Pedro Freitas de Carvalho

Horizontal and vertical distribution of mesozooplankton species richness and composition down to 2,300 m in the southwest Atlantic Ocean

We describe the species richness, distribution and composition of mesozooplankton over the continental shelf and slope, and in the water masses in the Campos Basin, southwest Atlantic Ocean. We analyzed the mesozooplankton from two oceanographic cruises (rainy and dry seasons, 2009) with samples taken in five different water masses from the surface to 2,300 m depth. In the Subsurface Water (SS), in both sampling periods, more species were recorded over the slope (rainy: 100; dry: 128) than the continental shelf (rainy: 97; dry: 104). Over the slope, species richness decreased with increasing depth: the highest values were observed in the South Atlantic Central Water (SACW), and the lowest values in the North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW), in both sampling periods. We recorded 262 species in 10 groups (Hydrozoa, Siphonophora, Ctenophora, Branchiopoda, Copepoda, Euphausiacea, Decapoda, Chaetognatha, Appendicularia e Thaliacea), with 13 new occurrences for the southwest Atlantic. Copepoda was the group with the highest species richness, containing 138 species. In both periods, the samples from SS, SACW and Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW)/Upper Circumpolar Deep Water (UCDW) were clustered in different faunistic zones, based on species composition. This study confirmed that zooplankton richness in the southwest Atlantic Ocean is underestimated, and suggests that additional efforts must be directed toward a better understanding of this fairly unknown region.

Estimating size and scope economies in the Portuguese water sector using the Bayesian stochastic frontier analysis

This study aims to search for economies of size and scope in the Portuguese water sector applying Bayesian and classical statistics to make inference in stochastic frontier analysis (SFA). This study proves the usefulness and advantages of the application of Bayesian statistics for making inference in SFA over traditional SFA which just uses classical statistics. The resulting Bayesian methods allow overcoming some problems that arise in the application of the traditional SFA, such as the bias in small samples and skewness of residuals. In the present case study of the water sector in Portugal, these Bayesian methods provide more plausible and acceptable results. Based on the results obtained we found that there are important economies of output density, economies of size, economies of vertical integration and economies of scope in the Portuguese water sector, pointing out to the huge advantages in undertaking mergers by joining the retail and wholesale components and by joining the drinking water and wastewater services.

Seasonal and spatial variability of appendicularian density and taxonomic composition in the Caravelas Estuary (Northeastern Brazil) and adjacent coastal area

This study aimed to identify and assess the seasonal and spatial variations of the appendicularians in the Caravelas River estuary and the adjacent coastal area. Samples were taken during 12 campaigns over five years (2001 and 2003-2006). Ten species were identified; the most abundant were Oikopleura dioica, Oikopleura rufescens, and Oikopleura longicauda. These species represented more than 95% of the total numbers of appendicularians. The remaining species were less frequent and occurred in low densities. The mean density of appendicularians found at the coastal stations (804 ind.m-3.) was higher than in the estuary (66 ind.m-3). However, the differences observed between the estuary and coastal stations were not significant (p=0.54). The samples taken during the dry season showed a higher mean density (587 ind.m-3) than in the rainy season (376 ind.m-3), and the differences between the seasons were statistically significant (p=0.004).

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.

Vertical distribution of mesozooplankton and ichthyoplankton communities in the South-western Atlantic Ocean (23°14′1″S 40°42′19″W)

ana c. t. bonecker, cristina de o. dias, marcia s. de castro, pedro f. de carvalho, adriana v. araujo, rodolfo paranhos, anderson s. cabral and sergio l. c. bonecker Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Biologia, Departamento de Zoologia, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373 – Prédio do CCS, Bloco A, Sala A0-084, Ilha do Fundão – 21.941-902, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Laboratório de Hidrobiologia, Departamento de Biologia Marinha, Instituto de Biologia, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373 – Prédio do CCS, Bloco A, Cidade Universitária, Ilha do Fundão – 21.941-902, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil