Long-term effects of oil pollution in mangrove forests (Baixada Santista, Southeast Brazil) detected using a GIS-based multitemporal analysis of aerial photographs

Santos, Luciana Cavalcanti Maia; Cunha-Lignon, Marília; Schaeffer-Novelli, Yara; Cintrón-Molero, Gilberto

Abstracts

Oil spills are potential threats to the integrity of highly productive coastal wetlands, such as mangrove forests. In October 1983, a mangrove area of nearly 300 ha located on the southeastern coast of Brazil was impacted by a 3.5 million liter crude oil spill released by a broken pipeline. In order to assess the long-term effects of oil pollution on mangrove vegetation, we carried out a GIS-based multitemporal analysis of aerial photographs of the years 1962, 1994, 2000 and 2003. Photointerpretation, visual classification, class quantification, ground-truth and vegetation structure data were combined to evaluate the oil impact. Before the spill, the mangroves exhibited a homogeneous canopy and well-developed stands. More than ten years after the spill, the mangrove vegetation exhibited three distinct zones reflecting the long-term effects of the oil pollution. The most impacted zone (10.5 ha) presented dead trees, exposed substrate and recovering stands with reduced structural development. We suggest that the distinct impact and recovery zones reflect the spatial variability of oil removal rates in the mangrove forest. This study identifies the multitemporal analysis of aerial photographs as a useful tool for assessing a system's capacity for recovery and monitoring the long-term residual effects of pollutants on vegetation dynamics, thus giving support to mangrove forest management and conservation.

Coastal wetland; Remote sensing; Impact assessment; Monitoring; Coastal management

Vazamentos de petróleo são potenciais ameaças à integridade de ecossistemas costeiros. Em outubro de 1983, devido ao rompimento de um oleoduto, um manguezal com cerca de 300 ha, localizado na costa sudeste do Brasil foi impactado por 3.5 milhões de litros de petróleo. Visando avaliar os efeitos de longo prazo do petróleo sobre a vegetação do manguezal, foi realizada uma análise multitemporal (1962, 1994, 2000 e 2003) de fotografias aéreas em SIG. Fotointerpretação, classificação visual, quantificação de áreas, dados de campo e dados estruturais da vegetação foram utilizados na avaliação. Antes do vazamento, a vegetação exibia dossel homogêneo elevado desenvolvimento estrutural. Mais de dez anos após o derrame, a vegetação apresentou três zonas distintas, com diferentes impactos decorrentes do derrame de petróleo. A zona mais impactada (10.5 ha) apresentou árvores mortas, substrato exposto e bosques em recomposição com reduzido desenvolvimento estrutural. Os resultados indicam que os distintos impactos e recomposição refletem a variabilidade espacial da taxa de remoção do petróleo em cada zona do manguezal. A análise multitemporal de aerofotografias se revelou como útil ferramenta para avaliar a capacidade de recuperação da vegetação e monitorar os efeitos de longo prazo e residuais de poluentes, oferecendo subsídios à gestão e conservação dos manguezais.

Zona úmida costeira; Sensoriamento remoto; Avaliação de impacto; Monitoramento; Gestão costeira

BARBIER, E. B.; KOCH, E. W.; SILLIMAN, B. R.; HACKER, S. D.; WOLANSKI E.; PRIMAVERA, J.; GRANEK, E. F.; POLASKY, S.; ASWANI S.; CRAMER, L. A.; STOMS, D.M.; KENNEDY, C. J.; BAEL, D.; KAPPEL, C.V.; PERILLO, G. M. E.; REED, D. J. Coastal ecosystem-based management with nonlinear ecological functions and values. Science, v.319, p.321-323, 2008.
BRITO, E. M. S; DURAN, R., GUYONEAUD, R.; GOÑI-URRIZA, M.; OTEYZA, T. G.; CRAPEZ, M. A. C.; ALELUIA, I.; WASSERMAN, J. C. A. A case study of in situ oil contamination in a mangrove swamp (Rio De Janeiro, Brazil). Mar. Poll. Bull., v.58, p. 418–423, 2009.
BURNS, K. A., CODI, S., 1998. Contrasting impacts of localised versus catastrophic oil spills in mangrove sediments. Mang. Salt Marsh., v.2, p. 63-74.
CÂMARA, G.; SOUZA, R. M. C.; FREITAS, U. M.; GARRIDO, J. SPRING: Integrating remote sensing and GIS by object oriented modelling. J. Comp. Graph., v.20, n.3, p. 395-403, 1996.
CINTRÓN, G.; SCHAEFFER NOVELLI, Y. Methods for studying mangrove structure. In: SNEDAKER, S.C.; SNEDAKER, J.G. (eds.). The Mangrove Ecosystem: Research Methods Paris, France: UNESCO, 1984. p. 91-113.
CLARKE, P. J., KERRIGAN, R. A. Do forest gaps influence the population structure and species composition of mangrove stands in Northern Australia? Biotropica, v.32, n.4a, p.642–652, 2000.
CUNHA-LIGNON, M.; MENGHINI, R. P; SANTOS, L. C. M.; NIEMEYER-DINÓLA, C.; SCHAEFFER-NOVELLI, Y. Estudo de caso nos manguezais do Estado de São Paulo (Brasil): aplicação de ferramentas com diferentes escalas espaço-temporais. Rev. Gerenciam. Cost. Integr., v.9, n.1, p.79-91, 2009.
DAHDOUH-GUEBAS, F. The use of remote sensing and GIS in the sustainable management of tropical coastal ecosystems. Env. Dev. Sust., v.4, p. 93-112, 2002.
DAHDOUH-GUEBAS, F.; ZETTERSTRÖM, T.; RÖNNBÄCK, P.; TROELL, M.; WICKRAMASINGHE, A.; KOEDAM, N. Recent changes in land-use in the Pambala-Chilaw Lagoon Complex (Sri Lanka) investigated using remote sensing and GIS: conservation of mangroves vs. development of shrimp farming. Env. Dev. Sust., v.2, 185-200, 2002.
DAHDOUH-GUEBAS, F.; VAN POTTELBERGH, I.; KAIRO J. G.; CANNICCI, S.; KOEDAM, N. Human-impacted mangroves in Gazi (Kenya): predicting future vegetation based on retrospective remote sensing, social surveys, and tree distribution. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., v. 272, p.77-92, 2004.
DAHDOUH-GUEBAS, F.; HETTIARACHCHI, S.; LO SEEN D.; BATELAAN, O.; SOORIYARACHCHI, S.; JAYATISSA, L.P.; KOEDAM, N. Transitions in ancient inland freshwater resource management in Sri Lanka affect biota and human populations in and around coastal lagoons. Curr. Biol., v.15, p.579–586, 2005.
DAHDOUH-GUEBAS, F., VERHEYDEN, A., KAIRO, J. G., JAYATISSA, L. P, KOEDAM, N. Capacity building in tropical coastal resource monitoring in developing countries: a re-appreciation of the oldest remote sensing method. Inter. J. of Sust. Dev. World Ecol., v.13, n.1, p. 62-76, 2006.
DAHDOUH-GUEBAS, F.; KOEDAM, N. Long-term retrospection on mangrove development using transdisciplinary approaches: a review. Aquat. Bot., v.89, n.2, p. 80-92, 2008.
DUKE, N. C. Gap creation and regenerative processes driving diversity and structure of mangrove ecosystems. Wetlands Ecol. and Manag., v.9, p. 257-269, 2001.
DUKE, N. C.; PINZON, Z. S.; PRADA, M. C. Large-Scale Damage to Mangrove Forests Following Two Large Oil Spills in Panama. Biotropica, v.29 (1), 2-14, 1997.
DUKE, N. C.; PINZÓN, Z. S.; PRADA, M. C. Recovery of tropical mangrove forests following a major oil spill: a study of recruitment and growth, and the benefits of planting. In: YAÑEZ-ARANCIBIA, A., LARA-DOMINGUEZ, A.L. (eds.), Ecosistemas de Manglar en América Tropical. Instituto de Ecología, A. C. México, UICN/ORMA, Costa Rica, NOAA/NMFS, Silver Springs MD USA, p. 231-254, 1999.
ELLISON, A. M. Managing mangroves with benthic biodiversity in mind: moving beyond roving banditry. J. Sea Res., v.59, n. 1-2, p. 2–15, 2008.
FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The world's mangrove 1980-2005. FAO Forestry Paper, nº 153, 2007, p. 89.
FIRME, L. P.; BISI, T. L.; CONTADOR, C. R. B.; OLIVEIRA, F. B.; FONSECA, S. M.; DI PAOLO, C.; FERRAZ, E. M.; MONACO, L. M.; SCHAEFFER-NOVELLI, Y. 7519 dias após o derramamento de óleo: um manguezal em recuperação? In: Congresso Brasileiro de Oceanografia. Itajaí, SC, Brasil, p.1, 2004.
GARRITY, S.; LEVINGS, S.; BURNS, K. A. 1994. The Galeta oil spill I. Long term effects on the structure of the mangrove fringe. Est. Coast. Shelf Sci. v.38, p. 327-348.
HEUMAN, B. W. Satellite remote sensing of mangrove forests: Recent advances and future opportunities. Prog. Phys. Geog., v. 35, n.1, p.87-108, 2011.
IMAI, N.; TAKYU, M.; NAKAMURA, Y.; NAKAMURA, T. Gap formation and regeneration of tropical mangrove forests in Ranong, Thailand. Plant Ecol., v. 186, p. 37-46, 2006.
JACOBI, C. M.; SCHAEFFER-NOVELLI, Y. Oil spills in mangrove: a conceptual model based on long-term field observations. Ecol. Model., v. 52, p. 53-59, 1990.
LÓPEZ-HOFFMAN, L.; ACKERLY, D. D.; ANTEN, N. P. R.; DENOYER, J. L.; MARTINEZ-RAMOS, M. Gap-dependence in mangrove life-history strategies: a consideration of the entire life cycle and patch dynamics. J. Ecol., v. 95, n.6, p. 1222–123, 2007.
MARTINUZZI, S.; GOULD, W. A; LUGO, A. E; MEDINA, E. Conversion and recovery of Puerto Rican mangroves: 200 years of change. Forest Ecol. Manag., v. 257, n. 1, p. 75-84, 2009.
MCLEOD, E.; SALM, R. V. Managing Mangroves for Resilience to Climate Change, Gland, Switzerland: IUCN, 2006.
MOHAMED, M. O. S.; NEUKERMANS, G.; KAIRO, J. G.; DAHDOUH-GUEBAS, F.; KOEDAM, N. Mangrove forests in a peri-urban setting: the case of Mombasa (Kenya). Wetlands Ecol. Manag., v. 17, p. 243-255, 2009.
OLWIG, M. F.; SORENSEN, M. K.; RASMUSSEN, M. S.; DANIELSEN, F.; SELVAM, V.; HANSEN, L. B.; NYBORG, L.; VESTERGAARD, K. B.; PARISH, F.; KARUNAGARAN, V. M. Using remote sensing to assess the protective role of coastal woody vegetation against tsunami waves. Int. J. Remote Sens., v. 28, n. 13, p. 3153 -3169, 2007.
POFFO, I. R. F.; XAVIER, J. C. M.; SCHAEFFER-NOVELLI, Y.; CINTRÓN, G. Risk management program in the Port of Santos, Brazil: An ecosystems perspective. WIT Trans Ecol Environ., v. 117, p. 223-232, 2008.
SANTOS, L. C. M.; CUNHA-LIGNON, M.; SCHAEFFER-NOVELLI, Y. Ocupação antrópica na zona costeira de São Paulo: alteração da paisagem em torno do Canal da Bertioga (Baixada Santista, Brasil). In: BRAGA, E.S. (ed.). Oceanografia e Mudanças Globais; III Simpósio Brasileiro de Oceanografia, Instituto Oceanográfico da Universidade de São Paulo (ISBN 978-85-98729-24-4), 2008, p. 599-605.
SCHAEFFER-NOVELLI, Y. Rompimento de oleoduto. Avaliação de impacto ambiental no Canal da Bertioga-SP Perícia de Juízo, Ministério Público do Estado de São Paulo, 1986.
SCHAEFFER-NOVELLI, Y., MOLERO, G. C.; LIGNON, M. C.; COELHO-JR., C. A conceptual hierarchical framework for marine coastal Management and conservation: a Janus-Like Approach. J. Coastal Res., v.42 (special issue), p. 191-197, 2005.
SCHAEFFER-NOVELLI, Y.; CINTRÓN, G.; CUNHA-LIGNON, M.; MENGHINI, R. P.; SANTOS, L. C. M.; NIEMEYER-DINOLA, C. The use (and misuse) of object-based GIS approaches for interpreting coastal marine ecosystems: patterns, pitfalls and concerns. Proceedings of 8th International Wetlands Conference: big wetlands, big concerns. Cuiabá (Brazil), 2008.

Publication Dates

Publication in this collection
18 July 2012
Date of issue
June 2012

History

Received
11 Mar 2011
Accepted
07 July 2011

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

[1] BARBIER, E. B.; KOCH, E. W.; SILLIMAN, B. R.; HACKER, S. D.; WOLANSKI E.; PRIMAVERA, J.; GRANEK, E. F.; POLASKY, S.; ASWANI S.; CRAMER, L. A.; STOMS, D.M.; KENNEDY, C. J.; BAEL, D.; KAPPEL, C.V.; PERILLO, G. M. E.; REED, D. J. Coastal ecosystem-based management with nonlinear ecological functions and values. Science, v.319, p.321-323, 2008.

[2] BRITO, E. M. S; DURAN, R., GUYONEAUD, R.; GOÑI-URRIZA, M.; OTEYZA, T. G.; CRAPEZ, M. A. C.; ALELUIA, I.; WASSERMAN, J. C. A. A case study of in situ oil contamination in a mangrove swamp (Rio De Janeiro, Brazil). Mar. Poll. Bull., v.58, p. 418–423, 2009.

[3] BURNS, K. A., CODI, S., 1998. Contrasting impacts of localised versus catastrophic oil spills in mangrove sediments. Mang. Salt Marsh., v.2, p. 63-74.

[4] CÂMARA, G.; SOUZA, R. M. C.; FREITAS, U. M.; GARRIDO, J. SPRING: Integrating remote sensing and GIS by object oriented modelling. J. Comp. Graph., v.20, n.3, p. 395-403, 1996.

[5] CINTRÓN, G.; SCHAEFFER NOVELLI, Y. Methods for studying mangrove structure. In: SNEDAKER, S.C.; SNEDAKER, J.G. (eds.). The Mangrove Ecosystem: Research Methods Paris, France: UNESCO, 1984. p. 91-113.

[6] CLARKE, P. J., KERRIGAN, R. A. Do forest gaps influence the population structure and species composition of mangrove stands in Northern Australia? Biotropica, v.32, n.4a, p.642–652, 2000.

[7] CUNHA-LIGNON, M.; MENGHINI, R. P; SANTOS, L. C. M.; NIEMEYER-DINÓLA, C.; SCHAEFFER-NOVELLI, Y. Estudo de caso nos manguezais do Estado de São Paulo (Brasil): aplicação de ferramentas com diferentes escalas espaço-temporais. Rev. Gerenciam. Cost. Integr., v.9, n.1, p.79-91, 2009.

[8] DAHDOUH-GUEBAS, F. The use of remote sensing and GIS in the sustainable management of tropical coastal ecosystems. Env. Dev. Sust., v.4, p. 93-112, 2002.

[9] DAHDOUH-GUEBAS, F.; ZETTERSTRÖM, T.; RÖNNBÄCK, P.; TROELL, M.; WICKRAMASINGHE, A.; KOEDAM, N. Recent changes in land-use in the Pambala-Chilaw Lagoon Complex (Sri Lanka) investigated using remote sensing and GIS: conservation of mangroves vs. development of shrimp farming. Env. Dev. Sust., v.2, 185-200, 2002.

[10] DAHDOUH-GUEBAS, F.; VAN POTTELBERGH, I.; KAIRO J. G.; CANNICCI, S.; KOEDAM, N. Human-impacted mangroves in Gazi (Kenya): predicting future vegetation based on retrospective remote sensing, social surveys, and tree distribution. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., v. 272, p.77-92, 2004.

[11] DAHDOUH-GUEBAS, F.; HETTIARACHCHI, S.; LO SEEN D.; BATELAAN, O.; SOORIYARACHCHI, S.; JAYATISSA, L.P.; KOEDAM, N. Transitions in ancient inland freshwater resource management in Sri Lanka affect biota and human populations in and around coastal lagoons. Curr. Biol., v.15, p.579–586, 2005.

[12] DAHDOUH-GUEBAS, F., VERHEYDEN, A., KAIRO, J. G., JAYATISSA, L. P, KOEDAM, N. Capacity building in tropical coastal resource monitoring in developing countries: a re-appreciation of the oldest remote sensing method. Inter. J. of Sust. Dev. World Ecol., v.13, n.1, p. 62-76, 2006.

[13] DAHDOUH-GUEBAS, F.; KOEDAM, N. Long-term retrospection on mangrove development using transdisciplinary approaches: a review. Aquat. Bot., v.89, n.2, p. 80-92, 2008.

[14] DUKE, N. C. Gap creation and regenerative processes driving diversity and structure of mangrove ecosystems. Wetlands Ecol. and Manag., v.9, p. 257-269, 2001.

[15] DUKE, N. C.; PINZON, Z. S.; PRADA, M. C. Large-Scale Damage to Mangrove Forests Following Two Large Oil Spills in Panama. Biotropica, v.29 (1), 2-14, 1997.

[16] DUKE, N. C.; PINZÓN, Z. S.; PRADA, M. C. Recovery of tropical mangrove forests following a major oil spill: a study of recruitment and growth, and the benefits of planting. In: YAÑEZ-ARANCIBIA, A., LARA-DOMINGUEZ, A.L. (eds.), Ecosistemas de Manglar en América Tropical. Instituto de Ecología, A. C. México, UICN/ORMA, Costa Rica, NOAA/NMFS, Silver Springs MD USA, p. 231-254, 1999.

[17] ELLISON, A. M. Managing mangroves with benthic biodiversity in mind: moving beyond roving banditry. J. Sea Res., v.59, n. 1-2, p. 2–15, 2008.

[18] FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The world's mangrove 1980-2005. FAO Forestry Paper, nº 153, 2007, p. 89.

[19] FIRME, L. P.; BISI, T. L.; CONTADOR, C. R. B.; OLIVEIRA, F. B.; FONSECA, S. M.; DI PAOLO, C.; FERRAZ, E. M.; MONACO, L. M.; SCHAEFFER-NOVELLI, Y. 7519 dias após o derramamento de óleo: um manguezal em recuperação? In: Congresso Brasileiro de Oceanografia. Itajaí, SC, Brasil, p.1, 2004.

[20] GARRITY, S.; LEVINGS, S.; BURNS, K. A. 1994. The Galeta oil spill I. Long term effects on the structure of the mangrove fringe. Est. Coast. Shelf Sci. v.38, p. 327-348.

[21] HEUMAN, B. W. Satellite remote sensing of mangrove forests: Recent advances and future opportunities. Prog. Phys. Geog., v. 35, n.1, p.87-108, 2011.

[22] IMAI, N.; TAKYU, M.; NAKAMURA, Y.; NAKAMURA, T. Gap formation and regeneration of tropical mangrove forests in Ranong, Thailand. Plant Ecol., v. 186, p. 37-46, 2006.

[23] JACOBI, C. M.; SCHAEFFER-NOVELLI, Y. Oil spills in mangrove: a conceptual model based on long-term field observations. Ecol. Model., v. 52, p. 53-59, 1990.

[24] LÓPEZ-HOFFMAN, L.; ACKERLY, D. D.; ANTEN, N. P. R.; DENOYER, J. L.; MARTINEZ-RAMOS, M. Gap-dependence in mangrove life-history strategies: a consideration of the entire life cycle and patch dynamics. J. Ecol., v. 95, n.6, p. 1222–123, 2007.

[25] MARTINUZZI, S.; GOULD, W. A; LUGO, A. E; MEDINA, E. Conversion and recovery of Puerto Rican mangroves: 200 years of change. Forest Ecol. Manag., v. 257, n. 1, p. 75-84, 2009.

[26] MCLEOD, E.; SALM, R. V. Managing Mangroves for Resilience to Climate Change, Gland, Switzerland: IUCN, 2006.

[27] MOHAMED, M. O. S.; NEUKERMANS, G.; KAIRO, J. G.; DAHDOUH-GUEBAS, F.; KOEDAM, N. Mangrove forests in a peri-urban setting: the case of Mombasa (Kenya). Wetlands Ecol. Manag., v. 17, p. 243-255, 2009.

[28] OLWIG, M. F.; SORENSEN, M. K.; RASMUSSEN, M. S.; DANIELSEN, F.; SELVAM, V.; HANSEN, L. B.; NYBORG, L.; VESTERGAARD, K. B.; PARISH, F.; KARUNAGARAN, V. M. Using remote sensing to assess the protective role of coastal woody vegetation against tsunami waves. Int. J. Remote Sens., v. 28, n. 13, p. 3153 -3169, 2007.

[29] POFFO, I. R. F.; XAVIER, J. C. M.; SCHAEFFER-NOVELLI, Y.; CINTRÓN, G. Risk management program in the Port of Santos, Brazil: An ecosystems perspective. WIT Trans Ecol Environ., v. 117, p. 223-232, 2008.

[30] SANTOS, L. C. M.; CUNHA-LIGNON, M.; SCHAEFFER-NOVELLI, Y. Ocupação antrópica na zona costeira de São Paulo: alteração da paisagem em torno do Canal da Bertioga (Baixada Santista, Brasil). In: BRAGA, E.S. (ed.). Oceanografia e Mudanças Globais; III Simpósio Brasileiro de Oceanografia, Instituto Oceanográfico da Universidade de São Paulo (ISBN 978-85-98729-24-4), 2008, p. 599-605.

[31] SCHAEFFER-NOVELLI, Y. Rompimento de oleoduto. Avaliação de impacto ambiental no Canal da Bertioga-SP Perícia de Juízo, Ministério Público do Estado de São Paulo, 1986.

[32] SCHAEFFER-NOVELLI, Y., MOLERO, G. C.; LIGNON, M. C.; COELHO-JR., C. A conceptual hierarchical framework for marine coastal Management and conservation: a Janus-Like Approach. J. Coastal Res., v.42 (special issue), p. 191-197, 2005.

[33] SCHAEFFER-NOVELLI, Y.; CINTRÓN, G.; CUNHA-LIGNON, M.; MENGHINI, R. P.; SANTOS, L. C. M.; NIEMEYER-DINOLA, C. The use (and misuse) of object-based GIS approaches for interpreting coastal marine ecosystems: patterns, pitfalls and concerns. Proceedings of 8th International Wetlands Conference: big wetlands, big concerns. Cuiabá (Brazil), 2008.