Myxomycetes from mangroves: species occurring in the state of Maranhão, northeastern Brazil

Abstract Mangrove swamps and forests cover over 137,000 km2 distributed latitudinally among subtropical zones, 7% of which are in Brazil, with a greater density in the countrys northernmost region. Considering that the community of Myxomycetes recorded for this environment is hardly known, three areas located in the state of Maranhão were investigated. Two field trips were conducted, one at the beginning of the rainy season and another during the dry season. In each area, two plots (125 m2) equidistant 100 m apart from each other were surveyed. In these areas, standing dead tree trunks and dead branches still attached to the mother plant that were above the tideline, were examined. On these same occasions, samples of the aerial litter and from the cortex of living trees (Rhizophora) were collected for the preparation of moist chambers cultures. Twenty-one specimens were obtained from field and moist chambers, belonging to 11 species, distributed in nine genera and five families. Seven species are new records from Maranhão. There was a predominance of r-strategist (73%) over K-strategist (27%) species. Cribraria violacea, Comatricha tenerrima, Echinostelium minutum, and Fuligo septica are new worldwide records from mangrove environments, and Oligonema flavidum is reported for the first time from Brazil.

Resumo Os manguezais ocupam mais de 137.000 km2, distribuídos latitudinalmente entre as zonas subtropicais e 7% encontra-se no Brasil, com maior densidade entre os estados do Pará e Maranhão, na região norte do país. Considerando que a comunidade de mixomicetos registrada para este ambiente é pouco conhecida, três áreas localizadas no estado do Maranhão foram investigadas. Duas excursões foram realizadas, uma no início da estação chuvosa e outra na estiagem. Em cada área, foram georeferenciadas e exploradas duas parcelas (125 m2) equidistantes 100 m uma da outra foram avaliadas. Nestas, foram explorados troncos mortos em pé e galhos mortos ainda presos à planta-mãe, acima da linha da maré. Nas mesmas ocasiões foram coletadas amostras de folhedo aéreo e córtex de árvores vivas (Rhizophora) para montagem de câmaras-úmidas. Foram obtidos 21 espécimes de campo e câmara-úmida, pertencentes a 11 espécies, distribuídas em nove gêneros e cinco famílias. Sete espécies são novos registros para o Maranhão. Predominaram espécies r-estrategistas (73%), e 27% K-estrategistas. Cribraria violacea, Comatricha tenerrima, Echinostelium minutum e Fuligo septica são novos registros para o ambiente de manguezal, e Oligonema flavidum é registrada pela primeira vez no Brasil.

Myxomycetes from mangroves: species occurring in the state of Maranhão, northeastern Brazil / Myxomycetes em manguezais: espécies ocorrentes no estado do Maranhão, nordeste do Brasil

Abstract Mangrove swamps and forests cover over 137,000 km2 distributed latitudinally among subtropical zones, 7% of which are in Brazil, with a greater density in the country’s northernmost region. Considering that the community of Myxomycetes recorded for this environment is hardly known, three areas located in the state of Maranhão were investigated. Two field trips were conducted, one at the beginning of the rainy season and another during the dry season. In each area, two plots (125 m2) equidistant 100 m apart from each other were surveyed. In these areas, standing dead tree trunks and dead branches still attached to the mother plant that were above the tideline, were examined. On these same occasions, samples of the aerial litter and from the cortex of living trees (Rhizophora) were collected for the preparation of moist chambers cultures. Twenty-one specimens were obtained from field and moist chambers, belonging to 11 species, distributed in nine genera and five families. Seven species are new records from Maranhão. There was a predominance of r-strategist (73%) over K-strategist (27%) species. Cribraria violacea, Comatricha tenerrima, Echinostelium minutum, and Fuligo septica are new worldwide records from mangrove environments, and Oligonema flavidum is reported for the first time from Brazil.

Resumo Os manguezais ocupam mais de 137.000 km2, distribuídos latitudinalmente entre as zonas subtropicais e 7% encontra-se no Brasil, com maior densidade entre os estados do Pará e Maranhão, na região norte do país. Considerando que a comunidade de mixomicetos registrada para este ambiente é pouco conhecida, três áreas localizadas no estado do Maranhão foram investigadas. Duas excursões foram realizadas, uma no início da estação chuvosa e outra na estiagem. Em cada área, foram georeferenciadas e exploradas duas parcelas (125 m2) equidistantes 100 m uma da outra foram avaliadas. Nestas, foram explorados troncos mortos em pé e galhos mortos ainda presos à planta-mãe, acima da linha da maré. Nas mesmas ocasiões foram coletadas amostras de folhedo aéreo e córtex de árvores vivas (Rhizophora) para montagem de câmaras-úmidas. Foram obtidos 21 espécimes de campo e câmara-úmida, pertencentes a 11 espécies, distribuídas em nove gêneros e cinco famílias. Sete espécies são novos registros para o Maranhão. Predominaram espécies r-estrategistas (73%), e 27% K-estrategistas. Cribraria violacea, Comatricha tenerrima, Echinostelium minutum e Fuligo septica são novos registros para o ambiente de manguezal, e Oligonema flavidum é registrada pela primeira vez no Brasil.

Avaliação da qualidade dos sedimentos da orla de Santos empregando-se ensaios de toxicidade e caracterização da estrutura da comunidade macrobentônica / Sediment quality assessment of Santos shoreline trough toxicity assays and characterization of macrobenthic community structure

O presente trabalho avaliou a qualidade do sedimento da orla de Santos por meio da realização de ensaios de toxicidade e caracterização da estrutura da comunidade de macrofauna bentônica em 7 pontos localizados nas desembocaduras dos canais de drenagem fluvial nas praias de Santos-SP. Foram realizadas duas campanhas (Verão-Fevereiro de 2008 e Inverno--Julho de 2008). Os ensaios de toxicidade com ouriço-do-mar Lytechinus variegatus foram realizados nos tratamentos elutriato e interface sedimento-água, conforme ABNT NBR 15350/2006. A macrofauna bentônica foi identificada em Mollusca, Crustacea e Polychaeta, e calculadas a densidade média (inds/0,026m²) e dominância de Polychaeta. Nas campanhas de Verão e Inverno, o tratamento interface sedimento-água apresentou toxicidade em todos os pontos, enquanto o tratamento elutriato somente apresentou toxicidade nos pontos 6 e 7. A dominância de polychaeta correlacionou-se negativamente (r = -0,56) com a granulometria e positivamente (r = 0,93) com a matéria orgânica da campanha de inverno, sendo algumas espécies bioindicadoras de ambientes poluídos e anóxicos.

This study evaluated the toxicity of the sediment on 7 points located in front of drainage canals river on the beaches of Santos-SP, together with the characterization of the community structure of benthic macrofauna. Were performed campaign summer (February 2008) and the campaign winter (July 2008). The toxicity tests with sea-urchin Lytechinus variegatus treatments were performed in elutriate and sediment-water interface, as ABNT NBR 15350/2006. The benthic macrofauna wasidentified as Mollusca, Crustacea and Polychaeta, and it was calculated mean density (ind/0,026m²) and Polychaeta dominance. In campaigns for summer and winter treatment sediment-water interface showed toxicity at all points, while the treatment elutriate showed toxicity at points 6 and 7. Polychaeta dominance was negatively correlated (r = -0,56) with granulometry and positively correlated with organic matter for the winter campaign, being some of these species indicators of polluted and anoxic environments.

Laboratory scale bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbon – polluted mangrove swamps in the Niger Delta using cow dung

Aims: The aim of the study was to carry-out laboratory–scale bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbon polluted mangrove swamps using cow dung as source of limiting of nutrients. Methodology and Results: In a 70 days study, the cow dung treated polluted soil had its total culturable hydrocarbon utilising bacterial/fungi, heterotrophic bacterial and fungal counts increased progressively from the 28th day to the 70th day. The control set- up showed very slight increment in its microbial growth. Alkaline pH was observed in all the treatments and control during the study period. The conductivity values of cow dung decreased progressively. In the cow dung treatment option, the nitrate concentration decreased from 35.44 mg/kg to 14.28 mg/kg. Phosphate concentration of cow dung option decreased from 25.41 mg/kg to 9.31mg/kg. The control had the nitrate decreased from 8.42 mg/kg to 6.98 mg/kg. Percentage total organic carbon (% TOC) in the cow dung option decreased from 4.06% to 0.96%. Control experiment had the % TOC decreased from 3.32% to 2.99%. Studies using Gas chromatographic analyses showed that 0%, 49.88%, and 69.85% of Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) were lost at zero hour, 28th day and 70th day respectively in the cow dung option. In addition, in the control experimental set-up, 0%, 7.14% and 13.42% of TPH were lost at zero hour, 28th day and 70th day respectively. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: The use of organic nutrient sources such as cow dung has shown good promises in bioremediation of crude oil impacted Mangrove Swamps in the Niger Delta. The next line of action is to transfer the technology to pilot scale study.

Contribuição ao Estudo da Planície Litorânea do Estado do Paraná

The present paper contains an approach to systematize the study of the State of Paraná coastal plains, in the southern part of Brazil. It contains in general some geographical and geological data, documented by maps, sketches and photographs. In the initial stage the coastal plain represents a marine ingression, caused by faulting. This ingression penetrated the valleys of a not yet determinated geological landscape. Ended the movement of deeping by faulting begins the epirogenic ascension and building of the barriers and beach ridges. An intensive sedimentation caused the lagoons and bays obstruction. This work refers mainly to t33 he sedimentary formations and the coastal plains is classified in the following way for the study in consideration to the morphology and origin: Marine sedimentation - shore, barrier and beach ridge; Intermediary sedimentation - mangrove swamps, mud and sand banks and mangrovito; Continental sedimentation - dunes and terrestrial alluvion. There are also presented some data about the rocky coast and vegetation.