Effects of local land use on riparian vegetation, water quality, and in situ toxicity

  • Milena Perez de Melo Faculdade de Ciências Biológicas e Ambientais. Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados (UFGD), Cidade Universitária, Rodovia Dourados Itahum, Km 12, Caixa Postal 364, CEP: 79804-970, Dourados, MS, Brazil.
  • Bruno do Amaral Crispim Faculdade de Ciências Biológicas e Ambientais. Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados (UFGD), Cidade Universitária, Rodovia Dourados Itahum, Km 12, Caixa Postal 364, CEP: 79804-970, Dourados, MS, Brazil.
  • Lucilene Finoto Viana Faculdade de Ciências Biológicas e Ambientais. Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados (UFGD), Cidade Universitária, Rodovia Dourados Itahum, Km 12, Caixa Postal 364, CEP: 79804-970, Dourados, MS, Brazil.
  • Nathalya Alice de Lima Faculdade de Ciências Exatas e Tecnologia. Laboratório de Ecotoxicologia e Genotoxicidade. Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados (UFGD), Rodovia Dourados Itahum, Km 12, Caixa Postal 533, CEP: 79804-970, Dourados, MS, Brazil.
  • Elaine Silva de Pádua Melo Faculdade de Medicina. Laboratório de Metabolismo Mineral e Biomateriais. Laboratório de Espectroscopia e Bioinformática. Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS), Avenida Costa e Silva, s/n, Caixa Postal 549, CEP: 79070-900, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil.
  • Valter Aragão do Nascimento Faculdade Faculdade de Medicina. Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande/MS, Cidade Universitária, Caixa Postal 549, CEP: 79070-900, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil.
  • Alexeia Barufatti Faculdade de Ciências Biológicas e Ambientais. Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados (UFGD), Cidade Universitária, Rodovia Dourados Itahum, Km 12, Caixa Postal 364, CEP: 79804-970, Dourados, MS, Brazil.

Abstract

The conversion of riparian forests into agricultural land results in the loss of water quality and aquatic biota health. The objectives of this study were therefore to determine the proportion of land use with emphasis on the type of vegetation cover; evaluate the limnological parameters and concentration of inorganic elements in the water of the São José stream in the Dourados River Basin, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil; correlate land use with the concentrations of inorganic elements in water; and evaluate the risk to preservation aquatic biota and in situ toxic effect on Astyanax lacustris. We collected samples from the São José Stream in 2020 and evaluated land use with high resolution aerial images. The inorganic elements in water samples were quantified using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. In the surroundings of the São José stream, a reduction in riparian forest was observed with a proportion of only 16.32% of the area and the predominance of agricultural areas with 75.06%. The concentrations of dissolved oxygen (1.510 mg L-1) and P (> 0.235 mg L-1) in the water did not comply with the national legislation. In addition, Al and P indicated risks regarding the conservation of aquatic biota (risk quotient >1). The in situ evaluation of A. lacustris also revealed toxicity in the water. The results indicate environmental imbalance in the São José stream, requiring mitigation measures for its restoration and the sustainable use of its resources.

Keywords: anthropic action, inorganic contaminants, risks for aquatic biota.


Published
17/11/2022
Section
Papers