The use of agrochemicals has increased considerably in recent years, and consequently, there has been increased exposure of ecosystems and human populations to these highly toxic compounds. The study and development of methodologies to detect these substances with greater sensitivity has become extremely relevant. This article describes, for the first time, the use of atomic force spectroscopy (AFS) in the detection of enzyme-inhibiting herbicides. A nanobiosensor based on an atomic force microscopy (AFM) tip functionalised with the acetolactate synthase (ALS) enzyme was developed and characterised. The herbicide metsulfuron-methyl, an ALS inhibitor, was successfully detected through the acquisition of force curves using this biosensor. The adhesion force values were considerably higher when the biosensor was used. An increase of ~250% was achieved relative to the adhesion force using an unfunctionalised AFM tip. This considerable increase was the result of a specific interaction between the enzyme and the herbicide, which was primarily responsible for the efficiency of the nanobiosensor. These results indicate that this methodology is promising for the detection of herbicides, pesticides, and other environmental contaminants.

In Northeastern Brazil, successful release programmes have been implemented for the conservation of West Indian manatees (Trichechus manatus) since the 1990s. Recently, the non-government organization AQUASIS started releasing manatees in the state of Ceará, where oceanographic conditions and the absence of sheltered places pose new challenges for the release and monitoring of manatees. This research investigates the movement of a manatee named Tico, released in Icapuí, Ceará, Brazil, that travelled approximately 4017 km over 62 days through deep oceanic waters. Correlating Tico's trajectory and velocity with surface currents revealed the influence of the North Brazil Current (NBC) and its vortices on his movement. Tico crossed the diluted Amazon River plume with surface salinity as low as 26 g kg⁻¹ in early August, potentially encountering areas of even lower salinity. Additionally, Tico experienced several storms, with significant rainfall during his journey, which may have provided freshwater. The erratic movement patterns and significant weight loss prompted the rescue of Tico on Isla la Blanquilla, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Tico is currently being temporarily housed in Parque Zoológico y Botánico Bararida in Venezuela. Understanding the nature of Tico's long-distance movement could help inform decisions about his future. AQUASIS proposes to return Tico to Brazil, a region with an ecologically and genetically distinct population from Venezuela, for a second release attempt, incorporating lessons learned from the first release. Furthermore, AQUASIS has the necessary human and financial resources to ensure the continuous monitoring of Tico during his readaptation to the wild.

Marine mammals can exhibit high plasticity in foraging strategies, but how such plasticity is driven by environmental conditions is poorly understood. The American manatee ( Trichechus manatus ), a large, endangered herbivore, inhabits marine, estuarine, and freshwater environments. To better understand their resource use, we analyzed dietary differences across three large Brazilian regions—the Northern Coast (NC), Dry‐Northeastern Coast (Dry‐NEC), and Humid‐Northeastern Coast (Humid‐NEC). The δ ¹³ C and δ ¹⁵ N values of manatee tissues increased from the NC to the Northeastern Coast. Stable isotope mixing models revealed that manatees from the Dry‐NEC feed almost exclusively on seagrasses, while those from the NC rely predominantly on saltmarsh vegetation. In the Humid‐NEC, manatees had a notable contribution from macroalgae, and exhibited the greatest dietary and habitat use diversity among the regions. These spatial patterns advance our understanding of large‐scale habitat use, guiding the establishment of marine protected areas to safeguard manatees and their habitats.