This screenplay is a fictional Coming of Age story of a young restless woman who, on an existentialist search for her inner self, investigates into the truth behind her famous grandmother's past, an anthropologist who conducted controversial research in the Samoa of the 1920s. In the turbulent streams of her consciousness, Kat drifts in between an urban reality in Berlin, daydreams about her grandmother's journey into the exotic unknown, fantasies about the enigmatic young Samoan single mom Penei, and memories of a once loving family. The encounter with Penei and the resulting friendship and frail romance of the two women proves to be an eye-opener for Kat who finally discovers that the objective truth proves to be the ultimate myth and that only the acknowledgement of her own, subjective vision will lead her on the path to her inner happiness. Although the character of Anna König is inspired by the historic figure of anthropologist Margaret Mead, the script has no intent to refer to actual facts of Mead's life. All the characters depicted are entirely fictional.

The aims of this study were firstly to observe the breeding behaviour and embryo ology. and then to identify factors affecting the reproductive biology of the Australian native pseudomtlgilid Pseudomugil signifer (pacific blue-eye) and the impact upon it of the presence of the exotic species Gambusia holbrooki (eastern gambusia). Six species of the genus Pseudomugil, and the related Scaturiginichthys venneilipinnis, are found on the Australian continent. The normal breeding behaviour, egg surface morphology and embryology of four species of Pseudomugil (P. signijer, P. genrudae, P. tenellus and P. mellis) were first investigated, using aquarium and microscopic (light and S.E.M.) studies. The four species were divided into two groups: P. signifer and P. mellis; and P. tenellus and P. gertrudae. The study provided further evidence for the view that the embryology of the genus Pseudomugil differs markedly from that of members of the family Melanotaeniidae, with which the pseudomugilids have previously been grouped. The seasonal pattern of gonadal function in P. signifer, both in the field and in aquariums, was then investigated for populations of P. signifer from the Sydney region. It was found that P. signifer bred over the spring and summer months, commencing breeding as the temperature and daylength increased, and declining in breeding activity as daylength and temperature declined. There was no substantial difference in the pattern of reproductive activity between wild and captive stocks of P. signifer in the populations used. The impact of the presence of the introduced G. holbrooki on P. signifer was then examined, first in open-air tank experiments , and then in the field. In the tank experiments the exotic species profoundly affected the breeding of the native species. When G. holbrooki were in the tanks P. signifer did not gain weight or grow in total length (except for females given supplementary feed); ovarian weight and fecundity was greatly reduced and the ovaries were morphologically undeveloped. No eggs from P. signifer were observed in tanks which also housed G. holbrooki. G. holbrooki were observed to actively hunt and eat young P. signifer and to nip the caudal fins of adult P. signifer. The results indicate clearly, that at least in a captive situation, the presence of the exotic species has a very deleterious effect on breeding and hence possible survival, of a native population. A pilot study conducted at the same time as the harvest of the second tank study did not reveal such drastic consequences. However, even in the less confined field situation, some evidence of an interrelation between water quality, numbers of P. signifer and numbers of G. holbrooki were seen in one disturbed site (Home bush Bay). These findings suggest that a newly designed field experiment based on data collected from the power analysis of the pilot study could clarify whether G. holbrooki adversely affects P. signifer in the wild. The information gained from these studies can be used in the management of P. signifer in the wild, and serve as a model of the possible effects upon other native species.

The aims of this study were firstly to observe the breeding behaviour and embryo ology. and then to identify factors affecting the reproductive biology of the Australian native pseudomtlgilid Pseudomugil signifer (pacific blue-eye) and the impact upon it of the presence of the exotic species Gambusia holbrooki (eastern gambusia). Six species of the genus Pseudomugil, and the related Scaturiginichthys venneilipinnis, are found on the Australian continent. The normal breeding behaviour, egg surface morphology and embryology of four species of Pseudomugil (P. signijer, P. genrudae, P. tenellus and P. mellis) were first investigated, using aquarium and microscopic (light and S.E.M.) studies. The four species were divided into two groups: P. signifer and P. mellis; and P. tenellus and P. gertrudae. The study provided further evidence for the view that the embryology of the genus Pseudomugil differs markedly from that of members of the family Melanotaeniidae, with which the pseudomugilids have previously been grouped. The seasonal pattern of gonadal function in P. signifer, both in the field and in aquariums, was then investigated for populations of P. signifer from the Sydney region. It was found that P. signifer bred over the spring and summer months, commencing breeding as the temperature and daylength increased, and declining in breeding activity as daylength and temperature declined. There was no substantial difference in the pattern of reproductive activity between wild and captive stocks of P. signifer in the populations used. The impact of the presence of the introduced G. holbrooki on P. signifer was then examined, first in open-air tank experiments , and then in the field. In the tank experiments the exotic species profoundly affected the breeding of the native species. When G. holbrooki were in the tanks P. signifer did not gain weight or grow in total length (except for females given supplementary feed); ovarian weight and fecundity was greatly reduced and the ovaries were morphologically undeveloped. No eggs from P. signifer were observed in tanks which also housed G. holbrooki. G. holbrooki were observed to actively hunt and eat young P. signifer and to nip the caudal fins of adult P. signifer. The results indicate clearly, that at least in a captive situation, the presence of the exotic species has a very deleterious effect on breeding and hence possible survival, of a native population. A pilot study conducted at the same time as the harvest of the second tank study did not reveal such drastic consequences. However, even in the less confined field situation, some evidence of an interrelation between water quality, numbers of P. signifer and numbers of G. holbrooki were seen in one disturbed site (Home bush Bay). These findings suggest that a newly designed field experiment based on data collected from the power analysis of the pilot study could clarify whether G. holbrooki adversely affects P. signifer in the wild. The information gained from these studies can be used in the management of P. signifer in the wild, and serve as a model of the possible effects upon other native species.

The origin of marine biodiversity in the Indo-Pacific is poorly known. Faunal turnover in scleractinian reef corals has been hypothesised over the Miocene-Pliocene boundary (~5 Ma), in the Malay Archipelago. However, there is little information available on origination and extinction events in reef corals during the same period for the broader Indo-Pacific region. This is important because many species probably had a wider distribution than previously thought, and many more genera than has previously been estimated were probably present in the Indo-Pacific during the Neogene. Here I begin to fill the gap in our knowledge by reporting on the taxonomic composition and diversity of Neogene reef coral communities sampled from Indonesia (Salayar), Papua New Guinea (New Britain), and Fiji (Vanua Balavu). Sampling locations were chosen on their reported age, fossil content and preservation quality. Ages were refined using foraminiferal assemblages and Strontium 87/86 isotope ages of samples collected at the sampling locations. This dual approach confirms a middle Miocene to early Pleistocene age range for the collection. I described 155 species of reef forming corals collected across an Indo-Pacific longitudinal gradient. Twenty-two constitute new, extinct species from the genera Alveopora, Astreopora, Caulastrea, Cyphastrea, Echinopora, Euphyllia, Galaxea, Leptoria, Leptoseris, Madracis, Montipora, Platygyra, Symphyllia and Turbinaria. A further 42 taxa could not be assigned to species level due to poor preservation, but may well be additional new, extinct species. I uncovered a general pattern of coral turnover across the Indo-Pacific by investigating the degree to which coral communities (using both presence/absence and relative abundance of both coral species and genera) varied with water depth, time and geographical distribution. Coral communities were found to vary with global sea level and time. Thus global changes in sea level through time potentially drove extinction and origination in Indo-Pacific Neogene corals. Inverse Lyellian analysis indicates that of species present in the Miocene in New Britain, a mean of 41.8% are now extinct, possibly resulting from restricted flow of oceanic currents in that region. Indonesia (mean = 9.4%); and Fiji (mean = 6.6%) both had significantly lower proportions of extinct species. However, there is a decline in the number of extinct species found at any location from the middle Miocene (mean = 23.2%) to the early Pleistocene (mean = 1.8%). This study supports previously proposed models of an early Pliocene turnover event in Scleractinia in the Indo-Pacific.

Graduation date: 1986

Graduation date: 1966

The Cocos Gap is a deeper portion, or saddle, of the Cocos Ridge and forms part of the western boundary of the Panama Basing It is probably typical of saddles within most submarine ridges, In order to determine the mechanisms controlling sediment dispersal, the nature and sources of the sediments at 23 core locations were defined by hydrodynamic size separation (> 63, 2- 63, <2 micron) and microscopic or X-ray diffraction analysis of the individual fractions. In addition, calcium carbonate, organic carbon, opal and quartz determinations were made for the total sediment. The silt sized fraction was resolved into eight textural modes, The coarse modes reflect the progressive breakage and winnowing of the corase fraction (foraminifera) under the influence of bottom currents and gravity. Above 2000 m mechanical breakdown, winnowing and relocation by bottom currents mask the effects of depth related dissolution of the carbonate fraction, Intermediate modes in general represent a transitional facies with both biogenic and terrigenous influences, while the finest modes characterize a distal regime of clay deposition, The clay fraction is amorphous material with very low percentages of well crystallized clays. Three main sources and transport paths were recognized, including one associated with the circulation of the Panama Basin. Sedimentation within the Gap is controlled by local processes, predominantly the interaction between tidally induced intensification of bottom water flow and directional (thermohaline) flow. The steep' ness of the sea floor slope is a major factor controlling the efficiency of winnowing of the sediment away from certain higher elevations (biogenic source areas) to the sheltered parts and flanks of the ridge. Superimposed upon this sediment dispersal is the influx of terrigenous material carried by directional bottom currents that operate as postulated upper and lower contour currents along the flanks of the ridge. The crest of the Cocos Gap acts as a catchment area for the biogenic components, while the adjacent more sloping region, the sub-plateau, acts as a source area. The extreme breakage of the foraminifera is most likely a function of the tidally induced intensification of the bottom water flow, characteristic of many shallow ridges, and is probably most significant in the subplateau. Hydrographic data indicates that there is no significant transport of bottom water across the Cocos Gap into the Panama Basin, but downslope transport of carbonate and siliceous fragments and minerals from the Gap into the basin is associated with cyclical tidal bottom water flow. / Graduation date: 1976

Graduation date: 1969

Phosphate, silicate and nitrate concentrations in the sea off the coast of Oregon were determined to study their seasonal distribution patterns. The water samples were collected monthly along the east-west hydrographic line off Newport, Oregon, from the shore to 165 miles (310 km) offshore. The samples were analyzed by both a Technicon Autoanalyzer® and by manual methods. Phosphate in January was greater than 0.5μM at the surface, increasing to a 3.3μM maximum at 1000m. A phosphate maximum occurred at 1000m throughout the year. With the onset of photosynthetic activity, there was a general decrease in surface concentrations. Concentrations decrease to less than 0.1μM in October with surface concentrations increasing in November and December, reaching a maximum in January. Silicate concentration was approximately 170μM at 2600m during the entire year. In January, surface silicate increased from less than 5μM offshore to 13μM nearshore; a weak silicate minimum was observed at a depth of 60m offshore and at 5m near the coast. In March nearshore surface concentrations were greater than 15μM due to increased coastal river runoff; the silicate concentrations of Oregon coastal rivers were 150-250μM. In July, a pronounced minimum occurred at 40-50m depth, where the concentration was less than 2μM. Summer surface concentrations were less than 2M offshore, increasing to 40μM nearshore as a result of coastal upwelling. Surface concentrations in October were generally less than 5FIM along the Newport hydrographic line with increased near shore concentrations due to river runoff. The nitrate maximum of 40-45μM existed at 1000- 1200m. In January surface concentrations ranged from 3μM offshore to 6μM nearshore. March values were lower, ranging from 11μM offshore to 5μM nearshore at NH-3 (6 km). In July patches of nitrate-free water were observed at 40-50m depth offshore, disappearing at 25 miles (46 km) off the coast, at station NH-25, as a result of the influence of upwelled and nitrate containing water. Late in October, nitrate concentrations were higher, 5-6μM, near the coast, and dropping to less than 0.1μM offshore. Patches of nitrate-free water were found from May to November. The existence of nitrate-free water near the surface indicated that the feature was formed by the photosynthetic activities of phytoplankton. The formation of the silicate minimum and oxygen maximum below or near the bottom of the Columbia River Plume during summer months indicated intense photosynthetic activity. Neither preformed phosphate nor preformed nitrate changed with depth below the layers of active photosynthetic processes. Preformed phosphate was generally 1.0-1.2μM below 200m with variation occurring in surface waters. For surface values, 1.2μM, the highest of the year, was observed in July in upwelled water; 0.4μM, the lowest, also occurred in July within the influence of the Columbia River Plume. The vertical distribution of preformed nitrate seemed to be random and may have reflected analytical techniques. The range was between 5 and 10μM with a maximum at 12μM. The 5μM values were found at approximately 200m with a maximum observed at 1000m deep. The highest surface values of preformed nitrate, 2.0-5.0μM, were observed in January and the lowest, 1.0-1.5μM, in July. March and October values were between the above extremes (1.1-2.0μM). / Graduation date: 1970

Graduation date: 1994