Superficial distribution of aromatic compounds and geomicrobiology of sediments from Suruí Mangrove, Guanabara Bay, RJ, Brazil

Abstract

The distribution of selected aromatic compounds and microbiology were assessed in superficial sediments from Suruí Mangrove, Guanabara Bay. Samples were collected at 23 stations, and particle size, organic matter, aromatic compounds, microbiology activity, biopolymers, and topography were determined. The concentration of aromatic compounds was distributed in patches over the entire mangrove, and their highest total concentration was determinated in the mangrove's central area. Particle size differed from most mangroves in that Suruí Mangrove has chernies on the edges and in front of the mangrove, and sand across the whole surface, which hampers the relationship between particle size and hydrocarbons. An average 10% p/p of organic matter was obtained, and biopolymers presented high concentrations, especially in the central and back areas of the mangrove. The biopolymers were distributed in high concentrations. The presence of fine sediments is an important factor in hydrocarbon accumulation. With high concentration of organic matter and biopolymers, and the topography with chernies and roots protecting the mangrove, calmer areas are created with the deposition of material transported by wave action. Compared to global distributions, concentrations of aromatic compounds in Suruí Mangrove may be classified from moderate to high, showing that the studied area is highly impacted.

Assessment of the trophic state of a hypersaline-carbonatic environment: Vermelha Lagoon (Brazil)

“…High BPC values and large local variations are expected in environments with high primary biological productivity [ 67 ]. The highest BPC content recorded at Vermelha Lagoon are equivalent to aquatic environments with large sewage discharges, such as Guanabara Bay [ 68 ], [ 69 ], [ 70 ], [ 18 ], [ 21 ], [ 20 ], the Paraiba do Sul River Delta [ 71 ] and Itaipu Lagoon [ 19 ].…”

“…Several ratios among biopolymers have been proven useful proxies for assessing the origin of sedimentary organic matter and have been widely used in marine, riverine and some lagoonal environments in temperate and Mediterranean regions [ 11 ], [ 12 ], [ 13 ], [ 14 ], [ 15 ], [ 16 ], [ 17 ]. These methodologies were recently used to evaluate the trophic state of sediments in Brazilian aquatic intertropical ecosystems [ 18 ], [ 19 ] and have significantly contributed to the identification of the most polluted regions, as well as for assessing the effects of organic matter on the microbiota [ 11 ], [ 20 ], [ 21 ]. However, these methods have not yet been applied in semi-arid lagoons with carbonate sedimentation.…”

Microbial Diversity and Cyanobacterial Production in Dziani Dzaha Crater Lake, a Unique Tropical Thalassohaline Environment

“…Hierarchical clustering using water composition values [30, 31] was performed using PAST 2.13 freeware [32] and Ward’s minimal variance method.…”

Response of mangrove propagules to the presence of oil and hydrocarbon degrading bacteria during an experimental oil spill

“…We collected sediment samples from Suruí Mangrove; an environment impacted by MDO (Fontana et al, 2010). These samples were stored for 2 h in sealed polythene bags, conditioned on ice, and taken to the laboratory for analysis.…”