Abstract Morphological abnormalities in crustaceans have been registered and several are attributed to pollution and others anthropogenic activities. This study reports for the first time a temporal record of the amount and variety of morphological abnormalities in Acartia lilljeborgii, in an impacted neotropical estuary. The specimens were obtained from Suape port area, Northeast Brazil, between May 2009 and September 2010 using a 300 µm plankton net. Seven types of abnormalities were observed in one of the terminal spines of the prosome, but no temporal variation of abnormalities was found in our study. The deformities were registered in 85.7% of samples and they were found in up to 10% of the individuals (3.2 ± 2.9%). The proportion of females with abnormalities was greater than for males, in opposite to most previous reports. Due to its high distribution and abundance in part of the neotropical Atlantic coastal area, A. lilljeborgii has the potential to be used as a bioindicator of environmental conditions, although the reasons of the abnormality occurrences should be accurately investigated.

Abstract: This paper focused on the use of the biogeochemical LOICZ (Land Ocean Interactions in the Coastal Zone) to investigate the dynamics of DIN and DIP nutrients among three highly urbanized tropical estuaries (Barra das Jangadas (BJ), Recife (RE) and Timbó (TB)), located in the northeastern region of Brazil. The input data were obtained through in situ measurements (2007) and governmental agency databases (2001-2007). The balances of the non-conservative elements showed that the RE and TB systems alternated between sources and sinks during the observation periods (0.2-0.8 mmoles DIP m-2 d-1 and 0.1-10 mmoles DIN m-2 d-1). The metabolism rates in the systems indicated that the BJ system was autotrophic during the two observation periods (10-26 mmoles C m-2 d-1), while the RE system was heterotrophic (9-12 mmoles C m-2 d-1). The river discharge rates observed during the period 2001-2007 showed averages ranging from 9.4±3.8 to 18.4±7.7 m3s-1. Measurements of the trophic status in the RE system during 2007 characterized the system as eutrophic, thereby demonstrating high levels of chlorophyll-a and inorganic nutrients. The applications of balance sheets modeling proved to be very useful toward understanding the dynamics of estuarine systems dominated by large urban centers.

Resumo O presente estudo, realizado no arquipélago de Fernando de Noronha (4ºS/32ºW), teve como objetivo a avaliação da distribuição espacial e variações sazonais dos sedimentos e matéria orgânica sedimentar da plataforma insular norte de Fernando de Noronha ("Mar de Dentro"). Ao todo, 19 amostras de sedimentos foram coletadas entre dezembro de 2013, julho de 2014 e novembro de 2014. Os métodos analisados foram a granulometria, análise da fração arenosa, morfoscopia, teores de matéria orgânica total, carbonato de cálcio, carbono orgânico, nitrogênio total, fósforo sedimentar (orgânico, inorgânico e total), razões elementares (C/N e C/P) e razões isotópicas estáveis (δ13C e δ15N). Os resultados obtidos permitiram inferir que não há variação sazonal na distribuição sedimentar. Visto que os sedimentos da plataforma apresentam uma cobertura sedimentar carbonática (CaCO3≈ 88,3%), predominantemente de areias finas bem selecionadas, com baixos conteúdos orgânicos (MOT<2,87%, COT<4,29%, PT<0,44µmol/g) de origem marinha (δ13C≈ -22,17%PDB) em todos os períodos. Como conclusão, observou-se que ocorre uma mudança espacial, onde a parte SW é mais cascalhosa e a porção NE composta por areia fina, condicionada pela morfologia de fundo, fontes de sedimentos e ação das ondas. A geoquímica evidenciou algumas estações mais enriquecidas, com matéria orgânica (COT>3,0%; NT>0,4%) de origem mista (δ13C= -24,5 a -23,0%PDB), que foram associadas aos inputs antrópicos e aos processos bióticos e abióticos locais.

Abstract The present study was conducted in the Fernando de Noronha archipelago (4°S/32°W). The objective is the evaluation of the spatial distribution and seasonal variations in the sediments and sedimentary organic matter in the northern insular shelf of Fernando de Noronha ("Mar de Dentro"). Nineteen surface sediment samples were collected between December 2013, July 2014 and November 2014. The studied methods included analysis of the grain size, coarse fraction, morphoscopy, total organic matter content, calcium carbonate, organic carbon, total nitrogen, sedimentary phosphorus (organic, inorganic and total), elemental ratios (C/N, C/P) and stable isotopic ratios (δ13C-δ15N). The results allowed to infer that there is no seasonal variation in sediment distribution. Whereas, the shelf sediments present a calcareous sandy sedimentary cover (CaCO3≈ 88.3%), predominantly of well-sorted fine sands, with low organic matter content (TOM<2.87%, TOC<4.29%, TP<0.44µmol/g) and are mainly of marine origin (δ13C ≈ -22.17%PDB). As conclusions was observed a spatial variation, where the southwestern part is dominated by gravelly and northeast part is composed for fine sand, conditioned by the bottom morphology, sediments sources and, wave action. The geochemistry showed some stations with relative enrichment in organic matter content (TOC>3.0%; TN>0.4%) of mixed origin (δ13C= -24.5 to -23.0%PDB), which were related to anthropogenic impacts and the biotic and abiotic local processes.

Resumo Medidas simultâneas de produção (PB) e respiração bacterianas (RB) são indispensáveis para o entendimento da magnitude do ciclo do carbono nos níveis tróficos mais basais dos sistemas aquáticos, mas são ainda escassas nos trópicos. O presente estudo foi realizado em um estuário extremamente produtivo (Porto do Recife, 08°03'S; 34°52'W, NE do Brasil), onde a demanda bacteriana por carbono (DBC=PB+RB) e a eficiência de crescimento bacteriano (ECB=PB/DBC) foram determinadas para estimar o principal papel do bacterioplâncton: fonte ou captador de carbono orgânico. Apesar das altas taxas de PB (0.03-0.4 µMC h-1), as taxas extremas de RB (0.5-4.1 µMC h-1) levaram a baixa ECB (0.02-0.29), provavelmente devido às altas temperaturas (>25ºC) e forte limitação por nitrogênio inorgânico (razão N:P) A alta DBC e a baixa ECB indicam que o bacterioplâncton esteja atuando principalmente como remineralizador da matéria orgânica dissolvida, alimentando a produção primaria do sistema. Esses resultados contradizem o que seria esperado baseado em estudos conduzidos em estuários eutróficos temperados (onde geralmente ECB > 0.30) e apontam para a importância de se aumentar estimativas in situ de PB e RB em sistemas estuarinos tropicais a fim de se promover um melhor entendimento do papel desses sistemas na ciclagem de carbono global.

Abstract Simultaneous measurements of bacterioplankton production (BP) and respiration (BR) are imperative to understand the magnitude of carbon cycle in the lower trophic levels of the aquatic systems, but are still scarce in the tropics. The present study was performed in a highly productive estuary (Recife harbor, 08°03'S; 34°52'W, NE Brazil) where bacterial carbon demand (BCD=BP+BR) and growth efficiency (BGE=BP/BCD) were evaluated in order to estimate the major role of bacterioplankton: source or sink of organic carbon. In spite of the high BP rates (0.03-0.4 µMC h-1), the extremely high BR rates (0.5-4.1 µMC h-1) led to low BGE (0.02-0.29), possibly due to the high temperatures (>25ºC) and strong inorganic nitrogen limitation (N:P ratios) The high BCD and low BGE indicate the major role of bacterioplankton as dissolved organic matter remineralizers, fueling the primary productivity of the system. These findings contradict what could be expected from studies in highly productive temperate estuaries (where BGE is usually > 0.30) and highlight the importance of increasing in situ BP and BR estimates in tropical estuarine systems in order to better understand the role of these systems in global carbon cycling.

Nine surface water surveys were performed in the Formoso estuary (Brazil) during 2012-2013 mainly in summer and winter periods and during spring tide. Temporal variations of temperature, salinity, phosphate, silicate, total alkalinity, dissolved inorganic carbon, partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) and water-air CO2 fluxes were analyzed. Low rates of water-air CO2 fluxes (4.7 ± 8.0 mmol C m-2 d-1) were estimated despite the different climate conditions. pCO2 values ranged from 190 to 988 matm. These values are lower than those observed in other tropical estuaries. CO2 fluxes presented in this study contribute to the characterization of humid tropical estuarine systems, thus filling an important geographical information gap.

ABSTRACT This paper presents a hydrobiological time series at Barra de Jangadas estuary in Northeastern Brazil. Studies were carried out during seven consecutive days from a spring to a neap tide, in one fixed station during the dry (January) and rainy (July) seasons, in 2001. The meteorology (rainfall, evaporation, wind intensity), hydrology (temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen-DO and relative saturation, BOD5, nutrients (NH3+NH4, NO2-, NO3-, PO4-3, SiO2)), bathymetry, current intensity and, chlorophyll-α, were studied. The principal component analysis (PCA) explained 80% of the total variance showing an inverse relationship between nutrients and DO, salinity and pH. This analysis showed a positive correlation between low tide and nutrients, indicating anthropogenic pollution. The water temperature presented low seasonal variation, similar to chlorophyll-α, which presented values over 20 mg m-3, characterizing a eutrophic environment. Higher salt concentrations were registered during the dry season with no vertical stratification. DO varied significantly in both seasons. Total dissolved inorganic nitrogen and dissolved inorganic Phosphorus values in July were in general 2 to 5 times higher than values registered in January, respectively. The average N/P ratio varied from 35:1 in January to 8:1 in July, being both phosphate and nitrogen limiting for phytoplankton growth. Night/day differences showed that in January, ammonia decreased in higher proportion than the other nitrogen compounds indicating assimilation by the autotrophic organisms during the day.

RESUMEN Este trabajo muestra los resultados de series temporales en el estuario de Barra de Jangadas en el Noreste de Brasil. El estudio fue realizado durante siete días consecutivos desde una marea de sicigia a una de cuadratura, en una estación fija durante el periodo seco (enero) y lluvioso (julio), en 2001. Se analizaron parámetros meteorológicos (precipitación pluviométrica, evaporación, intensidad de los vientos), hidrológicos (temperatura, salinidad, pH, oxígeno disuelto-OD y tasa de saturación, DBO5, nutrientes (NH3+NH4, NO2-, NO3- , PO4-3, SiO2)), batimetría, intensidad de las corrientes y clorofila-α. El análisis de componentes principales (ACP), explicó el 80% de la varianza total, mostrando una relación inversa entre nutrientes y OD, salinidad y pH. Este análisis mostró una correlación positiva entre la bajamar y los nutrientes, indicativo de polución de origen antropogénica. La temperatura del agua varió poco estacionalmente, similar a la clorofila-α que caracterizó un ambiente eutrófico con valores superiores a 20 mg m-3. Mayores concentraciones de sal ocurrieron en el mes estival y sin mostrar estratificación vertical. El oxígeno disuelto varió significativamente entre ambos períodos. Los valores totales de nitrógeno y fósforo inorgánico disuelto en julio fueron en promedio 2 y 5 veces superiores a los de enero, respectivamente. Las medias de N:P variaron de 35:1 en enero a 8:1 en julio, siendo ambos, el fosfato y el nitrógeno limitantes para el crecimiento del fitoplancton. Diferencias día/noche evidenciaron que, en enero, el amonio decreció en mayor proporción que el resto de los compuestos nitrogenados, indicativo de la asimilación por los organismos autotróficos durante el día.