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Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Canterbury, 2008. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 120-142). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Adelaide University, 2003. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on May 1, 2005). Includes bibliographical references (p. 135-152).

Ng, Ka Yan. / "November 2009." / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 329-399). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Acknowledgements --- p.i / Abstract (English) --- p.iv / Abstract (Chinese) --- p.ix / Contents --- p.xii / List of Tables --- p.xix / List of Figures --- p.xxi / Chapter Chapter 1 --- General Introduction / Chapter 1.1 --- Seaweeds as Beneficial Resources to Humans --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Seaweed Communities as a Habitat --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Reasons for being a Favourable Habitat in the Ocean ´Ø and the Coastal Region --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Characteristics of Seagrass Habitat and its Associated Faunal Communities --- p.8 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Characteristics of Seaweed Habitat and its Associated Faunal Communities --- p.9 / Chapter 1.2.3.1 --- Seasonality --- p.9 / Chapter 1.2.3.2 --- Structural Complexity --- p.10 / Chapter 1.2.3.3 --- Canopy Effect on Biota --- p.10 / Chapter 1.3 --- Marine Environment and Sargassum Communities in Hong Kong --- p.11 / Chapter 1.4 --- Study Organism: the Sargassum siliquastrum --- p.14 / Chapter 1.5 --- Study Significance and Objectives --- p.16 / Chapter 1.6 --- Study Sites --- p.18 / Chapter 1.7 --- Thesis Organization --- p.21 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Zooplankton Assemblage in Seaweed Bed of Sargassum siliquastrum and Its Temporal Variation / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.27 / Chapter 2.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.34 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Sample collection --- p.34 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Data acquisition --- p.36 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Data analysis --- p.37 / Chapter 2.3 --- Results --- p.39 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Temporal Change in Zooplankton Assemblage Composition --- p.39 / Chapter 2.3.1.1 --- Change in Zooplankton Abundance with Time --- p.43 / Chapter 2.3.1.2 --- Temporal Change in Zooplankton Species Composition --- p.44 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Effects of Vegetation on Zooplankton Assemblage Structure --- p.47 / Chapter 2.3.2.1 --- Comparison between Vegetated and Unvegetated Habitats in terms of Zooplankton Community Structure --- p.47 / Chapter 2.3.2.2 --- Comparison between Vegetated and Unvegetated Habitats in terms of Zooplankton Abundance --- p.50 / Chapter 2.3.2.3 --- Comparison between Vegetated and Unvegetated Habitats in terms of Zooplankton Species Composition --- p.51 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Temporal Trends of Environmental Factors and their Relationship with Zooplankton Assemblage --- p.58 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- Relationship between Zooplankton Assemblage and Seaweed Phenology --- p.59 / Chapter 2.4 --- Discussion --- p.61 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Macro-distribution Pattern and Temporal Change in Zooplankton Assemblage Structure in Sargassum siliquastrum Bed --- p.61 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Effects of Vegetation on the Micro-distribution of Zooplankton within and between Habitats ´ؤ Relationship between Sargassum Phenology and the associated Zooplankton Assemblage Structure --- p.66 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- Species Composition of Zooplankton Assemblage in Seaweed Bed of Sargassum siliquastrum and its Potential Role as Nursery Ground for Fishery Resources --- p.70 / Chapter 2.5 --- Summary and Conclusion --- p.74 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Effects of Seaweed Canopy on the Structure of Zooplankton Assemblage in the Sargassum siliquastrum Bed / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.118 / Chapter 3.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.121 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Sample collection --- p.121 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Data acquisition --- p.122 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Data analysis --- p.123 / Chapter 3.3 --- Results --- p.125 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Effects of Canopy on Zooplankton Community Structure --- p.125 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- "Comparison between Control, Treatment and Unvegetated Habitats in terms of Zooplankton Abundance and Its Temporal Variation" --- p.127 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- "Comparison between Control, Treatment and Unvegetated Habitats in terms of Zooplankton Species Composition and Its Temporal Variation" --- p.128 / Chapter 3.4 --- Discussion --- p.134 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Effects of Canopy Removal on the Zooplankton Assemblage Structure --- p.134 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Role of Seaweed Canopy in Zooplankton Community and the Potential Impacts of Canopy Removal on the Coastal Ecosystem --- p.137 / Chapter 3.5 --- Summary and Conclusion --- p.141 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Epiphytic Faunal Assemblages in Seaweed Bed of Sargassum siliquastrum and its Temporal Variation / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.153 / Chapter 4.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.161 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Sample collection --- p.161 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Data acquisition --- p.162 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Data analysis --- p.163 / Chapter 4.3 --- Results --- p.165 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Temporal Change in Epiphytic Faunal Assemblage Composition and Comparison among Sites --- p.165 / Chapter 4.3.1.1 --- Temporal Change in Epiphytic Faunal Density and Comparison among Sites --- p.171 / Chapter 4.3.1.2 --- Temporal Change in Epiphytic Faunal Species Richness and Comparison among Sites --- p.172 / Chapter 4.3.1.3 --- Temporal Change in Epiphytic Faunal Species Composition --- p.175 / Chapter 4.3.1.4 --- Occurrence of Caprellidean and Its Variation with Seaweed Growth Stages --- p.179 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Temporal Trends of Environmental Factors and their Relationship with Epiphytic Faunal Assemblage --- p.179 / Chapter 4.4 --- Discussion --- p.181 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Temporal Change in Epiphytic Faunal Assemblage Structure --- p.181 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Species Composition of Epiphytic Faunal Assemblage in Seaweed Bed of Sargassum siliquastrum and Its Potential Role as Nursery Grounds --- p.191 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- Distribution of Epiphytic Fauna in Seaweed Bed of Sargassum siliquastrum among Different Localities --- p.196 / Chapter 4.4.4 --- Relationship of Epiphytic Faunal Assemblage with Environmental Factors --- p.197 / Chapter 4.5 --- Summary and Conclusion --- p.198 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Relationship of Epiphytic Faunal Assemblage with the Structural Complexity of Seaweed Sargassum siliquastrum / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.234 / Chapter 5.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.239 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Sample collection --- p.239 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Data acquisition --- p.241 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Data analysis --- p.243 / Chapter 5.3 --- Results --- p.245 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Effects of Macroalgal Structural Complexity on the Associated Epiphytic Faunal Assemblage Structure --- p.245 / Chapter 5.3.1.1 --- Effects on Epiphytic Faunal Abundance --- p.245 / Chapter 5.3.1.2 --- Effects on Epiphytic Faunal Species Richness --- p.247 / Chapter 5.3.1.3 --- Relationship among Parameters of Sargassum siliquastrum --- p.248 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Within-plant Zonation of Epiphytic Faunal Assemblage Structure --- p.249 / Chapter 5.3.2.1 --- Within-plant Distribution of Epiphytic Faunal Density --- p.250 / Chapter 5.3.2.2 --- Within-plant Distribution of Epiphytic Species Richness --- p.252 / Chapter 5.3.2.3 --- Within-plant Distribution of Epiphytic Faunal Species Composition --- p.253 / Chapter 5.3.2.4 --- Physical Parameters Associated with Each Zone of Sargassum siliquastrum --- p.257 / Chapter 5.4 --- Discussion --- p.260 / Chapter 5.4.1 --- Effects of Macroalgal Structural Complexity and Biomass on the Associated Epiphytic Faunal Assemblage Structure --- p.260 / Chapter 5.4.2 --- Within-plant Zonation of Epiphytic Faunal Assemblage Structure --- p.264 / Chapter 5.5 --- Summary and Conclusion --- p.273 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Synthesis and Perspectives --- p.320 / References --- p.329

Fragmentation can drive local populations to become smaller and more isolated, and consequently more susceptible to extinction. Movement between patches, however, can interconnect such populations so that they effectively behave as larger and more stable metapopulations. Over the past two decades metapopulations have been used to shed light on the complex interactions that occur between hosts and parasites. Effectively every host can be considered as a discrete habitat patch from the perspective of a parasite. As such, host-parasite interactions naturally lend themselves to being examined within the metapopulation paradigm. In this thesis I examine empirically how various aspects of metapopulation structure, such as local host population size and landscape isolation/connectivity, combine to determine the extinction and recolonization dynamics of parasites in the landscape. Using a naturally fragmented water vole (Arvicola amphibious) metapopulation, I describe the spatial and temporal variation in parasite infection prevalence or burden in a Scottish landscape. I specifically address the spatial and temporal dynamics of both ectoparasites, and vectortransmitted microparasites, since these are two groups of parasites commonly found in natural systems yet often overlooked in the host-parasite metapopulation literature. In addition, I attempt to understand how specific parasite characteristics, such as transmission mode and infectious period, can influence how parasites respond to host population structure. In the final chapter, I bring together a number of parasite groups to examine the impact of metapopulation dynamics on parasite communities as a whole by investigating its impact of parasite community richness. Overall the findings of my study indicate that host spatial structure and the level of connectivity between patches are important factors that affect parasite dynamics and community richness. However, the exact level of connectivity required to sustain a parasite population locally depended on specific parasite characteristics. In contrast, local effects host/vector population size and patch infection history) had no discernible impact on most parasite groups.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Science, 1993.

As ecologists are being called upon to predict the consequences of human perturbations to natural communities, an important goal is to understand what factors drive variability or consistency in nature. In the rocky intertidal of San Juan Island, Washington, a comparative experimental approach was used to investigate spatial and temporal variation in community organization. The effect of predation on B. glandula varied dramatically over small spatial scales between microhabitats but was remarkably consistent over time withing a given microhabitat. The effects of predation on S. cariosus varied over time within the same microhabitat. By repeating previous landmark experiments at our study site, and replicating these experiments across microhabitats, the domain of applicability of previous experimental information was greatly expanded. In an early successional assemblage on the Oregon coast, I tested the hypothesis that, when the direct effect of one species on another increases in relative strength, its total effect (direct + indirect) is less variable or conditional than if the link between those species is weak. The effect of strong predation by whelks was less sensitive to the presence of additional species and more consistently dampened natural variation between experimental starting dates and between individual replicates within a given experiment. In contrast, the outcome of weak predation was more spatially and temporally variable in sign, and whether it magnified or dampened differences between individual replicates varied between experiments. Consequently the mean total effect of weak predation generally did not differ significantly from zero. However, in some cases, the range of variation (both within and between experiments) in the effect of weak predation exceeded the magnitude of the strongest total effect observed. Longer term results of the experiments on the Oregon coast examined the role of historic factors in influencing the degree to which successional paths are canalized and repeatable or contingent and variable. Succession in mid-intertidal patches in the mussel bed displayed complex patterns of historic effects that varied between species and between different stages of succession. Despite its potential complexity, this system exhibited some consistent and repeatable patterns of succession. Some important canalizing, or noise-dampening forces in this system included: 1) physiological and life-history constraints, 2) compensatory responses of functionally redundant species, and 3) strong interactions between species. / Graduation date: 1996

Thesis (M.S.)--Washington State University, 2003. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on May 22, 2005). Includes bibliographical references (p. 52-56).

Orientador: Carlos Frederico Duarte da Rocha / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-09T17:01:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Miranda_JivanildoPinheiro_D.pdf: 7646850 bytes, checksum: 1b29966bda6798dfbb87bba528797710 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / Resumo: Neste estudo investiguei a riqueza, composição e distribuição local da herpetofauna do Parque Nacional dos Lençóis Maranhenses (PNLM), Maranhão, Brasil. Realizei 47 expedições, totalizando 235 dias de amostragem utilizando o método de procura visual limitada por tempo. Adicionalmente, estudei a ocorrência de atropelamentos de vertebrados na rota de acesso ao parque. Assim, registrei 63 espécies da herpetofauna no PNLM, sendo 21 espécies de anuros, 12 de lagartos, 24 de serpentes, duas de anfisbenas, três de quelônios e uma de jacaré. Destas espécies, 52 (E 82,5%) ocorrem apenas na restinga. As demais espécies ocorrem no campo de dunas do parque. Em relação aos atropelamentos, realizei cerca de 10896 quilômetros de amostragem. Encontrei 206 carcaças de vertebrados atropelados, distribuídas por 55 espécies. O grupo de vertebrado mais atropelado, em número de espécies (23 espécies) e de indivíduos (69 indivíduos), foi a classe Reptilia. Apesar do PNLM ser enfatizado do ponto de vista paisagístico, este estudo mostra que seus ambientes possuem significativa riqueza de espécies da herpetofauna. Estas espécies ocorrem principalmente no ambiente de restinga, o qual corresponde a apenas 21% da área do parque. Devido a crescente visitação turística e do aumento de empreendimentos na área, é importante que ações para a conservação da restinga do PNLM sejam urgentemente implementadas / Abstract: Herpetofauna richness, composition and local distribution (sand dunes or restinga habitats) were studied in Lençóis Maranhenses National Park (LMNP), Maranhão state, northeastern Brazil. I carried out 235 days of sampling using the method of visual search limited by time. In addition, I studied road killed vertebrates in the access route to the park (a road that crosses restinga habitats). Thus, I recorded 63 species of the herpetofauna (21 anurans, 12 lizards, 24 snakes, two amphisbaenians, three turtles and an alligator) in LMNP. Fifty-two species (E 82,5%) were found only in restinga habitats. Concerning to road killed animals, I carried out 10896 km of sampling and I found 206 carcasses of vertebrates, corresponding to 55 species. Reptilia was the vertebrate class with the largest number of species (23 species) and individuals (69 individuals) killed. Overall, the great number of species occurring in restinga habitats and high incidence of reptiles road killed in the route to the park, highlight the importance of actions to improve conservation in restinga habitats, which currently comprise only 21% of the total area protected by the park / Doutorado / Ecologia / Doutor em Ecologia

A alteração dos ecossistemas naturais e a criação de novos ambientes podem alterar significativamente o padrão de distribuição das espécies silvestres e a disponibilidade dos recursos naturais. A expansão agrícola pode ser considerada como uma das principais perturbações antrópicas responsáveis pela conversão das florestas nativas. Mamíferos de médio e grande porte são responsáveis por processos ecológicos determinantes na estrutura das comunidades. Estes possuem importantes funções na manutenção e regeneração das florestas e sua contínua provisão de bens e serviços ecossistêmicos. Dieta e uso do espaço estão intimamente relacionados ao potencial adaptativo das espécies. Seu estudo é útil na tentativa de avaliar a conservação das mesmas nos ambientes alterados. Neste contexto dois estudos envolvendo mamíferos de médio e grande porte foram conduzidos em paisagens agrícolas da Região do Alto Paranapanema, Estado de São Paulo. No primeiro estudo, entre setembro de 2008 e setembro de 2010, foi avaliada a freqüência de ocorrência das espécies deste grupo, em corpos dágua naturais e artificiais da Fazenda Três Lagoas, no município de Angatuba. Ambos os ambientes (açudes e riachos) estavam associados à plantação recente de Eucalipto. Foram detectadas 20 espécies no total (18 em açudes e 17 em riachos), sugerindo razoável riqueza de espécies para o ambiente em questão, no entanto os ambientes ripários (i.e., que abrigam os corpos dágua naturais) apontaram maior riqueza e abundância. Tais resultados reforçam a importância da presença de remanescentes florestais sob proteção legal na paisagem agrícola, para a conservação dos mamíferos de médio e grande porte. Além disto, os resultados sugerem aumento da capacidade de suporte do ambiente em função da manutenção dos açudes. O segundo estudo trata do uso de abrigos e dieta de Lontra longicaudis (Mammalia, Carnivora), mamífero carnívoro semi-aquático já considerado como espécie vulnerável. Entre agosto de 2008 e julho 2009, foi realizada a coleta mensal das fezes de lontra encontradas em trecho sob influência antrópica do rio Paranapanema. Os abrigos foram descritos e representados graficamente e a dieta foi quantificada por meio da análise de 60 amostras de fezes. Foram identificados 15 itens alimentares, sendo peixes das famílias Cichlidae e Loricariidae os itens mais comuns. A amplitude de nicho apontou a espécie como especialista (utilizando o índice padronizado de Levins), reforçando a importância do ambiente e fauna aquáticos para sua conservação. No entanto, os resultados sugerem, de forma geral, certa plasticidade de L. longicaudis em relação aos ambientes alterados. Ambos os estudos, sugerem a relevância de paisagens alteradas na conservação da biodiversidade, e a necessidade de inserção de tais áreas em planos de manejo e conservação. / The expansion of agricultural land is recognized as one of the most significant anthropic alterations within the natural ecosystems. The conversion of forest into agricultural landscapes can change biotic interactions and natural resources availability. Alterations as such can have consequences in respect to the ecosystems services which are provided by natural forested areas. Mammals are responsible for ecological processes which are determinant for the forest maintenance and regeneration. Diet and habitat use are essential tools to determine species conservation status and how it deals with human-driven ecological changes. Hence within this context, two studies took place in disturbed areas in Southern São Paulo State, Brazil. Both studies involve middle-to large sized mammals in agricultural landscapes at the Alto Paranapanema watershed. In the first study, during the period of August 2008 to July 2010, every two months, the frequency of occurrence of middle-to large sized mammals was surveyed and recorded around streams of remaining gallery forests and artificial reservoirs originally built for cattle water supply. Both habitats are associated with new Eucalyptus plantations. As a result a total of 20 species were detected, 18 around artificial reservoirs and 17 in streams of gallery forests. However streams of gallery forests showed significantly higher species richness and abundance than artificial reservoirs. These results outline the importance of maintaining protected native vegetation areas by law in such landscapes. Results also suggest that the artificial reservoirs may increase habitat carrying capacity for middle- to large-sized mammals in such circumstances. The second study reports the diet and use of shelters by the neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis) in a disturbed area. Otters are semi-aquatic carnivores with a potentially functional role in freshwater ecosystems. During the period from August 2008 to July 2009, otter scats were collected monthly at Paranapanema River. The shelters were described and graphically represented and the diet was quantified by analyzing 60 scats. The niche breadth analysis classifies L. longicaudis as a specialist species according to the trophic niche amplitude index (Levins index). The most common items identified were fishes from the Cichlidae and Loricariidae families, probably because of the habits of such species which makes them an easier prey. Such results stress the importance of freshwater ecosystems for the neotropical otter conservation. Results also suggest the adaptative potential of L. longicaudis and that some disturbed areas may be significant for this species conservation. Both studies emphasize the relevance of such altered ecosystems and it insertion requirement on protection and conservation initiatives towards biodiversity conservation.