The global movement of aquatic non-indigenous species can have severe ecological, environmental and economic impacts emphasizing the need to identify potential invaders and transport pathways. Initial transport is arguably the most important stage of the invasion process owing to its role in selectively determining potential invasion candidates. This study characterizes a well defined human-mediated dispersal mechanism, ballast water transport, as a vector for the introduction of non-indigenous zooplankton. Ballast water exchange in the open ocean is the most widely adopted practice for reducing the threat of aquatic invasions and is mandatory for most foreign vessels intending to release ballast in Canadian waters. Ships entering Canadian ports are categorized into the following three shipping classes based on current regulations: overseas vessels carrying exchanged ballast water, intra-coastal vessels carrying exchanged ballast water or intra-coastal vessels carrying un-exchanged ballast water. This study characterizes zooplankton communities associated with each of these shipping classes sampled from ports on Canada’s Pacific coast, Atlantic coast and the Great Lakes Basin. Ballast water samples were collected and analyzed from 77 vessels between 2006 - 2007. The ballast water environment was found to be diverse, with over 193 zooplankton taxa, 71 of which were non-indigenous to their receiving environments. Intracoastal vessels containing un-exchanged coastal water transported the greatest density of non-indigenous zooplankton into Canadian ports. Total zooplankton density was found to be negatively correlated with ballast water age The absence of mandatory ballast water exchange and the younger ballast water age of coastal un-exchanged vessels is likely responsible for the higher density of non-indigenous zooplankton in intracoastal un-exchanged vessels. Propagule pressure, invasion history and environmental suitability are all useful in evaluating invasion potential and all suggest that intracoastal un-exchanged vessels pose the greatest invasion threat to Canadian aquatic ecosystems. In conclusion, although the risk of primary introductions from overseas ports may have been reduced through open-ocean exchange of ballast water, secondary introductions from previously invaded ports in North America may be the primary threat to Canadian aquatic ecosystems via this transport vector.

Invasive plants pose serious threats to economic, social and environmental interests throughout the world. Developing strategies for their management requires a range of information that is often impractical to collect from ground based surveys. In other cases, such as retrospective analyses of historical invasion rates and patterns, data is rarely, if ever, available from such surveys. Instead, historical archives of remotely sensed imagery provides one of the only existing records, and are used in this research to determine invasion rates and reconstruct invasion patterns of a ca 70 year old exotic mesquite population (Leguminoseae: Prosopis spp.) in the Pilbara Region of Western Australia, thereby helping to identify ways to reduce spread and infill. A model was then developed using this, and other, information to predict which parts of the Pilbara are most a risk. This information can assist in identifying areas requiring the most vigilant intervention and pre-emptive measures. Precise information of the location and areal extent of an invasive species is also crucial for land managers and policy makers for crafting management strategies aimed at control, confinement or eradication of some or all of the population. Therefore, the third component of this research was to develop and test high spectral and spatial resolution airborne imagery as a potential monitoring tool for tracking changes at various intervals and quantifying the effectiveness of management strategies adopted. To this end, high spatial resolution digital multispectral imagery (4 channels, 1 m spatial resolution) and hyperspectral imagery (126 channels, 3 m spatial resolution) was acquired and compared for its potential for distinguishing mesquite from coexisting species and land covers. / These three modules of research are summarised hereafter. To examine the rates and patterns of mesquite invasion through space and time, canopies were extracted from a temporal series of panchromatic aerial photography over an area of 450 ha using unsupervised classification. Non-mesquite trees and shrubs were not discernible from mesquite using this imagery (or technique) and so were masked out using an image acquired prior to invasion. The accuracy of the mesquite extractions were corroborated in the field and found to be high (R2 = 0.98, P<0.001); however, accuracy varied between classes (R2 = 0.55 to 0.95). Additional sampling may be required in some of the wider class intervals, particularly the moderate density class (30 to 90%) as sampling frequency was poor within the range of 60 to 90%. This is a direct result of there being relatively few quadrats available to be randomly selected in this class. That is, quadrats with between 60-90% cover were only evident in 4% of the test area. A more robust approach would, therefore, be to split this class into two (e.g. 30-60% and 60-90%) and select an additional 15 quadrats in the 60-90% range. The resolution of the imagery (1.4 m) precluded mapping shrubs smaller than 3 m2. Rates and patterns were compared to mesquite invasions in its native range. / It was determined that: (i) the shift from grass to mesquite domination had been rapid, with rates of increase in canopy cover comparable to invasive populations where it is native; (ii) rate of patch recruitment was high in all land types (stony flats, red-loamy soils and the riparian zone), but patch expansion and coalescence primarily occurred over the riparian zone and redloamy soils; (iii) mesquite had been spread by sheep and macropods and the recent switch to cattle is likely to exacerbate spread as it is a far more effective dispersal vector; and (iv) early successional patterns, such as high patch initiation followed by coalescence of existing stands are similar to where mesquite is native, but patch mortality did not occur. A knowledge based model was used to predict which parts of the Pilbara region are most at risk. Several limitations of models often employed in predicting suitability ranges of invasive plants were identified and include: (i) an inability to incorporate the notion that within a suitability range there is likely to be a scale of favourability; (ii) an inability to assign greater importance to evidence that is likely to have more importance in defining the areas suitable for invasion; and (iii) an inability to control the level of conservatism in the final results. These three shortcomings were mitigated through the use of: (i) fuzzy membership functions to derive a range of favourability from poor to best; (ii) pairwise comparison to derive higher weights for layers perceived to be more important and vice versa; and (iii) the use of ordered weighted averaging to directly control the level of conservatism (or risk) inherent in the models produced. / Based on the outcomes of the historical reconstruction of spatial rates and patterns, data sources included land types, land use, and the derivation of a steady state wetness index from spot height data. Model outputs were evaluated using two methods: the area under the curves (AUC) produced from relative operating characteristic (ROC) plots and by the maximum Kappa procedure. Both techniques agreed that the model most representative of the validation data was the one assuming the most risk. To create a Boolean output representing areas suitable/not suitable for invasion, optimal cut-points were derived using the point closest to the top left hand corner of the ROC plot and by the maximum Kappa method. Both methods obtained identical cut-points, but it is argued that the coefficient produced by the maximum Kappa method is more easily interpreted. The highest AUC was found to be 0.87 and, based on the maximum Kappa method, can be described as good to very good agreement with the validation records used. Digital multispectral imagery (DMSI), acquired in the visible and near infrared portions of the spectrum (3 visible bands, 1 near infrared) with a spatial resolution of 1 m and hyperspectral imagery (126 bands, 3 m spatial resolution) was acquired to assess the potential of developing a reliable and repeatable mapping tool to facilitate the monitoring of spread and the effects of control efforts. Woody vegetation was extracted from the images using unsupervised classification and grouped into patches based on contiguity. Various statistics (e.g. maximum, minimum, median, mean, standard deviation, majority and variety) were assigned to these patches to garner more information for species separation. / These statistics were explored for their ability to separate mesquite from coexisting species using Tukey’s Honestly Significantly Different (HSD) test and, to reduce redundancy, followed by linear discriminant analysis. Two approaches were taken to select the patch statistics offering the best discrimination. The first approach selected patch statistics that best discriminated all species (named “overall separation”). This was compared to a second approach, which selected the best patch statistics that separated each species from mesquite on a pairwise basis (named “pairwise separation”). The statistics offering the best discrimination were used as input in an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) to assign class labels. An incremental cover evaluation, whereby producer’s accuracy was computed from mesquite patches grouped into various size-classes, showed that identification of mesquite patches smaller than 36 m2 was relatively low (43-51%) regardless of the method used for choosing between the patch statistics or image type. Accuracy improved for patches >36 m2 (66-94%) with both approaches and image types. However, both approaches used on the hyperspectral imagery were more reliable at capturing patches >36 m2 than the DMSI using either approach. The lowest omission and commission rates were obtained using pairwise separation on the hyperspectral imagery, which was significantly more accurate than DMSI using an overall separation approach (Z=2.78, P<0.05), but no significant differences were found between pairwise separation used on either media. / Consequently, all methods and imagery types, except for DMSI processed using overall separation, are capable of accurately mapping mesquite patches >36 m2. However, hyperspectral imagery processed using pairwise separation appears to be superior, even though not statistically different to hyperspectral imagery processed using overall separation or DMSI processed using pairwise separation at the 95% confidence level. Mapping smaller patches may require the use of very high spatial resolution imagery, such as that achievable from unmanned airborne vehicles, coupled with a hyperspectral instrument. Alternatively, management may continue to rely on visual airborne surveys flown at low altitude and speed, which have proven to be capable at mapping small and isolated mesquite shrubs in the study area used in this research.

Estuarine environments are threatened by the synergistic effects of anthropogenic disturbance and bioinvasion. The construction of artificial structures (such as pilings and pontoons) provides a habitat resource in close proximity to vessel hulls that may be carrying a wide range of non-indigenous fouling species. In addition, the release and accumulation of toxicants from antifouling (AF) paints on vessel hulls creates a chemical disturbance that may reduce the invasion resistance of native communities. This thesis examines how shipping-related disturbances affect sessile communities, and in particular what role AF paints and artificial structures play in the invasion of estuaries. Using a series of field-based experiments, I found that copper and tributyltin have the potential to influence both the transport of species to a new region, via the application of AF paints on vessel hulls, and their subsequent establishment, via the accumulation of AF biocides in estuaries. Temperature, pH, salinity and turbidity were also related to species distributions. During subtidal surveys of artificial and natural structures I found more non-indigenous species (NIS) on pilings and pontoons than on rocky reef, and shallow floating structures were identified as hotspots for invaders. These findings suggest that artificial structures play an important role in the initial establishment of sessile non-indigenous species in new regions. A subset of NIS were also present on the reefs sampled during the survey and I conducted manipulative experiments to determine factors affecting the invasibility of turf and canopy-forming algal assemblages. The resident assemblage provided a barrier to most invaders, particularly when light and sedimentation levels were also high (i.e. on horizontal substrate). My results suggest that the areas of reef most susceptible to invasion are vertical rock walls and those subjected to disturbances that release space. In summary, this is the first study to relate copper and tributyltin contamination in the field to NIS distributions. My research has also highlighted the potential role of artificial structures in facilitating the establishment of NIS in estuaries and identified invasion threats to rock wall communities and disturbed reefs in estuarine systems.

Zugl.: Osnabrück, Univ., Diss., 2005

Stuttgart, Univ., Diss., 2002.

Stuttgart, Univ., Diss., 2002.

O presente estudo trata das atitudes morais de atletas juvenis nos Jogos Coletivos de Invasão (JCI): futebol de campo, futsal, basquetebol e handebol. Um dos objetivos desta pesquisa é (a) identificar qual das dimensões atitudinais – empenho, convenção, antidesportivismo ou trapaça – representa as ações mais assumidas declaradamente pelos jovens atletas, de 13 a 16 anos, dos JCI. Os demais objetivos são os seguintes: (b) traduzir e adaptar para a língua portuguesa (Brasil) o Questionário de atitudes no esporte (QAE-23) de Gonçalves et al. (2006); (c) proceder à validade de conteúdo QAE-23; (d) apresentar a ordem hierárquica das dimensões atitudinais, através da análise intrassexo; (e) realizar um estudo comparativo intersexo. Para tanto, foi aplicado o QAE-23. As respostas aos itens do QAE-23 foram dadas conforme uma escala de tipo Likert, bidirecional, graduada em cinco pontos, partindo de “discordo firmemente da declaração” (1) a “concordo firmemente com a declaração” (5). A pesquisa contou com a participação de um grupo de 265 atletas. Para cumprir com o segundo objetivo foram realizadas duas traduções independentes por profissionais da área (inglêsportuguês e português-inglês), que asseguraram a melhor tradução e adaptação do QAE-23 para a língua portuguesa (Brasil). Em seguida, procederam-se os estudos sobre a pertinência e a clareza dos itens do QAE-23, a partir dos dados obtidos nas respostas dos juízesavaliadores. Os resultados dos Coeficientes de validade de conteúdo (CVC), tanto para a pertinência como para a clareza dos itens (entre 0,7 e 0,8 em quatro itens; e superior a 0,8 em 19 itens), asseguraram a validação do conteúdo do QAE-23. Após o cumprimento dessas etapas, o QAE-23 foi submetido às respostas dos 265 atletas para cumprir com os demais objetivos do estudo. As atitudes mais assumidas declaradamente pelos atletas, de maneira geral fazem parte da dimensão empenho, seguida, respectivamente, pela convenção (2º), antidesportivismo (3º), e trapaça (4º). Se considerarmos apenas as respostas dos atletas do sexo masculino, os resultados foram os seguintes: empenho ( X = 23,23); seguido por um par de dimensões indissociáveis estatisticamente, convenção (X = 19,89) e antidesportivismo ( X = 19,11); e trapaça (X = 16,96). Para as atletas do sexo feminino aparecem: convenção ( X = 23,21) e empenho ( X = 22,95), indissociáveis estatisticamente, seguidas pelo antidesportivismo ( X = 17,50) e trapaça ( X = 9,85). A comparação inter-sexo mostrou que a dimensão trapaça está mais evidente no sexo masculino, enquanto que a dimensão convenção está mais evidente no sexo feminino, conforme verificação do valor das médias nos dois grupos. Através dos resultados foi possível concluir que os atletas da referida faixa etária buscam se empenhar ao máximo para obter rendimento durante os treinamentos e competições. Além disso, destaca-se a forma evidente como se expressa a competição no sexo masculino, em razão do destaque dado à dimensão trapaça. Já para as atletas do sexo feminino, a sociabilidade parece ser um aspecto determinante, em razão do destaque dado para as atitudes relacionadas à dimensão convenção. Espera-se que esse estudo possa contribuir para um plano de atividades que priorize o desenvolvimento moral dos atletas. / The present study deals with the moral attitudes of the athletes of the Invasion Collectives’ Games (ICG): soccer, futsal, basketball and handball. One of the aims of the research is (a) to identify wich dimensions of attitude – commitment, convention, gamesmanship or cheating – represents the actions reportedly taken over by young athletes from ICG from 13 to 16 years. The others objectives are: (b) to translate and adapt to Portuguese language (Brasil) the Sports attitudes questionnaire (SAQ-23) from Gonçalves et al. (2006); (c) make the contend validity of QAE-23; (d) present the hierarchical order of the attitudinal dimensions, through the intrasex analysis; (e) realize a inter-sex comparative study. To this end, was applied the (SAQ-23). The answers to the items on QAE-23 were given as a Likert scale, bidirectional, graduated in five points, from “strongly disagree the statement” (1) to “strongly agree with the statement” (5). The research counted with the participation of a group of 265 athletes. To meet the second objective, two independent translations were done by professionals of the area (English/Portuguese and Portuguese/English) wich ensured the best translation and adaptation of QAE-23 for the Portuguese language (Brasil). Then were conducted the studies on pertinence and clarity of the items of QAE-23, from data obtained in the answers of judgesevaluators. The results of the Contend validity coefficients (CVC) for both, the pertinence as to the clarity of the items (between 0,7 and 0,8 on four items, and more than 0,8 in nineteen items), ensured the validation of content of QAE-23. After the accomplishment of these steps, the QAE-23 was submitted to the answers of 265 athletes to comply with the others objectives of the study. The attitudes more reportedly taken by athletes in general are part of the dimension commitment, followed respectively by the convention (2), gamemanship (3) and cheating (4). If we consider only the answers of male athletes, the results were as follows: commitment (23,23), followed by a couple of dimensions that are statistically indissociable, convention (19,89) and gamesmanship (19,11), and cheating (16,96). For female athletes appear: convention (23,21) and commitment (22,95), that are statistically indissociable, followed by gamesmanship (17,50) and cheating (9,85). The inter-sex comparison showed that the dimension cheating is most evident in males, whereas the dimension convention is most evident in females, as verification of the value of the averages in both groups. Through the results it was concluded that the athletes in this age group seek to engage for maximum performance during training and competitions. Furthermore, it highlight the latent form expressed by the competition among males, due to the emphasis on dimension cheating. As for the females athletes, sociability appears to be a crucial aspect, because of the emphasis given to the attitudes toward dimension convention. It is hoped that this study may contribute to an activity plan that give priority to the moral development of young athletes.

Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carr. (eastern hemlock), a long lived and shade tolerant coniferous tree species native to eastern North America, is currently threatened by the hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae Annand, HWA). This exotic, invasive insect poses a serious threat to T. canadensis stands throughout their native range. The loss of this unique tree species is often coupled with numerous ecological consequences. HWA-induced mortality has exceeded 95% in some forest types, and will likely continue to decimate T. canadensis populations in the coming years. Shortly after HWA was found in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP), long-term monitoring plots were established across a gradient of T. canadensis associated forest communities to monitor HWA impacts and stand decline. Our objectives were to (1) determine how T. canadensis populations have changed in conjunction with HWA infestation, and (2) document how HWA has affected vegetative community dynamics following five to six years of infestation in GSMNP. We assessed T. canadensis associated overstory communities and determined that crown density, top dieback, and T. canadensis stem density has significantly declined over the observational period. Furthermore, we found that midstory T. canadensis trees were experiencing greater rates of decline than those of the overstory. Even with these losses, overstory and midstory community composition did not significantly change from 2003 to 2008/09. Many studies have documented rapid pulses of understory vegetative productivity in conjunction with T. canadensis defoliation, which often allows increased amounts of solar radiation to reach the forest floor. Although we observed significant T. canadensis mortality at most plots sampled, understory species composition did not significantly change following HWA infestation. We attribute this lack of species response to the overwhelming abundance of Rhododendron maximum in the mid/understory, which restricts increased light from reaching the forest floor despite the formation of small overstory gaps. However, we found that understory composition significantly varied among ecological groupings, and differences were largely associated with soil properties and elevation. Overall, results of this project suggest that T. canadensis may largely disappear from southern Appalachian forests resulting from infestations of HWA. Although community composition of T. canadensis associated stands has not yet been altered, changes are likely to occur as duration of infestation progresses.

The development of more efficient therapeutic strategies in the treatment of breast cancer relies on understanding the biological events that promote its progression. Protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) are enzymes that catalyze the methylation of arginine residues within proteins resulting in changes in several biological processes. PRMTs have been shown to be aberrantly expressed in many cancers and promote tumourigenesis and cancer progression. Specifically, PRMT7 mRNA expression correlates with breast cancer aggressiveness and invasiveness. Thus, we sought to determine whether PRMT7 promotes breast cancer progression/tumourigenesis and to further identify the functional mechanisms through which this is possible. We have shown that PRMT7 is upregulated in both breast cancer tissues and cell lines. Moreover, we have shown both in vitro and in vivo that PRMT7 enhances breast cancer cell invasion and metastasis. Using biochemical experimentation, we demonstrated that PRMT7 induces the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 9 to promote invasion and subsequent metastasis. Furthermore, using proteomic experiments, we discovered many novel PRMT7-interacting proteins. Further biochemical experimentation identified eukaryotic translation initiation factor eIF2α as an interacting protein and substrate of PRMT7. We demonstrated a regulatory interplay between eIF2α methylation and phosphorylation upon cellular stress: methylation is required for S51 phosphorylation. Accordingly, we have shown that stress granule formation, in the face of cellular stresses, was significantly diminished in PRMT7-knockdown cells. We additionally found that PRMT7 plays a regulatory role in protein translation. Overall, these findings suggest that PRMT7 plays a critical role in promoting breast cancer cell invasion, metastasis, stress regulation, and protein translation.

O presente estudo trata das atitudes morais de atletas juvenis nos Jogos Coletivos de Invasão (JCI): futebol de campo, futsal, basquetebol e handebol. Um dos objetivos desta pesquisa é (a) identificar qual das dimensões atitudinais – empenho, convenção, antidesportivismo ou trapaça – representa as ações mais assumidas declaradamente pelos jovens atletas, de 13 a 16 anos, dos JCI. Os demais objetivos são os seguintes: (b) traduzir e adaptar para a língua portuguesa (Brasil) o Questionário de atitudes no esporte (QAE-23) de Gonçalves et al. (2006); (c) proceder à validade de conteúdo QAE-23; (d) apresentar a ordem hierárquica das dimensões atitudinais, através da análise intrassexo; (e) realizar um estudo comparativo intersexo. Para tanto, foi aplicado o QAE-23. As respostas aos itens do QAE-23 foram dadas conforme uma escala de tipo Likert, bidirecional, graduada em cinco pontos, partindo de “discordo firmemente da declaração” (1) a “concordo firmemente com a declaração” (5). A pesquisa contou com a participação de um grupo de 265 atletas. Para cumprir com o segundo objetivo foram realizadas duas traduções independentes por profissionais da área (inglêsportuguês e português-inglês), que asseguraram a melhor tradução e adaptação do QAE-23 para a língua portuguesa (Brasil). Em seguida, procederam-se os estudos sobre a pertinência e a clareza dos itens do QAE-23, a partir dos dados obtidos nas respostas dos juízesavaliadores. Os resultados dos Coeficientes de validade de conteúdo (CVC), tanto para a pertinência como para a clareza dos itens (entre 0,7 e 0,8 em quatro itens; e superior a 0,8 em 19 itens), asseguraram a validação do conteúdo do QAE-23. Após o cumprimento dessas etapas, o QAE-23 foi submetido às respostas dos 265 atletas para cumprir com os demais objetivos do estudo. As atitudes mais assumidas declaradamente pelos atletas, de maneira geral fazem parte da dimensão empenho, seguida, respectivamente, pela convenção (2º), antidesportivismo (3º), e trapaça (4º). Se considerarmos apenas as respostas dos atletas do sexo masculino, os resultados foram os seguintes: empenho ( X = 23,23); seguido por um par de dimensões indissociáveis estatisticamente, convenção (X = 19,89) e antidesportivismo ( X = 19,11); e trapaça (X = 16,96). Para as atletas do sexo feminino aparecem: convenção ( X = 23,21) e empenho ( X = 22,95), indissociáveis estatisticamente, seguidas pelo antidesportivismo ( X = 17,50) e trapaça ( X = 9,85). A comparação inter-sexo mostrou que a dimensão trapaça está mais evidente no sexo masculino, enquanto que a dimensão convenção está mais evidente no sexo feminino, conforme verificação do valor das médias nos dois grupos. Através dos resultados foi possível concluir que os atletas da referida faixa etária buscam se empenhar ao máximo para obter rendimento durante os treinamentos e competições. Além disso, destaca-se a forma evidente como se expressa a competição no sexo masculino, em razão do destaque dado à dimensão trapaça. Já para as atletas do sexo feminino, a sociabilidade parece ser um aspecto determinante, em razão do destaque dado para as atitudes relacionadas à dimensão convenção. Espera-se que esse estudo possa contribuir para um plano de atividades que priorize o desenvolvimento moral dos atletas. / The present study deals with the moral attitudes of the athletes of the Invasion Collectives’ Games (ICG): soccer, futsal, basketball and handball. One of the aims of the research is (a) to identify wich dimensions of attitude – commitment, convention, gamesmanship or cheating – represents the actions reportedly taken over by young athletes from ICG from 13 to 16 years. The others objectives are: (b) to translate and adapt to Portuguese language (Brasil) the Sports attitudes questionnaire (SAQ-23) from Gonçalves et al. (2006); (c) make the contend validity of QAE-23; (d) present the hierarchical order of the attitudinal dimensions, through the intrasex analysis; (e) realize a inter-sex comparative study. To this end, was applied the (SAQ-23). The answers to the items on QAE-23 were given as a Likert scale, bidirectional, graduated in five points, from “strongly disagree the statement” (1) to “strongly agree with the statement” (5). The research counted with the participation of a group of 265 athletes. To meet the second objective, two independent translations were done by professionals of the area (English/Portuguese and Portuguese/English) wich ensured the best translation and adaptation of QAE-23 for the Portuguese language (Brasil). Then were conducted the studies on pertinence and clarity of the items of QAE-23, from data obtained in the answers of judgesevaluators. The results of the Contend validity coefficients (CVC) for both, the pertinence as to the clarity of the items (between 0,7 and 0,8 on four items, and more than 0,8 in nineteen items), ensured the validation of content of QAE-23. After the accomplishment of these steps, the QAE-23 was submitted to the answers of 265 athletes to comply with the others objectives of the study. The attitudes more reportedly taken by athletes in general are part of the dimension commitment, followed respectively by the convention (2), gamemanship (3) and cheating (4). If we consider only the answers of male athletes, the results were as follows: commitment (23,23), followed by a couple of dimensions that are statistically indissociable, convention (19,89) and gamesmanship (19,11), and cheating (16,96). For female athletes appear: convention (23,21) and commitment (22,95), that are statistically indissociable, followed by gamesmanship (17,50) and cheating (9,85). The inter-sex comparison showed that the dimension cheating is most evident in males, whereas the dimension convention is most evident in females, as verification of the value of the averages in both groups. Through the results it was concluded that the athletes in this age group seek to engage for maximum performance during training and competitions. Furthermore, it highlight the latent form expressed by the competition among males, due to the emphasis on dimension cheating. As for the females athletes, sociability appears to be a crucial aspect, because of the emphasis given to the attitudes toward dimension convention. It is hoped that this study may contribute to an activity plan that give priority to the moral development of young athletes.