Cristina Aparecida Gomes Nassar

Global environmental changes: setting priorities for Latin American coastal habitats

As the effects of the Global Climate Changes on the costal regions of Central and South Americas advance, there is proportionally little research being made to understand such impacts. This commentary puts forward a series of propositions of strategies to improve performance of Central and South American science and policy making in order to cope with the future impacts of the Global Climate Changes in their coastal habitats.

The effect of iron-ore particles on the metal content of the brown alga Padina gymnospora (Espı́rito Santo Bay, Brazil)

The iron-ore particles discharged by a pellet processing plant (Espírito Santo Bay, Brazil) cover the seabed of Camburi Beach and consequently, the epibenthic community. In order to determine the importance of the contribution of the iron-ore deposits to the metal concentration in macroalgae of Espirito Santo Bay, four methods of cleaning particulate material adhered to the surface of thalli were tested prior to metal tissue analysis (Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) of Padina gymnospora. In addition, heavy metal concentrations were determined in individuals of P. gymnospora from a site (Frade Island) not affected by the iron-ore particles. The most efficient cleaning treatment, a combination of scraping and washing with an ethanol-seawater solution (NA+SC+ET) removed a number of particles on the surface of thalli 10 times higher than that observed in the control (C). Using this treatment, the total-metal concentrations were reduced by 78% for Fe and 50% for Al respect to the control. However, Fe, Al and Cu concentrations after treatment NA+SC+ET were significantly higher than those found at Frade Island. It is suggested that the iron-ore deposit might be a source for metal availability to macroalgae exposed to the dumped material at Espirito Santo Bay.

Photosynthetic properties of three Brazilian seaweeds

Photosynthetic performance of distinct marine macroalgae, Ulva fasciata Delile (green alga), Lobophora variegata (J. V. Lamouroux) Womersley ex E. C. Oliveira (brown alga), and Plocamium brasiliensis (Greville) M. A. Howe & W. R. Taylor (red alga), were compared using a pulse amplitude-modulated fluorometer. The maximum quantum yield (Fv/Fm) ranged from 0.80 to 0.51, and the lowest value was found in P. brasiliensis. Under 400 µmol photons m-2 s-1 irradiance, the highest value of photochemical quenching (qP = 0.92 ± 0.13) was observed for U. fasciata. The red alga P. brasiliensis dissipated high amounts of excitation energy (qN = 0.56 ± 0.09), resulting in relatively low values for the effective quantum yield of PS-II (0.23 ± 0.04), as well as for the relative electron transport rate (3.3 ± 0.7). The high photosynthetic potential found for U. fasciata partially explains the species ability for rapid growth and high productivity.

Algas marinhas bentônicas da Reserva Biológica Estadual da Praia do Sul, Ilha Grande, Angra dos Reis, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

A survey in the Reserve showed 27 species of Chlorophyceae, 21 of Phaeophyceae and 73 of Rhodophyceae. Among the recorded species, 38 are new references to the Island and Cladophora catenata (L.) Kutz. is for the first time quoted to the Rio de Janeiro coast. Neither endemic species nor specific flora from insular area were found in the Reserve. A comparison between the flora of the Reserve and those of neighboring areas, showed a high percentage of similarity.

Analysis of the Appendicularia class (subphylum Urochordata) as a possible tool for biomonitoring four estuaries of the tropical region

This study aims to characterize the differences between physical and chemical parameters of water quality indicators and eutrophication in four estuaries of the state of Rio de Janeiro and relate them to full density of the species that belong to the Appendicularia class with the purpose of seeking bioindicators for estuarine areas. The estuaries studied were from the rivers Macaé, São João, Bracuí, and Perequê-Açu. The physicochemical parameters monitored for evaluation of the water bodies and used for the correlation with the appendicularians were pH, temperature, nitrite, nitrate, N-ammonia, total nitrogen, phosphate, total phosphorus, dissolved oxygen (DO), suspended particulate matter (SPM), chlorophyll a, heterotrophic bacteria, and fecal coliform. The estuaries Bracuí and São João showed enhanced qualities of water and lower degrees of eutrophication than Macae and Perequê-Açu estuaries. The species of the Appendicularia class found in this study were Oikopleura longicauda (Vogt, 1854), Oikopleura dioica Fol, 1872, Oikopleura fusiformis Fol, 1872, and Fritillaria haplostoma Fol, 1872. The density of appendicularians and O. longicauda was inversely related to the nutrient values and SPM; nonetheless, no species of appendicularians could be used as a bioindicator of any estuary in the current study. Studies on the quality of estuary waters and the search for other bioindicators belonging to other zooplankton groups are recommended to confirm the obtained results and to expand the knowledge of these coastal environments.

Flora ficológica da região sublitorânea rasa de costões rochosos do Núcleo Picinguaba, Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar, Ubatuba, São Paulo

Em unidades de conservacao da zona costeira, o conhecimento das macroalgas marinhas e essencial para monitoramento e manejo. Para o Nucleo Picinguaba do Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar (PESM), Ubatuba, norte do Estado de Sao Paulo, estudos preteritos realizados na Enseada da Fazenda listam especies de macroalgas, coletadas em costoes rochosos e manguezais. O presente estudo visou complementar o levantamento taxonomico da flora ficologica marinha do Nucleo Picinguaba, avaliando tambem a adequacao da metodologia para amostragens de suas comunidades de costoes rochosos. Foram selecionados 13 pontos de coleta, entre a Ponta da Almada e a Ponta do Cambury, area de maior interferencia antropogenica na zona costeira do PESM. No verao de 2007, foram efetuadas coletas de macroalgas, desde a franja da regiao sublitorânea ate o limite do substrato rochoso com a areia. Para uniformizar o esforco amostral, estas buscas foram efetuadas, em cada ponto de coleta, pelo mesmo especialista, durante uma hora de mergulho em apneia, em uma extensao horizontal do costao rochoso de cerca de 20 m. Foram identificados 128 taxons de categoria infragenerica (80 Rhodophyta, 22 Ochrophyta e 26 Chlorophyta). Callithamniella flexilis Baardseth, Cryptonemia seminervis (C. Agardh) J. Agardh, Cladophora pseudorupestris C. Hoek e Cladophora cf. pygmaea Reinke sao ocorrencias novas para o litoral do Estado de Sao Paulo, tendo sido descritas e ilustradas. Foram acrescentadas 64 especies de macroalgas para os costoes rochosos do PESM. O esforco amostral foi considerado adequado, resultando na identificacao de numero de especies de macroalgas similar ao de outros estudos realizados no litoral norte do estado de Sao Paulo e no extremo sul do estado do Rio de Janeiro. Para o monitoramento da zona costeira desta unidade de conservacao, recomenda-se o levantamento taxonomico das macroalgas dos costoes rochosos de modo continuado, durante o periodo de verao de anos sucessivos, seguindo a mesma metodologia aqui descrita.

Iron ore particles on four seaweed species from Camburi Beach (Espírito Santo state, Brazil)

The present study estimated the iron-ore concentration found on four species of seaweed. The species tested grow on a site heavily contaminated by this ore, in the city of Vitoria, state of Espirito Santo, Brazil. Under natural conditions, the iron ore reached a temperature 5.0oC higher than the sand on a sunny day. All the species had iron ore adhered to their fronds. Udotea cyathiformis was the species with the highest iron-ore concentration varing from 0.07 to 0.90 g wet weight, followed by Lobophora variegata (from 0.07 to 0.62 g wet weight), Padina gymnospora (from 0.08 to 0.55 g wet weight) and Ulva fasciata (from 0.05 to 0.25 g wet weight). Even after four changes of water over a 12-hour period, the fronds still had particles adhered to their outside cell wall. All the species showed similar tendencies to release the iron, with the highest percentage of particles (40 to 60%) released in the first change of water.

Matriz de impacto para gestão de microbacias com ótica na produtividade agropecuária sustentável e na saúde da população rural: Estudo de caso em quatro regiões da microbacia Rio do Colégio – São Fidélis – RJ

O presente trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar a preservacao dos recursos naturais da microbacia Rio do Colegio, bem como a saude da populacao rural. A microbacia foi dividida em subareas onde foram realizadas visitas, entrevistas e analise microbiologica da agua. Foi elaborada uma matriz de impacto baseada na saude populacional, saneamento rural e no uso dos recursos naturais. A matriz se mostrou eficaz na identificacao dos principais impactos em cada regiao da microbacia. A maior incidencia esgotamento sanitario peridomiciliar, foi constatada nas regioes de Santo Aleixo e Toca Fria. A falta de manejo com o gado foi um problema observado em todas as regioes analisadas, implicando num aumento significativo dos coliformes E. coli . Toda a populacao entrevistada consome agua sem tratamento. Nas regioes da Toca Fria, Santo Aleixo e Aracaju a populacao se serve das nascentes livre da contaminacao de esgotos domesticos, mas com acesso ao gado na maioria dos casos. Ja na regiao do Rio do colegio algumas familias utilizam das aguas do curso principal. Altos indices de diarreias e verminoses coincidiram com as areas de maior significância de impacto apontadas pela matriz. Foram apresentadas medidas mitigatorias de baixo custo economico e de grande viabilidade para os impactos caracterizados.