Benthos Diversity of the Río de la Plata and its Maritime Front

GIBERTO, D.A.; BREMEC, C.S.; RODRIGUES CAPITULO, A.; BRAZEIRO, A.

Environmental Assessment and Planning of a Trounsboundary Fluvio-Marine Ecosystem: the Río de la Plata and its Maritime Front

Springer-Verlag

Lugar: Montevideo; Año: 2012;

We present a synoptic view of subtidal macrobenthic diversity patterns, in order to link diversity patterns and main ecosystem processes and to and to develop the ecological basis for the conservation of the benthic biodiversity of the Río de la Plata and its maritime front. Three major benthic assemblages representing Freshwater, the Mixohaline (Inner, Central, Outer) and the Marine (Adjacent, Exterior) environments were identified in the Río de la Plata. These regions are clearly distinguishable when based on species richness patterns and are related to changes in salinity, turbidity and sediment types, reflecting shifts in ecological processes as we go through the different sectors of the Río de la Plata. Hot-spots of diversity were located at mussel beds, coarse-sandy sediments and outcrops communities both in marine and mixohaline communities. Different sources of richness variation and their relationship with observed patterns are discussed. Final considerations regarding conservation plans are made.