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Boring activity of the sponge Cliothosa delitrix (Pang, 1973) (Clionaidae, Clionaida) in thermoresistant corals and the state of the art of the order Clionaida in Ceará

2026-03-27T16:56:33Z

Título: Boring activity of the sponge Cliothosa delitrix (Pang, 1973) (Clionaidae, Clionaida) in thermoresistant corals and the state of the art of the order Clionaida in Ceará Autor(es): Arruda, Mariany Oliveira Abstract: Cliothosa delitrix, a bioeroding demosponge of the family Clionaidae, stands out on reefs due to its high bioerosion rates in coral colonies, particularly under environmental stress conditions. This behavior makes it an efficient competitor in these environments, as bioeroding sponges erode the calcareous substrate. This process may be intensifying as a result of global climate change, contributing to the ongoing degradation of coral reefs. In this context, this study aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14, which aims to conserve and sustainably use the oceans. The general objective of this study was to conduct the first ecological investigation of the developmental stages of C. delitrix and its occupation of colonies of the stress-tolerant coral Siderastrea stellata, comparing bleached and healthy individuals at the Pedra da Risca do Meio Marine State Park (PEMPRIM), as well as to record and describe species of the order Clionaida along the Southwestern Equatorial Atlantic coast (Ceará, Brazil). Specimens were collected through active intertidal searches and scuba diving along the Ceará coast and at PEMPRIM (15–30 m depth). After collection, organisms were preserved in 80% ethanol and identified in the laboratory based on spicule and skeletal preparations. Ecological data on C. delitrix were collected between March and July 2024, during the fourth global coral bleaching event. We obtained 50 × 50 cm photoquadrats along 20 m linear transects, yielding a total of 40 images per dive site. Each individual and its developmental stage were quantified, and occupied area (cm²) on coral colonies was estimated. Results indicate the presence of C. delitrix boring into both healthy and bleached coral colonies. Of the 347 coral colonies surveyed, ~52% were bleached and 48% showed no signs of bleaching. Among bleached colonies, 37.99% were bored by the sponge, whereas only 2.98% of non-bleached colonies showed bioerosion, suggesting greater vulnerability to C. delitrix colonization following thermal stress and mass bleaching events. No significant correlation was found between sponge boring and depth, indicating adaptation across depth ranges and highlighting coral availability and stress condition (i.e., bleaching) as the most important drivers of bioerosion. Additionally, five species of Clionaida were identified along the Ceará coast, including the first records for the Southwestern Equatorial Atlantic of Cliothosa delitrix and Cliona carteri (Clionaidae), Spirastrella hartmani (Spirastrellidae), and Placospongia giseleae (Placospongiidae), and confirmation of the Cliona celata species complex. These findings expand regional taxonomic knowledge and characterize the spatial occupation, developmental stages, and possible preference of C. delitrix for the massive coral Siderastrea stellata with higher boring rates in bleached colonies. The dissertation will be presented in two chapters: the first on the boring activity of the sponge Cliothosa delitrix, and the second on the state of the art of the order Clionaida in Ceará. Tipo: Dissertação

Avaliação bibliométrica da produção científica sobre poluição plástica marinha: uma análise de tendências, lacunas e perspectivas no Sul Global, Norte Global e Brasil

2026-03-26T13:05:51Z

Título: Avaliação bibliométrica da produção científica sobre poluição plástica marinha: uma análise de tendências, lacunas e perspectivas no Sul Global, Norte Global e Brasil Autor(es): Menezes, Eduardo Massey Lima Abstract: This study conducts a bibliometric assessment of scientific publication on plastic pollution in coastal environments, comparing the Global South and the Global North (1975-2024) and analyzing Brazilian output (1997–2024). The research hypothesizes that scientific production is disproportionately concentrated in the Global North, determined by consolidated scientific infrastructure rather than by the magnitude of environmental problems, tested through the Mismanaged Waste Index (MWI), shoreline length, and waste generation volume. A total of 13,385 international articles and 482 Brazilian publications were analyzed using Spearman correlation, bootstrap, Lotka's Law, and co-authorship network analysis. The results confirmed the hypothesis. Global production is heavily concentrated in the Global North: the ten most productive countries account for 60.9% of the literature, and China, the United States, and Italy alone represent 32.8% of the total - more than all of Latin America (7.1%) and far exceeding the African continent (<1%). North-North collaborations represent 57.2% of partnerships, against 10.8% for South-South. The negative correlation between production and MWI (ρ = −0.549) confirms that countries with the worst waste management publish the least, directly supporting the hypothesis. The correlation with waste generation (ρ = 0.729) requires critical analysis: the largest generators are the largest economies, meaning this result is mediated by GDP and population size, not by environmental engagement. At the national scale, the Southeast (45%) and Northeast (25%) concentrate 70% of Brazilian authors, while Maranhão accounts for only 0.5% and Piauí for 0.1%, despite their extensive coastlines. Brazil collaborated more with the United Kingdom than with Argentina and Peru combined. It is concluded that structural inequalities are reproduced both globally and nationally, and that equitable funding policies and South-South cooperation are essential to transform this scenario. Tipo: Dissertação

Bacterioma dos ninhos de Tartaruga-de-Pente (Eretmochelys imbricata Linnaeus, 1766) em praias arenosas no município de Fortaleza-Ceará

2026-02-19T14:45:12Z

Título: Bacterioma dos ninhos de Tartaruga-de-Pente (Eretmochelys imbricata Linnaeus, 1766) em praias arenosas no município de Fortaleza-Ceará Autor(es): Rufino, Ruama Catarina Xavier Abstract: Marine turtles are cosmopolitan organisms that extensively inhabit the oceans and face various impacts due to their long life cycle and biological complexity. Along the Brazilian coast, five species of marine turtles are present. These animals face numerous threats to their health and survival, such as bycatch, climate change, and anthropogenic waste. A key aspect of conserving any species, especially those under threat, is protecting their reproductive cycle. Thus, a crucial conservation strategy for turtles is monitoring nests to understand hatching success, which is influenced by a combination of biotic and abiotic factors. Among the less studied biological factors, the microbiome stands out, with its role in establishing and maintaining the health of metazoans as a second genome being well recognized. The aim of this study was to characterize the bacteriome of Eretmochelys imbricata nests on two sandy beaches in Fortaleza, Ceará: one highly anthropized by coastal developments and tourism, and the other less anthropized and situated within a municipal conservation unit. The study investigated whether the microbiome is influenced by the surrounding environment during this specific life stage of the species and if it is possible to correlate the composition of the bacteriome with the environmental characteristics of these locations as well as hatching success. Nest monitoring was conducted weekly by the Instituto Verdeluz. After the hatching of the clutch, sediment samples were collected from five randomly selected nests on each beach post-hatching and stored at -20°C for later DNA analysis and sequencing. Additionally, aseptic samples of egg shells from two nests on each beach were also collected for molecular analysis to characterize the bacteriome. Microbial community analysis, performed through 16S rDNA gene sequencing, revealed the presence of 40 bacterial phyla in the nests. The predominant phyla included Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, Crenarchaeota, Firmicutes, Actinobacteriota, and Acidobacteriota. On the egg shells, Proteobacteria and Bacteroidota were the most abundant, with Proteobacteria predominating at Praia do Futuro and Sabiaguaba showing a more balanced distribution between Proteobacteria and Bacteroidota. Sediments exhibited greater bacterial diversity and species richness compared to the egg shells. Ecological indices, such as Simpson and Shannon, indicated that sediments have significantly higher richness and diversity than egg shells. Beta diversity analysis, conducted using the NMDS method, showed that samples from Praia do Futuro are more similar to each other, while samples from Praia de Sabiaguaba exhibited greater variability. The study concludes that sediment microbiota influences egg shell microbiota and that the observed differences are related to environmental and anthropogenic factors. It highlights the importance of environmental preservation for maintaining the health 12 of marine turtle nests and hatching success and notes that further studies are needed for a better understanding of the microbiome. Tipo: Dissertação

Avaliação da contaminação e segurança alimentar dos pescadores na costa do Ceará (Nordeste, Brasil) por hidrocarbonetos policíclicos aromáticos após o evento de derramamento de óleo na costa brasileira (2019-2020)

2026-02-19T14:34:44Z

Título: Avaliação da contaminação e segurança alimentar dos pescadores na costa do Ceará (Nordeste, Brasil) por hidrocarbonetos policíclicos aromáticos após o evento de derramamento de óleo na costa brasileira (2019-2020) Autor(es): Lopes, Beatriz Diniz Abstract: In recent decades, around 5.8 million tons of oil have been spilled into the oceans due to various causes. In August 2019, the most extensive oil spill ever recorded in Brazil occurred. Disasters like this can severely impact fish production, especially in terms of health safety. Therefore, this study aims to assess PAH contamination in fish, molluscs (sururu and oyster) and crustaceans (crab) from the coast of Ceará (Northeast, Brazil), in addition to analyzing the food risk associated with them. The samples were acquired from artisanal fishermen from RESEX Prainha do Canto Verde, Icapuí, Cumbuco and Jaguaribe in September 2021. The methodology was preceded by biometrics, muscle removal and sample processing. Parental and alkylated PAHs were analyzed using the QUECHERS method and GC-MS was used for identification and quantification. To assess the food safety of the seafood, the levels of concern published by ANVISA during the period of the spill were used. The statistical analyses carried out showed that the data for fish did not show a normal distribution and the concentrations of total PAHs at the study sites did not show significant differences. As for molluscs and crustaceans, the statistical analyses showed a normal distribution and a significant difference between the two groups. Thus, the contamination followed the order: molluscs (29.94 ± 5.00 ng/g; mean ± SD); crustaceans (12.58 ± 5.85 ng/g); and fish (2.89 ± 4.12 ng/g). For fish, there was a predominance of Low Molecular Weight PAHs, mainly Naphthalene and the highest average was seen in the Jaguaribe (6.20 ng/g). As for molluscs and crustaceans, the highest contamination was found in molluscs, with an average of 29.94 ng/g compared to crustaceans, which had an average of 12.58 ng/g in relation to the total concentration of PAHs. As far as food safety is concerned, all taxonomic groups had values below those established by ANVISA (fish: 6 μg/kg BaPeq and molluscs and crustaceans 18 μg/kg BaP eq), these being: for fish, TEQ = 0.509; crab, TEQ = 0.873; oyster, TEQ = 8.46; and sururu, TEQ = 9.75. In relation to non-carcinogenic PAHs, all the samples also showed values well below, thus demonstrating that the fish from these regions are suitable for consumption. Tipo: Dissertação