Os paradigmas da teoria de metacomunidades atribuem diferentes graus de importância à dispersão, filtros ambientais, interações bióticas e processos estocásticos na organização de comunidades. Incluir atributos funcionais em conjunto com aspectos espaciais da estrutura da paisagem pode resultar em uma poderosa ferramenta para a investigação dos diferentes processos que atuam na organização de comunidades biológicas. Neste estudo, utilizamos o potencial de análise e de levantamento de hipóteses que os atributos funcionais proporcionam em uma metacomunidade de peixes, formada por 37 lagoas em uma bacia hidrográfica na região costeira do sul do Brasil (29º37’ a 30º30’ de latitude Sul e 49º74’ a 50º24’ de longitude Oeste). Os objetivos deste trabalho foram identificar qual é a relação entre a diversidade taxonômica com índices de redundância e diversidade funcional. Também verificar se variáveis espaciais são determinantes na variação de índices funcionais, e das composições taxonômica e funcional, e se ocorrem padrões de convergência e de divergência de atributos. Através de sistemas de informação geográfica (imagens Spot e Landsat-TM5), estas lagoas foram mapeadas e delas foram obtidas variáveis estruturais (área, forma, distância do mar, coeficiente de variação da área, conectividade primária e conectividade estuarina). Os dados da ictiofauna foram obtidos através de amostragem padronizada, utilizando-se redes de espera, e uma série de atributos relacionados às habilidades de dispersão e de uso de recursos alimentares foram tomados. A diversidade taxonômica demonstrou ser fortemente correlacionada com a redundância e a diversidade funcional. Os modelos que melhor explicam a redundância funcional são aqueles que incluíram a forma e o coeficiente de variação da área das lagoas, mas a diversidade funcional não foi predita significativamente por nenhuma variável espacial. Não foram encontrados padrões de convergência e de divergência de atributos, e lagoas semelhantes em suas características espaciais não possuem composição funcional similar. Nossos resultados sugerem que o paradigma neutro de metacomunidades é a abordagem que melhor explica a estruturação deste sistema, o qual prediz equivalência funcional entre espécies. / The metacommunity theory paradigms attribute different degrees of importance to dispersal, environmental filtering, biotic interactions and stochastic processes in community assembly. To include the jointly use of functional traits with the spatial aspects of landscape structure could result in a powerful tool for the investigation of the different processes involved in the organization of biological communities. In this study, we used the potential of analysis and survey of hypotheses that functional traits provide in a fish metacommunity, composed by 37 lagoons in a river basin in the coastal region of southern Brazil (29º37' to 30°30' south latitude and 49º74' to 50°24' west longitude). The aims of this work were to identify the relation between taxonomic diversity indices with redundancy and functional diversity. Also, it was verified if spatial variables are determinants for the variation in functional indices, taxonomic and functional composition of fishes. We also look for trait convergence and trait divergence assembly patterns. Through geographic information systems (Spot e Landsat-TM5 images), these lagoons were mapped and were quantified structural variables (area, shape, distance to the ocean, coefficient of variation of area, primary connectivity and estuarine connectivity). Ichthyofauna data were obtained through standardized sampling, using gillnets, and a set of traits related to dispersal abilities and use of food resource were obtained. The taxonomic diversity showed to be strongly correlated with functional diversity and redundancy. The models that best explain the functional redundancy are those involving the shape and area variation coefficient, however, the functional diversity was not significantly predicted by any spatial variable. We did not find trait convergence and trait divergence assembly patterns, and lagoons that share similar spatial features do not have similar functional composition. Our results suggest that the neutral metacommunity paradigm is the approach which has the best explanation for the structure of this system, which predicts functional equivalence among species.

Tendo como base o escasso conhecimento dos efeitos causados por eucaliptos sobre a biota aquática e o intenso plantio em áreas de entorno de inúmeros lagos no Vale do rio Doce, o presente estudo avaliou a extração, identificação e os efeitos tóxicos dos compostos naturais presentes nas folhas de Eucalyptus grandis e E. urophylla das áreas de entorno das lagoas Palmeirinha e Ferruginha, respectivamente, através de destilação por arraste a vapor de água, cromatografia gasosa de alta resolução (CGC), análise por infravermelho e testes ecotoxicológicos com as águas de decomposição das folhas (laboratório), com os óleos essenciais, extratos hidroalcólicos e aquosos das folhas da serapilheira, 30 e 60 dias após contato com as lagoas. Nos testes de toxicidade foram utilizados organismos zooplanctônicos (Daphnia similis, Daphnia laevis e Ceriodaphnia silvestrii) e bentônicos (Chironomus xanthus). As folhas de E. grandis apresentaram maior rendimento de óleo essencial que as de E. urophylla, tendo sido identificado maior número de substâncias nas folhas de E. urophylla. No caso dos extratos o E. grandis apresentou maior rendimento dos extratos hexânicos, tanto na primeira como na segunda etapa de extração enquanto o E. urophylla apresentou maior rendimento de extrato etanólico. Verificou-se como principais compostos nos extratos de E. urophylla esteróides e triterpenos. Os resultados dos testes de toxicidade aguda realizados com a água de decomposição das duas espécies de eucaliptos mostraram efeito tóxico a Daphnia similis, D. laevis e C.silvestrii e Chironomus xanthus o qual, entretanto, diminuiu com o aumento do tempo de decomposição. Os óleos essenciais apresentaram efeito tóxico em todos os testes realizados com cladóceros (folhas da serapilheira, 30 e 60 dias), assim como os extratos hidroalcoólicos (menos polares) a Chironomus xanthus e aquosos (mais polares) à D. similis e D. laevis verificou-se, portanto, no presente estudo, que os compostos naturais presentes nas folhas de E. grandis e E. urophylla podem afetar a biota aquática, sendo importante o monitoramento de ambientes aquáticos circundados por monoculturas de Eucalyptus spp. / Based on the scarce knowledge of the effect caused by eucalyptus on aquatic biota and the intense plantation in the surroundings of innumerable lakes in the Valley of Rio Doce, the present study evaluated extraction, identification and toxic effect of natural compounds found in leaves of Eucalyptus grandis and E. urophylla nearby Palmeirinha and Ferruginha lagoons, respectively, through vapor dragging distillation, high resolution gas chromatography (HRGC), Infrared spectroscopy (IR) and ecotoxicological tests with leaves decomposition water (laboratory), essential oils, hydroalcoholic and aqueous extracts of litter leaves, and after 30 and 60 days in contact with the lagoons. For the toxicity tests, zooplanktonic (Daphnia similis, Daphnia laevis and Ceriodaphnia silvestrii) and benthic (Chironomus xanthus) organisms were used. The leaves of E. grandis showed higher outcome of essential oils compared to E. urophylla, being identified a higher number of substances in E. urophylla leaves. In the case of extracts, E. grandis showed higher outcome of hexanic extracts in the first and second steps of extractions, while E. urophylla presented higher outcome of ethanolic extracts. The main compounds found in E. urophylla extracts were steroids and triterpenes, and in E. grandis were saponins, steroids and triterpenes. The results of the acute ecotoxicological tests carried out with decomposition water of both eucalyptus species showed toxic effect to Daphnia similis, D. laevis, C. silvestrii and Chironomus xanthus, which, however, decreased with decomposition time. The essential oils, showed toxic effect in all tests performed with cladocerans (litter leaves, 30 and 60 days), as well as the hydroalcoholic extracts to Chironomus xanthus and aqueous to D. similis and D. laevis. Thus, it was verified, in the present study, that the natural compounds found in E. grandis and E urophylla leaves can affect the aquatic biota, being important the monitoring of aquatic environments surrounded by Eucalyptus monocultures.

As bactérias fototróficas freqüentemente apresentam florescimentos em lagoas de estabilização utilizadas no tratamento de esgoto sanitário, formando uma camada de cor púrpura na sua superfície. Portanto, o estudo das condições que propiciam tais florescimentos, a diversidade microbiana, o potencial de remoção da matéria orgânica e o estabelecimento das relações entre tais conhecimentos, permitem compreender o metabolismo do sistema. Nesse sentido, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a diversidade de bactérias (domínio Bacteria), bactérias fototróficas púrpuras e bactérias redutoras de sulfato (BRS) em lagoas de estabilização do Vale do Ribeira (Cajati, SP). Para tal, foram realizadas coletas sazonais (primavera, verão, outono e inverno) na sub-superfície, camada intermediária e interface água-sedimento, em dois horários (14:00 h e 02:00 h), nas lagoas anaeróbia e facultativa. Para analisar os diferentes grupos de microrganismos, utilizou-se a técnica de PCR/DGGE, com primers específicos. Nas análises de filogenia realizou-se o seqüenciamento parcial do gene RNAr 16S e da subunidade M do centro de reação fotossintético das bactérias fototróficas púrpuras. Análises físico-químicas, tais como sulfato, DQO, sólidos, nitrogênio e fósforo foram realizadas, além da determinação da concentração de oxigênio dissolvido, pH, temperatura e radiação solar fotossinteticamente ativa incidente. No outono observou-se maior diversidade de microrganismos do domínio Bacteria, bactérias fototróficas púrpuras e BRS, enquanto na primavera foi verificada a menor diversidade desses microrganismos para as duas lagoas. Na lagoa facultativa foi observada maior diversidade do domínio Bacteria e das BRS em relação à lagoa anaeróbia. Verificou-se maior diversidade de bactérias fototróficas púrpuras na lagoa anaeróbia, caracterizada por duas populações predominantes nas quatro estações e nas diferentes profundidades. A concentração de matéria orgânica (DQO) variou de 60,3 mg/L (inverno) a 298,0 mg/L (primavera) e a maior concentração de sulfato observada foi de 51,0 mg/L (inverno). Bacilo curvo Gram negativo, semelhante à bactéria fototrófica púrpura não sulfurosa, presente em amostra proveniente da sub-superfície da lagoa anaeróbia foi purificado e apresentou 92% de similaridade com Rhodopseudomonas palustris. Em ambas as lagoas foram identificadas bactérias semelhantes a Chromobacterium suttsuga (95%), Clostridium sp. (99%), Rhodobacter sphaeroides (99%), Rhodopseudomonas palustris (99%), Lampropedia hyalina (97%), Campylobacter fetus (99%), Desulfovibrio vulgaris (95%), Rhodospirillum rubrum (95%) e diferentes bactérias não cultivadas. / The phototrophic bacteria frequently blossom in the stabilization lagoons that are used in sanitary sewer treatment, forming a purple layer on its surface. Therefore, the study of the conditions that propitiate such blooms, the microbial diversity, the removal of the organic matter and the establishment of the relations between them permit to understand the metabolism of the system. The objective of this work was to evaluate the diversity of the bacteria (Bacteria domain), purple phototrophic bacteria and sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) in stabilization lagoons of Vale do Ribeira (Cajati - SP). For this, it was made seasonal collects (spring, summer, autumn and winter) from the sub-surface, intermediate layer and interface water-sediment, at two times (14:00 h and 02:00 h) of the anaerobic and facultative lagoons. To analyze the different groups of microorganisms it was used the PCR/DGGE technique, with specific primers; for the phylogenic analysis it was realized the DNA partial sequencing of the 16S RNAr gene and of the subunit M of the photosynthetic center of reaction of the purple photosynthetic bacteria. It was determined: the concentration of dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature and photosynthetically active incident solar radiation, and the physical-chemistry analysis as: COD, solids, nitrogen and phosphorus. In the autumn it was observed greater diversity of microorganisms of the Bacteria domain, the group of the purples phototrophic bacteria and SRB, while in the spring it was verified minor diversity of these microorganisms in the two lagoons studied. In the facultative lagoon it was observed greater diversity of the Bacteria domain and of the SRB with respect to the anaerobic lagoon. It was verified greater diversity of the purple phototrophic bacteria in the anaerobic lagoon, of what in the facultative lagoon, which was characterized by the two predominant populations in the four seasons and in the different points of collect. The concentration of the organic matter (COD) varied from 60,3 mg/L (winter) to 298,0 mg/L (spring) and the greater concentration of sulfate observed was of 51,0 mg/L (winter). Arched bacillus Gram-negative similar to purple not sulfurous bacteria, from a sample of the sub-surface of the anaerobic lagoon was purified and presented 92% of similarity with Rhodopseudomonas palustris. In both lagoons it was identified bacteria similar to Chromobacterium suttsuga (95%), Clostridium sp. (99%), Rhodobacter sphaeroides (99%), Rhodopseudomonas palustris (99%), Lampropedia hyalina (97%), Campylobacter fetus (99%), Desulfovibrio vulgaris (95%), Rhodospirillum rubrum (95%).

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2016-05-31T15:37:55Z No. of bitstreams: 1 lucianarabelodearaujo.pdf: 3777751 bytes, checksum: f71885f2bbf7188c5613e7ece870e07f (MD5) / Rejected by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br), reason: primeira letra de cada palavra chave em maiúsculo on 2016-07-02T12:46:13Z (GMT) / Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2016-07-04T10:27:45Z No. of bitstreams: 1 lucianarabelodearaujo.pdf: 3777751 bytes, checksum: f71885f2bbf7188c5613e7ece870e07f (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2016-07-13T16:13:25Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 lucianarabelodearaujo.pdf: 3777751 bytes, checksum: f71885f2bbf7188c5613e7ece870e07f (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-13T16:13:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 lucianarabelodearaujo.pdf: 3777751 bytes, checksum: f71885f2bbf7188c5613e7ece870e07f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-02-27 / Poças adjacentes em ambientes aquáticos costeiros podem servir como refúgio para organismos em condições ambientais desfavoráveis, desde que haja conexão hidrológica entre os sistemas. Neste trabalho, foram avaliados os fatores estruturadores e a importância da hidroconectividade para comunidades zooplanctônicas de 3 lagoas salinas e 15 poças adjacentes localizadas em Quissamã/RJ, e o papel do banco de ovos de resistência na recolonização de uma lagoa costeira. Amostras da comunidade e das variáveis ambientais foram coletadas no período de um ano (Maio 2010 – Fevereiro 2011) e o banco de ovos foi coletado em agosto de 2010 no sistema Garça. Através de uma NMS utilizando o índice de similaridade de Bray-Curtis, as poças mostraram ser mais similares entre si do que com as lagoas, independente do período (seca ou chuva). Uma RDA mostrou que a salinidade e o pH foram os principais fatores estruturadores das comunidades. O cálculo da diversidade beta evidenciou que as poças apresentaram uma menor turnover temporal. No sistema Garça, as poças apresentaram bancos de ovos mais ricos que a lagoa, e 45% das espécies registradas na comunidade ativa da lagoa foram registradas exclusivamente nas poças. Embora as lagoas e suas poças não tenham sido mais similares no período chuvoso, a conectividade parece ter uma grande importância, devido à presença de espécies dulcícolas nas lagoas nos períodos mais chuvosos, encontradas também nas poças. Este fato, além da menor diversidade beta exibida pelas poças sugere que a dispersão não é limitante, possivelmente formando uma metacomunidade. A alta contribuição da comunidade ativa e dormente das poças para a comunidade ativa da lagoa da Garça mostra o potencial destes ambientes na manutenção e recolonização da comunidade zooplanctônica deste sistema. / Small-sized pools next to coastal lakes may serve as refuge for organisms during unfavorable environmental conditions in the lakes, due to sporadic connections between all aquatic systems. We assessed the importance of environmental variables and of the hydrological connectivity for the structure of zooplankton communities in three saline lagoons and 15 adjacent pools from Brazil. We also evaluated the role of the resting egg bank in the recolonization of the zooplankton community in one coastal lagoon. Zooplankton and environmental variables were collected during one year (2010–2011) and the resting egg bank was collected in August 2010 in the Garça system. NMS analyses using a Bray-Curtis index showed that the pools were more similar between each other than between the lagoons, regardless of the season (dry or rainy). A RDA showed that salinity and pH were the main structuring factors of communities in all lagoon systems. The beta-diversity index demonstrated that the lagoons had a higher temporal turnover. In the Garça system, the pools showed richer egg banks than the lagoon and 45% of the species recorded in the lake’s active community were founded in the pools. Although lagoons and pools were not more similar in the rainy season, the connectivity seems to have a major role due to the presence of freshwater species in the lakes, that were also found in the pools. This fact, plus the lower beta diversity showed by pools suggest that dispersal is not limited. The high contribution of the active and dormant communities of the pools for Garça lake’s active community shows the potential of these environments in the maintenance and recolonization of zooplankton community in this system.

Submitted by Biblioteca de Pós-Graduação em Geoquímica BGQ (bgq@ndc.uff.br) on 2017-03-14T18:31:18Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação_MarinaAlves.pdf: 2711910 bytes, checksum: 2be4e3e9354ac9d7fcc36ea36bfd6cee (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-03-14T18:31:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação_MarinaAlves.pdf: 2711910 bytes, checksum: 2be4e3e9354ac9d7fcc36ea36bfd6cee (MD5) / Universidade Federal Fluminense. Instituto de Química. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Geociências- Geoquímica, Niterói, RJ / O Complexo Estuarino-Lagunar Mundaú-Manguaba (CELMM), situado no litoral nordeste do Brasil, vem sofrendo um processo contínuo de degradação ambiental, relacionado principalmente aos efluentes da agroindústria canavieira e ao crescimento urbano desordenado. Traçadores geoquímicos têm sido uma eficiente ferramenta na determinação da origem da matéria orgânica em sedimentos, se alóctone ou autóctone, podendo ser utilizados para identificar possíveis fontes de poluição produzidas por atividades antrópicas, bem como mudanças naturais no ambiente. Nesse contexto, esse trabalho teve como objetivo identificar a origem, transformação e acumulação recente da matéria orgânica nos sedimentos do CELMM. Para tal, cinco testemunhos, dois representando cada laguna, e um fluvial (Rio Mundaú), foram analisados quanto à distribuição vertical dos teores de argila, silte e areia, de carbono orgânico, da razão C/N, do 13C e de ligninas. A distribuição dos parâmetros analisados mostrou que a matéria orgânica sedimentar das lagunas tem origem predominantemente da sua própria produção primária fitoplanctônica. No entanto, a presença de ligninas, mesmo em baixas concentrações, indica a presença de material vegetal alóctone. No Rio Mundaú verificou-se a presença de material proveniente de angiospermas lenhosas, enquanto nas lagunas há grande mistura de angiospermas lenhosas e não lenhosas, sem um padrão claro de distribuição ao longo dos perfis. As razões (Ad/Al)v demonstraram que as ligninas encontradas possuem certo grau de degradação, contribuindo para uma possível redução na concentração total das mesmas, além de alterações nas razões S/V e C/V. A aplicação do índice LPVI (Lignin-Phenol Vegetation Index) para os lignino-fenóis permitiu obter maior clareza a cerca da evolução das fontes de material terrestre para o sistema, de forma que ficou evidente a transição de angiospermas lenhosas, vegetação anteriormente natural na bacia de drenagem, para angiospermas não lenhosas, a partir da expansão da atividade canavieira na região. Além disso, os resultados de acumulação de matéria orgânica nos sedimentos das lagunas demonstram um aumento de produtividade nas camadas mais recentes, como provável conseqüência dos efeitos da expansão agrícola e urbana no CELMM. / The Mundaú-Manguaba Estuarine-Lagoon System (MMELS), located in northeastern Brazil, has been undergoing a continuous process of environmental degradation, mainly related to the input of effluents from the sugar-cane industry and uncontrolled demographic expansion. Geochemical tracers have been an effective tool in determining allochthonous and autochtonous sources of organic matter in sediments. They have been applied to identify possible sources of pollution produced by human activities and natural changes in the environment. In this context, this study aimed to identify the origin, transformations and recent accumulation of organic matter in the sediments of MMELS. Five short cores, two representing each lagoon and one the fluvial end-member (Mundaú River), were analyzed for the vertical distribution of clay, silt and sand, organic carbon, the C/N ratio, 13C and lignins. The parameters showed that the sedimentary organic matter in the lagoons originated largely from its own phytoplanktonic primary production. However, the presence of lignin, albeit at low concentrations, indicated the presence of allochthonous plant material. In Mundaú River the presence of material derived from woody angiosperms was evident, while the lagoons exhibited a mixture of woody and non-woody materials, without a clear distributional pattern along the vertical profiles. The (Ad/Al)v ratios showed that the lignins were subject to a certain degree of degradation, contributing to a possible reduction in their total concentration and changes in the lignin-phenol S/V and C/V ratios. The application of the LPVI index (Lignin-Phenol Vegetation Index) for lignin-phenols allowed for a better understanding on the evolution of terrestrial material sources to the system, with a clear transition from woody angiosperms, representing the original vegetation in the drainage basin, to non-woody angiosperms, corroborating the expansion of sugar cane cultivation in the region. In addition, the results of organic matter accumulation in the lagoon’s sediments showed an increase of primary productivity in the more recent layers at the top of the cores, likely reflecting the effects of agricultural and urban expansion in MMELS

Os paradigmas da teoria de metacomunidades atribuem diferentes graus de importância à dispersão, filtros ambientais, interações bióticas e processos estocásticos na organização de comunidades. Incluir atributos funcionais em conjunto com aspectos espaciais da estrutura da paisagem pode resultar em uma poderosa ferramenta para a investigação dos diferentes processos que atuam na organização de comunidades biológicas. Neste estudo, utilizamos o potencial de análise e de levantamento de hipóteses que os atributos funcionais proporcionam em uma metacomunidade de peixes, formada por 37 lagoas em uma bacia hidrográfica na região costeira do sul do Brasil (29º37’ a 30º30’ de latitude Sul e 49º74’ a 50º24’ de longitude Oeste). Os objetivos deste trabalho foram identificar qual é a relação entre a diversidade taxonômica com índices de redundância e diversidade funcional. Também verificar se variáveis espaciais são determinantes na variação de índices funcionais, e das composições taxonômica e funcional, e se ocorrem padrões de convergência e de divergência de atributos. Através de sistemas de informação geográfica (imagens Spot e Landsat-TM5), estas lagoas foram mapeadas e delas foram obtidas variáveis estruturais (área, forma, distância do mar, coeficiente de variação da área, conectividade primária e conectividade estuarina). Os dados da ictiofauna foram obtidos através de amostragem padronizada, utilizando-se redes de espera, e uma série de atributos relacionados às habilidades de dispersão e de uso de recursos alimentares foram tomados. A diversidade taxonômica demonstrou ser fortemente correlacionada com a redundância e a diversidade funcional. Os modelos que melhor explicam a redundância funcional são aqueles que incluíram a forma e o coeficiente de variação da área das lagoas, mas a diversidade funcional não foi predita significativamente por nenhuma variável espacial. Não foram encontrados padrões de convergência e de divergência de atributos, e lagoas semelhantes em suas características espaciais não possuem composição funcional similar. Nossos resultados sugerem que o paradigma neutro de metacomunidades é a abordagem que melhor explica a estruturação deste sistema, o qual prediz equivalência funcional entre espécies. / The metacommunity theory paradigms attribute different degrees of importance to dispersal, environmental filtering, biotic interactions and stochastic processes in community assembly. To include the jointly use of functional traits with the spatial aspects of landscape structure could result in a powerful tool for the investigation of the different processes involved in the organization of biological communities. In this study, we used the potential of analysis and survey of hypotheses that functional traits provide in a fish metacommunity, composed by 37 lagoons in a river basin in the coastal region of southern Brazil (29º37' to 30°30' south latitude and 49º74' to 50°24' west longitude). The aims of this work were to identify the relation between taxonomic diversity indices with redundancy and functional diversity. Also, it was verified if spatial variables are determinants for the variation in functional indices, taxonomic and functional composition of fishes. We also look for trait convergence and trait divergence assembly patterns. Through geographic information systems (Spot e Landsat-TM5 images), these lagoons were mapped and were quantified structural variables (area, shape, distance to the ocean, coefficient of variation of area, primary connectivity and estuarine connectivity). Ichthyofauna data were obtained through standardized sampling, using gillnets, and a set of traits related to dispersal abilities and use of food resource were obtained. The taxonomic diversity showed to be strongly correlated with functional diversity and redundancy. The models that best explain the functional redundancy are those involving the shape and area variation coefficient, however, the functional diversity was not significantly predicted by any spatial variable. We did not find trait convergence and trait divergence assembly patterns, and lagoons that share similar spatial features do not have similar functional composition. Our results suggest that the neutral metacommunity paradigm is the approach which has the best explanation for the structure of this system, which predicts functional equivalence among species.

Une forte structure génétique a été décrite dans la littérature parmi les populations européennes de la coque de lagune Cerastoderma glaucum. Cependant, les limites géographiques entre les grandes divisions génétiques varient d'un marqueur à l'autre et leur faible nombre ne permettait pas de tester réellement les échanges génétiques entre ces groupes. Le but principal de cette thèse était donc d'estimer la structure des populations de C. glaucum à l'aide de marqueurs, en considérant les rôles respectifs de la divergence passée et de la fragmentation de l'habitat. Pour atteindre ses objectifs, des populations des côtes atlantiques et méditerranéennes ont été étudiées en utilisant : i) des marqueurs génétiques classiques (un EPIC et des marqueurs microsatellites déjà publiés); ii) des séquences associées à des sites de restriction (“restriction associated DNA sequences”) ou RADseq. Alors que les marqueurs génétiques classiques ont révélé le caractère divergent des populations de Méditerranée orientale, l'approche RADseq a permis de reconstruire les relations phylogénétiques entre groupes au sein de l'espèce avec une résolution jamais encore ateinte. Trois lignées profondément divergentes ont ainsi été identifiée au sein de C. glaucum: une en Mer Egée – Mer Noire, une en Mer Ionienne et la dernière largement distribuée de la Méditerranée à la Baltique. Cette dernière lignée c'est par ailleurs sous divisée en entités isolées en Méditerranée Occidentale, en Atlantique, en Mer du Nord et an Baltique. Comparée à l'espèce soeur C. edule, qui profite d'un habitat moins fragmenté, C. glaucum présente une beaucoup plus forte différenciation génétique entre populations. Il semble donc que des incompatibilités génétiques, conséquences de l'isolement géographique et de l'adaptation locale, aient pu être à l'origine d'un complexe d'espèces. Ces résultats soulignent par ailleurs le rôle évolutif particulier de l'habitat lagunaire, accélérateur de la diversification génétique. / Previous studies found a high level of genetic structuring among the European populations of the lagoon cockle Cerastoderma glaucum. However, the geographic locations of the major genetic divisions differed among markers and the small number of genetic markers used lacked the power to test for gene flow between divergent clusters. Therefore, the main aim of this thesis was to assess the population structure of C. glaucum using new genetic markers in the light of the respective role of past divergence and habitat fragmentation. To reach these objectives, populations from the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts have been investigated using: i) classical genetic markers (EPIC together with previously published microsatellites); ii) restriction-site associated DNA sequencing (RADseq). When the classical genetic markers revealed the divergent character of Eastern Mediterranean populations, the RADseq approach allowed inferring phylogenetic relationships with an unprecedented resolution. Three deeply divergent lineages were described within C. glaucum: one in the Aegean-Black Sea region, one in the Ionian Sea, and the last one widely distributed from the Western Mediterranean to the Baltic Sea. This last lineage underwent further diversification with isolated entities detected in Western Mediterranean, Atlantic, North Sea and Baltic Sea. Compared to the sister species C. edule, which thrives in a less fragmented habitat, C. glaucum displayed a much stronger genetic differentiation among populations. Consequently, it seems that genetic incompatibilities, which emerged as a by-product of geographic isolation together with local adaptation, led to the origin of a species complex. These results highlight the evolutionary role of lagoon habitats, where genetic diversification can proceed very quickly.

Att industrier påverkar klimatet negativt var känt, men för att få veta hur klimatförändringarna fram till år 2050 kunde påverka massa- och pappersbruket BillerudKorsnäs i Karlsborg krävdes en riskinventering. Syftet var att ta reda på hur förändrad havsnivå, förändrade vindförhållande, förändrad temperatur och förändrad nederbördsmängd kunde påverka bioreningsdammarna och avloppssystemet på området. Av de fyra klimatscenarier som forskare tagit fram användes två av dessa, RCP 4,5 scenario och RCP 8,5 scenario för att jämföras med ett normalvärde. Genom en platsspecifik undersökning kunde riskerna listas och jämföras med den scenariodata som SMHI redovisade för samtliga klimatförändringar. Resultatet av riskinventeringen visade att en förändring i havsnivån hade flest risker kopplade till bioreningsdammarna och avloppssystemet. För att anpassa sig efter klimatförändringarna behövde BillerudKorsnäs i Karlsborg beakta och i framtiden bygga om vissa delar av bioreningsdammarna och avloppssystemet. / It is known that industries negatively affect the climate and contribute to climate change, but to find out how climate change till year 2050 could affect the pulp and paper mill BillerudKorsnäs in Karlsborg, a risk inventory was required. The purpose was to find out how changes in sea level, changes in wind conditions, changes in temperature and changes in precipitation could affect the aerated lagoons and the sewage system at the site. Out of the four climate scenarios developed by researchers, two scenarios i.e., RCP 4,5 scenario and RCP 8,5 scenario were used in a comparison to normal conditions. Throug a site-specific study, the risks could be listed and compared with the scenario data SMHI reported for all climate changes. The results of the risk inventory illustrate that changes in sea level poses most risk to the aerated lagoons and the sewage system. In order to adapt to climate change, BillerudKorsnäs in Karlsborg needed to consider and rebuild certain parts of the aerated lagoons and the sewage system in the future.

Algae that are grown in wastewater treatment lagoons could be an important substrate for biofuel production; however, the low C/N ratio of algae is not conducive to anaerobic digestion of algae with economically attractive methane production rates. Increasing the C/N ratio in anaerobic, laboratory scale, batch reactors by blending algal biomass with sodium acetate resulted i increased methane production rates as the C/N ratio increased. The highest amount of methane was produced when the C/N was 21/1. When the C/N was 24/1, the biogas production rate decreased. Batch experiments were done to evaluate the effect of optimizing the C/N ratio on methane production from algae and to identify the most essential information needed to conduct research on co-digestion of algal biomass using the continuous, high-rate, up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor system. Based on the results obtained from batch reactor experiments, anaerobic co-digestion of algal biomass, obtained by continuous centrifugation from the Logan City, Utah, 5th stage wastewater treatment lagoon, and sodium acetate was conducted using laboratory scale UASB reactors with the C/N ratio in the feedstock adjusted to 21/1. Duplicate, 34 L UASB reactor systems were built of poly(methyl methacrylate). Both reactors were seeded with 11 L of anaerobic sediment from the 3rd stage lagoon. The pH of the feedstock was adjusted to the neutral range. The feedstock was initially introduced at a low organic loading rate of 0.9 g/L.d with a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 7.2 days and then increased up to 5.4 g/L.d and a HRT of 5.5 days. These organic loading rates corresponded to an initial influent chemical oxygen demand (COD) of 6.25 g/L and increased to 27.2 g/L. Methane production increased from 270 mL/g to 349 mL/g COD biodegraded. COD removal efficiency was 80% and biogas methane composition was 90% at steady state. Algal biomass contributed 33-50% of the COD in the feed stock depending on the COD of the algae paste from centrifugation. The shortest HRT at which steady state was not affected was 5.5 days. At lower HRT all monitored parameters showed a slight decrease after the 75th day of operation.

Στα πλαίσια της παρούσας έρευνας, μελετήθηκε η προστατευόμενη περιοχή του Οικολογικού Δικτύου Natura 2000: «Λιμνοθάλασσα Πύλου (Διβάρι), Νήσος Σφακτηρία, Αγ. Δημήτριος» με κωδικό GR2550004. Διεξάχθηκαν δύο εποχικές δειγματοληψίες, στις 31 Αυγούστου του 2012 και στις 21 Απριλίου του 2013. Η λιμνοθάλασσα της Γιάλοβας έχει έκταση περίπου 2,5 Km2, μέγιστο βάθος 1 m και επικοινωνεί με τον κόλπο του Ναυαρίνου μέσω ενός τεχνητού διαύλου. Αρχικά, πραγματοποιήθηκε η ηχοβολιστική αποτύπωση του πυθμένα, με χρήση ηχοβολιστή πλευρικής σάρωσης (Side Scan Sonar, SSS) με σκοπό να αποκαλυφθεί, τόσο η μορφολογία του βυθού, όσο και η παρουσία, η αφθονία και η χωρική κατανομή των υδρόβιων μακροφύτων. Κατόπιν, σε 9 προεπιλεγμένους δειγματοληπτικούς σταθμούς, πραγματοποιήθηκε καταγραφή των φυσικοχημικών παραμέτρων και συλλέχθηκαν δείγματα υδρόβιας χλωρίδας. Με τη βοήθεια του ηχοβολιστή πλευρικής σάρωσης μελετήθηκε, περίπου, το 37% της έκτασης της λιμνοθάλασσας. Μέσω αυτής της διαδικασίας, προέκυψαν 6 διαφορετικοί ακουστικοί τύποι που αντιστοιχούν σε 6 διαφορετικά ποσοστά φυτοκάλυψης: πυκνή (76-100%), λιγότερο πυκνή (51-75%), αραιή (26-50%), πολύ αραιή (6-25%), σπάνια (1-5%) και καθόλου (<1%). Αφού κατασκευάστηκε το μωσαϊκό του πυθμένα, με τη χρήση των λογισμικών Triton Isis και TritonMap (Delphmap) της Triton Imaging Inc., διαπιστώθηκε ότι, η λιμνοθάλασσα καλύπτεται από βλάστηση σε ποσοστό περίπου 25% ενώ, περίπου, το 75% δεν καταλαμβάνεται από κάποιο είδος υδρόβιας βλάστησης, και το υπόστρωμα είναι αμμώδες/ ιλυοαμμώδες (Μπούζος et al., 2002a). Τα αποτελέσματα του Αυγούστου έδειξαν ότι, η πυκνή φυτοκάλυψη φτάνει περίπου στο 2% της υπό μελέτη έκτασης, και χωρικά περιορίζεται κοντά στο δίαυλο επικοινωνίας με τη θάλασσα. Η υδρόβια χλωρίδα που απαντά στους σταθμούς αυτούς αποτελείται από τα είδη Ruppia cirrhosa σε μίξη με την Cymodocea nodosa, με κυρίαρχο είδος τη Ruppia cirrhosa. Όσο απομακρυνόμαστε από το δίαυλο, η πυκνή φυτοκάλυψη εναλλάσσεται με λιγότερο πυκνή, σε ποσοστό 1% επί του συνόλου, και αποτελείται από τα ίδια είδη. Η αραιή φυτοκάλυψη, απαντά σε ποσοστό 3% και χωρικά κατανέμεται στο δίαυλο επικοινωνίας, αλλά και στα νοτιοδυτικά της λιμνοθάλασσας, όπου, εκτός από τη Ruppia cirrhosa, απαντά και η Cladophora glomerata. To ποσοστό της πολύ αραιής φυτοκάλυψης κυμαίνεται γύρω στο 15% και χωρικά κατανέμεται, κυρίως, στα βορειοανατολικά της λιμνοθάλασσας, όπου απαντά μόνο η Ruppia cirrhosa, ενώ, σε ποσοστό 4%, η φυτοκάλυψη είναι σπάνια και απαντά στα βορειοδυτικά και στα κεντρικά σημεία της λιμνοθάλασσας. Τον Απρίλιο, η χωρική κατανομή των υδρόβιων μακροφύτων είναι ακόμα πιο περιορισμένη, με συμμετοχή μόνο της Ruppia cirrhosa, η οποία συγκεντρώνεται κυρίως, κοντά στο δίαυλο επικοινωνίας με τον κόλπο του Ναυαρίνου, καθώς εκεί ευνοείται η ανανέωση του νερού και οι περιβαλλοντικές συνθήκες είναι κατάλληλες για την ανάπτυξή τους. Τονίζεται επίσης ότι, τον Απρίλιο, συλλέχθηκε από τα βόρεια της λιμνοθάλασσας ένα είδος του γένους Ulva spp, που αποτελεί δείκτη ευτροφικών συνθηκών (Orfanidis et al., 2005, Aliaume et al., 2007). Γενικά, το κυρίαρχο είδος στη λιμνοθάλασσα, και τις δύο δειγματοληπτικές περιόδους, είναι το κοσμοπολίτικο είδος Ruppia cirrhosa το οποίο έχει καταγραφεί ξανά στην περιοχή (Tiniakos et al., 1997). Σε όλους τους δειγματοληπτικούς σταθμούς, καταγράφηκαν οι παράμετροι: θερμοκρασία, αλατότητα, pH και διαλυμένο οξυγόνο, αλλά και το βάθος της λιμνοθάλασσας, η διαφάνεια του νερού και η ένταση της φωτοσυνθετικά ενεργής ακτινοβολίας (PAR). Επιπλέον, υπολογίστηκαν οι συγκεντρώσεις της χλωροφύλλης-α, τα ολικά αιωρούμενα στερεά (TSS), οι συγκεντρώσεις των ανόργανων ενώσεων αζώτου και φωσφόρου, καθώς και τα επίπεδα της ολικής αλκαλικότητας των ανθρακικών και όξινων ανθρακικών ιόντων. Τα αποτελέσματα έδειξαν χωρική και χρονική διακύμανση όλων των παραμέτρων, με πιο σημαντικές τις διακυμάνσεις της θερμοκρασίας, της αλατότητας και της συγκέντρωσης των θρεπτικών ενώσεων αζώτου και φωσφόρου. H εποχική διακύμανση των περιβαλλοντικών παραμέτρων προκαλεί φυσικό stress στους υδρόβιους οργανισμούς επηρεάζοντας την αφθονία και εξάπλωσή τους (Crouzet et al., 1999). O έλεγχος των στατιστικώς σημαντικών διαφορών των φυσικοχημικών παραμέτρων, πραγματοποιήθηκε με τον έλεγχο Mann-Whitney U, ο οποίος έδειξε ότι υπάρχουν στατιστικώς σημαντικές διαφορές, μεταξύ των δύο εποχών, που αφορούν στις παραμέτρους: διαφάνεια, αλατότητα, θερμοκρασία, pH, TSS, NO2, CO3ˉ και HCO3=. Αντίθετα, δεν εντοπίστηκαν στατιστικώς σημαντικές διαφορές μεταξύ των δύο εποχικών δειγματοληψιών στις παραμέτρους: βάθος, διαλυμένο οξυγόνο, χλωροφύλλη-α, NO3, NH4 και PO4. Ενδεικτικά, η θερμοκρασία παρουσίασε μεγάλη εποχική διακύμανση, σημειώνοντας πολύ υψηλές τιμές τον Αύγουστο (28,80 C - 30,50 C), και πολύ χαμηλότερες τον Απρίλιο (19,0 0C - 20,40C). Η αλατότητα παρουσίασε μεγάλες διακυμάνσεις από σταθμό σε σταθμό, κυρίως τον Αύγουστο, αλλά και από εποχή σε εποχή. Συγκεκριμένα τον Αύγουστο, κυμάνθηκε από 42,73‰ έως 54,42‰ ενώ τον Απρίλιο κυμάνθηκε γύρω στο 31‰ σε όλη την έκταση της λιμνοθάλασσας. Επιπρόσθετα, το pH παρουσίασε στατιστικώς σημαντικές διαφορές, καθώς τον Αύγουστο κυμάνθηκε στο 8,23 κατά μέσο όρο, αναφορικά για όλη τη λιμνοθάλασσα, ενώ τον Απρίλιο παρουσίασε πτωτική τάση, αφού η μέση του τιμή ήταν 6,99. Όσον αφορά στις συγκεντρώσεις των θρεπτικών, τα αμμωνιακά ιόντα ήταν η κυρίαρχη μορφή αζώτου, καθώς παρουσίασε υψηλές τιμές και τις δύο δειγματοληπτικές περιόδους, ενώ, τα νιτρώδη ιόντα, παρόλο που διέφεραν στατιστικώς σημαντικά, σε γενικές γραμμές, κυμάνθηκαν σε χαμηλά επίπεδα και τους δύο μήνες (έως 0,010 mg/l). Το διαλυμένο οξυγόνο παρέμεινε σε φυσιολογικά επίπεδα και τους δύο μήνες, όπου η μέση τιμή του ήταν 8 mg/l. Το βάθος δεν μεταβλήθηκε σημαντικά, ενώ τα επίπεδα της χλωροφύλλης-α, ήταν υψηλά και τις δύο χρονικές περιόδους. Η ανάλυση Spearman έδειξε σαφείς συσχετίσεις μεταξύ των περιβαλλοντικών παραμέτρων. Ανάμεσα στις πιο σημαντικές συγκαταλέγονται, η αρνητική συσχέτιση της διαφάνειας με την εποχή και το βάθος. Επιπλέον, σημαντική είναι η αρνητική συσχέτιση της αλατότητας και της θερμοκρασίας με την εποχή, αλλά και η θετική συσχέτιση μεταξύ των δύο πρώτων. Στη συνέχεια, εξίσου σημαντική είναι η θετική συσχέτιση του pH με την αλατότητα και τη θερμοκρασία, αλλά αξιοσημείωτες είναι και οι θετικές συσχετίσεις που παρουσιάζουν τα TSS με τη θερμοκρασία και το pH, και η χλωροφύλλη-α με τη διαφάνεια. Σύμφωνα με τα κριτήρια που έθεσε η Οργάνωση για Συνεργασία και Ανάπτυξη (ΟΕCD) για τα στάσιμα ύδατα, προέκυψε η τροφική κατάσταση της λιμνοθάλασσας, με βάση τις μέσες και οριακές τιμές των παραμέτρων: TP, χλωροφύλλη-α και διαφάνεια (Secchi depth) (OECD, 1982). Έτσι, με βάση τη μέση συγκέντρωση του ολικού φωσφόρου χαρακτηρίζεται ως υπερτροφική τον Αύγουστο και ως ευτροφική τον Απρίλιο. Όσον αφορά στη χλωροφύλλη-α, με βάση τις μέσες και μέγιστες τιμές που σημειώθηκαν τον Αύγουστο, η λιμνοθάλασσα χαρακτηρίζεται ως ευτροφική, ενώ τον Απρίλιο χαρακτηρίζεται ως ευτροφική, με βάση τη μέση τιμή, αλλά ως μεσοτροφική, με βάση τη μέγιστη τιμή που καταγράφηκε. Τέλος, όσον αφορά στη διαφάνεια, σύμφωνα με τις μέσες και ελάχιστες τιμές της, η λιμνοθάλασσα, και τους δύο μήνες, χαρακτηρίζεται ως υπερτροφική. Με χρήση των Γεωγραφικών Συστημάτων Πληροφοριών (ΓΣΠ), και με υπόβαθρο ένα μωσαϊκό ορθοφωτοχαρτών της Κτηματολόγιο Α.Ε., που αποκτήθηκαν κατά το διάστημα 2007-2009, κατασκευάστηκε ο χάρτης των καλύψεων/ χρήσεων γης του συστήματος ταξινόμησης Corine Land Cover 2000, για ολόκληρη την προστατευόμενη περιοχή. Ακολούθως, έγινε η αντιστοίχηση των κατηγοριών καλύψεων/ χρήσεων γης που προέκυψαν, με τους τύπους οικοτόπων του Παραρτήματος Ι της Οδηγίας 92/43/ΕΚ, στο 3ο επίπεδο ταξινόμησης. Επιπλέον, πραγματοποιήθηκε μια ποιοτική σύγκριση μεταξύ του νέου χάρτη και του χάρτη του Corine Land Cover, που κατασκευάστηκε για την περιοχή το 2000. Με βάση το χάρτη που κατασκευάστηκε διαπιστώθηκε ότι, υπάρχει ποικιλία φυσικών τύπων οικοτόπων, που προσδίδουν στην περιοχή ιδιαίτερη οικολογική και αισθητική αξία. Περιμετρικά της λιμνοθάλασσας απαντούν μεσογειακά αλίπεδα (Juncetalia maritimi), καλαμώνες, μεσογειακοί λειμώνες υψηλών χόρτων και βούρλων (Molinio Holochoenion), παρόχθια δάση-στοές και λόχμες (Nerio-Tamaricetea και Securinegion tinctoriae), σχηματισμοί με αρκεύθους (Juniperus spp.), υποτυπώδεις κινούμενες θίνες, κινούμενες θίνες της ακτογραμμής με Ammophila arenaria και μονοετή βλάστηση μεταξύ των ορίων πλημμυρίδας και αμπώτιδας. Επιπλέον, στη νήσο Σφακτηρία, στους λόφους του Παλαιόκαστρου και του Πετροχωρίου, απαντούν απόκρημνες βραχώδεις ακτές με βλάστηση στη Μεσόγειο (με ενδημικά Limonium spp.), Garrigues της Ανατολικής Μεσογείου και φρύγανα ενώ, οι όχθες του ποταμού Σελά χαρακτηρίζονται από δάση ανατολικής πλατάνου (Platanus orientalis). Τονίζεται η σημειακή συμμετοχή του τύπου προτεραιότητας των θινών των παραλιών με αρκεύθους (Juniperus spp). Επιπλέον, σε μεγάλη έκταση, απαντούν οι αγροτικές καλλιέργειες, με κυρίαρχους τους ελαιώνες, περιοχές αστικού πρασίνου, δρόμοι αλλά και οικισμοί. Τα αποτελέσματα της παρούσας εργασίας όπως η αποτύπωση της μορφολογίας του πυθμένα της λιμνοθάλασσας και των καλύψεων/ χρήσεων γης, στα όρια της προστατευόμενης περιοχής και η περαιτέρω εκτίμηση της οικολογικής κατάστασης της λιμνοθάλασσας θα συμβάλλουν περαιτέρω στην ορθολογική διαχείριση της. / In the context of this research, the protected area of the «Natura 2000» ecological network: "Pylos Lagoon, Sfaktiria island, St. Dimitrios" with the sitecode GR2550004, has been studied. Two sampling campaigns were carried out, οn August 31st 2012 and on April 21st 2013. Gialova lagoon covers an area of 2.5 Km2 with a maximum depth of 1 m and is connected with the adjoining Navarino Bay, via a small channel. Firstly, side scan sonar bottom interpretation was carried out, in order to investigate, not only the morphology of the lagoon’s bottom, but also the presence, abundance and spatial distribution of aquatic macrophytes. In addition, physicochemical parameters were recorded in 9 different sampling stations. Furthermore, samplings of aquatic vegetation were carried out as well. Initially, with the use of SSS, roughly 37% of the lagoon’s surface has been studied. Side scan sonar imagery resulted in 6 different acoustic types, which correspond to 6 different percentages of plant cover: thick (76-100%), less than thick (51-75%), sparse (26-50%), too sparse (6-25%), rare (1-5%) and absent (<1%). Having built the mosaic of the bottom of the lagoon, with the use of software Triton Isis and Triton Map (Delphmap) of Triton Imaging Inc., it was found that, the lagoon is covered by vegetation at 25%, while 75% is not occupied by any kind of aquatic vegetation, but the substrate is sandy/mudsandy (Bouzos et al., 2002a). The results of August showed that the thick plant cover reaches approximately 2% of the study area, and it is spatially restricted near the communication channel with the sea. The aquatic flora which responds to these stations is Ruppia cirrhosa in mixing with the Cymodocea nodosa, with the Ruppia cirrhosa as the dominant species. When we move away from the communication channel, the thick plant cover alternates with less than thick, representing 1% of the total, and consists of the same species. The sparse plant cover responds to 3% and is spatially distributed in the communication channel, but also in the southwest of the lagoon, where, apart from the Ruppia cirrhosa, Cladophora glomerata is found as well. The percentage of too sparse vegetation is around 15%, and it is spatially distributed mainly in the north-east of the lagoon, where only Ruppia cirrhosa is found, while, the vegetation is rare at 4%, and responds to the northwest and the central points of the lagoon. In April, the spatial distribution of aquatic macrophytes is even more limited, involving only the Ruppia cirrhosa, which is mainly concentrated near the communication channel with the adjoining Navarino Bay, which favored the renewal of water and where the environmental conditions are suitable for their development. It should be also noted that, in April, an occasional species of the genus Ulva spp., was collected from the northern section of the lagoon. This species is an indicator of eutrophic conditions (Orfanidis et al., 2005, Aliaume et al., 2007). In general, the dominant species in the lagoon, in both sampling periods, is the cosmopolitan species Ruppia cirrhosa, which has been recorded before in the region (Tiniakos et al., 1997). The following parameters were recorded in all the sampling stations: temperature, salinity, pH and dissolved oxygen, but also the depth of the lagoon, the transparency of the water’s column and the volume of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). Furthermore, chlorophyll-a, total suspended solids (TSS), inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus compounds, as well as the levels of total alkalinity of carbonates and acid carbonates were calculated. The results showed spatial and temporal variability of all parameters, and the most significant fluctuations were observed in temperature, salinity and in nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations. This seasonal variation of environmental parameters causes natural stress on aquatic organisms affecting their abundance and their spatial distribution (Crouzet et al., 1999). The control of the statistically significant differences in physicochemical parameters was carried out with the Mann-Whitney U test, which has shown that, there are statistically significant differences between the two seasons, relating to parameters: transparency, salinity, temperature, pH, TSS, NO2, CO3ˉ and HCO3=. In contrast, there were not statistically significant differences between the two sampling periods for parameters: depth, dissolved oxygen, Chl-a, NO3, NH4 and PO4. More specifically, the temperature has large seasonal variation, noting very high values in August (28.8ᵒ C – 30.5ᵒ C) and much lower in April (19.0ᵒ C – 20.4ᵒ C). The salinity showed large fluctuations from station to station, especially in August, but also from season to season. Specifically in August, it ranged from 42.73‰ to 54.42‰ and in April fluctuated around 31‰ throughout the lagoon. In addition, the pH values presented statistically significant differences. In August, pH ranged from around 8.23 on average, with respect to the entire lagoon, while in April showed a downward trend, when the average value was around 6.99. With regard to the concentrations of nutrients, ammonium ions were the dominant form of nitrogen, as it presented high values in both sampling periods, while the nitrite ions, although differed statistically significantly, in general, varied in low levels both months. Dissolved oxygen, remained at normal levels in both sampling periods, where the average value was around 8 mg/l. The depth did not change significantly, while the levels of Chl-a, were very high in both time periods. The Spearman analysis showed clear correlations between environmental parameters. Among the most important is, the negative correlation of transparency with season and depth. In addition, significant is the negative correlation of salinity and temperature with season, but also the positive correlation between the first two. Of course, equally important is the positive correlation of pH with salinity and temperature, but also significant are the positive correlations of the TSS with temperature and pH, and Chl-a with transparency. Finally, it is mentioned that there is negative correlation of total phosphorus with season and acid carbonates, and positive correlation with salinity, temperature, pH and TSS. In accordance with the standards set by the Organization for Cooperation and Development (OECD) for stagnant water, the trophic status of the lagoon has been established, on the basis of the average and maximum values of parameters: TP, Chl-a and transparency (Secchi depth) (OECD, 1982). So, on the basis of the average concentration of total phosphorus, it is characterized as hypereutrophic in August and as eutrophic in April. As regards the Chl-a, on the basis of the average and maximum values occurred in August, the lagoon is characterised as eutrophic, while in April it is characterized as eutrophic, based on the average value, but as mesotrophic, on the basis of the maximum value recorded. Finally, with regard to transparency, in accordance with the average and minimum values, the lagoon is characterized as hypereutrophic in both seasons. With the use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and with the help of ortho-corrected aerial photographs, acquired during 2007 and 2009, a Land Cover Land Use map was constructed. Subsequently, the categories of Corine Land Cover that came up, matched with the habitat types included in the Annex I of the Directive 92/43/EC, according to the 3rd classification level. Furthermore, the land cover/ land use categories of the new map compared with those of the map that constructed in 2000 for the same area, in order to estimate the changes during the years that have passed. The map, which was constructed in the context of this research, showed that there is a variety of natural habitat types, which gives the area special ecological and aesthetic value. In particular, around the lagoon, we found mediterranean salt meadows (Juncetalia maritimi), reedbeds, mediterranean grassland with high grass and rush (Molinio Holochoenion), southern riparian forest-arcades and scrubs galleries (Nerio-tamaricetea and Securinegion tinctoriae), formations with juniper thickets (Juniperus spp.), embryonic dunes, shifting dunes along the shoreline with Ammophila Arenaria and vegetation of drift lines. In addition, on the Sfaktiria island, in Paleokastro and Petrochori hills respond vegetated sea cliffs of the Mediterranean coasts (with endemic Limonium spp.), Garrigues of eastern Mediterranean and phrygana, while the banks of the river Selas are characterized by oriental plane woods (Platanus orientalis). The spot presence of dune juniper thickets is emphasized (Juniperus spp), which is a priority habitat. In addition, to a large extent, there are agricultural crops with olive groves, urban areas, roads and different kinds of settlements. The ultimate aim of this study is the visual interpretation of the morphology of the bottom of the lagoon and the Land Cover Land Uses, within the limits of the protected area and the further assessment of the ecological status of the lagoon.