Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Zoology, 1994? / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Murdoch University, 2005. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on Sept. 24, 2005). Includes bibliographical references (p. 154-170).

Thesis (B.Sc. (Hons.)) -- University of Adelaide, Dept. of Zoology, 1975.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Auburn University. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 102-115).

Feeding trials were conducted to compare the nutritional requirements of juvenile marron (Cherax tenuimanus) under four different cultural environments. The rearing environments included aquaria under controlled laboratory conditions, cages in purpose-built commercial ponds, purpose-built earthen ponds and battery culture called the intensive crayfish culture system (ICCS).High levels of dietary cod liver oil in the semi-purified diet depressed the specific growth rates of juvenile marron under laboratory conditions. The dietary lipid levels were reflected in the lipid levels of the hepatopancreas of the marron. Dietary fatty acid profiles were also reflected in the fatty acid profiles of the hepatopancreas and subsequently in the tail muscles. Under cage environment in a purpose-built pond, dietary supplementation with cod liver oil (4%) plus sunflower oil (4%) increased the total biomass of juvenile marron. The specific growth rate under these condition had a strong positive correlation with all condition indices measured in the study (dry and wet hepatosomatic indices, dry and wet tail muscles to body weight ratio and moisture content of the hepatopancreas and tail muscles). The lack of protein in formulated practical diets, under commercial farm conditions, did not significantly influence the specific growth of juvenile marron but a diet containing fish protein source and fish oil resulted in a significantly higher survival. Feeding a diet containing fish protein and fish oil resulted in significantly higher wet tail muscles to body weight ratio than was observed with other diets. The inclusion of plant protein in formulated diets had an impact on the pond environment due to significantly higher ammonia levels that resulted in lower survival. Juvenile marron fed with a protein free diet and those fed with a plant protein diet had significantly lower protein ++ / levels in their hepatopancreas compared to those fed with diets containing animal protein. Juvenile marron in the battery culture environment tolerated long periods of starvation, utilising energy sources from the hepatopancreas and then from the tail muscles.Results from one rearing environment could not be directly transferred to another rearing environment. Environmental variables, particularly temperature, nitrogen metabolites and natural productivity of the ecosystem greatly influenced the nutritional requirements of the juvenile marron under culture. Ambient temperature and nitrogen metabolites may exert stronger control on the productivity, and thus profitability, of the commercial marron farms than the inclusion of micronutrients in the formulated diet.Specific growth rates, biomass, and wet and dry tail muscles to body weight ratios can be used as indicators of nutritional effectiveness of the diet. Further research is required to identify the interaction between the natural productivity of the ecosystem and the need to incorporate essential nutrients in formulated diets for the optimization of the marron production under commercial environment.

Includes bibliographical references. / xi, 138, [131] leaves : ill. ; 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, Dept. of Zoology, 1994?

Includes bibliographical references.

Sensory biology of animals is studied throughout the world for the insight it provides to understanding ecosystems and improving how we manage species. In this research, I designed experiments to investigate the sensory biology and behaviour of two Australian species of freshwater crayfish from the genus Cherax, the yabby (Cherax destructor) and redclaw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus). Experimental apparatus were constructed and tailored to test specific questions on physiology, tactile (touch) sensitivity, observation techniques, aggressive behaviour and responses to electrical fields. The outcomes were: / • abdominal muscle mass was positively correlated to the size of the electrical fields produced by swimming crayfish, / • behaviour changed in response to contact with different structures and textures of wall surfaces, / • computer analysis of underwater behaviour was similar to that scored by a human observer, / • the level of aggression in groups of crayfish changed as group size increased, and / • two species of crayfish responded to electrical fields in the water by decreasing their locomotory movement. / These results reveal a way in which physiology relates to behaviour, how crayfish and other crustaceans may sense the invisible and behave in aquaculture ponds, as well as documenting methodology to further investigate these areas in the future.

Inhibitory neurons exert control the expression of many aspects of behaviour by regulating the effectiveness of excitatory neural function. By comparison with excitatory neural systems, relatively little is known about the development of inhibitory neurons and the influence which these neurons exert on the development of other neural systems. Two issues which relate to the development of inhibitory neurons are of particular interest. First, a paradox arises when inhibitory neurons are considered in terms of modern models of synaptic development which involve activity-dependent mechanisms of synaptic plasticity. Second, there is some evidence that inhibitory neurotransmitters may act in a special trophic manner during the early development of nervous systems. Investigations of these issues would be greatly facilitated in a neural system in which it was possible to experimentally control aspects of the development of individual pre- and postsynaptic cells. The aim of the results presented in this thesis was to characterise the normal development of one such system: the GABAergic inhibitory system of the Australian freshwater crayfish, Cherax destructor. The ontogeny of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA across the embryonic period of 30% to 100% development was investigated using immunohistochemical techniques. GABA-like immunoreactive cells and fibres were first detected in the embryonic brain region. The expression of GABA-like immunoreactivity progressed along a rostro-caudal gradient, with GABA-like immunoreactive cells being detected in the most anterior thoracic ganglia at 45% development and in all ganglia by 65% development. GABA-like immunoreactive fibres were evident in peripheral nerves as early as 55% development and ramified extensively throughout the neuropil of the nervous system by 65% development. By contrast, immunoreactivity to the primary excitatory neurotransmitter, glutamate, was not detected until 60-65% development. Glutamate-like immunoreactivity at 60-65% development was evident only in the form of punctate staining in the midline of the ventral nerve cord. Cell body staining was observed only at 90% development and was restricted to only a few cells on the periphery of the ventral nerve cord. Radio-labelled ligand binding methods and autoradiography were used to study the expression of putative GABA receptors in the Cherax embryos from 30% to 100% development. Specific binding was evident in the earliest embryos studies at 30% development. There was an initial increase in binding from 30% to 40% development, followed by a dramatic drop to almost zero binding at 50-55% development. This was followed by a gradual increase in binding levels with age, reaching a plateau at 85% development. Preliminary pharmacological evaluation of binding indicated that at least three GABA receptor types were expressed during embryonic development. Methods for culturing, dissociated neural tissues explanted form Cherax embryos at 85% development were established. The success of cultures was demonstrated by neurite extension, and neuronal networks in which neurons appeared to form connections with other neurons and with explanted muscle cells after two days in culture. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated that some explanted neurons expressed GABA-like immunoreactivity within two days of explanting. These studies have provided a comprehensive description of the development of GABAergic neurons and their receptors in Cherax destructor embryos. The very early expression of GABA-like immunoreactivity, coupled with the early onset of specific GABA binding, strongly indicates that the GABAergic neurons are functional and able to exert an effect on other cells during much of the period of nervous system development in crayfish embryos. These results support the hypothesis that inhibitory neurons may play an important role as regulators of the overall process of assembly and maturation of the nervous system and provide a substantial basis for future experimental studies in which the specific action of inhibitory neurons on the development of discrete components of the crayfish nervous system may be investigated.

Studying species at the molecular level can provide insights into how ecological and biological processes interrelate resulting in the diversity we see today. This information can be applied to conserve species at risk of extinction, or to better manage genetic diversity in species of economic importance. Species that inhabit freshwater riverine systems commonly exhibit population structures that are related to their relative dispersal capability, contemporary stream structure and/or historical stream structure. This thesis examined the populations genetic structure of wild and cultured stocks of the commercially farmed freshwater crayfish, C. quadricarinatus (von Martens), using genetic markers characterized by different modes of inheritance. C. quadricarinatus is distributed naturally in riverine systems in northern Australia, and southern Paupa New Guinea (PNG) and inhabits a variety of freshwater ecosystems ranging from ephemeral to permanent. Life history characteristics of C. quadricarinatus suggest a high level of genetic structuring among wild stocks might exist. However, seasonal flooding coupled with low topography across its distribution in northern Australia may promote sufficient gene flow among rivers to produce genetic homogeneity. Historical gene flow may also influence modern genetic structure as many distinct riverine catchments that C. quadricarinatus inhabits, were once connected at times of lower sea level. Insight into genetic relationships among C. quadricarinatus populations will allow for better management practices of wild populations in the future. The study investigated phylogenetic relationships among C. quadricarinatus representing 17 discrete natural drainages across the natural range in Australia and PNG, using 16s and COI gene sequences. Sequence analysis of both genes resolved two distinct genealogical lineages in Australia and three in PNG. The two divergent Australian lineages concur with original taxonomic descriptions of Reik (1969) based on external morphological differences. The three C. quadricarinatus populations sampled in PNG were all genetically distinct from each other, with one exhibiting a close association with an Australia lineage. The immense physical barriers (rugged mountain ranges) to gene flow in PNG will almost certainly have reduced dispersal capabilities for C. quadricarinatus. During times of lowered sea levels in the past, Australia and southern PNG were a single landmass with terrestrial and freshwater organisms theoretically able to disperse over associated land and via freshwater connections. The close genetic relationship between PNG and Australian C. quadricarinatus support a recent freshwater connection and hence gene flow between northern Australia and PNG C. quadricarinatus populations. Genetic differentiation among some C. quadricarinatus lineages exhibit as much genetic divergence at 16s RNA sequences as taxonomically recognised sub-species in the Cherax genus. Since C. quadricarinatus was originally described as different species based on external morphological differences (Reik, 1969), it is recommended that the taxonomy of C. quadricarinatus in Australia and PNG be re-evaluated. C. quadricarinatus specific microsatellite markers were developed for this study. Five variable loci were employed to investigate the extent of contemporary gene flow among fourteen C. quadricarinatus wild river populations in northern Australia. High FST and genetic distance estimates observed among pair wise comparisons of C. quadricarinatus populations are consistent with limited or no gene flow occurring among drainages. Speculation that C. quadricarinatus may disperse between adjacent or nearby drainages at times of flood, either across floodplains, or via flood plumes therefore seems highly unlikely among the populations examined in the current study. No significant correlation was observed between geographic distance and genetic distance among C. quadricarinatus populations here. C. quadricarinatus populations most closely resemble an island-like model, where gene flow is independent of geographic distance among populations and where genetic divergence occurs to a greater or lesser extent as a result of genetic drift within otherwise isolated populations. A significant number of C. quadricarinatus populations showed deviations from expected Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE). Samples sizes may not have been sufficiently large to reflect a true representation of genotypic proportions present in the sampled populations due to the highly variable nature of microsatellite loci. Deviations from HWE equilibrium, however, can also result from null alleles. Null allele estimates suggested a large proportion of null alleles were present in the C. quadricarinatus populations analysed. This may be a result of C. quadricarinatus populations confined to discrete drainages experiencing independent evolution, resulting in mutations in primer binding sites. The growing economic potential of C. quadricarinatus culture, both domestically and internationally, prompted expanding the current study to examine genetic diversity levels in commercial C. quadricarinatus stocks. The study employed five microsatellite markers to quantify genetic diversity in four Australian and three C. quadricarinatus culture stocks from overseas. Many C. quadricarinatus culture stocks also showed deviations from HWE expectations. This was not a surprising result given that the wild populations also deviated and domestication can also influence HWE. Relatively high levels of genetic diversity were observed. This probably results from intentional mixing of discrete river strains for production of the first commercial stock. Genetic differentiation estimates among culture stocks and assignment tests indicated that overseas culture stocks are most likely derived from the first commercial culture stock developed in Australia and then disseminated widely (the Hutchings stock). Robin Hutchings was a known supplier of live C. quadricarinatus to many international culture initiatives. Assignment of culture stocks back to their wild origins indicated that all C. quadricarinatus culture stocks sampled possess alleles that originate from the Flinders River (proportions ranged from 33-94%). Domestication of C. quadricarinatus to date has not resulted in significant reductions in levels of genetic diversity (heterozygosity or alleles richness) when compared to wild populations sampled in this study. Comparing culture stocks to wild populations to gauge their 'genetic health' may not be a suitable scale for evaluating genetic diversity in culture stocks. Wild populations are essentially evolving independently, are subjected to harsh seasonal environmental fluctuations resulting in periodic population crashes (genetic bottlenecks), with little or no recruitment from neighbouring drainages (gene flow). This study does however indicate that there is a large amount of genetic diversity distributed among wild populations that has yet to be exploited in culture. Genetic diversity in wild populations provides a resource for future stock improvement programs for C. quadricarinatus culture and thus requires careful conservation and appropriate management.