O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar os hábitats bênticos do Banco de Abrolhos e comparar dois tipos de recife no local: rasos e mesofóticos. Foram feitas filmagens com um ROV em 20 estações ao redor do Banco para um estudo em mesoescala. Para a comparação dos recifes, foram feitas filmagens nos recifes rasos de Sebastião Gomes e Parcel dos Abrolhos e na área mesofótica de Itacolomis. As imagens foram analisadas através do programa CPCe®. Foram calculadas a abundância total das espécies por área e por estação e os índices de diversidade e equitabilidade. As estações foram comparadas através do cálculo da similaridade de Bray Curtis e de uma análise fatorial de correspondência (AFC). Nas estações ao redor do Banco foi constatado uma extensa área de rodolitos na parte externa e áreas de fundo inconsolidado na região mais interna. Os bancos de rodolito ocorreram sempre em profundidades maiores que 30 metros. Nos recifes rasos houve uma dominância de macroalgas (ca. 23%), octocorais (ca. 16%) e zoantídeos (ca. 14%), sendo sempre mais diversos que os bancos de rodolitos. O recife mesofótico de Itacolomis teve cobertura predominantemente rodolítica (ca. 48%). Dentre os outros organismos encontrados, os mais abundantes foram macroalgas (ca. 17%) e esponjas (ca. 4%). Abrolhos é o ecossistema mais rico do Atlântico Sul e se encontra severamente ameaçado. Pouco se conhece ainda sobre seu funcionamento e sobre suas áreas mais profundas. Estudos como este são necessários para entender e conservar o Banco de Abrolhos. / The benthic habitats of Abrolhos Bank were characterized and two kind of reefs were compared: shallow and mesophotic. Video footage was taken in 20 sites on the Bank using an ROV. Other footages were taken on the shallow reefs Sebastião Gomes and Parcel dos Abrolhos and at the mesophotic Itacolomis to make the comparison. Still images from videos were analyzed using the CPCe® program. We calculated the total abundance, diversity and equitability of epibenthic species. We also compared the sites using the similarity index of Bray Curtis and a correspondence analysis (CFA). Large rhodolith beds were found on the Bank edges, with inner sites composed mainly by soft bottoms. Rhodolith beds were always found at depths greater than 30 meters. At the shallow reefs macroalgae (ca. 23%), octocorals (ca. 16%) and zoanthids (ca. 14%) dominated. These sites presented higher epibenthic diversity than rhodolith beds. Rhodoliths dominated in the mesophotic area of Itacolomis reef with ca. 48% coverage. Other abundant organisms were macroalgae (ca. 17%) and sponges (ca. 4%). Abrolhos is the richest ecosystem in the South Atlantic ocean and it is severely threatened. There is still little information available, specially for the deeper zone. More researches like the one presented herein are very important and necessary to understand and conserve Abrolhos Bank.

Os recifes de coral estão entre os ambientes marinhos mais produtivos e ricos em biodiversidade. Esta biodiversidade está em parte associada a complexas estruturas formadas por corais escleractíneos. Apesar da importância ecológica, social e econômica dos recifes de corais, eles são expostos a várias ameaças relacionadas às atividades humanas. Dentre os impactos antrópicos em recifes, o branqueamento, ou perda de zooxantelas, é o mais notável e é diretamente relacionado à mortalidade dos corais. Por possuírem uma associação simbiótica com essas zooxantelas, alguns corais escleractíneos são considerados mixotróficos, caracterizados por modos de alimentação autotrófico (através de simbiose com o dinoflagelado Symbiodinium) e heterotrófico (predação sobre zooplâncton). Alguns estudos comprovam que corais com maior capacidade de alimentação heterotrófica são mais resistentes ao branqueamento e, consequentemente, às alterações climáticas. A fim de analisar se o coral escleractíneo Mussismilia hispida, é capaz de alternar seu modo nutricional entre predominante autotrófico e predominante heterotróficos, dezoito colônias foram amostradas ao longo de um ano. Marcadores Tróficos de Ácidos Graxos (FATM, na sigla em inglês) foram utilizados para determinar a fonte nutricional de carbono em tecido de corais. A concentração de células de Symbiodinium e a temperatura local também foram avaliadas. Branqueamento foi observado nos meses mais quentes do ano, quando a concentração de Symbiodinium diminuiu, voltando a aumentar nos meses mais frios. O marcador para dieta heterotrófica CGA (C20: 1ω9) foi encontrado em amostras de zooplâncton de toda a área de estudo. Em laboratório, colônias sem acesso a zooplâncton apresentaram perda significativa deste marcador após 10 dias. Amostras de colônias naturalmente branqueadas não apresentaram nenhum vestígio dos marcadores de autotrofia SDA (18: 4ω3) e DPA (22: 5ω3), mas continham tanto CGA e DHA (22: 6ω3). Isso confirmou que SDA e DPA são marcadores autotróficos viáveis e CGA é um marcador de heterotrofia. FATM relacionados com autotrofia apresentaram padrão semelhante ao observado para as concentrações de Symbiodinium e foram positivamente correlacionados com a densidade numérica de simbiontes e negativamente com a temperatura. Para explorar os dados de concentração dos FATM, o Índice Trófico de Corais foi desenvolvido para exibir as alternâncias entre modos nutricionais. Mussismilia hispida de fato alterna entre predominância de modo nutritivo ao longo do ano, sendo mais heterotrófica em períodos mais quentes e em condições climáticas adversas, porem na maior parte do ano é predominantemente autotrófica. A validação dos ácidos graxos marcadores tróficos específicos como referência para autotrofia e heterotrofia em corais abre perspectivas para novos estudos em ecologia trófica bêntica em recifes de coral. Este trabalho também inclui o primeiro monitoramento de um ano do comportamento alimentar em um coral hermatípico no Atlântico Sul e o acompanhamento de um evento de branqueamento. / Coral reefs are among the most productive and biodiverse marine environments. This remarkable biodiversity is partly associated to the complex structures formed by scleractinian corals. Despite the ecological, social and economic importance of coral reefs, they are constantly exposed to several threats mainly related to human activities. Climate changes are one of the most notable impacts of human activity related to coral mortality, mainly due to coral bleaching. Some scleractinian corals are proved to be mixotrophs, displaying both autotrophic (through Symbiodinium) and heterotrophic (predation on zooplankton) nutrition modes. Many studies emphasize that corals with greater capability of heterotrophic feeding are more resilient to bleaching and consequently to climate change. In order to analyze whether the endemic scleractinian coral Mussismilia hispida is capable of shifting from predominant autotrophic and predominant heterotrophic in Ubatuba-SP, 18 colonies were sampled monthly for 12 months. The Fatty Acid Trophic Markers (FATM) approach was used to determine the source of carbon on coral tissues. Symbiodinium cell density and local seawater temperature were also assessed. A mild bleaching was observed showing a decrease in Symbiodinium numerical density during warmer months, but increasing in colder months. Reference samples validated the relation between all selected FATM and its corresponding nutritional mode. The heterotrophic feeding marker CGA (C20:1ω9) was found in zooplankton samples collected throughout the study area. Laboratory starved colonies (no access to zooplankton) lost any trace of this marker after 10. Samples from naturally bleached colonies presented no traces of the autotrophic feeding markers SDA (18:4ω3) and DPA (22:5ω3), but contained both CGA (C20:1ω9) and DHA (22:6ω3). These results confirmed that the FATM analyzed where reliable trophic markers. Autotrophic FATM presented a pattern similar to that observed for Symbiodinium concentration in M. hispida tissues and were positively correlated with the symbiont and negatively with temperature. The Coral Trophic Index showed that M. hispida undergoes shifts in nutritional modes along the year, being more heterotrophic in adverse conditions. The validation of specific FATM as proxies for autotrophic and heterotrophic feeding in corals opens new perspectives for further studies in benthic trophic ecology in coral reefs. This work also presents the first yearlong monitoring of the feeding behavior in a hermatypic coral in the South Atlantic and the monitoring of a mild bleaching event.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / Na realidade Fortalezense as escolas pÃblicas nÃo oferecem prÃticas musicais coletivas na sua grade curricular, fazendo do Canto Coral um espaÃo informal de educaÃÃo humana musical atravÃs da vivencia estÃtica proporcionada pelo canto coletivo, inclusive para pessoas com problemas de afinaÃÃo. Por isso a presente pesquisa visa identificar as prÃticas educativas musicais e humanas desenvolvidas pelo regente educador dentro da prÃtica coral. Pesquisou-se em Moraes (1993, 2007), Zander (2008), Mathias (1986), Matos (2008), Garretson (1998), Amato (2007), Figueiredo (1999,2006), Kerr (2006), Sobreira (2002,2003), Bellochio (2008), Forcussi (1985) dentre outros, a fundamentaÃÃo teÃrica para esse trabalho. Com interesse no estudo do processo de preparaÃÃo vocal e musical desenvolveremos uma pesquisa qualitativa focada num estudo de caso no Coral da ADUFC que detÃm as caracterÃsticas relevantes para a atual pesquisa. Identificou-se prÃticas de formaÃÃo humana que acontecem em conjunto com prÃticas de formaÃÃo musical perpassando momentos de preparaÃÃo vocal e corporal com utilizaÃÃo de instrumento harmÃnico (violÃo e teclado), ensino de mÃsica vinculado à memorizaÃÃo de um repertÃrio selecionado a partir de uma proposta didÃtica e prÃticas metodolÃgicas visando a superaÃÃo de problemas de afinaÃÃo. Foi observado que o ensaio, assim como a performance no coral estudado, foi utilizado como um ambiente de ensino musical e exercÃcio de valores humanos por meio de intensa interaÃÃo interpessoal e superaÃÃes pessoais / The reality of Fortalezaâs public schools do not offer collective musical practices in their curriculum, making the Choral an informal space of human and musical education through aesthetic experiences provided by the collective singing, even for people with adjustment singing problems. Therefore this research aims to identify the musical and human educational practices developed by educator conductor within the choir practice. Researched Moraes (1993, 2007), Zander (2008), Mathias (1986), Matos (2008), Garretson (1998), Amato (2007), Figueiredo (1999.2006), Kerr (2006), Sobreira (2002, 2003), Bellochio (2008), Forcussi (1985) among others, the theoretical foundation for this work. With interest in the study of vocal and musical preparation process will develop a qualitative research focused on a case study in ADUFCâs Choral which holds the relevant characteristics for the current research. It was identified practices of human development taking place in conjunction with musical training practices permeating moments of vocal and body preparation with the use of harmonic instrument (guitar and keyboard), music education linked to the memory of a selected repertoire from a didactic proposal and methodological practices to overcome tuning problems. It was noted that the test, as well as in the studied choral performance, was used as a music teaching environment and exercise human values through personal and interpersonal interaction intense overshoot

Chui, Pui Yi. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 133-149). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract (English) --- p.i / Abstract (Chinese) --- p.v / Acknowledgements --- p.vii / Contents --- p.viii / List of Tables --- p.xi / List of Figures --- p.xii / Chapter Chapter 1 --- General Introduction and Thesis Outline --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Coral reefs and conservation --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Reproduction in scleractinian corals --- p.3 / Chapter 1.1.2.1 --- Sexual reproductive pattern --- p.3 / Chapter 1.1.2.2 --- Overview of coral spawning patterns --- p.5 / Chapter 1.1.2.3 --- Environmental factors regulating coral reproduction --- p.7 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- Coral recruitment --- p.9 / Chapter 1.2 --- Coral Communities in Hong Kong --- p.12 / Chapter 1.3 --- Objectives --- p.13 / Chapter 1.4 --- Study Sites- Tung Ping Chau Marine Park --- p.14 / Chapter 1.5 --- Thesis outline --- p.15 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- "Spawning of Scleractinian Corals in Hong Kong, Larval Culture and Development" --- p.20 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.20 / Chapter 2.2 --- Methods and Materials --- p.22 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Site description --- p.22 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Spawning observation --- p.23 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- "Target coral species, Platygyra acuta" --- p.23 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Coral gamete collection --- p.24 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Fertilization and larval rearing --- p.26 / Chapter 2.2.6 --- Embryonic development of Platygyra acuta larvae --- p.28 / Chapter 2.2.7 --- Induced settlement of coral larvae --- p.29 / Chapter 2.2.8 --- Environmental cues that triggered the spawning events --- p.30 / Chapter 2.3 --- Results --- p.31 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Spawning observation --- p.31 / Chapter 2.3.1.1 --- May 2009 --- p.32 / Chapter 2.3.1.2 --- May- Early June 2010 --- p.33 / Chapter 2.3.1.3 --- Late June 2010 --- p.36 / Chapter 2.3.1.4 --- July 2010 --- p.38 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Fertilization and Platygyra acuta larval rearing --- p.38 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Embryonic development of Platygyra acuta larvae --- p.39 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- Induced settlement --- p.40 / Chapter 2.4 --- Discussion --- p.40 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Spawning observation --- p.40 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Embryonic development of Platygyra acuta --- p.43 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- Environmental cues --- p.44 / Chapter 2.4.4 --- "Fertilization, larval rearing and induced settlement" --- p.46 / Chapter 2.5 --- Summary --- p.46 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- "Recruitment Patterns of Scleractinian Corals in Tung Ping Chau Marine Park, Hong Kong" --- p.70 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.70 / Chapter 3.2 --- Methods and Materials --- p.74 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Site description --- p.74 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Settlement and survival of coral recruits --- p.74 / Chapter 3.2.2.1 --- Settlement tiles --- p.74 / Chapter 3.2.2.2 --- Concrete blocks --- p.77 / Chapter 3.2.2.3 --- Fouling organisms on settlement tiles --- p.77 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Environmental parameters --- p.78 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Post-settlement survival of artificially seeded coral recruits of Platygyra acuta --- p.78 / Chapter 3.2.5 --- Effect of gastropod exclusion on post-settlement survival of coral recruits --- p.79 / Chapter 3.2.6 --- Data analysis --- p.81 / Chapter 3.3 --- Results --- p.82 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Coral recruitment on settlement tiles --- p.82 / Chapter 3.3.1.1 --- Total settlement --- p.82 / Chapter 3.3.1.2 --- Spatial and temporal patterns of coral recruitment --- p.83 / Chapter 3.3.1.3 --- Growth and health of coral recruit --- p.84 / Chapter 3.3.1.4 --- Competition with other fouling organisms --- p.85 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Coral recruitment on concrete blocks --- p.88 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Environmental parameters --- p.89 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- Post-settlement survival of artificially seeded coral recruits of Platygyra acuta --- p.91 / Chapter 3.3.5 --- Effects of gastropod of exclusion on post-settlement survival of coral recruits --- p.92 / Chapter 3.4 --- Discussion --- p.93 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Coral settlement --- p.93 / Chapter 3.4.1.1 --- Low settlement rate of corals --- p.94 / Chapter 3.4.1.2 --- Possible cause of low coral settlement --- p.96 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Post-settlement survival of coral recruits --- p.100 / Chapter 3.4.2.1 --- Effect of high sedimentation rate --- p.100 / Chapter 3.4.2.2 --- Competition and predation by other marine organisms --- p.101 / Chapter 3.5 --- Summary --- p.104 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Summary and Perspectives --- p.126 / References --- p.133

This thesis is encompasses the design, construction, control and testing of an improvement upon the novel soft robotic Jennifish platform. The advancement of this platform includes the addition of light and depth sensors as well increasing the separation of tentacle groups from two to three sets. The final vehicle model consists nine PneuNetstyle actuators divided into three groups of three, molded around a machined Delrin pressure vessel. With a 12V submersible impellor pump connected to each actuator grouping, propulsion is created by the filling and emptying of these tentacles with surrounding ambient water. The Jellyfish2.0 is capable of omnidirectional lateral movement as well as upward driven motion. The vehicle also has a temperature sensor and IMU as did the previous of this platform. Qualitative free-swimming testing was conducted, recorded and analyzed as well as quantitative inline load cell testing, to create a benchmark for comparison with other jellyfish like robots. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2019. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Coral reefs are biologically and economically important ecosystems underpinned by corals that are able to flourish in oligotrophic waters due to their mutualistic association with dinoflagellate symbionts (genus Symbiodinium). Symbiodinium are strictly intracellular, residing within the gastrodermal tissues of the coral host, and contributing the majority of the coral’s energy requirements. Coral reefs are in rapid decline due to a range of threats such as local human influences, bleaching (loss of Symbiodnium and/or reduction of pigment), disease and ocean acidification, to which links to climate change have been made. The close association of corals and a diverse community of microbes led to development of the coral holobiont hypothesis, in which a range of microorganisms (e.g Bacteria) form a functionally-relevant mutualistic relationship with corals and Symbiodinium. This thesis aimed to fill knowledge gaps in the coral holobiont hypothesis and the host-microbe interactions within this system, including pathogen interactions and coral immune system functioning. This thesis revealed that host-microbe interactions in corals are complex, and that the underlying mechanisms of immunity and symbiosis may be similar. The findings corroborate the idea that corals maintain specific bacterial communities that have potential probiotic and nutritional value. In particular, a group of common coral associates were identified, and it is suggested that members of this group are globally occurring key associates. Corals affected by a disease previously described as “White Syndrome” were observed to undergo pronounced changes in their microbial community structure in comparison to healthy colonies. However, in contrast to previous findings, no single pathogen could be identified as the causative agent of the disease syndrome, and it is speculated that corals experiencing altered health status result in a breakdown of the resident associated microbial community structure. Culturable bacterial isolates from corals were shown to affect the growth of each other and in particular some species had great inhibitory properties. Hence, the presence of some bacterial species has the potential to influence the all over structure of the coral associated microbial community. It was also shown that changed environmental conditions may alter the growth conditions for coral associated bacteria in mucus. It is suggested that increased replication is needed in studies of bacterial assemblages on corals, as variability between coral species and sites were observed. In addition, studies of the role of coral microbial communities in health and disease should broaden their focus to more thoroughly consider the role of the coral holobiont, especially with regards to the coral host. This thesis identified the first functional Pattern Recognition Protein (PRP), a C-type lectin named Millectin, in scleractinian corals. Millectin was isolated by affinity chromatography and was shown to bind to bacterial pathogens as well as coral Symbiodinium symbionts. Gene expression of Millectin was upregulated in response to immune stimuli and the lectin was further abundantly expressed in the tissues of corals, suggesting a major role for this protein in system functioning and immunity. Further research into Millectin and a complement factor C3 homolog suggested that these molecules may have been co-opted into the equally important role of symbiont recruitment. Gene expression analysis of C3 also indicated this molecule may be involved in responses to tissue trauma. Millectin shows variability in the binding region, and hence, is the earliest evolutionary representative to date of a variable PRP. This finding, and the observed ancestral relation with vertebrate homologs, provided further information on the evolution of the innate immune system and gives further insight into invertebrate immunity.

Understanding the dynamics of open marine populations is difficult. Ecological processes may vary with the spatial structure of the habitat, and this variation may subsequently affect demographic rates. In a series of observational and experimental studies in the Bahamas, I examined the roles of emigration, mortality, and predation in the local population dynamics of juvenile coral-reef fishes. First, I documented mortality and emigration rates in populations of bluehead and yellowhead wrasse. Assuming that all losses were due solely to mortality would have significantly underestimated survivorship for both species on patch reefs, and for yellowheads on continuous reefs. Mortality differed between species, but emigration did not differ between species or reef types. Mortality of blueheads was density-dependent with respect to both conspecific density and total wrasse density on continuous reefs. In contrast, mortality of yellowheads varied inversely with the density of blueheads on patch reefs. Emigration rates varied inversely with distance to the nearest reef inhabited by conspecifics. In subsequent experiments, I manipulated densities of yellowhead wrasse and beaugregory damselfish, and determined that the relationship between density and mortality varied with reef spatial structure. On natural reefs, mortality rates of the wrasse were highly variable among reefs. On artificial reefs, mortality rates of both species were density-dependent on spatially isolated reefs, yet high and density-independent on aggregated reefs. Heterogeneity in the spatial structure of natural reefs likely caused variation in predation risk that resulted in high variability in mortality rates compared to artificial reefs. A final experiment demonstrated that a single resident predator caused substantial mortality of the damselfish, regardless of reef spacing. Patterns suggested that resident predators caused density-dependent mortality in their prey through a type 3 functional response on all reefs, but on aggregated reefs this density dependence was overwhelmed by high, density-independent mortality caused by transient predators. These results (1) suggest post-settlement movement should be better documented in reef-fish experiments, (2) demonstrate that the role of early post-settlement processes, such as predation, can be modified by the spatial structure of the habitat, and (3) have ramifications for the implementation of marine reserves. / Graduation date: 2004

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2001. / Heading on microfiche: Grossman, Eric Edward. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 238-257). Also available on microfiche.

Chromatographic separation of methylene chloride extracts of Formosan soft coral Lemnalia cervicorni May (collected at Green Island off Taiwan) led to the isolation of four ylangene sesquiterpenoids, GN40-29 (1), GN40-79 (3), GN40-169 (4), and GN40-173 (5). Acetylation of GN40-29 (1) gave a derivative GN40-29a (2). Compounds 3-5 were new compounds. Compound 1 showed cytotoxicity against HT-29 cell, while compound 5 was cytotoxic to P-388 cells. The methylene chloride extracts of Formosan soft coral Dendronephthya spinifera Holm (collected at Green Island off Taiwan) were found to contain a new cadinene sesquiterpene, GN43-4 (6).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 173-201). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.