Associated diversity with rhodoliths from the Fernando de Noronha archipelago: Polychaetae

Abstract

Rhodoliths are free living nodules formed by coralline crustose algae that constitute unique habitats. These nodules promote the formation of multi-dimensional micro-habitats which can support a highly diverse community including macroalgae, invertebrates and other organisms. In addition to initiatives do commercially exploit CaCO3, rhodolith beds has been treated with attention by the IBAMA (Environmental Agency of the Brazilian government) that has denied requests for drilling activities where rhodolith beds occurs. Besides recent data about macroalgae diversity associated with rhodoliths have been occured in the last decade, the knowledge about the diversity of invertebrates associated with rhodoliths is still insufficient to propose rhodolith areas associated with higher or lower biodiversity. Among the macroinvertebrates that inhabit rhodolith beds, Polychaeta are worldwide the most abundant and species richness. Using material already sampled in the "Caracterização das comunidades bentônicas das zonas mesofóticas e rasa dos Arquipélagos de Fernando de Noronha e São Pedro e São Paulo Project" (Edital Universal MCT/CNPq proc. 484875/2011-6) we pretend use the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago to test the physical parameters of the rhodoliths that can be used as predictors of the associated Polychaeta with rhodoliths, and wich can be used in classification of these habitats. (AU)