Biogeographic Patterns of Brazilian Rocky Reef Fauna

Rocky shores are prominent features of the Brazilian SE-S coast that define the coastal contour in the region and are interspersed by sand beaches. The intertidal and subtidal zones are discussed here as a continuous along the depth gradient, where large rocky formations plunge into the sea and are bordered by a soft sediment basin. The SE-S rocky shore range overlaps climatic and oceanographic domains, with NE currents and winds, and cold fronts coming from S-SW during the dry season. The SE-S shores represent a gradual change in species composition from tropical to subtropical-temperate provinces, where some taxonomic groups peak in species richness along the Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo shores associated with less heterogeneous climatic and oceanographic domains. Fish, mollusk, ascidian, and sponge species richness decrease southward, while corals decrease in subtropical areas mostly because of their clear association with tropical waters. Although some rocky shores are within marine and coastal protected areas, the total area covered and the real enforcement applied to those protected areas are below desirable levels. These habitats are among the most impacted on the Brazilian coast because of their proximity of large cities and should be prioritized in sustainable development initiatives and coastal management planning.