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

Author(s): Márcia Nunes, Maria Virgínia Alves Martins, Fabrizio Frontalini, Vincent M.P. Bouchet, Fabio Francescangeli, Johann Hohenegger, Rubens Figueira, Thaise M. Senez-Mello, Wellen Fernanda Louzada Castelo, Fabrício Leandro Damasceno, Lazaro Laut, Wania Duleba, Silvia Helena de Mello e Sousa, Luzia Antonioli, Mauro César Geraldes
Abstract: 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′_bc) 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.e., dissolved in water, adsorbed on organic matter, and Mn oxy-hydroxides). Total organic carbon, total nitrogen, and stable isotope (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) signatures of organic matter were analyzed to trace environmental stress. The Ammonia/Elphidium ratio suggests hypoxic conditions at most of the sampled sites. Principal component analysis identifies the first component as environmental stress underlying organic matter and PTE enrichment (in all three phases), which is positively related to Foram-AMBI and negatively to exp (H′_bc). The exp (H′_bc) and Foram-AMBI indices reveal that stations near the Governador Island and Niterói margin have the worst EcoQS, showing medium to extreme pollution. Additionally, Foram-AMBI and exp (H′_bc) provide a congruent EcoQS classification for ∼64% of the sites. Although these results are promising, they suggest that a significant effort should be made to obtain better knowledge of foraminiferal ecological requirements to employ benthic foraminifera as a biomonitoring and management method.
Organisation(s): Department of Palaeontology
External organisation(s): Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, University of Aveiro, Università degli Studi di Urbino "Carlo Bo", Université Lille I - Sciences et Technologies, Université de Fribourg, Instituto Oceanográfico, Marine Geology Lab, Universidade de Brasília, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, University of São Paulo
Journal: Environmental Pollution
Volume: 320
ISSN: 0269-7491
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121003
Publication date: 03-2023
Peer reviewed: Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012: 105118 Palaeontology
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Toxicology, Pollution, Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
Portal url: https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/1fdb1c5a-a3e5-4d5b-b4ab-9b384864b11a

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