The current environmental status of the majority of Bermuda’s one hundred sixty-six known caves was investigated. This survey replicated a historical cave study performed in 1983, wherein each was analyzed for positive and negative features. Statistical analysis of the data showed a significant difference between the historical and current survey ratings, with an overall decrease in environmental status. A water quality study was performed on twenty different caves with sea level pools in various locations around the island. Nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, and phosphate levels were measured from varying depths in these caves. Fifteen of these caves were also tested for the presence of fecal bacterial contamination. High nitrate levels were discovered in some of the caves, particularly in surface samples. Additionally, bacterial contamination was detected in some caves. No obvious relationship between cave size or location and contamination existed for any of the pollutants sampled. Three separate caves from this group were dived and analyzed using a Hydrolab Sonde 3 Multiprobe Logger to acquire in situ water column data including depth, temperature, pH, salinity, and dissolved oxygen. Each cave studied had its own unique trends in hydrology at varying depths in the water column. A later water sampling study with a randomized experimental design was created and caves were divided into four classes based on size and location. Surface and subsurface samples were gathered from twelve randomly selected caves, three from each class. Each sample was analyzed for nitrate, nitrite, and ammonia concentrations. The results were analyzed using multiple analysis of variance statistics. A significant difference between the nitrate concentrations in the surface and subsurface water samples was discovered. None of the other comparisons were statistically significant. To represent the data visually, a Bermuda Cave and Karst Information System (BeCKIS) was created using the environmental survey data and water quality information. Some of the maps generated highlighted regions where negative environmental impacts on caves were concentrated geographically, thus demonstrating how this geographic information system could be used as a conservation tool.

The freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man, 1879) is an important aquaculture species but one that has the disadvantage of heterogeneous individual growth (HIG) according to different morphotypes. Chemical cues, especially, pheromones, are one of the most important communication types between individual prawns, along with visual and tactile methods. Testing pheromones, whilst restricting other cues, may therefore lead to a better understanding of the influence of these communicatory compounds on the prawn reproductive process. The three principle objectives of this study were therefore: 1) To examine the effect of moult stage and morphotype on pheromone-induced sexual behaviour 2) To examine the role of pheromone / urine concentrations on sexual attraction behaviour 3) To describe the functional morphology of the antennal gland and examine its possible role in pheromone production and release. Identical bioassay tanks were designed and constructed to study the reproductive behaviour of prawns. Experiments were set up to examine responses to pheromone release by live prawns over 30 minutes and behavioural response observations were made with the aid of a Closed-Circuit Videotape System (CCVS). Results were statistically analysed using a repeated measures general linear model (GLM). Three trials were designed to test the effect of moult stage of both males and females and male morphotypes on sexual attraction behavioural responses. Twelve prawns were used for each trial and each prawn was used five times (1 no-pheromone control and 4 for experimental tests). The first trial studied the effect of female moult stages (pre-, inter and newly-moulted) on sexual attraction behaviour of blue claw (BC) male. Results of this trial showed that newly-moulted females spent significantly (p<0.05) less time approaching the BC male than the pre- and inter-moult females. The second trial studied the effect of male moult stage (pre-, inter and newly-moulted) on sexual attraction to receptive females. Results showed that the time taken by the inter-moult males was (p<0.05) less than the pre- and newly-moulted males in approaching the newly-moulted female. The third trial tested the effect of male morphotypes (small male, SM, orange claw, OC and dominant blue claw, BC) on sexual attraction behaviour towards newly-moulted females. Results showed that the BC male was significantly more attractive (p<0.05) than other morphotypes to newly-moulted females and that the OC male was the least attractive. The role of moulting stage for both male and female prawns on reproductive response behaviour was investigated. Because BC males responded significantly faster towards newly-moulted female more than to either pre-or inter-moult females, results of the first trial suggest that BC males are able to use different chemical cues to gather information about a conspecific’s gender and can differentiate female’s moult stages. Since BC males responded significantly faster towards newly-moulted females more than to either pre-or inter-moult females, this suggests that females at this particular stage released a distinct sexual pheromone or concentration of pheromone that differed from those pheromones released by both pre- and inter-moult females. In contrast, newly-moulted females prefer the inter-moult BC males which indicate that females have an ability to distinguish the moult status of BC males. Furthermore, it indicates that pheromone characteristics change with the moult status of BC males. Also, newly-moulted females are most likely to be avoiding the potential costs of mate guarding with soft shell BC males. Results obtained from the third trial suggested that a newly-moulted female can discriminate male morphotypes (SM, OC and BC) from their pheromone cues. This indicates that male morphotypes release pheromones which differ from each other in some way. Newly-moulted females responded positively to both SM and BC males with different levels of attraction with the greatest attraction to BC males to BC males suggesting that pheromone released from the BC male may carry information relating to dominance status. Urine is believed to be one of the main carriers of pheromone and is usually released from the antennal gland. Different urine concentrations (0.1, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 5.0 and 10µl l-1) of collected urine from BC males were used to test the sexual attraction behaviour of receptive newly-moulted females. Also, the attractant capability of fresh urine following exposure to different temperature regimes (cooled at 4ºC, frozen at -70ºC and heated at 70ºC) was tested. Since newly-moulted female M. rosenbergii were attracted to BC male urine, this indicates the existence of sex pheromone in the fresh urine. Also, it was found that the sexual response of females to fresh urine of BC males was directly proportional to urine concentration with faster responses observed with increasing urine concentrations. At the three fresh urine concentrations 0.1 µl l-1, 1.0 µl l-1 and 2.0 µl l-1, statistical analysis indicated no significant difference (p>0.05) between these three concentrations while a significant (P<0.05) response was to concentrations more than 3.0 µl l-1. This may indicate that these three concentrations were not sufficient to elicit attraction behaviour in newly-moulted females. A concentration of 3.0 µl l-1 of fresh urine is suggested to be a sufficient concentration to elicit a significant sexual attraction under laboratory conditions. Response of newly-moulted female prawns to the various temperature treatments tested declined in response to nominally increasingly degradative treatments. Also, statistical analysis showed that temperature treatment and concentration added both had a significant effect on the response of females. The greatest degradation of urine attractiveness was found with the 70ºC heat treatment. It can be concluded that the pheromone components of prawn urine are friable when exposed to high temperatures. Using light and transmission electron microscopes, ultrastructural observation of the antennal gland (AG) of M. rosenbergii suggests that it has four distinct regions, the coelomosac, the nephridial tubules, the labyrinth and the bladder. Morphological and functional descriptions of each of these regions were compared with those of other aquatic Crustacea.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T14:03:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 FernandaMA_DISSERT.pdf: 1930320 bytes, checksum: c3649a60e9f9467edceceaa5b07c7a8c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-03-01 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior / Heparin, a sulfated polysaccharide, was the first compound used as an anticoagulant and antithrombotic agent. Due to their structural characteristics, also has great potential anti-inflammatory, though such use is limited in inflammation because of their marked effects on coagulation. The occurrence of heparin-like compounds that exhibit anticoagulant activity decreased in aquatic invertebrates, such as crab Goniopsis cruentata, sparked interest for the study of such compounds as anti-inflammatory drugs. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the potential modulator of heparin-like compound extracted from Goniopsis cruentata in inflammatory events, coagulation, and to evaluate some aspects of its structure. The heparin-type compound had a high degree of N-sulphation in its structure, being able to reduce leukocyte migration into the peritoneal cavity at lower doses compared to heparin and diclofenac sodium (anti-inflammatory commercial). Furthermore, it was also able to inhibit the production of nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor alpha by activated macrophages, inhibited the activation of the enzyme neutrophil elastase in low concentrations and showed a lower anticoagulant effect in high doses as compared to porcine mucosal heparin. Because of these observations, the compound extracted from crab Goniopsis cruentata can be used as a structural model for future anti-inflammatory agents / A heparina, um polissacar?deo sulfatado, foi o primeiro composto utilizado como anticoagulante e agente antitromb?tico. Devido ?s suas caracter?sticas estruturais, possui ainda um grande potencial anti-inflamat?rio, entretanto tal uso na inflama??o ? limitado em raz?o de seus efeitos acentuados na coagula??o. A ocorr?ncia de compostos semelhantes ? heparina que apresentam atividade anticoagulante diminu?da em invertebrados aqu?ticos, como o caranguejo Goniopsis cruentata, despertou o interesse para o estudo de tais compostos como f?rmacos anti-inflamat?rios. Diante disso, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar o potencial modulador do composto semelhante ? heparina extra?do do Goniopsis cruentata em eventos inflamat?rios, coagula??o, al?m de avaliar alguns aspectos de sua estrutura. O composto tipo heparina apresentou alto grau de N-sulfata??o em sua estrutura, sendo capaz de reduzir a migra??o leucocit?ria para a cavidade peritoneal em doses mais baixas em rela??o ? heparina e ao diclofenaco de s?dio (anti-inflamat?rio comercial). Al?m disso, foi capaz ainda de inibir a produ??o de ?xido n?trico e fator de necrose tumoral alfa por macr?fagos ativados, inibiu a ativa??o da enzima neutrof?lica elastase em concentra??es baixas e apresentou um menor efeito anticoagulante em doses altas em compara??o com a heparina de mucosa su?na. Devido a essas observa??es, o composto extra?do do caranguejo Goniopsis cruentata pode ser utilizado como um modelo estrutural para futuros agentes anti-inflamat?rios

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2016-02-22T13:27:18Z No. of bitstreams: 1 marcosviniciusdiasdasilva.pdf: 2592251 bytes, checksum: 604c530f80c0fef4b7b66efe1a546444 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2016-02-26T14:01:09Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 marcosviniciusdiasdasilva.pdf: 2592251 bytes, checksum: 604c530f80c0fef4b7b66efe1a546444 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-02-26T14:01:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 marcosviniciusdiasdasilva.pdf: 2592251 bytes, checksum: 604c530f80c0fef4b7b66efe1a546444 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-02-28 / CNPq - Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / O presente trabalho objetivou conhecer a variação das assembleias de invertebrados em riachos com diferentes graus de conservação pertencentes à sub-bacia do Ribeirão Marmelos, Rio Paraibuna, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brasil. A dissertação esta dividida em duas seções: a primeira trata de avaliar assembleias de invertebrados em mesohabitats de remanso e corredeiras em nove riachos com diferentes graus de conservação; a segunda aborda a variação nas assembleias na estação seca e chuvosa em riachos com diferentes graus de conservação. Para realização do estudo da primeira seção foram utilizados os dados da estação seca de remansos e corredeiras; já a segunda seção compreende as amostras de corredeiras obtidas nos dois períodos. Foram registrados em todo o estudo cinquenta e três mil setecentos e noventa e quatro invertebrados aquáticos, distribuídos em quarenta e cinco amostras de corredeira e quarenta e cinco amostras de remanso na estação seca, e quarenta e cinco amostras de corredeira no período das chuvas. Os mesohabitats de corredeira foram caracterizados pela maior influência da velocidade e disponibilidade de substrato grosseiro, menores valores de largura e profundidade. Já o remanso foi caracterizado pela deposição de frações de areia ultrafina e pela maior largura e profundidade. Os resultados obtidos permitem ampliar o conhecimento de ecossistemas de riachos e como as características do entorno influenciam na distinção dos mesohabitats de corredeira e remanso e na fauna de invertebrados associados, e por vez na riqueza e diversidade dos taxa. A partir dos resultados da primeira seção foi possível concluir que modificações nas características naturais de riachos de baixa ordem como a retirada de vegetação riparia acarretam em perdas na heterogeneidade de habitats e da diversidade faunística. Os resultados da segunda seção permitiram concluir que ambientes com diferentes usos da terra são influenciados de maneira diferente aos eventos de chuva. Atribuímos a presença da vegetação ciliar como principal componente do sistema, influenciando na estabilidade dos habitat dos organismos e na regulação térmica. Os resultados obtidos nesta dissertação vêm contribuir de forma importante para o conhecimento sobre como ambientes com diferentes estados de conservação influenciam nas características dos mesohabitats e como estes são influenciados pela estação chuvosa. / This study focused on the variation of the assemblies of invertebrates in streams with different degrees of conservation belonging to the subbasin of Ribeirão Marmelos, Rio Paraibuna , Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The dissertation is divided into two sections: the first deals with evaluating assemblies of invertebrates in mesohabitats backwater and rapids in nine streams with different degrees of conservation; the second addresses the variation in assemblies in dry and rainy seasons in streams with different degrees of conservation. Data were used in the dry season of backwaters and rapids to conduct the study in the first section; already the second section comprises the rapids samples obtained in both periods. Were recorded throughout the study fifty-three thousand seven hundred and ninety-four aquatic invertebrates , over forty-five samples of rapids and forty-five samples of backwater in the dry season , and forty- five samples of rapids in the rainy season . The mesohabitats rapids were characterized by the greatest influence on the speed and availability of coarse substrate, lower values of width and depth. Have backwater was characterized by deposition of ultrafine fractions of sand and greater width and depth. The results widened the knowledge of ecosystems and streams as the characteristics of the environment influence the distinction of mesohabitats rapids and pools and associated invertebrate fauna, and once in the richness and diversity of taxa. From the results of the first section it was concluded that changes in the natural characteristics of low-order streams such as the removal of riparian vegetation lead to losses in habitat heterogeneity and faunal diversity. The results of the second section showed that environments with different land uses are influenced differently to the way rain events. We attribute the presence of riparian vegetation as the main component of the system, influencing the stability of the habitat of organisms and thermal regulation. The results obtained in this work have been contributing significantly to the understanding of how environments with different conservation influence the characteristics of mesohabitats and how these are influenced by the rainy season.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The irrigated rice crop has economic and social importance for the state of Rio Grande do Sul. It is considered an environment rich in biological diversity, it is home for a range of animal communities, especially invertebrates. However, the intensive use of pesticides has led to concerns about the impact on non-target aquatic organisms. The objective in this study was to evaluate the effects of fungicides and insecticides currently used in irrigated rice crop on the community of benthic macroinvertebrate. For this, field and laboratory experiments were conducted. Two field experiments (seasons 2012/13 and 2013/14), in an experimental lowland area, in the Federal University of Santa Maria, RS, Brazil were carried out in 10m2 plots cultivated with rice plants and control plots with and without rice plants, with a water depth of 10 cm. The treatments: trifloxystrobin + tebuconazole (50 + 100 g a.i. ha-1), tricyclazole (225 g a.i ha-1), lambda-cyhalothrin + Thiamethoxam (15.9 + 21.1 g a.i ha-1) and diflubenzuron (19.2 g a.i ha-1) were applied as a single dose on rice plants at stage R3. Soil samples were collected to evaluate the richness and density of benthic macroinvertebrate fauna. Physical and chemical water parameters such as temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen, and the persistence of pesticides in water and soil were evaluated during the experiments. The sample sufficiency for studies of the benthic macroinvertebrate community in rice crop areas was set. Two laboratory tests were carried out to complement the field studies. The first experiment aimed to verify the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of tricyclazole through the bioindicator Allium cepa and the second experiment, aimed to verify the acute toxicity of the lambda-cyhalothrin and thiamethoxam active ingredients, alone and in combinations, on the species Chironomus dilutus organisms. The results showed that the establishment of the benthic macroinvertebrate community is favored in the natural environment without pesticides and rice plants. However, the application of a single dose of trifloxystrobin + tebuconazole fungicides and tricyclazole and lambda-cyhalothrin insecticide thiamethoxam + diflubenzuron causes no significant effects on the macroinvertebrate richness and density. Tebuconazole, tricyclazole and thiamethoxam had high persistence in irrigation water of the rice crop. Also, tricyclazole increased the genotoxic activity in the irrigation water of the rice crop, through the emergence of chromosomal alterations, without, however, causing significant effects on the mitotic index. The tested doses of lambda-cyhalothrin pyrethroid and thiamethoxam neonicotinoid, alone or in combinations, did not cause significant changes on organisms of the species Chironomus dilutus in laboratory studies. / A lavoura de arroz irrigado apresenta importância econômica e social para o estado do Rio Grande do Sul. É considerado um ambiente rico em diversidade biológica, pois abriga uma gama de comunidades de animais, especialmente invertebrados. Entretanto, a utilização intensiva de agrotóxicos tem levado a preocupações quanto ao impacto sobre os organismos aquáticos não alvos. Objetivou-se na presente pesquisa avaliar os efeitos de fungicidas e inseticidas utilizados na cultura do arroz irrigado sobre a comunidade de macroinvertebrados aquáticos bentônicos. Para isso, foram realizados experimentos de campo e laboratoriais. Dois experimentos de campo (safras 2012/13 e 2013/14) foram realizados em área didático experimental de várzea, da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, RS, em parcelas experimentais de 10m2 cultivadas com arroz irrigado e parcelas controle com e sem plantas de arroz, com lâmina de água de 10 cm de altura. Os tratamentos: trifloxistrobina + tebuconazol (50 + 100 g i.a.ha-1), triciclazol (225 g i.a.ha-1), lambda-cialotrina + tiametoxam (15,9 + 21,1 g i.a.ha-1) e diflubenzuron (19,2 g i.a.ha-1) foram aplicados em dose única sobre as plantas de arroz em estádio R3. Amostras de solo foram coletadas para avaliação da riqueza e densidade da fauna de macroinvertebrados bentônicos. Parâmetros físico-químicos da água, tais como temperatura, pH e oxigênio dissolvido e a persistência dos agrotóxicos na água e no solo foram avaliados durante os experimentos. A suficiência amostral para estudos com a comunidade de macroinvertebrados bentônicos em áreas de cultivo de arroz irrigado foi definida. Dois ensaios laboratoriais foram realizados a fim de complementar os estudos de campo. O primeiro experimento objetivou verificar os efeitos citotóxicos e genotóxicos de triciclazol, através do bioindicador Allium cepa e, o segundo experimento, objetivou verificar a toxicidade aguda dos princípios ativos lambda-cialotrina e tiametoxam, isolados e em misturas, sobre organismos da espécie Chironomus dilutus. Os resultados mostraram que o estabelecimento da comunidade de macroinvertebrados bentônicos é favorecido quando em ambiente natural, livre de agrotóxicos e sem plantas de arroz. Entretanto, a aplicação de apenas uma dose dos fungicidas trifloxistrobina + tebuconazol e triciclazol e dos inseticidas lambda-cialotrina + tiametoxam e diflubenzuron não ocasionou efeitos significativos sobre a riqueza e densidade de macroinvertebrados. Tebuconazol, triciclazol e tiametoxam apresentaram elevada persistência na água de irrigação da lavoura de arroz irrigado. Triciclazol causou também aumento da atividade genotóxica na água de irrigação da lavoura de arroz, através do aparecimento de alterações cromossômicas, sem, contudo, causar efeitos significativos sobre o índice mitótico. As doses testadas do piretróide lambda-cialotrina e do neonicotinóide tiametoxam, isolados ou em misturas, não causaram alterações significativas sobre organismos da espécie Chironomus dilutus, em estudos laboratoriais.

M.Sc. / The purpose of this study was to determine whether unpaved roads in commercial forests have a detrimental impact on aquatic macro-invertebrates in the receiving rivers associated with these roads. The upper section of the headwaters of the Motlhaka-Semeetse River was chosen as the Study Area because a portion is situated in the Wolkberg Wilderness area (natural area with no roads) and a portion in a commercial forestry plantation (high road network density). Stream conditions based on a rapid bio-assessment of aquatic macro-invertebrates using SASS5 were then compared between the two catchments amid 2002 and 2010. In order to support the SASS5 results, daily rainfall data from December 1959 to October 2010 was collated and compared to daily stream flow data from January 1960 to October 2010. In addition, geomorphological and instream habitat changes in the river between the two catchment areas were recorded, as well as the condition of stream crossings and their linkage to stream networks in the afforested catchment. The SASS5 results revealed that stream conditions at the upper unimpaired site were significantly better, visibly and statistically (p < 0.05) than conditions at the lower site within the forestry plantation. In addition, there were noteworthy changes in the catchment hydrology, the geomorphology and instream habitat between the natural and afforested catchments. Road network densities in commercial forests are mostly considerably higher than suggested in literature and exceed stream network densities. Roads increase the surface area for interception of rainfall and the runoff from this high density of roads results in modification of the catchment hydrology, geomorphology and instream habitat of receiving streams. This physical change to the receiving streams is one of the main reasons for the deterioration in SASS5 results, disproving the hypothesis that road networks in forestry areas have no impact on receiving aquatic ecosystems. Commercial forestry in South Africa needs to improve their road planning, layout, management and maintenance to reduce these environmental impacts. In doing so, the road network density will be reduced with considerable environmental and economic benefits.

Hydropeaking is important to meet peak demand of electricity on the Swedish powergrid. The rapid changes in discharge may affect the ecology of streams and rivers negatively downstream of hydropeaking powerplants. In this study, the composition of five functional feeding groups (FFG) was investigated in the families Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (EPT) in samples collections by Hester-Dendy-sampler in 27 locations in streams and rivers with and without hydropeaking. The groups shredders, grazers, gatherers, filter feeders and predators were identified for each toxon. I expected that the flow regime downstream of a hydropeaking powerplant would affect the composition of FFG compared to non-hydropeaking streams and rivers, except for the group predators. No significant differenses in FFG between the streams and rivers with and without hydropeaking was found. These results indicate that effects from hydropeaking on FFG is not general and that spatially-explicit investigations may be needed to shed light on the effects of hydropeaking. / För att reglera effektbehovet på det svenska elnätet är korttidsregleringen från vattenkraftverk en viktig faktor. Dessa snabba förändringar i flödesregimen medför dock en påverkan på ekologin i vattendraget. I den här studien undersöktes sammansättningen av fem olika funktionella födosöksgrupper (FFG) hos Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera och Trichoptera (EPT) från insamling av evertebrater med Hester-Dendy-provtagare i 27 lokaler i vattendrag med och utan korttidsreglering. Identifiering av grupperna shredders, grazers, gatherers, filter feeders och predators gjordes för varje taxon. Jag förväntade mig att flödesregimen som förekommer nedströms korttidsreglerade vattenkraftverk skulle påverka sammansättningen av FFG i jämförelse med ett icke korttidsreglerat vattendrag, förutom för gruppen predators. Data visade att det inte fanns någon signifikant skillnad hos FFG mellan vattendragen med vs. utan korttidsreglering. Detta visar att påverkan på FFG av korttidsreglering inte är generell och att platsspecifika undersökningar kan behövas för att belysa regleringens effekter.

No description available.

Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The primary aim of this study was to assess and compare the ecological integrity of the Lourens, Palmiet and Hout Bay Rivers (South Western Cape, South Africa) by examining the macroinvertebrate community structure at a series of representative sampling sites along the course of each river, using the South African Scoring System - Version 5 (SASS-5) rapid bioassessment method. Secondary aims included an examination of the effects of seasonal variability, biotope availability and site-specific environmental variables on the macroinvertebrate community structure at sampling sites, as well as the preliminary testing of the Integrated Habitat Assessment System (IHAS) for aquatic macroinvertebrates. According to results obtained, the ecological integrity of sampling sites in the Mountain Stream Zone of the three rivers was consistently good. The Hout Bay River in the upper portions of the Orange Kloof Reserve was particularly near-pristine, with this area having been identified in this study as a potential biodiversity ‘hot-spot’ for aquatic macroinvertebrates. Downstream of the Mountain Stream Zone, there was a significant deterioration in the ecological integrity of all three rivers due to a number of probable causes. Results based on recorded SASS Scores and Average Score per Taxon (ASPT) values, using ‘biological bands’ generated from reference sites in the South Western Cape, were generally similar to and supported by the corresponding multivariate analyses undertaken. From the results of the various analyses undertaken in this investigation and some of the problems encountered in interpreting the data, a number of recommendations are made regarding future bioassessment studies based on the SASS within the national River Health Programme (RHP). To test the IHAS, secondary data were obtained from reference sites in the Mpumalanga and Western Cape Provinces of South Africa. Assuming that SASS Scores at reference sites are the highest scores attainable, one would expect to find a positive relationship between SASS Scores and IHAS scores at reference sites. The assumption in this investigation was that this relationship should be linear. Non-parametric correlation analyses were undertaken between SASS-4/5 Scores and IHAS scores, using Kendall’s Rank-correlation Coefficient (τ), with separate analyses undertaken for different geomorphological zones and biotope groups. Correlations between SASS Scores and IHAS scores were generally weak (τ-values mostly < 0.3) and unsatisfactory, with no significant correlations (p < 0.05) for two-thirds of the data sets analysed and a wide degree of scatter generally observed amongst data points in respective scatter plots. The performance of the IHAS varied between geomorphological zones and biotope groups, with the Foothill: Gravel-bed Zone in Mpumalanga showing the best results, particularly when the stones-in-current biotope group was analysed separately. Further testing of the IHAS is required to confirm its relative performance in different bioregions/ecoregions, geomorphological zones and biotope groups, which should be undertaken as a priority research area within the RHP. Unsuccessful attempts to test the IHAS by means of multiple regression analyses were undertaken, suggesting that such techniques should be avoided in further testing of the IHAS. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die hoofdoel van hierdie studie was om die ekologiese toestand van die Lourens-, Palmiet- en Houtbaairiviere (Suidwes Kaap, Suid Afrika) te bepaal en te vergelyk deur die bestudering van die makroinvertebraatgemeenskapstruktuur by verteenwoordigende monsterpunte langs die riviere, met gebruik van die “South African Scoring System” – Weergawe 5 (SASS-5) snelle biologiese bepalingsmetode. Sekondêre doelwitte het die bepaling van die gevolge van seisoenele veranderlikheid, biotoop beskikbaarheid en ligging-bepaalde omgewingsveranderlikes op die makroinvertebraatgemeenskapstruktuur by monsterpunte ingesluit, asook die inleidende toetsing van die “Integrated Habitat Assessment System” (IHAS) vir watermakroinvertebrate. Volgens die resultate verkry, was die ekologiese toestand van monsterpunte in die Bergstroomsone van die drie riviere konsekwent goed. Die Houtbaairivier in die boonste gedeelte van die Oranjekloofreservaat was veral feitlik onversteurd en hierdie streek is in die studie as ‘n potensiaal biodiversiteit “hot-spot” vir watermakroinvertebrate geidentifiseer. Stroomafwaarts van die Bergstroomsone was daar ‘n beduidende verswakking in die ekologiese toestand van al drie riviere, as gevolg van ‘n aantal moontlike oorsake. Resultate gebaseer op bepaalde “SASS Scores” en ‘Gemiddelde Waarde per Takson’ (“Average Score per Taxon” - ASPT) waardes, met gebruik van ‘biologiese bande’ wat van verwysingsmonsterpunte in die Suidwes Kaap afgelei is, was oor die algemeen soortgelyk aan en gestaaf deur die ooreenstemmende multiveranderlikke (“multivariate”) statistiese analises wat gedoen is. Uit die resultate van die verskeie analises wat in hierdie ondersoek gedoen is en sommige van die probleme wat in die dataverklaring gevind is, is ‘n aantal aanbevelings gemaak met betrekking tot toekomende biologiese bepalingstudies vir die nasionale Riviergesondheidsprogram (“River Health Programme” - RHP) wat op die SASS gebaseer is. Om die IHAS te toets is sekondêre data van verwysingsmonsterpunte in die Mpumalanga en Wes Kaap Provinsies van Suid Afrika verkry. As aangeneem word dat die “SASS Scores” by verwysingsmonsterpunte die hoogste moontlike tellings is wat bereik kan word, sou ‘n positiewe verwantskap tussen “SASS Scores” en IHAS tellings by verwysingsmonsterpunte verwag word. Die veronderstelling in hierdie studie was dat dié verwantskap lineêr moet wees. Nie-parametriese korrelasieanalise tussen “SASS-4/5 Scores” en IHAS tellings is gemaak, deur gebruik van Kendall se Rangkorrelasiekoëffisiënt (τ), met afsonderlike analises vir verskillende geomorfologiese sones en biotoopgroepe verrig. Korrelasies tussen “SASS Scores” en IHAS tellings was algemeen swak (τ-waardes < 0.3) en onbevredigend, met geen beduidende korrelasies (“p” < 0.05) vir twee-derdes van die datastelle wat geanaliseer is nie en ‘n wye verspreiding tussen datapunte in die onderskeie “scatter plots” wat waargeneem is. Die funksionering van die IHAS was verskillend tussen geomorfologiese sones en biotoopgroepe. Die beste resultate is vir die Voorheuwel: Gruisbeddingsone in Mpumalanga verkry, veral indien die klippe-in-stroom biotoopgroep afsonderlik geanaliseer is. Verdere toetsing van die IHAS is nodig om die relatiewe funksionering in verskillende biostreke/”ecoregions”, geomorfologiese sones en biotoopgroepe te bevestig en dit behoort voorangs te geniet binne die RHP. Pogings om die IHAS deur middel van veelvoudige regressie analise te toets het misluk, wat aandui dat sulke tegnieke vermy moet word in verder toetsing van die IHAS.

Exotic species alter the streamside plant community by changing the resources available to the stream food web, causing cascading changes throughout the entire aquatic ecosystem. To better understand the impacts of exotic litter species on stream communities, investigations were made at global and local levels. A meta-analysis was performed to understand which environmental and litter quality factors impact native and exotic litter decay rates on the global scale. It was found that exotic species are likely to decay faster than native species at larger mesh sizes, and in warm temperature environments because high quality exotic leaves have a lower C:N ratio than native leaves. An urban litter decay experiment in Victoria, B.C. streams contrasting Alnus rubra, Salix sitchensis, Hedera sp., Rubus armeniacus and plastic trash found that trash decays more slowly than leaf litter, but leaf species all decay at the same rate, and stream invertebrates colonize all litter types equally. Significant differences in litter decay rates and invertebrate community alpha and Shannon diversities were also observed across the four different streams. The more that is learned about the impacts of exotic leaf litter, the better we are able to respond to keep streams as healthy and as biodiverse as possible. / Graduate / 2017-08-10 / 0329 / 0793 / kimkenn@uvic.ca