Ce travail entre dans le cadre d’une meilleure compréhension des mécanismes de réponse des crustacés au facteur salin. Nos travaux ont démontré que les abondances des copépodes et branchiopodes dans la saline de Sfax sont régulées principalement par les concentrations en sels et la température. Des expérimentations réalisées en laboratoire ont permis de déterminer les salinités optimales pour les trois espèces de copépodes majoritaires (Bryocamptus sp., Oithona nana, Pararcartia grani) et du branchiopode Artemia salina, Une approche biochimique focalisée sur A. salina a montré qu’il assurait son osmorégulation par l’utilisation de l’énergie dépendante de la gestion de ses stocks de protéines, glucides et lipides, et par la mise en œuvre de réponses physiologiques antioxydantes. Une étude exhaustive de la bibliographie a permis de monter que la pompe transmembranaire Na+/K+ ATPase est un élément clé de la gestion de l’osmolarité cellulaire. L’analyse des gènes, ARNm et protéines correspondants à sa sous unité alpha (primordiale pour la fonction) a révélé : i) l’existence d’un gène unique au sein des invertébrés (excepté pour les nématodes), ii) une grande diversité du nombre et de la longueur des introns, iii) un phénomène d’épissage alternatif, et iii) une conservation de domaines protéiques transmembranaires. Enfin, une étude comparative de l’activité de la Na+/K+ ATPase entre deux écrevisses Astacus astacus (espèce native d’Europe) et Procambarus clarkii (espèce invasive en Europe) a démontré que seule l’espèce invasive montrait une activité élevée lors de stress salin ; ce qui pourrait expliquer en partie son aptitude à coloniser des nouveaux milieux. / The aim of our investigations was to increase your understanding of the mechanisms of crustacean’s response to salinity changes. We revealed that, in the Sfax solar saltern, the copepods and branchiopod abundances are mainly regulated by salinity and temperature. Experiments in the laboratory allowed defining the optimum of salinity for the most abundant copepod species (Bryocamptus sp, Oithona nana, Pararcartia grani) and for the branchiopod Artemia salina. An biochemical approach focused on Artemia salina (euryhaline species) showed that he ensured his energy uptake for osmoregulation by the regulation of their internal protein, carbohydrate and lipid contents. In addition, antioxidative reactions are induced to compensate the physiological disruption. A review of bibliography allowed revealing that the transmembrane pump Na+/ K+ ATPase is primordial for the cellular osmolality regulation. The structural analyses of the gene, mRNA and proteins coding alpha subunit in invertebrates showed : i) the existence of a unique gene (except for nematodes), ii) variability in the number and length of introns, iii) an alternative splicing phenomen, and iiii) high conservation of the ten transmembrane protein domains. Finally, a comparative study of the activity Na+/K+ ATPase for two crayfish species (Astacus astacus, native European species; Procambarus clarkia, alien American species) during salt stress demonstrated that only the invasive species have high Na+/K+ ATPase activity; which can explain its ability to colonize various environments.

Submitted by Irene Nascimento (irene.kessia@ufpe.br) on 2017-05-03T16:18:00Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Tese Final_Sarmento VC_2016.pdf: 2305672 bytes, checksum: c8bdf580eaac22dceb68d43fc6514d41 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-03T16:18:00Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Tese Final_Sarmento VC_2016.pdf: 2305672 bytes, checksum: c8bdf580eaac22dceb68d43fc6514d41 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-26 / FACEPE / Os efeitos do aumento da emissão de gases do efeito estufa, como modificações na temperatura e bioquímica dos oceanos, já podem ser observados e é esperado que se intensifiquem no futuro, causando impactos negativos nos ecossistemas marinhos. O presente estudo teve como principal objetivo investigar os efeitos de diferentes níveis de pH e de temperatura da água do mar sobre as comunidades de meiofauna e de Copepoda Harpacticoida. Para isso foram realizados três experimentos: um experimento para avaliar o efeito de diferentes níveis de pH da água do mar sobre a comunidade de meiofauna do recife de coral do Parque Municipal Marinho do Recife de Fora (Porto Seguro, Bahia); um experimento para avaliar o efeito de diferentes cenários de mudanças climáticas (alterações simultâneas de temperatura e pH da água do mar) sobre a comunidade de meiofauna e de Copepoda Harpacticoida do recife de coral da Praia de Serrambi (Ipojuca, Pernambuco); e um experimento para avaliar o efeito da interação de diferentes níveis de pH e temperatura da água do mar sobre a associação de Copepoda Harpacticoida do costão rochoso da praia de Mounlt Batten (Plymouth, Inglaterra). Foram observadas modificações na estrutura da comunidade de meiofauna e harpacticóides, especialmente quando expostos ao aumento simultâneo de temperatura e acidificação da água do mar. Diferentemente, nos harpacticóides de área temperada coletados em zona de entremaré, os impactos do aumento de temperatura e acidificação foram observados apenas nos tratamentos mais severos. Devido à sensibilidade que os organismos da meiofauna apresentaram aos aumentos de temperatura e acidificação, os resultados apresentados aqui demonstram que o funcionamento trófico dos sistemas bentônicos pode estar seriamente ameaçado pelas mudanças climáticas. / The increase in greenhouse gas emissions has led to unprecedented atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations. Its impacts have been observed through changes in ocean temperature and biochemistry. However, intensifications of these changes are predicted for the future with serious consequences to marine ecosystems. This study aims to assess the potential effects of different levels of seawater pH and temperatures on meiofauna and harpacticoid copepods communities. For that, three experiments were performed: an experiment was done to assess the effect of different seawater pH on meiofauna community from the coral reefs of Recife de Fora Municipal Marine Park (Porto Seguro, Bahia, Brazil); an experiment was done to evaluate the effect of different climate change scenarios (simultaneous changes in seawater temperature and pH) on meiofauna and harpacticoid communities from the coral reefs of Serrambi beach (Ipojuca, Pernambuco, Brazil); and an experiment was done to evaluate the interactive effects of rising temperature and acidification on harpacticoid community from the rockyshore of Mount Batten beach (Plymouth, UK). Modifications on community structure of meiofauna and Copepod Harpacticoida were observed, especially when organisms were exposed to simultaneous increases in seawater temperature and acidification. Furthermore, harpacticoids from temperate region sampled at the intertidal zone, showed to be affected only at the most severe treatments. Due to the sensibility to ocean warming and acidification that meiofauna organisms exhibited, the results presented here highlights the risk that climate changes poses on the trophic functioning of benthic habitats.

Submitted by Caroline Falcao (caroline.rfalcao@ufpe.br) on 2017-05-22T17:27:10Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Tese_BeatrizLavoranteFinal_BC.pdf: 2045652 bytes, checksum: 19f106b93f6d316fc93419a636ca837a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-22T17:27:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Tese_BeatrizLavoranteFinal_BC.pdf: 2045652 bytes, checksum: 19f106b93f6d316fc93419a636ca837a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-08-29 / O Complexo Industrial Portuário-SUAPE, localizado no complexo estuarino de Suape (Pernambuco, Brasil), conta com grandes empresas das mais diversas atividades produtivas. A região possui grande importância ecológica e econômica e estudos relatam a ocorrência de modificações fisiográficas, hidrológicas e ecológicas desde a implantação de SUAPE. Segundo estudos ecotoxicológicos realizados, a área apresenta contaminação moderada e variável. Contudo, ainda não foi possível indicar quais substâncias poderiam estar relacionadas com a toxicidade das amostras ambientais. Neste sentido, o teste de Avaliação e Identificação da Toxicidade – AIT surge como uma importante ferramenta, pois permite a identificação de contaminantes potencialmente causadores da toxicidade. O emprego de um ensaio ecotoxicológico rápido com um organismo-teste sensível antes e após as manipulações de AIT é necessário para este tipo de análise. Os náuplios de copépodos, dentre estes o da espécie Tisbe biminiensis, têm sido indicados para avaliação de amostras de água marinha devido a maior sensibilidade dos estágios larvais, porém o teste normalmente é realizado em microplacas o que o torna bastante laborioso. Este trabalho teve como objetivos aprimorar um protocolo para realização de bioensaios com náuplios de T. biminiensis e avaliar sua sensibilidade usando uma substância de referência, no caso o sulfato de zinco. Posteriormente, o teste foi empregado na avaliação da toxicidade de amostras de água superficial coletadas em diferentes pontos de Suape entre os anos de 2011 e 2013. Visando aumentar a sensibilidade do método, além dos parâmetros de mortalidade, desenvolvimento e inibição, também foram avaliados tamanho e estágio de desenvolvimento dos copepoditos. Para AIT foram estudadas amostras de água superficial coletadas em Abril e Setembro de 2013, sendo realizadas análises químicas de metais, amônia, hidrocarbonetos e agrotóxicos neste último mês. O tempo de duração do teste foi definido em 72 horas. Os testes de alimentação utilizando as microalgas Chaetoceros gracilis e Thalassiosira fluviatilis com e sem adição de ração para peixe demonstraram o pior desempenho de T. fluviatilis sem adição de ração como alimento. Foi verificado que o desenvolvimento nas concentrações de C. gracilis superiores a 2,5 x 105 células mL-1 foram estatisticamente maiores do que controle (água do mar sem adição de alimento) quando na temperatura de 28°C após 72 h. Entretanto a 25°C após 72 horas, apenas a partir da concentração de 5,5 x 105 células mL-1 de C. gracilis, o desenvolvimento dos náuplios para copepoditos foi superior ao controle, indicando que a temperatura de 28°C promove maior desenvolvimento. Logo, foram definidas as seguintes condições para o teste: concentração de C. gracilis de 2,5 x 105 células mL-1 , temperatura de 28°C e um tempo de 72 h. Após os sete testes de sensibilidade foram estimadas as CE50/72h, CL50/72h e a CENO em 3,25 ± 0.59; 3,46 ± 0.72 e 2,0 mg L- 1 para o ZnSO4.7H2O, indicando que os náuplios de T. biminiensis são tão sensíveis quanto outros copépodos frequentemente empregados em estudos ecotoxicológicos. Avaliando-se amostras de água superficial coletadas na região de Suape verificou-se a presença de toxicidade sub-letal para os náuplios de T. biminiensis, mais associada ao mês de Setembro, início do período seco. Dentre os parâmetros avaliados, a inibição foi o que mais indicou toxicidade, seguido pelo desenvolvimento. Apesar da obtenção das medidas dos comprimentos total e da cabeça (geral e por estágio de copepoditos) e da frequência de estágios reduzirem a praticidade do método, em um dos pontos de coleta elas aumentaram a detecção de efeitos tóxicos. O estudo de AIT indicou que os compostos orgânicos, os metais e a amônia seriam os principais agentes causadores da toxicidade das águas de Suape, sendo os resultados da caracterização da fase I do AIT considerados bastante complexos. Nas análises químicas, os Hidrocarbonetos Aromáticos de Petróleo Dissolvidos ou Dispersos estavam em níveis subletais, os agrotóxicos não foram detectados e houve diminuição das concentrações de Fe após a macroalga Ulva sp. A adição de novos parâmetros no teste com náuplios T. biminiensis foi importante para confirmação dos resultados obtidos. A variedade de agentes tóxicos indicados pode ser atribuída à diversidade de atividades realizadas na área, às diferentes influências sofridas pelos pontos estudados e ao regime de chuvas, marés e correntes, indicando a necessidade de monitoramento e avaliação constantes das condições ambientais da região. / The Suape estuarine complex (Pernambuco, Brazil) is located close to the industrial port complex-SUAPE which includes major companies from various productive activities. The region has great ecological and economic importance, and studies have reported the occurrence of physiographic, hydrological and ecological changes since the implementation of SUAPE. According ecotoxicological studies, the area has moderate and variable contamination. However, has not yet been possible to indicate which substances could be related to the toxicity of environmental samples. In this sense, the test for Toxicity Identification and Evaluation - TIE emerges as an important tool because it allows the identification of possible toxic agents. The use of a fast ecotoxicological test with a sensitive test organism before and after the manipulations of TIE is required for this type of analysis. The copepod nauplii, among these the species Tisbe biminiensis, have been indicated for evaluation of samples of estuarine and sea water due to increased sensitivity of the larval stages, but the test is usually performed in microplates which makes it very laborious. This study aimed to improve a protocol for conducting bioassays with nauplii of T. biminiensis and evaluate their sensitivity to zinc sulphate, a reference substance. Subsequently, the test was used to evaluate the toxicity of surface water samples collected at different points of Suape between the years 2011 and 2013. Aiming to increase the sensitivity of the method, beyond the parameters of mortality, development and inhibition, size and stage of development of copepodites were also evaluated. For AIT were studied samples collected in April and September 2013, chemical analysis of metals, ammonia, hydrocarbons and pesticides were performed in the last month. The duration of the test was 72 h. The feeding test using microalgae Chaetoceros gracilis and Thalassiosira fluviatilis with and without addition of fish ration showed the worst performance of T. fluviatilis as food. It was observed that the development C. gracilis concentrations above 2.5 x 105 cells mL-1 were significantly higher than control (sea water without the addition of food) when the temperature of 28 °C after 72 h. However, at 25 °C after 72 h, only at concentrations of 5.5 x 105 cells mL-1 C. gracilis, the development nauplii to copepodites were higher than the control, indicating that the temperature of 28 °C promotes further development. Then, the following conditions were established for the protocol: C. gracilis at 2.5 x 105 cells mL-1 as food, incubation at 28 °C and 72h duration. After the seven sensitivity tests were estimated CE50/72h, CL50/72h and NOEC of 3.25 ± 0:59; 3.46 ± 0.72 and 2.0 mg L -1 for ZnSO4.7H2O, indicating that the nauplii of T. biminiensis are as sensitive as other copepods employed in ecotoxicological studies. Was detected sub-lethal toxicity of surface water samples for the nauplii of T. biminiensis, more associated to September, early dry season. Among the parameters evaluated, inhibition was the most indicated toxicity, followed by the development. Despite obtaining measurements of the total length and head (general and by stage of copepodites) and the frequency of stages reduce the practicality of the method, one of the points, they increased the detection of toxic effects. The TIE study indicated that mainly organic compounds, metals and ammonia would be the toxicity agents of Suape waters, this characterization is considered complex. In chemical analysis, the HAPDDs were at sublethal levels, the pesticides were not detected and concentrations of Fe decreased after Ulva sp. The addition of new parameters in the test Nauplii T. biminiensis was important to confirm the results obtained. The variety of toxic agents can be attributed to the diversity of activities in the area, the different influences suffered by points studied and rainfall, tides and currents, indicating the need for constant monitoring and evaluation of environmental conditions in the region.

Tese(doutorado) - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia Biológica, Instituto de Oceanografia, 2011. / Submitted by Cristiane Gomides (cristiane_gomides@hotmail.com) on 2013-10-17T13:22:32Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tatiana.pdf: 800712 bytes, checksum: 8a3d4e20ee5c684b5100fb7af1f23e95 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Sabrina Andrade (sabrinabeatriz@ibest.com.br) on 2013-10-17T16:37:23Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Tatiana.pdf: 800712 bytes, checksum: 8a3d4e20ee5c684b5100fb7af1f23e95 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-10-17T16:37:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Tatiana.pdf: 800712 bytes, checksum: 8a3d4e20ee5c684b5100fb7af1f23e95 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / O objetivo desta tese foi estimar a produção secundária em ambientes aquáticos, com enfoque no estuário da Lagoa dos Patos (Rio Grande, RS, Brasil). Os crustáceos são dominantes no zooplâncton da região em estudo, sendo utilizados como base das análises realizadas. A produção secundária foi estimada através de modelos matemáticos e do método enzimático. Para a aplicação dos modelos matemáticos, foram realizadas coletas em 5 pontos do estuário nas 4 estações do ano. Os resultados obtidos foram utilizados para estimativa da produção secundária através dos modelos de Huntley & Lopes (1992) e Hirst & Bunker (2003). Durante as coletas, também foram obtidas amostras de água do ambiente para a determinação da taxa de decaimento da atividade da quitobiase, parâmetro utilizado para estimativa da produção secundária através do método enzimático, o qual está baseado na atividade da quitobiase liberada na água durante a muda de crustáceos. Para aplicação deste método, foram realizados experimentos em laboratório para determinar as características da quitobiase do copépode Acartia tonsa, principal representante do grupo Copepoda do zooplâncton no estuário da Lagoa dos Patos. Os resultados de produção de carbono obtidos através dos modelos matemáticos e do método enzimático foram comparados. Por fim, foram realizados experimentos utilizando-se metodologias já bem definidas de estimativa de crescimento, como a análise de coorte em náuplios e produção de ovos de adultos de A. longiremis coletadas no Saanich Inlet (BC, Canadá), sendo que os resultados obtidos foram comparados àqueles do congênere A. tonsa. Os resultados apresentados nesta tese contribuem tanto com dados de produção secundária para o estuário da Lagoa dos Patos, bem como indicam a aplicação do método da quitobiase também em águas estuarinas. / The aim of this thesis was to estimate the secondary production in aquatic environments with focus on the Patos Lagoon estuary (Rio Grande, RS, Brazil). Crustaceans are dominants in the zooplankton of the study area, being employed in the analyses performed. Secondary production was estimated using mathematical models and the enzymatic method. Zooplankton sampling was seasonally performed in 5 sites at the Patos Lagoon estuary for the application of the mathematical methods. Results obtained were used to estimate the secondary production through the models described by Huntley & Lopes (1992) and Hirst & Bunker (2003). During zooplankton collection, water samples were also obtained for determination of the rate of chitobiase activity decay, parameter used in the secondary production estimation employing the enzymatic method. This method is based on the activity of the chitobiase released during the crustacean molting process. For the application of the enzymatic method, laboratory experiments were performed to characterize the chitobiase do the copepod Acartia tonsa, major representative of Copepoda in the zooplankton of the Patos Lagoon estuary. Data of carbon production generated using the mathematical models and the enzymatic method were compared. Finally, experiments were performed employing known methodologies based on cohort analysis and egg production in the copepod A. longiremis collected at the Saanich Inlet (BC, Canada). Results obtained were compared to those for the congener A. tonsa. Results presented in this thesis contribute with secondary production data for the Patos Lagoon estuary and indicate the application of the chitobiase method for estimation of secondary production also in estuarine waters.

Factors affecting energy transfer to higher trophic levels can determine the survival and production of commercially important species and thus the success of fisheries management regimes. Juvenile salmon experience particularly high mortality during their early marine residence, but the root causes of this mortality remain uncertain. One potential contributing factor is the food quality encountered at this critical time. The nutritionally vital essential fatty acids (EFA) docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3) are essential to all marine heterotrophs, and their availability has the potential to affect energy transfer through a limitation-driven food quality effect. Assessing variability in DHA and EPA in an ecologically important prey species of juvenile salmon could give insight into the prevalence and severity of food quality effects. On the west coast of Vancouver Island (WCVI), one such species is the calanoid copepod Calanus marshallae. This omnivorous species possesses a high grazing capacity and the ability to store large amounts of lipids. As it is also an important prey item for a diverse array of predators, including juvenile Pacific salmon, C. marshallae plays a key role in energy transfer from phytoplankton to high-trophic iv consumers. This study quantified spatiotemporal variability in the quality of C. marshallae as prey for higher trophic levels using three polyunsaturated fatty acid indicators: DHA:EPA, %EFA and PUFA:SFA (polyunsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids). Samples were collected on the WCVI in May and September of 2010 and May 2011. The environmental parameters included in the analysis were the phase of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), sea surface temperature (SST), latitude, station depth, and season (spring versus late summer). Despite a phase shift in the PDO from positive to negative, overall means of the fatty acid indicators did not vary between May 2010 and May 2011. Same-station %EFA values rarely fluctuated more than 5%. DHA:EPA ratios were more variable but without a discernable pattern, while PUFA:SFA ratios decreased in shelf stations and increased offshore. Contrary to expectations, fatty acid indicators showed a weak positive correlation or no relationship with SST, nor was there a relationship with latitude. The narrow temperature range observed across all stations suggests that temperature may not play a significant role in PUFA availability off the WCVI. There were, however, significant relationships between the fatty acid indicators and bottom depth and season. Shelf and slope stations showed significantly higher %EFA and PUFA:SFA than did offshore stations (depth >800 m), with this gradient appearing stronger in May than September. While the food quality represented by C. marshallae was consistent across all shelf stations, the lower food quality observed offshore could potentially affect juvenile salmon growth along the WCVI where the shelf narrows to less than 5 km. / Graduate / dpbevan@uvic.ca

By controlling the inheritance of sex, the sex determination mechanism constrains sex allocation strategies and sex ratio adaptation; however, sex ratio selection also influences the evolution of sex determination mechanisms. Much of the sex determination literature focuses on how sex determination mechanisms transition between genetic and environmental factors (i.e. GSD vs. ESD), and if genetic sex factors are involved, how many (e.g. chromosomal vs polygenic systems). The study of sex allocation largely focuses on deviations in sex ratio from a theoretically 1:1 evolutionarily stable strategy, such as when sex ratios reflect ‘cost’ differences between the sexes. Tigriopus californicus is a tidepool copepod with polygenic sex determination, and shows wide variability in sex ratios in the field and lab that cannot be explained by genetic and stochastic processes alone, which suggests that an environmental variable might influence sex ratio. Females and their offspring were fed diets of different nutritional quality in a crossed design, and the sex ratio of each clutch was recorded for up to 8 clutches from a given female: this design allowed the influence of female diet vs. that of her offspring to be distinguished. The clutch sex ratio changed over the laying order according to the offspring’s diet, which is evidence for environmental sex determination in this species. Sex ratio also showed the influence of maternal diet, consistent with sex allocation theory. While dietary carotenoids showed no association with sex ratio or clutch size, long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (particularly EPA and DHA) were implicated as the agent of sex ratio effect, providing a direction for future studies. The situation of T. californicus at the intersection of major themes in sex evolution makes this system an ideal model for selection studies. / Graduate / 2018-09-13

Paracalanus quasimodo and Temora turbinata are two calanoid copepods prominent in the planktonic communities of the southeastern United States. Despite their prominence, the species and population level structure of these copepods is yet unexplored. The phylogeographic, temporal and phylogenetic structure of P. quasimodo and T. turbinata are examined in my study. Samples were collected from ten sites along the Gulf of Mexico and Florida peninsular coasts. Three sites were sampled quarterly for two years. Individuals were screened for unique ITS-1 sequences with denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Unique variants were sequenced at the nuclear ITS-1 and mitochondrial COI loci. Sampling sites were analyzed for pairwise community differences and for variances between geographic and temporal groupings. Genetic variants were analyzed for phylogenetic and coalescent topology. Paracalanus quasimodo is highly structured geographically with populations divided between the Gulf of Mexico, temperate Atlantic and subtropical Atlantic, in addition to isolation by distance. No significant differences were detected between the T. turbinata samples. Both P. quasimodo and T. turbinata are stable within sites over time and between sites within a sampling period, with two exceptions. The first was a pilot sample from Miami taken two years prior to the general sampling whose community showed significant differences from most of the other Miami samples. Paracalanus quasimodo had a positive correlation of Fst with time. The second was high temporal variability detected in the samples from Fort Pierce. Phylogenetically, both P. quasimodo and T. turbinata were in well supported, congeneric clades. Paracalanus quasimodo was not monophyletic, divided into two well-supported clades. Temora turbinata variants were in one clade with insignificant support for topology within the clade and very little intraspecific variation. Paracalanus quasimodo and T. turbinata populations show opposite trends. Paracalanus quasimodo occurs near shore and shows population structure mediated by hydrological features and distance, both geographic and temporal. The phylogeny shows two deeply divergent clades suggestive of cryptic speciation. In contrast, T. turbinata populations range further offshore and show little geographic or temporal structure. However, the low genetic variation detected in this region suggests a recent bottleneck event.

Collectively, populations of Acanthocyclops vernalis, a species complex of freshwater copepods, are remarkably similar as to morphology and DNA content, despite variability in chromosome number. Reproductive isolation had been reported among some populations, but with each new investigation the species boundaries and factors that may influence them appeared less clear. To clarify the pattern of biological species within this group of populations, we adopted a comprehensive approach and examined patterns of reproductive isolation in populations for which morphology, chromosome number, DNA content, and 18S rDNA sequences are known. In this study we established nine isofemale lines from four sites in Wisconsin and performed 266 crosses. Crosses within and among these lines were used to relate the degree of reproductive isolation to chromosome differences and to construct a model to explain the origin and maintenance of chromosome number variability. Different gametic and somatic chromosome numbers were observed among specimens within some isofemale lines. In a few cases, gametes with different haploid numbers were produced by a single female. Matings within isofemale lines always produced at least some reproductively successful replicate crosses (produced viable, fertile offspring). Crosses between lines from the same site showed reduced success relative to within-line crosses. Crosses between populations from distant sites showed limited genetic compatibility, producing viable, fertile F1 offspring but infertile F2 adults. One cross between lines with different chromosome numbers (one with 2n = 8 and one with 2n = 10) produced fertile viable offspring, which reproduced for at least 60 generations. These hybrids had either eight or nine chromosomes in the third generation of inbreeding, and eight chromosomes after 20 generations. These hybrids also had reduced nuclear DNA contents at the third generation, a level that persisted through the 20th generation. Successful backcrosses between some hybrids and their parental lines further demonstrated the potential for genetic compatibility among forms with different chromosome numbers. We propose a model in which alterations due to Robertsonian fusions, translocations, and/or loss of chromosomal fragments generate heritable variation, only some of which leads to reproductive isolation. Hence, some of the criteria traditionally used to recognize species boundaries in animals (morphology, DNA content, chromosome number) may not apply to this species complex.

Dans la première partie, on propose une étude sur le problème de nage à faible nombre de Reynolds à partir d'unnageur modélisant la nage des copépodes et du nageur historique de Purcell.En minimisant l’énergie dissipée par les forces de trainée sur le fluide, laquelle est reliée au concept d’efficacitéd’une nage, on utilise les outils géométriques et numériques du contrôle optimal. Le principe du maximum estutilisé pour calculer les contrôles optimaux périodiques satisfaisant une condition de transversalité fine reliée à laminimisation de l’énergie mécanique pour un déplacement fixé où à la maximisation de l’efficacité. Ce sont desproblèmes sous-Riemanniens ce qui permet d’utiliser des techniques efficaces telles que l’approximation nilpotentepour calculer des nages de faible amplitude et qui est utilisée pour calculer des nages sur le vrai système parcontinuation. Les conditions nécessaires et suffisantes du second ordre sont calculées pour sélectionner desminimiseurs faible dans le cas d’une famille de nages périodiques.Dans la seconde partie, on s‘intéresse à la trajectoire d’un engin spatial contrôlé sous l’action d’un champ à forcecentral et où l’on considère les perturbations conservatives dues à l’effet lunaire et à l’aplatissement de la Terre àses pôles. Notre approche est basée sur des techniques moyennisation appliquées sur le système issu du principedu maximum. Nous donnons des résultats de convergence entre le système moyenné et le système non moyenné.Enfin, nous simulons les trajectoires du système non moyennée en utilisant les solutions du système moyennépour initialiser des méthodes numériques indirectes / The first part of this work is devoted to the study of the swimming at low Reynolds number where we consider a2-link swimmer to model the motion of a Copepod and the seminal model of the Purcell Three-link swimmer. Wepropose a geometric and numerical approach using optimal control theory assuming that the motion occursminimizing the energy dissipated by the drag fluid forces related with a concept of efficiency of a stroke. TheMaximum Principle is used to compute periodic controls considered as minimizing control using propertransversality conditions, in relation with periodicity, minimizing the energy dissipated for a fixed displacement ormaximizing the efficiency of a stroke. These problems fall into the framework of sub-Riemannian geometry whichprovides efficient techniques to tackle these problems : the nilpotent approximation is used to compute strokeswith small amplitudes which are continued numerically for the true system. Second order optimality, necessary orsufficient, are presented to select weak minimizers in the framework of periodic optimal controls.In the second part, we study the motion of a controlled spacecraft in a central field taking into account thegravitational interaction of the Moon and the oblateness of the Earth. Our purpose is to study the time minimalorbital transfer problem with low thrust. Due to the small control amplitude, our approach is to define anaveraged system from the Maximum Principle and study the related approximations to the non averaged system.We provide proofs of convergence and give numerical results where we use the averaged system to solve the nonaveraged system using indirect method

Lernaeocera branchialis (L., 1767) is a parasitic copepod that parasitises a range of gadoids by anchoring in the proximity of the branchial chamber of its host, deriving nutrition from the blood of its host and causing serious pathogenic effects. This study investigates the taxonomy of the juvenile free-swimming stages and host location behaviour in the pre-metamorphosed adult female. The large size and distinctive appearance of the metamorphosed adult female stage, coupled with the wide exploitation and commercial importance of one of its principle final gadoid hosts, the cod (Gadus morhua L.), means that this species has long been recognised in the scientific literature, and here the extensive literature concerning this potentially important and damaging pathogen is re-examined to provide an up to date overview, which includes both aquaculture and wild fisheries perspectives. Due to disagreements between several descriptions of the L. branchialis juvenile stages, and because the majority of the descriptions are over 60 years old, the juvenile free-swimming stages are re-described, using current terminology and a combination of both light and confocal microscopy. The time of hatching and moults in these stages is also examined. Techniques for the automated creation of taxonomic drawings from confocal images using computer software are investigated and the possibilities and implications of this technique are discussed. The method of host location in L. branchialis is unknown but is likely to involve a variety of mechanisms, possibly including chemo-reception, mechano-reception and the use of physical phenomena in the water column, such as haloclines and thermoclines, to search for fish hosts. In this study the role of host-associated chemical cues in host location by adult female L. branchialis is investigated by analysing the parasites behavioural responses to a range of host-derived cues, in both a choice chamber and a 3D tracking arena. To analyse the data from the experiments, specialised computer software (“Paratrack”) was developed to digitise the paths of the parasites’ movements, and calculate a variety of behavioural parameters, allowing behaviour patterns to be identified and compared. The results show that L. branchialis responds to host-associated chemical cues in a similar way to many copepods in the presence of chemical cues. Of the different cues tested, gadoid conditioned water appears to be most attractive to the parasites, although the wide variation in behavioural responses may indicate that other mechanisms are also required for host location. The different behavioural responses of parasites to whiting (Merlangius merlangus L.) and cod (Gadus morhua) conditioned water, which are both definitive hosts, provide some evidence for sub-speciation in L. branchialis. The role of chemical cues in host location of L. branchialis, and the relative importance of chemical and physical cues in host location are discussed. As well as demonstrating several techniques, which show potential for further development, this work has improved our knowledge of the biology and life-cycle of L. branchialis. Further study of this, and other areas of L. branchialis biology and its host-parasite interactions, should assist the development of contingency plans for the effective management and control of this widespread and potentially devastating pathogen.