A key to the identification of agglutinant and monothalamous foraminifera from Brazilian mangroves

Identification keys are essential tools to guarantee higher precision during the taxonomic work. However, such keys are rare for foraminifera and often encompass a restrict group of species from a given geographic region. Thus, the taxonomic identification process usually occurs by visual comparison and by verifying the description of morphological attributes, which requires the previous knowledge of the species before identification. The use of an identification key seeks to help in this crucial step and contribute to the best taxonomic precision, which errors may propagate in the subsequent analyses that are supported by estimations on species richness and abundances. Moreover, it constitutes an extra tool to assist in the training of new researchers. This paper brings an identification key for agglutinant and monothalamous foraminifera from Brazilian mangroves, considering 50 genera and 91 species

Foraminifera and thecamoebians from São Francisco River Delta, NE Brazil: environmental applications

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Reforest or perish: ecosystem services provided by riparian vegetation to improve water quality in an urban reservoir (São Paulo, Brazil)

We estimated the economic value of ecosystem services provided by the legally protected vegetation in riparian zones (RPA- riparian protected areas) of watercourses of the Guarapiranga Reservoir watershed (São Paulo, Brazil), considering two scenarios: (i) the value of ecosystem services provided if the RPA recovery complies with the applicable environmental legislation; and (ii) the year 2030, maintaining the urbanization rate and the loss of vegetation cover in the watershed observed between 1986 and 2010. Accomplishing the first scenario demands reforesting 5,917.5 ha of the RPA, which may reduce the annual expenses with chemicals for water treatment and save USD 181.774 per 1000 m3 of treated water. For 2030, we estimated a loss of 6,220 ha of vegetation cover in the RPA (1986 as the initial reference). The loss of ecosystem services provided by RPA would result in an accumulated increase of about USD 318 million in water treatment costs between 2011 and 2030.Estimamos o valor econômico dos serviços ecossistêmicos providos pela vegetação ripária protegida (RPA) das margens e afluentes da Represa Guarapiranga (São Paulo, Brasil), considerando dois cenários: (i) o valor dos serviços ecossistêmicos providos se a RPA for recuperada consoante a legislação ambiental aplicável; e (ii) o ano de 2030, mantido o ritmo de urbanização e perda de cobertura vegetal na bacia observados entre 1986 e 2010. O cumprimento do primeiro cenário demanda reflorestar 5917,5 ha da zona ripária, o que deve reduzir o gasto anual com reagentes e economizar USD 181,774 por 1000 m3de água tratada. Para 2030, estima-se a perda de 6.220 ha de cobertura vegetal na zona ripária (1986 como ano inicial de referência). A perda de serviços ecossistêmicos providos pela RPA resultaria em um aumento acumulado de USD 318 milhões em custos de tratamento de água bruta entre 2011 e 2030

Foraminifera from a mangrove transect at the Cardoso Island (Cananéia-Iguape System/SP), Brazil

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Achieving efficient water management at the Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil

In 2015, the water crisis affecting the São Paulo Metropolitan Region reached its peak. The Federal Government published an Ordinance stablishing good practices in the management and use of water and electricity. This work aimed to verify if the management actions performed at the Universidade Federal de São Paulo were effective for water consumption reduction. It was analyzed secondary data of the monthly water consumption at campuses and Rectory, from 2014 to 2016. Statistical analyses were carried out comparing the water consumption between the periods pre- and post-intervention, which occurred in February 2015. The results show that the intervention reduced per capita water consumption by 33% in 2015 and 35% in 2016, saving up more than 65,000 m3 of water. These management actions were effective, and helped the academic population to achieve a more efficiently use of water and financial resources, becoming more sustainable.In 2015, the water crisis affecting the São Paulo Metropolitan Region reached its peak. The Federal Government published an Ordinance establishing good practices in the management and use of water and electricity. This work aims to verify if management actions performed at the Federal University of São Paulo were effective for water consumption reduction. We assessed measures such as awareness campaigns, water reuse, water pressure regulator installation, identification of leaks, irrigation and washing of floors reduction. It was analyzed secondary data of the monthly water consumption at campuses and Rectory, from 2014 to 2016. Statistical analyses were carried out comparing the water consumption between the pre and post-intervention periods, which occurred in February 2015. The results show that the intervention reduced per capita water consumption by 33% in 2015 and 35% in 2016, saving up more than 65,000 m3 of water. These management actions proved to be effective, and the academic population achieved a more efficient use of water and financial resources, becoming more sustainable

ESTUDO DO ASSOREAMENTO DO RESERVATÓRIO TANQUE GRANDE, GUARULHOS (SP)

O reservatório Tanque Grande, implantado na bacia homônima de 7,75 km2 , localizada ao norte do município de Guarulhos (SP), é um dos reservatórios de abastecimento municipal, atendendo a uma população de cerca de 40.000 habitantes. Apesar de sua importância ambiental e estratégica, o reservatório tem sido afetado pelo assoreamento de seu contribuinte principal, o ribeirão Tanque Grande, reduzindo a sua capacidade de armazenamento. Com o objetivo de avaliar o assoreamento do reservatório, foram pesquisados depósitos de assoreamento e a produção específica de sedimentos da principal bacia contribuinte. Os depósitos, com cerca de 30.500 m3 (ou 45.800 t), são constituídos de material silto-argiloso, e ocupam cerca de 35% do volume do reservatório. Datação radiométrica pelo método do 210Pb confirmou o início da deposição com o início do enchimento do reservatório em cerca de 50 anos, indicando uma produção bruta de sedimentos de 916 t/ano e uma produção específica de 118 t/ km2 .ano. As estradas foram identificadas como sendo a principal área-fonte de sedimentos, bem como meio de sua transferência ao ribeirão Tanque Grande. Palavras-chave: assoreamento de reservatório, produção específica, volumetria de depósitos

ÍNDICE DE QUALIDADE DA ÁGUA (IQA) DO RESERVATÓRIO TANQUE GRANDE, GUARULHOS (SP): ANÁLISE SAZONAL E EFEITOS DO USO E OCUPAÇÃO DO SOLO

The Tanque Grande Reservoir is located at the Serra da Cantereira, Guarulhos (SP), and provides 3% of the municipal drinking water. In the last years, the urban zone has expanded towards the reservoir and has significantly altered the land use. In this work, water samples from three stations were monitored from August/2007 up to July/2008 in terms of the Water Quality Index (IQA) adopted by CETESB. The waters were usually classified in the band “Good” during the study period. Nevertheless, termotolerants coliforms, BOD and total phosphorus have exceeded the legal limits several times. Such occurrences may be related to the economical activities at the sub-watersheds in addition to changes in the land use of the surroundings of the reservoir. Keywords: water quality, monitoring, reservoir.O Reservatório Tanque Grande está localizado na Serra da Cantareira, em Guarulhos (SP), e é responsável por 3% do abastecimento público do município. Nos últimos anos, a mancha urbana tem avançado em sua direção e promovido alterações significativas no uso e ocupação do solo. Neste trabalho, três pontos de coleta de água foram analisados entre agosto de 2007 e julho de 2008 em termos do Índice de Qualidade da Água (IQA), utilizado pela CETESB. As águas enquadraram-se principalmente na faixa “Boa” durante o período de estudo. Entretanto, a concentração de coliformes termotolerantes, DBO5,20 e fósforo total ultrapassaram os limites legais diversas vezes. Tais ocorrências devem estar ligadas às atividades econômicas realizadas nas sub-bacias do reservatório, além de mudanças na forma de ocupação do solo do entorno. Palavras-chave: qualidade da água, monitoramento, reservatório

O sistema estuarino do Delta do São Francisco-SE: análise ambiental com base no estudo de foraminíferos e tecamebas

O sistema estuarino do delta do Rio São Francisco, em Sergipe, sob intensas alterações nos últimos anos, consiste de manguezais, canais fluviais e de marés, uma estreita laguna e uma ilha-barreira segmentada por um inlet. Foraminíferos e tecamebas deste sistema foram estudados a partir de um total de 104 amostras coletadas em março de 1996 e março de 2004. A composição e estrutura da microfauna dos dois anos foram comparadas entre si e com os respectivos dados abióticos. Foi revelado um mosaico ecofaciológico, no qual as ecofácies se diferenciaram entre os anos e moveram seus limites como resposta às mudanças hidrodinâmicas e hidrohalínicas processadas no sistema: a) ecofácies Centropyxis-Miliammina fusca (1996) e Centropyxis-Difflugia-Miliammina fusca (2004), tipicamente sob influência de águas oligohalinas fortemente afetadas por descargas fluviais; b) ecofácies Miliammina fusca- Arenoparrella mexicana (1996 e 2004), ocupando domínios oligohalinos com menor influência fluvial; c) ecofácies Ammotium-Arenoparrella mexicana-Trochammina-Miliammina fusca-Ammonia (1996) e Ammotium-Ammobaculites (2004), típicas de ambientes mesopolihalinos; e d) ecofácies Quinqueloculina-Ammonia-Elphidium, associada ao canal lagunar predominantemente poli-euhalino. O reconhecimento do padrão de distribuição microfaunística permitiu delinear o modelo hidrodinâmico operante no sistema, estratégico para o planejamento de ações de contingência em eventuais derramamentos de óleo na região. Tais ecofácies indicam que o sistema se tornou mais doce em 2004. Adicionalmente, representam modelos de estruturação e distribuição microfaunística em estuário não poluído, conforme evidenciam os dados geoquímicos levantados...The São Francisco river delta estuarine system, in Sergipe State, northeastern Brazil, under intense changes in the last years, consists of mangroves, fluvial and tidal channels, a narrow lagoon and a barrier island segmented by an inlet. Foraminifera and thecamoebians of this system were studied from a total of 104 samples collected in March 1996 and March 2004. The composition and the structure of communities of the two years were compared among themselves and with the respective abiotic data. An ecofaciological mosaic was revealed, in which ecofacies had changed along the years and had shifted its boundaries as a response to hydrodynamic and hydrohalinic changes processed at the system: a) Centropyxis-Miliammina fusca ecofacies (1996) and Centropyxis-Difflugia-Miliammina fusca ecofacies (2004), typically under influence of oligohaline waters strongly affected by fluvial discharges; b) Miliammina fusca-Arenoparrella mexicana ecofacies (1996 and 2004), occupying oligohaline domains under lower fluvial influence; c) Ammotium-Arenoparrella mexicana-Trochammina- Miliammina fusca-Ammonia ecofacies (1996) and Ammotium-Ammobaculites ecofacies (2004), typical from meso-polihaline environments; and d) Quinqueloculina-Ammonia- Elphidium ecofacies, associated to the poli-euhaline lagoonal channel. Recognizing microfaunistic distribution pattern allowed us to delineate the hydrodynamic model operating in the system, which is strategic to plan contingency actions in the case of eventual oil spills in the region. These ecofacies indicate that the system became fresher in 2004. Additionally, they represent structuring and distribution microfaunistic models in a non-polluted estuary, as evidenced by geochemical data; thus, they can be used as a reference to diagnose the impact level of a similar... (Complete abstract, click electronic address below)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Metals and no-metals in sediments from a non-polluted mangrove: Cardoso Island, Cananéia, SP

This work aims to assess the spatial distribution and the seasonal behavior of metals, no-metals, physical and chemical variables and provide a pre-impact geochemical scenario from non-polluted mangrove sediments of a transect at the Cardoso Island (Cananéia, São Paulo State, Brazil) extending 340 m long landward. Triplicate samples from eight stations were collected in December 2001 and June 2002. Conductivity, pH, temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen from the sediment interstitial water were checked in field using a Horiba U-10 probe. Metals and no-metals concentrations were obtained employing an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP OES) Vista-RL-Varian, radial vision. The sediments reflected two distinct intertidal segments: a “lower plain” (LP) and an “upper plain” (UP). The LP, which comprises the first 100 m landward from the bay, is a muddy environment with higher metal concentration and seasonally more stable than the UP. This latter, extending until the upper boundary of the intertidal zone, is a more oxygenated sandy flat with lower metal concentration. The distinct behavior of the geochemistry pattern observed along the transect in December and June is interpreted as associated with seasonal pluviometric fluctuations. The low metal concentrations denote low anthropogenic interference in the area, one of the most well preserved Brazilian coastal regions. It can be used as reference area to comparative studies involving similar ecosystems and, in the future, to check the environmental state of this mangrove flat.This work aims to assess the spatial distribution and the seasonal behavior of metals, no-metals, physical and chemical variables and provide a pre-impact geochemical scenario from non-polluted mangrove sediments of a transect at the Cardoso Island (Cananéia, São Paulo State, Brazil) extending 340 m long landward. Triplicate samples from eight stations were collected in December 2001 and June 2002. Conductivity, pH, temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen from the sediment interstitial water were checked in field using a Horiba U-10 probe. Metals and no-metals concentrations were obtained employing an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP OES) Vista-RL-Varian, radial vision. The sediments reflected two distinct intertidal segments: a “lower plain” (LP) and an “upper plain” (UP). The LP, which comprises the first 100 m landward from the bay, is a muddy environment with higher metal concentration and seasonally more stable than the UP. This latter, extending until the upper boundary of the intertidal zone, is a more oxygenated sandy flat with lower metal concentration. The distinct behavior of the geochemistry pattern observed along the transect in December and June is interpreted as associated with seasonal pluviometric fluctuations. The low metal concentrations denote low anthropogenic interference in the area, one of the most well preserved Brazilian coastal regions. It can be used as reference area to comparative studies involving similar ecosystems and, in the future, to check the environmental state of this mangrove flat

Oysters and mussels as equivalent sentinels of microplastics and natural particles in coastal environments

Filter-feeder organisms such as oyster and mussels are exposed to particles like microplastics (MPs). Although widely used to monitor MPs contamination, little is known about their performance as sentinels, which are biological monitors accumulating contaminants without significant adverse effects. This study comparatively evaluated the quantitative and qualitative accumulation of MPs by oysters (Crassostrea brasiliana) and mussels (Perna perna) along a gradient of contamination in a highly urbanized estuarine system of Brazil. In the most contaminated site, both species presented the worst status of nutrition and health, and also one of the highest MPs levels reported for molluscs to date (up to 44.1 particles·g−1). Despite some inter-specific differences, oysters and mussels were suitable and showed an equivalent performance as sentinels, reflecting the gradient condition demonstrated for other contaminants in the region. The similarity in MPs accumulation was also observed for qualitative aspects (polymer composition, sizes, shapes and colors). Particles were mostly <1000 μm, fibrous, colorless and composed by cellulose and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). Thus, despite small variations, the usage of C. brasiliana and P. perna is recommended and provides reliable information for environmental levels of microplastics.This research was supported by São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP Proc. N° 2020/08960-7). L.B. Moreira (2020/00068-8 and 2021/08471-9) and B.B. Moreno (304398/2021-7) were funded by FAPESP. I.B. Castro (PQ 304398/2021-7), was the recipient of research productivity fellowship from the Consenho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico-CNPq