Shippagan Gully is a tidal inlet located near Shippagan, New Brunswick on the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. It is a particularly complex tidal inlet due to the fact that its tidal lagoon transects the Acadian peninsula and is open to the Bay des Chaleurs at its opposite end. As such, two open boundaries with phase lagged tidal cycles drive flow through the inlet, alternating direction with each tide and reaching velocities in excess of 2m/s. Hydrodynamic and morphological processes at the site are further complicated by the presence of a highly variable wave climate. Presently, shipping practices through the inlet are limited due to continual sedimentation within and immediately offshore from Shippagan Gully. As such, an extensive field study, desktop analysis and numerical and morphological modeling of Shippagan Gully have been conducted in order to provide guidance for future works. Modeling was conducted using the CMS-Wave and CMS-Flow numerical modeling system.

A CRITICAL REVIEW OF THE TOOLS &amp / TECHNIQUES USED IN COASTAL PLANNING: CASE STUDY MUGLA-G&Ouml / KOVA SPECIAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AREA Yusufoglu, Ay&ccedil / a M. S., Programme of City Planning Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Serap Kayas&uuml / June 2010, 119 Pages This study focuses on the issue of coastal area management in terms of planning techniques and tools as well as legal aspects necessary in order to clarify the components of a successful coastal area planning process. It has been emphasized that planning of the coastal area should be performed within the context of integrated policy mechanism considering maintance of biodiversity, public participation and, promoting diversification among coastal related economic uses such as tourism, aquaculture, fishing. The thesis haS been grouped into according to definitions of coastal area, coastal planning and legislation, institutions, organizations, international commisions regarding coastal areas and G&ouml / kova Special Environment Protection Area from the perspective of Integrated Coastal Management (ICM). The case section of the thesis formed by five phases of G&ouml / kova SEPA 1/25.000 scaled Environmental Relation Plan in order to achieve ICM. Also, this is the first study performed by the reviewing of the tools and techniques used in the G&ouml / kova SEPA towards Integrated Coastal Management approach.

Being one of the specially protected areas declared by General Directorate of Natural Assets Protection, G&ouml / cek Bay is threatened by increasing boat tourism and insufficient legal practices. Large scale measures are being planned for decreasing the pollution and protecting the region. For a sustainable coastal management, technical, social, political and economic tools are needed to be used. For environmental investments, it is necessary that they should be identified in monetary terms. The aim of this study is to determine the benefits and costs of the management alternatives to improve environmental quality in G&ouml / cek Bay to aid decision makers. In the study, the environmental benefits that can be obtained with improved water quality and restated marine ecosystem was calculated using the Choice Experiment Method. Data analyses are made using Multinomial Logit analysis. The results showed that, for improvements in water quality local residents are willing to pay 18 TL/month and tourists are willing to pay 16.6 TL/tour. For improvements in marine life local residents are willing to pay 14.8 TL/month and tourists are willing to pay 11.2 TL/tour. The total value that can be obtained from these stakeholders is calculated as 751,140 TL/year. This amount enables the investments to amortize themselves in 21 years. With this study, it has been seen that the obtained results will pave the way for new policies and measures against the deterioration of the marine environment of G&ouml / cek.

Ecosystem modelling allows for an understanding of the structure and functioning of ecosystems. During this study, the oligotrophic KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Bight, a data-limited system on the east coast of South Africa, was modelled. A framework for modelling data-poor systems, incorporating the construction of multiple models, sensitivity analyses and comparative analyses was applied to the Bight using literature data. Models converged on general trends of ecosystem functioning showing 99% of flows originated from detritus, primarily imported from rivers. The largest source of riverine detritus is the Thukela River which flows into the central Bight. This area supports a shallow-water prawn trawl fishery which targets penaeid prawns. Fisheries time series‘ were incorporated into the model framework to study the effects of prawn trawling and the decrease in prawn recruitment, caused by estuarine nursery loss, on the central Bight ecosystem. Dynamic simulations suggest the biomass of biotic groups were more affected by prawn recruitment level than trawling effort level. To understand the importance of nutrients in more detail, nutrient content, biomass and stoichiometric ratios were documented for various pelagic and demersal functional groups, and compared between areas in this oligotrophic system. Results showed the central Bight had the highest carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus biomasses, due to riverine nutrient sources, and the southern Bight had the lowest. In addition, the demersal community had higher biomasses than the pelagic community for all nutrients. Nutrient dynamics and limitations within the Bight were explored through the construction and analysis of trophic flow networks of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus for the southern, central and northern Bight. Network analyses suggest nutrient cycling was lowest in the central Bight, and highest in the southern Bight. Cycling of nitrogen was highest in all areas due to the dominance of benthos, in terms of biomass, which was nitrogen-limited. Higher trophic levels were found to be phosphorus-limited. However many pelagic groups were co-limited by nitrogen and phosphorus, probably due to the oligotrophic nature of the bight. This suite of ecosystem models provides the first holistic view of the KZN Bight and an understanding of ecosystem functioning in the southern, central and northern Bight. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2012.

The zooplankton communities of the Mdloti and Mhlanga estuaries were studied over a 13-month period (March 2002-March 2003). Monthly daytime samples were collected from both estuaries at the lower, middle and upper reaches using a WP-2 net and a hyperbenthic sled. Throughout the study period, the Mdloti Estuary experienced nine breachings, while the Mhlanga experienced 16 such events. Significant differences in zooplankton abundance were observed between the two estuaries (F I, 73 = 5.2; P<0.05), with the Mdloti consistently exhibiting higher values than the Mhlanga. No significant differences were, however, observed in zooplankton biomass between the two estuaries (U = 634; P>0.05). At the Mdloti, zooplankton abundance ranged from 20 ind.m-3 to 5.4 x 106 ind.m-3 , while at the Mhlanga this ranged from 76 ind.m-3 to 2.0 x 105 ind.m-3 • Zooplankton biomass ranged from 0.08 mg.m-3 (OW) to 2010 mg.m-3 (OW) at the Mdloti, and from 0.18 mg.m-3 (OW) to 1210 mg.m-3 (OW) at the Mhlanga. A one-way ANOV A revealed significant differences in zooplankton abundance between the open and the closed phase, both at the Mdloti (FI, 30 = 59; P<0.05) 'and the Mhlanga (FI, 38 = 7.3; P<0.05), with the closed phase exhibiting consistently higher values than the open. Similarly, biomass was significantly higher during the closed than the open phase, both at the Mdloti (U= 16.5; P<O.OI) and the Mhlanga (U= 88, P<O.O 1). This pattern may be attributed to the stability achieved by these systems during periods of mouth closure, when the estuaries exhibit less freshwater input and a restricted exchange of water with the sea. At the Mdloti, zooplankton biomass (OW) was positively correlated to both phytoplankton (r= 0.36) and microphytobenthos biomass (r = 0.41). At the Mhlanga, zooplankton biomass (OW) was only positively correlated to phytoplankton biomass (r = 0.45) The most abundant taxa at the Mdloti during the open phase were Pseudodiaptomus hessei and copepod nauplii, each contributing 38% and 32% of the total stock, respectively. During the closed phase, however, rotifers were by far the dominant taxon, contributing 82% of the total zooplankton abundance. These were followed by cope pod nauplii with 16%. At the Mhlanga, the most abundant groups during the open phase were again the copepod nauplii (89%) and P. hessei (7 %), while the closed phase was dominated mainly by caridean larvae (39%) and copepod nauplii (26%). The dominance of P. hessei during the open phase of both estuaries may be attributed to the pioneering nature of this species. The dominance of rotifers at the Mdloti during the closed phase may have been due to the freshwater conditions that prevailed in this estuary as a result of prolonged mouth closure. The concentration of copepod nauplii increased dramatically 2-4 weeks after major rain events, possibly due to the hatching of dormant eggs in response to freshwater pulses. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2005.

The overall aim of this study was to develop an understanding of the vegetation ecology of the lower Mkuze River floodplain from a landscape ecology perspective. The lower Mkuze River floodplain and its associated wetlands are located east of the Lebombo Mountains and north of Lake St. Lucia on the Maputaland Coastal Plain in northern KwaZulu-Natal. This system is defined as a storage floodplain wetland and comprises a mosaic of different wetland types. In addition it has a complex history of resource use and management. Landscape ecology proved to be an ideal theoretical framework for this study because it enables the examination of complex ecological processes and phenomena in an integrated and holistic manner. It achieves this by explicitly recognizing the spatial heterogeneity, dynamics and hierarchical organization of the landscape; concepts that proved useful in developing an understanding of the ecological patterns and processes operating within the lower Mkuze River floodplain. The vegetation of the study area was classified, using multivariate techniques, into six plant communities. The distribution of these plant communities was correlated with underlying environmental gradients that summarized the interactions between hydrology, substrate properties and topography within the floodplain system. Within the study area the Phragmites mauritianus reed swamp community was found where there was slow moving water, in semi- to permanently saturated soil. This was usually around the edges of pans or in extensive stands in low-lying areas in the distal reaches of the floodplain. The Imperata cylindrica hygrophilous grassland community was uncommon and was found in isolated stands towards the edge of the region of seasonal flooding. The Echinochloa pyramidalis backswamp community was the most extensive of all the plant communities identified. This community was tolerant of flooding and was found in damp places such as seasonal pans, backswamps and riverbanks as well as in standing water. The distribution of the Ficus sycomorus riparian forest community was restricted to elevated levees adjacent to the river channel that experienced inundation when floods were large enough to overtop channel banks. The Cynodon dactylon floodplain community was generally found towards the floodplain-terrestrial upland boundary in elevated areas with sandy well-drained soils. The Acacia xanthophloea woodland community was distributed on the floodplain margin in elevated areas on sandy soils, primarily fringing the linear pans draining towards the Mkuze River from the north. The description of the plant community types and the underlying environmental determinants of their distribution provided a useful foundation for the examination of ecological processes and phenomena operating at spatially coarser levels within the landscape hierarchy. Plant communities were aggregated into functional types based on criteria such as exposure to similar flooding and sedimentation regimes. The identification and mapping of these functional types, using a Geographical Information System (GIS), enabled one to identify a hydrogeomorphic continuum that described the interaction between floodplain processes and vegetation distribution. Within the study area the proximal-seasonally inundated functional type comprised plant community types found on channel levees and within backswamp areas. These areas were functionally connected to the Mkuze River in that they were exposed to seasonal flood events and associated sedimentation. The distal-permanently inundated functional type was typically found in the lower reaches of the floodplain that were rarely exposed to hydrological and sedimentological inputs from the Mkuze River. This functional type was permanently inundated and characterized by standing water and/or permanently saturated soils that were generally associated with the large floodplain pans. The distal-infrequently inundated functional type was typically located in sandy areas along the southern distal reaches of the floodplain. These areas were infrequently inundated by overbank floodwaters from the Mkuze River and were not characterized by substantial clastic sedimentation. The distribution and interaction between these functional types made it possible to develop process-based understanding of the ecosystem patterns and processes operating within the lower Mkuze River floodplain. Landscape ecology theory emphasises the importance of a temporal analysis of spatial heterogeneity and the role of disturbance in ecosystem patterns and processes. Therefore a temporal analysis of the landscape mosaic from 1937 to 1996 was undertaken, using a GIS, in order to quantify landscape change over time. The landscape characteristics utilised to examine this change were total category area, percentage contribution to the total landscape area, number of patches, mean patch size, median patch size, patch size standard deviation and the mean perimeter-area ratio. These spatial statistics were calculated for each year using PATCH ANALYST, an ArcView GIS extension and they were used to illustrate the role of anthropogenic disturbance on the landscape mosaic at a variety of levels within the landscape hierarchy. Anthropogenic disturbance was found to affect landscape content and configuration and therefore had the potential to undermine the underlying environmental determinants of landscape patterns and processes. Once the underlying functional processes are undermined, irreversible ecosystem degradation is a possible outcome. The examination of the different levels within the landscape hierarchy and the dynamics of ecosystem patterns and processes operating within the Mkuze River floodplain made it possible to develop deeper insights into ecosystem patterns and processes than a conventional vegetation ecology study that typically focuses primarily on plant community classification. The use of landscape ecology as an overarching theory that guided the research process and aided the interpretation of findings by explicitly recognising the importance of examining spatial heterogeneity, hierarchical organisation and dynamics, proved invaluable in developing process-based understanding of the lower Mkuze River floodplain. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2001.

The KwaZulu‒Natal Bight is formed from a narrow indentation in the SE coast of South Africa with the waters within considered to be oligotrophic. These waters therefore depend on both allochthonous sources of nutrients such as intermittent upwelling of deeper water and nutrients supplied by riverine inputs, as well as the autochthonous nutrients supplied by phytoplankton production, microbial fixation and recycling of nutrients by the microbial loop. Two African Coelacanth Ecosystem Programme cruises were undertaken during 2010, during the wet summer, and dry winter months. During each cruise, the waters of the KZN‒B were sampled rapidly to provide spatial scales (synoptic) of bacterial abundance and biomass, as well as at four predetermined locations to determine temporal scales (focus) of bacterial abundance, biomass and productivity. During the synoptic section, samples were taken in surface waters, close to F‒max (the depth at which phytoplankton were at their most dense as determined by in situ fluorometry), below the F‒max (where depths exceeded 50 m), and near the bottom. These samples were fixed with formaldehyde, stained with DAPI and cells were visualised by epifluorescent microscopy. During the focus section, samples were taken in surface waters, close to F‒max and below F‒max and incubated with 3H‒Thymidine to determine bacterial productivity. Bacterioplankton dynamics (numbers, biomass and productivity) for both cruises, synoptic section, were higher within the photic zone and near riverine influenced waters, with summer showing higher dynamics than winter. Irrespective of season, bacterioplankton dynamics decreased with increasing distance from the coast as well as with increasing depth, potentially via bottom‒up control mechanisms. Results obtained from the focus section of both cruises showed a significant difference between seasons for the Thukela Mouth and Richards Bay North, while no difference at the Durban Eddy. These results from the focus section suggest that bacterioplankton temporal dynamics were more top‒down controlled, rather than environmentally influenced, resulting in fluctuating dynamics over time. Overall, it is proposed that the degree of inorganic nutrient supply to the phytoplankton, resulted in the formation of DOM for use by the heterotrophic bacteria, resulting in a bottom‒up control mechanism, where Chl‒a concentrations within the euphotic zone induces either top‒down or bottom‒up control mechanisms on the heterotrophic bacteria directly affecting their numbers, biomass and productivity. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2013.

Shippagan Gully is a tidal inlet located near Shippagan, New Brunswick on the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. It is a particularly complex tidal inlet due to the fact that its tidal lagoon transects the Acadian peninsula and is open to the Bay des Chaleurs at its opposite end. As such, two open boundaries with phase lagged tidal cycles drive flow through the inlet, alternating direction with each tide and reaching velocities in excess of 2m/s. Hydrodynamic and morphological processes at the site are further complicated by the presence of a highly variable wave climate. Presently, shipping practices through the inlet are limited due to continual sedimentation within and immediately offshore from Shippagan Gully. As such, an extensive field study, desktop analysis and numerical and morphological modeling of Shippagan Gully have been conducted in order to provide guidance for future works. Modeling was conducted using the CMS-Wave and CMS-Flow numerical modeling system.

Como um ambiente de transição e de grande concentração de atividades humanas, a zona costeira é uma das áreas de maior estresse ambiental do mundo. Esta concentração gera demanda por água para os mais diversos usos. A principal fonte de água na zona costeira é a bacia hidrográfica. O oceano, o estuário e as bacias hidrográficas interagem, formando um contínuo fluvial-marinho costeiro. Quando as atividades antrópicas retiram água doce da bacia, podem estar limitando a disponibilidade hídrica numa região costeira, pois a diminuição da afluência de água doce aos estuários aumenta a área de influência da salinidade. Esta dinâmica da salinidade em função da afluência de água doce pode ser compreendida através de um modelo de balanço de massa. Após compreender esta dinâmica, subsídios podem ser propostos para a gestão de um ambiente costeiro, visando prevenir possíveis limitações da disponibilidade de água doce devido à salinização das águas. Com base no artigo 3º da Política Nacional de Recursos Hídricos (PNRH), que prevê que a gestão dos recursos hídricos deve ser integrada com a das zonas costeiras e dos sistemas estuarinos, propõem-se a compreensão do balanço de salinidade como uma ferramenta para a gestão de recursos hídricos na zona costeira. Utilizando um modelo matemático integrado com geoprocessamento, como método de compreensão da dinâmica da salinidade, realiza-se um estudo de caso na bacia do Rio Tramandaí. Assim, subsídios para a gestão são discutidos, utilizando os instrumentos da PNRH e do Plano Nacional de Gerenciamento Costeiro (PNGC), para a bacia em questão. Com o modelo foram testados três cenários: dois de mudanças climáticas, seca e cheia, e um de aumento da área irrigada de arroz, visto que é a principal atividade econômica da bacia, juntamente com o abastecimento público. O resultado dos cenários atesta que a influência da salinidade é sentida até a Lagoa do Passo, limite interior do estuário. Observa-se que para os cenários de escassez hídrica, de seca e aumento na demanda de água, a salinidade do estuário aumenta, principalmente na Lagoa do Passo. No cenário de cheia, a salinidade diminuiu. Com o modelo de balanço de salinidade, observou-se a aplicabilidade dos instrumentos da PNRH e do zoneamento ecológico-econômico costeiro (ZEEC) do PNGC. O enquadramento, a salinidade pode ser introduzida como parâmetro a ser monitorado, pois compromete o uso dos recursos hídricos, além de ser integrada com o ZEEC que já existe na bacia. A outorga pode ser estabelecida, para manter uma vazão mínima que impeça a intrusão salina indesejada. A cobrança pode ser usada como meio de induzir os orizicutores a utilizar métodos de irrigação mais eficientes. A dinâmica da salinidade se mostrou uma ferramenta eficaz para gestão de recursos hídricos na zona costeira, por funcionar como um indicador da disponibilidade hídrica. No caso específico da bacia do Rio Tramandaí, esta ferramenta deve ser utilizada no nível do comitê de bacia (já existente), para resolver questões ligadas com a intrusão salina e a interação bacia – oceano. / As a transition environment of great human activities concentration, the coastal zone is an area of major environmental stress in the world. This merger creates a demand of water for different uses. The main source of water in this area is the river basin. The ocean, the estuary and the watersheds interact forming a continuous freshwater – coastal environment. When human activities remove freshwater from the basin they may be limiting the availability of water in a coastal region, since reduced freshwater inflow to estuaries increases the area of influence of the salinity. This dynamic function of salinity and fresh water inflow can be understood through a mass balance. Technical inputs can be proposed to manage a coastal environment, preventing possible limitations on the availability of fresh water due to the salinity. The article 3 of the National Water Resources Policy (PNRH) said that the management of water resources must be integrated with the coastal and estuarine systems. Based on this assumption a methodology is proposed: the understanding of salinity balance as a tool for management of water resources in the coastal zone. Using a mathematical model integrated with GIS for understanding the salinity dynamics a case study is done on the Tramandaí river basin. For this basin, management practices and technical inputs are discussed using the tools of PNRH and the National Coastal Management Plan (PNGC). With the model we tested three scenarios: two climate change, drought and flood, and an increased area of irrigated rice, as it is the main economic activity of the basin along with public provision. The result of the scenarios shows that the influence of salinity is felt unto the Passo Lagoon, the inner edge of the estuary. It is observed that in the water scarcity scenarios, drought and increased demand for water, the salinity of the estuary rises, especially in the Passo Lagoon. In the scenario of flood the salinity decreased. Using the salinity balance model, it was observed the applicability of the tools of PNRH and the coastal ecological-economic zoning (ZEEC) of the PNGC. In the classification of water bodies the salinity may be introduced as a parameter to be monitored, because it jeopardizes the use of water resource. Also it can be integrated with the ZEEC that already exists in the basin. The grant of water resources use can be established to maintain a minimum flow to prevent the unwanted salt intrusion. The water use charges can be used as a mean of inducing rice farmers to use more efficient methods of irrigation. The dynamics of salinity proved to be an effective tool for managing water resources in the coastal zone, acting as an indicator of water availability. In the specific case of Tramandaí river basin, this tool should be used in the basin committee level to solve issues related to salt intrusion and basin - ocean interaction.

Atualmente, há uma tendência mundial alinhada a aprofundar os estudos sobre fontes inovadoras de energia. Essa é uma necessidade premente na atualidade, embora se possa considerá-la retardatária diante da percepção do problema da poluição pelo uso de combustíveis fósseis (petróleo e carvão) e o conseqüente impacto ambiental. O desequilíbrio do sistema terrestre traz como resultado a alteração dos ecossistemas individualmente. A compreensão de todos os ecossistemas tornou-se um tema de alta relevância e complexidade, pois, ao tempo que se defronta com uma estrutura produtiva instalada e de grandes investimentos, também condiciona, pelo seu poder de alteração ambiental, como ameaça ao equilíbrio da biodiversidade das espécies terrestres. A realização de pesquisas que abordam sobre novas fontes de energia e sua praticidade é uma ação que visa ao desenvolvimento sustentável. O aproveitamento do potencial dos recursos naturais renováveis, sejam de natureza física da própria condição natural do planeta, e/ou por meio de novas formas produtivas e aproveitamento energético, são, no momento, imposições diante das alterações ambientais. Por tal motivo, o objetivo principal dessa pesquisa é estudar a potencialidade de fontes de energias renováveis, na Planície Costeira Norte do Rio Grande do Sul (PCNRS), gerando valor agregado às atividades com vocação regional e colaborando para a diminuição do impacto ambiental. O resultado obtido é a elaboração de um produto de Sistemas de Informação Geográfica, representativo do potencial energético da planície costeira. / Nowadays, there is a worldwide tendency to deepen the studies about innovative sources of energy. Although this is an urgent need now, we can consider it late in view of the perception of the pollution caused by the use of fossil fuels (petrol and coal) and the consequent environmental impact. The imbalance of the terrestrial system results in the ecosystem alteration individually. The comprehension of all the ecosystems became an extremely relevant and complex subject, because at the same time it faces an installed productive structure of great investments, it also represents a threat to the balance of biodiversity of terrestrial species due to its power of environmental alteration. Carrying out studies that tackle new energy sources and their practicality is an action that aims at sustainable development. The good use of the potential of renewable natural resources, either of physical nature of the planet natural condition itself and/or through new productive ways and energetic use are now impositions in relation to the environmental alterations. For this reason, the main objective of this research is to study the renewable energy potential in the coastal area of Rio Grande do Sul north coast, generating aggregate value to the activities with regional vocation and collaborating to decrease the environmental impact. The result obtained is the elaboration of a product of Geographical Information System, representative of the energy potential of the coastal area.