A crescente eutrofização dos ambientes aquáticos é consequência das atividades humanas que desequilibram os ecossistemas. A descarga de esgotos urbanos, a utilização de adubos químicos, os efluentes das agroindústrias e dos diversos setores industriais promovem a entrada de quantidades significativas de nutrientes e matéria orgânica em corpos d´água, favorecendo o aumento das florações de algas, entre elas as cianobactérias. O excesso de matéria orgânica e os despejos de efluentes agroindustriais nos mananciais hídricos representam os principais fatores do excesso de floração das cianobactérias, destacando-se a Microcystis aeruginosa e da sua cianotoxina microcistina. Nesta tese foi aplicado o Processo Oxidativo Avançado (POA) de Fotoeletroxidação (FEO) para a degradação de Microcystis aeruginosa e da cianotoxina microcistina. Investigou-se a otimização de parâmetros como tempo de tratamento e intensidade de corrente elétrica aplicada. Os resultados obtidos nas condições aplicadas demonstram valores de 99% para a degradação de Microcystis aeruginosa e cianotoxina Microcistina com o tempo de 10min e densidade de corrente de 2mA.cm-2. Os testes de toxicidade aguda com ajuste de pH de 6,3 para 7,3 não apresentaram toxidade para a espécie teste Pimephales promelas. / The increasing eutrophication of aquatic environments is a consequence of human activities that disrupt ecosystems. The discharge of urban sewage, the use of chemical fertilizers, effluents from agro-industries and other industrial sectors promote the input of significant amounts of nutrients and organic matter in water, favoring increased blooms of algae, including cyanobacteria. Excessive organic matter and the discharge of agroindustrial effluents in the water bodies, represent the main factors for the excessive bloom of cyanobacteria, especially Microcystis aeruginosa and microcystin cianotoxin. In this study, an Advanced Oxidation Process named photoelectrooxidation, was used to the degradation of Microcystis aeruginosa and cianotoxin microcystin. The optimization of parameters such as, treatment time and intensity of electrical current applied in the process of PEO were evaluated. The results achieved under the conditions applied, show 99% of degradation with experimental times at 10 minutes and a current density of 2mA.cm-2. The acute toxicity tests, with pH adjustment from 6.3 to 7.3, did not show toxicity to the species Pimephales promelas.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / A qualidade da Ãgua dos reservatÃrios brasileiros vem sendo comprometida devido ao intenso processo de eutrofizaÃÃo. O lanÃamento de esgoto sanitÃrio, a agropecuÃria e a piscicultura intensiva favorecem esse fenÃmeno pela introduÃÃo no meio aquÃtico de altas concentraÃÃes de nutrientes, principalmente o nitrogÃnio e o fÃsforo. A eutrofizaÃÃo da Ãgua prejudica o abastecimento pÃblico pelo fato de favorecer a proliferaÃÃo de cianobactÃrias potencialmente produtora de toxinas. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo realizar um mapeamento das cianobactÃrias potencialmente produtora de toxinas, especificamente a espÃcie Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii, em mananciais utilizados para abastecimento pÃblico no estado do CearÃ. Os dados necessÃrios para a prospecÃÃo do fitoplÃncton nos reservatÃrios do Cearà foram coletados no laboratÃrio central da Companhia de Ãgua e Esgoto do Cearà (CAGECE). Avaliou-se tambÃm a influÃncia da depleÃÃo de nutrientes limitantes no desenvolvimento de culturas da C. raciborskii T3. Os experimentos foram realizados utilizando-se como meio de cultivo o ASM-1 e variaÃÃes do mesmo com a retirada de 75 e 50% de fÃsforo e nitrogÃnio da sua composiÃÃo inicial. As culturas foram desenvolvidas em condiÃÃes nÃo axÃnicas, mantidas sob intensidade luminosa constante de 6,75 μ.mol.m-2.s-1 submetidas à fotoperÃodo de 12h:12h e temperatura de 24Â2 ÂC. O mapeamento da comunidade fitoplanctÃnica nos reservatÃrios estudados apresentou dominÃncia de cianobactÃrias, frequentemente maiores que 90% do fitoplÃncton total. Com relaÃÃo à cianobactÃria C. raciborskii, sua presenÃa foi evidenciada em todos os reservatÃrios estudados, com menor representaÃÃo no aÃude Cedro (30%) e maior no AÃude Carmina (98%). Em todos os aÃudes, exceto o AÃude Cedro, a presenÃa do gÃnero C. raciborskii foi, em mÃdia, maior que 70% durante todo o perÃodo estudado. A dominÃncia dessa espÃcie foi evidenciada em trÃs reservatÃrios: aÃude Acarape do Meio (92%), aÃude Serafim Dias (89%) e aÃude do Coronel (73%) e em dois reservatÃrios, aÃude SÃtios Novos e aÃude Cedro, esta espÃcie nÃo dominou em nenhuma coleta. Os resultados mostraram tambÃm que as culturas com depleÃÃo de nitrogÃnio apresentaram nitidamente menor crescimento com relaÃÃo aos outros experimentos, atingindo a fase estacionÃria mais cedo e com menores concentraÃÃes celulares. Jà as culturas com depleÃÃo de fÃsforo (75 e 50% P) apresentaram curvas de crescimento mais acentuadas, demonstrando assim que o elemento nitrogÃnio foi limitante para o crescimento da C. raciborskii nas condiÃÃes deste experimento. / The water quality of Brazilian reservoirs has been harmful due to the intense process of eutrophication. Wastewater, agriculture and intensive farming favor this phenomenon by introducing into the aquatic environment high concentrations of nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus. Eutrophication of water affect the public water supply because induces proliferation of cyanobacteria potentially toxins producer. This study aimed to perform a mapping of cyanobacteria potentially toxins producer, specifically Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii, in reservoirs used for public supply in the state of CearÃ. Data were collected in the central laboratory of Water and Wastewater Company of Cearà (CAGECE). We also evaluated the effect of depletion of limiting nutrients in the growth of C. raciborskii T3. The experiments were performed using as the culture medium ASM-1 and variations of it with the removal of 75% and 50% of phosphorus and nitrogen from its initial composition. Cultures were grown in axenic conditions and maintained under constant light intensity of 6.75μ.mol.m-2.s-1, subjected to photoperiod of 12h: 12h and 24  2  C. The mapping of phytoplankton in reservoirs studied showed dominance of cyanobacteria, often greater than 90% of the total cell concentration. Regarding the cyanobacterium C.raciborskii, its presence was evident in all reservoirs studied, with less representation in Cedro (30%) and higher in Carmina (98%). In all reservoirs except Cedro, the presence of the genus C. raciborskii was on average greater than 70% throughout the study period. The dominance of this species was found in three reservoirs: Acarape do Meio (92%), Serafin Dias (89%) and Coronel (73%) and two reservoirs, Sitios Novos and Cedro, this species did not dominated in any campaign. The results also showed that the nitrogen-depleted cultures showed significantly lower growth relative to other experiments, reaching the stationary phase sooner and at lower cell concentrations. Cultures with depletion of phosphorous (75%P and 50%P) showed more pronounced growth curves, showing that the element nitrogen was limiting the growth of C. raciborskii in this experiment.

The water quality from a reservoir is subject to all natural and anthropogenic factors acting in its watershed . The state of Cearà since the late 80s has adopted a policy of construction of water reservation to fulfill the so-called hydric emptiness. It has been observed that the waters of these new lakes, as well as the previously constructed , is experiencing a process of deterioration, mainly caused by eutrophication. The eutrophication causes a series of changes in the water system, the most relevant being the cyanobacteria blooms. Some of these organisms may be capable of producing toxins, termed cianotoxins , which are able of causing diseases and, in extreme cases, humans and animals death. This work was performed at the Acarape do Meio reservoir, located in the municipality of RedenÃÃo - CearÃ. Phytoplankton community data, with emphasis on cyanobacteria, was analyzed during the period of May 2012 to May 2013. 49 taxa distributed into 07 classes , Cyanobacteria representing 40 %, were identified. Despite the elevated number of taxa of algae, total quantity of these organisms ranged from 2.16 % (May/2012 ) to 0.34 % ( June/2012 ) while cyanobacteria were present in all samples, ranging between 97.84 % ( May/12 ) to 99.66% ( junho/12 ), quantitatively dominating the aquatic environment . The dominant species in all samples was the cyanobacterium Cylindrospermosis raciborskii, reaching an average density in April, 2012 of 1.121.328 cel.mL-1. As for the Trophic State Index, it pointed out that the reservoir was eutrophic . When the density of cyanobacteria was correlated with rainy periods and macronutrients , it showed a strong positive correlation with seasonality but a weak correlation with nitrogen and phosphorus, probably caused by the high quantities of these macronutrients present during the study period. / A qualidade da Ãgua de um reservatÃrio està condicionada a todos os fatores naturais e antrÃpicos que agem na sua bacia hidrogrÃfica. O estado do Cearà desde o final da dÃcada de 80 adotou uma polÃtica de construÃÃo de obras de reservaÃÃo hÃdrica, voltadas a preencher os chamados vazios hÃdricos. O que se tem observado, à que as Ãguas destes aÃudes, bem como os anteriormente construÃdos, vem sofrendo um processo de deterioraÃÃo de suas Ãguas, ocasionado principalmente pelo processo de eutrofizaÃÃo, onde as aÃÃes antrÃpicas sÃo as causas principais. A eutrofizaÃÃo ocasiona uma sÃrie de mudanÃas na massa de Ãgua de um sistema hÃdrico, sendo a mais relevante o surgimento de floraÃÃo de cianobactÃrias, podendo alguns destes organismos, serem capazes de produzir toxinas, denominadas de cianotoxinas, as quais sÃo capazes de ocasionar doenÃas e, em casos extremos, o Ãbito de seres humanos e animais. Este trabalho foi realizado no aÃude Acarape do Meio, localizado no municÃpio de RedenÃÃo-CE, com o objetivo de analisar durante o perÃodo de Maio de 2012 a Maio de 2013, a comunidade fitoplanctÃnica do citado reservatÃrio com Ãnfase em cianobactÃrias. Foram identificados 49 tÃxons distribuÃdos em 07 classes, dentre as CianobactÃrias representaram 40 %. Apesar da existÃncia do bom nÃmero de tÃxons de algas, estas variaram entre 2,16% (maio/2012) e 0,34% (junho/2012) dos organismos quantificados no reservatÃrio, enquanto as cianobactÃrias estiveram presentes em todas as amostragens, variando entre 97,84% (maio/12) a 99,66% (junho/12), dominando quantitativamente o ambiente aquÃtico. A espÃcie dominante em todas as amostragens foi a cianobactÃria Cylindrospermosis raciborskii, chegando a atingir uma densidade mÃdia no mÃs de abril de 1.121.328 cÃl. mL-Â. Quanto ao IET, este apontou que o manancial estava hipereutrÃfizado. Quando a densidade de cianobactÃrias foi correlacionada aos perÃodos chuvosos e secos e aos macronutrientes (nitrogÃnio e fÃsforo), havendo uma correlaÃÃo positiva com a sazonalidade, e uma fraca correlaÃÃo com o nitrogÃnio e o fÃsforo, provavelmente, ocasionada pela a alta taxa destes macronutrientes presentes durante o perÃodo de estudo.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / The phycocyanins are water-soluble proteins that function as accessory pigments and exhibit various properties, as immunostimulatin, cholesterol lowering effect, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, anticancer and antioxidant action, in addition to application as a natural dye. The focus of the commercial production of phycocyanin has fallen in most of the microalgae Arthrospira platensis. This cyanophyceae is rich in compounds as proteins, vitamins, essential amino acids, minerals, essential fatty acids, antioxidants, pigments, among others. Aquaculture is an activity of great importance, generating income and producing quality protein for human consumption. However, their activity generates large amounts of effluents with high nutrient load. The use of microalgae for aquaculture waste production is quite used, yielding good results in the cultivation of several species. This study aimed to evaluate the production of phycocyanin by A. platensis microalgae grown in fish effluent. For this, the microalgae was exposed to growing in Venkataraman modified medium and effluent from the Nile tilapia farming, in indoor and outdoor systems. After the end of the crop, the biomass obtained was exposed to phycocyanin extraction process, which consisted of freezing and thawing of wet biomass obtained from the culture in indoor system and subsequent extraction in sodium acetate buffer pH 5.0 for 48 h. The biomass produced in the outdoor system was dried at 60  C for 24 h in an oven with recirculating air. The dried biomass was resuspended in sodium acetate buffer pH 5.0 for 48 h. After that, the extracts were centrifuged at 4,700 rpm at 4 ÂC for 30 min. The supernatant was collected and evaluated in a spectrophotometer at 280 nm wavelength for proteins, 615 nm for phycocyanin,and and 652 nm for allophycocyanin. After this process, the crude extracts obtained from phycocyanin were subjected to purification by ion exchange chromatography. There wasnt significant difference between the performance of algae grown under the same conditions. However, algae exposed to outdoor system showed superior results. The phycocyanin concentrations were higher in the treatments that used Venkataraman medium, while the proportions of the pigment found in indoor systems were higher. The process of purification by ion exchange chromatography resulted in higher concentrations of pigment for fractions eluted with 0.2 M NaCl to all crude extracts of phycocyanin. / As ficocianinas sÃo proteÃnas solÃveis em Ãgua que funcionam como pigmentos acessÃrios e apresentam diversas propriedades, como aÃÃo imunoestimulante, efeito redutor do colesterol, efeitos anti-inflamatÃrio, antiviral, anticÃncer, antioxidante, alÃm de aplicaÃÃo como corante natural. O foco da produÃÃo comercial de ficocianina tem caÃdo em maior parte sobre a microalga Arthrospira platensis. Essa cianofÃcea à rica em proteÃnas, vitaminas, aminoÃcidos essenciais, minerais, Ãcidos graxos essenciais, pigmentos antioxidantes, dentre outros. A aquicultura à uma atividade de grande importÃncia, geradora de renda e produtora de proteÃna de qualidade para alimentaÃÃo humana. No entanto, sua atividade gera grandes quantidades de efluentes com alta carga de nutrientes. O uso de efluentes aquÃcolas para a produÃÃo de microalgas à bastante empregado, gerando bons resultados no cultivo de diversas espÃcies. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a produÃÃo de ficocianina pela microalga A. platensis cultivada em efluente piscÃcola. Para isto a microalga foi exposta à cultivo em meio Venkataraman modificado e efluente, proveniente de cultivo de tilÃpias do Nilo, em sistemas indoor e outdoor. ApÃs o tÃrmino dos cultivos a biomassa obtida foi exposta a processo de extraÃÃo de ficocianina que consistiu no congelamento e descongelamento da biomassa Ãmida obtida do cultivo em sistema indoor e posterior extraÃÃo em tampÃo acetato de sÃdio pH 5,0 durante 48 h. A biomassa produzida no sistema outdoor foi seca a 60 ÂC durante 24 h em estufa com recirculaÃÃo de ar. A biomassa seca foi ressuspendida em tampÃo acetato de sÃdio pH 5,0 durante 48 h. ApÃs isso, os extratos foram centrifugados a 4.700 rpm a 4 ÂC durante 30 min. O sobrenadante foi coletado e avaliado em espectrofotÃmetro nos comprimentos de onda de 280 nm, para proteÃnas, 615 nm, para ficocianina e 652, para aloficocianina. ApÃs esse processo, os extratos brutos de ficocianina obtidos foram submetidos a purificaÃÃo por cromatografia de troca iÃnica. NÃo houve diferenÃa significativa entre o desempenho das algas cultivadas nas mesmas condiÃÃes. No entanto, as algas expostas ao sistema outdoor mostraram resultados superiores. As concentraÃÃes de ficocianina foram superiores para os tratamentos que utilizaram o meio Venkataraman, enquanto que as proporÃÃes do pigmento encontradas nos tratamentos expostos ao sistema indoor foram maiores. O processo de purificaÃÃo por cromatografia de troca iÃnica resultou em maiores concentraÃÃes do pigmento para as fraÃÃes eluÃdas com NaCl 0,2 M para todos os extratos brutos de ficocianina.

A crescente eutrofização dos ambientes aquáticos é consequência das atividades humanas que desequilibram os ecossistemas. A descarga de esgotos urbanos, a utilização de adubos químicos, os efluentes das agroindústrias e dos diversos setores industriais promovem a entrada de quantidades significativas de nutrientes e matéria orgânica em corpos d´água, favorecendo o aumento das florações de algas, entre elas as cianobactérias. O excesso de matéria orgânica e os despejos de efluentes agroindustriais nos mananciais hídricos representam os principais fatores do excesso de floração das cianobactérias, destacando-se a Microcystis aeruginosa e da sua cianotoxina microcistina. Nesta tese foi aplicado o Processo Oxidativo Avançado (POA) de Fotoeletroxidação (FEO) para a degradação de Microcystis aeruginosa e da cianotoxina microcistina. Investigou-se a otimização de parâmetros como tempo de tratamento e intensidade de corrente elétrica aplicada. Os resultados obtidos nas condições aplicadas demonstram valores de 99% para a degradação de Microcystis aeruginosa e cianotoxina Microcistina com o tempo de 10min e densidade de corrente de 2mA.cm-2. Os testes de toxicidade aguda com ajuste de pH de 6,3 para 7,3 não apresentaram toxidade para a espécie teste Pimephales promelas. / The increasing eutrophication of aquatic environments is a consequence of human activities that disrupt ecosystems. The discharge of urban sewage, the use of chemical fertilizers, effluents from agro-industries and other industrial sectors promote the input of significant amounts of nutrients and organic matter in water, favoring increased blooms of algae, including cyanobacteria. Excessive organic matter and the discharge of agroindustrial effluents in the water bodies, represent the main factors for the excessive bloom of cyanobacteria, especially Microcystis aeruginosa and microcystin cianotoxin. In this study, an Advanced Oxidation Process named photoelectrooxidation, was used to the degradation of Microcystis aeruginosa and cianotoxin microcystin. The optimization of parameters such as, treatment time and intensity of electrical current applied in the process of PEO were evaluated. The results achieved under the conditions applied, show 99% of degradation with experimental times at 10 minutes and a current density of 2mA.cm-2. The acute toxicity tests, with pH adjustment from 6.3 to 7.3, did not show toxicity to the species Pimephales promelas.

Dissertação(mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Programa de Pós–Graduação em Oceanografia Biológica, Instituto de Oceanografia, 2011 / Submitted by Cristiane Gomides (cristiane_gomides@hotmail.com) on 2013-12-16T03:06:44Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Priscila da Fonseca Teixeira.pdf: 335923 bytes, checksum: 69841da63959745c00a7a0e8b7859194 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Sabrina Andrade (sabrinabeatriz@ibest.com.br) on 2013-12-18T18:10:59Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Priscila da Fonseca Teixeira.pdf: 335923 bytes, checksum: 69841da63959745c00a7a0e8b7859194 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-12-18T18:10:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Priscila da Fonseca Teixeira.pdf: 335923 bytes, checksum: 69841da63959745c00a7a0e8b7859194 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Na aqüicultura, o sistema sem trocas de água é eficiente e sustentável, permite manejar o balanço entre carbono e nitrogênio, e o desenvolvimento de microorganismos que contribuem na boa qualidade da água, alimentação e sobrevivência do organismo alvo do cultivo. No presente estudo, a composição e densidade de fitoplâncton e protozooplâncton em conjunto com variáveis físico-químicas foram avaliados em viveiros de cultivo de camarão Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) em sistema sem troca de água em dois tratamentos, com e sem a adição de melaço como fertilizante de carbono. As amostras de água foram coletadas por um período de 70 dias (janeiro a abril de 2009) e os tratamentos apresentaram diferença significativa para o teor dos nutrientes fosfato, silicato e clorofila <20 μm. A clorofila foi dominada pela fração <20μm (>80%) nos dois tratamentos e alcançou os maiores valores (~400 μg L-1) no final do experimento. No viveiro com melaço houve um maior crescimento de cianobactérias filamentosas (Pseudoanabaena spp. e Spirulina sp.), de diatomáceas especialmente Pleurosigma sp. e de ciliados, além da presença de Oxyrrhis marina Dujardin e de Anabaena sp.. No viveiro sem melaço os flagelados e dinoflagelados, especialmente Protoperidinium sp. e outros da ordem Peridiniales foram mais freqüentes e abundantes. Em ambos os tratamentos foi observada uma alta densidade de cianobactérias cocóides e de dinoflagelados (Gymnodiniales e Gyrodinium sp.). Apesar de não terem sido encontradas diferenças estatísticas entre os tratamentos, ficaram claras tendências distintas de composição e densidade do fitoplâncton e protozooplâncton entre os viveiros, indicando a influência da adição de melaço. / In aquaculture the zero water exchange system is efficient, sustainable, and allows the management to balance the carbon and nitrogen compounds through the development of microorganisms contributing to good water quality, feeding and survival of the target organism. In this study, the composition and density phytoplankton and protozooplâncton together with physical and chemical variables were evaluated in shrimp ponds (Litopenaeus vannamei Boone) without water exchange in two treatments with and without the addition of molasses as carbon fertilizer. Water samples were collected during 70 days (January- April 2009). The treatments differed significantly in dissolved inorganic phosphate, silicate and chlorophyll <20 μm. Chlorophyll, dominated by the fraction <20 μm (> 80%), reached the highest values (~400 μg L-1) at the end of the experiment in both treatments. In the pond with molasses, the filamentous cyanobacteria (Pseudoanabaena spp., Spirulina sp.), the diatom Pleurosigma sp. and ciliates reached highest density and the dinoflagellate Oxyrrhis marina Dujardin and the cyanobacteria Anabaena sp. were present. In the pond without molasses, flagellates, and dinoflagellates Protoperidinium sp. and other Peridiniales were more frequent and abundant. In both treatments coccoid cyanobacteria and dinoflagellates (Gyrodinium sp. and other Gymnodiniales) were abundant. Although the differences were not statistically significant, the composition and abundance of phytoplankton and protozooplankton differed over time in both treatments, indicating the influence of the molasses addition.

Os reservatórios Billings e Guarapiranga integram uma das principais fontes de abastecimento público da cidade de São Paulo, suprindo água para milhões de pessoas. O aporte de nutrientes em corpos hídricos, advindos de efluentes domésticos e industriais, fertilizantes agrícolas, leva à eutrofização das águas propiciando condições ideais para a proliferação do fitoplâncton. Os objetivos do trabalho foram acompanhar a dinâmica da comunidade fitoplanctônica durante um ciclo sazonal e verificar a influência das variáveis físicas e químicas sobre a estrutura dessa comunidade. A maior densidade (ind.mL-1) da comunidade fitoplanctônica em ambos os reservatórios, foi representada por organismos das classes Chlorophyceae e Cyanobacteria, sendo a última dominante no reservatório Billings e abundante no reservatório Guarapiranga. Os fatores ambientais que interferiram na dinâmica da comunidade fitoplanctônica, em ambos os reservatórios, foram elevados valores de temperatura da água, pH e nutrientes. / Billings and Guarapiranga reservoirs are part of the main public water supply of São Paulo city, supplying water to millions of people. The nutrient input to hidric resources from domestic and industrial effluents, fertilizers causes eutrophication, thus creating ideal conditions to phytoplankton blooms to occur. The objectives of the present work were to follow up the phytoplankton community along one seasonal cycle and to identify the influence of physical and chemical parameters of the water on the community structure. The greatest phytoplankton density (ind.mL-1) in both reservoirs was due to individuals of Chlorophyceae and Cyanobacteria classes, the last being dominant in Billings reservoir and abundant in Guarapiranga reservoir, be it rainy or dry season. The environmental factors that interferred in phytoplankton dynamics were high temperature values, pH and nutrients, in both reservoirs.

Cyanobacteria are notorious for their potential to produce toxins with human health effects, particularly the hepatotoxic microcystins (MCs), but cyanobacteria also produce other bioactive compounds. A wide variety of oligopeptides including aeruginosins, cyanopeptolins and cyanobactins may be as toxic as MCs. To investigate the production of these compounds, an UPLC QTOF-MS/MS method was developed to compare the metabolomic profiles of various strains of a common bloom-forming and toxigenic species, Microcystis aeruginosa, as well as those obtained from lakes with mixed cyanobacterial assemblages. Although many compounds could not be confirmed, MCs were rarely the dominant secondary metabolite in any sample. Since the biological role of MCs remains unknown, I tested the hypothesis that MCs provide protection against oxidative stress as induced through exposure to the herbicide atrazine and UV radiation in pure cultures of toxic vs non-toxic strains. Results were inconclusive and varied between strains suggesting other mechanisms exist to counter oxidative stress.

Marine soft sediments are the second largest habitat on Earth. How animal communities in this habitat are structured is a central issue in marine ecology. Food is an important limiting factor for many benthic populations, and settling organic matter from phytoplankton blooms is of vital importance to them. This thesis discusses the effects of settling phytoplankton blooms on benthic meiofaunal populations in the Baltic Sea and how species interactions affect the fate of settled organic matter. Eutrophication in the Baltic Sea has altered phytoplankton community dynamics, with indications that toxin-producing cyanobacterial blooms may reach the benthos in greater quantity than previously. Paper I found that meiofauna feed on settled cyanobacteria, yet suffer no increase in mortality. However, growth of meiofauna is significantly slower on a diet of cyanobacteria than when fed spring bloom diatoms, indicating that the studied cyanobacteria are nutritionally poor (Paper II). In Paper III we found that the presence of macrofauna reduces the access of meiofauna to settled organic matter, presumably through interference competition that increases when several macrofauna species are present. We also found that meiofaunal populations influence the provision of ecosystem services by benthic microbes. Paper IV shows that when meiofauna is abundant, mineralization of organic matter is positively affected, presumably through facilitation mechanisms. In contrast, paper V reports that degradation of the contaminant naphtalene decreases significantly at high meiofauna abundance. In conclusion, this thesis shows that type and quality of organic matter available, as well as competition from macrofauna, affect how meiofauna grow and incorporate nutrients. Furthermore we found meiofauna to be an important functional component of the benthic ecosystem, with marked effects on ecosystem processes such as nutrient regeneration and contaminant degradation. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 3: Manuscript. Paper 4: Manuscript. Paper 5: In press.</p>

Coral diseases were unknown in the scientific community fifty years ago. Since the discovery of a coral disease in 1965, there has been an exponential increase in the number of known coral diseases, as the abundance, prevalence, distribution, and number of host species affected has also significantly increased. Coral diseases are recognized as contributing significantly to the dramatic losses of coral cover on a global basis, particularly in the Caribbean. The apparent sudden emergence of coral diseases suggests that they may be a symptom of an overall trend associated with changing environmental conditions. However, not much evidence has been gathered to address this question. The following studies were designed to build a comprehensive argument to support this hypothesis for one important coral disease – black band disease (BBD). A meta-analysis of clone libraries identifying the microbial communities associated with BBD reveal important information including that a single cyanobacterial operational taxonomic unit (OTU) was by far the most prevalent OTU in diseased samples, and that the alphaproteobacteria, which include some of the most common bacteria in marine waters, were the most diversely represented. The analysis also showed that samples exhibited regional similarities. An fine and ultrastructural characterization of the disease revealed that the cyanobacteria are prolific borers through the coral skeleton, and that the cyanobacteria penetrate coral tissue, leading to their presence ahead of the main migrating disease band. It was further found that apparently healthy corals exposed to toxins found in BBD, exhibited similar tissue degradation to those infected with BBD. Comparing the disease progression to biofilm formation, it was determined that scouting cyanobacteria may contribute to the migration of the disease through progressive biofilm development over intact coral tissue. Together, these studies provide significant evidence for the hypothesis that BBD is an opportunistic disease, caused by common environmental bacteria, facilitated by the changing environmental conditions associated with climate change.