Submitted by ANA ELISA BIELERT LOPES null (anaelisa_lopes@hotmail.com) on 2017-09-29T18:51:09Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Ana Elisa B. Lopes - com artigo anexado.pdf: 3755415 bytes, checksum: 2f9f1960e6fda6593835653e5f78966a (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Monique Sasaki (sayumi_sasaki@hotmail.com) on 2017-09-29T19:28:01Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 lopes_aeb_me_bot.pdf: 3755415 bytes, checksum: 2f9f1960e6fda6593835653e5f78966a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-09-29T19:28:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 lopes_aeb_me_bot.pdf: 3755415 bytes, checksum: 2f9f1960e6fda6593835653e5f78966a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-08-02 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / This is the first study to evaluate in broad spatiotemporal scales the growth parameters and population structure of Rimapenaeus constrictus, a barely damaged species composing the bycatch from shrimp fishing in the Western Atlantic. The abundance and size-class frequency distribution, growth, longevity and sex ratio were evaluated from monthly samples obtained in the northern littoral of São Paulo state from Jan/1998 to Jun/2003. We measured 5,812 individuals in which the sex ratio was skewed toward females; this was more evident in size classes greater than 10 mm in CL (carapace length) (binomial test, p<0.05). We selected 16 growth cohorts of females, and 8 of males, the majority consisting of younger individual cohorts excluded from the fisheries closure period. Growth estimates resulted in a CL∞ of 17.42 mm, a growth coefficient of 0.008 and a longevity of 579 days (1.60 year) for females, as well as a CL∞ of 16.3 mm, a growth coefficient of 0.01 and a longevity of 425 days (1.17 year) for males. Our results provide information of incontestable relevance to our knowledge of fishing management. We therefore strongly recommend that the fisheries closure period be changed to protect this species’ recruitment period and consequently its adult individuals. The reproduction and recruitment were analyzed in order to determine the size at the onset of sexual maturity, the reproductive and recruitment patterns and the copulation period. In our study, 6,456 shrimps were captured among which 5,774 were measured, which 4,322 were females and 1,452 were males. The estimated maturity was 8.3 mm and 11.2 mm, for males and females, respectively. Reproductive females were found over the 5-year study. These results suggests a continuous reproduction pattern, with peaks in summer and in spring. We verified a positive significant relation between reproductive females and temperature (lag +1 and +3), although the decrease in bottom water temperature in some peaks of reproductive activity (spawning), which was probably induced due to SACW intrusion. The recruitment was considered episodic and even though no significant relation was found between immatures and reproductive females, we suggested that the main recruitment peaks observed were a consequence of the major reproductive activities a few months prior to it. The copulation period was continuous in the sampled period, and ISP females (recently copulated) were significant correlated with reproductive males (lag 0). Thus, we propose that during this period the sexual proportion is 1:1, probably due to the migration of reproductive males, attracted to copulate. Our results provide information of incontestable relevance to our wide knowledge of the species’ reproductive biology, in order to support an accurate fishing management. / FAPESP: 2015/13639-5

Abstract Recognition of the importance of a regional perspective for understanding the structure and dynamics of local assemblages has stimulated the emergence of the field of macroecology. Most attention has been directed to terrestrial ecosystems, while large-scale patterns in biodiversity of aquatic organisms have received less attention. In this thesis I examined patterns of aquatic diversity across several geographic areas and scales, in an effort to understand some of the environmental and spatial factors determining species diversity in aquatic environments. The main objectives of this thesis were: (i) to examine the latitudinal diversity patterns of marine crustaceans and molluscs and their relationship to large scale environmental gradients, (ii) to study macroinvertebrate species richness in headwater streams at two spatial extents, within and across drainage systems, and assess the relative importance of local, landscape and regional variables, and (iii) to study diversity patterns of macroorganisms vs microorganism, comparing distance decay patterns of stream diatoms, macroinvertebrates and bryophytes. Latitudinal diversity patterns of crustaceans and molluscs were clearly related to larval developmental mode. An increase in species richness towards high latitudes was found for species with direct development, whereas richness of species with planktotrophic development decreased poleward. Sea surface temperature was the most important environmental gradient related to species richness of both phyla and each developmental mode, but with different effects on each mode. Stream macroinvertebrate species richness at the bioregion extent was negatively related to water humic content. Another factor related to species richness at the bioregion extent was elevation range, a variable linked to stream topographic heterogeneity. Local environmental variables explained most of the variation in species richness at the drainage system extent, however high among-region variability was evident. Patterns between macro- and microorganism may not be fundamentally different, but the level of environmental control varied, being strongest for diatoms, while some groups of benthic macroinvertebrates exhibited relatively strong dispersal limitation. The relative importance of niche vs. dispersal processes is not simply a function of organism size but other traits (e.g. life-history type, dispersal capacity) may obscure this relationship.

Temperature variation affects most biological parameters from the molecular level to community structure and dynamics. Current studies on thermal biology assess how populations vary in response to environmental temperature, which can help determine how populations differentially respond to climate change. To date, temperature fluctuation effects on endothermic poikilotherms such as the common eastern bumblebee (Bombus impatiens) are unknown even though bumblebees are the most important natural pollinators in North America. A cold-acclimation experiment with B. impatiens colonies revealed individuals acclimated to 5°C or 10°C at night did not differ in resting metabolic rate, flight metabolic rate, wingbeat frequency, or morphological measurements, compared to the control group. Moreover, an infrared camera showed that all colonies maintained maximum nest temperature consistently above 36.8°C. A latitudinal sampling of flight metabolic rate and morphological measurements of B. impatiens from four locations spanning Ontario (N 45°; W 75°) to North Carolina (N 34°; W 77°) indicated no latitudinal trend in the measured variables. This study shows that bumblebees are well equipped to face a wide range of environmental temperatures, both in the short term and long term, and can use a combination of behavioural and physiological mechanisms to regulate body and nest temperatures. These results are reassuring on the direct effects of climate change on bumblebee ecology, but further studies on the indirect effect of temperature variation on North American bumblebees are required to predict future ecosystem dynamics.

The Broad Caribbean region is defined as the Gulf of Mexico, and the coastal and marine areas of the Caribbean Sea, including the chain of islands forming the Greater and Lesser Antilles, Turks and Caicos, the Bahamas, and the gulf coasts of the United States, Central and South America (Stanley, 1995). The cephalopods of the Broad Caribbean were examined in terms of distribution, abundance, and ecological importance. A suite of 5190 preserved cephalopod specimens were identified and catalogued to produce regional maps of cephalopod distribution within the Broad Caribbean. Eighteen range extensions were noted for known species. Regional species richness was examined with respect to Rapoport's Rule with an eye toward possible cephalopod hotspots in the region. Cephalopods of the Broad Caribbean within the latitudinal bands of 8°N and 30°N do not support Rapoport's Rule as they exhibit increasing species richness with increasing latitude. Eight subareas were chosen to compare species richness. Regionally, species richness is patchy, with the largest concentration of cephalopods off the eastern Florida coast. Areas of the southern Caribbean Sea are in need of more samples for accurate assemblage counts and more meaningful comparisons with other Caribbean regions. Rarefaction curves were used to normalize the variously sized samples throughout the Broad Caribbean. A checklist of the Gulf of Mexico based on literature developed a picture for the northern regions of the Broad Caribbean. This checklist provided an updated account of cephalopod species that were reported from smaller literature works. Lastly, the first observation in the North Atlantic Ocean of the deep-sea squid Asperoteuthis acanthoderma (family Chiroteuthidae) was described. The description is based on two nearly intact, but damaged, specimens that were found floating at the surface in the waters off Key West and Marathon, Florida in 2007. All previously known records are recorded from a few specimens scattered in the western Pacific Ocean. There is a need for increased sampling throughout the Broad Caribbean to explore the systematics, life histories, distribution patterns, and potential fisheries for this group of organisms.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(理学) / 甲第18798号 / 理博第4056号 / 新制||理||1583(附属図書館) / 31749 / 京都大学大学院理学研究科地球惑星科学専攻 / (主査)准教授 齊藤 昭則, 教授 田口 聡, 教授 余田 成男 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Science / Kyoto University / DGAM

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Non-native species richness has been observed to peak at mid-temperate latitudes, shaping a pattern of richness and abundance that is distinct from native species patterns that peak in the tropics. Stronger species interactions, and therefore biotic resistance, may lower invasion success in the tropics and help explain the discrepancy between native and non-native richness and abundance. To test the hypothesis that strong predation and competition in the tropics could limit invasion success, we conducted a distributed experiment on sessile marine invertebrate communities in four regions spanning 47-degrees latitude of the eastern Pacific Ocean. We manipulated predator access and resource availability at 12 sites and sampled experimental communities in early and late stages of assembly. Overall, our results suggest that biogeographic location, assembly timescale, and predation interactively shape invasion success across latitude. Strong predation reduced richness of non-native species in the tropics at both assembly timescales but increased non-native species richness in the subtropics during early assembly. Predation also increased non-native abundance in the tropics by late-stage assembly and shaped non-native composition at both assembly stages. Effects of predation at higher latitudes were weak or undetectable, and increasing resource availability never had a positive impact on non-native richness or abundance at any latitude. Further, non-native richness was greater at early relative to late assembly stages at mid to low latitudes and was consistently low in our high latitude region at both timescales. In a complementary experiment, short-term predator exposure reduced non-native abundance in Panama, further confirming the influence of predation in this tropical region. Our results highlight important biogeographic differences in invasion dynamics and disentangle local mechanisms that can shape regional patterns. / Biology

Survival of females, nests, and ducklings strongly influence annual recruitment in North American ducks. Studies of cavity-nesting ducks using nest boxes, such as wood ducks (Aix sponsa), hooded merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) and black-bellied whistling duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis) historically have investigated extrinsic factors, such as nest predation, and how it influenced nest success. For my study, I evaluated data from 1,403 monitored nest boxes collected from eight states, 2020–2022. I studied intrinsic characteristics related to reproduction, such as egg and clutch sizes, and eggshell strength in the 3 cavity-nesting ducks. Variables including clutch size, egg mass, parasitism, and onset of incubation influenced reproductive success of wood ducks. Latitude also influenced clutch size in wood ducks, where for every 14.3° increase in latitude, I found one more egg per clutch. Hooded mergansers had the strongest eggshells and eggshell composition varied across latitude in hooded merganser, but not in wood ducks.