Dados EASE-grid do Special Sensor Microwave-Imager (SSM/I) e imagens classificadas ASAR wideswath (WS), cobrindo a Península Antártica (PA), foram processadas e usadas em um Modelo Linear de Mistura Espectral (MLME), para a análise subpixel da Zona Superficial de Neve Úmida (ZSNU) em imagens SSM/I. As proporções dos componentes puros (imagens-fração) da área de estudo (ZSNU, Zona Superficial de Neve Seca e rochas) foram derivadas das imagens ASAR classificadas. As imagens-fração e imagens SSM/I co-registradas de mesma data (bandas 19H, 19V, 37H e 37V) foram usadas no MLME para estimar as assinaturas espectrais desconhecidas (i.e., temperatura de brilho em cada banda SSM/I). Essas assinaturas espectrais foram então usadas no MLME para estimar as imagens-fração da ZSNU, as quais foram comparadas com as imagens-fração ASAR correspondentes, por meio do cálculo do coeficiente de correlação. Foram identificadas as duas assinaturas espectrais que resultaram nos dados mais correlacionados, sendo também calculadas as correlações das imagens-fração da ZSNU resultantes do uso no MLME dos valores médio e mediano das assinaturas espectrais mais similares. Os valores medianos dessas assinaturas espectrais produziram as imagens-fração da ZSNU mais correlacionadas, que tiveram uma precisão global de classificação média (PGCM) de 95,6% e 97,3%, nas imagens de primavera e outono, respectivamente (amplitude de classes de 0,1), e uma PGCM de 72,6% nas imagens de verão (amplitude de classes de 0,2). Essas assinaturas espectrais medianas foram então usadas no MLME para estimar, com esses níveis de precisão global, a intensidade e extensão da ZSNU na PA, pelo uso de imagens calibradas SSM/I e SMMR (Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer), possibilitando assim a análise diária e em nível subpixel dessa fácie superficial, de 1978 a 2008. Na análise espacial das imagens-fração da ZSNU estimadas, observou-se que o derretimento superficial médio começava no final de outubro e terminava no final de março, com auge em 7 de janeiro (cerca de 172.237 km2 ou 31,6% da área da PA). A área total mediana da ZSNU no verão foi de aproximadamente 105.100 km2. A análise de regressão com as imagens-fração dos verões entre 1978-1979 a 2007-2008 revelou a tendência de redução da área da ZSNU, totalizando 330,854 km2 nesse período. Todavia, essa tendência não é estatisticamente significante, devido à alta variabilidade interanual da área da ZSNU na PA. Forte derretimento superficial ocorreu nos verões de 1984-1985 (176.507,289 km2) e 1989-1990 (172.681,867 km2), enquanto fraco derretimento, nos verões de 1993-1994 (26.392,208 km2) e 1981-1982 (23.244,341 km2). O mais persistente e intenso derretimento superficial foi observado nas plataformas de gelo Larsen, Wilkins, George VI e Wordie e isto foi relacionado com os eventos de fragmentação e desintegração dessas massas de gelo, ocorridos nas últimas décadas. O derretimento superficial está intimamente relacionado com a estabilidade do sistema glacial antártico e com mudanças no nível médio dos mares. Esse poderia ser monitorado em toda a Antártica, por meio da análise subpixel de imagens SMMR e SSM/I proposta neste estudo. / Special Sensor Microwave-Imager (SSM/I) EASE-grid data and classified ASAR wideswath (WS) images, covering the Antarctic Peninsula (AP), were processed and used in a Spectral Linear Mixing Model (SLMM) for a subpixel analysis of the Wet Snow Zone (WSZ) in SSM/I images. The components’ proportions (fraction images) of the endmembers in the study area, namely WSZ, Dry Snow Zone and rock outcrops, were derived from classified ASAR images. These fraction images and co-registered SSM/I images (bands 19H, 19V, 37H and 37V), acquired on the same date, were used in the SLMM to estimate the unknown spectral signatures (i.e., brightness temperature on each SSM/I band). These spectral signatures were used to estimate WSZ fraction images, which were compared with the ASAR fraction images, by calculating the correlation coefficients. This work identified two spectral signatures that produced the most correlated data, and determined the WSZ fraction images correlations resulting from the use, in the SLMM, of the mean and median values of the most similar spectral signatures. The median values of these spectral signatures produced the most correlated WSZ fraction images, which had an average overall classification accuracy (AOCA) of 95.6% and 97.3% for spring and autumn fraction images, respectively (class range of 0.1), and an AOCA of 72.6% for summer fraction images (class range of 0.2). These median spectral signatures were then used in a SLMM to estimate accurately the WSZ intensity and its extension on the AP, by using calibrated SSM/I and SMMR (Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer) imageries, allowing a daily subpixel analysis of this glacier facie on the AP from 1978 to 2008. Based on the spatial analysis of the WSZ fraction images, it was observed that melt primarily takes place in late October and ends in late March, with peak on January 7th (about 172,237 km2 or 31,6% of the AP area). The WSZ median total area in summer was about 105,100 km2. Regression analysis over the 1978-1979 to 2007-2008 summers, revealed a negative interanual trend in surface melt of 330.854 km2. Nevertheless, this trend inference is not statistically significant, due to the high WSZ interanual variability. Extremely high melt occurred in the 1984-1985 (176,507.289 km2) and 1989-1990 (172,681.867 km2) summers, while extremely weak melt occurred in the 1993-1994 (26,392.208 km2) and 1981-1982 (23,244.341 km2) summers. The most persistent and intensive melt was observed on Larsen, Wilkins, George VI and Wordie ice shelves and it was related to the break-up and disintegration events that occurred on these glaciers in the last decades. Surface melting is closely related to the stability of the Antarctic glacial system and global sea level changes. It could be monitored for the whole Antarctica, by using the WSZ subpixel analysis in SMMR and SSM/I imageries proposed by this study.

Submitted by dayse paz (daysepaz@hotmail.com) on 2016-04-06T14:41:40Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Diserta_o_Vanessa_Brito.pdf: 1599477 bytes, checksum: 07d436c3a3d3c4454a7866d4dfa32c22 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by cleuza maria medina dos santos (cleuzamai@yahoo.com.br) on 2016-04-07T00:06:42Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Diserta_o_Vanessa_Brito.pdf: 1599477 bytes, checksum: 07d436c3a3d3c4454a7866d4dfa32c22 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-07T00:06:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Diserta_o_Vanessa_Brito.pdf: 1599477 bytes, checksum: 07d436c3a3d3c4454a7866d4dfa32c22 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / O presente trabalho investigou a dieta de Platalea ajaja (colhereiro) e Ardea alba (garça-brancagrande), em 2011/2012, em um ambiente límnico (banhado do Aguirre) e outro estuarino na Lagoa dos Patos (ilha dos Marinheiros), Rio Grande, RS, no sul do Brasil. Foram analisados regurgitados espontâneos, conteúdos gastrointestinais, pellets, lavagem estomacal e isótopos estáveis. Os itens alimentares mais importantes na caracterização direta da dieta de P. ajaja no estuário foram os insetos (PSIRI% = 47,2), seguido de crustáceos (PSIRI% = 30,4) e peixes (PSIRI% = 12,6). No ambiente límnico P. ajaja teve uma dieta com predomínio de insetos (PSIRI% = 59,9), seguido de peixes (PSIRI% = 19,8). No estuário a dieta de A. alba foi predominantemente piscívora (PSIRI% = 53,3), seguido em importância pelos crustáceos (PSIRI% = 30,8). Entretanto, no ambiente límnico A. alba teve os insetos como item alimentar principal (PSIRI% = 58,9), seguido de peixes (PSIRI% = 27,9). Sangue de filhotes com mais de três semanas de vida e presas/alimentos potenciais tiveram os isótopos estáveis de carbono (δ 13C) e nitrogênio (δ 15N) analisados. No ambiente límnico A. alba apresentou valores médios de δ 15N semelhantes a P. ajaja límnico, diferenciando-se de A. alba e P. ajaja estuarinos. Os valores médios de δ 13C nas duas espécies e locais foram semelhantes, porém menor em sangue de A. alba estuarina. O modelo linear generalizado (GLM) explicou 44% na variação dos dados de δ 15N, diferindo entre os locais e influenciado pelo tamanho do filhote. O GLM com os valores de δ 13C explicou 22% da variação nos valores, indicando que A. alba alimenta os filhotes com outros itens alimentares dependendo do local, enquanto os filhotes de P. ajaja possuem uma alimentação límnica nos dois ambientes. Os modelos bayesianos de misturas de isótopos (SIAR) indicaram presas límnicas para P. ajaja nos dois ambientes, corroborando os resultados do GLM e dos métodos de estudo de dieta tradicionais. Portanto, A. alba utiliza as áreas próximas ao local de reprodução para se alimentar, não apresentando preferência por área de forrageamento estuarino ou límnico. Em ambiente límnico as duas espécies podem utilizar recursos alimentares semelhantes, enquanto no ambiente estuarino a sobreposição na dieta diminui, por alimentaremse em diferentes locais e distintos itens alimentares. Através de diversas metodologias verificouse que P. ajaja alimenta-se de presas límnicas, apesar de reproduzir-se em ambos os ambientes, enquanto A. alba alimenta-se de presas límnicas e estuarinas dependendo do local onde ocorre sua reprodução. / This study investigated the diet of Roseate spoonbills (Platalea ajaja) and Great egrets (Ardea alba) in 2011/2012, in two colonies, one in a freshwater (Aguirre marsh) and another in the Lagoa dos Patos estuary (Marinheiros island), both in Rio Grande municipality, Rio Grande do Sul state, southern Brazil. Spontaneous regurgitations, gut contents, of dead chicks, pellets, stomach flushing and stable isotopes of chicks were analysed. The most important prey items for estuarine spoonbills were insects (PSIRI% = 47.2), crustaceans (PSIRI% = 30.4) and fish (PSIRI% = 12.6). In the freshwater colony, spoonbills had diet composed mostly by insects (PSIRI% = 59.9) and fish (PSIRI% = 19.8). In the estuary, egrets had a predominantly piscivorous diet (PSIRI% = 53.3), followed in importance by crustaceans (PSIRI% = 30.8). However, in the freshwater colony egrets had insects as the main food items (PSIRI% = 58.9), followed by fish (PSIRI% = 27.9). Blood of chicks over three weeks and tissues of potential food items had stable isotopes of carbon (δ 13C) and nitrogen (δ 15N) analised. In the freshwater environment, egrets had mean δ 15N values similar to freshwater spoonbills, but different from egrets and spoonbills from the estuarine site. Mean values of δ 13C in both places and sites were similar, but higher in estuarine egrets. A generalized linear model (GLM) explained 44% in the variation in δ 15N values, differing between sampling sites and influenced by chick size. The GLM on δ 13C values explained only 22% in data variation, suggesting that egrets feed their chicks with different prey items, depending on the place where the colony is placed. On the other hand, spoonbills had limnetic feeding only, no matter the place where they are breeding. Bayesian stable isotope mixing models (SIAR) indicate that limnetic prey were important for spoonbill chicks in both colonies, in line with GLM analysis and dietary data using traditional methods. Therefore, egrets forage in areas near breeding places, without preferences for freshwater or estuarine habitats. In the freshwater colony egrets and spoonbills could rely on similar feeding resources, while in estuarine environments competition seems to be relaxed by feeding on different places and prey items. By using different methodologies it was possible infer that spoonbills feed on freshwater food items, no matter where they breed, while egrets use both limnetic and estuarine food items, depending where the colony is placed.

Study region: The Cordoriri watershed and vicinity in the Cordillera Real, Bolivia, South America Study focus: Recent warming has contributed to substantial reductions in glaciers in many regions around the globe. Melting of these glaciers alters the timing and magnitude of streamflows and diminishes water resources accumulated in past climates. These changes are especially acute in regions with small glaciers and problematic for populations relying on surface water. In Bolivia, most glaciers are less than 0.5 km(2) and about 2 million people draw water in part from glacier-fed watersheds. Sparse monitoring, however, has limited estimates of glacial meltwater contributions. The use of environmental tracers is one approach that can quantify the contributions of glaciers. We present isotopic and anion data for streams, reservoirs, arroyos, precipitation, and glaciers for the wet and dry seasons in 2010, 2011, and 2012. New hydrological insights for the region: Glacier meltwater data shows distinct seasonal isotopic values, presenting opportunities for end-member mixing analyses. From isotopes, we estimate 31-65% of the water measured in high altitude streams and reservoirs during the 2011 wet season originated from melting of ice and recent snow, while glacier ice contributed 39-71% of the water in reservoirs in the 2012 dry season. This study demonstrates that more comprehensive sampling in the region could quantify the contributions of glacial meltwater and nonglacial sources to surface water supplies. (C) 2016 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V.

No description available.

Nitrogen (N) is an essential element to plants for growth, maintenance and reproduction, however most N does not exist in a form that is biologically available to plants. In order to maximise the acquisition and retention of N, plants have evolved a variety of morphological and physiological adaptations and life history strategies, as well as the ability to respond plastically to changes in resource availability in ecological time. Determining the ecophysiological responses of plants to changes in root N availability is crucial to further understanding of the mechanisms underlying competitive interactions between plants, and between plants and other organisms, that ultimately contribute to community structure and ecosystem functioning. Carnivorous plants are ideal systems for investigating ecophysiological responses to N availability as:- (i) they share a unique adaptation for obtaining supplemental N from captured prey, therefore ecological stoichiometry and energetic cost/benefit models may be explored; (ii) the trait of botanical carnivory is widely considered to have independently co-evolved as a response to N-deficient, sunny and wet environments, therefore resource allocation trade-offs between plant investment in N and carbon (C) acquisition may be observed, and (iii) they are extremely sensitive to changes in root N availability in ecological time. In this research, the carnivorous plant Drosera rotundifolia (round-leaved sundew) was used to address several unanswered ecophysiological and evolutionary questions relating to patterns and processes of prey capture and the N nutrition of carnivorous plants. Furthermore, the potential for reducing uncertainty in the calculation of plant reliance on carnivory using a δ15N natural abundance multi-level linear mixing model was explored. A combined approach of in-situ and ex-situ studies was employed, using co-occurring non-carnivorous plants or carnivorous plant species with differing evolutionary lineages or prey capture mechanisms respectively to provide context. Results show that the adaptations of carnivory, high reproductive investment and a relatively short life span enable Drosera rotundifolia to survive and thrive in an extreme, N deficient environment. Phenotypically plastic responses by the plant to light and root N availability provide evidence of resource allocation trade-offs between investment in carnivory for N acquisition and in photosynthesis for C acquisition. Plants invested less heavily in prey capture (measured as the stickiness of leaf mucilage) as N availability increased or light availability decreased. These results show that the energetic costs associated with carnivory are avoided by the plant when less costly sources of N are available for uptake and that the production of carbon-rich mucilage is only made under nutrient-limited and well-lit conditions. Results obtained from the comparison of captured insect prey with background invertebrates of potential prey indicate that Drosera rotundifolia is a dietary generalist, where the quantity of prey captured per plant is positively correlated with leaf stickiness and total leaf area. Plant reliance on prey-derived N decreased with increasing root N availability, providing evidence that carnivory is only of net benefit to the plant in N-deficient and well-lit environments, as the photosynthetic costs of investment in the trait are not exceeded by the energetic gain from prey N uptake in shady or dry habitats. A more accurate and precise method for calculating plant reliance on botanical carnivory is presented which incorporates the insect diet of the plant. This method has wider significance for reducing uncertainty in the calculation of relative source contributions to a mixture for most natural abundance applications using a multi-level linear mixing model. To conclude, results from this research further understanding of the ecophysiological mechanisms underlying plant responses to changes in resource availability and the selective pressures driving the evolution of plant adaptations. These results therefore assist with predicting how plants and plant communities may respond to sustained N deposition inputs and future environmental scenarios.

Imagens adquiridas por sensores orbitais possibilitam observações da Terra e auxiliam estudos de grande áreas. Este trabalho utilizou imagens orbitais para analisar os componentes que modificam as características óticas da água na Lagoa dos Patos, localizada no sul do Brasil. A partir de imagens multiespectrais dos sensores MODIS/Terra e OLI/Landsat-8, foi possível avaliar a variação espaço-temporal de sólidos em suspensão (SS) e estimar alguns parâmetros de qualidade da água na Lagoa dos Patos. Na primeira etapa desse trabalho, o padrão anual e espacial de SS na laguna foi determinado com base em uma série de 15 anos do produto MOD09Q1 (reflectância na faixa do vermelho do sensor MODIS). Foi observado que a reflectância possui um padrão sazonal com aumento do outono até o final da primavera, e que no corpo lagunar e no estuário a reflectância varia ao longo do ano. Interpretações da variação da reflectância, relacionadas a descarga fluvial e a ação dos ventos, foram apresentadas. Na segunda etapa desse trabalho, o modelo linear de mistura espectral (MLME) foi aplicado em uma imagem do sensor OLI para separar águas espectralmente distintas do estuário da Lagoa dos Patos. A partir das imagens frações, geradas pelo MLME, e das bandas do sensor OLI e TIRS modelos empíricos foram desenvolvidos para estimar alguns parâmetros de qualidade da água. Os modelos obtidos foram capazes de estimar a concentração de clorofila-a (R2 = 0,82) e de sólidos em suspensão (R2 = 0,62), a turbidez (R2 = 0,67) e a profundidade do disco Secchi (R2 = 0,64). Conclui-se que o MLME e os dados do satélite Landsat-8 apresentam grande potencial para estimativa de parâmetros da água por imagens orbitais. / Images acquired by orbital sensors enable observations of the Earth and assist studies of large areas. This work used orbital images to analyze the components that modify the optical characteristics of the water of Lagoa dos Patos, located in the southern region of Brazil. By using multispectral images from MODIS/Terra and OLI/Landsat-8 sensors it was possible to evaluate the spatio-temporal variation of suspended solids (SS) and estimate some parameters of water quality. In the first stage of this work, the annual and spatial pattern of SS were estimated based on a series of 15 years of MOD09Q1 product (reflectance in the red channel of MODIS sensor). It was observed that the reflectance has a seasonal pattern with increase in the autumn until the late spring, and that in the lagoon body and estuary the reflectance varies throughout the year. Interpretations of the spatio-temporal variation of reflectance related to river discharge and the action of the winds were presented. In second stage of this study, the Linear Spectral Mixing Model (LSMM) was applied to an image of the OLI sensor to separate spectrally distinct waters of Lagoa dos Patos estuary. From the fraction images generated by LSMM and the bands of OLI and TIRS sensors, empirical models were developed to estimate some parameters of water quality. The obtained models were able to estimate the concentration of chlorophyll (R2 = 81,56) and the suspended solids (R2 = 61,57), turbidity (R2= 67,14) and Secchi disk depth (R2 = 64,29). Combination of LSMM and the Landsat- 8 satellite have shown great potential for water parameters estimation from orbital images.

Imagens adquiridas por sensores orbitais possibilitam observações da Terra e auxiliam estudos de grande áreas. Este trabalho utilizou imagens orbitais para analisar os componentes que modificam as características óticas da água na Lagoa dos Patos, localizada no sul do Brasil. A partir de imagens multiespectrais dos sensores MODIS/Terra e OLI/Landsat-8, foi possível avaliar a variação espaço-temporal de sólidos em suspensão (SS) e estimar alguns parâmetros de qualidade da água na Lagoa dos Patos. Na primeira etapa desse trabalho, o padrão anual e espacial de SS na laguna foi determinado com base em uma série de 15 anos do produto MOD09Q1 (reflectância na faixa do vermelho do sensor MODIS). Foi observado que a reflectância possui um padrão sazonal com aumento do outono até o final da primavera, e que no corpo lagunar e no estuário a reflectância varia ao longo do ano. Interpretações da variação da reflectância, relacionadas a descarga fluvial e a ação dos ventos, foram apresentadas. Na segunda etapa desse trabalho, o modelo linear de mistura espectral (MLME) foi aplicado em uma imagem do sensor OLI para separar águas espectralmente distintas do estuário da Lagoa dos Patos. A partir das imagens frações, geradas pelo MLME, e das bandas do sensor OLI e TIRS modelos empíricos foram desenvolvidos para estimar alguns parâmetros de qualidade da água. Os modelos obtidos foram capazes de estimar a concentração de clorofila-a (R2 = 0,82) e de sólidos em suspensão (R2 = 0,62), a turbidez (R2 = 0,67) e a profundidade do disco Secchi (R2 = 0,64). Conclui-se que o MLME e os dados do satélite Landsat-8 apresentam grande potencial para estimativa de parâmetros da água por imagens orbitais. / Images acquired by orbital sensors enable observations of the Earth and assist studies of large areas. This work used orbital images to analyze the components that modify the optical characteristics of the water of Lagoa dos Patos, located in the southern region of Brazil. By using multispectral images from MODIS/Terra and OLI/Landsat-8 sensors it was possible to evaluate the spatio-temporal variation of suspended solids (SS) and estimate some parameters of water quality. In the first stage of this work, the annual and spatial pattern of SS were estimated based on a series of 15 years of MOD09Q1 product (reflectance in the red channel of MODIS sensor). It was observed that the reflectance has a seasonal pattern with increase in the autumn until the late spring, and that in the lagoon body and estuary the reflectance varies throughout the year. Interpretations of the spatio-temporal variation of reflectance related to river discharge and the action of the winds were presented. In second stage of this study, the Linear Spectral Mixing Model (LSMM) was applied to an image of the OLI sensor to separate spectrally distinct waters of Lagoa dos Patos estuary. From the fraction images generated by LSMM and the bands of OLI and TIRS sensors, empirical models were developed to estimate some parameters of water quality. The obtained models were able to estimate the concentration of chlorophyll (R2 = 81,56) and the suspended solids (R2 = 61,57), turbidity (R2= 67,14) and Secchi disk depth (R2 = 64,29). Combination of LSMM and the Landsat- 8 satellite have shown great potential for water parameters estimation from orbital images.

Imagens adquiridas por sensores orbitais possibilitam observações da Terra e auxiliam estudos de grande áreas. Este trabalho utilizou imagens orbitais para analisar os componentes que modificam as características óticas da água na Lagoa dos Patos, localizada no sul do Brasil. A partir de imagens multiespectrais dos sensores MODIS/Terra e OLI/Landsat-8, foi possível avaliar a variação espaço-temporal de sólidos em suspensão (SS) e estimar alguns parâmetros de qualidade da água na Lagoa dos Patos. Na primeira etapa desse trabalho, o padrão anual e espacial de SS na laguna foi determinado com base em uma série de 15 anos do produto MOD09Q1 (reflectância na faixa do vermelho do sensor MODIS). Foi observado que a reflectância possui um padrão sazonal com aumento do outono até o final da primavera, e que no corpo lagunar e no estuário a reflectância varia ao longo do ano. Interpretações da variação da reflectância, relacionadas a descarga fluvial e a ação dos ventos, foram apresentadas. Na segunda etapa desse trabalho, o modelo linear de mistura espectral (MLME) foi aplicado em uma imagem do sensor OLI para separar águas espectralmente distintas do estuário da Lagoa dos Patos. A partir das imagens frações, geradas pelo MLME, e das bandas do sensor OLI e TIRS modelos empíricos foram desenvolvidos para estimar alguns parâmetros de qualidade da água. Os modelos obtidos foram capazes de estimar a concentração de clorofila-a (R2 = 0,82) e de sólidos em suspensão (R2 = 0,62), a turbidez (R2 = 0,67) e a profundidade do disco Secchi (R2 = 0,64). Conclui-se que o MLME e os dados do satélite Landsat-8 apresentam grande potencial para estimativa de parâmetros da água por imagens orbitais. / Images acquired by orbital sensors enable observations of the Earth and assist studies of large areas. This work used orbital images to analyze the components that modify the optical characteristics of the water of Lagoa dos Patos, located in the southern region of Brazil. By using multispectral images from MODIS/Terra and OLI/Landsat-8 sensors it was possible to evaluate the spatio-temporal variation of suspended solids (SS) and estimate some parameters of water quality. In the first stage of this work, the annual and spatial pattern of SS were estimated based on a series of 15 years of MOD09Q1 product (reflectance in the red channel of MODIS sensor). It was observed that the reflectance has a seasonal pattern with increase in the autumn until the late spring, and that in the lagoon body and estuary the reflectance varies throughout the year. Interpretations of the spatio-temporal variation of reflectance related to river discharge and the action of the winds were presented. In second stage of this study, the Linear Spectral Mixing Model (LSMM) was applied to an image of the OLI sensor to separate spectrally distinct waters of Lagoa dos Patos estuary. From the fraction images generated by LSMM and the bands of OLI and TIRS sensors, empirical models were developed to estimate some parameters of water quality. The obtained models were able to estimate the concentration of chlorophyll (R2 = 81,56) and the suspended solids (R2 = 61,57), turbidity (R2= 67,14) and Secchi disk depth (R2 = 64,29). Combination of LSMM and the Landsat- 8 satellite have shown great potential for water parameters estimation from orbital images.

The feeding ecology of a common saltmarsh crab, Armases cinereum (Armases), was investigated to determine how habitat (mangrove vs. ecotone, natural mangrove vs. modified mangrove fringe) influenced this species’ feeding behavior and trophic ecology in its southwestern Florida, USA, distribution. In the laboratory, Armases’ preference for mangrove material was examined using leaves of three mangrove species (Avicennia germinans, Laguncularia racemosa, and Rhizophora mangle) and leaves of different degradation levels (fresh, senescent, and partially-decomposed). Leaf material from A. germinans was preferentially consumed over the other taxa at fresh and partially-decomposed levels of leaf decay. When Armases were offered a choice between four common upland vegetation types (Iva frutescens, Borrichia frutescens, Nephrolepis biserrata, and Stenotaphrum secundatum), the preferred mangrove from the previous experiment (A. germinans, partially-decomposed), and an animal prey item (Gryllodes sigillatus, cricket), Armases displayed greatest selectivity for the animal prey item and high selectivity for both I. frutescens and A. germinans plant taxa (Manly-Chesson α selectivity and Chesson ϵ electivity). Field-based stable isotope analysis was used to determine trophic position and reconstruct dietary proportions of Armases across three pairs of natural and heavily-modified sites within Tampa Bay to determine whether Armases feeding behavior is impacted by the presence of upland forest adjacent to mangrove forest habitat. Analysis of trophic position based on δ15N signatures of Armases from each of the six populations revealed that Armases in habitats with modified connectivity had lower trophic variability and significantly higher average trophic position compared to Armases sampled from the three sites with natural connectivity. Stable isotope diet reconstruction using the Bayesian mixing model SIMMR further established Armases preference for animal-derived food material in habitats with natural and modified connectivity. This preference is likely driven by high selectivity for sources rich in Nitrogen (i.e., animal tissue, partially-decomposed A. germinans material, and I. frutescens). I determined that the use of laboratory experiments in conjunction with stable isotope mixing models is important in accurately investigating feeding preferences of Armases in mangrove intertidal regions. Together, my results show that the diet of Armases is broadly omnivorous and populations can be influenced by the heterogeneity of their habitat. Further feeding experiments, dietary analyses and a longer sampling period are needed to more definitively identify the patterns of Armases detritivory in mangrove and ecotonal upland habitats.

Este trabalho apresenta uma metodologia de classificação de imagens multiespectrais aplicada a análise e mapeamento da evolução do uso da terra/cobertura vegetal em São Félix do Xingu, Sul do Pará. Imagens frações representando as proporções de sombra, vegetação e solo foram estimadas a partir das bandas 1 a 5 e 7 do Landsat-5 TM e relacionadas com as estruturas das classes de uso da terra/cobertura vegetal. As imagens frações geradas do modelo linear de mistura espectral foram importantes para reduzir a massa de dados e ao mesmo tempo realçar alvos de interesse na imagem. A banda do infravermelho próximo (TM-4) foi importante para realçar áreas de queimadas. A classificação adotada foi divida em etapas combinando técnica de segmentação por crescimento de regiões e uso de máscaras. Por meio da máscara foi possível restringir o processo de segmentação em regiões pré-estabelecidas com o intuito de adquirir um melhor particionamento da imagem. Adotando este procedimento, ao invés de realizar uma única segmentação para mapear todas as classes em uma única vez, foram realizadas várias segmentações ao longo das etapas. As regiões segmentadas foram agrupadas com um classificador não-supervionado batizado de ISOSEG. Os resultados mostram que a metodologia é bastante eficiente. A matriz de erro gerada para a classificação de 2008 apontou que as confusões mais freqüentes ocorreram entre as classes que apresentaram em certas localidades proporções de misturas parecidas: Capoeira e Campo/Pastagem-2; Campo/Pastagem-1 e Campo/Pastagem-2; Queimada-1 e Queimada-2; Solo Exposto e Campo/Pastagem-1. Considerando nove classes, o índice Kappa atingiu 0,58, o que representa um valor de concordância classificada como moderada. Quando o numero de classes foi reduzido para 6, agrupando as classes que apresentaram as maiores confusões, o índice Kappa subiu para 0,80, atingindo um valor de concordância quase perfeita. A comparação dos resultados das classificações de 1987, 1992, 2000 e 2008 juntamente com a analise de dados auxiliares permitiu traçar um modelo de evolução do desmatamento e do uso da terra para São Félix do Xingu. O intenso desmatamento observado principalmente a partir de 2000 foi relacionado com o incremento da atividade pecuária, sendo São Félix do Xingu o município que detém atualmente o segundo maior rebanho bovino do País. / In this work we present a methodological procedure for multi-spectral images classification to evaluate and map land-use and land-cover changes in São Félix do Xingu, Southern Pará (Brazilian Amazon). Fraction images representing shade, vegetation and soil abundance at the pixel scale were estimated using all six reflective bands of Thematic Mapper sensor (TM-1 to TM-5 and TM-7) and related to different types of land-use and land-cover classes. The linear spectral mixing analysis method was an alternative approach adopted to reduce the data-dimensionality while at the same time enhancing targets of interest. Also, the near-infrared band (TM-4) was employed to separate areas affected by burns (Queimadas in Portuguese). The classification routines were performed in stages by combining region-growing segmentation and use of masking techniques. For each stage, the segmentation process was directed to preselected areas by masking techniques in order to obtain a better image partitioning. This procedure resulted in more than one segmentation thereby reducing confusing errors during the classification routine. An unsupervised classifier by region named ISOSEG was employed to classify the segmented images. The analysis of classification results was mainly qualitative and visual except for the 2008 classification which was assessed through an error matrix. According to the error matrix analysis, misclassifications arose more frequently when a set of classes with similar mixture proportions were involved, such as: Capoeira and Campo/Pastagem-2; Campo/Pastagem-1 and Campo/Pastagem- 2; Queimada-1 and Queimada-2, and finally Bare Soil and Campo/Pastagem-1. As a robust measure of concordance for dichotomous data, the kappa statistic reached a value of 0.62 by considering nine land types of classes and it rose to 0.80 when the mapping classes were diminished to six. Theses kappa values represent moderate and strong agreements between the remotely sensed classification and the reference data, respectively. Making use of the classification results from 1987, 1992, 2000 and 2008 and auxiliary data, we tried to design a simple land evolution model to São Félix do Xingu. The deforestation process notably intensified since 2000 has been driven mainly by a continuous increase in cattle breeding, for wich São Félix do Xingu has the second-largest cattle herd of all Brazilian municipalities.