The Central Appalachian region is home to several resource-extraction industries, a host of globally unique aquatic wildlife species, and region-wide poverty. These overlapping circumstances make solving environmental issues in the region challenging. Of particular focus is the coal mining industry, both because of its prevalence and because of controversial methods of practice such as mountain top mining. One of the primary concerns in the region is the extirpation of sensitive aquatic macroinvertebrate species. Several studies have suggested the primary driver of this loss of biodiversity is due to increased conductivity in streams impacted by these mining practices. The reality is that several pollutant sources coexist in these Central Appalachian watersheds. Because of geographic isolation, many headwater communities lack proper sewerage and discharge directly into nearby waterways, compounding potential effects of upstream mining activities. Additionally, several legacy sites exist throughout the Appalachian region, both underground and surface mining in nature. To best mitigate ecological impacts of all of these pollutant types, relative contributions of each must be understood, as well as the nature of the pollution contributed by each. As a contribution towards this region-wide need for better information on pollution, the studies comprising this dissertation seek to better understand the composition of these different pollutant sources and their in-stream contributions to conductivity. The first paper found that these sources are indeed distinct in their inorganic ion make-up: surface coal mining was found to contribute primarily Ca, K, Ni, Se, and SO₄⁻², while untreated household waste (UHW) was primarily associated with P. HCO₃⁻ Mn, and Si were found to be associated with a legacy underground discharge. The second and third scientific studies included here analyzed conductivity's effect on Virginia Stream Condition Index (VSCI) versus other water quality and habitat parameters as well as the effect of specific ion suites on VSCI score. Findings indicated that excellent habitat extends species resilience against elevated conductivity, with passing VSCI scores found at conductivity in the 600-800 µs/cm range in cases of excellent habitat metric scores. Meanwhile, VSCI score suppression was highly related to surface mining-related inorganic ions (Ca, K, Mg, Ni, and SO₄⁻²), but also negatively correlated with ions related to UHW (P and Na). These results indicate the need for quantification of biological responses to specific ions in order to initiate targeted mitigate of pollutants in Central Appalachian watersheds. / Ph. D.

Prior studies have demonstrated Appalachian coal mining often causes elevated specific conductance (SC) in streams, and others have examined SC effects on benthic macroinvertebrate communities using point-in-time SC measurements. However, both SC and benthic macroinvertebrate communities exhibit temporal variation. Twelve Appalachian headwater streams with minimally impacted physical habitat and reference-quality physicochemical conditions (except elevated SC) were sampled ten to fourteen times each for benthic macroinvertebrates between June 2011 and November 2012. In situ loggers recorded SC at 15-minute intervals. Streams were classified by mean SC Level (Reference 17-142 S/cm, Medium 262-648 S/cm, and High 756-1,535 S/cm). Benthic macroinvertebrate community structure was quantified by the Virginia Stream Condition Index and other metrics. Structural metric differences among SC Levels and month of sampling were explored. Reference-SC streams exhibited significantly higher scores on most metrics, supporting previous findings that SC may act as a biotic stressor, even in streams lacking limitations from degradation of physical habitat or other physicochemical conditions. Temporal variation was greatest in Medium-SC streams, which had the most metrics exhibiting significant differences among months and the greatest range of monthly means for six metrics. Metrics involving % Plecoptera and/or % Trichoptera were not sensitive to elevated SC, as Leuctridae and Hydropsychidae exhibited increased abundance in streams with elevated SC. Best scores for benthic macroinvertebrate community metrics differed based on selected metric, SC Level, and month. Consequently, timing of sampling is important, particularly in streams with elevated SC because community metric scores may be impacted by dominant taxa life history patterns. / Master of Science

The Dallas-Fort Worth International (DFW) Airport is located in a densely urbanized area with one of the fastest-growing populations in the U.S.A. The airport property includes a large tract of "protected" riparian forest that is unique to the urban surroundings. This dissertation explores variables that influence the benthic macroinvertebrate community structure found in urbanized prairie streams that were initially assessed by the University of North Texas (UNT) Benthic Ecology Lab during four, non-consecutive biomonitoring studies (2004, 2005, 2008, and 2014) funded by the DFW Airport. Additionally, land use analysis was performed using 5-meter resolution satellite imagery and eCognition to characterize the imperviousness of the study area watersheds at multiple scales. Overall, flow conditions and imperviousness at the watershed scale explained the most variability in the benthic stream community. Chironomidae taxa made up 20-50% of stream communities and outperformed all other taxa groups in discriminating between sites of similar flows and urban impairments. This finding highlights the need for genus level identifications of the chironomid family, especially as the dominant taxa in urban prairie streams. Over the course of these biomonitoring survey events, normal flow conditions and flows associated with supra-seasonal drought were experienced. Prevailing drought conditions of 2014 did not negatively influence stream communities, allowing this study to capture the long-term natural (temporal) variability of urban prairie stream communities. Such long-term studies are imperative for discerning between stream impairment versus natural variation, especially as droughts become more frequent and severe.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Biology / Keith B. Gido / Many native freshwater animals are imperiled as a result of habitat alteration, species introductions and climate-moderated changes in disturbance regimes. Native conservation and nonnative species management could benefit from greater understanding of critical factors promoting or inhibiting native and nonnative success in the absence of human-caused ecosystem change. The objectives of this dissertation were to (1) explain spatiotemporal patterns of native and nonnative success, (2) describe native and nonnative response to uncharacteristic wildfire disturbance, and (3) test the hypothesis that wildfire disturbance has differential effects on native and nonnative species. This research was conducted across six sites in three reaches (tributary, canyon, and valley) of the unfragmented and largely-unmodified upper Gila River Basin of southwestern New Mexico. Secondary production was measured to quantify success of native and nonnative fishes prior to wildfires during 2008-2011. Native fish production was greater than nonnatives across a range of environmental conditions, although nonnative fish, tadpole, and crayfish production could approach or exceed that of native macroinvertebrates and fishes in canyon habitats, a warmwater tributary, or in valley sites, respectively. The second objective was accomplished by measuring biomass changes of a warmwater native and nonnative community during 2010-2013 before and after consecutive, uncharacteristic wildfires. Several native insect and fish taxa decreased after both wildfires, whereas nonnative decreases were most pronounced for salmonids and more limited for other taxa. Finally, effects of uncharacteristic wildfires followed by extreme flooding on metapopulations of native and nonnative fishes were contrasted during 2008-2013. Wildfire and flood disturbances increased extinction probabilities of all native fishes while leaving many nonnative fishes unaffected. These findings revealed a swinging pendulum of native and nonnative success, wherein wildfire disturbance resulted in a pendulum swing in favor of nonnatives. Ensuring the pendulum swings back in favor of natives will be facilitated by management activities that decrease wildfire size and intensity and maintain inherent ecosystem resilience.

The biomass size spectrum - the power-law scaling relationship between average individual size and total biomass - has often been studied in lake and marine ecosystems, but rarely in lotic systems. The objective of this study was to test for characteristic biomass spectra in small temperate streams. Seasonal fish and macroinvertebrate data, including population abundance and biomass estimates, were collected in three wadeable, southern West Virginia streams from October 2013 to May 2015. Fish abundances were estimated with 3-pass electrofishing (depletion) surveys and individuals were weighed in the field. Macroinvertebrates were collected with a Hess sampler and returned to the lab for identification to the lowest practical level (usually genus). Published length-mass regressions were then used to estimate individual mass. All size spectra relationships (linear regression of log-log data) were highly significant (p<0.001). Size spectra intercepts were variable and may reflect seasonal differences in fish and invertebrate densities. Size spectra slopes were more consistent, with a mean slope of approximately -0.73, suggesting a common scaling relationship between stream consumers at differing trophic levels.

Alterações antrópicas em ecossistemas aquáticos exigem medidas de recuperação dos ambientes degradados, destacando-se projetos de restauração ecológica. Uma das etapas cruciais nesses projetos é a fase de monitoramento, sendo que o uso de macroinvertebrados como bioindicadores apresenta-se como uma importante ferramenta, por eles oferecerem vantagens sobre outros métodos de avaliação. Assim, o objetivo foi verificar os efeitos do assoreamento, antes e depois do rompimento da barragem de um pequeno reservatório em um riacho tropical, sobre a assembleia de macroinvertebrados aquáticos e avaliar a resposta da estrutura da comunidade após a implementação de um projeto de restauração ecológica. A pesquisa foi conduzida no riacho da Campininha, que passou por diversas alterações antrópicas, destacando-se aqui o rompimento de uma barragem e posteriormente a todos esses distúrbios pela implementação de um projeto de restauração ecológica. Foi realizada revisões da literatura para verificação da aplicabilidade da comunidade de macroinvertebrados como bioindicadores de sedimentação e na avaliação de projetos de restauração ecológica. Foram coletados dados pré-existentes antes e após o acidente e realizadas campanhas amostrais dois anos após o início da implantação do projeto de restauração. A comunidade de macroinvertebrados foi avaliada pela aplicação de índices ecológicos estruturais e funcionais alimentares e os resultados analisados por meio de ferramentas de estatística uni e multivariada. A análise da literatura mostrou que a aplicação de índices ecológicos tradicionais, tais como riqueza e diversidade, podem não ser sensíveis o suficiente para indicar impactos relacionados à sedimentação e implementação de projetos de restauração ecológica. Sendo, assim, necessária a utilização de índices que considerem a composição da comunidade, a sensibilidade dos organismos e a utilização de grupos funcionais alimentares e suas relações. Antes do rompimento da barragem a comunidade de macroinvertebrados já apresentava-se empobrecida pelo assoreamento do trecho represado e do canal fluvial. O rompimento da estrutura implicou na perda de importantes grupos e na mudança da composição da comunidade, além da perda de grupos funcionais alimentares, com consequente perda de funções ambientais. Após a implementação do projeto de restauração houve o aparecimento de 20 famílias, no entanto, os índices ecológicos tradicionais não foram capazes de identificar mudanças na comunidade. Métricas de composição e de grupos alimentares apontaram para um processo de recuperação da área. As características do sedimento tiveram um alto poder explicativo da comunidade, mostrando que a recuperação do habitat bentônico é um dos fatores que leva à uma melhor resposta da comunidade, mesmo esse não tendo sido o foco da aplicação do projeto de restauração avaliado. O relativo curto período transcorrido após a implementação do projeto já foi suficiente para indicar melhorias na qualidade ambiental. Tais resultados contrapõe a maioria dos estudos verificados na revisão da literatura. No entanto destaca-se que os mesmos foram conduzidos principalmente em ambientes temperados, indicando que em ambientes tropicais a dinâmica de recuperação é diferente. Assim aponta-se a necessidade da intensificação da implantação de projetos e monitoramento dos mesmos para a criação de um arcabouço teórico para auxiliar gestores e projetistas na sua elaboração. / Anthropic alterations in aquatic ecosystems demand the implementation of recuperation actions, highlighting ecological restoration projects. The monitoring is an important step to these projects, and the macroinvertebrates application as bioindicators is an important tool, because they are advantageous in comparison to another assessment methods. Thus, the goal was verify the effects of silting, and dam rupture in macroinvertebrate community, in a tropical stream, and assess the answer to an ecological restoration project implementation. The research was conducted in the Campininha stream, that was impacted by anthropic alterations, featured a dam rupture and after all this disturbances was implemented an ecological restoration project. A literature review was conducted to verification of the applicability of macroinvertebrates as bioindicators of silting and in ecological restoration projects assessment. Data was collected before and after the dam rupture, and samplings were done two years after the project implementation began. The macroinvertebrates community was assessed by application of structural and functional feeding indexes and the results analyzed by univariate and multivariate statistic. The literature review showed that the traditional indexes application may be not sensible to indicate impacts related to silting and ecological restoration projects implementation, and it is necessary the utilization of indexes that consider the community composition, organisms sensibility and functional feeding groups and your relations. Before the dam rupture, the macroinvertebrate community was already poor by the silting of the lake and fluvial channel. The dam rupture leaded to the loss of important groups and in the change of the macroinvertebrate community composition, also loss of functional feeding groups and consequently environmental functions. After the ecological restoration project implementation were found another 20 families, however, the traditional indexes were not sensible to indicate changes in macroinvertebrates community. Composition and functional feeding groups indexes showed the stream recuperation process. The sediment characteristics had a community high explanative power showing that the benthic habitat recovery is a factor that guide to a better community answer, even this was not the goal of the restoration project application. The relative short time after the project implementation was enough to point a environmental quality recovery, in contrast with the literature review. However the most studies analyzed was conducted in temperate environments, showing that in tropical environments the recovery dynamics is different. Thus, is necessary a intensification of restoration projects implementation and monitoring to a creation of data bases to guide managers and professionals responsible by the projects elaboration in decision make.

Macroinvertébrés benthiques et hyphomycètes aquatiques représentent une part importante de la biocénose des cours d'eau de tête de bassin. D'un point de vue écologique, ils participent au recyclage du carbone organique à travers leur implication dans certaines fonctions écosystémiques telles que la décomposition de la litière. Ce processus est vital pour les cours d'eau forestiers ou bordés de ripisylve. Si celui-ci est aujourd'hui bien étudié en milieu tempéré, la contribution des deux types de décomposeurs (champignons et invertébrés) reste mal comprise en milieu tropical du fait de la variabilité éco-géographique prononcée de ce biome. Cette thèse qui concernait deux régions de Guinée jusque-là inexplorées, la Guinée Forestière et la Haute-Guinée, avait un double objectif. D'une part, il s'agissait de documenter la diversité taxonomique et trophique des communautés de macroinvertébrés benthiques et la composition des assemblages d'hyphomycètes aquatiques. D'autre part, la thèse visait à caractériser le processus de décomposition de la litière et les communautés de décomposeurs associés, notamment dans une perspective de quantification de la contribution de chacun des deux groupes. Cette dernière étude répondait ainsi à l'hypothèse d'une plus grande importance des décomposeurs fongiques aux faibles latitudes en comparaison des latitudes élevées où l'activité des décomposeurs invertébrés est prépondérante. Une étude exploratoire menée sur 12 rivières a révélé une diversité de 45 taxons correspondant à la faune macrobenthique de l'Afrique de l'Ouest, et incluant un nouveau taxon de crustacé pour la Guinée. Les deux régions d'étude se différenciaient dans la composition des groupes trophiques : les déchiqueteurs, essentiellement représentés par les crevettes, étaient dominants dans les cours d'eau de Guinée Forestière, et les racleurs abondaient dans ceux de savane en Haute-Guinée, caractérisés par une faible densité de la végétation riveraine. Par ailleurs, les prélèvements d'eau et d'écume ont décelé la présence de 29 espèces d'hyphomycètes aquatiques. A ces espèces viennent s'ajouter 9 autres identifiées sur les litières lors des expériences de décomposition portant ainsi à 38 le nombre d'espèces identifiées pour la Guinée au cours de cette thèse, dont 12 sont nouvelles pour le continent africain. Les expériences menées dans les deux régions montrent une décomposition rapide, probablement en partie liée à la forte teneur en nutriments des litières, et une faible diversité des décomposeurs associés. Dans les deux cours d'eau temporaires de savane étudiés, les invertébrés associés aux litières étaient absents. Comme une compensation, l'activité des champignons était accrue, lesquels accumulaient une biomasse mycélienne très élevée. La présence de déchiqueteurs potentiels a été notée dans les deux cours d'eau étudiés de Guinée Forestière mais leurs densités étaient faibles. Dans les deux régions, la différence entre les taux de décomposition totale et microbienne était faible, soulignant une importance minime des invertébrés et un rôle majeur des champignons et confirmant notre hypothèse. Il a également été montré au cours de cette thèse que les asséchements des cours d'eau avaient peu d'influence sur le taux de décomposition de la litière. Par ailleurs, une faible diversité des organismes décomposeurs, invertébrés et hyphomycètes aquatiques, ne semble pas altérer le processus de décomposition. Ainsi les lois générales basées sur les facteurs déterminants de la décomposition des litières tels que la qualité du matériel végétal ou un rôle équilibré entre les deux types de décomposeur, ne sont pas nécessairement transposables aux milieux tropicaux. Enfin, les résultats de cette thèse suggèrent que les conséquences du changement climatique sur le recyclage du carbone organique dans les eaux d'Afrique de l'Ouest, région prédite comme très affectée, pourraient être tempérées par la prédominance d'organismes peu vulnérables. / Benthic macroinvertebrates and aquatic hyphomycetes are major components of the biocenosis of headwater ecosystems. Both of them contribute to essential ecosystem functions like leaf litter decomposition as part of the organic carbon cycling. Such a process is vital for woodland streams or riparian tree-lined rivers. While this process is very well documented for temperate regions, the contribution of both types of decomposers, i.e. fungi and invertebrates, remains poorly understood in the tropics partly due to the large ecogeographic variability prevailing in this biome. The present thesis dealt with two unexplored regions of Guinea (Forested Guinea and Upper Guinea) and was motivated by a double objective. First, it aimed at documenting the taxonomic and trophic diversity of benthic macroinvertebrate communities together with the composition of aquatic hyphomycete assemblages. The second objective was to characterize leaf litter decomposition and leaf-associated decomposers, particularly in the perspective of quantifying the relative contribution of both decomposer types. The latter study specifically addressed the hypothesis of a greater importance of fungal decomposers at low latitudes compared to higher latitudes where the activity of invertebrate decomposers prevails. An exploratory survey conducted in 12 streams revealed the occurrence of 45 taxa belonging to the macrobenthic fauna of West Africa and including a new genus, Asellus, which completes the list of known crustacean taxa of Guinea. Both regions differed in the importance of the Functional Feeding Groups: shredders, mainly consisting in shrimps, dominated in Forested Guinea whereas scrapers were abundant in the savannah streams of Upper Guinea, which were characterized by scarce riparian vegetation. In stream water and foam, a total of 29 species of aquatic hyphomycetes were identified. Moreover, 9 additional species were found as sporulating on leaves in litter decomposition experiments, which led to a total of 38 species for Guinea with 12 being new for Africa. This thesis thus substantially expanded the list of known species for Africa. The experiments carried out in both regions showed a fast leaf litter decomposition, likely partly due to the high nutrient contents in litter, and a low diversity of leaf-associated decomposers. In the two studied temporary savannah streams, no leaf-associated invertebrates occurred. The latter was apparently compensated by a strong fungal activity as illustrated by very high mycelial biomass accrual. In the two studied streams of Forested Guinea, the occurrence of Caridina africana (Atyidae crustacean) as potential shredder could explain the leaf mass loss due to invertebrates, even though their density remained low. In both regions, the discrepancies between total and microbial decomposition rates were weak, highlighting a minute contribution of invertebrates and a major role of fungi thus supporting our hypothesis. The present results suggest that droughts resulted in low effects on the rate of leaf decomposition. Furthermore, leaf decomposition did not seem to be affected by the poor diversity of decomposers, i.e. invertebrates and aquatic hyphomycetes. Overall, the principles of leaf decomposition control by factors like the quality of leaf litter and the balanced involvement of both decomposer types do not appear to be fully applicable to tropical environments. Finally, the findings of this thesis suggest that the consequences of climatic change on the cycling of organic carbon in the aquatic ecosystems of West Africa, i.e. a region predicted to be particularly affected, could be mitigated by the dominance of organisms exhibiting a low vulnerability.

The River Medlock is a small (22km) urbanised river, and is one of the five main tributaries which forms part of the River Irwell Catchment in Greater Manchester, UK. The river has a legacy of pollution from the 18th century and continues to be affected by anthropogenic factors including point source pollution from waste water treatment works (WwTWs) and combined sewer overflows (CSOs). In order to investigate the impact of CSOs and the WwTWs on the river hydrology, water quality and ecology of the lower largely urbanised reach, data sets were obtained from the Environment Agency and from direct sampling of the river. Load estimations from continuous discharge records from the river's gauging station plus estimates of sub-catchment area indicate the lower sites, classified as a "highly modified water body" and downstream of treatment works had had a higher load of discharge and phosphate-P linked to point sources and episodic discharges. Short term, continuous monitoring revealed that CSOs were active during high velocity, but increased concentrations of nutrients post high velocity indicate WwTW effects and possibly diffuse sources. This project reveals that the WwTW are a major source of phosphate-P and that the impact of CSOs on the river quality is short-lived and depends on the degree of precipitation. Other parameters indicate good water quality although the benthic macroinvertebrate community is degraded as a result of episodic increases in the quantity of water destabilising the river bed. Therefore, pollution from the CSOs, the WwTW and rapid changes in discharge are the reasons for the river's failure to conform to EU's requirements of the Water Framework Directive.

Tese(doutorado) - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Programa de Pós–Graduação em Oceanografia Biológica, Instituto de Oceanografia, 2005. / Submitted by Cristiane Gomides (cristiane_gomides@hotmail.com) on 2013-10-11T14:35:10Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Luciana.pdf: 2390598 bytes, checksum: de111a9f52b7b4847e9447d50f43891d (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Sabrina Andrade (sabrinabeatriz@ibest.com.br) on 2013-10-17T17:43:17Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Luciana.pdf: 2390598 bytes, checksum: de111a9f52b7b4847e9447d50f43891d (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-10-17T17:43:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Luciana.pdf: 2390598 bytes, checksum: de111a9f52b7b4847e9447d50f43891d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005 / O presente trabalho objetivou avaliar a estrutura e dinâmica de curto prazo da associação de macroinvertebrados bentônicos estuarinos da Lagoa dos Patos frente a perturbações antrópicas e naturais, bem como avaliar os mecanismos de persistência e resiliência da população de algumas espécies estuarinas. No capítulo I, através de um experimento de campo, foi avaliado o efeito de duas redes de arrasto de pesca artesanal de camarão (Rede de Coca e Rede de Berimbau) sobre a associação de macroinvertebrados bentônicos de fundos moles. O experimento, realizado com dois tratamentos (arrastos com Rede de Coca e Berimbau) e um Controle, onde não foram efetuados arrastos, foi desenvolvido em 7 etapas, nas quais amostras da macrofauna bentônica (seis réplicas por tratamento), foram tomadas em diferentes intervalos de tempo após os arrastos com as redes (cinco arrastos em cada etapa). Os resultados das diferentes análises estatísticas empregadas não foram conclusivos devido à dificuldade em se identificar efeitos diretos das redes sobre a macrofauna. Durante o período de estudo, aproximadamente 3 meses, foi possível a identificação de mudanças temporais na estrutura das associações bentônicas, as quais foram melhor analisadas no Capítulo 2. Este capítulo objetivou acompanhar a dinâmica de curto-prazo das associações de invertebrados bentônicos durante o período de verão-outono (quando ocorrem os principais processos de recrutamento da macrofauna bentônica na região), relacionando-os às variações de curto prazo da salinidade, precipitação pluviométrica, profundidade da coluna d’água, intensidade e direção do vento e variações na granulometria e matéria orgânica do sedimento. A variabilidade temporal de curto prazo da macrofauna bentônica foi acompanhada: 1) durante um período no verão de 2002; 2) durante dois períodos entre o verão e início do outono de 2004; e 3) entre estes três períodos realizados em anos distintos (período amostral de 2002 e os dois períodos amostrais de 2004). O acompanhamento temporal de curto prazo, em cada um dos períodos, foi realizado em 7 etapas, através de amostragens em intervalos de 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 e 32 dias após a amostragem inicial (dia 0 = Etapa 1). Seis amostras da macrofauna bentônica foram tomadas em cada uma das etapas nos três períodos de amostragem Os resultados mostraram diferenças significativas na estrutura dessas associações a partir de um período de 15 dias e que as variáveis ambientais medidas, reflexo de fatores meteorológicos, são de grande importância na determinação das variações temporais das associações. No Capítulo 3, objetivou-se reunir as informações publicadas e inéditas sobre as estratégias de adaptação de algumas espécies de macroinvertebrados bentônicos residentes na região estuarina da Lagoa dos Patos, relacionando-as aos seus mecanismos de persistência e resiliência frente a perturbações naturais e antrópicas. Informações sobre as estratégias de adaptação de Erodona mactroides (molusco bivalvo), Heleobia australis (molusco gastrópode), Laeonereis acuta (poliqueta), Kalliapseudes schubartii (crustáceo tanaidáceo) e Melita mangrovi (crustáceo anfípode) indicaram evidentes mecanismos de persistência e resiliência destes organismos, tais como proteção à desova, recrutamentos massivos, várias coortes ao ano, ocupação e assentamento em uma diversidade de hábitats que ofereçam alimento e abrigo contra a ação de predadores e mecanismos de escape frente à situações desfavoráveis. / The present study aims to analyze the short-term dynamics of the Patos Lagoon estuarine soft-bottom macrobenthic community subjected to natural and anthropogenic disturbances, as well as to assess the mechanisms of persistence and resilience of some estuarine species. Chapter 1 aims at evaluating the effects of two different shrimp artisanal trawling nets (Coca and Berimbau nets) upon the soft-bottom macrobenthic associations, through a field experiment conducted in the estuarine region of Patos Lagoon. The experiment, performed with two treatments (Coca and Berimbau net trawling) and a control, where no trawling was performed, was conducted in seven stages, where benthic samples (six replicates in each treatment) were taken in different times after trawling. The results of the distinct statistical analysis used were not conclusive due the difficulty in showing clear effects on the soft bottom community. During the study period, about 3 months, were identified temporal changes on the structure of benthic associations, which were better analyzed in the Chapter 2. This chapter aimed to assess short-term macrobenthic dynamics during summer-fall period (when the main benthic recruitment processes occur), relating it to the short-term changes in: salinity, precipitation, water column depth, wind intensity, direction and changes in sediment granulometry and organic matter. The short-term benthic macrofauna variability was studied: 1) during summer of 2002; 2) during two periods between summer and beginning of fall of 2004; and 3) between these three periods carried out in different years. Short-term variability, in each period, was carried out in seven stages, through samples in different time scales (1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32 days) after the initial sampling (day 0 = stage 1). Six macrobenthic samples were taken in each stage and sampling periods. The results showed significant differences in the benthic macrofauna structure starting from 15 days, and the environmental variables measured, reflecting meteorological factors, are of great importance for determining temporal benthic fauna fluctuations. The Chapter 3 aimed at joining published and unpublished information about adaptation strategies of some macrobenthic estuarine resident species from Patos Lagoon, assessing the relationships between its persistence and resilience mechanisms and natural and anthropogenic disturbances. Data about Erodona mactroides (bivalvia), Heleobia australis (gastropoda), Laeonereis acuta (polychaeta), Kalliapseudes schubartii (tanaid) and Melita mangrovi (amphipod) adaptation strategies showed evident persistence and resilience mechanisms, such as spawn protection, massive recruitments, many cohorts a year, settlement in many habitats which offer food and shelter against predators, escape mechanisms in unfavorable situations, among others.

Submitted by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2015-01-27T13:42:09Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) Dissertação - Karina Pinheiro dos Santos - 2014.pdf: 3037076 bytes, checksum: df6a8e2dbd116c93aeb46f89072253a7 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2015-01-28T11:22:01Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) Dissertação - Karina Pinheiro dos Santos - 2014.pdf: 3037076 bytes, checksum: df6a8e2dbd116c93aeb46f89072253a7 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-01-28T11:22:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) Dissertação - Karina Pinheiro dos Santos - 2014.pdf: 3037076 bytes, checksum: df6a8e2dbd116c93aeb46f89072253a7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-08-28 / Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Goiás - FAPEG / Maintaining quality of fresh water, sanitary and environmental aspects, is essential. Once the environmental degradation caused by human activities is more intense. In this direction, the main objective of this study was to evaluate the water quality and environmental conditions of stretches of watershed located in watersheds that are used for public water supply of the cities of Trindade (Bacia Hidrográfica do Ribeirão Arrozal), Goianápolis (Bacia Hidrográfica do Ribeirão Sozinha), Terezópolis (Bacia Hidrográfica do Córrego dos Macacos) and Nerópolis (Bacia Hidrográfica do Córrego Água Branca), cities that compose the Metropolitan Region of Goiânia. To this end this research was organized in articles divided into three chapters. The first chapter corresponds to characterize the environmental conditions of the Bacia Hidrográfica do Ribeirão Sozinha. This chapter have been identified and related the main impacts in the watershed and in rivers, furthermore, were verifying the use and occupation of the soil that could cause potential impacts on water resources with the objective to evaluate the combined use of three methodologies the survey of the environmental status of this basin. The second chapter corresponds to functional trophic categorization community of aquatic macroinvertebrates and characterization of ecological conditions of river reaches that compose the four watersheds listed above. The third chapter discusses the evaluation of water quality and assessment of environmental conditions, of the same river reaches studied in the previous article, by evaluating the structure of the macroinvertebrate community, the implementation of a protocol for rapid assessment of habitat conditions evaluation and physico-chemical parameters of water. Moreover, the latter paper aims to inform about the organization of macroinvertebrates front environmental conditions during periods the dry and rain season. The results of the evaluation of ecological conditions indicated that all watersheds studied in this study are suffering or have suffered from human impacts from agricultural activities. This fact may be affecting the water quality of water sources that supply the Trindade, Goianápolis and Nerópolis, because some physico-chemical parameters such as the total nitrogen and the total phosphorus were not in conformity with limits for Class 2, and were within the limit that is recommended for class 4, according to CONAMA resolution 357/2005. The assessment of water quality through of aquatic macroinvertebrates indicated good quality in all segments surveyed. Assessment of trophic groups allowed a better understanding of how macroinvertebrates were organized against the environmental conditions of each region. The seasonal evaluation of macroinvertebrate community indicated that the richness and abundance did not vary significantly between seasons. / A manutenção da qualidade da água doce, em termos sanitários e ambientais, é essencial, uma vez que, a degradação ambiental causada pelas ações antrópicas é cada vez mais intensa. Nesse sentido, o objetivo principal deste trabalho foi avaliar a qualidade da água e as condições ambientais de trechos de mananciais situados em microbacias que são utilizadas para abastecimento público das cidades de Trindade (Bacia Hidrográfica do Ribeirão Arrozal), Goianápolis (Bacia Hidrográfica do Ribeirão Sozinha), Terezópolis (Bacia Hidrográfica do Córrego dos Macacos) e Nerópolis (Bacia Hidrográfica do Córrego Água Branca), municípios que compõem a Região Metropolitana de Goiânia. Com esse fim essa pesquisa foi organizada em artigos divididos em três capítulos. O primeiro capítulo corresponde a caracterização das condições ambientais da Bacia Hidrográfica do Ribeirão Sozinha. Neste capítulo foram identificados e relacionados os principais impactos na bacia hidrográfica e nos cursos d’água, além disso, foram verificados os principais usos e ocupações do solo que poderiam causar possíveis impactos nos recursos hídricos com o intuito de avaliar a utilização conjunta de três metodologias no levantamento do estado ambiental dessa bacia. O segundo capítulo corresponde a categorização trófica funcional da comunidade dos macroinvertebrados aquáticos e a caracterização das condições ecológicas de trechos de rios que compõem as quatro microbacias citadas anteriormente. O terceiro capítulo aborda a avaliação da qualidade da água e avaliação das condições ambientais, dos mesmos trechos de rios estudados no artigo anterior, por meio da avaliação da estrutura da comunidade de macroinvertebrados aquáticos, da aplicação de um protocolo de avaliação rápida das condições dos habitats e da avaliação parâmetros físico-químicos da água. Além disso, este último artigo buscou informar a respeito da organização dos macroinvertebrados frente as condições ambientais em períodos de seca e chuva. Os resultados da avaliação das condições ecológicas indicaram que todas as microbacias estudadas neste trabalho estão sofrendo ou já sofreram com impactos antrópicos provenientes de atividades agropecuárias. Esse fato pode estar afetando a qualidade da água dos mananciais que abastecem Trindade, Goianápolis e Nerópolis, pois alguns parâmetros físico-químicos, como o nitrogênio total e o fósforo total não estavam em conformidade com limites para classe 2, e ficaram dentro do limite que é recomendado para classe 4 de acordo com a resolução do CONAMA nº 357/2005. A avaliação da qualidade da água por meio dos macroinvertebrados aquáticos indicou boa qualidade em todos os trechos pesquisados. A avaliação em grupos tróficos permitiu uma melhor compreensão de como os macroinvertebrados se organizaram frente às condições ambientais de cada região. A avaliação sazonal da comunidade de macroinvertebrados indicou que a estrutura da comunidade de macroinvertebrados não variou significativamente entre as estações.