O crescente aumento no uso de metais e outros produtos químicos nos processos industriais tem resultado na geração de grandes quantidades de efluentes aquosos que contém altos níveis de metais tóxicos, o que gera sérios problemas ambientais associados ao descarte destes efluentes. O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar uma investigação da biossorção do íon manganês II de uma solução aquosa utilizando a biomassa seca Sargassum filipendula. O processo foi conduzido em batelada com um posterior estudo dinâmico do processo em regime contínuo em um reator de leito fixo. No processo em batelada, a influência de diferentes parâmetros experimentais foram avaliados: pH inicial, tempo de biossorção, temperatura e concentração inicial do íon manganês II no equilíbrio de biossorção do sistema. No processo em regime contínuo, foi utilizada uma coluna de leito fixo, sendo avaliados os seguintes parâmetros: vazão de alimentação e concentração inicial de manganês II em solução. Os resultados obtidos indicam que a capacidade de biossorção não foi afetada pelo pH na faixa de 3,0 a 7,0, mas diminuiu de modo significativo para pH inferior a 3,0. A isoterma de Langmuir foi a que melhor descreveu o equilíbrio de biossorção, que foi pouco afetado pela temperatura. O processo de biossorção obedeceu a uma cinética de pseudo segunda-ordem, cuja taxa também não sofreu efeito significativo da temperatura. Os resultados obtidos nos estudos em batelada indicam que a Sargassum filipendula possui potencial para a remoção de íons manganês, apresentando capacidade de adsorção igual a 0,80 mmol/g, valor comparável àqueles observados para outros íons tóxicos. Os valores para capacidade de biossorção calculados no sistema contínuo foram superiores aos encontrados para o estudo em batelada, o que foi associado às diferentes condições de equilíbrio existentes nos dois sistemas. O processo de biossorção do manganês em leito fixo, mostrou-se eficiente para concentrações iniciais do efluente menores que 500 mg/L. Para uma concentração inicial de 60 mg/L, com 9 horas de processo o ponto de ruptura foi alcançado, 26 L de solução foram tratados de acordo com a concentração exigida pelo CONAMA para o despejo em um corpo receptor. / The increasing use of metals and other chemicals in industrial processes has resulted in the generation of large quantities of aqueous effluents containing high levels of toxic metals, which cause serious environmental problems associated with the disposal of effluents. This work was doing a research on removing manganese II ions of an aqueous solution using the dry biomass Sargassum filipendula. A basic investigation on the removal of manganese II ions from aqueous solutions by dead Sargassum filipendula was conducted in batch and in a fixed- bed column. The influence of different experimental parameters was evaluated in batch conditions: initial pH, sorption time, temperature, and initial concentrations of manganese II ions on metal uptake. Continuous-flow sorption experiments were conducted in a fixed-bed column. The parameters evaluated were: effluent flow rate and initial concentration of manganese II solution. The results indicate that the metal uptake capacity was not affected by pH in the range of 3.0 to 7.0, but decreased significantly to less than pH 3.0. The equilibrium biosorption was better described by Langmuir isotherm, which was little affected by temperature. The process of biosorption followed the kinetics of a pseudo-second order, whose rate also has not suffered significant effect of temperature. The results obtained in a batch studies indicate that the Sargassum filipendula has potential for the removal of manganese ions, its maximum uptake capacity equal 0.80 mmol/g, a result comparable to those observed for other toxic ions. The results for capacity of biosorption calculated in continuous system were higher than those found in batch for the study, which was associated with the different conditions of balance in the two existing systems. The process of biosorption of manganese in fixed-bed reactor, has proved effective for initial concentrations lower than 500 mg/L. For an initial concentration of 60 mg/L, with nine hours to process the breaking point was reached, 26 L of solution were treated in accordance with the concentration required by CONAMA for emptying into a body receiver.

Os fungos são microrganismos amplamente dispersos, podendo ser encontrados em vegetais, animais, solo e ambientes aquáticos, participando do ciclo de elementos na natureza. Embora muitos papéis ecológicos tenham sido estudados e descritos para os fungos terrestres, a ecologia de fungos marinhos ainda é pouco conhecida. Assim, os oceanos, que representam aproximadamente metade da biodiversidade global, são uma fonte enorme e virtualmente inexplorada de microrganismos produtores de novos produtos naturais. O objetivo deste trabalho foi isolar linhagens de fungos derivados de uma espécie de alga marinha do gênero Sargassum, visando à avaliação do seu potencial para a produção de metabólitos secundários bioativos. Ao todo foram isoladas 58 linhagens, das quais 52 foram crescidas em meio de cultura líquido e, após a extração com solventes orgânicos, deram origem a 99 extratos. Tais extratos foram avaliados por ensaios de atividade biológica, cromatografia em camada delgada (CCD), ressonância magnética nuclear (RMN) e cromatografia líquida acoplada a detectores de arranjo de diodos, espalhamento de luz evaporativo e espectrômetro de massas (LC - PDA - ELSD - MS). A avaliação pelo ensaio antibiótico foi o que resultou no maior número de extratos ativos (n = 13), seguido dos ensaios enzimático (n = 8), citotóxico (n = 3) e anti-tuberculose (n = 1). O extrato AS Fub 39, que apresentou atividade antibiótica, foi selecionado para estudos adicionais. Este extrato foi purificado por HPLC, e o seu composto majoritário identificado como sendo o 8-metóxi-3,5-dimetilisocroman-6-ol. Posteriormente, a linhagem AS Fub 39 foi taxonomicamente identificada como pertencendo à espécie Penicillium steckii. / Fungi are widely disperse microorganisms, typically associated with plants, animals, soil and aquatic environments (fresh and sea water), participating in the elements cycling. Although many ecological roles have been described for terrestrial fungi, ecological studies of marine derived fungi are still scarce. Therefore, oceans, which represent approximately half of the global biodiversity, are a huge and virtually unexplored source of microorganisms producers of interesting metabolites. The aim of this study was to isolate fungal strains derived from a marine algae of the Sargassum genus, and the evaluation of their metabolical potential for the production of secondary metabolites. Overall, 58 strains were isolated, of which 52 were grown in liquid culture media and extracted with organic solvents, originating 99 crude extracts. These extracts were analyzed by bioassays, thin layer chromatography (TLC), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and liquid chromatography coupled with a photo diode array, an evaporative light scattering, and a mass spectrometry detectors (LC - PDA - ELSD - MS). The evaluation with the antibiotic assay resulted in the largest number of active extracts (n = 13), followed by the enzymatic (n = 8), the cytotoxic (n = 3) and the antituberculosis (n = 1) assays. The crude extract AS Fub 39, which presented antibiotic activity, was selected for additional studies. This extract was purified by HPLC, and its major compound identified as the 8-methoxy-3,5-dimethylisocroman-6-ol. Later, the AS Fub 39 strain was taxonomically identified as Penicillium steckii.

The Sargassum community consists of a unique and idverse assemblage of fauna critical to pelagic food chains. Associated organisms presumably have adaptations to assist in finding Sargassum. This study investigated cues used for habitat location and selection by the Sargassum crab, Portunus sayi. Chemical detection trials were conducted with a two-chamber choice apparatus with Sargassum spp. and Thalassia testudinum as source odors. Visual detection trials (devoid of chemical cues) and habitat selection trials were conducted in which crabs were given a choice of habitats. Results showed that P. sayi respoded to chemical odors from Sargassum spp. Crabs visually located habitats but did not visually distinguish between different habitats. In habitat selection trials, crabs selected Sargassum spp. over artificial Sargassum and T. testudinum. These results suggest that crabs isolated from Sargassum likely use chemoreception from longer distances ; within visual proximity of a potential patch, crabs use both chemical and visual information. / by Lorin E. West. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2012. / Includes bibliography. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / System requirements: Adobe Reader.

The ecosystem created by pelagic Sargassum is important in the life histories of a number of economically and ecologically important associated organisms. Fishes play a vital role in this food web and nutrient flow within these systems, but it is unknown how they locate these floating habitats. This study examined the role of natural chemical cues from Sargassum patches and the synthetic chemical Dimethylsulfonionpropionate (DMSP) for an associated fish, the planehead filefish (Stephanolepis hispidus) and a control fish species not associated with Sargassum, the masked goby (Coryphopterus personatus). Choice trials with a Y-maze apparatus determined that S. hispidus responded significantly to chemical cues from Sargassum while C. personatus did not. DMSP cues did not result in any significant behavioral responses for either fish. Demonstrating that S. hispidus can respond to chemical cues from Sargassum helps further our understanding of this unique floating algal reef and how fishes may locate it. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2016. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Benthic algal species receive elevated nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) availability as anthropogenic activities increase the loading of nutrients into coastal waters. Pelagic species could also be responding to this nutrient enrichment. This study compared the tissue nutrient content and productivity of three benthic and two pelagic species of Sargassum. We hypothesized that the benthic species would have a higher tissue nutrient content and productivity than the pelagic species and the pelagic species would have a higher tissue nutrient content and productivity than historic data. The tissue nutrient content and net productivity of the benthic and pelagic species were not significantly different indicating that the pelagic species are receiving high levels of nutrient availability comparable to that of the benthic species. Pelagic species in the current study exhibited significantly higher N:P ratios and net productivity than the historic data, suggesting a shift from N to P limitation and increased productivity. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2016. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Knowledge of species distribution and habitat associations are essential for conservation measures. Such information is lacking for many marine species due to their occupancy of broad and ephemeral habitats that are difficult to access for study. Sea turtles, specifically the surface-pelagic juvenile stage of some species, are a group for which significant knowledge gaps remain surrounding their distribution and habitat use. Recent research has confirmed the long-standing hypothesis that the surface-pelagic juvenile stage occurs within surface-pelagic drift communities (SPDC). Within the North Atlantic and surrounding basins, the holopelagic macroalgae Sargassum spp. dominates SPDC and serves as a remotely-detectable indicator of SPDC. The present study focuses on surface-pelagic habitats of four sea turtle species and addresses knowledge gaps using two approaches: habitat mapping and behavioral examination. Remote sensing techniques were used to identify SPDC, and satellite telemetry to examine behavior. This work was conducted in three parts and is presented in three chapters. Imagery collected from the Landsat satellites (5 and 7) was used to quantify the area of SPDC (km2). Approximately 1,800 Landsat images collected from 2003–2011 were examined for SPDC. The first chapter discusses the abundance, seasonality, and distribution of SPDC within the eastern Gulf of Mexico waters where surface-pelagic green, hawksbill, Kemp’s ridley, and loggerhead turtles are known to occur. SPDC was found year-round within the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and the amount of habitat peaked during summer months. The amount of SPDC within the eastern Gulf of Mexico varied annually with peaks in 2005, 2009, and 2011. High concentrations of SPDC were discovered within offshore waters of the northeastern Gulf of Mexico and southern West Florida Shelf. Within the second chapter, the behavior of 10 surface-pelagic juvenile Kemp’s ridleys was examined using satellite telemetry. Using remotely-sensed imagery, the sea surface habitats used by tracked turtles were examined. Surface-pelagic juveniles are hypothesized to be principally passive drifters. The behavior of tracked turtles was examined to determine if they exhibited periods of active and passive behavior, which may indicate periods of swim and drift. The proximity of tracked turtles to remotely-detected SPDC was examined when coincident Landsat imagery was available (within one day of the turtle’s position). Turtles were tracked for 36.5 days (mean) and exhibited primarily passive behavior during the tracking period. The satellite transmitters messaged frequently and reported temperatures significantly higher than sea surface temperatures. Landsat imagery was available coincident to the tracks of nine individuals. SPDC was present within 74% of images, and the mean distance between tracked turtles and SPDC was 54 km. Close associations between tracked turtles and SPDC were documented for four individuals. Results suggest that the tracked turtles spent a majority of the time drifting within SPDC. The final chapter discusses the density of SPDC within northern and western Gulf of Mexico waters from 2009–2011. Seasonal abundance peaks occurred throughout the study area, but the timing varied. SPDC peaked earlier (late spring) within the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. Moving eastward, the timing of seasonal peaks shifted progressively later during the year. Within the western portions of the study area, SPDC was found to be significantly higher than in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. The eastern Gulf of Mexico may provide critical developmental habitats for several North Atlantic sea turtle species. Additional study is necessary to determine if portions of the western Gulf of Mexico could serve in a similar capacity. SPDC is extremely vulnerable to anthropogenic impacts, specifically oil spills and the occurrence of persistent marine debris. Conservation of SPDC may be challenged by its ephemeral nature; however, the results presented herein could advise conservation efforts (e.g., delineation of critical habitat). The present study described spatial patterns of SPDC occurrence, regions of high abundance, and seasonality. The description of the behavior surface-pelagic sea turtles offers refinements to the spatial distribution of this life stage. These results, coupled with information on circulation patterns and the distribution of sea turtle nesting beaches, can be used to better predict when and where sea turtles and SPDC may be found. For example, the year-round persistence of SPDC within the eastern Gulf of Mexico and the location of major nesting beaches located upstream support the area’s designation as critical habitat for surface-pelagic green, hawksbill, Kemp’s ridley, and loggerhead turtles.

Sargassum C. Agardh est un genre de macrophyte marine appartenant à la classe des Phaeophyceae. Ce genre est réparti mondialement et reconnu comme un des plus diversifiés de l'ordre des Fucales. Il est particulièrement bien représenté dans le Pacifique tropical et intertropical où il forme de grandes algueraies dont l'importance écologique et l'intérêt économique sont reconnus. Néanmoins, avec près d'un millier de taxons décrits depuis 200 ans, et une classification complexe et ancienne, identifier une espèce de Sargassum est une tâche difficile. La diversité du genre Sargassum des îles du Pacifique Sud a été analysée ici dans son contexte biogéographique Indopacifique. L'étude a été réalisée grâce à une méthode combinée utilisant des analyses morphologiques et ADN sur des collections récentes provenant de plusieurs régions du bassin Pacifique. La classification ainsi que la valeur taxonomique des caractères morphologiques traditionnellement utilisés ont été remis en question. Plus de 52 nouvelles synonymies ont été proposées ainsi que des révisions significatives de la classification traditionnelle du sous-genre Sargassum.

Coastal ecosystems provide important resources for social, economic and environmental capital to global and local communities. Socially, coastal ecosystems provide a place for people to recreate and get in touch with nature. Economically, tourism, fisheries, and businesses are dependent upon coastal resources. Environmentally, coasts provide habitat for diverse species of flora and fauna, and protection for watersheds and anthropogenic structures. This research investigates three studies in order to provide information on social, economic and environmental issues in Matagorda, Texas. The first study uses LIDAR (Light Image Detection-and-Ranging) scanning, a remote sensing methodology that uses laser pulses to collect X, Y, and Z coordinates, to evaluate coastal changes after Hurricane Ike. Results suggest that landscape loss occurs immediately after the hurricane, but recovers and fluctuates throughout the year. Also, different areas of the dunes show unique changes during different times of the year. The second study uses questionnaire surveys to collect demographic, social perspectives and opinions and economic information about coastal users on Matagorda Peninsula. The questionnaire investigates the most important characteristics to beach users, opinions and perceptions about beach safety, activities, maintenance and presence of seaweed, information about their trip, cost of their trip and demographics. The results provide broader knowledge about the beach users in Matagorda and indicate that while direct costs of using the beach are minimal, the indirect and intrinsic costs are much higher which result in a greater overall use value. The third study investigates the use of the sargassum, a natural marine subsidy, as a fertilizer for dune plants. Beach raking provides a cleaner, more aesthetically pleasing experience for beach users but alters the natural design of the ecosystem by subsequently moving sand, nutrients, subsidies for habitat and fauna from the fore-beach to the dunes. Results show that sargassum does have potential as a natural fertilizer as it did not negatively affect any of the species. The results could be used to alter management practices in order to capitalize on this natural resource while still providing a clean sandy beach for recreationalists. These three studies together provide ecological information about coastal functions and processes that can help in creating broad holistic science based management strategies.

Submesoscale processes, characterized by O(1km) horizontal scale and O(1) Rossby number, are ubiquitous in the world ocean and play an important role in the vertical flux of mass, buoyancy and tracers in the upper ocean. However, they have not been intensively studied due to the requirement of uniquely high spatial and temporal resolution in the observation and computer modeling. In this thesis, using a suite of high-resolution numerical experiments in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico, where rich submesoscale structures are accompanied by the strong mesoscale Loop Current eddies, the impact of resolving submesoscales on the tracer distribution and 3-D transport was extensively examined. It was concluded that, submesoscale dynamics aggregated the surface tracers and formed characteristic patterns at scales of kilometers near the ocean surface by enhanced convergence/divergence zones associated with strong ageostrophic processes. This distinctive phenomenon was evident in recent ocean color satellite images which showed similar extensive lines and spirals of floating Sargassum in the western Gulf of Mexico. In addition, better-resolved submesoscale activities increased the horizontal resolution dramatically and elevated local vertical velocity both within and below the mixed layer while leaving the horizontal component almost unaltered. The vertical dispersion increased by several fold with the largest difference close to the surface. Considering the pervasive presence of submesoscale structures at the surface ocean, these models predict that submesoscale processes may serve as an important nutrient supply mechanism in the upper ocean and potentially make a significant contribution on balancing the global biogeochemical tracer budget.

Por ser um material de baixo custo e apresentar propriedades ligantes, a macroalga marinha Sargassum filipendula vem sendo utilizada como material biossorvente no processo de biossorção de metais. No presente trabalho a alga marrom foi utilizada no estudo cinético e de equilíbrio dos íons de tório e urânio individuais e os resultados comparados à biossorção desses metais em sistema binário. Os testes foram realizados nas concentrações 1 e 10 mg/L e pH= 1,0 e 4,0 na temperatura de 25 1C. A melhor condição para biossorção de tório foi encontrada para 1 mg/L e pH= 1,0, enquanto que para urânio foi em 1 mg/L e pH= 4,0. O estudo cinético de biossorção de tório mostrou que o modelo de segunda ordem descreve melhor os dados experimentais em 1 mg/L (R2= 0,9987) e 10 mg/L (R2= 0,9919) em pH= 1,0 e 1 mg/L (R2= 0,9976) em pH= 4,0, enquanto em 10 mg/L (R2= 0,9787) pH= 4,0 a curva encontrada representou uma cinética de primeira ordem. Para a cinética de urânio os dois modelos se adequaram bem aos dados em ambas as condições experimentais. O estudo de equilíbrio mostrou um perfil crescente de captação de tório, com uma remoção de 96% e 54% do metal em pH= 1,0 e 4,0, respectivamente, a partir da Co= 1 mg/L. A melhor eficiência de captação dos íons de urânio foi de 33% para Co= 100 mg/L em pH= 1,0 e 71% para Co= 1 mg/L em pH= 4,0. Os dados experimentais da isoterma de tório mostraram-se mais adequados ao modelo de Freundlich para pH= 1,0, enquanto que para o pH= 4,0 esses foram melhor representados pelo modelo de Langmuir, com valores de coeficiente de determinação superiores. Em relação à isoterma do urânio, o modelo de Freundlich representou bem os dados experimentais. Os parâmetros de equilíbrio calculados a partir do modelo de Langmuir (kL, qmax ) e Freundlich (kF, n) indicaram uma maior afinidade da biomassa pelos íons de tório em ambas as condições experimentais. O estudo de equilíbrio do sistema binário mostrou que a biossorção dos íons de tório não é afetada pela presença do urânio em solução. Por outro lado, a sorção do urânio foi fortemente afetada pela coexistência com os íons de tório. / Due to its low cost and ligand properties, the seaweed Sargassum filipendula is highly used as a biosorbent material for metals biosorption processes. In the present work this brown seaweed was used in the kinetic and equilibrium studies of the process of biosorption of thorium and uranium, alone and in combined solutions. Tests were performed in the range of metals concentrations from 1 to 10 mg/L and pH values 1.0 and 4.0 at 25 1C. The best condition for the biosorption of thorium was found in the low concentration of 1 mg/L at pH 1.0, while uranium was best biosorbed at the concentration of 1 mg/L at pH 4.0. The kinetic study of thorium biosorption indicated that the second-order kinetic model best represented the experimental data for the low concentration of 1 mg/L (R2= 0.9987) and 10 mg/L (R2= 0.9919) at pH 1.0; for 1.0 mg/L R2= 0.9976 at pH= 4.0, while for the most concentrated solution (10 mg/L) R2 value was equal to 09787) at pH= 4.0, following a pseudo-first order kinetics. The biosorption of uranium indicated that both kinetic models fitted the experimental data, under both experimental conditions. Equilibrium study showed an increasing thorium biosorption, for increasing initial metal concentration, reaching 96 and 54% recovery of the metal, at pH 1.0 and 4.0, respectively. The higher individual efficiencies observed were 33% biosorption for a 100 mg/L initial concentration at pH 1.0 and 71% for a 1 mg/L concentration, at pH 4.0. Experimental equilibrium data, for the element thorium, indicated a best fit on Freundlich model, at pH 1.0, while at pH 4.0 the results were best represented by the Langmuir model, due to higher determination coefficient values. Considering the uranium isotherm obtained, Freundlich model best represented experimental data, suggesting the formation of a multilayer adsorption on the surface of the biomass. Equilibrium parameters calculated from the Langmuir (kL, qmax) and Freundlich (kF, n) models, indicated a higher affinity of the biomass for thorium, in comparison to uranium in both conditions tested. The study of the binary system equilibrium showed that the biosorption of thorium was not affected by the presence of uranium in solution, due to the same uptake values observed when thorium was solely present in solution, reaching qmax= 85,95 μmol Th/g (individual) and qmax= 110,1 μmol Th/g (mixture). On the other hand, uranium biosorption was markedly affected by the presence of thorium in solution, reaching low or not significant uranium by the biomass. Key words: Biosorption, Sargassum filipendula, Thorium, Uranium.