Inferring the ecological quality status based on living benthic foraminiferal indices in transitional areas of the Guanabara bay (SE Brazil).

Using benthic foraminifera, we evaluate the ecological quality status (EcoQS) of transitional waters of the Guanabara Bay (SE Brazil) by applying the diversity-based index exp (H') and the sensitivity-based Foram-AMBI for the first time in South America. The Guanabara Bay was selected for this study as it is one of the largest transitional ecosystems in the State of Rio de Janeiro and has been severely impacted by anthropogenic activities. Concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) were assessed by sequential chemical extraction in three phases (i.

Trace metals enrichment and potential ecological risk in sediments of the Sepetiba Bay (Rio de Janeiro, SE Brazil).

The Sepetiba Bay (SB; SE Brazil) has been severely affected by growing of urbanization and industrial activity. This work aims to analyze the evolution of contamination by metals of sediments in SB. The results show a marked increasing trend in the concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs), which is consistent with the rapid populational and industrial growth, mostly since 1970 CE.

Metal concentrations in marine sediments of the Rio de Janeiro Coast (Brazil): A proposal to establish new acceptable levels of contamination.

This work aims to propose new standards to assess the degree of sediment contamination in saline and brackish environments, since the legislation currently used in Brazil is based on Canadian/American regulations, which do not comply with the conditions in Brazil. This study is based on geochemical analyses of 340 surface sediment samples collected in the Green Coast region (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), including Mangaratiba, Angra dos Reis and Ribeira coves and Ilha Grande and Sepetiba bays. This region is influenced by industrial, harbor, urban and tourist activities and was affected by a dam rupture episode that released contaminated material.

Disentangling natural vs. anthropogenic induced environmental variability during the Holocene: Marambaia Cove, SW sector of the Sepetiba Bay (SE Brazil).

Multiproxy approach based on textural, mineralogical, geochemical, and microfaunal analyses on a 176-cm-long core (SP8) has been applied to reconstruct the Holocene paleoenvironmental changes and disentangling natural vs. anthropogenic variability in Marambaia Cove of the Sepetiba Bay (SE Brazil). Sepetiba Bay became a lagoonal system due to the evolution and development of the Marambaia barrier island during the Holocene and the presence of an extensive river basin.

Ecological quality status of the NE sector of the Guanabara Bay (Brazil): A case of living benthic foraminiferal resilience.

The ecological quality status of the NE region of the Guanabara Bay (SE Brazil), one of the most important Brazilian embayments, is evaluated. For this purpose, sediment samples from in the inner of the Guanabara Bay (GB) were collected and analyzed (grain-size, mineralogy, geochemistry and living foraminifera). In this study, it is hypothesized that the potentially toxic elements (PTEs) concentrations, in solution and associated with organic matter (PTEs, potential nutrient source), may represent two potential pathways to impact benthic foraminifers.

Using lead isotopes and potentially toxic elements to trace pollutant sources in the northern region of Guanabara Bay, southeastern Brazil.

Guanabara Bay (southeastern Brazil) is located in the metropolitan region of the Rio de Janeiro State and is being affected by high levels of anthropization. This work analyzes not only the concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs), but also Pb stable isotopes to trace possible anthropogenic and natural sources of pollutants in the northern region of Guanabara Bay and the Suruí and Magé rivers. The Governador Island Channel, the regions to the north of Governador Island, north and west of Paquetá Island, and the Magé coast are most affected by PTEs.

Dissimilarity between living and dead benthic foraminiferal assemblages in the Aveiro Continental Shelf (Portugal).

This study compares living (LA) and dead (DA) benthic foraminiferal assemblages and identifies different factors that possibly cause differences in the distribution of both assemblages in the Aveiro Continental Shelf (Portugal). A total of 44 sediment samples was collected during summers of 1994 and 1995 along transects (east-west direction) and between 10 and 200 m water depth. Complex statistical analyses allow us to compare the abundance and composition of the LAs and DAs in function of depth, grain-size and total organic matter in all studied stations even in those where the numbers of individuals were rare in one or both assemblages.