Foraging theory suggests that hungry animals balance a complex set of costs and benefits when determining what and how to eat. Prey distribution, patch size, and the presence of conspecifics are important factors influencing a predator's feeding tactics, including the decision to feed individually or socially. Dusky dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obscurus) in New Zealand employ different feeding tactics in varying habitats and seasons. I used programmed survey routes and opportunistic sightings to examine the habitat use and feeding mechanics of dusky dolphins in Admiralty Bay, New Zealand, a protected shallow-water environment frequented by wintering dolphins. I encountered 253 dolphin groups, of which 58.5% were engaged in food-acquisition activities. Photographic efforts revealed a total of 177 individually-recognizable dolphins, 100 of which were returnees from previous seasons. Thirty-seven feeding groups and 70 bouts of feeding behavior were followed. Two-minute interval sampling as well as active acoustic sonar were used to test the hypothesis that diurnally-feeding dolphins would work in a coordinated manner to bring schooling fish to the surface. Feeding tactics observed in Admiralty Bay were then compared to foraging by some of the same animals in the unprotected, deep-water environment off Kaikoura, where large numbers of dusky dolphins feed during the night on organisms associated with a vertically-migrating scattering layer. Evidence supporting coordinated surface feeding was not statistically significant, but indicative of behavioral flexibility in feeding styles as part of a larger feeding repertoire. A potential shift in prey distribution from previous years may also explain some observed patterns. Feeding groups were positively correlated with seabirds and New Zealand fur seals (Arctocephalus forsteri). Mean group size of 6.1 (± 8.23 S.D., n=253) in Admiralty Bay is dramatically less than groups observed off Kaikoura, a variation likely reflecting differences in prey number and distribution, as well as differences in predation risk by deep-water sharks and killer whales. Behavioral flexibility likely confers an adaptive advantage for species subject to environmental fluctuation, whether due to natural or anthropogenic sources. Further research is necessary to evaluate prey distribution in Admiralty Bay and its possible effects on feeding dusky dolphins.

The dusky grouper Epinephelus marginatus (Lowe 1834), is a protogynous sequential hermaphrodite and is considered to be one of the most important fish species in the Mediterranean Sea. It is a K-strategist, being slow growing and late maturing, and this, coupled with its reproductive biology and relatively sedentary behaviour, has made it extremely sensitive to overexploitation, leading it to be classified by the IUCN as an endangered fish species. Wild dusky grouper have suffered from disease outbreaks in the past decade, leading to mass mortalities across the Mediterranean Sea, including Libyan coastal waters. These mortalities have mostly been attributed to Nodavirus infections. In Europe and Brazil, efforts are in place to culture this fish for commercial grow-out and stock enhancement programmes. In Libya, the dusky grouper is consumed regularly and is considered a prime-eating fish. Its importance for the Libyan internal market, as well as its potential for export, makes it an ideal candidate for future Libyan aquaculture activities. Given the scarce literature regarding the dusky grouper in Libya, this study aimed first to assess dusky grouper fisheries, spawning seasons and to identify the main threats that the fishing sector poses for wild stocks. Second this study aimed to determine the health status of wild dusky grouper offered at a local fish market in the capital Tripoli, in order to identify pathogens, pathologies or other health issues that might pose a hazard to cultured populations but also to remaining wild dusky grouper stocks. To achieve these aims, twelve field surveys spanning the period of 2013-2015 were conducted. From these surveys, it was established that the dusky grouper is captured throughout the year, including the spawning season. Fish sizes offered for sale ranged between 20-92 cm total length (TL), with the fish being sold from local fishing grounds around Tripoli, but also from as far as Benghazi, 1300 km to the east of Tripoli. The dusky grouper is principally caught in artisanal fisheries and by spearfishing, with approximately 300 spear-fishermen serving one particular fish market in Tripoli that was a focus in this study, and with dusky grouper being one of their main targets. Over the period of the survey, 267 landed dusky grouper were inspected for visible lesions prior to sampling. A total of 50 dusky grouper with sizes ranging from 27- 66 cm TL including the gonads from a further five fish measuring 66-92 cm TL that were sampled separately and examined to assess the stage of sexual maturity and to look for the presence of parasitic infections mainly affecting the gills, skin and gonads. The spawning season was found to extend from May to early September, with females ranging between 39-68 cm TL, males measuring 57-92 cm TL, and transient fish measuring 58-68 cm TL. From otolith readings of 8 fish, the youngest fish was a 3 year old juvenile of 28 cm TL and the oldest was an 8-9 year old 56 cm TL female. Whilst the highest prevalence of parasitic infection was found to be monogenean infection of the gills, with 100% prevalence, followed by gnathiid isopods infecting the oral cavity with 92% prevalence, it was the nematode Philometra sp. infecting post-spawning ovaries at 52% prevalence, that gave the highest apparent pathological impact. Necrosis potentially attributed to Philometra sp. in one particular ovary, was at a level likely to have caused complete parasitic castration, while others showed varying levels of probable functional reduction. The pathologies described need further investigation, especially in relation to possible synergies between Philometra sp. and bacteria in causing the necrosis. From the 267 inspected dusky grouper, 55 fish ranging in size from 42-92 cm TL were observed to be affected by external skin lesions of unknown aetiology. Twenty-six of these fish were sampled, having lesions at various stages of severity, and 5 further unaffected fish were used for histological assessment of the skin as negative controls. Histopathologically, the lesions comprised a multifocal, unilateral or bilateral dermatitis, involving the epidermis, superficial dermis and scale pockets, and sometimes, in severe cases, the hypodermis. Severe lesions had marked epidermal spongiosis progressing to ulceration. Healing was observed in some fish. Bacteria and fungi could be isolated from severe lesions, although they were not seen histopathologically in early-stage lesions. By contrast, metazoan parasite eggs were observed in the dermis and epidermis of some fish with mild and moderate dermatitis. Unidentified gravid digenean trematodes, carrying similar eggs, were also seen within the blood vessels of the deep and superficial dermis. The newly described condition was termed dusky grouper dermatitis (DGD). DGD’s geographical distribution along the Libyan coastline was investigated using a novel application of the social media network Facebook. Using Facebook, it was possible to document skin lesions of dusky grouper in Libyan waters from images attached to the entries of spear-fishermen. Thirty two Facebook accounts and 8 Facebook groups posting from 23 Libyan coastal cities provided a retrospective observational dataset comprising a total of 382 images of dusky grouper caught by spearfishing from December 2011-December 2015. Skin lesions were observable on 57 / 362 fish, for which images were of sufficient quality for analysis, giving a minimal prevalence for lesions of 15.75%. Only dusky grouper exceeding an estimated 40 cm total length exhibited lesions. The ability to collect useful data about the occurrence and geographical distribution of pathological conditions affecting wild fish using social media networks, demonstrates their potential utility as a tool to support epidemiological studies and monitor the health of populations of aquatic animals. The gravid digenean trematode described from mild lesions of five fish was identified using reconstruction through histological sectioning as belonging to the Family Aporocotylidae Odhner, 1912. This is the first description of a blood fluke from the dusky grouper, as well as from dermal blood vessels. The parasite was relatively long; the longest section of the parasite that could be measured was 1500 µm and 20-80 µm in width, while the total length of the parasite was estimated at 1500-2000 µm. Minute tegumental spines, possibly covering only a few parts of the parasite, were seen from some cross-sections. The parasite had one post-testicular ovary, which might overlap the testis, a pre-ovarian ascending uterus, and a post-ovarian descending uterus. It also possessed an oesophagus surrounded by oesophageal glandular cells and a pre-ovarian and pre-testicular extension of the vitelline cells, mostly at the level of the ascending uterus. The parasite was observed to be intra-vascular, the uterine lumen varies in size to accommodate between 1-7 eggs. The uterine eggs were embryonated and observed to span several stages of maturation. Eggs were also found in the dermal blood vessels, in the dermis, and in the epidermis, with the latter appearing to provide a potential route of egress of eggs into the environment. The extra-uterine eggs were 23.5 to 37.52 µm long and contained a ciliated miracidium. The eggs seemed to elicit a mixed inflammatory reaction, with degranulation of eosinophilic granular cells attached to the external surface of some of the eggs within the blood vessels but also the dermis. From observations made in the current study, this parasite appears to be a new species, most closely allied to none of the currently described Aporocotylidae genera. / In summary, the present study has demonstrated that the dusky grouper is extensively fished in Libya without discrimination to sizes and season, by both artisanal and spearfishing, with the latter as one of the main fishing methods, posing treats to the spawning potential and conservation of dusky grouper in Libya. The philometrid infecting the ovaries has a potential to reduce fecundity or to result in parasitic castration of wild broodstock. Gill-infecting monogeneans might represent a hazard for all stages of dusky grouper production. Dusky grouper dermatitis is a skin lesion, although there are no indications that infections may result in mortalities. Under culture conditions, however, this might change due to increase bacterial loads, which might lead to secondary bacterial infection. The presence of skin lesions would undoubtedly reduce the market value of whole fish. These findings are important for existing wild stocks, and for future plans regarding the aquaculture of dusky grouper. Future studies need to focus on the pathology of DGD, describing the disease process and aetiology using laboratory techniques such as TEM and virology as well as using morphology and molecular-based tools to describe the blood fluke and to determine their potential role in the initiation the disease. The novel approach to disease surveillance using social media Facebook posts could be further expanded by attracting citizen scientists, for future research assessing disease in wild fish, for sightings of mortality events and/or the appearance of disease outbreaks, or, for mapping marine mammal stranding’s and/or turtle nesting activity.

abstract: This thesis examines the demographic, clinical, and criminal characteristics and discharge dispositions of pre-trial defendants deemed incompetent to stand trial and non-restorable (IST/NR) in Pinal County Arizona. Currently, there is limited research on defendants who are deemed IST/NR and even less so on discharge dispositions. The study utilized comparative descriptive analysis of secondary data collected by the Pinal County Attorney Offices on IST/NR defendants and restored defendants. It employed chi-square analyses to compare key variables between defendant groups. The study found few variations in clinical, legal, and criminal characteristics observed by previous studies and no statistical differences amongst IST/NR and restored defendants. However, it found the re-offense rate of IST/NR defendants in Pinal County was considerably lower than the general prison population. Moreover, it identified a narrow use of civil commitment procedures and guardianship amongst the IST/NR defendants who have a mental illness. Implications for further research and policy for Pinal County and Arizona are made. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Social Work 2017

Submitted by Fabio Sobreira Campos da Costa (fabio.sobreira@ufpe.br) on 2017-02-16T13:02:43Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) DISSERTAÇÃO_FELIPE_Biblioteca.pdf: 2170000 bytes, checksum: af1703db79d97fbe8ce2535a90aa2574 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-02-16T13:02:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) DISSERTAÇÃO_FELIPE_Biblioteca.pdf: 2170000 bytes, checksum: af1703db79d97fbe8ce2535a90aa2574 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-05-31 / CNPq / No Brasil os estudos um dos principais focos dos estudos etológicos com peixes recifais é a espécie Stegastes fuscus (Cuvier, 1830); a mais representativa em abundância e frequência nos recifes rasos de Pernambuco. Neste contexto, este estudo teve por objetivos; (1) descrever o repertório comportamental de S. fuscus, criando etogramas descritivos e ilustrados com todos os comportamentos observados, e (2) analisar o comportamento de defesa territorial da espécie. Dez horas de observações preliminares e 68h de observações ad libitum e animal focal, e 20h de experimento in situ foram realizadas nos recifes naturais da praia de Porto de Galinhas, Ipojuca. Três áreas foram escolhias por suas características diferentes: (1) ponto do Fundo Recifal, (2) ponto da Praia, (3) ponto do Topo Recifal. As observações geraram um etograma com nove categorias comportamentais motoras: natação, alimentação, defecação, limpeza de território, limpeza do corpo, saída do território, interação social, abrigo, agonístico; e duas sonoras: pop e burr. O ponto do fundo recifal foi o de menor densidade de S. fuscus, com 0,3 peixes/m², e onde se encontraram os maiores territórios (1,45 m² em média). Os maiores valores de densidade, cobertura e locas foram encontrados no ponto da Palythoa. As regressões obtidas para o comprimento dos indivíduos e as variáveis avaliadas mostraram tendência para a relação entre o comprimento dos indivíduos e o número de locas, no ponto do fundo. Provavelmente neste pontoo mais importante para os peixes é a presença de abrigo. Foram registrados peixes afastando-se quase 10 m de seus territórios. Pode-se afirmar que área de vida da espécie está associada ao ambiente ao redor. A taxa de alimentação diminuiu conforme aumentou o número de interações agonística. O número de atos alimentares por minuto só diminuiu de forma significativa quando houve mais de dois atos agonísticos. Este ponto representa um limiar que define até onde é vantajoso para o peixe manter a defesa de territórios. Durante as observações experimentaisforam identificados sete padrões de reação aos objetos. São elas: evitar, não interagir, observar e sair, observar e aproximar-se aos poucos, observar e examinar, observar e ameaçar com display, e observar e expulsar. As diferentes respostas demonstram como o comportamento territorialista da espécie está tão associado às variações individuais e às ambientais. O presente estudo identificou três padrões comportamentais que não foram descritos anteriormente em estudos comportamentais com a família Pomacentridae. / In Brazil the major focus of ethological studies on reef fishes is Stegastes fuscus (Cuvier, 1830); the most representative fish species in abundance and frequency in the shallow reefs of Pernambuco. In this context, this study aimed; (1) describe the behavioral repertoire of S. fuscus, creating descriptive and illustrated ethograms with all the observed behaviors, and (2) to analyze the territorial defense behavior of the species. Ten hours of preliminary observations, 68h of ad libitum and focal animal observations and 20h of in situ experiment were performed on the natural reefs of Porto de Galinhas, Ipojuca. Three areas were chosen by their different characteristics: (1) Reef bottom site, (2) Beach site, (3) Reef flat site. The observations resulted in an ethogram with nine motor behavioral categories: swimming, feeding, defecation, territory maintenance, chafe, leaving the territory, social interaction, shelter antagonistic; and 2 sound: pop and burr. The point of the reef bottom has the lowest density of S. fuscus, with 0.3 fish / m², and where the larger territories were found (1.45 m² on average). The highest density, coverage and hollows values were found at the reef flat. The regressions obtained for the length of the individuals and the variables evaluated tended to find a relationship between the length of individuals and the number of hollows the reef bottom. Probably it’s more important for the fish the presence of shelter. Fish were recorded almost 10 m away of their territories. The home range of the species is associated with the environment around. The feed rate decreased as the number of agonistic interactions increased. The number of feeding acts per minute only decreased significantly when there were more than two agonistic actions per minute. This point is a threshold that defines how far it is advantageous for the fish to keep the protection areas. During the experiment it were identified seven reaction patterns to objects. They are: prevent, not interact, observe and leave, observe and approach slowly, observe and examine, observe and frontal display, and observe and leave. The different responses demonstrate how territorial behavior of the species is associated with individual and environmental variations. This study identified three behavioral patterns that have not been described previously in behavioral studies with the Pomacentridae family.

O presente projeto analisou o perfil dos ácidos graxos, embriogênese e ontogenia do sistema digestório das larvas da garoupa verdadeira Epinephelus marginatus durante os primeiros dias de desenvolvimento. Além disso, descrevemos como os embriões se dividem, eclodem e desenvolvem suas principais características, e como se desenvolve seu sistema digestório ao longo dos primeiros dias de desenvolvimento, e como utilizam os AG durante os primeiros 8 dias de desenvolvimento. Observamos que as larvas da garoupa apresentam desenvolvimento de suas estruturas digestórias relativamente lento, no entanto, estas são capazes de capturar, ingerir e digerir presas já a partir do 4º DAE. Os ovos da garoupa verdadeira são compostos por elevados percentuais de PUFA nos fosfolipídios e para o processo de eclosão utilizam preferencialmente os SFA dos fosfolipídios. Além disso, os PUFA da série n3 sobrepõe-se aos da série n6, principalmente o DHA, que apresentaram valores elevados em comparação com outras espécies marinhas tanto nos fosfolipídios quanto nos triglicérides nos três primeiros dias de desenvolvimento. As larvas apresentam uma elevada necessidade dos HUFAs DHA/EPA, e durante essa fase é importante a utilização de alimento vivo de tamanho reduzido (copépodes ou “SS strain” Brachionus rotundiformes) enriquecidos com valores da relação entre DHA/EPA acima de 2,0. Com isso, todo o conhecimento gerado durante esses dias de desenvolvimento já permitem a aplicação deste conhecimento no processo de embriogênese e larvicultura da garoupa verdadeira contribuindo para alavancar sua domesticação e produção em cativeiro e elaborar futuramente um programa de repovoamento desta espécie contribuindo para sua conservação. / This project analyzed the fatty acids profile, embryogenesis and ontogeny of the digestive system of dusky grouper Epinephelus marginatus larvae during the first days of development. Furthermore, we described how the embryos are divided, hatch and develop its main features, and how develops its digestive system during the first days of development, and how they use the FA during the first 8 days of development. We observed that the grouper larvae present relative slow development of their digestive structures, however, the larvae are able to capture, ingest and digest preys already from 4º DAE. The dusky grouper eggs are composed by high percentages of PUFA in phospholipids and for the hatching process it uses preferably the SFA of phospholipids. Additionally, the n3 series PUFAs overlaps the n6 series, especially DHA, which exhibited high values compared to other marine species both on phospholipids as in the triglycerides during the first three days of development. The larvae exhibit a high requirement of HUFAs DHA/EPA, and during this phase is important to use live food of small size (copepods or “SS strain” Brachionus rotundiformes) enriched with the ratio of DHA/EPA levels above 2.0. Thus, all the knowledge generated during these days of development allow us the application of this knowledge in the embryogenesis and hatchery process of the dusky grouper contributing to leverage its domestication and production in captivity and eventually draw up a restocking program of this species contributing to their conservation.

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / Aquaculture is a vast industry all over the world and has increased significantly during the past 30 years. In South Africa, finfish aquaculture farms stretch from Gansbaai to as far as Richards bay with the potential of extending into Mozambique. The future success of this fast growing industry in South Africa strongly relies on the development of the supporting sector such as government legislation, sponsorship, participation of the pharmaceutical industry and research and development in aquatic organism health management. Diplectanum oliveri Williams, 1989, a monogenean gill parasite of both Argyrosomus japonicus (Temminck & Schlegel, 1843) (dusky kob) and A. inodorus Griffiths & Heemstra, 1995 (silver kob) is currently regarded in South Africa as the most persistent ectoparasite associated with the culture of both fish species, causing pathological tissue changes in the areas associated with attachment and feeding which can result in stock losses. The egg production of D. oliveri was used to evaluate and develop a method to quantify monogenean infections on fish, by counting the eggs produced by infra-populations of these parasites over a 24-hour period and to determine the reliability of this method as a non-invasive/non-destructive method to quantify the intensity of an individual infra-population of parasites on a single host. Currently, Diplectanum spp. on dusky kob are being controlled in local mariculture facilities using methods and drugs that are traditionally used for monogeneans (flukes) and are regarded as effective. Most of these drugs are, however, no longer approved for use in food fish and none of them has proven to be very effective in controlling D. oliveri in culture facilities, which can result in subsequent re-infections of epidemic proportion. Currently, there are no anthelmintics registered for aquaculture in South Africa. An registered anthelmintic used in terrestrial animals (sheep, goats, cattle and ostriches) containing praziquantel was tested at various concentrations and exposures against D. oliveri on A. japonicus to determine the efficacy of two different formulations and the potential for "off label" use. The 20 ppm (high) praziquantel concentration treatments eliminated all adult parasites, but caused significant measureable stress and affected the central nervous system of the fish, which resulted in death of all fish in the solution group after 18 hours. The 2 ppm (low) concentrations failed to remove all adult parasites. Although both the 2 hour (short) exposure/high concentration and 24 hour (long) exposure/low concentration of the suspension formulation were effective, but only the short exposure/high concentration eliminated all adult parasites with little change in behaviour by the treated fish.

Heaviside's dolphin (Cephalorhynchus heavisidii) is a poorly studied coastal delphinid with a limited inshore distribution off the west coast of southern Africa where it is sympatric with the similar sized dusky dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obscurus). It is exposed to an unknown level of bycatch particularly in near-shore set-net fisheries and is also potentially impacted by the growing boat-based whale watching industry in South Africa. In this thesis I describe the results of a study investigating the distribution, movements, behaviour and abundance of Heaviside's dolphins in the near-shore environment of the Western Cape of South Africa as a precursor to assessing its potential vulnerability to anthropogenic threats. Data were gathered using three different approaches in the field; diurnal shore based observations, boat based photo-ID surveys along ~390 km of coastline and satellite telemetry. Data were collected for dusky dolphins where feasible. Heaviside’s dolphins exhibited a strong pattern of resting inshore during daytime and foraging offshore at night that was presumed to be related to the movement of juvenile hake (Merluccius capensis) closer to the surface at night. In addition, despite near-shore observations failing to indicate feeding, dolphins were consistently found to be more abundant along regions of the coast which over the long term had higher levels of small hake available offshore. In contrast the near-shore distribution of dusky dolphins varied considerably between years possibly due to the very near-shore environment being at the edge of their habitat. A tendency for dusky dolphins to move offshore during upwelling conditions was observed from shore in St Helena Bay, the site of a strong predictable upwelling cell. However this was the only location in which very large groups of animals (50-500) were seen during coastal boat surveys suggesting this pattern may have been area specific and feeding strategies may vary throughout their range. Sympatric appears to be mediated by differences in overall range and prey type and size differentiation. Heaviside’s dolphins were found to have small home ranges and show a high degree of site fidelity over several years, at least during summer months. Dolphins fitted with satellitelinked transmitters used only limited home ranges (~876 to 1990 km2) which scaled positively with body size within the ~50 day tracking period, while photographically identified animals did not disperse significantly further than this over 3 years. The maximum coastwise displacement observed for an individual (88.4 km after 1 year) was considerably less than the 390 km length of the overall study area, and equivalent to the maximum coastwise movement seen during satellite-tagging (83.1 km). This suggests that measured home ranges may be stable over several years, although the number of resighted individuals (n = 76) was small and (as data collection was restricted to summer months) seasonal differences in movements or migrations cannot be ruled out. Associations among photographically identified animals did not differ from a random mixing of individuals, suggesting that this species has a fission-fusion type social structure at least over the short term. The abundance of Heaviside's dolphins was calculated from photo-ID mark-recapture data at three spatial scales using Chapman’s modified Petersen estimators. The proportion ofdistinctively marked individuals in this species is low (14 - 17%) reducing sample sizes and introducing a large extrapolation factor, both of which contribute to an increase in the variance of any resultant population estimate. Using resightings after one year, the total number of animals over the whole 390km study area was calculated to be 6345 (CV = 0.26, CI = 3573 – 11 267) while using same-season re-sightings the total number of animals using a 20km long section of coastline in the centre of the study area was calculated as 527 (CV = 0.35, CI = 272 – 1020). These estimates may be significantly biased downwards by the effects of heterogeneity in the capture probability of individuals which it was not possible to account for analytically due to small sample sizes. Sympatry of Heaviside's and dusky dolphins appears to be mediated by differences in the overall range and in the type and size of prey consumed. From a conservation point of view, our findings for Heaviside's dolphins are encouraging in that they indicate a relatively large population size, although their strong site fidelity does make them more vulnerable to localised impacts than a more widely ranging species like dusky dolphins and this needs to be considered during management of the population. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Zoology and Entomology / unrestricted

No description available.

Physical barriers are known to limit species' ranges, but, in the absence of physical barriers, what prevents adaptation and expansion at the periphery? Genetic influence from central populations may prevent adaptation to ecological barriers by swamping peripheral populations with suboptimal genes. If this is the case, then isolation may enable local adaptation and further range expansion. Barriers such as rivers provide ideal tests of the influence of gene flow and may explain differences in range sizes. This study investigates northern range limitations and phylogeography of the Northern Two-lined ( Eurycea bislineata) and Northern Dusky (Desmognathus fuscus ) stream salamanders. Phylogeographic patterns of populations throughout Quebec and Labrador were investigated by sequencing portions of cytochrome b and 12S rRNA mitochondrial DNA genes. Interpopulation divergence was low for both species, however, unique genetic haplotypes and morphological variation on the north shore of the St. Lawrence indicate that the river is acting as a barrier to gene flow.

O presente estudo teve como objetivo investigar a influência da incorporação da dieta com óleo de peixe (OP), rico em 22:6n3 (DHA) e 20:5n3 (EPA); óleo de linhaça (OL), rico em 18:3n3 (LNA); e óleo de coco (OC), rico em ácidos graxos saturados, no metabolismo lipídico de fêmeas adultas de Epinhephelus marginatus (garoupa verdadeira). Adicionalmente foi realizado o sequenciamento e montagem de novo do transcriptoma do tecido hepático de E. marginatus por Next Generation Sequence, e as sequências obtidas foram utilizadas como ferramenta para validar genes relacionados com o metabolismo lipídico. Os resultados mostraram que, após 5 meses de experimento, a concentração de lipídios no tecido muscular foi superior nos animais do grupo controle (alimentado apenas com sardinha) devido possivelmente a uma menor digestibilidade dos ácidos graxos incorporados na dieta dos demais grupos experimentais. Em geral os triglicerídios (TG) refletiram mais a dieta do que os fosfolipídios (PL), e foram marcados pelo alto percentual de 18:3n3 nos animais do grupo OL em todos os tecidos, e DHA na musculatura dos animais do grupo OP. Aparentemente os resultados observados para os ácidos graxos saturados e monoinstaruados sugerem um potencial autorregulatório para processos de retenção e oxidação de ácidos graxos para esta espécie, já que em geral os tecidos não refletiram diretamente a composição da dieta. A suplementação da dieta com diferentes óleos interferiu de forma direta na expressão dos genes relacionados com a síntese e β-oxidação de ácidos graxos. A expressão do gene ELOVL5 presumivelmente influenciou na deposição de ácidos graxos intermediários nos tecidos dos animais de todos os grupos experimentais, que não foram observados, ou foram pouco representativos nas dietas experimentais. O sequenciamento dos transcritos do tecido hepático de E. marginatus gerou 92.887 contigs de alta qualidade, e foi observado maior número de anotações funcionais contra o banco de proteínas de zebrafish (Danio rerio), comparado ao banco de proteínas de fugu (Takifugu rubripes) . Foram selecionadas as sequências dos genes de interesse no banco de dados local de E. marginatus, e todas as sequências utilizadas apresentaram alto grau de similaridade e foram consideradas adequadas para a realização das análises de PCR em tempo real / This study aimed to investigate the influence of dietary supplementation with fish oil (OP), rich in 22:6n3 (DHA) and 20:5n3 (EPA); linseed oil (OL), rich in 18:3n3 (LNA); and coconut oil (OC), rich in saturated fatty acids in the lipid metabolism of Epinephelus marginatus (dusky grouper) adult female. Additionally it was performed sequencing and de novo assembly of the E. marginatus liver transcriptome by Next Generation Sequence, and sequences obtained were used as a tool to validate lipid-relevant genes. The results showed that the lipid concentration in the liver was higher in the control group (fed only with sardine) possibly due to a reduced digestibility of the incorporated fatty acids in the diet from the other experimental groups. In general the triglycerides (TG) of tissues reflected more the diet profile than phospholipids (PL), and were characterized by the high percentages of 18:3n3 in the OL group in all tissues, and DHA in the muscles of the OP group. Apparently the results for the saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids suggest a self-regulatory potential for retention and oxidation processes for this species, since in general the tissues did not directly reflect the fatty acid diet composition. The ELOVL5 expression presumably influenced in the fatty acids intermediate deposition in the animal tissue from all experimental groups, which were not seen or not representative in the experimental diets. The sequencing of the transcripts from E. marginatus liver generated 92,887 high quality contigs, and it was observed a higher number of functional annotations against zebrafish (Danio rerio) proteins database, compared to the fugu Takifugu rubripes) proteins database. It was selected sequences of interest genes in the local database of E. marginatus, and all sequences used showed a high similarity degree with another teleosteo species, and were considered adequate to run the real time PCR analyze