O presente estudo foi realizado com o objetivo de identificar genomas de vírus em fezes de lobos marinhos sul-americanos (Arctocephalus australis) e lobos marinhos subantárticos (Arctocephalus tropicalis), duas espécies de pinípedes encontradas no litoral do Rio Grande do Sul. Embora já existam estudos sobre esse tema em outras espécies de pinípedes, nas espécies aqui trabalhadas o tema permanece inexplorado. Amostras de fezes foram obtidas de vinte e um lobos marinhos sul-americanos e dois lobos marinhos subantárticos encontrados no litoral rio-grandense com indícios de morte recente, durante os meses de Junho e Julho de 2012. Através de técnicas de PCR e sequenciamento buscou-se identificar genomas de circovírus, adenovírus, morbilivírus, calicivírus e coronavírus. A amplificação de um fragmento do gene rep permitiu a identificação de prováveis circovírus em amostras de seis lobos marinhos sul-americanos. Análises filogenéticas revelaram que três dos seis segmentos são sugestivos de prováveis membros do gênero Cyclovirus. Os genes amplificados de outras duas amostras provavelmente correspondem a membros do gênero Circovirus. Uma das amostras deu origem a um segmento gênico que não apresenta similaridade com nenhum gênero já proposto da família Circoviridae. Além disso, foi possível detectar também fragmentos de genomas de adenovírus em duas amostras; estes apresentam alto grau de similaridade de nucleotídeos com amostras de adenovírus humano tipo C. Nenhum fragmento genômico indicativo da presença de morbilivírus, calicivírus ou coronavírus foi encontrado. Os resultados aqui obtidos sugerem a presença de circovírus, ciclovírus e adenovírus em populações de lobos marinhos encontrados na costa do Rio Grande do Sul. Estes achados reforçam a necessidade da ampliação do conhecimento a respeito da ocorrência de infecções virais nestas espécies. / This study was conducted with the objective of identifying genomes of viruses in feces of south american fur seals (Arctocephalus australis) and subantarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus tropicalis), two species of pinnipeds found on the coast of Rio Grande do Sul. Although there are studies about this topic in other species of pinnipeds, it remains unexplored in these two species. Stool samples were obtained from twenty-one south american fur seals and two subantarctic fur seals found in Rio Grande do Sul coastline with evidences of recent death, during the months of June and July 2012. PCR and sequencing techniques were utilized to identify circovirus, adenovirus, morbillivirus, calicivirus and coronavirus genomes. The amplification of a rep gene fragment allowed the identification of supposed circoviruses in samples of six south american fur seals. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that three of the six segments are suggestive of probable members of the genus Cyclovirus. The amplified genes from two other samples probably correspond to members of the genus Circovirus. One of the samples gave rise to a gene segment that has no similarity with any genera already proposed of the Circoviridae family. Furthermore, it was also possible to detect fragments of adenovirus genomes in two samples: these have a high degree of nucleotide similarity with a human adenovirus type C genomic fragment. No indication of the presence of morbillivirus, calicivirus and coronavirus genomes was found. The work reported here provide evidence for the occurrence of circoviruses, cicloviruses and adenoviruses in fur seal populations found in Rio Grande do Sul. These findings reinforce the need to expand the knowledge about the occurrence of viral infections in these species.

O MHC (Major Histocompatibility Complex) é um sistema genético importante para a manutenção de espécies ameaçadas, uma vez que baixa variabilidade para locos MHC tem sido associada a uma menor capacidade de resposta a doenças e diminuição do sucesso reprodutivo. Deste modo, pesquisas sobre a variabilidade genética do MHC têm demonstrado ser bastante informativas em estudos populacionais voltados para aspectos referentes à conservação. No presente trabalho foi investigada a variabilidade genética do MHC para três espécies de mamíferos marinhos (toninha, baleia franca austral e lobo marinho sul-americano) do sul do Brasil, com intensa mortalidade provocada por atividades humanas atuais ou passadas. As amostras foram coletadas de animais mortos encalhados na costa, de animais capturados acidentalmente por barcos pesqueiros, e também através de um sistema de biópsia. A região variável do exon 2 do gene DQB do MHC foi amplificada por PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) em 109 amostras de toninhas (Rio de Janeiro n=32, Rio Grande do Sul n=52, Argentina n=25), 35 amostras de lobo marinho sul-americano e 30 amostras de baleia franca austral, utilizando-se um par de primers heterólogos. O fragmento resultante de 172 pares de bases foi analisado quanto ao polimorfismo de seqüência através da técnica de SSCP (Polimorfismo de Conformação de Fita Simples) em todas as amostras de toninha e de lobo marinho sul-americano e 14 amostras de baleia franca austral. Dificuldades associadas à amplificação resultaram em padrões de SSCP pouco informativos para as amostras de lobo marinho sul-americano e baleia franca austral Todas as amostras de toninha apresentaram um padrão de pelo menos 4 bandas por indivíduo. As 4 bandas de um único indivíduo do Rio Grande do Sul foram seqüenciadas, tendo sido possível verificar que 2 seqüências relacionadas ao genes DQB estão sendo amplificadas com estes primers. Pelas análises de SSCP foi possível detectar ausência de variabilidade para as amostras de toninha provenientes do Rio de Janeiro e diferenciá-las da população da Argentina, que é polimórfica. A população do Rio Grande do Sul parece apresentar níveis intermediários de variação em relação aos extremos da distribuição da espécie. Analisando as três populações amostradas, conclui-se que a espécie apresenta baixos níveis de variabilidade para o loco DQB, a exemplo do que é reportado para os genes de MHC de outros mamíferos marinhos.

O presente estudo foi realizado com o objetivo de identificar genomas de vírus em fezes de lobos marinhos sul-americanos (Arctocephalus australis) e lobos marinhos subantárticos (Arctocephalus tropicalis), duas espécies de pinípedes encontradas no litoral do Rio Grande do Sul. Embora já existam estudos sobre esse tema em outras espécies de pinípedes, nas espécies aqui trabalhadas o tema permanece inexplorado. Amostras de fezes foram obtidas de vinte e um lobos marinhos sul-americanos e dois lobos marinhos subantárticos encontrados no litoral rio-grandense com indícios de morte recente, durante os meses de Junho e Julho de 2012. Através de técnicas de PCR e sequenciamento buscou-se identificar genomas de circovírus, adenovírus, morbilivírus, calicivírus e coronavírus. A amplificação de um fragmento do gene rep permitiu a identificação de prováveis circovírus em amostras de seis lobos marinhos sul-americanos. Análises filogenéticas revelaram que três dos seis segmentos são sugestivos de prováveis membros do gênero Cyclovirus. Os genes amplificados de outras duas amostras provavelmente correspondem a membros do gênero Circovirus. Uma das amostras deu origem a um segmento gênico que não apresenta similaridade com nenhum gênero já proposto da família Circoviridae. Além disso, foi possível detectar também fragmentos de genomas de adenovírus em duas amostras; estes apresentam alto grau de similaridade de nucleotídeos com amostras de adenovírus humano tipo C. Nenhum fragmento genômico indicativo da presença de morbilivírus, calicivírus ou coronavírus foi encontrado. Os resultados aqui obtidos sugerem a presença de circovírus, ciclovírus e adenovírus em populações de lobos marinhos encontrados na costa do Rio Grande do Sul. Estes achados reforçam a necessidade da ampliação do conhecimento a respeito da ocorrência de infecções virais nestas espécies. / This study was conducted with the objective of identifying genomes of viruses in feces of south american fur seals (Arctocephalus australis) and subantarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus tropicalis), two species of pinnipeds found on the coast of Rio Grande do Sul. Although there are studies about this topic in other species of pinnipeds, it remains unexplored in these two species. Stool samples were obtained from twenty-one south american fur seals and two subantarctic fur seals found in Rio Grande do Sul coastline with evidences of recent death, during the months of June and July 2012. PCR and sequencing techniques were utilized to identify circovirus, adenovirus, morbillivirus, calicivirus and coronavirus genomes. The amplification of a rep gene fragment allowed the identification of supposed circoviruses in samples of six south american fur seals. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that three of the six segments are suggestive of probable members of the genus Cyclovirus. The amplified genes from two other samples probably correspond to members of the genus Circovirus. One of the samples gave rise to a gene segment that has no similarity with any genera already proposed of the Circoviridae family. Furthermore, it was also possible to detect fragments of adenovirus genomes in two samples: these have a high degree of nucleotide similarity with a human adenovirus type C genomic fragment. No indication of the presence of morbillivirus, calicivirus and coronavirus genomes was found. The work reported here provide evidence for the occurrence of circoviruses, cicloviruses and adenoviruses in fur seal populations found in Rio Grande do Sul. These findings reinforce the need to expand the knowledge about the occurrence of viral infections in these species.

O presente estudo foi realizado com o objetivo de identificar genomas de vírus em fezes de lobos marinhos sul-americanos (Arctocephalus australis) e lobos marinhos subantárticos (Arctocephalus tropicalis), duas espécies de pinípedes encontradas no litoral do Rio Grande do Sul. Embora já existam estudos sobre esse tema em outras espécies de pinípedes, nas espécies aqui trabalhadas o tema permanece inexplorado. Amostras de fezes foram obtidas de vinte e um lobos marinhos sul-americanos e dois lobos marinhos subantárticos encontrados no litoral rio-grandense com indícios de morte recente, durante os meses de Junho e Julho de 2012. Através de técnicas de PCR e sequenciamento buscou-se identificar genomas de circovírus, adenovírus, morbilivírus, calicivírus e coronavírus. A amplificação de um fragmento do gene rep permitiu a identificação de prováveis circovírus em amostras de seis lobos marinhos sul-americanos. Análises filogenéticas revelaram que três dos seis segmentos são sugestivos de prováveis membros do gênero Cyclovirus. Os genes amplificados de outras duas amostras provavelmente correspondem a membros do gênero Circovirus. Uma das amostras deu origem a um segmento gênico que não apresenta similaridade com nenhum gênero já proposto da família Circoviridae. Além disso, foi possível detectar também fragmentos de genomas de adenovírus em duas amostras; estes apresentam alto grau de similaridade de nucleotídeos com amostras de adenovírus humano tipo C. Nenhum fragmento genômico indicativo da presença de morbilivírus, calicivírus ou coronavírus foi encontrado. Os resultados aqui obtidos sugerem a presença de circovírus, ciclovírus e adenovírus em populações de lobos marinhos encontrados na costa do Rio Grande do Sul. Estes achados reforçam a necessidade da ampliação do conhecimento a respeito da ocorrência de infecções virais nestas espécies. / This study was conducted with the objective of identifying genomes of viruses in feces of south american fur seals (Arctocephalus australis) and subantarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus tropicalis), two species of pinnipeds found on the coast of Rio Grande do Sul. Although there are studies about this topic in other species of pinnipeds, it remains unexplored in these two species. Stool samples were obtained from twenty-one south american fur seals and two subantarctic fur seals found in Rio Grande do Sul coastline with evidences of recent death, during the months of June and July 2012. PCR and sequencing techniques were utilized to identify circovirus, adenovirus, morbillivirus, calicivirus and coronavirus genomes. The amplification of a rep gene fragment allowed the identification of supposed circoviruses in samples of six south american fur seals. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that three of the six segments are suggestive of probable members of the genus Cyclovirus. The amplified genes from two other samples probably correspond to members of the genus Circovirus. One of the samples gave rise to a gene segment that has no similarity with any genera already proposed of the Circoviridae family. Furthermore, it was also possible to detect fragments of adenovirus genomes in two samples: these have a high degree of nucleotide similarity with a human adenovirus type C genomic fragment. No indication of the presence of morbillivirus, calicivirus and coronavirus genomes was found. The work reported here provide evidence for the occurrence of circoviruses, cicloviruses and adenoviruses in fur seal populations found in Rio Grande do Sul. These findings reinforce the need to expand the knowledge about the occurrence of viral infections in these species.

O MHC (Major Histocompatibility Complex) é um sistema genético importante para a manutenção de espécies ameaçadas, uma vez que baixa variabilidade para locos MHC tem sido associada a uma menor capacidade de resposta a doenças e diminuição do sucesso reprodutivo. Deste modo, pesquisas sobre a variabilidade genética do MHC têm demonstrado ser bastante informativas em estudos populacionais voltados para aspectos referentes à conservação. No presente trabalho foi investigada a variabilidade genética do MHC para três espécies de mamíferos marinhos (toninha, baleia franca austral e lobo marinho sul-americano) do sul do Brasil, com intensa mortalidade provocada por atividades humanas atuais ou passadas. As amostras foram coletadas de animais mortos encalhados na costa, de animais capturados acidentalmente por barcos pesqueiros, e também através de um sistema de biópsia. A região variável do exon 2 do gene DQB do MHC foi amplificada por PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) em 109 amostras de toninhas (Rio de Janeiro n=32, Rio Grande do Sul n=52, Argentina n=25), 35 amostras de lobo marinho sul-americano e 30 amostras de baleia franca austral, utilizando-se um par de primers heterólogos. O fragmento resultante de 172 pares de bases foi analisado quanto ao polimorfismo de seqüência através da técnica de SSCP (Polimorfismo de Conformação de Fita Simples) em todas as amostras de toninha e de lobo marinho sul-americano e 14 amostras de baleia franca austral. Dificuldades associadas à amplificação resultaram em padrões de SSCP pouco informativos para as amostras de lobo marinho sul-americano e baleia franca austral Todas as amostras de toninha apresentaram um padrão de pelo menos 4 bandas por indivíduo. As 4 bandas de um único indivíduo do Rio Grande do Sul foram seqüenciadas, tendo sido possível verificar que 2 seqüências relacionadas ao genes DQB estão sendo amplificadas com estes primers. Pelas análises de SSCP foi possível detectar ausência de variabilidade para as amostras de toninha provenientes do Rio de Janeiro e diferenciá-las da população da Argentina, que é polimórfica. A população do Rio Grande do Sul parece apresentar níveis intermediários de variação em relação aos extremos da distribuição da espécie. Analisando as três populações amostradas, conclui-se que a espécie apresenta baixos níveis de variabilidade para o loco DQB, a exemplo do que é reportado para os genes de MHC de outros mamíferos marinhos.

Foraging forms the cornerstone of an animal’s life-history. An individual's foraging success shapes the demography and health of a population. Understanding key facets of maternal foraging behaviour are crucial to get a holistic picture of both regional and local environmental factors that drive foraging behaviour. This study aimed to measure the maternal foraging behaviour of a marine top predator, the Subantarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus tropicalis), from Marion Island (MI) over a range of spatial and temporal scales. Arctocephalus tropicalis females from MI have one of the longest duration foraging trips for the species. They are most similar to conspecifics at temperate Amsterdam Island, but differ considerably from those at subantarctic Îles Crozet and Macquarie Island. Hitherto, no diving data existed for MI females. I illustrate how their diving behaviour is more similar to individuals from Îles Crozet despite their differences in foraging trip parameters. Together with Îles Crozet, MI females have one of the deepest mean diving depths (34.5 ± 2.2 m , 45.2 ± 4.8 m summer and winter respectively) and longest dive durations (70.2 ± 3 s , 104.3 ± 7.8 s summer and winter respectively) for the species. In summer, females follow the diel vertical migration of their myctophid prey. Counter intuitively, during the winter, females performed short and shallow crepuscular dives, possibly foraging on different prey. Considering that these individuals dive in deep waters, this is most likely related to myctophids occupying lower depths in the water column during winter. At dusk and dawn they are inaccessible to diving fur seals. At-sea data from multiple foraging trips per female illustrated that females have both a colony- and individual preferred foraging direction which varied seasonally. Individuals travelled consistently in the same direction regionally, but locally appear to track prey in a heterogeneous environment. The few trips in the winter to the west of MI suggest that this is a short-term response to varying prey availability rather than a long-term foraging tactic. Six years of observer-based attendance cycle data were used to augment telemetry data. Multi-state mark-recapture models were used to determine the probability of a female being missed when she was present (detection probability). Attendance data were corrected accordingly. Neither El Niño (EN) nor anomalous seasurface temperature (SSTa) influenced any of the attendance cycle parameters, as foraging trip duration is a poor predictor of weak environmental change. Only season and pup sex had a significant impact on female provisioning rates. Foraging trip duration was longer during winter than during summer. Females spent a higher percentage of time on land when they had female pups rather than male pups. Although observational attendance data remain useful it ideally requires concomitant data on pup growth, production and female body condition to elucidate changes in female provisioning rates. Temporally, season had the most influence on female foraging behaviour. Spatially, it appears that a lack of prominent local bathymetrical features overshadows MI's favourable position in the productive Polar Frontal Zone. Arctocephalus tropicalis females from MI work harder at foraging than at any other island population of conspecifics. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2014 / Zoology and Entomology / Unrestricted

Dyer Island is thought to host one of the most abundant populations of white sharks on the planet; this is often credited to the large (55 – 60,000) Cape fur seal colony at Geyser Rock. Yet relatively little work has ever been produced from the area. This may be attributed to the harshness in its location as a study site, exposed to wind and swell from west to east which limits research periods. This study accounts for over 220 hrs of manual tracking at Dyer Island with a further 68 added from the inshore shallow areas of the bay. Sharks focused their movements and habitat use to reefs or channels that allowed access to Cape fur seals. Movement- Based Kernel Estimates (MKDE) were used to compute home range estimates for shark movements through and around the heterogeneous structures of Dyer Island and Geyser Rock. Inshore two core areas were revealed, one being the major reef system at Joubertsdam and the other at a kelp reef where the tracked shark had fed on a Cape fur seal. At Dyer Island one core area was identified in a narrow channel, ‘Shark Alley’, here a second tracked shark foraged for entire days within meters of rafting Cape fur seals. Rate of Movement (ROM) and Linearity (LI) of tracks were low during daytime and movements were focused around areas such as Shark Alley or other areas close to the seal colony before moving into deeper water or distant reefs with higher rates of ROM and LI at night. If moonlight was strong foraging would take place to the south of Geyser Rock but with higher ROM and LI than observed during the day. Foraging patterns in this study contrast studies from other sites in South Africa and home range and activity areas were comparatively much smaller than observed in Mossel Bay. It has been established that several known white sharks forage at Dyer Island and the other studied aggregation sites, such differences in foraging would suggest that they are able to adapt their foraging behaviour to suit the environment they are in; making them site specific in their foraging ecology. Both satellite and acoustic telemetry are revealing aggregation hotspots of white sharks in South Africa. It is important that such information is used to assist the recovery of the species which has been protected since 1991, yet is rarely considered in planning of coastal developments. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Zoology and Entomology / MSc / Unrestricted

At Cape Gantheaume, Kangaroo Island (South Australia), adult male, lactating female and juvenile New Zealand (NZ) and Australian fur seals regularly return to the same colony, creating the potential for intra- and inter-specific foraging competition in nearby waters. I hypothesised that these demographic groups would exhibit distinct foraging strategies, which reduce competition and facilitate their coexistence. I analysed the diet of adult male, adult female and juvenile NZ fur seals and adult male Australian fur seals and studied the diving behaviour of adult male and lactating female NZ fur seals and the at-sea movements of juvenile, adult male and lactating female NZ fur seals. Female diet reflected that of a generalist predator, influenced by prey availability and their dependant pups� fasting abilities. In contrast, adult male NZ and Australian fur seals used larger and more energy-rich prey, most likely because they could more efficiently access and handle such prey. Juvenile fur seals primarily utilised small lantern fish, which occur south of the shelf break, in pelagic waters. Juveniles undertook the longest foraging trips and adult males conducted more lengthy trips than lactating females, which perform relatively brief trips in order to regularly nurse their pups. Unlike lactating females, some adult males appeared to rest underwater by performing dives that were characterised by a period of passive drifting through the water column. The large body sizes of adult males and lactating females facilitated the use of both benthic and pelagic habitats, but adult males dived deeper and for longer than lactating females, facilitating vertical separation of their foraging habitats. Spatial overlap in foraging habitats among the age/sex groups was minimal, because lactating females typically utilised continental shelf waters and males used deeper water over the shelf break, beyond female foraging grounds. Furthermore, juveniles used pelagic waters, up to 1000 km south of the regions used by lactating females and adult males. The age and sex groups in this study employed dramatically different strategies to maximise their survival and reproductive success. Their prey and foraging habitats are likely to be shaped by body size differences, which determine their different physiological constraints and metabolic requirements. I suggest that these physiological constraints and the lactation constraints on females are the primary factors that reduce competition, thereby facilitating niche partitioning.

At Cape Gantheaume, Kangaroo Island (South Australia), adult male, lactating female and juvenile New Zealand (NZ) and Australian fur seals regularly return to the same colony, creating the potential for intra- and inter-specific foraging competition in nearby waters. I hypothesised that these demographic groups would exhibit distinct foraging strategies, which reduce competition and facilitate their coexistence. I analysed the diet of adult male, adult female and juvenile NZ fur seals and adult male Australian fur seals and studied the diving behaviour of adult male and lactating female NZ fur seals and the at-sea movements of juvenile, adult male and lactating female NZ fur seals. Female diet reflected that of a generalist predator, influenced by prey availability and their dependant pups� fasting abilities. In contrast, adult male NZ and Australian fur seals used larger and more energy-rich prey, most likely because they could more efficiently access and handle such prey. Juvenile fur seals primarily utilised small lantern fish, which occur south of the shelf break, in pelagic waters. Juveniles undertook the longest foraging trips and adult males conducted more lengthy trips than lactating females, which perform relatively brief trips in order to regularly nurse their pups. Unlike lactating females, some adult males appeared to rest underwater by performing dives that were characterised by a period of passive drifting through the water column. The large body sizes of adult males and lactating females facilitated the use of both benthic and pelagic habitats, but adult males dived deeper and for longer than lactating females, facilitating vertical separation of their foraging habitats. Spatial overlap in foraging habitats among the age/sex groups was minimal, because lactating females typically utilised continental shelf waters and males used deeper water over the shelf break, beyond female foraging grounds. Furthermore, juveniles used pelagic waters, up to 1000 km south of the regions used by lactating females and adult males. The age and sex groups in this study employed dramatically different strategies to maximise their survival and reproductive success. Their prey and foraging habitats are likely to be shaped by body size differences, which determine their different physiological constraints and metabolic requirements. I suggest that these physiological constraints and the lactation constraints on females are the primary factors that reduce competition, thereby facilitating niche partitioning.

South Georgia is renowned for the abundance of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) and a range of krill predators. Variability in krill availability at a range of scales, and the consequences of this for predator-prey interactions, mean that quantifying the spatially explicit demand for krill by those predators is essential to understanding the mechanisms underlying ecosystem changes in the region. In this thesis demand within a distinct study box to the northwest of the island has been assessed. The thesis has three sections; (1) the number of predators; (2) the distribution of predators; and (3) the demand for krill by those predators. (1) Predator densities with confidence intervals were determined from appropriately designed shipboard transect survey; counts of Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella), macaroni penguins (Eudyptes chrysolophus), gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua), and Antarctic prions (Pachyptila desolata) were adjusted for sea state, distance from observer and dive behaviour. Providing the first at-sea predator density estimates for the region. (2) A comparison of the distribution of female Antarctic fur seals engaged in pup-rearing (using satellite telemetry) and the whole population that were not restricted to a single part of the population (from shipboard transect survey) was undertaken. Using two general additive models based on the relationship between seal distribution (one derived from transect and the other from telemetry) and the physical environment indicated that the spatial distribution of lactating females is representative of the general population. (3) Using the derived predator density, the local krill demand estimate was 2581 tonnes krill per day, a consumption rate of 0.45% per day of the concurrently estimated krill biomass (using shipboard acoustics). Antarctic fur seals accounted for 75% of this demand. This level of demand was less than the increase in biomass resulting from krill growth. However, based on the length-specific demand, determined from concurrent predator diet samples demand exceeded growth for krill >48mm.