Orientador: José Paulo Leite Guadanucci / Resumo: As cavernas são espaços naturais em rochas que permitem o acesso humano ao meio subterrâneo. Elas são tradicionalmente divididas em três zonas; entrada, penumbra e afótica, está é caracterizada pela ausência completa de luz. Os animais subterrâneos podem ser classificados em: troglóbios, troglófilos e trogloxenos. Existem mais de 48.000 espécies de aranhas, sendo animais frequentes em cavernas de todo mundo. Na Ordem Araneae, a infraorfem Mygalomorphae possui um conhecimento incipiente sobre sua presença em cavernas e, diante disso, os objetivos desse trabalho são: elaborar uma lista de espécies por famílias de aranhas Mygalomorphae encontradas em cavernas; mapear a distribuição geográfica; desenvolver chaves de identificações até nível de gênero de aranhas Mygalomorphae encontrados em cavernas; verificar se fatores, como o tipo de bioma, litologia, altitude, precipitação e temperatura podem explicar a composição de espécies de aranhas Mygalomorphae, distribuídas em diferentes comunidades espalhadas pelo Brasil. Foi examinado o material de 264 cavidades subterrâneas, em 58 municípios de dez estados mais Distrito Federal, totalizando 29 machos adultos, 162 fêmeas adultas e 177 jovens. Foram 68 espécies pertencentes a nove famílias. Todas as famílias identificadas no presente trabalho já possuem registros em cavidades. As aranhas Mygalomorphae possuem todo o potencial para serem troglófilas. Elas são animais noturnos, generalistas e predadores, que utilizam quimio e mecanorrece... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Caves are natural voids in rocks that allow human access to the underground environment. They are traditionally divided into three zones; the entrance, twilight and aphotic zones. In the aphotic zone, total darkness predominates. Subterranean animals can be classified into: troglobites, troglophiles, and trogloxenes. There are more than 48.000 species of spiders and they are very common animals worldwide. In the Order Araneae, the Mygalomorphae infraorder has an incipient knowledge of its presence in caves. In view of this, the objectives of this study are: to elaborate a list of species by families of Mygalomorphae found in caves; to map the geographic distribution; develop identification keys to the level of genus of Mygalomorphae spiders found in caves; to verify if factors such as biome, lithology, altitude, precipitation and temperature can explain the composition of species of Mygalomorphae spiders, distributed in different communities in Brazil. Material from 264 underground cavities was examined, from 58 municipalities in ten states and the Distrito Federal, totalizing 29 adult males, 162 adult females and 177 juveniles. There were 68 species belonging to nine families. All families identified in the present study already had records in cavities. Mygalomorphae spiders are potential troglophiles animals. They are nocturnal, generalists and predators, who often use chemo and mechanoreceptors in search of partners and food. Thus, if there is no food scarcity, these anima... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

The micro frog, Microbatrachella capensis (Boulenger, 1910), is a Critically Endangered anuran found in fragmented marshland habitats along the southern coast of the Western Cape Province of South Africa. The genetic diversity between and within the remaining populations (Kenilworth, Grootwitvlei, Kleinmond, Lamloch, Hagelkraal, and Buffeljacht/Ratelrivier) of Microbatrachella capensis in the Western Cape Province of South Africa was assessed, sampling 12 specimens from each population. Genetic diversity was determined from an analysis of mitochondrial DNA sequences obtained from the ND2 gene region/locus. A phylogeographic analysis of the populations of micro frogs sampled was used to determine the current genetic structure and the history of the species. The analysis divided the six populations of the species into two lineages. The variation within the populations ranged from two to six haplotypes per population. Nested clade analysis inferred allopatric fragmentation for three out of the five significant clades. The division of the lineages into two geographical units, the absence of gene flow and the allopatric fragmentation indicates long-term isolation, around 1.09-1.52 my ago. The isolation and fragmentation of the populations is postulated to be due to historical sea level fluctuations that occurred in Southern Africa during the Quaternary Period. Allopatric fragmentation and lack of gene flow among populations within the two major lineages are due to recent habitat destruction through development. The recognition that the species contains two evolutionarily significant units, corresponding to Agulhas and western lineages, will aid future conservation efforts to save this species. / Dissertation (MInstAgrar)--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Zoology and Entomology / unrestricted

Sphaeroma terebrans, is an ecological engineer that can significantly modify the habitat of free-hanging aerial prop roots of Rhizophora mangle. The wood-boring isopod extensively burrows into red mangrove aerial prop roots for habitat and protection from desiccation and access to phytoplankton. However, the burrows created have major consequences on the mangrove habitat and aerial root inhabitants. It has been suggested that sessile species residing in aerial root communities can either encourage or discourage colonization by S. terebrans. Abiotic factors can affect the distribution and abundance of mangrove forest and are the same factors which determine the composition and abundance of organisms living on the roots. Surveys indicated that burrowing damage was found predominately in the first 20 cm of the root tip. Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to test multivariate hypothesized models looking at habitat relationships with S. terebrans in aerial root communities. Temperature and dissolved oxygen were shown to be important drivers in affecting submerged root length of aerial roots. Ultimately, the indirect effects between these parameters proved to be stronger in influencing the barnacle – isopod association, which causes direct negative effects on submerged root length. Colonial tunicates showed weak effects in masking aerial roots from the damaging barnacle – isopod association. Chlorophyll a was used as a proxy for phytoplankton biomass and proved to be less influential than habitat protection for S. terebrans. Results highlight the need for experimentation in addition to modeling in order to determine the mechanisms influencing aerial root community inhabitants and further effects on the habitat. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2020. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Coral reefs are threatened due to anthropogenic stressors, especially due to warming. Corals typically live in a narrow range of environmental conditions; however, some individuals are able to thrive in extreme temperatures. Such colonies could provide insight into how the coral holobiont acclimates or adapts to extreme temperatures. This study used the model coral species Stylophora pistillata (Esper, 1797) in the Saudi Arabian Red Sea, which is abundant and occurs across a range of desired microhabitats to examine the role of the environment on population structure and physiology. Specifically, this project aimed to 1) review the literature on S. pistillata used in stress studies to better understand the threats it faces, and where knowledge gaps exist, 2) conduct a demographic assessment of S. pistillata populations across different reefs and microhabitats, and 3) evaluate the physiological state of S. pistillata colonies occurring in these microhabitats with differing temperature profiles. The literature review revealed disparities in stress studies on S. pistillata, with most originating from the Gulf of Aqaba and conducted on temperature tolerance. The population assessment showed a high spatial variability in size structure, but a tendency for offshore reefs to have larger colonies and higher colony density. It also showed that purple color morphs tended to be more frequently encountered in the exposed reef flat zones. Similarly, the physiological study showed high spatial variability in chlorophyll, protein and lipid content, and skeletal and symbiont density. However, there was a clear seasonal component, with a multivariate analysis revealing the coolest sampling period as distinct. The metabolic profiles of S. pistillata indicated that offshore colonies differ from midshelf and nearshore colonies. Finally, an opportunistic study reports a case of S. pistillata bleaching due to an unusual occurrence of cold stress coupled with a low tide, supporting the notion that continued monitoring of this population on the reef flat is important for documenting rare evets and understanding their impacts on coral ecology. Taken together, this thesis establishes baseline information on the ecology of an important Red Sea coral inhabiting an extreme environment, and will be important for understanding its response to future changes.

In rivers that shift in their natural or modified physical structure, it is expected that organisms alter their resource use with the shifts in physical changes. The Upper Mississippi River System (UMRS) is a modified river basin and stark contrasts in both the physical structure of habitat types and biological structure in the types of organisms present exist spatially. The upper reaches of the basin contain more complex habitat types than the lower reaches which suggests resource use of fishes likely differs at least between upper and lower reaches. To date, the resource use of some commercially important, invasive, and imperiled species has been studied. However, little information regarding resource use exists for most native fishes. Understanding resource use and how it differs across time and space would benefit managers of the UMRS as programs are underway to restore and manage the system. To determine how resource use of native fishes differs spatially and temporally in the UMRS, I quantified resource use of ten native fishes across six reaches of the UMRS using multiple techniques. At the largest spatial and temporal scale, I quantified the natal origins of six prey and two predatory fishes using trace element analysis. At a seasonal scale, I quantified the collective resource use of eight species using carbon and nitrogen isotopes to compare isotopic niche space, niche overlap, and community metrics. At the shortest scale, I quantified the diets of two predatory species that are thought to compete with one another. Both large scale similarities and nuances in resource use existed in the UMRS depending on the spatial and temporal contexts. At the longest scale, fishes consistently used network connectivity as tributaries and other mainstem river reaches contributed recruits to the mainstem river. However, the percentage of individuals resulting from network connectivity and the specific rivers that lent the recruits differed among species and reaches. Particularly, large tributaries like the Minnesota and Missouri rivers contributed relatively high numbers of recruits to nearby reaches compared to other tributaries, and the most downstream reaches had the greatest contributions from network connectivity. Prey fishes recruited more often from tributaries than predators whereas consumed prey and prey collected directly from the UMRS had similar origins which were consistent across years. At a seasonal scale, breadth of resource use of individual species and the assemblage and some community metrics increased whereas overlap decreased moving downstream in the UMRS. This shift in resource use metrics coincides with shifts in the physical structure of the system. At the shortest scale, diet compositions of the two predators were similar to one another and spatially among upper reaches in the UMRS. These two predators likely coexist in part due to diet plasticity and prey size allocations that differ between species. Additionally, the relative physical homogeneity of the upper reaches of the UMRS may have led to the spatial similarity in prey use. Together, these results suggest the physical structure of the system impacted the resource use of fishes, where trophic niches and use of network connectivity shifted with the shift in physical structure of the Mississippi River. At a minimum, spatial gradients in isotopic niches and percentage of individuals coming from network connectivity suggest the resource use of fishes in downstream reaches at seasonal and life-long scales differs from the upstream reaches within this system. These differences could stem from longitudinal or functional process zone shifts in the physical structure which cannot be determined given these data. In the context of management of the system, fishes use network connectivity to at least some degree across all species and sampling reaches, indicating that the connectivity in the system should at least be maintained if not improved. Additionally, fish move among reaches (i.e., through lock and dams) and tributaries, which highlights the need for interjurisdictional management not just in the UMRS but in nearby tributary systems like the Minnesota and Missouri River where fish originated.

This research underscores the importance of integrating the evolving LiDAR technology and GIS spatial analysis for effective management of urban environment, habitat conservation, and sustainable development planning. The study area of this research is the City of Denton which has undergone urban expansion leading to significant alterations in the city's land cover patterns. The methodologies developed in this study include collecting the data sources, and processing of LiDAR point clouds of years 2019 and 2020 to generate the digital elevation model (DEM), digital surface model (DSM), building height model (BHM), and canopy height model (CHM). The models could separate developed from undeveloped lands and identify upland and water-related habitats by the natural threshold in plant height and by proximity to water and FEMA 100-year flood zones. The results show that 18 % of the total area of the city is occupied by upland habitats while water-related habitats cover 16 % of the total area. Upland habitats are

Parcelas orgânicas de macroalgas, madeira e carcaças de baleia criam importantes oasis de enriquecimento orgânico no assoalho marinho de regiões profundas, mas a estrutura e sucessão ecológica da macrofauna sedimentar ao redor destes ambientes ainda é pouco conhecida. Parcelas de macroalgas e madeira foram artificialmente implantadas próximas a uma carcaça de baleia de 30-ton hà uma profundidade de 1670 m na Bacia de Santa Cruz, Pacífico NE. Ao redor de cada ilha orgânica, foram estudados os padrões espaciais e temporais de enriquecimento sedimentar orgânico e a estrutura e sucessão temporal da macrofauna em escalas temporais que variam de 0.25 à 7 anos. Ainda, o nível de sobreposição entre espécies colonizadoras das parcelas orgânicas e na baleia, foram comparados com comunidades de exudações frias (uma localizada na bacia de São Clemente, Pacífico NE) e fontes hidrotermais. Em geral, a abundância da macrofauna sedimentar foi altamente elevada em períodos de intenso enriquecimento orgânico, com decréscimo da diversidade da macrofauna num raio de 0.5 metros das parcelas. Nas parcelas de macroalgas e madeira, espécies oportunistas e tolerantes à sulfetos atingiram altas densidades após o pico de enriquecimento orgânico sedimentar (0.25 e 1.8 anos, respectivamente), enquanto que ao redor da carcaça de baleia, a macrofauna foi também dominada por organismos quimiossintéticos com associações simbióticas bacterianas, e ainda espécies oportunistas que se alimentavam do abundante carpete bacteriano sobre a superfície sedimentar. Os sedimentos ao redor das parcelas de macroalgas e madeira sustentam baixas taxas de degradação microbiana e sulfeto intersticial, recrutando assim um limitado número de organismos quimioautotróficos e consequentemente com baixa sobreposição de espécies com outros ambientes redutores. Na carcaça de baleia, os sedimentos sustentam intensa degradação microbiana e altos níveis de sulfeto, mas diferenças marcantes nas biogeoquímica e nas cadeias tróficas presentes nestas carcaças resultam em baixa sobreposição de espécies com a fauna de exsudações frias e fontes hidrotermais. Conclui-se que sedimentos enriquecidos organicamente ao redor de macroalgas, madeiras e carcaças de baleia criam importantes hábitats para a persistência e evolução de espécies dependentes de condições sedimentares redutoras, e assim estas ilhas devem contribuir para a diversidade regional e global dos ecossistemas de mar profundo. / Sunken parcels of macroalgae, wood and whale carcasses provide important oases of organic enrichment at the deep-sea floor, but sediment community structure and succession around these habitat islands are poorly evaluated. We experimentally implanted parcels of kelp and wood falls nearby a 30-ton deep-sea whale-fall at 1670 m in the Santa Cruz Basin (SCr; NE Pacific). At each organic island, we aimed to evaluate patterns of organic enrichment and spatial and temporal patterns of macrofaunal community structure and succession over time scales of 0.25 to 7y. Additionally, species overlap between kelp-, wood- and whale-falls with nearby cold-seep communities were investigated. In general, the abundance of infaunal macrobenthos was highly elevated at periods of intense organic enrichment at all organic falls, with decreased macrofaunal diversity and evenness within 0.5 meters of the falls. At kelp and wood falls opportunistic species and sulfide tolerant microbial grazers (dorvilleid polychaetes) abounded after the peak of sedimentary enrichment (0.25y and 1.8y, respectively), while the whale-fall macrofauna was highly abundant from 4.5 to 6.8 y, and was dominated by enrichment opportunist, chemoautotrophic-symbiont-hosting and heterotrophic species grazing sulfur-oxidizing bacterial mats. Sediments around kelp and wood parcels provided lowintensity reducing conditions, which sustain a limited chemoautotrophically-based fauna, with low levels of species overlap among other chemosynthetic habitats in the deep NE Pacific. Whale-fall sediments harbor many species and trophic types not present in background sediments, but there were low levels of species overlap between the whalefall, cold seeps and hydrothermal vents, explained by differences in biogeochemistry and food webs among these habitats. We conclude that organically enriched sediments around kelp, wood and whale-falls may provide important habitat islands for the persistence and evolution of species dependent on organic- and sulfide-rich conditions at the deep-sea floor and contribute to regional and global diversity in deep-sea ecosystems.

Foram georreferenciados 14.554 casos de dengue. As maiores incidências observadas para o período, foram nas áreas 7 e 8 (regiões leste e centro respectivamente). Nessas áreas, a incidência variou de 381 a 432 casos por 100.000 habitantes. O índice de Moran estimado foi 0,2517 com a maioria dos aglomerados espaciais na região leste, seguido das regiões centro e norte. Observou-se que a região que apresentou o maior número de casos de dengue foi aquela com padrão de densidade demográfica, renda e grau de escolaridade médios. A incidência de dengue foi maior em indivíduos na faixa etária dos 15 aos 49 anos e 50 anos e mais, e menor na faixa etária de zero a 14 anos. Com relação à incidência por sexo, observa-se que houve variações pequenas, sendo ligeiramente maior no sexo feminino. Os resultados da análise de Correlação de Pearson para a incidência de dengue sugerem que a influência da precipitação pluviométrica e da temperatura não foram estatisticamente significativas, mas o foram com relação ao índice predial. Analisando-se a distribuição das formas imaturas do mosquito Aedes aegypti em diferentes recipientes, observa-se que o vaso mereceu maior destaque, seguido de lata, pote e frasco. A distribuição espacial da dengue não apresentou padrão uniforme, pois a taxa de incidência variou nas diversas áreas. Altas incidências de dengue foram observadas tanto em áreas com elevado padrão socioeconômico como naquelas com padrão mais baixo. O nível de infestação larvário, estimado pelo Índice Predial foi maior no período chuvoso. Os resultados deste estudo, em relação ao vetor confirmam a característica de espécie oportunista que já foi registrada para o Aedes aegypti em outras regiões. As formas imaturas do inseto, apesar de serem mais freqüentes em alguns tipos de recipientes, por exemplo, os vasos, podem ocupar outros, dependendo da disponibilidade dos mesmos. / It was georeferenced 14.554 cases of dengue. The largest incidences in the period were observed in the areas 7 and 8 (east and center areas respectively). In these areas, the incidence varied from 381 to 432 for 100.000 inhabitants. The index of Moran estimated was of 0,2517 with most of the spatial agglomerates in the east area, followed by the center and north areas. It was observed that the area that presented the largest number of cases of dengue was that with medium demographic density, income and education degree pattern. The dengue incidence was larger in individuals in the age group of the 15 to the 49 years and 50 years and older, and smaller in the age group zero to 14 years. Regarding to incidence for sex, it was observed that there were small variations, being slightly higher in the female gender. The results of the analysis of Correlation of Pearson for dengue incidence suggest that the precipitation and temperature influence were not statistically significant, but they were in relation to the Building Index (Índice Predial). In the analysis of the distribution of the immature stages of the Aedes aegypti in different recipients, it was observed that the vase deserved larger prominence, followed by can, pot and flask. The spatial distribution of the dengue did not present uniform pattern, because the incidence rate varied in the several areas. Dengue high incidences were observed as much in areas with high socioeconomic pattern as in those with lower pattern. The larval infestation level, estimated by the Building Index it was larger in the rainy period. The results of this study, in relation to the vector, confirmed the characteristic of opportunist species that was already registered for the Aedes aegypti in other areas. The immature stages of the insect, in spite of they be more frequent in some types of recipients, for instance, in vases, they can occupy other, depending on the readiness of the same ones.

Nesta dissertação investigamos o papel dos mamíferos em cascatas tróficas nas florestas tropicais, e os efeitos da configuração espacial e qualidade do habitat assim como das atividades humanas atuais sobre a distribuição de mamíferos de maior porte em uma paisagem rural de Mata Atlântica. No primeiro capítulo, através de uma revisão da literatura sumarizamos e avaliamos a evidência empírica de que mamíferos estão envolvidos em cascatas tróficas em florestas tropicais com o objetivo de indicar os avanços, os problemas e os desafios nessa área. Poucos estudos empíricos e conceituais foram encontrados na literatura, todos realizados nas últimas três décadas, enquanto que a maioria dos estudos empíricos foi realizada nos Neotrópicos. Grande parte das hipóteses relacionadas a cascatas tróficas foi apenas proposta, e considera o homem como predador de topo. Além da maior parte das variáveis quantificadas não serem adequadas para demonstrar efeitos em cascata, a escala temporal da maioria dos estudos revisados foi curta para acessar estes efeitos sobre a comunidade de plantas que contém espécies longevas. Nenhuma hipótese abordou o efeito dos predadores de topo sobre as populações de presas pequenas via o controle da densidade e distribuição de mesopredadores. A maioria das hipóteses que encontramos na literatura se refere a outros efeitos indiretos causados por mamíferos, em particular através da dispersão de sementes e da disponibilização de nutrientes via fezes. Dessa maneira, demonstramos que o termo \"cascata trófica\" tem sido utilizado amplamente, englobando outros efeitos indiretos que se propagam via outras interações que não tróficas, e que a evidência empírica disponível até o momento de que mamíferos desencadeiam cascatas tróficas em florestas tropicais é pequena. No segundo capítulo, através da amostragem de 23 remanescentes florestais e do uso de modelos de ocupação e da abordagem de seleção de modelos, investigamos como fatores associados à configuração espacial e qualidade do habitat e a outras atividades humanas em andamento interagem e condicionam a distribuição de mamíferos terrestres de maior porte em paisagens intensamente modificadas pelo homem. A assembléia de mamíferos de maior porte encontrada na paisagem estudada é simplificada e dominada por mamíferos silvestres generalistas de médio porte, sugerindo que o controle de mesopredadores e a regeneração das florestas podem estar comprometidos. Os resultados também sugerem que: (1) a distribuição de mamíferos de maior porte deve ser condicionada mais por fatores associados à configuração espacial do que à qualidade do habitat florestal; (2) as atividades humanas atuais são tão ou mais importantes que a configuração espacial e a qualidade do habitat para a maioria das espécies. O tamanho dos fragmentos e a distância a rodovias, entre os fatores associados à configuração espacial, e a caça e a presença do cachorro doméstico, entre as atividades humanas atuais, foram particularmente importantes para a distribuição das espécies de mamíferos de maior porte. A relevância das atividades humanas em andamento sugere que estratégias de manejo que foquem em mudanças na atitude da população humana, através de programas de conscientização e educação, podem ter resultados significativos em termos da persistência de populações de mamíferos em paisagens rurais. / In this dissertation we investigated the role of large mammals in trophic cascades in tropical forests, and the effects of habitat configuration and quality as well as of current human activities on the distribution of large mammals in a rural Atlantic forest landscape. In the first chapter, through a literature review we summarized and evaluated the empirical evidence that mammals are involved in trophic cascades in tropical forest, with the aim of highlighting the progress, problems and challenges in this area. Few conceptual and empirical studies were found in the literature, all of which were performed in the last three decades, while most of the empirical studies were developed in the Neotropics. Most of the hypotheses related to trophic cascades were only proposed and not tested, and considered humans as top predators. Not only most of the quantified variables were not appropriate to demonstrate cascading effects, but also the temporal scale of most studies was short to detect these effects on plant communities composed of long-lived species. We did not find hypotheses addressing the effect of top predators on the populations of small prey through the control of mesopredator density and distribution. Most hypotheses in the reviewed literature refer to other indirect effects played by mammals, especially through seed dispersal and nutrient allocation via feaces. Thus, we demonstrate that the term \"trophic cascade\" has been used widely, encompassing other indirect effects that propagate through other, non-throphic interactions, and that the empirical evidence available so far that mammals are drivers of trophic cascades in tropical forest is weak. In the second chapter, through the sampling of 23 forest fragments and using occupancy models and a model selection approach, we investigated how factors associated with habitat configuration and quality and with other current human activities interact to define the distribution of terrestrial large mammals in human-modified landscapes. The large mammal assemblage from the studied landscape is impoverished and dominated by medium-sized generalist species, suggesting that both the control of mesopredators and forest regeneration may be compromised. Our results also suggest that: (1) the distribution of large mammals is determined mainly by aspects of habitat configuration rather than by aspects of habitat quality, and (2) current human activities are equally or more important than habitat configuration and quality for most of the species. Fragment size and distance to roads, among the factors associated with habitat configuration, and hunting pressure and domestic dog presence, among those associated with current human activities, were particularly important to the distribution of large mammal species. The relevance of current human activities suggests that management strategies that focus on changing people attitudes, through programs of education, can have significant results in terms of the persistence of mammal populations in rural landscapes.

Parcelas orgânicas de macroalgas, madeira e carcaças de baleia criam importantes oasis de enriquecimento orgânico no assoalho marinho de regiões profundas, mas a estrutura e sucessão ecológica da macrofauna sedimentar ao redor destes ambientes ainda é pouco conhecida. Parcelas de macroalgas e madeira foram artificialmente implantadas próximas a uma carcaça de baleia de 30-ton hà uma profundidade de 1670 m na Bacia de Santa Cruz, Pacífico NE. Ao redor de cada ilha orgânica, foram estudados os padrões espaciais e temporais de enriquecimento sedimentar orgânico e a estrutura e sucessão temporal da macrofauna em escalas temporais que variam de 0.25 à 7 anos. Ainda, o nível de sobreposição entre espécies colonizadoras das parcelas orgânicas e na baleia, foram comparados com comunidades de exudações frias (uma localizada na bacia de São Clemente, Pacífico NE) e fontes hidrotermais. Em geral, a abundância da macrofauna sedimentar foi altamente elevada em períodos de intenso enriquecimento orgânico, com decréscimo da diversidade da macrofauna num raio de 0.5 metros das parcelas. Nas parcelas de macroalgas e madeira, espécies oportunistas e tolerantes à sulfetos atingiram altas densidades após o pico de enriquecimento orgânico sedimentar (0.25 e 1.8 anos, respectivamente), enquanto que ao redor da carcaça de baleia, a macrofauna foi também dominada por organismos quimiossintéticos com associações simbióticas bacterianas, e ainda espécies oportunistas que se alimentavam do abundante carpete bacteriano sobre a superfície sedimentar. Os sedimentos ao redor das parcelas de macroalgas e madeira sustentam baixas taxas de degradação microbiana e sulfeto intersticial, recrutando assim um limitado número de organismos quimioautotróficos e consequentemente com baixa sobreposição de espécies com outros ambientes redutores. Na carcaça de baleia, os sedimentos sustentam intensa degradação microbiana e altos níveis de sulfeto, mas diferenças marcantes nas biogeoquímica e nas cadeias tróficas presentes nestas carcaças resultam em baixa sobreposição de espécies com a fauna de exsudações frias e fontes hidrotermais. Conclui-se que sedimentos enriquecidos organicamente ao redor de macroalgas, madeiras e carcaças de baleia criam importantes hábitats para a persistência e evolução de espécies dependentes de condições sedimentares redutoras, e assim estas ilhas devem contribuir para a diversidade regional e global dos ecossistemas de mar profundo. / Sunken parcels of macroalgae, wood and whale carcasses provide important oases of organic enrichment at the deep-sea floor, but sediment community structure and succession around these habitat islands are poorly evaluated. We experimentally implanted parcels of kelp and wood falls nearby a 30-ton deep-sea whale-fall at 1670 m in the Santa Cruz Basin (SCr; NE Pacific). At each organic island, we aimed to evaluate patterns of organic enrichment and spatial and temporal patterns of macrofaunal community structure and succession over time scales of 0.25 to 7y. Additionally, species overlap between kelp-, wood- and whale-falls with nearby cold-seep communities were investigated. In general, the abundance of infaunal macrobenthos was highly elevated at periods of intense organic enrichment at all organic falls, with decreased macrofaunal diversity and evenness within 0.5 meters of the falls. At kelp and wood falls opportunistic species and sulfide tolerant microbial grazers (dorvilleid polychaetes) abounded after the peak of sedimentary enrichment (0.25y and 1.8y, respectively), while the whale-fall macrofauna was highly abundant from 4.5 to 6.8 y, and was dominated by enrichment opportunist, chemoautotrophic-symbiont-hosting and heterotrophic species grazing sulfur-oxidizing bacterial mats. Sediments around kelp and wood parcels provided lowintensity reducing conditions, which sustain a limited chemoautotrophically-based fauna, with low levels of species overlap among other chemosynthetic habitats in the deep NE Pacific. Whale-fall sediments harbor many species and trophic types not present in background sediments, but there were low levels of species overlap between the whalefall, cold seeps and hydrothermal vents, explained by differences in biogeochemistry and food webs among these habitats. We conclude that organically enriched sediments around kelp, wood and whale-falls may provide important habitat islands for the persistence and evolution of species dependent on organic- and sulfide-rich conditions at the deep-sea floor and contribute to regional and global diversity in deep-sea ecosystems.