Index-based and compliance assessment of water quality for a Brazilian subtropical reservoir / Avaliação da qualidade da água baseada em índices e da conformidade ao enquadramento de um reservatório subtropical brasileiro

ABSTRACT The Passaúna catchment is part of the Upper Iguaçu watershed and includes a water supply reservoir for over 500,000 inhabitants of Curitiba metropolitan region. The aim of this study was to establish the state of reservoir water quality, and whether it has undergone any recent medium- and long-term variations. A physical-chemical-biological assessment was undertaken using nine indicators and three indexes: Water Quality Index (WQI), Trophic State Index (TSI) and Shannon-Weaver Index (H') for macroinvertebrate diversity. Compliance with the prescribed quality standards for the water body was verified using frequency curves. Two WQI calculation approaches were contrasted to test for conditions of partial data unavailability. Temporal trends in key parameters were assessed using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. WQI results from 1991-2014 indicated that the water quality may be classified as good and improved in the final decade of such period, while most TSI results were in the oligotrophic/mesotrophic range, but with no significant temporal trend. The biodiversity result of H'=1.6 obtained with data acquired in 2014 indicated a moderately degraded ecosystem that is typically associated with flow regulation and a degree of water quality impairment. Such a multi-indicator integrated physical-chemical-biological monitoring approach comprised a robust framework for assessments of medium-long term aquatic health.

RESUMO A bacia do rio Passaúna situa-se na parte superior da Bacia do Rio Iguaçu e inclui um reservatório de águas de abastecimento público para mais de 500 mil habitantes da região metropolitana de Curitiba. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a qualidade das águas desse reservatório e identificar eventuais ocorrências de tendência temporal de variação. O estudo de características físicas, químicas e biológicas do corpo de água envolveu dados históricos e recém-adquiridos de nove indicadores e três índices: Índice de Qualidade das Águas (WQI), Índice de Estado Trófico (TSI) e Índice de Diversidade de Shannon-Weaver (H') para diversidade de macroinvertebrados. A conformidade aos padrões de qualidade prescritos foi analisada com base em curvas de permanência de qualidade de água. Duas formas de cálculo do WQI foram contrastadas para averiguar o efeito de disponibilidade incompleta de dados. Tendências temporais em parâmetros-chave foram buscadas com o teste de correlação de Spearman. Os resultados do WQI, entre 1991 e 2014, indicaram que a qualidade da água do reservatório pode ser classificada como "boa", apresentando tendência estatisticamente significativa de melhoria na última década de tal período. Os resultados obtidos para o TSI ficaram na faixa oligotrófico/mesotrófico e sem tendência significativa de variação temporal. O resultado de biodiversidade do H'=1,6, obtido com dados adquiridos em 2014, indicou um ecossistema aquático moderadamente degradado, tipicamente associado com o represamento de cursos de água e com um certo grau de comprometimento da qualidade da água. A abordagem integradora multi-indicadores de aspectos físicos, químicos e biológicos adotada neste estudo conferiu robustez à avaliação realizada da qualidade de água do corpo de água no médio-longo prazo.

Eficiência de um sistema piloto utilizando áreas alagadas no pós-tratamento do lixiviado gerado no Aterro Sanitário de Curitiba, Curitiba, Paraná, Brasil / Efficiency of a pilot system using wetlands in the post-treatment of the leachate generated in the Curitiba Landfill, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil

RESUMO No Aterro Sanitário de Curitiba ocorre o pós-tratamento do lixiviado em áreas alagadas naturais. Para avaliar o papel das macrófitas nesse pós-tratamento, foi desenvolvido um sistema piloto. Dessa forma, o objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a eficiência do sistema piloto utilizado para o pós-tratamento do lixiviado desse aterro sanitário. O sistema foi construído com duas caixas d'água: na primeira foi colocada a macrófita Echinochloa polystachya e na segunda, Eichhornia crassipes. O sistema operou em batelada e foi realizado um ciclo de sete dias. Para o monitoramento do sistema foram efetuadas coletas e análises do lixiviado, do substrato e das macrófitas. A eficiência do sistema no pós-tratamento do lixiviado foi de 72% para demanda bioquímica de oxigênio, 30% para demanda química de oxigênio, 76% para fósforo total e fósforo inorgânico, 38% para nitrato, 33% para nitrito, 58% para nitrogênio amonical, 44% para nitrogênio orgânico e 13% para zinco.

ABSTRACT In the Curitiba Landfill the post-treatment of the leachate occurs in natural wetlands. In order to evaluate the role of macrophytes in this post-treatment, it was developed a pilot system. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot system in the post-treatment of the leachate in this landfill. The system was built with two water tanks: the macrophyte Echinochloa polystachya was placed in the first one; and the Eichhornia crassipes was placed in the second one. The system operated in batch in a seven-day cycle. For monitoring the system, samples were collected, and analyses of the leachate, the substrate, and the macrophytes were performed. The efficiency of the system in the post-treatment of the leachate was 72% for biochemical oxygen demand, 30% for chemical oxygen demand, 76% for total phosphorus and inorganic phosphorus, 38% for nitrate, 33% for nitrite, 58% for ammoniacal nitrogen, 44% for organic nitrogen, and 13% for zinc.

Leaf anatomy and gas exchange of ornamental sunflower in response to silicon application / Anatomia foliar e trocas gasosas de girassol ornamental em função da aplicação de silício no substrato

Silicon applied to substrate for greenhouse cultivation of ornamental pot plants can improve the yield and quality of the ornamental product; however, the possible anatomical and physiological changes caused by Si have to be assessed. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate gas exchange rates and leaf anatomy of ornamental sunflower 'Sunbright' grown on a substrate amended with Si. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse, and the treatments consisted of sunflower plants cultivated in pots containing 600 g substrate fertilized with Si at rates of 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1.00 g kg-1. The treatments were arranged in randomized complete block design and four replications. Samples from the middle region of leaf blades in the sixth pair from the apex were collected and analyzed morphometrically. Epidermal trichomes were analyzed using diaphanization and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The following traits were determined: leaf blade thickness, palisade and spongy parenchyma thickness, mesophyll thickness, and abaxial and adaxial epidermis thickness. Net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance and transpiration rates were determined in the fifth leaf at the beginning of the flowering stage by an infrared gas analyzer. The data were subjected to ANOVA and regression analyses. The results indicate that the ornamental sunflower 'Sunbright' accumulates Si in leaf trichomes, and that leaf thickness is not affected by Si application to the substrate; however, transpiration rates decrease while net photosynthesis rate and stomatal conductance increase in response to Si application.

A utilização de silício no cultivo de algumas plantas ornamentais em vasos e em casa de vegetação tem proporcionado aumento na produção e qualidade do produto final. No entanto, possíveis alterações fisiológicas e anatômicas causadas por este elemento precisam ser avaliadas. Objetivou-se com este estudo avaliar trocas gasosas e anatomia foliar de girassol ornamental cv. Sunbright em resposta à aplicação de doses de Si no substrato. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação e os tratamentos consistiram em cinco doses de Si: 0; 0,25; 0,50; 0,75 e 1,00 g kg-1, em DBC, com quatro repetições. Para o estudo anatômico, amostras da região mediana do limbo do sexto par de folhas a partir do ápice foram coletadas e análises morfométricas realizadas. Tricomas da epiderme foram analisados usando-se as técnicas de diafanização e microscopia eletrônica de varredura acoplada a raios-X. Determinou-se a espessura da lâmina foliar, dos parênquimas paliçádico e lacunoso, do mesofilo e das faces abaxial e adaxial da epiderme. A taxa fotossintética líquida, condutância estomática e taxa de transpiração foram determinadas com o auxílio de um analisador de gás no infravermelho. Os dados foram submetidos à ANOVA e análise de regressão. O girassol ornamental cv. Sunbright acumula Si nos tricomas foliares. A espessura dos tecidos foliares do girassol não foi influenciada pela aplicação do Si ao substrato. Entretanto, houve redução da taxa de transpiração e aumento da taxa de fotossíntese líquida e da condutância estomática em resposta às doses de Si.

A Comparison of Cell Disruption Procedures for the Recovery of Intracellular Carotenoids from Sporobolomyces Ruberrimus H110.

Carotenoids are intracellular pigments produced by microorganisms, including some species of yeasts, in the stationary phase of growth by the secondary metabolic pathways. In the present study, different methods of Sporobolomyces ruberrimus H110 yeast cell lysis were evaluated with the objective of optimizing the recovery of intracellular pigments. Three extraction methods were used: vortex (glass beads and quartz stones), planetary mill (glass beads and quartz stones) and dimethyl sulfoxide. For each one of the lysis agents studied, factorial designs were developed considering as independent variables the agitation speed and lysis agent concentration. A central composite planning was defined considering as independent variables the lysis agent concentration and agitation speed, analyzing as response the estimated total number of extracted carotenoids. From the methods studied, a better extraction of total carotenoid (1.74 mg.g-1 of cells and of 1.57 mg.g-1 of cells) using the planetary mill method with 135 mg of glass beads or irregular quartz stones, with an agitation speed of 200 rpm. As to the cell lysis, the analysis indicated that the mechanical methods studied showed to be efficient in regards to cell laceration.

Management of the environmental restoration of degraded areas

The aim of this work was to study ecotechnology for the management of degraded areas originally covered by the Atlantic Rainforest and located at the coordinates 25º31'50''S, 9º09'30''W. The area included 12 islands, each consisting of six jute bags with 20 kg of substrate (cattle manure and soil transposed from forest fragments). In six of these bags, native plants and seeds were also included. Six additional islands were selected randomly in the vicinity as the control. The process of evaluation was monitored through the chemical and granulometric soil analysis and surveys of survival, biometrics, floristic and phytosociological vegetation. An improvement in soil properties was observed where the model was implemented, which could be attributed to the substrate and re-vegetation. In the floristic and phytosociological studies, out of the 118 identified species, 65 were observed in the first floristic inventory and 86 in the second floristic inventory with similarities between the subfields of 27.69% and 11.36%, respectively. The influence of the substrate seed bank in the implemented islands was also observed. Increased diversity was only significant in the subareas with the model. It was concluded that this technology was effective in accelerating the succession and promoting the beginning of the restoration.

The bioindicative potential evaluation of Tabebuia alba (Cham.) Sandwith, Bignoniaceae, in urban atmospheric pollution

This study aimed to evaluate the existence of leaf anatomic characteristics in Tabebuia alba changed by air pollutants, which could be used as tool for a bioindication program. The quantification of mutagenic events on pollen grains also were measured. For this, median leaves and pre-anthesis flowers were collected from the adult plants from three places of Curitiba and one place in Araucaria, all nearby to the air monitoring stations. The comparison of the four study sites showed a reduction in leaf area, an increasing of stomatal density, subepidermic layer, epidermis in both faces and the amount of micronucleus. Also, there was reduction of chlorophyllian parenchymas at the site where there was the higher average for the ozone level. It was concluded that these modifications might be a consequence of the effect of troposferic pollution on T. alba plants. However, further studies with this species would be necessary to confirm its potential for bioindication.

Avaliação dos métodos rápidos de análise microbiológica na indústria de alimentos / Evaluation of rapid methods for microbiological analysis in food industry

Com a finalidade de avaliar a eficiência dos métodos rápidos para a detecção de Coliformes totais e E. coli, foi testada uma metodologia utilizando a técnica do número mais provável NMP para Coliformes totais e E. coli e duas metodologias para Salmonella sp. Foram submetidas à pesquisa de Coliformes 12 amostras de vários alimentos e para a pesquisa de Salmonella sp. 6 amostras de produtos derivados da soja e uma amostra de peito de frango. Os resultados demonstraram não haver diferença para a detecção de E. coli sendo assim, uma metodologia alternativa para informar os resultados de E.coli em apenas 48 horas. Os resultados de Coliformes totais, porém,no método rápido apresentaram-se mais elevados que na metodologia tradicional. Para a pesquisa de Salmonella apenas uma técnica apresentou resultados compatíveis com a metodologia tradicional, permitindo sugeri-la como método de escolha para a pesquisa de Salmonella sp, em alimentos.