Many studies have been performed to analyze the influence of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in membrane fouling. Most of these works deal with the impact of solid contents in the fouling, and some of them have studied the role ofsupematant compounds. The aim of this work was to clarify the role of the different sludge fractions in the context of membrane bioreactor fouling. The laboratory-scale reactor used for experiments consists of a submerged membrane bioreactor for the treatment of synthetic wastewater. For the same organic load (0.4 g COD/ g MLSS.d), several samples of sludge were taken off and divided intohree fractions (solid contents, soluble and colloids). COD and extractable EPS were quantified (carbohydrates and proteins). Dead-end filtration tests for each fraction were also carried out. According to these experiments, no correlation between EPS concentration in the solid part of the sludge and filtration resistance was found. Instead, a change of the filtration resistance was explained as a function of COD in the supematant, and more especially as a function of proteins concentration. Indeed, when the value of proteins concentration in the supernatant changes from 30 to 100 mg/1, the value of specific resistance increased by a factor of 10. Finally, the characterization of the supematant was shown as a key parameter for the MBR operating control. When the COD and proteins concentration in the supematant remained low, the transmembrane pressure in the reactor remained even lower. Moreover, with the biomass growth rate analysis, our results suggest that the EPS production was linked to growth of microorganisms. The faster he growth, the less EPS production.

Reproduction and feeding habits of Mustelus dorsalis (Pisces: Triakidae) in the Gulf of Nicoya, Costa Rica: Elements for a sustainable management. A total of 311 sharptooth smooth-hound Mustelus dor� salis were collected in the Gulf of Nicoya, Costa Rica from March 1999 to May 2000 to determine reproduction and feeding habits. The fishes were collected using hook and line. 250 females and 61 males were identified. The females are bigger (550-660 mm) and heavier (400-1 000 g) than males (500-585 mm and 200-300 g, respectively). All samples collected were mature and the minimum length to first maturity observed is 500 and 541 mm for females and males, respectively. From September to March individuals were mature, while samples caught during April and August were immature. A total of 1 259 embryos were analyzed. Number of embryos per liter ranged from two to six, the total length is from 130 to 205 mm and the weight from 6 to 35 g. This shark is a polyphagous opportunistic carnivore that preys on crustaceans (Squilla hancocki, S. parva, Litopenaeus sp.), fishes (Anchoa sp., Caranx sp., Lutjanus sp., Engraulis sp.) and mollusks (Loligo sp. and Octopus sp.). Main prey item was S. hancocki. The presence of mature sharks of both sexes along the year and the consumption of food items associated to shallow coastal rocky waters suggest that this sector of Nicoya Gulf is a nursery ground and an essential habitat. Based on these results the establishment of an integral management plan is proposed.

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