title: Analysis of the Appendicularia class (subphylum Urochordata) as a possible tool for biomonitoring four estuaries of the tropical region.
abstract: This study aims to characterize the differences between physical and chemical parameters of water quality indicators and eutrophication in four estuaries of the state of Rio de Janeiro and relate them to full density of the species that belong to the Appendicularia class with the purpose of seeking bioindicators for estuarine areas. The estuaries studied were from the rivers Macaé, São João, Bracuí, and Perequê-Açu. The physicochemical parameters monitored for evaluation of the water bodies and used for the correlation with the appendicularians were pH, temperature, nitrite, nitrate, N-ammonia, total nitrogen, phosphate, total phosphorus, dissolved oxygen (DO), suspended particulate matter (SPM), chlorophyll a, heterotrophic bacteria, and fecal coliform. The estuaries Bracuí and São João showed enhanced qualities of water and lower degrees of eutrophication than Macae and Perequê-Açu estuaries. The species of the Appendicularia class found in this study were Oikopleura longicauda (Vogt, 1854), Oikopleura dioica Fol, 1872, Oikopleura fusiformis Fol, 1872, and Fritillaria haplostoma Fol, 1872. The density of appendicularians and O. longicauda was inversely related to the nutrient values and SPM; nonetheless, no species of appendicularians could be used as a bioindicator of any estuary in the current study. Studies on the quality of estuary waters and the search for other bioindicators belonging to other zooplankton groups are recommended to confirm the obtained results and to expand the knowledge of these coastal environments.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório Integrado de Zooplâncton e Ictioplâncton, Prédio do CCS, Bloco A, Cidade Universitária, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. pedropfc@poli.ufrj.br.|Program of Environmental Engineering, Polytechnic School of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Av. Pedro Calmon, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. pedropfc@poli.ufrj.br.
authors.forename: Pedro Freitas
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: de Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Laboratório Integrado de Zooplâncton e Ictioplâncton, Prédio do CCS, Bloco A, Cidade Universitária, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.|Program of Environmental Engineering, Polytechnic School of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Av. Pedro Calmon, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sérgio Luiz Costa
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Bonecker
authors.affiliation: Laboratório Integrado de Zooplâncton e Ictioplâncton, Prédio do CCS, Bloco A, Cidade Universitária, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.|Program of Environmental Engineering, Polytechnic School of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Av. Pedro Calmon, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cristina Aparecida Gomes
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Nassar
mesh_terms: D000641:Ammonia / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism; D000077194:Chlorophyll A; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D063366:Estuaries; D005068:Eutrophication; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis; D010100:Oxygen / Q000032:analysis; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis; D010710:Phosphates / Q000032:analysis; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature; D014329:Tropical Climate; D014561:Urochordata / Q000502:physiology*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D052638:Particulate Matter; D010710:Phosphates; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D014867:Water; D002734:Chlorophyll; D010758:Phosphorus; D000641:Ammonia; D009584:Nitrogen; D010100:Oxygen; D000077194:Chlorophyll A
keywords: Appendicularia; Biomonitoring and bioindicators; Estuaries; Zooplankton