Assessment of surf zone zooplankton dynamics in a Southwestern Atlantic sandy beach: Seasonal cycle and tidal height influence

Abstract

Surf zones of sandy beaches are poorly studied in comparison to estuarine and continental shelf waters, specifically because of the difficulties experienced in sampling in high-energy environments. The zooplankton of these areas, therefore, has received less attention than that in other coastal systems. The aim of this study was to investigate the seasonal patterns and tidal height effects (high tide/low tide) on the surf zooplankton community in a temperate Southwestern Atlantic sandy beach. We also aimed to evaluate the influence of some environmental variables (water temperature, salinity, chlorophyll-a, suspended particulate matter and particulate organic carbon) on the community structure and to compare the surf community to nearby coastal zone (<to 50 m). Sampling was carried out from September 2009 to November 2010, with a monthly frequency during autumn-winter and bi-monthly during spring-summer.