PhD-Thesis

Ecology and reproduction of gobies (Pisces: Gobiidae) of the Netherland Antilles

Supervisor: 
Prof. Dr. Robert Patzner

My thesis: 
I am investigating the species Coryphopterus glaucofraenum, Coryphopterus eidolon, Coryphopterus dicrus, Coryphopterus thrix and Gnatholepis thompsoni. All these gobies live associated with sand patches at coral reefs and little is known about their ecology and reproduction. Amazingly all these species either live in very similar locations or share habitats, which brings up the question how this is be possible in terms of ressource partitioning and in which ecological details they differ. Field work, sampling and aquarium experiments were performed in 2005 at the Curacao Sea Aqarium, Curacao, Netherland Antilles. Evaluations of samples are now taking place in the laboratory (analysis of dentition and stomach contents, eggs and developing stages of eggs). Observations, experiments and results are being described and evaluated statistically. The aim is to better understand the ecology and reproduction of the investigated species.

About myself

Born 1977 in Salzburg, Austria. From early childhood on I have been on sailing boats all around the Mediterranean Sea. In 1995, after my graduation from high school, I learned how to SCUBA dive and decided to study biology at the University of Salzburg, Austria, with the aim to become a marine biologist. During my studies I spent one year at the Unversity of Vienna, Austria and another year at the University of Marseille, France; participating in theoretical and practical marine biology courses whenever I could. At the same time I was a volunteer for the Sea Turtle Conservation Society of Greece, became a PADI Divemaster and CMAS ***Diver and a skipper for sailing and motor yachts. 
The fieldwork for my Master Thesis on the feeding ecology of Gerres cinereus took place at the Bimini Biological Field Station in the Bahamas and the Marquesas Keys, Florida, where I was a volunteer for an Ecosystem Study on juvenile lemon sharks. In 2002 I graduated with a Master’s degree in Zoology from the University of Salzburg, Austria. Shortly after my graduation I became a volunteer at the Charles Darwin Research Station, Galápagos, Ecuador, where I was working in different marine biological projects for over a year. Finally I decided to enroll for my PhD in Zoology at the University of Salzburg, Austria and work on the ecology and reproduction of gobies from the Netherland Antilles. To achieve the fieldwork I lived and worked as a marine biologist at the at the Curacao Sea Aquarium, Curacao, Dutch Antilles in 2005. I started working for the Turtle Foundation in 2006. Currently I am working on my PhD Thesis.
Since 1998 I am a member of BUFUS. 

Publications
Kramer A., 2002: Feeding ecology of Gerres cinereus at the Bimini Islands, Bahamas, and at the Marquesas Keys, Florida. MSc. thesis, University of Salzburg.

Contact: Mag. Annemarie Kramer

Team Patzner/Marine
University of Salzburg, 
Department Organismic Biology
Hellbrunnerstr. 34, 
A-5020 Salzburg, Austria


E-Mail: annemariekramer@gmx.net