499
(Silva- Cavalcanti et al. 2016). Contamination by plastic debris and microplastics
was assessed in the main channel and mangrove creeks of Goiana Estuary
(Fig. 16.10a–d) (Ivar do Sul et al. 2014; Lima et al. 2014, 2015, 2016).
Microplastics were comparable with half of the total fish larvae and with total
fish eggs in density along the main channel (Lima et al. 2014). The ingestion of
plastic threads by the demersal fish fauna was observed in 20% of ariid catfishes (C.
spixii, C. agassizii, S. herzbergii) (Possatto et al. 2011) and 13% of Gerreids
(Diapterus rhombeus, E. brasilianus, Eucinostomus melanopterus) (Ramos et al.
2012). In sciaenids, it was registered a contamination of 8% of Stellifer (S. brasiliensis, S. stellifer) (Dantas et al. 2012) and 64% in C. acoupa (Ferreira et al. 2016).
The estuarine complex of Paranaguá supports, at least, 60 species of fish used for
subsistence among the local population (Barletta et al. 2008). The main channel
yielded >49 tons (800 g ha
−1
) of commercial marine fishes in earlier life stages
(Barletta et al. 2008) (Fig. 16.1). This included ten marine species, as the Sciaenidae
C. leiarchus (smooth weakfish) and M. furnieri; and the Haemulidae Pomadasys
corvinaeformis (roughneck grunt) (Barletta et al. 2008) (Figs. 16.1 and 16.15a–c).
The Paranaguá Estuary is a key ecosystem of the western Atlantic (Guebert et al.
2013; Possatto et al. 2016). Its natural resources attract fishing, tourism and conservation sectors; and the strategic position resulted in the development of the largest
Latin America maritime terminal for grain and other agro-industrial products
(Paranaguá port) (Fig. 16.16a). Therefore, channel maintenance is constant, and fish
diversity decreases during dredging. Ariid catfishes benefit from damage on microbenthic fauna and, thus, increase their densities, while other species disappear
(Barletta et al. 2016). Recently another port facilities was built in the estuary (Pontal
do Felix port) and intense dredging activities are observed in the upper estuary
(Barletta et al. 2016) (Figs. 16.1 and 16.16b). Alterations in water quality due to
dredging and other anthropogenic impacts are also observed (Barletta et al. 2016)
(Fig. 16.16c–d). Faecal steroid concentrations presented higher level closer to
Paranaguá port-city, reflecting significant water and sediments sewage contamination (Martins et al. 2010). Plastic debris contamination was also more significant
near the port (Possatto et al. 2015), and ingestion by juvenile green turtles Chelonia
mydas feeding in the area was found to be frequent (Guebert-Bartholo et al. 2011).
Characterizing yet another form of pollution, sediments near the Paranaguá port
showed high levels of Arsenic (As) and other heavy metals (Zn and Ni) than WHO
critic limits, suggesting inputs from human activities in addition to a geochemical
anomaly (Sá et al. 2006). Fortunately, the Paranaguá Estuarine Complex is large,
and so far has shown the capacity to withstand environmental modifications and is
in homeostasis throughout the year (Barletta et al. 2016; Dyke and Weaver 2013;
Elliott and Quintino 2007).
16 Estuarine Ecoclines and the Associated Fauna: Ecological Information as the Basis…
(Silva- Cavalcanti et al. 2016). Contamination by plastic debris and microplastics
was assessed in the main channel and mangrove creeks of Goiana Estuary
(Fig. 16.10a–d) (Ivar do Sul et al. 2014; Lima et al. 2014, 2015, 2016).
Microplastics were comparable with half of the total fish larvae and with total
fish eggs in density along the main channel (Lima et al. 2014). The ingestion of
plastic threads by the demersal fish fauna was observed in 20% of ariid catfishes (C.
spixii, C. agassizii, S. herzbergii) (Possatto et al. 2011) and 13% of Gerreids
(Diapterus rhombeus, E. brasilianus, Eucinostomus melanopterus) (Ramos et al.
2012). In sciaenids, it was registered a contamination of 8% of Stellifer (S. brasiliensis, S. stellifer) (Dantas et al. 2012) and 64% in C. acoupa (Ferreira et al. 2016).
The estuarine complex of Paranaguá supports, at least, 60 species of fish used for
subsistence among the local population (Barletta et al. 2008). The main channel
yielded >49 tons (800 g ha
−1
) of commercial marine fishes in earlier life stages
(Barletta et al. 2008) (Fig. 16.1). This included ten marine species, as the Sciaenidae
C. leiarchus (smooth weakfish) and M. furnieri; and the Haemulidae Pomadasys
corvinaeformis (roughneck grunt) (Barletta et al. 2008) (Figs. 16.1 and 16.15a–c).
The Paranaguá Estuary is a key ecosystem of the western Atlantic (Guebert et al.
2013; Possatto et al. 2016). Its natural resources attract fishing, tourism and conservation sectors; and the strategic position resulted in the development of the largest
Latin America maritime terminal for grain and other agro-industrial products
(Paranaguá port) (Fig. 16.16a). Therefore, channel maintenance is constant, and fish
diversity decreases during dredging. Ariid catfishes benefit from damage on microbenthic fauna and, thus, increase their densities, while other species disappear
(Barletta et al. 2016). Recently another port facilities was built in the estuary (Pontal
do Felix port) and intense dredging activities are observed in the upper estuary
(Barletta et al. 2016) (Figs. 16.1 and 16.16b). Alterations in water quality due to
dredging and other anthropogenic impacts are also observed (Barletta et al. 2016)
(Fig. 16.16c–d). Faecal steroid concentrations presented higher level closer to
Paranaguá port-city, reflecting significant water and sediments sewage contamination (Martins et al. 2010). Plastic debris contamination was also more significant
near the port (Possatto et al. 2015), and ingestion by juvenile green turtles Chelonia
mydas feeding in the area was found to be frequent (Guebert-Bartholo et al. 2011).
Characterizing yet another form of pollution, sediments near the Paranaguá port
showed high levels of Arsenic (As) and other heavy metals (Zn and Ni) than WHO
critic limits, suggesting inputs from human activities in addition to a geochemical
anomaly (Sá et al. 2006). Fortunately, the Paranaguá Estuarine Complex is large,
and so far has shown the capacity to withstand environmental modifications and is
in homeostasis throughout the year (Barletta et al. 2016; Dyke and Weaver 2013;
Elliott and Quintino 2007).
16 Estuarine Ecoclines and the Associated Fauna: Ecological Information as the Basis…