O conhecimento da biodiversidade é vital para o planejamento e implementação de programas de conservação. Para isso, os levantamentos faunísticos são de extrema importância, principalmente quando enfocam grupos historicamente negligenciados no Brasil e realizados em regiões com intensa ação antrópica, como a região do Canal de São Sebastião (23o41\' S - 45o19\' W e 23o54\' S - 45o30\' W). Considerando que os Echinodermata, inclusive na região, representam grande parte da comunidade de macro-invertebrados do bentos marinho, torna-se estrategicamente importante a obtenção de dados sobre os representantes deste grupo. À luz destas considerações, foi realizado um estudo explorando-se principalmente o infralitoral de ambientes de fundo rochoso em ambas as margens do Canal de São Sebastião (litoral norte do Estado de São Paulo). Para a consecução dos objetivos propostos, as coletas deste estudo foram executadas até a profundidade de 20 m, principalmente através das técnicas de mergulho autônomo e de mergulho livre, tendo sido realizadas, ainda, algumas coletas manuais na região entremarés. Como resultado, foram encontradas 40 espécies de Echinodermata, sendo 14 de Ophiuroidea, dez de Asteroidea, nove de Echinoidea, seis de Holothuroidea e uma de Crinoidea. As espécies encontradas mostram que a fauna de equinodermes do Canal de São Sebastião tem uma predominância de componentes da fauna tropical sobre as espécies patagônicas. / Vide dissertação (Ingles e Espanhol).

The rice cultivation (Oryza sativa) has been target of speculations because of its effects in the environment. The intensive pesticides uses in the ricefields have contributed in a meaningful manner to many things related to this crop. The purpose of this study was to compare the benthic macroinvertebrates community in an irrigated rice farm treated with pesticides Carbofuran (insecticide) and Penoxsulam (herbicide) comparing to a control farm. The experiment was accomplished in an experimental lowland area, from the Crop Science Departament of the Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, during the harvest 2008/2009. To a benthic fauna sampling, it was used a Corer sampler. It was accomplished five benthic macroinvertebrates sampling during the study, the delimitation was in blocks divided, by chance, with three repetitions, and the sampling happened in 3rd, 14th, 28th and 56th day after the water entrance in the system. Besides, it was accomplished the following determination: pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen and the pesticides persistence in the water. The analysed pesticides, the Penoxsulam herbicide showed the biggest water persistence, that was detected until the sampling day (56th day), without much oscillation in its concentration according to the studied period. Among the sampling organisms, Chironomidae was the dominant group in the three treatments. This way, the total individuals abundance in this study was confirmed by this family organisms, which didn t suffer a variation among the treatments during the sampling days (twoway- ANOVA). The analyses variance, which evaluated the total macroinvertebrates abundance and the taxon richness, detected interactions between the day sampling factors and the (two-way- ANOVA) treatments. The posterior test (Tukey HSD) showed the abundance in the community in the 8th day the sampling was different in parcels treated with Penoxsulam and Carbofuran. However, on the other samplings, the organisms total abundance was similar in the two treatments (Carbofuran, Penoxsulam and Control). The posterior taxons richness comparison showed that just in the 56th sampling day the macroinvertebrates richness in the controlled parcels was superior than in the parcels treated with Carbofuran insecticide. The Diversity Shannon level varied during the sampling days, but there wasn t a meaningful difference in the (two-way-ANOVA) treatment. The results indicated that the macroinvertebrates colonization process in the control areas didn t have a meaningful variation related to the areas treated with Penoxsulam Carbofuran, showing that the tested pesticides didn t affected the benthic fauna colonization, in the ricefields. On the other hand, it was verified a subtle diversity along to the successional process evaluated in this study (from the 3rd to the 56th day). / O cultivo de arroz (Oryza sativa) tem sido alvo de especulações devido aos efeitos deste sobre o ambiente. A utilização intensiva de agrotóxicos em lavouras de arroz tem contribuído de maneira significativa para as inúmeras questões que estão surgindo sobre esta cultura. Dessa forma, o objetivo desse estudo foi comparar a estrutura da comunidade de macroinvertebrados bentônicos em lavoura de arroz irrigado tratada com os agrotóxicos Carbofuran (inseticida) e Penoxsulam (herbicida) em relação a uma lavoura controle. O experimento foi desenvolvido na área experimental de várzea, do Departamento de Fitotecnia da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, durante a safra agrícola 2008/2009. Para a amostragem da fauna bentônica, utilizou-se um amostrador tipo Corer. Realizaramse cinco amostragens de macroinvertebrados bentônicos ao longo do estudo, sendo que o delineamento foi de blocos ao acaso com três repetições, e as amostragens ocorreram no 3°, 14°,28° e 56° dia após a entrada de água no sistema. Além destes, foram realizadas as seguintes determinações: pH, temperatura, oxigênio dissolvido e persistência dos agroquímicos na água. Dos agrotóxicos analisados, o que apresentou maior persistência na água foi o herbicida Penoxsulam, o qual foi detectado até o último dia de amostragem (56° dia), sem muita oscilação em suas concentrações ao longo de todo o período de estudo. Dentre os organismos amostrados, Chironomidae foi o grupo dominante nos três tratamentos. Dessa forma, a abundância total de indivíduos deste estudo foi regida pela abundância exclusiva de organismos desta família, a qual não variou entre os tratamentos, ao longo dos dias de amostragem (ANOVA two-way). As análises de variância, que avaliaram a abundância total de macroinvertebrados e a riqueza de táxons, detectaram interações entre os fatores dias de amostragem e tratamentos (ANOVA two-way). O teste a posteriori (Tukey HSD) mostrou que a abundância da comunidade no 8° dia de amostragem diferiu entre as parcelas tratadas com Penoxsulam e Carbofuran. No entanto, nos demais dias de amostragem, a abundância total de organismos foi similar entre todos os tratamentos ( Carbofuran, Penoxsulam e Controle) Já a comparação a posteriori da riqueza de táxons revelou que apenas no 56° dia amostral a riqueza de macroinvertebrados nas parcelas controle foi superior a das parcelas tratadas com o inseticida Carbofuran. O Índice de Diversidade de Shannon variou ao longo dos dias de amostragem, porém não houve diferença significativa entre os tratamentos (ANOVA two-way). De uma forma geral, os resultados indicam que o processo de colonização pelos macroinvertebrados nas áreas controle não variou significativamente em relação as áreas tratadas com Penoxsulam Carbofuran, demonstrando assim que os agrotóxicos testados não afetaram a colonização da fauna bentônica, nas áreas de cultivo de arroz irrigado. No entanto, verificou-se um aumento sutil da diversidade ao longo do processo sucessional avaliado neste estudo (do 3° ao 56° dia).

O conhecimento da biodiversidade é vital para o planejamento e implementação de programas de conservação. Para isso, os levantamentos faunísticos são de extrema importância, principalmente quando enfocam grupos historicamente negligenciados no Brasil e realizados em regiões com intensa ação antrópica, como a região do Canal de São Sebastião (23o41\' S - 45o19\' W e 23o54\' S - 45o30\' W). Considerando que os Echinodermata, inclusive na região, representam grande parte da comunidade de macro-invertebrados do bentos marinho, torna-se estrategicamente importante a obtenção de dados sobre os representantes deste grupo. À luz destas considerações, foi realizado um estudo explorando-se principalmente o infralitoral de ambientes de fundo rochoso em ambas as margens do Canal de São Sebastião (litoral norte do Estado de São Paulo). Para a consecução dos objetivos propostos, as coletas deste estudo foram executadas até a profundidade de 20 m, principalmente através das técnicas de mergulho autônomo e de mergulho livre, tendo sido realizadas, ainda, algumas coletas manuais na região entremarés. Como resultado, foram encontradas 40 espécies de Echinodermata, sendo 14 de Ophiuroidea, dez de Asteroidea, nove de Echinoidea, seis de Holothuroidea e uma de Crinoidea. As espécies encontradas mostram que a fauna de equinodermes do Canal de São Sebastião tem uma predominância de componentes da fauna tropical sobre as espécies patagônicas. / Vide dissertação (Ingles e Espanhol).

Unionida musslor (stormusslor) är en djurgrupp som kan ha positiv påverkan på ekosystemfunktioner i vattendrag och ökar den biologiska mångfalden. Musslorna absorberar föda genom filtrering av vattenmassor, vilket genererar en bättre vattenkvalitet och ger mat till andra bottendjur. Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka en av våra svenska stormusslor flodpärlmusslan (Margaritifera margaritifera), och om det fanns något samband mellan musselbankar och bottenfauna. Provtagning av bottenfauna skedde i Vasslabäcken, Örebro län. 54 prover togs totalt och 27 av dem togs vid musselbankar medan resterande 27 var kontroll utanför musselbankar. Studien visade ingen signifikant skillnad i den totala bottenfaunans täthet i musselbankar jämfört med kontrollområden utanför musselbankar. Däremot fanns en signifikant högre täthet av nattsländor i kontrollerna än i musselbankarna, medan det inte fanns några skillnader i täthet mellan kontroller och musselbankar för några andra djurordningar. Det fanns även fler ordningar utanför musselbankar än i musselbankar, men antalet individer var så få att inga långtgående slutsatser kan dras. För att vidare undersöka musslors påverkan på flora och fauna kan man undersöka fler år och säsonger under året, samt använda sig av en mer experimentell design. / Unionidea mussels (large mussels) are a group of animals that can have a positive impact on ecosystem functions in watercourses and increase biodiversity. The mussels absorb food by filtering water masses, which generates a better water quality and provides food for other benthic animals. The purpose of this study was to investigate one of our swedish large mussels the freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera), and whether there was any connection between musselbanks and benthic fauna. Sampling of benthic fauna took place in Vasslabäcken, Örebro region. A total of 54 samples were taken and 27 of them were taken at musselbanks while the remaining 27 were controls outside musselbanks. The study showed no significant difference in the density of the total benthic fauna in musselbanks compared with control areas outside musselbanks. On the other hand, there was a significantly higher density of moths in the controls than in the musselbanks, while there were no differences in density between controls and musselbanks for any other animal orders. There were also more schemes outside musselbanks than in musselbanks, but the number of individuals was so small that no far-reaching conclusions can be drawn. To further investigate the impact of mussels on flora and fauna, you can investigate more years and seasons during the year, and use a more experimental design.

<p>The aim of this work is to analyze if a change in the benthic community can be detected two years after a restoration of a small stream. The samples were taken in a small stream at Tinnerö Eklandskap just south of Linköping. In addition to the restored area, two reference sites upstream and downstream of the restored area were sampled to compare to the restored site. The method used for sampling of benthic fauna in the stream was kick sampling. ASPT, Berger-Parker and Renkonen-indices were used to find out if there was any difference between the reference areas and the restored area. In addition to indices, rank-abundance curves and species lists were made to see if there was any trend difference between the different areas. The only index that showed a difference between the different areas was Berger-Parker diversity index. The reason why there were no greater differences between the areas may be due to the fact that two years is too short to allow time for the benthos to re-colonize the restored area.</p>

The aim of this work is to analyze if a change in the benthic community can be detected two years after a restoration of a small stream. The samples were taken in a small stream at Tinnerö Eklandskap just south of Linköping. In addition to the restored area, two reference sites upstream and downstream of the restored area were sampled to compare to the restored site. The method used for sampling of benthic fauna in the stream was kick sampling. ASPT, Berger-Parker and Renkonen-indices were used to find out if there was any difference between the reference areas and the restored area. In addition to indices, rank-abundance curves and species lists were made to see if there was any trend difference between the different areas. The only index that showed a difference between the different areas was Berger-Parker diversity index. The reason why there were no greater differences between the areas may be due to the fact that two years is too short to allow time for the benthos to re-colonize the restored area.

La compréhension des processus contrôlant le fonctionnement des mangroves est capitale au vu des services socio-économiques/écosystémiques rendus par ces écosystèmes et des menaces qu’ils subissent. En Guyane Française, les mangroves se développent rapidement en réponse aux contraintes sédimentaires récurrentes induites naturellement par les apports sédimentaires amazoniens. Cette thèse étudie la structure et la composition de trois classes de taille de communautés benthique (méso, macro, mégafaune), et les activités de bioturbation associées (remaniement sédimentaire biologique : RS, terriers) dans les jeunes stades de mangrove. 51 taxons de méso-macrofaune et 12 espèces de crabes (mégafaune) ont été identifiés. Bien que la biodiversité benthique soit spécifique à l'âge de la mangrove, des taxons tolèrent les modifications brusques du milieu, et cette persistance maintient des fonctions clés du remaniement sédimentaire tout au long du développement des mangroves. L’intensité du RS varie le long de ce gradient (21-146 g PS.m-2.cycle tidal-1). Si les crabes dominent le RS, cette thèse souligne la contribution effective de la méso-macrofaune aux transports particulaires. Les communautés benthiques montrent des capacités de bioturbation adaptées aux instabilités récurrentes du littoral. Les variations du RS au cours du temps pourraient indiquer l’état fonctionnel des mangroves. Cette étude conclut que l’hétérogénéité morpho-sédimentaire au sein des jeunes stades de mangroves influence la structuration spatiale des crabes, le remaniement sédimentaire qu’ils induisent, et la morphologie des terriers. Les microhabitats devraient être considérés lors de l'évaluation du rôle fonctionnel de la faune benthique des mangroves. / Understanding the processes that control mangroves functioning is essential regarding the socioeconomic/ecosystemic services these ecosystems provide and the increasing threats they suffer. In French Guiana, mangroves grow rapidly in response to natural sedimentary perturbations caused by sediment inputs from the Amazon River. This thesis characterizes the structure and the composition of benthic fauna communities (three size classes: meso-, macro- and megafauna) and the associated bioturbation activities (biological sediment reworking: SR, burrows) in mangrove early growth stages. 51 meso- macrofaunal taxa and 12 crab (megafauna) species were identified.Despite a mangrove age specific biodiversity, some taxa tolerate abrupt environmental changes, and such persistence maintains key sediment reworking functions along mangrove development.The SR intensity varies along this gradient from 21 to 146 g DW.m-2.tidal cycle-1. Burrower crabs dominate the SR but this thesis also outlines the non-negligible contribution of smaller-sized (meso- and macrofauna) organisms to particulate transport. Benthic communities’ bioturbation capacities are adapted to recurrent environmental instabilities. Changes of the biologicallyinduced SR may be used as a proxy of the functional status of mangrove ecosystems. This study concludes that morpho-sedimentary heterogeneity of early-growth mangrove stages influences crab spatial structuration, the crab-induced sediment reworking and burrow shapes. Thus, microhabitat specificities should be considered when evaluating the role of benthic fauna in mangroves ecosystem functioning.