Thesis (M.S.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 38-41). / vii, 45 leaves, bound ill. (some col.) 29 cm

The consumption of fungal- and plant-derived non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) have been associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases and cancer. In addition to promote physiochemical effects on the gastrointestinal tract and serve as substrate for the intestinal microbiota to produce short-chain fatty acids, NSP can interact with immune system cells including macrophages, which are crucial for tissue repair, lipid metabolism and host defense against foreign substances and pathogens. However, the effects of NSP in macrophages depends on their structure. Recently, it was showed that the chayote (Sechium edule) and the fungus Pleurotus albidus are promising sources of NSP with potential immunomodulatory effects in macrophages. In this study, it was explored the effects of cooking on the composition of NSP from chayote and evaluated their biological effects in macrophages. Furthermore, it was optimized a method for the extraction of mushroom NSP and characterized the structure and biological effects of NSP from P. albidus in macrophages. Results showed that the NSP from chayote pulp regulate cytokine secretion and phagocytosis by macrophages, and minor changes in composition during cooking influences their effects in macrophages. Furthermore, NSP from chayote induces cholesterol efflux and inhibits the expression of genes required for NLRP3 inflammasome activation in macrophages previously exposed to cholesterol crystals. Then, it was showed that the optimized method for the extraction of NSP from mushroom reduces by up to half the extraction time commonly required. Furthermore, results showed that P. albidus is source of easily extractable glucans with biological effects in macrophages. Results also suggest that glucans from P. albidus inhibit lipid-induced inflammation and foam-cell formation at distinct levels, with significant effects on NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Taken together, the results suggest that the benefits of chayote NSP is beyond their physical properties on the gastrointestinal tract, and that the P. albidus NSP offers potential health benefits that might be of relevance as a functional food ingredient. / O consumo de polissacarídeos não-amido (PNA) de fungos e plantas tem sido associado a redução do risco de doenças cardiovasculares. Além de promoverem efeitos físicos no trato gastrointestinal e serem utilizados como substratos pela microbiota intestinal, os PNA podem interagir com células do sistema imune, como macrófagos, cruciais no reparo tecidual, metabolismo lipídico, e na defesa do organismo contra patógenos. Entretanto, os efeitos em macrófagos dependem da estrutura do PNA. Recentemente, foi observado que o chuchu (Sechium edule) e o fungo Pleurotus albidus são fontes de PNA com potencial efeito sobre macrófagos. Assim, foram avaliados os efeitos dos PNA do chuchu fresco e cozido em macrófagos. Além disso, foi otimizado um método para extração de polissacarídeos de cogumelo, e avaliada a estrutura e os efeitos biológicos dos PNA do P. albidus em macrófagos. Foi observado que os PNA do chuchu regulam a secreção de citocinas e o processo de fagocitose por macrófagos, e alterações na composição de PNA durante o cozimento tem um impacto em seus efeitos biológicos. Além disso, os PNA do chuchu induzem o efluxo de colesterol e regulam a expressão de genes necessários para a ativação do inflamassoma NLRP3 em macrófagos previamente tratados com cristais de colesterol. Também foi demonstrado que o método otimizado de extração de PNA de cogumelos reduz em até pela metade o tempo de extração normalmente empregado. Além disso, foi verificado que o P. albidus é fonte para extração de glicanos com efeitos em macrófagos. Os resultados também sugerem que os glicanos obtidos do P. albidus inibem em diferentes níveis a inflamação induzida por lipídeos e a formação de células espumosas, com efeitos significativos sobre a ativação do inflamassoma NLRP3. Tais diferenças parecem estar associadas à estrutura dos glicanos. Por fim, os resultados sugerem que os benefícios dos PNA do chuchu estão além dos seus efeitos físicos sobre o trato gastrointestinal, e que os PNA do P. albidus promovem benefícios que podem ser relevantes para explorar sua utilização como um alimento ou fonte para extração de ingredientes funcionais.

The consumption of fungal- and plant-derived non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) have been associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases and cancer. In addition to promote physiochemical effects on the gastrointestinal tract and serve as substrate for the intestinal microbiota to produce short-chain fatty acids, NSP can interact with immune system cells including macrophages, which are crucial for tissue repair, lipid metabolism and host defense against foreign substances and pathogens. However, the effects of NSP in macrophages depends on their structure. Recently, it was showed that the chayote (Sechium edule) and the fungus Pleurotus albidus are promising sources of NSP with potential immunomodulatory effects in macrophages. In this study, it was explored the effects of cooking on the composition of NSP from chayote and evaluated their biological effects in macrophages. Furthermore, it was optimized a method for the extraction of mushroom NSP and characterized the structure and biological effects of NSP from P. albidus in macrophages. Results showed that the NSP from chayote pulp regulate cytokine secretion and phagocytosis by macrophages, and minor changes in composition during cooking influences their effects in macrophages. Furthermore, NSP from chayote induces cholesterol efflux and inhibits the expression of genes required for NLRP3 inflammasome activation in macrophages previously exposed to cholesterol crystals. Then, it was showed that the optimized method for the extraction of NSP from mushroom reduces by up to half the extraction time commonly required. Furthermore, results showed that P. albidus is source of easily extractable glucans with biological effects in macrophages. Results also suggest that glucans from P. albidus inhibit lipid-induced inflammation and foam-cell formation at distinct levels, with significant effects on NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Taken together, the results suggest that the benefits of chayote NSP is beyond their physical properties on the gastrointestinal tract, and that the P. albidus NSP offers potential health benefits that might be of relevance as a functional food ingredient. / O consumo de polissacarídeos não-amido (PNA) de fungos e plantas tem sido associado a redução do risco de doenças cardiovasculares. Além de promoverem efeitos físicos no trato gastrointestinal e serem utilizados como substratos pela microbiota intestinal, os PNA podem interagir com células do sistema imune, como macrófagos, cruciais no reparo tecidual, metabolismo lipídico, e na defesa do organismo contra patógenos. Entretanto, os efeitos em macrófagos dependem da estrutura do PNA. Recentemente, foi observado que o chuchu (Sechium edule) e o fungo Pleurotus albidus são fontes de PNA com potencial efeito sobre macrófagos. Assim, foram avaliados os efeitos dos PNA do chuchu fresco e cozido em macrófagos. Além disso, foi otimizado um método para extração de polissacarídeos de cogumelo, e avaliada a estrutura e os efeitos biológicos dos PNA do P. albidus em macrófagos. Foi observado que os PNA do chuchu regulam a secreção de citocinas e o processo de fagocitose por macrófagos, e alterações na composição de PNA durante o cozimento tem um impacto em seus efeitos biológicos. Além disso, os PNA do chuchu induzem o efluxo de colesterol e regulam a expressão de genes necessários para a ativação do inflamassoma NLRP3 em macrófagos previamente tratados com cristais de colesterol. Também foi demonstrado que o método otimizado de extração de PNA de cogumelos reduz em até pela metade o tempo de extração normalmente empregado. Além disso, foi verificado que o P. albidus é fonte para extração de glicanos com efeitos em macrófagos. Os resultados também sugerem que os glicanos obtidos do P. albidus inibem em diferentes níveis a inflamação induzida por lipídeos e a formação de células espumosas, com efeitos significativos sobre a ativação do inflamassoma NLRP3. Tais diferenças parecem estar associadas à estrutura dos glicanos. Por fim, os resultados sugerem que os benefícios dos PNA do chuchu estão além dos seus efeitos físicos sobre o trato gastrointestinal, e que os PNA do P. albidus promovem benefícios que podem ser relevantes para explorar sua utilização como um alimento ou fonte para extração de ingredientes funcionais.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-20T12:31:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Larissa de souza k.pdf: 1966700 bytes, checksum: 433c39e96a3a7d2b6e01f34c1043575e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-04-18 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / In recent years the search for foods that promote quality of life and expectation of consumers has grown worldwide. Species of Pleurotus cater to this trend because they are considered foods of high nutritional potential. This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro conditions of production and the nutritional properties of Pleurotus albidus in order to develop cereal bars. Initially we evaluated the influence of culture conditions on solid medium and physicochemical parameters in submerged fermentation to produce mycelial biomass. The results showed that the mycelial growth was similar in all culture media in the absence of light, however, in the presence of light growth in malt extract agar and malt extract agar with yeast extract was statistically superior compared with others. In submerged fermentation sucrose, fructose and maltose were the carbon sources that most favored the production of biomass, 7.28 g.L-1, 7.07 g.L-1, 6.99 g.L-1, respectively, and the best result was obtained with extract of yeast (7.98 g.L-1) as nitrogen source. The factorial design used to evaluate the influence of sucrose and yeast extract, agitation speed and pH indicated that all variables significantly influenced the production of biomass, especially the concentration of sucrose. The maximum biomass production (9.81 g.L-1) was in media containing sucrose (30.0 g.L-1), yeast extract (2.5 g.L-1), pH 7.0 and agitation speed (180 rpm). Biomass exhibited no microbial contamination or toxicity in the brine shrimp¸ and showed a reduction in antioxidant capacity with 28% DPPH. In nutritional quality, biomass indicated total carbohydrate 50.7%, 20.41% protein, 18.55% crude fiber, 8.18% ash, 2.66% fat and 308.34 Kcal. Potassium was the most abundant macromineral, followed by phosphorus, sodium and magnesium, with 17.13 g.kg-1, 12.31 g. Kg-1 3.52 g.Kg-1 and 2.06 g.Kg-1 respectively, while zinc (57.99 mg.Kg-1), iron (28.82 mg.Kg-1) and copper (3.97 mg.kg-1) were as trace minerals in greater quantities. All essential amino acids were detected in the biomass, being the most abundant leucine, lysine and valine at levels of 0.91 g.100g-1, 0.78 g.100 g-1 and 0.73 g.100 g-1, respectively. Aspartic acid (1.31 g.100 g-1), glutamic acid (1.14 g.100 g-1), alanine (1.12 g.100 g-1) and arginine (1.01 g.100 g-1) stood out in relation to non-essential amino acids. In relation to microbiological quality of the three formulations prepared cereal bars with different P. albidus biomass concentration (0%, 4% and 8%) were considered safe for human consumption. The addition of biomass of P. albidus in cereal bars increased the content of fiber, carbohydrates and minerals. The mean values of the attributes evaluated were not statistically different among the three formulations and all had acceptability index above 70%. The cultivation conditions provided the production of mycelial biomass of P. albidus for developing cereal bars, food product with nutritional and sensory qualities suitable for consumption, subject to technology transfer to industry and consequently a new alternative source of incomes. / Nos últimos anos a busca por alimentos que promovam a qualidade e expectativa de vida dos consumidores tem crescido mundialmente. Espécies de Pleurotus atendem para essa tendência, pois são considerados alimentos de elevado potencial nutricional. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar as condições in vitro de produção e as propriedades nutricionais de Pleurotus albidus visando a elaboração de barras de cereais. Inicialmente foi avaliada a influência das condições de cultivo em meio sólido e os parâmetros físico-químicos por fermentação submersa para produzir biomassa micelial. Os resultados mostraram que em meio sólido o crescimento micelial foi similar em todos os meios de cultivo na ausência de luz, contudo, na presença de luz o crescimento em ágar extrato de malte e ágar extrato de malte com extrato de levedura foi estatisticamente superior em relação aos demais. Na fermentação submersa sacarose, frutose e maltose foram as fontes de carbono que mais favoreceram a produção da biomassa, 7,28 g.L-1, 7,07 g.L-1, 6,99 g.L-1, respectivamente, e das fontes de nitrogênio o melhor resultado foi com extrato de levedura (7,98 g.L-1). O planejamento fatorial utilizado para avaliar a influência da concentração de sacarose e extrato de levedura, pH e velocidade de agitação indicou que todas as variáveis influenciaram significativamente na produção da biomassa, com destaque para a concentração da sacarose. A máxima produção de biomassa (9,81 g.L-1) foi em meio contendo sacarose (30,0 g.L-1), extrato de levedura (2,5 g.L-1), pH 7,0 e velocidade de agitação (180 rpm). A biomassa não apresentou contaminação microbiana nem toxicidade frente a Artemia salina¸e mostrou uma capacidade antioxidante com redução em 28% do radical DPPH. Na qualidade nutricional, a biomassa apresentou teor de carboidratos totais de 50,7%, 20,41% de proteínas, 18,55% de fibra bruta, 8,18% de cinzas, 2,66% de lipídios e 303, 34 Kcal. O potássio foi o macromineral mais abundante, seguido de fósforo, sódio e magnésio, com 17,13 g.Kg-1, 12,31 g.Kg-1, 3,52 g.Kg-1 e 2,06 g.Kg-1, respectivamente, enquanto zinco (57,99 mg.Kg-1), ferro (28,82 mg.Kg-1) e cobre (3,97 mg.Kg-1) foram os microminerais em maior quantidade. Todos os aminoácidos essenciais foram detectados na biomassa, sendo os mais abundantes a leucina, lisina e valina com teores de 0,91 g.100 g-1, 0,78 g.100 g-1 e 0,73 g.100 g-1, respectivamente. Ácido aspártico (1,31 g.100 g-1), ácido glutâmico (1,14 g.100 g-1), alanina (1,12 g.100 g-1) e arginina (1,01 g.100 g-1) destacaram-se em relação aos aminoácidos não essenciais. Na avaliação da qualidade microbiológica as três formulações de barras de cereais elaboradas com diferentes concentrações da biomassa de P. albidus (0%, 4% e 8%) foram consideradas seguras para consumo humano. A adição da biomassa nas barras de cereais elevou o teor de fibras, carboidratos e minerais. Os valores médios dos atributos avaliados não diferiram estatisticamente entre as três formulações e todos tiveram índice de aceitabilidade acima de 70%. As condições de cultivo proporcionaram a produção da biomassa micelial de P. albidus para o desenvolvimento de barras de cereais, produto alimentício com qualidades nutricional e sensorial adequadas ao consumo, passível de transferência tecnológica para a indústria e consequentemente uma nova alternativa de geração de renda.

<p>In the freshwater copepod, <i>Macrocyclops albidus,</i> food availability, rearing conditions and tapeworm infection clearly affected various life-history traits and their trade-offs. I found that low food availability clearly constrained resource allocations to several life-history (often phenotypically plastic) traits, whereas high food availability either allowed for adjustments in resource allocation patterns or allowed resources to be allocated to several traits without apparent trade-offs. </p><p>Both male and female copepods allocated resources according to food availability; developing more slowly and achieving smaller adult body size when food was scarce. When food availability was low females were constrained and produced fewer eggs (in total and per clutch), and started reproduction later than females with more food available. Males under low food availability allocated relatively more to spermatophore size (current reproduction) with decreasing body size. In contrast, when food availability was high males allocated resources to body size as well as spermatophore size. Overall, at maturity, copepods of both sexes were more similar in size than in age, suggesting that large body size was more important for fitness than fast development. </p><p>In nature the prevalence of copepods infected with cestode tapeworms was found to be low (0-3%). Female copepods, experimentally infected with the cestode <i>Schistocephalus solidus</i>, showed lower overall fecundity, especially when food availability was low. However, infected females produced a larger proportion of their life-time egg production early in life than non-infected females. This might be an adaptation to reduce future fitness costs of infection. Females grown under bad rearing conditions, but with high food availability, produced their first clutch earlier than females grown under good rearing conditions, indicating an adjustment in timing of reproduction. These findings contribute to our fundamental evolutionary understanding of how environmental conditions interact with life-history traits.</p>

In the freshwater copepod, Macrocyclops albidus, food availability, rearing conditions and tapeworm infection clearly affected various life-history traits and their trade-offs. I found that low food availability clearly constrained resource allocations to several life-history (often phenotypically plastic) traits, whereas high food availability either allowed for adjustments in resource allocation patterns or allowed resources to be allocated to several traits without apparent trade-offs. Both male and female copepods allocated resources according to food availability; developing more slowly and achieving smaller adult body size when food was scarce. When food availability was low females were constrained and produced fewer eggs (in total and per clutch), and started reproduction later than females with more food available. Males under low food availability allocated relatively more to spermatophore size (current reproduction) with decreasing body size. In contrast, when food availability was high males allocated resources to body size as well as spermatophore size. Overall, at maturity, copepods of both sexes were more similar in size than in age, suggesting that large body size was more important for fitness than fast development. In nature the prevalence of copepods infected with cestode tapeworms was found to be low (0-3%). Female copepods, experimentally infected with the cestode Schistocephalus solidus, showed lower overall fecundity, especially when food availability was low. However, infected females produced a larger proportion of their life-time egg production early in life than non-infected females. This might be an adaptation to reduce future fitness costs of infection. Females grown under bad rearing conditions, but with high food availability, produced their first clutch earlier than females grown under good rearing conditions, indicating an adjustment in timing of reproduction. These findings contribute to our fundamental evolutionary understanding of how environmental conditions interact with life-history traits.

This bachelor thesis deals with necrosis of ash caused by pathogenic fungus Chalara fraxinea. The work contains summarized informations about phenology, bionomy and charakteristic symptoms which were used during the practical research. Next part of the thesis -- the practical research itself -- is focused on charting of intensity and spreading direction of the disease in one specific forest section. In this part are also mentioned possible factors, which could modify (accelerate or restrict) the growth of the fungus in specific cases. Than, in the last part, are walorized financial damages caused by this pathogenic fungus and suggested some interventions, which can contribute to survival of ashes in the forests.

Submitted by (edna.saturno@ufrpe.br) on 2017-02-13T15:07:02Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Igor da Mata R P Oliveira.pdf: 2792534 bytes, checksum: 0e4e5664c5eb680f377e167f86443cbf (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-02-13T15:07:02Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Igor da Mata R P Oliveira.pdf: 2792534 bytes, checksum: 0e4e5664c5eb680f377e167f86443cbf (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-03-22 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The white marlin Tetrapturus albidus is a ocean, pelagic and highly migratory specie, exploted by many countries and many commercial, sportive and artisanal fisheries. Like the other bilfishes, they are mainly caught by tunas and swordfish longline fishery, as by-catch, which subject a high fishing pressure. Then, the stock have been over-exploited, although the assessment show several uncertain, because need parameters. Before this, the present work promotes: a description by the fishing operations realized in the capture of white marlin by the leased longline fleet based in northeast Brazil; a distribution and relative abundance analyses and the influence of environmental factors in the capture of the specie; standardized catch and effort rates and reproductive biology information. The statistic tool utilized to standardization of abundance indices (CPUE) and for the analyses of the influence of factors (spatial, temporal and environmental) on the capture and gonad development of white marlin was generalized linear and additive models (GLM and GAM). Year, temperature of sea surface, latitude and depth of local fishing was the factors which more influenced on captures. The pattern of distribution and abundance observed confirms the northsouth migration through the brazilian off shore, of the third to the first trimester. Also was observed that the white marlin follows temperatures strips of about 24°-28°C, and is commonly concentrate in steep drop-offs and interface of different water masses, or in areas with marine richness. The model standardized with GAM showed better adjust than the GLM model, indicating that the inclusion of the factors was significantly in standardization procedure of CPUEs. The catches of white marlinshowed decline for about 15 or 20 years, and some stability since 1999-2000. Size at first sexual maturity (L50) was estimated as 139 cm (low jaw- fork length/ LJFL), for males, and 147 cm, for females. Month and temperature was the factors with more influence on gonad development. The gonad index of white marlin in the Atlantic Equatorial was highest in the end of second and the beginning of the third trimester. / O agulhão branco Tetrapturus albidus é uma espécie oceânica, pelágica e migradora sendo, por essa razão, explotada por vários países. Sua pesca se caracteriza pela grande diversidade de participantes, incluindo pescarias industriais, artesanais e esportivas. No entanto, assim como os demais agulhões, é mais freqüentemente capturado como fauna acompanhante da pesca com espinhel dirigida a atuns e espadarte, sendo sujeitos a uma intensa pressão pesqueira. Como conseqüência, o estoque se encontra sobreexplotado, embora as avaliações apresentem incertezas decorrentes da carência de dados de pesca e informações biológicas.No intuito de contribuir para a superação dessas deficiências, o presente trabalho apresenta: uma descrição das operações de pesca com espinhel pelágico realizadas pela frota arrendada brasileira sediada no Nordeste; uma análise da distribuição e da abundância relativa da espécie e da influência de variáveis ambientais na sua captura; índices padronizados de captura por unidade de esforço, e informações acerca da biologia reprodutiva. Como ferramentas de padronização de índices de abundância (CPUE), bem como das análises de influência de fatores de diversas ordens sobre a captura e o desenvolvimento gonadal do agulhão branco, foram utilizados modelos lineares e aditivos generalizados (GLM e GAM). Ano, temperatura da água do mar, latitude e profundidade do local de pesca foram os fatores que apresentaram maior influência nas capturas. Variações espaciais e sazonais da abundância relativa parecem confirmar a realização de uma migração no sentido norte-sul ao longo da costa brasileira do terceiro para o primeiro trimestre do ano. Osdados indicam, também, que o agulhão branco acompanha preferencialmente a faixa de temperatura de 24°C a 28°C, concentrando-se em áreas de descontinuidades topográficas ou na interface de massas d’água, os quais estão provavelmente associados a fenômenos de enriquecimento. O modelo padronizado por GAM se mostrou mais bem ajustado que por GLM, indicando que a inclusão das variáveis foi significante na padronização das CPUEs. As taxas de captura do agulhão branco apresentam um declínio contínuo ao longo de 15 ou 20 anos, até 1999-2000 passando a exibir, a partir de então, uma maior estabilidade. O comprimento de primeira maturação (L50) foi igual a 139cm de mandíbula inferiorfurca para machos e a 147cm para fêmeas. Mês e temperatura se mostraram os fatores com maior influência sobre o desenvolvimento gonadal. O índice gonadal do agulhão branco na região equatorial do Atlântico foi máximo em torno de maio.

No description available.

Interactions between non-native yabbies (Cherax albidus) and indigenous marron (Cherax tenuimanus) in the south-west of Western Australia are not well understood. While there is abundant evidence to suggest that invasive freshwater crayfish are detrimental to native species, the nature and degree of impact on marron populations by exotic yabbies remains unclear. Researchers have hypothesized that invasive species make faster and more appropriate use of information about their environment than native species. This greater behavioural plasticity can result in displacement of indigenous species, successful colonisation by invaders, and subsequent disturbance to natural ecosystems and representative biodiversity. / The research presented in this thesis examines the behavioural responses of an indigenous crayfish (C. tenuimanus) and an invasive crayfish (C. albidus) to waterborne odours derived from food, alarm sources and finfish predators. This study was undertaken to assist in the understanding of predatory and competitive interactions between indigenous and non-indigenous crayfish and fish predators, with particular relevance to Western Australia. Predation and competition are major forces influencing community structure in ecosystems; therefore knowledge of competitive and predatory interactions will be of benefit when considering future translocation policies. / Behavioural trials were conducted in two culture systems (54 L aquaria and a 70,000 L mesocosm), where marron and yabbies were exposed to a range of water-borne odours from finfish predators (silver perch and Murray cod), with and without competition from conspecific and heterospecific crayfish. A number of variables likely to influence crayfish behaviour were investigated: strength of chemical odour; crayfish size, gender, diurnal and nocturnal activity patterns; predator size; prior-residence; suitable habitat/shelter; and feed availability. / A key innovation in this research was the high replication in the aquarium-based observation trials using a Latin Cube design, which resulted in greater statistical strength and lower variability. More importantly, this research deviated from the tradition of exclusively using the ‘individual crayfish’ approach for odour-detection experiments and tested these results in a 70,000 L communal observation tank. This was an important development in crayfish behavioural experimentation, particularly as several key findings from the individual crayfish approach were confirmed in a multi-species environment. / Results from this study supported the hypothesis that invasive crayfish species make more appropriate use of a wider range of information about their environment than native crayfish species. Yabbies were found to possess behavioural characteristics not present in marron, such as clearer behavioural modifications to food and heterospecific odour, and cautionary behaviour in the presence of odour from a finfish predator. During simulated daylight conditions, marron displayed behaviours conducive to predation that were not present in yabbies, including less time spent in shelter and more time spent in locomotory activity. However, during specialised night-time observational studies developed during this research, these differences were not evident. This would not seem to be an unusual result, given that crayfish naturally forage at night and become more active; however, it may have important implications for future behavioural studies of crayfish, indicating a bias associated with day-time approaches. Crayfish size also played a role in behavioural modifications to water-borne odours. Larger marron displayed clearer changes in behaviour and were more responsive to heterospecific alarm odour than juveniles. Furthermore, juveniles of both species were more active than adults and sub-adults. / The expansion of the yabby population into Western Australian habitats occupied by marron has been facilitated through translocation for aquaculture, and biological characteristics of the species, some of which are typical of other invasive crayfish species including: tolerance of a variety of conditions; rapid growth; early sexual maturity; burrowing to escape drought and predation; capable of multiple spawns in a growth season; and aggressiveness. Another characteristic of invasive crayfish species also shared by yabbies, as supported by the results of this study, is high behavioural plasticity. / Although marron do not share the same level of behavioural plasticity found in yabbies, their larger body size increases their success in competitive interactions. The comparatively smaller body size of yabbies may be the major factor limiting their population expansion in the presence of marron, especially in water-bodies where shelter is a limited resource. / Marron are an important endemic species in Western Australia, but their conservation is threatened by competition and predation from exotic species. The research presented in this thesis indicates that invasive yabbies are more receptive to chemical stimuli and better equipped to respond to predation risk than marron. This information will be of benefit when considering future translocation policy in Western Australia and highlights the need for a cautious approach to species introductions.