Blooms of bryozoans and epibenthic diatoms in an urbanized sandy Beach (Balneário Camboriú - SC - Brazil): dynamics, possible causes and biomass characterization

Balneário Camboriú (SC - Brasil) é uma cidade turística, onde o crescimento desordenado da população urbana e a implementação de obras costeiras sem uma avaliação adequada tem gerado impactos ambientais e afetado severamenteou a qualidade sanitária da água e do sedimento do rio Camboriú e da área marinha adjacente. Um dos fenômenos mais recentes e alarmantes observados são as florações de briozoários invasivos (Arboscuspis bellula e Membraniporopsis tubigera) associados com as diatomáceas epibênticas (Amphitetras antediluviana e Biddulphia biddulphiana). Vários indícios associam esses fenômenos, iniciados em 2003, com o excesso de nutrientes e matéria orgânica na enseada Camboriú e com grandes obras costeiras locais, como dragagem, aterro e construção de molhes, levando a mudanças na estrutura ecológica bêntica. Sendo um problema de estético e ambiental, a preocupação da comunidade e órgãos governamentais gerou uma intensificação nos estudos, uma vez que as ocorrências se tornaram mais frequentes e persistentes. O presente trabalho aborda este problema através de estudos ambientais e experimentais. A coleta de material bêntico com embarcação e mergulhos e monitoramento florações junto a praia compuseram a abordagem ambiental. Os trabalhos de laboratório incluíram o isolamento e a cultura de algas e brioozários, bem como a avalição do crescimento desses organismos, além da análise e avaliação química biomassa. Os dados de monitoramento mostraram uma tendência sazonal nas florações, com eventos mais evidentes nos meses mais quentes. Diatomáceas aumentaram em abundância nos meses mais frios e briozoários nos mais quentes. A diatomácea A. antediluviana, predominante nas florações, cresceu de forma satisfatória em cultivo laboratorial, mostrando um melhor crescimento em meios com concentrações mais elevadas de silicato e fosfato. Os briozoários mostraram crescimento lento em condições de laboratório. O material depositado no ambiente mostrou baixas concentrações de ácidos graxos, predominantemente saturados, mas a elevada biomassa sugere um possível uso para a produção de biocombustíveis. Amostras de biomassa dominadas por briozoários apresentaram atividade antimicrobiana moderada contra Klebsiella pneumoniae. A explicação para a ocorrência destes eventos ainda são inconclusivas, mas há evidências consideráveis de que há um efeito sinérgico entre a alta concentração de bactérias e detritos orgânicos na água, relacionada com a poluição local, e a eliminação de competidores naturais pelos impactos das obras costeiras.Balneário Camboriu (SC - Brazil) is a touristic city where the disordered growth of the urban population and the implementation of coastal works without proper evaluation generated environmental impacts and affected the sanitary quality of water and sediment of Camboriu River and marine adjacent area. One of the most recent and alarming phenomena observed are the blooms of invasive bryozoans (Arboscuspis bellula and Membraniporopsis tubigera) associated with epibenthic diatoms (Amphitetras antediluviana and Biddulphia biddulphiana). Several clues associate these phenomena, started in 2003, with the excess of nutrients and organic matter in the Camboriú cove and large coastal works such as dredging, landfills and construction of jetties, leading to changes in benthic ecological structure. Being an aesthetic and environmental health problem, the concern of the scientific community and government agencies intensified as the occurrences become more frequent and persistent. This research addresses this issue through environmental and experimental studies. Samplings of the benthic material collected by boat and diving, and blooms monitoring were the environmental approach. The laboratory work included the algal isolation and culture, in addition to growth conditions assessment and chemical biomass analysis. Monitoring data showed a seasonal trend in the blooms, with more conspicuous events in warmer months. Diatoms increase in abundance in colder months and bryozoans in the warmer ones. The diatom A. antediluviana, predominant in the blooms, grew satisfactorily in laboratory cultivation, showing better growth in media with higher concentrations of silicate and phosphate. Bryozoans showed slow growth in laboratory conditions. The deposited material collected in the environment showed low concentrations of saturated fatty acids, but the high biomass suggest a possible use for biofuels production. Biomass samples dominated by bryozoans showed moderate antimicrobial activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae. The explanation for the occurrence of these blooms are still inconclusive, but there is considerable evidence that it is a synergistic effect between the high concentration of bacteria and organic debris in the water related to local pollution and the elimination of natural competitors by coastal works

Marine biotechnology in Brazil : recent developments and its potential for innovation

Marine biotechnology is an emerging field in Brazil and includes the exploration of marine microbial products, aquaculture, omics, isolation of biologically active compounds, identification of biosynthetic gene clusters from symbiotic microorganisms, investigation of invertebrate diseases caused by potentially pathogenic marine microbes, and development of antifouling compounds. Furthermore, the field also encompasses description of new biological niches, current threats, preservation strategies as well as its biotechnological potential. Finally, it is important to depict some of the major approaches and tools being employed to such end. To address the challenges of marine biotechnology, the Brazilian government, through the Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovation, and Communication, has established the National Research Network in Marine Biotechnology (BiotecMar) (www.biotecmar.sage.coppe.ufrj.br). Its main objective is to harness marine biodiversity and develop the marine bioeconomy through innovative research

Nannochloropsis oculata growth in produced water: an alternative for massive microalgae biomass production

Produced water (PW), extracted as a petroleum byproduct, presents high contents of impurities and, therefore, must be treated before being released into the environment. This clean-up process increases oil production costs. Microalgae are photosynthetic microorganisms that can produce biofuels and treat effluents. This work tested the viability of growing marine microalgae species in culture medium with PW. In the first experiment, the marine microalgae Nannochloropsis oculata was inoculated in culture media containing different concentrations (0, 50, and 100%) of PW. In the second experiment, the N. oculata adapted to grow in PW was re-inoculated into media with different proportions of this effluent (0, 50, and 100%) to evaluate a possible adaptation. N. oculata presented significant growth in diluted and pure PW. However, pre-adaptation did not result in higher biomass production. These results indicate that N. oculata can grow in this effluent and generate bio-products

" Microorganisms in exposed sandy beaches: importance, methodological aspects and state of art for the southern brazilian coast"

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