Thesis (M.S.)--Georgia Southern University, 2006. / "A dissertation submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Georgia Southern University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Science" ETD. Includes bibliographical references (p. 31-35)

Orientador: Rogerio Caetano Costa / Resumo: Os objetivos deste estudo foram: 1) investigar a composição taxonômica de Brachyura; 2) avaliar a assembleia destes por meio dos índices ecológicos; 3) verificar a relação das espécies em função dos fatores abióticos; e 4) analisar se há sincronismo entre os períodos reprodutivos das espécies mais abundantes em comparação ao camarão alvo da pesca X. kroyeri. Foram realizadas coletas mensais (julho/12 a junho/14) na região marinha (4 estações amostrais: E1, E2, E3 e E4) e na região de Mar Pequeno (MP) (3 estações amostrais: E5, E6, e E7), com um barco camaroeiro equipado com redes “double rig”. Foram calculados o índice de Shannon (H), a equidade (J’) a Riqueza (S) e o Índice de Valor Ecológico (IVE), e avaliou-se as relações entre espécies X estações amostradas e entre regiões X períodos (análise de cluster). A temperatura variou entre as estações do ano (maior no verão e menor no inverno), mas não variou entre as regiões amostradas. Já a salinidade variou entre as regiões, sendo menor no MP. O sedimento foi composto pela mistura de areia fina e muito fina. O teor de matéria orgânica foi similar entre as estações de coleta, com exceção de E4 e E5. A concentração média de clorofila variou entre as estações do ano, sendo maior no verão e menor no inverno. Um total de 19.501 indivíduos de Brachyura foi coletado, representados por 25 espécies, 18 gêneros e 13 famílias, sendo elas: Portunidae, Aethridae, Leucosiidae, Epialtidae, Menippidae, Pinnotheridae, Inachoididae, Dromiidae, ... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Doutor

M.Sc. (Zoology) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

The Pea Crab, Pinniza longpies, is commensal with the tube building polychaete, Axiothella rubrocincta. This worm constructs U-shaped tubes in san-mud substrata of bays and estuaries along the Pacific coast. The pronounced lateral elongation and diminutive size of p. Longpies enable it to move easily in the narrow tube with the worm. The species has occasionally been found with other polychaetes, including Pectinaria and Pista. According to Schmitt et al (1973) Pinnixa longpies range from Tomales Bay to Laguna Beach in California. There are no published accounts regarding the biology of this commensal crab. The present paper reports in detail on the larval development of P. longpies as reared under laboratory conditions. These results are compared with previous descriptions of Pinnotherid larvae.

No description available.

The source of a reliable supply of seed is one of the most important factors determining the success of aquaculture. At present mud crab culture is reliant on wild caught juveniles, which limits the expansion of mud crab farming globally. This, coupled with the paucity of knowledge of the spawning and egg characteristics of mud crabs, prompted the investigation into the captive spawning, incubation and egg quality of Scylla serrata in South Africa. A total of 112 mature females were caught from three estuaries in northern KwaZulu Natal and acclimated to captive conditions. Mature females were present in the estuaries throughout the year and ranged from 90 to 200 mm carapace width. Except for 40 crabs all the females spawned in captivity. On average spawning took place 38 ± 23 days after capture but was not dependent on crab size. Fecundity was significantly correlated to crab size (p = 0.026), with larger females producing more eggs. The average fecundity per batch was 5.79 ± 2.07 million eggs. Hatch success rate for all egg batches was high averaging 84 ± 6 %. Egg dropping occurred in all egg batches during incubation. On average 6.5 % of the egg mass was dropped during incubation. At the average temperature of 27⁰C eggs in the incubation system hatched within 292 ± 12 hours after extrusion. In-vitro incubation of eggs proved to be an ineffective means of incubating Scylla serrata eggs with a hatch success rate of only 25 ± 5 %. Egg quality was assessed both directly, using variables such as hatch success rate and hatch synchronicity and retrospectively by using stress tests and comparing survival of larvae from different coloured egg batches. Lipid class composition and fatty acid methyl ester content for 28 batches of eggs and 16 batches of larvae were analyzed. The biochemical composition of the egg was correlated to survival of larvae in the stress tests to ascertain if the lipid content of the eggs determines their quality. Stress tests were used to retrospectively assess egg quality. Four stressors were administered to newly hatched larvae and the LD50 values recorded. An average LD50 of 64 hours was recorded for the starvation tests, 40% for the salinity tests, 37 ppm for the formalin tests and 39.7 mg/l NH3 for the ammonia stress tests was recorded. Egg colour ranged from pale yellow to orange-red. Egg colour was not influenced by female size or the time the females spent in captivity prior to spawning. Egg colour can therefore not be used as an indicator of quality. The lipid profiles of newly extruded eggs had no effect on hatch synchronicity or hatch success rate. However, the stress tests identified female size (p ≤ 0.02), DHA content of the egg (p ≤ 0.02), Σ omega-3 fatty acids of eggs (p ≤ 0.02) and EPA content of eggs (p ≤ 0.007) as possible determinants of egg quality. Larger crabs tended to produce poorer quality eggs. Egg quality also decreased as the amount of DHA, EPA and the Σ omega-3 fatty acids decreased in the eggs. To summarize, the results of this study indicated that the following parameters affect egg quality - crab size, DHA, EPA and Σ omega-3 fatty acid content of eggs.

published_or_final_version / Ecology and Biodiversity / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Thesis (M.A.)--Boston University. Note: Page 24 is missing. / Many animals, invertebrates as well as vertebrates, have demonstrated an ability to somehow sense ionizing irradiation. This recognition is often apparent by a behavioral response which can be correlated with the x-ray stimulus in some way. The fiddler crab, Uca pugilator, was found to exhibit a behavioral response to ionizing irradiation. When the x-ray machine was turned off, the animal would respond instantaneously by a marked hesitation in its general movement after which it would resume its normal activity. This response suggests the animal's ability to somehow be aware of irradiation. Previous work in this area suggested that the photoreceptors were the primary site of stimulation. The fiddler crab's photoreceptors, located at the ends of protruding eye-stalks, are particularly easily excised. When the eye stalks were rer1oved, the response to x-rays was no longer evident. A parallel series of experiments were done with ltght as the stimulus. With intact eyestalks, the animal showed the same off response, and with the eyestalk removed, the subject exhibited no such response. The possibility of a direct stimulation of nervous structures as well as that of an indirect activation by the x-ray evoked release of bioactive substances is discussed. After considering the sinus gland, which was also removed along with the photoreceptors, as a possible site of x-ray reception, a strong implication that the photoreceptors are the primary locus of x-ray sensitivity in the fiddler crab was stated. The marked dose rate dependency of the animal's response to x-rays was noted, and a possible explanation was suggested.

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Glasgow, 2008. / Ph.D. thesis submitted to the Division of Environmental and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, 2008. Includes bibliographical references. Print version also available.

No description available.