This study shows, in a multiple-level approach, the responses of Salvinia auriculata to Cd pollution in aquatic ecosystems. S. auriculata ramets were cultivated in nutrient solution and subjected to five treatments with Cd for ten days. At the end of the experiment, the number of new ramets and the dry biomass were determined. For ultrastructural observations, the leaves of S. auriculata were analyzed using a scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope. At the end of the experiment, the plants exposed to Cd showed damage in the leaves including necrosis and chlorosis, stomate deformations and damaged trichomes. We observed a decrease in the number of new ramets and dry biomass of S. auriculata following the increase in Cd concentration in the solution. At the ultrastructural level, leaves exposed to Cd presented chloroplast deformations and deterioration in the cell wall. All the symptoms of toxicity were directly proportionate to the concentration of Cd in the solution. The results suggests that S. auriculata shows good potential for use as a bioindicator and it can be used in the biomonitoring of aquatic ecosystems contaminated by Cd.Keywords: aquatic plant, heavy metal, ecological indicator, biomonitoring.O uso de Salvinia auriculata como bioindicador em ecossistemas aquáticos: biomassa e estrutura dependentes da concentração de cádmio ResumoEste estudo apresenta, em diferentes níveis de abordagem, a resposta de Salvinia auriculata à poluição de ecossistemas aquáticos por cádmio (Cd). Rametes de S. auriculata foram cultivados em solução nutritiva e expostos a cinco tratamentos com Cd durante dez dias. Ao final do experimento, o número de novos rametes e a biomassa seca foram determinados. Para observações ultraestruturais, as folhas de S. auriculata foram analisadas utilizando-se um microscópio eletrônico de varredura e a microscopia eletrônica de transmissão. Ao final do experimento, as plantas expostas ao Cd apresentaram danos nas folhas, como necrose e clorose, além de estômatos deformados e tricomas danificados. Foi observado um menor número de rametes e diminuição da biomassa seca de S. auriculata com o aumento da concentração de Cd na solução. Em nível ultraestrutural, as folhas expostas ao Cd apresentaram má formação dos cloroplastos e deterioração da parede celular. Todos os sintomas de toxidade foram diretamente proporcionais à concentração de Cd na solução. Os resultados sugerem que S. auriculata apresenta um bom potencial para uso como bioindicador e pode ser usada em programas de biomonitoramento de ecossistemas aquáticos contaminados por Cd.Palavras-chave: planta aquática, metal pesado, indicador ecológico, biomonitoramento.

ABSTRACT.Hereditary hemochromatosis is one of the most common autosomal recessive diseases; it is characterized by excess absorption of iron. Clinically, the major challenge is to diagnose increased iron deposition before irreversible tissue damage has occurred. C282Y and H63D are the main mutations related to hereditary hemochromatosis; these mutations have been reported to be associated with increased risk of developing diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2). We investigated whether these mutations are associated with increased risk for the development of DM2 in women in Brazil. Seventy-two women with clinical diagnosis of DM2 under treatment with hypoglycemic agents and a control group composed of 72 women with no clinical history of diabetes were studied. The C282Y and H63D mutations were determined by PCR-RFLP. Significant differences were not observed for C282Y and H63D, when we compared diabetic and non-diabetic women. We suggest that mutations C282Y and H63D in the HFE