Espirito Santo Bay Research Articles

Modern sedimentation processes in a wave-dominated coastal embayment: Espírito Santo Bay, southeast Brazil

Sediment dynamics in wave-dominated coastal embayments are generally controlled by seasonal meteorological conditions, storms having a particularly strong influence. In the present study, such hydrodynamic processes and associated deposits have been investigated in a coastal embayment located along the southeast coast of Brazil, i.e. Espirito Santo Bay, in the winter (June/July) of 2008. The bay has undergone a series of human interventions that have altered the local hydrodynamic processes and, consequently, the sediment transport patterns. Facies distribution and sediment dynamics were examined by acoustic seabed mapping, sediment and core sampling, hydrodynamic measurements and sand transport modelling. The results show that sediment distribution can be described in terms of nearshore and offshore zones. The offshore bay sector is predominantly composed of “palimpsest” lithoclastic medium–coarse sands deposited in the course of the early Holocene transgression that peaked about 5,000 years ago. In the inner bay or nearshore zone (up to depths of 4–8 m), these older transgressive deposits are today overlain by a thin (up to 30-cm-thick) and partly patchy blanket of younger regressive fine sand/muddy fine sands. Both coarse- and fine-grained facies are being reworked during high-energy events (Hs>1.5 m) when fine sediment is resuspended, weak tide-induced drift currents causing the sand patches to be displaced. The coarser sediment, by contrast, is mobilized as bedload to produce wave ripples with spacings of up to 1.2 m. These processes lead to a sharp spatial delimitation between a fine sand/mud facies and a rippled coarse sand facies. The fine sand patches have a relief of about 20–30 cm and reveal a typical internal tempestite depositional sequence. Fair-weather wave-induced sediment transport (Hs<1 m), supported by weak tidal currents, seems to only affect the fine sediment facies. Sediment dynamics in Espirito Santo Bay is thus essentially controlled by wave action during storms, tidal currents playing a very subordinate role. Anthropogenic changes due to the construction of a port at the entrance of the bay have not only produced erosion along the beach, but could also explain the occurrence of sand patches concentrated in the north-eastern part of the bay. Because storm-induced deposits of the type observed in this study have an inherently patchy distribution, this feature needs to be taken into consideration when interpreting the rock record in terms of modern analogues.

Penis Malformations in Leucozonia nassa (Gmelin, 1792) and Leucozoniaocellata (Gmelin, 1791) in a TBT Contaminated Region from Brazil

Gastropod molluscs have potential for bioaccumulation of the organotin compounds (OTs) as tributyltin (TBT) and/or triphenyltin (TPT), used in antifouling paints applied to the hulls of ships to prevent biofouling. In gastropods, TBT may act as endocrine disruptors, and to induce imposex, impairing their reproductive capacity. The present study aimed to verify the occurrence of malformations, such as biphalic and triphalic penis in males and females with imposex in Leucozonia nassa and L. ocellata collected in Espírito Santo Bay between the years 2007 and 2011. During this period, 94.8% of female L. nassa and 24.5% of female L. ocellata exhibited imposex and 10 animals presented malformations. For L. nassa , malformations were found in seven females and one male, and for L. ocellata in two males. Most females with malformations presented VDSI stage ≥4 and these results indicate high levels of TBT contamination in the Espirito Santo Bay.

Occurrence of storm-generated bedforms along the inner continental shelf: Southeastern Brazil

Side-scan sonar surveys were carried out in two different areas on the inner continental shelf off the state of Espírito Santo (southeastern Brazil, Area 1- Guarapari Inner shelf -GUA and Area 2- Espirito Santo Bay - BES) and revealed bedforms much like those known as storm-generated bedforms. These bedforms are characterized by bands of fine sand deposited alternately over a coarse sand bottom, generating a deposit pattern of bands of fine sand intercalated with bands of coarse sand occurring between water depths of 25 to 30 m and five to eight m in GUA and ESB, respectively. In both areas, patches of coarse sand reveal the occurrence of wave-generated ripples, with crests that tend to be parallel to the coastline. The facies composition consists of very fine to fine muddy carbonate sands with siliciclastic fine gravel in GUA and coarse to medium sand with bioclastic gravel in BES. Thus, the influence of storm currents and waves in the formation and maintenance of these storm-generated bedforms is clear. However, the classification of the hydrodynamics and sediment transportation is required for estimating the formation, transportation and maintenance of these bedforms.

Distribuição de metais pesados em sedimentos do sistema estuarino da Ilha de Vitória-ES

Heavy-metal concentration in sediment is an important parameter for identifying pollution sources and assessing pollution levels in aquatic ecosystems. In this context, the present study aimed at determining concentrations of heavy metals in sediments from the Vitoria estuarine system, Brazil. Twenty nine stations were surveyed to assess the spatial distribution of heavy metals. The metals for silt-clay fractions (<63 µm) were analyzed through atomic absorption spectrometry. A discriminant analysis segregated the stations in four groups representing four areas within the estuarine system. The Espirito Santo Bay showed the lowest metal concentrations, while the Vitoria harbor canal showed the highest. We concluded that concentrations of heavy metals reflect natural conditions and the contribution of human activities from sewage and industrial effluents. It was not possible to directly associate metal concentrations to specific pollution sources.

The effect of iron-ore particles on the metal content of the brown alga Padina gymnospora (Espı́rito Santo Bay, Brazil)

The iron-ore particles discharged by a pellet processing plant (Espı́rito Santo Bay, Brazil) cover the seabed of Camburi Beach and consequently, the epibenthic community. In order to determine the importance of the contribution of the iron-ore deposits to the metal concentration in macroalgae of Espirito Santo Bay, four methods of cleaning particulate material adhered to the surface of thalli were tested prior to metal tissue analysis (Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) of Padina gymnospora. In addition, heavy metal concentrations were determined in individuals of P. gymnospora from a site (Frade Island) not affected by the iron-ore particles. The most efficient cleaning treatment, a combination of scraping and washing with an ethanol–seawater solution ( NA+SC+ET) removed a number of particles on the surface of thalli 10 times higher than that observed in the control ( C). Using this treatment, the total-metal concentrations were reduced by 78% for Fe and 50% for Al respect to the control. However, Fe, Al and Cu concentrations after treatment NA+SC+ET were significantly higher than those found at Frade Island. It is suggested that the iron-ore deposit might be a source for metal availability to macroalgae exposed to the dumped material at Espirito Santo Bay.

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The iron-ore particles discharged by a pellet processing plant (Espı́rito Santo Bay, Brazil) cover the seabed of Camburi Beach and consequently, the epibenthic community. In order to determine the importance of the contribution of the iron-ore deposits to the metal concentration in macroalgae of Espirito Santo Bay, four methods of cleaning particulate material adhered to the surface of thalli were tested prior to metal tissue analysis (Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) of Padina gymnospora. In addition, heavy metal concentrations were determined in individuals of P. gymnospora from a site (Frade Island) not affected by the iron-ore particles. The most efficient cleaning treatment, a combination of scraping and washing with an ethanol–seawater solution (NA+SC+ET) removed a number of particles on the surface of thalli 10 times higher than that observed in the control (C). Using this treatment, the total-metal concentrations were reduced by 78% for Fe and 50% for Al respect to the control. However, Fe, Al and Cu concentrations after treatment NA+SC+ET were significantly higher than those found at Frade Island. It is suggested that the iron-ore deposit might be a source for metal availability to macroalgae exposed to the dumped material at Espirito Santo Bay.

Morphological abnormalities of Acartia lilljeborgi (Copepoda, Crustacea) in the Espirito Santo Bay (E.S. Brazil)

We report on morphological abnormalities observed in Acartia lilljeborgi in Espirito Santo Bay (E.S. – Brazil). Samples were collected at six stations; five inside the bay and one outside of it, in March 1991–92 (raining season) and September 1991–92 (dry season) during 3 days. Biotic and abiotic variables were also determined. About 30% of the specimens exhibited morphological abnormalities, such as intestinal prolapse and partial rupture of the chitinous carapace accompanied with a mass extrusion of cell material and protoplasm. The proportion of young forms of A. lilljeborgi with abnormalities was greater than that of adult forms (59%). A. lilljeborgi can therefore be used as a possible indicator of environmental conditions in the bay.

COASTAL STUDY OF ESPlRITO SANTO/BRAZIL

The elimination of land transportation costs for raw materials and/or industrialized products has encouraged integration of industrial and port activities and, at many ports, facilities are being built for the installation of industrial complexes adjacent to the port areas. This general trend has been clearly observed along the coast of the State of Espirito Santo, Brazil, north of Rio de Janeiro. Several new port terminals, associated with industrial plants, are under construction or were designed recently. In fact, the State's port development began with its Commercial Port in Vitoria, located at the mouth of the Santa Maria river. The following terminals connected with industries were built at a later date: a) Tubarao Maritime Terminal, which was brought into operation in 1966, sited at the outer end of Espirito Santo Bay, 9 Km away from Vitoria, for iron ore exports. This terminal belongs to the stateowned Companhia Vale do Rio Doce - CVRD. Iron ore exports reached more than 50 milion ton per year during the last three years. b) Ubu Maritime Terminal, inaugurated in 1977 and sited in the south of the State, was designed for exporting pelletized iron ore produced by a plant sited in the port area. This plant receives its raw material (ore fines) through a pipeline approximately 400 Km long. These facilities belong to privately-owned SAMARCO Mineracao S.A., and will have a total export capacity of 7 million tons of pellets per year when it reaches it final expansion phase. c) Barra do Riacho Port, which should start operation in 1978, built by PORTOCEL (owned jointly by PORTOBRAS, Aracruz Celulose and CVRD) is intended to export wood chips and pulp produced at industrial facilities adjacent to the port. In addition to these terminals, there are plans to built other ports which will handle goods to be produced by industries now moving into Espirito Santo.

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The iron-ore particles discharged by a pellet processing plant (Espı́rito Santo Bay, Brazil) cover the seabed of Camburi Beach and consequently, the epibenthic community. In order to determine the importance of the contribution of the iron-ore deposits to the metal concentration in macroalgae of Espirito Santo Bay, four methods of cleaning particulate material adhered to the surface of thalli were tested prior to metal tissue analysis (Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) of Padina gymnospora. In addition, heavy metal concentrations were determined in individuals of P. gymnospora from a site (Frade Island) not affected by the iron-ore particles. The most efficient cleaning treatment, a combination of scraping and washing with an ethanol–seawater solution (NA+SC+ET) removed a number of particles on the surface of thalli 10 times higher than that observed in the control (C). Using this treatment, the total-metal concentrations were reduced by 78% for Fe and 50% for Al respect to the control. However, Fe, Al and Cu concentrations after treatment NA+SC+ET were significantly higher than those found at Frade Island. It is suggested that the iron-ore deposit might be a source for metal availability to macroalgae exposed to the dumped material at Espirito Santo Bay.