Flores das espécies Sambucus nigra, de origem européia, e Sambucus australis, nativa da América do Sul (Caprifoliaceae), denominadas sabugueiro e sabugueirodo- brasil, respectivamente, são utilizadas popularmente sob forma de infusão, como antiinflamatórias, laxativas e para condições febris resultantes de afecções do trato respiratório. Estudos prévios para S. nigra indicam compostos fenólicos como principais constituintes químicos, sendo estes relacionados às principais atividades biológicas avaliadas. Objetivando comparar esta espécie com Sambucus australis, foram realizadas análises botânicas macro e microscópicas das flores, identificando as principais diferenças entre as espécies, tais como o número de lóculos no ovário e presença de idioblastos cristalíferos em algumas estruturas, e observando os possíveis contaminantes (pedicelos). Também foram determinados os parâmetros farmacopéicos: cinzas totais e perda por dessecação. Após a análise química, foi escolhido o flavonóide rutina como marcador das espécies, para realizar análises quantitativas nas 31 amostras adquiridas e / ou coletadas, utilizando método de CLAE previamente validado. Soluções hidroetanólicas apresentaram maior capacidade de extração do produto alvo. Os limites mínimos de rutina observados para ambas as espécies foram de aproximadamente 0,65%. Também foram quantificados, por método espectrofotométrico, os flavonóides totais expressos em quercetina, sendo 0,93% e 1,46% os teores mínimos determinados para S.nigra e S. australis, respectivamente. O estudo da estabilidade acelerada (50°C ± 90% U.R.), avaliando a degradação dos constituintes químicos presentes permitiu sugerir a cinética de degradação de segunda ordem para da rutina nas duas espécies. Comparações de atividades biológicas das espécies foram realizadas pelos ensaios das atividades antiinflamatória (inibição do edema em pata de rato induzido por carragenina) e antioxidante (DPPH). Os resultados para o primeiro ensaio demonstraram ação equivalente em ambas as espécies para extratos hidroetanólicos a 80% (86% de inibição) e aquosos (81%), com atividade semelhante ao padrão indometacina (~83%); para a atividade antioxidante os extratos hidroetanólicos a 80% foram mais ativos (CE50 = 16 μg/ml) que os aquosos (CE50 = 27 μg/ml) em S. australis, e ambos extratos, superiores ao 28 extrato padronizado Gingko biloba (CE50 = 40 μg/ml) e aos extratos de S. nigra (CE50= 50 μg/ml – hidroetanólico e CE50= 32 μg/ml – aquoso). / Sambucus nigra (from Europe) and Sambucus australis (from South America) flowers (Caprifoliaceae), called sabugueiro and sabugueiro-do-brazil, respectively, are used in the folk medicine as anti-inflammatory, laxative and for respiratory diseases. Previous studies for S. nigra indicate phenolic compounds as the main chemical constituents, being related for these ones the biological activities reported. In order to compare this species with S. australis macro and microscopical analysis of the flowers were carried out to identify the major differences between the species, such as the number of ovary locules and idioblasts in some structures, verifying the possible contaminants (pedicels). The following Pharmacopoeia parameters were also determined: total ash and loss on drying. After the chemical analysis, it was chosen the rutin flavonol as the mark constituent for both species, to carry through quantitative analysis of the 31 acquired and/or collected samples, by previously validated HPLC method. Hydroethanolic solutions had shown greater capacity of extraction of the target product. The minimum limits of rutin observed for both species had been of approximately 0.65%. The total flavonoid content was also quantified by spectrophotometer method, being expressed as quercetin, finding 0.93% and 1.46% the minimum values for S. nigra and S. australis, respectively. The accelerated stability test (50 ºC ± 90% UR) that evaluate the degradation of the constituents, allowed to verify a kinetic degradation of second order for rutin in both species. Comparison of biological activities of these species was carried out using the antiedematogenic (rat paw edema) and antioxidant (DPPH) activities. The results for the first test showed an equivalent action for the hydroethanolic (86% of edema inibition) and aqueous (81%) extracts, exhibiting a similar activity to indometacin (~83%). For the antioxidant activity, the ethanolic extracts (CE50 = 16 μg/ml) were more active than the aqueous (CE50 = 27 μg/ml ) for S. australis, and, both extracts were superiors to the Ginko biloba (CE50 = 40 μg/ml) and to the S. nigra extracts (CE50 = 50 μg/ml – hydroethanolic and CE50 = 32 μg/ml - aqueous).

Submitted by Claudia Rocha (claudia.rocha@udesc.br) on 2018-03-15T14:34:52Z No. of bitstreams: 1 PGCA15MA209.pdf: 754313 bytes, checksum: d222ad27deddfb1802f4b7162c86c21e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-03-15T14:34:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PGCA15MA209.pdf: 754313 bytes, checksum: d222ad27deddfb1802f4b7162c86c21e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-12-03 / FUMDES / Ergotism is a disease caused by ingestion of sclerotia called ergot, which contains alkaloids that act on adrenergic, dopaminergic and serotonergic causing direct effect on blood vessels, smooth muscle and central and autonomic nervous system. The present study describes epidemiological data, clinical signs and lesions of a cattle disease characterized by hyperthermia, tachycardia, tachypnea and injuries in the coronary band of the hoof. Initially cause was attributed to the fungus Claviceps purpurea. Between 2000 and 2014 were reported 13 outbreaks, three distérmica form, three nervous form and seven gangrenous form. However, in five of the seven outbreaks of the gangrenous form, in places where animals grazed there was loads of inflorescences of smut grass (Sporobolus indicus) contaminated by a blackened fungus, classified as Bipolaris australis. The disease was reproduced experimentally by administration of inflorescences of smut grass contaminated by B. australis. For five cattle were administered daily doses of 0.1 g/kg, 0.2 g/kg, 0.2 g/Kg, 0.26 g/kg and 0.34 g/kg for 4, 7, 9, 30 and 30 days respectively. After three to seven days of eating contaminated inflorescences four cattle had diarrhea, tachycardia, tachypnea and intermittent hyperthermia. These clinical signs coincided with warmer days and warmer temperatures of the day. An animal showed hyperemia in the coronary band of the hoof and loss of the tail end of the hair. According to results of this study in cattle, can prove that smut grass (Sporobolus indicus) contaminated by B. australis can cause hyperthermia, tachycardia, tachypnea, injuries in the coronary band of the hoof and loss of the tail end of the hair / Ergotismo é uma enfermidade causada pela ingestão de escleródios chamados de ergot, que contém alcalóides que atuam em receptores adrenérgicos, dopaminérgicos e seratoninérgicos causando efeito direto em vasos sanguíneos, musculatura lisa e sistema nervoso central e autônomo. Descrevem-se dados epidemiológicos, sinais clínicos e lesões de uma enfermidade de bovinos caracterizada por hipertermia, taquicardia, taquipneia e ulcerações na coroa do casco de bovinos. Inicialmente a etiologia foi atribuída ao fungo Claviceps purpurea. Entre 2000 e 2014 foram descritos 13 surtos, três da forma distérmica, três da forma nervosa e sete da forma gangrenosa. Porém, em cinco destes sete surtos, nos locais onde esses animais pastoreavam havia grande quantidade de inflorescências de Sporobolus indicus conhecido como “capim-mourão”, contaminadas por um fungo com coloração enegrecida, identificado como Bipolaris australis. A enfermidade foi reproduzida experimentalmente em cinco bovinos com a administração destas inflorescências. Os bovinos em experimentação receberam respectivamente doses diárias de 0,1g/kg, 0,2g/kg, 0,2g/kg, 0,26g/kg e 0,34g/kg por um período de 4, 7, 9, 30 e 30 dias. Após três a sete dias de ingestão das inflorescências contaminadas, quatro dos cinco animais apresentaram diarreia e manifestaram taquicardia, taquipneia e hipertermia em algum período durante a ingestão. Estes sinais coincidiram com os dias mais quentes deste período. Um animal manifestou hiperemia na coroa do casco e perda de pêlos da extremidade da cauda. Baseado na reprodução experimental é possível afirmar que o capim Sporobolus indicus contaminado pelo fungo Bipolaris australis é capaz de causar hipertermia, taquicardia, taquipneia, hiperemia na coroa do casco e perda de pêlos da extremidade da cauda

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / O litoral centro-sul do estado de Santa Catarina representa a mais importante área de concentração reprodutiva das baleias-franca-austral, Eubalaena australis, no Brasil. O objetivo deste estudo é caracterizar o padrão comportamental dos pares fêmea-filhote que migram para essas áreas ao longo de 10 temporadas reprodutivas (2003 a 2012). Observações realizadas em pontos fixos foram conduzidas de Julho a Novembro, entre 2003 e 2012, de seis a sete vezes por semana, entre as 6:00h e 17:00h. Os dados foram coletados com auxilio de binóculos Pentax 12x55 mm, bússola, relógio digital, e registrados em fichas de campo padronizadas. Os estados comportamentais (natação, descanso e ativo) foram registrados em intervalos de cinco minutos e a frequência de eventos registrada em cada intervalo de cinco minutos. Natação foi o estado comportamental que prevaleceu tanto para fêmeas e filhotes, seguido de descanso e ativo para as fêmeas e seguido de ativo e descanso para os filhotes. A natação e o descanso são importantes para as fêmeas pois exigem menos energia, já que precisam usá-la para atividades das quais a sobrevivência da espécie depende, como parir, amamentar e cuidar dos filhotes. Para os filhotes, o comportamento ativo é mais importante para o seu desenvolvimento motor e preparação para o processo migratório. Os eventos mais expressados por ambos fêmea e filhote foram exposições indefinidas, estas sendo duas vezes maior para os filhotes. Os filhotes apresentaram comportamentos aéreos em taxas maiores do que as fêmeas, o que denota a importância de tais comportamentos no auxílio ao desenvolvimento da coordenação e na aptidão motora e no fortalecimento da musculatura, melhorando a resistência para a migração. A taxa de ocorrência de eventos aéreos para as fêmeas foi geralmente mais baixa, provavelmente na tentativa de desencorajar os comportamentos ativos realizados pelos filhotes. Esses resultados reforçam a importância da área de estudo como área reprodutiva para a espécie. O número de baleias-franca está crescendo na área, bem como o potencial conflito com atividades humanas. Entender os padrões comportamentais dos pares fêmea-filhote de baleias-franca-austral no litoral de Santa Catarina podem servir como valiosas ferramentas para a elaboração de planos de manejo, contribuindo para a conservação da espécie no litoral brasileiro / The south central coast of Santa Catarina State is the most important breeding ground for southern right whales, Eubalaena australis, in Brazil. The aim of this study is to characterize the behavior pattern of mother-calf pairs that winter in this area, over ten breeding seasons (2003-2012). Land based observations were conducted from July to November, between 2003 and 2012, about six to seven times a week, between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. Data were collected with the aid of binoculars Pentax 12x55 mm, compass, digital clock, and recorded in standardized field data sheets. Behavioral states (traveling, resting and playing) were recorded every five minutes and the frequency of events was recorded in each five minute interval. Traveling was the behavioral state that prevailed for both mother and calves, followed by resting and playing for mothers and followed by playing and resting for calves. Travelling and resting are important for mothers because they are less costly, since they need to use their energy to activities in which the survival of the species depends on, like giving birth, nursing and taking care of the calves. Playing is important for the calves to its motor development and its preparation for the migratory process. The most expressed events expressed by both mothers and calves were indefinite exposure, these being twice as high for the calves. Calves presented aerial behaviors at higher rates than their mothers, which denotes the importance of such behaviors in the aid of the development of motor skills coordination and in the muscles strengthening, improving resistance for migration. The aerial events rate of occurrence for mothers was generally lower, probably in an attempt to discourage the pranks conducted by the calves. These results reinforce the importance of the study area as a nursery ground for the species. The number of right whales is increasing in the area, as well as the potential for conflict with human activities. Understanding the behavioral patterns of southern right whale mother-calf pairs in Santa Catarina coast can serve as valuable tools for the formulation of management plans, contributing to the conservation of the species in the Brazilian coast.

Flores das espécies Sambucus nigra, de origem européia, e Sambucus australis, nativa da América do Sul (Caprifoliaceae), denominadas sabugueiro e sabugueirodo- brasil, respectivamente, são utilizadas popularmente sob forma de infusão, como antiinflamatórias, laxativas e para condições febris resultantes de afecções do trato respiratório. Estudos prévios para S. nigra indicam compostos fenólicos como principais constituintes químicos, sendo estes relacionados às principais atividades biológicas avaliadas. Objetivando comparar esta espécie com Sambucus australis, foram realizadas análises botânicas macro e microscópicas das flores, identificando as principais diferenças entre as espécies, tais como o número de lóculos no ovário e presença de idioblastos cristalíferos em algumas estruturas, e observando os possíveis contaminantes (pedicelos). Também foram determinados os parâmetros farmacopéicos: cinzas totais e perda por dessecação. Após a análise química, foi escolhido o flavonóide rutina como marcador das espécies, para realizar análises quantitativas nas 31 amostras adquiridas e / ou coletadas, utilizando método de CLAE previamente validado. Soluções hidroetanólicas apresentaram maior capacidade de extração do produto alvo. Os limites mínimos de rutina observados para ambas as espécies foram de aproximadamente 0,65%. Também foram quantificados, por método espectrofotométrico, os flavonóides totais expressos em quercetina, sendo 0,93% e 1,46% os teores mínimos determinados para S.nigra e S. australis, respectivamente. O estudo da estabilidade acelerada (50°C ± 90% U.R.), avaliando a degradação dos constituintes químicos presentes permitiu sugerir a cinética de degradação de segunda ordem para da rutina nas duas espécies. Comparações de atividades biológicas das espécies foram realizadas pelos ensaios das atividades antiinflamatória (inibição do edema em pata de rato induzido por carragenina) e antioxidante (DPPH). Os resultados para o primeiro ensaio demonstraram ação equivalente em ambas as espécies para extratos hidroetanólicos a 80% (86% de inibição) e aquosos (81%), com atividade semelhante ao padrão indometacina (~83%); para a atividade antioxidante os extratos hidroetanólicos a 80% foram mais ativos (CE50 = 16 μg/ml) que os aquosos (CE50 = 27 μg/ml) em S. australis, e ambos extratos, superiores ao 28 extrato padronizado Gingko biloba (CE50 = 40 μg/ml) e aos extratos de S. nigra (CE50= 50 μg/ml – hidroetanólico e CE50= 32 μg/ml – aquoso). / Sambucus nigra (from Europe) and Sambucus australis (from South America) flowers (Caprifoliaceae), called sabugueiro and sabugueiro-do-brazil, respectively, are used in the folk medicine as anti-inflammatory, laxative and for respiratory diseases. Previous studies for S. nigra indicate phenolic compounds as the main chemical constituents, being related for these ones the biological activities reported. In order to compare this species with S. australis macro and microscopical analysis of the flowers were carried out to identify the major differences between the species, such as the number of ovary locules and idioblasts in some structures, verifying the possible contaminants (pedicels). The following Pharmacopoeia parameters were also determined: total ash and loss on drying. After the chemical analysis, it was chosen the rutin flavonol as the mark constituent for both species, to carry through quantitative analysis of the 31 acquired and/or collected samples, by previously validated HPLC method. Hydroethanolic solutions had shown greater capacity of extraction of the target product. The minimum limits of rutin observed for both species had been of approximately 0.65%. The total flavonoid content was also quantified by spectrophotometer method, being expressed as quercetin, finding 0.93% and 1.46% the minimum values for S. nigra and S. australis, respectively. The accelerated stability test (50 ºC ± 90% UR) that evaluate the degradation of the constituents, allowed to verify a kinetic degradation of second order for rutin in both species. Comparison of biological activities of these species was carried out using the antiedematogenic (rat paw edema) and antioxidant (DPPH) activities. The results for the first test showed an equivalent action for the hydroethanolic (86% of edema inibition) and aqueous (81%) extracts, exhibiting a similar activity to indometacin (~83%). For the antioxidant activity, the ethanolic extracts (CE50 = 16 μg/ml) were more active than the aqueous (CE50 = 27 μg/ml ) for S. australis, and, both extracts were superiors to the Ginko biloba (CE50 = 40 μg/ml) and to the S. nigra extracts (CE50 = 50 μg/ml – hydroethanolic and CE50 = 32 μg/ml - aqueous).

O lobo-marinho-sul-americano (Arctocephalus australis) membro da Ordem Carnivora, é comumente visto nos períodos de outono e inverno na costa brasileira do Rio Grande do Sul até o Rio de Janeiro, porém, sem colônias reprodutivas estabelecidas. A espécie pertence ao grupo dos pinípedes, carnívoros com membros em forma de nadadeiras que vivem em ambiente aquático e terrestre. Estudos sobre a morfologia da pele em pinípedes são raros e antigos, destes procederam muitos relatos divergentes, em virtude da colheita da pele sem referências anatômicas. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi descrever o sistema tegumentar da espécie Arctocephalus australis, utilizando animais que vieram a óbito por causas naturais de uma colônia reprodutiva do Uruguai. As áreas corporais colhidas dorso-ventralmente foram identificadas anatomicamente. Essas regiões foram examinadas por microscopia óptica, segundo critérios histológicos, histomorfométricos, histoquímicos e imuno-histoquímicos nas diferentes estruturas que constituem o sistema tegumentar. A pele do Arctocephalus australis apresentou diferenças entre as regiões de epiderme delgada e espessa. A epiderme delgada apresentou maior quantidade de pêlos do que a epiderme espessa, a qual em algumas regiões era destituída destes. Como os demais mamíferos, a pele do lobo-marinho-sul-americano apresentou glândulas sebáceas, glândulas sudoríparas apócrinas e merócrinas. As nadadeiras apresentaram o maior número de especializações entre as regiões do corpo estudadas, especialmente vinculadas à termorregulação, como o maior volume de glândulas sudoríparas e secções vasculares. Esta pesquisa apontou os aspectos morfofuncionais relacionados à biologia da espécie em ambientes distintos, e esclareceu alguns dados controversos na literatura sobre o sistema tegumentar em pinípedes. / The South American fur seal (Arctocephalus australis) members of the Order Carnivora is usually seen during the autumn and winter season in the Brazilian coast from Rio Grande do Sul to Rio de Janeiro, however, there are no reports of reproductive colonies established. The species belongs to the group of pinnipeds, carnivorous with limbs fin-shaped that inhabits both terrestrial and aquatic environments. Studies of the skin morphology are rare and ancient; these studies have arisen many divergent reports, due to sampling of the skin without anatomical references. The purpose of this research was to describe the integumentary system of the species Arctocephalus australis, using animals that came to death by natural cases from reproductive colonies from Uruguay. The body dorsal and ventral regions were identified anatomically. These regions were examined by light microscopy, according to the histological, histomophometric, histochemical and immunohistochemical criteria in the different structures constituting the integumentary system. The skin of the Arctocephalus australis showed differences between the thin and thick epidermis. The thin epidermis showed larger amount of hair follicles than the thicker epidermis, which in some regions was devoid of hair. As well as the other mammals, the South-american-fur-seal skin showed sebaceous glands, apocrine and eccrine sweat glands. The limbs showed the largest number of the specialization among the regions of the body examined, particularly related to thermoregulation, as well as the largest volume fraction of sweat glands and vascular sections. This research pointed the morphofunctional aspects related to biology of the species in different environments, and elucidated some controversial data in the investigation about the integumentary system in pinnipeds.

The commercial harvesting of Phragmites australis reeds in the Tembe Elephant Park, Maputaland, KwaZulu-Natal was investigated to determine the impact of reed use on the Muzi Swamp. The reed quality in the harvesting areas within the Tembe Elephant Park has deteriorated over time, with the reeds in the harvested areas being by and large shorter and thinner than the reeds in the other areas of the reserve where harvesting is not allowed. The impact of continuous harvesting in combination with the accidental burning of certain areas in the Muzi Swamp was also found to be detrimental to reed production when compared to other treatments. Poor rural communities neighbouring the Tembe Elephant Park are dependant on the reed resource for both income supplementation and for use in the construction of dwellings. Reeds offer a cheaper alternative to the more western building materials, which is of utmost importance in an area where the mean yearly income is around ZAR 6000 per annum. The manufacture of prefabricated reed and forest timber huts by the local reed harvesters in the summer months would facilitate a winter only harvest, which is more beneficial and is integral to the improvement of the long-term reed quality in the Muzi Swamp. In addition, the cost of these proposed prefabricated reed and forest timber huts is approximately one third of the cost of a similar sized hut that is constructed from bricks and cement. Management recommendations for the controlled harvesting area in Muzi Swamp of the Tembe Elephant Park, as well as the section of the Muzi Swamp that is not afforded protection by Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife, are also presented. / Dissertation (MSc (Wildlife Management))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Centre for Wildlife Management / unrestricted

The growth and productivity of kauri (Agathis australis (D. Don) Lindl.) in even-aged single-species planted stands and mixed-aged second-growth natural stands has been studied. Stand-level models of height, basal area and whole-tree volume were developed. Kauri growth and productivity in planted stands up to 83 years old were compared to that of natural stands that were up to 196 years of age. Within natural stands, the effect of thinning treatments on growth and productivity was also assessed. Models of growth and productivity were initially developed for each of the three different kauri stand types independently (planted, second-growth unthinned and thinned). Combined data sets allowed for the development of single models that were able to fit all stands. A Schumacher equation with local slope parameter and asymptote bounded at 45 m gave the best fit for height growth, while a von Bertalanffy-Richards equation in difference form with local slope parameter gave the best fit for basal area growth. Kauri in all stand types were found to be slow to establish with little height growth in planted stands for the first five years after planting, and for the first 25 years in natural stands. Similar trends were observed for basal area and whole-tree volume development. Models developed in this study are relevant only to kauri in the “ricker” or monopodial form irrespective of age, and for stands from 320-2000 stems/ha. Kauri growth and productivity in planted stands was substantively better than that in second-growth stands. Planted kauri had height increment of 0.4 m/yr for periods of up to 30 years. At age 50, planted kauri was predicted to be 20 m in height, over twice the height of kauri in natural stands, and to be 28.1 m by 100 years. Basal area at age 50 averaged 64.9 m2/ha for all planted stands, and was predicted to be 98.2 m2/ha at age 100. Whole-tree volume was predicted to increase by 11.7 m3/ha/annum for all stands, but was as high as 20.6 m3/ha/yr in one 70 year old stand. The maximum productivity of kauri was observed in one high-performing young kauri planted stand where whole-tree volume increment in excess of 30 m3/ha/yr were predicted for a period from age 15-30. Carbon sequestration was calculated from the volume model and predicted to be 316 t C/ha and 1168 t CO2/ha at age 100. Mortality of kauri in planted stands was as high as 3.9%/yr for individual stands, over their entire rotation to date. For all stands, mortality averaged 0.56%/yr. The highest mortality occurred in the years before the first assessment and averaged 0.64%/yr for all stands. From the first to the last assessment mortality averaged 0.30%/yr. Where mortality in individual stands was above the average rate the dominant cause was drought. The growth and productivity of kauri in second-growth stands was only marginally improved by thinning to reduce competition. The volume removed in thinning operations had not been replaced in the (up to) 50 years since thinning treatments were applied. At age 150, the predicted height of kauri in unthinned control and thinned stands were identical at 25.9 m. Basal area at age 150 was 64.5 m2/ha in unthinned stands and 52.6 m2/ha in thinned stands. Whole-tree volume was predicted to be 681 m3/ha in unthinned and 549 m3/ha in thinned stands. Volume increment peaked at 5.2 m3/ha/yr in unthinned stands and 4.7 m3/ha/yr in thinned stands. This study has shown that the worst growth and productivity of kauri in planted stands was better than that of the best natural stands. The difference in performance between plantation and second-growth kauri was most likely a result of a combination of lower site quality characteristics (soil type and fertility), stand structure and within-stand competition of natural stands. The data for planted kauri came from 31 permanent sample plots located in 25 planted stands. These stands ranged in age from 14-83 years at the last assessment, and ranged in stand density from 218-1800 stems/ha. The overall number of planted stands and plots from which data was available to develop models was small in comparison to many exotic forest species datasets. The majority of the planted stands were not silviculturally treated after planting, and considerable variation in establishment methods was recorded. The results of productivity from the models developed for planted kauri should therefore be considered to be conservative. The results of this study indicate an opportunity to grow kauri in plantations on good quality sites for the production of high quality sapwood timber over rotations of 60 years or less. They also indicate that second-growth stands will produce usable volumes of timber, but only over extended periods of time. To ensure that kauri in planted stands can meet the potential observed during the development of these models, a series of well-managed stands on a range of sites is urgently required where the effects of timely silviculture, including initial stand density, can be assessed, quantified and reported on. Further research on selection and breeding for the species would improve the early establishment and growth of planted kauri resulting in a reduced rotation length. Research on long-term management strategies that include continuous cover forestry may make the species an attractive proposition for carbon forestry and/or for the production of high quality, naturally durable heartwood. The dataset compiled for this study was the best data available. While it cannot as yet be used to develop prescriptions for the establishment and maintenance of planted kauri stands, it does provide clues and directions that should be pursued in further research, however.

Replication is a key principle in tree-ring research. Dendrochronologists strive to maximise sample size to enhance the "signal" in tree-ring chronologies, often relying on crossdating to provide an effective quality control filter. However, is crossdating alone a sufficient quality test for incorporating a series into a site chronology? We address this question using an objective and automated "chronology stripping" method designed to maximise the chronology's "Expressed Population Signal" (EPS), by iteratively removing series which lower chronology EPS. A 15-site data set of Agathis australis (D. Don) Lindley is used to demonstrate the method. Results suggest that modest benefits may be gained by chronology stripping, but the quality control implicit in crossdating is indeed effective, at least for Agathis australis.

Phragmites australis is a perennial grass presently invading many intertidal and freshwater wetlands throughout much of the Atlantic Coast of North America. The spread of Phragmites into coastal wetlands is in part determined by available freshwater and nutrients, especially nitrogen, within the watershed where Phragmites populations occur. The Eastern Shore of Virginia is an intensive agricultural area, and watershed landcover may play a major role in Phragmites invasion. Forty-five Phragmites patches were sampled in eight VA Eastern Shore mainland watersheds and on a barrier island. Regardless of watershed landcover characteristics, there was little variation in Phragmites australis patch characteristics along the oceanside of the entire Eastern Shore of Virginia. Phragmites is a generalist with broad environmental tolerances. Thus, successful management and eradication plans may have broad scale application for this invasive grass.

Submitted by William Justo Figueiro (williamjf) on 2015-07-06T23:37:20Z No. of bitstreams: 1 10a.pdf: 1719495 bytes, checksum: 2ed1add8423e889edf7e44b9eb1498f1 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-07-06T23:37:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 10a.pdf: 1719495 bytes, checksum: 2ed1add8423e889edf7e44b9eb1498f1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-07 / Nenhuma / A baleia-franca-austral (Eubalaena australis) foi alvo de grande exploração comercial entre os séculos XVII a XX no Hemisfério Sul. Estimativas recentes sugerem que a população mundial da espécie é de 12.000 indivíduos, o que representaria 17 a 21% do seu tamanho original. Apesar de aparente recuperação, o declínio drástico no tamanho da população, resultante dos 400 anos de atividade da caça, pode ter gerado altos níveis de endogamia, baixa capacidade reprodutiva e perda de variabilidade genética da espécie, podendo ter seu potencial adaptativo comprometido, aumentando assim a probabilidade de extinção. Frente ao exposto é de extrema importância a avaliação comparativa da variabilidade genética entre as populações atuais de E. australis e amostras representativas do período de caça, em especial no Brasil. Sendo assim, os objetivos deste estudo foram: I. Otimizar e comparar métodos de extração e amplificação de DNA antigo (aDNA) de ossos de baleia-franca-austral, em diferentes estados de degradação; II. Caracterizar geneticamente segmentos da região D-Loop do DNA mitocondrial (mtDNA) a partir de ossos de espécimes de E. australis coletados na Península Valdés na Argentina e em Santa Catarina no Brasil; e III. Comparar as sequências nucleotídicas da região recuperada nas amostras de aDNA com as descritas para as populações atuais. Este estudo comparou cinco métodos diferentes para obter material genético de amostras degradadas. O método de extração que mostrou ser mais eficiente foi o que continha o reagente Dextran Blue. Com a amplificação de 20 fragmentos curtos, obtidos pelo Nested-PCR, com clonagem e posterior sequenciamento, foi possível recuperar pequenos fragmentos, que variaram de 7 a 59 pb, da região D-Loop do mtDNA de 11 amostras de ossos de E. australis das 88 tentativas realizadas. Ao analisar o material recuperado com dados atuais da espécie, o programa Network 4.6 revelou uma rede contendo 19 haplótipos, sendo quatro haplótipos restritos as populações antigas e até então não descritos na literatura. Os resultados são preliminares e seus significados devem ser avaliados com muita cautela. Contudo, deve-se ressaltar que os quatro novos haplótipos encontrados podem sustentar a hipótese de uma maior diversidade haplotípica em E. australis quando a mesma era caçada comercialmente. / The Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena australis) was object of great commercial exploitation between the XVII and XX centuries in the Southern Hemisphere. Recent surveys suggest that the world’s population is of 12,000 specimens, which would represent 17% to 21% of its original size. Despite the supposed recovery, the drastic populational decline, resultant from 400 years of hunting activities, could have generated high levels of endogamy, low reproduction capacity and loss of genetic variability of the species, compromising their potential of adjustment, thus increasing their probability of extinction. Due to the exposed, it is of extreme importance the comparative evaluation of the genetic variability between the current E. australis population and representative samples from the hunting period, especially from Brazilian coast. Therefore, the purpose of this study was: I. To optimize and compare extraction and amplification methods of aDNA from Southern Right Whale’s bones in different stages of deterioration; II. To genetically characterize segments of the mtDNA’s D-Loop region from E. australis bones collected at Península Valdés in Argentina and Santa Catarina in Brazil, and III. To compare nucleotide sequences of the recovered region from aDNA samples with those described for the current populations. This study compared five different extraction methods in order to obtain genetic material from deteriorated samples. The extraction method containing Dextran Blue reagent showed the higher efficiency. With the amplification of 20 short fragments and overlapping of aDNA through Nested-PCR technique, and further cloning of the latter fragment, it was possible to sequence small fragments, varying from 7 to 59 pb, from the mtDNA’s D-loop region from 11 bones samples of E. australis, out of the 88 attempts performed. Analyzing the recovered material together with the updated data of the species, the Network 4.6 program revealed a network containing 19 haplotypes, 4 of them generated only with ancient population samples, which are new for the species. The results are still preliminary and their meanings should be evaluated with caution. However, it should be noted that the four new haplotypes found could support the hypothesis of a higher haplotype diversity in E. australis when it was hunted.