In order to delineate the potential sources and to understand the main controls on the biogeochemical cycling of dissolved and particulate organic matter (DOM, POM) and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) during estuarine mixing, comprehensive seasonal geochemical and isotopic and surveys across the freshwater-tidal interface were carried out in the Tyne and Tweed Estuaries, NE UK. This study provided a contrast between a relatively pristine system (Tweed) with one that is heavily influenced by anthropogenic activity (Tyne). Geochemical and isotopic (13C, 14C and 15N) analyses demonstrated the predominance of terrigenous organic matter in both these estuaries, with elevated river discharges leading to enhanced terrestrial loading. High pCO2 values in the Tyne (summer) and Tweed (winter) suggested that a significant fraction of this terrestrially-derived organic matter (both DOM and POM pools) is relatively labile and can potentially undergo significant mineralization during estuarine mixing. In both estuaries in situ processing of DIN was relatively minor, with mixing between different sources being the main factor in controlling the distribution of nitrate and ammonium across the salinity gradient. However, anthropogenic ammonium discharges in the Tyne were found to have an enormous direct and indirect impact on estuarine nitrogen cycling. Large, concave removals of terrigenous high molecular weight (HMW) DOC caused by flocculation, biodegradation, and/or photochemical oxidation were associated with a non-conservative 13C-enrichment in d13C signatures. Radiocarbon dates showed an export of young (modern) HMW DOC and old (100-1000s of years), terrigenous POC to the North Sea. 14C-enriched values in coastal North Sea HMW DOC were attributed to anthropogenic discharges originating from within the coastal North Sea environment. In the Tweed, seasonal changes in soil characteristics resulted in an older age for POM during the summer. In the Tyne, decreases in POC% with increasing salinity sometimes coincided with an increase in POC age. This was attributed to mixing with older sediment and to the possible preferential loss of the younger, more labile POC fraction during mineralization. This study has shown that land use patterns, sewage inputs, and freshwater flushing time are the main influences in determining the behaviour and origin of organic matter and DIN entering the coastal North Sea in these two systems.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:33:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-06-27Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:05:52Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 marcelo_av_dr_jabo.pdf: 1194015 bytes, checksum: 68c9171ad52d863ef75fe8bb9b03c925 (MD5) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Em sistema de semeadura direta, os resíduos das culturas de entressafra são utilizados para protegerem a superfície do solo dos agentes erosivos e promoverem a ciclagem de nutrientes. O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de sequências de culturas na quantidade, qualidade, decomposição e liberação de nutrientes dos resíduos vegetais de culturas de entressafra, bem como a cobertura do solo proporcionada pelos resíduos, na fertilidade do solo, nas frações particulada e associada aos minerais de C, nas substâncias húmicas do solo e na produtividade de milho e soja cultivados no verão, em região de clima tropical. O experimento foi conduzido em Jaboticabal, SP (48°15’22’’ W e 21°18’58’’ S), em um Latossolo Vermelho eutrófico. O delineamento experimental foi em faixas, com três repetições. Os tratamentos foram constituídos pela combinação de três sequências de culturas de verão (rotação soja-milho, monocultura de milho e monocultura de soja) com sete culturas de entressafra (milho, sorgo, girassol, crotalária, guandu, nabo forrageiro e milheto). O experimento foi iniciado em 2002 e o presente estudo se refere aos anos agrícolas 2008/2009 e 2009/2010. Avaliaram-se as quantidades de matéria seca e acúmulo de N, P, K, Ca, Mg e S pelas culturas de entressafra, bem como a dinâmica de decomposição e liberação dos nutrientes, por meio da utilização de sacolas de decomposição, com os seguintes períodos de avaliação: 15, 30, 60, 120 e 180 dias. A cobertura do solo foi avaliada após o manejo e ao final de cada ano agrícola. Amostras de solo foram coletadas nas camadas 0-10, 10-20 e 20-30 cm de profundidade em duas ocasiões, antes da semeadura das culturas de entressafra, em março, e de verão, em outubro, nos anos de 2008 e 2009. As amostras de solo foram submetidas às análises químicas para determinação dos teores... / In no-tillage system, the offseason crops residues are expected to maintain the soil covered in order to control soil erosion and to promote the nutrients cycling. The objective of this study was to evaluate the offseason crops dry matter quality and production, soil cover, residues decomposition and nutrient release and their effects on soil fertility, C content of humic substances, particulate and mineral associated organic matter fractions and summer maize and soybean yield. A field experiment has been carried out on a Rhodic Eutrudox at Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil (48°15’22’’ W and 21°18’58’’ S). A randomized split-block design with three replications was used. The treatments were the combination of three summer crops sequences (soybean-corn rotation, monoculture of corn and monoculture of soybean) with seven offseason crops (maize, grain sorghum, sunflower, sunn hemp, pigeon pea, oilseed radish and pearl millet). The cultivations started in 2002 and this study is related to 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 growing seasons. The offseason crops dry matter production and N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S accumulations were evaluated at management moment. The period of time to measure the residue decomposition and the nutrient release was 15, 30, 60, 120 and 180 days, using litter bags. The soil cover was evaluated after the offseason crops management and at the end of each growing season. The soil was sampled at 0-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm soil depths in two occasions, before the offseason crops sowing, at March, and before the summer crops sowing, at October, in 2008 and 2009. Total organic C, pH, P, K, Ca, Mg and H+Al were determined in each soil samples. The soil samples obtained on October at 0-10 cm were submitted for physical and chemical organic matter fractionation, for particulate, mineral-associated, humic acid, fulvic acid and humin C content determination. The summer monoculture... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Les systèmes intégrés d’aquaculture multi-trophique (IMTA) proposent de limiter les rejets dans l’environnement en associant la culture d’espèces de niveaux trophiques différents et le recyclage des déchets. Les détritivores sont un groupe trophique intéressant car ils permettent l’extraction de matière organique particulaire. Hediste (Nereis) diversicolor est un polychète qui connait un intérêt croissant du fait de sa capacité de bioturbation dans les sédiments et de sa haute valeur commerciale en tant qu’appât et nourriture potentielle pour animaux. L’objectif principal de cette thèse est d’évaluer le potentiel d’ H. diversicolor dans la bio-remédiation des rejets solides en système IMTA. Plus spécifiquement, l’étude a eu pour objectifs : i) de calibrer une nouvelle méthode de mesure des composés organiques des rejets (azote, carbone, phosphore, lipides), ii) d’évaluer l’activité métabolique (respiration) d’H. diversicolor nourries aux fèces de Dicentrarchus labrax en fonction de leur taille et de différentes températures, et iii) d’utiliser un modèle bioénergétique pour simuler croissance, respiration et excrétion d’H. diversicolor selon différents scenarios IMTA.Pour obtenir une caractérisation rapide des composés organiques, une méthode novatrice (NIRS) a été calibrée. Les composés des rejets ont varié entre 44-77% de matière organique, 2-5% d’azote organique total, 11-51% de carbone organique total, 9-26 de rapport carbone/azote, 1-3% phosphore total and 2-12% de lipides (% de matière sèche).Les taux métaboliques de H. diversicolor nourries aux fèces ont été estimés par consommations d’oxygène à différentes températures (11, 17, 22 and 27°C). Les effets de la température et de la taille du ver sur les consommations en oxygène ont été significatifs, mais ces niveaux de respiration (12.3 µmol g-1 de poids sec h-1 à 20°C) correspondaient probablement à un métabolisme basal dû aux conditions expérimentales (jeun et obscurité).Les simulations du modèle DEB H. diversicolor ont été comparées aux données expérimentales de taux de croissance, de respiration et d’excrétion, ce qui a permis de corroborer les prédictions du modèle. Le modèle DEB a permis de tester différents scenarios pour prédire les réponses métaboliques, la croissance, la maturité et la reproduction d’ H. diversicolor à différentes températures (5 à 25°C) et disponibilité alimentaire (f variant de 0.5 à 1, correspondant à la disponibilité des fèces). Le modèle DEB s’est avéré être un outil utile pour prédire les réponses physiologiques sous différentes conditions environnementales dans un contexte IMTA. / Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) systems are based on the concept of limiting aquaculture discharges associating species of different trophic levels to reuse wastes. Deposit-feeders are one trophic group that has gained attention for the extraction of particulate organic matter. Hediste (Nereis) diversicolor is a polychaete species that has gained increasing interest for its bioremediation capacity through bioturbation activity in sediments, and high commercial value as fish bait and animal food sources. The main objective of this thesis was to evaluate the fish waste bioremediation capacity of polychaete H. diversicolor in IMTA context. More specifically, i) to predict organic compounds (nitrogen, carbon, phosphorus, lipids) in marine fish waste, ii) to evaluate the metabolic responses - respiration - of H. diversicolor fed with solid waste of seabass Dicentrarchus labrax at different temperatures and body size, and iii) to use a bioenergetic model (DEB) to simulate growth, oxygen consumption and excretion in different IMTA scenarios.To provide fast characterization of organic compounds we used an innovative method based on near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS). Chemical content of the waste measured by NIRS models after calibration, ranged from 44-77% organic matter, 2-5% total organic nitrogen, 11-51% total organic carbon, 9-26 carbon/nitrogen ratio, 1-3% total phosphorus and 2-12% lipids (% of dry matter).Fish waste fed H. diversicolor metabolic rates were evaluated through oxygen consumption at different temperatures (11, 17, 22 and 27°C). The effect of temperature and worm body size was significant on oxygen consumptions, however these respiration measures (12.3 µmol g-1 of dry weight h-1 at 20°C) may represent basal metabolic rate due to experimental conditions (starvation, darkness).DEB model of H. diversicolor was compared to experimental data on growth, respiration and excretion rates, which corroborated DEB model predictions. DEB was then applied to test different scenarios predicting metabolic responses, growth, maturity and reproduction of H. diversicolor at different temperatures (5 to 25°C) and food levels (f varying from 0 to 1, corresponding to fish waste loading). DEB revealed to be a useful tool in IMTA context, predicting physiological responses in different environmental conditions.

A Plataforma Oeste da Península Antártica (POPA) é uma região onde a produtividade primária na superfície do oceano apresenta padrões altamente sazonais e considerável variabilidade interanual. A dinâmica do gelo marinho é o principal fator condicionante da produtividade e, por consequência, dos fluxos de matéria orgânica da superfície para o leito marinho. A matéria orgânica particulada depositada, chamada de fitodetrito, forma densas camadas de alimento lábil disponível para os organismos bênticos. Essa relação estreita entre os processos da coluna de água e aqueles que ocorrem no bentos é chamada de acoplamento bento-pelágico. Com o objetivo de avaliar as respostas da macrofauna bêntica aos fluxos e deposição de alimento, foi realizada uma série temporal sazonal de amostragens (novembro/1999 a março/2001) na POPA em três estações de coleta perpendiculares à costa. Cerca de 25.000 indivíduos pertencentes a 22 táxons foram coletados em 15 amostras de box corer (0,25 m2 cada). Mesmo com alguma variação ao largo da plataforma (de 10.886 ind.m-2 (estação A) a 2.326 ind.m-2 (B)), atribuída a diferenças na topografia, a macrofauna apresentou pouca variabilidade em termos de composição e abundância ao longo do período estudado. Além disso, diferenças na composição e abundância entre estratos sedimentares também foram notáveis, sendo que 90% dos indivíduos foram encontrados entre 0 e 5 cm. Dentre as 185 espécies identificadas, Aurospio foodbancsia (Polychaeta, Spionidae), uma espécie típica de regiões de plataforma na Antártica, mas muito próxima da espécie de mar profundo A. dibranchiata, foi a espécie dominante em todos os períodos e estações (2.087 ind.m-2). Além de Polychaeta, outros grupos abundantes na POPA foram Bivalvia, Tanaidacea e Oligochaeta. Picos de abundância foram observados para algumas espécies, provavelmente associados a eventos sazonais de recrutamento, porém nem sempre associados à chegada do alimento ao fundo marinho da região. Os grupo funcionais de Polychaeta também não variaram ao longo do período estudado, o que indicou que animais depositívoros de superfície e subsuperfície se alimentam ao longo de todo o ano, aproveitando o alimento que permanece lábil e disponível, mesmo no inverno, quando o fluxo de matéria orgânica para o bentos é mínimo. Os resultados encontrados neste trabalho confirmam os resultados já encontrados dentro do projeto FOODBANCS, que a macrofauna da POPA age como um filtro, respondendo menos às flutuações sazonais. / The West Antarctic Peninsula shelf (WAP shelf) experiences a high seasonal and interannual variability in surface primary production. Sea ice dynamics is the principal factor controlling productivity and, therefore, the downward particulate organic matter (POM) fluxes. The deposited POM, also called phytodetritus, forms dense layers of available labile food for benthic organisms. This straight relationship between water column and benthic processes is called benthic-pelagic coupling. A seasonal time-series study was conducted between November 1999 through March 2001 in tree sites on WAP shelf, to determine this relationship, specially the benthic macrofauna (> 300 µm) response to the POM flux and its posterior deposition. From a total of 15 box-corer samples (0.25 m2 each), approximately 25,000 macrofaunal individuals were collected, belonging to 22 taxa. Even with some variation along the shelf, ranging from 10,886 ind.m-2 (site A) to 2,326 ind.m-2 (B), the abundance and composition of macrofauna showed only modest seasonal changes. Differences in these parameters were clear between the inner and outer shelves, probably owing to the topography, which was composed of a basin in the innermost region and a flat region, in the offshore area. Differences in abundance and composition between sediment layers were also notable, with 90% of all individuals belonging to the 0-5 cm layer. Among the 185 identified species, Aurospio foodbancsia (Polychaeta, Spionidae), a typical species of Antarctic shelf regions and closely related to the deep-sea species A. dibranchiata, was dominant in all seasons and sites (2,087 ind.m-2). Besides polychaetes, bivalves, tanaids and oligochaetes were also abundant in WAP shelf. Peaks in abundance were observed for some species and this is believed to be related to seasonal recruitment, however not always associated with the availability of food. Polychaete functional groups did not vary along seasons, indicating that surface and subsurface deposit feeders were subsisting on the labile POM along the year, even during the winter, when POM flux to the benthos is extremely low. The results are similar to those obtained in other FOODBANCS works, and indicate that the WAP shelf macrofauna act as a low-pass filter, muting the seasonal water column processes.

A Plataforma Oeste da Península Antártica (POPA) é uma região onde a produtividade primária na superfície do oceano apresenta padrões altamente sazonais e considerável variabilidade interanual. A dinâmica do gelo marinho é o principal fator condicionante da produtividade e, por consequência, dos fluxos de matéria orgânica da superfície para o leito marinho. A matéria orgânica particulada depositada, chamada de fitodetrito, forma densas camadas de alimento lábil disponível para os organismos bênticos. Essa relação estreita entre os processos da coluna de água e aqueles que ocorrem no bentos é chamada de acoplamento bento-pelágico. Com o objetivo de avaliar as respostas da macrofauna bêntica aos fluxos e deposição de alimento, foi realizada uma série temporal sazonal de amostragens (novembro/1999 a março/2001) na POPA em três estações de coleta perpendiculares à costa. Cerca de 25.000 indivíduos pertencentes a 22 táxons foram coletados em 15 amostras de box corer (0,25 m2 cada). Mesmo com alguma variação ao largo da plataforma (de 10.886 ind.m-2 (estação A) a 2.326 ind.m-2 (B)), atribuída a diferenças na topografia, a macrofauna apresentou pouca variabilidade em termos de composição e abundância ao longo do período estudado. Além disso, diferenças na composição e abundância entre estratos sedimentares também foram notáveis, sendo que 90% dos indivíduos foram encontrados entre 0 e 5 cm. Dentre as 185 espécies identificadas, Aurospio foodbancsia (Polychaeta, Spionidae), uma espécie típica de regiões de plataforma na Antártica, mas muito próxima da espécie de mar profundo A. dibranchiata, foi a espécie dominante em todos os períodos e estações (2.087 ind.m-2). Além de Polychaeta, outros grupos abundantes na POPA foram Bivalvia, Tanaidacea e Oligochaeta. Picos de abundância foram observados para algumas espécies, provavelmente associados a eventos sazonais de recrutamento, porém nem sempre associados à chegada do alimento ao fundo marinho da região. Os grupo funcionais de Polychaeta também não variaram ao longo do período estudado, o que indicou que animais depositívoros de superfície e subsuperfície se alimentam ao longo de todo o ano, aproveitando o alimento que permanece lábil e disponível, mesmo no inverno, quando o fluxo de matéria orgânica para o bentos é mínimo. Os resultados encontrados neste trabalho confirmam os resultados já encontrados dentro do projeto FOODBANCS, que a macrofauna da POPA age como um filtro, respondendo menos às flutuações sazonais. / The West Antarctic Peninsula shelf (WAP shelf) experiences a high seasonal and interannual variability in surface primary production. Sea ice dynamics is the principal factor controlling productivity and, therefore, the downward particulate organic matter (POM) fluxes. The deposited POM, also called phytodetritus, forms dense layers of available labile food for benthic organisms. This straight relationship between water column and benthic processes is called benthic-pelagic coupling. A seasonal time-series study was conducted between November 1999 through March 2001 in tree sites on WAP shelf, to determine this relationship, specially the benthic macrofauna (> 300 µm) response to the POM flux and its posterior deposition. From a total of 15 box-corer samples (0.25 m2 each), approximately 25,000 macrofaunal individuals were collected, belonging to 22 taxa. Even with some variation along the shelf, ranging from 10,886 ind.m-2 (site A) to 2,326 ind.m-2 (B), the abundance and composition of macrofauna showed only modest seasonal changes. Differences in these parameters were clear between the inner and outer shelves, probably owing to the topography, which was composed of a basin in the innermost region and a flat region, in the offshore area. Differences in abundance and composition between sediment layers were also notable, with 90% of all individuals belonging to the 0-5 cm layer. Among the 185 identified species, Aurospio foodbancsia (Polychaeta, Spionidae), a typical species of Antarctic shelf regions and closely related to the deep-sea species A. dibranchiata, was dominant in all seasons and sites (2,087 ind.m-2). Besides polychaetes, bivalves, tanaids and oligochaetes were also abundant in WAP shelf. Peaks in abundance were observed for some species and this is believed to be related to seasonal recruitment, however not always associated with the availability of food. Polychaete functional groups did not vary along seasons, indicating that surface and subsurface deposit feeders were subsisting on the labile POM along the year, even during the winter, when POM flux to the benthos is extremely low. The results are similar to those obtained in other FOODBANCS works, and indicate that the WAP shelf macrofauna act as a low-pass filter, muting the seasonal water column processes.

Increasing human populations and activities in coastal areas have led to high nutrient loading and estuarine ecosystem decline. Natural hydrological patterns in South Florida have been drastically altered by changes in water management and land use practices. As a result Florida Bay has experienced a series of negative ecosystem effects including hypersalinity events, degradation of water quality, and harmful algal blooms and declines in upper trophic level populations. To remediate ecosystem decline in Florida's coastal ecosystems, the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan proposes to restore a more natural hydrologic flow in the Everglades. It is expected hydrologic restoration efforts will change the amount, sources and ratios of dissolved nutrients (organic and inorganic) delivered to the bay potentially inducing an ecosystem response of changing structure and function in both planktic and benthic habitats. Identifying biogeochemical linkages between external nutrient inputs from the Everglades and internal cycling processes of Florida Bay is critical to understanding the effects of hydrological restoration and changing nutrient regimes on Florida Bay. A nitrogen (δ15N) and carbon (δ13C ) stable isotopic approach affords an effective means of assessing the fate of varying nutrient sources and delineating the dominant biogeochemical processes governing nutrient cycling in the bay. This study's main goals were to use stable isotopic analyses of C and N in dissolved and particulate materials to determine spatial and seasonal relationships between Everglades nutrient sources and their biological sinks in Florida Bay, examine the biogeochemical relationships among inorganic and organic components of the water column and benthos in Florida Bay, and assess future ecological response to changing nutrient inputs resulting from restoration efforts. A large east to west gradient from more enriched to more depleted δ15N values was noted in both dissolved nitrogen pools and organic components of the bay. This trend indicates that there are differing nutrient sources and biogeochemical processes influencing the various regions of the bay. Isotopic similarity of the dissolved nitrogen pools from the Everglades and particulate organic matter in the bay points to a strong relationship between both ecosystems. Everglades nutrient inputs delivered to the bay in the wet season directly influence ecological responses in the bay, in some cases increases in algal biomass. Seasonality also influences nitrogen transformations in the dissolved nitrogen pools and the sediments. During dry periods when there is little or no hydrologic flow from the Everglades into the bay, denitrification is a major process affecting nitrogen cycling in the eastern and central regions of the bay. During the wet periods, denitrification becomes suppressed and dissimilatory nitrate reduction (DNRA) is favored. Increased hydrologic flow brings fresh organic matter that fuels DNRA. There was a consistent spatial pattern from more depleted to more enriched δ13C values, onshore to offshore relative to the mainland which indicates strong terrestrial influence on Florida Bay sites along the mangrove boundary with the Everglades. Particulate organic matter exhibited a shift to more enriched δ13C values during the wet season which reflects an increase in algal biomass. A shift to more depleted δ13C values of DOM indicated increased terrestrial influence from the Everglades during the wet season. The approach undertaken in this study identifies a strong linkage between nutrient inputs from the Everglades and biogeochemical processes in the bay. These findings underscore the need to consider the impact of both allochtonous nutrient inputs and the dominant processes governing cycling in the bay when making management decisions that continue to refine hydrologic restoration plans.

Les systèmes côtiers pélagiques sont caractérisés par de multiples apports de matière organique particulaire (MOP) d’origine autochtone (phytoplancton) ou allochtone (continentale, benthique) dont la variabilité spatiale et temporelle peut être forte. L’objectif de ma thèse était 1) de quantifier la composition de la MOP des systèmes côtiers pélagiques, 2) de déterminer les forçages à sa dynamique spatio-temporelle et 3) d’investiguer le lien entre bactéries et composition de la MOP. Cette étude a été menée sur douze systèmes (estuaire, lagune, rias, baies, littoraux) distribués sur les trois façades maritimes françaises, en combinant rapports isotopiques et élémentaires (composition), acides gras (lien MOP-bactéries) et statistiques multivariées (forçages).A l’échelle multi-systémique et/ou intra-systémique, deux grands gradients sont observés :- un gradient côte (plus forte contribution continentale et benthique) – large (MOP phytoplanctonique), principalement lié à l’hydrodynamique sédimentaire (débits des fleuves, remise en suspension du matériel benthique) et à la proximité des sources allochtones- un gradient Sud (présence de MOP issue de la diazotrophie) – Nord (absence de cette MOP), en lien avec le statut trophique (oligo vs méso/eutrophie) des systèmes.La saisonnalité de la dynamique temporelle de la composition de la MOP est fortement variable selon les sites. Elle est généralement plus forte près de la côte et plus faible au large et en zone amont de l’estuaire étudié. Cette dynamique est également reliée à l’hydrodynamique sédimentaire.Enfin, l’étude a révélé que la biomasse bactérienne est principalement associée à la MOP continentale et benthique. / Pelagic coastal systems are characterized by multiple inputs of particulate organic matter (POM) from autochthonous (phytoplankton) and allochthonous (continental, benthic) origin whose spatial and temporal variability can be high. The aims of my PhD were to 1) quantify POM composition in pelagic coastal systems, 2) determine the forcings to its spatio-temporal dynamics and 3) investigate the link between bacteria and POM composition. This study was conducted on twelve systems (estuary, lagoon, bays, rias, littoral) distributed over the three maritime facades of France by combining the use of elemental and isotopic ratios (composition), fatty acids (POM-bacteria link) and multivariate analysis (forcings).At multi-systems and/or intra-system scale, two main gradients are observed:- an inshore (higher continental and benthic contribution) - offshore gradient (phytoplanktonic POM) mainly related to hydrodynamics and sedimentary hydrodynamics (river flow, resuspension of benthic material) and to the proximity to allochthonous sources- a South (POM related to diazotrophy) – North (absence of this POM) gradient, associated to the trophic status (oligo vs meso/eutrophy) of the studied systems.The seasonality of spatio-temporal dynamics of POM composition is highly variable depending on the station. It is in general higher near the coast and lower offshore and upstream in the studied estuary. This dynamic is also strongly associated to sedimentary hydrodynamics.Finally, this study highlight that bacterial biomass is mainly associated to continental and benthic POM.

A dinâmica da matéria orgânica particulada (MOP) nos oceanos, desde sua formação até seu consumo/exportação, é um elo importante no ciclo biogeoquímico do carbono e elementos associados, que ganhou importância nas últimas décadas devido ao aumento do CO2 antropogênico. Para melhorar os modelos e as previsões climáticas, projetos oceanográficos investigam os fatores que influenciam na dinâmica da MOP, sobretudo em regiões produtivas e representativas em escala global. No Atlântico Sul, a região mais produtiva é ao largo do continente africano, devido à contínua ressurgência de borda leste. Entretanto, regiões hidrograficamente dinâmicas também podem contribuir com elevadas taxas de produção dependendo das condições ambientais, cuja importância no reservatório de MOP ainda é desconhecida. Este trabalho tem como objetivo estudar a dinâmica do MOP em suspensão em duas regiões também produtivas do Atlântico Sudoeste: (i) o setor externo da Margem Continental Sudeste Brasileira (Capítulo 1); e (ii) o setor Austral ao sul de 30ºS (Capítulo 2). São discutidos os efeitos das condições oceanográficas no reservatório de MOP e seus padrões interanuais de distribuição geográfica. / The dynamics of particulate organic matter (POM) in the oceans, from its formation to its consumption/export, is an important link in the biogeochemical cycle of carbon and associated elements, which gained importance in the last decades due to increase of anthropogenic CO2. To improve models and climate predictions, oceanographic projects investigate the factors that influence the POM dynamics, especially in productive and representative regions on a global scale. In the South Atlantic, the most productive region is off the African continent, due to permanent Eastern Boundary upwelling. However, dynamic hydrographic regions can also provide with high production rates depending on environmental conditions, whose importance in the POM reservoir is still unknown. This work aims to study the suspended POM dynamics in two productive regions of the southwest Atlantic: (i) the outer Brazilian Southeast Continental Margin (Chapter 1); and (ii) the Austral sector south of 30ºS(Chapter 2). The effects of different oceanographic conditions in the POM reservoir, their interannual pattern and geographic distribution are discussed.

A dinâmica da matéria orgânica particulada (MOP) nos oceanos, desde sua formação até seu consumo/exportação, é um elo importante no ciclo biogeoquímico do carbono e elementos associados, que ganhou importância nas últimas décadas devido ao aumento do CO2 antropogênico. Para melhorar os modelos e as previsões climáticas, projetos oceanográficos investigam os fatores que influenciam na dinâmica da MOP, sobretudo em regiões produtivas e representativas em escala global. No Atlântico Sul, a região mais produtiva é ao largo do continente africano, devido à contínua ressurgência de borda leste. Entretanto, regiões hidrograficamente dinâmicas também podem contribuir com elevadas taxas de produção dependendo das condições ambientais, cuja importância no reservatório de MOP ainda é desconhecida. Este trabalho tem como objetivo estudar a dinâmica do MOP em suspensão em duas regiões também produtivas do Atlântico Sudoeste: (i) o setor externo da Margem Continental Sudeste Brasileira (Capítulo 1); e (ii) o setor Austral ao sul de 30ºS (Capítulo 2). São discutidos os efeitos das condições oceanográficas no reservatório de MOP e seus padrões interanuais de distribuição geográfica. / The dynamics of particulate organic matter (POM) in the oceans, from its formation to its consumption/export, is an important link in the biogeochemical cycle of carbon and associated elements, which gained importance in the last decades due to increase of anthropogenic CO2. To improve models and climate predictions, oceanographic projects investigate the factors that influence the POM dynamics, especially in productive and representative regions on a global scale. In the South Atlantic, the most productive region is off the African continent, due to permanent Eastern Boundary upwelling. However, dynamic hydrographic regions can also provide with high production rates depending on environmental conditions, whose importance in the POM reservoir is still unknown. This work aims to study the suspended POM dynamics in two productive regions of the southwest Atlantic: (i) the outer Brazilian Southeast Continental Margin (Chapter 1); and (ii) the Austral sector south of 30ºS(Chapter 2). The effects of different oceanographic conditions in the POM reservoir, their interannual pattern and geographic distribution are discussed.

A Mata Atlântica sofreu e ainda sofre forte pressão antrópica. Atualmente, ocupa no Estado de São Paulo o equivalente a 15% de sua cobertura original. O rio Paraíba do Sul é um dos mais importantes rios da Floresta Atlântica, localizado na região mais desenvolvida do país. Há uma falta de investigações aprofundadas sobre a estruturação e o funcionamento desse rio e de outros rios localizados nessa floresta, como rios de 1ª ordem, que são extremamente importantes, pois conseguem conectar o ambiente terrestre com os rios maiores. Assim, esse trabalho objetivou investigar a distribuição de C e N e outras variáveis físico-químicas nos principais rios localizados na Bacia do Alto Paraíba do Sul: o Rio Paraíba do Sul (RPS) e seus formadores, os rios Paraibuna (RPB) e Paraitinga (RPT), além de investigar a composição química de pequenos rios localizados nas áreas preservadas da Mata Atlântica, comparando-os com os rios de 3ª ordem, e também verificar como a conversão de floresta a pastagem afeta a distribuição de carbono e nitrogênio nesses riachos. Foram realizadas coletas mensais de água durante fevereiro de 2012 a janeiro de 2013, onde foram verificados os valores de pH, condutividade elétrica, oxigênio dissolvido e temperatura, além da determinação das concentrações de nitrogênio dissolvido total, nitrogênio inorgânico dissolvido, nitrogênio orgânico dissolvido, nitrato, amônio, carbono orgânico dissolvido e carbono inorgânico dissolvido. Foi amostrado, também o material particulado em suspensão nos rios de 3ª ordem e o sedimento de fundo em alguns desses rios, onde foram realizadas análises de ?13C e ?15N, conteúdos de C e N e relação C:N. Quase a totalidade das amostras de amônio apresentaram concentrações abaixo do limite de detecção. Os resultados encontrados mostram diferenças estatísticas entre o rio Paraibuna e os rios Paraitinga e Paraíba do Sul, no que se refere aos valores de condutividade elétrica, oxigênio dissolvido, temperatura, nitrato, nitrogênio dissolvido total e carbono inorgânico dissolvido. Esses rios apresentaram valores de nitrato, nitrogênio inorgânico, nitrogênio orgânico, nitrogênio dissolvido total, carbono inorgânico dissolvido, pH, condutividade elétrica, oxigênio dissolvido e temperatura diferentes dos rios de 1ª ordem. Entre rios de floresta e pastagem as variáveis carbono inorgânico dissolvido, condutividade elétrica e temperatura foram diferentes. Esses resultados sugerem que o rio Paraibuna difere-se dos outros rios de 3ª ordem, provavelmente porque 55% da área total de sua bacia é ocupada por floresta, enquanto os rios Paraitinga e Paraíba do Sul apresentam grande parte de suas bacias ocupada por pastagem, 57% e 42%, respectivamente. Entretanto, esses rios não apresentam características de rios extremamente alterados, como é o caso de outros rios do estado de São Paulo, localizados em áreas urbanas ou de cana-de-açúcar, que são muito mais impactantes que pastagens. Tanto os rios de 3ª ordem quanto os rios de 1ª ordem apresentam pastagens subutilizadas e que não recebem fertilizantes ou insumos, fazendo, dessa maneira, com que os rios de pastagem não apresentem características tão diferentes dos rios de floresta / The Atlantic Forest suffered and continues suffering anthropogenic pressure. Nowadays, it occupies 15% of its original coverage in the state of São Paulo. The Paraíba do Sul River is one of the most important rivers of the Atlantic Forest, located in the most developed region of the country. There is a lack of deeper studies of the structure and functioning of this and other rivers of this forest, as first order rivers, that are extremely important, because they can connect terrestrial environment to larger rivers. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the distribution of C and N and other physicochemical variables of the main rivers located at the Alto Paraíba do Sul Basin: the Paraíba do Sul River (RPS) an its formers, the Paraibuna (RPB) and Paraitinga (RPT) rivers, also investigating the chemical composition of small rivers located in preserved areas of Atlantic Forest, comparing them with third order rivers, and also focused on the verification of how the conversion of forest to pasture affects the distribution of carbon and nitrogen in these streams. Monthly samples of water were taken from February 2012 to January 2013, for verification of pH, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen and temperature values, plus the determination of total dissolved nitrogen, inorganic dissolved nitrogen, organic dissolved nitrogen, nitrate, ammonium, organic dissolved carbon and inorganic dissolved carbon concentrations. Suspended particulate material of the 3rd order rivers and their bottom sediment were sampled, for determination of ?13C, ?15N and C and N content, besides the C:N ratio. The majority of ammonium samples presented concentrations below detection limit. The results show significant statistical differences between the Paraibuna and the Paraitinga and Paraiba do Sul rivers, concerning the values of electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, temperature, nitrate, total dissolved nitrogen and inorganic dissolved carbon. These 3rd order rivers presented nitrate, inorganic nitrogen, organic nitrogen, total dissolved nitrogen and dissolved inorganic carbon concentrations, plus pH, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen and temperature values different from 1st order rivers. Among the forest and pasture rivers the dissolved inorganic carbon concentration, electrical conductivity and temperature values were different. The results suggest that the Paraibuna River differs from the other two 3rd order rivers, probably because 55% of its total basin area is covered with forest, while the Paraitinga and Paraiba do Sul rivers present a great part of their basin area occupied with pastures, 57% and 42%, respectively. Nevertheless, these rivers did not present characteristics of extremely altered rivers, which is the reality of other rivers of the State of São Paulo, located in urban or sugar cane crop areas, which can cause much more impacts to rivers than pasture. The 3rd and 1st order rivers present sub utilized pasture that do not receive fertilizers, thereby, being the probable cause why pasture rivers are not so different from the forest rivers