Marine invertebrates associated with rhodoliths/maërl beds from northeast Brazil (State of Paraíba).

Background This study investigates the marine macroinvertebrate fauna of rhodolith beds (nongeniculated red corallinaceaous algae) in northeast Brazilian. A total of 57 species were identified, belonging to six phyla (Platyhelminthes, Annelida, Sipuncula, Mollusca, Arthropoda and Echinodermata), of which 50 are considered here as new records for the Paraíba State. Annelids (Class Polychaeta) were the most representative taxa in Miramar and Seixas Beaches, while molluscs were dominant in Maceió Beach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]