Cette thèse de Doctorat examine le réseau trophique estuarien lié aux herbiers à zostères, Zostera noltii et quantifie le rôle trophique des consommateurs de la macrofaune benthique, dans deux zones intertidales de l’estuaire du Mondego, à différentes périodes de 1993 à 2008. Elle s’intéresse spécifiquement (i) à l’incorporation de l’azote issu des activités humaines, en considérant l’assimilation d’azote comme un indicateur de l’eutrophication et (ii) au rôle des zostères dans le réseau trophique benthique. Six modèles ont été développés afin d’analyser les effets, (i) d’un enrichissement en nutriments, (ii) des mesures de mitigation, et (iii) d’une inondation centennale, sur les propriétés du réseau trophique benthique estuarien. La présence de Z. noltii change peu la structure du réseau trophique planctonique, soutenu en partie par la matière organique particulaire et supporte principalement des poissons comme prédateurs. Les autres consommateurs montrent une grande variabilité de signature isotopique, ce qui suggère qu’ils peuvent changer de régime alimentaire en fonction des changements de l’environnement. En revanche, les δ13C et δ15N des producteurs et consommateurs de l’estuaire du Mondego montrent très peu de variation saisonnière, malgré une saisonnalité météorologique marquée, ainsi qu’une forte variation saisonnière des paramètres de la colonne d’eau (apports en sels nutritifs et concentration en chlorophylle a). Les modèles à l’état stable montrent enfin que la structure trophique de la communauté benthique de l’estuaire du Mondego est affectée différemment par chacun des évènements particuliers étudiés. / This dissertation examines the estuarine food web related to the eelgrass Zostera noltii and quantifies the ecological trophic role of benthic macrofauna consumers, in intertidal areas of the Mondego estuary, covering different time periods from 1993 to 2008. It specifically focuses (i) on the incorporation of the nitrogen derived from human activities, considering the N uptake as an eutrophication index, and (ii) on the role of the eelgrass in the benthic food web. In addition, six mass-balanced models were developed to assess the effects of (i) a period of nutrient enrichment, (ii) the implementation of mitigation measures, and (iii) a centenary flood, on the benthic estuarine food web properties.

[pt] A matéria orgânica (MO) sedimentar de origem natural na Ria de Aveiro e no estuário Mondego foi caracterizada usando a composição elementar (C e N) e lipídios biomarcadores (esteróis, n-álcoois e triterpenoides). A contribuição por esgotos foi avaliada através de coprostanol e outros esteróis fecais. Amostras de sedimento superficial foram coletadas em 22 estações ao longo das regiões. Os lipídios biomarcadores foram extraídos, purificação com sílica-gel e analisados por cromatografia em fase gasosa acoplada a espectrometria de massas. O carbono orgânico total (9,94 e 43,00 mg g(-1)) teve uma correlação com o nitrogênio total (r(2) = 0,86). A razão C/N molar (14,34 mais ou menos 1,75) foi um valor típico de MO continental. Existe uma contribuição maior de MO terrestre nas amostras, como mostra as evidencias: a predominância de n-álcoois de cadeia longa (maior ou igual à C22), maior abundancia no somatório de sitosterol, estigmasterol e campesterol sobre outros fitoesterois, como o colesterol e o brassicasterol; e a alta concentração de triterpenoides de plantas superiores, como Beta-amirina e a Alfa amirina. A concentração de coprostanol (0,05 a 16,6 microgramas g(-1)) indicou a presença de esgotos em sete estações localizadas no largo do Laranjo (S4, S5, S6, S7, S10), porto de Aveiro (S14) e no canal de Ílhavo (S16). Os aportes mais significativos foram no largo do Laranjo (S8 e S9) e no porto do Mondego (S19). / [en] The sedimentary organic matter (OM) of natural origin in the Ria de Aveiro and the estuary of Mondego River was characterized using elemental composition (C and N) and lipid biomarkers (sterols, alcohols and triterpenoids). In addition, the contribution by sewage was evaluated by coprostanol and other fecal sterols. Surface sediment samples were collected at 22 stations along the two regions. The lipid biomarkers was extracted, separated with silica-gel and analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Concentrations of total organic carbon (9.94 and 43.00 mg g(-1)) was highly correlated with total nitrogen (r(2) = 0.86). The C/N molar ratio: 14,34 plus-minus 1,75 are typical values of OM of continental origin. There is a major contribution of terrestrially OM to the sediments, as suggested by proxies, including: predominance of long-chain (greater-than or equal to C22) alcohols, higher abundance of sitosterol, estigmasterol and campesterol over other phytosterols, like cholesterol and brassicasterol, and elevated concentrations of triterpenoids from higher plants, as Beta-amyrin and Alpha-amyrin. The concentrations of coprostanol (0.05 to 16.6 micrograms g(-1)) indicated the presence of sewage in seven stations located in the Largo do Laranjo (S4, S5, S6, S7, S10), Port of Aveiro (S14) and in Ílhavo Channel (S16). The more significant contribution of sewage was identified in the Largo do Laranjo (S8 and S9) and the Port of Mondego (S19).