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  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
221

Caracterização e comparação dos estuários dos rios Itaguaré e Guaratuba (Bertioga, SP) com base nos parâmetros geo-físico-químicos, batimetria e imageamento do fundo /

Baraldo, Kleber Barrionuevo January 2018 (has links)
Orientador: Francisco Sekiguchi de Carvalho e Buchmann / Resumo: Estuários são ambientes heterogêneos, altamente complexos, e condicionados por diversos fatores ambientais. Nenhum estuário é igual a outro, e é esta diversidade que os torna tão importantes do ponto de vista da conservação. A grande quantidade de recursos naturais disponíveis nesses ambientes favorece o desenvolvimento de assentamentos urbanos nas suas margens, podendo comprometer o equilíbrio natural. A partir do conhecimento detalhado dos sistemas estuarinos é possível traçar metas assertivas para a conservação e gestão destes ambientes tão singulares. O presente estudo visa a caracterização e comparação dos estuários dos rios Itaguaré e Guaratuba (Bertioga, SP) quanto aos seus parâmetros geo-físico-químicos. A área de estudo está localizada na planície costeira da Bacia Hidrográfica da Baixada Santista e inserida no Parque Estadual Restinga de Bertioga. Foram realizados levantamentos semestrais de batimetria e imageamento com sonar de varredura lateral, com o intuito de conhecer as profundidades e feições de fundo dos estuários, avaliando a dinâmica de processos erosivos e deposicionais. Medições mensais de salinidade, temperatura e turbidez foram realizadas ao longo de um ano, visando avaliar o comportamento sazonal da intrusão salina e da zona de máxima turbidez. Para verificar variações na granulometria, foram coletadas amostras de sedimentos nos mesmos pontos de medição das variáveis físico-químicas da água. Os resultados foram avaliados de forma integrada, utilizando... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Estuaries are highly complex heterogeneous environments, conditioned by different environmental factors. Every estuary has particular characteristics, and this diversity makes them so important for conservation. The great amount of available natural resources in these environments contributes to urban settlement developments on their surroundings, which may compromise their natural balance. Detailed knowledge of estuarine systems helps establish assertive goals for the conservation and management of these unique environments. This study aims to characterize and compare Itaguaré and Guaratuba estuaries (Bertioga, SP) regarding their geophysical-chemical characteristics. The study area is located on the Baixada Santista Basin’s coastal plain, and inserted in the Restinga of Bertioga State Park. Biannual bathymetry and side scan sonar surveys were carried in order to evaluate erosive and depositional processes affecting depths and bottom features of the estuaries. Salinity, temperature and turbidity measurements were carried out monthly over a period of one year to evaluate seasonal behavior of saline intrusion and the estuarine turbidity maximum. Sediment samples were collected in order to verify granulometry variations. Results were evaluated in an integrated manner, using geoprocessing and spatial analysis techniques, coupled with secondary data of mareography and precipitation, analyzing the influence of meteoceanographic factors in the water column and the background config... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre
222

Marine biological invasions : the distributional ecology and interactions between native and introduced encrusting organisms

Hewitt, Chad LeRoy January 1993 (has links)
Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Bibliography: Includes bibliographical references (leaves 283-301). Description: xxx, 301 leaves : ill. ; 29 cm.
223

Problemas inversos aplicados à identificação de parâmetros hidrodinâmicos de um modelo do estuário do rio Macaé / Inverse problems applied to the identication of hydrodynamic parameters of a model of the Macae river estuary

Edgar Barbosa Lima 27 February 2012 (has links)
Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro / Esta tese tem por objetivo propor uma estratégia de obtenção automática de parâmetros hidrodinâmicos e de transporte através da solução de problemas inversos. A obtenção dos parâmetros de um modelo físico representa um dos principais problemas em sua calibração, e isso se deve em grande parte à dificuldade na medição em campo desses parâmetros. Em particular na modelagem de rios e estuários, a altura da rugosidade e o coeficiente de difusão turbulenta representam dois dos parâmetros com maior dificuldade de medição. Nesta tese é apresentada uma técnica automatizada de estimação desses parâmetros através deum problema inverso aplicado a um modelo do estuário do rio Macaé, localizado no norte do Rio de Janeiro. Para este estudo foi utilizada a plataforma MOHID, desenvolvida na Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, e que tem tido ampla aplicação na simulação de corpos hídricos. Foi realizada uma análise de sensibilidade das respostas do modelo com relação aos parâmetros de interesse. Verificou-se que a salinidade é uma variável sensível a ambos parâmetros. O problema inverso foi então resolvido utilizando vários métodos de otimização através do acoplamento da plataforma MOHID a códigos de otimização implementados em Fortran. O acoplamento foi realizado de forma a não alterar o código fonte do MOHID, possibilitando a utilização da ferramenta computacional aqui desenvolvida em qualquer versão dessa plataforma, bem como a sua alteração para o uso com outros simuladores. Os testes realizados confirmam a eficiência da técnica e apontam as melhores abordagens para uma rápida e precisa estimação dos parâmetros. / This thesis presents a strategy for automatically obtaining hydrodynamic and transport parameters by means of the solution of inverse problems. Obtaining the parameters of a physical model represents a major problem in its calibration, and this is largely due to the difficulty associated to the field measurements of these parameters. In particular by modeling rivers and estuaries, the roughness height and the turbulent diffusion coefficient represent two of the most difficult parameters to measure or estimate. Here, an automated technique for estimation of these parameters through an inverse problem is applied to a model of the Macaé estuary, located in northern Rio de Janeiro. For this investigation, hydrodynamic and transport models were built in the MOHID platform, developed in the Technical University of Lisbon, which has had wide application in simulation of water bodies. A sensitivity analysis was performed regarding the model responses with respect to the parameters of interest. It was verified that salinity is a sensitive variable for both parameters. The inverse problem was then solved using various optimization methods by coupling the MOHID platform to optimization codes implemented in Fortran. The coupling was carried in a way to not change the MOHID source code, allowing the use of the computational tool here developed in any version of this platform, as well as its modification for use with other simulators. The tests confirm the efficiency of the technique and suggest the best approaches for a fast and accurate estimation of the parameters.
224

Aspectos ecológicos da avifauna aquática nas fozes dos rios Tijucas e Inferninho, Santa Catarina, Brasil

Rubert, Barbara 07 October 2016 (has links)
Submitted by Alison Vanceto (alison-vanceto@hotmail.com) on 2017-05-09T12:19:17Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DissBR.pdf: 1048371 bytes, checksum: a7b21c9d34f402da02fa685209276dbe (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ronildo Prado (ronisp@ufscar.br) on 2017-05-10T17:54:05Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissBR.pdf: 1048371 bytes, checksum: a7b21c9d34f402da02fa685209276dbe (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ronildo Prado (ronisp@ufscar.br) on 2017-05-10T17:54:13Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissBR.pdf: 1048371 bytes, checksum: a7b21c9d34f402da02fa685209276dbe (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-10T18:02:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DissBR.pdf: 1048371 bytes, checksum: a7b21c9d34f402da02fa685209276dbe (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-10-07 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Estuaries are highly productive environments susceptible to environmental variables, and important to the life cycle of various species, to waterfowl serve as a point of rest, feeding and nesting. These sites also receive migratory birds seeking the accumulation of energy required for the return to the reproductive areas. These species, as well as residents, have their distribution, occurrence, abundance and behavior influenced by environmental variables, seasonality and human presence. Thus this study aimed to characterize the structure of the community of waterfowl, as well as behavioral pattern, relationship with environmental variables and habitat use by them in the mouths of the rivers Tijucas and Inferninho. The Tijucas’ Bay where this study was conducted, presents sediment deposition and formation of extensive muddy plans. To collect the data length of 1.1 km was covered in each mouth, from June 2015 to May 2016, sampling occurred every two hours, from 08 hours to 16 hours. The data collected were species, average number, activity and micro-habitat. five microhabitats were considered, based on different faces found in two locations, and analyzed environmental variables were: wind speed, tide height, precipitation and temperature. The curve of rarefaction and Jackknife 2 were used to determine the sample sufficiency, Shannon index was used to estimate the annual and monthly diversity and similarity among the studied areas was calculated using the Jaccard index. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Kruskal-Wallis test were used to determine the differences between species richness, average number and behavior of the species for hours and months of sampling. The behavior relative frequency was grouped by similarity of Bray-Curtis, the Indicator Species Analysis was used to determine the association of species with micro-habitats, and used Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA) to determine the correlation between the variables environmental and behavior and between species. Were recorded 44 species of waterfowl in the voices of the two rivers, 10 migratory. The similarity between the two areas was 75%, indicating high similarity of microhabitats between areas. The diversity at the mouth of the river Tijucas was higher than the mouth of the river Inferninho, this difference is related to river discharge of rivers, hence the nutrient input. The difference in species richness, abundance was significant only between the months of observation, and the months with the highest diversity occurred in the late spring, summer and early fall, probably due to the life cycle and arrival of migratory species. The rest was the most frequent activity, followed by foraging, this was negatively related to temperature variation, it suggests that the higher the temperature, the lower the foraging, avoiding waste of energy and water. Foraging was negatively correlated with the height of the tide as the low tide provides a food resource. The indicator species analysis showed that most of the species was associated with only one micro-habitats, this can be explained by the abundance of available resource, since rich environments allow specialization of species. / Os estuários são ambientes de elevada produtividade, suscetíveis a variáveis ambientais, e importantes para o ciclo de vida de diversas espécies, para as aves aquáticas servem como ponto de descanso, alimentação e nidificação. Esses locais ainda recebem aves migratórias que buscam o acúmulo de energia necessário para o regresso às áreas reprodutivas. Essas espécies, assim como as residentes, têm suas distribuição, ocorrência, abundância e comportamento influenciados pelas variáveis ambientais, sazonalidade e presença humana. Dessa forma esse estudo teve o objetivo de caracterizar a estrutura da comunidade de aves aquáticas, bem como padrão comportamental, relação com variáveis ambientais e uso de hábitat pelas mesmas nas fozes dos rios Tijucas e Inferninho. A Baía de Tijucas, onde esse trabalho foi realizado, apresenta deposição de sedimento e formação de extensos planos lamosos. Para coletar os dados a extensão de 1,1 km foi percorrida em cada foz, de junho de 2015 a maio de 2016, as amostragens ocorreram a cada duas horas, das 08 horas às 16 horas. Os dados coletados foram: espécie, número médio, atividade realizada e micro-habitat ocupado. Foram considerados cinco micro-hábitats, baseado nas diferentes fisionomias encontradas nos dois locais, e as variáveis ambientais analisadas foram: velocidade do vento, altura da maré, precipitação e temperatura. A curva de rarefação e Jackknife 2 foram usados para determinara a suficiência amostral, o índice de Shannon foi usado para estimar a diversidade anual e mensal, e a similaridade entre as áreas estudadas foi calculado através do índice de Jaccard. Análise de Variância (ANOVA) e teste de Kruskal-Wallis foram usados para determinar as diferenças entre riqueza, número médio e comportamento das espécies por horário e meses de amostragem. A frequência relativa de comportamentos foi agrupada pela similaridade de Bray-Curtis, a Análise de Espécie foi usada para determinar a associação das espécies com os micro-habitats, e usou-se Análise de Correlação Canônica (CCA) para determinar a correlação entre as variáveis ambientais e comportamentos e entre espécies. Foram registradas 44 espécies de aves aquáticas nas fozes dos dois rios, sendo 10 migratórias. A similaridade entre as duas áreas foi de 75%, indicando alta semelhança de micro-habitats entre as mesmas. A diversidade na foz do rio Tijucas foi maior que a foz do rio Inferninho, essa diferença está relacionada a descarga fluvial dos rios, consequentemente ao aporte de nutrientes. A diferença de riqueza, abundancia foi significativa apenas entre os meses de observação, e os meses com maiores diversidades ocorreram no final da primavera, verão e começo do outono, provavelmente devido ao ciclo de vida e chegada das espécies migratórias. O descanso foi a atividade mais frequente, seguido de forrageio, este esteve negativamente relacionada a variação de temperatura, sugere que quanto maior a temperatura, menor o forrageio, evitando dispêndio de energia e água. O forrageio esteve negativamente relacionado com a altura da maré, já que a maré baixa disponibiliza recurso alimentar. A análise de espécies indicadoras apontou que a maior parte das espécies esteve associada a apenas um micro-habitat, isso pode ser explicado pela abundância de recurso disponível, já que ambientes ricos permitem a especialização das espécies.
225

Caracterizacao quimica e radiologica dos sedimentos do estuario de Santos, Sao Vicente e Baia de Santos

SILVA, PAULO S.C. da 09 October 2014 (has links)
Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:49:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:02:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 09824.pdf: 13805608 bytes, checksum: bb156d35d4219c1080d090fad1bf255b (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Tese (Doutoramento) / IPEN/T / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN/CNEN-SP / FAPESP:99/06952-4
226

Caracterizacao quimica e radiologica dos sedimentos do estuario de Santos, Sao Vicente e Baia de Santos

SILVA, PAULO S.C. da 09 October 2014 (has links)
Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:49:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:02:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 09824.pdf: 13805608 bytes, checksum: bb156d35d4219c1080d090fad1bf255b (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Tese (Doutoramento) / IPEN/T / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN/CNEN-SP / FAPESP:99/06952-4
227

NÍVEIS IÔNICOS NO PLASMA E NO CONTEÚDO DO TRATO GASTRINTESTINAL DE TELEÓSTEOS COLETADOS EM DIFERENTES SALINIDADES / ION LEVELS IN THE PLASMA AND GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT CONTENT OF TELEOSTS COLLECTED IN DIFFERENT SALINITIES

Becker, Alexssandro Geferson 12 February 2008 (has links)
Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Seawater teleost fish are hyposmotic to their environment and as a consequence must deal with a constant diffusive loss of water and a net gain of salts. In contrast to living in seawater, teleosts fish in a freshwater environment are faced with the opposite dilemma, a constant osmotic influx of water and depletion of salts. Between these environments there are estuarine regions, which are habitats of several species. The purpose of this study was to investigate Na+, Cl-, K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ levels in the fluid phase and total amount of the contents of the segments of the gastrointestinal tract and plasma of freshwater and estuarine teleosts collected in different salinities (0 to 34 ) in the São Gonçalo channel in Pelotas, southern Brazil. Moreover, a possible relationship between the ion levels and salinity was investigated. After capture of the fishes, blood was collected and specimens were sacrificed for removal gastrointestinal tract segments: stomach, pyloric ceca/anterior intestine, mid- and posterior intestine. The results showed that there was no relationship between ion levels in the plasma, in the fluid phase and in the total amount of the segments of the gastrointestinal tract with salinity when considering all species together, but species (Micropogonias furnieri and Netuma barba) collected in three or more salinities demonstrated significant relationship of these parameters with salinity. The ion levels in the fluid phase and total amount of the most species showed significantly higher values in the anterior intestine than stomach. Moreover, ion levels showed a variation throughout the gastrointestinal tract suggesting possible ion absorption. These results suggest that the change of salinity affected ion levels in the plasma and in the content of the gastrointestinal tract of Micropogonias furnieri and Netuma barba, indicating that this system might be related with osmoregulation of these species. / Peixes teleósteos adaptados à água do mar são hiposmóticos em relação ao meio em que vivem e como conseqüência disso convivem com uma constante perda de água por osmose e ganho de sais por difusão. Ao contrário dos teleósteos que vivem na água salgada, peixes teleósteos adaptados à água doce convivem com o dilema oposto, uma constante entrada de água por osmose e perda de íons por difusão. Além disso, entre esses ambientes existem as regiões estuarinas, as quais são habitats de várias espécies. A proposta desse estudo foi investigar os níveis de Na+, Cl-, K+, Ca2+ e Mg2+ na fase fluida e quantidade total do conteúdo dos segmentos do trato gastrintestinal e do plasma de teleósteos estuarinos e de água doce coletados em diferentes salinidades (0-34 ) no Canal São Gonçalo em Pelotas, sul do Brasil. Além disso, uma possível relação entre os níveis iônicos e a salinidade foi investigada. Após a captura dos peixes, coletou-se sangue e os espécimes foram submetidos a eutanásia para remoção dos segmentos do trato gastrintestinal: estômago, cecos pilóricos/intestino anterior, intestino médio e posterior. Os resultados mostraram que não houve relação entre os íons no plasma, na fase fluida e na quantidade total dos segmentos do trato gastrintestinal com a salinidade quando se considerou todas as espécies juntas, porém duas espécies (Micropogonias furnieri e Netuma barba) coletadas em três ou mais salinidades demonstraram relação significativa entre esses parâmetros e a salinidade. Os níveis iônicos na fase fluida e quantidade total da maioria das espécies mostraram valores significativamente maiores no intestino anterior em relação ao estômago. Além disso, os níveis iônicos mostraram variação ao longo do trato gastrintestinal sugerindo uma possível absorção de íons. Estes resultados sugerem que a mudança de salinidade afetou os níveis iônicos do plasma e dos conteúdos do trato gastrintestinal de Micropogonias furnieri e Netuma barba, indicando que este sistema pode estar relacionado com a osmorregulação destas espécies.
228

Des poissons sous influence ? : une analyse à large échelle des relations entre les gradients abiotiques et l’ichtyofaune des estuaires tidaux européens / Fish under influence? : a large-scale analysis of relations between abiotic gradients and fish assemblages of European tidal estuaries

Nicolas, Delphine 02 July 2010 (has links)
Cette thèse cherche à déterminer l’influence de l’environnement abiotique sur la structure des assemblages de poissons dans les estuaires européens tidaux à partir d’une approche macroécologique. L’environnement abiotique de 135 estuaires, du Portugal à l’Ecosse, est caractérisé par une quinzaine de descripteurs en utilisant une approche écohydrologique. Les assemblages de poissons d’une centaine d’estuaires sont caractérisés par les données de pêche acquises au cours de campagnes scientifiques conduites dans le cadre de la Directive-Cadre européenne sur l’Eau (DCE). Néanmoins, ces données sont souvent hétérogènes du fait des différences entre les protocoles d’échantillonnage utilisés. Afin de limiter cette hétérogénéité, une sélection rigoureuse et une procédure de standardisation des données ont été effectuées. Les assemblages de poissons sont décrits à l’aide d’indices globaux ou fonctionnels relatifs à la richesse spécifique et à l’abondance. A l’aide de modèles linéaires généralisés, des relations sont établies entre des attributs de l’ichtyofaune et des gradients abiotiques à large échelle et au sein de l’estuaire. La richesse spécifique totale, et en particulier celle des espèces marines et migratrices amphihalines, augmente avec la taille de l’estuaire. De plus, elle apparaît plus élevée dans les estuaires associés à un large plateau continental. Les plus fortes densités totales et, en particulier, celles des espèces résidentes et marines, sont associées aux estuaires présentant une grande proportion en zones intertidales. Les assemblages de poissons estuariens apparaissent fortement structurés par le gradient de salinité à la fois en termes de richesse spécifique et de densité. En parallèle, cette thèse apporte des éléments témoignant d’un décalage vers le Nord de plusieurs espèces de poissons estuariens dans le contexte du réchauffement climatique global. Les résultats de cette thèse contribueront à l’amélioration des indicateurs biotiques basés sur l’ichtyofaune qui sont actuellement développés dans le contexte de la DCE. / Based on a macroecological approach, this thesis aims at determining the influence of the abiotic environment on the structure of fish assemblages among European tidal estuaries. The abiotic environment of 135 North-Eastern Atlantic estuaries from Portugal to Scotland was characterised by fifteen descriptors using an ecohydrological approach. The fish assemblages of about a hundred estuaries were characterised by fish data collected during scientific surveys conducted in the context of the European Water Framework Directive (WFD). Nonetheless, differences among sampling protocols resulted in highly heterogeneous datasets. To limit this heterogeneity, a rigorous selections and standardisation processes were carried out. Fish assemblages were described by total or functional indices related to species richness or abundance. Relationships were identified between large-scale and intra-estuarine abiotic gradients and fish attributes by fitting generalised linear models. Results showed that the total number of species, and more especially of marine and diadromous species, increased with the estuary size. Moreover, the total species richness appeared higher in estuaries associated to a wide continental shelf. The greatest total densities, and more particularly total densities of resident and marine species, were associated to estuaries with a great proportion of intertidal areas. Fish assemblages appeared also strongly structured by the salinity gradient in terms of both species richness and density. Furthermore, this thesis brought some evidence of northward migration of estuarine fish species in the context of the global warming. The results of this thesis will contribute to improve the fish indicators that are currently developed in the context of the European WFD.
229

Aspects of the ecology and biology of the isopod, Exosphaeroma hylocoetes, (Barnard, 1940) in three temporarily open/closed southern African estuaries

Henninger, Tony Oskar January 2009 (has links)
Temporarily open/closed estuaries (TOCE’s) are the numerically dominant type of estuary accounting for ≈ 70 % of all estuaries along the South African coastline. Despite their numerical dominance, aspects of the biology of organisms within these systems, particularly macrocrustacea remain poorly understood. This study firstly assessed the abundance and biomass of the most common isopod, Exosphaeroma hylocoetes, in three Eastern Cape TOCE’s, (the West Kleinemonde, East Kleinemonde and Kasouga Estuaries), and their response to mouth breaching events. This study was followed by aspects of the biology of the isopod including their utilisation of submerged macrophytes as a refuge from predation and/or possible food source, as well as the growth rates of the isopods in the laboratory under different environmental conditions. Mean isopod abundances and biomasses ranged between 0 and 4 791 ind. m⁻² and 0 and 9.65 mg dwt. m⁻² in the West Kleinemonde Estuary and between 0 and 108 ind. m⁻² and 0 and 0.318 mg dwt. m⁻² in the nearby East Kleinemonde Estuary. In the Kasouga Estuary, the values ranged between 0 and 3 650 ind. m⁻² and 0 and 5.105 mg dwt. m⁻². Temporal and spatial changes in the abundance and biomass of E. hylocoetes within the three systems was primarily linked to mouth phase, with populations declining when the mouth was open and to a lesser extent, seasonality. In all three estuaries maximum isopod abundances and biomasses were recorded in their middle and upper reaches, which could be ascribed to the presence of submerged macrophytes particularly Ruppia maritima, in two of the estuaries. Males (5.71 ± 0.41 mm) were significantly larger than females (3.99 ± 0.26 mm), but the sex ratios were skewed in favour of females, (a common feature in many isopod populations). Females were found carrying brood throughout the study, releasing offspring directly into the water column, to allow recruitment to the populations. The larger the female, the larger the brood carried (up to a maximum of 72 embryo/mancas). Results of laboratory experiments indicate that the close association of Exosphaeroma hylocoetes with submerged macrophytes is a result of the plant stands providing a refuge against predation by selected ichthyofauna. However stable carbon isotope and fatty acid analyses indicate that E. hylocoetes made use of ephiphytic algae and detritus on the stems of R. maritima, rather than the submerged macrophyte itself. There were no significant differences in the growth rates of male and female isopods at combinations of temperature (15 and 25 °C) and salinity (15 and 35 ‰). Laboratory growth studies revealed that males lived longer than females (25.77 ± 3.40 weeks vs 21.52 ± 3.00 weeks), and therefore achieved larger overall size. Females, however, reached sexual maturity (at 2.5 mm) at a faster rate (two to four weeks) than males (5.5 mm after 6.5 to 11 weeks), dependent on temperature. Exosphaeroma hylocoetes with its association with submerged macrophytes, early maturity, its growth rates and longevity, female-biased sex ratios and year-round breeding, all contribute to its success in temporary open/closed estuaries.
230

A preliminary examination of selected biological links between four Eastern Cape estuaries and the inshore marine environment

Vorwerk, Paul D January 2007 (has links)
The coastal transition zone (CTZ), which links the terrestrial and marine environments, has been identified as a region of high biological diversity and elevated production. Results of studies conducted in the northern hemisphere indicate that the links between estuaries and the adjacent marine environment is critical to ecological functioning within the CTZ. This study assessed the influence of selected estuaries with different hydrodynamic characteristics on the adjacent marine environment along the south-eastern coastline of southern Africa. Four estuaries were examined, including two permanently open systems, the fresh water deprived Kariega and fresh water dominated Great Fish, and two temporarily open/closed estuaries (TOCE), the Kasouga and East Kleinemonde. Results of the study indicated that outflow of estuarine water from the Great Fish Estuary contributed to a plume of less saline water being evident within the adjacent marine environment. The plume of water was associated with increased zooplankton biomass and particulate organic matter (POM) and chlorophyll-a concentrations. Adjacent to the Kariega Estuary, no evidence of fresh water outflow into the marine environment was observed. However, in the sea directly opposite the mouth of the estuary an increase in zooplankton abundance and biomass was evident. Results of numerical analyses indicated that the increase in zooplankton abundance observed adjacent to the mouth of both permanently open estuaries could not be attributed to the export of zooplankton from the estuary, but rather the accumulation of marine species within the region. The mechanisms responsible for this accumulation were not determined, but it was thought to be associated with increased food availability in the estuarine frontal zone. A similar, but less dramatic biological response was also observed in the marine environment adjacent to the two TOCEs. It is suggested that the increase in biological activity within these regions could be ascribed to seepage of estuarine or ground water through the sand bar that separates these estuaries from the sea. Results of stable carbon isotope analyses indicated that both the Great Fish and Kariega estuaries exported carbon to the nearshore marine environment. The area influenced by estuarine derived carbon was dependent on the volume of estuarine outflow to the marine environment. Adjacent to the fresh water dominated Great Fish Estuary, estuarine derived carbon was recorded up to 12km from the mouth, while adjacent to the fresh water deprived Kariega, estuarine derived carbon was only evident directly opposite the mouth. The recruitment of macrozooplankton (> 2cm) into the fresh water deprived Kariega Estuary was in the range recorded for other permanently open southern African estuaries with higher fresh water flow rates. This indicates that the mechanisms which allow estuarine dependent larvae to locate and enter estuaries are not related to fresh water inflow. In conclusion, this study has demonstrated that despite their small size relative to European and North American systems, South African permanently open and temporarily open/closed estuaries also influence biological activity within the adjacent nearshore marine environment.

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