Revista de Gestão Costeira Integrada
Volume 22, Issue 3, September 2022, Pages 175-192

DOI: 10.5894/rgci-n379
* Submission: 17 JUN 2020; Peer review: 29 JUN 2020; Revised: 10 FEB 2022; Accepted: 10 FEB 2022; Available on-line: 12 OCT 2022

Assessment of eutrophication through ecological indicators at the entrance of a tropical urbanized estuary

Valquiria Maria de Carvalho Aguiar^{@ 1}, José Antônio Baptista Neto¹, Estefan Monteiro da Fonseca¹

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@ Corresponding author: vaguiar@id.uff.br
¹ Instituto de Geociências, Departamento de Geologia e Geofísica Marinha, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Avenida General Milton Tavares de Souza, s/n, Niterói, RJ, 24210346, Brazil

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ASBTRACT
Dissolved nutrients, phytoplankton biomass and other ancillary variables, were obtained at two sub-embayments at the entrance of Guanabara Bay (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) and a composite trophic status index (TRIX) was used to assess the water quality of the study area. The role of bottom sediments in nutrient dynamics was also investigated through the evaluation nutrients, phytoplankton biomass and other sedimentary variables, since this compartment acts as a geological record of anthropogenic input. Jurujuba Sound, at the east margin, and Flamengo-Botafogo Sounds, at the western margin, were sampled during neap and spring tides in the dry season. Signs of eutrophication were detected through the extreme variations of dissolved oxygen concentrations at both margins, being more accentuated at Jurujuba Sound (2.20-14.07 mg.l-1). Dissolved inorganic nitrogen was elevated at both margins and mostly composed of ammonium, surpassing 87% at Flamengo Botafogo Sounds, which suggests a continued input of raw sewage at the western margin of the bay. TRIX revealed poor water quality for most stations at the study area, varying from 4.53 to 7.29 at Jurujuba Sound and from 5.67 to 7.87 at Flamengo-Botafogo Sounds. The increase of TRIX from neap to spring tide was registered at both margins, revealing decrease of water quality. The differences in grain size between both margins played a key role in nutrient dynamics, with predominance of fine sediments at Jurujuba Sound and coarser particles at the opposite margin. Accumulation of high concentrations of TOC (0.87-6.57%) and inorganic phosphorus (154.34-1516.82 µg.g-1) were favored by the predominance of fine sediments at Jurujuba Sound. The assessment of eutrophication in water column and bottom sediments revealed the maintenance of this process at the entrance of Guanabara Bay sustained by the recurrent anthropogenic input, what demands urgent action from public policies to mitigate this situation.

Keywords: nutrients, estuary, trophic index (TRIX), sediments.

RESUMO
Nutrientes dissolvidos, biomassa fitoplanctônica, e outras variáveis auxiliares, foram obtidas em duas enseadas na estrada da Baía de Guanabara (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) e um índice trófico composto (TRIX) foi utilizado para avaliar a qualidade da água na área de estudo. O papel dos sedimentos de fundo na dinâmica dos nutrientes também foi investigado através da avaliação de nutrientes, biomassa fitoplanctônica e outras variáveis sedimentares, já que este compartimento atua como um registro geológico de aporte antropogênico. A Enseada Jurujuba, na margem leste, e as Enseadas de Flamengo-Botafogo, na margem oeste, foram amostradas durante as marés de quadratura e sizígia na estação seca. Sinais de eutrofização foram detectados através da variação extrema de oxigênio dissolvido em ambas as margens, sendo mais acentuada na Enseada Jurujuba (2.20-14.07 mg.l-1). O nitrogênio orgânico dissolvido foi elevado em ambas as margens e majoritariamente composto de amônio, ultrapassando 87% nas Enseadas Flamengo-Botafogo, o que sugeriu aporte contínuo de esgoto bruto na margem oeste da baía. O TRIX revelou baixa qualidade da água para a maioria das estações da área de estudo, variando de 4.53 a 7.29 na Enseada Jurujuba e de 5.67 a 7.87 nas Enseadas Flamengo-Botafogo. O aumento do TRIX entre quadratura e sizígia foi registrado em ambas as margens, revelando a piora da qualidade da água. As diferenças granulométricas entre ambas as margens tiveram papel fundamental na dinâmica dos nutrientes, com predominância de sedimentos finos na enseada Jurujuba e grãos mais grossos na margem oposta. A acumulação de elevada concentração de carbono orgânico total (TOC) (0.87-6.75%) e fósforo inorgânico (154.34-1516.82 µg.g-1) foram favorecidos pela predominância de sedimentos finos na enseada Jurujuba. A avaliação da eutrofização na coluna d’água e sedimentos de fundo revelou a manutenção deste processo na entrada da Baía de Guanabara mantido pelo aporte antropogênico recorrente, o que demanda ação urgente do poder público para mitigar essa situação.

Palavras-chave: nutrientes, estuário, índice trófico, sedimentos.

 

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