Understanding the patterns and processes that create differences among individuals in components of fitness, like the probability of survival or reproductive rates, is essential to our knowledge of population dynamics and for informing conservation efforts. For organisms in seasonal environments, early-breeding individuals regularly attain higher fitness than their late-breeding counterparts. Two primary hypotheses, related to quality and date, have been proposed to explain lower reproductive success of late breeders, but the veracity of these ideas has not been fully resolved. I tested predictions associated with these hypotheses to assess the effects of indices of parental and environmental quality on nestling quality and survival in an insectivorous passerine, the tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor), at two widely separated breeding locations in western Canada. I combined experiments and statistical modelling of observational data to evaluate two mechanisms proposed to contribute to seasonal decline in environmental quality: an increase in nest parasite abundance and a decrease in food abundance with later breeding dates. A parasite reduction experiment revealed a disproportionate benefit of parasite removal on length of primary feather for early-hatched nestlings, suggesting greater energetic constraints early in the breeding season. Furthermore, late-hatched nestlings from parasite-reduced nests had longer head-bill lengths than their control counterparts, and developed head-bills of similar length to those of early-hatched nestlings. Other than these findings, there were few detectable effects of parasites on nestling size, growth and immunity, as has been reported from several previous studies. Indeed, negative effects of parasites were only apparent when food (i.e., insect) biomass was considered. In a second series of experiments in which parental quality was controlled, I also tested whether food abundance declined during the breeding season, as predicted if environmental conditions deteriorate seasonally (i.e., date). Reduced reproductive success of late-breeding individuals was causally related to a seasonal decline in environmental quality. Declining insect biomass and enlarged brood sizes resulted in nestlings that were lighter, in poorer body condition, had shorter head-bills, shorter and slower growing ninth primary feathers and that were less likely to survive to fledge. Next, I asked whether results obtained from long-term mark-recapture data corroborated findings of short-term manipulations. I examined seasonal variation in first-year apparent survival to investigate the relative influence of large-, small- and individual-scale factors associated with the quality and date hypotheses. Although parental quality was an important predictor of first-year apparent survival of tree swallows, my results further suggested that quality of parents was not the primary factor influencing seasonal variation in first-year apparent survival. Rather, findings were most consistent with the date hypothesis. The relationship between apparent survival and a direct measurement of environmental quality indicated that annual variation in moisture had important consequences for first-year apparent survival of tree swallows in Saskatchewan. First-year apparent survival probabilities were higher during wet years and wetter conditions are generally linked to greater insect abundance. In British Columbia, nestlings from larger broods were less likely to survive, possibly as a result of receiving less food. Apparent survival probabilities were also higher when food was more abundant. I demonstrated that both parental and environmental quality influenced seasonal variation in fitness-related traits of tree swallows. However, the strongest evidence suggests that environmental quality, and in particular food abundance, had the greatest effect on seasonal variation in nestling quality, reproductive success and first-year apparent survival in tree swallows. My results highlight the importance of considering regional precipitation trends when projecting effects of climate change on demography of aerial insectivores.

The standard, EN12354-1 describes a simplified statistical energy analysis (SEA) model to predict the apparent sound reduction index between two rooms inclusive of the contributions of the flanking paths. There is interest worldwide in applying the EN12354 model to lightweight building elements. However, lightweight elements typically do not meet the requirements of an SEA subsystem and therefore applying the EN12354 model to these elements may result in inaccurate predictions. The purpose of this investigation was to systematically evaluate the application of the EN12354 model to lightweight building constructions. The evaluation included the determination of the probability density functions and the propagated uncertainty of the calculations. Knowledge of the probability density functions resulted in alternative calculations of the structure-borne sound transmitted through the constructions. The uncertainty analysis revealed that the uncertainty of the predictions is directly affected by the variance of the vibratory field measured on the elements. The vibratory fields of lightweight elements typically show large variances and therefore the propagated uncertainty of the EN12354 predictions for these elements can be significant. The investigation included measurements both in the laboratory and in the field. The results of the laboratory measurements were compared to both predictions using the EN12354 methods and ESEA models which included higher order flanking paths and non-resonant transmission paths. The field measurements included in this investigation were unique because the flanking intensity sound reduction indices of the elements in the source room were measured. The measurements allowed for the EN12354 predictions for each flanking element to be assessed instead of just the apparent sound reduction index between the rooms. The study resulted in proposed correction factors for when reciprocity does not hold and proposed changes to ISO10848 to improve the accuracy of the predictions when the EN12354 method was applied to lightweight building elements. However, neither the proposed correction factors nor the proposed changed to ISO10848-1 could correct for the potentially large differences between the predicted and the measured results. Based on the findings of this study, the use of the EN12354 model for the calculation of the apparent sound reduction index of lightweight elements is not endorsed. Lightweight constructions may not be categorized as ideal SEA subsystems due to the lack of diffuseness of the vibratory field. Furthermore, in order for EN12354 to be applied to lightweight constructions, a reliable method of calculating the resonant component of the sound reduction index of double-leaf elements is required. Therefore, statistical methods including the EN12354 method may be unsuitable for use for the prediction of flanking noise for lightweight building constructions.

Ocean optical studies have been conducted extensively in open ocean waters but less so in coastal waters where the influence of human population is increasing dramatically. The waters of the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia, Canada, are very important to the rearing of young salmon and herring, and to the fishing industry of British Columbia overall. The oceanography and plankton communities of the Strait have been researched extensively, however the forces behind the frequent occurrence of phytoplankton blooms in these waters still causes debate among researchers. In order to shed some light onto this topic and increase our knowledge of the characteristics of the waters of the Strait of Georgia, optical and bio-physical data were measured in the euphotic waters of the Strait in late spring and early summer of 2006. Hyperspectral optical data were measured for the first time in these waters using in situ optical profilers to collect inherent optical properties and radiometric quantities that were later used to derive apparent optical properties. The inherent optical properties included absorption coefficient, spectral beam attenuation coefficient, chromophoric dissolved organic matter absorption coefficient, particulate absorption coefficient, and particulate scattering coefficient. In situ irradiances and radiances were used to derive various diffuse attenuation coefficients. Water masses in the euphotic zone of the Strait of Georgia were then classified into three optical water masses according to their inherent optical properties using a clustering algorithm. OM1 waters were characterized by high and spectrally-invariant particulate scattering due to inorganic particles carried by the Fraser River plume. Absorption and scattering showed some spectral dependence in OM2 waters, with particles and chromophoric dissolved organic matter contributing equally to light absorption. The deepest waters, OM3, were the least influenced by the Fraser River, and the contribution of chromophoric dissolved organic matter to absorption was greater than in OM1 and OM2. A radiative transfer model, Hydrolight, was used to model some of the optical properties that were not collected in situ and then used to assess the magnitude of light available to phytoplankton in the Strait. Based on the minimum light requirements for photosynthesis of two of the main phytoplankton species in the Strait, the analysis presented here showed that there was enough light available for photosynthesis in the photosynthetically-available radiation range for the two phytoplankton species in all three optical water masses.

This work presents a new Loss-of-Excitation in synchronous generators protection scheme based on the Continuous Apparent Impedance Calculation. This methodology aiming to improve security and dependability to the ANSI 40 function in order to distinguish cases of loss of excitation from other external disturbances such as stable power swings caused by the elimination of short circuits, for instance. Traditional loss of excitation protection methods may operate incorrectly in the occurrence of this kind of disturbance. Since the proposed methodology have settings related to the reactance parameters of the protected generator (Xd e X d), tests have been carried out considering two different machines with distinct parameters of the WSCC 9-bus system. Aiming to test the proposed technique and compare it with other widely used methods Mason, Berdy and Positive Offset, three kinds of events were simulated, namely, total loss of excitation, partial loss of excitation and stable power swing, for different initial generator loading. The computer simulation results demonstrate that the proposed method correctly identifies the occurrence of loss-of-excitation and does not operate in situations of stable power swings, regardless of the parameters of generators and their operating condition. Its alarm function allows taking the underexcited machine out faster by using manual intervention, which is especially useful when the initial loading is light or when it‟s a partial loss of excitation case. Another highlight is the ease adjustment of the method, which is related only with the generator‟s reactances data. / Este trabalho apresenta um novo método de proteção contra perda de excitação de geradores síncronos fundamentado no Cálculo Contínuo da Impedância Aparente. Este novo conceito visa garantir segurança e disponibilidade para a função de proteção ANSI 40 através da distinção de casos de perda de excitação e outros distúrbios externos ao gerador, tais quais as oscilações estáveis de potência ocorridas após a eliminação de curto-circuitos. As técnicas tradicionais de proteção contra perda de excitação podem apresentar operações indevidas quando da ocorrência de tais distúrbios. Considerando que a metodologia desenvolvida possui ajustes em função dos parâmetros das reatâncias do gerador protegido (Xd e X d), são feitos testes com duas máquinas de parâmetros distintos do sistema WSCC 9-barras. Visando testar a técnica proposta e compará-la com métodos amplamente utilizados Mason, Berdy e Offset Positivo, foram simulados três tipos de eventos, ou seja, perda de excitação total, perda de excitação parcial e oscilação estável de potência, para diferentes pontos operacionais do gerador. Os resultados das simulações computacionais demonstraram que o método proposto identifica corretamente a ocorrência de perda de excitação e não opera em situações de oscilação estável de potência, independentemente dos parâmetros do gerador e de sua condição de operação. A função de alarme permite desligar a máquina subexcitada mais rapidamente através de intervenção manual, o que é especialmente útil quando o carregamento inicial é baixo ou a perda de excitação é parcial. Destaca-se ainda a facilidade de ajuste do método, o qual depende apenas dos dados das reatâncias do gerador.

Submitted by Aelson Maciera (aelsoncm@terra.com.br) on 2017-04-25T16:48:28Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DissCEGS.pdf: 4427743 bytes, checksum: 5e99637e07f5406510f1f85b9c5e9cc1 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ronildo Prado (ronisp@ufscar.br) on 2017-04-26T19:34:47Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissCEGS.pdf: 4427743 bytes, checksum: 5e99637e07f5406510f1f85b9c5e9cc1 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ronildo Prado (ronisp@ufscar.br) on 2017-04-26T19:34:57Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissCEGS.pdf: 4427743 bytes, checksum: 5e99637e07f5406510f1f85b9c5e9cc1 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-04-26T19:58:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DissCEGS.pdf: 4427743 bytes, checksum: 5e99637e07f5406510f1f85b9c5e9cc1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-12-02 / Não recebi financiamento / This research aimed to investigate, with the aid of the Brazilian standard NBR 7190 (1990) Wood Structures Project, of the Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance (ANOVA), and the regrouping bootstrap technique, the influence of extraction regions Caracaraí, Bonfim and Claudia, in physical and mechanical properties of Cupiúba wood (Goupia Glabra Aubl), and assess the possibility of estimate (linear, exponential, geometric and logarithmic mathematical models) the physical and mechanical properties investigated as a function of density. The results of ANOVA indicated equivalence in 94% of the properties of the regions of Caracaraí and Claudia, and no equivalence in 50% of the properties in the region of Bonfim, even after extrapolated by the bootstrap technique, the non-equivalence was still 44%, whereas the results obtained from the regression model implied a possibility of an estimate of the physical and mechanical properties of Cupiúba wood due to its apparent density. / Esta pesquisa objetivou investigar, com o auxílio da norma brasileira NBR 7190 (1990) Projeto de Estruturas de Madeira, da Análise de Variância de Kruskal-Wallis (ANOVA) e da técnica bootstrap de reagrupamento, a influência das regiões de extração Caracaraí, Bonfim e Claudia, em propriedades físicas e mecânicas da madeira de Cupiúba (Goupia Glabra Aubl), assim como avaliar a possibilidade da estimativa (modelos linear, exponencial, geométrico, logarítmico) das propriedades físicas e mecânicas investigadas em função da densidade aparente. Os resultados da ANOVA indicaram equivalência em 94% das propriedades das regiões de Caracaraí e Cláudia, e não equivalência em 50% das propriedades da região de Bonfim, e mesmo depois de extrapolados pela técnica bootstrap, apresentou não equivalência em 44% das propriedades. Os resultados obtidos dos modelos de regressão implicaram na possibilidade da estimativa das propriedades físicas e mecânicas da madeira de Cupiúba em função da densidade aparente.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / In the present research we performed a descriptive analysis from the rising of the middle vowels pretonic with speakers from Uberlândia - MG. Following the variational method, we conducted interviews with the goal of seeking the vernacular speech of our informants. Thus, we compose a corpus with 5.199 words from the speech of 24 informants stratified by sex, age and education level, as established by GEFONO, group of studies in phonology, cooriented by Professor José Sueli de Magalhães . In addition to the extralinguistic factors used for the composition of research cells, we use linguistic factors, such as tonic vowel height, weight of pretonic syllabic, nasal / oral pretonic vowel; distance of pretonic vowel in relation to the stressed syllable, the pretonic syllable weight of the word, phonological preceding context: articulation point; preceding phonological context: continuity / non-continuity of the preceding consonant; following phonological context: articulation point; following phonological context: continuity / non continuity of following consonant. The data collected were passed through coding and run the program called GoldVarb. The factors considered relevant by the program, to the middle vowels pretonic rising were analyzed by us and then represented by geometry of features, phonological theory Autossegmental by Clements and Hume (1995). Our analysis was based on studies from Bisol (1981), Viegas (1987); Callou and Leite (1986); Callou, Leite and Coutinho (1991), Schwindt (2002), Silveira (2008); Cassique, Cruz, Dias and Oliveira (2009) and Wetzels (1992). At the end f this research, we conclude that the rising of the middle vowels occurs in Uberlândia and can be characterized by both aspects, neogrammarians where the rules of harmonizations applies and diffusionist when there is rising without apparent reason or cases that there is oscillation between rising form and not rising form. / Com a presente pesquisa realizamos uma análise descritiva do alçamento das vogais médias pretônicas com falantes de Uberlândia MG. Seguindo a metodologia Variacionista, foram feitas entrevistas com o objetivo de buscar o vernáculo na fala de nossos informantes. Dessa forma, compomos um corpus com 5.199 palavras retiradas da fala de 24 informantes estratificados por: sexo, faixa etária e anos de escolaridade, conforme estabelecido pelo GEFONO, grupo de estudos em fonologia, coordenado pelo professor doutor José Sueli de Magalhães. Além dos fatores extralinguísticos utilizados para a composição das células de pesquisa, também utilizamos fatores linguísticos, como: altura da vogal tônica; peso silábico da pretônica; nasalidade/oralidade da vogal pretônica; distância da pretônica em relação à sílaba tônica; peso da sílaba pretônica na palavra; contexto fonológico precedente: ponto de articulação; contexto fonológico precedente: continuidade/não-continuidade da consoante precedente; contexto fonológico seguinte: ponto de articulação; contexto fonológico seguinte: continuidade/não continuidade da consoante seguinte. Os dados coletados passaram por codificação e foram rodados pelo programa GoldVarb. Os fatores considerados relevantes, pelo programa, para o alçamento das vogais médias pretônicas foram analisados por nós e em seguida representados por meio da Geometria de Traços, teoria fonológica Autossegmental, de Clements e Hume (1995). Nossa análise pautou-se em estudo de Bisol (1981); Viegas (1987); Callou e Leite (1986); Callou, Leite e Coutinho (1991); Schwindt (2002), Silveira (2008); Cassique, Cruz, Dias e Oliveira (2009) e Wetzels (1992). Ao final desta pesquisa, concluímos que o alçamento das vogais médias pretônicas ocorre em Uberlândia e pode ser caracterizados tanto por aspectos neogramáticos, casos em que a regra de Harmonização se aplica, como difusionistas, quando há o alçamento sem motivação aparente ou casos em que há a oscilação entre forma alçada e não alçada. / Mestre em Linguística

Hiperplasia congênita de suprarrenal (CAH) compreende um grupo de transtornos hereditários decorrentes de erros inatos do metabolismo dos esteróides adrenais. O aumento das dimensões das glândulas suprarrenais é um marco morfológico na CAH que pode ser avaliado por métodos de imagem com signifitiva correlação com o controle hormonal dos pacientes. Porém, técnicas de imagem que forneçam informações qualitativas e quantitativas relativas à citoarquitetura das glândulas ainda não foram estabelecidas neste contexto. A difusão por ressonância magnética (DWI) é uma técnica que pode fornecer informações quantitativas dos tecidos através do valor do coeficiente de difusão aparente (ADC). O papel do ADC na avaliação de lesões tumorais adrenais já foi estudado, no entanto, o valor do ADC das glândulas suprarrenais normais ainda não foi descrito. O objetivo geral desta tese foi investigar a utilidade dos métodos de imagem na avaliação da CAH. Os objetivos específicos foram apresentar uma revisão dos métodos por imagem já estabelecidos para avaliação da CAH, validar o cálculo do ADC da glândula suprarrenal e avaliar se o ADC e as dimensões das glândulas suprarrenais poderiam auxiliar no manejo de pacientes com CAH, correlacionando-os com controle hormonal. Esta tese é baseada em artigos, nos quais estão mostrados a metodologia, resultados e discussões relativos a cada uma das etapas. O primeiro artigo, The role of imaging in congenital adrenal hyperplasia, trata de uma revisão sistemática de imagem em CAH, com ênfase em genitografia, ultrassonografia, tomografia computadorizada e ressonância magnética (MRI). O segundo artigo, Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) of the normal adrenal glands: premilinary results, teve como principal objetivo validar o método de medida do ADC das glândulas suprarrenais. No terceiro artigo, Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of adrenal glands in children and young adults with congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency, foram estudados os parâmetros quantitativos por MRI (ADC, volume e medidas lineares) das glândulas suprarrenais que poderiam estar relacionados ao controle hormonal dos pacientes com CAH. Medir o ADC das suprarrenais normais é factível e reprodutível. Em indivíduos saudáveis após a adrenarca o ADC é significativamente menor. Todavia, o ADC não foi capaz de diferenciar indivíduos controles de pacientes com CAH, assim como não apresentou correlação com o status hormonal dos pacientes. O volume e as medidas lineares das glândulas adrenais foram os melhores parâmetros quantitativos por MRI para diferenciar pacientes de indivíduos controles, com correlação positiva com o status hormonal recente dos pacientes com CAH. As dimensões das glândulas suprarrenais avaliadas por MRI podem ser utilizadas como ferramenta auxiliar no acompanhamento dos pacientes e mostrar rapidamente os efeitos da exposição a altos níveis de hormônio adrenocorticotrópico. Apesar de ocorrerem modificações celulares na CAH e de ter sido mostrado neste estudo que em pacientes sem doença hormonal conhecida o ADC é mais baixo após a adrenarca, estas alterações celulares que ocorrem na CAH não foram detectadas pelas medidas de ADC. / Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is an autossomic recessive disorder caused by impaired steroidogenesis. A morphological hallmark in CAH is enlarged adrenal glands. Imaging studies have addressed mainly morphological aspects and dimensions of the adrenal glands, which correlate to the patients hormonal statuses. However, no imaging technique was used to evaluate changes in the adrenal glands at a cellular level in these patients. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) is a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique with the ability to provide quantitative information about intracellular and extracellular space, given by the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values. The role of ADC in evaluation of adrenal lesions has already been studied. However, ADC of the normal adrenals has not yet been described. The main purposes of this study were: to investigate the role of imaging in CAH, to validate the method of calculating ADC values of the normal adrenal glands and to assess hormonal status in patients with CAH and its correlation to quantitative MRI. This is an article-based thesis divided in three articles. The first article, The role of imaging in congenital adrenal hyperplasia, is a systematic review of imaging in congenital adrenal hyperplasia, with emphasis on genitography, ultrasonography, computed tomography and MRI. The article Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of the normal adrenal glands: premilinary results aimed to validate the method of measuring ADC of the adrenal glands. The study of quantitative parameters (ADC, volume and linear measurements) of the adrenals evaluated by MRI that correlate with hormonal status in patients with CAH is described in the third article, Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging in evaluation of the adrenal glands in children and young adults with congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency. Measuring ADC of the normal adrenal glands is feasible and reproducible. In healthy subjects, ADC values were significantly lower after adrenarche. However, neither a difference between ADC values of controls and patients, nor correlations with patients hormonal statuses were found. Volume and linear measurements of the adrenal glands were the best parameter to differentiate patients from controls. Moreover, a positive correlation was found between short-term hormonal control status and adrenal size. Adrenal size assessed by MRI might be a useful tool in the follow-up of patients with CAH. Although adrenal cell structure modifications in patients with CAH have been described, they were not detectable by DWI.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T17:59:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Carla Canzi.pdf: 1452625 bytes, checksum: a8cf8663ae90bd74144a848c32b75a2d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-02-15 / The study was conducted to know the nutritional value of the invasive mussel L. fortunei and its potential use as food in the manufacture of feed for fish. The work was done in two stages. The first step processed two types of meal, using a mussel in its integral form (valves and body content), called the FMI, and the other using only the valves and called FMV. In the processed materials analysis of crude protein (CP) were done, lipids, ash, calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), Sodium (Na), Potassium (K), Lead (Pb), Cobalt (Co), Copper (Cu ), Mercury (Hg), Zinc (Zn), pH and bacteriology (Salmonella sp, bactérias mesófilas, enterobacterias e E. colli). In the second step the material was submitted to evaluate the apparent digestibility of CP, and availability of Ca and P, for Tilápia (Oreochromis niloticus). The results were: CP (%) 12.95 and 8.64; Lipids (%) 1.01 and 0.42, Ash (%) 80.53 and 86.43 (%) P (%) 0, 11 and 0.10, Ca (%) 27.27 and 28.70; Na (%) 3.79 e3, 29 and pH 6.7 and 6.9, for FMV and IMF, respectively. The results of heavy metals and bacteriology were considered acceptable for use in animal feed. Regarding the apparent digestibility of crude protein and apparent availability of Ca and P, the material did not show satisfactory performance and is not considered appropriate to use for feeding tilápia. / O Estudo foi realizado com objetivo de conhecer o valor nutricional do molusco invasor Limnoperna fortunei e o seu potencial de utilização como alimento na fabricação de rações para peixes. O trabalho foi desenvolvido em duas etapas. Na primeira foram processados dois tipos de farinha, uma utilizando molusco na forma integral (valvas e conteúdo corporal), denominada FMI, e outra utilizando somente as valvas, denominada FMV. Nos materiais processados foram realizadas analises de proteína bruta (PB), lipídeos, cinza, cálcio (Ca), fósforo (P), sódio (Na), potássio(K), chumbo (Pb), cobalto (Co), cobre (Cu), mercúrio(Hg), zinco(Zn), pH e bacteriologia ((Salmonella sp,bactérias mesófilas, enterobacterias e E. colli). Na segunda etapa, o material foi submetido à avaliação da digestibilidade aparente da PB, e disponibilidade do Ca e P, utilizando a espécie Tilápia (Oreochromis niloticus). Os resultados obtidos foram: PB(%) 12,95 e 8,64; lipídeos (%) 1,01 e 0,42; cinza (%) 80,53 e 86,43(%), P(%)0,11 e 0,10; Ca(%) 27,27 e 28,70; Na (%) 3,79 e 3,29 e pH 6,7 e 6,9; para FMI e FMV, respectivamente. Os resultados de metais pesados e bacteriologia se mostraram dentro de níveis considerados aceitáveis à utilização em ração animal. Em relação à digestibilidade aparente da PB e disponibilidade aparente de Ca e P, o material não apresentou desempenho satisfatório, não sendo considerado adequado o seu uso para alimentação da espécie tilápia.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T18:13:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Carla Canzi.pdf: 1452625 bytes, checksum: a8cf8663ae90bd74144a848c32b75a2d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-02-15 / The study was conducted to know the nutritional value of the invasive mussel L. fortunei and its potential use as food in the manufacture of feed for fish. The work was done in two stages. The first step processed two types of meal, using a mussel in its integral form (valves and body content), called the FMI, and the other using only the valves and called FMV. In the processed materials analysis of crude protein (CP) were done, lipids, ash, calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), Sodium (Na), Potassium (K), Lead (Pb), Cobalt (Co), Copper (Cu ), Mercury (Hg), Zinc (Zn), pH and bacteriology (Salmonella sp, bactérias mesófilas, enterobacterias e E. colli). In the second step the material was submitted to evaluate the apparent digestibility of CP, and availability of Ca and P, for Tilápia (Oreochromis niloticus). The results were: CP (%) 12.95 and 8.64; Lipids (%) 1.01 and 0.42, Ash (%) 80.53 and 86.43 (%) P (%) 0, 11 and 0.10, Ca (%) 27.27 and 28.70; Na (%) 3.79 e3, 29 and pH 6.7 and 6.9, for FMV and IMF, respectively. The results of heavy metals and bacteriology were considered acceptable for use in animal feed. Regarding the apparent digestibility of crude protein and apparent availability of Ca and P, the material did not show satisfactory performance and is not considered appropriate to use for feeding tilápia. / O estudo foi realizado com objetivo de conhecer o valor nutricional do molusco invasor Limnoperna fortunei e o seu potencial de utilização como alimento na fabricação de rações para peixes. O trabalho foi desenvolvido em duas etapas. Na primeira foram processados dois tipos de farinha, uma utilizando molusco na forma integral (valvas e conteúdo corporal), denominada FMI, e outra utilizando somente as valvas, denominada FMV. Nos materiais processados foram realizadas analises de proteína bruta (PB), lipídeos, cinza, cálcio (Ca), fósforo (P), sódio (Na), potássio(K), chumbo (Pb), cobalto (Co), cobre (Cu), mercúrio(Hg), zinco(Zn), pH e bacteriologia ((Salmonella sp,bactérias mesófilas, enterobacterias e E. colli). Na segunda etapa, o material foi submetido à avaliação da digestibilidade aparente da PB, e disponibilidade do Ca e P, utilizando a espécie Tilápia (Oreochromis niloticus). Os resultados obtidos foram: PB(%) 12,95 e 8,64; lipídeos (%) 1,01 e 0,42; cinza (%) 80,53 e 86,43(%), P(%)0,11 e 0,10; Ca(%) 27,27 e 28,70; Na (%) 3,79 e 3,29 e pH 6,7 e 6,9; para FMI e FMV, respectivamente. Os resultados de metais pesados e bacteriologia se mostraram dentro de níveis considerados aceitáveis à utilização em ração animal. Em relação à digestibilidade aparente da PB e disponibilidade aparente de Ca e P, o material não apresentou desempenho satisfatório, não sendo considerado adequado o seu uso para alimentação da espécie tilápia.

A porção sul do Leque Aluvial do Taquari, chamada Nhecolândia, é uma sub-região do Pantanal Mato-Grossense, que apresenta um complexo sistema de lagoas arredondadas, vazantes, cordilheiras, corixos e pequenas depressões. Estudos anteriores mostraram que os fluxos de águas subsuperficiais dependem da intensidade das cheias, e da presença e forma dos horizontes verdes argilosos, localmente cimentados, que limitam fortemente a permeabilidade, e comandam os fluxos laterais. Inicialmente associados a ambientes alcalinos das salinas, esses horizontes também ocorrem em ambientes diluídos, como as pequenas depressões. O objetivo geral deste trabalho é compreender o funcionamento hídrico de três pequenas depressões, em relação com as características morfológicas dos solos. Métodos de indução eletromagnética foram utilizados para mapear a condutividade elétrica aparente (CEa); complementados por métodos de descrições das características morfológicas dos solos, e de análises granulométricas e mineralógicas em laboratório. Estes trabalhos foram complementados por análises físico-químicas das águas nas depressões; e pelo monitoramento do nível do lençol freático entre uma depressão e uma baía. O horizonte verde argiloso, mais ou menos endurecido, aparece na base das sequências de solos nas três pequenas depressões, ao qual se superpõem horizontes arenosos superficiais e subsuperficiais. As principais diferenciações morfológicas observadas referem-se aos processos de redistribuição de ferro e da matéria orgânica, ligados ao regime hídrico. No período seco, quando ocorre um rebaixamento do nível freático, o horizonte verde argiloso funciona como uma soleira e fragmenta o lençol, que passa a funcionar como dois segmentos, um ligado à Depressão Fechada, e outro à Baía. Ao longo do ano, a Depressão Fechada acumula água apenas temporária e fugazmente. Na maior parte do tempo, ela funciona como área dispersora de água às unidades morfológicas adjacentes, salientando sua importância funcional na Nhecolândia. / The southern part of the Taquari alluvial fan, called Nhecolândia, is a sub-region of the Pantanal of Mato-Grosso exhibiting a complex of round shape lakes, draining fields, forested sandy areas, small watercourses and small depressions. Former studies have shown that the sub-superficial water fluxes depend on the intensity of the flood and on the presence and shape of a sandy clay loam greenish horizon, locally cemented, which acts as an impervious layer and drives lateral fluxes. Although its presence has always been associated to the alkaline-saline parts of this singular landscape, it also occurs below small freshwater depressions. The objective of this study is to understand the hydrological functioning of these small depressions in relation to the soil cover layout. Electromagnetic induction methods were used to draw apparent electrical conductivity (CEa) maps, crossed with direct auger holes and pits observations, and laboratory analysis (grain size distribution and mineralogy). Physico-chemical analysis of the ground water in the depressions and a monitoring of the groundwater fluctuation along one year were also performed. The greenish horizon, more or less cemented, occurred at the base of the soil system in all the studied depressions. It was overlaid by more sandy horizons. The main pedological differentiation was organic matter and iron redistribution along the soil sequences, in relation with the hydrological regime. During the dry season, the watertable goes down and the greenish horizon acts as a threshold, disconnecting various watertables in the different parts of the landscape. Along the year, the closed depressions accumulate the water only temporarily and fleetingly. Most of the time, they work as areas of water redistribution towards the surrounding landscape units, and therefore have a essential function in the Nhecolândia.