Thecamoebian tests from recent lacustrine sediments have been shown to be a useful proxy to study environmental changes such as land-use changes, pollution, and climate shifts. In this study, the usefulness of thecamoebians as an environmental proxy for the Middle Mississippi River (MMR) floodplain is explored. Sediment cores and surface samples were collected from two sites in Alexander County, IL: Southern Illinois University's (SIU) MMR Wetland Field Station near East Cape Girardeau, IL and Horseshoe Lake, a dammed oxbow managed by the IL Department of Natural Resources (DNR), near Olive Branch, IL. These sites represent different floodplain environments, management histories, and flooding patterns. The thecamoebian populations were expected to reflect these differences while also responding to regional signals associated with development, agriculture, and climate. Cores were subsampled at a 5cm interval and all samples were sieved with 150μm and 45μm screens to retain thecamoebian tests. Sieved sediment was examined under a microscope and at least 100 tests were identified in each sample. Pre- and post-land clearing assemblages are recognized at each site, primarily by the increased abundance of the eutrophic-indicating species Cucurbitella tricuspis. Additionally, grab samples collected from the wetlands site during the spring indicate that the site may be influenced by road salt runoff in addition to agricultural activity. These results suggest that thecamoebians are a useful land-use change proxy and more research is needed to better understand the environmental conditions influencing assemblages.

This thesis represents the first example of a pre-agricultural, pre-colonial land disturbance event in the archaeological record of North America. It demonstrates the critical importance of multivariate analysis and µ-XRF core scanning in determining precise chronologies for episodes of heightened clastic input from soil erosion, enhanced by human occupation, shellfish harvesting, and burial mound construction. / Serpent Mounds is a prehistoric (Middle Woodland Period, ca. 2000--1000 BP) burial mound complex located on the north shore of Rice Lake, in southern Ontario, Canada. The complex includes a 60m long and 10m wide sinuous earthwork ridge interpreted as a serpent effigy and eight smaller oval mound structures. Archaeological excavations determined seasonal site occupation for harvesting wild rice and shellfish and conducting mortuary rites. The timing of mound construction and site occupation is poorly constrained by limited radiocarbon dates, restricted to burials. The site is of high cultural importance as the only known effigy mound structure in Canada and is a sacred First Nations burial ground; thus all investigation must employ non-invasive techniques. High-resolution XRF Core Scanning and micropaleontologic analysis (testate amoebae) of 12 lake sediment cores was employed to investigate the timing of mound construction, and assess geochemical records of prehistoric land disturbance. Land disturbance is indicated by increased sediment flux, by rising abundance of minerogenic elements (K, Ti, Zr, Si, Fe) within a distinctive silt-rich gyttja unit. The event is also recorded in the thecamoebian assemblage, which is dominated by indicators of a eutrophic, turbid lake environment. Principal Component Analysis and Cluster Analysis of µ-XRF data identify distinctive chemofacies across several cores. AMS 14C dates for the prehistoric land disturbance episode correspond with the Point Peninsula occupation, indicating a protracted occupation period of \textasciitilde 750 years (2050 - 1300 cal BP) with two major peaks in soil erosion at 1900 and 1450 cal BP. The sedimentation rate (>1.5mm/yr) during the Middle Woodland phase of enhanced erosion was comparable to that during the 1838 CE dam construction at Hastings. The reconstructed Middle Woodland paleoshoreline and water levels indicate a shallow lake and wetland environment, with viable habitats for wild rice stands and shellfish resources. The results demonstrate that XRF Core Scanning and micropaleontological methods are important for the investigation of culturally-sensitive archaeological sites, including sacred burial grounds where conventional archaeological excavation cannot be undertaken. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc) / Serpent Mounds is a prehistoric (Middle Woodland Period, ca. 2000 - 1000 BP) burial mound complex located in Rice Lake, Ontario. Archaeological excavation (1897 - 1970) determined the site was occupied by people of the Point Peninsula culture (ca. 2200 - 1350 BP) on a seasonal basis, for burial rites and shellfish gathering. Many questions remain with regard to the date of mounds construction, how long the site was occupied, and how occupation and construction activities impacted the local environment. The site has been designated as a National Historical Site and excavation is no longer permitted in the interest of site preservation and cultural value to First Nations. This study investigated the history of environmental changes associated with prehistoric indigenous and European land use changes using minimally-invasive methods, including sonar bathymetric mapping, XRF Core Scanning and microfossil analysis of lake sediment cores. Sonar data were employed to map the lake bottom relief (bathymetry) and to reconstruct past changes in lake levels and shoreline positions. µ-XRF methods measures changes in elemental abundance in lake core samples to identify human occupation phases and land disturbance. Microfossils (testate amoebae) track the ecosystem response to environmental changes associated with human occupation. The geochemical and microfossil data identified an interval of increased sediment delivery to Rice Lake, coinciding with the arrival of Point Peninsula peoples. The land disturbance is recognized in cores by an increase in zirconium (Zr), titanium (Ti) and other soil-derived elements. During this phase, lake levels rose gradually, wetlands expanded and wild rice was abundant resource available to indigenous peoples. Following European colonization in the 1820’s, and the construction of the Hastings Dam (1838 CE), lake levels increased rapidly by over \SI{2}{\metre}, causing a shift to a more nutrient-rich (eutrophic) lake environment and a decline in wild rice stands. Soil erosion associated with European land clearance is recorded by in a dramatic increase in the abundance of soil-derived elements.

A presente dissertação é um estudo da evolução ambiental do Reservatório de Salto Grande (RSG), Americana, SP, realizado a partir de análises granulométrica, geomagnética, geoquímica (especiação fósforo e carbono, elementos traço, compostos organoclorados e hidrocarbonetos aromáticos policíclicos) e biológica (tecamebas) de amostras de um testemunho sedimentar de 233 cm. Com base nos resultados obtidos, foi possível: 1) avaliar a toxicidade dos sedimentos, de acordo com os valores-guia de qualidade de sedimentos (VGQS) TEL e PEL, fator de enriquecimento (EF) e índice de geoacumulação (Igeo) e 2) identificar cinco fácies sedimentares, ao longo do testemunho. Fácies 1, situada na base do testemunho, é constituída por lama, com baixas concentrações de elementos traço, compostos organoclorados e HPAs, presença de material radicular e ausência de tecamebas. Essa sequência sedimentar pode ser atribuída às unidades de solos e sedimentos depositados na planície aluvial do Rio Atibaia e representa a fase Préreservatório. A partir de 177 cm de profundidade rumo ao topo, passam ocorrer mais quatro fácies, indicativas dos 65 anos de existência do RSG. A Fácies 2 (transição de solo e início do reservatório) caracteriza-se pela presença de lama, com tênue estratificação plana paralela e surgimento de tecamebas (Arcella gibbosa, A. megastoma, Difflugia corona, D. oblonga, D. gramen e Centropyxis discoide aculeata). Nessa fácies não foram detectados sedimentos contaminados, segundo VGQS. Contudo, foi constatado aumento expressivo de HPAs, provavelmente relacionado a queimadas ocorridas no entorno do reservatório. Fácies 3 (Reservatório) é marcada por sucessão de camadas de lama escura, intercaladas com lama clara, associadas às variações sazonais de produtividade do reservatório. Na porção final da Fácies 2 e toda a Fácies 3, ocorrem as maiores concentrações dos elementos traço (principalmente Cu, e Cr), parâmetros geomagnéticos, PCBs, DDT e HPAs, bem como o primeiro e maior declínio das populações de tecamebas. Nessa fácies 3 os VGQS indicam a presença de sedimentos fortemente contaminados. Fácies 4 continua a apresentar sucessão de camadas escuras e claras, contudo, as concentrações dos elementos traço, parâmetros geomagnéticos, PCBs, DDT e HPAs diminuem sensivelmente e os valores de densidade e diversidade das tecamebas aumentam. Valores de Cu diminuem mas, continuam expressivos, indicando sedimentos contaminados. As oscilações da concentração de Cu podem estar relacionadas ao uso de algicidas à base de CuSO4, que são utilizados no RSG para controlar a floração de cianobactérias e macrófitas. Fácies 5, correspondente ao período mais recente da história do RSG, caracteriza-se pela presença de lama preta, contaminada por Cu, pobre em tecamebas e baixas concentrações de DDT e HPAs. As curvas de evolução dos fluxos de fósforo inorgânico, Mn e Zn apresentaram forte similaridade com as curvas de crescimento demográfico da cidade de Americana e com as variações do regime de chuvas local. Estes resultados sugerem que as variações do aporte de nutrientes no reservatório encontram relação direta com as mudanças no escoamento de água pluvial na bacia de drenagem do Atibaia e com os influxos industriais e domésticos no RSG / This works presents an environmental evolution of the Reservatório de Salto Grande (RSG), Americana, accomplished through the grain-size, geochemical (phosphorous, carbon, trace elements, organochlorines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), and biological (thecamoebians) analyses from sample of a sediment core. Based on the results it was possible to: 1) evaluate the sediments according to the Sediment Quality Guideline Values for metals and associated (SQGV), enrichment factors, and geoaccumulation index and 2) identify five sedimentary facies through the core. Facies 1 located at the base of the core is composed of muddy sediments with low concentrations of trace elements, organochlorines and PAHs, presence of small trees roots and absence of thecamoebians. This sedimentary sequence could be attributed to soil units and sediments deposited in the alluvial basin of the Atibaia river and represents the pre-reservoir succession. From 177 cm through the top of the core more 4 facies are identified, all correlated with the time span of 65 years since the inundation of the RSG. Facies 2 (transition between soil portion and the reservoir inundation) is characterized by the presence of a homogeneous mud and a thin parallel planar stratification and by the appearance of thecamoebians (Arcella gibbosa, A. megastoma, Difflugia corona, D. oblonga, D. gramen, Centropyxis discoide aculeata). In this facies no contaminants were registered according to SQGV standards. But a high concentration of PAHs was detected possibly indicative of vegetation burning. Facies 3 (Reservoir) is marked by a succession of dark mud interleaved by whitish mud likely associated to seasonal variation of primary productivity in the reservoir. At the top portion of facies 2 and the whole extension of facies 3 were found the highest concentration of trace elements (Cu, and Cr), geomagnetic parameters, PCBs, DDT and PAHs, and the first and major decline of thecamoebians populations. In this facies SQGV are indicative of highly contaminated sediments. Facies 4 continuously shows the same succession of mud and the concentrations of trace elements, geomagnetic parameters, PCBs, DDT and PAHs show a sensitive decrease, and the values of richness and abundance of thecamoebians show an increase. Although the values of Cu diminish, they still remain expressive, indicative of sediment contamination. The oscillations of Cu concentrations may be related to the use of algaecides composed of CuSO4 in order to control populations of cyanobacteria and macrophytes. Facies 5 corresponds to the last centimeters of the core and to recent periods of the history of RSG, characterized by the presence of a black mud contaminated with Cu poor in species of thecamoebians and low concentrations of PCBs, DDT and PAHs. The curves of inorganic phosphorous, Mn and Zn showed a similar pattern to the curves of demographic growth and rain fall in the city of Americana. These results suggest that the variations of nutrients income are related to the change in water flow regimes in the Atibaia river watershed and to industrial and domestic input in the RSG

A presente dissertação é um estudo da evolução ambiental do Reservatório de Salto Grande (RSG), Americana, SP, realizado a partir de análises granulométrica, geomagnética, geoquímica (especiação fósforo e carbono, elementos traço, compostos organoclorados e hidrocarbonetos aromáticos policíclicos) e biológica (tecamebas) de amostras de um testemunho sedimentar de 233 cm. Com base nos resultados obtidos, foi possível: 1) avaliar a toxicidade dos sedimentos, de acordo com os valores-guia de qualidade de sedimentos (VGQS) TEL e PEL, fator de enriquecimento (EF) e índice de geoacumulação (Igeo) e 2) identificar cinco fácies sedimentares, ao longo do testemunho. Fácies 1, situada na base do testemunho, é constituída por lama, com baixas concentrações de elementos traço, compostos organoclorados e HPAs, presença de material radicular e ausência de tecamebas. Essa sequência sedimentar pode ser atribuída às unidades de solos e sedimentos depositados na planície aluvial do Rio Atibaia e representa a fase Préreservatório. A partir de 177 cm de profundidade rumo ao topo, passam ocorrer mais quatro fácies, indicativas dos 65 anos de existência do RSG. A Fácies 2 (transição de solo e início do reservatório) caracteriza-se pela presença de lama, com tênue estratificação plana paralela e surgimento de tecamebas (Arcella gibbosa, A. megastoma, Difflugia corona, D. oblonga, D. gramen e Centropyxis discoide aculeata). Nessa fácies não foram detectados sedimentos contaminados, segundo VGQS. Contudo, foi constatado aumento expressivo de HPAs, provavelmente relacionado a queimadas ocorridas no entorno do reservatório. Fácies 3 (Reservatório) é marcada por sucessão de camadas de lama escura, intercaladas com lama clara, associadas às variações sazonais de produtividade do reservatório. Na porção final da Fácies 2 e toda a Fácies 3, ocorrem as maiores concentrações dos elementos traço (principalmente Cu, e Cr), parâmetros geomagnéticos, PCBs, DDT e HPAs, bem como o primeiro e maior declínio das populações de tecamebas. Nessa fácies 3 os VGQS indicam a presença de sedimentos fortemente contaminados. Fácies 4 continua a apresentar sucessão de camadas escuras e claras, contudo, as concentrações dos elementos traço, parâmetros geomagnéticos, PCBs, DDT e HPAs diminuem sensivelmente e os valores de densidade e diversidade das tecamebas aumentam. Valores de Cu diminuem mas, continuam expressivos, indicando sedimentos contaminados. As oscilações da concentração de Cu podem estar relacionadas ao uso de algicidas à base de CuSO4, que são utilizados no RSG para controlar a floração de cianobactérias e macrófitas. Fácies 5, correspondente ao período mais recente da história do RSG, caracteriza-se pela presença de lama preta, contaminada por Cu, pobre em tecamebas e baixas concentrações de DDT e HPAs. As curvas de evolução dos fluxos de fósforo inorgânico, Mn e Zn apresentaram forte similaridade com as curvas de crescimento demográfico da cidade de Americana e com as variações do regime de chuvas local. Estes resultados sugerem que as variações do aporte de nutrientes no reservatório encontram relação direta com as mudanças no escoamento de água pluvial na bacia de drenagem do Atibaia e com os influxos industriais e domésticos no RSG / This works presents an environmental evolution of the Reservatório de Salto Grande (RSG), Americana, accomplished through the grain-size, geochemical (phosphorous, carbon, trace elements, organochlorines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), and biological (thecamoebians) analyses from sample of a sediment core. Based on the results it was possible to: 1) evaluate the sediments according to the Sediment Quality Guideline Values for metals and associated (SQGV), enrichment factors, and geoaccumulation index and 2) identify five sedimentary facies through the core. Facies 1 located at the base of the core is composed of muddy sediments with low concentrations of trace elements, organochlorines and PAHs, presence of small trees roots and absence of thecamoebians. This sedimentary sequence could be attributed to soil units and sediments deposited in the alluvial basin of the Atibaia river and represents the pre-reservoir succession. From 177 cm through the top of the core more 4 facies are identified, all correlated with the time span of 65 years since the inundation of the RSG. Facies 2 (transition between soil portion and the reservoir inundation) is characterized by the presence of a homogeneous mud and a thin parallel planar stratification and by the appearance of thecamoebians (Arcella gibbosa, A. megastoma, Difflugia corona, D. oblonga, D. gramen, Centropyxis discoide aculeata). In this facies no contaminants were registered according to SQGV standards. But a high concentration of PAHs was detected possibly indicative of vegetation burning. Facies 3 (Reservoir) is marked by a succession of dark mud interleaved by whitish mud likely associated to seasonal variation of primary productivity in the reservoir. At the top portion of facies 2 and the whole extension of facies 3 were found the highest concentration of trace elements (Cu, and Cr), geomagnetic parameters, PCBs, DDT and PAHs, and the first and major decline of thecamoebians populations. In this facies SQGV are indicative of highly contaminated sediments. Facies 4 continuously shows the same succession of mud and the concentrations of trace elements, geomagnetic parameters, PCBs, DDT and PAHs show a sensitive decrease, and the values of richness and abundance of thecamoebians show an increase. Although the values of Cu diminish, they still remain expressive, indicative of sediment contamination. The oscillations of Cu concentrations may be related to the use of algaecides composed of CuSO4 in order to control populations of cyanobacteria and macrophytes. Facies 5 corresponds to the last centimeters of the core and to recent periods of the history of RSG, characterized by the presence of a black mud contaminated with Cu poor in species of thecamoebians and low concentrations of PCBs, DDT and PAHs. The curves of inorganic phosphorous, Mn and Zn showed a similar pattern to the curves of demographic growth and rain fall in the city of Americana. These results suggest that the variations of nutrients income are related to the change in water flow regimes in the Atibaia river watershed and to industrial and domestic input in the RSG

Ten sediment cores (2.0-8.5 m long) from various locations in Lake of the Woods (LOTWs) and Shoal Lake (SL) were recovered in August 2006, using a Kullenberg piston corer. From the study of the macrofossils (primarily ostracodes and thecamoebians) and the sediments in six processed cores, variations in paleoconditions were observed both spatially and temporally, and the timing of these changes were identified in over 10,000 years of postglacial history. Ostracodes disappeared from the LOTWs record from about 9000 to 7600 calendar years before present (BP) (about 5800 in SL), after LOTWs became isolated from glacial Lake Agassiz. Thecamoebians appeared in many cores around 2000 calendar years BP, with the earliest appearance at 9200. Buried paleosols in three cores indicate portions of the lake dried on several occasions during the Hypsithermal, perhaps indicating the region’s future climate response. One core contained a pink clay bed indicative of the Marquette readvance about 11,300 years (BP), and the subsequent input of water from the Superior basin.

Ten sediment cores (2.0-8.5 m long) from various locations in Lake of the Woods (LOTWs) and Shoal Lake (SL) were recovered in August 2006, using a Kullenberg piston corer. From the study of the macrofossils (primarily ostracodes and thecamoebians) and the sediments in six processed cores, variations in paleoconditions were observed both spatially and temporally, and the timing of these changes were identified in over 10,000 years of postglacial history. Ostracodes disappeared from the LOTWs record from about 9000 to 7600 calendar years before present (BP) (about 5800 in SL), after LOTWs became isolated from glacial Lake Agassiz. Thecamoebians appeared in many cores around 2000 calendar years BP, with the earliest appearance at 9200. Buried paleosols in three cores indicate portions of the lake dried on several occasions during the Hypsithermal, perhaps indicating the region’s future climate response. One core contained a pink clay bed indicative of the Marquette readvance about 11,300 years (BP), and the subsequent input of water from the Superior basin.

Les amibes à thèque, également appelés thécamoebiens, sont des micro-organismes unicellulaires, qui construisent une enveloppe rigide, appelée thèque (Adl et al., 2012). Ces thèques ont des tailles, formes et natures très variées (Ogden & Hedley, 1980). Les récentes études sur la composition des thèques ont conduit à émettre l’hypothèse que les amibes xénosomiques (constituées de particules exogènes), peuvent constituer des bio-indicateurs pertinents de la diversité particulaire de l’environnement minéral, organique et biologique dans lequel elles évoluent.L’objectif principal des recherches menées au cours de cette thèse vise donc à caractériser la composition des thèques d’amibes xénosomiques et à en évaluer leur utilisation potentielle en tant que bio-indicateurs des dépôts de particules d'origine atmosphérique. Pour cela, des thèques d’amibes ont été analysées in situ en conditions naturelles et après dépôts artificiels de particules minérales allochtones.Ces travaux permettent de dégager plusieurs conclusions majeures :(1) La taille des particules minérales intégrées dans la thèque xénosomique de Bullinularia indica est similaire à celle des particules minérales transportées dans l'atmosphère; (2) les particules minérales intégrées dans les thèques sont des silicates stables dans les conditions physico-chimiques régnant dans les tourbières, les bryophytes et les sols étudiés; (3) certains minéraux comme la phlogopite, même lorsqu’ils sont présents en de fortes concentrations, ne sont jamais intégrés par les amibes; (4) la combinaison des observations portant sur la taille, la forme et la nature des particules utilisées par des amibes xénosomiques permet de poser les bases de l'utilisation des amibes à thèques pour la bio-indication de la diversité particulaire atmosphérique récente ou ancienne. / Theca-like amoebae, also called thecaamoebius, are unicellular microorganisms, which construct a rigid envelope called theca (Adl et al., 2012). These themes have very varied sizes, shapes and natures (Ogden & Hedley, 1980). Recent studies on the composition of the themes have led to the hypothesis that xenosomal amoebae (constituted by exogenous particles) can constitute relevant bio-indicators of the particulate diversity of the mineral, organic and biological environment in which they evolve . The main objective of the research carried out during this thesis is therefore to characterize the composition of the xenosomal amoebae and to evaluate their potential use as bioindicators of deposits of atmospheric particles. For this purpose, amoeba theae were analyzed in situ under natural conditions and after artificial deposits of allochtonous mineral particles. Several major conclusions can be drawn from this work: (1) The size of the mineral particles integrated in the xenosomal theca of Bullinularia indica Is similar to that of mineral particles transported into the atmosphere; (2) the mineral particles integrated into the thecs are stable silicates under the physico-chemical conditions prevailing in the peatlands, bryophytes and soils studied; (3) some minerals such as phlogopite, even when present in high concentrations, are never integrated by amoebae; (4) the combination of observations on the size, shape and nature of the particles used by xenosomic amoebae forms the basis for the use of tea amoeba for bioindication of recent or former atmospheric particulate diversity .

A população de foraminíferos e tecamebas no SELCI evidenciou variação espacial, caracterizando alta dominância de hialinos e porcelanáceos no verão, e aglutinantes no inverno. Essa distribuição da microfauna estava associada a maior influência marinha dos setores externos e a forte influência do regime regional de chuvas nos setores internos. Constatou-se como bioindicadores a espécie Pararotalia cananeiaensis indicando o alcance da cunha salina nas porções internas do sistema, os miliolídeos indicando ambientes com renovação de águas marinhas e fluxos mais energéticos no sistema, o gênero Miliammina spp. e as tecamebas indicando ambientes de baixa salinidade. Através do Ic foi possível detectar o impacto do balanço entre as influências continentais e marinhas no sistema, com a intrusão salina sazonalmente distinta, devido às próprias condições regionais e geomorfológicas do sistema. Na tentativa de encontrar ambientes hipóxicos foi aplicado o IAE, porém este índice não gerou resultados satisfatórios neste sistema estuarino, visto que outros fatores representaram ser variáveis mais importantes do que a concentração de oxigênio dissolvido. O cálculo da BFAR foi testado revelando que a geomorfologia do SELCI foi um fator determinante na distribuição das espécies e que a BFAR foi uma medida qualitativa do fluxo de MO no sistema. Através das análises estatísticas multivariadas foi possível determinar as associações da microfauna, sendo estas condicionadas, nas duas campanhas, principalmente pelos fatores salinidade, substrato e profundidade. / The population of foraminifera and thecamoebians in the CILES (Cananéia-Iguape Lagoon Estuarine System) evidenced spatial variation, characterizing high dominance of hyalines and porcelanaceous during the summer and agglutinated in the winter. This microfauna distribution was associated to stronger marine influence in the outer sections and to strong regional pluviosity in the inner sections. The bioindicator species were Pararotalia cananeiaensis, evidencing the extent of the salt water wedge in the inner portion of the system, the miliolidae, indicating environments with renewal of marine water and more energetic fluxes in the system and the gender Miliammina spp. and thecamoebians indicating areas of low salinity. Trough the Ic it was possible to identify the impact of the balance between marine and fresh waters influence in the system, with saline intrusion seasonally distinct, due to the system\'s own regional and morphological conditions. An attempt to identify hypoxia areas was made using the AEI (Ammonia-Elphidium Index) test, however, this index did not reveal satisfactory results in this estuarine system, since other factors seem to be more representative than the dissolved oxygen concentration. The geomorphology of the CILES was proved to be a determinant factor in the distribution of the species through the BFAR (Benthic Foraminifera Accumulation Rate) calculation, which was also a qualitative measure of the flux of organic matter (TOC) in the system. Statistical analysis proved that the associations of microfauna, was driven, in both campaigns, by salinity, substract and depth.

A população de foraminíferos e tecamebas no SELCI evidenciou variação espacial, caracterizando alta dominância de hialinos e porcelanáceos no verão, e aglutinantes no inverno. Essa distribuição da microfauna estava associada a maior influência marinha dos setores externos e a forte influência do regime regional de chuvas nos setores internos. Constatou-se como bioindicadores a espécie Pararotalia cananeiaensis indicando o alcance da cunha salina nas porções internas do sistema, os miliolídeos indicando ambientes com renovação de águas marinhas e fluxos mais energéticos no sistema, o gênero Miliammina spp. e as tecamebas indicando ambientes de baixa salinidade. Através do Ic foi possível detectar o impacto do balanço entre as influências continentais e marinhas no sistema, com a intrusão salina sazonalmente distinta, devido às próprias condições regionais e geomorfológicas do sistema. Na tentativa de encontrar ambientes hipóxicos foi aplicado o IAE, porém este índice não gerou resultados satisfatórios neste sistema estuarino, visto que outros fatores representaram ser variáveis mais importantes do que a concentração de oxigênio dissolvido. O cálculo da BFAR foi testado revelando que a geomorfologia do SELCI foi um fator determinante na distribuição das espécies e que a BFAR foi uma medida qualitativa do fluxo de MO no sistema. Através das análises estatísticas multivariadas foi possível determinar as associações da microfauna, sendo estas condicionadas, nas duas campanhas, principalmente pelos fatores salinidade, substrato e profundidade. / The population of foraminifera and thecamoebians in the CILES (Cananéia-Iguape Lagoon Estuarine System) evidenced spatial variation, characterizing high dominance of hyalines and porcelanaceous during the summer and agglutinated in the winter. This microfauna distribution was associated to stronger marine influence in the outer sections and to strong regional pluviosity in the inner sections. The bioindicator species were Pararotalia cananeiaensis, evidencing the extent of the salt water wedge in the inner portion of the system, the miliolidae, indicating environments with renewal of marine water and more energetic fluxes in the system and the gender Miliammina spp. and thecamoebians indicating areas of low salinity. Trough the Ic it was possible to identify the impact of the balance between marine and fresh waters influence in the system, with saline intrusion seasonally distinct, due to the system\'s own regional and morphological conditions. An attempt to identify hypoxia areas was made using the AEI (Ammonia-Elphidium Index) test, however, this index did not reveal satisfactory results in this estuarine system, since other factors seem to be more representative than the dissolved oxygen concentration. The geomorphology of the CILES was proved to be a determinant factor in the distribution of the species through the BFAR (Benthic Foraminifera Accumulation Rate) calculation, which was also a qualitative measure of the flux of organic matter (TOC) in the system. Statistical analysis proved that the associations of microfauna, was driven, in both campaigns, by salinity, substract and depth.