CURRENT KNOWLEDGE STATUS OF THE ECOLOGY OF HARD BOTTOM BENTHIC COMMUNITIES IN BRAZIL AND THE NEED FOR NEW APPROACHES

Abstract

Since most environments on the planet are being threatened by anthropogenic activities, the ecological characterization and monitoring of extensive areas becomes urgent. In Brazil, 33 papers dealing with descriptive ecology of hard bottom communities were published, characterizing a total area of about 3,550m2. Most of these studies focused on the midlittoral zone, employed transect sampling methods and considered species as the operational units. Data obtained this way is finely detailed, but cannot be extrapolated to the whole area being studied. This happens not only in Brazil, but all over the world, and the amount of sampled area is way below desirable levels. Some studies proposed the employement of functional-form groups, higher taxonomic ranks or considered dominant species to increase the sampling velocity. Time-saving approaches in association with random sampling, photographic and remote sensing techniques are a feasible alternative to increase the size of the sampled area and consequently our knowledge about the  environment being studied. The “Physiognomic Assessment” method is one of these alternatives and it made possible the characterization of 29,605m2 of rocky shores over a five-year period.