An introduction to the pelagic system of the North-East and East Brazilianshelf

A short review on the typology of the North-Eastern and Eastern Brazilian c oastal zone and its forelain shelf and oceanic waters is presented, includi ng new results obtained during the 1994/1995 Brazilian-German JOPS-II proje ct. It addresses the geography, climate, and typical habitats of the coasta l zone, and the physical realm, production and plankton of the shelf waters . The general features are set into perspective with the remainder of the B razilian coastal-shelf domain. The information is based upon previous revie ws and regional studies, supported by numerous national programmes and, to some extent also, by international cooperative endeavours. One of these inc ludes the 2nd Brazilian German Joint Oceanographic Projects (JOPS-II) campa ign, which focussed on the sedimentation processes and the productivity of the northeast and east Brazilian shelf waters. Some of the conclusions of t he JOPS-II biological studies, presented in the papers of this volume, are embedded in this review. Based on the characteristics presented in the pape r, the Northeast and East Brazil shelf areas may be considered as one uniqu e system. The incorporation of this ecosystem into the concept of "Large Ma rine Ecosystems" is discussed.