A tropical bay as a reference area defined by multiple lines of evidences

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Marine Biology
• Geochemistry

Background:

• Reference areas are crucial for assessing anthropogenic impacts on coastal environments.
• Camamu Bay (CB) in Bahia was investigated as a potential tropical reference site.
• Understanding the natural state of ecosystems is vital for effective environmental management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate Camamu Bay as a reference area for tropical coastal environments.
• To determine levels of trace elements, major elements, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH).
• To analyze the structure of benthic macrofauna for ecosystem health assessment.

Main Methods:

• Geochemical analysis of trace and major elements.
• Quantification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH).
• Benthic macrofauna community structure analysis.
• Statistical methods including normalization by Al and linear regressions for trace elements.

Main Results:

• Trace element concentrations, except for copper, indicated natural background levels.
• Elevated copper levels near municipalities suggest potential domestic sewage influence.
• Low concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were detected across all sites.
• Benthic macrofauna assemblages indicated a healthy and well-preserved ecosystem.

Conclusions:

• Integrated geochemical and biotic data support Camamu Bay's designation as a reference area.
• Camamu Bay represents a pristine tropical coastal environment.
• The findings highlight the need for conservation efforts to maintain the ecological integrity of Camamu Bay.