To meet ambitious net-zero greenhouse gas emission targets by 2050, large-scale CO₂ reduction and removal are required. Nature-based solutions have been proposed as a potential aid to this process. Mangrove ecosystems, as well as their conservation and restoration, have the potential to make significant contributions in Saudi Arabia and other coastal regions. While field measurements of carbon assimilation rate and leaf area index (LAI) in mangroves provide important insights into carbon fluxes, they are time-consuming, labor-intensive, and limited when covering large areas. To address this issue, multispectral images captured by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) are used to generate spectral vegetation indices, which can then be used to build regression models for estimating mangrove LAI and carbon capture capabilities. The carbon assimilation rate measurements in the field for studying both diurnal and sub-seasonal fluxes revealed that Avicennia marina has a high carbon assimilation rate peak in the morning, which decreases thereafter, and a smaller peak in the afternoon. Furthermore, comparing all the studied sites, the KAM site (June) had the highest morning overall carbon assimilation rate values, ranging from 15- 20 μmol CO₂ m⁻² s⁻¹, followed by Island (October) ranging from 10- 17 μmol CO₂ m⁻² s⁻¹, and finally Rheem (February) ranging from 5- 15 μmol CO₂ m⁻² s⁻¹. Moreover, the acquired multispectral images were used to generate spectral vegetation indices, which were then used as input to build a random forest algorithm for estimating the LAI of mangroves. Following an evaluation of each mangrove site, the Rheem site dataset yielded the best Random forest algorithm (R²= 0.88 and RMSE= 0.39), so this model was used to create high resolution spatially distributed LAI-based maps for all of the mangrove sites studied. Knowing the carbon uptake per leaf area as well as the total leaf area (based on UAV-derived LAI estimates) within a mangrove site enabled us to create carbon capture maps (kg C yr⁻¹ per pixel) for all of the sites studied. To enable a more complete carbon accounting of mangrove ecosystems, future research should explore remote sensing approaches for inferring carbon assimilation in both belowground biomass and soils.

Plastic pollution has become of public concern recently and only in the last decades the need of quantifying loads of plastic in the marine environment and identifying their ultimate destination has been urged as a mean to point at where interventions should concentrate. The Arabian seas (Red Sea and Arabian Gulf) have oceanographic features that candidate them as accumulation zones for marine plastics, but, especially the Red Sea, are largely unexplored. The dissertation here presented provides significant advances in the understanding of the marine plastic distribution in the two basins. Despite the initial hypothesis, the Red Sea was found to hold a remarkably low abundance of plastic particles in its surface waters. Similarly, previous assessments have reported the same in the Arabian Gulf. In line with the global estimates, only a small portion of the plastic that is discarded yearly in the marine environment is found in its surface waters, implying the presence of removal processes. However, the unexpectedly low loads of floating plastics in the Arabian seas indicate that sinks are likely more significant here than elsewhere. In the Red Sea, an extensive survey of macroplastic stranded on shores, globally considered a major sink of marine plastic, has indicated that Avicennia marina mangrove forests, through the mesh created by their pneumatophores, contribute significantly more than unvegetated shores in retaining plastics. Loads of plastic in the Arabian Gulf mangrove stands, more impacted by coastal development than stands in the Red Sea, are even larger. The role of mangroves as significant sinks of plastics is further corroborated by the finding that the burial rates of plastic in their sediments follow an exponential increase in line with the global plastic production increase, ultimately demonstrating that plastic is likely sequestered there permanently. Mangrove forests alone are, however, not enough to justify the mismatch between plastic inputs and loads in surface waters. The experimental finding showed here that coral structures can passively trap substantial loads of microplastics and the large extension of reefs, especially in the Red Sea, suggest that reefs might constitute a missing sink of marine plastic in the basin worth exploring.

Coastal wetland plants serve as ecological engineers in a physiologically stressful environment and the loss of coastal wetlands can cause negative effects throughout the estuarine system. Due to increased degradation of coastal habitats worldwide, interest in restoration has increased around the world. An understanding of the biotic processes affecting species distribution and diversity is critical for future conservation, management, and restoration of coastal wetlands. The purpose of my study was to test the effects of biotic interactions on native coastal wetland plants and determine how these interactions may be incorporated into current and future restoration projects. I had three primary goals for my dissertation. First, I evaluated the effectiveness of natural regeneration of coastal wetland communities following hydrological restoration. Second, I examined effects of biotic interactions between mangroves and other wetland species by experimentally testing: 1) trapping capabilities of early successional plant species on Rhizophora mangle propagules, 2) effects of pre-dispersal propagule damage on native mangrove species, 3) facilitative and competitive interactions between the plants Rhizophora mangle, Batis maritima, Sarcocornia perennis, and the fiddler crab, Uca pugilator using mesocosms. Third, I evaluated the combined effects of biotic and abiotic interactions on survival and growth of R. mangle propagules during their first year of establishment using a manipulative field experiment. Results from my study increase our knowledge of the importance of biotic interactions in coastal wetland communities, their role in early successional stages, and have direct applications to coastal wetland restoration and management.

Mangrove ecosystems are among the world's most endangered biomes; nearly one-half of the overall coverage is threatened by human activity, invasive species, and global climate change. Mangroves play an important ecosystem role through detrital production and by providing: fisheries and wildlife nursery habitat, shoreline protection, a sink for nutrients, carbon, and sediment. In addition to human activity, the Florida mangroves (Avicennia germinans, Laguncularia racemosa, and Rhizophora mangle) are being threatened by the invasive Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius). This study was performed along a 261 km stretch of the east coast of Florida from Sebastian Inlet to the northern extent of mangroves, near St. Augustine. It entailed two parts. The first examined the phenology and leafing rates of the four species and attempted to find if there was a relationship between growth and latitude or temperature. Although a correlation between peaks in temperature and phenology was observed for all species, no leafing pattern could be discerned. In terms of mangrove growth for branch diameter, a logarithmic model (y=a + b·log [Initial diameter]) best fitted the data for R. mangle and L. racemosa but neither latitude nor temperature appeared to be important. However, S. terebinthifolius' and A. germinans's branch diameter growth were best represented by a logarithmic model (y=a + b·log [Initial diameter] + c·log x2) that incorporated temperature and latitudinal respectively. In the second part, a simulation model was developed to focus on understanding the relationships between establishment and competition among the three mangrove species and the invading S. terebinthifolius. This model was run under various invasion and/or climate change scenarios to determine possible outcomes under global climate change with or without the presence of S. terebinthifolius. Conclusions were drawn that under all scenarios of invasion, other than sea level rise as part of global climate change, S. terebinthifolius would dominate the landscape if allowed to invade and establish in areas in which it is not currently present although the amount of this response is dependent on the S. terebinthifolius response curves.

No description available.

L'amélioration des processus de dégradation de la biomasse lignocellulosique est un enjeu capital du développement des biotechnologies vertes. Au cours de ces travaux de thèse, nous nous sommes intéressés à deux sujets centrés autour de l'exploitation des souches fongiques pour la dégradation de la lignocellulose. Tout d'abord, nous avons étudié la diversité taxonomique et enzymatique d'un environnement original : la mangrove. Une campagne de prélèvement en Nouvelle-Calédonie à été organisée, afin d'étudier la diversité taxonomique des communautés fongiques établies sur les palétuviers. L'utilisation d'une approche « Tag-Pyrosequencing » a permis de mettre en lumière l'existence d'une taxonomiques extrêmement importante puisque plusieurs milliers d'espèces ont été détectées dans les différentes niches écologiques de cet écosystème. Ces travaux ont également permis d'établir le rôle primordial de la spécificité d'hôte dans l'établissement des communautés fongiques. Nous avons par la suite isolé différentes souches de champignons à partir d'échantillons de palétuvier et avons procédé au criblage de leurs activités lignocellulolytiques (oxidase, cellulase, mannanase, xyalanase). A l'issue de ce crible, une souche, identifiée comme un Pestalotiopsis sp, présentant la plus grande polyvalence en termes d'activités enzymatiques a été sélectionnée. / The improvement of lignocellulosic biomass degradation processes is a key aspect of the development of “green” biotechnologies. During this thesis, we focused on two subjects centred on the usage of fungal strains for the degradation of lignocellulose. First, we studied the taxonomic and enzymatic diversity in an original ecosystem: mangroves. A sampling was performed in New-Caledonia in order to study the fungal communities colonizing mangrove trees. By using Tag-Pyrosequencing, we showed the existence of very large communities harbouring several thousand species in the different microhabitats of the ecosystem. This work also revealed the key role of host specificity as a factor driving the fungal colonisation of mangrove trees. We then isolated several fungal strains from various mangrove tree samples, and performed a screening of their lignocellulolytic activities (oxidase, cellulase, mannanase, xylanase). A single strain was selected fromthis screening, identified as Pestalotiopsis sp., which showed the most complete diverse enzymatic activities. A de novo transcriptome was assembled from mRNA sequences, which allowed highlighting a wide array of transcripts encoding biomass degradation enzymes, as well as the existence of a mechanism of adaptation to salt based on the secretion of salt-tolerant lignocellulolytic enzymes. Secondly, we studied the limitations of fungal co-culture linked to competitive interactions mechanisms. The RNA-Seq analysis of genetic expression during the interaction between Pycnoporus coccineus and Coniophora puteana or Botrytis cinerea indicates that different mechanisms are used depending on the opponent.

Mangrove ecosystems thrive in (sub)tropical, intertidal areas where adaptations<p>like vivipary and the hydrochorous dispersal of propagules become an absolute<p>necessity. As propagule dispersal and early growth allow for the replenishment of<p>existing stands and colonization of new habitats, many authors recognize the<p>importance of these stages in structuring mangrove populations and communities.<p>However, when it comes to the actual propagule dispersal and recruitment<p>mechanisms, there is an apparent lacuna in the current understanding of<p>mangrove ecology. The period between the mature propagule falling from the<p>parental mangrove tree and the early growth of the established seedling, under<p>various possible circumstances, remains in the dark. In this study we focus on this<p>particular period by investigating both the places where these propagules end up<p>as the pathways their dispersal units follow. And we go one step further.<p><p>Mangrove forests are being destroyed worldwide at a threatening pace despite<p>their tremendous asset to coastal human communities and associated biological<p>species. The effect of human-induced (cutting and mangrove conversion to<p>aquaculture ponds) as well as indirectly and/or ‘naturally’ evolving disturbances<p>(sea level rise) on propagule hydrochory occupies an important place in this study.<p><p>Dispersal of water-buoyant propagules of the family Rhizophoraceae and<p>Acanthaceae (now including the Avicenniaceae) was studied in Gazi Bay (Kenya),<p>Galle and the Pambala-Chilaw Lagoon Complex (Sri Lanka). The study sites<p>differ both in tidal regime and vegetation structure, covering an interesting variety<p>of ecological settings to examine propagule dispersal. Field data and experiments<p>ranging from micro/ mesotopographical measurements and successive propagule<p>counts to hydrodynamic and propagule dispersal experiments were collected or<p>executed in situ.<p><p>Two main methodological approaches were employed. Firstly, the question on<p>mechanisms of propagule recruitment was addressed by statistically investigating<p>the effect of microtopography, top soil texture and above-ground-root complexes on<p>the stranding and self-planting of propagules (Chapter 2&3). Afterwards,<p>suitability maps were created using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to<p>assess whether a particular mangrove stand has the ability to succesfully<p>rejuvenate. Furthermore, the effect of degradation (tree cutting) (Chapter 2&3),<p>sea level rise (Chapter 2&4) and microtopography-altering burrowing activities of<p>the mangrove mud lobster Thalassina anomala (Chapter 3), was incoporated in the<p>GIS-analyses. Secondly, the combined set-up of hydrodynamic modelling and<p>ecological dispersal modelling was developed to simulate propagule dispersal<p>pathways influenced by dispersal vectors (tidal flow, fresh water discharge, wind),<p>trapping agents (retention by vegetation or aerial root complexes) and seed<p>characteristics (buoyancy, obligated dispersal period) (Chapter 5&6). This type of<p>approach provided the possibility to explore propagule dispersal within its<p>ecological context, but was also applied to an implication of shrimp pond area<p>restoration (Pambala-Chilaw Lagoon Complex, Sri Lanka) (Chapter 5) and to<p>evaluate changes in propagule dispersal when sea level rises (Gazi Bay, Kenya)<p>(Chapter 6).<p><p>The main findings regarding propagule recruitment indicate that propagules are<p>not distributed equally or randomly within a mangrove stand, yet species-specific<p>distribution for anchorage occurs. Characteristics of the environment<p>(microtopography, top soil texture and above-ground root complex) influence<p>propagule recruitment in a way that complex root systems (e.g. pencil roots and<p>prop roots) facilitate the entanglement of dispersal units and a more compact soil<p>texture (like clay and silt) and a predominant flat topography creates suitable<p>areas for stranding and self-planting of propagules. This combines effects of<p>existing vegetation and abiotic factors on mangrove propagule establishment.<p>Since propagule dispersal is not solely determined by species-specific propagule<p>characteristics (e.g. buoyancy, longevity, etc.), I emphasize that propagule sorting<p>by hydrochory has to be viewed within its ecological context. Propagule retention<p>by vegetation and wind as a dispersal vector, deserve a prominent role in studies<p>on propagule dispersal. The significance of dense vegetation obstructing long<p>distance dispersal (LDD in its definition of this work), mainly in inner mangrove<p>zones, supports our main finding that propagule dispersal is largely a short<p>distance phenomenon. ‘Largely’ is here understood as quantitatively, not<p>excluding epic colonization events of rare but important nature.<p>In accordance with the Tidal Sorting Hypothesis (TSH) of Rabinowitz (1978a),<p>smaller, oval-shaped propagules were found to disperse over larger distances than<p>bigger, torpedo-shaped propagules. We can however not fully support the TSH<p>because (1) these differences are no longer valid when comparing between torpedoshaped<p>propagules of different sizes and (2) propagule dispersal is not always<p>directed towards areas more inland, but can be strongly concentrated towards the<p>edges of lagoons and channels<p><p>Anthropogenic pressure on mangrove ecosystems, more specifically clear-felling or<p>mangrove conversion to aquaculture ponds, imposes limitations on propagule<p>recruitment due to reduced propagule availability and a decrease in suitable<p>stranding areas where the architecture of certain root complexes, like prop roots<p>and pencil roots, function as propagule traps. These types of pressure appear to<p>have more severe consequences on propagule dispersal than the effect of sea level<p>rise on mangroves. Mangrove forests, which are not situated in an obviously<p>vulnerable setting, can be resilient to a relative rise in sea level if a landward shift<p>of vegetation assemblages and successful early colonization is not obstructed by<p>human-induced pressures. Also, and this renders mangrove forests vulnerable in<p>spite of their intrinsic resilience, when the ‘capital’ of forest is severely reduced or<p>impoverished as happens extensively worldwide, the ‘interest’ on this capital,<p>understood as propagule availability, delivery and trapping, will not allow them to<p>efficiently cope with sea level rise, putting sustainability of mangrove ecosystem<p>services and goods at risk.<p><p>In a larger framework of mangrove vegetation dynamics, knowledge on propagule<p>dispersal will benefit management strategies for the conservation of mangroves<p>worldwide, besides its fundamental interest to fully fathom the ecology of this<p>particular marine-terrestrial ecotone formation. / Doctorat en Sciences / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

A Baixada Santista encontra-se na região central do litoral de São Paulo (23o55S). É um típico ambiente costeiro tropical dominado por extensos manguezais. Entretanto, vem sofrendo intenso processo de alteração ambiental devido a atividades industriais e portuárias, além da ausência de planejamento urbano. A fim de avaliar a capacidade de recomposição natural dos manguezais na Ilha Barnabé foram realizados estudos em bosque impactado por derramamento e combustão de produto químico (DCPD) em 1998, monitorando a recomposição natural da vegetação (2002-2007); a produção de serapilheira (2002-2007) e a microtopografia (2004 e 2008). Também foram analisadas fotografias aéreas em escala multitemporal (1962, 1972, 1994 e 2003) e a caracterização estrutural de bosques em diferentes estágios sucessionais. No bosque impactado por produto químico, a recomposição natural se mostrou eficaz, porém lenta; a produção de serapilheira apresentou valores crescentes ao longo dos anos com grande contribuição de propágulos deformados ou abortados e a microtopografia mostrou intensa dinâmica sedimentar. A análise das fotografias aéreas mostrou os diversos impactos ocorridos na região com formação de clareiras na vegetação e recomposição natural parcial. A caracterização estrutural dos bosques em diferentes estágios sucessionais mostrou que a recomposição natural dos manguezais da Ilha Barnabé apresenta um mosaico de características estruturais refletindo as diferentes intensidades e tipos de tensores que atuam na região. A metodologia utilizada mostrou-se adequada para avaliação da capacidade de recomposição natural de bosques de mangue. / The Baixada Santista and Santos Estuary are located in the central portion of the São Paulo State coastline (23º55\'S). It is a typical tropical coastal environment dominated by extensive mangroves areas despite the intensive harbor and heavy industrial activities, and their location within a continually evolving human landscape. The present study was developed in a mangrove area at Barnabé Island. In order to assess the natural recovery of the mangroves, a site impacted in 1998 by a DCPD (dicyclopentadiene) spill that was followed by a fire, natural recovery, litter fall and microtopography was monitored (2002-2008). Also was an analysed aerial photograph at Barnabé Island in multitemporal scale (1962, 1972, 1994 and 2003) and realized structural characterization in different successional stages mangroves stands. In a site impacted by a DCPD the recovery was successful but very low; in litter fall the values increasing in period and was observed propagule deformities and a intense sedimentary dynamics. The aerial photographs showed different impacts with gap creation and partial recovery process in some areas. Structural characterization in different successional stages mangroves stands showed zonation that reflects a gradient of stress. The methodology used appears adequate to describe and assess the capacity of natural recovery mangrove stands.

O manguezal é um ambiente dinâmico, exportador de matéria orgânica para os ecossistemas associados oferecendo inúmeros serviços ambientais, além de possuir importância social e econômica e cumprir um papel significativo no armazenamento de carbono (C) e nitrogênio (N) no solo. Grande parte dessas florestas encontram-se degradadas devido ao uso indevido dessas áreas, influenciando os ciclos biogeoquímicos desses ambientes. Contudo, são escassos os trabalhos de regeneração de manguezais e a avaliação simultânea da ciclagem de nitrogênio nas áreas em diferentes estágios de regeneração. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi caracterizar o nitrogênio da vegetação e do solo de manguezal localizado no Rio Cocó em Fortaleza (CE) em diferentes estágios de regeneração da vegetação. O estudo foi realizado em quatro áreas, sendo uma não vegetada, duas em regeneração plantadas há três e sete anos e uma preservada. Foram quantificados os teores elementares e isotópicos de C e N na vegetação e no solo, além do nitrogênio inorgânico (N-amônio e N-nitrato) no solo. Os resultados indicaram que a regeneração de manguezais promove o aumento dos teores de C e N no solo ao considerar maiores valores na área referência em relação a área sem vegetação arbórea e que na área de regeneração de sete anos os teores foram maiores que na área de três anos, além disso, não houve diferença na assinatura isotópica de ?15N e ?13C. Assim, destaca-se a importância das iniciativas de regeneração das áreas de manguezais degradados, pois em sete anos foi possível identificar diferenças significativas entre os indicadores de qualidade do solo na área em regeneração há sete anos e a área sem vegetação arbórea / The mangrove is a dynamic environment, expoter of organic material to the associated ecosystems offering uncountable environmental services, besides having social and economical importance and playing a significative role in carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) storage in the soil. Great part of these forests find themselves degradated due to improper use of these areas, influencing the biogeochemic cycles of these environments. However, the mangrove regeneration works are rare and simultaneous examination of the nitrogen cycling in the areas in different stages of regenaration, though. Thus, the objective of this study was to characterize the nitrogen of the vegetation and the soil of the mangrove placed at Rio Cocó in Fortaleza (CE) in different stages of regeneration of the vegetation. The study was conducted in four areas, being one non-vegetated, two in regeneration planted for three and seven years and a preserved one. Were quantified the levels of elemental and C and N isotopics in the vegetation and the soil, besides inorganic nitrogen (N-amonium and N-nitrate) in the soil. The results have shown that the regeneration of mangroves improve the increase of C and N levels in the soil when considering bigger values in the referred area in relation to the area without arboreal vegetation and that in the seven years regeneration area the levels were greater than in the three years area, despites that, there weren\'t differences in isotopical signatures 15N and 13C. Thus, it highlights the importance of the initiatives of regeneration of the degraded mangrove areas, because in seven years it was possible to identify significative differences among the soil\'s quality indicators in the seven years regeneration area and the area without arboreal vegetation

Submitted by Jean Medeiros (jeanletras@uepb.edu.br) on 2016-08-19T13:11:18Z No. of bitstreams: 1 PDF - Leidson Allan Ferreira de Lucena.pdf: 2690352 bytes, checksum: af138cc1f96427cfccb006ba3e949852 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-19T13:11:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PDF - Leidson Allan Ferreira de Lucena.pdf: 2690352 bytes, checksum: af138cc1f96427cfccb006ba3e949852 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-02-17 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Marine and coastal environments in the world have been facing in the last years a notable environmental degradation process. Macroalgae are the main constituent phytobenthics communities, and they are essentials to the establishment of balance and resilience these ecosystems. The mangroves swamps are coastal environments and may be ecotones, because they are an interposition of continental and marine environments overlap, in scalar patterns. The organisms found have become resistants with the strong transition that occur, such as Bostrychietum macroalgae, where they have formed the most homogeneous communities of mangroves swamps wide world. However, the mangrove swamps typically fall within one of two broad categories of classification: mainland or oceanic island. The mainland mangroves are home biological communities resistants with the strong phisico-chemical variations, and of oceanic island mangroves form on shallow banks or in lagoonal areas well separated from the mainland. In Brazil, mangroves swamps are solely of type mainland, which form the major area these forests in the coastal South America. This ecosystemic pattern is normally associate with fluvial systems – the estuaries, and is combined with many biological disorders, such as salinity and flooding tolerance. The estuarines environments which gives different environments in biological diversity, where can check trait plasticity between population. The estuaries can be classified in three categories: Positives, Low -Inflow and Negatives. Brazilian mangroves there are solely Positives Estuaries where the addition of freshwater river, discharge and thaw exceed the loss by evaporation or freezing, where longitudinal density gradients that drive a net volume output to the ocean. But in semi-arid region, Northeast of Brazil, there are some ecosystemics patterns. The estuarine-mangals show negative characters that are hypersaline and/or reverse, because the flow of freshwater systems are barely making them with a longitudinal density gradient with the opposite sign in relation the positive estuaries and salt concentrations rarely exceed 50. Two rivers (Casqueira and Shark rivers), located in setentrional coast of Rio Grande do Norte state, Macau city, have shown how negatives estuaries (hypersaline and reverse), and are composition species of macroalgae many specific and have a very dynamic environment. A pilot study conducted in April 2010 have been showing one ficoflora visually diverse, that have colonized muddy substrates in great abundance unusually and then resembles those typically found in marine environments typical. To contribute to the scientific knowledge of macroalgae found, this study has as main objective: to do a investigation about composition and structure macroalgae of two hypersaline mangroves, so to observe the effects of hipersalinity and physic-chemical patterns in the dynamics of algal communities. Therefore, this work establishes a comparative relationship between communities and population of seaweeds this environments. / Os ambientes costeiros e marinhos no mundo vem sofrendo um considerável processo de degradação nos últimos anos. As macroalgas, principais constituintes das comunidades fitobentônicas, são fundamentais para o estabelecimento do equilíbrio e resiliência dos ecossistemas nestes ambientes. Em padrões escalares, os manguezais são ambientes costeiros e podem ser considerados ecótonos, por haver uma interposição de ambientes continental e marinho sobrepostos. Os organismos existentes nestes ambientes tornam-se resistentes a forte transição que ocorre, a exemplo as macroalgas do grupo “Bostrychietum”, que formam comunidades homogêneas na maioria dos manguezais do mundo. Os manguezais podem estar distribuídos em duas categorias: os continentais, que abrigam comunidades biológicas resistentes às fortes variações físico - químicas, e as de ilhas oceânicas que formam bancos de águas rasas ou áreas lagunares bem separadas do continente. No Brasil, os manguezais são exclusivamente do tipo continentais, exceção os de Fernando de Noronha, com a maior área costeira na América do Sul. Este padrão ecossistêmico normalmente está associado a sistemas fluviais que são os estuários e é associado a diversos distúrbios biológicos, a exemplo das variações da salinidade; o que confere ambientes distintos em diversidade biológica, conferindo plasticidade fenotípica entre as populações. Os estuários podem ser classificados de três tipos: Positivos, “Low-Inflow” e Negativos. Manguezais brasileiros estão comumente associados a estuários Positivos que são aqueles em que a adição de água doce do rio, chuva, descarga e derretimento do gelo excedem a perda por evaporação ou congelamento, estabelecendo um gradiente de densidade longitudinal em que dirige um volume líquido de saída para o oceano. Porém, na região semi -árida do Nordeste brasileiro, ocorrem algumas particularidades ecossistêmicas. Os ambientes mangue-estuarinos demonstram características hipersalinas, sendo também considerados negativos e/ou inversos, pois, por situarem em regiões áridas e semi- áridas, a vazão de água doce nesses sistemas é praticamente nula o que os tornam com um gradiente de densidade longitudinal com o sinal oposto em relação aos estuários positivos e as concentrações de sal raramente inferiores a 42. Dois manguezais (Rio Casqueira e Tubarão), localizados no litoral setentrional do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte, município de Macau, revelaram-se de caráter negativo e hipersalinos, além de serem bastante peculiares em termos de composição de espécies macroalgais e da própria dinâmica do ambiente. Um estudo-piloto realizado no mês de Abril de 2010 revelou uma ficoflora visualmente diversa, que atipicamente coloniza substratos lamacentos em grande abundância e que se assemelha àquelas tipicamente encontradas em ambientes marinhos típicos. Visando contribuir com o conhecimento científico acerca das macroalgas encontradas, o presente estudo tem como principal objetivo: realizar uma investigação da composição e estrutura da comunidade de macroalgas de dois manguezais hipersalinos no intuito de observar os efeitos da hipersalinidade sob padrões físico-químicos na dinâmica das comunidades algais, estabelecendo uma relação comparativa entre as populações e comunidades de algas marinhas dos ambientes estudados.