Thesis by publication. / Thesis (PhD)--Macquarie University (Division of Environmental & Life Sciences, Graduate School of the Environment), 2007. / Bibliography: p. 267-303. / General introduction -- Redescription of two species of wobbegongs (Chondrichthyes: Orectolobidae) with elevation of Orectolobus halei Whitley 1940 to species level -- Using recreational scuba-divers to survey the relative abundance and distribution of wobbegong sharks (Family: Orectolobidae) in New South Wales, Australia -- Observations of localised movements and residence time of wobbegong sharks (Orectolobus halei) at Fish Rock, New South Wales, Australia -- Length-frequency distribution, length-length, mass-mass and mass-length relationships of wobbegong sharks (Genus Orectolobus) commercially fished in New South Wales, Australia -- Quantitative diet assessment of wobbegong sharks (Genus Orectolobus) in New South Wales, Australia -- Reproductive synchrony of three sympatric species of wobbegong shark (Genus Orectolobus) in New South Wales, Australia -- Age and growth of wobbegong sharks (Genus Orectolobus) in New South Wales, Australia. / In New South Wales, Australia, wobbegong sharks (Orectolobidae) have been commercially targetted by the Ocean Trap and Line Fishery since 1991. A catch decrease of ca. 50% in a decade lead to concern over the sustainability of the fishery and to wobbegongs being listed as vulnerable in NSW under the World Conservation Union Red List assessment. The aim of this research was to investigate wobbegong biology and ecology in relation to its fishery to provide essential data and information for sustainable management of the woggegong fishery. Biological data was obtained from 904 wobbegongs collected from commercial fishing boats, using setlines and lobset pots and by scuba diving. previously two species of wobbegongs were known to occur in NSW: the spotted wobbegong (Orectolobus maculatus) and the ornate wobbegong (O. ornatus). This study discovered a new species (O. halei) described as a subspecies by Whitley (1940), but which had been syonymised with O> ornatus due to a lack of taxonomic investigation. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / 307 p. ill., some col., maps

Submitted by Caroline Falcao (caroline.rfalcao@ufpe.br) on 2017-05-22T17:32:45Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Tese__Aschenbrenner_versão_Definitiva.pdf: 1827049 bytes, checksum: 2b2e0b82d6dc856801226f7368d28b5b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-22T17:32:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Tese__Aschenbrenner_versão_Definitiva.pdf: 1827049 bytes, checksum: 2b2e0b82d6dc856801226f7368d28b5b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-11-25 / O objetivo geral desta tese foi avaliar a conectividade entre ecossistemas costeiros e plataforma continental para a espécie L. alexandrei e estudar a utilização destas áreas em diferentes estágios do ciclo de vida para L. alexandrei e L. jocu na região costeira de PE. Para entender melhor a movimentação entre estas áreas, foram utilizados diferentes métodos combinados: (1) a estrutura etária e de tamanho de L. alexandrei foi determinada para áreas estuarinas (profundidades < 5m) e costeiras (profundidades entre 30 a 60 m) metros da plataforma continental; (2) a assinatura química de otólitos de indivíduos de L. alexandrei capturados em áreas estuarinas e costeiras foi analisada para evidenciar a variação ontogenética na permanência entre os diferentes habitats; (3) a presença em áreas estuarinas e recifes rasos adjacentes a costa em diferentes estágios do ciclo de vida foi detectada e quantificada para L. alexandrei e L. jocu através de censos visuais subaquáticos. Amostras biológicas (otólitos) de L. alexandrei foram coletadas através do acompanhamento de desembarques da pesca de Camboa em regiões estuarinas e pesca de rede e armadilhas em regiões costeiras entre o litoral dos estados de Pernambuco e Alagoas. As coletas foram realizadas durante três anos consecutivos (2010-2012). Otólitos de indivíduos juvenis e adultos foram extraídos, emblocados em resina, seccionados utilizando uma serra metalográfica e analisados inicialmente quanto à sua estrutura etária. Em uma segunda etapa, secções de otólitos foram analisadas com relação à sua assinatura química através de um espectrômetro de massa com ablação a laser. Observações subaquáticas foram realizadas em mangues (duas localidades) e recifes de coral adjacentes (três localidades) (a partir de 90 transectos de 10 x 2 m para cada localidade) durante os meses de novembro a março (2012- 13). Resultados da analise de distribuição etaria mostram que para áreas estuarinas indivíduos apresentaram idades de 0 a 4 anos, enquanto indivíduos coletados em áreas costeiras mais profundas foram mais velhos,entre 3 a 22 anos, indicando que uma mudança entre habitats ocorre aproximadamente entre idades 3 e 4. A frequência do tipo de borda ao longo de um ano utilizado para validar a deposição anual de anéis etários indica que, a formação da banda opaca ocorre no período chuvoso, entre abril e setembro. Dados de crescimento revelam que L. alexandrei possui um crescimento rápido durante os estágios iniciais de vida, atingindo em média 50% de seu tamanho assintótico com idade 2. Parâmetros da curva do modelo de crescimento de von Berlalanffy encontrados para L. alexandrei foram L∞ = 31 cm , k = 0.24, t0 = -1.26, r2 = 0.97. A taxa de mortalidade estimada para indivíduos coletados em áreas costeiras foi Z = 0.22 com sobrevivência de S = 0.78 year-1 . Para a analise microquímica dos otólitos foram medidos seis elementos: 7 Li, 24Mg, 55Mn, 59Co, 88Sr and 137Ba para indivíduos de L. Alexandrei. A analise de material recentemente depositado na borda de otólitos revelou que concentrações na razão elemento:Ca não variaram significativamente ao longo dos três anos testados. Similarmente, com exceção de dois elementos (Ba, Co), a razão elemento:Ca para indivíduos maiores habitando águas costeiras também foi estável, não apresentando diferenças para as diferentes regiões costeiras investigadas. Contrariamente, assinaturas químicas em otólitos de L. alexandrei de tamanhos similares provenientes da região estuarina e áreas costeiras foram distintas. Concentrações de Mn:Ca e Ba:Ca em otólitos foram ambos significativamente maiores para L. alexandrei coletados na região estuarina comparados a peixes coletados na região costeira adjacente, enquanto que para Sr:Ca uma tendência oposta foi observada. Dadas as diferenças pronunciadas na assinatura química entre áreas estuarina e costeiras, transectos de elemento:Ca foram construídos desde a região do núcleo até a margem em otólitos de indivíduos coletados em áreas costeiras para determinar o tempo de movimento (migração ontogenética) entre estuário e áreas costeiras. Concentrações de Mn:Ca e Ba:Ca mostraram um padrão semelhante ao esperado, com maiores concentrações para idades 1 e 2, com diminuição gradual para idades subsequentes. Este padrão sugere que espécimes de L. alexandrei começam a transição para habitats mais costeiros (e.g. menores concentrações de Mn e Ba) após a idade 2. Dados de observações subaquáticas corroboraram estes resultados, revelando que para ambas as espécies, indivíduos menores que 10 cm ocorrem exclusivamente em manguezais. Uma nítida mudança foi observada com um aumento de densidades para indivíduos acima de 10 cm em áreas recifais adjacentes. Para L. alexandrei a ocorrência de pos-assentantes, juvenis e subadultos foi registrada em manguezais enquanto que em recifes adjacentes apenas subadultos e adultos foram registrados. Padrão semelhante foi observado para L. jocu com individuos pos-assentantes, juvenis e subadultos em manguezais e juvenis e subadultos habitando recifes rasos adjacentes. Informações obtidas nesta Tese permitiram uma melhor compreensão dos padrões de crescimento e estrutura etária de L. alexandrei. Resultados sugerem ainda a movimentação ontogenética de L. alexandrei entre habitas costeiros e regiões costeiras mais profundas e permitem uma melhor compreensão da utilização de habitats costeiros em estágios iniciais de vida para as espécies de L. alexandrei e L. jocu. / Current objective of this thesis was to evaluate the connectivity among a shallow nursery area and deeper coastal ecossystems for L. alexandrei, and study utilization of such habitats in different life stages for L. alexandrei and L. jocu in the coastal areas of Pernambuco. In order to better understand movement between these areas, combined methods were applied: (1) initially age structure and size of L. alexandrei individuals were determined between estuarine (depths < 5 m) and deeper coastal areas (depths between 30 and 60 m); (2) otoliths microquimistry of L. alexandrei caught in estuarine and coastal areas were tested to evidence possible movement between these areas; (3) the utilization of mangroves and adjacent shallow reef areas in different life stages were studied through underwater visual census for L. alexandrei and L. jocu. Biological samples (otoliths) of L. alexandrei were collected through fishing landings of corral fisheries in estuarine areas and guillnets and traps for coastal areas between Pernambuco and Alagoas States. Data were collected during three consecutive years (2010- 2012). Otoliths of both juvenile and adult individuals were extracted, embedded in resin, sectioned with a low speed saw, then age structure were determined. In a second step, chemical concentrations of trace elements were analyzed in otolith sections using a laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. Underwater observations (Total 90 transects of 10 x 2 m for each of the five locations) were performed along November to March (2012-13). Results show that inshore mangroves were comprised of individuals 0 to 4 years (mean: 2) while individuals in deeper reef environments were older (range: 3 to 22; mean: 8), indicating that an ontogenetic shift occurs at approximately age 3 or 4. Edge analysis was used to validate the annual deposition in the otoliths suggesting opaque growth rings were formed in the wet season between April and September. Growth data revealed that L. alexandrei display a faster growth in early life stages, reaching approximately 50% of its asymptotic size at age 2. Age at length data were used to predict growth rates of L. alexandrei using the von Bertalanffy growth model from where the following parameters were calculated: L∞ = 31 cm , k = 0.24, t0 = -1.26, r2 = 0.97. Mortality rates were estimated for coastal habitats, with Z = 0.22 and S = 0.78 year-1 . Concentrations of six trace elements were measure (7 Li, 24Mg, 55Mn, 59Co, 88Sr and 137Ba) in otoliths of L. alexadrei. Element:Ca ratios in the otoliths of juvenile and sub-adult L. alexadrei from estuaries were not significantly different among three consecutive years (2010, 2011 and 2012), suggesting that physicochemical conditions within the nursery investigated was temporally stable. Similarly, apart from two element (Ba, Co), element:Ca ratios for larger L. alexandrei inhabiting coastal waters were also similar. In contrast, otolith chemistry of similar sized L. alexandrei from estuarine and coastal areas was distinctly different (based on recently accreted material). Otolith Mn:Ca and Ba:Ca were both significantly higher for L. alexandrei collected in estuaries compared to fish from adjacent coastal reefs region, while the opposite trend was observed for Sr:Ca. Given the pronounced differences in otolith chemistry between estuarine and coastal areas, element:Ca transects were constructed from the core to margin of the otoliths for adults (age 7+) collected on reefs to determine the timing of movement (ontogenetic migration) from estuarine to coastal areas. Based on observed patterns of decline for both Mn:Ca and Ba:Ca, it appears that L. alexandrei begin to transition to more coastal habitats (i.e., lower element:Ca ratios) after age 2. Underwater observations indicate that for both species, individuals smaller than 10 cm occurred exclusively in mangroves. A distinct shift was observed with higher densities for individuals larger than 10 cm in adjacent shallow reef areas. For L. alexandrei mangroves registered occurrence of (postsettlers, juveniles and subadults) while for shallow reefs only (subadults and adults) were observed. A similar pattern was observed for L. jocu with individuals (postsettlers, juveniles and subadults) in mangroves and (juveniles and subadults) inhabiting shallow reefs. General information provided in this thesis allow a better understanding of size structure and growth pattern for L. alexandrei. Yet results suggest ontogenetic migration for L. alexandrei between shallow coastal and deeper marine habitats as well as a better understanding of habitat utilization in early life stages for L. alexandrei and L. jocu.

Understanding the life history of a species is essential for fully understanding its role within an ecosystem. However, many of the fish species of high ecological value have not been studied due to their less prominent roles in local recreational and commercial fisheries in comparison to other targeted species. This study describes the age and growth patterns of three small tuna species inhabiting South Florida waters: blackfin tuna Thunnus atlanticus, little tunny Euthynnus alletteratus, and skipjack tuna Katsuwonus pelamis. Tuna specimens were collected via donations obtained from various fishing tournaments and charter captains in the areas of the Florida Straits as well as hook-and-line by the Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center. Age was described via sagittal otolith deposition patterns. They were removed, dried, sectioned, and rings were counted as well as measured. Validation of the timing of ring deposits was done by marginal increment analysis. Growth parameters were determined by comparison of fish fork length to count measurements. This comparison via the Von Bertalanffy growth equation produced a growth rate for each species: blackfin, L∞ = 95.34 cm, K = 0.28, and t0 = -1.53; little tunny, L∞ = 77.93 cm, K = 0.69, and t0 = -0.69; and skipjack, L∞ = 112.76 cm, K = 0.24, and t0 = -1.70. The curves indicate an average size of an individual of a given species at a certain age. They also give an estimation of a maximum length (L∞) of each species, in addition to specific growth rate, which is indicated by the slope. Parameters of each resulting Von Bertalanffy equation were compared among species. Results were also compared with growth rates currently used in stock assessments by fisheries management organizations, such as the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).

Invasive species are a top threat to global biodiversity. Lionfish (Pterois volitans/miles) are a marine invasive predator that are now established in the Western Atlantic, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. Studies that have documented impacts of lionfish suggest they can reduce fish recruitment and native species biomass by up to 80%. Research on lionfish impacts, biology and ecology is heavily focused in tropical and subtropical systems, with considerably less research effort occurring in the temperate regions of their invaded range, such as the South Atlantic Bight. Lionfish life history estimates are important to modeling lionfish population growth, modeling future dispersal and evaluating the efficacy of different removal strategies. Since lionfish life history will vary with a suite of environmental, biological and ecological factors, estimates of lionfish life history should be collected in all regions of their invaded range. The purpose of this study was to collect baseline information of lionfish biology and ecology in the southern portion of the South Atlantic Bight, an unstudied region for this species. As such, chapter one uses a quantitative approach to determine lionfish life history estimates important to management. Some important results of chapter one are: lionfish are recruiting at one main time throughout the year, growth changes seasonally and the population is relatively young (< 3 years of age). Chapter two takes the first step in determining lionfish impacts in this region by quantifying their diet. The main conclusion of this chapter is that round scad (Decapterus punctatus), sand perch (Diplectrum formosum) and black sea bass (Centropristis striata) are the most important prey items in the lionfish diet. Black sea bass are an important fishery in the South Atlantic Bight, and lionfish could be negatively affecting recruitment. Together, these chapters provide important insight into lionfish ecology in this region and in general.

Vielfältige Studien haben bereits Zusammenhänge zwischen niedrigem Geburtsgewicht und der Entwicklung von Adipositas und eines metabolischen Syndroms im späteren Lebensalter dargestellt. Umfangreiche Daten liegen vor allem für frühgeborene Neonaten vor. Ziel dieser Arbeit ist deshalb die Bewertung perinataler Parameter und der frühen Entwicklung reifer SGA – Neugeborener. Für die vorliegende prospektive Studie wurden 50 Neugeborene mit einem Geburtsgewicht < 10. Perzentile und 50 eutrophe Neugeborene erfasst. Bei allen Kindern wurden anamnestische Befunde zum Schwangerschaftsverlauf, die Biometrie der Eltern sowie Daten zur Geburt und zum stationären Verlauf erfasst. Mit Hilfe eines standardisierten Fragebogens an die niedergelassenen Kinderärzte erfolgte die Nachbeobachtung der Kinder hinsichtlich der Gewichts–, Längen– und Kopfumfangsentwicklung sowie der Ernährung bis zur 15. Lebenswoche. Die Ergebnisse der Studie zeigen, dass nur 13% der SGA – Kinder ein genetisch vermindertes Wachstumspotential haben. Demnach liegt bei der Mehrzahl der SGA – Geborenen ein pathologischer Mechanismus zugrunde. Während der Schwangerschaft waren in der SGA – Gruppe häufiger uterine Perfusionsstörungen bei einem erhöhten Auftreten von Präeklampsien oder Nikotinabusus darstellbar. Die SGA – Kinder wurden häufiger per sectionem geboren und zeigten zu einem erhöhten Anteil Dysmaturitätszeichen als Ausdruck einer intrauterinen Stress– oder Mangelsituation. Aufgrund der perinatalen Risiken sollte die Geburt dieser Kinder in einem Perinatalzentrum erfolgen. In der SGA – Gruppe bestand eine signifikante Korrelation zwischen Gestationsalter und Geburtsgewicht, deshalb ist eine individuelle Abwägung des Geburtszeitpunktes zur Nutzung des noch vorhandenen intrauterinen Wachstumspotentials erforderlich. Kinder der SGA – Gruppe bedurften häufiger einer intensivmedizinischen Betreuung und hatten einen längeren stationären Aufenthalt als Kinder der Vergleichsgruppe; Säurebasenstatus, APGAR – Werte und Blutdruck unterschieden sich nicht. Während des stationären Aufenthaltes wurden die SGA – Neonaten vermehrt zugefüttert und zeigten eine geringere postnatale Gewichtsabnahme. Nach der Entlassung kam es, bezogen auf die Körperlänge, zu einer stärkeren und rascheren Gewichtszunahme bei SGA – Kindern, während die Längendifferenz zunächst bestehen blieb. Ein frühes Aufholwachstum, welches sich in dieser Studie isoliert auf das Gewicht bezieht, ist hinsichtlich späterer metabolischer Störungen als möglicher Risikofaktor zu werten.

L'objectif de ce travail de thèse est de développer un modèle mathématique pour l'étude et la compréhension de la dynamique des populations d'un insecte ravageur, l'Eudémis de la vigne (Lobesia botrana Den. & Schiff.), dans son écosystème. Le modèle proposé est un système d'équations aux dérivées partielles de type hyperbolique qui décrit les variations numériques au cours du temps de la population en fonction des stades de développement, du sexe des individus et des conditions environnementales. La ressource alimentaire, la température, l'humidité et la prédation sont les principaux facteurs environnementaux du modèle expliquant les fluctuations du nombre d'individus au cours du temps. Les différences de développement qui existent dans une cohorte d'Eudémis sont aussi modélisées pour affiner les prédictions du modèle. A partir de données expérimentales obtenues par les entomologistes de l'INRA, situé à Bordeaux, les paramètres du modèle sont estimés. Ce modèle ainsi ajusté nous permet alors d’étudier quelques aspects biologiques et écologiques de l’insecte comme par exemple l'impact de scénarios climatiques sur la ponte des femelles ou sur la dynamique d’attaque de la vigne par les jeunes larves. Les analyses mathématique et numérique du modèle mathématique et des problèmes d'estimation des paramètres sont développées dans cette thèse. / The objective of the thesis is to develop a mathematical model for studying the population dynamics of the European grapevine moth (Lobesia botrana Den. & Schiff.) in its ecosystem. The model proposed is a system of hyperbolic equations that describe the numerical variations in time of the population with respect to developmental stage, the gender and the environmental conditions. The food, the temperature, the humidity and the predation are the main environmental factors of the model that explain the fluctuations of the population in time. The differences in growth inside a cohort are modeled in order to precise the model simulations. We use experimental data obtained by entomologists of the National Research Institut of Agronomy to estimate the parameters of the model. This ajusted model allows us to study some biological and ecological aspects of this pest like for example the impact of climate change on the female laying or on the young larvae dynamic, main actors in the depredation of the Vine. The mathematical analysis and the numerical analysis of the mathematical model and of the parameters estimation problems are presented in this thesis.

Für die Versorgung intraligamentärer vorderer Kreuzbandrupturen wurde bei Patienten im Wachstumsalter, aufgrund der Sorge vor dauerhaften Wachstumsstörungen durch eine Schädigung der Wachstumsfugen, eine Vielzahl verschiedener operativer Techniken entwickelt. Noch hat sich keines der praktizierten Therapieverfahren eindeutig etablieren können. In dieser Arbeit wurden verschiedene aktuell angewandte Operationsverfahren hinsichtlich ihrer klinischen Ergebnisse und Risiken bei Patienten bis zu einem Alter von zwölf Jahren und vergleichend für alle Patienten im Wachstumsalter, untersucht. Hierfür wurden zum einen in einer retrospektiven nationalen Multicenterstudie Patienten im Alter von bis zu zwölf Jahren, die mit einer vorderen Kreuzbandoperation versorgt worden waren, nachuntersucht. Zum anderen wurden im Rahmen einer systematischen Literaturanalyse die Literaturdatenbanken Medline und Embase, die Cochrane Library sowie die Springer- und die Thieme-Verlagsdatenbank durchsucht und operative Versorgungen von Patienten im Wachstumsalter mit einer vorderen Kreuzbandruptur erfasst. In den zehn Kliniken, die in die Multicenterstudie eingeschlossen waren, wurden 25 Patienten nachuntersucht. In der systematischen Literaturanalyse wurden insgesamt 59 Artikel mit 860 operativen Versorgungen von Patienten im Wachstumsalter erfasst. Die Kreuzbandnaht zeigte insgesamt schlechtere klinische Ergebnisse als die Kreuzbandersatzplastik. Fugenkreuzende und fugenschonende Operationstechniken führten zu ähnlich guten klinischen Ergebnissen. Die Rate an Beinlängendifferenzen oder Achsenabweichungen war jedoch bei den fugenschonenden Techniken deutlich höher. Zwischen den verwendeten Transplantaten (Patellasehne, Hamstring, Quadrizepssehne, Fascia lata und Allograft) und auch zwischen gelenknaher und gelenkferner Transplantatfixierung wurden keine wesentlichen Unterschiede in den Ergebnissen festgestellt. Hinsichtlich der Technik zur Bohrung des femoralen Knochenkanals war der anteromediale Zugangsweg nicht mit einer höheren Rate an Beinlängendifferenzen oder Achsenabweichungen assoziiert als der transtibiale Zugang. Insgesamt lassen sich für Patienten im Alter von bis zu zwölf Jahren mit einer Kreuzbandplastik gute bis sehr gute klinische Ergebnisse erzielen. Die Gefahr mit der Operation eine irreversible Beinlängendifferenz oder Achsenabweichung zu verursachen ist jedoch beachtlich und bei Patienten bis zu zwölf Jahren vermutlich größer als bei älteren Patienten, die sich kurz vor Abschluss ihres Wachstums befinden.