Bioinvasion in a Brazilian bay: filling gaps in the knowledge of southwestern Atlantic biota.

ABSTRACT: Biological invasions are a major cause of global species change. Nevertheless, knowledge about the distribution and ecology of introduced species is regionally biased, and many gaps in knowledge exist for most developing countries. To study the zoobenthos on the hard substratum of the Ilha Grande Bay, a survey was conducted on both natural and artificial substrata at three depths and seven sites. The species recorded were classified as native, cryptogenic or introduced. Multivariate analyses were conducted to assess the prevalence of introduced species in these communities and to compare the distribution of species on natural and artificial substrata of this bay to identify possible discrepancies in habitat use. Of the 61 species, 25 were cryptogenic, 10 were introduced and 26 were native.

SUBMITTER: Ignacio BL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2947507 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature