A new methodological contribution for the geodiversity assessment: applicability to Ceará State (Brazil)

The concept of geodiversity aggregates the abiotic elements of nature and promotes the geoconservation. The main objective of this work is to contribute to the upgrade of the method for the assessment and quantification of geodiversity proposed by Pereira et al. (2013). The method is based on the superposition of a regular grid of 12 × 12 km on different maps (lithology, geomorphology, soil, paleonthology, mineral and geological energy resources) at scales of 1:250,000 to 1:600,000. In addition to other up- grades, the water resources are regarded here as a new com- ponent to consider when quantifying geodiversity. The sum of these maps generated the quantitative Map of Geodiversity Indices and the Map of Geodiversity Assessment, ranging from very low to very high geodiversity. The analysis of the geodiversity map of the State of Ceará (Brazil) shows the applicability and advantage of this method, highlighting two regions with higher levels of geodiversity (Northwest and South) and another region with the lowest levels (Sertões Cearenses). The results also allowed the characterization of the State of Ceará concerning the individual components of the geodiversity, especially the water resources. Geodiversity indices and maps are comprehensive and user-friendly data in the territorial planning, considering the geodiversity either as a whole, or each of its components, especially the more sensi- tive such as fossil conservation, and water, mineral, and non- renewable energy resources management.The authors express their gratitude to the Brazilian research fostering institution "Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior" (CAPES) for awarding the Ciência Sem Fronteiras (CsF) PhD scholarship that enabled this work. This work was partially co-funded by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund, based on COMPETE 2020 (Programa Operacional da Competitividade e Internacionalização), project ICT (UID/GEO/04683/ 2013) with reference POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007690 and national funds provided by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia

Spatial-temporal distribution and recruitment of Stramonita haemastoma (Linnaeus, 1758) (Mollusca) on a sandstone bank in Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil

We examined aspects of the population ecology of the gastropod Stramonita haemastoma at Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil. We collected monthly from October 2007 through September 2008 on a sandstone bank 1.5 km long, on which two points and two sampling levels were defined. We took five previously randomised replicates at each level, using a square enclosing an area of 0.0625 m². The snails were photographed, counted, and measured at the site. Both recruits and other individuals in the population preferentially inhabit the regions closer to the lower shore, where they are submerged for longer periods and are less subject to physiological stresses caused by temperature variation and desiccation. The cracks and holes in the bank serve as refuges and places for S. haemastoma to lay their egg capsules. Recruits were observed throughout the study period, and the population showed continuous reproduction