The highly diverse gastropod assemblages associated with Sargassum spp. (Phaeophyceae: Fucales) habitats

Macrophytes provide a habitat for many species of marine invertebrates, the gastropods being one of the main components. This study provides new information about Sargassum-associated gastropod biodiversity, through characterization of the fauna from a highly impacted area of Brazil, investigating its variation at a small spatial scale and between two main seasons of the year, as well as its relationship with macroalgae parameters. Density of gastropods was higher during the warmest season and varied throughout sampling sites. A significant and positive, however weak, relationship between gastropod density and Sargassum dry weight was found in all localities. For all sites, a marked and unusual dominance of Bittiolum varium was observed. The high dominance of this species seems to be related to the impacts caused by shipping activities and highway construction in the 1970s and 1980s, which caused a decline in local species diversity that seems to have continued until now. Many species, both typical of these habitats and characteristic of other, nearby habitats, benefit from Sargassum sp. These macrophytes allow gastropods to establish and grow during their most vulnerable stages, as shown by the growth series and juvenile forms found for most species of gastropods. The present data highlight the importance of macrophyte habitats for gastropod biodiversity in coastal areas and call attention to the importance of raising knowledge on this fauna, especially in impacted areas, thus contributing to the conservation of these highly diverse and ecologically important macrophyte–gastropod systems.

New Leptocheliidae (Crustacea: Tanaidacea: Tanaidomorpha) from Australian seagrass and macro-algal habitats, and a redescription of the poorly-known Leptochelia ignota from Sydney Harbour

Australia possesses a rich fauna of leptocheliid tanaidaceans (Crustacea: Tanaidacea: Leptocheliidae), including manyspecies that currently remain undescribed. As an addition to the 13 leptocheliid species known to date from Australianwaters, a new genus (Poorea n. gen.) and five new species collected from shallow macrophyte habitats are diagnosed(Parakonarus robertsoni n. sp., Leptochelia evansi n. sp., Leptochelia gadgeti n. sp., Poorea wrighti n. sp. and Pooreajohannesi n. sp.). Leptochelia nobbi is transferred to the genus Poorea, Leptochelia fairgo to Parakonarus, and a rede-scription provided for the enigmatic tanaidacean Leptochelia ignota on the basis of specimens collected near the Sydney type locality. A key is provided to Australian leptocheliid species.

Predicting macrophyte states in a small temporarily open/closed estuary

Temporarily open/closed estuaries (TOCEs) shift between abiotic states associated with mouth status. The aim of this study was to assess whether macrophyte states could be identified based on the dominant cover abundance of different species representative of specific habitats. A 5-year dataset of monthly macrophyte cover was assessed for the East Kleinemonde Estuary in South Africa. Three macrophyte states were identified: namely open and tidal (predominantly intertidal salt marsh); closed and low water level (predominantly salt marsh); and closed and high water level (with submerged macrophytes). The threshold water level for the change from salt marsh to submerged macrophytes was 1.6 m above mean sea level (amsl). A fourth state where macroalgae were dominant was identified for high salinity conditions (above 30 PSU). It was then possible to examine simulated water level data for different inflow scenarios to determine how often these macrophyte states occurred. Available macrophyte habitat was also calculated for different water levels using a spatial model written in Modelbuilder (ArcGIS 9.3.1). Both methods used to predict available macrophyte habitats are rapid, requiring only information on the elevation range of the main habitats, as well as present distribution and bathymetric maps. These predictive techniques are useful in the determination of the ecological water requirements of small estuaries.