Using bioassays and benthic community to evaluate the sediment quality at the estuary of Itanhaém river, sp, brazil
DOI: 10.15343/0104-7809.200832.3.4
Keywords:
Estuaries. Geologic sediments. Toxicity tests.Abstract
This work aimed to assess the quality of sediments from the estuary of the Itanhaém River using whole sediment toxicity
tests with the burrowing amphipod Tiburonella viscana; and the analysis of the benthic community. Results showed that the sediments
are preponderantly sandy, with low or absence of toxicity to T. viscana. The benthic community was poor, composed mainly by opportunistic
organisms, including capitelid polychaetes. Its structure was mainly controlled by the environmental variables, as sediment grain
size and water properties, but some influence of the toxicity was also observed. The quality of the sediments from the estuary ranged
from moderate to good.