Submitted by Celso Magalhaes (celsomagalhaes@ufrrj.br) on 2017-06-08T13:33:20Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2015 - Samara Macedo Pinto.pdf: 970121 bytes, checksum: f69dfd12be8357633a632969c91a1d3a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-08T13:33:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2015 - Samara Macedo Pinto.pdf: 970121 bytes, checksum: f69dfd12be8357633a632969c91a1d3a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-05-28 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior - CAPES / Fish communities in developing countries have, in many cases, showed a decrease in the species richness and abundance over time as a result of anthropogenic impacts. We analyzed fish communities of three zones (inner, middle and outer) of the Sepetiba Bay (Southeastern Brazil) using identical sampling methods (bottom trawl) during four different time periods: 1987?1988; 1993?1995; 1998?2001 and 2012?2013. A total of 33,140 fish representing 127 species in 88 genera and 41 families were recorded. Our results revealed highly significant and consistent differences in the fish community structure among the bay zones, and a decreased in the fish richness and abundance over the time period. Changes in fish richness and abundance were related mostly to a sharp decrease that occurred in the inner bay zone, the most impacted bay area, and, to a lesser extent, in the middle zone between the two first (1987?1988 and 1993?1995) and the two latter time periods (1998?2001 and 2012?2013), whereas the outer zone remained comparatively stable over time. Spatial changes in the fish community structure among the bay zones were related to differences in salinity, transparency and depth with this latter variable, together with other factors, acting as a buffer for stabalizing community changes; however, these environmental variables explained little of the variation in the temporal changes. The most important changes over time in abundant species were the numerical decreases of the Ariid Cathorops spixii, the serranid Diplectrum radiale and sciaenid Cynoscion leiarchus, and increases of the sciaenid Micropogonias furnieri and the marine catfish Genidens genidens, with this latter species restricted to the inner and middle zones. This study adds long-term information on gradual fish community changes along spatial gradients of environmental and anthropogenic influences in embayment systems. It is perhaps timely to link conservation and management planning with historical information to protect fish biodiversity in tropical developing countries / As comunidades de peixes em pa?ses em desenvolvimento, em muitos casos, mostram uma diminui??o na riqueza e abund?ncia das esp?cies ao longo do tempo como resultado das evid?ncias dos impactos antropog?nicos. N?s analisamos as comunidades de peixes ao longo de tr?s zonas (interna, central e externa) da Ba?a de Sepetiba (Sudeste do Brasil), utilizando m?todos id?nticos de amostragem (bottom trawl) de peixes durante quatro per?odos temporais diferentes: 1987?1988; 1993?1995; 1998?2001 e 2012?2013. Registrou-se um total de 33.140 peixes representando 127 esp?cies em 88 g?neros e 41 fam?lias. Nossos resultados revelaram diferen?as altamente significativas e consistentes na estrutura da comunidade de peixes entre as zonas da ba?a e uma diminui??o na riqueza de esp?cies e abund?ncia ao longo do per?odo de estudo. As mudan?as na riqueza de esp?cies e abund?ncia foram relacionadas, principalmente, ? uma forte queda que ocorreu na zona interna da ba?a, ?rea esta mais afetada e, em menor medida, na zona central entre os dois primeiros (1987?1988 e 1993?1995) e os ?ltimos dois per?odos temporais (1998?2001 e 2012?2013), enquanto a zona exterior permaneceu relativamente est?vel ao longo do tempo. Mudan?as espaciais na estrutura da comunidade de peixes entre as zonas da ba?a foram relacionadas ?s diferen?as de salinidade, transpar?ncia e profundidade com este ?ltima vari?vel, em conjunto com outros fatores, atuando como um ?buffer? estabilizando mudan?as na comunidade; no entanto, essas vari?veis ambientais explicaram pouco a varia??o nas mudan?as temporais. As mudan?as mais importantes ao longo do tempo em esp?cies abundantes foi a diminui??o num?rica do Ariideo Cathorops spixii, do Serran?deo Diplectrum radiale e do Sciaen?deo Cynoscion leiarchus, e o aumento do Sciaen?deo Micropogonias furnieri e o bagre marinho Genidens genidens, com esta ?ltima esp?cie restrita ?s zonas interna e central. Este estudo acrescenta informa??o de longo prazo sobre mudan?as graduais nas comunidades de peixes ao longo de gradientes espaciais com influ?ncias ambientais e antr?picas no sistema de ba?a. Talvez seja oportuno vincular conserva??o e planejamento de gest?o com informa??es hist?ricas para proteger a biodiversidade de peixes em pa?ses tropicais em desenvolvimento.

Este trabalho investigou a diversidade microbiana e a filogenia de arquéias e bactérias em consórcios anaeróbios metanogênicos, originados de sedimentos estuarinos enriquecidos com pentaclorofenol (PCP) e 2,6-diclorofenol (2,6-DCP). Para tanto foram construídas bibliotecas genômicas e utilizados métodos moleculares independentes de cultivo como a Eletroforese em Gel de Gradiente Desnaturante (DGGE) e o seqüenciamento de segmentos específicos do DNAr 16S microbiano. Os resultados da DGGE permitiram verificar alterações na estrutura das comunidades microbianas, as quais provavelmente ocorreram devido às adversidades ocorridas nos sistemas durante o período de incubação como a entrada de oxigênio nos frascos e o acúmulo de compostos clorados no meio de cultivo, principalmente o 2,6-DCP. A estimativa da diversidade beta, realizada pela comparação dos padrões de bandas da DGGE, também permitiu inferir que as alterações nas composições das comunidades de arquéias e bactérias foram devidas às duas estratégias empregadas para o enriquecimento da microbiota autóctone do estuário estudado, ou seja, a pasteurização/não pasteurização das amostras de sedimentos estuarinos. Os resultados das análises filogenéticas revelaram que as seqüências analisadas dos clones bacterianos foram relacionadas ao grupo das bactérias Gram-positivas com baixo conteúdo de G+C pertencentes à Ordem Clostridiales (100%) do Filo Firmicutes e as das arquéias relacionadas ao grupo das metanogênicas pertencentes às Ordens Methanobacteriales (7,1%), Methanosarcinales (14,3%), Methanomicrobiales (57,1%) e arquéias não identificadas (21,4%) do Filo Euryarchaeota. Em relação às bactérias, alguns clones foram identificados como pertencentes aos gêneros Sedimentibacter, Clostridium e Alkalibacter, os quais são representados por microrganismos que apresentam metabolismo fermentativo e requerem a presença de extrato de levedura para o crescimento. Provavelmente as bactérias analisadas neste trabalho fermentaram a glicose e o piruvato, os quais foram utilizados como doadores de elétrons, com conseqüente produção de lactato, etanol, butirato, acetato, formiato e hidrogênio/gás carbônico, que podem ter sido utilizados por outros grupos de microrganismos no processo global da digestão anaeróbia. Tais bactérias foram importantes para o processo global de degradação dos clorofenóis, pois também utilizaram como doadores de elétrons os produtos parcialmente degradados por outras bactérias fazendo com que não houvesse acúmulo desses compostos no sistema. Enquanto que algumas arquéias foram relacionadas a organismos hidrogenotróficos pertencentes aos gêneros Methanoculleus e Methanocalculus, Methanobacterium, e acetotróficos do gênero Methanosaeta, as quais utilizaram como substratos para a metanogênese os subprodutos da fermentação bacteriana, ou seja, o \'H IND.2\'/\'CO IND.2\', o formiato e o acetato, contribuindo assim para a manutenção do equilíbrio das demais reações ocorridas no sistema. Desta forma, os dados obtidos neste trabalho poderão auxiliar na compreensão do funcionamento de ecossistemas contaminados por compostos clorados, bem como contribuir para o desenvolvimento de novos processos biotecnológicos aplicados aos problemas ambientais. / This work aimed to investigate microbial diversity and phylogeny of archaea and bacteria microrganisms methanogenic in estuarine sediment samples enriched with organic sources under methanogenic and halophlic conditions. The samples were obtained from previous study on anaerobic degradation of pentachlorophenol (PCP) and 2,6-dichlorophenol (2,6-DCP). Microbial studies were done by the molecular methods without cultivation requirement, Denaturing Gradient Del Electrophoresis (DGGE) and specific segments of 16S rDNA sequencing. DGGE-profile showed structure changes in microbial community. Probably, as a consequence of \'O IND.2\' intake and accumulation of chlorinated compounds, mainly 2,6-DCP, in the culture medium. The beta diversity estimation showed that changes in arquaea and bacteria communities probably occurred as a consequence of the two enrichment strategies used for estuarine indigenous microorganisms, pasteurization and non-pasteurization of the estuarine sediments samples. Phylogenetic analysis indicated the presence of gram-positive bacterium with low G+C content related to Clostridiales Order (100%) belonging to Firmicutes Phylum, as well as related to methanogenic archaea from Methanobacteriales (7,1%), Methanosarcinales (14,3%) and Methanomicrobiales (57,1%) Order. Non-identified archaeas from Euryarchaeota Phylum were also found (21,4%). Concerning to bacterias, it was identified clones related to genera Sedimentibacter, Clostridium and Alkalibacter, which have fermentative metabolism and require yeast extract to grow. Probably, bacterial cells analised in this work fermented glucose and pyruvate producing lactate, ethanol, butirate, acetate, formiate and hydrogen/carbon dioxide. All these products could be used for other microbial groups in the global process of anaerobic digestion. The bacterial microorganisms were important to global process of chlorophenol degradation because contributed in the overall process utilizing the products partially degraded by other bacterias and preventing its accumulation in the system. Identified archaeal cells were related to hydrogenotrophs microorganisms of the genera Methanosaeta, Methanoculleus, Methanocalculus and Methanobacterium, which utilized the bacterial fermentation sub-products as acetate, \'H IND.2\'/\'CO IND.2\' and formiate as substrate for the methanogenesis, contributing for the maintenance of the balance of other reactions occurred in the system. The results of this work give advanced knowledge about understanding biotechnological process of contaminated ecosystems by chlorinated compounds. Therefore, it could contribute to development of new biotechnological processes applied to environmental problems.

Submitted by Biblioteca de Pós-Graduação em Geoquímica BGQ (bgq@ndc.uff.br) on 2016-04-19T16:38:59Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao_Suzan Versao_10.1_VersaoFINAL.pdf: 1968461 bytes, checksum: d1e0da36a60a5c30ca753cb32135b78d (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-19T16:38:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao_Suzan Versao_10.1_VersaoFINAL.pdf: 1968461 bytes, checksum: d1e0da36a60a5c30ca753cb32135b78d (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Universidade Federal Fluminense. Instituto de Química. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Geociências-Geoquímica. Niterói, RJ / A Baía de Guanabara, situada no Estado do Rio de Janeiro, é um ecossistema que há anos sofre com pressões ambientais do processo de crescimento populacional no seu entorno. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar, temporal e sazonalmente, o estado trófico da Baía de Guanabara a partir da aplicação dos índices de estado trófico como O’Boyle e TRIX (Trophic Index). Nove campanhas de amostragens foram realizadas entre abril de 2013 a abril de 2014. Para um melhor entendimento, a Baía de Guanabara foi dividida em cinco setores, considerando suas características hidrodinâmicas e morfológicas. Em cada campanha foram realizadas medições contínuas com sondas ao longo de trajetórias e foram medidos os seguintes parâmetros: temperatura (°C), pH, oxigênio dissolvido e clorofila-a. Ao longo de tais trajetórias, amostras de água na subsuperfície foram coletadas para a análise de nutrientes: nitrogênio inorgânico dissolvido, fósforo inorgânico dissolvido e silicato. A partir das análises de tais parâmetros foi estabelecido o estado trófico da baía a partir dos índices nos cinco compartimentos estabelecidos. Foram utilizados dados pretéritos (1982 e 1991) baseados no monitoramento da qualidade de água da FEEMA (Atual INEA), a fim de comparar com os resultados atuais. O índice O’Boyle considera flutuações na saturação do oxigênio dissolvido e pH. Já o índice TRIX avalia indicadores de pressão (nitrogênio e fósforo) e o distúrbio ambiental (saturação do oxigênio dissolvido e clorofila-a). O sistema apresentou variações nos parâmetros mensurados, tanto entre o inverno e o verão, como entre os setores. Os dois índices de estado trófico indicaram um alto grau de trofia em toda a extensão da Baía de Guanabara ao longo do ano. Apenas o setor um foi classificado de mesotrófico a eutrófico em ambos os índices. O O’Boyle e o TRIX apresentaram resultados satisfatórios, apesar de suas abordagens diferirem entre si. No entanto, algumas limitações foram identificadas e propostas de melhorias sugeridas. Sugestões como a inclusão de termos como ultraoligotrófico e hiperotrófico e o estabelecimento de uma base de dados mínima de escala regional. Os dados pretéritos indicaram que a problemática da eutrofização na Baía de Guanabara é observada há tempos, e que este processo se intensificou nos últimos anos / The Bay of Guanabara is an estuarine bay located in the state of Rio de Janeiro, southeast Brazil. Guanabara bay’s ecosystem has suffered extensive impacts by population growth, deforestation, sewage inputs, garbage and oils pills. This study aimed to evaluate the spatial and seasonal variation of the trophic state of Guanabara Bay, by application of the indices O’Boyle and TRIX (Trophic Index). Subsurface waters were collected during nine campaigns from april 2013 to april 2014. In this study, five sectors were defined considering morphological, hydrodynamic variations (i. e. literature), and physical and chemical measurements of waters properties involved online continuos flow through system coupling a multi-probe to a sub-surface water pump. Several discrete water samples were collected at stations set along the trajectories. The on line and discrete water samples were analysed for temperature (°C), salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), chlorophyll-a and dissolved inorganic nutrients (nitrogen-DIN; phosphurus-DIP; Silicate-DIS). Henceforth, the data were interpolated to define five structural and functional sectors and the trophic state of (winter versus summer) and also betwen the sectors, themselves. Furthermore diurnal variations of the main water properties were established in sectors 4 e 5 in the upper bay to study the daily variations of the trophic state. Old data sets from FEEMA(1982 e 1991) on the water quality were used to compare with the data of this study. The O’Boyle index was calculated based on the range of pH (units), DO saturation (%DO), applying a scale range from 0 to 100. TRIX was based on chloroppyll-a, DO%, DIN, DIP and scale ranges from 0 to 10. Both indices exhibited satisfactory results despite their different approaches. However some limitations were identified and to improve these indices suggestions like the inclusion of two additional categories: oligotrophic and hypertrophic. Furthermore, a longer set of data on the trophic states established in O’Boyle and TRIX indices comparisons with other systems like performed in this study and other information on the nutrients inputs should be reported to enhance the applicability and information when applied to an individual system. The comparasion between the early data from 1982 and 1991 to the present ones, indicated that the process of eutrophication continuos to be acting in GB with the increase of eflluents inputs and also high concentrations of nutrients amd chlorophyll-a particulaty in the upper sectors

Aspects around the management of benthic soft sediment bait organisms, with special focus on the mud prawn (Upogebia africana) of eastern Cape estuaries was investigated. The recreational linefishery of the Gamtoos estuary was described, and compared to previous studies. Target fish species was identified, and a large dependency on bait sourced from estuaries needed for the capture of these species was noted, especially for spotted grunter (Pomadasys commersonnii). A comparison between bait use, success and the natural diet of target fish species was also made. The structure and distribution of sediments in the old channel mud banks was described and compared with historical data. The influence of sediments on mud prawn distribution was investigated, but no significant interactions were found at the study site. The impacts of once-off pumping and digging events, and monthly trampling on the sediments and mud prawn population was studied over a 7-month period. Initial removal rates as well as recovery time varied significantly between the two collection methods, while the largest decline in prawn numbers (to zero) with no recovery visible after seven months was caused by trampling. All disturbances caused some alteration in sediment composition, but not to such an extent that the sediments became unfavorable for mud prawns. Trampling did, however, result in the compaction of sediments to such a degree that prawns could not construct burrows. Issues around current removal quotas of bait species as well as the creation of a small-scale commercial (SSC) bait selling operation at Swartkops estuary were critically evaluated, and suggestions for the future removal rates of mud prawns based on production export calculations were made. The distribution, size, sex ratios and number of gravid females occurring along a tidal gradient as well as along horizontal gradient of the mud bank during growth (January – March) and reproductive (September – October) periods was investigated. Changes in the distribution of females between the two study periods were significant, while the distribution of reproductively active females were closely linked to the low water mark (Lower tidal levels). Females occurring in this zone were also significantly larger than females occurring towards the back of the study site. Some minor changes along the horizontal gradient were also observed. The sediment compos ition of the mud bank was found not to play a role in this distribution, leading to the suggestion that exposure to ebb and flood tide currents could influence female prawn distributions. Management recommendations based on these observations were made.

Dégradés par plusieurs siècles d’endiguement et menacés par les effets du changement climatique, les marais intertidaux européens font aujourd’hui l’objet d’un nombre croissant de restaurations par rétablissement des marées sur d’anciennes zones endiguées, suivant une tendance générale appelée dépoldérisation. Cette thèse décrit la trajectoire de restauration des marais intertidaux à partir des communautés de necton (i.e., poissons et crustacés décapodes), sur la base de deux sites dépoldérisés accidentellement dans l’estuaire de la Gironde : le marais de Mortagne et l’île Nouvelle. L’évolution du necton dans les marais dépoldérisés est caractérisée à travers une approche synchronique à l’échelle de la mosaïque des habitats estuariens. La composition du necton dans les marais dépoldérisés est en grande partie similaire à celles des milieux intertidaux naturels et se différencie nette-ment des marais endigués, où les espèces exotiques d’eau douce prospèrent. Les marais restaurés apparaissent particulièrement attractifs pour le mulet porc, Liza ramada. La distribution des traits fonctionnels au sein des communautés de poissons révèle un changement de structure fonctionnelle au cours de la dépoldérisation, le temps de restauration étant inféré à partir d’un gradient de naturalité des habitats estuariens. En particulier, la spécialisation, la dispersion et la richesse fonctionnelle augmentent au cours de la restauration. Concernant l’évolution des règles d’assemblage, aucune tendance claire ne se dégage : les patrons diffèrent selon les traits fonctionnels.La dynamique temporelle de la composition des communautés de necton dans l’un des sites dépoldérisés montre une succession de trois phases au cours des quatre années suivant la restauration. Un changement plus abrupt concernant l’abondance de certaines espèces et la structure fonctionnelle des communautés est identifié au milieude la seconde phase, moins de deux ans après la dépoldérisation. La cinétique de transformation des communautés est probablement ralentie par le drainage incomplet du site dans les premiers temps de la dépoldérisation. Les résultats de cette thèse permettent de mieux comprendre la trajectoire de restauration des marais intertidaux, sans intervention humaine, tout en soulignant les atouts et les limites de certains modèles théoriques utilisés en écologie de la restauration. / European intertidal marshes have greatly declined during the past centuries because of land claim andhave recently been threatened by the effects of climate change. In recent years, an increasing number of tidal resto-ration projects have been implemented, following a global trend termed de-embankment. This thesis describes therestoration trajectory of tidally restored marshes from the response of nekton (i.e., fish and decapod crustaceans)based on two storm-breached study sites in the Gironde estuary : the Mortagne marsh and the Nouvelle island.Nekton assemblage composition of tidally restored marshes was described through a whole-estuary approach en-compassing natural, restored and dyked habitats. Nekton assemblages of tidally restored marshes showed highcompositional similarity with natural intertidal habitats and greatly departed from dyked marshes. Dyked marsheswere characterized by high occurrence of freshwater exotic taxa. Tidally restored marshes seemed particularly at-tractive for the thin-lipped grey mullet, Liza ramada. The functional traits’ distribution within fish communities revealeda change in functional structure in the course of restoration using the naturalness state of habitats as a proxy forrestoration time. Most notably, functional specialization, dispersion and richness increased with restoration time.No clear pattern of change was observed in community assembly over time ; trends chiefly varied with respect totraits. Temporal trends in one of the restored sites revealed three phases in the first four years of tide restoration.The abundance of several species and the community functional structure changed more steeply in the midst ofthe second phase, less than two years following tide restoration. Community turnover was probably delayed dueto incomplete drainage of the site in the early stages of restoration. The results of this thesis lead to a better un-derstanding of the restoration trajectory of tidal marshes without human intervention and highlight the strengths andweaknesses of some theoretical models used in restoration ecology.

L’objectif de cette thèse concerne la quantification des flux benthos-pélagiques dans une lagune soumise à un régime climatique tropical rythmé de périodes humides et périodes sèches. La lagune de Terminos, située au sud du golfe du Mexique est le plus vaste écosystème laguno-estuarien du Mexique (2000 km2). Du fait de sa faible profondeur (3.5 m en moyenne), les processus benthiques sont sensés participer activement à l’ensemble du cycle biogéochimique de cet Ecosystème. Les mesures de flux benthiques ont eu lieu au cours de un réseau de 13 stations pendant une saison sèche (mars 2009 et 2010) et une saison humide (octobre 2009 et novembre 2010). Quatre stations ont fait l’objet de mesures plus fréquentes du 2008 au 2010. Des incubations ex-situ de carottes de sédiment prélevées ont permis de mesurer la variabilité spatio-temporelle des taux de respiration benthique (SOD) et des flux de sels nutritifs. Les SOD sont significativement différents entre les périodes sèches et humides (1327±161 et 2248±359 µmol m-2 h-1 respectivement). Les flux de silicates sont significativement plus importants pendant la saison des pluies (89.4±15.9 µmol m-2 h-1) que pendant la saison sèche (46.5±11.4 µmol m-2 h-1). Les flux de phosphates, faibles tout au long des périodes étudiées, n’ont pas montré de différence significative. Les flux d’azote dissous (DIN) sont de même intensité mais de sens opposé (2.9±18.8 µmol m-2 h-1 et 24.3±7.3 µmol m-2 h-1). Ces flux caractérisés par un fort signal saisonnier sont fortement corrélés avec les caractéristiques biogéochimiques des sédiments (Corg, N et chloropigments) et contribuent significativement au bilan du carbone et des éléments associés. / The goal of this study concerns the quantification of sediment-water fluxes in a tropical lagoon under climatic forcing regulated by successive dry and wet periods. Terminos lagoon on the South coast of Gulf of Mexico (Campeche sound) is a shallow (3.5 m) but vast estuarine system (2000 km2) where the sediments are supposed to contribute largely to the overall biogeochemical cycling. Benthic flux measurements were performed twice over a network of 13 stations during dry (March 2009 and 2010) and wet periods (October 2009 and November 2010). A selection of 4 stations from this network were visited more frequently between 2008 and 2010. Sediment Oxygen Demand (SOD) and nutrient fluxes were measured through ex-situ incubations of sediment cores sampled manually. SOD were significantly different between both dry and wet seasons (1327±161 and 2248±359 µmol m-2 h-1 respectively). Silicates fluxes were significantly more intense during the wet season (89.4±15.9 µmol m-2 h-1) than during the dry one (46.5±11.4 µmol m-2 h-1). Phosphate fluxes, low during all periods did not show a temporal trend. Finally DIN fluxes showed a net uptake during the wet season (2.9±18.8 µmol m-2 h-1) and conversely an efflux during the dry season (24.3±7.3 µmol m-2 h-1). These fluxes depicted a pronounced seasonal signal, showed a significant correlation to sediment characteristics (Corg, N and chloropigments) and finally contributed to the overall carbon and nutrient budget of the lagoon.

The coastal transition zone (CTZ), which links the terrestrial and marine environments, has been identified as a region of high biological diversity and elevated production. Results of studies conducted in the northern hemisphere indicate that the links between estuaries and the adjacent marine environment is critical to ecological functioning within the CTZ. This study assessed the influence of selected estuaries with different hydrodynamic characteristics on the adjacent marine environment along the south-eastern coastline of southern Africa. Four estuaries were examined, including two permanently open systems, the fresh water deprived Kariega and fresh water dominated Great Fish, and two temporarily open/closed estuaries (TOCE), the Kasouga and East Kleinemonde. Results of the study indicated that outflow of estuarine water from the Great Fish Estuary contributed to a plume of less saline water being evident within the adjacent marine environment. The plume of water was associated with increased zooplankton biomass and particulate organic matter (POM) and chlorophyll-a concentrations. Adjacent to the Kariega Estuary, no evidence of fresh water outflow into the marine environment was observed. However, in the sea directly opposite the mouth of the estuary an increase in zooplankton abundance and biomass was evident. Results of numerical analyses indicated that the increase in zooplankton abundance observed adjacent to the mouth of both permanently open estuaries could not be attributed to the export of zooplankton from the estuary, but rather the accumulation of marine species within the region. The mechanisms responsible for this accumulation were not determined, but it was thought to be associated with increased food availability in the estuarine frontal zone. A similar, but less dramatic biological response was also observed in the marine environment adjacent to the two TOCEs. It is suggested that the increase in biological activity within these regions could be ascribed to seepage of estuarine or ground water through the sand bar that separates these estuaries from the sea. Results of stable carbon isotope analyses indicated that both the Great Fish and Kariega estuaries exported carbon to the nearshore marine environment. The area influenced by estuarine derived carbon was dependent on the volume of estuarine outflow to the marine environment. Adjacent to the fresh water dominated Great Fish Estuary, estuarine derived carbon was recorded up to 12km from the mouth, while adjacent to the fresh water deprived Kariega, estuarine derived carbon was only evident directly opposite the mouth. The recruitment of macrozooplankton (> 2cm) into the fresh water deprived Kariega Estuary was in the range recorded for other permanently open southern African estuaries with higher fresh water flow rates. This indicates that the mechanisms which allow estuarine dependent larvae to locate and enter estuaries are not related to fresh water inflow. In conclusion, this study has demonstrated that despite their small size relative to European and North American systems, South African permanently open and temporarily open/closed estuaries also influence biological activity within the adjacent nearshore marine environment.

The spatial and temporal patterns in the population demographs and feeding ecology of the caridean shrimp, Palaemon peringueyi, was investigated over a 12 month period in the permanently open Kariega Estuary situated on the south-east coastline of South Africa. Shrimps were sampled monthly from three stations corresponding to the lower, middle and upper reaches of the Kariega Estuary. The shrimps were collected at the different stations using a pull net. Temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen and % cover of submerged vegetation were measured at each sampling station. Finally, the feeding ecology of the shrimp was investigated employing stable carbon (δ¹³C) and nitrogen (δ¹⁵N) isotopes analysis. Temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen and vegetation cover showed distinct seasonal patterns. The shrimps attained total abundances and biomass of between 0 and 245.6 individuals per m² (ind.m⁻²) and between 0 and 13.6 grams wet weight per m² (g wwt.m⁻²), respectively. Mean abundance ranged between 2.3 (± 3.0) and 88 (± 27.3) ind.m⁻² in the lower reach, between 0.9 (± 0.4) to 21.5 (± 4.5) ind.m⁻² in the middle reach and 0 to 1.6 (± 0.5) ind.m⁻² in the upper reach. Mean biomass ranged between 0.4 (± 0.5) and 4.4 (± 1.4) g wwt.m⁻² in the lower reach, between 0.1 (± 0) to 4.3 (± 0.9) g wwt.m⁻² in the middle reach and between 0 to 1.6 (± 0.5) g wwt.m⁻² in the upper reach. Greatest abundances and biomasses were recorded in winter following heavy rainfall within the catchment area. Freshwater inflow which is due to rainfall is thought to provide a cue for the recruitment of marine breeding organisms. The spatial patterns in the distribution of the shrimps showed that juveniles occupied the lower and middle reaches and adults the entire length of the estuary. There were no significant relationships between the abundance and biomass of the shrimps and the selected physico-chemical variables (p > 0.05 in all cases). Results of the stable isotope study indicated that the mean δ¹³C of the shrimps in the lower, middle and upper reaches were -12.4 (± 1.3) ‰, -15.6 (± 0.5) ‰ and -17.5 (± 0.5) ‰, respectively. The δ¹⁵N isotopes of the shrimps in the lower reach was 11.6 (± 0.5) ‰ with middle and upper reaches having similar δ¹⁵N values, 13.5 (± 0.4) ‰ and 13.4 (± 0.4) ‰, respectively. There was no significant difference in the δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N isotope (p > 0.05) between the sexes of the shrimps. Two-way ANOVA indicated a significant difference in the δ¹³C isotope of the shrimps between the sites (p < 0.05). The difference in the δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N ratios of the shrimps suggests spatial variability in the diet of P. peringueyi within the Kariega Estuary. The diet of the shrimps in the lower reach is primarily composed of Nanozostera capensis epibionts. In the middle reach the diet of the shrimps is likely comprised of the detritus of benthic algae. In the upper reach of the estuary, P. peringueyi likely derives its carbon from a combination of epibionts, benthic algae and detritus derived from Codium.

Les écosystèmes côtiers et estuariens sont extrêmement riches d’un point de vue biologique et écologique et abritent des habitats essentiels au maintien et au renouvellement des ressources marines d’intérêt halieutique. Parmi les altérations subies par ces écosystèmes, les proliférations de macroalgues opportunistes sont l’un des signes les plus visibles de l’eutrophisation dans plusieurs régions du monde, et particulièrement dans le nord-ouest de la France. Les processus à l’origine de ces proliférations sont relativement bien identifiés tandis que leurs conséquences écologiques - notamment sur l’ichtyofaune - restent mal connues et peu étudiées. L’objectif de cette thèse est de caractériser les effets des marées vertes sur la fonction d’habitat halieutique essentiel au renouvellement de l’ichtyofaune des zones côtières et estuariennes par une approche multi-échelleLes conséquences des marées vertes sur l’ichtyofaune ont tout d’abord été examinées à l’échelle de la communauté. Ensuite, les processus par lesquels cette perturbation affecte l’ichtyofaune ont été étudiés par une approche à l’échelle de l’individu. Cette étude s’est intéressée aux réponses des juvéniles à travers la sélection de l’habitat et la comparaison de leurs performances physiologiques entre un site contrôle et un site impacté. Au travers de ces deux approches, un impact négatif écologiquement significatif des marées vertes sur la qualité des habitats essentiels au renouvellement des ressources d’intérêt halieutique a été mis en évidence. Les conséquences des marées vertes sur l’ichtyofaune sont modul / Coastal and estuarine systems are highly productive areas that provide unique biological and ecological services and shelter essential habitats to numerous fisheries resources. Among the perturbations experienced by these ecosystems, proliferations of opportunistic macroalgae, commonly known as ‘green tides’, are one of the most obvious signs of eutrophication in coastal and estuarine areas, worldwide, and in Northwestern France in particular. The processes underlying macroalgal proliferations are almost identified whereas their ecological consequences - especially for ichthyofauna - remain poorly understood and understudied. The objective of this thesis is to characterise the effects of green tides on the role of coastal and estuarine habitats for ichthyofauna, on both the community and the individual scales.First, we investigated the consequences of green tides on ichthyofauna on the community scale. Then, we examined the processes which affect the ichthyofauna during green tides, on the individual scale. Marine juvenile fish responses were investigated based on habitat selection and comparison of individual performances between a control and an impacted site. Based on these two complementary approaches, we evidence ecological significant negative effects of green tides on the quality of essential fish habitats. The effects of green tides on ichthyofauna are modulated by the intensity and nature of macroalgal blooms, and are related to the fish habitat use and ecology. A decreasing gradient of sensibility to green tides is emphasised, from benthic to demersal and pelagi

Submitted by Fabio Sobreira Campos da Costa (fabio.sobreira@ufpe.br) on 2017-07-17T15:28:20Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 811 bytes, checksum: e39d27027a6cc9cb039ad269a5db8e34 (MD5) Tese João Allyson Ribeiro de Carvalho.pdf: 2888123 bytes, checksum: f35cc4dd6b479577883782b92fdc5472 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-17T15:28:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 811 bytes, checksum: e39d27027a6cc9cb039ad269a5db8e34 (MD5) Tese João Allyson Ribeiro de Carvalho.pdf: 2888123 bytes, checksum: f35cc4dd6b479577883782b92fdc5472 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-05-20 / A evolução geoquímica de sedimentos estuarinos próximos à embocadura do rio Timbó é abordada em perfil de sedimentos de fundo, atingindo o início do século XIX. Com base em datações 210Pb a transição séculos XIX/XX é atingida no intervalo 51-54cm. Os sedimentos, pelíticos, mostram dominância de fração carbonática bioclástica (~ 50% do sedimento total), sobretudo planctônica, diminuindo gradualmente no sentido do topo. A taxa de sedimentação linear média é de 3,9 mm/ano no século XX, de 6,7 mm/ano na transição entre os séculos XIX/XX, e de 3,6 mm/ano no século XIX. A evolução industrial, o desenvolvimento de novas tecnologias, e o forte crescimento populacional (segunda metade do século XX) são as principais forçantes antrópicas que modificaram as características hidrodinâmicas e geoquímicas da bacia hidrográfica nos últimos 210 anos. Apesar da reduzida capacidade de complexação iônica destes sedimentos, foi possível evidenciar, da base para o topo, marcos geoquímicos históricos: a) Evento Krakatoa – 1883; b) Fase regional de devastação da mata atlântica – transição séculos XIX/XX, com duração de pelo menos 15 anos; c) Advento de motores movidos a combustíveis, com adição de Pb-tetraetila - transição décadas 20/30; d) Generalização de práticas agrícolas regionais com fertilizantes industriais fosfáticos – transição décadas 50/60; e) Aumento generalizado e progressivo em teores de MP até os dias atuais – transição décadas de 60/70. O status ambiental revela-se contaminado em As (desde o século XIX), em Cr (desde os anos 90 do século XX), e deverá estar comprometido em Hg, nos próximos 25 anos. / The geochemical evolution of estuarine sediments near the mouth of the river Timbó is investigated from bottom sediments profile, reaching the early nineteenth century. Based on 210Pb dating the transition XIX / XX is reached at the level 5154cm. The sediments are pelites that show dominance of bioclastic carbonate fraction (~ 50% of total sediment), particularly planktonic, who decreases gradually towards the top. The linear sedimentation rate shows an average of 3.9 mm/year along the 20th century, 6.7 mm/year in the transition between the 19th/20th centuries, and 3.6 mm/year in the 19th century. The industrial revolution, the development of new technologies, and the strong population growth (second half of 20th century) are the main anthropic forcing that changed the hydrodynamic and geochemical behavior of the basin in the last 210 years. Despite the low possibility of ionic complexation of these estuarine sediments the following historic geochemical markers were featured, from bottom to top: a) Krakatoa event - 1883; b) stage of devastation of the tropical rainforest - transition XIX/XX centuries , remaining at least along 15 years; c) advent of fuel-powered engines with addition of tetraethyl-Pb - transition decades 20/30; d) generalization of regional agricultural practices using industrial phosphatic fertilizer - transition decades 50/60; e) general and progressive increase in levels of MP to the present day - transition decades 60/70. The environmental status is indicated as Ascontaminated (since the 19th century), Cr-contaminated (since the 90’s of 20th century), and should be identical for Hg in the next 25 years.