecosystems. The Arvoredo Marine Biological Reserve (MPA), located in highly productive coastal waters of the Southern Brazilian Bight, presents complex climate and oceanographic conditions. This study investigates the influence of oceanographic processes and El Niño 2015-2016 on the copepod functional diversity from 2014 to 2016 in the Arvoredo MPA. Horizontal tows were performed using a WP2 net with a mesh size of 200 µm. The 41 species accounted for 19 functional entities and four functional groups. Our findings reveal that the seasonal intrusion of water masses influenced copepod functional diversity. During summer, the upwelling of South Atlantic Central Water increased nutrient availability and favored large herbivore-omnivores and carnivores. The Plata Plume Water enrichment during winter coincided with a decline in functional richness and abundance, leading to the predominance of the Oithona nana, a small-sized omnivore. Compensatory mechanisms were observed as functional equivalence and species composition shifts. Acartia lilljeborgii and Temora turbinata exhibited functional equivalence and compensated for each other in response to salinity changes associated with upwelling and El Niño. The copepod assemblage demonstrated the ability to maintain functional diversity despite changes in copepod abundance. However, the decline in functional diversity and abundance during the intense winter indicated potential disruption in trophic dynamics and ecosystem functioning. Maintaining balance and compensating for disturbances such as El Niño is crucial for marine food web resilience. The functional trait approach provided a comprehensive understanding of the copepod assemblage in Arvoredo MPA, contributing to a broader knowledge of the impact of oceanographic processes intensification. Monitoring functional diversity and abundance is crucial for evaluating the effects of copepod assemblage changes in ecosystem functionings.

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ABSTRACT Sandy beaches have different shoreline change rates (i.e., erosion/accretion rates). An erosive process on beaches poses risks for human-occupied areas. One example is Matinhos Beach (state of Paraná - Brazil), which has an average annual erosion rate of around 1.5 m yr-1 This study applied a methodology that combines in situ measurements and numerical modeling to simulate the physical processes in the coastal area of Matinhos during the 2018 Austral winter. Monthly DGPS surveys were carried out in the study area from June to September. The MOHID modeling system was applied to simulate hydrodynamics and sediment transport, considering waves and tidal forcing validated with in situ data. The WAVEWATCH III and SWAN models were applied in a nesting approach to simulate the waves at Matinhos Beach. The GFS was used to assess the wind conditions. The study period showed a dynamic evolution of accretion and erosion between monthly measurements with no clear pattern in most profiles. Significant sand accumulation was observed near the headland. Morphological changes were minor due to the predominance of low energy without significant storm events. The measured morphological changes are in line with the residual littoral drift obtained from the modeling results for the period. The residual current velocities were towards the southwest, with magnitudes ranging from 0.15 m s-1 to 0.2 m s-1. A slight variation in the angle of wave incidence (10°) may change the direction (southwest or northeast) and intensity of the littoral drift. The applied methodology can reduce uncertainty and support effective coastal management. However, the seasonal scales of wave climate cannot be disregarded, nor can the need for coastal oceanographic data.

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ABSTRACT Namalycastis abiuma has been recorded as a worldwide distributed species, found in most tropical and subtropical mangroves and estuarine environments. However, this status has been questioned in several publications, which indicate that several distinct species are being identified under the name N. abiuma. In this study, we perform a morphological analysis, along with a series of species delimitation tests and a phylogenetic analysis-using the molecular marker 16S-to evaluate whether analyzed populations previously identified as Namalycastis abiuma belong to the same species. We used sequences from the GenBank database in the analysis, as well as six newly sequenced specimens collected from the coast of Brazil, two of them from the N. abiuma type-locality. For species delimitation, we applied the Generalized Mixed Yule Coalescent (GMYC), the Assemble Species by Automatic Partitioning (ASAP), and the Multi-rate Poisson Tree Processes (mPTP) tests. Results from GMYC and ASAP suggest that Namalycastis abiuma may be endemic to the type-locality and that all other populations studied represent a second distinct species. However, mPTP indicates that all Namalycastis species included should be grouped into one single species. The mPTP results seem to be biased due to data limitation as it showed poor statistical support. Our morphological data, especially on the shape and dentition of the sub-neuroacicular falciger blades, support the GMYC and ASAP results, suggesting restricted endemism for Namalycastis abiuma. Based on these results, we conclude that N. abiuma is restricted to its type-locality and we provide a description of a new species, Namalycastis lanai sp. nov. occurring in Brazilian waters from 22°S to 27°S, including, at its southern range, an overlap with N. abiuma at Florianópolis. Finally, we provide a key to all Namalycastis species found in Brazil.

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ABSTRACT Collection management faces many challenges in keeping stored items preserved and the information associated with them accurate and organized. It is essential for the expansion and use of this biodiversity repository that the database is unambiguous and that errors are quickly identified and corrected. This work aims to show the use of interactive visual representations (IVRs) of the collection’s metadata as tools to inspect the data and help solve these challenges. To do this, we used the Annelida collection database from the National Museum (MN) of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). Interactive graphs of the metadata within this database (catalog date, taxonomic identification and determiners, sampling, depth, geographic localization, and collector data) were created with the Altair library in the Python 3 language. Data analyses using these graphs made it possible to identify anomalous patterns in the data and fill in missing records. They also provided an understanding of the spatial and bathymetric distribution of the specimens deposited over time, and the growth rate of the collection in each family, thus projecting future growth and solutions for the physical organization of vials. Graphs are an ally in the management of collections with digital entry forms and aim to facilitate the availability of metadata associated with cataloged specimens. Likewise, IVRs can even be used to give credit to the researchers involved in building biological collections. Thus, visualization tools are efficient in recognizing global patterns present in databases and solving biological collection management tasks.

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ABSTRACT Extreme weather events (e.g., droughts, excessive precipitation) are expected to increase in frequency and severity in the coming decades due to climate change, causing significant impacts on society and ecosystems. Because these events are rare and complex, they have been studied with manipulative experiments. Littorinidae snails inhabit a complex and variable environment in which they must deal with periodic extreme events and are thus considered excellent ecological models for these studies. Therefore, this study aimed to understand the effects of extreme climatic events on the survival and weight of the species Littorina fabalis and Littorina littorea in Spain and Littoraria angulifera and Littoraria flava in Brazil. Higher mortality rates and greater weight loss were observed in the desiccation resistance treatment compared to the control treatment in both countries. The results showed dependence on the species’ body size. The submergence tolerance treatment indicated that the species from Spain are more susceptible to mortality in response to excessive rainfall and/or coastal flooding. Each species tested for the effect of extreme climatic events using an integrated response strategy with clear latitudinal differences. Understanding the organisms’ responses at different latitudes is essential for conservation biology on a global scale.

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ABSTRACT This article shows a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the literature on polychaetes from Brazil, with a focus on the growth of the field, publication venues, citation patterns, the collaboration among the Brazilian community and foreign researchers, and the main research topics over time. The analysis was based on a corpus of 568 articles published in 144 journals, covering a period from 1966 to 2022. The results reveal significant growth in the field, with a surge in publications particularly in the last decade. The top journals for publishing include Zootaxa, JMBA, and Zoologia. However, despite this growth, the overall impact of the research output remains somewhat limited, with most articles receiving relatively low numbers of citations, and those with more citations have broader research questions. This research community directed its efforts especially to taxonomy and phylogenetics research, community ecology, and physiology (ecotoxicology). These topics formed a common ground for more specialized themes. International collaboration was driven by research specialization, better infrastructure, and funding of developed countries. However, seeking collaborations with countries from the global south can also enrich the research conducted by the Brazilian community and stimulate new scientific inquiries. Embracing greater creativity and audacity as well as pursuing common goals, should yet enhance the quality of scientific research and sustain the remarkable growth and consolidation of this renowned research community.

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ABSTRACT Members of several polychaete families inhabit rocky shores, including syllids, serpulids, eunicids, nereidids, and sabellids. The primary studies on consolidated substrates conducted in Sepetiba Bay (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) date back to 2004, with multiple taxonomic studies having been carried out since then. In this study, we present an updated checklist on polychaetes from hard substrates in Sepetiba Bay, together with an identification key for the species. We also discuss the status and distribution of certain species along the Brazilian coast. Myrianida pachycera, Branchiomma bairdi, Branchiomma coheni, and Branchiomma conspersum represent new occurrences in Brazil. We extend the distribution of Proceraea anopla to Southeastern Brazil, and report 33 new records for Sepetiba Bay. We identify Halosydna glabra, Oxydromus obscurus, Oxydromus pugettensis, Marphysa sanguinea, Lysidice ninneta, Spirobranchus americanus, Polydora ciliata, Pseudonereis variegata, Nereis cf. oligohalina, and Schistomeringos rudolphi as requiring taxonomic revision, all of which have been recorded previously in Sepetiba Bay. However, the specimens we examine in this study differ from the original descriptions, indicating that a more comprehensive assessment of the respective species is needed along the Brazilian coast.

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ABSTRACT This study reviews the data published on the ecology of polychaete annelids of the family Syllidae associated with sponges (Porifera) and provides additional empirical data from samples collected at Paiva Beach (northeastern Brazil). This literature review collected data from the Web of Science and Scopus databases, together with additional sources of information, to provide the best possible overview of the available data on the ecological relationships between these organisms. This review identified a total of 76 papers reporting on 68 associations between syllids and sponges, which involved 61 syllid species inhabiting 57 different sponge taxa. Although few studies have provided detailed data on the auto-ecology of the syllids associated with sponges, some information is available on their reproductive patterns, feeding habits, and role in the association. In this study, seven syllid genera were recorded inhabiting sponges of the genus Cinachyrella (Porifera: Tetillidae) at Paiva Beach in Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil, where a predominance of syllids of the genus Branchiosyllis was recorded. The syllids were found either on the outer surface of the sponges or in their inner channels, and most specimens were females, some of which presented stolons, indicating that they were using the sponges as a reproductive substrate. A new species of the genus Branchiosyllis is described based on our collected data. Branchiosyllis lanai sp. nov. can be identified by its relatively enlarged anterior region, cirriphore with a collar, and branchiae varying between domed and multilobed. The new species is compared with its morphologically most similar congeners. A synoptic table of the morphological variation found among the individuals of the type series is also provided, as well as an updated key to the identification of the Branchiosyllis species found on the Brazilian coast.

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ABSTRACT Promoting inclusive and effective governance in regional estuaries offers an encompassing challenge within the scope of Policy analysis and its interactions within socioecological research. The integrated approach for both theoretical elements has not easily been improved, despite the increase in analytical frameworks in this theme. The Paranaguá Bay Zone (PBZ) in the state of Paraná, Brazil, is composed of a few cities, several large, protected areas, and traditional communities. On the one hand, the intensification of real estate pressures in a low demographic region is creating a wave of value conversion regarding the trends of the coastal gentrification phenomenon, notwithstanding the lower degree of intensity when compared to other Brazilian estuaries. On the other hand, it shows a lack of political representation and institutional action at the subnational level. This asymmetrical process is strongly related to historical land development and the controversial process of implementing protected areas and zoning tools. Promoting the economic rise of the territory has affected traditional communities and conservation management, requiring permanent improvement in the ability for community mobilization and juridical vigilance in the face of impacts related to such pressure. In the meantime, scholars have considered knowledge building, which brings up assessment issues on how the decision-making process has been operated and what gaps and asymmetries can be revealed for further resilience analyses. This study is an effort to approach the performance of participative governance of the estuary and is restricted to a preliminary assessment of the participative management committees designed by legislation under area-based attributions. This study is not aimed at exploring the belief systems of different social groups/stakeholders. Results have a great emphasis on methodological building and testing, which revealed the importance of imposing an inventory and hierarchy model on the multiple committees of governance and their sectorization across adjacent areas. Results also underline variables of interest and pilot indicators in the subject under analysis. Preliminary results point to the need for overcoming methodological challenges, and findings that are useful as first evidence in the comprehension of the low performance by different committees, which often operate without any regular, systematic, integrated, transparent, legitimate, and permanent agenda of Policy activities for the PBZ fisheries territory. Qualitative data and institutional memoirs should be available and categorized in government programs, whereas research efforts that look to better recognize the idiosyncrasies of community realities under the pressures of non-transparent economic drivers are much needed.

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ABSTRACT The Paranaguá Estuarine Complex (PEC) is internationally recognized for its economic, social, and environmental relevance. It is designated as a World Heritage site and part of selected wetland areas that protect and conserve biodiversity, especially waterbirds. However, it has historically been under pressure from human activities, and the information about waterbirds that use the region is fragmented. Thus, with this study, we sought to establish a baseline for the waterbirds using the bays of the PEC, considering aspects such as species richness, abundance, and conservation status. On board a boat, we conducted monthly surveys from March 2020 to February 2021 along 36 transects equally distributed among the three main bays of the PEC. We recorded 46 species distributed across 17 families and eight orders. The order Charadriiformes displayed the highest number of species, totaling 19. Among them, the Neotropic Cormorant, identified as Nannopterum brasilianum, stood out with the highest number of occurrences. Furthermore, we documented eight migratory species from the Northern Hemisphere, including Calidris pussilla, the Semipalmated Sandpiper, considered near threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List. Additionally, we observed seven other species classified under some threat of extinction. Our results revealed that the PEC harbors a rich and diverse assemblage of waterbirds consisting of resident and migratory species, many of which are at some risk of population decline. Therefore, we reinforce the importance of continuous monitoring in the region, which can serve as a basis for public policies, supporting management and conservation strategies focused on waterbirds and the wetlands on which they depend.

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ABSTRACT This study evaluates the applicability and reliability of the ABC method as an indicator of the level of organic pollution in non-vegetated tidal flats in a subtropical estuary in southern Brazil. Following a hierarchical sampling design, the method was applied in two contaminated and two non-contaminated tidal flats near Paranaguá. It was conducted in three consecutive fortnights of a summer and a winter, aiming to analyze correlations between faunal responses and chemical indicators of contamination and spatio-temporal variability. Tidal flats closer to the city were classified as grossly contaminated. However, the responses on the non-contaminated area were highly heterogeneous, indicating that natural inputs of organic matter were confounded with pollution effects. In the AIC analysis applied to the W-statistics of the ABC curves, the best model showed correlations with some of the fecal steroids and total organic carbon. Contrary to expected, the ABC curves significantly varied at the smaller spatio-temporal scales due to the high local hydrodynamics and natural organic inputs. This suggests that the ABC method is indeed sensible to the contamination levels and can be used as an index of biotic quality. However, the method must be cautiously applied in estuaries subjected to natural organic enrichment.

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Abstract Of the 20,000 species of Annelida, most live in salt water, and the minority inhabits freshwater or terrestrial environments. Among the freshwater representatives, the family Aeolosomatidae draws attention mainly due to its enigmatic phylogenetic position. In the 1940s, Prof. Ernst Marcus was a pioneer in the study of Aeolosomatidae, mainly from collections in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. His research resulted in the description of eight species, four of which were new to science. Later, Marcus’ description of Aeolosoma headleyi was recognized as a fifth new species by Van der Land ( 1971 ) and named Aeolosoma marcusi in his honor. Recently, during a visit to the Museum of Zoology of the University of São Paulo (MZUSP), we found the original material deposited by Marcus ( 1944 ), but not formally registered. Thus, the aim of this work was to redescribe and designate the lectotypes and paralectotypes of Aeolosoma gertae Marcus, 1944 and Aeolosoma sawayai Marcus, 1944. We were able to study and photograph the specimens using a light microscope with Differential Interference Contrast (DIC). We were also able to identify and redescribe many important taxonomic features. However, some structures can only be observed in living individuals (as they are not preserved in the fixed material), which reinforces the need to study live specimens. This paper contributes to understand the diversity of Aeolosoma , provides new morphological knowledge and lays the foundation for new approaches to the study of aeolosomatids.

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Abstract The movement of ships between continents is one of the leading causes of the increased bioinvasion of benthic organisms, surpassing the geographical barriers that prevent the natural dispersal of species. Artificial floating structures, such as buoys, can also serve as secondary dispersers in the introduction of exotic species on a regional scale. This study describes the fauna associated with buoys demarcating the access channel to Paraná’s ports, focusing on recording introduced invasive species. Biota samples were collected from 23 buoys from different estuary sectors and some on their fastening chains, resulting in 73 samples. A total of 88 taxa were identified, of which half were sessile organisms and half, vagile. All observed taxa were previously recorded in the region, but introduced species clearly predominate among the sessile organisms colonizing the buoys, representing over half of the taxa determined at the species level. Buoys showed differentiated communities depending on their estuary location, with introduced species accounting for a larger share of the fauna on buoys in more saline sectors, reflecting their adaptations to oceanographic factors such as marine influence and tidal-driven water exchanges or an ecophysiological barrier caused by lower salinities in the inner estuary. Considering the negative effects of non-native species in natural environments and economic activity, the facilitating action of artificial floating substrates like signaling buoys highlights the need for environmental monitoring programs and more frequent maintenance of these structures to help control bioinvasions.

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Abstract We present the first checklist of the Hesionidae family species along the Brazilian coast. The family includes approximately 196 nominal species belonging to 33 genera recorded worldwide. This taxonomic list includes synonymized taxa based on systematic revisions, type locality, Brazilian records, and GenBank accession number. We identified 17 species belonging to eight genera as valid occurrences. Hesionids are found along the entirety of the Brazilian coastline, except in the northern region of the country, in which their absence is likely attributed to limited studies in the area.

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Abstract Aberrantidae is a small group of polychaetes morphologically homogenous and rarely collected. Adult individuals usually have a few millimeters and about 40 chaetigers. Living specimens are transparent, yellowish-brown with a dark alimentary channel and have reddish eyes. The few records of Aberranta , the only described genus in the family, are from mud, sand, sandy-mud, and coarse sand, from four to 3,250 m. All known species have been recorded from the eastern USA, Mediterranean, and China. The examined material is from three projects coordinated by CENPES/Petrobras, the Brazilian oil company. Samples were collected from continental shelf, canyons, and slope depths. Polychaetes and others benthic organisms were sieved from the sediment, fixed in a 4% formalin solution, conserved in 70% alcohol, and then identified. The sampling was carried out from 25 to 3000 m depth, but individuals were collected from 383 to 1312 m. The new species, Aberranta magnunlanai sp. nov., is characterized by the absence of eyes, branchiae from chaetiger 3, and by having three types of neurochaetae: a) thick and smooth capillaries, b) capillary of intermediary length and with long marginal serration, and c) lyriform chaetae with spinose shaft and distal projections of same length. This is the first record of the genus in the southern hemisphere.

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Abstract This study aimed to review previous records of Polydora species from Brazil, as well as provide new records, mainly from the Southeast and South regions of the country. In total, 11 species were distinguished and a key to their identification is given. Polydora cornuta , P. nuchalis , and a new species from the state of Rio de Janeiro, P. nonatoi sp. nov. were found to occur in silty sand tubes in soft sediments; six species were found to be opportunistic commensals boring in shells of various molluscs; P. colonia was found to only bore in sponges; and a new species, P. paulolanai sp. nov., was found to bore in both sponges and oyster shells in Paraná state. Adults of P. nonatoi sp. nov. have black stripes on the palps, black spots on the peristomium and 3−4 anterior chaetigers, short occipital antenna, falcate spines of chaetiger 5 with a large lateral tooth connected to main stem by thin sheath, and only capillary chaetae in the posterior notopodia. Adults of P. paulolanai sp. nov. have black bands on the palps, short occipital antenna, falcate spines of chaetiger 5 with transverse subdistal collar on concave side, and numerous needle-like spines loosely held in tufts in addition to capillary chaetae in the posterior notopodia. Polydora caeca Webster, 1879 is resurrected and treated here as a senior subjective synonym of P. neocaeca Williams & Radashevsky, 1999. Shell-boring worms from Brazil earlier identified as P. neocaeca or P. cf. haswelli Blake & Kudenov, 1978 are referred to P. caeca . The urgent need of molecular data for the correct identification of Polydora species from Brazilian waters is highlighted.

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Abstract Syllidae is one of the largest families of polychaete annelids, with more than 1,100 described species, comprehending relatively small-bodied, errant animals. Among these, specimens of Exogone can be relatively common in certain areas and substrates, figuring as an important component of the fauna in many locations. In Brazil, 13 species of this genus have been reported, but in some cases with records difficult to confirm/reject. Herein we present an overview of the known diversity of the genus for the country, with additional four new occurrences for the Brazilian coast that were previously only registered in the 'grey literature', and an identification key to the species currently identified along the Brazilian coast; also, we bring the description of Exogone paulolanai sp. nov., raising to 18 the number of Exogone species for the country.

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Abstract We describe a new species of the genus Lumbrineris de Blainville, 1828 with material collected in nine diferente locations around the Robinson Crusoe Island, Juan Fernández Archipelago (Lat. 33º 36’ and 33º 46’ S and Long. 80º 47’ and 78º 47’ W) from sandy bottoms, between 4–10 m depth. One hundred seventy-nine specimens were examined. The new species is characterized because M2 have three big teeth and a small distal bump; M3 and M4 are unidentate; composite multidentate hooded hooks reach up to chaetiger 23, with blades of varying lengths, and yellow aciculae. We consider Lumbrineris lanai n. sp. as the only valid species of Lumbrineridae recorded so far in Robinson Crusoe Island. This work contributes to the knowledge of the Chilean insular polychaete fauna and the Lumbrineridae family worldwide.

Abstract in English:

Abstract Regeneration is a widespread ability in annelids, and each species and developmental stage may presente differences in healing and regeneration processes. Some species can completely regenerate the posterior or anterior region or both. Among the orbiniids, regeneration studies are scarce. In Naineris aurantiaca (Muller, 1858), first species of Naineris described in Brazil, studies about the species’ biology and regeneration capabilities are absent. Aiming to observe the regeneration capabilities of N. aurantiaca and its abnormalities, we sampled the specimens from Lagoa da Sereia Beach, Mel Island, Brazil, among algae tufts and between the mussel’s shells. The experimental design consisted of three different amputations: i) at the end of the thorax—creating treatment AM (anterior and medium) and P (posterior) —; ii) at the chaetiger where branchiae first appear—treatment A (anterior) and MP (medium and posterior) —; iii), and combined—treatment A (anterior), treatment M (medium) and P (posterior). Analysis showed that time (weeks) and treatments (A, AM, M, MP, P) affected survivorship and other features such as length and width. Treatments AM and A had higher mortality rates than P and MP, showing robust anterior regeneration. Treatment M had no survivors. Mean size and width were higher in treatment MP. Remarkable and robust head regeneration and inability to regenerate the gut and the branchial segments suggests that food absorption and gas exchange are key functions in this species.

Abstract in English:

Abstract Biological scientific collections provide a robust framework for studying past and present biodiversity through different perspectives. Mapping and sharing their information content may aid to reduce biodiversity shortfalls, such as those observed in annelid polychaetes. These are among the most important groups of marine invertebrates, playing pivotal ecological roles in benthic habitats, and being important bioindicators. The main scientific polychaete collections in Brazil are concentrated in four institutions: Museum of Zoology and Oceanographic Institute of University of São Paulo, Museum of Biological Diversity of State University of Campinas, and National Museum of Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. This paper explores the history and taxonomic knowledge of these collections, offering a comprehensive overview of their current statuses and highlighting challenges for the future. Together, these four collections safeguard over 300,000 samples from 68 polychaete families and 1,267 species representing 89% of the families and 94% of the species reported for the Brazilian coast. Among these samples, 252 are holotypes, which have rapidly increased in numbers in the past couple of decades due to the rise of species originally described from Brazil. Despite the long-standing presence of some of these institutions, the organization of their polychaete collections only began in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The organization of these official collections allowed the rescue of samples scattered around the institutions and made them available for further studies. All the Brazilian coastline is represented in these collections, but São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are overrepresented. Historical factors, such as collection mergers, expeditions, and targeted projects, also influenced the geographic distribution of samples. Brazilian scientific polychaete collections have significantly advanced in the last 15 years. However, the associated data still needs better structuring and accessibility to the scientific community via open-access online platforms allowing further investigation on Brazilian polychaete biodiversity.

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ABSTRACT We present the first report of plastic biomedia contamination on Brazilian beaches based on evidence collected from 14 beaches of the Paraná state coastline (southern Brazil). Plastic biomedia, also called biocarriers, are small, perforated plastic pieces used worldwide in wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) that apply the Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) process. Accidental release of these particles into the environment adds to Ocean’s long-term plastic pollution problem. A high amount of plastic biomedia presence in the coastal areas of Paraná was first noticed by a community member, who found 411 plastic particles on a beach located in Pontal do Paraná, bringing this issue to our attention. In this study, plastic biomedia was retrieved from drift line alongshore transects (0.3 to 1 km long) and cross-shore transects (5 m wide) from the water line to the backshore zone. A total of 749 items were collected from 11 of the 14 sampled beaches, including the Mel and Superagui Islands nature reserves. The decreasing trend in plastic biomedia abundance with the increase in distance of the PEC southern outlet suggests that these particles probably originate from a WWTP in the Paranaguá Estuarine Complex (PEC). Once in the water, these floating plastic particles that followed the suspended sediment transport pattern were exported to coastal waters and were transported by longshore currents. Highlighting the potential role of the PEC as a substantial vector for marine debris to the Paraná coastline. The most likely source of this novel plastic contaminant to the Brazilian coastline are WWTP with MBBR systems. Therefore, stakeholders need to discuss and establish a reporting system so that plastic biomedia spillovers or losses are reported, and its dispersal in the environment is reduced.

Abstract in English:

Abstract The reproductive cycle is an essential aspect of oyster farming. Understanding the period of each sexual stage aids in planning oyster harvest, seed collection with artificial collectors, and reproductive season for hatchery seed production. In this sense, this work evaluated the reproductive cycle of Crassostrea gasar oysters cultivated in three important oyster farming locations in the Estuarine Complex of Paranaguá, Rasa Island, Medeiros, and Ponta Oeste (Mel Island), with monthly oyster sampling in each sampling site. Temperature and salinity were recorded in loco at each sampling time. In the laboratory, oysters were identified and measured; tissue samples were collected for molecular identification of species; and histology was conducted for reproductive cycle analysis. Histological examination of the gonadal tissue was performed with slides stained with Harris hematoxylin and eosin. Salinity and temperature data showed no differences between the three sampling sites during the studied period. Molecular analysis showed that the oysters sampled were C. gasar (100%). Histological analysis showed intense spawning of C. gasar in December and February (26.72 °C) and June (20 °C). There was a resting stage in both males and females during winter. Some oysters (n = 21) were parasitized by Bucephalus sp., and it was impossible to determine oyster sex.

Abstract in English:

ABSTRACT Sandy shorelines show heightened susceptibility to alterations, highlighting the importance of reliable field measurements in forecasting coastal evolution. This study offers direct hydrodynamic measurements from the upper shoreface of a sandy beach in Paraná. We observed five distinct oceanographic conditions, including a high-energy event. Notably, wave height showed a positive correlation with northward longshore currents. During pre- and post-frontal periods, cross-shore flow predominates over longshore currents, particularly evident during low tides with pronounced offshore flow. These findings provide valuable insights for researchers seeking to quantify and model longshore sediment transport dynamics and morphological changes along sandy coastlines.

Abstract in English:

Abstract Understanding the dynamics of sea surface variation and its direct effects on the coastal population has been a central issue of study for oceanography in conjunction with other areas of geosciences. One of the main challenges in a changing global ocean is continuously monitoring on an adequate scale that can detail locally varying phenomena. This study reviews the methods to obtain coastal topo-bathymetric data and the tools available to produce flood maps and coastal sea-level rise monitoring models. The advantages and limitations of the main tools are described, highlighting the difficulties related to implementation time and financial investment in contrast to the quality of the obtained data. A case study of the Paranaguá Estuarine Complex — of great environmental, economic, and tourism importance — is presented as its sea-level fluctuations have been poorly studied. For this reason, we describe the Paranaguá Estuarine Complex, highlighting and discussing the structural and methodological challenges and the lack of resources that limit the possibilities of a detailed study of the Paranaguá Estuarine Complex from the point of view of natural disasters, thus stimulating the debate on the necessary actions to address climate change at the local level.