Pinheiros River Research Articles

Concentration levels of atmospheric contaminants in Brazilian cities measured by passive sampling

Measurements of air pollutants were made using passive sampling in Brazilian urban centers. The levels of SO2 and NO2 exceeded the WHO recommendations in São Paulo (SP), Londrina and Rio de Janeiro. Formaldehyde concentrations exceeded international recommendations in all urban centers and benzene concentrations exceeded 1.7 μg m−3, level associated with the probability of leukemia, according to the WHO. Sewage discharge in the Pinheiros River - SP and in Lake Pampulha - BH contributed to higher levels of H2S and NH3 in these urban centers. The BH atmosphere was also influenced by emissions from landfills. Organic and inorganic acids contributed similarly to atmospheric acidity. 71% of the calculated ratios between concentrations of formic and acetic acids were < 1, demonstrating the predominant influence of vehicle emissions on the atmospheric levels of these acids. Multivariate analysis showed that VOCs and organic acids are more influenced by temperature and solar radiation. The stronger direct relationship of NOx was with wind direction, showing competition between local emission and photochemical aging of these compounds brought from other locations. On a global scale, studies of this type are necessary and important to increase the accuracy of exposure estimates in different places where people live.

Spatio-temporal variability of water quality in Billings Reservoir Central Body - São Paulo, Brazil

The Billings Reservoir is an important water body for public supply of the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo, Brazil, and water captation for public supply is located in the Rio Grande environmental compartment. This article evaluates the water quality of the environmental compartment Central Body I of the Billings Reservoir, which receives the reversed waters from the polluted Pinheiros River, at four sampling points with different contributions from the surroundings, seeking to verify the influence of seasonality on water quality and whether there was a difference in water quality between the sampling points. Water sampling was carried out on the surface at four points, in a longitudinal profile, covering two periods (dry and rainy) distributed in six samplings between 2016 and 2019. Analyzed variables included temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, electrical conductivity, chlorophyll-a and nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen). Space-Time Interaction tests revealed that physicochemical variables did not vary due to the interaction between sampling periods and points, but several variables varied significantly during the sampling period. The results of the Trophic State Index show that waters of Central Body I are classified as Hypereutrophic, highlighting the degradation of water quality in this compartment. This research will better inform public managers and assist their efforts to minimize and mitigate the effects of progressive water quality degradation in this reservoir.&#x0D; Keywords: eutrophication, Pinheiros river, urban reservoir.

Taquacetuba Compartment of Billings Reservoir (SP, Brazil): differential influence of the main water body and tributaries in the water quality

Abstract Aim This research evaluated the water quality of the Taquacetuba Compartment, Billings Reservoir (Brazil), through analyzes of water quality data. The Taquacetuba Compartment has multiple uses such as public water supply and professional fishing activity and is of fundamental importance for the population of São Paulo State. Methods Sampling were conducted at the Compartment entrance (P1), close to the collecting point for public water supply transposition (P2), and in the mouths of the main tributaries (P3 - P6) forming the Compartment. Samplings were concentrated in the wet and dry periods of 2017. The physical and chemical variables measured were temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, electrical conductivity, turbidity, chlorophyll α, ammonia nitrogen, nitrite, nitrate, total nitrogen, orthophosphate and total phosphorus. Results The Taquacetuba Compartment exhibited impaired water quality evidenced by high electrical conductivity, chlorophyll α and total phosphorus, above the legislation limits, classifying the sampling point as super or hyper eutrophic condition. The P1 sampling point presented the greatest environmental stress with worse water quality during the rainy season, while the other points (P2 - P6) showed an improvement during rainfalls. The P5 and P6, located at the tributaries mouth of the Monos and Curucutu River respectively, presented the best environmental conditions, evidenced by tendency to higher oxygen levels and lower turbidity in the rainy period. Conclusions From the observed result, we recognized two principal sources responsible for the impairment of the water quality in the Taquacetuba Compartment: i) the contribution from the central body of Billing Reservoir, related to the greater negative influence of the water pumping from the Pinheiros River with great organic load, especially in the wet period, and ii) the contribution from the tributaries, being that the Monos and Curucutu tributaries, as they are in an indigenous reserve area have better water quality. This study recognize the importance of land use and soil occupation around the tributaries and contribute with original data to support management measures for improving water quality in the Taquacetuba Compartment.

Green Gentrification and Environmental Injustice: A Discussion Based on the New Pinheiros River Program, São Paulo, Brazil

Through the analysis of the New Pinheiros River Program, São Paulo, Brazil, the differences in the solutions presented are considered to implement environmental projects in different territories over the same sub-basin. Vulnerable neighborhoods upstream will receive only basic infrastructure; while Marginal Pinheiros, a rich place, will be contemplated with aditional leisure, sports and cultural equipments. The general aim is to analyze the process of capitalist production of the Pinheiros River depolluting program area, proposed by the São Paulo State government in 2019, as well as green gentrification and creation of environmental injustice. Methodology consists of bibliographic research and analysis of the program's documents and speeches of people in charge. Global South cities have been experimenting environmental injustice as a result of financial capital investments.

Bacterial community composition and potential pathogens along the Pinheiros River in the southeast of Brazil

The Pinheiros River in São Paulo, Brazil, crosses through the capital city and has its confluence with the River Tiete, which comprises several reservoirs along its course. Although Pinheiros River is considered one of the heaviest polluted rivers in Brazil, little is known about its bacterial composition, their metabolic functions or how these communities are affected by the physicochemical parameters of the river. In this study, we used the 16S rRNA gene Illumina MiSeq sequencing to profile the bacterial community from the water surface at 11 points along the course of the River. Taxonomical composition revealed an abundance of Proteobacteria phyla, followed by Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, with a total of 233 classified bacterial families and 558 known bacterial genera. Among the 35 potentially pathogenic bacteria identified, Arcobacter was the most predominant genus. The disrupted physicochemical parameters detected in this study may possibly contribute to the composition and distribution of the bacterial community in the Pinheiros River. Predictive functional analysis suggests the River is abundant in motility genes, including bacterial chemotaxis and flagellar assembly. These results provide novel and detailed insights into the bacterial communities and putative function of the surface water in the Pinheiros River.

Study of fluvial water treatability using γ-polyglutamic acid based biopolymer coagulant.

Successful treatment of surface water for public use requires the evaluation of raw water and coagulant efficacy. The purpose of water treatment is to remove impurities, allowing its quality to be classified to meet the needs of the population. The conditions of urban rivers that flow though the city of São Paulo, which were already undergoing major transformations, particularly due to intense urbanization, have deteriorated further due to the precariousness of basic sanitation and increasing environmental pollution.This study focused on an analysis of the efficiency of PGα21Ca, a water purification product, in the treatment of Pinheiros River water, based on coagulation-flocculation and sedimentation tests. The biopolymer PGα21Ca reduced in the order of 100% the total phosphorus. The best sedimentation velocity for the coagulant under study was 1 cm min-1. The PGα21Ca performed well in the removal of turbidity and apparent color, with residual turbidity ​​of 1.84 NTU, 96.95% removal of apparent color, and little change in the pH of the medium.

MONITORING OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY OF SURFACE WATERS IN THE PINHEIROS RIVER, RMSP, BRAZIL

The chemical, physical and biological contaminants that are described in many impact studies in aquatic environments show that these can come from a variety of sources, but mainly from urban anthropogenic activities. These contaminants can accumulate in the matrices that compound the environments, such as surface waters. The environmental monitoring of these waters is important since the National Policy of Water Resources has the need to ensure that they are passed on with quality, in their multiple uses, to future generations. The city of São Paulo, located in southeastern Brazil, is part of the main hydrographic basin of the State - Alto Tietê Hydrographic Basin. Among the main rivers that make up this basin is the Pinheiros River, which according to 357/05 CONAMA Resolution is classified, according to the Water Quality Index, as a Class-4 river – less demanding uses to the population. The data of this study were obtained by performing of 2 superficial water sampling campaigns in distinct seasonal periods. Some of the main physicochemical parameters were evaluated whose results reflect the river hydrodynamic behavior and are evidenced by the poor quality of its waters.

The Jaguaré Creek Revitalization Project: Transforming São Paulo through a Green Stormwater Infrastructure

The surrender of environment and landscape to the pressure of fast rural-urban transition has labelled São Paulo as the ‘Metropolis of Polluted Waters’ worldwide. How can the largest city in Latin America consider this issue of metropolitan dimensions: recover its large sewage rivers and reframe for resilience? The Jaguaré Creek Revitalization Project understands that this recovery depends on a fractionated, but integrated performance over all territories that generate pollution to water resources. Jaguaré Creek watershed corresponds to only 1/10 of the total 270km2 drainage area of Pinheiros River, one of the two main watercourses crossing Greater São Paulo and that is channeled in all its 25Km length. Its waters carry significant load of domestic and industrial sewage and other non-point sources as well. Regarding the failure of all previous public efforts, reversing this scenario requires innovation and an integrated system made of coordinated actions and based on technology, urban planning and advocacy. In order to restore this pilot watershed, the Jaguaré Project is coordinated by Águas Claras do Rio Pinheiros Organization and developed by a multidisciplinary team of researchers including engineers, landscape architects, urban planners, managers, among others, acting in two complementary fronts: 1. Interception and combined treatment of stormwater and sewage illegally discharged into underground drainage system; 2. Non-source point pollution control and runoff management through a Green Stormwater Infrastructure. For this second front, pollutant loads will be measured by runoff samples collected in predefined catchment areas. By associating the sample analysis results with the land use typologies within these areas, surface pollution loads may be quantified for the whole Jaguaré watershed. The sizing of the problem will lead to an optimized distribution of stormwater management LID structures. Rain gardens, bioswales, retention ponds, green roofs and pervious pavements will convey, filter, retain and infiltrate stormwater, respecting the most suitable drainage function to physical and environmental conditions. They will form a green network for urban drainage with greater bond with nature processes, landscape and people. By restoring creeks, São Paulo reclaims its rivers. By saving the rivers, the city will move towards transformation.

PROPOSTA DE ZONEAMENTO AMBIENTAL APLICADO À MICROBACIA DO RIO VARGEM DOS PINHEIROS, ANGELINA, SANTA CATARINA, SUL DO BRASIL

A microbacia do rio Vargem dos Pinheiros, localizada no município de Angelina no Estado de Santa Catarina possui atributos ambientais que são marcantes em seu território. Ao mesmo tempo, atividades antrópicas potencialmente degradantes à paisagem natural exercem uma pressão cada vez mais constante em tais atributos. Diante deste contexto, o objetivo do presente estudo é desenvolver uma proposta de zoneamento ambiental aplicado na referida microbacia, respeitando as condicionantes ambientais e considerando os usos já consolidados. Para isto, a metodologia utilizada neste estudo baseou-se em Souza (2004), considerando ainda a declividade, o uso e ocupação do solo e as restrições legais referentes às Áreas de Preservação Permanente (APPs) como fatores determinantes na delimitação das zonas. Realizaram-se, dessa forma, mapeamentos temáticos com o auxílio de técnicas de geoprocessamento e trabalhos de campo obtendo como principal resultado o delineamento de Zonas Especiais de Interesse Ambiental como proposta de zoneamento ambiental aplicado à microbacia do rio Vargem dos Pinheiros. Como resultado final chegou-se à proposição de quatro zonas definidas em Zona de Interesse de Proteção Ambiental (com 79,35% do território avaliado), Zona de Interesse de Controle Ambiental (com 6,92% do território avaliado), Zona de Interesse de Reabilitação Ambiental (com 12,28% do território avaliado) e Zona de Interesse de Adequação Ambiental (com 1,45% do território avaliado). Espera-se com tais resultados poder contribuir durante o processo de tomada de decisões dos gestores públicos em intervenções que visem o desenvolvimento do espaço territorial de forma sustentável e racional, respeitando as condicionantes ambientais e considerando os usos já consolidados.

Population structure of Sinelobus cf. stanfordi (Crustacea, Tanaidacea) from Pinheiros River mangrove, Guaratuba Bay, southern Brazil

An analysis of the population structure of the tanaid Sinelobus cf. stanfordi was performed at Pinheiros River mangrove, Guaratuba Bay, Paraná State, southern Brazil (25°49′S 48°34′W). Fifteen samples of 12 × 12 cm were obtained bimonthly from the surface of galleries (interconnected burrow complex) constructed by the adult mangrove crab Ucides cordatus from June 2007 to April 2008. The carapace length (CL) of a total of 714 tanaids was measured. Tanaids were divided into four demographic categories: males (M), ovigerous females (OV), preparatory females (PREP) and non-reproductive individuals (NREP) with a mean CL of 0.55, 0.49, 0.48 and 0.43 mm, respectively. In the NREP group, specimens smaller than 0.32 mm were classified as juveniles. NREP predominated in all sampling months, and among sexually mature individuals, a strong predominance of females was observed throughout the study period. Temporal fluctuations in abundance were observed, with a peak in August 2007. The reproductive period of this species is continuous, with a peak in the summer, like most S. cf. stanfordi populations.

Urbanização e industrialização: rios de São Paulo

A hidroeletricidade foi um suporte essencial para a industrialização de São Paulo. The São Paulo Tramway Light and Power Co. Ltd., empresa canadense que operou em regime de concessão no Brasil, viabilizou a montagem do sistema em cuja base estava o aproveitamento do potencial hidráulico da Bacia do Alto Tietê. Neste breve ensaio recupero momentos de uma pesquisa maior para mostrar os impulsos gerados e suas implicações em diferentes esferas da vida social. Interessou particularmente trazer à luz a questão da inversão do curso do Rio Pinheiros, condição essencial para realizar a captação das águas do Tietê.

Integrated solutions for urban runoff pollution control in Brazilian metropolitan regions

One of the most important causes for poor water quality in urban rivers in Brazil is the low collection efficiency of the sewer system due to unforeseen interconnections with the stormwater drainage system. Since the beginning of the 20th century, Brazilian cities have adopted separate systems for sanitary sewers and stormwater runoff. Gradually these two systems became interconnected. A major challenge faced today by water managers in Brazil is to find efficient and low cost solutions to deal with this mixed system. The current situation poses an important threat to the improvement of the water quality in urban rivers and lakes. This article presents an evaluation of the water quality parameters and the diffuse pollution loads during rain events in the Pinheiros River, a tributary of the Tietê River in São Paulo. It also presents different types of integrated solutions for reducing the pollution impact of combined systems, based on the European experience in urban water management. An evaluation of their performance and a comparison with the separate system used in most Brazilian cities is also presented. The study is based on an extensive water quality monitoring program that was developed for a special investigation in the Pinheiros River and lasted 2.5 years. Samples were collected on a daily basis and water quality variables were analyzed on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. Two hundred water quality variables were monitored at 53 sampling points. During rain events, additional monitoring was carried out using an automated sampler. Pinheiros River is one of the most important rivers in the São Paulo Metropolitan Region and it is also a heavily polluted one.

Contiguous urban rivers should not be necessarily submitted to the same management plan: the case of Tietê and Pinheiros Rivers (São Paulo-Brazil)

The management of urban water resources plays an important role for developing countries. The Tietê and Pinheiros Rivers (São Paulo, Brazil) are affected by domestic and industrial effluents and by the diffuse pollution. This research aimed to quantify 134 variables in the water of Tietê and Pinheiros Rivers (approximately 7,200 and 6,600 analyses, respectively) from August 2007 to December 2008. The idea was to verify if the fact that both rivers are located in the same basin is enough to consider the application of a single management plan for both. Data showed that the rivers presented significant anthropogenic interference. The results suggested that such rivers must be subjected to individual management plans since there were exclusive occurrences (variables that were only detected in one of the rivers). Moreover, there was a statistically significant difference between rainy and dry periods for eleven variables (p*<0.05, ANOVA), reinforcing the special importance of the temporal component within the monitoring program. It is expected that this study subsidize environmental recovery programs in the Tietê River, to which is recommendable to focus on prosecution of illegal wastewater releases, and in the Pinheiros River, to which special attention is suggested to the pollution derived from the pesticides load to the water body.

Sediment-contact fish embryo toxicity assay with Danio rerio to assess particle-bound pollutants in the Tietê River Basin (São Paulo, Brazil)

The Tietê River and its tributary Pinheiros River receive a highly complex organic and inorganic pollutants load from sanitary sewage and industrial sources, as well as agricultural and agroindustrial activities. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the embryotoxic and teratogenic effects of sediments from selected locations in the Tietê River Basin by means of the sediment contact embryo toxicity assay with Danio rerio, in order to provide a comprehensive and realistic insight into the bioavailable hazard potential of these sediment samples. Lethal and sub-lethal effects were recorded, and high embryo toxicity could be found in the samples not only in the vicinity of the megacity São Paulo (Billings reservoir and Pinheiros River samples), but also downstream (in the reservoirs Barra Bonita, Promissão and Três Irmãos). Results confirm that most toxicity is due to the discharges of the metropolitan area of São Paulo. However, they also indicate additional sources of pollutants along the river course, probably from industrial, agricultural and agroindustrial residues, which contribute to the degradation of each area. The sediment contact fish embryo test showed to be powerful tool to detect embryo toxicity in sediments, not only by being a sensitive method, but also for taking into account bioavailability. This test provides an ecological highly realistic and relevant exposure scenario, and should therefore be added in ecotoxicological sediment quality assessments.

Spatial evaluation of water quality in an urban reservoir (Billings Complex, southeastern Brazil)

AIM: The study aimed at (a) contributing to a spatial evaluation of the Billings Complex water quality; (b) associating information on the geochemistry of the surface sediments; and (c) providing, based on previous studies, a temporal evaluation of the Complex's water quality since the Pinheiros River pumping restriction; METHODS: sampling was performed at 12 sites: 2 in the Central body (CB), 3 in the Taquacetuba branch (TQ), 3 in the Rio Pequeno branch (RP) and 4 in the Rio Grande Reservoir (RG). Water samples were taken along a vertical profile during the winter (August 2009) and summer (February 2010) and in the surface sediments (2 cm) during the winter. Physical and chemical characteristics of water and sediments were evaluated. Lamparelli's Trophic State Index (TSI) was calculated; RESULTS: limnological variability was mostly affected by the season. The spatial heterogeneity of the Complex was more pronounced during winter, with greater differences among its compartments. Nitrogen was higher in the winter, whereas in the summer there was a substantial phosphorus increase along with a nitrogen decrease. The most degraded compartments, associated with the highest nutrient levels, were CB and TQ. In contrast, the upstream region of the RP branch was considered a reference site (the least impacted) for the Complex; CONCLUSION: The Billings Complex ranged from mesotrophic (RP) or eutrophic (RG) to super-eutrophic (CC, TQ). High TSI variation also occurred within compartments and/or depending on the season, mainly associated with the human management of the Complex. The surface sediments underlined the differences observed between the extremes in the Billings Complex water quality, as well as providing additional information on other impacts that was not observed from the water analysis. A slight improvement in the water quality of the Central body and the Taquacetuba branch has been observed since 2009, possibly associated with the Pinheiros River flotation project.

On site flotation for recovering polluted aquatic systems: is it a feasible solution for a Brazilian urban river?

Pinheiros River (Brazil) plays a pivotal role in supplying water to Billings Reservoir, which presents multiple uses (human drinking, energy generation, irrigation, navigation, fishing and leisure). An intense monitoring program was performed during the years 2007 and 2008 to find out whether on site flotation is a feasible solution or not for improving the water quality of this urban river, attenuating the pollutants load caused by the water pumping to the reservoir (approximately 10 m³ s⁻¹). The monitoring of 18 variables (13,429 laboratorial analysis during the period of 490 days), suggested that despite the convenience of the on site approach for water treatment, especially for rivers located in fully urbanized areas, the flotation system is not enough itself to recover Pinheiros River water quality, given the several constraints that apply. Total phosphorus removal was high in percentage terms (about 90%), although the remaining concentrations were not so low (mean of 0.05 mg L⁻¹). The removal efficiency of some variables was insufficient, leading to high final mean concentrations of metals [e.g. aluminium (0.29 mg L⁻¹), chromium (0.02 mg L⁻¹) and iron (1.1 mg L⁻¹)] as well as nitrogen-ammonia (25.8 mg L⁻¹) and total suspended solids (18 mg L⁻¹) in the treated water.

Infraestrutura Verde em São Paulo: o caso do Corredor Verde Ibirapuera-Villa Lobos

The present work develops the concept of Green Infrastructure applied to the system of green spaces in São Paulo city, focusing, more specifically, the area of the Pinheiros River valley. Particularly considers the Ibirapuera and Villa Lobos parks as the main core areas of the green infrastructure, which are joined by a great Green Corridor, structured by bike lanes and ecological pavements pedestrian paths, covering several areas of Moema and Vila Leopoldina districts (at right shoulder) as well as Morumbi and Butantã (at left shoulder), alternated with garden districts and dotted with parks, institutional areas, clubs and zones of intense socio-cultural activities.

Changes in toxicity and dioxin-like activity of sediments from the Tietê River (São Paulo, Brazil)

Acute cytotoxicity (neutral red assay), AhR-mediated toxicity (CYP P450 1A induction potential—EROD assay) and concentrations of PAHs were recorded in RTL-W1 cells to assess the ecotoxicological potential of sediments from reservoirs along the Tietê River and the Pinheiros River (Brazil). Almost all sediments tested induced cytotoxicity and stimulated cytochrome P450-associated EROD activity. Toxicity increases from Tietê River spring to São Paulo city region and decreases towards downstream. A closer analysis of chemical measurements of PAHs and results from bioassay revealed that the PAHs analyzed could not explain more than 7% of the EROD-inducing potencies. Results confirm that most of the toxicity is due to the discharges of the metropolitan area of São Paulo. Moreover, they indicate additional sources of pollutants along the river course, which contribute to the degradation of each reservoir.

Susceptibilidade de Populações de Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae) Sujeitas ao Controle com Bacillus sphaericus Neide no Rio Pinheiros, São Paulo

Located in Sao Paulo city, the Pinheiros River is a large urban breed of the mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus, and such situation has been worsening since its water pumping to the Billings dam was interrupted. The local Center for Zoonosis Control launched in 2002 a new control program using chemical adulticides and a biological larvicide (Vectolex G, potency 650 BsITU/mg) based on Bacillus sphaericus. It is presented here a first evaluation on the susceptibility of C. quinquefasciatus larvae from Pinheiros River after 16 to 18 applications of Vectolex G. The mosquito susceptibility baseline to B. sphaericus was initially established for a population from an area never exposed to control (population UNICAMP, Campinas, SP). The susceptibility of two populations from the Pinheiros River (under the bridges Guido Caloi – PGUICAL and Eusebio Matoso– PEUSMAT) was accessed. Serial dilutions from 0.00312 to 0.2 mg/L from a Vectolex WDG stock solution (10,000 mg/L) were used in four replicates of 30 larvae (L3 and L4) each. The values for LC50 and LC90 to PGUICAL population are little above (respectively 2.85 and 2.66 times) and for the PEUSMAT population are close (respectively 0.60 and 1.34 times) of the values for UNICAMP population. Resistance ratios for both PGUICAL and PEUSMAT populations are in accordance to Culex populations susceptible to B. sphaericus, indicating that this larvicide could still be used.

Fish predation on brachyuran larvae and juveniles in the Pinheiros river, Guaratuba Bay, Paraná, Brazil

Fish predation is thought to exert an important influence on the demographical dynamics of larvae and juveniles of estuarine brachyuran crabs but few studies have investigated this phenomenon in nature. In this study, fishes were captured during full moons (in January and February 2005), when many brachyuran species are known to release their larvae. Samples were carried out in the Pinheiros river, Guaratuba Bay, Paraná, Brazil. The stomach contents of collected fishes were surveyed to determine the species that are most likely to prey on brachyuran immature forms in this location. Two techniques were used to capture fishes: manual samplings, using a 5-mm mesh size net (1.8m depth), and bottom trawling with a 20-mm mesh size net. The collected specimens were fixed using 10% formaldehyde and preserved in 70% ethanol. A total of 2941 fishes of 43 different species were collected and the stomach contents of 962 individuals were analyzed in laboratory. Food items were identified and quantified. The fish species captured using manual nets that showed the highest number of preyed zoeae per stomach was the clupeid Platanichthys platana (Regan, 1917). Sphoeroides testudineus (Linnaeus, 1758) and Centropomus parallelus Poey, 1860 showed the highest levels of predation on megalopae. Of the fish species captured using trawl nets, Genidens genidens (Cuvier, 1829) showed the highest average number of zoeae per analyzed stomach and Bairdiella ronchus (Cuvier, 1830) was the most important predator on brachyuran megalopae and on young juveniles. The obtained data indicate that brachyuran crab restocking efforts performed in the Guaratuba Bay should include strategies to avoid or, at least, reduce the access of fishes to the released early juvenile stages, given the potential substantial losses caused by fish predation. Considering that, in general, predation potential was 8.5 times lower in juveniles than in megalopae, releasing immature forms produced in laboratory in the juvenile phase or releasing megalopae into tethered areas and maintaining than under this condition until they reach the juvenile phase may be tested as a method to reduce losses given to fish predation.