In this thesis, the distribution and state of Posidonia oceanica meadows along the Turkish coast of the north eastern Mediterranean was investigated. The study area was a unique site due to the presence of eastern geographical limit of Posidonia oceanica meadows in Mediterranean Sea. It was aimed to assess the possible reasons of the absence and/or regression in relation to environmental changes. The study was conducted from September 2004 to January 2007 in 5 main regions between Anamur/Mersin and Samandag/Hatay. The regions were determined according to the presence/absence of Posidonia oceanica meadows / 1 region including the boundary meadow at the geographical distribution limit, 1 region western and 3 regions eastern to that boundary meadow. To describe the hydrological characteristics of the study area temperature, salinity and light were measured as abiotic descriptors. Additionally sedimentological analysis was carried out to check the suitability of the substrate type for Posidonia oceanica colonization. The main differences between the regions were found in temperature and light conditions. Both, the recordings of temperature loggers at 10 and 15 meter depths and the sea surface temperature retrieved from satellite (NOAA-AVHRR) showed that the eastern stations with no Posidonia oceanica meadows were warmer than the western stations. Consequently in this study the maximum tolerable temperature limit for Posidonia oceanica growth was determined as 28.4&deg / C from the data collected by the temperature loggers placed to natural meadows near to the boundary meadow. Generally, the whole study area had a limiting light condition for seagrass growth due to low penetration depths of the 10% of surface irradiation. This was a generalized minimum light requirement for growth of seagrasses. Especially in Mersin and Iskenderun bays the minimum required light level did not reached deeper than 10 meter depths in coastal stations. The biological parameters of the Posidonia oceanica meadows were investigated under 3 complementary methods in the first two regions. The structural descriptors were measured in-situ. The lowest shoot density and leaf lengths were found to be in boundary meadow. This meadow had also the lowest depth limit among other stations. The functional descriptors were examined by the lepidochronological and phenological analysis in laboratory. Most of the measurements varied either with respect to depth or among stations according to the abiotic factors of the stations. The lepidochronological cycles obtained from sheath thicknesses were further correlated with abiotic descriptors via a mathematical model. Finally, the first transplantation experiment of Posidonia oceanica along Turkish coasts has been conducted in 2 regions where presently no meadows exist. The survival of cuttings in one station indicated the success of the methodology, while the failure in other stations provided information on the possible reasons of absence/degradation of natural meadows in the area. These included the destructive impact of bottom trawling, the high pressure of grazing (the potential causes of Lessepsian migration) and the long term changes in climate resulting in alterations of environmental conditions such as increasing temperature and reduced light penetration.

Introducción. En el mar Mediterráneo la mayor cantidad de restos vegetales acumulados en la arena pertenecen a Posidonia oceánica (P.oceanica), estos se depositan en los arribazones. Existen diferentes usos de estos arribazones: sellado de vertederos, construcción, farmacia, industria y medio ambiente, aunque hasta la fecha, no hay evidencias de que se estén empleando en el sector de la agricultura, es por ello que el objetivo general de esta tesis fue estudiar la viabilidad del uso de los arribazones de P.oceanica en la agricultura. Experiencia I: empleo de arribazones de Posidonia oceanica como enmienda orgánica. Para dicha experiencia se realizaron 3 ensayos: (1) Evaluación de las características físico-químicas de P.oceanica como enmienda orgánica; (2) Evaluación de la composición de lixiviados procedentes de suelos agrícolas enmendados con P.oceanica y (3) Evaluación del efecto de los lixiviados obtenidos de suelos enmendados con P.oceanica en la germinación de Lycopersicum esculentum Mill. Según la caracterización físico-química de la P. oceanica, esta puede ser empleada como enmienda orgánica de acuerdo con la legislación. La capacidad de retención de agua de los suelos enmendados con P. oceanica aumentó entre un 200 y un 300%, en función del suelo empleado. El suelo ácido, mostró mayores ventajas tras ser enmendado con P.oceanica, ya que elevó el pH del medio hasta los valores de máxima disponibilidad de los nutrientes del suelo y enriqueció la disolución del suelo en Ca, Mg, y K. Para los lixiviados procedentes de los distintos suelos enmendados con P. oceanica tuvo un efecto bioestimulante en la germinación y el crecimiento. Experiencia II: empleo de arribazones de Posidonia oceanica como sustrato de cultivo. Para llevar a cabo esta experiencia se realizaron 2 ensayos: (1) Evaluación de las características físico-químicas de P.oceanica como sustrato de cultivo; (2) Desarrollo de plantas de tomate empleando P. oceanica como sustrato de cultivo. La caracterización físico-química de la P. oceanica, resultó cumplir con la actual legislación como sustrato de cultivo no inerte. Las plantas de tomate cultivadas con P. oceanica cribada (PSL) y cribada y lavada (PL) mostraron síntomas de estrés. En las PSL, pudo ser generado por la elevada salinidad del medio, mientras que para las PL, fue consecuencia de una elevada liberación de metabolitos secundarios. Las plantas PSL mostraron una menor productividad que las desarrolladas en fibra de coco, mientras que en las PL fue similar que para el sustrato control. Como las plantas cultivadas en P.oceanica estaban sometidas a estrés, los frutos presentaron mayores contenidos en compuestos fenólicos y licopeno, aumentando el valor nutricional respecto a los cultivados en fibra de coco. Experiencia III: efecto de la aplicación de extractos acuosos de Posidonia oceanica sobre el desarrollo vegetal. Para dicha experiencia se realizaron 3 ensayos: (1) Obtención y caracterización de extractos vegetales de P. oceanica; (2) Efecto de la aplicación de extractos acuosos de P. oceanica sobre la germinación de semillas de tomate Seny 1 y (3) Efecto de la aplicación foliar de extractos acuosos de P. oceanica a plantas de tomate sometidas a estrés salino. De los dos extractos de P. oceanica, el diluido, estimuló la germinación de las semillas. La aplicación de dicho extracto redujo el estrés oxidativo producido por salinidad, mejorando la integridad de las membranas plasmáticas de las células radiculares, y reduciendo el contenido en prolina, MDA y H2O2 foliar. Estos efectos beneficiosos frente al estrés salino confirmarian la actividad elicitora de los extractos de P.oceanica, debido a la presencia de Si en su composición y compuestos fenólicos.

No description available.

Las zonas costeras han sido históricamente caracterizadas por ser una fuente de riqueza, adquiriendo gran relevancia como lugar de descanso y ocio. Esto ha generado muchas actuaciones antrópicas que han provocado desequilibrios, más importantes cuanto mayor ha sido esa presión. Para conocer la evolución futura de esos cambios es necesario comprender su origen. Los Sistemas de Información Geográfica (GIS) proporcionan la herramienta para realizar este análisis. En esta investigación se emplean para conocer los cambios en la línea de costa, clima marítimo, batimetría, la morfología del fondo marino y las especies vegetales presentes, prestando especial atención a la Posidonia oceanica. También se han estudiado las propiedades de los sedimentos y su distribución espacial. Así mismo, se han identificado los impactos que han tenido las acciones antrópicas sobre el medio costero, como el encauzamiento de ríos, la construcción de puertos y obras de defensa costera o la urbanización de los entornos litorales. Para ello se han analizado 20 playas representativas del litoral de las provincias de Alicante, Valencia y Murcia.

[pt] A ciência oceânica carece de um diálogo estruturado entre os conhecimentos técnico e empírico social, em particular com o esporte. São escassos os trabalhos que estimulam e conectam cientistas do mar e esportistas aquáticos. A falta de comunicação entre estes setores sociais inviabiliza oportunidades que agregam para a sustentabilidade do oceano. Por conta disto, e em busca de analisar o potencial que os esportes aquáticos possuem para o desenvolvimento da cultura oceânica no Brasil, esse trabalho propõe uma metodologia de aprendizagem experiencial que conecta a educação do surf a temas da sustentabilidade, oferecendo aos educadores desse esporte uma ferramenta capaz de propagar a Cultura Oceânica. A metodologia tem como base a Teoria da Aprendizagem Experiencial, desenvolvida em sua maior parte por David Kolb (1984). Nesta abordagem, o aprendizado se inicia a partir da experiência direta de cada pessoa, seguida de reflexões, conceituação e ações estimuladas para internalização e fixação da aprendizagem. A metodologia proposta neste trabalho conecta a aprendizagem prática do surf a reflexões, conceitos e estímulos comportamentais ligados à Cultura Oceânica. Para compreender o contexto do público em relação ao tema, e averiguar a importância da criação desta metodologia, foram realizadas quinze entrevistas em profundidade: oito com educadores do oceano e sete com educadores do surf. A abordagem teórico-metodológica do construcionismo social de Spink (2013) orientou o desenho da pesquisa e a análise das entrevistas. Ambos os grupos de educadores concordaram com o importante papel do esporte como ferramenta de sensibilização para aprendizagem da sustentabilidade do oceano e disseminação da cultura oceânica. / [en] Ocean science lacks a structured dialogue between technical end empirical social knowledge, in particular with sport. There are only a few works that stimulate and connect ocean scientists and water sports enthusiasts. The absence of communication between those sectors prevents the creation of opportunities that contribute to the sustainability of the ocean. Therefore, in order to analyze the potential that water sports have for the development of Ocean Literacy in Brazil, surfing was used to build the methodology by which sport educators can propagate Ocean Literacy using scientifically based information through their own contact with the ocean. The methodology is based on the Experiential Learning Theory developed mostly by David Kolb (1984). Learning starts with the direct experience of each person, which will be the sport, along with their own experiences and the environment that surrounds them. Based on the feelings and observations generated by the practice of the sport, reflections, conceptualizations, and actions are stimulated to internalize and fix this learning. To ascertain the importance of creating this methodology, interviews were conducted, based on Spink s (2013) theoretical-methodological approach of social constructionism, with a group of eight ocean educators and seven surf educators. Both groups of educators agreed on the important role of water sports in the collaboration of Ocean Literacy, and its influence on society s understanding of the importance of ocean sustainability for their lives and the planet.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-04T18:50:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Edgar.pdf: 1094234 bytes, checksum: 7aa0fe5a29dfc6d6a8b9f215c97da0da (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-09-29 / In this work, we study the modell of a system of N beams interconnected with each other, where one of its ends is clamped and the other is submitted to a dissipative mechanism of frictional type. We show that model is well posed, using the semigroup theory, and using energy method, we prove that the system is exponentially stable. Finally, through numerical methods, we con_rm these properties for the corresponding discrete model. We obtain the numerical modeling and graphics showing the evolution of the modell solution. / Neste trabalho, estudamos a modelagem de um sistema de N vigas interconectadas entre si, onde um de seus extremos está engastado e o outro está submetido a um mecanismo dissipativo do tipo friccional. Mostramos a boa colocação do modelo, usando a teoria de semigrupos; e usando o método de energia, provamos que o sistema é exponencialmente estável. Finalmente, através dos métodos numéricos, confirmamos estas propriedades para o correspondente modelo discreto. Fazemos a modelagem numérica e obtemos gráficos que mostram a evolução da solução do modelo.

Le Golfe de Gabès, situé dans le bassin méditerranéen oriental, réunit plusieurs traits distinctifs lui conférant une forte sensibilité vis à vis des contaminations d'origine anthropique. D'une part, l'influence des courants Atlantiques y très limitée, d'autre part, son orientation et sa morphologie caractérisée par une faible profondeur sur une grande étendue ne permettent qu'un faible taux de renouvellement des eaux. Dans cet environnement vulnérable, plus de 200 millions de tonnes de phosphogypse (sous- produit résultant de la production d'acide phosphorique) ont été rejetés dans l'environnement marin depuis près d'un demi-siècle en ayant comme conséquence une dégradation conséquente de l'écosystème benthique en particulier des herbiers de posidonies. La caractérisation du phosphogypse conduit à identifier les différentes modalités des transferts au sein des milieux marins des métaux contenus initialement dans le phosphate. Sa charge en métaux toxiques est essentiellement associée à la matière organique qui s'agrège lors de son transfert dans l'émissaire industriel pour former une mousse se déplaçant à la surface de la mer. Cette mousse présente une structure complexe constituée de matière organique amphiphile jouant le rôle de tensioactif au contact de l'eau de mer et de gypse synthétique qui en constitue le squelette auxquels s'ajoutent halite, sphalérite et francolite. Elle se dégrade en fonction de l'état d'agitation du milieu marin via la dissolution du gypse relarguant ainsi sa charge polluante selon l'amplitude de la houle. Une fraction limitée des métaux passe directement en solution transportés par l'action des courants côtiers. Enfin, des grains de phosphate brut sont transportés soit par roulement-saltation soit en suspension. Ils s'accumulent surtout au niveau de la plage de Chatt Essalam du fait des impacts hydrodynamiques des structures portuaires du site. Les métaux toxiques affectent également les sédiments de surface et les organismes benthiques. En particulier, les mattes posidonies jouent le rôle d'archivage de la contamination permettant ainsi de retracer l'évolution de la contamination métallique des eaux marines depuis le début du développement industriel de la côte en 1972. Enfin, une première évaluation des pertes financières associées aux services écosystémiques fournis par les herbiers de Posidonies à l'activité économique de la pêche côtière, conduit à mettre en perspective le coût d'une partie des externalités négatives associées à la contamination chronique à l'échelle de la partie centrale du Golfe de Gabès. / The Gulf of Gabes, located in the oriental Mediterranean basin, has many particular properties making it very sensitive to anthropogenic contaminations. One of the distinguishing features of Gabes Gulf is low water flush-activity related mainly to its orientation and morphology marked by its largely-extended shallow plateau as well as to the limited influence of Atlantic water currents. For more than 50 years, than 200 million tons of phosphogypsum (by-product of phosphoric acid production) have been continuously dumped in this vulnerable environment leading to an accentuated degradation of the local benthic habitat represented mainly by the seagrass meadows of Posidonia oceanica. Within this context, knowing the characterization of phosphogypsum will certainly help to identify the different transfer modalities of the metals (composing the initial phosphate ore) within the marine environment. The pollutants load of phosphogypsum is mainly associated to the organic matter which aggregates during the transfer process via the evacuation channel leading to the formation of floating foam. These latter foams are passively transported by winds and local currents to distant areas and are found to be rich in organic matter with an amphipathic character that makes them act as a surfactant in contact with seawater. The skeleton of phosphogypsum foam was also found to be composed of synthetic gypsum as well as halite, sphalerite and francolite. The degradation of the phosphogypsum foam is accentuated by the degree of agitation/hydrodynamics of the marine environment through the dissolution of gypsum, leading to the release of its polluting components following the swell amplitude. It is worth noting that a limited metal fraction passes directly into solution. These latter metals are hence transported by the coastal currents. As for the phosphate grains, they are trained towards the south either by rolling-saltation or in suspension, and end by accumulating mainly in Chat Essalam beach due to the hydrodynamics effects exerted by the ports structures leading to modify the coastline. In addition, the toxic metals affect also the surface sediments as well as the benthic organisms and hence these latter can inform about the health status and the contamination history of the local marine environment. Within this context, the mats of Posidonia oceanica meadows can be used as an archiving tool of the contamination history in the Gulf of Gabes and allow hence retracing the evolution of metallic contamination of sea waters since the set-up of the coastal industrial complex in Gabes city (i.e. 1972). Finally, a first assessment of the financial losses linked to the ecosystemic services provided by Posidonia oceanica seagrass beds to coastal fisheries activity was conducted allowing to evaluate the cost of a part of the negative consequences linked to the industrial chronic pollution at the central part of Gabes Gulf.

Η παρούσα εργασία εκπονήθηκε στα πλαίσια του Διατμηματικού Προγράμματος Μεταπτυχιακών σπουδών στις περιβαλλοντικές Επιστήμες. Οι θαλάσσιες γεωφυσικές έρευνες εκτελέστηκαν από το Εργαστήριο Θαλάσσιας Γεωλογίας και Φυσικής Ωκεανογραφίας (Ε.ΘΑ.ΓΕ.Φ.Ω) του Τμήματος Γεωλογίας του Πανεπιστημίου Πατρών. Οι έρευνες του Οκτωβρίου του 2011 αποτελούν συνέχεια αυτών του Οκτωβρίου του 2010 με σκοπό να καλυφθεί το σύνολο της θαλάσσιας περιοχής για την οποία υπάρχει αδειοδότηση. Αντικείμενο της έρευνας είναι η γεωφυσική διασκόπηση του πυθμένα με τη χρήση ηχοβολιστή πλευρικής σάρωσης (side scan sonar) στις περιοχές της Νεάπολης και της Ελαφονήσου με σκοπό: α) την αποτύπωση της μορφολογίας του πυθμένα και β) τον εντοπισμό βιολογικών πόρων (λιβάδια Posidonia oceanica και ασβεστιτικά ροδοφύκη). Τα λιβάδια της Posidonia oceanica και τα ασβεστιτικά ροδοφύκη αποτελούν ενδημικά είδη της Μεσογείου των οποίων ο ρυθμός αύξησής τους θεωρείται εξαιρετικά αργός ενώ παράλληλα ο ρυθμός καταστροφής τους είναι τεράστιος και κρίνεται απαραίτητη η χαρτογράφηση τους ώστε να παρθούν καλύτερα μέτρα προστασίας.Η εμφάνιση των δύο βιολογικών σχηματισμών συμπίπτει με την βιβλιογραφία καθώς για την περιοχή μελέτης της Νεάπολης η Posidonia oceanica εμφανίζεται σε βάθη 0-35 m και στην Ελαφόνησο 0-25 m.Οι σχηματισμοί των ασβεστιτικών ροδοφυκών-ροδόλιθων εμφανίζονται σε βάθη 50-100 m για την Νεάπολη και 20-100 m για την Ελαφόνησο. / This present study was conducted for the Interdepartmental program of postgraduate studies in environmental sciences, Department of Geology. Marine geophysical survey took place in October 2011 by the Laboratory of Marine Geology and Physical Oceanography. The current research follows the survey of October 2010 in order to cover the entire sea area for which license was given. The purpose of this thesis is to have a full bottom analysis for the areas Neapoli and Elafonisos , using side scan sonar, and mapping Posidonia oceanica and Coralligene formations which are two very important species for the marine environment.

[pt] O crescimento da população urbana e o incremento na demanda por energia elétrica para residências brasileiras, especialmente em zonas costeiras, indicam a relevância do aproveitamento da energia oceânica para o Brasil. Neste cenário, o trabalho investiga o potencial de energia de ondas na orla da cidade do Rio de Janeiro e suas possíveis relações com o planejamento sustentável da engenharia urbana costeira. O estudo sobre a microbacia do Bairro do Leme, localizado na orla oceânica da zona sul da cidade do Rio de Janeiro, estima um potencial de energia oceânica por aproveitamento energético das ondas do mar capaz de suprir a demanda de energia elétrica para toda a população do Bairro em torno de 14.000 pessoas. O potencial energético das ondas foi estimado a partir da análise estatística de um prognóstico anual do clima de ondas para essa orla, elaborado através da modelagem computacional de propagação de ondas. Sendo utilizados onze anos dados de onda extraídos do modelo global ERA/INTERIM. Em um modelo físico-reduzido (escala 1:40) do perfil tipo da orla do Leme, construído em canal de ondas irregulares, foi avaliada a vulnerabilidade da orla ao risco de galgamento de ondas durante extremos de marés de ressaca. Nos ensaios de modelagem física também foram testadas soluções de engenharia com vistas ao aproveitamento e controle do potencial energético de ondas. Com os resultados obtidos das modelagens, discute-se um plano conceitual para resiliência urbano-costeira da orla oceânica baseado na reengenharia do perfil de praia elaborado no projeto de obra estabelecido em 1970. / [en] The growth of urban population and the increasing demand for electricity to Brazilian consumers, especially in coastal areas, indicate the importance of the use of ocean energy for Brazil. In this scenario, this thesis investigates the wave energy potential on the south area of the city of Rio de Janeiro and its possible relation to sustainable planning of the coastal urban engineering. About 3.9 billion people (54 per cent of world population) live in urban areas. It is estimated that the growth of cities should result in an urban population of over 6.4 billion people by 2050, especially in the less developed areas, with poor urban planning and vulnerable to environmental risks (UN-Habitat, 2016). The urbanization of coastal areas in developing countries demands greater attention due to infrastructure needs and the necessary management to mitigate pressures of increasing human activities on the environment (Cicin-Sain and Knecht, 1998). This framework is particularly important for Brazil that has a high degree of urbanization with marked concentration of population in its coastline (IBGE, 2015) with urban interventions on ocean beaches through works poorly integrated into the city, neglecting nature s ability to claim the balance taken away from her. According to the report Act Now or Pay Later, made by the organization Christian Aid, the rapid growth of urban populations along the coastlines of the world and the growing threat of climate change display evidences that more than one billion people will be vulnerable to coastal flooding in 2060 (Doig and Ware, 2016), in cities exposed to rising sea level, which should increase for the next century in global average between 0.18 and 0.70 meters above the current level (IPCC, 2014).

FundaÃÃo de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Cearà / As raias das espÃcies Dasyatis guttata e Dasyatis americana constituem importantes recursos pesqueiros no Estado do CearÃ. O objetivo geral desta DissertaÃÃo à estudar a biologia pesqueira dessas espÃcies com vistas ao uso das informaÃÃes como constituintes de eventuais medidas de gerenciamento de sua exploraÃÃo. Dentro desse contexto geral, foram abordados aspectos relacionados com a biometria e suas relaÃÃes morfomÃtricas, dieta alimentar e reproduÃÃo, quanto ao comprimento mÃdio na 1 maturidade sexual e fecundidade. As amostragens foram realizadas nos MunicÃpios de Fortaleza, Caucaia e Aquiraz, no Estado do CearÃ, Brasil, a partir da captura como fauna acompanhante das pescarias com rede-de-arrasto e rede-de-espera, e dos desembarques das pescarias com linha-de-mÃo e mergulho (arpÃo), durante os perÃodos de julho e agosto de 1997; fevereiro a julho de 1999; agosto de 2000; marÃo a junho de 2001; outubro a dezembro de 2003; e janeiro de 2004 a maio de 2005. O crescimento relativo das medidas lineares comprimento do disco (CD), distÃncia focinho-olho (FO), distÃncia focinho-boca (FB), largura da boca (LB), comprimento dos clÃspers (CC) e peso total (PT) â variÃveis dependentes, como proporÃÃo da largura do disco (LD) â variÃvel independente, foi estimado atravÃs do Ãndice MorfomÃtrico (IM) e das relaÃÃes moformÃtricas lineares CD/LD, FO/LD, FB/LD, LB/LD e CC/LD e PT/LD. A ocorrÃncia de dimorfometria sexual foi avaliada atravÃs do teste t, aplicado ao coeficiente angular para machos (b1) e fÃmeas (b2). DiferenÃas no tamanho entre machos e fÃmeas tambÃm foram avaliadas pelo teste t. A alimentaÃÃo foi analisada quanto ao Ãndice de RepleÃÃo Estomacal, e quanto à dieta pelos mÃtodos da freqÃÃncia de ocorrÃncia, avaliaÃÃo volumÃtrica e avaliaÃÃo gravimÃtrica. A reproduÃÃo foi estudada quanto ao desenvolvimento da maturaÃÃo sexual e estimaÃÃo do comprimento na 1Â. maturidade sexual atravÃs do mÃtodo da ogiva. A fecundidade das espÃcies foi estimada atravÃs da contagem do nÃmero de embriÃes por fÃmea grÃvida. A anÃlise dos dados permitiu a obtenÃÃo dos seguintes resultados: (1) D guttata foi considerada como espÃcie-alvo das pescarias com linha-de-mÃo, sendo tambÃm capturada como fauna acompanhante nas pescarias direcionadas a camarÃes e lagostas com redes de arrasto e de espera, enquanto D. americana foi considerada como espÃcie-alvo das pescarias com linha-de-mÃo e mergulho, sendo capturadas em fundos lamosos e arenosos, respectivamente; (2) D. americana apresentou um porte bem maior que D. guttata, as fÃmeas sÃo maiores do que os machos; (3) foram observadas diferenÃas entre sexos quanto ao crescimento relativo das variÃveis âdistÃncia focinho-bocaâ em ambas as espÃcies, e âdistÃncia focinho-olhoâ em D. americana; (3) a dieta apresentou a seguinte estrutura: alimentos essenciais - crustÃceos (D. guttata), crustÃceos e peixes (D. americana); alimentos secundÃrios - peixes, poliquetas e sipunculas (D. guttata); alimentos ocasionais - moluscos e outros (D. guttata), poliquetas, sipunculas e moluscos (D. americana); (4) D. americana parece fazer um melhor aproveitamento dos itens alimentares disponÃveis, como o indica seu maior Ãndice de repleÃÃo estomacal; (5) a capacidade de reproduÃÃo à atingida nas classes de 50-60 cm LD e 60-70 cm LD (machos) e 60-70 cm LD e 80-90 cm LD fÃmeas), para D. guttata e D. americana, respectivamente; (6) os clÃspers apresentaram comprimentos mÃdios de 11,2 e 11,8 cm em D. guttata e D. americana, com proporÃÃes praticamente iguais nas duas espÃcies, valores que definem o tamanho mÃdio na 1Â. maturidade funcional; (7) s D. guttata e D. americana apresentaram baixa fecundidade e neonatos com tamanho mÃdio de nascimento estimados em 14,0 cm LD e 29,0 cm LD, respectivamente. / The stingray species are important fishing resources in Cearà State, Brazil. The main objective of this Dissertation was to study the fishery biology of the species Dasyatis guttata e Dasyatis americana, with the aim of using the results as tools in the issuing and enforcing of the appropriate measures for managing their exploitation. Various aspects were studied, such as: biometry, morphometric relationships, feeding diet, and reproductive activity as to the maturation development and mean size at the first sexual maturity and fecundity. Sampling for the stocks was carried out in Fortaleza, Caucaia and Aquiraz counties, in Cearà State, Brazil, as by-catch material by the trawlnet and gillnet fisheries and landings from the hook-and-line fishery and harpooning fisheries, during the period of July and August of 1997; February to July of 1999; August of 2000; March to June of 2001; October to December of 2003; and January of 2004 to May of 2005 . The relative growth of the body measures disk length (DL), distance snout-eye (SE), distance snout-mouth (SM), mouth breadth (MB), claspers length (CL) and total weight (TW) â dependent variables â as a proportion of disk width (DW) â independent variable - was estimated by means of the Morphometric Index and the morphometric relationships DL/DW, SE/DW, SM/DW, MB/DW e CL/DW and TW/DW. The occurrence of sexual dimorphism was assessed through Studentâs t-test applied to the slope coefficient for males (b1) and females (b2). Differences in size between males and females were also evaluated by means of the t-test. Feeding was investigated by the Index of Gut Fullness and diet by the frequency of occurrence and volumetric and gravimetric evaluation methods. Reproduction was investigated as to gonad development and estimation of the mean size at first sexual maturity, the latter by the ogive method. Fecundity of both species was estimating by counting the number of embryos per pregnant female. The data analysis generetd the following results: (1) Dasyatis guttata was considered a target specie of hook-and-line fishery, being also caught as by-catch in the shrimp and lobster fisheries with trawlnets and gillnets and Dasyatis americana was a target species of hook-and-line fishery and harpooning fisheries, they are caught in mud and sand bottoms, respectively; (2) D. americana was larger that D. guttata, and likewise, females were bigger than males; (3) sex differences as to relative growth of variables âdistance snout-mouthâ in both species, and âdistance snout-eyeâ in D. americana; (3) the feeding diet has the following structure: essential foods - crustaceans (D. guttata), crustaceans and fish (D. americana); secondary foods â fish, worms, fish and sipunculids (D. guttata); occasional foods â mollusks and other items (D. guttata), worms, sipunculids and mollusks (D. americana); (4) the stingray D. americana seems to make the most of the ingested food as indicated by the Index of Gut Fullness; (5) the onset of reproduction is attained in length classes de 50-60 cm DW and e 60-70 cm DW (males), and 60-70 cm DW e 80-90 cm DW (females), for D. guttata and D. americana, respectively; (6) the mean length of claspers was estimated as 11.2cm (D. guttata) and e 11.8 cm (D. americana), with roughly equal proportions in both species, values which are thought to define the mean size at first functional maturity; (7) D. guttata e D. americana showed a low fecundity index, with the mean length free-living neonates being estimated as 14.0 cm DW and 29.0 cm DW, respectively.