Revista Ambiente & Água - An Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Science

13-23

Authors: Claíde Lorena Reis de Souza; Vanessa Bandeira da Costa; Simone de Fátima Pinheiro Pereira; Debora Cristina Melo da Silva; Valerie Sarpedonti

This study investigated the impact of anthropogenic activities in Belém City, Brazilian Amazon, by comparing water quality and fish larvae communities in two creeks that flow into the Guamá River. One creek crossed a poor and crowded suburb of Belém while the other was located in an island section that was declared an Environmental Protected Area in 1997. Two sampling points were set in each creek and monitored over eight hours once every three months over a one–year period. Strong variations of water quality were registered all year long and at all tides in Belém’s mainland creek, along with, among other things, a very high number of thermotolerant coliforms. Few larvae were found. The water was considered unsuitable for human use and activities as well as for aquatic life. The island creek presented early signs of bacterial and nutrient contaminations during the rainy season, probably partly related to non-point source pollution. In both creeks, larvae communities were almost exclusively composed of clupeiforms. All larval development stages were encountered. Higher densities and proportion of newly hatched larvae were registered during the dry season and associated with the presence of nitrate. The results of the study show that adequate sewage and drainage systems must be developed in the city and suggest that it would be useful to conduct an integrated ambient monitoring study in Combú Creek.

35-49

Authors: Jose Luis Ibarra-Montoya; Francisco Martín Huerta-Martínez

The interaction of various elements of socioeconomic, political and cultural nature, influenced by landscape and climatic factors, are important aspects of fire regimes. Space models that integrate these elements and factors help to more accurately predict potential fire areas. The Protected Area Wildlife La Primavera (APFFLP) is the main regulator of the climate of the Guadalajara metropolitan area, and forest fires frequently occur there. These represent a challenge for science and technology to develop methodologies that help predict forest fires. This study involves the construction of a spatial model that helps identify potential areas of fire in that area. The model integrates meteorological variables, landscape, fuels, anthropogenic and / or causality, and historical occurrences of fires during the period 1998-2012. According to the model, the variables that determine the areas of greatest fire potential are: slope (landscape), relative humidity (weather), vegetation type (causality) and land use (anthropogenic). The model predicts a large area with high potential for fire, located in the central and northwest APFFLP polygon; also, there are small, isolated potential zones in the eastern part of the polygon. The information developed by this study could support the generation of local risk maps, thereby optimizing the actions of fire management and restoration of the La Primavera forest.

60-74

Authors: Flaviane de Fátima Cândida de Souza; Celso Bandeira de Melo Ribeiro;Carlos Ruberto Fragoso Júnior; Marcelo Henrique Otenio

Water temperature changes and the dynamics of thermal stratification of an aquatic ecosystem directly influence physical, chemical and biological processes. Due to disturbances in these environments, such as climate change and multiple water uses, studies which employ modeling are important to support emergency decision-making and future planning. In this context, this study evaluated the thermal behavior of the water supply reservoir of São Pedro, located in the city of Juiz de Fora, MG, using mathematical modeling with the IPH-ECO model to evaluate the surface temperature of water, based on meteorological and hydrological data representing the forcing and boundary conditions, respectively. The modeling of the thermal system showed a significant correlation between predicted and observed values, characterizing the reservoir as a homogeneous environment. The simulations indicated that the tributary contribution determines the pattern of spatio-temporal distribution of water temperature in the reservoir, limiting or regulating the variability of its temperature.

85-97

Authors: Jucimara Andreza Rigotti; Cesar Augusto Pompêo; Alessandra Larissa D’Oliveira Fonseca

Fluvial systems are endowed with features such as heterogeneity and variability which allow the classification of a fluvial landscape. Rapid assessment protocols have been useful tools for the characterization of integrity, especially in river segment scale. The objective of this paper was to apply three protocols in order to evaluate their performance in comparison with each other and with the results obtained by analytical methods of water quality assessment and an evaluation of the aquatic macro-invertebrate community. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (nMDS) was applied using water quality parameters, trophic state index (IET), and abundance data of benthic macro-invertebrates. In addition, the study determined correlations between the index and the protocols’ final scores. The protocols’ feasibility for habitat characterization was confirmed, since the results were compatible for all procedures applied. Despite some particularities, each protocol offered a particular description of general aspects that affect river integrity, indicating which habitat conditions best support aquatic biodiversity in urban rivers.

110-124

Authors: Ivanete Teresinha Mallmann; Vinícius Leão da Silva; Jairo Lizandro Schmitt

Riparian forests are essential to the maintenance of biodiversity and foster the development of ferns that are indicators of environmental quality. However, these forests have been degraded due mainly to high population density, pattern of urban settlement and agricultural expansion in rural areas. This study evaluated the environmental quality of riparian vegetation of the Cadeia River in Southern Brazil, using phytosociological parameters of the understory’s fern community and a Rapid Assessment Protocol of Habitat Quality (RAPQH). One hundred and twenty plots of 25 m2 were equally distributed among three fragments (FI, FII, FIII). All species of herbaceous ferns were inventoried in each sample unit. We calculated parameters of density, frequency, relative dominance and importance value (IV) of species for the analysis of community structure. The lowest species richness was recorded at FIII (seven species). The floristic composition is more heterogeneous and richness is higher in FI, where the parcels had greater plant cover and RAPQH scores. The RAPQH score decreased with increasing degree of urbanization in the surrounding matrix and FI and FII were classified as “natural,” while FIII was classified as “impacted.” Considering the four species with the highest IV in the three fragments (totaling 69.11% of IV in the FI, 78.36% and 91.06% in FII and FIII respectively), it can be affirmed that the fern community structure is degraded with increasing anthropization.

135-144

Authors: Leticia Cristina de Souza; Mari Lucia Campos; Gabriela Reichert;Carolina Natel de Moura

The determination of trace elements is necessary in order to monitor their entry into the soil system and to remediate contaminated areas. The purpose of this study was to determine the natural content of arsenic (As) in soils of three regions of Santa Catarina State (SC): the Southern Plateau, the Metropolitan area and the Southern Coast. Arsenic content was obtained after digestion in a microwave oven, following the USEPA 3051 A protocol and quantification was made by atomic absorption spectrometry with electrothermal atomization. The results were analyzed by the Scott-Knott test at a 5% significance level. Soil attributes that best correlated with arsenic content were clay, organic carbon, cation exchange capacity and Al and Fe oxides. The arsenic levels are related to the source material and the slope of regional soils.

156-161

Authors: Rodrigo Moraes Loyo; Constança Simões Barbosa

In Pernambuco, schistosomiasis is endemic in the countryside and large numbers of foci are being detected in urban areas. This paper evaluated the risk of schistosomiasis transmission in aquatic ecosystem based on biomarkers and molecular biology techniques. At the Apipucos reservoir (neighborhood of metropolitan Recife), schistosomiasis intermediate host snails were collected in contaminated sites with fecal coliforms. The Biomphalaria were examined by molecular methods to detect DNA of S. mansoni. The fecal coliforms were identified with a chromogenic reaction. The collection stations were georeferenced and the results analyzed with the ArcGIS software package. Out of 77 B. straminea collected, 56 were negative and 21 positive for S. mansoni. Fecal coliforms were detected in all collection stations. The Kernel density map showed the potential risk of schistosomiasis transmission in upscale neighborhood of Recife city.

176-187

Authors: Multivariate Analysis for selection of monitoring parameters in water reservoir of Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais

The need to control land use and monitor water quality for public supply requires the evaluation of many parameters, which are often difficult to analyze and interpret due to cost and the large volume of data. In this context, this work selected the most relevant parameters for monitoring the Dr. João Penido Dam, the main supply source of Juiz de Fora, MG. The evaluation was conducted based upon a series of thirteen parameters of the catchment provided monthly by the Municipal Sanitation Company between 1998 and 2012. The data were statistically processed using Factor Analysis and Principal Component Analysis and parameters with highest variances were extracted. Component 1 (FV1) reflected the influence of dissolved solids associated with runoff processes in the watershed and with the erosion of margins. FV2, as well as FV3, are strongly associated to the potential discharge of sewage in the watershed area. Using multivariate analysis, we removed five parameters that showed no variance: hardness, consumed oxygen, pH, alkalinity and manganese.

198-210

Authors: Sandro Morais Pimenta; Geraldo Resende Boaventura; Alfredo Palau Peña; Tiago Godoi Ribeiro

Methods other than physical-chemical and geochemical analyses can be used to assess water quality in surface drainage. This study used intolerant, tolerant and resistant benthic species as bioindicators of changes in water quality of two streams, taking in account particle size of sediments and volatile solids. Eight points were sampled in the stream Bandeirinha and four points in the stream Josefa Gomes in January and September 2013 in the municipality of Formosa-GO. The two streams were chosen in order to study two different environments. The study used the diversity indexes of Shannon (H), Equitability (E) and Bray-Curtis Similarity and the grouping analysis method UPGMA (Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean). The results of particle size and volatile solids study of Bandeirinha stream located in rural areas showed bioindicator species intolerant of changes in water quality. The stream Josefa Gomes, completely inserted in an urban environment, showed alteration identified by tolerant and resistant species. The results demonstrate differences in water quality in the rural and urban environments and the relationship of bioindicators with sediments. The study aids the interpretation of changes in the water quality of the two drainages areas. Analysis of water quality based upon benthic biological indicators associated with physical-chemical and geochemical analyses of water and sediments provide a better interpretation of the results.

225-238

Authors: Ana Feital Gjorup; Elaine Cristina Cardoso Fidalgo; Rachel Bardy Prado; Azeneth Eufrasino Schuler

The approach of ecosystem services has shown promise for the evaluation of interactions between ecosystems and society, integrating environmental and socioeconomic concepts which require interdisciplinary knowledge. However, its usefulness in decision making is limited due to information gaps. This study was therefore developed in order to contribute to the application of principles of ecosystem services in the decision-making for water resources management. It aims to identify procedures and methodologies used for decision-making in order to select priority areas to be included in projects or compensation programs for environmental services. To do so, we searched technical and scientific literature describing methods and experiences used to select priority areas. Key steps in the process of selecting priority areas were identified; then a survey was conducted of the procedures adopted for each key step considering the literature selected; and, finally, the information collected was analyzed and classified. Considering the study’s sample, we noted that the selection of priority areas was based on the direct use of predetermined criteria. The use of indicators and spatial analyses are practices still scarcely employed. We must highlight, however, that most of the analyzed documents did not aim to describe the process of selecting priority areas in detail, which may have resulted in some omissions. Although these conditions may limit the analysis in this study, the results presented here allow us to identify the main objectives, actions and criteria used to select priority areas for programs or compensation projects for environmental services.