Intro
Preface
Acknowledgements
Contents
About the Editors
About the Editors
Contributors
Chapter 1: Physical Characteristics of Brazilian Sandy Beaches
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Coastal Processes
1.3 Beach Types and States
1.4 Brazilian Coastal Regions
1.4.1 Region 1: Tide-Dominated Amazon Delta Coast
1.4.2 Region 2: Tide-Dominated Beaches, Barriers, and Estuaries of Pará-Maranhão
1.4.3 Region 3: Northeastern Tide-Modified Beach and Barrier-Dune Coast
1.4.4 Region 4: Eastern Beachrock Coast
1.4.5 Region 5: Eastern Wave-Dominated Deltaic Coast

1.4.6 Region 6: Southeast Wave-Dominated Rocky-Embayed Coast
1.4.7 Region 7: Wave-Dominated Beaches and Barrier Coast of Rio Grande do Sul
1.5 Final Remarks
References
Chapter 2: Primary Producers
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Microalgae Studies in Brazilian Sandy Beaches
2.3 Microalgae Biomass and Distribution
2.3.1 Inorganic Nutrients, Chlorophyll a, and Primary Production
2.3.2 Biodiversity
2.4 Harmful Algae
2.5 Macroalgae
2.6 Beach Eutrophication: The Case of Camboriú Beach
2.7 Final Remarks
References
Chapter 3: Meiofauna Biodiversity
3.1 Introduction

3.2 Spatial Patterns
3.3 Temporal Patterns
3.4 Biodiversity
3.4.1 Copepoda
3.4.2 Nematoda
3.4.3 Annelida
3.4.4 Tardigrada
3.4.5 Gastrotricha
3.4.6 Kinorhyncha
3.4.7 Other Groups
3.5 Meiofauna and Environmental Impacts
3.6 Final Remarks
References
Chapter 4: Benthic Invertebrate Macrofauna
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Diversity and Ecology of Brazilian Sandy Beach Macrofauna
4.2.1 Annelida (Polychaetes)
4.2.2 Mollusca
4.2.2.1 Gastropoda
4.2.2.2 Bivalvia
4.2.3 Crustacea
4.2.4 Insecta
4.2.5 Echinodermata

4.3 Adaptations of Sandy Beach Macrofauna
4.3.1 Locomotion
4.3.2 Excavation
4.3.3 Rhythmic Behavior
4.3.4 Orientation
4.3.5 Feeding, Breathing, and Reproduction
4.4 Spatial Patterns of Sandy Beach Macrofauna
4.4.1 Macroscale Patterns
4.4.2 Mesoscale Patterns
4.4.3 Microscale Patterns
4.5 Ecological and Economic Importance
4.6 Brazilian Sandy Beach Macrofauna: Current Knowledge and Scientific Gaps
4.7 Final Remarks
References
Chapter 5: Vertebrate Biodiversity
5.1 Sandy Beach as a Habitat for Vertebrates
5.2 Sandy Beach Biodiversity
5.2.1 Fishes

5.2.2 Birds
5.2.3 Sea Turtles
5.2.4 Cetaceans
5.3 Main Threats
5.3.1 Urban Development
5.3.2 Light and Sound Pollution
5.3.3 Chemical Pollution
5.3.4 Solid Wastes Pollution
5.3.5 Harvest and Fishing
5.3.6 Bycatch and Ghost Fishing
5.3.7 Prey Depletion
5.4 Conservation Challenges and Initiatives
5.5 Research Gaps and Avenues for Future Studies
5.6 Final Remarks
References
Chapter 6: Population Biology
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Population Parameters of Sandy Beach Species
6.2.1 Abundance
6.2.2 Recruitment
6.2.3 Growth
6.2.4 Biomass