ResumoDistribuição espacial dos macroorganismos bentônicos nos recifes da Praia de Porto de Galinhas (nordeste do Brasil) com atenção especial aos corais e hidróides calcários. Apesar da sua importância ecológica e socioeconômica, os recifes de coral estão sob constante ameaça e requerem práticas de gestão adequadas. Dados sobre a estrutura espacial destes ecossistemas são essenciais para projetos de conservação de boa qualidade nestas áreas. Este estudo objetivou analisar a distribuição espacial dos macroorganismos bentônicos do ambiente recifal da praia de Porto de Galinhas, com enfoque especial nos corais e hidróides calcários. Realizou-se um levantamento da plataforma recifal através de mergulho autônomo, utilizando-se transectos em linha de 10m de comprimento. Grandes regiões cobertas por algas foram verificadas, totalizando 53% das observações. Os zoantídeos compreendem o segundo grupo mais representativo (11%). Um total de 173 colônias de corais e hidróides calcários foi observado sendo que 40% destas colônias estavam total ou parcialmente branqueadas. Unitermos: ambientes recifais, Brasil, corais, distribuição espacial, Praia de Porto de Galinhas AbstractDespite their ecological and social-economic importance, coral reefs are under constant threat and thus require proper management practices. Data on the spatial structure of these ecosystems are essential for good quality conservation projects in such areas. This study aimed to quantitatively analyze the spatial distribution of benthic macroorganisms from the reef environment of Porto de Galinhas Beach, with special focus on its corals and calcified hydroids. Reef flats of the area were surveyed by scuba diving, using 10m line transects. A high cover of macroalgae was verified, averaging 53% of the observations. Zoanthids were the second most representative group (11%). A total of 173 colonies of corals and calcified hydroids were observed and 40% of these colonies were partially or totally bleached.

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This study aimed to collect information on the diversity of corals and calcified hydroids of the Manuel Luiz Marine State Park (state of Maranhão, Northeast Brazil) to aid in the development of a management plan for the park. A total of 21 cnidarian species were identified, of which 16 were corals and calcified hydroids. The bathymetric and geographic distribution of each of these species was extended. This area has a rich coral fauna in relation to other parts of Brazil and is comparable in diversity to the Abrolhos Islands (Bahia State) -an unexpected result considering the region's proximity to the Amazon River Basin. Most of the specimens of corals and calcified hydroids observed were bleached.Keywords FD et al. -Biota Neotropica, v7 (n3) -bn00907032007

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