Acúmulo e fracionamento de fósforo nos sedimentos do estuário do rio Coreaú (Ceará) para avaliação do impacto da carcinicultura

Abstract

The shrimp culture (shrimp farms) is one of the activities of aquaculture widely employed in Brazilian estuaries and mangroves. The shrimps are fed with phosphate enriched compounds. Thus, the effluent produced by farms can accelerate the eutrophication process. An increase of shrimp farming has been seen in Coreaú River Estuary, state of Ceará, but data about environmental quality are scarce to allow monitoring of the region. The aim of the present research was to assess the contribution of the shrimp farms on phosphorus input to the Coreaú River Estuary. The main forms of phosphorus: bioavailable (P-Exch); bound to iron oxy-hydroxides (P-Fe), on the biogenic, autigênica carbonates and apatite (P-CFAP), on the detrital apatite (P-FAP) and organic phosphorus (P-Org) and as well as total organic carbon (%TOC) and chlorophyll-a were determined in samples of surface sediments and cores from the margins of the Coreaú River Estuary. The high concentrations of P-Total in surface sediments indicated the need for monitoring studies. The larger fraction was P-Fe, composing 30% of P-Total, approximately. These results indicate the ability of the iron oxy-hydroxides to immobilize or release phosphorus. The contribution of the farm’s effluents was evidenced by higher concentrations of P-Org in points adjacent to discharge areas. In sediment cores, the highest P-Total concentrations were found predominantly in fine sediments (silt and clay), with the P-Fe, P-CFAP and P-FAP fractions being the main contributors. The sedimentation rates and concentration increases of P-Total indicate the possible period of deforestation and starting or maximum activity of shrimp farms in the end of the 1980 and mid 1990, respectively. High phosphorus concentrations as well as %TOC and chlorophyll-a levels suggested a significant anthropogenic contribution, associated with a high potential for eutrophication.