Lionfish (Pterois spp.), an invasive species native to the Indo-Pacific, have permanently established themselves throughout the greater Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and regions of the Western Atlantic ranging from as far north as North Carolina to central Brazil. As their fundamental range expands, lionfish threaten to migrate into estuarine environments as they have been found to tolerate low salinities and an eclectic range of temperatures. The physiological capacity of invasion was assessed by quantifying the visual ecology of lionfish utilizing corneal electroretinography (ERG) as well as their metabolic scope and hypoxia tolerances under various temperature-oxygen-regimes utilizing intermittent-flow respirometry. Seasonal changes in temperature-dissolved oxygen levels consistent with Atlantic/Gulf of Mexico inshore estuaries not only exceed the physiological tolerances of lionfish, but also constrain metabolic scope at sub-lethal levels by significantly limiting maximum metabolic rate across all temperatures. Median Scrit values were 33%, 39%, 46%, and 54% at 15, 20, 25, and 30℃ respectively. Luminous sensitivities, temporal resolutions (Flicker fusion frequency), and spectral sensitivities scaled similarly with other estuarine piscivores indicating lionfish possess a visual system that can function effectively within estuarine photic conditions. Overall, visual characteristics of estuaries will not pose as a significant barrier to lionfish, but minimum winter temperatures and hypoxia will pose controlling and limiting factors substantially preventing further inshore invasion. However, caution should still be advised as lionfish may capitalize on specific temporal and spatial scales that provide suitable habitat quality and abundance of prey items. Further insight is needed to forecast the effects of temperature-dissolved oxygen on lionfish metabolic-scope.

The benefits of an active lifestyle are undisputed, yet our understanding of the contribution of physical activity (PA) to the daily energy budget is limited. The prevailing model of a linear relationship between PA and total energy expenditure (TEE) has been challenged by models that predict an upper limit of TEE (constrained) or a compensatory decrease elsewhere in the budget in response to increased PA (compensated). The purpose of this study was to determine the equation of best fit between PA and TEE using linear and non-linear modeling in the light of existing models. Secondarily, we sought to explore relationships between PA and postulated means of behavioral (time sedentary) and physiologic (i.e. Immune, reproductive) compensation. We measured TEE in 57 healthy weight stable adults (18 to 58 yrs., F = 28) who ranged from being sedentary to ultra-endurance trained runners (0 to 78 mi/wk.) using the doubly labeled water technique and PA and sedentary time using a waist mounted triaxial accelerometer during the same 14-day period. We obtained fasting serum (albumin, cortisol, TNFα, C-reactive protein, free testosterone, TSH and T3), plasma (leptin) and whole blood (WBC with differential) concentrations. Using linear and non-linear modeling, we observed a positive linear relationship between PA (Vector Magnitude Counts per Minute ) and TEE (R2=0.313, Y = 1.427*X + 1930 and adjusted for fat free mass (FFM) R2=0.363, Y = 1.151*X + 2155). We identified no association between PA and RMR ( R2=0.015 and adjusted for FFM R2=0.010). In addition, we observed an association between higher PA and lower % time sedentary (R2=0.723). Although inconsistent, there was a general trend for higher PA but not TEE or its components to be associated with lower immune and reproductive biomarkers. These findings support a conventional linear model though intervention studies will be needed to further address this issue. / Doctor of Philosophy / The health benefits of being physically active are well known. At the same time there is much that is not understood about the relationship between physical activity and how much energy we spend in a day (total energy expenditure). It has been assumed for a long time that the amount of energy we spend is a simple matter of adding the calories burned at rest, digesting food, and exercising and as we exercise more we continue to add an equal number of calories to the daily budget. We call this the linear or additive model – energy spent increases in a straight line as physical activity increases. Because we have techniques for measuring total energy expenditure in people going about their usual lives that were not widely available until recently due to cost, scientists have developed new ideas about how increases in physical activity affect total energy expenditure. The constrained model suggests that there is a cap on how many calories we can burn in a day and that our bodies will save energy in other parts of the budget if our physical activity remains high enough to reach or exceed that cap. The second idea is called the compensated model like the constrained model predicts that the rate we spend energy slows down as we exercise more because the body has saved energy in other parts of the budget (compensation). Researchers don't know for sure if either of these models are correct, so we conducted a study to determine how physical activity and total energy expenditure are related and if our findings agree with either of these models. We were also interested in determining how physical activity is related to energy spent at rest (resting metabolic rate ) and energy spent being active (physical activity energy expenditure). Finally, we wanted to determine ways that the body might compensate. One way is to spend more time sedentary. Another way is to save energy on less urgent needs like the immune and reproductive systems. Our main goal was to create an equation that explain how higher levels of physical activity are related to total energy expenditure and other parts of the energy budget (RMR and physical activity energy expenditure). We also created equations that explain how physical activity is related to sedentary behavior and immune and reproductive markers in the blood. We recruited 57 male and female volunteers that represent a wide range of physical activity levels – from sedentary to ultra-endurance trained runners who routinely run as much as 80 miles per week. We measured the energy they spent and physical activity over 2 weeks. In our sample, we found that physical activity was related to total energy expenditure and physical activity energy expenditure in a linear way. We did not find a cap on the amount of energy spent (constraint). We found that participants who exercised more spent less time sedentary not more meaning that we did not find behavioral compensation. It is possible that there was compensation from the immune system because some of the markers of immune function were lower in people who were more physically active, but it was not consistent in all of the blood markers. A larger study using an exercise intervention is needed to assign causation to the correlation we found.

Lors de catastrophes pétrolières, l’utilisation de dispersant est une stratégie de lutte qui permet le transfert de la nappe de pétrole de la surface vers la colonne d’eau, sous forme de gouttelettes d’hydrocarbure. En milieu côtier, la dispersion d’une nappe de pétrole est une mesure controversée car la faible profondeur de la colonne d’eau ne permet pas une dissémination rapide des gouttelettes d’hydrocarbure et expose ainsi les écosystèmes aquatiques à de fortes concentrations de contaminant. Afin d’évaluer la toxicité de l’application de dispersant en zones côtières, une approche expérimentale a été menée chez des juvéniles de Liza sp. en considérant trois scenarii : (i) la dispersion mécanique de la nappe simulant une dispersion naturelle due aux conditions météorologiques ; (ii) la dispersion chimique de la nappe simulant l’application de dispersant ; (iii) l’absence de dispersion de la nappe simulant son confinement avant récupération. La toxicité de chaque condition a été évaluée au travers d’une mesure de la mortalité sur un groupe d’individu, par l’estimation des performances de nage et de la capacité métabolique au niveau de l’organisme, et par une approche multimarqueur au niveau de l’organe.La comparaison entre une nappe de pétrole non dispersée et une nappe de pétrole dispersée chimiquement montre que l’application de dispersant entraine une augmentation des phénomènes de mortalité et une diminution, au niveau hépatique et branchial, des capacités de défense contre les xénobiotiques. A l’inverse, la comparaison entre une nappe de pétrole dispersée mécaniquement et chimiquement montre que, lorsque l’agitation de la mer est importante, l’application de dispersant ne semble pas potentialiser la toxicité du pétrole.Ces résultats suggèrent que (i) la récupération de la nappe de pétrole devrait être considérée comme une technique de lutte prioritaire sur l’utilisation de dispersant ; (ii) l’application de dispersant pourrait être considérée lors de conditions météorologique appropriées. / Dispersant application is an oil spill response technique which accelerates the dispersion of petroleum from the sea surface into the water column by inducing the formation of oil droplets. In coastal areas this response technique is controversial since the low water depth reduces the dissemination of oil droplets and by the way increases the exposure of aquatic ecosystems to petroleum. To evaluate the toxicity of dispersant application in nearshore areas, an experimental approach was conducted. Juvenile of Liza sp. were exposed to three scenarios of contamination: (i) to chemically dispersed oil - simulating, in vivo, dispersant application ; (ii) to mechanically dispersed oil - simulating, in vivo, natural dispersion due to meteorological conditions ; (iii) to an undispersed oil slick simulating, in vivo, oil slick confinement as a response technique. Toxicity of each condition of exposure was evaluated through the mortality upon a group of individuals, through the swimming performance and the metabolic scope at the organism level, and through the measurement of biomarkers at the organ level.Comparison between an undispersed oil slick and a chemically dispersed oil slick shows that dispersant application induces an increase of the mortality and decreases the ability of the animal to cope with environmental contaminants (deduced from gill and liver total glutathione rate). Conversely, comparison between both a mechanically and a chemically dispersed oil slick, suggests that, when sea water is under mixing processes, dispersant application does not enhance petroleum toxicity. Taken together these results suggest that (i) an oil slick must not be dispersed when recovery can be conducted; (ii) dispersant application could be considered as a response technique when meteorological conditions are appropriated.

L’anthropisation croissante des zones côtières induit le rejet dans les écosystèmes aquatiques d’Hydrocarbures Aromatiques Polycycliques (HAP). En plus de la concentration et de la voie de contamination considérées, leurs effets dépendent du stade de développement de l’organisme. Dans ce contexte, l’objectif de cette étude était d’évaluer les effets d’une contamination par voie trophique à des concentrations sublétales de HAP sur une espèce modèle, le poisson zèbre Danio rerio. Deux types de mélanges de HAP, pyrolytique et pétrogénique, représentatifs de ce qui est rencontré en milieu contaminé ont été testés via des expositions chroniques. Au niveau individuel, les réponses biologiques ont été évaluées au travers de performances physiologiques considérées comme des mesures indirectes de la fitness : la capacité métabolique aérobie, les performances de nage et la réponse de fuite. A l’échelle sub-individuelle, l’exposition aux HAP a été évaluée sur le cœur via la mesure du rythme cardiaque. Ces paramètres biologiques ont été mesurés (i) à différents temps d’exposition des poissons ainsi que (ii) sur leur descendance dans le but d’évaluer l’effet parental de la contamination. Les résultats mettent en évidence une diminution de la capacité métabolique aérobie chez la descendance de poissons contaminés aux HAP d’origine pyrolytique. Chez les poissons adultes directement exposés aux HAP de type pétrogénique, une réduction de la capacité métabolique a également été observée, associée à une réduction de la vitesse de nage critique. Cette étude contribuera à établir une vision globale des effets de l’exposition aux HAP et à mieux comprendre les mécanismes régulant des fonctions biologiques clés dans la survie d’un organisme tout au long de son cycle de vie. / The increase of anthropogenic activities on coastal areas induces discharges of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in aquatic ecosystem. PAHs effects depend on their concentration and the way of contamination, but also on the different developmental stages of the organism. In this context, the aim of our study was to observe the effects of an exposure to two PAHs mixes, pyrolytic and petrogenic, on the model species zebrafish Danio rerio. These chronicle exposures at sub-lethal concentrations were representative of contaminated areas. Biological responses of fish were estimated at individual levels through the assessment of aerobic metabolic scope, swimming and escape performance, which are considered to be relevant indirect measures of the fitness. Furthermore, measurements of cardiac frequency allowed observing PAHs impairments at sub-individual levels. These physiological performances were estimated (i) a several times of exposure (i.e. from 2-months juveniles to 6-months adults) and (ii) on their progeny, in order to observe parental effect of the PAHs exposure. An increase of aerobic metabolic scope was observed on the progeny of fish contaminated by pyrolytic mix. Regarding petrogenic PAHs exposure, the increase of aerobic metabolic scope was associated to increase of critical swimming speed in adults. This study will contribute to establishing a global vision of PAHs exposure impairments and to a better understanding of the regulating mechanisms of the main biological functions on which organism survival depends.

Le système cardio-respiratoire joue un rôle prépondérant au sein d’un organisme, en permettant notamment l’apport et la distribution du dioxygène et des nutriments à l’ensemble des cellules. Mieux comprendre les modifications du système cardio-respiratoire au cours de la vie est donc un élément central dans l’évaluation de la capacité de l’organisme à répondre à ses différents besoins énergétiques, ainsi que dans la compréhension du phénomène de mortalité naturelle liée à la sénescence. Cette étude a été réalisée sur un vertébré à durée de vie extrêmement courte (~6 mois), le poisson Nothobranchius furzeri. La température, en plus d’être considérée comme l’un des principaux facteurs environnementaux susceptibles d’influencer la physiologie des téléostéens, est connue pour son effet régulateur sur la longévité. Ainsi, les individus étaient acclimatés à deux températures, 26 °C considérée comme la température optimale chez cette espèce, et une température réduite de 22 °C. Au niveau individuel, les réponses biologiques ont été explorées au travers des performances physiologiques comme mesure indirecte de la fitness : la capacité métabolique aérobie (AS), la croissance, les performances de reproduction, de locomotion et de digestion. A l’échelle sub-individuelle, les mécanismes de régulation de la fonction cardiaque ont été examinés via une étude morpho-fonctionnelle des cardiomyocytes. Les résultats mettent en évidence la présence au cours de la vie de deux phases bien distinctes délimitées par un âge optimal : (1) une première phase d’élévation de l’AS des stades juvénile à adulte ; suivie (2) d’une seconde phase, synonyme de déclin de l’AS, des indicateurs cardiaques et des niveaux d’activités ciblés, associés probablement à l’entrée en sénescence. Une réduction de température accroit la longévité, et retarde les effets néfastes du vieillissement sur l’AS, et les performances cardiaques. Cette étude contribuera à établir une vision globale des effets du vieillissement sur la fonction cardio-respiratoire et à mieux comprendre les mécanismes mis en jeu lors d’un allongement de la longévité par une réduction de la température. / Cardio-respiratory system plays a key role in an organism by delivering oxygen and nutrients towards the cells. Exploring its age-dependant changes is therefore a corner stone for assessing the organism capacity to meet its energetic needs along its life cycle, and for the understanding of mechanisms involved in the mortality due to aging process. This study was realized in a vertebrate with an extremely short lifespan (~6 months), the fish Nothobranchius furzeri. Temperature is an external factor that regulates longevity. Here, fish were acclimatized at two temperatures, 26 °C considered as the optimal temperature for this species, and 22 °C. Biological responses of fish were evaluated at individual level through the assessment of aerobic metabolic scope (AS), growth, reproduction, locomotion and digestion, which are considered to be relevant indirect measurement of fitness. Furthermore, mechanisms involved in the cardiac function regulation were explored through a morpho-functional study of cardiomyocytes. Along the individual life cycle, two phases were emphasized: 1) the first corresponds to AS elevation from the juvenile to the adult stages, following by 2) a second phase reflecting the entrance in the senescent stage, characterized by the decline in AS, cardiac performances and in activity level. A temperature reduction increases the individual longevity and slows-down deleterious effect of aging on both AS and cardiac function. This study will contribute to provide a global vision of senescent effects on cardio-respiratory system, and a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in temperature-dependent increase in longevity.