Distribuição de Invertebrados Marinhos na Planície Costeira do Rio São João, eEtado do Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

A study of the distribution of macrofauna and the ecological factors affecting their distribution in the São João coastal plain, State of Rio de Janeiro, has made it possible to formulate a series of criteria for interpreting modern and ancient depositional environments. In all the extension of the area there are uncontestable records of ancient sea - levels higher than the present. During the Flandrean transgression the sea reached the foot of the Precambrian crystalline rocks along the entire coastline of the studied area. Different assemblages were recognized in the São João coastal plain such as shallow hypersaline, open lagoon, closed lagoon and river influenced low salinity estuary.