Tropical Aquatic Environments Research Articles

Are passive collectors effective samplers of microbes in natural aquatic systems?

Biodiversity surveys of aquatic systems often include DNA metabarcoding analyses of environmental samples that are collected through filtration of large volumes of water. The standard practice of sterile collection and filtration in or near the field sites is challenging to implement in remote locations, and filtration of large volumes is a limiting step, especially for water from highly productive systems or with high suspended sediment loads. Recent trials have shown that passive samplers can be effective for aquatic metabarcoding to document metazoan diversity, but that this approach needs to be trialed under a wider variety of conditions and across more diverse taxa. Here we assess the utility of passive sampling for documenting the diversity of bacteria in six tropical aquatic environments (one lake, one reservoir, two mountain streams and two blackwater rivers). We find that passive collectors generally recover significantly higher diversity of Bacteria compared to filtered samples, despite capturing significantly less overall DNA than active water filtering. However, the communities captured by the two methods show significant differences within sites, with only 26% of the Bacteria ASVs recovered by both methods. These differences were largely driven by relative abundances of taxa within Actinobacteriota, Campilobacterota, Desulfobacterota, and Proteobacteria. Our results demonstrate that passive collectors can be a cost-effective solution for monitoring aquatic microbial diversity but that the two methods are not interchangeable. Additional work is necessary to understand the selectivity of both passive collectors and active water filtering for eDNA studies.

Genetic traits and transmission of antimicrobial resistance characteristics of cephalosporin resistant Escherichia coli in tropical aquatic environments

This study investigates the genetic traits and transmission mechanisms of cephalosporin-resistant Escherichia coli in tropical aquatic environments in Singapore. From 2016 to 2020, monthly samples were collected from wastewater treatment plants, marine niches, community sewage, beaches, reservoirs, aquaculture farms, and hospitals, yielding 557 isolates that were analyzed for antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) using genomic methods. Findings reveal significant genotypic similarities between environmental and hospital-derived strains, particularly the pandemic E. coli ST131. Environmental strains exhibited high levels of intrinsic resistance mechanisms, including mutations in porins and efflux pumps, with key ARGs such as CMY-2 and NDM-9 predominantly carried by MGEs, which facilitate horizontal gene transfer. Notably, pathogenic EPEC and EHEC strains were detected in community sewage and aquaculture farms, posing substantial public health risks. This underscores the critical role of these environments as reservoirs for multidrug-resistant pathogens and emphasizes the interconnectedness of human activities and environmental health.

Distribution Profile of Benthic Macroinvertebrates in Some Rivers of Yaoundé City and Its Surroundings Using Self Organizing Map and Indicator value methods

Urban sprawl leads to the degradation of aquatic environments and, consequently, to the destruction of biodiversity. With the aim of highlighting the distribution profile of benthic macroinvertebrates in the city of Yaoundé and its surroundings according to the level of degradation, this study was carried out in seven rivers. A total of 144 taxa of benthic macroinvertebrates, belonging to 74 families, 15 orders, five classes, and three phyla, were collected from seven rivers in urban, peri-urban, and forest environments on Yaoundé and its surroundings. The self-organizing map (SOM) analysis tool was used to group the collected taxa from all stations into three clusters or affinity cores. The indicator value analysis (IndVal) method was employed to determine, based on their ecological preferences, which organisms were most likely to belong to each group. Out of the 144 collected taxa, only 44 were indicated to represent the three different groups. Thus, three communities were defined: the Hydropsyche community, with Hydropsyche sp. as the predominant taxon in Group III, characterizing well-oxygenated and low-mineralized stations; the Hydrocyrius community, where the species Hydrocyrius sp. predominates in Group I, describing stations with low oxygenation and moderate mineralization; and the Lumbriculidae community, where Lumbriculidae is the taxon associated with environments with high mineralization and critical oxygenation. These two methods contribute to the biomonitoring of tropical aquatic environments, firstly by grouping organisms by affinity and then identifying those that reflect the environment conditions. This facilitates the detection of changes in the quality of hydrosystems and guides management and conservation efforts.

Exploring uncharted territory: new frontiers in environmental DNA for tropical fisheries management.

Tropical ecosystems host a significant share of global fish diversity contributing substantially to the global fisheries sector. Yet their sustainable management is challenging due to their complexity, diverse life history traits of tropical fishes, and varied fishing techniques involved. Traditional monitoring techniques are often costly, labour-intensive, and/or difficult to apply in inaccessible sites. These limitations call for the adoption of innovative, sensitive, and cost-effective monitoring solutions, especially in a scenario of climate change. Environmental DNA (eDNA) emerges as a potential game changer for biodiversity monitoring and conservation, especially in aquatic ecosystems. However, its utility in tropical settings remains underexplored, primarily due to a series of challenges, including the need for a comprehensive barcode reference library, an understanding of eDNA behaviour in tropical aquatic environments, standardized procedures, and supportive biomonitoring policies. Despite these challenges, the potential of eDNA for sensitive species detection across varied habitats is evident, and its global use is accelerating in biodiversity conservation efforts. This review takes an in-depth look at the current state and prospects of eDNA-based monitoring in tropical fisheries management research. Additionally, a SWOT analysis is used to underscore the opportunities and threats, with the aim of bridging the knowledge gaps and guiding the more extensive and effective use of eDNA-based monitoring in tropical fisheries management. Although the discussion applies worldwide, some specific experiences and insights from Indian tropical fisheries are shared to illustrate the practical application and challenges of employing eDNA in a tropical context.

Eukaryotic algal community composition in tropical environments from solar salterns to the open sea

Tropical environments with unique abiotic and biotic factors—such as salt ponds, mangroves, and coral reefs—are often in close proximity. The heterogeneity of these environments is reflected in community shifts over short distances, resulting in high biodiversity. While phytoplankton assemblages physically associated with corals, particularly their symbionts, are well studied, less is known about phytoplankton diversity across tropical aquatic environments. We assess shifts in phytoplankton community composition along inshore to offshore gradients by sequencing and analyzing 16S rRNA gene amplicons using primers targeting the V1-V2 region that capture plastids from eukaryotic phytoplankton and cyanobacteria, as well as heterotrophic bacteria. Microbial alpha diversity computed from 16S V1-V2 amplicon sequence variant (ASV) data from 282 samples collected in and around Curaçao, in the Southern Caribbean Sea, varied more within the dynamic salt ponds, salterns, and mangroves, compared to the seemingly stable above-reef, off-reef, and open sea environments. Among eukaryotic phytoplankton, stramenopiles often exhibited the highest relative abundances in mangrove, above-reef, off-reef, and open sea environments, where cyanobacteria also showed high relative abundances. Within stramenopiles, diatom amplicons dominated in salt ponds and mangroves, while dictyochophytes and pelagophytes prevailed above reefs and offshore. Green algae and cryptophytes were also present, and the former exhibited transitions following the gradient from inland to offshore. Chlorophytes and prasinophyte Class IV dominated in salt ponds, while prasinophyte Class II, includingMicromonas commodaandOstreococcusClade OII, had the highest relative abundances of green algae in mangroves, above-reef, off-reef, and the open sea. To improve Class II prasinophyte classification, we sequenced 18S rRNA gene amplicons from the V4 region in 41 samples which were used to interrelate plastid-based results with information on uncultured prasinophyte species from prior 18S rRNA gene-based studies. This highlighted the presence of newly describedOstreococcus bengalensisand twoMicromonascandidate species. Network analyses identified co-occurrence patterns between individual phytoplankton groups, including cyanobacteria, and heterotrophic bacteria. Our study reveals multiple uncultured and novel lineages within green algae and dictyochophytes in tropical marine habitats. Collectively, the algal diversity patterns and potential co-occurrence relationships observed in connection to physicochemical and spatial influences help provide a baseline against which future change can be assessed.

Evidence of new strains of Wolbachia symbiont colonising semiaquatic bugs (Hemiptera: Gerroidea) in mangrove environment of the Lesser Antilles.

Wolbachia Hertig, 1936 is an intracellular bacterial symbiont colonizing many arthropods. Of the studies done on the bacteria present in the superfamily Gerroidea Leach, 1815, no report of Wolbachia infection had yet been made. Thus, we checked the presence of Wolbachia in six Gerroidea species which colonize tropical aquatic environments by PCR using wsp primer set before sequencing and phylogenetic analyses. Insects were collected in the marine fringe of mangroves, in river estuaries, in swampy mangroves, and in ponds from Guadeloupe islands (Caribbean). Two new strains of Wolbachia were detected in these Gerroidea. They were named wLfran and wRmang. The wsp sequences suggest that the strains belong to the already described E supergroup or similar. wLfran is present in Limnogonus franciscanus Stål, 1859 and Rheumatobates trinitatis (China, 1943) while wRmang appears to be present exclusively in R. mangrovensis (China, 1943). Three other species were analysed, but did not appear to be infected: Brachymetra albinerva (Amyot & Serville, 1843), Halobates micans Eschscheltz, 1822, and Microvelia pulchella Westwood, 1834. The results presented here highlight for the first time the presence of new intracellular Wolbachia strains in Gerroidea colonising tropical aquatic environments like mangrove habitats from inlands to sea shore.

MOLECULAR DOCKING STUDY, ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY, PROXIMATE CONTENT, AND TOTAL PHENOL OF Lemna perpusilla Torr. GROWN IN SUMEDANG, WEST JAVA, INDONESIA

Water lentils or duckweeds (Lemnoideae, Araceae family) grow abundantly in the tropical aquatic environments of West Java, Indonesia. There are several types of Lemna plants, however, in this study, we explored Lemna perpusilla Torr. grown in Ciparanje Pond, Sumedang, West Java, Indonesia for its potential to be utilized as a fish feed supplement. The antioxidant activity of this small-sized plant is believed to belong to the phenolic compounds or other active secondary metabolites contained in the plant. Methods used were molecular docking study, the proximate analysis, antioxidant activity using DPPH reagent, and determination of the total phenolic compounds of the plant. The molecular docking simulation was performed between zeaxanthin, lutein, carotenoid, and stigmasterol with the NADPH-dependent human carbonyl reductase-1 (hCBR-1), an enzyme that works by protecting cells against cellular damage resulting from oxidative stress. Phytochemical screening showed that our Lemna positively contains alkaloids, flavonoids or carotenoids, polyphenols, tannins, triterpenoids, and steroids. Molecular docking simulation revealed that stigmasterol, lutein, zeaxanthin, and carotenoid in this plant could interact with important residues in the catalytic site of hCBR-1. The proximate analysis indicated a high content of crude protein and fat. The antioxidant activity conveyed a strong activity which is parallel with its total phenolic compounds content. It can be concluded that Lemna perpusilla Torr. grown in Ciparanje Pond, Sumedang, West Java, Indonesia is the potential to be utilized as a fish feed supplement.

DNA-based monitoring for assessing the effect of invasive species on aquatic communities in the Amazon basin of Ecuador

Ecuador is well-known as one of the most biodiverse countries, but this species richness is being threatened by invasive alien species. The early detection of these invasive species is crucial for their fast and successful eradication and for limiting their effects on aquatic communities. Therefore, a Belgian VLIR-UOS project was started that aims at the development of a fast detection method to monitor the Ecuadorian Amazon river basin for the presence of invasive fishes, macroinvertebrates and amphibians. An (e)DNA field lab, equipped with miniaturized and portable DNA-processing equipment, such as centrifuges, thermal cyclers, and electrophoresis equipment (MiniPCR), was developed. In the next phase, the Nanopore Next-Generation sequencing (NGS) technique (MinION) will be optimized to enable the eDNA-based biomonitoring of tropical aquatic environments in the field. The fast detection of invasive species may help to prevent their further spread and perhaps even facilitate their eradication, and will promote more effective actions for the conservation of aquatic ecosystems. Furthermore, new DNA-sequences of amphibians, macroinvertebrates, and fishes are being incorporated into the newly developed Ecuadorian DNA database. We also focus on building and strengthening the capacities of staff and students (Ecuadorian as well as Belgian) through theses, practical courses, field work, trainings and internships.

Trophic state index validation based on the phytoplankton functional group approach in Amazon floodplain lakes

ABSTRACTMany trophic indices have been constructed for temperate aquatic environments, but few have proved reliable for tropical environments. Indices constructed on the basis of nutrients may not be effective for describing the trophic state because the fractions of nitrogen and phosphorus differ in their potential to predict the nutrient limitation in tropical aquatic environments. We developed an index based on the phytoplankton Reynolds functional groups for an Amazonian floodplain lake from samples collected during 2 contrasting hydrological periods (rising and flushing) and compared it with the index initially proposed by Carlson in 1977 and further adapted to tropical environments by Toledo in 1990. The functional group and Carlson indices matched only 37% and 56% of the sample units collected during the rising and flushing periods, respectively. Our study confirms the difficulty of assessing trophic states using only phosphorus and chlorophyll a in tropical floodplain lakes. In this environment (1) nitrogen may significantly limit phytoplankton growth and (2) complex phytoplankton–nutrient relationships occur during the hydrological cycle that cannot be accounted for through a simple phosphorus and chlorophyll a formula.

Occurrence of microbial indicators, pathogenic bacteria and viruses in tropical surface waters subject to contrasting land use

Fecal indicator bacteria, such as Escherichia coli (E.coli) and Enterococcus, have been widely used to indicate the presence of pathogens. However, the suitability of fecal indicator bacteria to represent health risks is still being challenged, particularly in tropical aquatic environments. The objective of this study is to understand the occurrence and prevalence of indicators and pathogens in areas with contrasting land use, as well as to identify the major correlations between indicators, pathogens and environmental parameters. The spatial and temporal variation of indicators and pathogens was studied to examine the distribution patterns for areas with different land use, and the impact of seasonal changes on microbial populations. A total of 234 water samples were sampled for two years from reservoirs and their tributaries, and tested for fecal indicator bacteria, coliphages, human specific markers, pathogenic bacteria and viruses. The prevalence of indicators and pathogens in reservoirs were generally low, while relatively high concentrations were observed in tributaries to varying degrees. Of the enteric viruses, norovirus GII was among the most prevalent and had the highest concentration. Although strong correlations were found between indicators, only relatively weak correlations were found between indicators and pathogens. The results in this study showed that none of the bacteria/phage indicators were universal predictors for pathogens. Inclusion of the alternative indicators, Methanobrevibacter smithii, Bacteroides and human polyomaviruses (HPyVs) to monitoring programs could help to determine whether the fecal source was human. The microbial distribution patterns allow the classification of sampling sites to different clusters and thus, help to identify sites which have poor water quality. This approach will be useful for water quality management to pinpoint factors that influence water quality and help to prioritize sites for restoration of water quality.

Distribution of priority pollutants in the sediment of Vembanad Estuary, Peninsular India

The existence of Organochlorine pesticides (OCP's) and trace metals in tropical aquatic environments may cause a severe threat on account of their ubiquitous nature and long persistence. Monitoring of such contaminants has assumed immense significance in recent times. The present study assessed the OCP's and trace metal contamination in the surface sediments of the Vembanad wetland system in India. Various pollution indices were calculated to determine the sediment quality of the system and were also compared with uncontaminated sediments. Geo-accumulation index for Mercury varied from moderately to extremely polluted. The mean concentration of pesticide residues and trace metals in the sediments of Vembanad is found to be higher than in other aquatic systems in India. The situation demands further studies which focus on the potential bioaccumulation of OCPs and metals in the benthic food chain, succeeding biota and their impact on human consumption as the system supports a huge population for their livelihood. The Present study provides a baseline information on the spatial distribution of priority pollutants along with ecological risk status of Vembanad estuarine system (VES).

Distribution and availability of mercury and methylmercury in different waters from the Rio Madeira Basin, Amazon.

Waters from the Amazon Basin have distinct physicochemical characteristics that can be optically classified as "black", "clear" and "white". We studied the distribution of total-Hg (THg) and methyl-Hg (MeHg) in these waters and respective suspended solids, sediment, phytoplankton, zooplankton, and benthic macroinvertebrates (BM) in the Madeira River Basin. Compared with the other types of water, the more acidic "black" kind had the highest THg and MeHg concentrations. The trend (black > clear > white) occurred for the concentrations of THg and MeHg in sediments and in the biotic compartment (plankton, macroinvertebrates). Organic Hg accounted for a small percentage (0.6-0.4%) of the THg in sediments but was highest in water (17-15%). For plankton and BM, the biota sediment accumulation factor (BSAFs) of MeHg (53-125) were greater than those of THg (4.5-15); however, the BSAF trend according to water type (black > clear > white) was only significant for MeHg. Sediment THg is correlated with all forms of Hg in biotic and abiotic matrices. The results indicate that water acidity in the Amazon is an important chemical characteristic in assessing Hg contamination of sediments and bioaccumulation in the aquatic food web. The differences in the BSAFs between THg and MeHg support the use of this factor for evaluating the bioaccumulation potential of sediment-bound Hg. The results add information critical to assessing environmental and health risks related to Hg methylation and potential fish-MeHg contamination, especially in tropical aquatic environments.

Validation of a suite of biomarkers of fish health in the tropical bioindicator species, tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum)

Here we explore the dose-dependent response of the tropical fish tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) to intraperitoneal injection of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) at doses of 0 (carrier control), 1, 10, 100 and 1000μmolar BaP Kg−1 Hepatic ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity showed a bell-shaped dose-dependent response curve, where the highest injected BaP dose caused enzyme inactivation. Activities of hepatic catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) increased at the highest dose relative to the carrier control group. Lipid peroxidation (LPO), serum-sorbitol dehydrogenase (s-SDH) and DNA damage in blood cells were higher for all BaP doses when compared to the carrier control group. At high dosage, the production of BaP metabolites was paralleled by induced activity of the antioxidant enzyme SOD, and high levels of DNA damage in blood cells. In a similar way, high LPO was concomitant to elevated s-SDH in the bloodstream, suggesting that lipid peroxidation caused the loss of membrane integrity and leakage of s-SDH from hepatocytes into the bloodstream. These biomarkers were also positively co-correlated. The results demonstrate the potential use of a suite of biomarkers for tambaqui living in contaminated tropical aquatic environments. In particular, we recommend the analysis of DNA damage in blood cells, as this was highly correlated with all other biomarkers.

Trails of river monsters: Detecting critically endangered Mekong giant catfish Pangasianodon gigas using environmental DNA

Pressures on freshwater biodiversity in Southeast Asia are accelerating, yet the status and conservation needs of many of the region’s iconic fish species are poorly known. The Mekong is highly species diverse and supports four of the six largest freshwater fish globally, three of which, including Mekong giant catfish (Pangasianodon gigas), are Critically Endangered. Emerging environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques have potential for monitoring threatened freshwater biodiversity, yet have not been applied in complex and biodiverse tropical ecosystems such as the Mekong. We developed species-specific primers for amplifying Mekong giant catfish DNA. In situ validation demonstrated that the DNA amplification was successful for all samples taken in reservoirs with known presence of Mekong giant catfish independent of fish density. We collected water samples from six deep pools on the Mekong, identified through Local Ecological Knowledge, in Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Thailand. DNA was extracted and amplified from these samples using the designed primers and probes. Mekong giant catfish DNA was detected from one sample from the species’ presumed spawning grounds on the Mekong mainstream, near the border between northern Thailand and Lao PDR. eDNA sampling using species-specific primers has potential for surveying and monitoring poorly known species from complex tropical aquatic environments. However accounting for false absences is likely to be required for the method to function with precision when applied to extremely rare species that are highly dispersed within a large river system. We recommend that such approach be utilised more widely by freshwater conservation practitioners for specific applications. The method is best suited for baseline biodiversity assessments or to identify and prioritise locations for more rigorous sampling. Our methods are particularly relevant for systems or species with limited baseline data or with physical characteristics that logistically limit the application of conventional methods. Such attributes are typical of large tropical rivers such as the Mekong, Congo, or Amazon.

Molecular variations in Vibrio alginolyticus and V. harveyi in shrimp-farming systems upon stress

A study was performed to investigate the genomic variations in the shrimp farm isolates of Vibrio alginolyticus and V. harveyi when the isolates were subjected to environmental stress. Samples of shrimps, water and sediment were collected from Southern Indian coastal shrimp farms. Vibrio isolates were biochemically identified and confirmed using 16S rDNA and gyrB gene specific PCR. The bacterial strains were genotyped by PCR fingerprinting using GTG(5) and IS (Insertion Sequence) primers. Seven strains each of V. alginolyticus and V. harveyi were subjected to 10 passages through trypticase soya broth (TSB), which contained different NaCl concentrations (3, 6 and 8%) and trypticase soya agar (TSA). V. alginolyticus was also passaged through TSB with a 12% NaCl concentration. PCR fingerprinting, which was performed on the strains that were passaged through different salt concentrations, confirmed that V. alginolyticus and V. harveyi could affect the genomic variations, depending on the environmental conditions of the culture. The study highlights the complex genotypic variations that occur in Vibrio strains of tropical aquatic environment because of varied environmental conditions, which result in genetic divergence and/or probable convergence. Such genetic divergence and/or convergence can lead to the organismal adaptive variation, which results in their ability to cause a productive infection in aquatic organisms or generation of new strains.

Efecto del esfuerzo de muestreo en la riqueza de táxones de macroinvertebrados acuáticos y el índice BMWP/Atitlán

Aquatic macroinvertebrates are the group of organisms most commonly used to determine ecosystem health in water quality studies and freshwater biomonitoring. Nevertheless, the methods and collecting time of biomonitoring have not yet been sufficiently adapted and tested in tropical aquatic environments. Twelve rivers in the Lago de Atitlán watershed in Guatemala were assessed with different collecting times, during the dry season. The method involved the collection of organic and inorganic material including benthic organisms, from different microhabitats, for a pre-established time period (5, 10, 15 min) with a D-frame net. Samples were preserved with 95% ethanol in the field, and sorted in the laboratory. As expected, the analysis showed that the abundance and taxonomic richness was higher with increasing sampling effort. The water quality categories obtained from the newly proposed BMWP/Atitlán index varied among sampling times. However, the Kruskal-Wallis test showed no significant differences between the categories obtained with the index and the number of taxa collected at 10 and 15 min. Therefore, we recommend a reduction of sample time, but maintaining the tree subsamples in order to include most variety of microhabitats and assure a representative sample of the aquatic macroinvertebrates.

First Detection of Mycobacterium ulcerans DNA in Environmental Samples from South America

The occurrences of many environmentally-persistent and zoonotic infections are driven by ecosystem changes, which in turn are underpinned by land-use modifications that alter the governance of pathogen, biodiversity and human interactions. Our current understanding of these ecological changes on disease emergence however remains limited. Buruli ulcer is an emerging human skin disease caused by the mycobacterium, Mycobacterium ulcerans, for which the exact route of infection remains unclear. It can have a devastating impact on its human host, causing extensive necrosis of the skin and underlying tissue, often leading to permanent disability. The mycobacterium is associated with tropical aquatic environments and incidences of the disease are significantly higher on floodplains and where there is an increase of human aquatic activities. Although the disease has been previously diagnosed in South America, until now the presence of M. ulcerans DNA in the wild has only been identified in Australia where there have been significant outbreaks and in western and central regions of Africa where the disease is persistent. Here for the first time, we have identified the presence of the aetiological agent's DNA in environmental samples from South America. The DNA was positively identified using Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) on 163 environmental samples, taken from 23 freshwater bodies in French Guiana (Southern America), using primers for both IS2404 and for the ketoreductase-B domain of the M. ulcerans mycolactone polyketide synthase genes (KR). Five samples out of 163 were positive for both primers from three different water bodies. A further nine sites had low levels of IS2404 close to a standard CT of 35 and could potentially harbour M. ulcerans. The majority of our positive samples (8/14) came from filtered water. These results also reveal the Sinnamary River as a potential source of infection to humans.

Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management Society 20 year celebration

Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management Society 20 year celebration

The occurrence of human pharmaceuticals in wastewater effluents and surface water of Langat River and its tributaries, Malaysia

This study provides the first investigation on the occurrence of human pharmaceuticals in the tropical aquatic environment of Malaysia. Water samples were collected at seven different sites along the Langat River and effluents from five sewage treatment plants (STPs) in Langat River Basin. Samples were extracted by solid phase extraction (SPE) and analyzed using liquid chromatography coupled with a tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for 18 pharmaceuticals from six therapeutic classes and one metabolite. Fifteen out of these 19 pharmaceuticals were detected in the river water samples. Mefenamic acid, salicylic acid and glibenclamide were detected in all river water samples indicating their ubiquitous nature and resistance to degradation under the warm and humid tropical conditions. The median concentrations of detected pharmaceuticals ranged from less than the method detection limit (<MDL) for furosemide, loratadine, salbutamol, perindopril, metoprolol and nifedipine to 112.7 ng L−1 for diclofenac. A similar number of pharmaceuticals were detected in the STPs’ effluents samples. Several of these pharmaceuticals, namely salbutamol, atenolol, metoprolol, mefenamic acid, salicylic acid and furosemide were detected in all the STPs’ effluents samples. The median concentrations for the detected pollutants ranged between <MDL for lovastatin and amlodipine to 1994 ng L−1 for metformin. The highest concentration detected in the river water samples was for acetaminophen (346.3 ng L−1) and in STPs effluents was for metformin (34228 ng L−1). The concentrations of most analytes found in this study were comparable to those reported in the other parts of the world. However, this is the first time amlodipine is detected in the environmental samples.

Bacterial and phytoplankton nutrient limitation in tropical marine waters, and a coastal lake in Brazil

Bioassay experiments were performed two times (with 2years in between) in order to investigate if nitrogen (N, ammonium), phosphorus (P, phosphate) and carbon (C, glucose) additions would stimulate the growth of bacteria and phytoplankton differently in three different tropical aquatic environments. The water and their indigenous microbial communities were taken from a freshwater coastal lake (Cabiunas), a coastal (Anjos), and an offshore marine station (Sonar) in the Atlantic outside Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. Ammonium, phosphate and glucose were added alone or in combination to triplicate bottles. In the lake, P seemed to be the primary limiting factor during the first experiment, since both bacterial production and phytoplankton growth was stimulated by the P addition. Two years later, however, addition of P inhibited phytoplankton growth. During both years, C was closely co-limiting for bacteria since CP additions increased the response considerably. For both the coastal and offshore seawater stations, phytoplankton growth was clearly stimulated by N addition in both years and the bacteria responded either to the P, N or C additions (alone or in combination). To conclude, the results from these tropical aquatic systems show that it is possible that phytoplankton and bacteria may compete for a common resource (P) in lakes, but can be limited by different inorganic nutrients in marine waters as well as lakes, suggesting that phytoplankton and bacteria do not necessarily compete for the same growth limiting nutrient in these environments.