Abstract not available

Includes bibliography.

From simple beginnings, when only one host was required, numerous parasitic organisms have evolved complex life-cycles involving two or more host species. For example, trematode parasites reproduce in vertebrates, their definitive host, but their current life cycle also typically involves two intermediate hosts that were added during the course of evolution. Vertebrates are often considered to be the ancestral hosts of trematodes although other scenarios exist. While multi-host life cycles are observed in distantly related groups of parasites, their evolution remains largely unexplored. In trematodes, while recent phylogenetic studies have shed light on the sequence along which the different hosts were incorporated in the cycle, conditions that favoured the evolution of such complex life cycles can only be hypothesized. However, one opportunity to understand the force shaping the evolution of complex life cycles is provided by the few trematode species in which the classical three-host cycle facultatively reverts to a shorter cycle (i.e. life cycle abbreviation). In this study, the effects of different environmental factors on the life history strategy of the trematode Coitocaecum parvum were investigated using laboratory and field studies. C. parvum is able to abbreviate its life cycle from three to two hosts by maturing early (i.e. progenesis) and producing eggs inside the second intermediate host; both life history strategies occur simultaneously in C. parvum populations. Environmental factors such as predator densities should strongly influence parasite life history strategies. In fact, this study shows that laboratory reared Coitocaecum parvum adopt preferentially the normal three-host cycle when chemical cues from the definitive host are added to their environment, while the shorter cycle is favoured when these cues are absent. However, in nature, multiple environmental factors are likely to be perceived by parasites. Consequently, C. parvum�s ability to adapt its developmental strategy to definitive host densities may be confounded by the complex combination of various environmental parameters. Within-host competition between parasites sharing a common host is also likely to influence individual life history strategies. Parasites could then use alternative life strategies to adaptively respond to intraspecific and interspecific competition. Indeed, this study found that C. parvum preferentially adopts the abbreviated cycle in the presence of competitors. However, in interspecific competition, C. parvum�s strategy also depends upon the competitor species, possibly influenced by the other species� transmission route. Furthermore, intensity of intraspecific competition proved to constrain C. parvum�s ability to use the abbreviated life cycle. Finally, genetic relatedness between co-infecting C. parvum individuals seems to affect parasite life strategy through kin selection: closely related individuals are more likely to adopt the same developmental strategy, when they share a host, than unrelated ones. C. parvum individuals adopting the abbreviated cycle are enclosed within a cyst in their intermediate host and must produce eggs by self-fertilization, the most severe case of inbreeding. It was hypothesized that their offspring would have reduced fitness due to inbreeding depression, therefore selecting against the shorter cycle. However, this study found no difference in the survival and infection success of offspring produced through the abbreviated and normal cycles. Furthermore, no evidence for a genetic basis of life cycle abbreviation was detected: the same proportion of offspring from both reproductive strategies adopted the shorter life cycle. The work in this thesis provides evidence that although life cycle abbreviation provides Coitocaecum parvum with a viable alternative life strategy, numerous factors promote or restrict the adoption of this strategy. While this life history strategy has no detectable effect on parasite fitness, both environmental parameters and within-host competition affect C. parvum life-history strategies, alternatively selecting for either the shorter or normal life cycle. Overall, the complexity of the parasite environment could maintain both developmental strategies in C. parvum populations and, on a broader scale, could have influenced the evolution of complex life cycles in parasites.

The aims of this study were to find endophytic brown algae in marine macroalgae from New Zealand, isolate them into culture and identify them using morphological as well as molecular markers, to study the prevalence of pigmented endophytes in a representative host-endophyte relationship, and to reveal the ultrastructure of the interface between the obligate parasite Herpodiscus durvillaeae (LINDAUER) SOUTH and its host Durvillaea antarctica (CHAMISSO) HARRIOT. Three species of pigmented endophytic Phaeophyceae were isolated from New Zealand macrophytes. They were distinguished based on morphological characters in culture, in combination with their distribution among different host species and symptoms associated with the infection of hosts. ITS1 nrDNA sequences confirmed the identity of two of the species as Laminariocolax macrocystis (PETERS) PETERS in BURKHARDT & PETERS and Microspongium tenuissimum (HAUCK) PETERS. A new genus and species, Xiphophorocolax aotearoae gen. et sp. ined., is suggested for the third group of endophytic Phaeophyceae. Three genetic varieties of L. macrocystis as well as two varieties each of M. tenuissimum and X. aotearoae were present among the isolates. L. macrocystis and X. aotearoae constitute new records for the marine flora of the New Zealand archipelago, on genus and species level. The red algal endophyte Mikrosyphar pachymeniae LINDAUER previously described from New Zealand is possibly synonymous with Microspongium tenuissimum. The prevalence of infection by Laminariocolax macrocystis was investigated in three populations of Macrocystis pyrifera along the Otago coast. Two of the populations situated inside and at the entrance of Otago Harbour showed high infection rates (average between 95 and 100%), while an offshore population was less infected (average of 35%). The phylogenetic affinities of the parasitic brown alga Herpodiscus durvillaeae, an obligate endophyte of Durvillaea antarctica (Fucales, Phaeophyceae) in New Zealand, were investigated. Analyses combined nuclear encoded ribosomal and plastid encoded RuBisCO genes. Results from parsimony, distance and likelihood methods suggest a placement of this species within the order Sphacelariales. Even though H. durvillaeae shows a reduced morphology, molecular data were supported by two morphological features characteristic for the Sphacelariales: the putative presence of apical cells and the transistory blackening of the cell wall with 'Eau de Javelle'. Ultrastructural sections showed evidence for a symplastic contact between the cells of the parasite H. durvillaeae and its host D. antarctica. Within the host cortex, parasite cells attack the fields of plasmodesmata connecting host cells. In these areas, parasite cells squeeze between the host cells and form secondary plasmodesmata connecting the primary plasmodesmata of the host cells with the cytoplasma of the parasite cell. Moreover, despite being described as lacking pigments, H. durvillaeae possesses a rbcL gene, and its plastids show red autofluorescence in UV light, suggesting the presence of a possibly reduced, but functional photosynthetic apparatus. Vestigial walls between developing spores in the 'secondary unilocular sporangia' of H. durvillaeae confirm the identity of these sporangia as plurilocular gametangia, derived from reduced gametophytes which were entirely transformed into gametangia.

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 219-236) / v, 236 leaves : ill. (some col.), plates, photos ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Discipline of Environmental Biology, 2004

"August 2004" / Bibliography: leaves 146-169. / vi, 169 leaves : ill, (some col.), photos (col.) ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, School of Agriculture and Wine, Discipline of Plant and Pest Science, 2004

Abstract The Benedeniinae, the largest of nine capsalid subfamilies, includes genera with an aseptate, apapillate haptor and a pair of discrete testes. Eight of 13 nominal benedeniine genera, Benedenia Diesing, 1858 (the type genus); Allobenedenia Yamaguti, 1963; Allometabenedeniella Velasquez, 1982; Dioncopseudobenedenia Yamaguti, 1965; Lagenivaginopseudobenedenia Yamaguti, 1966; Oligoncobenedenia Yamaguti, 1965; Pseudallobenedenia Yamaguti, 1966 and Tareenia, Hussey, 1986 are revised using type material of most nominal species with observations for some species from new material. Allobenedenia and Allometabenedeniella are transferred to the Trochopodinae Price, 1936 emend. Sproston, 1946 because all valid species of both genera bear septa on the ventral haptor surface. Allobenedenia ishikawae (Goto, 1894) Yamaguti, 1963 is transferred to Benedenia because its haptor is aseptate. I recognize Menziesia Gibson, 1976, based on the form of the male copulatory organ and associated structures and include five species in it. Tareenia Hussey, 1986 is synonymised with Benedenia because characters used to differentiate the two genera do not indicate discontinuities at the generic level. Benedeniella Johnston, 1929, Calicobenedenia Kritsky and Fennessy, 1999 and Trimusculotrema Whittington and Barton, 1990 are considered to belong in Entobdellinae Bychowsky, 1957, pending further studies on that group. The anatomy of Calicobenedenia is outlined briefly; the other genera are not discussed here in detail. Lachishia n. g. is described, based on the structure of the male copulatory organ and a species is transferred to it from Dioncopseudobenedenia. I describe four new species of benedeniines from teleosts caught at Heron and Green Islands, Australia namely: Benedenia ernsti n. sp. from the gills of Symphorus nematophorus; Benedenia fieldsi n. sp. from the fins of Cephalopholis boenak, C. cyanostigma and C. miniatus; Benedenia haywardi n. sp. from the skin of S. nematophorus and Dioncopsudobenedenia ancoralis n. sp. from the gills of Siganus lineatus. Benedenia akaisaki Iwata, 1990 is synonymised with B. ovata (Goto, 1894) Johnston, 1929, B. kintoki Iwata, 1990 is synonymised with B. elongata (Yamaguti, 1968) Egorova, 1997, B. sargocentron Zhang, Yang and Liu, 2001 is synonymised with B. hawaiiensis Yamaguti, 1968 and Pseudallobenedenia arabica Timofeeva, 1995 is synonymised with P. opakapaka Yamaguti, 1966. Benedenia madai Ishii and Sawada, 1938, B. pagrosomi Ishii and Sawada, 1938 and Allobenedenia pedunculata Raju and Rao, 1980 are considered species inquirendae. I examined an outbreak in aquaculture of the pathogenic benedeniine, Neobenedenia melleni (MacCallum, 1927) Yamaguti, 1963 and report this species for the first time in Australia. I examined the pathogenesis caused by this parasite by histology of host tissue. Possible routes of introduction to the farm in question are investigated and studies are detailed that should be undertaken in Australia to manage future outbreaks of N. melleni. Capsalids usually colonise new hosts by an infective ciliated oncomiracidium. An experiment was conducted to ascertain whether cleaner fish Labroides dimidiatus could transfer adult skin-parasitic monogeneans from one host fish to another. I have shown that transmission of adult monogeneans between two individuals of Hemigymnus melapterus by cleaner fish can occur. In coral reef environments, frequent contact between unrelated hosts involved in cleaning interactions might create previously unsuspected evolutionary pressures. I discuss the implications of this discovery for host-specificity and lateral transmission of monogeneans. General biological studies of monogeneans are necessary to understand the evolution, pathology, epidemiology, phylogeny and taxonomy of these parasites. My study provides a taxonomic system which, when applied to other capsalid subfamilies, should help prevent errors and create a clear system of classification for the entire family.

L'électronique de puissance prend une place croissante dans le domaine automobile, avec notamment l'apparition de systèmes de motorisation mixte thermique-électrique (véhicules hybrides). Dans cette optique, les outils de conception des convertisseurs basse tension doivent être suffisamment précis pour réduire les phases de prototypage, mais également pour analyser la robustesse d'un convertisseur face aux inévitables dispersions d'une fabrication en grande série.<br>Dans la première partie, nous proposons un modèle de MOSFET valide dans les différentes phases de fonctionnement rencontrées dans un onduleur (commutation du transistor, de sa diode interne, et fonctionnement en avalanche notamment). La nécessité de modélisation du câblage est ensuite démontrée, puis nous présentons la méthode de modélisation, reposant sur l'utilisation du logiciel InCa. <br>La seconde partie de cette thèse, qui repose principalement sur une démarche expérimentale, permet d'identifier les paramètres du modèle de MOSFET puis de valider la modélisation complète du convertisseur vis-à-vis de mesures. Pour cela, nous avons choisi un critère de comparaison très sensible aux erreurs de modélisation : le niveau de pertes du convertisseur. La mesure de ces pertes est effectuée par calorimétrie. <br>Nous en concluons que la modélisation proposée atteint une précision satisfaisante pour pouvoir être exploitée dans une démarche de conception, ce qui fait l'objet de la dernière partie de cette thèse. La simulation est alors utilisée pour étudier l'influence du câblage et de la commande sur les pertes d'un bras d'onduleur, puis pour étudier la répartition du courant entre transistors d'un assemblage en parallèle en tenant compte de leurs dispersions de caractéristiques. Une telle étude ne pourrait que très difficilement être effectuée de façon expérimentale (elle nécessiterait la modification du circuit pour insérer les instruments de mesure), ce qui montre l'intérêt de la conception assistée par ordinateur en tant qu'outil d'analyse.

Graduation date: 1995

L'objectif de ce projet était de déterminer les effets létaux et sub-létaux d'un savon insecticide sur le puceron vert du pêcher (Myzus persicae (Sulzer)) et une guêpe parasitoïde du puceron, Aphidius colemani (Viereck). Dans cette étude, les hypothèses suivantes ont été vérifiées: 1) la mortalité des insectes augmente en fonction de la concentration du savon, 2) les doses sub-létales du savon insecticide ont des effets sur la valeur adaptative du puceron (mesurée par la longévité, le taux de développement et la fécondité) et sur la valeur adaptative (estimée par la longueur de tibias et le nombre d'oeufs) et le comportement du parasitoïde (contact antennaire, attaque et ponte). La concentration de savon causant 100% de mortalité 24h après le traitement chez tous les stades du puceron était de 37.5 g/L. La CL₅₀ était de 1.50, 3.25 et de 5.50 g/L pour les larves de stades 1 et 2, 3 et 4, et les adultes respectivement. La longévité des pucerons qui ont survécu à la CL₅₀ était significativement différente de celle des témoins. Par contre, les larves exposées au savon n'ont pas eu un taux de développement significativement différent des témoins. La fécondité des adultes n'était pas significativement différente des témoins. Ce savon insecticide pourrait être une bonne façon de contrôler les pucerons. La concentration de savon causant 100% de mortalité 24h après le traitement chez les adultes de la guêpe était de 17.5 g/L. La CLs₅₀ était de 2.75 g/L. La survie, la longueur des tibias, le nombre d'oeufs matures par femelle émergeant de pucerons parasités et traités au savon, ainsi que le comportement des guêpes mises en contact avec des pucerons traités n'ont pas été affectés. Par contre, les guêpes ont significativement moins pondu dans les pucerons traités ayant survécu au savon. Il semble évident que les programmes de lutte biologique peuvent être améliorés par des applications de savon insecticide si ces dernières sont faites une journée avant le relâcher de parasitoïdes en serre. Ceci éviterait le contact des parasitoïdes avec le savon et permettrait aux pucerons traités de muer. Les parasitoïdes pourront ainsi pondre dans les pucerons qui auront survécu au savon ce qui augmentera le contrôle du puceron.