Microphytobenthic Biomass Gradient along the Beach Face and along Shore Profiles at Pernambuco Beach, Guarujá SP, Brazil

The microphytobenthos biomass measured as chlorophyll a and phaeopigments was sampled in three transects on the beach face profile according to the exposure gradient observed along the shore of Pernambuco Beach. This is a half moon shaped beach with an island at the south part, forming an area of lo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of coastal research 2003-04, p.426-430
Main Authors: David, Carlos J., Skowronski, Rodrigo S. P., Sousa, Eduinetty C. P. M., Corbisier, Tahis N., Eichler, Beatriz B., Ghiselli, Renato O.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Beaches
Biomass
Carbonates
Chlorophylls
Coastal ecology
Kurtosis
Marine ecology
Pigments
Sediments
Tombolos
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Summary:The microphytobenthos biomass measured as chlorophyll a and phaeopigments was sampled in three transects on the beach face profile according to the exposure gradient observed along the shore of Pernambuco Beach. This is a half moon shaped beach with an island at the south part, forming an area of lower exposition, with a conspicuous tombolo. Northwards the beach is steeper and narrower with higher exposure level. Differences on microphytobenthic biomass were not observed along the beach face profile and this may be due to the strong rain that fell before the sampling. A gradient of microphytobenthic biomass was observed along the shore for both photosyntethic pigments, chlorophyll a and phaeopigments and this biomass gradient was opposed to the exposure gradient. The Transect I (with higher biomass), was considered statistically different from the Transect III (with lower biomass). The Transect II had intermediate biomass and was associated to both transects, I and III showing the biomass gradient along the shore. Very strong correlations were observed between the pigments and also between them and the exposure level, the phisiographic parameters (beach width and slope angle). The pigments also correlated strongly to the granulometrie parameters like mean diameter (phi), standard deviation and kurtosis. These strong correlations, specially for chlorophyll a to the environmental parameters reflect a high level of microphytobenthic. response to their gradients along the shore.
ISSN:0749-0208
1551-5036