Relationship of Population Attributes of a Dominant Macrofaunal Species with Environmental Conditions in a Eutrophic Estuary (Guanabara Bay, Brazil)

Hydrobioid gastropods are abundant in coastal systems and ecologically important for ecosystem functioning. We aimed to unravel the relationship between usual stress-related population attributes of dominant macrofaunal species Heleobia australis with indicators environmental quality pollution. Using Guanabara Bay (GB, Brazil) as a model multi-impacted system, our hypothesis is that increased amounts rainfall during warm season reduce bay’s induce shifts snail attributes. A suite variables, attributes, sediment descriptors was assessed by combining field laboratory evaluations literature compilation. Results indicate high organic pollution levels degradation reinforce GB status severely contaminated system. Some conditions can be applied seasonal predictors changes warm-rainy (rainfall salinity), intermediate (silicate), cold-dry seasons (nitrite nitrate). Three selected (snail density, fecundity, recruitment) were not affected conditions, but significant effects detected on two (relative penis length index shell deformity). For first time, deformity recorded H. snails. Low variation highlight tolerance conditions.