Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Canterbury, 2008. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 120-142). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Western Australia, 2007.

No description available.

No description available.

Seven species of planktonic microcrustacea were identified from the North Texas State University Golf Course Pond. Total adult microcrustacean community density, biomass and biocontent, and seasonal cycles of each species were compared with northern populations. Species diversity and evenness indices were highest in summer and lowest in spring. Variations in microcrustacean density showed a positive correlation with density of phytoplankton. Temperature had a direct effect on metabolic rates of two species of copepods. Metabolic rates of pond species were lower at common temperatures than those of northern populations. An estimate of annual energy flow through the pond ecosystem showed cladocerans contributed the greater percentage of total energy to the next trophic level.

Annual energy flow and mean annual biocontent of eighteen compartments were determined for a 0.94 ha north central Texas pond ecosystem. Annual primary production was 7,780 kcal m^-2 yr^-2, and community production-to-respiration ratio was 1.49. One-third of annual primary production accumulated on the substrate as silt and sedimentation. Community production, production-respiration ratio, and biocontents of all compartments except aquatic insects were large in summer, small in winter. Biocontents of four trophic levels in the pond were all of the same order of magnitude, approximately 50 kcal m^-2. Suspended and benthic organic material forprimary consumers and terrestrial insects for tertiary consumers were substantial allochthanous energy imports into the pond system.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Deakin University, 2001. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on May 16, 2005). Includes bibliographical references (p. 203-224).

Ph.D. / Wetlands play an integral role in the hydrological cycle and biodiversity. Despite this, wetlands have been neglected in terms of research and monitoring in South Africa. This lack of research has become even more insufficient when it comes to endorheic wetlands. Endorheic wetlands in South Africa are known as pans. Pans are isolated depressions that for through wind erosion are generally shallow and lack an integrated drainage. Water gain is depended on rainfall and surface runoff and water loss is largely due to evaporation. Pans can be either ephemeral in nature or can remain inundated for long periods of time. There are close to 5000 pans in the study area of the Mpumalanga province of South Africa. An estimated 40% of these pans are perennial in nature. The little information on the ecology of pans is all focussed on those systems that are ephemeral. The lack of knowledge is, however, not restricted to the ecology of perennial pans but also the management tools available for these ecosystems. Whereas a variety of methods are available to determine the quantity and quality of water needed to sustain riverine systems (and wetlands connected to rivers), there are no such methods for pans. Especially important is the lack in standardised methods to assess the ecological integrity of perennial pans. This is important as perennial pan ecosystems are increasingly under threat from an increase in coal mining and agricultural activities in Mpumalanga. Coal mining activities have increased in the study area due to both an increase in energy demands and the ease of mining coal deposits in the study area. The lack in standardised methods could be as a direct result of the lack in knowledge of the ecology of the perennial pans. The aim of this study was thus to develop standardised methods for assessing the ecological integrity of perennial pans in Mpumalanga by studying the ecology of the pans. The study thus uses a fundamental approach to reach certain applied goals. To achieve the aim, a total of nine pans were included in the study of which seven were surveyed seasonally for two years and two were sampled on a single occasion. Five of these pans were located in the Mpumalanga Lake District (MLD) and were in a relatively pristine condition. The other four pans were impacted either by agricultural activities, mining activities or both. During these surveys, various components of the ecosystem were studied. These components included the spatial and temporal variations in the abiotic components like the physico-chemical characteristics, habitat quality and quantity, and the sediment characteristics. It also included the spatial and temporal variations in the vegetation communities surrounding the pans and the aquatic invertebrate communities within the pans. The aquatic invertebrate communities were assessed based on a taxonomic approach (diversity) and functional approach (biological traits).

Annual energy budgets of dominant benthic macro-invertebrates were examined during November 1973 to October 1974 from the benthos of a small pond ecosystem in north-central Texas. Estimates of annual secondary production (Hynes and Coleman 1968) were Procladius s. (Diptera, Chironimidae), 2.4 g m^-2 y^-1 (13 kcal m^-2 y^-1 ); Tendipes decorus (Diptera, Chironomidae), 6.0 g m^-2 y^-1 (40 kcal m^-2 y^-1 ); Brachycercus sp. (Ephemeroptera, Caenidae), 1.9 g m^-2 y^-1 (11 kcal m^-2 y^-1). Energy metabolism was measured in the laboratory at six seasonally encountered temperatures (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 C) on an acclimatization basis, and then extrapolated to the field. Estimates of annual energy metabolism are Procladius sp., 5.0 kcal m^-2 y^-1 ; Tendipes decorus, 17.2 kcal m^-2 y^-1 ; Brachycercus sp. 40.0 kcal m^-2 y^-1.

Rates of primary production and community metabolism were monitored over a one year period using the diurnal oxygen method. Certain physico-chemical parameters were also measured, and autotrophic standing crops were estimated. An in-depth study was made of the phytoplankton community and various diversity indicies were calculated. Simple correlations were run between all parameters measured (biotic and abiotic), and their inter-relationships examined. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to develop equations predictive of production and community metabolism. Bluegreen algae were the dominant phytoplankters with blooms occurring in late summer and fall. Yearly mean production was approximately 21 kcal per meter square per day with a mean photosynthetic efficiency of 1.2 per cent. Of the various parameters measured turbidity and water temperature were most important in determining rates of primary production.