Submitted by (edna.saturno@ufrpe.br) on 2017-02-20T13:11:23Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Robson Tavares Barbosa.pdf: 4522145 bytes, checksum: 55ba3289221c88cade2ebcf2ee0896bc (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-02-20T13:11:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Robson Tavares Barbosa.pdf: 4522145 bytes, checksum: 55ba3289221c88cade2ebcf2ee0896bc (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-02-28 / This study evaluated the profiles of seasonal diets of Eugerres brasilianus and Diapterus rhombeus, and food overlap between these species caught in the channel of Santa Cruz, located on the northern coast of the Pernambuco state, from June 2010 to May 2011. The goal was to provide input as a basis for studies aimed at the sustainable use and cultivation of these species. To understand their eating habits, we analyzed 837 individuals of both species, 567 species of E. brasilianus and 270 species of D. rhombeus, which, through its degree of fullness, frequency of occurrence, frequency number and index of food importance, we could verify their diets. As for the evaluation of overlapping niches, we used the Morisita-Horn index and multivariate analysis (Euclidean Distance). The two species have a very diverse food spectrum with high niche overlap (0.97). The most consumed item by both was Polychaeta, item with more than 75% of important food for both species. Bivalvia and Decapoda, were the most consumed by E. brasilianus item after the Polychaeta, with peak consumption during the year. While, for D. rhombeus, the most consumed items after the item Polychaeta were Amphipoda and Stomatopoda. The two species, as well as most individuals Gerreidae family, can be considered generalists because they present a wide food spectrum, opportunistic taking advantage of food in abundance in the environment, and omnivores with a preference for benthic invertebrates, especially polychaetes. / Neste trabalho foram avaliados os perfis sazonais das dietas de Eugerres brasilianus e Diapterus rhombeus, e, a sobreposição alimentar entre estas espécies capturadas no canal de Santa Cruz, localizado no litoral norte do estado de Pernambuco, no período de junho de 2010 a maio de 2011. Teve como objetivo fornecer subsídios que sirvam de base para estudos voltados para o cultivo e uso sustentável destas espécies. Para entender seus hábitos alimentares, foram analisados 837 indivíduos das duas espécies, 567 da espécie E. brasilianus e 270 da espécies D. rhombeus, dos quais, através do seu grau de repleção, freqüência de ocorrência, freqüência numérica e índice de importância alimentar, pôde-se verificar suas dietas. Já para a avaliação da sobreposição de nichos, utilizou-se o índice de Morisita-Horn e análise multivariada (Distância Euclidiana). As duas espécies apresentaram um espectro alimentar bastante variado com alta sobreposição de nichos (0,97). O item mais consumido por ambas foi o item Polychaeta, com mais de 75% de importância alimentar para ambas as espécies. Decapoda e Bivalvia, foram os itens mais consumidos por E. brasilianus depois do item Polychaeta, apresentando picos de consumo durante o ano. Enquanto que, para D. rhombeus, os itens mais consumidos após o item Polychaeta, foram Amphipoda e Stomatopoda. As duas espécies, assim como a maioria dos indivíduos da família Gerreidae, podem ser consideradas generalistas, por apresentarem um variado espectro alimentar, oportunistas por se aproveitarem do alimento em abundância no ambiente, e, onívoras com preferência para invertebrados bentônicos, especialmente para poliquetas.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-23T14:04:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao de Andreia Carvalho dos Santos.pdf: 2260427 bytes, checksum: 6e702fa77321abfe2d33e92c7bc60b8f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-07-13 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / A Baía de Vitória (ES) abrange um sistema estuarino importante, contendo um dos complexos portuários mais importantes do país. As atividades portuárias associadas à intensa urbanização causam prejuízos ambientais para a região, incluindo constantes dragagens e aterros. A principal fonte de contaminação na região é o lançamento de esgoto da drenagem continental. O presente trabalho caracteriza os sedimentos de alguns pontos da baía quanto à localização, granulometria e toxicidade visando contribuir para a análise da legislação sobre monitoramento do sedimento em eventos de dragagem. Durante a remobilização, o sedimento é ressuspenso juntamente com os contaminantes para a coluna d água podendo gerar impactos tanto no local dragado como no de disposição. Para avaliar a toxicidade do sedimento com diferentes granulometrias foram realizados monitoramentos, incluindo ensaios ecotoxicológicos agudos com a bactéria Vibrio fischeri e crônicos com a microalga Skeletonema costatum. As análises físico-químicas e os testes com Skeletonema costatum foram feitos com elutriato e os testes com Vibrio fischeri com água intersticial. Foram selecionados 9 diferentes pontos de coleta de sedimento com diversos teores de areia e de lama. Os resultados obtidos com os ensaios ecotoxicológicos indicaram correspondência entre a toxicidade do sedimento e a proximidade com as fontes de contaminação. Porém, o mesmo não ocorreu para a relação teor de lama e contaminação. Alguns pontos de coleta, embora o percentual de lama fosse baixo (≤ 10%), apresentaram toxicidade, o que contribui para uma discussão sobre as diretrizes e procedimentos da Resolução Conama 344/04. Sendo assim, foi verificado que não se pode destituir de monitoramento o sedimento de um estuário ou baía apenas pela granulometria - independente do volume a ser dragado - sem se referir à questão da contaminação e da proximidade de fontes de contaminação / The Bay of Vitória (ES, Brazil) comprises an important estuarine system and one of the most significant port complexes in Brazil. Port activities along with intense urbanization are responsible for environmental damages in the area, including constant dredging and landfills. The main source of contamination in the area is sewage dumping from continental drainage. This study characterizes sediments from some points of the bay according to location, granulometry, and toxicity in order to contribute to analyzing the laws regulating sediment monitoring during dredging events. During remobilization, sediment is resuspended with contaminants to the water column, which can cause impacts on both dredged and disposal areas. Sediment toxicity with different grain sizes was assessed through acute ecotoxicological testing with bacterium Vibrio fischeri, and chronic ecotoxicological testing with microalgae Skeletonema costatum. The physical-chemical analyses and tests with Skeletonema costatum were performed through elutriation, and the tests with Vibrio fischeri used interstitial water. Nine (9) different sediment collection points, with varied sand and mud contents, were selected. The results obtained from ecotoxicological testing showed correspondence between sediment toxicity and proximity to contamination sources. However, this was not found for the relation between mud content and contamination. Some collection points presented toxicity despite the fact that mud content was low (≤ 10%). This contributes to the discussion about the guidelines and proceedings in the CONAMA (Brazilian Council for the Environment) Resolution 344/04. We verified that sediments of an estuary or bay cannot be deprived from monitoring based only on grading regardless of the amount being dredged without taking the contamination and proximity to contamination sources into account

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-19T18:20:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ROGERIO HIDEKI FERREIRA FUNO.pdf: 30693055 bytes, checksum: af16bccd626d7723e5f5c13341ebd1d7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-11-28 / Intertidal foraminifera are widely recognized as efficient tools for reconstructing Holocene sea-level changes. They are also used to detect water circulation patterns and to diagnose the physical and chemical characteristics of estuarine water, revealing the steady state of the ecosystem. In this work, surface sediment samples were collected to study recent foraminiferal assemblages in an estuarine portion of the Mapari river basin, Humberto de Campos (MA), Brazil, in two ways: (1) sixteen samples collected landwards along a mangrove transect in the Gato Island, near the mouth of the Mapari river, in the Tubarão Bay, from the tidal muddy flat to the hyperhaline bare flat ( apicum ); (2) nineteen samples collected upstreamwards along the Mapari river, from the Gato Island to the Rampa settlement, where salinity is zero. In the Gato Island transect, salinity and pH were measured and the subaerial exposure time (TES) was calculated for each point. Height and DBH were also measured for the main arboreous individuals. The salinity varied from euhaline to hyperhaline (maximum of 56 ), and demonstrated no relation to TES. It was observed the dominance of Rotaliina suborder almost all along the transect, which means that a vertical zonation of foraminiferal assemblages was not found. However, eight of the sixteen points were collected surrounding a meanderin tidal creek that follows the transect. Considering just these eight points, there is a zonation in two compartments: a lower compartment that groups six samples (TES varying from 36,46% to 58,51%), dominated by Elphidium gunteri, and an upper compartment that groups two samples (TES varying from 61,95% to 75,27%), dominated by Arenoparrela mexicana. In the Mapari river, salinity and pH were measured in surface and bottom water column, and the floristic composition of the channel margins was verified, with special attention to the species of Rhizophora genus. These species have a distribution related to the salinity gradient, that varied from freshwater to euhaline. Four ecofacies were defined: (1) ecofacies 1, that groups the six closest samples to the Tubarão Bay, with polyhaline-euhaline salinity, high diversity index (H ranging from 1,44 to 2,23 and D ranging from 0,48 a 0,69), with dominance of Elphidium gunteri and Nonion sp., significant presence of Ammonia tepida, Quinqueloculina seminulum and Arenoparrela mexicana, and almost exclusive dominance of Rhizophora mangle; (2) ecofacies 2, that groups the next five samples upstreamwards, with mesohaline-polyhaline salinity, dominance of Nonion sp. and E. gunteri, and coexistence of R. mangle, R. harrisonii and R. racemosa; (3) ecofacies 3, that groups five samples with salinity varying from freshwater to mesohaline, wide dominance of Miliammina fusca, with mangrove fringe dominated by R. harrisonii and R. racemosa; (4) ecofacies 4, that groups the three upstream samples, in freshwater environment, where foraminifera are virtually absent. The results corroborate that foraminiferal assemblages can be used as an efficient tool for recognizing the steady state of the complex estuarine environment, where abiotic parameters are highly variable. / Foraminíferos da zona entre-marés são amplamente reconhecidos como eficientes ferramentas para a reconstrução de variações do nível relativo do mar no Holoceno. São também usados para detectar padrões de circulação e diagnosticar as características físicas e químicas das massas d água em ambiente estuarino, revelando as condições dominantes desse ecossistema. Neste trabalho, foram coletadas amostras de sedimento superficial para estudo das associações de foraminíferos recentes, em uma porção estuarina da bacia do rio Mapari, município de Humberto de Campos (MA), Brasil, de duas formas: (1) dezesseis amostras coletadas ao longo de um perfil transversal a um manguezal na Ilha do Gato, próximo ao encontro do rio Mapari com a Baía de Tubarão, partindo da planície lamosa ao apicum; (2) dezenove amostras ao longo do rio Mapari, partindo da Ilha do Gato, com salinidade euhalina, até o povoado Rampa, onde a salinidade é zero. No perfil Ilha do Gato, foram feitas medições de salinidade e pH, e foi calculado o tempo de exposição subaérea (TES) em cada ponto, além de medições de altura e DAP dos principais indivíduos arbóreos. A salinidade varia variou de euhalina a hiperhalina (máximo de 56 ), e não demonstrou nenhuma relação com o TES. Foi observado o domínio da subordem Rotaliina em quase todo o perfil, de forma que não foi encontrada zonação altimétrica das associações de foraminíferos. Oito dos dezesseis pontos, entretanto, foram coletados na borda de um pequeno canal de maré que acompanha o perfil, sendo que, considerando apenas eles, há uma zonação em dois compartimentos, sendo o inferior, com 6 amostras (TES variando de 36,46% a 58,51%), dominado por Elphidium gunteri, e o superior, com 2 amostras (TES variando de 61,95% a 75,27%), dominado por Arenoparrela mexicana. No rio Mapari, foram feitas medições de salinidade e pH (superficial e de fundo para ambos), e foi verificada a composição florística das margens do canal, com especial atenção para as espécies do gênero Rhizophora. Estas espécies se distribuem segundo o gradiente de salinidade, que variou do euhalino à água doce. Quatro ecofácies foram definidas: (1) ecofácies 1, agrupando as 6 amostras mais próximas da Baía de Tubarão, com salinidade polihalina-euhalina, altos índices de diversidade (H variando de 1,44 a 2,23 e D variando de 0,48 a 0,69), domínio de Elphidium gunteri e Nonion sp., presença significativa de Ammonia tepida, Quinqueloculina seminulum e Arenoparrela mexicana, e domínio quase exclusivo de Rhizophora mangle; (2) ecofácies 2, agrupando as cinco amostras da seqüência, com salinidade mesohalina-polihalina, domínio de Nonion sp. e E. gunteri, e coexistência de R. mangle, R. harrisonii and R. racemosa; (3) ecofácies 3, agrupando cinco amostras, com salinidade variando de água doce a mesohalina, amplo domínio de Miliammina fusca, e ocorrência de Rhizophora harrisonii e Rhizophora racemosa; (4) ecofácies 4, agrupando 3 amostras, em ambiente de água doce, onde foraminíferos são virtualmente ausentes. As associações de foraminíferos se mostraram uma eficiente ferramenta para reconhecimento das condições dominantes do complexo ambiente estuarino, onde os parâmetros abióticos são muito variáveis.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo estudar as diferentes formas do fósforo (dissolvida, particulada e sedimentar) ao longo do complexo estuarino-lagunar de Cananeia-Iguape (SP) considerando o impacto antrópico regional causado pela abertura do canal do Valo Grande, observando o processo de ciclagem biogeoquímica do fósforo na coluna d\' água e no sedimento. O sistema foi caracterizado por meio de parâmetros hidrológicos, hidroquímicos e sedimentológicos, com enfase a formas do fósforo na água (fósforo inorgânico dissolvido, fósforo orgânico dissolvido, fósforo inorgânico particulado e fósforo orgânico particulado) e sua especiação no sedimento (fósforo biodisponível, fósforo ligado à oxi-hidróxidos de ferro, fósforo ligado à apatita autigênica, fósforo ligado à fluorapatita, fósforo orgânico e fósforo total). Para tanto foram realizadas duas coletas amostrais, uma em agosto de 2014 (inverno) composta por 20 estações, e outra em maio de 2015 (outono) com 19 estações. De posse destes dados foi possível observar no complexo estuarino dois comportamentos distintos, regidos principalmente pela influência do rio Ribeira de Iguape. Os valores mais altos fósforo dissolvido (valores de PID próximos à 10 μmol L-1 em agosto de 2014 e à 5 μmol L-1 em maio de 2015) e particulado (PIP foi de aproximadamente 70 μmol g-1 em agosto de 2014 e 60 μmol g-1 em maio de 2015) indicando a influência dos materiais e água doce introduzidos no sistema via Valo Grande. No sedimento esta distribuição foi menos evidente, recebendo maior influência da granulometria e dos processos de deposição sedimentar (P-T de aproximadamente 16 μmol g-1 e P-Fe próximo à 9 μmol g-1). Existe uma grande possibilidade de a mineração contribuir antropicamente ao aporte de fosforo especialmente na forma inorgânica. No sistema estuarino como um todo as formas particuladas de fósforo tiveram valores mais elevados que as dissolvidas, indicando um processo ativo de adsorção do fósforo ao material particulado. O setor sul apresenta concentrações menores de fósforo, indicando a maior influência marinha. Este estudo caracterizou o complexo estuarino-lagunar de Cananeia-Iguape como retentor de fósforo. / This work aimed to study the different phosphorus forms (dissolved, particulate and sedimentary) along the Cananeia-Iguape estuarine-lagoon complex (SP) considering the regional anthropic impact caused by the opening of the Valo Grande channel, observing the process of biogeochemical cycling of phosphorus in the water column and sediment. The system was characterized by means of hydrological, hydrochemical and sedimentological parameters, with emphasis in phosphorus forms in water (dissolved inorganic phosphorus, dissolved organic phosphorus, particulate inorganic phosphorus and particulate organic phosphorus) and speciation in sediment (loosely sorbed phosphorus, ferric iron-bound phosphorus, authigenic apatite biogenic apatite CaCO3- bound phosphorus, detrital apatite, organic phosphorus and total phosphorus). To this end there were two sample collections, one in August 2014 (winter) with 20 stations, and another in May 2015 (autumn) with 19 stations. Based on these data two distinct behaviors were observed in the system. They are mainly governed by the influence of the Ribeira de Iguape river. The northern sector showed higher values of dissolved (values of PID near 10 μmol L-1 in August 2014 and 5 μmol L-1 in May 2015) and particulate phosphorus (PIP was approximately 70 μmol g-1 in August 2014 and about 60 μmol g-1 in May 2015), indicating the influence of materials and fresh water input into the system via Valo Grande. In the sediment this distribution was less evident, being more influenced by grain size and sediment deposition processes (P-T was approximately 16 μmol g-1 and P-Fe near 9 μmol g-1). There is a great possibility mining was the main anthropic activity that contributes to phosphorus input especially in the inorganic form. In the estuarine system as a whole, phosphorus particulate forms were higher than those dissolved, indicating an active dissolved phosphorus adsorption process on the particulate material. The southern sector has lower phosphorus concentrations, indicating the greater marine influence. This study characterized the Cananeia-Iguape estuarine-lagoon complex as phosphorus retainer.

Natural and local anthropogenic changes in estuaries (e.g., sea-level rise, navigation channel construction and loss of wetlands) interact with each other and produce non-linear effects. There is also a growing recognition that tides in estuaries are not stationary. These factors together are changing the estuarine water level regime, however the implications for extreme water levels remain largely unknown. Changes over the past century in many estuaries, such as channel deepening and streamlining for navigation have significantly altered the hydrodynamics of long waves, often resulting in amplified tides (a ~85% increase in Wilmington, NC since 1900) and storm surge in estuaries. This research focuses on establishing analytical and numerical models that simulate a wide range of systems and flow conditions that combine multiple flood sources: astronomical tide, storm surge, and high river flow. To investigate the effects of estuarine bathymetry conditions (e.g., channel depth, convergence length), hurricane conditions (e.g., pressure and wind field), river discharge, and surge characteristics (e.g., time scale and amplitude and relative phase) on tide and storm surge propagation, I develop an idealized analytical model and two numerical models using Delft-3D. The Cape Fear River Estuary, NC (CFRE), and St Johns River Estuary, FL (SJRE) are used as case studies to investigate flood dynamics. The analytical approach has been compared and verified with idealized numerical models. I use data recovery, data analysis, and idealized numerical modeling of the CFRE to investigate the effects of bathymetric changes (e.g., dredging and channel modification) on tidal and storm surge characteristics over the past 130 years. Data analysis and modeling results suggest that long-term changes in tides can be used along with the tidal analysis tools to investigate changes in storm surge. Analysis indicate that tidal range in Wilmington, NC (Rkm 47) has doubled to 1.55m since the 1880s, while a much smaller increase of 0.07m observed close to the ocean in Southport (Rkm 6) since the 1920s. Further, model results suggest that the majority of long term changes in tides of this system have been caused by deepening the system from 7m to 15.5m due to dredging, rather than by changes in the coastal tides. Numerical modeling using idealized, parametric tropical cyclones suggests that the amplitude of the worst-case, CAT-5 storm surge has increased by 40-60% since the nineteenth century. Storm surges are meteorologically forced shallow water waves with time scales that overlap those of the tidal bands. Using data, I show that the surge wave can be decomposed into two sinusoidal waves. Therefore, I analytically model surge via a 3-constituent analytical tide model, where the third constituent is the dominant semi-diurnal tide and friction is linearized via Chebyshev polynomials. A constant discharge is considered to approximate fluvial effects The analytical model is used to study how surge amplitude, surge time scale, and surge-tide relative phase affect the spatial pattern of amplitude growth and decay, and how depth changes caused by channel deepening influence the magnitude of a storm surge. I use non-dimensional numbers to investigate how channel depth, surge time scale and amplitude, surge asymmetry, and relative timing of surge to tides alter the damping or amplification of surge along the estuary. The non-dimensional numbers suggest that increasing depth has similar effects as decreasing the drag coefficient. Similarly, larger time scale has an equivalent effect on tide and surge as increasing depth due to channel deepening. Analytical model results show that the extent of the surge amplification is dependent on the geometry of the estuary (e.g., depth and convergence length) and characteristics of the surge wave. Both models show that much of the alterations of water levels in estuaries is due to channel deepening for navigation purposes and that the largest temporal change occur for surges with a high surge to D2 amplitude ratio and a short time scale. Model results farther indicate that surge amplitude decays more slowly (larger e-folding) in a deeper channel for all surge time scales (12hr-72hr). Another main finding is that, due to nonlinear friction, the location of maximum change in surge wave moves landward as the channel is deepened. Thus, changes in flood risk due to channel deepening are likely spatially variable even within a single estuary. Next, I use the verified analytical model and numerical models to investigate the effects of river flow on surge wave propagation, and spatial and temporal variability of compound flooding along an estuary. To model the historic SJRE, I digitize nautical charts of SJRE to develop a numerical model. Both the numerical and analytical models are used to investigate the contribution of tide, surge, and river flow to the peak water level for historic and modern system configurations. Numerical modeling results for hurricane Irma (2017) show that maximum flood water levels have shifted landward over time and changed the relative importance of the various contributing factors in the SJRE. Deepening the shipping channel from 5.5m to 15m has reduced the impacts of river flow on peak water level, but increased the effects of tide and surge. Sensitivity studies also show that peak water level decreases landward for all river flow scenarios as channel depth increases. Model results show that the timing of peak river flow relative to the time of maximum surge causes very large changes in the amplitude of total water level, and in river flow effects at upstream locations for modern configuration than for the historic model. Changes in surge amplitudes can be interpreted by the non-dimensional friction number, which shows that depth (h), surge time scale (T=1/w), and convergence length-scale (Le) affect the damping/amplification of both tides and surge waves. Overall, this study demonstrates that a system scale alteration in local storm surge dynamics over the past century is likely to have occurred in many systems and should be considered for system management. The results of this research give the scientists and engineer a better understanding of tide, river flow, and surge interactions, and thereby contribute to an understanding of how to predict storm surges and help mitigate their destructive impacts. Future system design studies also need to consider long-term and changes of construction and development activities on storm surge risk in a broader context than has historically been the case.

L’estuaire de la Gironde est affecté par une pollution polymétallique historique, dont la contamination persistante en cadmium (Cd) empêche une reprise complète et le développement de la conchyliculture girondine, avec un risque potentiel pour le 1er site ostréicole français (Marennes-Oléron). D’autre part, le suivi de l’état de la qualité chimique des masses d’eau, mis en place par la Directive Cadre sur l’Eau (DCE) a déclassé en 2009 la masse d’eau « Gironde centrale » à cause de niveaux élevés en tributylétain (TBT), hautement toxique et interdit depuis plusieurs décennies, détecté dans l’estuaire de la Gironde.Ce travail se base sur 12 campagnes océanographiques comprenant un suivi temporel mensuel pendant l’année 2015 aux sites de surveillance DCE (PK52 et PK86), à PK 30 et 3 profils longitudinaux sur l’ensemble du gradient salin depuis Bordeaux jusqu’à l’embouchure. Les mesures in-situ et les échantillons visaient à caractériser l’état actuel de la qualité des eaux girondines pour Cd et butyl-étains dans le contexte historique de décontamination et de résilience du système fluvio-estuarien. Les résultats ont montré les plus faibles additions en Cd dissous (Cdd) dans le gradient salin depuis 2002, pour des conditions hydriques contrastées. Le développement de plusieurs méthodes de calcul a permis de montrer une diminution des flux nets de Cdd au cours des 30 dernières années d’un facteur ~10. Les concentrations en Cd particulaire (Cdp) présentent des valeurs de l’ordre de 0,45 ± 0,07 mg/kg ces 10 dernières années. Cette valeur est supérieure au bruit de fond géochimique de l’estuaire salin (0,2 mg/kg) suggérant la persistance d’un potentiel de contamination de la zone côtière par désorption. Des mesures ADCP à l’embouchure de l’estuaire couplées à des analyses géochimiques ont permis d’estimer quantitativement les flux nets en matières en suspension (MES) et Cdp pour des conditions hydrologiques extrêmes. La prise en compte de l’ensemble de résultats scientifiques (mesures et modélisation hydrosédimentaire) antérieures et l’analyse des évènements de crue et des coefficients de marée depuis 1990 ont permis de proposer un modèle conceptuel d’export de MES et Cdp en zone côtière. Le suivi mensuel sur l’année 2015 montre que l’estuaire de la Gironde reste déclassé en TBT avec deux valeurs ponctuelles supérieures à la NQE-CMA et avec des moyennes annuelles supérieures à la NQE-MA pour les PK30, PK52 et PK86. Les enregistrements longitudinaux des butylétains (TBT, dibutylétain (DBT) et monobutylétain (MBT)) dans les compartiments eaux, MES et sédiments de l’ensemble de l’estuaire de la Gironde ont permis de mettre en évidence plusieurs sources potentielles actuelles localisées au niveau de Bordeaux, du Bec d’Ambès, mais surtout au niveau de la masse d’eau aval. / The Gironde Estuary is affected by historical multi-metal pollution. Persistent contamination by cadmium (Cd) prevents complete recovery of the Gironde oyster farming, and implies potential risks for the most important oyster farming areas in France (Marennes-Oléron). In addition, the water quality survey governed by the Water Framework Directive (WFD), has downgraded the "Central Gironde" water body in 2009 due to the presence of TBT, a highly toxic organo-metallic compound, on the list of priority substances and banned for several decades.This work relies on 12 oceanographic campaigns, including a monthly survey at the WFD monitoring sites (KP52 and KP86) in 2015 with additional sampling at KP30. Furthermore, 3 longitudinal profiles were carried out along the salinity gradient to characterize the current state of water quality in the Gironde Estuary for Cd and butyltin species, in a perspective of decontamination and resilience. The results showed the lowest dissolved Cd additions (Cdd) along the salinity gradient since 2002, for contrasting hydrological conditions. The development of several calculation methods has shown a decrease in net Cdd flows over the past 30 years by a factor of ~10. Particulate Cd (Cdp) concentrations were in the range of 0.45 ± 0.07 mg/kg during the past 10 years. This value is higher than the geochemical background of the saline Gironde Estuary (0.2 mg/kg) suggesting the persistence of potential contamination of the coastal zone by desorption. Physical and chemical measurements at the estuary mouth coupling ADCP with geochemical analyses have provided estimates of the suspended particulate matter (SPM) and Cdp fluxes, for extreme hydrological conditions. The set of previous scientific results (measurements and hydro-sedimentary modeling), the analysis of time-series of flood events and tidal coefficients since 1990, have been integrated into a conceptual model for the export of SPM and Cdp to the coastal zone. The 2015 monthly survey according to the WFD has produced two distinct values and annual average concentrations both exceeding the respective environmental quality thresholds showing that the Gironde Estuary remains downgraded with respect to TBT. Longitudinal records of butyltins (TBT, dibutyltin (DBT) and monobutyltin (MBT)) in water, SPM and sediment of the entire Gironde Estuary have pointed to several potential sources including urban discharges (from Bordeaux), industrial releases (Bec d’Ambès) and estuarine dredging activities (from downstream harbours).

The numerous benefits that wetlands provide make them essential to ecosystem services and ecological functions. Historically, wetland losses have been caused by natural and anthropogenic changes. In Texas, nearly 50% of coastal wetland habitat has been lost since the 1930s and losses in the Lower Neches watershed have been some of the most extensive. Restoration is a way to mitigate these losses and can be accomplished in many ways. Each restoration design creates different aquatic habitats that can influence both submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) and faunal communities. The restoration of the Lower Neches Wildlife Management Area (LNWMA) has created the conditions for the growth of the invasive submerged macrophyte, Myriophyllum spicatum (Eurasian watermilfoil) which may be competing with the native aquatic grass, Ruppia maritima (widgeongrass) for essential nutrients. In this study, an attempt was made to link restoration design with both SAV and aquatic fauna community structures by using a throw trap to characterize assemblages observed in three different types of restored marshes. We also performed two controlled mesocosm experiments in 0.5 gal aquariums to determine growth inhibition by M. spicatum on R. maritima. Analyses using Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric test determined that temporal variations in fauna and SAV community composition was greater than any restoration effect. Discriminant Function Analyses (DFAs) determined two to three key faunal species that best predicted association among restoration designs, but linear regressions could not determine any consistent relationship between individual species density and biomass of the dominant SAV species, M. spicatum. For the mesocosm experiments, M. spicatum inhibited the biomass production and branch count of R. maritima when the two species are grown together (ANOVA, p = 0.004 and 0.003, respectively). Changes in SAV assemblages due to competition and habitat characteristics could play a major role in determining faunal community. In order to minimize the temporal effect observed and better determine any habitat pattern that may be present, a much longer study is necessary.

Title from PDF of title page. / Document formatted into pages; contains 105 pages. / Thesis (M.S.)--University of South Florida, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references. / Text (Electronic thesis) in PDF format. / ABSTRACT: Atmospheric deposition of nitrogen has been implicated in the destruction of seagrass beds and in the decline of water quality of Tampa Bay, Florida. The objective of this research was to determine the tendency for air masses of different origins to wet-deposit nitrate and ammonium species to the bay. Precipitation chemistry data was obtained via the NADP AIRMoN Gandy Bridge monitoring site for the period of 1 August 1996 through 31 December 2000. Rainfall events were classified by using the NOAA HYSPLIT trajectory model, precipitation chemistry data, and tropical storm history data. Average nitrate and ammonium concentrations and nitrogen fluxes were calculated based upon the chosen categories. The average annual nitrogen flux for nitrate and ammonium were 2.1 kg/ha/yr and 1.4 kg/ha/yr, respectively. For trajectory-classified data, the lowest nitrate and ammonium nitrogen fluxes were observed with air masses from the west and south, over the Gulf of Mexico. / ABSTRACT: The highest ammonium nitrogen flux was seen from trajectories from the east, while local trajectories demonstrated the highest average nitrate nitrogen flux. For chemically-classified data, the highest nitrate and ammonium fluxes were associated with the local combustion classification. Rainfall from tropical weather systems deposited lower average nitrate nitrogen fluxes than non-tropical events, but ammonium nitrogen fluxes were the same between tropical and non-tropical precipitation. Even the events representing the cleanest air masses contributing precipitation to Tampa Bay had nitrate and ammonium concentrations more than two times the background concentrations associated with the northern hemisphere. / System requirements: World Wide Web browser and PDF reader. / Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Document formatted into pages; contains 115 pages. / Title from PDF of title page. / Original thesis was submitted in HTML and can be accessed at http://www.lib.usf.edu/EDT-db/theses/available/etd-10262001-162331/unrestricted/default.htm / Thesis (M.S.)--University of South Florida, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references. / Text (Electronic thesis) in PDF format. / ABSTRACT: The purposes of this research were to determine the efficacy of using the Ogawa]a passive sampling device (PSD) to measure ammonia and to identify significant ammonia sources adjacent to Hillsborough and Tampa Bay. Ninety-four samplers were deployed over a 180-km2 area for two weeks in October 2001. Within the area sampled were located suburbs, an urban center, major highways, port activities, fertilizer manufacturing, wastewater treatment, coal-combustion power plants, warehousing and dairy farming. The sampled locations were arranged in a triangular grid pattern spaced 1.5 km apart. The pattern was designed to locate circular hot spots with a minimum radius of 0.75 km. The minimum, maximum, mean, and median ammonia concentrations were 0.06, 15, 2.0, and 1.5 mg/m3, respectively, and the estimated precision was 16%. Hot spots identified from kriged concentration data coincided with inventoried ammonia sources. / ABSTRACT: The relative bias and precision of the PSD based on collocation with an annular denuder system were (plus or minus) 30 % and 20 %. / System requirements: World Wide Web browser and PDF reader. / Mode of access: World Wide Web.

The St Lucia estuarine system, Africa’s largest estuarine lake, is characterised by cyclic changes from hypersaline to oligo/mesohaline conditions in response to alternations between drought and wetter than average years. In addition, St Lucia also experiences stochastic disturbances, such as flooding events that rapidly decrease salinity levels. Due to their sessile and slow moving nature, bivalves are particularly vulnerable to rapid or prolonged changes in the physico-chemical environment. The recent freshwater deprivation crisis that prevailed for the last decade resulted in a significant loss in bivalve species richness within the system. An annotated and illustrated bivalve census revealed the occurrence of twenty-four species within St Lucia between the years 1925 and 2011. However, only six species were recorded during the most recent survey in March 2011. The infaunal razor clam, Solen cylindraceus, and the epifaunal brackwater mussel, Brachidontes virgiliae, are currently the dominant bivalve species within St Lucia. This study, therefore, aimed to record the species richness of bivalves found in Lake St Lucia and to investigate key biological aspects of the two dominant bivalve taxa within the system, under different salinity regimes. Experiments revealed that S. cylindraceus can tolerate salinities between 15 and 65, while B. virgiliae prefers salinity levels ranging from freshwater to 20. The varying tolerance limits, therefore, dictate the distribution of these species during different climatic conditions within the estuarine lake. During wet periods, S. cylindraceus is restricted to the northern reaches, unable to tolerate the oligohaline conditions present in the rest of the system. Conversely, B. virgiliae, often restricted to the Narrows, becomes ubiquitous throughout the system under such conditions. Solen cylindraceus can reach a maximum length of 95 mm. However, in the St Lucia estuarine system, specimens seldom exceed a length of 55 mm, probably because prevailing/re-occurring harsh conditions prevent them from reaching maximum size. In situ measurements of this species also revealed less growth during the first year of life than for the same species in different systems. While B. virgiliae is substantially smaller than S. cylindraceus, the high densities that this species is able to attain makes it an important grazer with the potential to have significant feeding impacts on the local phytoplankton biomass. Results showed that in localised areas, B. virgiliae populations may consume up to eight times the available phytoplankton biomass. These key bivalve species are strongly influenced by the fluctuation in climatic conditions from wet to dry phases. Thus, understanding the effects that climatic shifts have on key estuarine species is essential, as flood and drought events are predicted to increase in frequency, intensity and duration as a result of global climate change. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2014.