ABSTRACT Mangrove ecosystems are sensitive to oil, as spills can impair developmental processes of mangrove vegetation. Since the 2010s, the Brazilian equatorial margin, more specifically the Pará-Maranhão Basin and the mouth of the Amazonas River, has been affected by oil runoff from urban activities and the increased risk from exploratory deepwater drilling for oil extraction. Dispersal of mangrove propagules occurs during the tidal cycles, when the presence of tensors in the water can affect germination. We analyzed the effects of diesel oil on the germination of propagules of the two most common mangrove species in the region, Laguncularia racemosa and Avicennia germinans, in six treatments of diesel oil in the water (0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2%, 3% and 4%) and a diesel-free control. The response variables were germinability (G%), mean germination time, mean germination speed and the germination speed index (GSI). G% and GSI in L. racemosa propagules differed significantly between the control and all treatments (G% and GSI < 10% in the 3% treatment). Propagules of A. germinans were more resistant, and the physiological variables did not differ significantly among treatments and control (G% > 90% in all treatments). Our results indicate that, at the germination stage, L. racemosa was more susceptible than A. germinans to contamination by automotive diesel oil.

RESUMO Os ecossistemas de manguezais são sensíveis ao óleo, pois os derramamentos podem prejudicar os processos de desenvolvimento da vegetação de mangue. Desde a década de 2010, a margem equatorial brasileira, mais especificamente a Bacia do Pará-Maranhão e a foz do Rio Amazonas, vem sendo afetada pelo vazamento de petróleo proveniente de atividades urbanas e pelo aumento do risco de perfurações exploratórias em águas profundas para extração de petróleo. A dispersão dos propágulos do manguezal ocorre durante os ciclos das marés, quando a presença de tensores na água pode afetar a germinação. Analisamos os efeitos do óleo diesel na germinação de propágulos de duas espécies de mangue mais comuns na região, Laguncularia racemosa e Avicennia germinans, em seis tratamentos de óleo diesel na água (0,5%, 1%, 1,5%, 2%, 3% e 4%) e um controle sem óleo diesel. As variáveis resposta foram germinabilidade (G%), tempo médio de germinação, velocidade média de germinação e índice de velocidade de germinação (IVG). G% e IVG dos propágulos de L. racemosa diferiram significativamente entre o controle e todos os tratamentos (G% e GSI < 10% no tratamento 3%). Os propágulos de A. germinans foram mais resistentes e as variáveis fisiológicas não diferiram significativamente entre tratamentos e controle (G% > 90% em todos os tratamentos). Nossos resultados indicam que, no estágio de germinação, L. racemosa foi mais suscetivel que A. germinans à contaminação por óleo diesel automotivo.

Abstract This study analyzed the influence of strong and moderate El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events on the seasonal and interannual variabilities of the sea surface temperature (SST) in the Western Equatorial Atlantic (WEA) Ocean and how the precipitation over the state of Maranhão, in Brazil, responds to the zonal teleconnection. To evaluate the ENSO magnitude and phase in the four Niño regions (1+2, 3, 3.4, and 4), the SODA 3.3.1 oceanic reanalysis database for the period from 1980 to 2015 was used. Our results showed that the La Niña phase with moderate magnitude was the most predominant among the 70 events analyzed, with Niño 3.4 presenting the highest number (20) of ENSO events (both positive and negative phases). At lag = 0, we found that significant negative correlations prevailed between the WEA SST anomalies and ENSO index, with the region of Niño 3.4 showing the most significant correlations (r = −0.25). The whole events of El Niño and La Niña were, respectively, accompanied by a cooling and a heating of up to −0.6°C or +0.8°C in the WEA Ocean. The WEA SST anomalies during El Niño and La Niña events have, respectively, reduced and increased the precipitation in Maranhão around ± 100 mm in a quarter. Strong El Niño events influence a greater precipitation deficit in Maranhão than moderate El Niño events. Moderate La Niña events have more pronounced influence on the precipitation over Maranhão than strong La Niña events do, especially on the negative anomalies. Our results showed that the central, northern, and eastern tip sectors of the state are the most affected by this zonal teleconnection. We concluded that ENSO’s significant influences on the WEA SST seasonal variability, added to the performance of the Atlantic Meridional Mode (Soares, 2019), determine the quality of the rainy season (March–April–May) in the state of Maranhão.

Resumo O objetivo desta pesquisa foi caracterizar a distribuição dos nutrientes dissolvidos em seis estações de amostragem no estuário do rio Anil (ERA) e caracterizar o sedimento de fundo. A área de estudo é influenciada por um clima tropical e regime macromarés semidiurnas. A amostragem das águas superficiais e sedimentos foi realizada no canal principal em seis estações de amostragem distribuídas ao longo do estuário no período chuvoso (09 de maio) e seco (05 de outubro) durante a primavera. Variáveis físicas foram coletadas com o auxílio de uma sonda multiparâmetro HANNA HI-8424 (temperatura da água, salinidade, pH, oxigênio dissolvido e turbidez) e sonda YSI CTD (condutividade, temperatura e profundidade). Uma draga van Veen foi usada para a coleta de sedimentos de fundo do canal principal. Os resultados sedimentológicos foram heterogêneos. O tamanho do grão variou de areia muito fina a média. Os nutrientes dissolvidos no ERA tinham fontes diferentes dependendo do período sazonal. Insumos continentais e fluviais, evidenciados pelos valores de salinidade, governaram a distribuição dos nutrientes no período chuvoso (janeiro a junho), enquanto as concentrações dos nutrientes foram relacionadas à reciclagem da matéria orgânica no estuário na estação seca (julho a dezembro). A presença de areia no canal principal indica que os sedimentos disponíveis no ERA estão expostos a uma hidrodinâmica intensa. A distribuição dos nutrientes e o tamanho do grão revelaram a ocorrência de diferentes fontes no estuário de acordo com o regime de chuvas e a intensa hidrodinâmica das correntes de maré (macromarés semidiurnas).

Abstract The objective of this research was to characterize the distribution of dissolved nutrients at six sampling stations in the estuary of the Anil River (ARE) and characterize the bottom sediment. The study area is influenced by a tropical climate and semidiurnal macrotidal regime. Sampling of the surface water and sediment was performed in the main channel at six sampling stations distributed along the estuary in the rainy period (May 9th) and dry period (October 5th) during the spring. Physical variables were collected with the aid of a HANNA HI-8424 multi-parameter probe (water temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity) and YSI CTD (conductivity, temperature, and depth) probe. A van Veen dredge was used for the collection of bottom sediment from the main channel. The sedimentological results were heterogeneous. Grain size ranged from very fine to medium sand. Dissolved nutrients in the ARE had different sources depending on the season. Continental and fluvial inputs, evidenced by salinity values, governed the distribution of nutrients in the rainy period (January to June), whereas nutrient concentrations were related to the recycling of organic material in the estuary in the dry season (July to December). The considerable presence of sand in the main channel indicates that the sediments available in ARE are exposed to intense hydrodynamics. The distribution of nutrients and the grain size revealed the occurrence of different sources in the estuary according to the rainfall regime and the intense hydrodynamics of tidal currents (semidiurnal macrotidal).