A survey of the eutrophication state of an urbanized tropical estuary, the case of the Great Vitória Estuarine System, Brazil.

Authors

  • Caroline F. Grilo Departamento de Oceanografia e Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil
  • Carina C. Dos Santos Departamento de Oceanografia e Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil
  • Catarina D. Boina Departamento de Oceanografia e Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil
  • Taciana K.O. Pinto Laboratório de Ecologia Bentônica, Pólo Penedo, Campus Arapiraca, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Penedo, Alagoas, Brazil.
  • Gilberto F. Barroso Departamento de Oceanografia e Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil
  • Renato R. Neto Departamento de Oceanografia e Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil
  • Eustáquio Vinicius Ribeiro de Castro
  • Maristela de Araújo Vicente Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (UFES) Centro de Ciências Exatas – (CCE) Departamento de Química Laboratório de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento de Metodologias para Análise de Petróleos (LabPetro)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14210/bjast.v20n1.5230

Abstract

Although, estuarine ecosystems have an ecological and economical importance as they have a high  biological productivity and occur within a unique and dynamic environment, they have been subjected to anthropogenic alterations. The Great Vitória Estuarine System (GVES), Espírito Santo State, Brazil, is not an exception, as urbanization is growing around it with a high quantity of sewage been added to the system. In order to evaluate the eutrophication state as well as the meiofauna response to it, several parameters in both sediments and in the water column were assessed. Orthophosphate, nitrite, nitrate, ammonia, chla and Fecal Coliform counts (FC) ranged from 0.2 to 3.2 μM, 0.25 to 1.14 μM, 1.83 to 0.19μM, 4.19 to 49.23 μM, 0.61 to 6.72 μg/L and 14 to 5.0x104 MPN/100 mL of water, respectively. These results showed that the GVES is under an eutrophication process and that the Passagem Channel experienced the largest impacts. Sewage plays an important role in this eutrophication process as indicated by PCA and correlations tests. The density of meiofauna showed similar values to those found in environments with similar levels of anthropogenic stress. This multi-approach evaluation revealed several aspects of the impacted estuary and could be used as an important tool to manage better the estuary.

Author Biography

Caroline F. Grilo, Departamento de Oceanografia e Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil

Oceanografia

Oceanografia Química

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Published

2016-09-06

Issue

Vol. 20 No. 1 (2016)

Section

Research Articles

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