Meiofauna are an abundant, diverse and important component of the marine biota, however, much of their ecology has been neglected. Despite their high densities, meiofaunal abundance is often patchy. Meiofauna present in high numbers at one site will often be less abundant in seemingly similar adjacent sites. What factors govern this variability? How readily do these animals colonize new patches? How do various biological and environmental factors affect meiofaunal colonization rate and resulting assemblage structure? The response of meiofauna to changes in abiotic factors, including sediment grain size, depth, exposure and distance from the ocean floor, was quite variable. Often one factor would affect certain taxa and not others. Even slight increases in depth resulted in drastic declines of harpacticoid copepods while nematodes were unaffected. Meiofauna were also fewer in sediments with large interstitial spaces. Some meiofauna were most abundant in sediments placed closer to the ocean floor. Other taxa colonized distant substrata as rapidly as they did substrate located closer to the ocean floor. This suggested differences between taxa in their rates of active dispersal. The effects of macrofauna on meiofauna have been debated. In particular, how do clams affect the colonization and assemblage structure of meiofauna? Certain characteristics of clams were isolated and evaluated: feeding behaviour, bioturbation rate/depth and metabolic byproducts. Clams that caused the greatest meiofauna declines were shallow burrowing deposit-feeders. Constant disturbance to the upper sediment by these clams was likely responsible for meiofaunal impact. Conversely, suspensionfeeding clams that passed quickly to deeper sediment and remained stationary had little impact on meiofauna. Finally, a survey of local marine nematodes added nine genera new to Canada and 24 genera new to British Columbia. A review was also compiled that shows nematodes and other meiofauna have been neglected for much of Canada. Although these small and abundant animals are quick to colonize even distant habitats they are quite sensitive to cues from the surrounding biotic and abiotic environment. This sensitivity combined with their ease of collection make meiofauna a valuable asset to any number of ecological investigations. / Ecology

Marine soft sediments are the second largest habitat on Earth. How animal communities in this habitat are structured is a central issue in marine ecology. Food is an important limiting factor for many benthic populations, and settling organic matter from phytoplankton blooms is of vital importance to them. This thesis discusses the effects of settling phytoplankton blooms on benthic meiofaunal populations in the Baltic Sea and how species interactions affect the fate of settled organic matter. Eutrophication in the Baltic Sea has altered phytoplankton community dynamics, with indications that toxin-producing cyanobacterial blooms may reach the benthos in greater quantity than previously. Paper I found that meiofauna feed on settled cyanobacteria, yet suffer no increase in mortality. However, growth of meiofauna is significantly slower on a diet of cyanobacteria than when fed spring bloom diatoms, indicating that the studied cyanobacteria are nutritionally poor (Paper II). In Paper III we found that the presence of macrofauna reduces the access of meiofauna to settled organic matter, presumably through interference competition that increases when several macrofauna species are present. We also found that meiofaunal populations influence the provision of ecosystem services by benthic microbes. Paper IV shows that when meiofauna is abundant, mineralization of organic matter is positively affected, presumably through facilitation mechanisms. In contrast, paper V reports that degradation of the contaminant naphtalene decreases significantly at high meiofauna abundance. In conclusion, this thesis shows that type and quality of organic matter available, as well as competition from macrofauna, affect how meiofauna grow and incorporate nutrients. Furthermore we found meiofauna to be an important functional component of the benthic ecosystem, with marked effects on ecosystem processes such as nutrient regeneration and contaminant degradation. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 3: Manuscript. Paper 4: Manuscript. Paper 5: In press.</p>

Submitted by Caroline Falcao (caroline.rfalcao@ufpe.br) on 2017-06-29T17:18:13Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 811 bytes, checksum: e39d27027a6cc9cb039ad269a5db8e34 (MD5) 2010-Dissertação-LucianaSobral.pdf: 1105199 bytes, checksum: 5aaf1109d2a55efb90515d9830a5a27e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-29T17:18:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 811 bytes, checksum: e39d27027a6cc9cb039ad269a5db8e34 (MD5) 2010-Dissertação-LucianaSobral.pdf: 1105199 bytes, checksum: 5aaf1109d2a55efb90515d9830a5a27e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-02 / O objetivo desse estudo foi caracterizar a meiofauna e, especialmente,os nematódeos marinhos na Plataforma Continental do Nordeste do Brasil, os quais foram coletados durante o Programa Revizee. As amostras foram obtidas pelo Navio Oceanografico “Antares” da Marinha do Brasil, em realizadas quatro campanhas: I (em 1995), II(em 1997), III (em 1998) e IV (em 2000). Em laboratório, a meiofauna foi extraída pelo método de decantação (com elutriação manual) e peneiramento úmido. Em cada amostra, foram retirados 100 Nematoda para identificação ao nível genérico, através do uso dechave pictorial. Os padrões de distribuição foram analisados considerando-se três fatores (profundidade, campanhas, tipo do sedimento de fundo). A meiofauna foi composta por 22 grupos taxonômicos: Oligochaeta, Polychaeta, Acari, Amphipoda, Cladocera, Copepoda, Cumacea, Isopoda, Ostracoda, Tanaidacea, Bivalvia, Gastropoda, Polyplacophora, Turbellaria, Insecta, Kinorhyncha, Gastrotricha, Nematoda, Priapulida, Rotifera, Sipuncula e Tardigrada. Os Nematoda dominaram nas amostras, representando 43% do total de indivíduos coletados, seguidos dos Copepoda (35%) e Polychaeta (12%). Um total de 7865 nematódeos foram identificados e distribuídos em oito ordens (Enoplida, Triplonchida, Chromadorida, Desmodorida, Desmoscolecida, Monhysterida, Araeolaimida and Plectida), 37 famílias e 170 gêneros. As famílias Desmodoridae, Chromadoridae e Xyalidae mostraram os maiores números de gêneros. Considerando as diferentes campanhas, 28 gêneros representaram mais de 70% do total dos Nematoda estudados. A profundidade foi o único fator que mostrou significância na estrutura da comunidade. Entretanto, informações da literatura indicam que essa variável poderia estar, indiretamente, refletindo outras variáveis, como a disponibilidade de alimento. / The goal of this study was characterized the meiofauna and, specially, marine nematodes at the northeastern Brazil continental shelf, which were collected during the REVIZEE program. Samples were obtainedby the oceanographic vessel "Antares" Navy of Brazil, in four campaigns: I (in 1995), II (in 1997), III (in 1998) and IV (in 2000). In the laboratory, meiofauna was separated by decantation (with agitation) method and wet sieving. In each sample, one hundred individuals of nematodes were picked out for identification at genus level, using a pictorial key. The distribution patterns were analyzed considering three factors (depth, campaigns, bottom sediment type). Meiofauna was composed by 22 groups: Oligochaeta, Polychaeta, Acari, Amphipoda, Cladocera, Copepoda, Cumacea, Isopoda, Ostracoda, Tanaidacea, Bivalvia, Gastropoda, Polyplacophora, Turbellaria, Insecta, Kinorhyncha, Gastrotricha, Nematoda, Priapulida, Rotifera, Sipuncula and Tardigrada. Nematodes were dominant in the samples, representing 43% of the total individuals, followed by Copepoda (35%) and Polychaeta (12%).A total of 7865 nematodes were identified and distributed in eight orders (Enoplida, Triplonchida, Chromadorida, Desmodorida, Desmoscolecida, Monhysterida, Araeolaimida and Plectida), 37 families and 170 genera. The families Desmodoridae, Chromadoridae and Xyalidae showed the highest number of genera. Considering the different campaigns, 28 genera represented 70% of the total of studied nematodes. The depth was the only factor that showed a significant on the community structure. Although, literature information indicated that this variable could be, indirectly, reflected other variables, like food available.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-12T23:01:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 arquivo8323_1.pdf: 767883 bytes, checksum: fab7b7cae45f8de69fcbba0e62d6ff82 (MD5) license.txt: 1748 bytes, checksum: 8a4605be74aa9ea9d79846c1fba20a33 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2003 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / A praia de Porto de Galinhas (Ipojuca), por ser um dos maiores pólos turísticos do litoral de Pernambuco, foi escolhida para o presente estudo, cujos objetivos foram avaliar a distribuição espaço-temporal da meiofauna e da nematofauna de poças de maré e da parte interna do ecossistema recifal. Para avaliar a distribuição vertical da meiofauna e dos gêneros de Nematoda foram coletadas amostras de sedimentos nas poças de marés e na parte interna do ambiente recifal, através de seringas com 2,4 cm2 de área interna, cortadas em estratos de 0-2 cm e 2-10cm. Para estimar a variação espaço-temporal da meiofauna e da nematofauna amostragens sedimentológicas foram realizadas mensalmente de novembro de 1997 a outubro de 1998. Para análise meiofaunística foi coletada uma camada sedimentar de 2cm de espessura dentro de quadrados de 25x25cm jogados aleatoriamente. As amostras de plâncton foram coletadas com telas com malhas de 65&#956;m de abertura para estimar a dispersão da nematofauna. Os parâmetros de salinidade, temperatura e teor de clorofila do microfitobentos, assim como a granulometria, foram correlacionados com a estrutura da comunidade. A meiofauna foi composta por 16 grupos, dominados por Copepoda Harpacticoida e Nematoda em ambos os ambientes, havendo uma repartição espacial quanto à densidade não só vertical quanto horizontalmente. Através das análises estatísticas empregadas para testar a estrutura da comunidade da meiofauna e da nematofauna em particular, entre os ambientes prospectados e entre estratos de seus sedimentos, não foram detectadas diferenças significativas quanto à abundância total da meiofauna ou dos Nematoda e quanto à diversidade, equitabilidade, riqueza de gêneros e associações de grandes grupos da meiofauna. Foram, porém, evidenciadas diferenças significativas entre áreas ao se considerar as associações da nematofauna. No estudo espaço-temporal, a nematofauna foi composta por 73 gêneros monoespecíficos, distribuídos em 26 Famílias. No Gênero Theristhus, foi identificada uma espécie nova, cuja descrição será feita posteriomente. Foram registradas 30 novas ocorrências genéricas para Pernambuco e 10 para o Brasil. A estrutura da comunidade definiu-se sobre os critérios: grande riqueza e baixa frequência, refletindo associações de sedimentos grosseiros sublitorâneos. A composição em grandes grupos taxonômicos da meiofauna foi correlacionada com nove fatores ambientais demonstrando a existência de correlações positivas fracas apenas com a assimetria e com a fração cascalho nas poças de maré. Na parte interna dos recifes essas correlações foram demonstradas com o desvio padrão e a assimetria dos sedimentos. A composição genérica da nematofauna apresentou diferenças significativas tanto no espaço quanto no tempo, sendo correlacionada com o tamanho dos grãos dos sedimentos e o desvio padrão em ambos os ambientes. Os grupos tróficos apresentaram uma repartição espacial bem marcada com os raspadores dominando nas poças de maré e os comedores de depósitos não seletivos, na parte interna do recife. A dispersão dos gêneros na coluna líquida em mais de 50% nos meses de estiagem, assomada à ocorrência de um gênero só destacado no plâncton, indica haver ressuspensão sedimentar decorrente da hidrodinâmica favorecida por um possível efeito antrópico

For the past 5 years we have been conducting a large-scale, multi-habitat inventory of the tardigrades in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (U.S.A.) as part of the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI) (see www.dlia.org). In terrestrial habitats, we collected moss, lichen, and soil samples from 19 permanent ATBI plots, representing all major land cover types within the park. Each ATBI plot is 100 × 100 m. In each plot, when available, 16 moss samples, 16 lichen samples, and 4 soil samples were collected in paper bags and air dried in the laboratory. Specimens were isolated with LudoxAM centrifugation, and for each sample up to 50 adults plus eggs were individually mounted on microscope slides in Hoyer's medium and identified using phase contrast and DIC microscopy. Additional collections were made in the limestone caves of the Cades Cove region of the park, bird nests, and 13 different streams. To date (1-Jun-06), 589 samples have been collected, and of these 401 have been analyzed, yielding a total of 8133 identifiable tardigrades or, in some cases, species groups. A total of 73 species have been found in the park, 14 of which we believe are new to science. Seven species richness estimators have been developed to predict total species richness (see EstimateS 7.5 software, viceroy.eeb.uconn.edu/ estimates), and these were evaluated by comparing predictions from half of our data to the actual numbers from the total database. The results of this comparison indicate that different estimators work best in different habitats. Using the best estimators in each habitat, EstimateS 7.5 indicates that a total of 96 species are likely to occur throughout the park. Thus, Great Smoky Mountains National Park tardigrade diversity represents 10% of the world's known tardigrade fauna.

The Central American Isthmus has had profound effects on the evolution and distribution of larger marine organisms, but the impacts on meiobenthic animals have received little attention. Tardigrades are microscopic metazoan lobopodians that are ubiquitous in benthic communities worldwide, but little is known about marine tardigrades in Central America. Only two marine tardigrades have been identified to species level in all of Central America, and these came from a single sample of barnacles from El Salvador collected in 1953. Additionally, multiple haplotypes of Echiniscoides were reported from Costa Rica and Panama, but species names were not assigned. Here we report an extensive survey of both intertidal and subtidal marine tardigrades from both the Caribbean and Pacific coasts of Costa Rica. We found 701 individuals in 65 samples. There was a total of 19 taxa, including seven species with a sufficient quality and quantity of specimens to describe here as new to science. The new species are Archechiniscus murilloi sp. nov., Batillipes homocercus sp. nov., Batillipes ichthyocercus sp. nov., Echiniscoides costaricensis sp. nov., Echiniscoides ritavargasae sp. nov., Styraconyx vargasi sp. nov. and Tanarctus breedyae sp. nov. Ten taxa were found only in the Caribbean, six were found only in the Pacific, and three were found on both coasts. We discuss the three species with trans-isthmus distributions and note two additional candidate geminate species pairs that warrant further investigation.

At Huntington Beach, SC meiofauna distribution was investigated. The purpose of the study was to determine tardigrade species present and any significant differences in the distribution pattern. Meiofauna were analyzed to determine if there were significant differences in their distribution patterns in relation to abiotic variables. Cores were taken in the intertidal zone along three elevations. Each core was divided into depth samples and was processed to remove meiofauna. Each taxon (>1500 specimens) and tardigrades was statistically analyzed using three-way ANOVA to compare distribution patterns. There were eighteen taxa identified and an estimated 330,338 specimens. The seven dominant taxa were Nematoda, Copepoda, Oligochaeta, Mystacocarida, Sarcomastigophora, Halacaroidea, and Turbellaria. The community and each taxon demonstrated one or more significant differences in their distribution pattern. Tardigrada had 326 specimens collected and 300 identified to species in five genera. Elevation was a source of significant variation for tardigrades.

No description available.

A desintegração da plataforma de gelo da enseada Larsen A, em 1995, possibilitou uma oportunidade para estudar a comunidade bêntica da região. Foram analisadas a densidade da macrofauna e a densidade e biomassa da meiofauna. Duas estações na região de mar aberto, no Mar de Weddell, também foram coletadas, para comparações entre diferentes ambientes. Parâmetros ambientais também foram analisados, e serviram para tentar explicar a variação da fauna bêntica. Na região do Mar de Weddell as porcentagens de matéria orgânica foram maiores que na enseada Larsen A, provavelmente um reflexo da maior produtividade primária da área, enquanto as porcentagens de carbonato foram mais altas na enseada do que em mar aberto. A granulometria variou entre silte arenoso a areia síltica, sendo as estações no Mar de Weddell tiveram maiores porcentagens de areia. Em relação à fauna, Nematoda foi o táxon mais abundante, seguido por Copepoda e Nauplii dentro da meiofauna, enquanto Bivalvia e Polychaeta foram os mais abundantes dentro da macrofauna. As maiores densidades de meio- e macrofauna foram encontradas nas estações de mar aberto, e apresentaram correlação com as concentrações de pigmentos. A biomassa total dos nemátodes se correlacionou à biomassa individual do grupo, enquanto a biomassa dos copépodes se correlacionou com a densidade do grupo. Através dos resultados obtidos no presente trabalho foi possível observar que as comunidades bênticas das duas regiões estudadas diferem entre si, em termos de densidade e número de grandes grupos encontrados. E que a disponibilidade de alimento é o principal fator estruturados da fauna na região. / The collapse of the Larsen A ice shelf, in 1995, allowed an opportunity to study the benthic community in the region. The density of macrofauna and the density and biomass of meiofauna were analyzed. Two open water stations in the Weddell Sea were also collected for comparisons between different environments. Environmental parameters were analyzed to look for possible relations with benthic fauna distribution, abundance and biomass. In the Weddell Sea region the percentage of organic matter were higher than in the Larsen A, which was probably a reflection of the higher primary productivity of the area, while the carbonate percentages were higher in the bay than in open water. Particle size ranged from sandy silt to siltic sand, with Weddell Sea stations presenting higher sand content. Nematoda was the most abundant meiofauna taxon, followed by copepods and Nauplii, while Bivalvia and Polychaeta were the most abundant macrofauna. The highest densities of meio- and macrofauna were found in the open sea stations, and were correlated with pigment concentrations. The total nematode biomass was correlated with nematode individual biomass of the group, while copepod biomass correlated with its density. We observed that the benthic communities differed between studied areas in terms of density and taxon richness. Food availability appears to be the main factor structuring fauna in the region.

Os ambientes costeiros marinhos são sítios de uma intensa produção, movimentação e enterramento de carbono orgânico, já que uma fração substancial do material orgânico produzido na zona eufótica deposita-se nos sedimentos e constitui a principal fonte de alimento para o bentos. O objetivo geral deste trabalho é estudar a influência da quantidade, origem e qualidade (composição bioquímica) da matéria orgânica sedimentar sobre a estrutura e distribuição vertical e horizontal da meiofauna e macrofauna bentônicas, em três ambientes com aportes diferenciados de matéria orgânica e submetidos a duas condições oceanográficas diferentes. Foram realizadas 2 campanhas de coleta em 6 estações localizadas no Canal de São Sebastião (CSS), Enseada de Caraguatatuba e Baía de Castelhanos. Em cada estação, foram analisadas as variáveis físico-químicas da água do mar, topografia do fundo, taxa de sedimentação atual. Coletaram-se amostras de sedimentos para análise das características granulométricas, concentração de pigmentos fotossintéticos, teores de matéria orgânica, carbono orgânico, nitrogênio e enxofre total, biopolímeros orgânicos (carboidratos, lipídios e proteínas), concentração e composição dos ácidos graxos, meiofauna e macrofauna, em sete horizontes da coluna sedimentar. As concentrações de pigmentos fotossintéticos, carbono orgânico, biopolímeros orgânicos, carbono biopolimérico e da razão PRT/CHO mostram que com exceção das estações 1 e 6, os sedimentos das demais áreas da região do CSS apresentam um certo grau de eutrofizacão e recebem um aporte importante de detritos orgânicos derivados da produção primária planctônica e bentônica, em diferentes estados de degradação. A composição dos ácidos graxos evidencia que a matéria orgânica particulada possui uma origem principalmente autóctone, e está constituída por uma combinação de material derivado do plâncton vivo ou detrítico, das microalgas bentônicas, da produção bacteriana e da fauna associada ao sedimento, havendo uma contribuição terrestre relativamente pequena. Nos locais estudados na região do CSS a quantidade do alimento não é um fator limitante; porém, a variação na sua qualidade em função de aportes esporádicos de matéria orgânica lábil, derivada da produção primária planctônica e bentônica, é um fator com importante influência na estruturação das comunidades bentônicas. / Coastal marine environments are places of intensive production, movement and burial of organic carbon, due to a considerable fraction of the organic material produced in the euphotic zone is deposited on sediments and represents the main food source for the benthos. The general aim of this work is to study the influence of sedimentary organic matter quantity, origin and quality (biochemical composition) on the structure, vertical and horizontal distribution of benthic meiofauna and macrofauna, in three environments with different organic inputs and under two different oceanographic conditions. Two sampling surveys were performed at 6 stations located in the São Sebastião Channel (SSC), Caraguatatuba Bight, and Castelhanos Bay. At each site the physico-chemical variables of marine water, bottom topography and the sedimentation rate were analyzed. Sediment samples were taken to analyze granulometric characteristics, photosynthetic pigment concentrations, organic matter, organic carbon, nitrogen and sulphur contents, organic biopolymers (carbohydrates, lipids and proteins), concentration and composition of fatty acids, meiofauna and macrofauna in seven sediment layers. Phytopigments, organic carbon, organic biopolymers and biopolymeric carbon concentrations and the PRT/CHO ratio show that excepting stations 1 and 6, the sediments of the other locations have a certain degree of eutrophication and receive a significant input of organic detritus derived from planktonic and benthic primary production at different stages of degradation. Fatty acids composition shows that the particulate organic matter has mainly an autochthonous origin and it is constituted by a mixture of material derived from live or dead plankton, benthic microalgae, bacterial production and from the resident fauna, having a relatively low terrestrial contribution. Food quantity is not a limiting factor at the studied sites in the SSC region; however, variability in food quality related to sporadic inputs of labile organic matter produced by planktonic and benthic primary producers, is an important structuring factor of benthic communities.