Effects of petroleum and its derivatives in benthic communities at Baía de Todos os Santos/Todos os Santos Bay, Bahia, Brazil

Authors

  • M.C. Peso-Aguiar Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Campus Universitário de Ondina s/n CEP 401170-210, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
  • D.H. Smith Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Campus Universitário de Ondina s/n CEP 401170-210, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
  • R.C.F. Assis Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Campus Universitário de Ondina s/n CEP 401170-210, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
  • L.M. Santa-Isabel Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Campus Universitário de Ondina s/n CEP 401170-210, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
  • S. Peixinho Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Campus Universitário de Ondina s/n CEP 401170-210, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
  • E.P. Gouveia Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Campus Universitário de Ondina s/n CEP 401170-210, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
  • T.C.A. Almeida Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Campus Universitário de Ondina s/n CEP 401170-210, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
  • W.S. Andrade Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Campus Universitário de Ondina s/n CEP 401170-210, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
  • C.R.G. Carqueija Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Campus Universitário de Ondina s/n CEP 401170-210, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
  • F. Kelmo Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Campus Universitário de Ondina s/n CEP 401170-210, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
  • G. Carrozzo Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Campus Universitário de Ondina s/n CEP 401170-210, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
  • C.V. Rodrigues Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Campus Universitário de Ondina s/n CEP 401170-210, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
  • G.C. Carvalho Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Campus Universitário de Ondina s/n CEP 401170-210, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
  • A.C.S. Jesus Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Campus Universitário de Ondina s/n CEP 401170-210, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Keywords:

Benthos, Benthic index, Diversity, Hydrocarbons, Heavy metals

Abstract

Benthic community structure and diversity have been investigated to assess stress conditions of Todos os Santos Bay, Bahia, Brazil, as a possible result of the extraction, transportation and refining of petroleum, activities carried out in this area for more than 40 years. Samples were collected over two years, at four stations under the direct influence of stress-causing activities and at a control station. Benthic indices were calculated for all intertidal communities. The density, relative abundance, frequency of occurrence, diversity, similarity and occurrence of preferential species were recorded. Linear correlation indices were calculated to establish comparisons between ecological parameters of the studied communities and concentrations of heavy metals, hydrocarbons, petroleum pollution indicators and sediment mud percentages. The polychaete worms were the dominant group — up to 92% dominance in the community within the influence of refinery activities. Diversity indices indicated significant stress related spatial gradients tied to petroleum. The refinery sample station showed notable differences in its biodiversity figures compared to the other stations. Quantitative benthic indices showed negative correlations between the presence of cadmium, hydrocarbons, n-alkanes and the unresolved complex mixture in the intertidal zone marine sediments.

References

Alcolado, P.M. 1984. Utilidad de algunos indices ecologicos estructurales en el estudio de comunidades marinas de Cuba. Cienc. Biol., 11: 61–77.

Alcolado, P.M. and Herrera, A. 1987. Efectos de la contaminación sobre las comunidades de esponjas en el litoral de la Habana. Cuba Rep. Inv. Inst. Ocean. Acad. Cienc. Cuba, 68: 1–17.

Boldrini, C.V. and Pereira, D.N. 1987. Metais pesados na Baía de Santos e estuários de Santos e São Vicente. Bioacumulação. Ambiente., 1(3): 118–127.

Brooks, R.R. and Rumsby, M.G. 1965. The biogeochemistry of trace element uptake by some New Zealand bivalves. Limnol. Oceanogr., 10: 521–527.

Conover, W.J. 1971. Practical Nonparametric Statistics, New York: Wiley.

Digby, P.G.N. and Kempton, R.A. 1987. Multivariate Analysis of Ecological Communities, New York: Chapman and Hall.

Friedman, M. 1937. The use of ranks to avoid the assumption of normality implicit in the analysis of variance. J. Am. Stat. Assoc., 32: 675–701.

GESAMP (Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Pollution). 1974. Review of harmful substances. Supplement to the Report of the Sixth Session, 6(10): 1–25. (Suppl. 1)

Goldberg, E.D. Baseline studies of heavy metal, halogenated hydrocarbon and petroleum hydrocarbon pollutants in the marine environment and research recommendations. Deliberations of the International Decade of Ocean Exploration (IDOE). Baseline Conference. May. (Convenor)

Hill, M.O. 1979. “TWINSPAN — a FORTRAN program for arranging multivariate data in an ordered two-way table by classification of the individuals and attributes”. In Ecology and Systematics, Ithaca, New York: Cornell University.

Kovalak, W.P. 1981. “Assessment and prediction of impacts of effluents on communities of benthic stream macroinvertebrates”. In Ecological Assessments of Effluent Impacts on Communities of Indigenous Aquatic Organisms, Edited by: Bates, J.M. and Weber, C.I. 255–263. Washington DC: American Society for Testing and Materials. In:ASTM STP 730

Menzies, R.J., Morgan, J.P., Oppenheimer, C.H., El-Sayed, S.Z. and Sharp, J.M. 1979. Design of the offshore ecology investigation. The Offshore Ecology Investigation, Rice University Studies, 65(4/5): 19–32.

Muricy, G. 1989. Sponges as pollution-biomonitors at Arraial do Cabo, southeastern Brazil. Rev. Bras. Biol., 49(2): 347–354.

Muricy, G. 1992. Structure des peuplements des spongiaires autour de l'égout de Cortiou (Marseille, France). Vie et Milieu, 41(4): 205–221.

Patel, B., Balani, M.C. and Patel, S. 1985. Sponges ‘sentinel’ of heavy metal. Sci. Total Environ. NLD, 41(2): 143–152.

Peso-Aguiar, M.C. 1996. Projeto 4. Comunidades Bentônicas, vol. 1. Tomo VI. Programa de Monitoramento dos Ecossistemas ao Norte da Baía de Todos os Santos, Relatório Técnico Final, Bahia, , Brasil: Salvador. (Coordenação)Convênio UFBA/PETROBRAS nos. 220.2.045.93-5 e 220.2.051.94-8,

Peso-Aguiar, M.C. and Verani, J.R. 1998. Macoma constricta (Bruguière, 1792) (Bivalvia, Tellinidae) as Biomonitor of the Chronic Environmental Contamination by Petroleum in Todos os Santos Bay (Salvador, Bahia, Brazil), Vol. 26, 2015–2018. Stuttgart: Schweizerbart'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung.

Peso-Aguiar, M.C. and Verani, J.R. 1998. índices biométricos da agressão ambiental do petróleo e seus derivados em Macoma constricta (Bivalvia, Tellinidae), Vol. 8, 1447–1492. São Carlos, SP: Anais do VIII Seminário Regional de Ecologia.

Peso-Aguiar, M.C., Verani, J.R. and Rocha, O. 1998. Estimativa da produção anual da biomassa de Macoma constricta (Bivalvia, Tellinidae) na Baía de Todos os Santos, BA, Vol. 8, 1497–1510. São Carlos, SP: Anais do VIII Seminário Regional de Ecologia.

Peixinho, S. and Peso-Aguiar, M.C. Marine sponges as biomonitors: an ecological approach at Todos os Santos Bay, Bahia, Brazil. Proceedings of the International Workshop on Biomonitors. December, Bahia, Brazil. MARC (Monitoring and Assessment Research Center, King's College, London)/UFBA (Universidade Federal da Bahia).

Seng, L.T., Kwong, L.Y., Chye, H.S., Huat, K.K., Pheng, K.S., Hanapi, S., Meng, W.T., Legore, R.S., Ligny, W. and Tan, G.T. 1987. Effects of a crude oil terminal on tropical benthic communities in Brunei. Mar. Pollut. Bull., 18(1): 31–35.

Severy, H. 1923. The occurrence of copper and zinc in certain marine animals. J. Biol. Chem., 55: 79–82.

Sharp, J.M. 1979. The cumulative effects of petroleum drilling and production in coastal and near-shore areas. The Offshore Ecology Investigation, Rice University Studies, 65(4/5): 3–15.

Smith, R.W., Bernstein, B.B. and Cimberg, R.L. 1987. “Community — environmental relationships in the benthos: applications of multivariate analytical techniques”. In Marine Organisms as Indicators, Edited by: Soule, D.F. and Kleppel, G.S. 247–326. New York: Springer. In:

Sneath, P.H.A. and Sokal, R.R. 1973. Numerical Taxonomy, San Francisco: Freeman.

Tavares, T. 1996. “Projeto 8. Química Ambiental, vol.1. Distribuição Espacial de Metais Pesados e Hidrocarbonetos ao Norte da Baía de Todos os Santos”. In Programa de Monitoramento dos Ecossistemas ao Norte da Baía de Todos os Santos, Relatório Técnico Final (Coordenação)Convênio UFBA/PETROBRAS nos. 220.2.045.93-5 e 220.2.051.94-8, Salvador, Bahia, Brasil.

USEPA (Environmental Protection Agency). 1972. Water Quality Criteria, Ecological Research Series, Washington DC: USEPA.

USEPA (Environmental Protection Agency). 1976. Quality Criteria for Water, Washington DC: USEPA.

Warwick, R.M., Platt, H.M., Clarke, K.R., Agard, J. and Gobin, J. 1990. Analysis of macrobenthics and meiobenthics community structure in relation to pollution and disturbance in Hamilton Harbour, Bermuda. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol., 138: 119–142.

Warwick, R.M. and Clarke, K.R. 1991. A comparison of some methods for analysing changes in benthic community structure. J. Mar. Biol. Assoc. UK, 71: 225–244.

Downloads

Published

2000-01-01

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 4 (2000): State of Brazilian Aquatic Ecosystems

Section

Research article

License

Manuscripts must be original. They must not be published or be under consideration for publication elsewhere, in whole or in part. It is required that the lead author of accepted papers complete and sign the MSU Press AEHM Author Publishing Agreement and provide it to the publisher upon acceptance.