A low content of organic matter, which is largely refractory in nature, is characteristic of most sediments, meaning that aquatic deposit-feeders live on a very poor food source. The food is derived mainly from sedimenting phytodetritus, and in temperate waters like the Baltic Sea, from seasonal phytoplankton blooms. Deposit-feeders are either bulk-feeders, or selective feeders, which preferentially ingest the more organic-rich particles in the sediment, including phytodetritus, microbes and meiofauna. The soft-bottom benthos of the Baltic Sea has low species biodiversity and is dominated by a few macrobenthic species, among which the most numerous are the two deposit-feeding amphipods Monoporeia affinis and Pontoporeia femorata, and the bivalve Macoma balthica. This thesis is based on laboratory experiments on the feeding of these three species, and on the priapulid Halicryptus spinulosus. Feeding by benthic animals is often difficult to observe, but can be effectively studied by the use of tracers. Here we used the radioactive isotope 14C to label food items and to trace the organic matter uptake in the animals, while the stable isotopes 13C and 15N were used to follow feeding on aged organic matter in the sediment. The abundance of M. balthica and the amphipods tends to be negatively correlated, i.e., fewer bivalves are found at sites with dense populations of amphipods, with the known explanation that newly settled M. balthica spat are killed by the amphipods. Whether the postlarvae are just accidentally killed, or also ingested after being killed was tested by labelling the postlarvae with 14C and Rhodamine B. Both tracer techniques gave similar evidence for predation on and ingestion of postlarval bivalves. We calculated that this predation was likely to supply less than one percent of the daily carbon requirement for M. affinis, but might nevertheless be an important factor limiting recruitment of M. balthica. The two amphipods M. affinis and P. femorata are partly vertically segregated in the sediment, but whether they also feed at different depths was unknown. By adding fresh 14C-labelled algae either on the sediment surface or mixed into the sediment, we were able to distinguish surface from subsurface feeding. We found M. affinis and P. femorata to be surface and subsurface deposit-feeders, respectively. Whether the amphipods also feed on old organic matter, was studied by adding fresh 14C-labelled algae on the sediment surface, and using aged, one-year-old 13C- and 15N-labelled sediment as deep sediment. Ingestion of old organic matter, traced by the stable isotopes, differed between the two species, with a higher uptake for P. femorata, suggesting that P. femorata utilises the older, deeper-buried organic matter to a greater extent. Feeding studies with juveniles of both M. affinis and P. femorata had not been done previously. In an experiment with the same procedure and treatments as for the adults, juveniles of both amphipod species were found to have similar feeding strategies. They fed on both fresh and old sediment, with no partitioning of food resources, making them likely to be competitors for the same food resource. Oxygen deficiency has become more wide-spread in the Baltic Sea proper in the last half-century, and upwards of 70 000km2 are now devoid of macrofauna, even though part of that area does not have oxygen concentrations low enough to directly kill the macrofauna. We made week-long experiments on the rate of feeding on 14C-labelled diatoms spread on the sediment surface in different oxygen concentrations for both the amphipod species, M. balthica and H. spinulosus. The amphipods were the most sensitive to oxygen deficiency and showed reduced feeding and lower survival at low oxygen concentrations. M. balthica showed reduced feeding at the lowest oxygen concentration, but no mortality increase. The survival of H. spinulosus was unaffected, but it did not feed, showing that it is not a surface deposit-feeder. We conclude that low oxygen concentrations that are not directly lethal, but reduce food intake, may lead to starvation and death in the longer term.

Coastal low oxygen areas are expanding globally and are predicted to increase in size and duration due to climatic changes associated with a warming ocean. The Gulf of Mexico Hypoxic Zone (GoMHZ) is the second largest regularly occurring hypoxic habitat in the world and has increased in size since it was first mapped in the 1980s. The Mississippi Atchafalaya River System (MARS) floods the Louisiana continental shelf with fresh water high in nitrogenous compounds enhancing primary production which sinks to the sea floor. Stratification that occurs as a result of density differences and coastal currents creates a strong pycnocline that prevents bottom waters from being aerated causing seasonally hypoxic bottom waters (< 2.0 mg L^-1). The Mechanisms Controlling Hypoxia (MCH) project (hypoxia.tamu.edu) made regular cruises during 2004-2005 and 2007-2009 to the GoMHZ performing shelf wide hydrographic surveys and occupying central mooring sites within theoretical zones of differing hypoxic potential. Sediment cores were collected for incubation experiments using Batch Microincubation Chambers (BMICs) to measure rates of sediment community oxygen consumption and nutrient regeneration. Results of incubation experiments characterized sediments as net sources of dissolved inorganic nitrogen, mostly ammonium, and silicate and a net sink of phosphate. Modeling simulations of benthic-pelagic coupling focused in the western study zones related field measurements of benthic nutrient regeneration and primary production to important processes that maintain summertime hypoxia when surface waters are nitrogen limited. After incubations were completed macrofaunal individuals were removed from the cores enumerated and identified to the lowest possible taxon. Macrofauna communities in 2004-2005 were dominated by a hypoxia tolerant community dominated by polychaetes. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in August and September of 2005 drastically reorganized macrobenthic communities decreasing abundances and negatively impacting diversity. These new communities collapsed under hypoxic stresses potentially impacting the ability of demersal foragers to utilize an important food resource. Large variations in biogeochemical fluxes and patchy distribution of fauna impeded the delineation of significant zones in benthic function and structure.

The master work presents the research of macrofauna (Lumbricidae) quantity, depending on the spieces of the plants grown and the hydrotermic modes. Research object: the soil macrofauna in the light granulometre composition of soils (in Akemnė district, Smiltinė village). Research objective: by field research to evaluate quantity of macrofauna (Lumbricidae) in the nothern part of Lithuania in the light granulometre composition of soils, in the ecological production farm, depending on the spieces of the plants grown and the hydrotermic modes. Research methods: the quantity of earthworms was established by digging 0.5 x 0.5 m and 0.25 m depth monolyths of soil, gathering earthworms, calculating, weitghting and measuring them. The research established that the quantity, weight, length of the earthworms depended on the species of plants grown, forecrops and hydrotermic modes. The most advantageous crops were the kitchen-garden, the garden, the potatoes. The best forecrops were the kitchen-garden. During the years of research strong reverse correlation links between the quantity of earthworms and the hydrotermic modes were established.

Oyster reef habitats have declined from historic levels due to a variety of reasons, including overharvest, disease, and degraded water quality. The harvesting of oysters has led to a loss of reef habitat for both oysters and reef-associated fauna. When oysters spawn, the larval oysters, or spat, depend on hard substrate for settlement and growth. Oyster shell is the preferred substrate for use in restoration because it most closely matches natural reef habitat, but it is often expensive and in limited supply. This study incorporated field and laboratory experiments to assess the relative habitat value of alternative substrates (crushed concrete, porcelain, crushed limestone, and river rock, as well as oyster shell) for larval oyster recruitment as well as reef resident fishes and macro-invertebrates. Replicate trays of each substrate type were deployed in St. Charles Bay, TX for four months during spring and summer 2012 and assessed for oyster recruitment and faunal diversity and density. Concrete, river rock, limestone and porcelain had similar spat recruitment densities compared to oyster shell (1300-2300 spat). Spat shell heights were also larger on these substrates (13-16 mm), while spat on porcelain substrates were slightly smaller (10-13 mm). All substrates except bare sediment had similar fauna species densities (200-500 individuals m-2). Limestone had lower fauna diversity (H’; 0-1) than concrete and shell (1-2). Laboratory experiments compared the effectiveness of these substrates in providing prey refuge from pinfish and blue crab predators. All substrates performed similarly resulting in very low (<20 %) prey mortality rates for either predator. Results may enable future restoration plans to be implemented at a lower cost while providing similar habitat functions.

Environmental stress and disturbance can affect the structure and functioning of marine ecosystems by altering their physical, chemical and biological features. In estuaries, benthic invertebrate communities play important roles in structuring sediments, influencing primary production and biogeochemical flux, and occupying key food web positions. Stress and disturbance can reduce species diversity, richness and abundance, with ecological theory predicting that biodiversity will be at its lowest soon after a disturbance with assemblages dominated by opportunistic species. The Avon-Heathcote Estuary in Christchurch New Zealand has provided a novel opportunity to examine the effects of stress, in the form of eutrophication, and disturbance, in the form of cataclysmic earthquake events, on the structure and functioning of an estuarine ecosystem. For more than 50 years, large quantities (up to 500,000m3/day) of treated wastewater were released into this estuary but in March 2010 this was diverted to an ocean outfall, thereby reducing the nutrient loading by around 90% to the estuary. This study was therefore initially focussed on the reversal of eutrophication and consequent effects on food web structure in the estuary as it responded to lower nutrients. In 2011, however, Christchurch was struck with a series of large earthquakes that greatly changed the estuary. Massive amounts of liquefied sediments, covering up to 65% of the estuary floor, were forced up from deep below the estuary, the estuary was tilted by up to a 50cm rise on one side and a corresponding drop on the other, and large quantities of raw sewage from broken wastewater infrastructure entered the estuary for up to nine months. This study was therefore a test of the potentially synergistic effects of nutrient reduction and earthquake disturbance on invertebrate communities, associated habitats and food web dynamics. Because there was considerable site-to-site heterogeneity in the estuary, the sites in this study were selected to represent a eutrophication gradient from relatively “clean” (where the influence of tidal flows was high) to highly impacted (near the historical discharge site). The study was structured around these sites, with components before the wastewater diversion, after the diversion but before the earthquakes, and after the earthquakes. The eutrophication gradient was reflected in the composition and isotopic chemistry of primary producer and invertebrate communities and the characteristics of sediments across the sample sites. Sites closest to the former wastewater discharge pipe were the most eutrophic and had cohesive organic -rich, fine sediments and relatively depauperate communities dominated by the opportunistic taxa Capitellidae. The less-impacted sites had coarser, sandier sediments with fewer pollutants and far less organic matter than at the eutrophic sites, relatively high diversity and lower abundances of micro- and macro-algae. Sewage-derived nitrogen had became incorporated into the estuarine food web at the eutrophic sites, starting at the base of the food chain with benthic microalgae (BMA), which were found to use mostly sediment-derived nitrogen. Stable isotopic analysis showed that δ13C and δ15N values of most food sources and consumers varied spatially, temporally and in relation to the diversion of wastewater, whereas the earthquakes did not appear to affect the overall estuarine food web structure. This was seen particularly at the most eutrophic site, where isotopic signatures became more similar to the cleaner sites over two-and-a-half years after the diversion. New sediments (liquefaction) produced by the earthquakes were found to be coarser, have lower concentrations of heavy metals and less organic matter than old (existing) sediments. They also had fewer macroinvertebrate inhabitants initially after the earthquakes but most areas recovered to pre-earthquake abundance and diversity within two years. Field experiments showed that there were higher amounts of primary production and lower amounts of nutrient efflux from new sediments at the eutrophic sites after the earthquakes. Primary production was highest in new sediments due to the increased photosynthetic efficiency of BMA resulting from the increased permeability of new sediments allowing increased light penetration, enhanced vertical migration of BMA and the enhanced transport of oxygen and nutrients. The reduced efflux of NH4-N in new sediments indicated that the capping of a large portion of eutrophic old sediments with new sediments had reduced the release of legacy nutrients (originating from the historical discharge) from the sediments to the overlying water. Laboratory experiments using an array of species and old and new sediments showed that invertebrates altered levels of primary production and nutrient flux but effects varied among species. The mud snail Amphibola crenata and mud crab Austrohelice crassa were found to reduce primary production and BMA biomass through the consumption of BMA (both species) and its burial from bioturbation and the construction of burrows (Austrohelice). In contrast, the cockle Austrovenus stutchburyi did not significantly affect primary production and BMA biomass. These results show that changes in the structure of invertebrate communities resulting from disturbances can also have consequences for the functioning of the system. The major conclusions of this study were that the wastewater diversion had a major effect on food web dynamics and that the large quantities of clean and unpolluted new sediments introduced to the estuary during the earthquakes altered the recovery trajectory of the estuary, accelerating it at least throughout the duration of this study. This was largely through the ‘capping’ effect of the new liquefied, coarser-grained sediments as they dissipated across the estuary and covered much of the old organic-rich eutrophic sediments. For all aspects of this study, the largest changes occurred at the most eutrophic sites; however, the surrounding habitats were important as they provided the context for recovery of the estuary, particularly because of the very strong influence of sediments, their biogeochemistry, microalgal and macroalgal dynamics. There have been few studies documenting system level responses to eutrophication amelioration and to the best on my knowledge there are no other published studies examining the impacts of large earthquakes on benthic communities in an estuarine ecosystem. This research gives valuable insight and advancements in the scientific understanding of the effects that eutrophication recovery and large-scale disturbances can have on the ecology of a soft-sediment ecosystem.

The ocean is the most extended biome present on our planet. Recent decades have seen a dramatic increase in the number and gravity of threats impacting the ocean, including discharge of pollutants, cultural eutrophication and spread of alien species. It is essential therefore to understand how different impacts may affect the marine realm, its life forms and biogeochemical cycles. The marine nitrogen cycle is of particular importance because nitrogen is the limiting factor in the ocean and a better understanding of its reaction mechanisms and regulation is indispensable. Furthermore, new nitrogen pathways have continuously been described. The scope of this project was to better constrain cause-effect mechanisms of microbially mediated nitrogen pathways, and how these can be affected by biotic and abiotic factors. This thesis demonstrates that meiofauna, the most abundant animal group inhabiting the world’s seafloors, considerably alters nitrogen cycling by enhancing nitrogen loss from the system. In contrast, larger fauna such as the polychaete Marenzelleria spp. enhance nitrogen retention, when they invade eutrophic Baltic Sea sediments. Sediment anoxia, caused by nutrient excess, has negative consequences for ecosystem processes such as nitrogen removal because it stops nitrification, which in turn limits both denitrification and anammox. This was the case of Himmerfjärden and Byfjord, two estuarine systems affected by anthropogenic activities, such as treated sewage discharges. When Byfjord was artificially oxygenated, nitrate reduction mechanisms started just one month after pumping. However, the balance between denitrification and nitrate ammonification did not favor either nitrogen removal or its retention. Anoxia is also present in aggregates of the filamentous cyanobacteria Nodularia spumigena. This thesis shows that even in fully oxic waters, millimetric aggregates can host anaerobic nitrogen processes, with clear implications for the pelagic compartment. While the thesis contributed to our knowledge on marine nitrogen cycling, more data need to be collected and experiments performed in order to understand key processes and regulation mechanisms of element cycles in the ocean. In this way, stakeholders may follow and take decisions in order to limit the continuous flow of human metabolites and impacts on the marine environment. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following paper was unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 2: Manuscript.</p>

Submitted by Alberto Vieira (martins_vieira@ibest.com.br) on 2018-01-12T16:04:34Z No. of bitstreams: 1 837763.pdf: 3192613 bytes, checksum: a847d6a9ad1b2e404e222adb72232413 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-01-12T16:04:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 837763.pdf: 3192613 bytes, checksum: a847d6a9ad1b2e404e222adb72232413 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2003-07 / Avalia o papel de ondas excepcionais, usualmente denominadas como ressacas, sobre a macrofauna bentônica da praia da Urca, com principal ênfase na fauna de anelídeos poliquetas. A praia da Urca situa-se no setor oeste da Baía de Guanabara, Rio de Janeiro, RJ. A densidade da macrofauna foi monitorada ao longo de um ano após o início de uma grande ressaca que atingiu a região em 2 de junho de 1997, sendo considerada como uma das mais intensas dos últimos 30 anos na Baía de Guanabara. Durante o período de estudo foram registradas mais três ressacas, porém de menor intensidade. Foram realizadas 28 coletas quinzenais (excetuando-se as três primeiras que foram semanais) de 04/06/1997 à 05/06/1998, em uma área de aproximadamente 200 m², a uma profundidade de 5 metros. Os grupos taxonômicos mais representativos encontrados foram os poliquetas e crustáceos. Avaliando a resposta da comunidade como um todo após a primeira ressaca, esta não demonstrou variação devido às respostas diferenciadas de cada grupo separadamente. Os poliquetas sofreram uma diminuição na sua densidade após as ressacas, enquanto que por outro lado, os crustáceos sofreram um aumento. Esta diferença esteve relacionada aos diferentes tipos de adaptações morfológicas e estratégias de vida de cada grupo. A estrutura da comunidade de poliquetas da praia da Urca sofreu alteração em relação aos valores de diversidade, riqueza e equitabilidade após as ressacas. Baixos valores de diversidade e riqueza, aliados a uma baixa equitabilidade após a primeira ressaca, podem estar relacionadas a uma maior instabilidade do meio devido ao impacto das ondas e a dominância de poucas espécies. A variação temporal das espécies de poliquetas se deu em função do hábito de vida e da biologia de cada uma das espécies em questão. Dentre as dez espécies dominantes de poliquetas, P. steenstrupi se comportou de acordo com as partículas mais finas do sedimento, acompanhando a movimentação hidrodinâmica ocasionada pela ação das ondas, enquanto que Mooreonuphis lineata, devido a maior aderência ao substrato desta espécie tubícola, apresentou maior resistência à ação das ondas do que as demais espécies de poliquetas. Este estudo revela que eventos perturbadores de grande intensidade, mas de pouca previsibilidade, tendem a alterar a estrutura da comunidade como um todo. / Evaluate the role of storms on macrobenthic faunal structure of Urca beach, with special emphasis on polychaete fauna. Urca beach is located at the western point of Guanabara bay, situated at Rio de Janeiro state. Density of the macrofauna was monitored along a year, after the beginning of a great storm at that region in 2th July, 1997, being considered the most strong event at the last thirty years. During the period studied, three more storms were registered, although with a minor intensity. Twenty-eight samples were surveyed with intervals of fifteen days each (except the first three samples, which were with weekly intervals), at an area of 200 m² and 5 m depth. The most representative taxonomic groups found were polychaetes and crustaceans. Evaluating the response of the role community after the storms, it did not show a strong variation, probably due to the different responses of each group separately. Lower densities of polychaetes were registered after the storms. Besides, crustaceans densities were higher after that event. The different response of these groups could be related to the morphologic and behavioral adaptations and life history of each one. The polychaete community structure of Urca beach showed a variation in biological parameters values, such as diversity, richness and evenness after storms. Lower diversity, richness and evenness values after the first storm could be related to a greater instability of the environment, due to wave impact, as could be stated by a dominance of few species. The temporal variation of polychaete species was related to the behavior and biology of each species. The behaviour of the polychaete species P. steenstrupi could be related to the sediment dynamics of the finer sediment fraction, as the sediment and the polychaete were revolved due to the wave action caused by the storms. On the other hand, the tubicolous species Mooreonuphis lineata presented higher wave resistance when compared with other polychaete species due to its higher substrate adherence. This study reveals that hydrodynamical events of great intensity and less predictability tend to change the community structure of macrobenthic fauna of sand beaches.

Submitted by Everaldo Pereira (pereira.evera@gmail.com) on 2018-04-26T18:39:26Z No. of bitstreams: 1 TESE FINAL ANDRA NASCIMENTO - 2017.pdf: 3502693 bytes, checksum: eeb989c0e4953e90e7d6f3700fa54387 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-04-26T18:39:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 TESE FINAL ANDRA NASCIMENTO - 2017.pdf: 3502693 bytes, checksum: eeb989c0e4953e90e7d6f3700fa54387 (MD5) / A partir do mapeamento faciológico da plataforma continental de Sergipe foi realizada a caracterização da macrofauna bentônica. Ao todo foram obtidas 16 amostras sedimentares em triplicada com uso de um van Ven 0,1m². Os pontos amostrais foram distribuídos em três setores geomorfológicos distintos sendo: 6 estações sobre o fundo de cascalho, 5 estações sobre o fundo de lama e 5 estações sobre o fundo de areia. A macrofauna esteve composta por 6874 indivíduos distribuídos em 10 filos. Os grupos mais abundantes foram Polychaeta (44,54%), Crustacea (37,88%), Mollusca (13,47%) e Echinodermata (2,61%). Os Polychaeta, por serem o grupo dominante, foram identificados até família, evidenciando um total de 3062 indivíduos distribuídos em 37 famílias. As famílias mais abundantes foram Syllidae (43%), Spionidae (8%), Chrysopetalidae (8%), Eunicidae (4%), Hesionidae (4%) e Capitellidae (3%). Um total de 12 características abióticas aferidas no local da coleta foram comparadas a distribuição da fauna para determinar a significância das diferenças nos setores geomorfológicos. Características físico-químicas da água não apresentaram alterações significativas entre as amostras de cascalho, areia e lama, com exceção da transparência da água. Das variáveis sedimentares (tamanho médio do grão, % de matéria orgânica, % de carbonato de cálcio e selecionamento) apenas o selecionamento não foi significativo para diferir os três setores. As análises multivariadas a partir da abundância da macrofauna total refletem três ambientes distintos que foram confirmados a nível de família de poliquetas. As estações de areia litorânea com alta hidrodinâmica e baixo percentual de matéria orgânica possuem o maior percentual de poliquetas. As amostras com profundidade intermediária e fundo de lama apontam uma tendência a redução no percentual de poliquetas e uma maior contribuição de moluscos. As amostras com fundo de cascalho apresentaram as maiores densidades e diversidade da fauna total com maior contribuição de crustáceos e redução da fauna poliquetológica. Entre as famóilias de poliquetas a maior densidade também esteve relacionada ao agrupamento de cascalho mas os valores de diversidade não variaram de forma significativa entre os ambientes. As análises de similaridade evidenciam associações de famílias características a cada setor com as maiores semelhanças entre os ambientes de areia litorânea e lama. De forma geral o uso de uma matriz mista contendo a identificação da fauna total em níveis taxonômicos menos específicos se mostrou útil para inferências ecológicas na plataforma continental de Sergipe. As variáveis abióticas que mais influenciaram os índices biológicos foram profundidade, tamanho médio do grão, percentual de carbonato de cálcio e percentual de cascalho. / ABSTRACT From the faciological mapping of the continental shelf of Sergipe the characterization of the benthic macrobenthos was carried out. In all, 16 sediment samples were obtained by tripling with the use of a Ven Ven 0.1m². The sampling points were distributed in three distinct geomorphological sectors: 6 stations on the gravel, 5 stations on the mud and 5 stations on the sand. The macrofauna was composed of 6874 individuals distributed in 10 phyla. The main groups were Polychaeta (44.54%), Crustacea (37.88%), Mollusca (13.47%) and Echinodermata (2.61%). The Polychaeta, being the dominant group, were identified until family taxonomic level, evidencing a total of 3062 individuals distributed in 37 families. The most abundant families were Syllidae (43%), Spionidae (8%), Chrysopetalidae (8%), Eunicidae (4%), Hesionidae (4%) and Capitellidae (3%). A total of 12 abiotic characteristics measured at the collection site were compared to the fauna distribution to determine the significance of the differences in the geomorphological sectors. Physicalchemical characteristics of the water did not show significant changes between the gravel, sand and mud samples, except for water transparency. From the sedimentary variables (average grain size,% organic matter,% calcium carbonate and sorting), only the sorting was not significant to differ the three sectors. The multivariate analyzes from total macrofauna abundance reflect three distinct environments that have been confirmed at the polychaete family level. The littoral sand stations with high hydrodynamics and low percentage of organic matter have the highest percentage of polychaetes. The samples with intermediate depth and background of mud indicate a tendency of reduction in the percentage of polychaetes and the greater contribution of molluscs between the sectors. The samples with a background of gravel showed the highest densities and diversity of overall fauna with higher contribution of crustaceans and reduction of polychaete percentages in comparison to the other groups. Among the polychaete families the highest density was also related to the gravel grouping, but the diversity values at the polychaete family level did not vary significantly between the environments. The analyze of similarities show associations of families that are characteristic of each sector with the greatest similarities between coastal sand and mud environments. In general, the use of a mixed matrix with indentification of total fauna in less specific taxonomic levels proved useful for ecological inferences on the Sergipe continental shelf. The abiotic variables that influenced the biological indexes were depth, mean grain size, percentage of calcium carbonate and percentage of gravel. Keywords: Macrobenthos. Continental shelf. Geomorphological sectors. Abiotic factors.

A variação espacial e temporal do macrobentos da Lagoa das Custódias, pertencente ao Sistema Lagunar Tramandaí-Sul, foi avaliada no ano de 1989, a partir de amostragens de verão e inverno. As coletas foram realizadas em 48 pontos dispostos em cinco perfis transversais, sendo a área de sedimento amostrada, em cada ponto, de 0,24 m2. Medidas de temperatura, cloretos, pH, matéria orgânica, quantidade de fragmentos e cobertura vegetal foram tomadas do sedimento e/ou água. A associação biológica encontrada é tipicamente estuarina, tendo as espécies Nephtys fluviatilis, Heteromastus similis, Ciprideis riograndensis e Heleobia australis como alguns de seus componentes principais. O padrão temporal mostra maior abundância de organismos no inverno, o que parece estar relacionado à combinação de picos reprodutivos das espécies e atividade sazonal de predadores na laguna. Espacialmente, a presença da macrófita submersa Chara zeilanica foi o fator que mais influenciou a distribuição das espécies estuarinas. / Spational and temporal variation of macrofauna of Custódias Lagoon, Tramandaí, Brazil, was analyzed in 1989 through summer and winter samplings. Bottons samples were taken in 48 stations organized by five W-E transects. The sediment sampled area was 0,24 m2 at each station. Measurements of temperature, CI- ions, pH, organic matter, vegetation fragment and cover were taken of sediment and/or water. The biological associaton found is characteristically estuarine, with Nephtys fluviatilis, Heteromastus similis, Ciprideis riograndensis and Heleobia australis as some of its principal components. Temporal pattern showed greatest abundance o f fauna during the winter, which seems to relate with a combination of reprodutive pulses and seazonal intense predation. Spationally, the presence of submergent macrophyta Cbara zeilanica. was played the most important role in the distribution of estuarine benthic macroinvertebrates.

Orientador: Prof. Dr. Guilherme Henrique Pereira Filho / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do ABC, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Evolução e Diversidade, 2016. / Engenheiros Ecossistemicos (EE) modulam a disponibilidade de recursos no ambiente. Este e o caso dos rodolitos (i.e. gnodulos de vida livreh compostos por mais de 50% de algas calcarias incrustantes que formam bancos em fundos inconsolidados) que promovem habitats para diversos organismos. Por outro lado, muitos desses organismos modulam condicoes para o crescimento de rodolitos. Esta interacao resulta na criacao de redes altamente dependentes de EEs. O peixe Malacanthus plumieri move rodolitos para a construcao de montes. Esta movimentacao altera o estado fisico de nodulos e, possivelmente, contribua para a diferenciacao das comunidades associadas. Portanto, avaliamos se as comunidades de macrofauna vagil (> 500¿Êm) presentes nos montes sao afetadas de forma positiva, negativa ou neutra em relacao a area controle (i.e. sem interferencia do M. plumieri). Alem disso, procuramos identificar as principais variaveis fisicas, que sao alteradas pelo peixe, que predizem a estrutura da macrofauna associada aos rodolitos. Para tanto, amostramos no Arquipelago de Fernando de Noronha 30 rodolitos na area controle e 30 nos montes. Cada nodulo foi individualmente inserido em sacolas de nylon com malha de 500¿Êm. Os epibiontes foram removidos e identificados. Mensuramos volume e diametros de cada rodolito e quantificamos o peso seco das macroalgas e do sedimento. Observamos que rodolitos da area controle apresentaram maior quantidade de macroalgas epifitas e sedimentos aprisionados quando comparados com rodolitos presentes nos montes (t=-0,04, p<0,001 e t=-0,54, p <0,001; respectivamente). A bioturbacao causada por M. plumieri altera as condicoes para o estabelecimento da macroalgas, reduzindo as taxas de sedimentos aprisionados. Como resultado, ha uma reducao na abundancia, riqueza e densidade de macroinvertebrados (t=-7,42, p<0,001; t=-7,92, p<0,001; t=-2,84, p<0,01; respectivamente). Portanto, M. plumieri afeta indiretamente a comunidade de macroinvertebrados vageis. Em contraste com outros estudos, o efeito da coexistencia destes EEs parece ser antagonico (i.e. positivo para a abundancia e riqueza de ictiofauna e negativo para macroalgas e macroinvertebrados). Assim, mudancas estruturais no sistema, embora promovidas pelo mesmo EE, influenciam comunidades de diferentes maneiras e sao dependentes da escala dos organismos em questao. / Ecosystem engineers (EE), such as rhodoliths, control the availability of resources in the environment, providing habitats for other organisms, as other algae and many animals. Some of these organisms are able to modulate the environmental conditions where rhodoliths grow, thus forming a highly dependent network. The sand tilefish Malacanthus plumieri, for example, moves rhodoliths to build mounds over their burrows. This behavior changes the physical medium in which the nodules are, and therefore, their associated communities¿ structure and composition. We assessed the effect of communities associated with mounds in comparison to non-mounded areas (i.e. rhodolith areas without the interference of the tilefish). Additionally, we seek to identify the main physical variables changed by the action of M. plumieri in predicting the structure of the macrofauna associated with rhodoliths. Rhodoliths from non-mounded areas showed higher amounts of epiphytic macroalgae and sediment trapped on rhodoliths than mounds (t=-0.04, p<0.001 and t=-0.54, p<0.001, respectively). Bioturbation caused by M. plumieri alters the conditions for macroalgae establishment, reducing the trapped sediment. As a result, there is also a reduction in the abundance, richness and density of macroinvertebrates (t=-7.42, p<0.001, t=-7.92, p<0.001, t=-2.84, p<0.01 respectively). The ecosystem role of M. plumieri indirectly affects the vagile macrofauna community. In contrast to other studies, the coexistence of these EEs (i.e. rhodoliths and tilefishes) seems to be antagonistic (i.e. positive for the abundance and richness of ichthyofauna and negative for macroalgae and macroinvertebrates). Thus, structural changes in the system, although promoted by the same EE, influence communities in different ways depending on the scale of the organisms in question.