O movimento dos animais desempenha papel importante na aptidão dos indivíduos, no fluxo gênico, na dinâmica de metapopulações e na persistência, a longo prazo, de espécies em um ambiente. Dessa forma, o objetivo deste estudo foi compreender aspectos relacionados à ecologia do movimento da rã-manteiga (Leptodactylus latrans) e da rã-touro (Lithobates catesbeianus). Para isso, indivíduos de ambas as espécies foram marcados com radiotransmissores e rastreados com o objetivo de coletar informações sobre seus movimentos. Ressaltamos os seguintes resultados deste trabalho: (1) a área de vida média de L. latrans é de 2034,2 m2; (2) com o aumento do tamanho corpóreo de anuros há o aumento do tamanho da área de vida; (3) indivíduos de L. latrans se locomovem mais em noites escuras, chuvosas e quentes; e (4) o aumento da pressão de propágulos não reflete uma maior probabilidade no aumento da distribuição geográfica de uma dada população de L. catesbeianus. Entender os padrões de locomoção dos anfíbios e como utilizam o espaço na natureza é fundamental para o entendimento de processos ecológicos e evolutivos relacionados às histórias de vida das espécies desse grupo. Além disso, esse conhecimento serve como uma ferramenta importante no estabelecimento de limites de áreas de conservação com significado biológico para espécies ameaçadas. Ainda, saber como espécies invasoras se locomovem é um dos primeiros passos para que se tomem medidas de controle populacional e para o bloqueio do avanço da distribuição de espécies exóticas / The ability of animals to move plays an important role in individual fitness, gene flow, population regulation, metapopulation dynamics and long-term persistence of species. The aim of this study was to understand aspects related to the movement ecology of the Butter Frog (Leptadactylus latrans) and the Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus). We collected movement data by radio tracking individuals of both species. Some of the most important results obtained were: (1) the mean home range of L. latrans is 2034.2 m2; (2) increasing body size increases home range size in anurans; (3) individuals of L. latrans are more likely to move larger distances in dark, rainy and warm nights; (4) the increase in propagule pressure does not reflect an increase in the probability of geographical spread of a given population of L. catesbeianus. Understanding how amphibians move and use the space in nature is fundamental for the understanding of basic ecological and evolutionary processes related to life history of the species. Moreover, this knowledge is a useful tool to establish biologically meaningful conservation boundary areas to threatened species. Yet, understanding how invasive species move in nature is one of the first steps to population control and to block the spread of geographical distribution of exotic species

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / As florestas tropicais amazônicas são um importante reservatório de carbono acima e abaixo do solo. Elas desempenham uma importante função tanto no sequestro do carbono atmosférico quanto no armazenamento desse carbono em forma de biomassa. O objetivo desse trabalho foi quantificar a variação espacial da biomassa arbórea viva e avaliar o efeito de variáveis climáticas e ambientais ao longo de cerca de 400 km de florestas alagadas no médio e baixo rio Branco. Especificamente, foi avaliado o efeito (i) da duração da inundação, (ii) do comprimento da estação seca e (iii) da textura e fertilidade do solo no estoque de biomassa acima do solo. Foram amostrados 2.432 indivíduos com Diâmetro à altura do Peito (DAP) ≥ 10 cm, distribuídos em 54 parcelas compridas (250 metros) e estreitas (4 metros) de 0,1 ha. Para cada indivíduo amostrado, além do DAP, foram determinadas a altura total e a densidade da madeira. A biomassa viva acima do solo das árvores foi estimada através da média de três modelos alométricos que consideram DAP, densidade da madeira e altura das árvores. A biomassa de palmeiras foi estimada com base em um único modelo que considera apenas a altura dos indivíduos. A biomassa variou de 21,5 a 245,15 Mg/ha. Não foi observada relação entre a biomassa e as variáveis climáticas (precipitação média anual e comprimento da estação seca). As variáveis ambientais: solo (% de argila) e a duração da inundação também não explicaram a variação da biomassa arbórea viva acima do solo nas florestas alagadas do rio Branco. Estes resultados representam as primeiras estimativas de biomassa arbórea para as florestas alagadas do rio Branco. A grande variação observada entre as parcelas sugere que eventos estocásticos locais, a estrutura da floresta e a composição florística podem ser mais importantes para explicar a variação da biomassa do que fatores climáticos e características do solo. / Amazonian forests are an important above and belowground carbon reservoir. They play an important role in both the sequestration of atmospheric carbon and storage of carbon as biomass. The aim of this study was to quantify the spatial variation of above ground tree live biomass and evaluate the effects of climatic and environmental predictors along ~400km of flooded forests in the middle and lower rio Branco (Roraima). Specifically, I related plot-based biomass estimates with (i) duration of flooding, (ii) length of the dry season, and (iii) texture and fertility of the soil. A total of 2.432 individuals with diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 10 cm where sampled in 54 long (250 meters) and narrow (4 meters) plots of 0.1 hectare. For each individual sampled, were also determined: total tree height and wood density. The above ground live biomass of trees was estimated by the average of three allometric models that consider DBH, wood density, and tree height. Palm biomass was estimated based on a single model that considers only the height of individuals. Biomass estimates presented a 10-fold variation, ranging from 21.5 to 245.15 Mg/ha. No relationship between biomass and climatic variables (mean annual rainfall and length of dry season) were observed. Environmental variables: soil (% clay) and the duration of the flood also did not explain the variation in tree biomass in the flooded forests of the rio Branco. These represent the first tree biomass estimates for the flooded forests of the rio Branco, and the large biomass variation observed in the plots suggest that local stochastic events, forest structure and floristic composition may be more important in explaining biomass variation than climatic and soil factors.

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2017-04-17T18:05:35Z No. of bitstreams: 1 mateusfajardodefreitassalviatodetoni.pdf: 1310680 bytes, checksum: 07d34f3c206819ff6b208c6ab33be11a (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2017-04-18T13:50:54Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 mateusfajardodefreitassalviatodetoni.pdf: 1310680 bytes, checksum: 07d34f3c206819ff6b208c6ab33be11a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-04-18T13:50:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 mateusfajardodefreitassalviatodetoni.pdf: 1310680 bytes, checksum: 07d34f3c206819ff6b208c6ab33be11a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017 / Os ninhos de insetos sociais funcionam como a interface entre as colônias e o ambiente, e estudar como os fatores ambientais se relacionam com o comportamento de nidificação é essencial para compreender o sucesso desses animais em colonizar e sobreviver na área urbana. Dessa forma, este trabalho teve como objetivo estudar a relação entre a orientação dos ninhos da vespa social Polybia platycephala em áreas urbanas e a incidência de luz ambiental sobre os mesmos, além de descrever sua dinâmica de temperatura em relação ao microambiente em que estão localizados. Para a orientação e a incidência de luz, 11 ninhos foram selecionados em 2016 na cidade de Juiz de Fora, MG, sendo 11 na estação chuvosa e 11 na seca (n= 22). A orientação dos ninhos foi constatada e a incidência de luz de cada ninho foi verificada ao longo do dia (06:00h – 18:00h). Adicionalmente, seis ninhos tiveram sua orientação experimentalmente invertida e a luminosidade foi acompanhada antes e depois da inversão de forma a verificar o efeito da orientação natural sobre a exposição dos ninhos à luz. Para a dinâmica de temperatura utilizaram-se os mesmos 22 ninhos, e a temperatura dos ninhos e do ambiente foram medidas paralelamente à luminosidade. Para verificar o efeito da atividade das vespas sobre a temperatura da colônia, um ninho abandonado e uma colônia ativa foram acompanhados por 24 horas. Os resultados permitiram-nos concluir que P. platycephala apresenta uma orientação de ninhos fortemente enviesada para leste, aumentando a exposição à luz ambiental no período da manhã; são, no entanto, capazes de modificar esse comportamento para adaptar-se ao seu microambiente para otimizar essa exposição. A temperatura dos ninhos é muito relacionada à ambiente, flutuando paralelamente a esta, o que indica uma grande dependência das colônias do mesmo para sua sobrevivência. De forma geral, constatou-se que P. platycephala possui uma íntima relação com o seu microambiente, o que pode ajudar a explicar seu sucesso em colonizar áreas urbanas, mas também a torna sensível a alterações ambientais e climáticas nas mesmas. / Nests of social insects function as the interface between colonies and the environment, and studying how environmental factors relate to the nesting behavior is essential in order to understand these organisms’ success in settling and surviving in the urban area. On this sense, our work aimed to study the relation between the social wasp Polybia platycephala nest orientation and the incidence of environmental light, aside from describing its temperature dynamics regarding the microenvironment where it is set. In order to study nest orientation and light incidence, 22 nests were chosen in 2016 in the city of Juiz de Fora, MG, being 11 in the rainy season and 11 in the dry (n= 22). Nest orientation was verified and light incidence on each nest was assessed through the day (06:00h - 18:00h). Additionally, six nests had their orientation experimentally inverted and luminosity was assessed before and after the inversion in order to verify the effect of nest orientation on exposure to light. In order to study temperature dynamics, the same 22 nests were used, and the nest and ambient temperatures were assessed in parallel with the luminosity. In order to verify the effect of the wasp activity on colony temperatures, an abandoned nest and an active colony were observed for 24 hours. The results allowed us to conclude that P. platycephala shows nest orientation strongly biased towards east, increasing exposure to light during the morning; colonies are, however, able to perform modifications on this behavior in order to adapt themselves to their microenvironment and optimize this exposure. Nest temperatures are intensely related to the ambient, fluctuating in parallel with it, which indicates a great dependence of the colonies on the environment to assure their survival. Overall, we found that P. platycephala has an intimate relation with its microenvironment, which may help explain its success in settling urban areas, but also makes it sensible to environmental and climatic changes in them.

Abstract During the past half century several large lakes in Finland have experienced notable changes in their ecological condition, induced mainly by water level regulation, eutrophication and land use transformation. The objective of this thesis was the quantification of the spatiotemporal changes of aquatic macrophytes in Finland during the second half of the 1900s. Mapped aquatic macrophyte cover from historic (1947–1963) and present day (1996–2000) aerial photographs, additional macrophyte data and several environmental variables were used to identify the main determinants of aquatic macrophyte distribution, abundance and change. Furthermore, factors influencing the littoral paludification process were identified. The study was conducted in 24 boreal lakes (41–1116 km2) with multisource vegetation data. Selected environmental variables of water level regulation, eutrophication and geomorphology were collected and analyzed. More than 402 km of littoral shoreline in historic and present day aerial photographs was analyzed with stereoscopic visual interpretation. A total of 474 habitat level study sites were used to examine the determining environmental factors of occurrence, abundance and change of emergent vegetation. Finally, 289 vegetation transects were performed in order to study the occurrence, types and main determinants of littoral paludification. Water level regulation was found to be the primary factor behind aquatic macrophyte vegetation development at the whole lake level. The major vegetation changes were determined by the mean water level rise or reduction, decreased fluctuation range and reduced spring flood. The vegetation response was less pronounced in a lake with water level regulation similar to natural fluctuation. Eutrophication influenced aquatic macrophytes at the site level. Land use variables of tributary and agriculture, indicating nutrient increment, corresponded positively with vegetation occurrence and abundance. Geomorphology explained vegetation development at the habitat level. Clay and related deposits and the shore slope specified the vegetation occurrence and affected the abundance of vegetation. Water level regulation, eutrophication, clay and shallowness were found to influence paludification. Helophyte species, common reed (Phragmites australis) and water horsetail (Equisetum fluviatile), dominated the emergent vegetation in the studied lakes. / Tiivistelmä Viimeisen puolen vuosisadan aikana suomalaisiin suurjärviin on kohdistunut lukuisia muutoksia, jotka ovat vaikuttaneet järvien ekologiseen tilaan. Muutoksia ovat aiheuttaneet pääasiallisesti vesistöjen säännöstely, rehevöityminen sekä maankäytön muuttuminen. Tämän väitöskirjan tarkoituksena on analysoida noin viimeisten 50 vuoden aikana suomalaisissa suurjärvissä tapahtunutta ranta- ja vesikasvillisuuden pitkäaikaismuutosta. Historiallisilla (1947–1963) ja nykyisillä (1996–2000) ilmakuvilla, muilla kasvillisuusaineistoilla sekä useilla ympäristömuuttujilla tunnistettiin keskeisiä tekijöitä, jotka vaikuttivat kasvillisuuden esiintymiseen, runsauteen ja muutokseen. Tämän lisäksi tutkittiin rantojen pysyvän umpeenkasvun kehitysprosessia. Tutkimusta varten kasvillisuudesta kerättiin monilähdeaineistoa kaikilta Suomen päävaluma-alueilta yhteensä 24 eri järveltä, joiden koko vaihteli 41–1116 km2:n välillä. Tämän lisäksi useita vesistöjen säännöstelyn, rehevöitymisen ja geomorfologian ympäristömuuttujia kerättiin ja analysoitiin. Stereoskooppisella visuaalisella ilmakuvatulkinnalla tutkittiin yli 402 kilometriä rantaviivaa historiallisista ja nykyisistä ilmakuvista. Ilmaversoisen ranta- ja vesikasvillisuuden esiintymistä, runsautta ja historiallista muutosta analysoitiin 474 habitaattitason tutkimuspisteellä. Rantojen pysyvän umpeenkasvun esiintymistä, umpeenkasvun eri tyyppejä ja sitä määrittäviä tekijöitä tutkittiin 289 kasvilinjalla. Tutkimuksen tuloksena havaittiin, että järvitasolla vesistöjen säännöstely oli tärkein kasvillisuuden historialliseen kehitykseen vaikuttava tekijä. Huomattavimmat kasvillisuusmuutokset määräytyivät keskiveden noston, pienentyneen säännöstelyvälin, vähentyneen kevättulvan ja lasketun keskiveden tason seurauksena. Kasvillisuusmuutokset eivät olleet niin selviä, jos säännöstely muistutti luonnontilaista säännöstelyä. Rehevöityminen vaikutti ranta- ja vesikasvillisuuteen paikallisesti. Ravinteisuutta ilmentävät maankäytön muuttujat, ojat sekä maanviljelys, lisäsivät kasvillisuuden esiintymistä ja runsautta. Geomorfologiset tekijät selittivät kasvillisuuden kehitystä habitaattitasolla. Savinen maaperä sekä rannan mataluus lisäsivät vesi- ja rantakasvillisuuden esiintymistä sekä kasvillisuuden runsautta. Vesistöjen säännöstely, rehevöityminen, savinen maaperä sekä rannan mataluus lisäsivät rantojen pysyvää umpeenkasvua. Ilmaversoiset kasvilajit, järviruoko (Phragmites australis) ja järvikorte (Equisetum fluviatile), hallitsivat kasvillisuutta tutkituissa järvissä.

No description available.

Asthma among children has become an inherent problem in many communities in the United States, especially among the minority population. The South Bronx has a large minority population and a high prevalence of asthma. However, no study to date has explored the factors associated with this high prevalence rates in this population. Drawing from theories of social ecology and environmental health, the objective of this quantitative cross-sectional study is to investigate the correlates of asthma among children in the South Bronx by studying the sociodemographic and environmental risk factors, including parental occupation; neighborhood and housing characteristics, air quality, and poverty. Study participants included parents of 400 children, aged between 4 and 16 years residing in Districts 9 and 10 in the South Bronx. Descriptive, Chi-square statistics, and logistic regression analysis were used to determine the association between exposure constructs and asthma in children. Hypotheses 2 and 3 examined environmental conditions both inside and outside the homes of study participants and determined one factor, the structure of the home to be significantly associated with asthma, while absence of extractor fan when cooking, showed a strong association. This result suggests that only some of the factors indicating conditions inside the homes have a positive association to asthma. This suggests that asthma is not a combined action of both socioeconomic and environmental factors but a result of conditions in the homes. The implication here is that any intervention to asthma has to start in the homes since most children spend their time indoors. This includes creating awareness to risk factors to help develop community based intervention programs that will help reduce occurrence of asthma.

Många svenska barn lever idag i ogynnsamma hemförhållanden. I vissa fall är det bästa för barnet att placeras utanför sin hemmiljö, även om det innebär att barnet separeras från en person de knutit an till. Att separeras från en anknytningsperson kan ge negativa konsekvenser för barnet, det kan till exempel leda till anknytningsproblem. Det har i forskning visat sig att familjehemsplacerade barn i större utsträckning har anknytningsproblem än barn som bor med sina föräldrar. Syftet med denna studie har varit att undersöka vilka faktorer som kan bidra till att familjehemsplacerade barn utvecklar anknytningsproblem. Detta har genomförts som en litteraturöversikt med en innehållsanalys av 15 artiklar som presenterar studier om faktorer som relateras till anknytningsproblem hos familjehemsplacerade barn. Resultatet visar att individrelaterade faktorer så väl som miljörelaterade faktorer kan bidra till att det familjehemsplacerade barnet utvecklar anknytningsproblem. Slutsatsen dras att faktorer hos barnet och faktorer i barnets omgivande miljö är avgörande för att barnet utvecklar anknytningsproblem. / Many children in Sweden are today living in a dysfunctional home environment. In some cases, it is for the child's best interest to be placed out of their home, even if that means to be separated from a person, they have an attachment to. Being separated from an attachment figure can have negative consequences for the child. Research has shown that children placed in foster home, seem to have greater issue in attachment when it compares to that of children who live with their parents. The purpose of this study was to examine factors that can lead to attachment issues in foster children. The chosen method was a literature review including 15 articles that has been analysed through a content analysis. The result of this study shows that individual as well as environmental factors can cause issues in attachmentin foster children.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.