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Microplastics (MP) are omnipresent in aquaculture and can induce several toxic effects, mainly oxidative stress. Therefore, alternatives to minimize these effects are welcome. In this study, chitosan (1 and 3 g/kg) was supplemented through the feed of farmed shrimp P. vannamei for 30 days. After this period, the shrimp were exposed to MP (0.5 mg/L) for 7 days. The results showed the presence of MP in hepatopancreas, gills and muscle. Hepatopancreas morphological alterations, as well as lipid peroxidation, a decrease in GSH level, and an increase in SOD activity indicated an oxidative stress that was reversed by chitosan. The muscle was also affected by MP, showing decreased CAT activity and increased SOD activity, though no lipid peroxidation was observed. In muscle, chitosan reversed the SOD increase to basal activity. The results obtained showed that chitosan was more effective against oxidative stress than in preventing accumulation and histological damage., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Juliane Ventura Lima reports was provided by Federal University of Rio Grande. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Climate and anthropogenic impacts are prevalent in marine and estuarine ecosystems. Rapid environmental changes have altered biological diversity and the ecological services associated with ecosystems around the world. The consequences of these impacts on estuarine ecosystems are worrying, given that estuaries are essential habitats for maintaining the diversity of species functions, as they act as sources for larger ecosystems through the recruitment and replacement of species. Through long-term standardized monitoring (1996-2019), we evaluated the temporal variability of the functional structure of fish species in a subtropical estuary using Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and their relationship with environmental, climatic, and anthropogenic variables using Generalized Additive Models (GAM). We investigate the hypothesis that natural disturbances associated with El Niño events and anthropogenic ones related with changes in the estuary morphology will lead to a decrease in the diversity of functions of the fish assemblage in the Patos Lagoon Estuary in south Brazil (32°S). Our findings suggest an overall downward trend in the fish functional structure, especially in the second half (2006-2019) of the time series, which seems to be associated with a combination of abiotic effects (salinity and temperature), global climate phenomena (ENSO phases) and anthropogenic impacts (changes in the morphology of the estuarine mouth and its connection with the sea). These findings rise concern considering the current climate change scenario, where phenomena such as El Niño may become more frequent and intense. Therefore, the evidence from this study suggests that extreme natural climatic events in synergy with anthropogenic disturbances may imply biodiversity losses over time and, consequently, loss of ecosystem processes in a subtropical estuary., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Estuarine mangroves are often considered nurseries for the Atlantic Goliath grouper juveniles. Yet, the contributions of different estuarine primary producers and habitats as sources of organic matter during early ontogenetic development remain unclear. Given the species' critically endangered status and protection in Brazil, obtaining biological samples from recently settled recruits in estuaries is challenging. In this study, we leveraged a local partnership with fishers and used stable isotope (C and N) profiles from the eye lenses of stranded individuals or incidentally caught by fishery to reconstruct the trophic and habitat changes of small juveniles. The eye lens grows by the apposition of protein-rich layers. Once these layers are formed, they become inert, allowing to make inferences on the trophic ecology and habitat use along the development of the individual until its capture. We used correlations between fish size and the entire eye lens size, along with estuarine baselines, to reconstruct the fish size and trophic positions for each of the lens layers obtained. We then used dominant primary producers and basal sources from mangrove sheltered, exposed estuarine and marine habitats to construct an ontogenetic model of trophic and habitat support changes since maternal origins. Our model revealed marine support before the juveniles reached 25 mm (standard length), followed by a rapid increase in reliance on mangrove sheltered sources, coinciding with the expected size at settlement. After reaching 60 mm, individuals began to show variability. Some remained primarily supported by the mangrove sheltered area, while others shifted to rely more on the exposed estuarine area around 150 mm. Our findings indicate that while mangroves are critical for settlement, as Goliath grouper juveniles grow, they can utilize organic matter produced throughout the estuary. This underscores the need for conservation strategies that focus on seascape connectivity, as protecting just one discrete habitat may not be sufficient to preserve this endangered species and safeguard its ecosystem functions., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The Atlantic goliath grouper Epinephelus itajara is the largest species of groupers in the Atlantic Ocean, reaching over 2 m total length and 400 kg. It has an ontogenetic migration, with adults using nearshore and offshore marine areas and juveniles inhabiting estuarine/mangrove areas. Despite of its high ecological relevance and classification as a threatened species for several decades in the IUCN red lists, critical phases of its life cycle, like juveniles inhabiting estuaries, are still poorly investigated. In this study, we evaluated if hydroclimatic changes may affect the trophic ecology of juveniles in a tropical estuary. We described their diet composition, isotopic niche area, food assimilation, and trophic position of juveniles across seasons using two non-lethal techniques: stomach content analysis using a stomach flushing procedure and stable isotope analysis using a dermal biopsy. A total of 87 individuals with TL ranging from 38 to 331 mm had their stomachs analyzed, of which 31 had food content. We identified 11 prey items, shrimp being the most abundant prey group (IRI% = 88.4), followed by fish (6.6), blue crab (2.8), and crab (2.2). A total of 93 specimens had their muscle's carbon (δ 13 C) and nitrogen (δ 15 N) stable isotope ratios analyzed (38-332 mm TL). Average δ 13 C values showed statistically significant changes across seasons, but no significant changes were observed for δ 15 N. As initially predicted, isotopic niche size of juveniles changed consistently along the entire hydroclimatic cycle, reaching its peak at the end of the wet season. We also observed changes in the proportion of prey assimilation by juveniles between seasons. Shrimp (92.1%) was the most assimilated prey group during the late dry season, whereas tidal crabs (36.7%), blue crab (27.8%), and shrimp (25.1%) were the most important in the late wet season. Average trophic position of juveniles remained similar across wet (3.32 ± 0.10) and dry (3.23 ± 0.11) seasons. These findings provide important information to help decision makers to promote more efficient management and conservation legislations to protect early life stages of the Atlantic goliath grouper in tropical estuaries., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

The dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus) is an overfished and threatened fish species with coastal distribution. In the Southwestern Atlantic, it occurs across a broad region influenced by two major oceanographic features: the Cabo Frio (23°S) and the Cabo Santa Marta (28°S) upwelling systems. Along the Brazilian coast, the species may present continuous or discrete populations, depending on the methodological approach used. In this study we combined otolith chemistry and muscle stable isotope analyses to examine the population structure of dusky groupers and its association with the two upwelling systems. Fish were collected in shallow coastal waters of the Southwest Atlantic Ocean, covering the southeastern and southern Brazilian coasts, among Macaé (22°S), Santos (24°S), Florianópolis (27°S), and in Rio Grande (32°S). The results show three statistically well-separated population groups along the region. We named these population groups as North (north of Cabo Frio); Center (between upwelling regions); and South (south of the Cabo Santa Marta system). Our findings allow to suggest that the upwelling systems may influence the distribution of E. marginatus stocks along the Brazilian south-western coast, even though a causal effect may not be attributed at this point. Overall, this combined approach, leveraging information from distinct natural tags, and reflecting variability of water chemistry and food webs with latitude, allowed us to enhance our understanding on how major upwelling systems influence the structuring of fish populations along the southwestern Atlantic Ocean., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

We analyzed δ 13 C and δ 15 N values in different tooth portions (Growth Layer Groups, GLGs) of franciscanas, Pontoporia blainvillei, to investigate their effect on whole tooth (WT) isotopic values and the implications for dietary estimates. Tooth portions included the dentin deposited during the prenatal development (PND), the first year of life (GLG 1 ) deposited during the nursing period and the central part of the tooth with no distinction amongst subsequent GLGs (Center). Isotopic mixing models estimating the contribution of PND, GLG 1 and Center to WT showed that GLG 1 has a strong effect on WT isotope values in juveniles, while Center only starts to affect WT isotopic values from age four. Isotopic mixing models estimating prey contribution to the diet of juveniles using WT vs Center tooth portions significantly differed in dietary outputs, demonstrating that GLG 1 influence on WT isotope values affects dietary estimates in young franciscanas. As the small tooth size and narrowness of the last GLGs hinder the analysis of individual layers, we recommend excluding GLG 1 in studies based on teeth isotope composition in franciscanas and caution when interpreting isotopic values from the WT of other small cetaceans., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this study was to evaluate spatiotemporal patterns in the distribution and relative abundance of blue sharks and their relationship with environmental variables and oceanographic processes in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean. We modeled data on catch records from the Brazilian pelagic tuna longline fleet using generalized additive models (GAMs). The distribution of Prionace glauca was influenced by salinity, chlorophyll-a and temperature. Our models showed that both the catch per unit of fishing effort (CPUE) and the probability of presence increased mainly between March and August. The CPUE was also influenced by ocean depth and sea surface height, and the probability of occurrence by ocean fronts and slope. The highest CPUE values and probability of occurrence of blue sharks tended to occur mainly in parts of the continental slope off Brazil and at the Rio Grande Rise, characterized by the presence of seamounts. Such hotspots for P. glauca could potentially be considered in fisheries management plans., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Rhodolith growth and CaCO 3 production remain poorly quantified along the SW Atlantic Ocean, and it is difficult to relate the available measurements with biomass estimates. Suboptimal conditions may clarify how harsh environments influence nodule growth and abundance, elucidating their relationship. Off the energetic South American equatorial coast a rhodolith bed (~65 km 2 ), formed mainly by Mesophyllum sp. and Lithophyllum sp., alters the regional sedimentary pattern and sustains a diverse biota. Its nodules present fast growth rates (2.8 mm year -1 ), but small biomasses (18 nodules∙m -2 covering 26 ± 3% of the substrate), resulting in a CaCO 3 production of 163.33 g m -2 ∙year -1 . Despite the small biomass, the bed seems stable, with living and dead nodules both on and inside the substrate. And the suboptimal environment apparently affects growth and abundance independently. Therefore, fast growth rates and relevant structural roles are not necessarily associated with dense rhodolith assemblages, and ecological assessments of rhodolith beds should consider the dynamics of both individual nodules and the whole population., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) sustain a large-scale fishery in the southwest Atlantic Ocean (SWA), but information about its foraging ecology in this region is still limited. Here we use carbon (δ 13 C) and nitrogen (δ 15 N) stable isotope analysis of muscle from individuals collected in 2017-2018 (n = 383) to quantify diet composition and characterize movement patterns. We found a relatively small degree of variation in δ 13 C (range: -18.9 to -16.5‰) in comparison to δ 15 N values (6.7-14.7‰). At higher latitudes in the southern area (30-34°S), individuals had higher mean (±SD) δ 15 N values (12.2 ± 1.3‰) in comparison to those collected in the northern area (9.7 ± 1.5‰) between 20-26°S. At the northern area, isotope mixing models with informative priors showed that lanternfish (median: 50%) and krill (31%) were the primary foods. In the southern area, lanternfish (53%), krill (23%) and small pelagic fish (23%) were the primary food sources. Spatial shifts in diet composition were related to warming events that likely resulted in low abundance of sardines in the northern area. The latitudinal pattern in skipjack and krill δ 15 N values mirrored that of regional zooplankton isoscapes, suggesting residency at the timescale of isotopic turnover for muscle (~2-4 months), and that geographical variation in the baseline isotopic composition can be exploited to characterize seasonal movements of skipjack and other top marine consumers in this region., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The key prey was determined based on the diet and spatial patterns of the Nektonic community in southern Brazil. The proposed tool to discriminate key prey was based on simple probabilistic methods and analytical procedures that integrate freely available software on the web. To avoid using arbitrary criteria in key prey determination it was used an indicator based on an adapted outlier analysis including a run of principal component analysis (PCA) and then the choice of prey that fall out of the 99% concentration ellipse. The results showed three key prey identified at species level: the shrimp Artemesia longinaris in the coastal habitats and euphausid Euphausia similis and anchovy Engraulis anchoita in the continental shelf habitats (warm and cold). The analysis of the diets of the indicator species of three necktonic assemblages showed that all of them had both pelagic and detritus as primary sources of energy. However, in shallow coastal waters prevailed access to benthic food web key prey. In deeper areas, the Warm shelf assemblage accessed more evenly the epifauna, infauna and the pelagic compartments, while the Cold shelf assemblage was more dependent on planktonic production and had a prevalence of pelagic key prey. Is demonstrated the importance of the identification of key prey, since it may indicate greater or lesser stability of predator populations depending on whether they come from compartments with more or less dynamic primary production processes, including climate-related changes that may affect the predator prey interactions. This study confirmed the prediction that demersal nekton has high disturbance recovery capacity, which may mask for decades the growing impact of fishing., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study describes the pigment-based phytoplankton community within three South Atlantic anticyclonic eddies (at different ages) shed from the Agulhas Current retroflection crossing the South Atlantic Ocean. Seawater samples were collected over these mesoscale structures in June-July 2015 during the Following Ocean Rings in the South Atlantic (FORSA) cruise. Data on phytoplankton pigments, measured with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), were processed using a chemical taxonomy (CHEMTAX) tool to determine and quantify phytoplankton taxonomic groups. In addition, physical (water column structure) and chemical (macronutrient) parameters were determined and related to the biological data. Our results showed that, in general, the community was composed mostly of small flagellates (haptophytes) and prokaryotes (Prochlorococcus) and that pelagophytes were prominent in the younger eddy. This ring, located in the eastern basin of the South Atlantic Ocean, represented a younger and stronger structure, with no evident deep chlorophyll maximum (DCM) depth and an evenly distributed biomass over a well-mixed upper layer, revealing a more diverse phytoplankton community. The weakened structures of the older western eddies presented a pronounced DCM depth below 100 m and similar phytoplankton community composition patterns marked by enhanced Prochlorococcus contributions but also the important occurrences of haptophytes at the DCM depth and Synechococcus and chlorophytes at the surface. The community distributions in all three structures were associated with the distribution of nutrients and acclimation to light conditions. This study contributes to a better understanding of the phytoplankton distribution and its association with the presence of mesoscale anticyclonic eddies in an undersampled and complex region of the South Atlantic Ocean., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Seawater contamination with metals, such as copper (Cu), is a notable local impact threatening coral reefs. Cu effects on biomarkers associated with photosynthesis, oxidative status and calcification were evaluated in the Brazilian coral Mussismilia harttii using a marine mesocosm facility. Polyps were kept under control conditions (1.9 μg L -1 Cu) or exposed to dissolved Cu (3.0, 4.8, and 6.7 μg L -1 ) for 12 days. Photochemical efficiency of the photosystem II of symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) was measured and polyps were analyzed for antioxidant capacity, lipid peroxidation, DNA damage, and carbonic anhydrase Ca-ATPase, Mg-ATPase and (Ca,Mg)-ATPase activities after 12 days. Results highlighted the effects of Cu exposure, leading corals to an oxidative stress condition [increased total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and DNA damage] and a possible reduced calcification ability [decreased (Ca,Mg)-ATPase activity]. Therefore, biomarkers associated with oxidative status (TAC and DNA damage) and calcification [(Ca, Mg)-ATPase] are indicated as good predictors of corals health., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

To better understand variation in sewage-impacted benthic macrofauna from subtropical tidal flats over time and space, we applied a five-factor linear model at a hierarchy of spatial (Condition - Contaminated or Non-Contaminated, Tidal Flat and Plot) and temporal scales (Season and Fortnight). The Contaminated site showed high levels of coprostanol and the presence of Paranais cf frici as markers or indicators of organic enrichment. Differences between Seasons were more pronounced for the faunal variation patterns than for the other parameters, with lower species richness and abundance in summer. There were significant interactions between Fortnight and Tidal Flat for most variables, reflecting marked heterogeneity within Tidal Flats. Benthic community has significantly changed over short periods of time. These rapid changes may lead to erroneous interpretations and mask the true sources of variation. Our results clearly demonstrate the need to better understand benthic temporal variability even at small scales., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Pampean creeks were evaluated in the present study as potential land-based sources of PCB marine contamination. Different carbon and nitrogen sources from such creeks were analysed as boosters of PCB bioaccumulation by the filter feeder bivalve Brachidontes rodriguezii and grazer limpet Siphonaria lessoni. Carbon of different source than marine and anthropogenic nitrogen assimilated by organisms were estimated through their C and N isotopic composition. PCB concentration in surface sediments and mollusc samples ranged from 2.68 to 6.46 ng g(-1) (wet weight) and from 1074 to 4583 ng g(-1) lipid, respectively, reflecting a punctual source of PCB contamination related to a landfill area. Thus, despite the low flow of creeks, they should not be underestimated as contamination vectors to the marine environment. On the other hand, mussels PCB bioaccumulation was related with the carbon source uptake which highlights the importance to consider this factor when studying PCB distribution in organisms of coastal systems., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Despite ubiquitous phenanthrene contamination in aquatic coastal areas, little is known regarding its potential effects on estuarine fishes. The present work evaluated the response of a large suite of oxidative stress- and DNA damage-related biomarkers to phenanthrene exposure (10, 20 and 200 μg L(-1), 96 h) using DMSO as the solvent in estuarine guppy Poecilia vivipara (salinity 24 psu). Phenanthrene affected oxidative stress-related parameters, and decreased antioxidant defenses and reactive oxygen species in the gills and muscle overall. Lipid peroxidation occurred in muscle at 200 μg L(-1) phenanthrene. Genotoxicity was increased at 20 μg L(-1), while 200 μg L(-1) caused a relative decrease in erythrocyte release into the bloodstream. These findings indicated that phenanthrene is genotoxic and can induce oxidative stress, depending on tissue and phenanthrene concentration analyzed. Thus, some of the biomarkers analyzed in the present study are sufficiently sensitive to monitor the exposure of the guppy P. vivipara to phenanthrene in salt water. However, further studies are required for a better interpretation of the dose-response patterns observed., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Concentrations of Zn, Pb, Cu and Cd have been determined in leaves, stems and roots of Spartina maritima and Halimione portulacoides from the Tagus estuary salt mash (Corroios) and in the sediments between their roots. Biological materials and sediments were sampled every 2 months, between July 1991 and July 1992. Root biomass increased from July to September and from January to March. The greatest metal concentrations occurred in the roots, with lowest levels in January and increasing levels during the growth periods. Zn, Pb and Cu in sediments exhibited a corresponding change in concentrations, reaching maximum in January and subsequently decreasing in spring. The ratios between metal concentrations in the root and in sediments were higher for H. portulacoides when compared to S. maritima, whose roots are surrounded by a more acidic and reduced sediment environment. It was concluded, therefore, that H. portulacoides is a more effective accumulator of metals than S. maritima, and both root-sediment systems exhibited a seasonal variation of metal concentrations.