Garbage & sewage runoff into the Pacific Ocean at the shoreline along the U.S./Mexico Border region poses serious health and environmental threats. The purpose of this study was to analyze the current beach users’ behavioral factors that may be linked to illness prevalence from Coronado Island to the U.S./Mexico border at Imperial Beach in San Diego County. It is a continuation of a study completed by Wildcoast and Imperial Beach Clinic in 2011. The study tried to answer the following two major questions: How have the number of illnesses reported by users along South San Diego County beaches changed in the last 5 years? What relationships exist between reported illness and beach user behavior, if any? To accomplish this, a 2-page self-reporting survey was administered asking about demographics, beach recreation habits, illness and exposure information, and allowed for comments. Surveys were distributed to beach users along Imperial Beach northward to Coronado Island during May, June, and July of 2014. Quantitative as well as qualitative data were collected. The results show that the majority of respondents did not report suffering from an illness, however, for those who did report an illness, frequency of water entry, seasonality of water entry, entry during beach closures, and primary means of water contact were significantly correlated to illness prevalence.

Egmont Key, located at the mouth of Tampa Bay, is part of a dynamic system with many interrelated natural and anthropogenic factors influencing its morphodynamics. This study started in August 2012. During the 3-year period until August 2015, 28 beach profile transects were established and surveyed 10 times. Seventeen historical aerial images from 1942 to 2013 were geo-rectified and analyzed. Three hundred and fourteen sediment samples were procured from the navigation channel dredge area and the beach nourishment area and analyzed for grain size. A numerical wave model was established to simulate the nearshore wave field. The overall goals of this study are to understand the complex morphodynamics of Egmont Key and to evaluate the shore-protection efforts. The overall area of the Egmont Key has reduced 52% from 2.1 km2 in 1942 to 1.o km2 in 2002. The area loss was mostly caused by beach erosion along the Gulf-facing beach. The island-area reduction from 1942 to 2002 was largely linear. Two periods of accelerated area loss from 1978-1984 and 1999-2002 can be related to dredging of the Egmont Channel and the disposal of dredged materials along the channel. Concerning the relatively high mud content in the borrow area for the 2014 nourishment, a large amount of the fine sediment was lost at a temporal scale of hours to days during the dredging and beach nourishment construction processes. Some of the mud was deposited outside the surf zone at water depths of 2 m or greater. This mud became eroded naturally by energetic conditions at a temporal scale of months. Beach erosion and accretion along the Gulf-facing beach can be related qualitatively to tidal flow patterns. Numerical wave modeling shows that the transverse bars offshore Egmont Key have a moderate influence on the wave field, leading to slightly different wave heights along the shoreline. However, there is no clear relationship between the nearshore wave conditions and the erosion/accretion patterns. The severe shoreline erosion has exposed various fort structures at the shoreline and in the nearshore zone. These structures function as detached breakwaters or groins and have localized influence on the beach state.

The Wave Hub facility in Cornwall (South West UK) is a marine renewables test site, predominantly designed for the purpose of trialling wave energy converters prior to commercialisation. Beach water-users such as bathers and surfers are of economic importance to tourism in Cornwall, and during theWave Hub consultation there were concerns among stakeholders that wave energy extraction would reduce the height and quality of coastal waves for sur ng, as well as a ecting sediment transport and beach morphology. This thesis investigates the interaction between wave conditions, beach morphology, and beach water-users, and proposes how a wave climate altered by wave energy extraction is likely to alter these interactions. A multidisciplinary research approach is adopted, involving the collection of qualitative and quantitative social data, the collection of over 5 years of physical wave and beach morphology data, and predictive modelling of the e ects of an attenuated wave climate. Quantitative, structured interview data from 403 water-users, collected at two beaches (Perranporth and Porthtowan) in the lee of Wave Hub, indicate that the population of water-users in the area is predominantly made up of surfers (53%), but bodyboarding and swimming/bathing are also popular activities (29% and 11%, respectively). In-depth semi-structured interviews reveal that water-user perceptions of wave energy extraction and its potential coastal impacts are constructed using intuitive risk perceptions, rather than technical understanding. These risk perceptions are constructed through a weighing of their perception of wave energy devices ('technology') and their perception of the coastal environment ('nature'). To investigate how waves are perceived, nearshore wave buoy measurements collected in 14 m water depth and transformed to breaking height, are compared to concurrent visual observations of mean breaker height and period. On average water-users underestimated signi cant wave height and period by 48% and 17%, respectively. Accounting for variations in wave perception, the wave preferences of di erent water-user groups are determined. Water-users are found to share a common preference towards wave v periods of 9 - 20 s, but di erent water-user groups are found to have di erent ranges of preferred wave height, which is found to govern whether wave energy extraction will decrease or increase the occurrence of preferred waves. Previous research indicates that three-dimensional (3D) beach morphology with crescentic bar and rip features is the primary controller of surf-zone hazard, and also strongly in uences the quality of sur ng waves at the coast. A dataset of 5.5 years of quasi-weekly bar measurements, and quasi-monthly intertidal surveys from Perranporth beach is used to quantify seasonal to inter-annual changes in threedimensionality. Integrated, cumulative uctuations in wave steepness, wave power, and relative tide range that occur over seasonal time scales are shown to be well correlated to seasonal uctuations in beach three-dimensionality. 3D morphology is well related to a disequilibrium term that predicts increases or decreases in threedimensionality by examining the di erence between instantaneous wave conditions and a temporally varying equilibrium condition, based on a weighted average of antecedent waves. This indicates that periods of wave regime change between erosive winter conditions with high steepness waves and accretive summer conditions with low steepness waves are related to the growth of 3D features, and vice versa, while extended periods with similar wave conditions drive the beach towards equilibrium. Using a range of realistic and extreme coastal wave height attenuation scenarios determined from previous Wave Hub modelling studies, it is predicted that none of the scenarios will have a universally positive or negative e ect on the occurrence of wave conditions preferred by water-users. When used to predict beach threedimensionality at Perranporth beach, the attenuated wave climates are found to reduce the variability in three-dimensionality. Even an extreme and unrealistic level of wave energy extraction (100% energy capture) was shown to have an insigni cant e ect on the occurrence of preferred waves, and only under an extraction scenario where the impact was not varied with wave frequency did this level of attenuation have a signi cant e ect on the predicted beach three-dimensionality. The inshore wave attenuation from Wave Hub is therefore likely to have an insigni cant e ect on wave conditions and beach morphology of relevance to beach water-users. A number of observations and recommendations are discussed for the development of a sound and robust methodological approach, which can be used to investigate the e ects of wave energy extraction on beach water-users at future wave farm sites.

La thèse a pour objectif l'étude des plages sableuses enclavées, i.e. contraintes aux extrémités par des caps rocheux, soumises aux vagues et à un cycle de marée morte-eau vive-eau. Une double approche complémentaire liant études numériques et observations et mesures in situ sur un site-atelier a été retenue. Deux modèles déterministes basés sur les différents processus physiques (hydrodynamiques, hydro-sédimentaires et morphodynamiques) en jeu dans la zone littorale et moyennés sur la verticale (2DH) on été sélectionnés. Le code XBeach (Roelvink et al., 2009) utilise un maillage aux différences finies et intègre certaines spécificités tels qu'un modèle de propagation d'un rouleau d'écume ("roller"), un modèle de génération d'ondes longues et un modèle de développement d'un contre-courant de retour "undertow". Le code TELEMAC (Hervouet, 2007) utilise un maillage aux éléments finis. Pour le site-atelier, les plages enclavées adjacentes de La Palue et de Lostmarc'h en Presqu'île de Crozon (Finistère) ont été choisies pour leur bathymétrie complexe (présence de chenaux de baïne et d'un saillant) et leur géométrie complexe (caps rocheux de longueurs diverses, îlot). Une année d'observations et de mesures in situ (levés topographiques, pose de courantomètres ADV) a été entreprise entre le mois de septembre 2014 et le mois de septembre 2015, par diverses conditions météorologiques.Dans un premier temps, la dynamique globale des plages enclavées, représentées schématiquement par une échancrure rectangulaire, a été appréhendée. En particulier, la genèse d'une barre de déferlement en zone subtidale sous l'influence des dimensions de l'échancrure rocheuse, d'un cycle de marée morte-eau vive-eau et de houles énergétiques a été illustrée à travers plusieurs séries de simulations numériques à l'aide du code XBeach.Dans un deuxième temps, la modélisation hydrodynamique des courants sur les plages de La Palue et de Lostmarc'h a été effectuée, avec l'objectif d'étudier l'influence des caractéristiques des houles (hauteur, période et direction) et de celles de l'échancrure rocheuse (longueur des caps, espacement des caps, inclinaison des pointes) sur la prédiction des courants. Une ouverture sur la modélisation aux éléments finis (TELEMAC) en comparaison à celle aux différences finies (XBeach) a été présentée. Le code XBeach a été validé sur le plan hydrodynamique grâce aux mesures in situ d'une campagne de terrain réalisée en janvier 2015. Une étude numérique hydro-sédimentaire sur une lunaison complète (du 01 septembre 2015 au 29 septembre 2015) a alors été entreprise à l'aide du code XBeach, afin d'étudier l'intensité et la direction des flux sédimentaires instantanés et résiduels au gré des différents climats de houle et de marée, et selon les différents secteurs typologiques des plages de La Palue et de Lotsmarc'h. Cela a permis de mettre en évidence les particularités de la dynamique des plages enclavées par rapport aux plages ouvertes "quasi-infinies", tels que le phénomène de "contournement de cap", mais aussi les similitudes. Les résultats du code XBeach, pour différentes configurations du modèle, ont par ailleurs été comparés aux levés topographiques réalisés au cours du mois de septembre 2015.Dans un troisième temps, après une analyse statistique approfondie des climats de houle au large des plages de La Palue et de Lostmarc'h sur une période de 7 ans, l'impact morphodynamique de tempêtes extrêmes (houles décennale et cinquentennale) conjugué à celui de la hausse du niveau marin induit par le changement climatique, a été estimé sous la forme d'une étude numérique à l'aide du code XBeach sur un profil transversal au sud de la plage de La Palue / In this thesis, waves and neap-spring tide action on sandy embayed beaches constrained by rocky headlands is studied. A complementary approach combining numerical modeling and in situ measurements is used. Two deterministic model based on major physical processes (hydrodynamics, hydro-sedimentary and morphodynamics) present in the coastal zone and averaged over the water height (2DH) have been selected. XBeach (Roelvink et al., 2009) employs a finite difference scheme and incorporates some specific processes such as a roller, wave groups and the associated bound long wave and a undertow. TELEMAC (Hervouet, 2007) is a finite element scheme. Nearby sandy embayed beaches of La Palue and Lostmarc'h (Crozon Peninsula, Finistère) have been chosen for their complex bathymetry (rip channels, tombolo) and geometry (headlands, small island). One year of in situ measurements (topographical surveys, ADV velocimeters) between septembre 2014 and september 2015 has been undertaken, with different waves and tide climates.Firstly, the overall dynamics of embayed beaches built schematically in the form of a rectangular indentation has been caught. Especially, subtidal sandbar formation under the influence of waves, neap-spring tide and rocky headlands has been studied through several sets of numerical simulations.Secondly, hydrodynamic modelling on the embayed beaches of La Palue and Lostmarc'h has been made with the aim of study influence of waves characteristics (height, period and direction) and indentation's ones (headlands length, spacing between headlands, headlands inclination) on the prediction of currents. A simulation using finite element scheme (TELEMAC) has been achieved and compared to those using finite difference scheme (XBeach). XBeach currents predictions at two locations on the beaches of La Palue and Lostmarc'h over the period from the 21st January 2015 to the 23rd January 2015 have been compared to in situ measurements to validate the model. Whereupon, a numerical hydro-sedimentary simulation (using XBeach) over a full lunation from the 1st September 2015 to the 29th September 2015 has been undertaken on these two beaches, with the aim of study the intensity and direction of sediment flux (instantaneous and residual) for various waves and tide climates and for different morphological areas. This work has helped to highlight the dynamics features of embayed beaches compared to open beaches ones, such as headland sand bypassing, but also similarities. Moreover, XBeach morphodynamics predictions have been compared to in situ measurements for different model setup.Thirdly, after an in-depth statistical analysis of wave climates over a 7 year period offshore of La Palue and Lostmarc'h beaches, the morphodynamic impact of extreme storm waves (ten-yearly and fifty-yearly) combined to a sea level rise induced by climatic change on a cross-shore bottom profile south of La Palue has been estimated through a numerical study (using XBeach)

Le but de cette étude était de développer une méthodologie pour évaluer la résilience des littoraux aux évènements de tempêtes, à des échelles de temps différentes pour une plage située à une latitude moyenne (Biscarrosse, France). Un site pilote des tropiques, la plage de Jamestown (Ghana), non soumis aux tempêtes, a également été analysé. 6 ans (2007-2012) de données sur la position du trait de côte,obtenues quotidiennement par imagerie vidéo, ainsi que les prévisions hydrodynamiques (ECMWF EraInterim) ont été analysées. Le climat de vagues est dominé par les tempêtes (Hs> 5% de seuil de dépassement) et leurs fluctuations saisonnières; 75% des tempêtes se produisent en hiver, et plus de 60tempêtes ont été identifiées au cours de la période d'étude. Une régression multiple, montre qu’alors que les intensités des tempêtes actuelle et précédente ont un rôle majeur sur l'impact de la tempête, la marée et les barres sableuses jouent un rôle majeur sur la récupération de plage. La position moyenne du trait de côte calculée sur la période de récupération post-tempête montre que la plage de Biscarrosse se reconstruit rapidement (9 jours) après un évènement isolé et que les séries de tempêtes (clusters) ont un effet cumulatif diminué. Les résultats indiquent que le récurrence individuelle des tempêtes est clé. Si l'intervalle entre deux tempêtes est faible par rapport à la période de récupération, la plage devient plus résistante aux tempêtes suivantes; par conséquent, la première tempête d’une série a un impact plus important que les suivantes. Le trait de côte répond, par ordre décroissant, aux évènements saisonniers,à la fréquence des tempête et aux d’échelle annuelle. La méthode EOF montre de bonnes capacité à séparer la dynamique « uniforme » et « non-uniforme » du littoral et décrit différentes variabilités temporelles: les échelles saisonnières et à court terme dominent, respectivement, la première EOF (2D)et le second mode (3D). Le littoral de Jamestown a été étudié comme base d’un projet pilote entre 2013-2014. Les fluctuations du niveau de l'eau jouent un rôle prédominant sur l’évolution de la position du trait de côte. Les vagues et les estimations des marées obtenues par l’exploitation d’images vidéo sont corrélées avec les données de prévisions. Cette étude pionnière montre que cette technique peut être généralisée à toute l’Afrique de l'Ouest en tenant compte des multiples diversités et de la variabilité du climat régional, à travers un réseau d'observations. / The aim of this study was to develop a methodology to statistically assess the shorelineresilience to storms at different time scales for a storm-dominated mid-latitude beach(Biscarrosse, France). On a pilot base, storm-free tropical Jamestown beach (Ghana) was alsoanalysed. 6-years (2007-2012) of continuous video-derived shoreline data and hindcastedhydrodynamics were analysed. Wave climate is dominated by storms (Hs>5% exceedancelimit) and their seasonal fluctuations; 75% of storms occur in winter with more than 60identified storms during the study period. A multiple regression on 36 storms shows thatwhereas current and previous storm intensity have predominant role on current storm impact,tide and sandbar play a major role on the post-storm recovery. An ensemble average on poststormrecovery period shows that Biscarrosse beach recovers rapidly (9 days) to individualstorms, and sequences of storms (clusters) have a weak cumulative effect. The results point outthat individual storm recurrence frequency is key. If the interval between two storms is lowcompared to the recovery period, the beach becomes more resilient to the next storms; and thefirst storm in clusters has larger impact than following ones. Shoreline responds in decreasingorder at seasonal, storm frequency and annual timescales at Biscarrosse. The EOF methodshows good skills in separating uniform and non-uniform shoreline dynamics, showing theirdifferent temporal variability: seasonal and short-term scales dominate first EOF (2D) andsecond (3D) modes, respectively.The shoreline at Jamestown was studied on pilot base from 2013-2014. Water level channgesplay a major role on shoreline changes. Waves estimates from video are in good agreement withhindcasts. This study shows the potential of the technique, to be replicated elsewhere in WestAfrica with all its diversity and regional climate variability through a coastal observationnetwork.

Today mines produce metals which are used for everyday products by people worldwide. When metals are produced, waste products known as tailings are generated. These tailings are commonly stored in impoundments, surrounded by embankment dams. The demands from the society are constantly increasing regarding the quality and safety of dams. One step in development towards a better control regarding safety and quality of tailing dams, could be to compact the beach. Today there is a lack of methods to easy check the dry densities over large areas for a compacted material. Since these dams can be large structures with embankment lengths of several kilometers, it is necessary to be able to check the density with a fast method. In this thesis it was investigated if the dry density, and correspondingly the compaction, can be checked with a Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP). In the thesis the dry density of tailings was compared with penetration rate of the DCP. A laboratory setup was made with a test box filled with tailings provided by Boliden AB from the Aitik mine. Six different box tests were performed, each test with different compaction. From the tests a trend was observed, for which the tailings increased in density as the DCP indexes showed an increased resistance. A relationship between DCP index and dry densities was found. Though a relationship was found, it is important to emphasize that the tests were carried out in an environment that was easy to control. One test with high water content showed that water was influencing the DCP index results. Therefore it was concluded that if the DCP will be used in field, the water content also has to be checked.

The St Francis Bay beach has experienced chronic erosion over the past three decades. This erosion can largely be attributed to the stabilisation of a large coastal dunefield which contributed +/- 80 percent of the sand supply to St Francis Bay. Stabilisation began in 1975 initially using plant cuttings and followed by the development of the Santareme holiday suburb resulting in complete stabilisation by 1985. Effects were felt from the late 1970‟s and since then the beach has retreated at between 0.5 - 3 m.yr-1. Erosion has encroached on beachfront properties since the early 1990‟s, leading to the placement of 3-4 m high unsightly rock revetments along much of the beach. Where properly maintained these structures have proved successful in protecting the properties behind, however exacerbated erosion of areas in front and adjacent to these structures is evident. Currently no dry beach is present at high tide for most of the year, leading to a significant reduction in beach amenity value. Several technical studies to investigate remediation of this beach erosion problem have been conducted since the early 1990‟s. This study includes investigations into the processes and dynamics of the existing environment and evaluation of the effectiveness and impacts of several elements of a hybrid approach to coastal protection and amenity enhancement for St Francis Bay beach. This proposal incorporated: Multi-Purpose Reefs (MPR‟s) offshore, for coastal protection and amenity enhancement in terms of surfing; beach nourishment with sand from the Kromme Estuary and dune rehabilitation with appropriate native sand binding species. Extensive fieldwork and data collection were conducted, this included: a series of bathymetric surveys; diving surveys and a helicopter flight; sediment sampling; beach profiling and deployment of a wave/current meter. Analysis of these data provided a greater understanding of the existing environment and dynamics of St Francis Bay and provided reliable inputs for numerical modelling. Numerical and physical modelling was conducted to assess the existing processes and conduct MPR design testing. In addition calibrated hydrodynamic modelling of the Kromme Estuary was conducted in order to assess the impacts of sand extraction from the large sand banks within the mouth of the Kromme Estuary for use as beach nourishment. Comparison of bathymetric survey data collected by the author in 2005/06 with survey data collected by the South African Navy Hydrographic Office (SANHO) in 1952 suggest a major loss of sand from the bay, with a volume difference of some 8.8 X 106 m3 calculated. Greater losses were measured between 10-15 m water depths, with shallow areas of +/- 5 m water depth, remaining more stable. This can be attributed to the presence of shallow reef and rocky substrate through much of the bay at this depth range. Monthly RTK GPS survey data from September 2006 to September 2007 indicates a total loss of 40 000 m3 over this period with the greatest losses measured along the northern part of the beach. The greatest losses were measured after large long period waves from a southerly to south-easterly direction occurred in conjunction with equinox tides in mid March 2007. Sediment sampling at over 100 locations within the bay indicated a high percentage of reef (26 percent) and fairly consistent grain size in the fine to medium size class throughout much of the beach, bay and large sand bank within the estuary. While the majority of the South African Coast is exposed to the predominant south westerly winds and waves, St Francis Bay‟s orientation means that waves from a south easterly to easterly direction dominate. The results of the detailed numerical modelling of the hydrodynamics agree with previous calculations and modelling results which concluded that strong unidirectional longshore currents occur along the headland due to the oblique angle of wave incidence and the close to parallel angle of wave incidence along the beach leads to weak longshore currents of variable direction. Erosion along St Francis Bay beach is a result of cross-shore erosion due to large waves from a southerly to easterly direction. Detached breakwaters are the most effective form of coastal protection in these environments and MPR‟s offer additional benefits over traditional breakwater structures. Results of empirical calculations and numerical modelling indicate that the MPR‟s will provide effective coastal protection through the processes of wave dissipation, wave rotation, salient formation and alteration of nearshore circulation. Physical modelling results allowed the MPR design to be assessed and refined in terms of surfing amenity enhancement and construction constraints. In addition numerical modelling results indicate that impacts due to the extraction of up to 600 000 m3 of sand from the lower Kromme Estuary result in highly localised velocity reduction, mainly limited to the extraction areas. The calculated rate of sediment influx into the lower Kromme Estuary indicates that limited extraction, in the order of 20 000 – 40 000 m3 per year, should be sustainable in the long term. Sedimentation of the lower estuary over recent years has had negative recreational and ecological impacts, through reduced navigability and water exchange respectively. Therefore both the estuary and beach systems prove to benefit from this approach. Although not investigated in detail as part of this study, evidence from numerous projects worldwide indicates that foredunes help to trap wind-blown sand on the beach and form a buffer to storm erosion, therefore dune rehabilitation with native sand-binding plant species was recommended as the third element of the proposed remediation of St Francis Bay beach.

This thesis examines narrative articulations in the films Bend It Like Beckham, Bhaji on the Beach, and American Chai as a complicated conversation in relation to bicultural-identity construction in the Indian diaspora. Unpacking the way desi identities are managed in/as a quantum (third) space – one that is continuously shifting and deferred – the films exemplify how "desi" is a heterogeneous cultural "group" without a homeland from which to speak or to return. The narratives of these films are considered cultural translations that expose inter-generational culture-clashes in the spaces between Indian and Western cultures. Screenplay pedagogy was used as a methodology to (re)read analysis of the films, revealing the ways that different movies employ and reinscribe themes of the multicultural pastoral, the carnivalesque, and melodrama, respectively. This thesis concludes by opening up some of the places from which individuals enunciate their desi identities, including the possibilities for (self)reflection.

The Nature Conservancy of Texas (TNC) is concerned with the amount of shoreline erosion taking place at its Mad Island Marsh Preserve (MIMP), located in Matagorda Bay, Texas. The MIMP is a 7,100 acre nature preserve that borders the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and is eroded by waves generated by barge traffic. TNC is concerned that erosion will shorten Mad Island Bayou which may increase the salinity of Mad Island Lake; with detrimental effects on lake and marsh habitats. This study uses GPS technology to map the current shoreline and GIS to determine ten year erosion rates (1995 - 2005). Results show that erosion is occurring at various rates along the shoreline as well as along the oxbow bend in Mad Island Bayou.

Orientador: Paulo Eugenio A. M. de Oliveira / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-07-31T19:03:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Marques_MarciaCristinaMendes_D.pdf: 5785678 bytes, checksum: 3b9988a81542b90132277956c9fb3ce5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2002 / Resumo: A Ilha do Mel está localizada em Paranaguá, região central do litoral do Estado do Paraná (25°29'/25°34'32"S e 48°17'15"/48°23'16"W) e compreende uma área aproximada de 2760ha, na qual estende-se uma planície litorânea costeira. Sobre esta desenvolve-se uma vegetação bastante heterogênea, onde são reconhecidos três principais tipos vegetacionais: Vegetação de Praia (P), Restinga Arbustiva (R) e Floresta de Restinga (F). Neste gradiente foi desenvolvido um trabalho abordando, de forma comparativa, os processos de dispersão e regeneração das plantas dos três tipos vegetacionais e de dois tipos de Floresta de Restinga: a Floresta não inundável (FNI) e a Floresta inundável (FI). Com base nas características morfológicas de frutos, sementes e plântulas de 238 espécies, foram descritos os modos de dispersão e tipos morfofuncionais de plântulas e avaliadas as variações em suas freqüências no gradiente P a F. Do total de espécies analisadas, zoocoria foi o modo de dispersão mais freqüente (56% das espécies), seguido por anemocoria (26%) e autocoria (18%). As distribuições dos modos de dispersão foram influenciadas pelo ambiente, havendo um predomínio dos processos abióticos (anemocoria e autocoria) nos locais abertos e sujeitos a estresse (P e R), e biótico (zoocoria) nos tipos vegetacionais mais fechados e complexos (F). Acompanhando esta variação, espécies da P e R apresentaram sementes, em média, menores que em F, o que sugere que o ambiente deva restringir a ocorrência de espécies em função da forma do fruto e da semente. Plântulas do tipo fanerocotiledonar-epigeal-foliáceo ocorreram na maior parte das espécies (57%), seguido por criptocotiledonar-hipogeal-de reserva (39%), criptocotiledonar-epigeal-de reserva, fanerocotiledonar-epigeal-de reserva e fanerocotiledonar-hipogeal-de reserva Ountos 4%). Espécies de cotilédones foliáceos e armazenadores distribuíram-se nas mesmas proporções na P, R e F, indicando que morfologia da plântula não está necessariamente associada a mudanças microambientais. No estudo fenológico da FNI e FI, plantas do dossel e do sub-bosque (total 55 espécies) foram acompanhadas por dois anos na Ilha do Mel, região com pouca diferença climática entre o período superúmido (Setembro a Maio) e úmido (Junho a Agosto). As duas florestas apresentaram padrões semelhantes, com pico de queda de folhas, brotação, floração e frutificação ocorrendo sucessivamente ao longo da estação superúmida. Quase todas fenofases mostraram correlações mais fortes com o comprimento do dia e a temperatura média. Plantas do dossel foram mais previsíveis com relação à ocorrência das fenofases que as do sub-bosque. Para avaliar se florestas localizadas em local de clima pouco sazonal podem apresentar ritmos, a chuva de sementes e a emergência de plântulas foram estudadas, ao longo de dois anos, na FNI e na FI. As duas florestas apresentaram os mesmos padrões de dispersão e germinação das sementes, apesar das diferenças existentes na umidade do solo e na disponibilidade de luz no subosque. A chuva de sementes foi sazonal e bimodal, com um pico maior no final da estação mais úmida (AbrilMaio) e outro menor na estação menos úmida (Agosto), refletindo os padrões fenológicos das espécies zoocóricas e anemocóricas, respectivamente. Com exceção do modo de dispersão, nenhum dos demais atributos das espécies (forma de vida, tamanho da semente, tipo morfológico de plântula) parece definir os ritmos das florestas. A emergência das plântulas foi unimodal, com pico no meio do período mais úmido (Janeiro), embora as demais épocas do ano não tenham limitado completamente a germinação. Mesmo havendo umidade durante todo o ano, 57% das espécies apresentaram pelo menos 4 meses de atraso na emergência das plântulas. Ritmo da chuva de sementes e dormência determinaram o ritmo da emergência das plântulas que é concentrada na época mais úmida, quando a disponibilidade de nutrientes no solo é maior e quando todas as demais atividades fenológicas das florestas ocorrem. Para avaliar a dinâmica da regeneração existente entre as Florestas de Restina, os compartimentos formados pelas comunidades de sementes, plântulas e jovens dos dois tipos florestais (FNI e FI) foram avaliados. A incorporação de indivíduos em ambas dependeu, principalmente, da entrada de propágulos (via chuva de sementes) de espécies autóctones (FNI=75%, FI=84% das espécies). Nas duas florestas houve dramática redução na densidade de indivíduos (>98%) na passagem das plantas do estádio de semente a adulto, acompanhada por diminuição na similaridade entre compartimentos (índice de similaridade de S0rensen variando de ca. 80% para ca. 58%) e aumento da diversidade (índice de diversidade de Shannon variando na FNI de 0,39 a 1,19 e na FI de 0,91 a 1,31). Isto deveu-se basicamente à redução mais drástica nas densidades das espécies comuns e manutenção das raras entre os compartimentos. Plantas de diferentes estádios, em geral, não se relacionaram em termos de densidade e distribuição espacial (na maioria dos casos correlações não significativas) sugerindo a independência das fases no processo de regeneração. As semelhanças entre as florestas em relação à densidade média e ao índice de diversidade de Shannon são mantidas até o estádio de jovem, quando a FNI torna-se mais densa e menos diversa que a FI e a similaridade florística entre elas diminui. Isto é explicado pelas diferenças apresentadas pelas espécies quanto à limitação à dispersão, à emergência e ao estabelecimento, conduzindo a processos distintos de recrutamento nas duas florestas. Os resultados mostraram que: 1) diferenças ambientais e na freqüência de formas de vida existentes no gradiente da planície litorânea refletem nos padrões de distribuição de atributos reprodutivos das espécies, o que deve estabelecer diferenças nos modelos de regeneração em cada local; 2) sazonalidade fenológica e nos ritmos de dispersão de sementes e emergência de plântulas nem sempre estão associados à alta sazonalidade climática e no caso destas Florestas de Restinga o deslocamento destes eventos para a época superúmida, parece se ajustar às condições necessárias para a eficiente ciclagem dos nutrientes; 3) Florestas de Restinga são sistemas com modelos de regeneração relacionados, porém particularmente direcionados, em função das diferenças que as espécies vegetais apresentam em relação ao sucesso no estabelecimento dos indivíduos / Abstract: (Seed dispersal and plant regeneration dynamics in a Sandy Coastal Plain on Ilha do Mel, southern Brazil): The island Ilha do Mel is located in the municipality of Paranaguá (25°29'/25°34'32"S e 48°17'15"/48°23'16"W) in the central coastal region of Paraná State, Brazil and comprises 2760ha. The higher areas above the Sandy Coastal Plain contains very heterogeneous vegetation in which it is possible to recognize three major vegetation types: beach/dune vegetation (P), scrub or "restinga" (R), and sandy coastal forest (F). Here, dispersal and regeneration mechanisms were studied along this P to F gradient and in two types of sandy coastal forests: Unflooded (FNI) and Flooded (FI). The morphologies of fruit, seeds, and seedlings of 238 plant species were analyzed, and the frequency of dispersal and seedling syndromes were compared in the P to F gradient. Zoochory was the most frequent dispersal syndrome (56% of total species), followed by anemochory (26%) and autochory (18%). Distribution of dispersal syndromes was associated with vegetation type. Abiotic processes (anemochory and autochory) were more important in open and stressed sites (P and R) while biotic processes (zoochory) were important in closed and more complex sites (F). Dispersal syndromes in vegetation types were related to seed sizes, i.e. seed size in P and R species were smaller than F species. This suggests that environmental features limit species occurrence due to fruit and seed shapes. Seedling types were phenerocotylar-epigeal-foliaceous (57%), cryptocotylar-hipogeal-reserve (39%), and the last 4% were either cryptocotylar-epigeal-reserve, phanerocotylar-epigealreserve or phanerocotylar-hipogeal-reserve. Photosynthetic and reserve cotyledonous seedlings were equally distributed along P, R and F, suggesting that seedling morphology is not related to environmental factors. The phenology of 55 canopy and understory plant species in the FNI and FI were studied over two years. In these sites, climate (mainly rainfall) in the wetter season (September to May) is similar to that of the less wet season (June to August). FI and FNI showed very similar phenological patterns in which leaf fali, flushing, flowering, and fruiting occurred during the wetter season. Most phenological phases were correlated with daylength and average temperature. Phenology of canopy specles was more predictable than that of understory species. To test whether putatively aseasonal forests show rhythms, the seed rain and seedling emergence in the FNI and FI was studied for two years on Ilha do Mel island. Despite soil moisture and light differences between the two forests, FNI and FI had similar dispersal and germination patterns. Seed rain was seasonal and bimodal. The first peak occurred at the end of the wetter season (April to May) and the second one in the less wet season (August). These peaks reflect, respectively, the peaks of zoochorous and anemochorous species. Other plant characteristics (life form, seed size and seedling morphology) apparently do not show clear patterns. Seedling emergence was seasonal and unimodal but also occurred along the entire year. Even in this apparently aseasonal forest approximately 57% of species had seedling emergence four or more months after dispersal. Therefore both seed dormancy and the timing of seed dispersal drive the rhythm of seedling emergence in these forests. The peak in germination occurs in the wetter season (January) when soil fertility is higher and other phenological events also occur. Dynamics of FNI and FI were studied on Ilha do Mel Island, specifically comparing community composition of seeds, seedlings and saplings in each forest. New individual plants are incorporated in forests mainly from seed rain of autochthonous species (FNI =75% and FI =84% of species). During the growth of the plants (from seed to adult stages) in both of these forests, declines in plant density (>98%) and floristic similarity (Sorensen's Similarity Index from -80% to -58%) occur, associated with an increase in diversity (Shannon's diversity index from 0,39 to 1,19 in the FNI, and 0,91 to 1,31 in the FI). This was due to a strong reduction in density of the common species. Plants are uncoupled in their density and spatial distribution (uncorrelated) among stages, suggesting independence of the stages during the regeneration processo Through the sapling stages, the FNI and FI forests are very similar (density and Shannon's diversity index), after which the FNI was more densely populated and less diverse than the FI, with consequent reduction in their floristic similarity. Dispersal limitation, emergence limitation, and establishment limitation are very different in the FNI and FI, which probably is associated with particular recruitment patterns. It is suggested that: 1) 80th environmental and life form differences along the Sandy Coastal Plain gradient reflect differences in plant reproductive, and plant growth, patterns. 2) Phenological, seed dispersal and seedling emergence rhythms are not only or always related to large climatic seasonality. In these sandy coastal forests the occurrence of phenological patterns associated with the wetter season fits the hypothesis of efficient nutrient cycling in plant communities in relatively infertile soils. 3) Sandy Coastal Forests are systems with a connected but singular regeneration pattern due to differences in establishment success of plant species. Probably the relationship between these forests and other vegetation types is due to a successional patterns along the Coastal Plain / Doutorado / Biologia Vegetal / Doutor em Ciências Biológicas