Benthic-Pelagic Coupling

Marine organisms living on rocky shores are not isolated in the benthic realm. They are instead intrinsically connected with the surrounding pelagic realm, and many distinct links between them could exemplify this interdependency. One of the most fundamental aspects is reproduction, as they more often release numerous pelagic larvae that must return to a benthic lifestyle at the end of their larval development. All these cyclical links that exemplify the interdependency between benthic and pelagic environments can be briefly described in terms of the exchange of energy and matter, the so-called benthic-pelagic coupling. Since the early 1950s, BP coupling has usually been addressed in terms of connections between coastal rocky shores and the shelf, particularly in subtropical southeastern and southern Brazil. Therefore, most studies focusing on BPC in rocky shores address ecosystems dominated by subtropical species, mainly crustaceans, mollusks, polychaetes, and echinoderms. In this chapter, we provide a theoretical background on the BPC from a new perspective, focusing on the anthropogenic interferences registered in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean over the last decades. We also review classical concepts of larval dynamics, development, recruitment, and physiological constraints.