An introduction to the pelagic system of the North-East and East Brazilian shelf

A short review on the typology of the North-Eastern and Eastern Brazilian coastal zone and its forelain shelf and oceanic waters is presented, including new results obtained during the 1994/1995 Brazilian-German JOPS-II project. It addresses the geography, climate, and typical habitats of the coastal zone, and the physical realm, production and plankton of the shelf waters. The general features are set into perspective with the remainder of the Brazilian coastal-shelf domain. The information is based upon previous reviews and regional studies, supported by numerous national programmes and, to some extent also, by international cooperative endeavours. One of these includes the 2nd Brazilian German Joint Oceanographic Projects (JOPS-II) campaign, which focussed on the sedimentation processes and the productivity of the northeast and east Brazilian shelf waters. Some of the conclusions of the JOPS-II biological studies, presented in the papers of this volume, are embedded in this review. Based on the characteristics presented in the paper, the Northeast and East Brazil shelf areas may be considered as one unique system. The incorporation of this ecosystem into the concept of "Large Marine Ecosystems" is discussed.