No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

Coral reefs worldwide are threatened by many environmental disturbances including harmful algal blooms (HABs) which have been increasing on Florida coasts over the past decade. Research has mainly focused on HAB identification, percent cover and other effects on the benthos but the relationship of HABs with upper trophic levels has received less attention. To study this relationship, a two-year investigation on a 10-m deep reef off of Hallandale Beach, was conducted. Stationary fish census coupled with benthic transect videos were conducted quarterly between April 2005-July 2007. A significant correlation between Lyngbya sp. blooms and alterations in fish assemblages was observed. Lyngbya had a negative interaction with fish species and abundance; additionally, HAB sample periods were significantly different from low algal abundance periods. Blooms of Dictyota sp. had no measurable relationship with the fish assemblage indicating HABs may have variable impacts on fishes depending on family, species and chemistry of the algae. / by Rex E. Baumberger, Jr. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2008. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2008. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of North Carolina at Wilmington, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves : [35]-41).

Yeung, Chung Wing. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 143-156). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Acknowledgements --- p.i / Abstract (English) --- p.iii / Abstract (Chinese) --- p.vi / Contents --- p.vii / List of Tables --- p.xii / List of Figures --- p.xii / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction / Chapter 1.1 --- Ecological and economic importance of coral reef habitats --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- D egradation of coral reefs --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Natural recovery --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Restoration of disturbed reefs --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.2.1 --- Whole colony transplantation --- p.4 / Chapter 1.2.2.2 --- Fragment transplantation --- p.4 / Chapter 1.2.2.3 --- Coral nursery --- p.5 / Chapter 1.3 --- Studies on octocorals --- p.6 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Functional ecology of octocorals --- p.7 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Biodiversity of octocorals in Hong Kong --- p.9 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- Threats on octocorals in Hong Kong --- p.10 / Chapter 1.4 --- The focus and significance of the present study --- p.12 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- "Lobophytum sarcophytoides, the study organism" --- p.14 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Objectives --- p.15 / Chapter 1.5 --- Thesis Outline --- p.16 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Seasonal Variation and Size-dependent Eco-physiological Performances of the Soft Coral Lobophytum sarcophytoides / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.19 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Damage recovery --- p.20 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Photosynthetic activity --- p.21 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Reproductive biology --- p.22 / Chapter 2.1.4 --- Growth rate --- p.23 / Chapter 2.1.5 --- Significance and objectives --- p.23 / Chapter 2.2 --- Study Sites --- p.24 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Lan Guo Shui (LGS) --- p.24 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Tolo Harbour (MSL) --- p.25 / Chapter 2.3 --- Methodologies --- p.27 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Sample collection --- p.27 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Treatment of samples --- p.27 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Health condition --- p.28 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- Damage recovery --- p.29 / Chapter 2.3.5 --- Growth rate --- p.29 / Chapter 2.3.6 --- Photosynthetic activity --- p.30 / Chapter 2.3.7 --- Reproductive biology --- p.30 / Chapter 2.3.8 --- Statistical Analysis --- p.31 / Chapter 2.4 --- Results --- p.32 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Acclimation of transplanted corals --- p.32 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Health condition --- p.33 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- Growth rate --- p.34 / Chapter 2.4.4 --- Photosynthetic activity --- p.38 / Chapter 2.4.5 --- Damage recovery --- p.39 / Chapter 2.4.6 --- Reproductive biology --- p.40 / Chapter 2.5 --- Discussion --- p.41 / Chapter 2.5.1 --- Diurnal expansion and contraction of colonies --- p.41 / Chapter 2.5.2 --- Size fluctuation of the colonies --- p.42 / Chapter 2.5.3 --- Possible factors for the high initial mortality of corals --- p.43 / Chapter 2.5.4 --- Causes of bleaching and the harmful effects --- p.44 / Chapter 2.5.5 --- Energy allocation between reproduction and growth --- p.47 / Chapter 2.5.6 --- Quick healing of cut fragments and its ecological implication --- p.48 / Chapter 2.5.7 --- Choice of suitable fragment size for nursery use --- p.49 / Chapter 2.5.8 --- Suitable season for conducting the experiment --- p.50 / Chapter 2.6 --- Summary --- p.51 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Effects of Temperature on the Health Condition and Photosytnthetic Activity of the Soft Coral Lobophytum sarcophytoides / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.69 / Chapter 3.2 --- Methodologies --- p.73 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Sample collection --- p.73 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Experimental set-up of aquaria for growing corals --- p.73 / Chapter 3.2.2.1 --- Temperature experiment I --- p.74 / Chapter 3.2.2.2 --- Temperature experiment II --- p.74 / Chapter 3.2.2.3 --- Temperature experiment III --- p.76 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Health condition --- p.76 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Photosynthetic activity --- p.77 / Chapter 3.2.5 --- Statistical analysis --- p.78 / Chapter 3.3 --- Results --- p.79 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Temperature experiment I --- p.79 / Chapter 3.3.1.1 --- Health condition --- p.79 / Chapter 3.3.1.2 --- Photosynthetic activity --- p.80 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Temperature experiment IIA --- p.81 / Chapter 3.3.2.1 --- Health condition --- p.81 / Chapter 3.3.2.2 --- Photosynthetic activity --- p.83 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Temperature experiment IIB --- p.84 / Chapter 3.3.3.1 --- Health condition --- p.84 / Chapter 3.3.3.2 --- Photosynthetic activity --- p.85 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- Temperature experiment III --- p.85 / Chapter 3.3.4.1 --- Health condition --- p.85 / Chapter 3.3.4.2 --- Photosynthetic activity --- p.86 / Chapter 3.4 --- Discussion --- p.87 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- The effect of acclimation --- p.87 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Temperature tolerance range of L. sarcophytoides --- p.90 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Indicators of coral health --- p.92 / Chapter 3.4.3.1 --- Photosynthetic activity --- p.92 / Chapter 3.4.3.2 --- Colony contraction --- p.94 / Chapter 3.4.3.3 --- Bleaching --- p.95 / Chapter 3.4.3.4 --- Algal overgrowth --- p.97 / Chapter 3.4.3.5 --- Attachment of transplanted corals --- p.99 / Chapter 3.5 --- Summary --- p.100 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Reproductive Biology of Lobophytum sarcophytoides / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.114 / Chapter 4.2 --- Methodologies --- p.117 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Study site --- p.117 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Sample collection and treatments --- p.117 / Chapter 4.3 --- Results --- p.119 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Gametogenic development: Size changes --- p.119 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Gametogenic development: Developmental stages --- p.120 / Chapter 4.3.2.1 --- Oogenesis --- p.120 / Chapter 4.3.2.2 --- Spermatogenesis --- p.121 / Chapter 4.4 --- Discussion --- p.122 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Unusual oogenic development pattern in L sarcophytoides --- p.122 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Possible effect of lack of a temperature cue on gametogenic development --- p.123 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- Alternative explanation: Energy allocation --- p.126 / Chapter 4.5 --- Summary --- p.128 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Summary and Perspectives --- p.137 / References --- p.143

The sea anemone Bartholomea annulata, is an ecologically important member of Caribbean coral reefs. This anemone serves as symbiotic host to crustacean associates, some of which may control parasite loads by "cleaning" reef fishes. Associates may gain protection from predation by dwelling with anemones. B. annulata was the most abundant anemone documented on three reefs, with 52% host to crustacean symbionts. Of those occupied by multi-species groups, 92% included Alpheus armatus shrimp. A. armatus is an important anemone associate providing protection to the anemone from predators such as Hermodice carunculata, in laboratory and field trials. H. carunculata can completely devour or severely damage prey anemones. Here I show that anemones hosting symbiotic alpheid shrimp are extremely less likely to sustain damage by predators than solitary anemones. The role of protector may be reciprocally provided by anemone and decapod associates. / by Amber McCammon. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2010. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2010. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Briareum asbestinum, a soft coral, is a rich source of diterpenoid natural products. The secondary metabolites of B. asbestinum fall into four classes : asbestinins, briarellins, briareolate esters, and briaranes. Briareolate esters have been shown to possess biological activity and were previously only reported from Tobago. Our group recently isolated briareolate esters from a specimen collected off the coast of Boca Raton, Florida. To determine whether location has an impact on the chemistry produced by the organism, a method to discern between chemotypes was sought. Several techniques including thin layer chromatography (TLC), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and sclerite analysis were employed, with NMR being the most successful method. By utilizing both 1H and COSY NMR experiments, it is possible to differentiate between the chemotypes of B. asbestinum. Application of this method allowed analysis of chemical variability with respect to location. / by Melody D. Rondeau. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2012. / Includes bibliography. / System requirements: Adobe Reader. / Mode of access: World Wide Web.

by Rian J. Meginley. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2013. / Includes bibliography. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / System requirements: Adobe Reader. / The gorgonian Briareum asbestinum is widely studied because it possesses highly oxygenated novel structures, many of which exhibit useful biological activities. Recently, two new briarane diterpenoids, briareolate esters J and K, together with two known briareolate esters have been isolated from a specimen of Briareum asbestinum collected off the coast of Boca Raton, Florida. The method used was a 96-well plate real-time cell electronic sensing (RT-CES) system to discover compounds that impact human embryonic stem cell growth. The compounds were isolated using reversed phase polystyrene divinylbenzene chromatographic support HP20ss followed by normal phased HPLC using a luna silica column. The structures of the compounds were established though the interpretation of spectroscopic data. Activity testing was conducted against hESCs (BG02) with briareolate ester J showing no inhibition activity and briareolate ester K showing mild activity with an EC50 value of 25 (So(BM. These results confirm that the exact confirmation and existence of the (E,Z)-dienone is related to the activity that was observed with the previously isolated briareolate esters L and M.

This thesis is encompasses the design, construction, control and testing of an improvement upon the novel soft robotic Jennifish platform. The advancement of this platform includes the addition of light and depth sensors as well increasing the separation of tentacle groups from two to three sets. The final vehicle model consists nine PneuNetstyle actuators divided into three groups of three, molded around a machined Delrin pressure vessel. With a 12V submersible impellor pump connected to each actuator grouping, propulsion is created by the filling and emptying of these tentacles with surrounding ambient water. The Jellyfish2.0 is capable of omnidirectional lateral movement as well as upward driven motion. The vehicle also has a temperature sensor and IMU as did the previous of this platform. Qualitative free-swimming testing was conducted, recorded and analyzed as well as quantitative inline load cell testing, to create a benchmark for comparison with other jellyfish like robots. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2019. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection