Distribution, growth and reproductive ecology of three pipefish from seagrass beds

Abstract

I was lucky to receive expert guidance from two chief supervisors, Dr P.F. Sale and Dr A.J. Underwood. I am particularly grateful to Dr Sale for accepting me as a student with little knowledge of marine ecology, no scholarship and plenty of fees to pay. His generous support, patience and advice were fundamental to my project. I am also very grateful to Dr Underwood for undertaking to be my supervisor when Dr Sale left the School of Biological Sciences at the end of 1987. Dr Underwood*s assistance in the organization of the ideas presented in this thesis was paramount. He has also critically reviewed all the chapters. I am indebted to Dr R. Bradley for his supervision and constructive criticisms while Dr Sale was away in 1986. My special thanks to Professor L.C. Birch for his constant encouragement and help and for making me think about ecology from a much broader perspective, and to Mr A. Steffe, and Drs J. Bell and M. Westoby for making time available for discussions and for allowing me access to unpublished data. I am indebted to Drs M. Peat and R. Shine for use of computing facilities. Many people, too numerous to list, gave me hints on computing and I am grateful to them all. I thank Dr K. McGuiness for providing statistical advice. Mr T. Magan and the staff from the workshop have given me much friendly assistance and I am grateful to them. ; One of the great enjoyments I have had in doing this project has been the making of many friendships. Most of these people have also helped me with field work. For this I very much thank R. Bladon, P. Dalmazzo, P. Ireland, R. Otaiza and L. Tong. In the field I also had help from my ‘family’ in Sydney: my brother, A. Duque-Portugal, R. Heather and Dr. B. Harrison. R. Otaiza and P. Dalmazzo have given me much of their time and provided many positive criticisms. The pictures of pipefishes that are shown here were taken by M. Porteners. My research experience started when I was 5 years old at a small town in inland Brazil. My brother Afonso (then 9 years) used to try all experiments which, according to an encyclopaedia, could be safely done at home; I was the research assistant. I have always admired Afonso for his selflessness; he has given me lots of help and his presence in Australia was essential. B. Harrison has provided much encouragement, support and understanding and I am greatly thankful to him. Agradego a minha mae, Dona Maria Augusta Duque Portugal, pelo seu carinho e dedicagao. Sou grato a meus irmaos e sobrinhos, que sempre me deram seu apoio.