Zooplankton in the Rift Zone of the Brazilian Southeast Coast: Temporal and Nictemeral Variation

Shallow coastal areas, such as the surf zones of sandy beaches, are little studied when compared to other coastal ecosystems. However, they are considered to be of great ecological importance, as they are home to a high diversity of organisms that feed, reproduce and seek protection in the region from predators. The lack of studies is mainly due to the high level of hydrodynamics, which makes them difficult to sample, especially at night. This study analyzed the temporal and nictemeral variation of the zooplankton fauna in the surf zone of a densely inhabited beach located on the southeast coast of Brazil.