Assessment of the Ecological Quality Status of the Sepetiba Bay (SE Brazil)

The present work applies for the first time a foraminiferal morphology-based approach (M) and eDNA-based metabarcoding sequencing (G), along with geochemical data to assess the ecological quality status (EcoQS) in the Sepetiba (SE Brazil)Highlights:Foraminiferal eDNA and morphology are used to infer EcoQS in coastal SE BrazilBiotic and abiotic indices show poor/bad EcoQS in the inner area of the Sepetiba BayHigh/good EcoQS are found in the outer area of the Sepetiba BayMolecular and morpho-methods provide similar EcoQS