Common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) are apex predators and indicators of localized ecosystem health. Accurate characterization of population demography is crucial to parameter predictions. However, descriptions of age growth investigations of odontocetes are limited to the postnatal life. In contrast, the modeled scenario for terrestrial mammalian growth has been described along a continuum of pre- and postnatal data. Few age distribution data exist for the western Gulf of Mexico despite the fact that life tables enable demographic comparisons among populations. The objective of this study was to characterize age, growth, and population-level behavior of bottlenose dolphins along Texas. This objective was accomplished by two discrete studies: age analysis, and population-level behavior. Teeth from 290 stranded individuals were extracted for the purposes of age determination. Curvilinear models (the Gompertz and the von Bertalanffy) were fit to postnatal length-at-age data. Fetal age was determined for 408 suspected fetal length records using validated fetal growth trends and empirical measurements from late-term fetuses. Growth analysis indicated that a Gompertz model fit length-at-age data better than a von Bertalanffy model. A postnatal Gompertz model explained less variation than a combined pre- and postnatal model (R2 = 0.9 and 0.94 respectively). The absolute growth rate and rate of growth decay tripled with the inclusion of fetal length and age data. In the second study, life tables were constructed for 280 individuals. Survivorship curves, mortality rates, intrinsic capacity for increase, and the population growth rate were calculated. Bottlenose dolphin mortality did not differ significantly by sex or age class. Survivorship was best characterized by a type III curve. Analyses indicated no substantial increase (r = -0.07), and that the population is not replacing itself in the next time-step (y = 0.93). Bottlenose dolphins conform to a number of eutherian mammalian trends: the production of precocial young, calving seasonality, and rapid fetal growth rate. Population level behavior suggests a population retraction possibly as a compensatory response to ecosystem perturbation rather than a population decline. Reproductive information will confirm population status and stability in the future. This study is the first to demonstrate a significant impact of cetacean fetal growth parameters on postnatal growth trajectory.

Η μεταμόρφωση (metamorphosis), το πέρασμα δηλαδή των ψαριών από το στάδιο της ιχθυονύμφης στο στάδιο του ιχθυδίου (juvenile), συνδέεται με αλλαγές στη μορφολογία, την αύξηση, τη συμπεριφορά και το ενδιαίτημα, οι οποίες είναι καθοριστικές για την επιβίωση των ατόμων και συνεπώς για τη δομή και τη δυναμική του πληθυσμού στον οποίο πρόκειται να ενσωματωθούν. Στην παρούσα εργασία μελετήθηκε η φάση της μεταμόρφωσης σε τέσσερα είδη της οικογένειας Sparidae με την ταυτόχρονη εξέταση της μορφομετρίας και της μορφολογίας συγκεκριμένων χαρακτήρων. Τα είδη που εξετάστηκαν ήταν τα Oblada melanura (μελανούρι), Diplodus puntazzo (μυτάκι), Diplodus vulgaris (σαργόπαπας ή κακαρέλος) και Diplodus sargus (σαργός). Τα αποτελέσματα της μελέτης, έδειξαν πως με τη μεθοδολογία που ακολουθήθηκε, η φάση της μεταμόρφωσης μπορεί να προσδιοριστεί ικανοποιητικά και να οριστεί ένα μέσο μήκος μεταμόρφωσης. Αποκαλύφθηκαν επίσης διαφορές και ομοιότητες στην αλλομετρική αύξηση των ειδών που εξετάστηκαν, καθώς και ισχυρή συσχέτιση της αλλομετρικής αύξησης με την πρόσφατη θερμοκρασιακή ιστορία του περιβάλλοντος ανάπτυξής για το στάδιο πριν το εκτιμηθέν μέσο μήκος μεταμόρφωσης του κάθε είδους. Τα αποτελέσματα, συζητούνται σε σχέση με τις οικολογικές απαιτήσεις των ψαριών κατά τη μετάβαση από την πελαγική στη βενθική διαβίωση. / During metamorphosis, fish undergo major changes in morphology and growth followed by shifts in behavior and habitat use. In this study, metamorphosis was examined on the early life stages of four Sparidae species, by analyzing their allometric growth patterns concurrently with the evolution of specific morphological characters. The species examined were Oblada melanura (saddled seabream), Diplodus puntazzo (sharpsnout seabream), Diplodus vulgaris (common two-banded seabream) και Diplodus sargus (white seabream). Our results showed that metamorphosis can be adequately defined and an average length at metamorphosis can be estimated, with the use of the methodology proposed. Moreover, specific patterns of allometric growth were detected within each species, as well as, a strong correlation of allometric growth with recent environment temperature, for the stage before the estimated average metamorphosis length. Results are discussed in terms of the ecological demands of fish during their transition from the pelagic to the benthic/coastal existence.

Quackgrass is the most serious perennial grassy weed of wheat in Manitoba. Field experiments and surveys investigating the nature and extent of interference in monocultures and mixtures of quackgrass and wheat were conducted over the years 1987 to 1989 at Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, Canada. Intraspecific and interspecific interference between spring wheat and quackgrass was investigated in the field using an additive series design consisting of five replacement series proportions at total stand densities of 75, 150, and 300 plants sqM. A revised synthetic no-interaction analysis determined that wheat was superior to quackgrass in both intraspecific and interpecific interference and that niche dedifferentiation was large. Quackgrass reproductive variable were less sensitive to interspecific interference than were vegetative variables. Surveys of commercial fields of spring wheat infested with quackgrass were conducted using a dynamic stratified random sampling design in which systematic samples were taken at approximately 30, 60 and 93 days after planting. Wheat yield loss, as a percentage of weed-free yield, (Yw%) was related to spring quackgrass shoot counts/m-2 (Qs) by a rectangular hyperbolic model of the form Yw% = 98.7(1-0.433(Qs)/100(1+(0.433(Qs)/193.7))). Wheat kernel weight was the wheat yield component most influenced by quackgrass infestation. In quackgrass populations the majority of new rhizome production occurred during wheat senescence and biomass partitioning to heads increased as quackgrass infestation increased. Allometric models of the relationship between quackgrass parts were site specific and generally became more accurate the later the sampling date. A set of models relating spring quackgrass infestation to yield losses in hard red spring wheat, flax, and polish canola were combined with allometric models in a multi-year spreadsheet (Lotus 1-2-3, v 3.1) model. Simulations run using the multi-year model demonstrated the potential of a spreadsheet model of assisting in weed control decisions.

Quackgrass is the most serious perennial grassy weed of wheat in Manitoba. Field experiments and surveys investigating the nature and extent of interference in monocultures and mixtures of quackgrass and wheat were conducted over the years 1987 to 1989 at Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, Canada. Intraspecific and interspecific interference between spring wheat and quackgrass was investigated in the field using an additive series design consisting of five replacement series proportions at total stand densities of 75, 150, and 300 plants sqM. A revised synthetic no-interaction analysis determined that wheat was superior to quackgrass in both intraspecific and interpecific interference and that niche dedifferentiation was large. Quackgrass reproductive variable were less sensitive to interspecific interference than were vegetative variables. Surveys of commercial fields of spring wheat infested with quackgrass were conducted using a dynamic stratified random sampling design in which systematic samples were taken at approximately 30, 60 and 93 days after planting. Wheat yield loss, as a percentage of weed-free yield, (Yw%) was related to spring quackgrass shoot counts/m-2 (Qs) by a rectangular hyperbolic model of the form Yw% = 98.7(1-0.433(Qs)/100(1+(0.433(Qs)/193.7))). Wheat kernel weight was the wheat yield component most influenced by quackgrass infestation. In quackgrass populations the majority of new rhizome production occurred during wheat senescence and biomass partitioning to heads increased as quackgrass infestation increased. Allometric models of the relationship between quackgrass parts were site specific and generally became more accurate the later the sampling date. A set of models relating spring quackgrass infestation to yield losses in hard red spring wheat, flax, and polish canola were combined with allometric models in a multi-year spreadsheet (Lotus 1-2-3, v 3.1) model. Simulations run using the multi-year model demonstrated the potential of a spreadsheet model of assisting in weed control decisions.

Ecology has been devoted to defining the content of a species’ environment. Defining the extent, or size, of a species’ environment is also pivotal to elucidating species-habitat relationships. More than a home range, this extent integrates an individual’s lifetime experiences with resources, competition, and predators. I theorised that a species’ habitat extent is identifiable from its characteristic spatial scale of habitat selection, which in turn is predicted by body size. I reviewed scale-dependent mammalian habitat selection studies and found that a characteristic scale was typically not identified, but identifiable. Of several ecological predictors tested, only body mass was a significant predictor of the relative size of a species’ characteristic habitat selection scale. Tests of existing data are confounded by differing approaches, so I empirically tested the scale-body mass hypothesis using a standardised survey of 12 sympatric terrestrial mammal species from the Canadian Rocky Mountains. For each species, support for habitat models varied across 20 scales tested. For six species, I found a characteristic selection scale, which was best predicted by species body mass in a quadratic relationship. Occurrence of large and small species was explained by habitat measured at large scales, whereas medium- sized species were explained by habitat measured at small scales. The relationship between body size and habitat selection scale is congruent with the textural-discontinuity hypothesis, and implies species’ evolutionary adaptation to landscape heterogeneity as the driver of scale-dependent habitat selection. I applied this principle to examine wolverine habitat selection, and found that anthropogenic fragmentation of the landscape influences that species’ occurrence in space at large spatial scales. Finally, I contended that the prevailing paradigm equating habitats to resources omits interspecific interactions that are key predictors of a species’ occurrences. I examined habitat selection of martens and fishers in terrestrial environments, and sea otters in marine coastal environments, and tested whether the presence of heterospecifics could explain spatial occurrence beyond landscape structure and resources. In both cases, the presence of heterospecifics explained species occurrence beyond simple resource selection. Interspecific interactions are key drivers of a species’ distribution in space; this is the spatial expression of the concepts of fundamental and realized niches. Body size interacts with landscape structure to determine the scale of a species’ response to its environment, and within this habitat extent, interspecific interactions affect the species’ pattern of occurrence and distribution. / Graduate

Thesis (M.S.)--University of North Carolina Wilmington, 2009. / Title from PDF title page (February 21, 2010) Includes bibliographical references (p. 35-39)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / O dimorfismo sexual exibido por machos polifênicos em algumas espécies do gênero Ptychoderes envolve variação no rostro, antena e ventritos. A existência de polifenismo pode ser um importante componente no processo evolutivo por meio de novidades morfológicas e comportamentais. O objetivo desse estudo foi determinar a variação em caracteres morfométricos, polifenismo em machos, variação de estruturas com conhecido dimorfismo sexual, possíveis padrões alométricos e testar estas inferências para Ptychoderes através do mapeamento do dimorfismo sexual e de machos em uma reconstrução filogenética de Ptychoderes usando Mesquite 2.04. Foram medidas 23 variáveis morfométricas em 510 espécimes com as seguintes análises realizadas: análises de cluster, analises de componentes principais (PCA), analise de variáveis canônicas (AVC), análise de regressão por eixo maior reduzido (RMA). Cada tipo de dimorfismo foi mapeado em uma filogenia prévia como dois estados separados usando parcimônia. Para todas as espécies o dimorfismo sexual apresentou diferenças significativas entre os sexos com relação aos segmentos antenais (II- X).O compriemtno do rosto e ventrito V foram confirmados como indicativos de dimorfismo sexual (exceto em P. jordani). A única espécie em que não ocorreu machos polifenicos foi P. depressus. Nas outras espécies machos grandes e pequenos diferem significantemente para muitas variáveis com similaridades e diferenças. Na ACP, o primeiro componente (PC1) apresentou alta porcentagem de variância nos dados de todas as espécies; apresentou loadings de mesmo sinal sugerindo diferenças relacionadas ao tamanho para as espécies P. jordani, P. depressus, P. virgatus, P. mixtus e P. callosus e para as espécies P. viridanus, P. antiquus, P. elongates e P. nebulosus apresentou loadings positivos e negativos sugerindo diferenças relacionadas a forma (alometria). O PC2 apresentou loadings positivos e negativos para todas as espécies, um provável componente alométricos. A AVC confirmou os grupos: machos grandes, machos pequenos e fêmeas quando estes ocorreram. Nós encontramos diferentes padrões alométricos para todas as espécies com diferenças e semelhanças entre as espécies. Todos esses resultados confirmam a hipótese de polifenismo em machos e dimorfismo sexual para Ptychhoderes. A análise dos padrões alométricos para o dimorfismo sexual revelou alometria positiva para o comprimento do rostro (CR1) em machos e fêmeas, com os ventritos apenas em machos. Padrões alométricos positivos relacionados ao polifenismo nos antenômeros foram confirmados para os machos grandes e pequenos de quase todas as espécies exceto em P. nebulosus. O ancestral de clados na filogenia de Ptychoderes foi inferido para machos polifênicos (exceto P. depressus) com variáveis no rostro, antenas e ventritos indicativas de dimorfismo sexual com alometria positiva. Estes padrões poderiam estar ligados com o comportamento de proteção das fêemeas realizados por machos grandes durante a oviposição. / The sexual dimorphism exhibited by polyphenic males in some species of the Ptychoderes involves variation in rostrum, antennae and ventrites. The existence of polyphenism should be an important component in the evolutionary process via morphological and behavior novelties. The goal of this study was to determine the variation of monomorphic traits, polyphenism in males, variation of structures with known sexual dimorphism, possible allometric patterns and to test these predictions for Ptychoderes by mapping both male and sexual dimorphism in a phylogenetic reconstruction of the genus Ptychoderes using Mesquite 2.04. Twenty-three morphometric variables were measured in 510 specimens with the following analyses performed: Cluster analysis; Principal Component Analysis (PCA); Canonical Variance Analysis (CVA), analysis of regression of Reduced Major Axis (RMA). Each type of dimorphism was mapped on the previous phylogeny as a separate two-state using parsimony. For all species the sexual dimorphism provided significant differences between the sexes for antennal segments (II-X). The length of rostrum and ventrite V were confirmed as indication of sexual dimorphism (except P. jordani). The unique species without polyphenics males was P. depressus. The others species major and minor males differed significantly for many variables with similarities and differences. In the PCA, the first component (PC1) had a high percentage of the variance in the data for all species; present loadings of the same signal suggesting differences related to the size of the species P. jordani, P. depressus, P. virgatus, P. mixtus and P. callosus and for the species P. viridanus, P. antiquus, P. elongates and P. nebulosus the PC1 presented positive and negative loadings suggesting differences related to the shape (allometry). The PC2 showed both positive and negative loadings for all species, a probable allometric component. The CVA confirmed the groups: major males, minor males and female, when they occurred. We found different allometric patterns for all species, with similarities and differences between species. All these results confirm the hypothesis the polyphenism in males and sexual dimorphism for Ptychoderes. The analyses of allometric patterns for sexual dimorphism results positive allometry for rostral length (RL1) in males and females, with ventrites only for males. The positive allometric patterns related with polyphenism in the antennae were confirmed for larges and small males in almost all species, except in P. nebulosus. The ancestor of the clades in the Ptychoderes phylogeny was predicted to have polyphenic males (except P. depressus) with variables in the rostrum, antennae and ventrites indicative of the sexual dimorphism with positive allometry. These patterns should be linkage to the protection behavior of the female performed by large males during oviposition.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-17T14:55:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 1378872 bytes, checksum: ba74dcc33082019157e38be00610522d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-03-31 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The aim of this study was to compare the body measurements of two species of frugivore bats (Artibeus planirostris and Artibeus cinereus) that co-occur in the Biological Reserve Guaribas, State of Paraiba, Brazil. A total of 118 individuals collected in mist net between June and October 2013 were analyzed. Body mass, wingspan, the length of the wing bones and tibia of 65 A. planirostris and 53 A. cinereus were measured. The two species showed sexual dimorphism in size, with females significantly larger than males. Regressions (SMA) between morphometric variables for both species tend to differ significantly from isometry, indicating that there were differences in form between these two species, a result confirmed by discriminant analysis. Wing measures tended to grow less than expected in relation to body mass, which may be an adaptation to reduce drag and allow higher speeds flying in larger individuals. Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between body mass and aspect ratio, which suggests a tendency to narrowing of the wings in larger individuals (another adaptation that allows faster flight). Unlike the wing, the tibia in both species increased in size more than expected with increased body mass. This process may be related to increased investment in the tibia in order to support the increasing weight gain in larger bats. / O objetivo deste trabalho foi comparar as medidas corporais de duas espécies de morcegos frugívoros (Artibeus planirostris e Artibeus cinereus) que co-ocorrem na Reserva Biológica Guaribas, Estado da Paraíba, Brasil. Foi analisado um total de 118 indivíduos coletados em rede de neblina entre junho e outubro de 2013. Foram medidos a massa corporal, a envergadura, o comprimento dos ossos das asas e a tíbia de 65 A. planirostris e 53 A. cinereus. As duas espécies apresentaram dimorfismo sexual de tamanho, sendo as fêmeas significativamente maiores que os machos. Regressões (SMA) entre as variáveis morfométricas para as duas espécies na sua maior parte diferiram significativamente da isometria, indicando que houve diferença de forma, um resultado corroborado pela análise discriminante. As medidas de asa tenderam a crescer menos que o esperado em relação à massa corporal, o que pode indicar uma adaptação para reduzir o arrasto e permitir maiores velocidades de vôo nos indivíduos de maior tamanho. Além disso, foi encontrada uma correlação positiva entre a massa corporal e a Razão do Aspecto, o que sugere uma tendência para o estreitamento das asas em indivíduos de maior tamanho (outra adaptação que permite um vôo mais rápido). Ao contrário da asa, a tíbia nas duas espécies aumentou de tamanho mais do que o esperado com o aumento da massa corporal. Esse processo pode estar relacionado ao maior investimento na tíbia, a fim de sustentar o crescente ganho peso nos morcegos de maior porte.

Orientador: Heraldo César Gonçalves / Banca: Simone Fernandes / Banca: Mauro Sartori Bueno / Resumo: Este trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar o crescimento relativo dos cortes comerciais e dos tecidos da carcaça de caprinos. Foram utilizados 78 cabritos, machos e fêmeas, de cinco grupos raciais: Alpino; 1/2 Boer + 1/2 Alpino (1/2 BA); 1/2 Anglo Nubiano + 1/2 Alpino (1/2 ANA); 3/4 Boer + 1/4 Alpino (3/4 BA); e ½ Anglo Nubiano + ¼ Boer + ¼ Alpino (TC). Os grupos foram distribuídos em dois sistemas de terminação, pasto (ST1) e confinamento (ST2). Os cabritos foram abatidos em média aos 22,07 kg de peso vivo e 128,4 ± 7,9 dias. O peso médio das meias carcaças foi de 5,09 kg. Para determinação do crescimento alométrico foi utilizada a equação exponencial Y = aXb. O cruzamento com a raça Anglo Nubiana proporcionou o crescimento precoce da perna em relação ao peso da meia carcaça (PMC). O lombo cresceu tardiamente nos animais Alpinos e ½ ANA. Nos animais do grupo TC as costelas apresentaram crescimento tardio. Os cruzamentos não influenciaram no desenvolvimento do pescoço. A paleta foi considerada precoce nos animais ½ BA e TC. O tecido muscular, em relação ao PMC, apresentou crescimento precoce no grupo ½ BA. No ST1, a paleta cresceu precocemente, enquanto no ST2 este crescimento foi isogônico. O tecido adiposo dos animais do ST1 foi depositado tardiamente. As fêmeas apresentaram crescimento precoce de perna e tecido muscular, que nos machos foi considerado intermediário. O crescimento dos caprinos é influenciado pelos cruzamentos raciais, sistema de terminação e sexo / Abstract: This work was conducted with the objective of evaluate the relative growth of carcass cuts and tissues of goats. Seventy-eight male and female kids from five racial groups were used: Alpine; ½ Boer + ½ Alpine (½ BA); ½ Nubian + ½ Alpine (½ ANA); ¾ Boer + ¼ Alpine (¾ BA); and ½ Nubian + ¼ Boer + ¼ Alpine (TC); distributed in two finishing systems, pasture (FS1) and feedlot (FS2). The kids were slaughtered at an average of 22.07 kg of live weight and 128.4 ± 7.9 days. The average weight of half carcasses was 5.09 kg. To determine the allometric growth the exponential equation was used Y= aXb. The crossing with the Anglo Nubian provided the early growth of the leg in relation to the half carcass weight. The loin grew late in the Alpine animals and ½ the ANA. In animals from group TC ribs grew late. The crossings did not influence the development of the neck. The palette was considered earlier in kids ½ BA and TC. Muscle tissue in relation to the half carcass, grew early in the group ½ BA. In FS1, the palette grew early, while this growth was intermediate in FS2. The fat tissue of animals in FS1 had a late growth. The females showed early growth of leg and muscle tissue, while in males was considered intermediate. The growth of goats is influenced by the crossings, sex and finishing system / Mestre

abstract: Extremely thick cranial vaults have been noted as a diagnostic characteristic of Homo erectus since the first fossil of the species was identified, but potential mechanisms underlying this seemingly unique trait have not been rigorously investigated. Cranial vault thickness (CVT) is not a monolithic trait, and the responsiveness of its layers to environmental stimuli is unknown. Identifying factors that affect CVT would be exceedingly valuable in teasing apart potential contributors to thick vaults in the Pleistocene. Four hypotheses were tested using CT scans of skulls of more than 1100 human and non-human primates. Data on total frontal, parietal, and occipital bone thickness and bone composition were collected to test the hypotheses: H1. CVT is an allometric consequence of brain or body size. H2. Thick cranial vaults are a response to long, low cranial vault shape. H3. High masticatory stress causes localized thickening of cranial vaults. H4. Activity-mediated systemic hormone levels affect CVT. Traditional comparative methods were used to identify features that covary with CVT across primates to establish behavior patterns that might correlate with thick cranial vaults. Secondly, novel experimental manipulation of a model organism, Mus musculus, was used to evaluate the relative plasticity of CVT. Finally, measures of CVT in fossil hominins were described and discussed in light of the extant comparative and experimental results. This dissertation reveals previously unknown variation among extant primates and humans and illustrates that Homo erectus is not entirely unique among primates in its CVT. The research suggests that it is very difficult to make a mouse grow a thick head, although it can be genetically programmed to have one. The project also identifies a possible hominin synapomorphy: high diploë ratios compared to non-human primates. It also found that extant humans differ from non-human primates in overall pattern of which cranial vault bones are thickest. What this project was unable to do was definitively provide an explanation for why and how Homo erectus grew thick skulls. Caution is required when using CVT as a diagnostic trait for Homo erectus, as the results presented here underscore the complexity inherent in its evolution and development. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Anthropology 2012