Submitted by (edna.saturno@ufrpe.br) on 2017-02-16T14:30:22Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Marilia Espindola de Souza.pdf: 397654 bytes, checksum: b4105af9769e13d8c7922e93537b6014 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-02-16T14:30:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Marilia Espindola de Souza.pdf: 397654 bytes, checksum: b4105af9769e13d8c7922e93537b6014 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-06-04 / Tilapia native to Africa, are cultured worldwide. In the past 50 years, populations of Tilapia rendalli have been introduced in Brazil, afterwards Oreochromis niloticus and O. hornorum populations, originated from Ivory Coast, were also imported. In the last ten years, an O. niloticus strain named “Chitralada”, developed in Thailand, completely spread all over the country. One of the populations of O. niloticus named Nilotica that remained from the first imports is being cultured at the Aquaculture Station of Paulo Afonso, representing an unique genetic model. The objective of this study was to investigate the genetic variability and differentiation of two tilapia populations of O. niloticus and O. niloticus “Chitralada” reared in Paulo Afonso Station in order to verify the genetic potentiality of using niloticus population in the construction of a highly inbred strain for further QTL approach or in exploring hybrid vigor. Forty four individuals of each population were genotyped for three microsatellite markers and a total of 22 alleles were found. The mean heterozygosity detected was 0,471 for “Chitralada” population and 0 for the O. niloticus population. The coefficient of genetic differentiation (FST) was 0,627 and the mean inbreeding coefficient(FIS) was 0,309 for Chitralada population and was 1 for O. niloticus population. The absence of heterozygosity in the population of O. niloticus suggests that this population can be used in the development of a highly homozygous strain as well as in obtaining heterosis in crosses with “Chitralada” population. / As tilápias, originárias do continente africano, são cultivadas em todo o mundo. As populações cultivadas no Brasil são derivadas de importações da Tilapia rendalli ,realizadas nos últimos 50 anos, posteriormente da Oreochromis niloticus e da O.hornorum, vinda da Costa do Marfim. Nos últimos 10 anos, a linhagem da O. niloticus chamada de “chitralada”, oriunda da Tailândia, disseminou-se amplamente no país. Uma das raras populações de O. niloticus, remanescente das primeiras importações, é ainda cultivada na Estação de Piscicultura de Paulo Afonso – EPPA, representando um modelo único de isolamento genético. O presente trabalho objetivou avaliar a variabilidade e diferenciação genética de duas populações de tilápia, Oreochromis niloticus e Oreochromis niloticus “chitralada”, ambas cultivadas na Estação de Piscicultura de Paulo Afonso – EPPA, a fim de verificar a potencialidade genética para sua utilização emabordagens voltadas a análise de QTLs, bem como para a exploração de vigor híbrido. Foram genotipados 44 indivíduos de cada população para três marcadores de microssatélite e um total de 22 alelos foram encontrados. A heterozigosidade media observada foi de 0,471 para a população de chitralada, e de 0 para a população denilótica. O coeficiente de diferenciação genética (FST) obtido foi de 0,627, e o valor médio do coeficiente de endocruzamento (FIS) encontrado foi de 0,309 para a população de chitralada, e de 1 para a população de nilótica. A inexistência de heterozigotos na população de O. niloticus sugere que esta população pode ser utilizada na construção de uma linhagem altamente homozigota, como também pode ser explorada para heterose com cruzamentos com a linhagem chitralada.

Submitted by ELISA PERIPOLLI null (elisa_peripolli@hotmail.com) on 2017-03-13T10:53:09Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação_Elisa_Peripolli.pdf: 1486638 bytes, checksum: 15fbc97f7599f86e3e8dcccabf250bab (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by LUIZA DE MENEZES ROMANETTO (luizamenezes@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2017-03-20T13:45:26Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 peripolli_e_me_jabo.pdf: 1486638 bytes, checksum: 15fbc97f7599f86e3e8dcccabf250bab (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-03-20T13:45:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 peripolli_e_me_jabo.pdf: 1486638 bytes, checksum: 15fbc97f7599f86e3e8dcccabf250bab (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-17 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / As corridas de homozigose, do inglês “Runs of homozygosity” (ROH), são segmentos homozigóticos contínuos que estão presentes em indivíduos e populações. A habilidade desses segmentos em elucidar sobre eventos genéticos populacionais torna-os uma ferramenta capaz de prover informações valiosas a respeito da evolução demográfica de uma população ao longo do tempo. Além disso, informações amplas do genoma fornecem subsídios relevantes para compreender a constituição genética de um animal por meio da caracterização dos ROH, constituindo uma metodologia acurada para manter a diversidade genética em diversas populações animais. O objetivo deste estudo foi (i) acessar a autozigosidade do genoma de bovinos da raça Gir Leiteiro a fim de caracterizar os padrões de ROH; (ii) prospectar genes em ROH compartilhados por mais de 50% da população, e por fim (iii) comparar as estimativas de endogamia calculadas a partir da proporção genômica em homozigose (FROH), da matriz genômica de parentesco G (FGRM) e do pedigree tradicional (FPED). Animais da raça Gir Leiteiro foram genotipados com o BovineHD BeadChip (Illumina Inc., San Diego, CA, USA) que contêm 777.962 SNPs (n=582), BovineSNP50 BeadChip (Illumina Inc., San Diego, CA, USA) contendo 54.609 SNPs (n=1664) e GGP-LD Indicus (Geneseek® Genomic Profiler Indicus 30K) que contêm 27.533 SNPs (n=662). Todos os genótipos foram imputados para o painel BovineHD BeadChip (Illumina Inc., San Diego, CA, USA). SNPs sem posição definida ou mapeados nos cromossomos sexuais foram removidos do conjunto de dados. Após a edição, 2908 animais e 735,236 SNPs foram mantidos para as análises. Os ROH foram identificados por meio do software PLINK v1.07 considerando os seguintes parâmetros: uma janela deslizante de 50 SNPs, o número mínimo de SNPs consecutivos incluídos em um ROH foi 100, o comprimento mínimo de um ROH foi ajustado para 1 Mb, o intervalo máximo entre SNPs homozigóticos consecutivos foi de 500 kb, uma densidade de 1 SNP por 50 kb, cinco SNPs com genótipos faltantes e um genótipo heterozigoto. O FPED foi estimado por meio do software INBUPGF90. Para cada animal foi calculado um FROH (FROH1-2 Mb, FROH2-4 Mb, FROH4-8 Mb, FROH8-16 Mb e FROH>16 Mb) com base na distribuição de ROH a partir de cinco comprimentos (ROHj): 1-2, 2-4, 4-8, 8-16 e > 16 Mb, respectivamente. O FGRM foi calculado a partir da diagonal da matriz de relação genômica (G). Os ROH foram identificados em todos os animais, apresentando um número médio de 55,12±10,37 segmentos por animal e um comprimento médio de 3,17 Mb. Segmentos curtos (ROH1-2 Mb) foram abundantes nos genomas, representando cerca de 60% de todos os segmentos identificados, no entanto, cobriram apenas uma pequena proporção do genoma. Nossos resultados demonstraram que em média 7,01% (175,28 Mb) do genoma dessa população é autozigótico. As estimativas de FPED variaram de 0,000 a 0,327 e as de FROH de 0,001 a 0,201. Correlações baixas a moderadas foram observadas entre as estimativas de FPED-FROH e FGRM-FROH, com valores entre -0,16 e 0,59. As correlações entre FROH de diferentes comprimentos e FPED aumentaram com comprimento dos ROH. ROH compartilhados por mais de 50% das amostras foram classificados como ilhas de ROH. Quatorze ilhas de ROH foram identificadas e diversos genes contidos nessas ilhas foram associados com o teor de gordura do leite (DGAT1, CYP11B, EEF1D, INSIG2 e STAT1), involução da glândula mamária (IGFBP7), lactação (CHR e TRAPPC9) e adaptação ao calor (HSF1). Nossos resultados sugerem que (i) as baixas correlações (r<0.44) entre FPED-FROH para segmentos pequenos indicam que o FPED não é adequado para capturar eventos remotos de endogamia. As correlações moderadas (r>0.44) entre segmentos grandes indica que os níveis de autozigosidade derivados dos ROH podem ser utilizados como uma estimativa acurada dos níveis de endogamia; e (ii) ROH podem ser utilizados para identificar regiões genômicas sob seleção, uma vez que várias regiões compartilhadas estavam associadas com características de leite e adaptação. / Runs of homozygosity (ROH) are continuous homozygous segments that are common in individuals and populations. The ability of these segments to give insight into a population's genetic events makes them a useful tool to provide information about the demographic evolution of a population over time. Additionally, genome-wide information provides valuable information to comprehend the animal’s genome based on ROH, being and accurate tool to maintain diversity and fitness in livestock populations. The aim of this study was (i) to access genome-wide autozygosity to identify and characterize ROH patterns in Gyr dairy cattle genome; (ii) identify ROH islands for gene content and enrichment in segments shared by more than 50% of the samples, and (iii) compare estimates of molecular inbreeding calculated from ROH (FROH), GRM approach (FGRM), and from pedigree-based coefficient (FPED). Gyr dairy animals were genotyped with the BovineHD BeadChip (Illumina Inc., San Diego, CA, USA), that contains 777,962 bialleleic SNPs markers (n=582); the BovineSNP50 BeadChip (Illumina Inc., San Diego, CA, USA), containing 54,609 SNPs (n=1664); and with the GGP-LD Indicus (Geneseek® Genomic Profiler Indicus 30K), that contains 27,533 bialleleic SNPs markers (n=662). All genotypes were imputed to the BovineHD BeadChip (Illumina Inc., San Diego, CA, USA). SNPs unsigned to any chromosome and mapped to sexual chromosomes were removed from the dataset. After editing, 2908 animals and 735,236 SNPs were retained for the analyses. ROH were identified using PLINK v1.07 considering the following parameters: a sliding window of 50 SNPs, the minimum number of consecutive SNPs included in a ROH was 100, the minimum length of a ROH was set to 1 Mb, the maximum gap between consecutive homozygous SNPs was 500 kb, a density of 1 SNP per 50 kb, and a maximum of five SNPs with missing genotypes and up to one heterozygous genotype were allowed in a ROH. FPED was estimated through the software INBUPGF90. For each animal FROH (FROH1-2 Mb, FROH2-4 Mb, FROH4-8 Mb, FROH8-16 Mb, and FROH>16 Mb) was calculated based on ROH distribution of five minimum different lengths (ROHj): 1-2, 2-4, 4-8, 8-16, and >16 Mb, respectively. FGRM was calculated from the diagonal of the genomic relationship matrix (G). ROH were identified in all animals, with an average number of 55.12±10.37 segments and a mean length of 3.17 Mb. Short segments (ROH1-2 Mb) were abundant through the genomes, accounting for 60% of all segments identified, however, they just covered a small proportion of the genome. Our results suggest that on average 7.01% (175.28Mb) of the genome of this population is autozygous. FPED estimates ranged from 0.000 to 0.327 and FROH from 0.001 to 0.201. Low to moderate correlations were observed between FPED-FROH and FGRM-FROH, with values ranging from -0.16 to 0.59. Correlations between FROH from different lengths and FPED increased with ROH length. ROH shared by more than 50% of the samples were chosen as an indication of a possible ROH islands throughout the genome, and 14 regions were identified. Several genes inside those ROH islands were associated with milk fat content (DGAT1, CYP11B, EEF1D, INSIG2, and STAT1), mammary gland involution (IGFBP7), lactation (CHR and TRAPPC9), and heat adaptation (HSF1). Our results suggest that (i) low correlations (r<0.44) between FPED-FROH for small segments indicate that FPED estimates are not the most suitable method to capture ancient inbreeding. Moderate correlations (r>0.44) between larger ROH indicate that the levels of autozygosity derived from ROH can be used as an accurate estimator of individual inbreeding levels, and (ii) ROH might be used to identify genomic regions under selection as several overlapping regions were associated with dairy and adaptive traits.

Submitted by ALEJANDRA MARIA TORO OSPINA null (alejita-t_92@hotmail.com) on 2017-03-18T16:50:07Z No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertação_Alejandra_Toro.pdf: 1073618 bytes, checksum: 4de34349c23cb909c3128081fe41cc42 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Juliano Benedito Ferreira (julianoferreira@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2017-03-22T12:59:36Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 toroospina_am_me_jabo.pdf: 1073618 bytes, checksum: 4de34349c23cb909c3128081fe41cc42 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-03-22T12:59:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 toroospina_am_me_jabo.pdf: 1073618 bytes, checksum: 4de34349c23cb909c3128081fe41cc42 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-24 / O objetivo deste estudo foi estimar o desequilíbrio de ligação (r2) nas distâncias de 25-50kb, 50-100kb, 100-500kb, 0,5-1Mb e o tamanho efetivo (Ne) nas gerações 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 em população da raça Gir selecionada para crescimento pós-desmama. Os animais utilizados no presente estudo foram provenientes do rebanho fechado do Instituto de Zootecnia, Sertãozinho, SP. Foram obtidos os genótipos de 155 animais com o painel BovineDL 33kb e 18 com painel HD imputado onde realizou-se controle de qualidade (CQ) para alelo de menor frequência (MAF) < 0,02 e call rate < 0,1. Depois do CQ permaneceram 27.236 SNPs e 155 animais do painel de 33 kb e 732.962 SNPs e 173 animais do painel HD Imputado. As análises de r2 foram realizadas pelo programa Plink e programa estatístico R Studio e o Ne por meio do DL. Os resultados das distâncias 25-50kb, 50-100kb, 100-500kb e 0,5-1Mb do r2 para o painel 33kb foram iguais a 0,29, 0,25, 0,16 e 0,032 respectivamente, e 0,35, 0,29, 0,18, 0,032 para o painel HD imputado demostrando que o DL permaneceu nas distâncias menores a 100kb, decaindo com o aumento das distâncias. Estes resultados foram maiores aos descritos na literatura para animais zebuínos, sugerindo como causa os segmentos longos de haplótipos que compartilham os animais aparentados. O Ne foi igual a 9, 17, 24, 30 e 30 animais nas gerações 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, observa-se que o Ne é maior na geração 20, com 30 animais, e decai drasticamente a partir da 5 geração com 17 animais, e sendo de 9 animais a última geração, um tamanho pequeno para uma população. Os valores encontrados neste estudo mostram alto DL e baixo Ne, provavelmente pelo sistema de seleção e a estrutura da população da raça Gir avaliada, que apresenta alto nível de endogamia, perda da variabilidade genética, uso intensivo de pequeno número de reprodutores, conduzindo a diminuição da deriva genética da população, ocasionando dificuldades na seleção dos animais. / The aim of this study was to estimate the linkage disequilibrium (r2) at distances of 25-50kb, 50-100kb, 100-500kb, 0,5-1Mb and the effective population size (Ne) in generations 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 in population of the selected Gir for yearling growth. The animals used in this study were from the closed herd Animal Science Institute, Sertãozinho, SP. the genotypes of 155 animals were obtained with BovineDL 33kb and 18 animals of panel HD, where quality control was held (QC) for minor allele frequency (MAF) <0.02 and call rate <0.1. After QC remained 27,236 SNPs and 155 animals to panel 33 kb, 732.962 SNPs and 173 the panel HD imputation. The r2 analyzes were performed by Plink program and R Studio statistical program and Ne through the DL. The results of r2 for distances 25-50kb, 50-100kb, 100-500kb and 0,5-1Mb were equal to 0.29, 0.25, 0.16 and 0.032, respectively, showing that the DL remained in smaller distances 100kb, decreasing with increasing distances. These results were higher than those reported in the literature for Zebu animals, suggesting a cause to long haplotype segments that share the related animals. Ne is equal to 9, 17, 24, 30 and 30 in the generations 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, it is observed that Ne is higher in generation 20 with 30 animals and decays sharply from 5 Generation 17 animals, and with 9 animals the latest generation, small size for a population. The values found in this study to DL and Ne, explain the selection system and the structure of the population of Gir evaluated, which has a high level of inbreeding, loss of genetic variability, intensive small number of players, leading to decreased drift population genetics, causing difficulties in the selection of the next generations.

Orientador: Antonio Ismael Inácio Cardoso / Banca: Noberto da Silva / Banca: Keigo Minami / Resumo: Foram conduzidos dois experimentos na FCA/UNESP, objetivando avaliar a depressão causada por endogamia com sucessivas gerações de autofecundação em uma população de pepino do tipo japonês. No primeiro experimento foram avaliadas características de produção de frutos imaturos no período de 21/08/2002 à 29/11/2002 em ambiente protegido. No segundo experimento foram avaliadas características de produção e qualidade de sementes no período de 12/03/2003 à 13/06/2003 em condições de campo. A partir do intercruzamento entre plantas do híbrido Natsu suzumi foi obtida a geração F2, considerada como população S0. Obtiveram-se progênies S1, S2, S3, S4 e S5, através de autofecundações sucessivas pelo método do SSD ('Single Seed Descent'). Ao partir da mistura ao acaso de sementes de progênies com igual número de autofecundações sucessivas foram obtidas cinco populações denominadas de população S1 a população S5. Foram sete tratamentos (híbrido Natsu suzumi, populações S0 a S5) e o delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso, com seis e quatro repetições no primeiro e segundo experimento, respectivamente e cinco plantas por parcela nos dois experimentos. No primeiro experimento (frutos imaturos) foram avaliados, número de folhas, comprimento da haste principal, número e massa de frutos, total e comercial, número de nós e porcentagem de brotações. No segundo experimento (frutos maduros) avaliaram-se características relacionadas com produção (número e massa de sementes por planta e por fruto) e qualidade de sementes (teste padrão de germinação, primeira contagem de sementes, índice de velocidade de germinação, massa de 100 sementes). Foram realizadas as análises de variância para cada característica, e as médias dos tratamentos foram comparadas pelo teste de Tukey (%). Também foram realizados análises de variância apenas com as seis... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Two experiments were set up at FCA/UNESP. The objective of this work was to evaluate the inbreeding depression with successive generations of self pollination in a cucumber Japanese population. It was studied one population F2 obtained from a commercial hybrid (Natsu suzumi) considered as S0 population. In the first experiment were appraised characteristics of production of immature fruits in the period of 21/08/2002 to 29/11/2002 in protected cultivation. In the second experiment were appraised seed production and quality in the period of 12/03/2003 to 13/06/2003 in open field conditions. It was obtained progenies S1, S2, S3, S4 and S5 through the 'Single Seed Descent' methodology. It was used randomized blocks with seven treatments (different generations of self pollination - S0 to S5 and the hybrid Natsu suzumi) six and four replicates in the first and second experiment and five plants per plot in both. In the first experiment (immature fruits) were evaluated number of leaves, length of the main stem, number and weight of fruits, total and commercial, number of nodes and vines percentage. In the second experiment (mature fruit) characteristic related with production were evaluated (number and weight of seeds per plant and per fruit) and quality of seeds (germination test, first counted of seeds, index of germination speed and weight of 100 seeds). The variance analyses were accomplished each characteristic and the averages of the treatments were compared by the test of Tukey (%). Also accomplished just with the six inbreed generations to evaluate the possible inbreeding depression (without including the commercial hybrid). In the comparison among the population differences were not observed for the characteristics appraised showing there were not production loss for inbreeding in this population. However, for the characteristics length of the main stem, number of total fruit, weight of seeds per fruit and seed number per fruit the commercial. / Mestre

Submitted by Jean Medeiros (jeanletras@uepb.edu.br) on 2016-09-09T14:04:14Z No. of bitstreams: 1 PDF - Thyago da Costa Wanderley.pdf: 1142722 bytes, checksum: 59ab00c2674764fd26b76c4ebc9fe32d (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Secta BC (secta.csu.bc@uepb.edu.br) on 2016-09-09T18:53:59Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 PDF - Thyago da Costa Wanderley.pdf: 1142722 bytes, checksum: 59ab00c2674764fd26b76c4ebc9fe32d (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-09T18:55:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PDF - Thyago da Costa Wanderley.pdf: 1142722 bytes, checksum: 59ab00c2674764fd26b76c4ebc9fe32d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-04-08 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Inbreeding is a tradition in populations of northeastern Brazil and is associated with the manifestation of psychiatric disorders such as anxiety disorders, usually treated with benzodiazepines. In this dissertation, two integrative reviews of the literature on use of psychiatric drugs and benzodiazepines in different populations were performed. From these findings and a pilot study, we developed a structured interview schedule to investigate, in a population of 4,543 inhabitants, if there was a higher prevalence of benzodiazepine users in the offspring of consanguineous couples. The users prevalence within the population was estimated to be 4.2%. Within the benzodiazepine users group (n=151), 107 (70.9%) were children of unrelated couples and 44 (29.1%) were consanguineous, whereas in the non-users group (n=251), these values were 177 (70.6%) and 74 (29.4%), respectively; therefore, a significant difference was not observed between the two groups (p=0.94). The users profile was made of women (70.9%), elderly (43.7%) and retired individuals (52.3%). Insomnia (25.8%), "nervousness" (21.9 %) and anxiety (20.5 %) were the main motivations for early usage of these drugs. The majority (97%) of users does not have a clinical diagnosis report and have used such drugs for 8.2 ± 8 years; and a quarter of them did not have an appointment with a physician in the past twelve months. The dependence was observed in 24.5% of the users and 35% of the elderly use these drugs inappropriately, considering the Beers criteria. In the state of Paraíba, it was estimated that R$30 million per year were used to finance the purchase of these drugs; and the users of this medication have not lost their labor capability. / A endogamia é uma tradição mantida em populações do nordeste brasileiro e está associada à manifestação de distúrbios psiquiátricos como os transtornos de ansiedade, usualmente tratados com benzodiazepínicos. Nesta dissertação, foram realizadas duas revisões integrativas da literatura sobre uso de psicofármacos e benzodiazepínicos em diferentes populações. A partir desses achados e de um estudo-piloto, foi desenvolvido um roteiro de entrevista estruturado para investigar, em uma população de 4.543 habitantes, se havia maior prevalência de usuários de benzodiazepínicos na prole de casais consanguíneos. Estimou-se que 4,2% dessa população eram usuários desses medicamentos; sendo que, neste grupo (n=151), 107 (70,9%) eram filhos de casais não consanguíneos e 44 (29,1%) tinham pais aparentados; já no grupo de não usuários (n=251), esses valores foram 177 (70,6%) e 74 (29,4%), respectivamente; não sendo observada, portanto, diferença significativa entre os dois grupos (p=0,94). O perfil dos usuários era de mulheres (70,9%), idosas (43,7%) e aposentadas (52,3%). A insônia (25,8%), o ―nervosismo‖ (21,9%) e ansiedade (20,5%) foram as principais motivações para o início da utilização desses medicamentos. A maioria (97%) dos usuários não possui laudo com diagnóstico clínico e faz uso crônico com média de utilização de 8,2 ± 8 anos; um quarto deles não realizou nenhuma consulta médica nos últimos doze meses. A dependência foi verificada em 24,5% dos usuários e 35% dos idosos fazem uso impróprio desses medicamentos, considerando o critério Beers. Estimou-se que no Estado da Paraíba, anualmente, sejam investidos trinta milhões de reais para financiar a aquisição desses medicamentos; e que o uso desses medicamentos não está relacionado à perda da capacidade laboral.

The research conducted for this thesis has produced quantitative data on the biology and population genetic structure of the Mulloway Argyrosomus japonicus in Western Australia, where this sciaenid is recreationally and commercially fished. These data were used 1) to test various hypotheses regarding the relationship between key biological characteristics of A. japonicus and both latitude and environmental variables, 2) to investigate the population structure and genetic characteristics of populations of A. japonicus on the west and south coasts of Western Australia and to assess the relationships between these populations and those of A. japonicus in eastern Australia and South Africa, and 3) to consider the implications of the biological and genetic results for management.

Darwin's theory of sexual selection explains the existence of sexual dimorphism, or within-species sex differences in shape, color, size, and behavior. In some cases, sexually dimorphic traits, especially extravagant male ornaments, seem maladaptive and thus in opposition to natural selection. The crux of Darwin's theory was that sexual selection arises from individual differences in reproductive success that result from competition for mates. In this dissertation, I investigated several aspects of sexual selection and the evolution of female mating preferences and male ornaments in the great frigatebird (Fregata minor). Frigatebirds as a group (family Fregatidae) are the most ornamented of any seabirds, and are among the most ornamented of any animal group. Their most prominent ornament is a gular (throat) pouch which becomes red in males during the breeding season, and which is inflated and displayed to females during courtship. Male courtship display also includes a warble vocalization and extension and trembling of the wings. I investigated the following issues concerning sexual selection and ornamentation in great frigatebirds: 1) the source of ornamental coloration in male great frigatebird gular pouches. I determined that this was a carotenoid-based color display; 2) the relationship of male mating success to gular pouch size and coloration. I determined that mating success was not related to the size or color of this ornament; 3) the relationship between male vocal display traits and female preferences. Again, I found no relationship between vocal display traits and female preferences, and finally, 4) the role of a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) locus in female mate choice. The MHC is a highly polymorphic multi-gene family associated with immune defense and has been proposed to play a role in mate choice. I found a significant disassortative mating pattern amongst mated pairs compared to random pairings based on MHC genotypes. In summary, I found no evidence for female mating preferences based on visual or auditory display traits associated with male ornamentation. However, I did find evidence for female mating preferences based on genetic dissimilarity at an MHC locus.

Pollinator visitation patterns should affect pollination success and mating patterns in flowering species. In the orchid family, about one third of the species do not provide any reward for their pollinators. Pollination by deceit is typically associated with low fruit set but may increase the chance of cross-pollination since the pollinator should soon leave the individual plant when there is no reward in the flowers. This may be beneficial if self-fertilisation results in inbreeding depression. I studied the mating patterns of one rewarding and one deceptive orchid in two closely related genera by tracking the fate of stained pollinia. I also conducted controlled crosses to estimate inbreeding depression. The results show that the deceptive orchid Dactylorhiza lapponica has lower pollination success, but higher cross-pollination rate (ca. 90%) than the nectariferous orchid Gymnadenia conopsea (ca. 18% cross-pollination). The results further suggest that in G. conopsea, nocturnal visitors mediate higher geitonogamous pollination rate (ca. 100%) than diurnal visitors (ca. 60%). In both study species, fruits produced from cross-pollination were heavier than fruits produced from selfing. Inbreeding depression for fruit mass did not differ significantly between the two species (δ = 0.21 in D. lapponica and δ = 0.29 in G. conopsea). These data support the hypothesis that pollination by deceit can enhance cross-pollination. A literature study including several rewarding and non-rewarding orchid species indicated lower geitonogamy in the deceptive orchids, but the difference was not statistically significant.

Includes vita. / Title from PDF of title page. / Document formatted into pages; contains 241 pages. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of South Florida, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references. / Text (Electronic thesis) in PDF format. / ABSTRACT: Genetic changes likely occur in wild fish populations as a consequence of interactions with cultured fish, but to what extent do those changes threaten the maintenance of natural genetic diversity and population viability? Following a review and categorization of numerous processes suspected of being agents of post-release genetic change in recipient wild populations (Chapter 1), I focus on risks relating to the magnitude and duration of releases -- but with a twist. That is, I assume that the mean fitness of released, cultured individuals does not differ from that of the recipient natural population. Throughout, attention is devoted to potential post-release changes in inbreeding (NeI) and variance (NeV) effective population sizes -- indicators of expected rates of population-level change in inbreeding and drift variance, respectively. The reductive effect that large-scale releases exert on NeI in recipient populations can be significant. / ABSTRACT: The effect is shown to be a threshold process (Chapter 2) and thus suggestive of an approach for determining risk-adverse stocking (or release) rates. This approach is utilized in Chapter 3, which describes genetic recommendations for an incipient marine stocking program. Several discordant contemporary NeI models are examined mathematically and by computer simulation (Chapter 4). I show that certain published results pertaining to the effect of multiple paternity on NeI are erroneous; a general model is described which accounts for inbreeding and relatedness in and among parents. That model is utilized in an empirical study of gene correlation in a hatchery cohort (Chapter 5). Propagation-related causes of reductions in NeI are also investigated in this cohort. / ABSTRACT: Finally, extending mutational meltdown theory to accommodate fluctuating population sizes and recessive selective effects, I show that when large reductions in NeV occur (such as those that accompany admixtures of cultured and wild fish), the expected time to population inviability is significantly reduced (Chapter 6). Although a more comprehensive theoretical approach is needed, a precautionary inference may be drawn -- aquaculture-induced reductions in Ne, even though they may be transient, can lead to adverse genetic impacts. Avoidance of Ne-reductions cannot be accomplished, in a practical sense, without considering the stocking or release rates of cultured fish. / System requirements: World Wide Web browser and PDF reader. / Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of North Texas, 2002. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on Dec. 9, 2004). Includes bibliographical references (p. 350-356).