Mauro de Melo Júnior

Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco | UFRPE · Department of Biology

More heterogeneous environments allow for greater availability of ecological niches, thus favoring greater species diversity. However, it is not yet established how heterogeneity influences taxonomic and functional beta diversity. Therefore, we aimed to determine how environmental heterogeneity affects the patterns of taxonomic and functional beta...

O crescente consumo de produtos protegidos por plásticos têm aumentado ainda mais a geração de resíduos sólidos nos ecossistemas, cada vez mais fragmentados. Os microplásticos, desconhecidos pela maior parte da sociedade, têm causado impactos em ecossistemas e na biota. O estudo objetivou apresentar produtos didáticos para a popularização científic...

Copepod carcasses and non-predatory mortality can occur due to natural senescence, disease, pollution, and physicochemical stress. Our objective is to evaluate and characterize the rates of non-predatory mortality and the contribution of zooplankton community carcasses, represented by the copepods, in tropical estuarine ecosystems with different de...

Hello, here is the link for the complete manuscript and open-access https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1i3Dx3IHZiKd8Y

Phytotelmata bromeliads provide microhabitats for many organisms and maintain high aquatic diversity within Neotropical forests. However, they are more vulnerable to different environmental stressors that shape community structure. While most studies have been carried out in large rainforests, gaps remain about the bromeliad-dwelling community for...

Temporary ponds are heterogeneous aquatic environments, in which hydrodynamics and richness of macrophytes may increase the diversity of zooplankton and other invertebrate communities. Cladocerans are common residents of these ecosystems, showing great variability of forms. During a faunistic survey in temporary ponds under the influence of riparia...

This study reports on the abundance, biomass and reproductive traits of Oncaea venusta, a common pelagic copepod in tropical oceans, in a coastal area influenced by bottom intrusions of the cold and nutrient-rich South Atlantic Central Water (SACW). In addition to O. venusta abundance and biomass, we estimated egg production and weight-specific fec...

β-Diversity can be driven by different factors, and it is necessary to understand how the characteristics of communities contribute to biodiversity. We investigated composition patterns and taxonomic and functional β-diversity, in addition to determining the possible processes driving the β-diversity of zooplankton in 42 lakes, distributed in two r...

Morphological abnormalities in crustaceans have been registered and several are attributed to pollution and others anthropogenic activities. This study reports for the fi rst time a temporal record of the amount and variety of morphological abnormalities in Acartia lilljeborgii, in an impacted neotropical estuary. The specimens were obtained from S...

The Brazilian oil spill, from August 2019 to January 2020, was considered the most extensive accident in tropical oceans.We estimated the concentration of oil droplets that may be available for ingestion by microzooplankton.The collection was carried out in three areas: estuarine plume, bay and reef (Tamandaré, Pernambuco coast). We highlight the c...

The accuracy of traditional methods to sample planktonic microcrustaceans depends on two assumptions: that organisms are alive during sampling and that all carcasses can be identifi ed despite their degradation state, but fresh carcasses are not easy to distinguish by traditional methods. Previous studies about mortality have shown that neglecting...

Assessing zooplankton biodiversity is essential to support freshwater management/conservation programs. Here, we investigated the zooplankton community structure from 180 shallow lakes in northeastern Brazil and analyzed them according to biome (Atlantic Forest or Caatinga), the origin of ecosystems (natural or man-made lakes), and habitat type (pe...

Although it has been proven that non-predatory mortality accounts for a large proportion of copepod mortality, there is still a lack of knowledge of the temporal and spatial patterns and influence of environmental variables on non-predatory mortality, especially in tropical areas where reefs are influenced by estuarine plumes. This study evaluated...

Phytotelmata are habitats that house several species. Oftentimes invertebrate species need to disperse themselves sometimes carried by other animals, an interaction called phoresy. Phoresy can be influenced by different factors, therefore, we aim to investigate which factors influence the phoretic potential between anurans and invertebrates from br...

In early September 2019, dense crude oil began to wash the beaches of Brazil's tropical coast. Four months after the first report, the crude oil has already been found along >3000 km of the Brazilian coastline on >980 beaches and was recently observed along the Amazon coast, making this oil spill the most extensive and severe environmental disaster...

The present study aimed to inventory the biodiversity of planktonic microcrustaceans (Cladocera and Copepoda) in 44 environments from the semiarid region of Brazil, increasing the knowledge about zooplankton community, including phytophilous species. Between 2011 and 2017, organisms were collected in a non - systematic way in the states of Rio Gran...

We provide a baseline assessment of the density and types of microplastics in the western equatorial Atlantic. The highest microplastics density was found in coastal stations near urbanized sites, large tropical estuaries, and fishing grounds. With regard to microplastics composition, most of the identified particles were fibers/filaments, styrofoa...

Zooplankton biomass (as wet weight) was studied around marine protected islands in the tropical Atlantic Ocean. The study was based on 96 zooplankton samples collected during a 3-year period; specifically, 2010 was considered a year of thermal stress, and 2012 and 2014 were considered years without thermal stress. The analysis showed that zooplankt...

The present study aimed to determine zooplankton diversity and composition through a laboratory simulation of dispersal by morphologically different birds’ feet (large, small and webbed anisodactylous feet) and by comparing them between dif-ferent water accumulation phases. We hypothesized that large anisodactylous birds, because of their larger si...

Harsh and unstable aquatic environments present selective forces that influence environmental heterogeneity, dispersal capacity and specific life history strategies that, in turn, affect species distribution and metacommunity dynamics. To date, relatively few studies have examined the potential of bird-mediated dispersal to connect isolated ephemer...

The zooplankton off the coast of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil was studied during four oceanographic campaigns from July 2002 to May 2004. A Bongo net (mesh sizes of 64, 120, and 300 μm) was used for sample collections. A total of 462 zooplankton samples was studied. These samples were classified in four areas (Coastal, Inner Shelf, Shelf Break, Slop...

Rotíferos são organismos geralmente planctônicos utilizados como indicadores da qualidade ambiental em corpos d’água, por apresentarem a capacidade de responderem rapidamente às variações do meio. O objetivo do presente estudo foi investigar se em uma mesma área protegida (Parque Estadual de Dois Irmãos, Pernambuco, Brasil), ambientes aquáticos sub...

Assumptions about the distribution of zooplankton communities in various ecosystems are often limited by lack of data on dispersal mechanisms. Many studies on frog-mediated passive dispersal have been developed in bromeliads, but they usually focus on ostracods and annelids. We investigated the potential for external phoresy of zooplankton (rotifer...

Nutrient enrichment of aquatic bodies increases N and P concentrations and may affect the trophic interactions of communities. Benthic microalgae assemblages are regulated by both abiotic (e.g., nutrient) and biotic (e.g., grazing) factors. Here, we focus on how benthic communities have changed along the seasonality and availability of nutrients in...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the phytoplankton-zooplankton interaction, using phytoplankton morphology-based functional groups, in two reservoirs that have different trophic state indices (TSIs). We hypothesised that the herbivorous relationships of zooplankton with the phytoplankton community would differ between reservoirs with different...

RESUMO Poças temporárias são importantes ampliadores da biodiversidade local, sobretudo em áreas florestadas estacionais. Alterações na cobertura vegetal ao longo das margens desses corpos hídricos podem alterar a composição e estrutura da sua comunidade zooplanctônica. Nesse sentindo, testamos a hipótese de que a presença de mata ripária altera a...

This study was carried out to access the vertical distribution of the zooplankton around the Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago, and the thermocline effect on this distribution. The thermocline presented different effects in the protozooplankton, mainly in dinoflagellates, changing their structure. The microzooplankton and the mesozooplanktonic...

Zooplankton samples were collected in summer and in three distinct Neotropical areas (the coastal reef arc, the outer reef arc and the Abrolhos Archipelago). Two stations in each sampling area were established (a reef station and an outer station) to sampling zooplanktonic assemblage with two different mesh sizes (64- and 200-μm plankton nets). App...

Tropical oceanic regions have a permanent thermocline, which prevents the mixing of surface and nutrient-rich deep waters, thus showing low productivity and planktonic biomass. Seamounts are known to disrupt the vertical stability of the water column significantly increasing the availability of nutrients in the upper layers. The Saint Peter and Sai...

The Neotropical hermit crabs’ behaviour is rarely studied, although it is an important tool for the conservation of these invertebrates. In this context, the present study aimed to describe the hermit crab ethogram on its behaviour in the choice and dispute by shells. 60 specimens of hermit crabs were collected that were occupying mollusc shells Ce...

Taxonomic and ecological studies of a large number of specimens can lead to the finding of morphological anomalies. Thus, based on 800 specimens of Corycaeus speciosus in different developmental stages (juvenile and adult copepodites) this study was carried out to assess for the first time anomalies in Equatorial Atlantic specimens. Samples were co...

At the mouth of the Amazon River, a widespread carbonate ecosystem exists below the river plume, generating a hard-bottom reef (∼9500 km 2) that includes mainly large sponges but also rhodolith beds. The mesozooplankton associated with the pelagic realm over the reef formation was characterized, considering the estuarine plume and oceanic influence...

In the present work, spatial and seasonal fluctuations of the abundance and diversity of mesozooplankton are presented, with special attention being given to copepod assemblages from coastal area of the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago (FNA) (3°50'24''S and 32°24'48''W). Sampling was carried out during the dry and rainy seasons of two consecutive ye...

This paper aims to compare alpha and beta diversities of planktonic microcrustaceans from three reservoirs located nearby in a tropical semiarid basin. Our hypothesis was that alpha and beta diversities of the community are different, although the ecosystems are located close to each other. We carried out two sampling campaigns: dry and rainy seaso...

Estudos comparativos em grande escala temporal são raros e de extrema importância para a compreensão das mudanças nos ecossistemas. O objetivo central desse trabalho foi investigar a estrutura da comunidade do zooplâncton, com ênfase nos Copepoda, e dos microplásticos flutuantes da área central de um complexo estuarino tropical, nas décadas de 1980...

Os organismos planctônicos são seres pelágicos pequenos que variam de micrômetros a centímetros em tamanho, e que vivem à deriva nas correntes aquáticas. O zooplâncton serve de elo entre os organismos produtores primários e demais consumidores, transferindo a energia e matéria nos ecossistemas aquáticos. A avaliação temporal em larga escala dessa c...

The study was conducted to assess the community structure of planktonic rotifers and their relation to the environmental impact of Nile tilapia, Ore-ochromis niloticus (Linaeus, 1758), aquaculture activities (ponds and net-tanks), associated with a Neotropical semiarid reservoir in Brazil. Our hypothesis was that the ecological attributes of the ro...

The present study evaluated the response of the zooplankton communities from two reservoirs in the Brazilian semi-arid region to water volume reduction during a long dry season (~2 years). Our hypotheses were that (i) these reservoirs, even when exposed to periods of drought and water reduction, exhibit a temporal variation in the structure of the...

Passos River estuary, which is very influenced by marine waters, were carried out monthly from August/2009 to September/2010. A 64µm mesh size plankton net was hauled during low tide at two fixed stations in spring tides. Physical parameters as temperature, salinity, transparency and light extinction coefficient were obtained simultaneously. Statis...

A prática da educação ambiental é ainda incipiente, apesar de ser um importante instrumento mobilizador dos vários segmentos da sociedade. Este trabalho apresenta uma síntese das experiências realizadas nos manguezais do Canal de Santa Cruz, Pernambuco - Brasil, objetivando a formação de competências locais para a avaliação e monitoramento das cond...

In the semi-arid region of Brazil, artificial reservoirs are ecosystems of extremely important ecological and social. Due to pressures caused by long periods of pluviometric irregularity, the reservoirs Cachoeira I and Barra, located in the interior of Pernambuco, have been subject to very significant changes, marked mainly by the reduction of stor...

Planorbid mollusks are gastropods commonly found in continental northeastern aquatic environments. Due their scrapping habit, adults adhere to drifting surfaces, like vegetal parts, animal bodies, and boat hull, ensuring their dispersal. However, little is known about the dispersion of their juvenile forms. In this sense, the objective of this work...

Composition changes of decapod larvae in a neotropical estuarine inlet (Catuama inlet, northeast Brazilian coast) were studied in a complete tidal cycle in August 2001. Sampling was performed at three stations at two or three depth levels that were located along a transect across the inlet. The collections were performed in 3 h intervals under a ne...

The inner shelf waters off Southeastern Brazil are periodically enriched by bottom intrusions of the cold and nutrient-rich South Atlantic Central Water (SACW), which is transported offshore by the Brazil Current. This study examined the temporal contrasts in abundance and structure of pelagic copepod assemblages in a neritic station off Ubatuba, i...

Resumo Com o objetivo de realizar um levantamento da literatura produzida sobre o zooplâncton de reservatórios de Pernambuco (Brasil), foram consultados artigos científicos e trabalhos de conclusão de curso disponíveis desde 1987. Ao todo, 21 ambientes distribuídos nas três regiões fitogeográficas do Estado (Zona da mata, Agreste e Sertão) foram es...

The aim of this study is to describe a new species of the costata-group from Brazil. Alona margipluma sp. nov. shares morphological traits with A. costata Sars, 1862, A. natalensis Sinev, 2008, and A. cheni Sinev, 1999, but differs from them in: (i) thin setulae between the marginal setae on the valves, (ii) setae 4–5 on the exopodite of limb III l...

Esta nota é o primeiro registro da ocorrência de Mormonilla phasma (Copepoda) no Sudoeste do Oceano Atlântico Tropical. Indivíduos fêmeas foram encontrados em águas superficiais na quebra da plataforma do estado do Rio Grande do Norte (Nordeste do Brasil) e entre 60 e 100 m de profundidade, na camada epipelágica ao largo do Arquipélago de São Pedro...

Um levantamento da fauna planctônica foi realizado em cinco lagos artificiais da bacia do Riacho do Pontal, considerados reservas de água importantes para a região do sertão pernambucano, sobretudo durante o período seco. Foram catalogados 37 táxons, com destaque para os Rotifera, com 30 táxons, seguidos pelos Cladocera (05) e Copepoda (02). Compar...

The Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago (SPSPA) is located close to the Equator in the Atlantic Ocean. The aim of this study was to assess the spatial variations in the copepod community abundance, and the biomass and production patterns of the three most abundant calanoid species in the SPSPA. Plankton samples were collected with a 300 μm mesh...

The present study aimed to analyze variations in population dynamics of the Copepoda Calanopia americana (C. americana) in a reef area in tropical Brazil. Diurnal and nocturnal samples were collected at a fixed station during ebb tide, over four lunar cycles, and in the dry and rainy seasons. C. americana presence was very frequent (94%) and occurr...

Jellyfish are often the most prominent components of plankton, with severe consequences for fisheries and tourism. However, in tropical regions, there is much uncertainty about these consequences due to the lack of basic data. Our objective was to improve the knowledge about jellyfish in the Western Atlantic, with an emphasis on understanding diver...

Studies about the planktonic rotifers of the Passos River estuary, which is very influenced by marine waters, were carried out monthly from August/2009 to September/2010. A 64µm mesh size plankton net was hauled during low tide at two fixed stations in spring tides. Physical parameters as temperature, salinity, transparency and light extinction coe...

Este estudo foi conduzido com o objetivo de conhecer a flora planctônica de um lago temporário no Parque Estadual Mata da Pimenteira. Foi observada uma comunidade fitoplanctônica rica e diversificada com 88 espécies, distribuídas em nove classes. As algas verdes apresentaram maior riqueza, com 49 espécies, seguidas pelas diatomáceas e cianobactéria...

We investigated the reproductive biology of the planktonic harpacticoid copepod Euterpina acutifrons, including morphometric data, egg production rates (EPR) and viability, and weight-specific egg production. Experiments were carried out during 1 year in an inner-shelf area off Ubatuba (SE Brazil), a site seasonally influenced by bottom intrusions...

The aim of this study was to describe the composition and structure of cladocerans of littoral areas with and without macrophytes from a temporary shallow pond in the Caatinga of Pernambuco state (Brazil). Samples were taken between June 2011 and August 2012. The sampling of cladocerans and environmental variables was performed at four fixed points...

The plankton fauna of the state of Piauí, Northeastern Brazil, especially in the Parnaíba basin, is still poorly known; the results of most studies of the subject have not been published and can only be found in grey literature (unpublished scientific works), such as course completion work and consulting reports. Thus, this paper presents data from...

The influence of tidal and diel changes on the exchange of Petrolisthes armatus planktonic larvae was studied at the Catuama inlet, which represents an intermediate system of marine and estuarine environments in the Northeast Brazil. To characterize the larval abundance and vertical distribution, samplings were carried out in August 2001 at neap ti...

A influência dos ciclos de maré e fotoperíodo sobre o fluxo de larvas planctônicas de Petrolisthes armatus foi estudada na barra de Catuama, que representa um ambiente intermediário entre os sistemas marinho e estuarino no nordeste do Brasil. Para caracterizar a abundância e a distribuição vertical das larvas, foram feitas coletas em agosto de 2001...

A 64µm mesh size plankton net was hauled during low tide at two fixed stations in spring tides. Physical parameters as temperature, salinity, transparency and light extinction coefficient were obtained simultaneously. Statistical tests (Man-Whitney) were performed to evaluate possible seasonal and spatial variations. The rotifers were represented b...

We investigated the influence of nutrient-rich oceanic waters in comparison to the estuarine outflow from Santos Bay (SE Brazil) on copepod abundance and production on the adjacent inner shelf. Zooplankton samples were collected with a Multinet in spring 2005 and in summer 2006. Copepod biomass was derived from length–weight regressions, and growth...

Numerous morphological and sexual anomalies including congenital malformation, intersexuality, gynandromorphism, parasitic castration and sex change have been described in calanoid copepods (e.g. Bayly and Shiel, 2008). Nevertheless, double geniculation of A1 was not documented in extant calanoid and intersex or gynandromorphic individuals of Temor...

O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a estrutura e dinâmica do zooplâncton em seis reservatórios do Estado de Pernambuco. A comunidade zooplanctônica foi identificada com literatura atualizada e a densidade analisada sob microscópio e estereomicroscópio. Concomitantemente às coletas das comunidades zooplanctônicas e fitoplanctônicas, foram medidas...

Estudo importante sobre copépodes marinhos completa 40 anos

The objective of this study was to quantify and to model zooplankton transport with emphasis on decapod crustacean larvae. Sampling was carried out at three depths with a plankton pump coupled to a 300-mu m mesh. Current data were obtained with an ADCP. Our data showed the existence of vertically and horizontally heterogeneous current and transport...

Pequenos invertebrados marinhos também cuidam – e bem – de sua prole

The objective of this study was to quantify the zooplankton biomass transport between the Santa Cruz Channel (SCC) at Catuama north inlet and the adjacent shelf located in Itamaracá estuarine ecosystem, Pernambuco State, Northeastern Brazil. Sampling was carried out in August 2001 at spring and neap tides at three stations every 3-hour interval. Co...

The objective of this study was to quantify and to model zooplankton transport with emphasis on decapod crustacean larvae. Sampling was carried out at three depths with a plankton pump coupled to a 300-µm mesh. Current data were obtained with an ADCP. Our data showed the existence of vertically and horizontally heterogeneous current and transport f...

Planktonic crustaceans of an oligotrophic reservoir in Northeastern Brazil. This study presents the composition and abundance of planktonic crustaceans during the rainy and dry seasons in the Jucazinho Reservoir (Pernambuco, Brazil). Sampling was carried out in a fixed station in the pelagic region using a plankton net 125 µm mesh size, horizontall...

Este trabalho apresenta uma avaliação do estado da arte da biodiversidade de rotíferos planctônicos de alguns ecossistemas aquáticos continentais para Pernambuco (Brasil). Um levantamento bibliográfico foi realizado e a maior parte das pesquisas enfocou aspectos sazonais e estado trófico dos ecossistemas. Pelo menos 19 locais foram estudados no toc...

Os rotíferos do reservatório de Tapacurá, Pernambuco, Brasil foram estudados quanto à distribuição horizontal nas zonas limnética e litorânea, nos períodos chuvoso (agosto de 2003) e seco (janeiro de 2004). Amostras quali-quantitativas foram obtidas através de coletas em ritmo nictimeral nas distintas zonas do reservatório, com intervalo de seis ho...

The rotifers of Tapacurá reservoir, State of Pernambuco, Brazil, were studied concerning the horizontal distribution in pelagic and littoral zones, in the rainy (August/2003) and dry seasons (January/2004). Qualitative and quantitative samples were carried out in nictimeral samplings in the different zones of the reservoir, with an interval of six...

The state of the art in planktonic rotifers biodiversity from some freshwater ecosystems was elaborated for the state of Pernambuco (Brazil). A bibliographic survey was done and most studies focused seasonal aspects and trophic state of the ecosystems. At least 19 continental aquatic environments related to rotifer researches have been studied. The...

Zoohandicraft comercialized in Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. In the Pernambuco State’s Coast, Brazil, a great amount of handicraft is made using local marine macrofauna. This specific kind of handicraft could be designated by a neologism zoohandicraft. This paper presents the taxonomical identification of the fauna used in the making of the handmade...

Estudos sobre o fluxo de zooplâncton entre o Canal de Santa Cruz (CSC) - a partir da Barra de Catuama - e a plataforma costeira adjacente (PCA) foram feitos com o objetivo de quantificar essa troca e definir os mecanismos de transporte e migração dos Decapoda planctônicos. As coletas foram realizadas durante as marés de sizígia (05 e 06/08/2001) e...

Estudos sobre o fluxo de zooplâncton entre o Canal de Santa Cruz (CSC) - a partir da Barra de Catuama - e a plataforma costeira adjacente (PCA) foram feitos com o objetivo de quantificar essa troca e definir os mecanismos de transporte e migração dos Decapoda planctônicos. As coletas foram realizadas durante as marés de sizígia (05 e 06/08/2001) e...