Local Flora Research Articles

Medicinal plants of the southwestern part of Belgorod oblast

Monitoring the species diversity of medicinal and aromatic plants contributes to the conservation of the gene pool of natural resources and their rational use. Since ancient times, medicinal plants have been the only source of medicinal raw materials. Despite the intensive development of chemical synthesis, plant resources are in great demand both in the pharmaceutical industry and in the national economy. They serve as a raw material for the production of medicines, pharmaceutical substances, cosmetics and biologically active additives. They are also sources of biologically active substances, objects of introduction and stimulus for the development of medicinal plant breeding and import substitution of drugs of natural origin. The need for medicinal raw materials of plant origin is constantly increasing. Separately, it should be noted that some medicinal and aromatic plants cannot be cultivated due to their biological characteristics. Meeting the needs of the country's population and the needs of the pharmaceutical industry is an important strategic issue. The Belgorod branch of the All-Russian Institute of medicinal and aromatic plants carries out many years of research, which made it possible to carry out ecological and phytocenotic evaluation of the natural plant community and analyze it on the basis of species systematics, to identify the natural potential of the local flora with selection of the most promising species for cultivation under regulated conditions. The raw material base of medicinal and aromatic plants in Belgorod region consists of a fund of raw materials harvested from wild-growing plants and a fund of raw materials collected at the expense of cultivated medicinal plants. Medicinal plants are harvested not only for the pharmaceutical industry and direct sale through pharmacies, but also for the needs of the population.

The evolutionary history of bees in time and space

Bees are the most significant pollinators of flowering plants. This partnership began ca. 120 million years ago, but the uncertainty of how and when bees spread across the planet has greatly obscured investigations of this key mutualism. We present a novel analysis of bee biogeography using extensive new genomic and fossil data to demonstrate that bees originated in Western Gondwana (Africa and South America). Bees likely originated in the Early Cretaceous, shortly before the breakup of Western Gondwana, and the early evolution of any major bee lineage is associated with either the South American or African land masses. Subsequently, bees colonized northern continents via a complex history of vicariance and dispersal. The notable early absences from large landmasses, particularly in Australia and India, have important implications for understanding the assembly of local floras and diverse modes of pollination. How bees spread around the world from their hypothesized Southern Hemisphere origin parallels the histories of numerous flowering plant clades, providing an essential step to studying the evolution of angiosperm pollination syndromes in space and time.

Let's Talk About a New Urogenital Pathogen: Actinomyces Neuii

In traditional bacterial cultures of clinical samples, the presence of coryneform has often been considered as local flora, but it is well known that in patients with predisposing factors, these micro-organisms may have a pathogenic implication that would be underestimated. Among other causes, this is due to the difficulty in making an adequate identification to species level. The advent of mass spectrometry in clinical laboratories has greatly facilitated this task. We describe a clinical case of Actinomyces naoi urinary tract infection in an elderly multipath logical patient with urinary catheterization. For this purpose, a descriptive clinical-microbiological study of A. naoi as a pathogen was performed. It was identified by Maldi-TOF mass spectrometry. The clinical course was satisfactory after antibiotic treatment with amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. In urine cultures, if there is a significant monomicrobial count of choryneform micro-organisms, we should rule out microorganisms potentially involved in infection before reporting the result as local microbiota.

Mapping deforestation and recovery of tropical montane forests of East Africa

Deforestation poses a major threat to the tropical montane forest ecosystems of East Africa. Montane forests provide key and unique ecological and socio-economic benefits to the local communities and host diverse flora and fauna. There is evidence of ongoing deforestation and forest clearance in these montane forests although estimates diverge among different sources suggesting rates of 0.4%–3% yr−1. Quantifying deforestation rates and forest disturbance is critical to design conservation and sustainable management policies for forest management. This study quantified the rate of deforestation and forest recovery over the last three decades for the Mau Forest Complex and Mount Elgon forests in Kenya and Uganda using Landsat time-series satellite imagery. With the analysis, classification accuracies of 86.2% and 90.5% (kappa 0.81 and 0.88) were achieved for the Mau Forest Complex and the Mt Elgon forests, respectively. 21.9% (88,493 ha) of the 404,660 ha of Mau forest was lost at an annual rate of −0.82% yr−1 over the period between 1986 and 2017. More positively, 18.6% (75,438 ha) of the forest cover that was disturbed during the same period and is currently undergoing recovery. In Mt Elgon forest, 12.5% (27,201 ha) of 217,268 ha of the forest cover was lost to deforestation at an annual rate of −1.03% yr−1 for the period between 1984–2017 and 27.2% (59,047 ha) of the forest cover disturbed is undergoing recovery. The analysis further demonstrated agriculture (both smallholder and commercial) was the main driver of forest cover loss in Mau forest, accounting for 81.5% (70,612 ha) of the deforestation, of which 13.2% was due to large scale and 68.3% was related to the smallholders. For the Mt Elgon forest, agriculture was also the main driver accounting for 63.2% (24,077 ha) of deforestation followed by the expansion of human settlements that contributed to 14.7% (5,597 ha) of forest loss. This study provides accurate and novel estimates of the rate of deforestation for the Mau forest complex and Mt Elgon forest ecosystems. These rates are higher than previously estimated and recent deforestation has been identified, which provides a quantitative basis for forest restoration programs and to design conservation policies.

Reflection on the Implementation and Operation of the Anhanduí Ecological Park - Anhanduí Environmental Education Center in Campo Grande/MS

In facing urban expansion, actions were necessary, such as creating Urban Parks and Environmental Education Centers (CEAs), making them a reality in contemporary Brazil. In Campo Grande (MS), the public power created four CEAs in the 2010s, located in Linear Parks (Urban Parks), spaces rich in water sources, local flora, and fauna. This research aimed to identify the guidelines for implementing and operating the CEA Anhanduí and analyze the participatory activities advocated by the Municipal Environmental Education Program (PMEA) according to the current conservationist Environmental Education. The research found that the CEA has a physical structure, appropriate equipment, and a multitasking manager, but it still does not have a Pedagogical Political Project and a Sustainability Plan.

Skepi Creole Dutch

Abstract This paper presents new Skepi Creole Dutch data from the late-18th century, found in the work of the German scholar Ernst Karl Rodschied. The creole data include pronominal and verbal paradigms, a short 60-word excerpt from a private letter, and around two dozen names for local flora. After briefly introducing Rodschied, we present the data and compare them to the existing Skepi corpus.

Phenology of the Antyllis vulneraria L. in Moscow region

The research topic is the study of the biological characteristics of the local flora protected species Anthillis vulneraria L., under conditions of field experience in the Moscow region. The purpose of this research was to study the phenological cycle and the influence of meteorological factors on the timing and duration of phenophases. In the period from 2017 to 2022, a reduction in the duration of the shoot regrowth period, budding and flowering phases was revealed due to an increase in the sum of average daily temperatures and a decrease in precipitation. The resistance of plants to the conditions of the winter season in plants of the 1st-2nd year is 60-84 %, in plants of the 3rd year 50 %. A. vulneraria goes through a full phenological cycle in 175-190 days, blooms and bears fruit annually, forms a viable self-seeding, starting from the 2nd year of vegetation, grows in one place for up to 6 years, with the lifespan of individual plants up to 3 years. Pre-sowing preparation of seeds - wet stratification for 2 months, increases their germination rate to 53-65 %. The results of the study are relevant for maintaining the number of A. vulneraria that is a protected species of local natural flora in the Moscow region.

Fluctuating asymmetry of the Acer negundo L. leaf: an indicator of its state and the quality of the urban environment

The purpose of this study was to analyze the protective function of Acer negundo L. by assessing the indicators of developmental stability by fluctuating leave asymmetry depending on the value of the influence of anthropogenic factors. The materials were obtained from 25 test sites on areas that differed in the degree of road transport impact in 2018–2021 in Irkutsk. The values of the indicators of the developmental stability of each test site were determined as the average of the coefficients of fluctuating asymmetry, considering the eight characteristics of the leaves collected from them. These values indicate that A. negundo is sufficiently resistant to anthropogenic impacts, particularly the effects of emissions from road transport, compared with other types of phanerophytes involved in the landscaping of urbanized areas. The coefficient of weighted average of this indicator between sites in recreational areas and along highways was 1.33. The correlation coefficient between the values of development stability and the distance of growth of A. negundo from highways was r = –0.64±0.18, which confirms the average connection between these characteristics. Analysis of variance was used to assess the stability of tree development in four classes of traffic intensity (high, medium, low, and absent), determined through a correlation ratio, the level of which n = 0.70 demonstrates a high level of connection. To limit the implementation of A. negundo in the local flora, it is recommended that measures be gradually implemented to remove it from parks, squares, gardens, and adjacent territories, with the replacement of woody vegetation species that are well adapted to grow in these habitats.

Assessment of Sidi Abed mountain flora richness through endemic, rare and threatened species in Tiaret, Algeria

To present day, no study has been carried out on the local flora of the Sidi Abed Mountain. Situated southern the city of Tiaret considered as natural barrier before steppe area. Phyto-ecological surveys with 100 m2 Braun-Blanquet minimum area were conducted 75 species, belonging to 29 families and 66 genera has been established. Asteraceae (20%), Fabaceae (10.7), Poaceae (10.7), Lamiaceae (6.7%), Apiaceae (5.3%) and Asparagaceae (5.3) were the most representative families covering more than 50% of the inventoried families. Moreover, Therophytes (48%) are majorly dominant with a notable decrease of the phanerophytes (5,3%) and increase of Hemicryptophytes (22.7%). Predominance of the Mediterranean biogeographic type species with a percentage of (41.3%) followed by the Euro-Mediterranean (10.7%) and West-Mediterranean (10.7%) typical for Mediterranean semi-arid climate. 2 endemic species were present and rarity reached 9% combined of rare (4%) and quite rare (5%). Among the taxa analyzed, 8 are included in the International Union for Conservation of Nature red list with different status and 2 are on the Algerian list of protected non-cultivated species.

Assessment of the ecological state of green spaces of Almaty city on the example of Bostandyk district

The article provides an assessment of the ecological state of green spaces on the example of the Bostandyk district of Almaty. The total area of boulevards, squares and green areas of the Bostandyk district of Almaty today is 147.4 hectares. Bostandyk district of Almaty is one of the three greenest districts of Almaty after Medeu and Turksib districts. As our studies have shown, 95 % of green plantations of tree species in the Bostandyk district of Almaty are represented by introducers and a small part of local species — natives. The landscaping of the territory of the city of Almaty is represented by plantings of different types. These include groves, alleys, gardens, parks, boulevards, squares, green areas, intra-district gardening, street gardening. At the same time, a wide variety of species is observed in gardens, parks, boulevards, groves and a very small use of three or four species in landscaping streets. Among the tree plantations, 35 species are massive, which grow along all the streets, boulevards, squares of the Bostandyk district. From hardwoods: Populus nigra, Populus italica, Populus alba, Fraxinus excelsior and others. From the local natural flora grow — Armeniaca vulgaris, Prunus sogdiana, Fraxinus sogdiana, Rhamnus cathartica, Picea schrenkiana.

Monitoring of the condition of woody plants in the central part of the city of Donetsk

The dendroflora of Donetsk has been studied the species composition of trees in stands has been determined, the age structure of plantings has been analyzed, the life condition of green spaces has been assessed, as well as morphometric parameters of trees have been evaluated and models of age dependences of the allometric coefficient of trees, characterized by high indicators of adequacy to the initial data, have been proposed for the first time. As part of the linear plantings of the surveyed streets, 45 species of trees were identified, including 13 species of the indigenous fraction of the local flora belonging to 24 genera and 17 families. Dominant are Populus bolleana Lauche, Acer platanoides L., Betula pendula Roth, Acer pseudoplatanus L., Robinia pseudoacacia L., Aesculus hippocastanum L. and Picea pungens Engelm. The plantings are dominated by species of European (48,85%), North American (22,49%) and Central Asian (18,02%) origin. The most numerous in trees is the age group of 4049 years. The vital condition of 41% of trees with a fast and medium growth rate is assessed as good with minor signs of weakening, and 59% of plants are marked as severely weakened or dying. For slow-growing trees, 91% of the sample consists of healthy plants with minor signs of weakening.

Contribution of phenolics to the antioxidant potential of propolis from Tetragonula laeviceps and Tetragonula pegdeni and its correlation to the dominant plant sources in different regions in Thailand

Propolis is a natural product produced by bees and has antioxidant properties that depend on the local flora and the bee species. Propolis from two dominant stingless bee species in Thailand, Tetragonula laeviceps and Tetragonula pegdeni were collected from four locations in Ratchaburi province and one location in Chiangmai province, with different dominant plants at each location. Samples were extracted in methanol (MeOH) and sequentially partitioned with hexane, dichloromethane (DCM), and MeOH. All partitioned extracts were examined by three antioxidant methods: 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and ferric reducing ability (FRAP) assays. For the DPPH, the MeOH-partitioned extract of T. laeviceps from Bankha district (MPE7) was the most active [50% effective concentration (EC50) of 75.62 µg/mL), while the DCM-partitioned extract of T. pegdeni from Suan phueng district (DPE2) was the most active in the ABTS and FRAP assays (EC50 of 22.06 µg/mL and 10.23 mM/g, respectively). DPE2 also showed the highest phenolic and flavonoid contents (98.94 µg gallic acid equivalents/mg dry weight and 286.07 µg quercetin equivalents/mg, respectively). High performance liquid chromatography analysis revealed the identification and quantification of 12 phenolic compounds, with the highest concentration of vitexin in MPE7 and MPE5. Interestingly, kaempferol (5.16 µg/mg) was only detected in DPE2. The different antioxidant properties among sites are expected due to the specific flora in each location. Furthermore, the bioactivity of propolis extracts differs significantly between bee species in a similar location, suggesting that they have different flora preferences. These results verify the potential of extracts to effectively scavenge radicals.

Perception of riverside folk about environmental degradation in the Igaraçu river, Piauí, Brazil

Co-development of knowledge is a useful tool for addressing the management of complex social-ecological systems like the ribeirinhos (riverine communities) of Brazil. Incorporating local knowledge and environmental perception of ribeirinhos into assessments of river degradation can lead to management outcomes that better support human and ecosystem health. In the state of Piauí, Brazil, riverine people depend on the Igaraçu River for various subsistence needs. However, river pollution has increased. The objective of this study was to comprehend the perceptions of ribeirinhos regarding the environmental degradation of the Igaraçu River in Piauí and how they believed it affected their life and ecosystem. We conducted interviews with 79 informants to gather insights on environmental degradation, its causes, and consequences. The results were analyzed using a Loyalty Level (LL) metric. The majority of respondents (67.86%, n=38) perceived that degradation was indeed taking place. They attributed the primary causes of degradation to discarded garbage (LL= 74.41) and the discharge of polluted water (LL= 11.60). Informants reported that local fauna and flora (LL= 35.70) were being impacted by water contamination. However, despite their reliance on the river for sustenance, including food, water, and the harvesting of forest products, they did not perceive any significant harm to their livelihoods. This study demonstrates that individuals who have a direct dependency on local natural resources can offer firsthand data regarding environmental changes. However, additional efforts are required to assist local communities (those who directly utilize the local environment) in developing a deeper understanding of how environmental degradation impacts both the present and future of their communities, as well as their connection to the local ecosystem.

E-LKM Berbasis PBL (Problem Based Learning) dengan Muatan Potensi Lokal Flora Bangka Belitung Materi Bagian Tumbuhan dan Fungsinya

This study aims to develop a PBL-Based e-LKM with Local Potential Content of Bangka Belitung flora, plant parts and functions. The test subjects in this study were 15 students of the PGSD Study Program at the University of Muhammadiyah Bangka Belitung. The method used in this research is the ADDIE development model which consists of 5 stages including: 1) analyze; 2) design;3) develop; 4) implement; 5) evaluate. Data collection in this study used a Likert scale questionnaire to determine the feasibility of the product being assessed by material and media experts as well as a user response assessment questionnaire. The results show that the percentage obtained based on the assessment of media experts is 97.22% (very feasible), material experts 97.91% (very feasible) and user responses 92.29% (very feasible). It can be concluded that this e-LKM product can be used in the learning process in the Basic Science Concepts course.
 Keywords: Problem Based Learning, Local Potential Flora of Bangka Belitung

Biodiversity as an Outstanding Universal Value for Integrated Management of Natural and Cultural Heritage

UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre has set ten criteria for assessing Outstanding Universal Values (OUVs) for the inscription of properties on the World Heritage List. Recognising the growing challenge for heritage conservation and the need for professionals to work within systemic, holistic, and integrated frameworks in managing cultural heritage and using biodiversity as an OUV, this paper investigates how the intangible and tangible cultural and natural heritage of the Region of East Macedonia and Thrace, Greece is interconnected over the course of centuries. We review the evolution of the existing legislative framework to protect archaeological treasures and local flora and fauna and document the richness of ongoing ecological and biological processes in the region for strengthening the arguments for an integrated protection and management system. Locating the archaeological sites and monuments in protected natural zones and areas of exceptional beauty with the use of the open code QGIS programme and focusing on their description and analysis, the present research recommends their interlinked management under the leadership of a Joint Destination Management Organisation.

INVESTIGATION OF CHEMICAL CONTENT AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITIES OF DIFFERENT PLANT SOURCES OF ANATOLIAN PROPOLIS SAMPLES

The ethnopharmacological approach combined with chemical and biological methods can be a useful model in the field of pharmacology. One of these approaches, apitherapy, is the use of bee and hive products for therapeutic purposes. Propolis is among the best known of these bee products. The chemical composition of propolis varies according to the local or endemic flora, bee species, geographical origin and season. This study is to determine the antimicrobial activity differences between chestnut and polyfloral origin propolis against various pathogenic bacterial species. First of all, the Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was used for the determination of bioactive components known to be responsible for antimicrobial activity. Folin-Ciocalteu method and colorimetric aluminum chloride assay were used to determine the total phenolic (TP) and flavonoid (TF) amounts. 19 different pathogenic microorganisms were selected to test the antimicrobial activity levels of propolis samples with agar well diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) methods. TP and TF values of chestnut propolis (71.06 mg GAE/mL-11.75 mg QE/mL) were significantly higher than polyfloral sample (36.84 mg GAE/mL-7.04 mg QE/mL). Chrysin, a flavone derivative, was the most abundant compound in both samples. The MIC values of chestnut propolis ranged from 19.5 to 2500 µg/mL, while the MIC value of polyfloral origin propolis was between 39.06 and 5000 µg/mL. The most susceptible strain was Mycobacterium smegmatis for both samples with different concentration. Notably, it was observed that the botanical origins affect the chemical composition of propolis, and this situation can also be effect antibacterial and antifungal activity in respective propolis because of the different amount and diversity of bioactive compounds. Consequently, chestnut propolis is a promising candidate for drug discovery that can be used to treat some infectious diseases, including diseases related with resistant bacteria.

Measuring the threat from a distance: insight into the complexity and perspectives for implementing sentinel plantation to test the host range of Xylella fastidiosa

The sentinel plantation concept consists of assessing the impact of exotic factors, such as pests and pathogens, on plants of interest by planting them out of their native range. This tool is a way to enhance knowledge for pest risk analysis (PRA) by guiding decisions on how quarantine organisms should be regulated and where to focus prevention and surveillance efforts for an early detection. In this study, the sentinel method was used in the case of research on Xylella fastidiosa, a plant pathogenic bacterium that has recently been found established in southern Europe, but whose potential impact and possible host range are still poorly documented in northern areas where the bacterium is not known to occur. To improve knowledge on the susceptibility of potential hosts of X. fastidiosa in northern Europe, a sentinel plantation of Prunus domestica cv. Opal, Quercus petraea and Salix alba was established in the X. fastidiosa-infected area of Majorca. In order to assess the circulation of the bacterium in the sentinel plot and around it, surveys of the local flora and insect vectors were carried out, as well as the planting of a network of rosemary “spy plants”. Symptomatic monitoring and molecular analyses were performed on the sentinel plants for four years. During these years, X. fastidiosa was never detected in our sentinel plants most likely because of the low infectivity pressure recorded in the surroundings. This study underlines the complexity of conducting sentinel plantation assays combined with X. fastidiosa research, highlighting the need for long-term investigation and questioning the efficiency of the sentinel tool. However, this study is placed in perspective with other valuable sentinel plantations. It also highlights the complementarity of the tool and proposes elements to improve or re-orientate the implementation of future sentinel projects.

Açaí palm management disturbs seed rain and soil seed bank of an Amazonian estuarine forest

AbstractThe exploitation of non‐timber forest products has been proposed as a sustainable way to exploit tropical forests, but such an opportunity remains to be proved. Here, we examine the impact of intensive açaí palm (Euterpe oleracea) management on the seed rain and soil seed bank in an estuarine forest landscape with a long history of forest management by locals in the Amazon region. Seed rain (100 80 cm2 collectors) and soil seed bank (100 30 cm2 samples) were monitored through a year across 20 forest stands, covering a gradient of açaí stem density (50–3575 açaí stems per ha). Seed rain and bank were dominated by açaí seeds (85.5%–85.8%) and by excluding them, seed rain and bank were low density and species poor, capturing a tiny subset from the local (17.91%–19.40%) and landscape woody flora (11.82%–14.55%). Moreover, autochthonous and vertebrated‐dispersed predominated as well as those from tree species considered useful by locals. Overall, açaí stem density positively affected açaí seed abundance in the seed rain and negatively affected seed pools in the bank in relation to abundance of seeds and vertebrated dispersed, while adult tree species richness and density and accessibility to forest stands were associated with more diversified seed pools. Thereby, forest stands are exposed to different levels of açaí management (high vs. low intensity) supported taxonomically distinct seed pools. Our results suggest that açaí intensification disturbs seed rain and soil seed bank with potential impacts on forest regeneration and the forest integrity standards required to consider açaí fruit production as sustainable according to current legislation.

Fingerprinting Chemical Markers in the Mediterranean Orange Blossom Honey: UHPLC-HRMS Metabolomics Study Integrating Melissopalynological Analysis, GC-MS and HPLC-PDA-ESI/MS.

(1) Background: Citrus honey constitutes a unique monofloral honey characterized by a distinctive aroma and unique taste. The non-targeted chemical analysis can provide pivotal information on chemical markers that differentiate honey based on its geographical and botanical origin. (2) Methods: Within the PRIMA project "PLANT-B", a metabolomics workflow was established to unveil potential chemical markers of orange blossom honey produced in case study areas of Egypt, Italy, and Greece. In some of these areas, aromatic medicinal plants were cultivated to enhance biodiversity and attract pollinators. The non-targeted chemical analysis and metabolomics were conducted using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS). (3) Results: Forty compounds were disclosed as potential chemical markers, enabling the differentiation of the three orange blossom honeys according to geographical origin. Italian honey showed a preponderance of flavonoids, while in Greek honey, terpenoids and iridoids were more abundant than flavonoids, except for hesperidin. In Egyptian honey, suberic acid and a fatty acid ester derivative emerged as chemical markers. New, for honey, furan derivatives were identified using GC-MS in Greek samples. (4) Conclusions: The application of UHPLC-HRMS metabolomics combined with an elaborate melissopalynological analysis managed to unveil several potential markers of Mediterranean citrus honey potentially associated with citrus crop varieties and the local indigenous flora.

A Combined Approach Using Water Quality Indexes and Statistical Analyses to Assess the Urban Surface Runoff: a Case Study in São Paulo Coastal Zone, Brazil

Although the most conventional methods to determine the quality of an aquatic ecosystem are aimed to evaluate its physicochemical, microbiological and ecotoxicological characteristics, the monitoring of a large number of environmental variables can represent a high cost for developing countries like Brazil. However, a combined approach using water quality indexes and statistical analyses may help us to monitor water quality through a previous selection of a few key environmental variables. In this context, the objective of this study was to highlight the set of environmental variables most useful to assess the urban channels water quality of Guarujá, Brazil, whose diffuse loads flow continuously into four tourist beaches (Tombo, Enseada, Perequê and Iporanga). For this purpose, three different methods were applied: (i) an existent published large data set (30 environmental variables: 28 physicochemical/microbiological, plus 2 ecotoxicological) obtained during a previous monitoring of the urban drainage channels of these beaches; (ii) the potential risks for the aquatic local fauna and flora through established water quality indexes, such as IMPC, TSI and ALPI; and (iii) through statistical methods such as Cohen D test, Standardized Odds Ratio and Logistic Regression, the set of environmental variables with the greatest potential to cause acute and chronic toxicity in urban channels waters. This combined approach using water quality indexes and statistical analyses was effective to successfully reduce the number of environmental variables needed to assess the ecological status of this coastal area. Moreover, this combined approach was useful to gather intuitive and user-friendly environmental information that could help decision makers (i.e., public authorities and environmental agencies) to plan and perform low-cost and effective monitoring plans in different coastal zones worldwide, namely in developing countries such as Brazil.