http://repositorio.ufc.br/handle/riufc/14 2026-06-16T12:28:40Z http://repositorio.ufc.br/handle/riufc/86756 Título: Distribuição de metais-traço (Cu, Cd, Pb e Zn) em quatro espécies de tartarugas marinhas da costa do Nordeste do Brasil Autor(es): Campos, Yuri Lima Abstract: Sea turtles are long-lived organisms widely distributed in coastal environments and are recognized as important models for studies of environmental contamination, especially by persistent pollutants such as metals. In this context, the present study aimed to evaluate trace metal concentrations in four species of sea turtles, as well as to identify the main biological, ecological, and environmental factors influencing the levels of these metals in these species. To achieve this, considering that these animals are threatened with extinction, priority was given to the use of non-invasive methods, such as the use of carapace fragments, and, whenever possible, tissues from dead individuals were also used. Concentrations of copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) were quantified in four species of sea turtles found along the northeastern Brazilian coast: Chelonia mydas, Eretmochelys imbricata, Caretta caretta, and Lepidochelys olivacea. Bioaccumulation patterns were associated with feeding habits in two of the four species, investigated through stable isotope analysis of carbon (¹³C) and nitrogen (¹⁵N), in addition to the evaluation of morphological data and estimation of life stage. No significant differences in metal concentrations were observed among sampling areas for each species, when comparisons were possible, suggesting the absence of spatial variation in the evaluated regions. Therefore, samples from northeastern Brazil were consolidated as a single analytical unit for each species. Cu concentrations differed among species, with C. caretta showing the highest values and L. olivacea the lowest. Cd was predominantly below the detection limit and showed no interspecific differences. For Pb, C. mydas presented the highest concentrations, differing significantly from E. imbricata. Zn was the most abundant metal in the carapace and showed the greatest segregation among species, with higher values in C. caretta and L. olivacea. Significant interspecific differences were confirmed for Cu, Pb, and Zn. In the tissue analysis of C. mydas, Zn showed the highest concentrations, with no significant differences among tissues, suggesting homeostatic regulation of this element in the organism. Cu showed higher concentrations in the liver, with significant differences compared to the other tissues, reflecting its physiological role and participation in metabolic processes. Cd showed higher concentrations in the liver and kidney, associated with the formation of complexes with metallothioneins in these organs, which are involved in detoxification processes. Pb showed relatively similar concentrations among tissues, with a significant difference only between the carapace and muscle. Overall, the results indicate that variations in trace metal concentrations in sea turtles from northeastern Brazil reflect bioaccumulation patterns modulated by physiological and ecological characteristics of the species. These findings contribute to expanding knowledge about metal dynamics in these organisms and reinforce the importance of monitoring these species to better understand environmental contamination in marine ecosystems. Tipo: Dissertação 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z http://repositorio.ufc.br/handle/riufc/86532 Título: A gestão de resíduos sólidos nos municípios costeiros brasileiros e suas implicações para o desenvolvimento sustentável Autor(es): Valentim, Breno Victor de Lima Abstract: The management of municipal solid waste (MSW) in Brazilian coastal municipalities represents a multidimensional challenge involving socioeconomic, infrastructural, environmental, and institutional aspects. In this context, this study aimed to analyze the relationship between socio-territorial characteristics and urban cleaning performance, measured by the Urban Cleaning Sustainability Index (ISLU), considering its interface with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A quantitative approach was adopted, analyzing 251 Brazilian coastal municipalities using secondary data from official sources. Normality tests and Spearman correlation analyses were applied to identify associations between ISLU and variables such as education level, waste collection, sewage access, urbanization, and environmental public policies. The results revealed significant interregional disparities, with better performance in the South and Southeast regions and lower indicators in the North and Northeast. A moderate positive correlation was observed between ISLU and socioeconomic variables, especially education level, highlighting the importance of education in promoting sustainable practices. In contrast, municipal environmental policies showed weak correlation with the index, suggesting limitations in their effectiveness and implementation. The analysis also identified inequalities related to race, revealing patterns of environmental racism in access to sanitation and urban cleaning services. It is concluded that MSW management goes beyond technical dimensions and is intrinsically linked to structural inequalities in the Brazilian territory. Therefore, strengthening intersectoral policies focused on environmental education, social inclusion, institutional cooperation, and socio-environmental justice is recommended to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda. Tipo: Dissertação 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z http://repositorio.ufc.br/handle/riufc/85959 Título: Metabarcoding revela a dinâmica espaço-temporal de protistas planctônicos em um estuário do semiárido brasileiro Autor(es): Duarte, Gerusa de Freitas Sousa Abstract: Protists are eukaryotic microorganisms that play key ecological roles in aquatic ecosystems; however, little is known about their diversity in Brazilian semi-arid estuaries. In this context, environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding is a powerful tool for characterizing this diversity. This study investigated the spatiotemporal dynamics of protist communities in a semi-arid tropical estuary throughout 2022, considering three seasonal periods (rainy, transitional, and dry) and two plankton fractions: picoplankton (0.2 µm) and nano-microplankton (3.0 µm), based on sequencing of the V4 region of the 18S rRNA gene. Using Principal Component Analysis (PCA), mean values, and ANOVA and Tukey’s tests, it was observed that the environmental variables exhibited strong spatial heterogeneity, with the lower portion showing higher values for salinity, depth of the euphotic zone, and dissolved oxygen, while the upper portion had higher concentrations of chlorophyll and nutrients. The protist assemblages were highly diverse and dominated by diatoms, varying along spatial and seasonal gradients. Alpha diversity, as indicated by the richness, Shannon, and Simpson indices, was highest during the rainy season and in the lower estuary, while the lowest values were recorded in the upper estuary, especially during the transition period. Analyses using Non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) and Permutational Analysis of Variance (PERMANOVA) indicated that the taxonomic composition was primarily shaped by the interaction between seasonality and estuarine location, with beta diversity being predominantly explained by turnover. The linear regression model identified salinity and inorganic phosphorus as the main environmental factors influencing the larger organisms, whereas no significant environmental factors were identified for the smaller fraction. The results reveal complex spatiotemporal dynamics in the protist community, with a predominance of diatoms in the Pacoti River estuary, highlighting the importance of integrative approaches and long-term monitoring for the conservation of semi-arid estuaries in the face of anthropogenic pressures and climate change. Tipo: Dissertação 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://repositorio.ufc.br/handle/riufc/85500 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 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z