Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences Technology
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Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences Technology Research Article Open Access Use of Foraminifera in the Environmental Characterization of Two Coastal Regions of Brazil: Guanabara Bay and Baixada Santista Patrícia Pinheiro Beck Eichler1,2*, Guido De Gregório Grimaldi2,3,4, Evelyn da Rocha Mendes Pereira2,5, Christofer Paul Barker2, Helenice Vital1 1Graduate Program in Geodynamics and Geophysics Laboratory of Marine Geology and Geophysics and Environmental Monitoring, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (PPGG, GGEMMA, UFRN), University Campos, Lagoa Nova, 59072-970 Natal, RN, Brazil. 2Post-Graduation in Ecology at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (PPG / ECO). University Campus, Lagoa Nova, 59072-970, Natal, RN, Brazil. 3NGO, Oceânica - Research, Education and Conservation, Praça São Sebastião, s / n, annex 2, Pirangi do Norte, 59161-487, Parnamirim, RN, Brazil. 4Dynamic School, Rua Alves de Brito, nº 236, Centro, Florianópolis, SC, 88015-440, Brazil. ABSTRACT The use of foraminifera as indicators is due to the sensitivity in response to environmental variations and in this paper, we present this correlation in two Brazilian coastal areas: Guanabara Bay and Baixada Santista. In Guanabara Bay, the species found show four sub-environments. A: marine influence, B: environmentally threatened, C: pollution by industrial waste and D: contamination by domestic sewage. In the Baixada Santista two sub-environments are highlighted: Sub-environment 1 presents typical associations of marine environment indicating greater water renewal, and in sub-environment 2 predominant species with continental input where water renewal is less efficient. *Corresponding author Patrícia Pinheiro Beck Eichler, Graduate Program in Geodynamics and Geophysics Laboratory of Marine Geology and Geophysics and Environmental Monitoring, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (PPGG, GGEMMA, UFRN), University Campos, Lagoa Nova, 59072-970 Natal, RN, Brazil. E-mail: [email protected] Received: August 04, 2020; Accepted: August 10, 2020; Published: August 17, 2020 Keywords: Foraminifera, Sensitivity, Marine Sediment, Ph, a subdivision of the area in different ecological zones [1]. Acidification, Sub-Environment, Threatened, Renewal, Acute Based on the distribution of faunal associations, Zaninetti et al. conducted qualitative studies of the mangrove foraminifera from Introduction Guaratiba and Sepetiba Bay regions (RJ). Also noteworthy are Many studies currently developed in Brazilian coastal regions the works of Brönniman, Brönniman & Beurlen and Brönniman make it possible to know its hydrodynamic, chemical and & Dias-Brito, who emphasize the importance of foraminifera in biological characteristics. Despite the existence of numerous ecological studies of coastal regions [2-6]. More recently, Eichler, hydrological and geochemical parameters that can be used to Eichler et al., Pereira, Vilela et al., Kfouri et al., and Macedo et control environmental variations, the reproducibility of its analysis al. studying foraminiferal distribution in Guanabara Bay have and consequent interpretation is difficult to perform. Moreover, verified the potential of these organisms in environmental analysis analysis especially of the water column, provide no more than a and diagnosis studies [7-14]. Guanabara Bay is an unconfined snapshot of the environmental parameter. The value of this image environment due to the large penetration of marine waters within can be doubted if its extreme variability is taken into account, even the system. on a time scale equivalent to a tidal cycle. It is therefore appropriate to consider the use of a simple and inexpensive management In the Santos and São Vicente estuaries, water penetration is marker capable of synthesizing the general characteristics of the less efficient, creating mixohaline environments. The bays are environment, highlighting the environmental variations of short more influenced by the circulation processes of the adjacent periods. This marker needs to be sensitive enough to react quickly continental shelf, while the estuaries with elongated geometry to changes in the environment. In this sense, foraminifera react receive this influence less intensely. Despite the geomorphological very effectively. and oceanographic differences of the compared environments, it is possible through natural history and the distribution of The use of these organisms as environmental indicators in Brazilian foraminifera to make comparisons related to anthropogenic effects coastal areas began with Closs, who carried out quantitative work like warming and acidification of the ocean and of the marine in Lagoa dos Patos (RS) on foraminifera and the camoebians sediments in anoxic environment. The use of these organisms as and their relationships with different abiotic factors, elaborated biological indicators is an instrument that allows us to highlight J Eng App Sci Technol, 2020 Volume 2(3): 1-15 Citation: Patrícia Pinheiro Beck Eichler, et al (2020) Use of Foraminifera in the Environmental Characterization of Two Coastal Regions of Brazil: Guanabara Bay and Baixada Santista. Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences Technology. SRC/JEAST-117. seriously and potentially compromised locations, for diagnosing population of 7.3 million people live around the region and dump the environments, and is the objective of this work. into its organic and inorganic pollution into it is waters. More than 6000 industries, 2 commercial ports, 16 marine terminals, We intend to present the behavior of foraminifera associations two naval bases, a shipyard and a large number of ferries, fishing occurring in two Brazilian impacted and restrict coastal areas prone boats and yachts, in addition to Brazil’s largest oil refinery, Duque to water stagnation with low oxygenated waters of: Guanabara de Caxias Refinery (REDUC) are installed in this region. Bay (Rio de Janeiro) and Baixada Santista, mainly the Santos and São Vicente (São Paulo) estuaries. Considering that these Forty-five rivers flow into Guanabara Bay act as drainage channels. estuarine zones are subject to different oceanographic regimes and The largest rivers are born in the Serra do Mar and when they the intensity of anthropogenic effects, it is intended to determine reach Baixada Santista it starts to meander. Among the rivers that the foraminiferal species as a function of environmental changes flow into the region, Iguaçú River, Estrela River (northwest of and to define the species that indicate marine, continental, polluted the bay, near REDUC) and Guapimirim Rivers (Environmental and contaminated sub-environments of these two coastal regions. Preservation Area-APA), Guaraí River, Macacu River and Guaxindiba River. The deepest locations are in the navigation Materials and Methods channel. The current average depth of Guanabara Bay is 7.6 Study area description m, being 3 m in the bottom of the Bay and 16.9 m in the outer This article presents foraminiferal species from two Brazilian portion of the Bay. coastal areas, the Baixada Santista (area that includes the cities of Santos, Guarujá, São Vicente, Cubatão and Bertioga) and Tidal movements and wind condition the circulation and salinity of the Santos-São Vicente Estuarine System (São Paulo, SP) and the waters of the bay and river discharges. The less saline waters Guanabara Bay (an oceanic bay located in Southeast Brazil in occur near the mouths of the rivers and mangroves in the northern the state of Rio de Janeiro. On its western shore lies the cities part of the Bay, reaching salinity values lower than 8. In the middle of Rio de Janeiro and Duque de Caxias, and on its eastern shore and southern portion of the Bay, the salinity ranges between 30 the cities of Niterói and São Gonçalo); some geomorphological and 34. Average temperatures vary between 22°C and 26°C. and oceanographic considerations will be contextualized below. Until the year of 1500, the mangroves of Guanabara Bay occupied Santos-São Vicente Estuarine System a large surface of the bay, from the mouth of the Berquó River in The Santos-São Vicente Estuarine System represents one of the Botafogo to the Itaipu Lagoon in Niteroi. Currently, the mangroves most important Brazilian examples of environmental degradation are restricted to the Guapimirim Environmental Protection Area [15]. The Baixada Santista has approximately 1,200,000 (APA), and scattered portions along the coast of Duque de Caxias, inhabitants, a number that can double during the summer [16]. Governor’s Island, Canal da Maré and Fundão Island. In addition, the region has the country’s most important industrial complex, the Cubatão Complex, which in 1998 had about 1,100 The lagoons around the bay were about 39 at the time of discovery. industries including petrochemicals, steel and fertilizers, which They existed in Itaipu, Botafogo, Flamengo, Inhaúma Inlet, Saco discharged about 100,000 kg / month of various pollutants such de São Diogo, Saco de São Francisco, and Copacabana. Currently as metals and petrochemicals. The Port of Santos, located on there are only the lagoons of Itaipu and Piratininga, which are the estuary is the largest port in Brazil in terms of loading and greatly altered as natural ecosystems. The beaches of Guanabara unloading, and in 1995 handled 35 million tons of products, about Bay, also showing environmental degradation, number 118, and 50% of the country’s total. the most extensive are Copacabana, Piratininga and Itaipu. The samples collected in Guanabara Bay are represented