Biogeografia e Bionomia dos Crustáceos do Litoral Equatorial Brasileiro.

Abstract

The Brazilian Coast between Amapa and Piaur States is characterized by Itshidrology. This results of several factors: the influence of superficial oceaniccurrents, the discharge of the great equatorial rivers, the upwelling at the edge of continental shelf, etc. There a~ll several bottom types on continental shelf, and their horizontal distribution depends of oceanic and fluvial-terrigenous influences. There are two natural regions, one with sandy and organogenous bottoms, high and stable temperature and salinity, and another with muddy and sandy bottoms, and unstable temperature and salinity. The first natural regions corresponds to the Brazilian Province of the biogeographers, and the second one to Guyanian Province. It is possible to admit 5 faunistic communities of crustaceans inhabiting:1) muddy and sandy-muddy bottoms; 2) sandy bottoms; 3) coastal organogenous bottoms; 4) organogenous bottoms of transition; 5) deep sandy and organogenous bottoms.