Ziel der Arbeit war es, die Hypothese von CARNEY & ELSER (1990), dass unter mesotrophen Bedingungen die trophische Transfereffizienz vom Phytoplankton zum Crustaceenplankton maximal ist, in einem Ganz-Seen-Experiment zu überprüfen. Die Untersuchungen erfolgten im Rahmen des Projektes "Top-Down-Steuerung planktischer Biozönosen" am mesotrophen Großen Vätersee (Brandenburg). Die Fragen, welchen Einfluß das Crustaceenplankton auf die Primärproduzenten ausübt, wie die Primärproduzenten auf den Grazingdruck reagieren, und welche Verhaltensweisen der Crustaceen die Kopplungsstärke zu den Primärproduzenten oder den Prädatoren kausal beeinflussen, standen im Mittelpunkt. Primärproduktion (PPR) und Crustaceengrazing wurden in situ gemessen, Crustaceen-biomassen, -produktion und -verteilung bestimmt und mit den Daten der angrenzenden Teilprojekte in Beziehung gesetzt. Der prozentuale Anteil des Nanoplanktons an der absoluten PPR erreichte im Durchschnitt 52 %. Die Chl a spezifische PPR dieser Fraktion war signifikant positiv korreliert mit den effektiven Filtrierraten der Daphnien. Die spezifische PPR von Pico- und Netzphytoplankton blieb von den effektiven Filtrierraten unbeeinflusst. Die Blaualgen, Hauptbestandteil des Picoplanktons, stellten eine schlechte Nahrungsquelle für Daphnien dar. Dies zeigten Laborversuche zur Nahrungsqualität. Durch den hohen Beitrag des Nanoplanktons an der PPR bestand zwischen den Primärproduzenten und den Crustaceen eine starke Kopplung. 1998 betrug die Konsumtions-Transfereffizienz von den Primärproduzenten zu den Crustaceen 25 %. Im Vergleich dazu war der Anteil der Planktivorenkonsumtion an der Produktion der Crustaceen mit 14 % deutlich geringer. Die Konsumtion erklärte im Frühsommer während der hohen Verluste der Daphnien maximal 20 % der Mortalität. Kam es im Hochsommer zu höheren Abundanzen invertebrater Räuber, war deren Prädationsdruck hoch genug, die Daphnienpopulation auf niedrigem Niveau zu halten. Somit war der Top-down-Druck der Planktivoren auf die Daphnien sehr gering. Eine Nahrungskettensteuerung durch Besatz mit Piscivoren würde keine Verminderung der Mortalität der Crustaceen zur Folge haben, sondern eher den Fraßdruck auf Cladoceren durch erhöhte Abundanzen der invertebraten Räuber verstärken.

A contaminação de ambientes aquáticos decorrente de acidentes com gasolina, álcool combustível e misturas binárias representa um risco crescente, tendo em vista as projeções do setor para os próximos 50 anos. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a toxicidade aguda da Gasolina C, Gasolina P e álcool combustível isoladamente e em misturas binárias, assim como de suas respectivas Frações Solúveis em Água (FSA) e Frações Dispersas em Água (FDA) sobre Daphnia similis. O estudo ainda incluiu a avaliação da toxicidade aguda remanescente na matriz água de uma contaminação antiga (intemperismo) com a Gasolina C. Paralelamente, foram conduzidos ensaios de toxicidade aguda com amostras ambientais (água subterrânea, superficial e elutriato a partir de sedimentos) de uma área alagada com histórico de contaminação antiga. O cultivo e os ensaios com D. similis foram de acordo com a NBR 12.713 (2009). Tanto a gasolina C quanto a P foram extremamente tóxicas para os organismos, apresentando valores médios de CE50% em 48 h de 0,00113% e 0,058% respectivamente. As diferenças entre os resultados obtidos com a Gasolina C e aqueles obtidos com suas frações FSA e FDA foram significativas (p < 0,05), sendo que não houve diferença significativa entre a toxicidade aguda da FSA e da FDA (p < 0,05). Os resultados obtidos com os ensaios com Gasolina P e FDA não apresentaram diferenças significativas entre si (p < 0,05), mas, foram significativamente diferentes daqueles obtidos com FSA (p < 0,05). Os resultados dos ensaios de toxicidade aguda com misturas binárias sugeriram efeito menos que aditivo (antagonismo). Os resultados da simulação de uma contaminação antiga demonstraram redução acentuada da toxicidade para D. similis ao longo de apenas 28 dias. Entretanto, com relação aos ensaios com as amostras ambientais da área com histórico de contaminação, apesar da ausência ou baixa toxicidade nas amostras de água superficial (sugerindo intemperismo), toxicidade alta foi observada em amostras de água subterrânea e no elutriato de sedimentos, sugerindo condições de adsorção aos sedimentos com alto teor de argila e/ou aprisionamento dos compostos em zona saturada. / The contamination of aquatic environments due to accidents with gasoline, alcohol fuel and their mixtures represents an increasing risk due to the projections made by the petroleum-based fuels industry for the next 50 years. The objective of the present study was to assess the acute toxicity of gasoline C, gasoline P, ethanol fuel separately and in mixtures, as well as their respective water-soluble fractions (WSF) and water-disperse fraction (WDF) on the bioindicator Daphnia similis. The study also included the assessment of the remaining acute toxicity in an aged gasoline C-contaminated water matrix with aging simulation for a 28-day period. Parallel to that, toxicity assays were conducted with environmental samples, including surface water, elutriate of sediments and groundwater from an aged contaminated area. The cultivation and the assays with D. similis were carried out according to NBR 12.713 (2009). Both gasoline C and P were highly toxic to D. similis, with CE50% in 48 h of 0.00113% e 0.058% respectively. The differences in acute toxicity between Gasoline C and its fractions WSF and WDF were significant (p <0.05). However, no significant difference was found between WSF and WDF fractions. Gasoline P and its WDF fraction had no significant differences (p < 0.05), but their toxicity were significant different from that one obtained with the FSA fraction (p < 0.05). Acute toxicity assays carried out with gasoline C and P mixed with ethanol fuel suggested effect less than additive (antagonism). The results obtained with the simulation of an aged contamination with Gasoline C showed sharp reduction in toxicity along 28 days. However, regarding the assays with environmental samples from an aged contamination, although absence or low toxicity was observed in the superficial water, severe toxicity was found in the sediments elutriate and in the groundwater, which was confirmed by the high concentrations of gasoline hydrocarbons in both matrixes. The results suggest that the contaminant was entrapped in the saturated zone and/or adsorbed to the sediments with high clay content.

A contaminação de ambientes aquáticos decorrente de acidentes com gasolina, álcool combustível e misturas binárias representa um risco crescente, tendo em vista as projeções do setor para os próximos 50 anos. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a toxicidade aguda da Gasolina C, Gasolina P e álcool combustível isoladamente e em misturas binárias, assim como de suas respectivas Frações Solúveis em Água (FSA) e Frações Dispersas em Água (FDA) sobre Daphnia similis. O estudo ainda incluiu a avaliação da toxicidade aguda remanescente na matriz água de uma contaminação antiga (intemperismo) com a Gasolina C. Paralelamente, foram conduzidos ensaios de toxicidade aguda com amostras ambientais (água subterrânea, superficial e elutriato a partir de sedimentos) de uma área alagada com histórico de contaminação antiga. O cultivo e os ensaios com D. similis foram de acordo com a NBR 12.713 (2009). Tanto a gasolina C quanto a P foram extremamente tóxicas para os organismos, apresentando valores médios de CE50% em 48 h de 0,00113% e 0,058% respectivamente. As diferenças entre os resultados obtidos com a Gasolina C e aqueles obtidos com suas frações FSA e FDA foram significativas (p < 0,05), sendo que não houve diferença significativa entre a toxicidade aguda da FSA e da FDA (p < 0,05). Os resultados obtidos com os ensaios com Gasolina P e FDA não apresentaram diferenças significativas entre si (p < 0,05), mas, foram significativamente diferentes daqueles obtidos com FSA (p < 0,05). Os resultados dos ensaios de toxicidade aguda com misturas binárias sugeriram efeito menos que aditivo (antagonismo). Os resultados da simulação de uma contaminação antiga demonstraram redução acentuada da toxicidade para D. similis ao longo de apenas 28 dias. Entretanto, com relação aos ensaios com as amostras ambientais da área com histórico de contaminação, apesar da ausência ou baixa toxicidade nas amostras de água superficial (sugerindo intemperismo), toxicidade alta foi observada em amostras de água subterrânea e no elutriato de sedimentos, sugerindo condições de adsorção aos sedimentos com alto teor de argila e/ou aprisionamento dos compostos em zona saturada. / The contamination of aquatic environments due to accidents with gasoline, alcohol fuel and their mixtures represents an increasing risk due to the projections made by the petroleum-based fuels industry for the next 50 years. The objective of the present study was to assess the acute toxicity of gasoline C, gasoline P, ethanol fuel separately and in mixtures, as well as their respective water-soluble fractions (WSF) and water-disperse fraction (WDF) on the bioindicator Daphnia similis. The study also included the assessment of the remaining acute toxicity in an aged gasoline C-contaminated water matrix with aging simulation for a 28-day period. Parallel to that, toxicity assays were conducted with environmental samples, including surface water, elutriate of sediments and groundwater from an aged contaminated area. The cultivation and the assays with D. similis were carried out according to NBR 12.713 (2009). Both gasoline C and P were highly toxic to D. similis, with CE50% in 48 h of 0.00113% e 0.058% respectively. The differences in acute toxicity between Gasoline C and its fractions WSF and WDF were significant (p <0.05). However, no significant difference was found between WSF and WDF fractions. Gasoline P and its WDF fraction had no significant differences (p < 0.05), but their toxicity were significant different from that one obtained with the FSA fraction (p < 0.05). Acute toxicity assays carried out with gasoline C and P mixed with ethanol fuel suggested effect less than additive (antagonism). The results obtained with the simulation of an aged contamination with Gasoline C showed sharp reduction in toxicity along 28 days. However, regarding the assays with environmental samples from an aged contamination, although absence or low toxicity was observed in the superficial water, severe toxicity was found in the sediments elutriate and in the groundwater, which was confirmed by the high concentrations of gasoline hydrocarbons in both matrixes. The results suggest that the contaminant was entrapped in the saturated zone and/or adsorbed to the sediments with high clay content.

Foram realizados testes de toxicidade ao longo de dois anos, com amostras de água e sedimento do rio Corumbataí, entre Novembro de 2004 e Setembro de 2006, com o objetivo de avaliar a qualidade da água e do sedimento. Os testes de toxicidade aguda realizados com os organismos Chironomus xanthus, Daphnia magna, Hydra attenuata, Lactuca sativa e Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata indicaram variados graus de toxicidade nos diferentes pontos de coleta do rio Corumbataí, com maior ocorrência de toxicidade nos pontos de coleta mais próximos à foz do rio, principalmente devido à afluência do Ribeirão Claro. Todas as amostras de sedimento se mostraram mais tóxicas do que as amostras de água dos mesmos locais, para todos os organismos utilizados, em todas as coletas realizadas. Para todos os organismos, foram realizados testes de sensibilidade, com substância de referência (NaCl), mensalmente, a fim de garantir a qualidade dos cultivos em laboratório e dos bioensaios realizados, com resultados regulares e satisfatórios. Os efeitos produzidos pelas amostras ambientais sobre as sementes de alface (Lactuca sativa) foram bastante variáveis e irregulares, não possibilitando os cálculos de CI50. Decidiu-se por bem suspender a realização deste teste após um ano. Dentre todos os endpoints avaliados, os dos testes de Hydra attenuata e Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata se mostraram mais sensíveis, e o de Daphnia magna o menos sensível às amostras testadas. A avaliação da toxicidade através de efeitos subletais em H. attenuata se mostrou um bom parâmetro de avaliação das condições ambientais do rio Corumbataí, sendo um dos endpoints mais sensíveis utilizados. Outros testes de toxicidade foram realizados em algumas das oito coletas realizadas neste estudo, em caráter complementar: teste de toxicidade crônica com D. magna, teste de toxicidade LuminoTox, que utiliza sistemas enzimáticos vegetais, e o teste de genotoxicidade com Allium cepa, com o objetivo de avaliar suas sensibilidades e contribuições ao estudo. Estes bioensaios adicionaram informações a respeito dos níveis de poluição e toxicidade do rio Corumbataí, contribuindo com os bioensaios principais. Informações como parâmetros físicos e químicos, quantificação de elementos químicos e herbicidas ofereceram subsídios para a interpretação dos resultados obtidos com os testes de toxicidade. São apresentados também resultados das atividades referentes ao estágio de doutorado realizado no exterior (doutorado-sanduíche), no período de Setembro a Dezembro de 2007, na agência de proteção ambiental Environment Canada, no qual foi aplicado um teste de toxicidade com linhagens microbianas (MARA assay) em amostras de água e sedimento, juntamente com nanomateriais / Toxicity tests were conducted for two years with water and sediment samples from Corumbataí River, between November 2004 and September 2006, in order to assess the water and sediment quality. Acute toxicity tests conducted with Chironomus xanthus, Daphnia magna, Hydra attenuata, Lactuca sativa and Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata showed varying degrees of toxicity along the river course, with more toxic results in the sampling sites near the river mouth, due mainly to the inflow of Ribeirão Claro. All sediment samples were more toxic than the water samples (from the corresponding sites), for all test organisms, and for all samplings. Sensitivity tests were performed monthly, with NaCl as the reference toxicant, in order to guarantee both the laboratory culture quality and the bioassays conducted with these organisms. Results with NaCl were regular and satisfactory. The effects of the samples on lettuce seeds (L. sativa) were irregular, thus not allowing the estimative of IC50. It was decided to suspend the performance of this bioassay after one year of testing. Among all studied tests and endpoints, the tests with H. attenuata and P. subcapitata had the most sensitive endpoints, and the acute toxicity test with D. magna had the less sensitive one. Toxicity assessment of Corumbataí River based on Hydra sub-lethality endpoint was one of the most sensitive among the tested ones. Other bioassays were conducted at least once as part of this study, as a complementary assessment: the 21-day chronic toxicity test with D. magna, the LuminoTox bioassay, and the genotoxicity test with Allium cepa, in order to assess their sensitivity and contribution to the present study. These bioassays added information about the contamination levels and toxicity of Corumbataí River, contributing with the main bioassays performed. Data such as physical and chemical parameters, metals and herbicides determinations had a contribution to bioassay results interpretation. Results from a research project developed during a four-month stay (from September 2007 to December 2007) at Environment Canada Protection Agency are further described, regarding the application of the MARA bioassay, (conducted with 11 microbial strains), testing water and sediment samples, along with nanomaterials

Ziel der Arbeit war es, die Hypothese von CARNEY &amp;amp; ELSER (1990), dass unter mesotrophen Bedingungen die trophische Transfereffizienz vom Phytoplankton zum Crustaceenplankton maximal ist, in einem Ganz-Seen-Experiment zu überprüfen. Die Untersuchungen erfolgten im Rahmen des Projektes &amp;quot;Top-Down-Steuerung planktischer Biozönosen&amp;quot; am mesotrophen Großen Vätersee (Brandenburg). Die Fragen, welchen Einfluß das Crustaceenplankton auf die Primärproduzenten ausübt, wie die Primärproduzenten auf den Grazingdruck reagieren, und welche Verhaltensweisen der Crustaceen die Kopplungsstärke zu den Primärproduzenten oder den Prädatoren kausal beeinflussen, standen im Mittelpunkt. Primärproduktion (PPR) und Crustaceengrazing wurden in situ gemessen, Crustaceen-biomassen, -produktion und -verteilung bestimmt und mit den Daten der angrenzenden Teilprojekte in Beziehung gesetzt. Der prozentuale Anteil des Nanoplanktons an der absoluten PPR erreichte im Durchschnitt 52 %. Die Chl a spezifische PPR dieser Fraktion war signifikant positiv korreliert mit den effektiven Filtrierraten der Daphnien. Die spezifische PPR von Pico- und Netzphytoplankton blieb von den effektiven Filtrierraten unbeeinflusst. Die Blaualgen, Hauptbestandteil des Picoplanktons, stellten eine schlechte Nahrungsquelle für Daphnien dar. Dies zeigten Laborversuche zur Nahrungsqualität. Durch den hohen Beitrag des Nanoplanktons an der PPR bestand zwischen den Primärproduzenten und den Crustaceen eine starke Kopplung. 1998 betrug die Konsumtions-Transfereffizienz von den Primärproduzenten zu den Crustaceen 25 %. Im Vergleich dazu war der Anteil der Planktivorenkonsumtion an der Produktion der Crustaceen mit 14 % deutlich geringer. Die Konsumtion erklärte im Frühsommer während der hohen Verluste der Daphnien maximal 20 % der Mortalität. Kam es im Hochsommer zu höheren Abundanzen invertebrater Räuber, war deren Prädationsdruck hoch genug, die Daphnienpopulation auf niedrigem Niveau zu halten. Somit war der Top-down-Druck der Planktivoren auf die Daphnien sehr gering. Eine Nahrungskettensteuerung durch Besatz mit Piscivoren würde keine Verminderung der Mortalität der Crustaceen zur Folge haben, sondern eher den Fraßdruck auf Cladoceren durch erhöhte Abundanzen der invertebraten Räuber verstärken.

Xenobiotics are of human and environmental concerns due to their potential toxicity. Octylphenol is one of the very common and daily used xenobiotics in door and out door activities of human beings. Toxicity of octylphenol to aquatic organisms, especially to zooplankton (e.g. Daphnia magna) was investigated but not fully understood. In this study we evaluated the chronic effects of octylphenol at the concentrations of 5, 50 and 500 μg L-1 on Daphnia magna over a period of 14 days. The results showed that low concentration of octylphenol (5 μg L-1) stimulated the maturation while high concentrations of the chemical (50 and 500 μg L-1) caused a significant mortality to the Daphnia. Besides, all the tested concentrations of octylphenol had serious impacts on fecundity and growth of the animals. Investigations on the presence, distribution, fate and toxicity of xonobiotics including octylphenol in the developing country environment are suggested for human, environmental and ecological health protection. / Những hợp chất tổng hợp đang là mối quan ngại cho con người và môi trường vì khả năng gây độc của chúng. Octylphenol là một trong những hợp chất tổng hợp được sử dụng phổ biến và thường xuyên trong những hoạt động của con người trong nhà và ngoài trời. Độc tính của octylphenol đối với thủy sinh vật, đặc biệt đối với động vật phù du (vd. Daphnia magna) mặc dù đã được nghiên cứu nhưng vẫn chưa được hiểu biết đầy đủ. Trong nghiên cứu này, chúng tôi đánh giá ảnh hưởng mãn tính của octylphenol ở các nồng độ 5, 50 và 500 μg/lít lên Daphnia magna trong thời gian 14 ngày. Kết quả cho thấy ở nồng độ octylphenol thấp (5 μg/lít) kích thích sự thành thục của sinh vật trong khi ở nồng độ cao hơn (50 và 500 μg/lít) gây chết đáng kể Daphnia. Bên cạnh đó, tất cả các nồng độ ocytlphenol dùng trong thí nghiệm gây ảnh hưởng nghiêm trọng lên sức sinh sản và sinh trưởng của sinh vật. Nghiên cứu về sự hiện diện, phân bố, phát tán và độc tính của những chất tổng hợp bao gồm octylphenol ở các nước đang phát triển nên được tiến hành vì mục tiêu bảo vệ sức khỏe con người, môi trường và hệ sinh thái.

Predicting the impacts of non-native species remains one of the greatest challenges to invasion ecologists. Because of their insularity, freshwater systems are particularly vulnerable to invasions, especially from non-native predators. The research in this thesis explores the role of abiotic and biotic factors in mediating the distribution and impact of Bythotrephes longimanus, a predatory cladoceran that has been introduced to freshwater systems in North America. Although the general impacts of this invasion have been documented, little is known about the factors that modulate them. Using a combination of field surveys and experiments, I tested several hypotheses concerning the influence of interactions with native species, as well as the role of heterogeneity in the light environment, in mediating the impact of Bythotrephes. Results demonstrated that biotic resistance by native macroinvertebrate predators does not play a limiting role in the establishment success of Bythotrephes. However, the within-lake distribution of Bythotrephes was influenced by these macroinvertebrates, suggesting that the native predator context matters when trying to understand the impacts of non-native predators. This was demonstrated with a mesocosm experiment in which the impact of Bythotrephes was constrained by the native Chaoborus larvae. In terms of the abiotic environment, in situ feeding experiments demonstrated that refuges from impact could exist for some prey taxa, as the outcome of predation by Bythotrephes was dependent on light availability and some prey taxa were more successful at evading predation under low light conditions. Finally, results show that adaptive behaviour by prey is also an important determinant of impact, as migrating Daphnia can escape predation effects by Bythotrephes. The combination of light-limited predation and a shallow distribution by Bythotrephes selects for prey that occupy relatively deeper positions during the day. As a whole, this research highlights the importance of complex interactions in mediating the impact of Bythotrephes and may help to explain some of the variation that has been documented among invaded lakes. A better understanding of these complex interactions can improve our ability to anticipate impacts as Bythotrephes continues to spread, as well as provide insight on some of the long-term effects following invasion. / Thesis (Ph.D, Biology) -- Queen's University, 2013-06-17 09:26:35.221

Consumer-resource interactions are the basic building blocks of every food web. In spite of being a central research theme of longstanding interest in ecology, the mechanisms governing the stability and persistence of consumer-resource interactions are still not entirely understood. In particular, theoretical predictions on consumer-resource stability along gradients of temperature and nutrient enrichment diverge widely and are sometimes in conflict with empirical results. In this thesis I address these issues from the angle of the functional response, which describes a consumer’s feeding rate as a function of resource density. Specifically, I explore mechanistic, nutrient-based consumer-resource interaction models with respect to the influence of feeding behavior (the shape of the functional response), environmental temperature, nutrient enrichment, and resource quality on consumer-resource stability and persistence. In order to parameterize these models I performed extensive laboratory experiments with pairs of freshwater pelagic algae and grazers of the genus Daphnia, which are widespread, ecologically important model organisms. I found a sigmoidal type III functional response in every studied Daphnia-algae species pair. The exact form of its shape is described by an exponent b which is determined by fitting functional response models to the experimental data. A high value of b can stabilize consumer-resource systems under the otherwise destabilizing influence of nutrient enrichment, as predicted by a novel stability criterion relating b to the consumer’s prey handling time, food conversion efficiency and mortality. Estimated parameter values and, consequently, stability predictions are sensitive to the method of parameter estimation, and I propose a new estimation procedure that minimizes parameter uncertainty. Because many consumers’ feeding rates depend on temperature, warming is expected to strongly affect food web stability. In functional response experiments over a broad temperature gradient, I found that the attack rate coefficient and the maximum ingestion rate of Daphnia are hump-shaped functions of temperature. Moreover, the functional response exponent increases with warming towards stronger type III responses. Plugging these findings into a nutrient-based consumer-resource model, I found that predator persistence is a U-shaped function of temperature in nutrient enrichment-temperature space. Enrichment easily turns the system unstable when the consumer has a type II response, whereas a type III response opens up a large region of stability at intermediate, for the consumer optimal, temperatures. These findings reconcile seemingly conflicting results of earlier studies of temperature effects on consumer-resource dynamics, which can be mapped as special cases onto the enrichment-temperature space. I finally demonstrate the utility of three key model ingredients - temperature dependence of rate parameters, a mechanistic description of the dynamics of algal resources, and a type III functional response in Daphnia - by successfully implementing them in the description and explanation of phytoplankton-Daphnia dynamics in a mesocosm experiment exploring effects of warming on the spring succession of the plankton.

Nesta dissertação foi estudada a zeólita sintetizada a partir de cinzas leves de carvão como um potencial adsorvente para a remoção de corante reativo preto 5 (RP5). Ensaios cinéticos e de equilíbrio foram realizados visando obter-se as melhores condições para a adsorção deste corante, e verificou-se a influência dos seguintes parâmetros: efeito do tempo de contato, concentração inicial do corante, dose do adsorvente, pH da solução aquosa, adição dos sais NaCl e Na2SO4 e temperatura. O tempo de equilíbrio foi alcançado após 420 min. Os dados de adsorção foram ajustados melhor ao modelo cinético de pseudo-segunda-ordem. Para o sistema corante/adsorvente foi aplicado o modelo de isoterma de adsorção de Langmuir, apresentando capacidade de adsorção máxima de 0,685 mg g-1. Os dados experimentais mostraram uma alta porcentagem de remoção de 47,7 a 88,1% de RP5 sobre a zeólita. A alta porcentagem indicou que o material zeolítico apresenta potencial para ser usado como adsorvente na remoção de corantes azo reativo de indústrias têxteis. Os parâmetros termodinâmicos foram avaliados e demonstraram que o processo de adsorção do RP5 sobre a zeólita é espontâneo e exotérmico. Os experimentos adicionando os sais foram realizados para uma melhor simulação das condições reais do efluente. Os resultados mostraram que o equilíbrio de adsorção do RP5 sobre a zeólita na presença de sais foram alcançados em um tempo menor e que quanto maior a concentração dos sais na solução, maior a capacidade de adsorção. O resultado obtido na avaliação da toxicidade pelo microcrustáceo Daphnia similis, o tratamento de adsorção com zeólita se mostrou extremamente favorável5 reduzindo a carga tóxica e cor do efluente aquoso. / In this dissertation was studied the zeolite synthesized from coal fly ash as a potential adsorbent for the removal of reactive Black 5 dye (RP5). Equilibrium and kinetic experiments were conducted to obtain the best conditions for the adsorption of this dye, and observed the influence of the following parameters: effect of contact time, initial dye concentration, adsorbent dose, pH of the aqueous solution, addition of NaCl and Na2SO4 and temperature. The equilibrium time was reached after 420 min. The adsorption data were fitted better by a pseudo-second-order. For the dye / adsorbent system was applied to the model of Langmuir adsorption isotherm, with maximum adsorption capacity of 0.685 mg g-1. The experimental data showed a high percentage of removal from 47.7 to 88.1% of RP5 on the zeolite. The high percentage indicates that the zeolitic material has a potential to be used as adsorbent in the removal of azo dye reactive textile industries. The thermodynamic parameters were evaluated and showed that the adsorption process of RP5 on the zeolite is spontaneous and exothermic. The experiments were performed by adding salts to better simulate actual conditions in the effluent. The results showed that the adsorption equilibrium of reactive black 5 on the zeolite in the presence of salts were achieved in a shorter time and that the higher the concentration of salts in solution, the higher the adsorption capacity. The result obtained in the evaluation of toxicity by microcrustacean Daphnia similis treatment with zeolit adsorption was extremely favorable, reducing the toxic load of waste water and color.

The aquatic zooplankton crustacean Daphnia magna must be able to tolerate thermal stress in order to survive their native shallow ponds that are susceptible to drastic seasonal and diurnal temperature fluctuations as well as to globally increasing temperatures. Survival in such variable environments requires plastic responses that must include fundamental aspects of Daphnia biochemistry and physiology. Adaptive response to selection favoring such plastic phenotypes requires the presence of genetic variation for plastic response in natural populations. Adverse effects of elevated temperature on aquatic organisms are diverse and so are their plastic responses; among the most severe challenges aquatic organisms face when exposed to heat is the elevated oxidative stress. In this work we focused on short-term and long-term responses of Daphnia to temperature changes that increase its resistance to oxidative stress. Daphnia acclimated to stressful but non-lethal temperature (28ºC) show longer survive during exposure to a lethal temperature (37ºC) than those acclimated to the optimal temperature (18ºC). Short-term reciprocal switches between 18ºC and 28ºC result in intermediate temperature tolerance. These changes are accompanied by mirroring changes in total antioxidant capacity indicating the increased antioxidant capacity as a possible causative mechanism for heat tolerance gained from acclimation. The analysis of 6 geographically distinct genotypes representing a range of temperature tolerance levels shows a genetic difference in response to short-term and long-term acclimation as well as in the effect of antioxidant capacity on temperature tolerance. These results indicate a significant degree of local adaptation in heat and oxidative stress defenses in Daphnia and provide a better understanding of adaptive responses of this zooplankton crustacean to rising temperatures.