Thesis (M.S.)--George Mason University, 2009. / Thesis director: Robert B. Jonas. Vita: p. 122. Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Environmental Science and Policy. Title from PDF t.p. (viewed Oct. 12, 2009). Includes bibliographical references. Also issued in print.

No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 274-304).

A reef-associated zooplankton community was monitored at weekly intervals for 53 weeks. Samples were collected from quadrats of dense coral cover using emergence net traps. The numerical and biomass fluctuations of 15 taxonomic groups, 7 size classes and 5 feeding groups of the community were determined both temporally and spatially. The community was composed of abundant and diverse taxa (81) with cyclopoid copepods being the most important taxon. Larger-sized fauna (e.g. amphipods, decapods, mysids, etc.) were the second most important abundance and biomass contributors. Size class analysis illustrated a bimodal size distribution spectrum. The well developed second mode of the spectrum was attributed to substratum characteristics which permitted an enhanced macrofaunal/detritivore presence. Although week to week fluctuations of the abundance/biomass data were marked, diversity indices indicated a persistent and resilient community. The nocturnal vertical migrations of the fauna did not show a persistent pattern with the varying phases of 12 sequentially monitored lunar cycles. Substratum heterogeneity was primarily responsible for the spatial distribution pattern of the fauna. Although the data variance suggested stochasticity, time-series procedures determined that cross-correlations between the numerical abundances of taxa, size classes and feeding groups occurred without a lead or lag. Similar analyses identified chlorophyll a as the important environmental variable and also as a leading indicator of particular taxonomic, size and feeding group abundances. It was concluded that reef-associated zooplankton communities are abundant, diverse assemblages structured by periodicities which in combination act to form important links between tropical, inshore benthic and pelagic ecosystems.

In Hawaii, abundance of the scleractinian Fungia scutaria is thought to have been in decline in recent years due to disturbances to Kaneohe Bay, where an unusually dense population exists. This study examines factors that could limit population growth in this coral. Sexual reproduction occurred throughout the summer. Experimental data from sperm dilution studies suggested that eggs must be released within 2m of a spawning male for successful fertilization to occur. Field surveys indicated that many patch reefs exhibited high enough densities to yield successful fertilization. However, since field surveys found that only a small percentage (1 %) of juvenile corals (5 cm in length) resulted from settled larvae, post-fertilization processes may be limiting successful recruitment. Asexual reproduction appears to be dominant, with 70% of corals occurring in close aggregations, and 93% of these in aggregations made up of a single color-morph. / Thesis (M. A.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2000. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 70-74).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 43-44). / vi, 44 leaves, bound ill. (some col.) 29 cm

Thesis (M.S.)--Baylor University, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 90-92).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Wollongong, 2005. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references: p. 301-325.

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- James Cook University, 1998. / Typescript (photocopy) Bibliography: leaves 110-118.

Thesis (Ph.D.) - James Cook University, 2004. / Typescript (photocopy). Bibliography: leaves 195-202.