Sigrid Neumann Leitão

Plankton community as an indicator of water quality in tropical shrimp culture ponds

The plankton was examined as an indicator of water quality in 14 shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei farms in Brazil in 2003. The ponds were categorized by high stocking density (>30 PL m(-2)) of phytoplankton, consisting of 51 species with concentrations ranging from 365,218+/-416,615 cells mL(-1) to 1,961,675+/-3,160,172 cells mL(-1). Diatoms contributed to almost 70% of the species number and high densities resulted from Cyanophyta blooms, mainly Pseudanabaena cf limnetica. Forty zooplankton taxa were registered and were essentially composed of typical marine euryhaline species and suspension-feeders. Copepoda dominated (45%) the make-up, followed by Protozoa (18%), Rotifera (12%), and Mollusca (12%) larvae. Zooplankton varied from 972+/-209 ind m(-3) to 4235+/-2877 ind m(-3). Enhanced nutrient input affected plankton density and composition. Diatom and Copepoda dominance was replaced by cyanobacteria, protozoan, and rotifers as nutrient concentrations increased with the cultured period, indicating that plankton structure is affected by eutrophic conditions.

Fluxes of zooplankton biomass between a tidal estuary and the sea in Northeastern Brazil

B S T R A C T The objective of this study was to quantify the zooplankton biomass transport between the Santa Cruz Channel (SCC) at Catuama north inlet and the adjacent shelf located in Itamaraca estuarine ecosystem, Pernambuco State, Northeastern Brazil. Sampling was carried out in August 2001 at spring and neap tides at three stations every 3-hour interval. Collections were made in three depths with a plankton pump coupled to a 300 µm mesh size net. Current data were obtained with an ADCP (Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler). In laboratory, samples were filtered for wet weigh determination. High biomass variation was recorded, with highest values at nocturnal flood and ebb during spring tide. The average instantaneous biomass transport was 139.48 ± 72.58 mg.m

BaMBa: towards the integrated management of Brazilian marine environmental data

A new open access database, Brazilian Marine Biodiversity (BaMBa) (https://marinebiodiversity.lncc.br), was developed in order to maintain large datasets from the Brazilian marine environment. Essentially, any environmental information can be added to BaMBa. Certified datasets obtained from integrated holistic studies, comprising physical–chemical parameters, -omics, microbiology, benthic and fish surveys can be deposited in the new database, enabling scientific, industrial and governmental policies and actions to be undertaken on marine resources. There is a significant number of databases, however BaMBa is the only integrated database resource both supported by a government initiative and exclusive for marine data. BaMBa is linked to the Information System on Brazilian Biodiversity (SiBBr, http://www.sibbr.gov.br/) and will offer opportunities for improved governance of marine resources and scientists’ integration. Database URL: http://marinebiodiversity.lncc.br

Dynamic patterns of zooplankton transport and migration in Catuama Inlet (Pernambuco, Brazil), with emphasis on the decapod crustacean larvae

Esta investigacion tiene como objetivo cuantificar y modelar el transporte de zooplancton, con enfasis en las larvas de Crustacea Decapoda. El muestreo se realizo a tres profundidades con una bomba de plancton acoplada a una red con malla de 300 /?m. Se obtuvieron los datos de corrientes con un ADCP. Los datos mostraron la existencia de campos de corrientes y de transporte vertical y horizontal heterogeneos. Se identificaron 27 grupos de Decapoda (larvas de Sergestidae, Porcellanidae, Upogebiidae, Caridea, Brachyura). La mayoria de las especies y fases larvales mostraron patrones de migracion vertical caracteristicos, en fase con los ciclos de la marea diurnos, favoreciendo la retencion o exportacion del estuario.