Distribution and origin of sedimentary organic matter in an eutrophic estuary: Pina Sound - NE Brazil.

Eutrophic estuaries receive organic matter (OM) inputs from multiple sources. This study evaluated the distribution and origin of sedimentary OM in an eutrophic estuary (Pina Sound, NE Brazil). Thirteen samples were collected in the sublittoral in addition to major local sources. Biochemical (chlorophyll - Chl), elemental [(C/N)a and C/S ratios] and isotopic (δ 15N and δ 13C) analyses were carried out for characterizing OM and redox conditions. The SIAR mixing model was used to quantify contribution from main sources. At Pina Sound, distribution of OM is associated with mud, reflecting the hydrodynamics control on deposition of suspended particles. Microphytobenthic production is limited ([Chl a] < 1000 µg/g organic carbon) in the sublittoral where the Chl degradation products prevail (mean [Pheopigments] = 2643 ± 958 µg/g organic carbon). Anoxic conditions (C/S ratio ≈ 2) are typically observed in sediments of deeper portions of Pina Sound. Such sediments receive high organic loads and are subject to poor water renewal. According to SIAR mixing model, sedimentary OM of Pina Sound is composed of, on average: 50% phytoplankton, 24% sewage and 26% C3 plants. This reflects fertilization of Pina Sound with high loads of untreated sewage. Pina Sound has a great potential to retain sewage-derived OM.

Enabling reusability of plant phenomic datasets with MIAPPE 1.1.

Enabling data reuse and knowledge discovery is increasingly critical in modern science, and requires an effort towards standardising data publication practices. This is particularly challenging in the plant phenotyping domain, due to its complexity and heterogeneity. We have produced the MIAPPE 1.1 release, which enhances the existing MIAPPE standard in coverage, to support perennial plants, in structure, through an explicit data model, and in clarity, through definitions and examples. We evaluated MIAPPE 1.1 by using it to express several heterogeneous phenotyping experiments in a range of different formats, to demonstrate its applicability and the interoperability between the various implementations. Furthermore, the extended coverage is demonstrated by the fact that one of the datasets could not have been described under MIAPPE 1.0. MIAPPE 1.1 marks a major step towards enabling plant phenotyping data reusability, thanks to its extended coverage, and especially the formalisation of its data model, which facilitates its implementation in different formats. Community feedback has been critical to this development, and will be a key part of ensuring adoption of the standard.

A new protocol for ecotoxicological assessment of seawater using nauplii of Tisbe biminiensis (Copepoda:Harpacticoida).

Copepods are largely used in toxicity tests. The nauplii of these organisms are more sensitive to contaminants than the adult stage. The aim of the present study was to test a protocol for the use of nauplii of the copepod Tisbe biminiensis in the ecotoxicological assessment of seawater. The sensitivity of these organisms to zinc sulphate (ZnSO4·7H2O) was also determined. The following conditions were established for the protocol based on the best development of nauplii to copepodites: 72-h duration, the microalga Chaetocerus gracilis at 2.5×10(5)cellsmL(-1) as feed and incubation temperature of 28°C. In the zinc sulphate sensitivity tests, EC50-72 h and LC50/72 h were 3.25±0.59 mg L(-1) and 3.46±0.72 mg L(-1), respectively, as estimated by the final number of copepodites and total number of live animals in relation to the mean number of inoculated nauplii. The estimated NOEC was 2.0 mg L(-1). The test developed is fast and not labour intensive. T. biminiensis nauplii exhibit sensitivity to zinc sulphate similar to that of other species of copepods employed in water toxicity tests, demonstrating the usefulness of these organisms in ecotoxicological studies involving samples of environmental seawater.