Tar balls as a floating substrate for long-distance species dispersal.

Recent arrivals of tar balls have been observed in several tropical beaches associated with the oceanic circulation that flows to the Brazilian continental shelf. Between August and September 2022, tar balls were collected in the northeastern coast of Brazil and analyzed. Nearly 90 % of the oils were colonized by barnacles, polychaetes, decapods, and algae. Most rafting organisms were Lepas anserifera with capitulum measuring 0.32 to 22.21 mm. Based on the growth rate of barnacles and the speed of the SEC it was estimated that tar balls were floating since July and August 2022 and traveled a maximum of 1938.82 km. The organisms and tar balls' possible origin is in the international waters, near to the meso-Atlantic ridge, known for oil tanker traffic. The tar balls, in addition to the oil-related impacts, can act as a vector of long-distance species dispersion, and it needs to raise an alert, considering the possible ecological impacts.

Review of Admirandus Belogurov & Belogurova, 1979 (Nematoda, Oncholaimidae) with the description of a new species and the first record of the genus from Brazil.

The present study provides a description of a new Admirandus species from northeastern Brazil, together with an updated species identification key. Admirandus capibaribei sp. n. can be distinguished from all the other Admirandus species by its physical dimensions (body length, a, stoma and spicule ratios), sexual dimorphism of the tail, the absence of pre-cloacal supplements, and the presence of a row of denticles at the base of the right ventrosublateral tooth. While Admirandus has been reported from temperate, subtropical and tropical environments around the world, this is the first record of the genus from Brazil. Further research on Admirandus and other Adoncholaiminae species, which include the integration of morphological and molecular approaches, will be important to provide a better understanding of the taxonomy of this group, as well as on its demanian system.

Contrasting tourism regimes due to the COVID-19 lockdown reveal varied genomic toxicity in a tropical beach in the Southern Atlantic.

Tourist occupancy in coastal environments threatens the stability of various coastal ecosystems and is thus a cause for concern for the environmental sector. As such, it is important to perform environmental monitoring in a way that analyses and quantifies the environmental impact of coastal ecosystems. Porto de Galinhas beach (Pernambuco - Brazil) has one of the highest visitation rates in Brazil and suffered from restrictions to human mobility due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These restrictions allowed for the evaluation of the impact of tourism on Porto de Galinhas beach and the effects that the lack of tourist occupancy had during the lockdown period of 2020. Blood samples from the species Abudefduf saxatilis were collected monthly over a period of 1 year and during the lockdown quarter, in order to perform micronucleus (MN) and nuclear morphological alteration (NMA) tests, and data were analyzed at a seasonal level (dry/rainy period) using a comet assay. For the control group, A. saxatilis samples were collected in an environmentally protected area on Tamandaré beach (68 km from Porto de Galinhas). The MN and NMA tests showed a greater frequency of genomic damage when there was greater tourist flow. In relation to rain seasonality, the comet assay showed a greater incidence of genomic damage during the dry period, where there was a higher rate of tourist migration, compared to the rainy period. The lockdown period presented a lower incidence of genotoxic damage compared to the period without restrictions on human mobility and the control. The results show that tourism has been causing a significant environmental impact on Porto de Galinhas beach. The data collected during the lockdown period demonstrated how the absence of human movement results in changes that are favorable to environmental recuperation, as illustrated by the lower frequency of genomic damage.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in fishery resources affected by the 2019 oil spill in Brazil: Short-term environmental health and seafood safety.

We present herein a short-term impact on marketed fisheries and human health safety in the first three months following the 2019 oil spill in Brazil. Total PAHs in the edible tissues of 34 finfish and shellfish species ranged from 8.71 to 418 ng g-1 wet weight, with robust evidence supporting crude oil contamination. A prevalence of low molecular weight PAHs was observed, mainly naphthalenes. A decreasing trend in mean total PAHs from mollusks (134 ng g-1) to crustaceans (73.9 ng g-1) and to fishes (45.3 ng g-1) was noted. The spilled oil caused immediate negative impacts on the local seafood market, despite less than 3% of samples exhibited concentrations above levels of concern, revealing a low probability for human health risks. These findings demonstrate that governments must be prepared to provide not only science-based quick responses but also effective science communication for society upon environmental disasters.

Trophic ecology and resource partitioning of Haemulidae species along the Northeastern Brazilian continental shelf

In the Southeastern Tropical Atlantic, Haemulidae family play an important role both environmentally, acting as a link between lower and higher trophic levels, and socioeconomically, being widely caught by artisanal fleets. This study aimed to describe the trophic ecology of three grunt species (Haemulon aurolineatum, H. plumierii and H. squamipinna) considering spatial, temporal and ontogenetic aspects, integrating stomach content and stable isotopes analysis. Sampling occurred in 26 stations along the Northeast of Brazil (04°­ 09°S), in August 2015 and April 2017, using bottom trawling net. There was greater feeding intensity at night, at latitudes below 08°S and in the inner continental shelf. Higher values of δ¹5N were reported for H. aurolineatum and H. plumierii collected near coastline. The isotopic niche breadth indicated that H. aurolineatum has a narrower diet thanH. plumierii. For the three species, the trophic level ranged between three and four. Considering stomach content and isotopic niche, diet was similar comparing species. This trophic ecology pattern reveals a likewise use of the habitat, which may be essential for identifying priority areas for conservation on an ecosystem basis, especially in rich reef zones that are subject to several increasing pressures, such as those in Northeast Brazil.

No Atlântico Tropical Sudeste, peixes da família Haemulidae desempenham um papel importante tanto ambientalmente, atuando como um elo entre os níveis tróficos mais baixos e mais altos, quanto socioeconomicamente, sendo amplamente capturados pelas frotas artesanais. Este estudo teve como objetivo descrever a ecologia trófica de três espécies de roncadores (Haemulon aurolineatum, H. plumierii e H. squamipinna) considerando aspectos espaciais, temporais e ontogenéticos integrando conteúdo estomacal e análise de isótopos estáveis. A amostragem ocorreu em 26 estações ao longo do Nordeste do Brasil (04°­ 09°S), em agosto de 2015 e abril de 2017, utilizando rede de arrasto de fundo. Houve maior intensidade de alimentação à noite, em latitudes abaixo de 08°S e na plataforma continental interna. Valores mais altos de δ¹5N foram reportados para H. aurolineatum e H. plumierii coletados perto da linha costeira. A amplitude do nicho isotópico indicou que o H. aurolineatum tem uma dieta mais estreita do que o H. plumierii. Para as três espécies, o nível trófico variou entre três e quatro. Considerando o conteúdo estomacal e o nicho isotópico, a dieta foi semelhante comparando as espécies. Este padrão de ecologia trófica mostra um uso semelhante do habitat, que pode ser essencial para identificar áreas prioritárias para conservação em uma base ecossistêmica, especialmente em zonas ricas de recifes que estão sob várias pressões crescentes, como as do Nordeste do Brasil.

Effects of contact with crude oil and its ingestion by the symbiotic polychaete Branchiosyllis living in sponges (Cinachyrella sp.) following the 2019 oil spill on the tropical coast of Brazil.

In August 2019, thousands of tons of crude oil from an unidentified source began washing up on the Brazilian coast, causing the most severe environmental disaster that has ever impacted the South Atlantic Ocean. Paiva beach, which has some of the best-preserved tropical coral reefs on the Brazilian coast, was one of the coastal environments most severely affected by this oil. We report on the impact of the disaster on the local population of the symbiotic polychaete Branchiosyllis spp. associated with the sponge Cinachyrella sp. Following the oil spill sponges were found with oil stains on their surface and in their channels, and oil droplets were identified among the grains of the sediment accumulated within these channels. During this same period, the polychaetes in sponges had oil droplets on the surface of the body or in their pharynxes. Solubility tests using mineral oil and Raman spectra indicated that these oil droplets, found in both the sponges and the polychaetes, had similar chemical characteristics to those of the crude oil that washed up on the beach. Following the disaster, the abundance of Branchiosyllis declined sharply, although there was no significant shift in the mean size of individuals. By December 2019, the density of polychaetes was significantly lower than in the preceding months (107.9 ± 28.31 ind.10 mL-1 of sponge in August 2019 vs. 18.62 ± 35.48 ind.10 mL-1 of sponge in December 2019). This abrupt reduction in abundance with no change in the mean size of the individuals indicates that mortality affected all size (age) classes similarly, which is typical of anthropogenic impacts rather than natural mortality. It is thus clear that the contamination of polychaetes with crude oil increased mortality, causing a significant reduction in the Branchiosyllis populations of the coral reefs of Paiva beach following the 2019 oil spill.

Record of the non-indigenous species Sternaspis aff. nana Zhadan, Tzetlin & Salazar-Vallejo, 2017 (Annelida: Sternaspidae) in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean

The introduction of non-indigenous marine species in new habitats is generally associated with ships arriving at ports, driven by species transported in ballast water and sediment and biofouling communities on ship hulls, drifting object and underwater surfaces in dock areas. The present paper reports the record of the specie Sternaspis aff. nana in the Atlantic Ocean, discussing its possible conservation status and method of arrival to Brazil. Sediments samples were collected in the external area (11 m depth) of the Suape Harbor (Brazil) in February 2018. Two individuals of Sternaspis aff. nana were recorded, representing the first record of this species in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean. The way S. aff. nana arrived in Brazilian waters cannot be easily determined, the short-lived lecithotrophic larvae of sternaspids suggest that the specimens found in Suape have arrived in ballast sediment. An increase in trade between Brazil and Asian countries since the 2000s has led to that more ships coming from China having arrived in Brazilian harbors. The arrival of S. aff. nana, originally described in the South China Sea, in the Suape harbor area may have resulted from this intense movement of ships between China and Brazil.(AU)

Oil spill + COVID-19: A disastrous year for Brazilian seagrass conservation.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been the greatest global public health threat of the 21st century. Additionally, it has been challenging for the Brazilian shores that were recently (2019/2020) affected by the most extensive oil spill in the tropical oceans. Monitoring programs and studies about the economic, social and ecological consequences of the oil disaster were being carried out when the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic was declared, which has heavily affected Brazil. For Brazilian seagrasses conservation, this scenario is especially challenging. An estimated area of +325 km2 seagrass meadows was affected by the 2019 oil spill. However, this area is undoubtedly underestimated since seagrasses have not yet been adequately mapped along the 9000 km-long Brazilian coast. In addition to scientific budget cuts, the flexibilization of public and environmental policies in recent years and absence of systematic field surveys due to COVID-19 has increased the underestimation of affected seagrass areas and ecosystem service losses due to the oil spill. Efforts to understand and solve the oil spill crisis were forced to stop (or slow down) due to COVID-19 and the economic crisis, leaving ecosystems and society without answers or conditions to identify the source(s) that was/were responsible for this spill, mitigate the damage to poor communities, promote adequate impact assessment or restoration plans, or properly monitor the environment. Our results highlight that pandemic and large-scale environmental disasters may have had a synergistic effect on the economy (e.g., artisanal fisheries and tourism), public health and ecology, mainly due to government inaction, social inequality and poorly studied tropical ecosystems. The results of this study also demonstrate the need to analyze the short- and long-term impacts of the combined effects (oil spill + COVID-19) on the recovery of the economy and coastal ecosystems.

Record of the non-indigenous species Sternaspis aff. nana Zhadan, Tzetlin & Salazar-Vallejo, 2017 (Annelida: Sternaspidae) in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean

The introduction of non-indigenous marine species in new habitats is generally associated with ships arriving at ports, driven by species transported in ballast water and sediment and biofouling communities on ship hulls, drifting object and underwater surfaces in dock areas. The present paper reports the record of the specie Sternaspis aff. nana in the Atlantic Ocean, discussing its possible conservation status and method of arrival to Brazil. Sediments samples were collected in the external area (11 m depth) of the Suape Harbor (Brazil) in February 2018. Two individuals of Sternaspis aff. nana were recorded, representing the first record of this species in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean. The way S. aff. nana arrived in Brazilian waters cannot be easily determined, the short-lived lecithotrophic larvae of sternaspids suggest that the specimens found in Suape have arrived in ballast sediment. An increase in trade between Brazil and Asian countries since the 2000s has led to that more ships coming from China having arrived in Brazilian harbors. The arrival of S. aff. nana, originally described in the South China Sea, in the Suape harbor area may have resulted from this intense movement of ships between China and Brazil.

Record of the non-indigenous species Sternaspis aff. nana Zhadan, Tzetlin & Salazar-Vallejo, 2017 (Annelida: Sternaspidae) in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean

Abstract The introduction of non-indigenous marine species in new habitats is generally associated with ships arriving at ports, driven by species transported in ballast water and sediment and biofouling communities on ship hulls, drifting object and underwater surfaces in dock areas. The present paper reports the record of the specie Sternaspis aff. nana in the Atlantic Ocean, discussing its possible conservation status and method of arrival to Brazil. Sediments samples were collected in the external area (11 m depth) of the Suape Harbor (Brazil) in February 2018. Two individuals of Sternaspis aff. nana were recorded, representing the first record of this species in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean. The way S. aff. nana arrived in Brazilian waters cannot be easily determined, the short-lived lecithotrophic larvae of sternaspids suggest that the specimens found in Suape have arrived in ballast sediment. An increase in trade between Brazil and Asian countries since the 2000s has led to that more ships coming from China having arrived in Brazilian harbors. The arrival of S. aff. nana, originally described in the South China Sea, in the Suape harbor area may have resulted from this intense movement of ships between China and Brazil.

Predicting biological parameters of estuarine benthic communities using models based on environmental data

Este trabalho objetivou predizer parâmetros da estrutura de associações macrobentônicas (composição específica, abundância, riqueza, diversidade e equitatividade) em estuários do Sul do Brasil, utilizando modelos baseados em dados ambientais (características dos sedimentos, salinidade, temperaturas do ar e da água, e profundidade). As amostragens foram realizadas sazonalmente em cinco estuários entre o inverno de 1996 e o verão de 1998. Em cada estuário as amostras foram coletadas em áreas não poluídas, com características semelhantes quanto a presença ou ausência de vegetação, profundidade e distância da desenbocadura. Para a obtenção dos modelos de predição, foram utilizados dois métodos: o primeiro baseado em Análise Discriminante Múltipla (ADM) e o segundo em Regressão Linear Múltipla (RLM). Os modelos baseados em ADM apresentaram resultados melhores do que os baseados em regressão linear. Os melhores resultados usando RLM foram obtidos para diversidade e riqueza. É possível então, concluir que modelos como aqui derivados podem representar ferramentas muito úteis em estudos de monitoramento ambiental em estuários.