Climate and landscape changes enhance the global spread of a bloom-forming dinoflagellate related to fish kills and water quality deterioration

Global inland water biodiversity is under mounting stress facing future scenarios of climate change, biological invasions, pollution, diversion, damming of rivers, and increase of water abstractions. Apart from having isolated effects, all these stressors threats act synergistically and thus pose additional emerging threats to biodiversity and ecosystem services. Native to Northern Europe, the nuisance and potential toxic dinoflagellate Ceratium furcoides (Levander) Langhans 1925 is a silent invader that blooms in freshwater systems; it has one of the most rapid spread rates globally. We propose a framework to determine the worldwide most vulnerable areas for the invasion by C. furcoides shortly (2041-2060) by combining future scenarios of climate change (a proxy for invasiveness) derived from ecological niche models with future dam construction data (a proxy for invasibility). The nine models applied in four future scenarios of greenhouse gas emission from Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 showed a general increase in areas suitable for the invasion success of C. furcoides. High susceptibility overlapped with areas densely occupied by large and medium-size dams and future dam construction projects. Considering that C. furcoides can reproduce from a single cell, produces resistant stages, and has several strategies to cope with local environmental constraints, early detection protocols, and mitigation actions are urgently needed to avoid biodiversity declines related to this invader.Peer reviewe

Mercury distribution in different tissues and trophic levels of fish from a tropical reservoir, Brazil

Concentrations of organic (OrgHg) and inorganic mercury (InorgHg) were assessed in different fish tissues (liver, muscle, kidney, gut and gonads) and trophic levels collected in an impacted tropical reservoir in southeastern Brazil. Organic mercury concentrations in muscle were remarkably higher in the carnivorous species Hoplias malabaricus and Oligosarcus hepsetus. The ratios of OrgHg in relation to total mercury (%OrgHg) in muscle also varied according to the species trophic level: 93% for carnivores, 84% for omnivores, 73% for algivores/planktivores and 58% for detritivores. The %OrgHg in the gut tissue of carnivores (78%) was much higher than that found in omnivores (30%), possibly reflecting a process of trophic biomagnification in the reservoir. On the other hand, the InorgHg concentrations in muscle decreased with the trophic level increase, suggesting that this form of mercury did not biomagnify through the food web. Gonads contained the least total mercury, and approximately all of this mercury was represented by the organic form (83 to 98%). The kidney and the liver of all fish species contained less than 50% OrgHg. We suggest that the low %OrgHg in the liver is related to different capacities or strategies of OrgHg detoxification by the fish. © 2009 Sociedade Brasileira de Ictiologia

Current knowledge of environmental exposure in children during the sensitive developmental periods

Objective: This study aims to identify the scientific evidence on the risks and effects of exposure to environmental contaminants in children during sensitive developmental periods. Data source: The search was performed in the Bireme database, using the terms: children's health, environmental exposure, health vulnerability, toxicity pathways and developmental disabilities in the LILACS, MEDLINE and SciELO systems. Data synthesis: Children differ from adults in their unique physiological and behavioral characteristics and the potential exposure to risks caused by several threats in the environment. Exposure to toxic agents is analyzed through toxicokinetic processes in the several systems and organs during the sensitive phases of child development. The caused effects are reflected in the increased prevalence of congenital malformations, diarrhea, asthma, cancer, endocrine and neurological disorders, among others, with negative impacts throughout adult life. Conclusion: To identify the causes and understand the mechanisms involved in the genesis of these diseases is a challenge for science, as there is still a lack of knowledge on children's susceptibility to many environmental contaminants. Prevention policies and more research on child environmental health, improving the recording and surveillance of environmental risks to children's health, should be an ongoing priority in the public health field

Current knowledge of environmental exposure in children during the sensitive developmental periods

Abstract: Objective: This study aims to identify the scientific evidence on the risks and effects of exposure to environmental contaminants in children during sensitive developmental periods. Data source: The search was performed in the Bireme database, using the terms: children's health, environmental exposure, health vulnerability, toxicity pathways and developmental disabilities in the LILACS, MEDLINE and SciELO systems. Data synthesis: Children differ from adults in their unique physiological and behavioral characteristics and the potential exposure to risks caused by several threats in the environment. Exposure to toxic agents is analyzed through toxicokinetic processes in the several systems and organs during the sensitive phases of child development. The caused effects are reflected in the increased prevalence of congenital malformations, diarrhea, asthma, cancer, endocrine and neurological disorders, among others, with negative impacts throughout adult life. Conclusion: To identify the causes and understand the mechanisms involved in the genesis of these diseases is a challenge for science, as there is still a lack of knowledge on children's susceptibility to many environmental contaminants. Prevention policies and more research on child environmental health, improving the recording and surveillance of environmental risks to children's health, should be an ongoing priority in the public health field

Influence of net-cage fish farming on zooplankton biomass in the Itá reservoir, SC, Brazil Influência da piscicultura em tanque-rede sobre a biomassa do zooplâncton no reservatório de Itá, SC, Brasil

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to verify the influence of net-cage fish farming on zooplankton biomass in the Itá reservoir (Uruguay River, Brazil). METHODS: Samples were collected monthly from October/2009 to May/2010 at the surface and at the bottom in two sampling stations, the net-cage area and in a control area using a Van Dorn bottle and a plankton net (68 µm). RESULTS: The Cladocera and Copepoda biomass was estimated by dry weight using a micro-analytical balance, and the Rotifera biomass by Biovolume. Total zooplankton biomass varied between 6.47 and 131.56 mgDW.m-3 Calanoida copepod presented the highest value of biomass (127.56 mgDW.m-3) and rotifers, despite having an important contribution to total density, showed a maximum biomass of 2.01 mgDW.m-3. Zooplankton biomass at the net-cage area surface was higher when compared with the control area during the months of October to January. However, the zooplankton biomass was similar at the bottom of the two areas throughout the studied period. From February until May, zooplankton biomass decreased in both sampling stations, a fact probably associated with the flushing of the reservoir, followed by an increase in water transparency and a decrease in chlorophyll-a concentration in the following months (February to May). CONCLUSIONS: The influence of fish farming on zooplankton biomass was detected at the surface of the net-cage area only from October to January. From February to May this influence was not found, probably by the influence of the flushing of the reservoir.<br>OBJETIVO: Este estudo teve o objetivo de verificar a influencia da piscicultura em tanque-rede sobre a biomassa da comunidade zooplanctônica no reservatório de Itá (Rio Uruguai, Brasil). METODOLOGIA: Foram realizadas coletas mensais de outubro/2009 a maio/2010 na superfície e no fundo em dois pontos amostrais, ponto tanque-rede e em uma área controle, com o auxílio da garrafa Van Dorn e rede de plâncton (68 µm). RESULTADOS: A biomassa dos rotíferos foi obtida através do cálculo do biovolume e a dos cladóceros e copépodos por peso seco, a partir da pesagem em balança micro-analítica. Os valores de biomassa total zooplanctônica variaram entre 6,47 e 131,56 mgDW.m-3. Os copépodos Calanoida apresentaram os maiores valores de biomassa (127,56 mgDW.m-3) e os rotíferos, apesar de importantes em termos de densidade, apresentaram uma biomassa máxima de 2,01 mgDW.m-3, contribuindo pouco para biomassa total. A área de cultivo apresentou maiores valores de biomassa zooplanctônica na superfície quando comparada com a área controle, durante os meses de outubro a janeiro. Entretanto, a biomassa zooplanctônica na água do fundo foi semelhante nas duas áreas durante todo o período de estudo. De fevereiro a maio, os valores de biomassa reduziram-se nos dois pontos amostrais, fato esse associado ao incremento do fluxo da vazão efluente do reservatório, através da abertura das comportas no mês de janeiro, o que foi acompanhada pelo aumento da transparência da água e decréscimo nos valores de clorofila-a nos meses seguintes (fevereiro a maio). CONCLUSÃO: A influência da piscicultura na biomassa da comunidade zooplanctônica foi detectada na superfície da área dos tanques-rede, no período de outubro a janeiro, entretanto, nos meses seguintes, de fevereiro a maio, não foi observado o efeito, possivelmente explicado pela perda da camada superficial do reservatório

Diet of the clupeid fish Platanichthys platana (Regan, 1917) in two different Brazilian coastal lagoons

Platanichthys platana is considered a constant species in both Cabiúnas and Imboassica lagoons that are characterised by different marine and freshwater inputs, and anthropogenic influences. The stomach content analysis of P. platana captured between July 1991 and July 1993 revealed filamentous algae, detritus, eggs of benthic invertebrates, larvae of chironomids and bivalves as the main food sources in Imboassica lagoon. Small-sized cladocerans, copepods and shrimp larvae were the prevailing items in Cabiúnas lagoon. Seasonal food variations were noted for the fishes of Imboassica lagoon. Diet differences were highlighted within specimens lesser than 40 mm standard length in Imboassica lagoon, and were related to the increase of marine influence due to artificial sand barrier openings. Dissimilarities among size classes in relation to invertebrate larvae consumption were observed in fishes from Cabiúnas lagoon

Estudo da dieta natural de peixes no reservatório de Ribeirão das Lajes, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil - DOI: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v27i4.1270

The aim of this study was to know the natural diet of species from Ribeirão das Lajes reservoir, from the stomach content analysis of fishes captured in two different seasons by using gillnets. Characterizing the natural diet, the methods of frequency of occurrence and abundance percentage of items from the diet were applied. Eleven species were registered, representing approximately 62% of the listed species for that reservoir, being Trachelyopterus striatulus and Metynnis maculates the most abundant. These two species, as well as Geophagus brasiliensis and Tilapia rendalli showed an omnivorous microphageous habit and also showed a great diversity in choosing food items, due to the consumption of items from the water column and also from the forest-water ecotone. Astyanax bimaculatus also presented an omnivorous habit, although with a tendency to insectivore while Oligosarcus hepsetus and Cichla monoculus showed a piscivorous habitO presente estudo objetivou conhecer a dieta natural de espécies residentes no reservatório de Ribeirão das Lajes (RJ), sendo realizada a análise do conteúdo estomacal de peixes capturados por meio de redes de espera, em duas épocas distintas. Na caracterização da dieta alimentar, foram calculados a freqüência de ocorrência de itens e o percentual de abundância de cada item na dieta. Foram registradas 11 espécies, representando cerca de 62% delas inventariadas para o reservatório, sendo as espécies encontradas com maior abundância Trachelyopterus striatulus e Metynnis maculatus. Essas duas espécies, bem como Geophagus brasiliensis e Tilapia rendalli, apresentaram hábito onívoro micrófago, sendo observada uma plasticidade alimentar principalmente devido à utilização de itens alimentares tanto originários da coluna d’água como do ecótono água-floresta. Astyanax bimaculatus apresentou hábito também onívoro, mas com tendência à insetivoria, enquanto Oligosarcus hepsetus e Cichla monoculus mostraram um hábito alimentar piscívor