Repositório RCAAP

Abstract A hydrological basin is established as a geographic frame to officially determine surface water availability and is basic to confer or deny water rights. In Mexico, the legal definition of a hydrological basin is confusing and inconsistent with the official basin delineation published by the authority. This situation is demonstrated through the analysis of eight study cases located in Hydrological Region 10 Sinaloa. A proposal to define the legal term of hydrological basin, ensuring its consistency with official delineation of hydrological basins is presented. Geographic analysis was performed using QGIS software, by using official sources of Mexico and worldwide data bases. By law, in Mexico a water parting is defined as a borderline of maximum elevation. Nevertheless, the legal definition fails to explain hydrologic basin official boundaries where the basin limit is the location of a hydrometric station. Besides, the presence of this equipment does not mean that a waterbody exists in a hydrological basin, or that the delimited basin is an autonomous differentiated unit, as it is required by the legal definition. Other inconsistencies are presented dealing with the presence of inland water bodies as watershed limits and with groups of independent watersheds incongruously considered as a single basin. An amendment is proposed to harmonize this situation, with a minimum of changes in policy documents. The method proposed can be useful to analyze similar situations in other countries where discrepancies between the legal and official definitions of watershed delineation are also observed, or in countries where no official watershed definition has been established.

Abstract Wastewater from confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) can interfere significantly with the natural nitrogen and phosphorus balance in the environment if not treated adequately prior to disposal. In this work, a modified Lutzak-Ettinger (MLE) consisting of sequential pre-denitrification/ nitrification was used to determine the effects of nutrient loading rates and hydraulic retention times (HRT) on total nitrogen (TN) and organic carbon (TOC) removal from swine wastewater. MLE reactor was continuously fed swine wastewater for over 205 days using different recycle ratios (Rr) and HRT. Higher TN and TOC removal efficiencies (90.7% and 96.1%, respectively) were obtained when recycling effluent from the nitrification tank (4.5:1) combined with effluent from the final clarifier (1:1). Removal efficiencies of 96% for TOC and 90% for TN were obtained for the maximum loading rates of 0.56 gTN L-1 d-1 and 2.15 g TOC L-1 d-1, respectively. TN and TOC removal rates were achieved with HRT in as little as 3.5 days. Overall, MLE was a robust bioprocess withstanding variations in wastewater physical-chemical composition and/or changes in operational conditions without significant impairment of N and TOC removal efficiencies.

Abstract Spatial patterns of stable isotope ratios can be represented in spatial models called isoscapes, and have been widely used to track biogeochemical processes in natural and anthropic systems. Isoscapes have the potential to improve isotope dissemination and interpretation of spatial patterns, increase scientific results appropriation by non-specialists and improve natural resource management. However, the isoscape approach has not commonly been used in studies performed in the Brazilian context. Isoscapes with oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen and carbon stable isotopes contribute in areas such as animal migration, forensics, hydrology, and studies on population, community and ecosystem level, among others. Here, we show the well-known global use and applications of isoscapes in different studies worldwide as a background to point out the potential for more Brazilian researchers to employ this approach in their studies, taking advantage of existing methods and filling spatial and methodological gaps. The incorporation of isoscapes may broaden the understanding of mechanisms and processes of major biogeochemical cycles in Brazil, assist in solving crimes, track illicit drug origins, help to detect wild animal trafficking, and increase Brazilian knowledge about the hydrological cycle and animal migration patterns in the Neotropics.

Abstract The catchment basin of the Dois Rios River (R2R) (3159 km2) unites the climatic and environmental effects typical of areas located on the leeward side of mountain chains. It has a deficient water balance, with sparse and very specific wet areas. This study identifies delimitation areas, and characterizes and groups those basins and floodplains which show the greatest capacity for producing ecosystemic services related to maintaining the continuity of water resources in the R2R basin. Locations with higher pluviometric indices (1500 to 2800 mm/year) were selected and grouped into micro basins with the highest potential for capturing rainfall due to their being on the leeward side of the mountains in the region (with their slopes oriented to permit them to capture humidity and concave plane curvature). The 42 basins formed 4 groups, from which the 17 micro basins with the highest probability of providing ecosystemic services were chosen, belonging to Groups III and IV. Within these groups, the 498 floodplains with the highest potential for offering ecosystemic services (Group D) present the greatest capacity for water retention and sustainable effects (high average circularity index, higher altitudes and low occupation rates). The correct use of 0.0006% of the basin can guarantee the direct flow of the drainage for the entire basin. This strategy only requires renaturation measures, discipline with regard to the land uses and strict observance of the processes which generate ecosystemic services in the floodplains of these basins, resulting in relevant socio-environmental benefits for all socioeconomic segments within the R2R basin.

Abstract This work presents a new analytical approach for solving pollutant dispersion problems along irregular-shaped water bodies. In this approach, the advection-diffusion equation is expressed in terms of orthogonal curvilinear coordinates, defined by the velocity potential and the corresponding stream function for inviscid flows. The boundary condition rewritten in terms of these new coordinates is reduced to a classical third kind one, i.e., the derivative of the concentration distribution with respect to the stream function is proportional to the numerical value of the local pollutant concentration. The solution obtained from the proposed formulation was employed to simulate pollutant dispersion (thermotolerant coliforms) along the Pampa Creek, a tributary of the Sinos River at the outskirts of Novo Hamburgo city, South Region of Brazil. The results obtained reproduce the qualitative behavior of the expected concentration distribution.

Abstract Biogas is a technology that enables the generation of energy through the process of anaerobic biodigestion, and sweet potato is an option as an energy production source. This research evaluated biogas production in anaerobic biodigesters and characterized the physico-chemical composition of two commercial sweet potato cultivars, BRS Cuia and BRS Rubissol, and two genotypes, Bela Vista and Laranjeiras. Variance analysis, the Tukey test and the physical-chemical characterization were completed, and the results were correlated using principal component analysis (PCA). In the analyses of tuberous root composition, significant differences between the genotypes were observed because of the influence of the absorption of moisture, decomposition, and variations in the yield and quality of roots. For the biochemical methane potential (BMP) test, the estimate of biogas production was 2,906.5 liters ha-1 for the cultivar BRS Cuia, 2,712.4 liters ha-1 for Laranjeiras, 2,906.5 liters ha-1 for BRS Rubissol, and 398,2 liters ha-1 for Bela Vista. The PCA analysis of sweet potato genotypes, physical-chemical and agronomic parameters showed all genotypes have a direct correlation with the amount of reducing sugars and humidity, with 97.77% of the data variability explained. The Laranjeiras genotype has the most significant potential to produce biogas, followed by the BRS Cuia cultivar. The results emphasize that the sweet potato crop is a good source of biomass for energy generation.

Abstract The Shifting Habitat Mosaic refers to temporal changes in the spatial pattern of habitats, through the flood and dry pulses. This work mapped the dynamics of a Shifting Mosaic associated with the flood and dry pulses in the Environmental Protection Area of ​​the Banhado Grande (EPABG). The research was divided into four stages: i) acquisition of satellite images; ii) obtaining rainfall river basin data from the Gravataí River; iii) identification of the flood and dry pulses; and iv) mapping of the Shifting Mosaic in the wetlands of the EPABG. In large swaths of flooding, a shifting connectivity is established between the AUs of EPABG, providing several interactions among these wetlands, such as nutrient exchange, sediments and living organisms. It was found that in periods where the accumulation of precipitation in the last 30 days is greater than 200 mm, we have the presence of predominantly aquatic mosaic with the presence of predominantly aquatic animals and vegetation; In periods where the cumulative precipitation in the 30 days is less than 200 mm, a terrestrial mosaic predominates, with increase of ciliary vegetation.

Abstract This paper analyzes the variability and the precipitation trend of the State of Paraná, in Brazil. For that, monthly precipitation data belonging to 24 precipitation stations in a 30-year period (1980-2010) were analyzed and they were compared with projections of precipitation for the years 2016-2050. These data were simulated by Eta/Miroc5 for RCP 4.5 (Representative Concentration Pathways) from the Center for Weather Forecasting and Climate Studies CPTEC/INPE and the historical data of precipitation were taken from National Water Agency (ANA). The Mann-Kendall non-parametric test and the Sen’s slope estimator were applied to detect trends and magnitudes, respectively. The Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the median of the historical series (1980-2010) with the simulated series (2016-2050) and the comparison of the means between the two series was performed by Test t. The results draw attention to the great variability and significant changes in the monthly average rainfall that may occur, if the climate change scenarios that were considered become a reality in the near future.

Abstract Anthropic activities as well as land use and occupation are closely linked to water and soil quality. An alternative to assess their influence on water quality in water bodies is through biomonitoring using Allium cepa as a bioindicator organism. This technique allows the detection of cytogenetic abnormalities in Allium cepa root meristematic cells after contact with analyzed water samples. Thus, we evaluated the genotoxic potential of water samples from the Rio das Antas (Antas River) along the urban perimeter of the city of Irati, Paraná, Brazil. With the aid of GeoEye Satellite high-resolution fused orbital images, we searched for possible relationships between the use and occupation of land around this river. Biomonitoring was performed at three different sampling points. Statistical equality between the negative control and Point 1 and between Points 2 and 3 was obtained using Fisher's test and a Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA). The former presented a low frequency of abnormalities chromosomes and the latter presented larger averages. In addition, Point 1 had strong influence of tree vegetation. Points 2 and 3, demonstrated a strong influence of urbanized area, with significant degradation of permanent preservation areas (áreas de preservação permanente - (APP). The results showed remarkable anthropogenic interference to the ecosystem. Furthermore, this indicates importance of an APP watercourses functioning to preserve the quality of the water resources.

Abstract The Amazon region is the subject of growing interest in the international scientific community due to the environmental services provided by its dense forests in climate regulation and freshwater. Despite many efforts from environmental management agencies and research centers, this region can still be considered poorly monitored, especially given its large regional and global importance. Rainfall-runoff models are presented as a good alternative to the estimated flow rates in inaccessible or difficult to watch places. This study simulated stream flows for a representative part of the Amazon basin using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) redistributed hydrological model, adopting as reference the streamflow observed in Altamira gauge station. The authors emphasize that a database was specially prepared with physical parameters such as land use, topography and soil types, and weather data encompassing the years from 1985 to 2012, at a daily time step. The chosen approach allowed carrying out hydrologic simulations that were consistent with the flow values observed at the Altamira gauge station, providing better understanding of hydraulic-hydrological processes in the Xingu subbasin and information for planning and decision-making on the management of water resources in this important river basin.

Abstract The accentuated increase in the production of solid urban waste (SUW) and the consequent accumulation of leachate in landfills increase the risk of environmental contamination. Biomonitors are used to assess the toxicity of pollutants on living organisms. In this study, the pollutant potential of leachate from SUW from a deactivated landfill was evaluated by bioassays with Lactuca sativa L. and Lycopersicon esculentum Mill., and the relationship between chemical characteristics of the effluent and biological parameters was analyzed. The effluent was tested in its raw form and diluted in distilled water at concentrations of 75 and 50%. The percentage of germination, root growth (RG), mitotic index (MI), chromosomal abnormalities index (CAI), and micronuclei frequency (MCN) were analyzed. In the presence of effluent, germination and MI decreased, while RG, CAI and MCN frequencies increased in relation to the negative control (distilled water) for both species. Lead, iron and zinc presented negative relation with seed germination for both species, with RG of L. sativa and MI of L. esculentum, as well as a positive relation with MCN frequency in the studied species. Because of its larger chromosomes, L. sativa is a more suitable biomonitor of SUW leachate toxicity than L. esculentum. Even though the landfill is deactivated, it is necessary to treat this effluent, in order to minimize environmental impacts.

Abstract Root Zone Wastewater Treatment (RZWT) is an option of natural wastewater treatment widely studied throughout the world, being a technology based on physical, chemical and biological processes. However, there are some attributes in effluent that occasionally are not eliminated by RZWT. In this context, the use of ozone may contribute to mineralization, disinfection, detoxification, and, especially, color and turbidity removal. Ozone is an excellent oxidant, with great potential to reduce color, turbidity and other attributes in liquids, such as in wastewater treatment. This paper evaluated the effect of different ozone exposure times (0, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 minutes) and the application of different dosages of ozone (0, 4, 10, 17, 25 and 35 mg L-1 of O3) on Hydrogeonic Potential (pH), Electrical Conductivity (EC), Dissolved Oxygen (OD), Total Alkalinity (Alk.), Sodium (Na) and Potassium (K) in domestic sewage effluent treated by the RZWT. Different exposure times and ozone dosages did not influence the attributes Potassium, Sodium, Ammonia and Total Solids. Color and turbidity decreased, while pH, Alkalinity and Dissolved Oxygen increased at all exposure times and O3 dosages in relation to the non-ozonized effluent.

Abstract The midge Chironomus sancticaroli (Diptera: Chironomidae) has been used in ecotoxicological tests because it is sensitive to a variety of inorganic pollutants. Among the parameters used to evaluate the toxicity of a substance is the frequency of mentum deformity, which is part of the oral system of this organism. However, there is still no consensus on the baseline level (percentage) of acceptable deformities in laboratory cultures not exposed to pollutants. The determination of this variable is important to ensure the validity of bioassays and to compare cultures from different research and teaching institutions. Once this value is established, it will also be used to monitor the quality of organisms cultured, since factors such as inbreeding could increase the frequency of mentum deformity. Thus, the objective of this study was to quantify the percentage of mentum deformity in the fourth instar of C. sancticaroli larvae from the culture of the Laboratory of Aquatic Ecosystems, at Embrapa Meio Ambiente. The average frequency of mentum deformity obtained was 6,63%. It is believed that factors such as the renewal of the culture with the inclusion of spawns from the laboratories of other institutions, as well as the control of the quality of the dilution water and the sediment of the breeding may have contributed to a low frequency of mentum deformity of the culture observed in this study.

Abstract Fluvial marine plains harbor environments with reduced declivity, but with different environmental attributes that may be relevant ecosystem services in their watersheds, which can be transformed into opportunities for the development of environmental services payments. This study digitally spatialized part of the ecosystem services related to water availability in the microbasins of the Guandu Basin Hydrographic Basin, the main source of water supply for the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro, based on geo-environmental factors and the effects of transposition of watersheds, in order to facilitate the formulation of public policies regarding environmental services. The excerpts with the highest potential for producing environmental services from subsurface water flows, Topographic Wetness Index-ITU (ITU > 11), flat formation and low altimetry (< 40 m), are close to the old silted thalwegs, which can be potentialized by the effects of transposition, notably in the APA Guandu conservation unit. These areas should be prioritized in public and private water systems’ preservation programs. The areas near the transposition canals feature environmental services that depend directly on the transposition, and may be subject to management, as found in Guandu conservation unit. Flat areas with (7<ITU< 11) have their ecosystem services transferred from subsurface water flows to surface water flows and are dependent more on meteorological phenomena and on ways to manage heavy rain showers through their use, especially as altimetry and slope increase.

Abstract The diversity of the riparian vegetation of five high Andean lagoons of the Junin region was evaluated between March and December of 2017. The sampling of the riparian vegetation was carried out by means of the transect method. The unidentified species were collected for later identification in the herbarium. The diversity was determined by floristic composition, abundance and frequency, and by species richness indices of Simpson and Shannon-Wiener. In the Pomacocha Lagoon, the floristic composition was represented by 43 species, distributed in 15 families, with the most abundant species being Aciachne pulvinata, Azorella crenata and Geranium sessiliflorum and the most frequent Aciachne pulvinata. In the Laguna Tragadero, the floristic composition was represented by 17 species, distributed in 10 families, with the most abundant species being Pennisetum clandestinum and Eleocharis sp and the most frequent Polypogon interruptus. In the Cucancocha Lagoon, the floristic composition was represented by 19 species, distributed in 7 families, with the most abundant species being Calamagrostis sp and Wernberia humbellata and the one of most frequent Carex ecuadorica. In the Incacocha Lagoon, the floristic composition was represented by 22 species, distributed in 11 families, with the most abundant and frequent species being Alchemilla pinnata. In the Ñahuinpuquio Lagoon, the floristic composition was represented by 20 species, distributed in 9 families, with the most abundant species being Pennisetum clandestinum and the most frequent species Pennisetum clandestinum, Juncus arcticus and Muhlenbergia andina. The results obtained contribute data on the diversity of riparian vegetation of high Andean wetlands in the Junin region, Peru.

Abstract This study analyzed the performance of the Brunt (1932), Swinbank (1963), Idso and Jackson (1969), Brutsaert (1975), Idso (1981), and Bignami et al. (1995) methods to estimate atmospheric emissivity under grass-dominated savannas (known as campo sujo Cerrado), in the region of Baixada Cuiabana. The estimates were compared with data obtained by energy balance equation in two seasons, dry season (May to August), and wet season (September to December) of 2009. The Swinbank and Idso and Jackson methods, that consider only air temperature, show better performances for the wet season. However, methods that consider water vapor pressure and air temperature (Brunt, Brutsaert, Bignami and Idso) show good performances for the dry season. The Idso and Brutsaert methods show the highest index of agreement and are recommended to estimate atmospheric emissivity for the region.

Abstract Wastewaters from textile industries are known for their difficulty to treat, several alternative technologies are applied for their treatment. In this context, the study examined a hybrid treatment system, composed of electrocoagulation combined with a natural coagulant (extract of Moringa oleífera lam seeds) to remove reactive dye Blue 5G aqueous solutions. The work evaluated the use of milder operating conditions to improve the efficiency of treatment, with reduced demands for electrical power and coagulant. The following factors were evaluated: electric current intensity, natural coagulant concentration and hydraulic retention time. A quadratic model was adjusted and validated at a 5% significance level. The overall optimization resulted in conditions of 0.28 A for electrical current intensity, 1000.00 mg L-1 of aqueous extract of Moringa oleífera lam and 5 min for hydraulic retention time. While operating under optimal conditions, the removal of 71.38% of color and 5.22 mg L-1 of iron residual concentration was achieved.

Abstract Studies using the ‘ecosystem services’ (ES) approach developed in Brazil based on the framework of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA), and range from quantitative and qualitative evaluation to the development of economic instruments for payment for ecosystem services (PES) or compensation for their maintenance, mainly for hydrological services. In order to summarize current knowledge regarding ES, the structure for teaching in ES, and also to provide a basis for future research in Brazil, we carried out a systematic review of publications on ES and a study on the availability of undergraduate and graduate courses related to ES. We found 282 publications for the 2006-2017 period, which included peer-reviewed articles, books, book chapters, theses, dissertations, articles in annals and technical publications. We identified current knowledge, knowledge gaps and trends in ES researches that may guide surveys and scenario analyses for future studies, in different biomes and regions of the country. Atlantic Forest and Amazon are the most-studied biome. Most of the studies were related to the evaluation of different types of ES and to the development of methodologies for their evaluation and monitoring. The most common ES are related to biodiversity, carbon sequestration and water.

Abstract This study modified the surface of a commercial polyamide membrane with the deposition of TiO2 nanoparticles by the self-assembly method under pressure with high permeability and photocatalytic activity. Changes in membrane characteristics and its performance for photocatalytic properties were evaluated. The results indicated that both membrane hydrophilicity and photocatalytic performance were significantly improved by the presence of TiO2 nanoparticles applied under a pressure of 1 bar. The deposition of the TiO2 particles under pressure was able to maintain the particles on the surface of the membranes and their photocatalytic capacity for three cycles of use. The prepared TiO2 photocatalytic membrane presented a great potential for wastewater treatment and for reuse wastewater systems due its ability to remove methylene blue (MB) dye solution by photocatalytic decomposition and physical separation.

Abstract Agricultural utilization of yellow waters associated with cassava wastewater is a sustainable technique, since it allows reduction of costs related to acquisition of industrialized fertilizers and minimizes the environmental pollution caused by the inadequate disposal of these effluents. In this context, this study evaluated the macronutrient macronutrient content and growth of cowpea fertigated with yellow water associated with cassava wastewater and NPK as source of nutrients. The experiment was set up in a greenhouse located at Campus I of the Federal University of Campina Grande. The experimental design was completely randomized, composed of five treatments characterized by: fertigation with mineral fertilizers, in the form of NPK; organic fertigation composed of human urine, cassava wastewater, human urine plus cassava wastewater; and organo-mineral fertigation composed of urine, cassava wastewater and mineral phosphorus, with four replicates. At 36 days after sowing, the following parameters were determined: contents of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur and the variables number of leaves, plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, shoot fresh matter and shoot dry matter. The use of yellow waters promotes significant increases for growth and production variables for nitrogen and potassium contents mainly, as well as for growth and production variables. The contents of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were higher than the levels considered as adequate for the cowpea crop. The use of human urine and cassava wastewater have potential to meet the needs for the main macronutrients required by cowpea and the irrigation via fertigation with these biofertilizers positively influences the development of cowpea.