Strombus

1-9

Authors: Breves, A. & Moraes, F.C.

A survey of mollusks was carried out in a rock pool on Redonda Island at the Monumento Natural das Ilhas Cagarras, a new marine protected area in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. A total of twentyfour species (thirteen gastropods, nine bivalves, one chiton and one cephalopod) with different feeding modes were recorded in the rock pool. Many mollusks species were found in a small and shallow area, a very fragile habitat that can suffer from human disturbances, deserving urgent management planning.

15-29

Authors: Duarte, R.C.S.; Mota, E.L.S.; Dias, T.L.P.

Back reef systems, represented by seagrass beds, algal banks, lagoons, mangroves, patch reefs, and other underwater habitats of the back reef zone, often harbor a great biological diversity and high abundance of many species. In this study, we provide the first inventory of the molluscan fauna associated to three shallow-water back reef habitats (algal banks, seagrass beds, and patch reefs) along the coast of ParaÌba state, northeastern Brazil. During random searches, we recorded 65 mollusk species distributed in the classes Polyplacophora (2 spp.), Gastropoda (48 spp.), Cephalopoda (1 sp.), and Bivalvia (14 spp.), belonging to 40 families and 51 genera. Five gastropod species were recorded for the first time for the coast of ParaÌba State: the large Lobatus costatus (Gmelin, 1791) (Strombidae), and the opisthobranchs Bursatella cf. leachii Blainville, 1817 (Aplysiidae), Discodoris evelinae Er. Marcus, 1955 (Discodoridiidae), Oxynoe antillarum Mˆrch, 1863 (Oxynoidae), and Elysia subornata A.E. Verrill, 1901 (Plakobranchidae). The variety of habitats provided by different back reef biotopes favors colonization of small species, large gastropods, including some species of commercial value such as Turbinella leavigata Anton, 1838 (Turbinellidae) and Voluta ebraea Linnaeus, 1758 (Volutidae), and uncommon bivalves, which makes these biotopes of special relevance for monitoring and conservation.

38

Authors: Strombus

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