1                    by LYNE MORISSETTE B.Sc. Université de Montréal, 1998 M.Sc. Université du Québec à Rimouski, 2001 A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES (Zoology) THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA October 2007  Lyne Morissette, 2007