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Rocky shores correspond to a very particular habitat in Brazil, which is concentrated in the Southeastern and Southern coasts. There are different types of substrata and seascapes that cause a high environmental heterogeneity responsible to host a high species biodiversity and a range of ecosystem services. Primary and secondary production, as well as structuring organisms and processes, differs from temperate areas.

This book describes the fauna of the Pernambuco Endemism Center in Brazil's Northern Atlantic Forest, an understudied global biodiversity hotspot. Through fifteen curated chapters, it provides the latest information about the fauna of the northern portion of the Atlantic Forest, gathering important information about the faunal composition of the region for the first time. The chapters address animal biodiversity including terrestrial and aquatic vertebrates (fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals) and invertebrates (ants, butterflies, dung beetles, hervestmen, spiders, and termites). All chapters provide species lists, taxonomic aspects and richness analysis. Conservation of specific animal groups is also discussed. Finally, the book discusses human impacts on the forest and its biodiversity, emphasizing the need for conservation of this highly impacted ecosystem.

The Bahía Blanca Estuary is one of the largest coastal systems in Atlantic South America. This mesotidal estuary, situated in a sharp transition between humid subtropical and semiarid climates, has a unique combination of large interannual climatic variations. The estuarine area encompasses roughly 2300 square kilometers and is composed of wide expanses of intertidal flats, salt marshes, and emerged islands, which create intricate landscape patterns. Natural environments in the estuary sustain a high concentration of marine and terrestrial species, including endemic, threatened, and endangered fish and shorebirds. Puerto Cuatreros, in the inner zone of the estuary, hosts a permanent marine research station, whose records span more than 30 years of biophysical variables, and represent one of the largest time series of ecological data in South America. Beyond its ecological relevance, the Bahía Blanca Estuary is under increasing anthropogenic pressure from large urban settlements, industrial developments and harbors, raising the question of how to balance conservation and development. The Bahía Blanca Estuary: Ecology and Biodiversity offers a comprehensive review of life in the ecosystems of the estuary. The book is divided into five major sections, the first of which provides a description of the regional setting and covers key aspects of estuarine dynamics. The three following sections are dedicated to different habitat types and, within each section, the chapters are organized around major functional groups from pelagic and benthic environments. The fifth and final section covers issues related to management and conservation. Overall, the book provides essential and up-to-date reference material on the biodiversity and ecosystem processes of the Bahía Blanca Estuary, and will appeal to a broad international audience.