Introduction. On the coast of the Bathurst Division, Eastern Cape Province, some 42 miles south- east of Grahamstown, lie two estuaries opening within a few yards of one another. These are known as the Kleinemonde. This paper embodies the results of an ecological survey of the fauna of the Larger Kleinmond Estuary. The chief concern has been the aquatic fauna but animals living along the banks have also been dealt with as far as possible, as have the birds. This is the second of South Africa's blind estuaries to be studied, the Klein River, Hermanus, having been investigated in 1947-49 by workers from the University of Cape Town. Though common in South Africa, blind estuaries are rare in parts of the world such as Europe, and present an almost entirely new field of research for the ecologist. It is hoped, therefore, that the investigation of the Kleinmond Estuary and a comparison with the results obtained from the Klein River, Hermanus, will add to our knowledge of this subject and be of service to future investigators. The history of the Kleimnond River is worthy of mention, for the lagoon was not always blind and shallow. The early maps of the 1820 settlers show the river as a navigable stream; sailing vessels anchored out at sea and sent lighters up what was then known as the Lydendoch River to collect fresh meat. The area at the mouth of the river was called Port Jessie. In these early days the region abounded with game. Hippo and elephant were common. the former inhabiting deep pools in the upper reaches of the river; pools which have since completely silted up. Constant ploughing of the slopes adjoining the river has caused vast amounts of soil to be washed by rains into the stream, and today what was within living memory a deep, clear stream is a shallow, blind and muddy river, a reflection of man's destructive methods of farming. These changes must have had a far-reaching effect on the fauna of the estuary; an effect about which we can, alas, only speculate. It is perhaps significant that though rich in numbers, the fauna is poor in species, tunicates and echinoderms being apparently entirely absent. The work involved in this survey was undertaken between September 1952 and November 1953, under the direction of Professor J . Omer-Cooper of Rhodes University, frequent and regular visits being made to the estuary. The entire month of February, 1953, was spent on the shore of the lagoon, so that animals could be observed over a continuous period. The starting date of the survey was particularly fortunate, as on September 28th, 1952, the river came down in flood and broke through the sand-bar separating the lagoon from the sea. The work thus began at a definite point in the estuarine cycle, the importance of which it is hoped to show.

The fish community structure of two contrasting estuaries, one with a well developed mangrove forest (Mngazana) and the other without mangroves (Mngazi) was compared. Both the Mngazi and Mngazana estuary fish communities were dominated by marine species, reflecting the importance of these systems as nursery areas for marine fishes. The Mngazi Estuary contained 18% more estuarine fishes in terms of catch per unit effort (CPUE) than the Mngazana Estuary. The reduced tidal influence due to the narrow mouth opening is a possible reason for the heightened CPUE of estuarine species in the Mngazi estuary. The recorded higher diversity of fish species in the Mngazana Estuary when compared with the Mngazi Estuary was attributed to the greater influence of the marine environment due to the wide permanently open mouth, as well as the presence of a variety of habitats in this system. In both estuaries tropical and temperate species were captured, confirming the transitional nature of their biogeographic location which is situated close to the boundary between the subtropical and warm temperate regions of the Southern African coastline. Contrary to previous studies, which recorded seasonal changes in the proportions of tropical and temperate species, the proportions of tropical species remained unchanged at approximately 70% during the January and June sampling occasions. Global warming as a possible reason for the increased dominance of tropical species is discussed. Although several studies in southern Africa have investigated estuarine food web structure, none have compared mangrove and non-mangrove estuaries. In this study, the primary sources of carbon utilised by the fish fauna in the Mngazi and Mngazana estuaries was investigated. The carbon isotopic values of fishes in both estuaries displayed a continuum rather than a tight clustering around particular energy sources. Most detritus feeders of the family Mugilidae (mullets) from both estuaries were relatively more enriched than other fish taxa. The isotopic values of the mullet species suggest a diet derived from relatively enriched carbon sources such as benthic microalgae, the eelgrass Zostera capensis and associated epiphytes. Based on the isotopic values, piscivorous fishes from both estuaries could not be linked to specific prey fish taxa, but clearly the mullet species were not their main food source. The invertebrate feeders that were found in both estuaries showed greater isotopic variations in the Mngazana Estuary than in the Mngazi Estuary, probably reflecting the higher diversity of habitats (carbon sources) and invertebrate prey species in the Mngazana system. Generally the isotopic signatures of fishes from the Mngazi Estuary were more enriched than those from the Mngazana Estuary, thus indicating the possible effect of δ¹³C depleted mangrove derived carbon in the latter system.

This project had three main aims. The first aim was to investigate the metabolic physiology of the mysid Mesopodopsis wooldridgei. Secondly, the study examined the contribution of the mysid to the zooplankton community. Finally the study attempted to clarify the primary sources of carbon utilised by the mysid using stable carbon isotope analysis. The study was conducted in the freshwater dominated permanently open Great Fish Estuary (33°30’S; 27°08’E) located along the south-eastern coastline of southern Africa. Mass specific oxygen consumption rates of Mesopodopsis wooldridgei ranged between 0.11 and 8.38 ml O2 mg ww-1 h-1 and increased with an increase in water temperature. There were no significant differences in the respiration rates between the male and female mysids (P > 0.05). At a constant temperature (20°C), the oxygen consumption rate of M. wooldridgei decreased with an increase in salinity. Salinity tolerance of the mysid was strongly modified by temperature. At 5‰ and 30°C, mysids exhibited mass mortality. The Q10 value for M. wooldridgei at 15, 25 and 35‰ was estimated at 2.34, 1.44 and 2.14, respectively. Results of the study suggest that M. wooldridgei is well adapted to surviving in environments characterised by variations in temperature and salinity. Within the Great Fish Estuary, total chl. a concentration ranged between 2.68 μg L-1 and 31.12 μg L-1 and was always dominated by large phytoplankton cells (>5 μm). Average zooplankton abundance ranged between 62 and 28 917 ind. m-3 and biomass between 10 and 203 mg Dwt m-3. The zooplankton community was numerically dominated by the calanoid copepod Pseudodiaptomus hessei, which comprised up to 100% (range between 12 and 100%) of the total zooplankton counted. Total zooplankton biomass during the day was dominated by copepods and by mysids during the nighttime. Among the mysids, M. wooldridgei was the most numerically abundant mysid and comprised <10% of the total zooplankton abundance. Numerical analysis found no seasonal pattern in the total zooplankton abundance (including mysids). The lack of any seasonality could be attributed to the continuous freshwater inflow into the estuary due to the inter-basin transfer of water from the Gariep Dam to the Fish River system. A distinct spatial pattern in the zooplankton community structure was evident with the upper stations almost entirely dominated by the copepod P. hessei, while at stations occupied in the lower reaches of the estuary, the zooplankton community comprised a mixture of freshwater, estuarine and marine breeding zooplankton species. The mysids also demonstrated a distinct spatial pattern in their distribution. Mysids were generally absent from the upper reaches, while in the middle reaches Rhopalophthalmus terranatalis and M. wooldridgei were numerically dominant. Gastrosaccus brevifissura dominated in the lower regions of the estuary. Stable isotope analysis (δ13C) indicated that the dominant source of carbon utilised by the numerically dominant copepods and juvenile M. wooldridgei within the estuary was derived from the extensive phytoplankton stocks within the system. In contrast, sub-adult and adult mysids (R. terranatalis, M. wooldridgei and G. brevifissura) appeared to consume a combination of phytoplankton and copepods. The contribution of the various sources of carbon to the total carbon intake of the mysid remains unknown.

L’estuaire de la Gironde est sujet à des épisodes d’hypoxie très marqués en été dans la Garonne estuarienne autour de Bordeaux, lorsque le bouchon vaseux y est très concentré, le débit fluvial faible et la température élevée. Les observations indiquent que la diminution des concentrations en oxygène est liée à la combinaison des facteurs naturels (apports par le bassin versant et hydrodynamique sédimentaire) et anthropiques (rejets d’eaux urbaines partiellement traitées). Afin de quantifier les mécanismes contrôlant les variations temporelles et spatiales de l’oxygène dissous, un modèle biogéochimique a été couplé à un modèle hydro-sédimentaire à 3D, capable de simuler le transport des variables dissoutes et particulaires, les réactions consommant l’oxygène, et la ré-aération par l’atmosphère. Le modèle biogéochimique reproduit bien les variations d’oxygène dans la Garonne à Bordeaux à l’échelle saisonnière et lunaire et permet de quantifier les contributions relatives des rejets urbains et des apports du bassin versant à la consommation en oxygène. Utilisé pour simuler des conditions futures (d’ici à 50 ans), le modèle indique que les phénomènes d’hypoxie estivale ont tendance à s’amplifier dans la Garonne estuarienne du fait de l’augmentation de la température de l’eau, de la diminution des débits fluviaux et de l’augmentation de la population dans l’agglomération bordelaise. Les simulations de différents scenarii de gestion indiquent que des soutiens d’étiage, une amélioration du traitement des eaux urbaines et éventuellement un transfert des rejets vers l’aval seraient nécessaires pour éviter une altération drastique de la qualité du milieu aquatique. / The Gironde estuary shows frequent events of hypoxia, particularly during summer in the Garonne tidal river near the city of Bordeaux, in the presence of a dense turbidity maximum, when river discharge is low and water is warm. Field observations reveal that decreases in oxygen concentrations are linked to the combination natural processes (inputs from the watershed and sediment hydrodynamics) and anthropogenic processes (loads of partially treated urban waters). In order to quantify the mechanisms controlling the temporal and spatial variations of dissolved oxygen, a 3D biogeochemical model was coupled to the hydro-sedimentary model. It allowed simulate the transport of solutes and suspended material, the biological reactions consuming oxygen, and the re-aeration by the atmosphere. The biogeochemical model reproduces satisfactorily the seasonal and neap-spring time scale variations of dissolved oxygen around the city of Bordeaux and quantifies the relative contribution of urban and watershed inputs to oxygen consumption. When used to simulate future conditions (50 years), the model indicates that summer hypoxia will likely increase in the future, due to the increase in water temperatures and decrease in river discharge (droughts), and increase in population in the megacity of Bordeaux. Simulation of different management scenarios indicate that support for low-water river discharge, improvement of waste water treatments, and eventually a displacement of urban load downstream will be necessary in order to avoid a drastic alteration of the quality of the aquatic system.

Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) are large-bodied predators that are locally abundant in the coastal Everglades. Because of their potential to exert strong top-down effects on their communities, it is important to understand how spatiotemporal variation in biotic and abiotic factors affects the abundance and behavior of dolphins. This study combined two years of transect surveys with photographic identification methods to assess spatiotemporal variation in the abundance and group sizes of bottlenose dolphins across four large regions of the coastal Everglades including the Shark and Harney Rivers, Whitewater Bay, and coastal oceans of the Gulf of Mexico and Florida Bay. Dolphin abundance was similar across wet and dry seasons, except in river habitats where abundances were higher during the dry season. Group sizes were largest in Florida Bay and open water. Dolphins may be relatively resilient to abiotic changes in the coastal Everglades, with the possible exception of river habitats.

South Africa, like the rest of the world, is vulnerable to the impact of climate change and loss of biodiversity. Water pollution is one of the six global threats to freshwater biodiversity. The future health status and productivity of South Africa’s estuaries is dependent on two main factors: management and quality and quantity of freshwater inputs. South Africa has around 250 functioning estuaries along its 3000 km coastline (Hosking 2004). They play an invaluable role in ecosystem functioning and biodiversity conservation. Estuaries are amongst the richest and most productive parts of the marine environment and as such call for careful management. Some of these ecosystems are focus areas for urban an industrial development. Urbanization and industrialization pose a serious threat to these sensitive systems. Increased water pollution from domestic use, industry and agriculture affect the ecology of these estuarine, river and lake systems. A large number of South African estuaries are still in excellent or good condition, but these are mainly the very small systems. The larger systems, like the Swartkops estuary, often very important in terms of conservation value, are also often compromised in some way or other. The reasons why they are compromised include habitat destruction, artificial breaching and pollution, especially those close to urban areas. This situation is aggravated by outdated and inadequate sewage treatment plant infrastructure and unskilled operators that dispose untreated waste into these systems. Pollution into estuaries can result in the partial loss of the environmental service flows supplied by them. The result of lost environmental service flows has adverse consequences, such as diminished residential and holiday recreational appeal, as well as reduced capacity to support subsistence livelihoods. Poor water quality not only limits its utilisation value, but is also places added economic burden on society, through both the primary treatment costs and the secondary impacts on the economy. Healthy estuarine ecosystems are essential for the maintenance of biodiversity and a wide range of environmental goods and services. Without a drastic improvement in water quality management approaches and treatment technologies, the continuous deterioration in water quality will decrease benefits and increase costs affiliated with use of these water resources.The market-based system of the South African economy has to a large extent failed to account for the value of the “free” goods and services provided by the natural environment. When the true value of the natural resources is unknown, there is a risk that less financial resources and capacity are made available to manage and protect these natural resources than is efficient. To ensure that these goods are properly taken into account, they must be valued and these values incorporated in social decision making. This study uses the contingent valuation method (CVM) to establish the value of the Swartkops estuary for changes to water quality. The CVM is a non-market valuation method that is widely used in cost-benefit analysis and environmental impact assessment. The CVM establishes the economic value of the good by asking the users of an environmental good to state their willingness to pay for a hypothetical scenario to prevent, or bring about, certain changes in the current condition of the environmental good. This method is subjected to some criticism. This criticism revolves around the validity and the reliability of estimated results and the effects of various biases and errors on them. The North Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Blue-Ribbon panel investigating the validity of the CVM resolved that the CVM can be used to guide social decision making, if a series of guidelines are followed. The Swartkops contingent valuation (CV) was conducted with these guidelines in mind. The results of the Swartkops CV indicate that the user population has a total willingness to pay (TWTP) of R68848 (median bid) and R203632 (mean bid) annually for the implementation of a project to improve the water quality in the Swartkops estuary. User population is an important determinant of the TWTP value. As a result, using a more broadly defined user population, TWTP per annum was calculated to be R3481987 (median bid) and R10298688 (mean bid). Management of natural resources should be informed by values that reflect efficient balances, so as to obtain the most efficient use of them (Trupie 2008). Polluted water inflows into South Africa’s estuaries are a threat to their biodiversity. Healthy estuarine ecosystems are essential for the maintenance of biodiversity and human well-being (Water Assessment Programme Report 2006: 15). As a result, this study recommends that a project be implemented by the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality to improve water quality in the Swartkops estuary.

The Great Brak temporarily open/closed estuary was subjected to a drought during the spring and summer of 2009/2010 resulting in the mouth remaining closed for a prolonged period. According to the Great Brak Estuary management programme, the mouth of the estuary had to be open for a total of 308 days during spring and summer of 2009/2010, respectively, but was closed for almost the entire two years (693 days). The aim of this study was to assess monthly changes in the abiotic characteristics (salinity, temperature, oxygen, pH and nutrients) and the biotic responses of phytoplankton and macroalgae; identify sources of nutrient input into the estuary and determine the response of the salt marsh to water level and salinity changes. The results indicated that physico-chemical parameters were similar to that previously recorded during the closed mouth condition. However mouth closure combined with elevated nutrient concentrations led to a shift from rooted submerged macrophytes to one where either microalgae or macroalgae were dominant. Soluble reactive phosphorus concentrations were significantly higher in bottom compared with surface waters. There was a significant negative correlation with SRP and dissolved oxygen for the sampling period indicating potential release of phosphorus from the sediment during closed mouth conditions. Microalgal biomass increased in response to remineralised nutrients and freshwater pulses. Flagellates were the dominant microalgal group (21718 ± 3336 cells m l-1, p < 0.05) because of their morphological ability to migrate vertically within the water column. The macroalgal cover was highest during the closed mouth state but only during winter (August 2010) when temperatures were below 20 oC. Five major point sources of nutrient input into the Great Brak Estuary were identified during rainfall periods. Point sources 4 and 5 in the upper reaches of the estuary had the highest DIN input whereas point source 3 in the middle reaches of the estuary had the highest DIP input. As a result of the drought and low water level, the salt marsh was never inundated for longer than 3 months. Die-back of Sarcocornia decumbens (r 2= -0.62, p < 0.05) was related to smothering by dead macroalgae whereas dieback of Sporobolus virginicus was related to decreasing nutrient (r2 = 0.59, p < 0.05) and salinity (r2 = 0.55, p < 0.05) levels. The physico-chemical characteristics alone did not convey the true health status of the Great Brak Estuary for the duration of the sampling (April 2010-April 2011). The study showed that microalgae and macroalgae are valuable indicators of the status of the estuary. Therefore it is suggested that bio-indicators are incorporated into the management/monitoring plan in order to assist in improving the health assessment of the Great Brak Estuary.

An investigation to determine the factors responsible for the distribution of a population of Maaoma balthica (L.) on a mudflat receiving sewage effluent was carried out in the Fraser River estuary of British Columbia. The factors examined were those suggested by previous studies to be controlling the distribution of the macro-invertebrate community. They included reduced salinity, low levels of dissolved oxygen, effluent toxicity, toxicity due to chlorination, substrate grain size, and the effects of metal contaminated sediments. Results of the study showed that salinity, dissolved oxygen levels and sediment grain size did not satisfactorily explain the distribution of M. balthica. Both unchlorinated and chlorinated sewage effluent were shown to be non-toxic to the clam in laboratory tests, and these results were confirmed by 7 day in situ bioassays. The factor which appeared to be responsible for the distribution of M. balthica was the degree of contamination of the substrate which affected the settling and survival of larval and juvenile clams. Heavy metals occurred in high concentrations in the contaminated sediments and were considered to be the most likely controlling factor. / Science, Faculty of / Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of / Graduate

Submitted by Fabio Sobreira Campos da Costa (fabio.sobreira@ufpe.br) on 2016-04-13T12:48:36Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Daniele Maciel, 2015.pdf: 8269323 bytes, checksum: 502a5b895730f3f0f1d5a51d67510dac (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-13T12:48:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Daniele Maciel, 2015.pdf: 8269323 bytes, checksum: 502a5b895730f3f0f1d5a51d67510dac (MD5) Previous issue date: 30-09-30 / CAPEs / O sistema Estuarino do Rio Capibaribe (SERC) está localizado na região metropolitana do Recife e trata-se de uma área muito importante do ponto de vista socioeconômico. Apesar disto, recebe intensa carga de efluentes domésticos e industriais, na sua maioria sem tratamento. Vários processos físicos e químicos regem o destino destes contaminantes, incluindo a tendência dos mesmos serem adsorvidos ao material particulado. O regime de circulação do SERC favorece a retenção deste material e, por consequência, os contaminantes acabam se depositando nos sedimentos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar, pela primeira vez, a saúde ambiental do SERC, considerando aspectos químicos e biológicos. Primeiramente, investigou-se a contaminação de sedimentos por Hidrocarbonetos (HCs) e Organoestânicos (OTs), em 9 estações distribuídas dentro do estuário. Também foram analisados HCs em mais 5 pontos da plataforma adjacente ao SERC, com o intuito de se investigar o potencial de transferência de contaminantes do estuário para a área costeira. Os compostos foram determinados através de cromatografia em fase gasosa associada a um detector de ionização de chama (para hidrocarbonetos alifáticos - HAs) e a um detector de espectrometria de massas (para hidrocarbonetos policíclicos aromáticos (HPAs) e OTs). As concentrações dos alifáticos totais no estuário variaram entre 7,5 μg g-1 e 190,3 μg g-1. A Mistura Complexa Não Resolvida esteve presente em grande parte das amostras indicando a contaminação dos sedimentos do estuário por óleo. A concentração de HPAs variou desde abaixo do limite de detecção a 497,6 ng g-1, com predominância de fontes pirolíticas, mas, em alguns pontos do estuário, há indicações de contribuição petrogênica, sugerindo uma mistura de fontes. Observou-se uma diminuição na concentração dos HCs em direção a foz do estuário. As concentrações de OTs variaram entre 13,97 e 541,69 ng Sn g-1, e os resultados indicam aporte recente destes contaminantes no ambiente, mesmo após obanimento de seu uso como agente anti-incrustante. A partir da constatação da contaminação dos sedimentos, cinco dos locais mais contaminados e próximos a potenciais fontes de contaminação foram novamente amostrados. O objetivo foi avaliar a qualidade dos sedimentos do estuário através da abordagem clássica ―Tríade da Qualidade de Sedimento‖ (TQS) e o uso de análises multivariadas. Foram investigadas a contaminação por HAs e HPAs, compostos organoclorados (OCs) e metais pesados. Testes ecotoxicológicos e análise da estrutura da comunidade bentônica também foram realizados. Para determinação dos compostos orgânicos foi usada a mesma metodologia descrita anteriormente e, para determinação dos metais, a técnica de ICP-MS. Todas as estações apresentaram contaminação por HCs, OCs e metais pesados, sendo as maiores concentrações na porção superior do estuário e na área portuária. Em alguns casos, alguns compostos excederam os limites de segurança estabelecidos por agências reguladoras internacionais, podendo causar efeitos nocivos à biota. As estações localizadas em frente ao Porto do Recife e na parte mais interna do estuário apresentaram toxicidade para o copépodo Tisbe biminiensis e, ainda, na porção mais interna do estuário foram registrados os menores valores de abundância e diversidade de organismos. Os resultados das análises integradas indicaram a presença de um gradiente de diminuição da degradação, do interior do estuário à sua desembocadura. A TQS mostrou-se eficaz para avaliar a qualidade e saúde ambiental da região e pode ser usada em programas de monitoramento de outras regiões estuarinas. / The Capibaribe Estuarine System (CES) is located in the metropolitan region of Recife and, besides its important socio-economic role, it receives high load of domestic and industrial effluents, mostly untreated. Several physical and chemical processes govern the fate of these contaminants, but the hydrophobics tend to be adsorbed to the particulate material. The CES hydrodynamics favors the retention and deposition of this material and, consequently, the contaminants as well. The objective of this study was to investigate, for the first time, the environmental health of CES, considering chemical and biological aspects. Firstly, the sediment contamination by Hydrocarbons (HCs) and Organotins (OTs) was investigated in 9 stations distributed along the estuary. HCs were also analyzed in five stations on the adjacent shelf, in order to investigate the potential transfer of contaminants from estuary to the coastal area. The compounds were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to a flame ionization detector (aliphatic hydrocarbons - HAs) and a mass spectrometric detector (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons - PAHs, and OTs). Concentrations of total aliphatic in the estuary ranged from 7.5 μg g-1 to 190.3 μg g-1. The Unresolved Complex Mixture was registered in most samples indicating the contamination of sediments by oil. PAHs concentrations ranged from <limit of detection to 497.6 ng g-1. Pyrolytic compounds predominated in most sites but, in some portions of the estuary, the dominance of petrogenic suggests a mixture of sources. There was a decrease in the HCs concentration from upper to lower estuary. OTs concentrations ranged between 13.97 and 541.69 ng Sn g-1, and the results indicated recent input of this contaminant in the environment, even after its banishment as antifouling agent. Based on the sediments contamination and proximity of potential sources, five stations were again sampled. The objective was to evaluate the quality of the sediments through the classical approach "Sediment Quality Triad" (SQT) and multivariate analyzes. The contamination by PAHs, HAs, organochlorine (OC) and heavy metals were investigated. The OCs were analyzed using the same methodology described above, and for metals, the ICP-MS technique was used. Ecotoxicological bioassays and analysis of benthic community structure were also performed. All stations are contaminated by HCs, OC and heavy metals, and the highest concentrations were recorded in the upper portion of the estuary and in the port area. Some compounds exceeded the safe limits established by international regulatory agencies in a few samples, and they may be harmful to biota. The stations located in front of the Port of Recife and in the inner part of the estuary showed toxicity to the copepod Tisbe biminiensis. In addition, the inner portion had the lowest abundance and diversity of organisms. Integrated analyses indicated a decreasing gradient of degradation, from most inner part of the estuary to river mouth. The SQT was effective to assess the quality and environmental health and should be used in monitoring programs of other estuarine areas.

Submitted by Caroline Falcao (caroline.rfalcao@ufpe.br) on 2017-06-29T17:11:15Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 811 bytes, checksum: e39d27027a6cc9cb039ad269a5db8e34 (MD5) 2010-Dissertação-DéboraBarbosa.pdf: 1437104 bytes, checksum: c4ce02bf62658ef9c6ea3916255fe546 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-29T17:11:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 811 bytes, checksum: e39d27027a6cc9cb039ad269a5db8e34 (MD5) 2010-Dissertação-DéboraBarbosa.pdf: 1437104 bytes, checksum: c4ce02bf62658ef9c6ea3916255fe546 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / A composição do mesozooplâncton do estuário do rio Timbó, Paulista –PE foi analisada nos meses de julho, setembro e dezembro de 2009. Cada coleta teve duração de 24 horas, sendo realizados arrastos de 15 minutos a cada 3 horas, em duas estações fixas. As amostras foram obtidas através de rede de plâncton com 300 micrômetros de abertura de malha. Em cada coleta foram aferidas: temperatura, profundidade e salinidade. O material coletado foi fixado em formol a 4% e analisado posteriormente sob estereomicroscópio e microscópio óptico. A riqueza, diversidade e equitabilidade das comunidades mesozooplanctônicas e de copépodes foram analisadas através do ANOVA no programa STATISTICA 6.0 e a estrutura das comunidades analisada através do programa PRIMER 4.0. O mesozooplâncton do estuário do rio Timbó esteve representado por 39 táxons distribuídos em 08 filos, dentre os quais Arthropoda foi o mais representativo compondo 90,4% dos organismos, sendo Crustacea Copepoda o grupo dominante em todos os meses. Foram observadas diferenças significativas na estrutura das comunidades mesozooplanctônicas e de copépodes em relação às marés, meses do ano e localização ao longo do estuário, onde a maior diversidade e riqueza de organismos foram observadas na estação de coleta mais próxima do mar, nas marés cheias e enchente para o mesozooplâncton e nas marés cheia e vazante para Copepoda. O mês de dezembro apresentou densidades mais baixas de organismos porém maior diversidade. A comunidade mesozooplanctônica foi considerada típica de ambiente estuarinona qual o holoplâncton foi mais abundante que o meroplâncton em todos os meses, o que é esperado para regiões estuarinas. Dentre os copépodes,Acartia lilljeborgi foi aespécie mais frequentee abundante durante todo período, ressaltando-se ainda a ocorrência frequente de Acartia tonsae Pseudodiaptomus acutus. / The mesozooplankton composition of the Timbó River, Paulista-PE was analyzed in July, Septemberand December of 2009. The sampling lasted 24 hours, being realized tows of 15 minutes at every three hours at two fixed stations. Samples were obtained by plankton net with 300 μm mesh size. In each sampling weremeasured temperature, depth and salinity. The samples were fixed with formaldehyde at 4% and posteriorly analyzed under stereomicroscope and optical microscope. Therichness, diversity and equitability of the mesozooplankton and copepods community were analyzed using ANOVA of the STATISTICA 6.0 software, while the structure of the community was analyzed on the PRIMER 4.0 software. The mesozooplankton of the Timbó River was represented by 39 taxa, distributed in 8 phylum. The phylum Arthropoda was the most representative having 90,4% of the organisms. Copepods were the dominant group in all months. Significant differences were observed on the structure of the mesozooplankton and copepods community between tides, months and location along the estuary. The highest diversity and richness of organisms were observed in the sampling station closest to the sea, on the high and flood tides and for the mesozooplankton and on the flood and ebb tides for Copepoda. December presented the lowest density of organism although had the highest diversity. The mesozooplankton community was considered typical of a estuarine environment, in which the holoplankton was more abundant than the meroplankton in all months. This fact is expected for estuarine regions. Among the copepods, Acartia lilljeborgi wasmost frequent andabundant species during the whole period. It is worth mentioning the frequent occurrence of Acartia tonsaand Pseudodiaptomus acutus.