Research in salt marshes dominated by the grass Sporobolus alterniflorus indicates that plant characteristics affect fiddler crab burrowing and in turn, crab activity can enhance primary productivity by increasing soil oxygen and nutrient cycling. Crab-plant interactions are less understood in microtidal Gulf Coast marshes compared to Atlantic Coast tidal marshes. It is unknown how structure of the dominant Gulf Coast vegetation zones (salt marsh, brackish marsh, fresh marsh and salt pannes) affects density of crab burrows and how burrows may influence primary productivity. I hypothesized that fiddler crabs would be most abundant in marsh zones with intermediate substrate hardness and vegetation density (Goldilocks Hypothesis). A seasonal habitat preference study was conducted during 2016-2017 in tidal marshes at Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in coastal Mississippi using burrow density as a proxy for crab abundance. Plant above- and below-ground biomass, burrow proximity to vegetation, and soil hardness were also surveyed as potential drivers of fiddler crab populations. The results indicated that fiddler crabs burrow in all four zones, but to varying degrees, and that burrow density was highest during autumn. The fresh marsh had the highest average density of burrows, as well as vegetation and soil parameters most representative of intermediate habitat, thereby supporting the “Goldilocks Hypothesis”. The brackish marsh also proved to be important fiddler crab habitat. Preferential fiddler crab usage of habitat upslope of salt marsh, e.g., fresh and brackish marsh, in Gulf Coast sites suggests that they may avoid immediate impacts of rising sea levels and possibly even migrate to higher ground if needed.

No description available.

No description available.

Communication is an essential component of animal social systems and a diverse suite of signals can be found in the natural environment. An area of animal communication that, for technical reasons, we know very little about is the field of ‘movement-based’ or ‘dynamic’ visual signals. In this thesis, I make use of recent advances in measurement and analysis techniques, including digital video and image motion processing tools, to improve our understanding of how movement-based signals are adjusted according to signalling context. I measured and characterised the flamboyant claw-waving displays of male fiddler crabs (Genus Uca) and made use of their transparent lifestyle to record the behavioural contexts in which these signals are produced.¶ The claw-waving displays of seven Australian species of fiddler crab are compared and contrasted to show that these signals are species-specific, but also vary within and between individuals. I show that the species Uca perplexa produces different types of signal in different behavioural contexts, a lateral wave for courtship, and a vertical wave during short-range agonistic and courtship interactions. The structure of the lateral courtship waves of Uca perplexa vary according to the distance of signal receivers, the first time this kind of relationship has been shown in a dynamic visual signal. Finally, I describe and analyse the signalling and orientation behaviour of U. elegans during courtship herding, an unusual mating system that uses the claw-waving display in a novel way.¶ The adjustments made by fiddler crabs to their displays during changes in behavioural contexts suggest that the fine-scale context-sensitivity of animal signals may be far more widespread in communication than hitherto recognised.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Florida State University, 2005. / Advisor: Dr. Joel Kostka, Florida State University, College of Arts and Sciences, Dept. of Oceanography. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed June 22, 2005). Document formatted into pages; contains xi, 108 pages. Includes bibliographical references.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The aim of this study was to describe the richness and composition of crabs (Crustacea: Brachyura) from four stations in the Rio Formoso mangrove, state of Pernambuco, and then characterize the population structure of the fiddler crab Uca cumulanta. Samplings were carried out monthly from March 2009 to April 2010, covering all microhabitats. The air temperature, burrow´s temperature and burrow´s salinity were measured and correlated to abundance of species, were also compared among sampling sites and between dry and rainy periods. To determine patterns in the structure and composition of the brachyuran taxocenosis were performed multivariate analyzes and calculated the diversity indices total and for each station. Were recorded 7.544 brachyuran crabs belonging to 23 species, 12 genera and seven families. The families with greater richness were Ocypodidae and Panopeidae. In relation to stations the greatest richness was recorded in station 4 (18 species) followed by station 1 (15 species), station 2 (13 species) and station 3 (8 species) of crabs was observed. The highest abundance was found in station 1 (2.242) individuals, followed by station 3 (2.039), station 2 (1.820) and station 4 (1.443). Uca thayeri and U. leptodactylus were the most abundant species. The highest Shannon diversity occurred in station 4, station 2 and 3 had the lowest evenness. The taxocenosis of crabs showed a clear spatial pattern with high dissimilarity between stations, greatest between stations 3 and 4 (72.01 %). Environmental variables did not influence the abundance of species and it also did not varied among sampling stations, however, varied between dry and rainy period. The results showed that the diversity of crabs in the mangrove areas of Rio Formoso was expressive, however, with low diversity indices due to dominance of some species, the collection area has great spatial heterogeneity and environmental variables had no influence on the abundance of crabs at this site. In order to characterize the population structure of Uca cumulanta, based on same data sampling described before, the average size of males and females, the frequency distribution by size classes (carapace width - CW), sex ratio, ovigerous females and handedness in the population were analyzed. A total of 346 individuals were collected: 211 males and 135 females. There was no significant difference in the average size of carapace width of males (7.86 ± 1.07 mm) and females (7.88 ± 1.15 mm). The size frequency distribution was normal and unimodal for both males and females. The overall sex-ratio (1.56: 1) shows a higher frequency of males. Only five ovigerous females were found and a population was predominant right-handed. In general, population of U. cumulanta is stable and data was similar to those previously recorded for other species of the genus. Considering that most tropical mangroves were not well explored and there are many species to be discovered, this study will contribute to the knowledge of local taxocenosis and thus provide allowance for crab conservation and management of this estuarine area. / O objetivo deste trabalho foi descrever a riqueza e a composição de caranguejos (Crustacea: Brachyura) de quatro pontos de amostragem no manguezal do Rio Formoso, Estado de Pernambuco, e em seguida, caracterizar a estrutura populacional do caranguejo chama-maré Uca cumulanta. Para isto, foram realizadas amostragens mensais no período de março de 2009 a abril de 2010, abrangendo todos os microhabitats. A temperatura do ar, temperatura da toca e salinidade foram mensuradas e correlacionadas com a abundância de espécies, também foram comparadas entre pontos de amostragem e período seco e chuvoso. Para determinar padrões na estrutura e composição da taxocenose de braquiúros foram realizadas análises multivariadas e calculados os índices de diversidade totais e para cada ponto de coleta. Foram registrados 7,544 exemplares de caranguejos braquiúros pertencentes a 23 espécies, 12 gêneros e a sete famílias. As famílias que apresentaram maior riqueza foram Ocypodidae e a Panopeidae. Em relação aos pontos de coleta a maior riqueza foi registrada no ponto 4 (18 espécies) seguida do ponto 1 (15 espécies), ponto 2 (13 espécies) e ponto 3 foi observada apenas 8 espécies de caranguejos. A maior abundância foi registrada no ponto 1 (2242) indivíduos, seguida do ponto 3 (2039), ponto 2 (1820) e ponto 4 (1443). Uca thayeri e U. leptodactylus foram as espécies mais abundantes. A maior diversidade de Shannon ocorreu no ponto 4, os ponto 2 e 3 apresentaram a mais baixa equitabilidade. A taxocenose de caranguejos apresentou um padrão espacial bem definido, com alta dissimilaridade entre os pontos de coleta, sendo maior entre os pontos 3 e 4 (72,01%). As variáveis ambientais não tiveram influência na abundância de espécies e também não variaram entre os pontos de amostragem, no entanto, entre período seco e chuvoso variaram. Os resultados demonstraram que a diversidade de caranguejos nas áreas do manguezal do Rio Formoso foi expressiva, porém, com índices baixos devido à dominância de algumas espécies, a área de coleta apresenta grande heterogeneidade espacial e as variáveis ambientais analisadas não tiveram influência sob a abundância de caranguejos neste local. Para caracterizar a estrutura populacional de Uca cumulanta, a partir de dados provenientes da coleta descrita anteriormente, foram analisados o tamanho médio de machos e de fêmeas, a distribuição de frequência em classes de tamanho de largura da carapaça (LC), a razão sexual, número de ovígeras e destreza na população. Foram coletados 346 indivíduos, sendo 211 machos e 135 fêmeas. Não houve diferença significativa no tamanho médio (LC) de machos (7,86 ± 1,07 mm) e fêmeas (7,88 ± 1,15 mm). A distribuição de frequência em classes de tamanho (LC) apresentou um padrão normal para ambos os sexos. A proporção sexual total foi desviada em favor dos machos (1,56: 1). Apenas cinco fêmeas ovígeras foram registradas e a população foi predominantemente destra. Em geral, a população de U. cumulanta apresentou-se estável e com características semelhantes a outras do gênero. Tendo em vista que a maioria dos manguezais tropicais ainda não foram bem explorados e há muitas espécies para serem descobertas, este estudo irá contribuir para o conhecimento da taxocenose de caranguejos local e assim fornecer subsídeo para projetos de conservação e manejo desta área estuarina.

No description available.

The 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill resulted in a large release of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) into the Gulf of Mexico. PAH can interact with ultraviolet radiation (UV) resulting in increased toxicity, particularly to early lifestage organisms. The goal of this research was to determine the sensitivity of fiddler crab larvae (Uca longisignalis) to photo-induced toxicity following exposure to Deepwater Horizon spill oil in support of the DWH Natural Resource Damage Assessment. Five replicate dishes each containing 20 larvae, were exposed to one of three UV treatments (10%, 50%, and 100% ambient natural sunlight) and one of five dilutions of water accommodated fractions of two naturally weathered source oils. A dose dependent effect of PAH and UV on larval mortality was observed. Mortality was markedly higher in PAH treatments that included co-exposure to more intense UV light. PAH treatments under low intensity sunlight had relatively high survival. These data demonstrate the importance of considering combined effects of non-chemical (i.e. UV exposure) and chemical stressors and the potential for photo-induced effects after exposure to PAH following the Deepwater Horizon spill.

Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka om det finns grundläggande skillnader i undervisningsmetoder och pedagogiska förhållningssätt mellan fiolpedagoger inom genren svensk folkmusik. Jämförelsen fokuserar på lärare med respektive utan formell musiklärarexamen inom genren. Fyra kvalitativa telefonintervjuer har legat till grund för undersökningen där de med respektive utan examen representerats av två personer var. Den teoretiska utgångspunkten för studien har varit det sociokulturella perspektivet. Studiens resultat visar att det är mer som förbinder än som skiljer de fyra pedagogerna åt. Här finns ett betonande av gehörsundervisning, spelglädje och musikalisk funktion, vilket hör till traditionen i den svenska folkmusikgenren. Detta är en stor del av det sociokulturella perspektivet där tradition, sociala sammanhang och fysiska artefakter är centralt. Dock är det möjligt att se ett tydligare inslag av institutionaliserade kunskaper bland de med formell lärarexamen. Här finns ett större användande av noter och en något mer uttalad progression i pedagogiken. Här finns också en större öppenhet för genrebredd, medan de utan musiklärarexamen mer renodlat inriktar sig på svensk folkmusik och vad genrens historik grundas på. / The purpose of this study is to investigate whether there are fundamental differences in methodologies and pedagogical approach between violin pedagogues of the genre of Swedish folk music. The comparison focuses on teachers with and without formal music teacher education in the genre. Four qualitative telephone interviews were the basis for the study, where two people each represented those with and without a degree. The theoretical starting point for the study has been the socio-cultural perspective. The results demonstrate that there is more connecting than separating the four teachers ate. Here is an emphasis on ear training teaching, joy and musical function, which belongs to the tradition of the Swedish folk music genre. This way of working is connected to the socio-cultural perspective, where tradition, social context, and physical artefacts are in focus. However, it is possible to see a clearer part of institutionalized knowledge among the teachers with formal teaching qualification. These teachers have a greater use of notes and a slightly more pronounced progression in education. They also have a greater openness to all music, while those without a music teacher education more purely focuses on Swedish folk music and what the genre's history is based on.

Submitted by Sandra Pereira (srpereira@ufrrj.br) on 2017-01-23T10:52:12Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2014 - Luziane Montezoli Damon Mendes.pdf: 10632014 bytes, checksum: c93d6f0447b91ec5177b962e2f091bd9 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-01-23T10:52:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2014 - Luziane Montezoli Damon Mendes.pdf: 10632014 bytes, checksum: c93d6f0447b91ec5177b962e2f091bd9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-08-07 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient?fico e Tecnol?gico - CNPQ / Species of the genus Uca Leach 1814, have wide distribution in tropical, subtropical and temperate regions of the world, especially as a species excavators substrate, activity is important the processes of energy transfer and nutrient cycling, and is considered a keystone species in the ecosystem. This study was conducted with the aim of investigate the ecology distribution, population biology and somatic growth and natural mortality of the genus Uca in Itacuru??/Coroa Grande mangrove, Sepetiba Bay- RJ. Sampling was conducted in the right bank of the Draga river and Itingussu river during May/2010 to April/2011. The samplings were made monthly by two collectors during 10 minutes in low tide, digging sediment and removing crabs. Sediment samples were collected in 72 subareas of 5x5m, to determine the granulometry, organic matter, calcium, phosphor and metal zinco e manganese. They were studied seven species of the genus Uca: Uca cumulanta, Uca leptodactylus, Uca rapax, Uca thayeri, Uca uruguayensis, Uca mordax and Uca vocator. Uca cumulanta was the more abundant species and Uca vocator the rarer.The results indicated that distribution of the species was influenced by abiotic factors, being the main limiting factors: salinity, sediment grain size, organic matter, concentrations of phosphor and metals, zinc and manganese. Only air temperature presented correlatin with the abundance of the ovigerous females. During the study period was collected a total of 4234 crabs, with 2570 males and 1664 females (61 ovigerous females). The results of the mean size revealed the occurrence of significant differences between the sexes, with a predominance of larger males, for the most populations. Only the females of U. cumulanta presented larger mean size compared to males, and U. thayeri no difference between the sexes. The results of the growth dynamics revealed that a longevity for the study populations ranged from 3.27 to 4.22 years. U. thayeri was the species with the lowest difference in relation to longevity between the sexes, with 3.43 years for males and 3.53 years for females, and U. leptodactylus showed higher amplitude, with 3.43 years for males and 4 07 years for females. The coefficients of natural mortality showed no marked inter and intraspecific differences according to species and sexes, although the values of natural mortality have been higher on males than females / As esp?cies do g?nero Uca possuem ampla distribui??o nas regi?es tropicais, subtropicais e temperadas do mundo, destacando-se como esp?cies escavadoras do substrato, atividade importante para os processos de transfer?ncia de energia e ciclagem de nutrientes e ? considerada uma esp?cie-chave do ecossistema. Este trabalho foi realizado com objetivo de analisar a biologia populacional, distribui??o ecol?gica, crescimento som?tico e mortalidade natural das esp?cies do g?nero Uca no manguezal de Itacuru?a/Coroa Grande, Ba?a de Sepetiba ? RJ. A amostragem foi realizada ? margem direita do rio da Draga e do Rio Itingussu, em tr?s grades (0, 100 e 200 m), durante o per?odo de maio/2010 a abril/2011, mensalmente, durante a mar? baixa, por 10 minutos, atrav?s de coletas manuais escavando o sedimento e removendo os caranguejos. Amostras do sedimento foram coletadas nas 72 sub?reas de 5x5m, para determinar o tamanho das part?culas, mat?ria org?nica, teor de c?lcio, f?sforo e os metais, ferro, zinco e mangan?s. Foram capturadas sete esp?cies do g?nero Uca: Uca cumulanta, Uca leptodactylus, Uca rapax, Uca thayeri, Uca uruguayensis, Uca mordax e Uca vocator. A esp?cie mais abundante foi U. leptodactylus e U. vocator a mais rara.. As principais vari?veis limitantes da abund?ncia das esp?cies do g?nero Uca no manguezal de Itacuru??/Coroa Grande, foram a salinidade, tamanho dos gr?os do sedimento, teor de mat?ria org?nica, concentra??o de f?sforo e dos metais ferro, zinco e mangan?s. Para as f?meas ov?geras a vari?vel temperatura do ar foi a ?nica, que apresentou correla??o com a abund?ncia desses organismos. Durante o per?odo de estudo foi analisado um total de 4234 caranguejos, sendo 2570 machos e 1664 f?meas (61 f?meas ov?geras). A an?lise dos resultados do tamanho m?dio revelou a ocorr?ncia de diferen?as significativas entre os sexos, com predomin?ncia de machos maiores, para maioria das popula??es. Somente as f?meas de U. cumulanta apresentaram maior tamanho m?dio quando comparadas aos machos, j? U. thayeri n?o apresentou diferen?a significativa entre os sexos. Os resultados da din?mica de crescimento, revelaram que a longevidade para as popula??es em estudo, variou de 3,27 a 4,22 anos. U. thayeri foi a esp?cie que apresentou menor diferen?a em rela??o ? longevidade entre os sexos, com 3,43 anos para machos e 3,53 anos para f?meas, j? U. leptodactylus apresentou maior amplitude, com 3,43 anos para machos e 4,07 anos para f?meas. Os coeficientes de mortalidade natural n?o evidenciaram diferen?as inter e intraespecificas acentuadas de acordo com a esp?cie e o sexo, embora os valores de mortalidade natural tenham sido um pouco mais elevados sobre os machos, do que sobre as f?meas. Palavras-chave: Ba?a de Sepetiba, chama-mar?s, longevidade, padr?o de distribui??o, mortalidade.