This thesis is a preliminary attempt to consolidate materials pertaining to Lau fish taxonomy (North Malaita, Solomon Islands). Data utilized come from two sources: those collected by Maranda and Maranda (1966-1968) and those collected by the author during a two-month field period (October-December 1975). Two approaches to the analysis of terminological systems are explored first. A general description of the Lau Taxonomic Universe follows in which the major components are indicated. The focus then shifts to a more detailed discussion of Lau Fish taxonomy. Material presented here takes three forms: (1) A comprehensive list of fish identified according to biological classifications. (2) A summary of data obtained from informants' Memory Lists of fish names. The problems of taxonomic inclusion and equivalence are considered. (3) A discussion of those data traditionally regarded as "Non-Taxonomic Terminology". Distinctive Features are then considered and some examples given. Upper Level Taxa are discussed first. Following this, the Features and Criteria for the classification of Lower Level Taxa are outlined. Suggestions for further inquiry and propositions concerning analytical avenues constitute the final portion of this presentation. / Arts, Faculty of / Anthropology, Department of / Graduate

Orientador: Ricardo Cardoso Benine / Banca: Flávio C. Theodoro de Lima / Banca: Fernando Jereep / Banca: Fernando Carvalho / Banca: William Ricardo Amancio Santana / Resumo: As espécies atualmente alocadas em Moenkhausia não formam um grupo monofilético. Estudos atuais buscam estabelecer novas relações e readequações destas espécies. No entanto, são verificados equívocos nas identificações que levam à relações não verdadeiras. O presente estudo reúne o conhecimento taxonômico sobre Moenkhausia, corrige, complementa e padroniza descrições das espécies. As espécies foram reunidas em grupos, com base em caracteres da morfologia externa e no conhecimento filogenético disponível para o gênero: Moenkhausia oligolepis - padrão de colorido reticulado e presença de banda escura no pedúnculo caudal; M. lepidura - mácula restrita ao lobo superior da nadadeira caudal; M. dichroura - mácula em ambos os lobos da nadadeira caudal; M. doceana - mácula umeral estendida horizontalmente ou duas máculas umerais, mácula no pedúnculo caudal ou nos raios medianos da nadadeira caudal; seis, ou mais, séries de escamas acima da linha lateral; M. xinguensis - maior altura do corpo na origem da nadadeira dorsal, mácula umeral ausente ou inconspícua e cinco series de escamas acima da linha lateral; M. eigenmanni - concentração de cromatóforos nas escamas, especialmente na região mediana dos flancos; corpo, geralmente, longo e caracteristicamente convexo na região pré-dorsal; M. ceros - baixa concentração de cromatóforos nas escamas, pequeno porte, faixa escura ou iridescente desde a região mediana do corpo ao pedúnculo caudal ou raios medianos da nadadeira caudal. Esses agrupamentos não são exclusivamente naturais e não devem ser tomados como relações filogenéticas. No entanto, são eficazes para a identificação das espécies e elaboração de futuras hipóteses de relações em Moenkhausia / Abstract: The species currently allocated in Moenkhausia are not a monophyletic group. Current studies try to establish new relationships and adequation these species. However, identifications mistakes are usualy verified. What show wrong relationships. This study gathers the taxonomic knowledge of Moenkhausia, fixe, standardizes and complements species descriptions. Most species were grouped into groups, based on characters from the external morphology and phylogenetic knowledge available to the genre: Moenkhausia oligolepis - reticulate patters, presence of dark colored band on the caudal peduncle; M. lepidura - dark spot restricted to the upper lobe of the caudal fin; M. dichroura - spot in both lobes of caudal fin; M. doceana - one horizontally extended humeral spot or two humeral spot, spot presence in the caudal peduncle or in the middle rays of the caudal fin, six or more series of scales above lateral line; M. xinguensis - deep body at origin of dorsal fin, absent or inconspicuous humeral spot, five series of scales above lateral line; M. eigenmanni - concentration of chromatophores on the scales, especially in the middle part of the flanks, usually long body and characteristically convex pre-dorsal region; M. ceros - low concentration of chromatophores on the scales, small, dark or iridescent line from the middle region of the body to the caudal peduncle or middle rays of the caudal fin. These groupings are not natural and should not be taken as phylogenetic relationships. However, they are effective for species identification and development of future hypotheses of relationships in Moenkhausia / Doutor

Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-14T16:53:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2014-02-17Bitstream added on 2015-05-14T16:58:48Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000828973.pdf: 2813224 bytes, checksum: 52559505ada0f60a041cdd3e78ecc4d3 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Fundação do Instituto de Biociências (FUNDIBIO) / As espécies atualmente alocadas em Moenkhausia não formam um grupo monofilético. Estudos atuais buscam estabelecer novas relações e readequações destas espécies. No entanto, são verificados equívocos nas identificações que levam à relações não verdadeiras. O presente estudo reúne o conhecimento taxonômico sobre Moenkhausia, corrige, complementa e padroniza descrições das espécies. As espécies foram reunidas em grupos, com base em caracteres da morfologia externa e no conhecimento filogenético disponível para o gênero: Moenkhausia oligolepis - padrão de colorido reticulado e presença de banda escura no pedúnculo caudal; M. lepidura - mácula restrita ao lobo superior da nadadeira caudal; M. dichroura - mácula em ambos os lobos da nadadeira caudal; M. doceana - mácula umeral estendida horizontalmente ou duas máculas umerais, mácula no pedúnculo caudal ou nos raios medianos da nadadeira caudal; seis, ou mais, séries de escamas acima da linha lateral; M. xinguensis - maior altura do corpo na origem da nadadeira dorsal, mácula umeral ausente ou inconspícua e cinco series de escamas acima da linha lateral; M. eigenmanni - concentração de cromatóforos nas escamas, especialmente na região mediana dos flancos; corpo, geralmente, longo e caracteristicamente convexo na região pré-dorsal; M. ceros - baixa concentração de cromatóforos nas escamas, pequeno porte, faixa escura ou iridescente desde a região mediana do corpo ao pedúnculo caudal ou raios medianos da nadadeira caudal. Esses agrupamentos não são exclusivamente naturais e não devem ser tomados como relações filogenéticas. No entanto, são eficazes para a identificação das espécies e elaboração de futuras hipóteses de relações em Moenkhausia / The species currently allocated in Moenkhausia are not a monophyletic group. Current studies try to establish new relationships and adequation these species. However, identifications mistakes are usualy verified. What show wrong relationships. This study gathers the taxonomic knowledge of Moenkhausia, fixe, standardizes and complements species descriptions. Most species were grouped into groups, based on characters from the external morphology and phylogenetic knowledge available to the genre: Moenkhausia oligolepis – reticulate patters, presence of dark colored band on the caudal peduncle; M. lepidura – dark spot restricted to the upper lobe of the caudal fin; M. dichroura - spot in both lobes of caudal fin; M. doceana – one horizontally extended humeral spot or two humeral spot, spot presence in the caudal peduncle or in the middle rays of the caudal fin, six or more series of scales above lateral line; M. xinguensis - deep body at origin of dorsal fin, absent or inconspicuous humeral spot, five series of scales above lateral line; M. eigenmanni - concentration of chromatophores on the scales, especially in the middle part of the flanks, usually long body and characteristically convex pre-dorsal region; M. ceros - low concentration of chromatophores on the scales, small, dark or iridescent line from the middle region of the body to the caudal peduncle or middle rays of the caudal fin. These groupings are not natural and should not be taken as phylogenetic relationships. However, they are effective for species identification and development of future hypotheses of relationships in Moenkhausia

Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-27T13:40:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2015-07-30. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2016-09-27T13:45:14Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000868858_20170717.pdf: 1053203 bytes, checksum: 06ef83243052b7fc233d28afbabe6a97 (MD5) Bitstreams deleted on 2017-07-24T11:34:12Z: 000868858_20170717.pdf,. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2017-07-24T11:35:16Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000868858.pdf: 21008300 bytes, checksum: 63397829c98a27cb343b18592af2285a (MD5) / Bolsa Estágio de Pesquisa no Exterior (BEPE) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Bolsa Estágio de Pesquisa no Exterior (BEPE): 2013/16436-2 / CNPq: 143365/2011-8 / FAPESP: 11/08274-1

Orientador: Claudio de Oliveira / Coorientador: Richard Peter Vari / Banca: Ricardo M. C. Castro / Banca: Francisco Langeani Neto / Banca: Ricardo C. Benine / Banca: José L. O. Birincell / Resumo:?? / Abstract: ?? / Doutor

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-13T14:50:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2013-02-22Bitstream added on 2014-08-13T18:00:39Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000756870.pdf: 4401994 bytes, checksum: 3fa324e27d9b06c347fb1e60c3086526 (MD5) / Espécies invasoras são altamente eficientes na competição por recursos, tem alta capacidade reprodutiva e de dispersão, o gênero Cichla é exemplo dessas características. Os espécimes desse gênero são amplamente utilizados no controle de espécies exóticas com alta prolificidade, além de sua indiscutível importância na alimentação humana e na pesca esportiva. No presente trabalho foi estudada a diferenciação cromossômica e genética entre as espécies Cichla kelberi e Cichla piquiti e seus prováveis híbridos naturais. Foram utilizadas técnicas citogenéticas e moleculares de PCR multiplex e PCR-­‐RFLP com genes nucleares e mitocondriais e, posteriormente, tais marcadores foram aplicados em exemplares coletados em reservatórios dos rios Paraná e Tietê, SP. As técnicas citogenéticas foram realizadas para exemplares coletados no rio Tietê, município de Uru, enquanto que para o estabelecimento e aplicação dos marcadores moleculares foram utilizadas amostras de ambas localidades, rio Paraná (Uru) e rio Tietê (Rubineia, Pauliceia e Ilha Solteira). Os resultados citogenéticos indicam uma conservação cariotípica entre as espécies Cichla kelberi e Cichla piquiti, tais espécies apresentam numero diploide de 2n=48 cromossomos do tipo acrocêntrico, região organizadora de nucléolo localizado no par 2 e heterocromática constitutiva em regiões centroméricas. Além disso, os genes ribossomais estão localizados nos mesmos pares cromossômicos para ambas as espécies, sendo o 5S DNAr localizado no terceiro par cromossômico, em posição intersticial, e 18S DNAr corroborando com as marcações da NOR. Já nas análises moleculares, foram estabelecidas diferenças genômicas entre as espécies C. kelberi e C. piquiti, que permitiram o estabelecimento de marcadores de eficiente aplicabilidade para diferenciação das duas espécie, fato confirmado pela aplicação dos mesmos em exemplares de quatro localidades do ... / Some invasive species are highly efficient in resource competition, have high reproductive capacity and dispersal, the genus Cichla exemplifies these characteristics. The specimens of this genus are widely used to control exotic species with high prolificacy, beyond its undeniable importance in food and sport fishing. In the present study, the chromosomal and genetic differentiation between species Cichla kelberi and Cichla piquiti and its likely natural hybrids. We used cytogenetic techniques and molecular markers PCR multiplex and PCR-­‐RFLP with nuclear and mitochondrial genes and, subsequently, the markers were applied to specimens collected in rivers Parana and Tiete in São Paulo. The cytogenetic techniques were performed for samples collected from the river Tiete, Uru city, while for the establishment and application of molecular markers were used samples of both cities, river Parana (Uru) and river Tiete (Rubineia, Pauliceia e Ilha Solteira). The cytogenetic results indicate a karyotype conservation between species Cichla piquiti and Cichla kelberi such species have diploid number of 2n=48 chromosomes acrocentric type, located nucleolus organizer regions in the pair 2 and constitutive heterochromatic centromeric regions. Furthermore, ribosomal genes are located on the same chromosome pairs for both species, but the 5S rDNA located on the third chromosome pair in interstitial position, and 18S rDNA corroborating markings NOR. Already in the molecular analysis, genomic differences were established between the species C. kelberi and C. piquiti, which allowed the establishment of efficient applicability markers for differentiation of the two species and in different populations, a fact confirmed by applying the same samples from four locations in the state of São Paulo. Furthermore, such genetic markers indicate that the samples identified as hybrid individuals of the species C. kelberi and C. piquiti are actually ...

Orientador: Fábio Porto Foresti / Coorientador: Daniela Cristina Ferreira / Banca: Diogo Teruo Hashimoto / Banca: Rosicleire Veríssimo Silveira / Resumo: Espécies invasoras são altamente eficientes na competição por recursos, tem alta capacidade reprodutiva e de dispersão, o gênero Cichla é exemplo dessas características. Os espécimes desse gênero são amplamente utilizados no controle de espécies exóticas com alta prolificidade, além de sua indiscutível importância na alimentação humana e na pesca esportiva. No presente trabalho foi estudada a diferenciação cromossômica e genética entre as espécies Cichla kelberi e Cichla piquiti e seus prováveis híbridos naturais. Foram utilizadas técnicas citogenéticas e moleculares de PCR multiplex e PCR-­‐RFLP com genes nucleares e mitocondriais e, posteriormente, tais marcadores foram aplicados em exemplares coletados em reservatórios dos rios Paraná e Tietê, SP. As técnicas citogenéticas foram realizadas para exemplares coletados no rio Tietê, município de Uru, enquanto que para o estabelecimento e aplicação dos marcadores moleculares foram utilizadas amostras de ambas localidades, rio Paraná (Uru) e rio Tietê (Rubineia, Pauliceia e Ilha Solteira). Os resultados citogenéticos indicam uma conservação cariotípica entre as espécies Cichla kelberi e Cichla piquiti, tais espécies apresentam numero diploide de 2n=48 cromossomos do tipo acrocêntrico, região organizadora de nucléolo localizado no par 2 e heterocromática constitutiva em regiões centroméricas. Além disso, os genes ribossomais estão localizados nos mesmos pares cromossômicos para ambas as espécies, sendo o 5S DNAr localizado no terceiro par cromossômico, em posição intersticial, e 18S DNAr corroborando com as marcações da NOR. Já nas análises moleculares, foram estabelecidas diferenças genômicas entre as espécies C. kelberi e C. piquiti, que permitiram o estabelecimento de marcadores de eficiente aplicabilidade para diferenciação das duas espécie, fato confirmado pela aplicação dos mesmos em exemplares de quatro localidades do ... / Abstract: Some invasive species are highly efficient in resource competition, have high reproductive capacity and dispersal, the genus Cichla exemplifies these characteristics. The specimens of this genus are widely used to control exotic species with high prolificacy, beyond its undeniable importance in food and sport fishing. In the present study, the chromosomal and genetic differentiation between species Cichla kelberi and Cichla piquiti and its likely natural hybrids. We used cytogenetic techniques and molecular markers PCR multiplex and PCR-­‐RFLP with nuclear and mitochondrial genes and, subsequently, the markers were applied to specimens collected in rivers Parana and Tiete in São Paulo. The cytogenetic techniques were performed for samples collected from the river Tiete, Uru city, while for the establishment and application of molecular markers were used samples of both cities, river Parana (Uru) and river Tiete (Rubineia, Pauliceia e Ilha Solteira). The cytogenetic results indicate a karyotype conservation between species Cichla piquiti and Cichla kelberi such species have diploid number of 2n=48 chromosomes acrocentric type, located nucleolus organizer regions in the pair 2 and constitutive heterochromatic centromeric regions. Furthermore, ribosomal genes are located on the same chromosome pairs for both species, but the 5S rDNA located on the third chromosome pair in interstitial position, and 18S rDNA corroborating markings NOR. Already in the molecular analysis, genomic differences were established between the species C. kelberi and C. piquiti, which allowed the establishment of efficient applicability markers for differentiation of the two species and in different populations, a fact confirmed by applying the same samples from four locations in the state of São Paulo. Furthermore, such genetic markers indicate that the samples identified as hybrid individuals of the species C. kelberi and C. piquiti are actually ... / Mestre

The blacktail, Diplodus capensis, is an inshore sparid fish distributed from Mozambique to Angola. This species forms an important component of coastal fisheries within its distribution, one being the subsistence handline fishery in southern Angola. With this fishery being critically important to the livelihoods of local communities, a biological study and stock assessment was conducted to provide information for the management of this species in southern Angola. However, with molecular evidence suggesting that the Benguela current may have separated the southern African populations of many inshore fish species over two million years ago, a morphological, taxonomic analysis was considered necessary to first investigate whether there was evidence for allopatry in this species. A total of 46 morphometric measurements and 18 counts were carried out on specimens collected from various locations in southern Angola and South Africa. Results were analysed using multi-dimensional scaling (MDS) and the significance of clusters was tested using analysis of similarities (ANOSIM). Biological samples of D. capensis were collected monthly from an unexploited area from April 2008 to March 2009. Additional biological samples were collected from the subsistence fishers in an exploited area during May, June and December 2009. Standard biological laboratory techniques were employed for the lifehistory comparison between the exploited and unexploited area. A per-recruit analysis was conducted using the life-history parameters from both areas in order to assess the current status of the subsistence fishery and to investigate the potential short-falls of the per-recruit assessment approach. The morphometric comparison showed that there was not sufficient evidence for speciation between the southern Angolan and South African populations of D. capensis. There was, however, sufficient morphological evidence to suggest that these populations are separate stocks. This indicated that the existing reference points on which the management of the South African population is based are unsuitable for the Angolan population. Diplodus capensis in southern Angola is omnivorous, feeding predominantly on algae, barnacles and mussels. An ontogenetic shift from algae to barnacles and mussels was correlated with allometric growth patterns in their feeding apparatus. This species is a rudimentary hermaphrodite in southern Angola with peak spawning in June and July. The overall sex ratio (M: F) was 1: 4.7 in the unexploited area and 50% maturity was attained at 149.5mm FL and five years. Diplodus capensis in southern Angola exhibits very slow growth with the maximum age observed being 31 years (validated using mark recapture of chemically injected fish). Females [L(t) = 419.5(1-e⁻°·°⁴⁵⁽t⁻³·⁴ ⁾)] grew significantly faster (LRT, p < 0.05) than males [L(t) = 297.4(1-e⁻°·°⁷⁷⁽t⁻²·⁷⁾)], and females dominated the larger size classes and older age classes. In the exploited area, the length and age frequencies were severely truncated, the maximum observed age was greatly reduced (17 years) and the sex ratio was less female biased at 1: 2.2. Although there was no evidence for a physiological response to exploitation through alterations in growth or size/age at sexual maturity between the two areas, there was an increase in the proportion of small females in the exploited area, which may have been a compensatory response for the loss of large females. A combination of an underestimate of longevity, different estimates of the Von Bertalanffy growth parameters and overestimates of the natural mortality rate in the exploited population resulted in a 92% underestimate of the pristine spawner biomass-per-recruit (SBR) value. An assessment based on the actual pristine SBR estimate from the unexploited area revealed that the subsistence fishery had actually reduced D. capensis to 20% of its pristine SBR levels and highlighted the value of pre-exploitation life-history information for the application of per-recruit models. This study has shown that D. capensis in southern Angola displays life-history characteristics that render it susceptible to overexploitation, even at low levels of fishing pressure. The current lack of infrastructure and enforcement capacity in the fisheries department of Angola renders traditional linefish regulatory tools, such as size limits, bag limits and closed seasons, inappropriate. Therefore, suitably designed marine protected areas are recommended as the best management option for this species.

The freshwater fish fauna of southern Australia is characterised by low species richness and high endemism in groups displaying southern temperate, temperate-subtropical or temperate-tropical distributions. Comparatively few studies in Australia have incorporated modern molecular techniques to delineate species boundaries and define within-species conservation units. This is problematic because freshwater fishes are likely to show high levels of cryptic speciation and marked spatial sub-structure, and is information which is needed to conserve biological diversity and maintain the integrity of ecological communities and processes. The current study uses a ‘combined evidence’ approach, led principally by a set of nuclear genetic markers (allozymes), to assess species boundaries, spatial sub-structure and conservation units in obligate freshwater fishes from southern Australia. A literature review (Chapter 2) concerns the nature and effects of fragmentation in freshwater environments. It considers the implications for freshwater fishes and the types of extrinsic and intrinsic characteristics, both natural and human accelerated, that might drive population fragmentation and divergence. This theoretical framework is then applied to a suite of six largely co-occurring species groups with contrasting biological characteristics, and derive hypotheses about expected levels of genetic divergence across and within different drainages. Major findings Species of Retropinna (Chapter 3) are widespread and generally regarded as ‘common’ and mobile. Allozyme analyses revealed species-level and population-level sub-divisions, including five distinct species with contiguous ranges and no evidence of genetic exchange. Three occur along the eastern seaboard (including three instances of sympatry), another in coastal and inland southeastern Australia and Tasmania, and a fifth in the Lake Eyre Basin. There is no indication of a simple ‘tasmanica’ versus ‘semoni’ dichotomy, but instead a complex pattern involving discrete clusters for the Upper Murray plus Darling rivers, Lower Murray, Glenelg River and Tasmanian regions. These findings have implications for biodiversity, conservation and ecology. This chapter has been published in modified form (Marine and Freshwater Research 58, 327- 341). Nannoperca obscura (Chapter 4) is a small demersal fish with specialised habitat requirements. It is under threat of extinction, particularly in the western section of its range. Combined nuclear and matrilineal genetic data identified congruent within-species sub-structure, divided by patternsof distribution and biogeography. Four monophyletic mtDNA lineages, each distinct at multiple nuclear loci, indicate four Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESUs), namely (1) Lake Alexandrina in the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB), (2) Glenelg River, Millicent Coast River Basin and the outlying Mt Emu Creek, (3) Merri River and associated coastal streams, and (4) the eastern range section. Additional genetic and ecological data support multiple Management Units (MUs) within ESUs for individual or groups of river basins separated by marine barriers. Nannoperca australis (Chapter 5) has a similar character to its aforementioned congener, except that it occurs across a much wider area. Although generally common, particular populations are threatened, especially in the MDB. Allozyme analyses of 57 populations confirm the presence of two divergent species, with an eastern species containing two ESUs: (1) Gippsland and Flinders Island, and (2) Ansons River in northeastern Tasmania. The western species shows sub-structure across its range, including a separation of MDB and coastal populations as two heterogenous ESUs. The Lower Murray region (Mount Lofty Range streams and the Lower Lakes) harbours a remarkable level of between- and within-population diversity, underscoring its importance for conserving evolutionary potential. Mogurnda adspersa (Chapter 6) has been presumed extinct in South Australia since the early 1970s and has also been assumed lost from the southern MDB. This chapter reports on the rediscovery of M. adspersa from a wetland near the terminus of the Lower Murray, some 2500 river kilometres from the nearest known population. The nature and basic ecology of this population is documented, but the combined effects of drought and water abstraction recently have led to the probable extirpation of the wild population. A combined allozyme and mtDNA dataset confirmed the ‘nativeness’ of the population as a distinct sub-population (and MU), with a moderate level of allele heterogeneity. This information provides a platform for captive breeding as a conservation measure. The endemic genus Philypnodon (Chapter 7) contains two nominal species: P. grandiceps and the long recognised but only recently described P. macrostomus. The former is considered widespread and common (near ubiquitous), whereas the latter is more patchily distributed. Some tolerance to marine conditions is indicated, suggesting that there may be less sub-structure, but allozyme analyses of 269 individuals indicate the presence of multiple, species-level taxa within both described species. This obscures interpretations of existing ecological data. Although the presence of genetically-similar populations within and across some drainage divides indicates higher levels of gene flow, the pattern is complex and suggests historic genetic exchange between some but not other geographically-adjacent taxa. The freshwater blackfish genus Gadopsis (Chapter 8) has been a problem group for taxonomists, and it is unclear where the group is placed phylogenetically and how many species occur. Northern and southern forms on respective sides of the Great Dividing Range have been proposed, but with limited supporting evidence. Its dispersal ability (hence predicted genetic structure) is obscured by opposing life-history traits, including large body size (i.e. good swimming ability) versus habitat specialisation, demersal larvae and restricted home ranges. This chapter provides a genetic overview incorporating 61 locations across the range, and demonstrates unequivocally the presence of distinct northern and southern species of G. ‘marmoratus’. Moreover, distinct genetic discontinuities involving geographically abutting lineages indicate the likely presence of multiple ESUs within each species. A comparison of the allozyme data with previous mtDNA studies also identified two ESUs within G. bispinosus. Overall, considerable complexity is demonstrated signalling the need for a review of how the southern Australian fish fauna should be viewed, studied and protected. The genetic data also provide insight into the interplay of intrinsic biological characters (e.g. dispersal ability, population ecology) with historic and contemporary extrinsic environmental factors (e.g. fragmentation, biogeographic processes). Comparisons between and within traditionally-defined species are problematic, however, owing to multiple species-level splits and other genetic divisions that may have matching biological counterparts. Together with other reports in the literature, the findings presented herein have significant conservation implications, particularly given the rapid pace of human-mediated change in some regions that house high species and genetic diversity and unique evolutionary components, notably southeastern Queensland (especially the Mary River) and the lower River Murray in South Australia. Other regions displaying high genetic substructure or divergent populations include the Clarence River and Lachlan River in New South Wales; Gippsland, Goulburn River, Glenelg River and Mt Emu Creek in Victoria, and the Macquarie River and Ansons River in Tasmania. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1339749 / Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of Adelaide, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, 2008