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Contaminants compounds like Heavy Metals and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH's) are primarily sourced from industrial and urban areas. As pollutants, these chemical elements and compounds are potentially toxic and present the capacity to negatively impact the ecosystem, especially the most sensitive ones such as estuaries. Bivalves' species have been successfully utilized as monitoring tools to evaluate pollutants bioaccessibility around the globe. The present study assessed heavy metals (Zn, Cd, Ni, Fe, Cr, Cu and Pb), As and PAH's levels in two mollusk species (Perna perna and Crassostrea rhizophorae) from Santos Estuarine System, in São Paulo State, in order to compare the effectiveness of each species in the biomonitoring process. According to the obtained data, Perna perna mussels may be better indicators of environmental pollution than Crassostrea rhizophorae oysters for some metals (Iron and Nickel) and hydrocarbons. On the other hand, in the present study, oysters had a higher capacity for retaining zinc, copper, and cadmium, due to their peculiar physiological characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macaw palm (Acrocomia aculeata) is a promising species for use in biofuel production, and establishing breeding programs is important for the development of commercial plantations. The aim of the present study was to analyze genetic diversity, verify correlations between traits, estimate genetic parameters, and select different accessions of A. aculeata in the Macaw Palm Germplasm Bank located in Universidade Federal de Viçosa, to develop a breeding program for this species. Accessions were selected based on precocity (PREC), total spathe (TS), diameter at breast height (DBH), height of the first spathe (HFS), and canopy area (CA). The traits were evaluated in 52 accessions during the 2012/2013 season and analyzed by restricted estimation maximum likelihood/best linear unbiased predictor procedures. Genetic diversity resulted in the formation of four groups by Tocher's clustering method. The correlation analysis showed it was possible to have indirect and early selection for the traits PREC and DBH. Estimated genetic parameters strengthened the genetic variability verified by cluster analysis. Narrow-sense heritability was classified as moderate (PREC, TS, and CA) to high (HFS and DBH), resulting in strong genetic control of the traits and success in obtaining genetic gains by selection. Accuracy values were classified as moderate (PREC and CA) to high (TS, HFS, and DBH), reinforcing the success of the selection process. Selection of accessions for PREC, TS, and HFS by the rank-average method permits selection gains of over 100%, emphasizing the successful use of the accessions in breeding programs and obtaining superior genotypes for commercial plantations.