Scholarship 12/12947-0 - Fauna bentônica, Fecundidade - BV FAPESP
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Population Ecology of Aplysia brasiliana (Opistobranchia: Aplysiidae) in the Bay of Santos, São Paulo

Grant number: 12/12947-0
Support Opportunities:Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
Start date until: October 01, 2012
End date until: January 31, 2014
Field of knowledge:Biological Sciences - Zoology - Applied Zoology
Principal Investigator:Karine Delevati Colpo
Grantee:Luiza de Oliveira Saad
Host Institution: Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus Experimental do Litoral Paulista. São Vicente , SP, Brazil
Associated scholarship(s):13/01000-4 - Molecular characterization of two different morphotypes of Aplysia brasiliana collected in the bay of Santos, SP, BE.EP.IC

Abstract

Species of the genus Aplysia are found on rock shore regions and represent an important trophic chain in the sea environment. They are hermaphrodites and their biological life cycle lasts nearly one year; the population abundance is associated with the algae. The species Aplysia brasiliana is richly used in studies related on neuroscience and genetics, however little is known about their population structure, reproductive potential and biological life cycle in the Brazilian coast. The current study objective on analyze the ecological aspects of the population of A. brasiliana, correlating their structure and distribution timeline with the phytal benthic coverage. Thereunto, mensal collections will be performed in the period of one year on two shores of the Baia de Santos (Shore of Ponta da Praia 23°59'29"S; 46°18'15"O; Shore of Itararé Beach 23°58'42"S; 46°22'4"O). On each collection, three transect of sixty meters parallel will be established to the coastline. The first transect will be established in the upper rocky shore (upper limit of the neap tide), the second in the intermediate region, and the third in the lower (lower limit of the spring tide). Each transect will be two meters wide, covering six meters of the intertidal area. The transects will be entirely searched for thirty minutes, with sampling effort of two collectors in search of the A. brasiliana or spawning. The percentage of the algae coating will be determined inside the same transects, and for that ten quadrants of 50x50cm will be randomly posted and the algae will be identified and their percentage quantified. Aplysia brasiliana sampled will be weighed and measured for the mensal distribution of the frequency size and subsequently returned to the study site. The reproductive period, indicated by the presence of egg masses will be determined as well as their fecundity. Their abundance will be correlated with the percent of phytal coverage.(AU)

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