Polychaetes from Santa Catarina State (southern Brazil): checklist and remarks on species distribution

摘要

This study summarizes taxonomic information on polychaetes from Santa Catarina State, southern Brazil, between 25°57'S and 29°23'S, and provides species distribution records together with information on habitats, based on historical data and novel records from primary surveys. Rarefaction curves showed that most species were found in the shallow sublittoral (to 60 m) rather than in deep sublittoral (>60 m) or estuarine habitats. Altogether, 228 valid species belonging to 141 genera and 44 familieswere recorded. This inventory adds 141 new records to previous regional reports. We found a shift in occurrence of species when comparing data from the study area with data from both southward (29-33° S) and northward (23-26° S) sites. Few species wereshared between consecutive sites: this could be a response to the regional behaviour of the atmosphere and water masses, with a progressive increase in the influence of subantarctic waters and a decrease in the influence of subtropical waters.