O Fitoplâncton e a dialética da balneabilidade de praias: um estudo de caso na Praia de Itacoatiara, Niterói, RJ.

Abstract

The Itacoatiara beach, area of environmental protection, in the municipality in Niterói, has an important contribution to the ecological tourism in the region. Search the environmental certification of the "Blue Flag" and this work seeks to achieve environmental monitoring determination as one of the criteria of the program. The objective was to evaluate the proliferation of marine microalgae. The quality of bathing was diagnosed by a bioindicator, the phytoplankton. The collections were made during the months from November 2008 to March 2009. 52 taxonomic units were found, with 33 belonging to the diatoms (Bacillariophyceae), 15 dinoflagellates (Dinophyceae), 1 cyanobacteria (Cyanophyceae), 1 Euglenophyceae, 1 Chrysophyceae and 1 Prasinophyceae and phytoflagellates. The methodology was based in sedimentation cuvette and analysis in inverted microscope. The beach is characterized by the Itacoatiara influence of environments adjacent to the water masses involved in promoting proliferation monospecific algae densities considered of "Bloom". The dominant species were Tetraselmis sp (Prasinophyceae) considered potentially harmful contamination by presenting visual and cyanobacteria that can produce toxins. The parameters wind, waves and tides have been identified as the main carriers of the water masses committed to the region studied. By meeting the general objective, we find that the marine phytoplankton can be used as parameter for the characterization and quality of balneability of beaches.