Martinez A S, Mendes L F, Leite T S
Laboratório do Oceano, Departamento de Botânica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
Braz J Biol. 2012 May;72(2):287-98. doi: 10.1590/s1519-69842012000200009.
The present study investigated the distribution and abundance of epibenthic molluscs and their feeding habits associated to substrate features (coverage and rugosity) in a sandstone reef system in the Northeast of Brazil. Rugosity, low coral cover and high coverage of zoanthids and fleshy alga were the variables that influenced a low richness and high abundance of a few molluscan species in the reef habitat. The most abundant species were generalist carnivores, probably associated to a lesser offer and variability of resources in this type of reef system, when compared to the coral reefs. The results found in this study could reflect a normal characteristic of the molluscan community distribution in sandstone reefs, with low coral cover, or could indicate a degradation state of this habitat if it is compared to coral reefs, once that the significantly high coverage of fleshy alga has been recognized as a negative indicator of reef ecosystems health.
本研究调查了巴西东北部一个砂岩礁系统中底栖软体动物的分布、丰度及其与基质特征（覆盖率和粗糙度）相关的摄食习性。粗糙度、低珊瑚覆盖率以及海葵和肉质藻类的高覆盖率是影响该礁栖息地软体动物物种丰富度低但少数物种丰度高的变量。与珊瑚礁相比，最丰富的物种是广食性食肉动物，这可能与这类礁系统中资源供应较少且变化较大有关。本研究的结果可能反映了低珊瑚覆盖率的砂岩礁中软体动物群落分布的正常特征，或者与珊瑚礁相比表明该栖息地处于退化状态，因为肉质藻类的显著高覆盖率已被认为是礁生态系统健康的负面指标。
