Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Florida, 2004. / Typescript. Title from title page of source document. Document formatted into pages; contains 233 pages. Includes Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

New world crocodilians constitute a monophyletic group comprising four species: Crocodylus rhombifer (Cuban crocodile), Crocodylus acutus (American crocodile), Crocodylus intermedius (Orinoco crocodile), and Crocodylus moreletii (Morelet’s crocodile). All of these are in the IUCN Red list of Threatened Species and exhibit geographic distributions covering small to widespread ranges across the Americas and insular Caribbean. With the overarching goal of generating relevant information for the conservation of endangered new world crocodilians, this dissertation integrates genetic and ecological information to provide a context spanning a scale from the species level to specific populations, to analyses of mating systems and breeding strategies in Crocodylus. In addition, my research applies tools of ecological inference to model the influence of environmental factors and natural habitat disturbances in the reproductive success of Crocodylus using a long-term dataset. This work uses C. intermedius and C. acutus as model species to explore four focal questions organized in distinct chapters related to the biology and ecology of crocodilians. In Chapter I, I compare previously reported reproductive traits among C. acutus populations across its geographic range. This comparative analysis reveals a high degree of variability in reproductive traits across C. acutus range and provides potential adaptive explanations for the patterns observed. Crocodylus acutus appears to be one of the most adaptable of crocodilians in terms of nesting requirements, total nests per breeding season, nest mode (hole vs. mound), timing of egg-laying, female minimum reproductive size, clutch size, female nest defence behavior, and female parental care. Besides regional comparisons, this chapter focuses on the largest nesting population of C. acutus located in southeastern Cuba, where the species still occurs at its natural population numbers. In Chapter II, I use molecular tools to elucidate the mating system of the Orinoco crocodile in a reintroduced population in the Llanos of Venezuela. Analyzing 17 polymorphic microsatellite loci from 20 clutches I found multiple paternity in C. intermedius, with half of the clutches fathered by two or three males. Sixteen mothers and 14 fathers were inferred by reconstruction of multilocus parental genotypes. Results showed skewed paternal contributions to multiple-sired clutches in four of the clutches (40%), leading to an overall unequal contribution of offspring among fathers with six of the 14 inferred males fathering 90% of the total offspring, and three of those six males fathering more than 70% of the total offspring. Results of this chapter provide the first evidence of multiple paternity occurring in the Orinoco crocodile and confirm the success of reintroduction efforts of this critically endangered species in Venezuela. In Chapter III, I apply generalized linear mixed models to infer the effect of tropical cyclones and environmental variability on the nesting success of C. acutus in the largest nesting population of the species in southeastern Cuba for a period of 21 years. Results of this chapter report the highest-density nesting for the species documented to date, and one of the highest densities of nesting in relation to other crocodilian species, with an average of 164 nests per year and a density of 17 nests per hectare. Two of the five analyzed nesting sites had consistently higher nests and higher nesting success for the whole 21-year period. Much of the temporal variation in nesting success could be explained by the occurrence of tropical cyclones. I found that occurrence of tropical cyclones within a nesting season negatively affected nesting success, whereas the occurrence of tropical cyclones one or two years before the nesting season positively affected nesting success. Additionally, results of this chapter suggest that higher ambient temperature negatively affected nesting success. Higher-intensity tropical cyclones are expected to strike the coasts of Cuba due to climate change, potentially devastating C. acutus nests if they occur during the nesting season. As the recruitment of C. acutus populations in Cuba heavily rely on nesting success, we propose incorporating information on crocodilian’s nesting success and density, as well as the impact of tropical cyclones on the latter, as key components of coastal resilience when designing plans for coastal adaptation in the context of climate change. In the last chapter, I employed data on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region and 12 nuclear polymorphic microsatellite loci to assess the degree of population structure of C. acutus between and among localities in South America, North America, Central America and the Greater Antilles. All analyses for both mtDNA and nuclear markers show evidence of strong population genetic structure in the American crocodile, with unique populations in each of the sampling localities. My research results reinforce previous findings showing the greatest degree of genetic differentiation between the continental C. acutus and the Greater Antillean C. acutus. Three new haplotypes unique to Venezuela were reported. These were considerably less distant from Central and North American haplotypes than Greater Antillean haplotypes. Overall evidence of this chapter suggests that Cuban and Jamaican C. acutus share a mtDNA haplotype but currently represent at least two different genetic populations when using nuclear, faster evolving, microsatellite markers. Findings of this chapter offer the first evidence of genetic differentiation among the populations of Greater Antillean C. acutus, the first ever reported haplotypes for the species in Venezuela, and provide important information for the regional planning and in-situ conservation of the species. In conclusion, research findings of my dissertation are the product of combining ecological data collected in the field, genetic data generated in the lab, and the use of a suite of classic and inference-based methodological approaches to gain a better understanding of the behavior and evolution of crocodilians. The dissertation presents the first genetic research on C. intermedius, shows the importance of coastal mangrove conservation for the persistence of C. acutus in Cuba, and depicts phylogeographic linkages among distinct C. acutus populations across the Americas and Greater Antilles. The outcomes of this research provide science-based information to influence decision-making processes for the conservation of threatened crocodilians and their habitats across the study areas.

Crocodylus porosus is the most widely distributed crocodilian species and suffered widespread population decline during the 20th century, principally due to commercial hunting for their hides, but also from habitat destruction and persecution. An estimated 270,000 to 330,000 animals were killed in Australia before the species was protected in the early 1970s. Populations of C. porosus in Western Australia are poorly studied and the number of animals taken during the hunting era is unknown. However, by 1970, hunting was no longer considered to be commercially viable. Over the last two decades, adding commercial value to crocodiles through sustainable use has been an integral part of the management strategy throughout Australia. Despite this, demographic parameters remain unquantified for most life-history stages. This study attempts to provide quantified demographic information for some populations of C. porosus in Western Australia. Patterns of movement are a fundamental component to the dynamics of animal populations. VHF radio tags were attached to 16 estuarine crocodiles, which were tracked between October 2001 and May 2003. Male (n = 12) and female (n = 4) crocodiles exhibited distinctly different patterns of movement. Females occupied a small core linear range (1.3 &plusmn; 0.9 km) on the main river channel during the dry season and moved distances of up to 62 km to nesting habitat during the wet season, returning to the same core area the following dry season. Males moved considerable distances along the Ord River throughout the year. The largest range recorded was 87 km for a 2.5 m juvenile male, which had not stabilized. However, male ranges did not appear to be related to body size, with the largest two ranges recorded for the smallest (2.5 m) and largest (4.3 m) males tagged. Rates of male movement did not differ significantly between three size classes of males but there were significant seasonal differences, with the highest mean rates of movement occurring during the summer wet season (4.0 &plusmn; 5.4 km/d). The highest rate of sustained movement was 9.8 km/d for a translocated 2.6 m juvenile male, which travelled 118 km in 12 days to return to the area of its capture. Neither males nor females showed exclusive habitat preferences for any of four broad riverine habitats identified on the Ord River. Males had substantial range overlaps with no obvious spatial partitioning, suggesting territoriality is not an important behavioural characteristic of free-ranging male crocodiles along the Ord River. Rates of migration were also examined indirectly using genetic data, which integrates patterns of movement at the population level over many generations. One hundred and twenty three tissue samples were collected from three river systems between April 2001 and September 2002. Levels of genetic diversity and structure were quantified at nine microsatellite loci. Genetic data indicated that C. porosus shows strong site fidelity. However, indirect estimates of migration from fixation indices suggest gene flow is sufficient to maintain genetic diversity and population substructure but not so low as to cause inbreeding. Genetic diversity was similar in all three populations examined with allelic richness ranging from 4.6 to 5.0 alleles per locus and mean observed heterozygosity ranging from 0.63 to 0.74. Inbreeding coefficients indicated there was only moderate differentiation among the populations (FST = 0.08, RST = 0.06) but differences in allele frequencies were highly significant. Assignment tests designated 80% of individuals to their population of origin and identified only five individuals (4%) as first generation migrants. Populations that experience a severe and rapid reduction in size, such as occurred with C. porosus following the Second World War, are susceptible to losing a significant component of their genetic variation. There was compelling evidence for a recent genetic bottleneck in the three populations sampled. Survivorship in C. porosus in unknown for most life-history stages so a mark-recapture study was implemented to investigate the dynamics of the C. porosus population in the King River. A total of 162 animals were marked between June 2001 and July 2002 of which 75 marked animals were recaptured on 123 occasions. The size of the hatchling population (age < 1 year old) was estimated to be 91 &plusmn; 2 (SE) in 2001, which was effectively an estimate of successful recruitment for the King River during that year. The size of the non-hatchling population (age >1 year old) was estimated to be 69 &plusmn; 13 but the precision of the estimate was low and should be treated cautiously. Survival of the 2001 cohort of hatchlings was high (> 95%) between June and December and did not vary between the sexes. Hatchlings grew rapidly from June 2001 to July 2002, doubling in length and showing a ten-fold increase in body mass. There were no significant differences in growth rates between females and males during the first 18 months of life. Crocodiles showed a significant behavioural response to capture, with capture probabilities decreasing over time for two groups classified by age. Furthermore, differences in capture probabilities between age groups were significant on all occasions. This has important implications for monitoring crocodile populations, particularly if sightability is influenced by human disturbance. This study has provided some insights into important ecological processes operating within Western Australian populations of C. porosus, but the number of populations examined and period of study were small for such a long-lived animal. More work is needed to determine whether the patterns that have emerged are typical throughout the species' range and longer term studies will be required to quantify vital statistics for most life stages.

This investigation illustrates the topography, gross anatomy, histology and ultrastructure of the liver and gallbladder of the Nile crocodile in order to fill the gap that exists in the literature regarding this important crocodilian. For the topographical and macroscopical descriptions the livers and gallbladders were obtained from the carcasses of slaughtered juvenile Nile crocodiles. Perfusion and immersion fixation of tissues for histology and transmission electron microscopy were performed on juvenile Nile crocodiles donated to the university. Published descriptions of other vertebrates were inevitably relied upon for comparison due to the lack of information on these two organs of the Nile crocodile. The liver was located in its own coelomic cavity with the post-pulmonary and the post-hepatic membranes intimately associated with the cranial and caudal surfaces of the bi-lobed liver respectively. The right lobe was larger than the left lobe and they were located at the level of the third to seventh intercostal spaces with their extremities extending to the ninth intercostal space. The triangular shaped liver lobes were joined dorso-medially by a narrow isthmus consisting of liver tissue. The liver was covered by Glisson’s capsule. Central veins, sinusoids and portal tracts were distributed haphazardly with no visible lobulation. The parenchymal component occupied the largest part of the liver and was formed by anastomosing and branching cell cords consisting of two-cell-thick plates in the longitudinal sectional plane and at least five hepatocytes in the cross-sectional plane. Central bile canaliculi contained microvilli originating from apical hepatocyte surfaces and were sealed off by junctional complexes. Hemosiderin granules, bile pigments, melanin pigments, lipid droplets, cholesterol ester slits and glycogen granules were observed in addition to the normal hepatic cytoplasmic organelles. Non-parenchymal cells consisted of endothelial cells, Kupffer cells, stellate cells and pit cells localized in and around the angular sinusoids. The space of Disse existed between endothelial cells and the base of the hepatocytes which was lined by microvilli. Endothelial cells were flat cells with long fenestrated cytoplasmic extensions that lined the sinusoidal wall and contained numerous endocytotic vesicles and many lysosomes. Pleomorphic Kupffer cells were located in the sinusoidal lumen, in the space of Disse and within groups of hepatocytes. They were often situated between groups of hepatocytes, connecting two adjacent sinusoids. Large phagosomes were present in the Kupffer cells and contained a combination of melanin and hemosiderin granules as well as ceroid. Phagocytosis of apoptotic and dying cells was evident. Conspicuous groups of membrane-bound tubular organelles with a filamentous or crystalline interior were present in the Kupffer cells. Stellate cells occupied a subendothelial position in the space of Disse and contained prominent lipid droplets that indented the nuclei. A solitary cilium was infrequently found projecting into the space of Disse. Myofibroblastic cells were found in the same region as stellate cells. Pit cells with indented eccentric nuclei were found in the sinusoidal lumen and in close contact with endothelial and Kupffer cells. Numerous small electron-dense membrane-bound cytoplasmic granules were present. Occasional intercalated cells resembling lymphocytes were seen in the space of Disse and forming part of the groups of hepatocytes. Glisson’s capsule extended collagenous trabeculae into the parenchymal interior and variably sized trabeculae randomly traversed the liver tissue. Portal tracts were enmeshed by a collagenous network that contained fibroblasts, lymphocytes, plasma cells and phagocytes. Portal triads consisted of branches of the portal vein, hepatic artery and bile duct with lymphatic vessels sometimes in accompaniment. Reticular fibres were positioned around hepatocyte tubules and a basal lamina supported the hepatocytes adjacent to Glisson’s capsule. Occasional unmyelinated nerve axons were present. The isthmus contained liver tissue with similar parenchymal and a non-parenchymal components. Three anatomical zones were identified in the pouch-like gallbladder that was attached caudally to the right liver lobe in the dorso-medial region. The gallbladder wall consisted of pseudostratified columnar epithelium, a lamina propria, a muscularis externa and a serosal layer. The accumulation of apical secretory granules, apical bulging, exocytosis of mucous granules and the desquamation of the apical portions of the epithelial cells into the lumen indicated different stages of the mucus secretory cycle. Copyright / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Anatomy and Physiology / Unrestricted

No description available.

Ling, Ka Ho. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 124-157). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Acknowledgement --- p.ii / Abstract --- p.iv / 摘要 --- p.vii / Table of content --- p.ix / List of figures --- p.xiii / List of tables --- p.xv / Abbreviations --- p.xvi / Chapter 1 --- Food authentication --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Introduction and definition --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Importance of species identification in food authentication --- p.3 / Chapter 1.3 --- Methods for species identification in food authentication --- p.8 / Chapter 1.4 --- Legislation --- p.17 / Chapter 1.5 --- Objectives --- p.19 / Chapter 2 --- Molecular authentication and antitussive bioassay of Stemona root (Baibu) and root of Asparagus filicinus (Xiao-baibu) --- p.20 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.20 / Chapter 2.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.22 / Chapter 2.3 --- Results --- p.34 / Chapter 2.4 --- Discussion --- p.40 / Chapter 2.5 --- Conclusions --- p.44 / Chapter 3 --- Rapid detection of oilfish and escolar in fish steaks: a tool to prevent keriorrhea episodes --- p.45 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.45 / Chapter 3.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.49 / Chapter 3.3 --- Results --- p.59 / Chapter 3.4 --- Discussion --- p.69 / Chapter 3.5 --- Conclusions --- p.75 / Chapter 4 --- Widespread adulteration of crocodile meat with python and water monitor meats --- p.76 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.76 / Chapter 4.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.78 / Chapter 4.3 --- Results --- p.89 / Chapter 4.4 --- Discussion --- p.96 / Chapter 4.5 --- Conclusions --- p.100 / Chapter 5 --- Authentication of dried and ready-to-eat hashima products --- p.101 / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.101 / Chapter 5.2 --- Source species of hashima --- p.103 / Chapter 5.3 --- Materials and methods --- p.106 / Chapter 5.4 --- Results --- p.116 / Chapter 5.5 --- Discussion --- p.119 / Chapter 5.6 --- Conclusions --- p.121 / Chapter 6 --- General conclusions --- p.122 / Chapter 6.1 --- Key findings --- p.122 / Chapter 6.2 --- Applications and implications --- p.123 / Chapter 7 --- References --- p.124

Cheung, Chun Wai. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 111-128). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Acknowledgement --- p.ii / Abstract --- p.iv / 摘要 --- p.vii / Table of content --- p.ix / List of Figures --- p.xvii / List of Tables --- p.xix / Abbreviations --- p.xxi / Chapter Chapter 1. --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- The development of Traditional Chinese Medicine --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3 --- Quality control of Traditional Chinese Medicine --- p.3 / Chapter 1.4 --- Problems of adulteration --- p.5 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Confusion by common names --- p.5 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Erroneous and intentional adulteration --- p.6 / Chapter 1.5 --- Authentication of Traditional Chinese Medicine using DNA techniques --- p.7 / Chapter 1.6 --- Crocodile meat --- p.10 / Chapter 1.6.1 --- Crocodile meat as Traditional Chinese Medicine --- p.10 / Chapter 1.6.2 --- Crocodile meat as exotic meat --- p.10 / Chapter 1.6.3 --- Effects of crocodile meat on mice --- p.12 / Chapter 1.6.4 --- Adulteration of crocodile meat in Hong Kong --- p.13 / Chapter 1.6.5 --- Authentication of crocodile meat --- p.14 / Chapter 1.6.5.1 --- SCAR analysis --- p.14 / Chapter 1.6.5.2 --- 12S and 16S ribosomal DNA --- p.14 / Chapter 1.7 --- Fish air-bladder --- p.15 / Chapter 1.7.1 --- Fish air-bladder as Traditional Chinese Medicine --- p.15 / Chapter 1.7.2 --- A case study --- p.16 / Chapter 1.7.3 --- Authentication of fish air-bladder --- p.17 / Chapter 1.8 --- Radix Stellariae --- p.18 / Chapter 1.8.1 --- Stellaria dichotoma L. var. lanceolata Bge --- p.18 / Chapter 1.8.2 --- Radix Stellariae as Traditional Chinese Medicine --- p.19 / Chapter 1.8.3 --- Chemicals in Radix Stellariae and their uses --- p.19 / Chapter 1.8.4 --- Adulteration of Radix Stellariae --- p.20 / Chapter 1.8.5 --- Authentication of Radix Stellariae --- p.21 / Chapter 1.8.5.1 --- Internal Transcribed Spacers (ITS) --- p.21 / Chapter 1.8.5.2 --- trnH-psbA intergenic spacer --- p.23 / Chapter 1.9 --- Objectives --- p.25 / Chapter Chapter 2. --- Materials and Methods --- p.26 / Chapter 2.1 --- Samples used in the study --- p.26 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Crocodile and monitor lizard samples --- p.26 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Sequence from NCBI database --- p.26 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Fish air-bladder samples --- p.30 / Chapter 2.1.4 --- Radix Stellariae samples and samples of related species --- p.33 / Chapter 2.1.5 --- Sequences from NCBI database --- p.33 / Chapter 2.2 --- Reagents and equipments --- p.36 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Sample preparation and DNA extraction --- p.36 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Polymerase Chain Reaction --- p.38 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Agarose gel electrophoresis and Gene Clean --- p.39 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Cloning --- p.40 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Cycle sequencing --- p.41 / Chapter 2.3 --- Experimental procedures --- p.42 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Sample preparation --- p.42 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- DNA extraction --- p.42 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Polymerase Chain Reaction --- p.44 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- Agarose gel electrophoresis --- p.47 / Chapter 2.3.5 --- Gene Clean --- p.47 / Chapter 2.3.6 --- Cloning --- p.48 / Chapter 2.3.7 --- Cycle sequencing and sequence analyses --- p.51 / Chapter Chapter 3. --- Crocodile meat - Results and Discussion --- p.54 / Chapter 3.1 --- Results --- p.54 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- SCAR analysis --- p.54 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Sequence analyses --- p.55 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- The dendrograms --- p.56 / Chapter 3.2 --- Discussion --- p.60 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- SCAR as a quick and inexpensive method for the authentication of crocodile meat --- p.60 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- DNA sequencing - A useful tool to identify the source species of the crocodile meat --- p.61 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Adulteration of crocodile meat in Hong Kong --- p.63 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Source species of the genuine crocodile meats and the adulterants --- p.63 / Chapter 3.2.5 --- Regulation of labeling of food in Hong Kong --- p.69 / Chapter 3.2.6 --- Source species of the lizard head and tail from AFCD --- p.69 / Chapter 3.3 --- Summary --- p.70 / Chapter Chapter 4. --- Fish air-bladders - Results and Discussion --- p.72 / Chapter 4.1 --- Results --- p.72 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Identities of sample BH and F1 --- p.73 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Identity of sample BS --- p.74 / Chapter 4.1.3 --- Identities of samples GD and ZG --- p.74 / Chapter 4.1.4 --- Identity of sample GG --- p.74 / Chapter 4.1.5 --- "Identities of samples HB, HT and SH" --- p.75 / Chapter 4.1.6 --- Identity of sample JL --- p.75 / Chapter 4.1.7 --- Identity of sample MS --- p.76 / Chapter 4.1.8 --- Identity of sample RE --- p.76 / Chapter 4.2 --- Discussion --- p.77 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Sample RE was confirmed to have originated from rabbit ears --- p.77 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Identities of the dry fish air-bladders sold in Hong Kong --- p.79 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Identities of the fresh fish air-bladders sold in Hong Kong --- p.82 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Limitations of the use of DNA sequences for source species identification --- p.83 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- Variation in prices of fish air-bladders --- p.87 / Chapter 4.3 --- Summary --- p.88 / Chapter Chapter 5. --- Radix Stellariae - Results and Discussion --- p.89 / Chapter 5.1 --- Results --- p.89 / Chapter 5.1.1 --- Sequence analyses --- p.90 / Chapter 5.1.2 --- The dendrograms --- p.90 / Chapter 5.2 --- Discussion --- p.97 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Identities of the samples obtained from the market --- p.97 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Identity of sample Sdl4 --- p.97 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Identities of samples Sd02R and Sd04 --- p.100 / Chapter 5.2.4 --- Myosoton aquaticum in the Stellaria-Myosoton clade --- p.104 / Chapter 5.2.5 --- Medicinal uses of the substitutes of Radix Stellariae --- p.105 / Chapter 5.3 --- Summary --- p.106 / Chapter Chapter 6. --- Conclusion --- p.107 / Reference --- p.111 / Appendix 1. 12S rDNA sequences of crocodilian and Varanus species obtained from NCBI database for sequence analyses --- p.129 / Appendix 2. 16S rDNA sequences of crocodilian and Varanus species obtained from NCBI database for sequence analyses --- p.130 / "Appendix 3. ITS sequences of the species in the genera Arenaria, Myosoton, Silene, and Stellaria obtained from NCBI database for sequence analyses" --- p.131 / Appendix 4. 7rnH-psbA intergenic spacer sequences of Silene species obtained from NCBI database for sequence analyses --- p.132 / Appendix 5. Sequence alignment of 12S rRNA gene sequences of crocodile and monitor lizard samples --- p.133 / Appendix 6. Sequence alignment of 16S rRNA gene sequences of crocodile and lizard samples --- p.141 / Appendix 7. Sequence alignment of coxl sequences of fish air-bladder samples --- p.149 / Appendix 8. Sequence alignment of 12S rRNA gene sequences of fish air-bladder samples --- p.151 / Appendix 9. Sequence alignment of 16S rRNA gene sequences of fish air-bladder samples --- p.153 / Appendix 10. Sequence alignment of coxl region of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and the coxl primers --- p.155 / Appendix 11. Sequence alignment of ITS sequences of Radix Stellariae and related samples --- p.156 / Appendix 12. Sequence alignment of trnH-psbA of Radix Stellariae and related samples --- p.163 / Appendix 13. Search results of coxl sequences of the fish air-bladder samples in BOLD-IDS --- p.167 / Appendix 14. Search results of coxl sequences of the fish air-bladder samples in NCBI nucleotide BLAST --- p.168 / Appendix 15. Search results of 12S rDNA sequences of the fish air-bladder samples in NCBI nucleotide BLAST --- p.169 / Appendix 16. Search results of 16S rDNA sequences of the fish air-bladder samples in NCBI nucleotide BLAST --- p.170 / Appendix 17. Sequence similarities (%) of coxl sequences of the fish air-bladder samples --- p.171 / Appendix 18. Sequence similarities (%) of 12S rDNA sequences of the fish air-bladder samples --- p.172 / Appendix 19. Sequence similarities (%) of 16S rDNA sequences of the fish air-bladder samples --- p.173

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2007. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

There is a large number of species existing in the world; each year, however, the number of the endangered ones rapidly increases. Nowadays, captive breeding becomes an option for their survival in refugees. Sufficient population with satisfactory breeding management gives hope for survival to the endangered species (in mid-term) or even possible future reintroduction to their natural habitat. WAZA is currently the world's leading association of worldwide zoos and similar breeding facilities. Because these institutions operate as a network to facilitate the exchange of reared individuals, for conservation purposes, their captive populations may be seen as one large population characterized by its size, i.e., the total number of individuals. Such view is currently recognized by many conservationists as the so-called concept of Noah's Ark. The space on the Ark is limited, therefore it is needed to heed the characteristics of the species aboard to maximize the conservation potential. Many factors influence the presence of species in zoological gardens. Following previous studies we selected some factors that may be important, i.e., body lenght, taxonomy, and IUCN status. Analysis of these factors among the main reptile clades shall reveal the pattern of reptile composition in worldwide zoos. One of the factors...

The outlook for Nile crocodiles in the Olifants River does not look optimistic. Since the increase in capacity of the Loskop and Flag Boshielo Dams, the crocodile population was left with no basking or nesting sites and has declined over the past 30 years. Shortly after the Massingire Dam in Moçambique filled to full capacity an estimated 160 crocodiles died in the Olifants River Gorge, a couple of kilometres upstream from the dam. The Olifants River is acknowledged by many experts as one of the most polluted rivers in South Africa and acid mine drainage, industrial pollution and untreated sewage in the river are all contributing to the poor water quality of the river. Further, the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry acknowledge that water demand already exceeds their capacity to supply and that the situation will worsen considerably in the near future. Aerial surveys of Nile crocodiles in the Olifants River was carried out during December 2005 and November 2009. An average total population of 714 Nile crocodiles were counted and corrected to an estimated 1140 individual crocodiles to eliminate the effects of undercounting. The Kruger National Park and specifically the area of the Olifants River Gorge was found to be one of the preferred habitat areas for crocodiles in the Olifants River as was the Flag Boshielo Dam, the area between the Blyde River and the western boundary of the Kruger National Park and the Olifants River between the Loskop Dam and the Flag Boshielo Dam. Repeated nesting in areas such as the Kruger National Park, the Flag Boshielo Dam and the Olifants River between the Loskop Dam and the Flag Boshielo Dam confirmed that these areas are critically important to the nesting success of Nile crocodiles in the Olifants River. The Elands River was confirmed as an important refuge area for Nile crocodiles in the Groblersdal-Flag Boshielo Dam area of the Olifants River. Surveys revealed an estimated total of only 15 crocodiles in the Loskop Dam and confirmed that no crocodiles in the large (2.1 - 4.0m TL) and very large size class (>4.0m TL) are currently present in the population. Blood biochemistry results indicate that the Olifants River Nile crocodile population probably suffers from chronic inflammation (especially in the Loskop Dam and Olifants River Gorge populations), infectious disease (particularly in the Loskop Dam population but all other sites also showed elevated values), possible inadequate diet and malnutrition (especially during the pansteatitis outbreak of August/September 2008) and are suffering serious immune problems in the Olifants River Gorge. A conservation and management plan is suggested which identifies threats to the continued existence of a viable Nile crocodile population in the Olifants River. Finally, it is suggested that the conservation status and risk of extinction of Nile crocodiles in the Olifants River be upgraded to the Endangered category since it currently complies to the following criteria; EN A2abce; C2a(i) published in the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria Version 3.1 (IUCN, 2001). / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Centre for Wildlife Management / unrestricted