title: Heavy metals and TPH effects on microbial abundance and diversity in two estuarine areas of the southern-central coast of São Paulo State, Brazil.
abstract: Coastal areas may be impacted by human and industrial activities, including contamination by wastewater, heavy metals and hydrocarbons. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of hydrocarbons (TPH) and metals on the microbiota composition and abundance in two estuarine systems in the coast of São Paulo: the Santos (SE) and Itanhaém (IE) estuaries. The SE was found to be chronically contaminated by heavy metals and highly contaminated by hydrocarbons. This finding was correlated with the increased density of cyanobacteria in sediments and suggests the possible use of cyanobacteria for bioremediation. These contaminants influence the density and composition of estuarine microbiota that respond to stress caused by human activity. The results are troubling because quantitative and qualitative changes in the microbiota of estuarine sediments may alter microbiological processes such as decomposition of organic matter. Moreover, this pollution can result in damage to the environment, biota and human health.
authors.affiliation: UNESP - São Paulo State University, Institute of Biological Sciences, Rio Claro Campus/Universidade Estadual Paulista, Instituto de Biociências (IB), Campus de Rio Claro, Av. 24A, 1515, Bela Vista, CEP 13506-900 Rio Claro, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: aline.bartelochi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Aline Bartelochi
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.affiliation: UNESP - São Paulo State University, Institute of Biological Sciences, Rio Claro Campus/Universidade Estadual Paulista, Instituto de Biociências (IB), Campus de Rio Claro, Av. 24A, 1515, Bela Vista, CEP 13506-900 Rio Claro, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: pagnocca@rc.unesp.br.
authors.forename: Fernando Carlos
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Pagnocca
authors.affiliation: UNESP - São Paulo State University, Experimental Campus on the São Paulo Coast/Universidade Estadual Paulista, Campus Experimental do Litoral Paulista (CLP), Praça Infante Dom Henrique, s/n., Parque Bitaru, CEP 11330-900, São Vicente, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelo Antonio Amaro
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pinheiro
authors.affiliation: UNESP - São Paulo State University, Experimental Campus on the São Paulo Coast/Universidade Estadual Paulista, Campus Experimental do Litoral Paulista (CLP), Praça Infante Dom Henrique, s/n., Parque Bitaru, CEP 11330-900, São Vicente, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Roberto Fioravanti Carelli
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Fontes
authors.affiliation: UNESP - São Paulo State University, Experimental Campus on the São Paulo Coast/Universidade Estadual Paulista, Campus Experimental do Litoral Paulista (CLP), Praça Infante Dom Henrique, s/n., Parque Bitaru, CEP 11330-900, São Vicente, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: ajuliaf@clp.unesp.br.
authors.forename: Ana Júlia Fernandes Cardoso
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D001938:Brazil; D000458:Cyanobacteria; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D063366:Estuaries; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D006838:Hydrocarbons; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Cyanobacteria; Estuaries; Fungi; Heavy metals; Heterotrophic bacteria; Hydrocarbons