Seasonal bottom-up and top-down control of plankton in a hypereutrophic macrotidal lagoon on Brazil’s equatorial coast Marco Valério Jansen Cutrim, Yago Bruno Silveira Nunes, Ana Karoline Duarte dos Santos Sá, Quedyane Silva da Cruz, Andrea Christina Gomes de Azevedo-Cutrim, et al. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 2026 Tropical coastal lagoons often show pronounced seasonal forcing that modulates nutrient supply, light climate, and grazer pressure. We surveyed hypereutrophic Jansen Lagoon (São Luís Island, Brazil) in four campaigns during 2017 (rainy: March and April; dry: September and November) at nine near-surface stations sampled on ebb tide. Phytoplankton and zooplankton were collected and analyzed together with chlorophyll-a and nutrients to assess short-term community responses. Clustering and nMDS revealed clear rainy–dry segregation of communities, and dbRDA linked dry-season samples to higher salinity, turbidity, TP, and silicate, whereas rainy-season samples were associated with higher dissolved oxygen, Secchi depth, ammonium, and DIN. Generalized linear models explained 65% of phytoplankton variance: density increased with DIP and decreased with dissolved oxygen and with the rotifer Filinia longiseta , indicating concurrent bottom-up (nutrients, light/renewal) and top-down (grazing) controls. Microcystis wesenbergii and M. aeruginosa exhibited frequent peaks, underscoring eutrophic risk, though values remained below the bloom threshold applied here. Overall, bottom-up control predominated in the rainy season, whereas grazer pressure intensified in the dry season. Management should couple nutrient-load reductions with measures that shorten residence time, reduce resuspension, and restore macrophytes, with priority to urban margins and semi-enclosed embayments; routine tracking of DO percent saturation, DIN/DIP, Secchi depth, and chlorophyll-a is recommended for long-term assessment.
MANGROVE OYSTERS (Crassostrea brasiliana) AS BIOMONITORS TO ASSESS METAL CONTAMINATION IN A MACRO-TIDAL ESTUARY ON THE AMAZONIAN EQUATORIAL COAST Jacyara N. Correa, Thamires A. Torres, Daniel R. L. Brito, Samantha E. Martins, Carlos Eduardo de Rezende, et al. Quimica Nova, 2025 With increasing recognition of the importance of biomonitoring in tropical estuaries, this study investigates the potential of oysters in assessing environmental contamination. This study assessed the mangrove oyster Crassostrea brasiliana as a biomonitor of estuarine contamination by metals (Al, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, Cr) in the Paciência river estuary on the Amazonian Equatorial coast. Oysters were collected across varying salinity gradients and seasons (dry and rainy). Results revealed seasonal and spatial fluctuations in water quality parameters. In situ measurements were taken to determine the environmental parameters of surface and bottom water, including salinity, temperature, and dissolved oxygen (DO). Oysters accumulated higher levels of Al, Fe, and Zn under low salinity conditions, while Cr, Cu (dry season), and Pb (rainy season) bioaccumulation increased with lower salinity and pH. Chromium and Zn bioaccumulations often exceeded Brazilian health standards, and a hazard index indicated potential health risks from consuming oysters from all sampling sites. Analysis of oysters from different regions showed that metal bioaccumulation is a widespread environmental challenge. This study highlights the effectiveness of C. brasiliana as a bioindicator for monitoring estuarine metal contamination.
Zooplankton community heterogeneity and trophic interactions in response to environmental drivers in a mesotidal estuary on the Brazilian equatorial margin—Lençóis Maranhenses National Park Taiza Pimentel Santos, Marco Valério Jansen Cutrim, Quedyane Silva da Cruz, Lisana Furtado Cavalcanti‐Lima, Ana Karoline Duarte dos Santos Sá, et al. Freshwater Biology, 2024 This study emphasises the importance of environmental filters in the dynamics of the zooplankton community and the ecological relationships with phytoplankton in three zones of a tropical mesotidal estuary. Thus, sampling was carried out in six different locations strategically positioned along the Preguiças River estuary, with the following objectives: to characterise the abundance of zooplankton and, through this, determine changes in the community's α‐ and β‐diversity indices depending on variables environmental; to define environmental filters that affect the indicator species of ecosystem zones; and to identify the interaction between phytoplankton and zooplankton along the estuarine gradient. The zooplankton community contained 80 species, including 14 phyla, with Arthropoda being the most diverse, followed by Ciliophora and Mollusca. The class Copepoda stood out, with Paracalanus crassirostris, Pseudodiaptomus gracilis, and Oithona nana dominating the community. In total, 21 species were selected as indicators, including Temora turbinata in the coastal zone, Rhizodomus tagatzi in the mixing zone, and Moina micrura in the tidal river zone. The environmental heterogeneity showed significant spatial differences, with variations governed mainly by salinity, temperature, and suspended organic matter, which acted as the principal environmental filters. The coastal zone and mixing zone species demonstrated direct ecological relationships with the blooms of the diatoms Skeletonema costatum and Asterionellopsis glacialis, in which the abundance of zooplankton was favoured by their occurrence, denoting top‐down control of the trophic network. For the partitioning of β diversity, the turnover component was responsible for the diversity value due to environmental heterogeneity, which distinguished communities across zones. Our findings represent the first comprehensive investigation into the relationship between environmental heterogeneity and zooplankton within this tropical ecosystem, subject to mesotides. These discoveries are pivotal in identifying environments highly susceptible to degradation (low β diversity) and those acting as dispersal centres (high β diversity), thereby facilitating targeted conservation efforts and more efficient management of estuarine systems. Therefore, our results provide a crucial basis for the sustainable management of similar coastal ecosystems in different parts of the world.
CONFLITOS NORMATIVOS NA BACIA DO RIO BACANGA, SÃO LUÍS (MA) NS Pereira, PHA Catunda, MVJ Cutrim, GM Mendonça, AMP Gimenez Revista Tópicos 4 (33), 1-20 , 2026 2026
Seasonal bottom-up and top-down control of plankton in a hypereutrophic macrotidal lagoon on Brazil’s equatorial coast MVJ Cutrim, YBS Nunes, AKDS Sá, QS Cruz, ACG Azevedo-Cutrim, ... Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 198 (4), 321 , 2026 2026
CRISE DE GOVERNANÇA HÍDRICA E DEGRADAÇÃO AMBIENTAL NO RIO PACIÊNCIA (MA) NS Pereira, PHA Catunda, MVJ Cutrim, HJ Pereira, H dos Santos Silva, ... Veredas do Direito 23 (5), e235550-e235550 , 2026 2026
Seasonal assessment of microbial indicators, antibiotic resistance, and heavy metal tolerance in water, sediment, and edible fish from an urban tropical coastal lagoon (Jansen … L Rodrigues Júnior, A Mouchereck, M Cutrim, A Azevedo-Cutrim, P Baima, ... Frontiers in Bacteriology 5, 1736243 , 2026 2026
Luciano Rodrigues Junior1, Adenilde Mouchereck2, Marco Cutrim3, 4, Andrea Azevedo-Cutrim4, Paˆmela Baima5, Amanda Teles6, Walter Jose Martınez-Burgos7, Roberta Pozzan8, Ceci … L Rodrigues Júnior, A Mouchereck, M Cutrim 2026
Seasonal assessment of microbial indicators, antibiotic resistance, and heavy metal tolerance in water, sediment, and edible fish from an urban tropical coastal lagoon (Jansen … LR Júnior, A Mouchereck, M Cutrim, A Azevedo-Cutrim, P Baima, A Teles, ... Frontiers in Bacteriology 5 , 2026 2026
Decoding climate-induced phytoplankton dynamics in a tropical macrotidal estuary using explainable machine learning AKD dos Santos Sá, MVJ Cutrim, QS da Cruz, R Luvizotto-Santos, ... Science of The Total Environment 1005, 180837 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
Dynamics of phytoplankton functional groups and carbon concentrations in an estuary on the Brazilian equatorial margin DSC Souza, ACG de Azevedo-Cutrim, AKD dos Santos Sá, MVJ Cutrim, ... Marine Environmental Research, 107559 , 2025 2025
Functional diversity and spatial distribution of zooplankton communities on the Maranhao continental shelf, Brazilian equatorial Atlantic YBS Nunes, MVJ Cutrim, XFG Dias, NFAC de Melo, AKD dos Santos Sá, ... Marine Environmental Research, 107509 , 2025 2025
MANGROVE OYSTERS ( Crassostrea Brasiliana ) AS BIOMONITORS TO ASSESS METAL CONTAMINATION IN A MACRO-TIDAL ESTUARY ON THE AMAZONIAN … JN Correa, TA Torres, DRL Brito, SE Martins, CE Rezende, FJS Dias, ... Química Nova 48 (5), e-20250135 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
Machine learning assessment of dredging impacts on the phytoplankton community on the Brazilian equatorial margin: A multivariate analysis MVJ Cutrim, AKD dos Santos Sá, QS da Cruz, ACG de Azevedo-Cutrim, ... Environmental Pollution 368, 125680 , 2025 2025 Citations: 4
Assessment of the trophic status and water quality in an urbanised tropical estuary, Brazil. AVG Oliveira, ACG Azevedo-Cutrim, MVJ Cutrim, QS Cruz, RS Rosas, ... Chemistry and Ecology 40 (10), 1075-1091 , 2024 2024 Citations: 5
Spatial heterogeneity of zooplankton community in an eutrophicated tropical estuary RS Rosas, ACG Azevedo-Cutrim, MVJ Cutrim, QS da Cruz, DSC Souza, ... Aquatic Sciences 86 (4), 102 , 2024 2024 Citations: 7
Zooplankton community heterogeneity and trophic interactions in response to environmental drivers in a mesotidal estuary on the Brazilian equatorial margin—Lençóis Maranhenses … TP Santos, MVJ Cutrim, QS da Cruz, LF Cavalcanti‐Lima, ... Freshwater Biology 69 (9), 1261-1277 , 2024 2024 Citations: 1
Influence of river tide dynamics on phytoplankton variability and its ecological implications in three Brazilian tropical estuaries (Delta do Parnaíba Environmental Protection … MVJ Cutrim, QS Cruz, DS Costa, AL Lima Oliveira, ... Chemistry and Ecology 40 (7), 769-795 , 2024 2024 Citations: 4
Phytoplankton community dynamics in response to seawater intrusion in a tropical macrotidal river-estuary continuum A Sá, FAN Feitosa, MVJ Cutrim, MJ Flores-Montes, D dos S. Costa, ... Hydrobiologia 850 (20), 4351-4383 , 2023 2023 Citations: 16
Effects of climate, spatial and hydrological processes on shaping phytoplankton community structure and β-diversity in an estuary-ocean continuum (Amazon continental shelf, Brazil) LF Cavalcanti-Lima, MVJ Cutrim, FAN Feitosa, MJ Flores-Montes, ... Journal of Sea Research 193, 102384 , 2023 2023 Citations: 16
Does dredging activity exert an influence on benthic macrofauna in tropical estuaries? Case study on the northern coast of Brazil LKS Sousa, MVJ Cutrim, M Nogueira, VM Oliveira Iheringia. Série Zoologia 113, e2023009 , 2023 2023 Citations: 8
Environmental heterogeneity of a tropical river-to-sea continuum and its relationship with structure and phytoplankton dynamics–Lençóis Maranhenses National Park QS da Cruz, MVJ Cutrim, TP Santos, AKD dos Santos Sá, ... Marine Environmental Research 187, 105950 , 2023 2023 Citations: 6
Evaluation of metal contamination in surface sediments and macroalgae in mangrove and port complex ecosystems on the Brazilian equatorial margin JJM Corrêa, MVJ Cutrim, QS da Cruz Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 195 (3), 432 , 2023 2023 Citations: 14
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Trophic state of an urban coastal lagoon (northern Brazil), seasonal variation of the phytoplankton community and environmental variables MVJ Cutrim, FS Ferreira, AKD dos Santos, LF Cavalcanti, ... Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 216, 98-109 , 2019 2019 Citations: 61
Características ecológicas do habitat de Kinosternon scorpioides scorpioides Linnaeus, 1766 (Reptila, Chelonia, Kinosternidae) no município de São Bento–Baixada Maranhense … LA Pereira, AL de Sousa, MVJ Cutrim, EG Moreira Boletim do laboratório de hidrobiologia 20 (1) , 2007 2007 Citations: 34
Patterns of phytoplankton structure in response to environmental gradients in a macrotidal estuary of the Equatorial Margin (Atlantic coast, Brazil) LF Cavalcanti, MVJ Cutrim, CB Lourenco, AKDS Sa, ALL Oliveira, ... Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 245, 106969 , 2020 2020 Citations: 33
Degradação dos manguezais na Ilha de São Luís (MA): processos naturais e impactos antrópicos FR Mochel, MMF Correia, MVJ Cutrim, MSR Ibañez, ACG Azevedo, ... ECOSSISTEMAS costeiros: impactos e gestão ambiental. Belém: MPEG, FUNTEC , 2001 2001 Citations: 33
Pteridoflora da Reserva florestal do Sacavém, São Luís–Maranhão CCC Bastos, MVJ Cutrim Boletim do Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, série Botânica 15 (1), 3-37 , 1999 1999 Citations: 32
Multiple stressors influencing the general eutrophication status of transitional waters of the Brazilian tropical coast: An approach utilizing the pressure, state, and response … AKD dos Santos Sá, MVJ Cutrim, FA do Nascimento Feitosa, ... Journal of Sea Research 189, 102282 , 2022 2022 Citations: 29
Algal blooms and trophic state in a tropical estuary blocked by a dam (northeastern Brazil) AKDS Sá, MVJ Cutrim, DS Costa, LF Cavalcanti, FS Ferreira, ALL Oliveira, ... Ocean and Coastal Research 69, e21009 , 2021 2021 Citations: 29
Uso de biomarcador histopatológico em brânquias de Centropomus undecimalis (Bloch, 1972) na avaliação da qualidade da água do Parque Ecológico Laguna da Jansen, São Luís-MA SM Cantanhêde, AM Medeiros, FS Ferreira, JRC Ferreira, LMC Alves, ... Arquivo Brasileiro de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia 66 (2), 593-601 , 2014 2014 Citations: 29
Structure of microphytoplankton community and environmental variables in a macrotidal estuarine complex, São Marcos Bay, Maranhão-Brazil LF Cavalcanti, ACG Azevedo-Cutrim, ALL Oliveira, JA Furtado, BO Araújo, ... Brazilian Journal of Oceanography 66 (3), 283-300 , 2018 2018 Citations: 28
Using a toxicity test with Ruppia maritima (Linnaeus) to assess the effects of Roundup AJV Castro, IG Colares, TCR dos Santos Franco, MVJ Cutrim, ... Marine pollution bulletin 91 (2), 506-510 , 2015 2015 Citations: 21
Spatial and seasonal variation in physicochemical characteristics and phytoplankton in an estuary of a tropical delta system D dos Santos Costa, MVJ Cutrim Regional Studies in Marine Science 44, 101746 , 2021 2021 Citations: 18
Hydrodynamics and suspended particulate matter retention in macrotidal estuaries located in Amazonia-semiarid interface (Northeastern-Brazil) VHM dos Santos, FJ da Silva Dias, AR Torres, RA Soares, LC Terto, ... International Journal of Sediment Research 35 (4), 417-429 , 2020 2020 Citations: 18
Phytoplankton community dynamics in response to seawater intrusion in a tropical macrotidal river-estuary continuum A Sá, FAN Feitosa, MVJ Cutrim, MJ Flores-Montes, D dos S. Costa, ... Hydrobiologia 850 (20), 4351-4383 , 2023 2023 Citations: 16
Effects of climate, spatial and hydrological processes on shaping phytoplankton community structure and β-diversity in an estuary-ocean continuum (Amazon continental shelf, Brazil) LF Cavalcanti-Lima, MVJ Cutrim, FAN Feitosa, MJ Flores-Montes, ... Journal of Sea Research 193, 102384 , 2023 2023 Citations: 16
Microphytoplankton composition, chlorophyll-a concentration and environmental variables of the Maranhão Continental Shelf, Northern Brazil RCQ Carvalho, MVJ Cutrim, SA Eschrique, ACG Azevedo-Cutrim, ... Latin American Journal of Aquatic Research 44 (2), 256-266 , 2016 2016 Citations: 16
Drivers of phytoplankton biomass and diversity in a macrotidal bay of the Amazon Mangrove Coast, a Ramsar site LF Cavalcanti, FA do N Feitosa, MVJ Cutrim, M de JF Montes, ... Ecohydrology & Hydrobiology 22 (3), 435-453 , 2022 2022 Citations: 15
Evaluation of metal contamination in surface sediments and macroalgae in mangrove and port complex ecosystems on the Brazilian equatorial margin JJM Corrêa, MVJ Cutrim, QS da Cruz Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 195 (3), 432 , 2023 2023 Citations: 14
Spatial and seasonal variation of microphytoplankton community and the correlation with environmental parameters in a hypereutrophic tropical estuary-Maranhão-Brazil AKD Santos, ALL Oliveira, JA Furtado, FS Ferreira, BO Araújo, ... Brazilian Journal of Oceanography 65 (3), 356-372 , 2017 2017 Citations: 14
Application of multiple indices to the evaluation of trophic and ecological status in a tropical macrotidal estuary (Equatorial Margin, Brazil) LF Cavalcanti, MVJ Cutrim, CCS Maciel, AKDS Sá, ACG Azevedo-Cutrim, ... Chemistry and Ecology 38 (2), 122-144 , 2022 2022 Citations: 13
Relações entre as variáveis físicas, químicas e fitoplanctônicas de três áreas estuarinas da costa Norte do Brasil-São José de Ribamar, Cedral e Cajapió, Estado do Maranhão EI Rodrigues, MVJ Cutrim Arquivos de Ciências Ambientais , 2010 2010 Citations: 13
