Com o presente trabalho contribuiu-se para o estudo das composições químicas das estrelas simbióticas do hemisfério sul, muito pouco exploradas na literatura. Apresenta-se um conjunto completo de simbióticas amarelas austrais extraído do catálogo de Belczynski [Belczynski]. Alguns dos objetos analisados não possuem nem sequer dados espectroscópicos na literatura. Obtém-se os dados deste trabalho com o telescópio de 1.6 m do LNA e da base de dados do satélite I.U.E. Calcula-se o avermelhamento a partir das linhas de recombinação do H, aplicando os valores de extinção interestelar obtidos dos espectros no visível aos do U.V. A partir das razões entre as linhas do [OIII] e [NII] e supondo uma temperatura eletrônica de 12 000 K (Nussbaumer [NussbuamerNP]) encontra-se as densidade eletrônicas presentes nas nebulosas dos sistemas simbióticos. Com estes dados, mais os os fluxos das linhas derivam-se as abundâncias químicas das nebulosas dos sistemas simbióticos; C, N, O no U.V. e He, Ar, S, O e N no visível. Comparam-se as abundâncias no visível com as das simbióticas na direção do bojo (Luna [Luna]) e com nebulosas planetárias (Escudero [Escudero]). Nota-se que em geral as simbióticas são mais enriquecidas em N e He do que as planetárias isto ocorre provavelmente porque as progenitoras das estrelas simbióticas são mais massivas do que a das planetárias. No entanto, para elementos como O, Ar e S encontram-se abundâncias muito próximas entre simbióticas e planetárias. Comparam-se também, as abundâncias das simbióticas amarelas desta amostra com a de planetárias do disco extraídas do trabalho de Pottasch [Pottasch84] , cefeidas de Luck e Lambert [Luck], abundâncias das gigantes G,K e M obtidas a partir de Lambert e Ries[Lambert], as anãs G e K de Reddy et al [Reddy], as gigantes M de Smith e Lambert[Smith90], abundâncias das estrelas Ba extraídas de Smith [Smith84], as estrelas mild Ba dos tipos espectrais G8 a K3 de Berdyugina [Berdyugina] , as early R de Dominy [Dominy], estrelas C de Lambert et al [Lambert86] e por fim as estrelas M e S (MS) de Smith & Lambert [Smith90]. Pode-se distinguir dois grupos de simbióticas amarelas a partir dos diagramas C/N-O/N. Um grupo apresenta produtos do ciclo CN e situa-se próximo à curva de baixa metalicidade e metalicidade solar. O outro grupo, encontra-se próximo da curva C/O=1, que consiste de objetos enriquecidos em carbono (Schmid & Nussbaumer[Nussbaumer01]). As estrelas simbióticas amarelas enriquecidas em C não estão univocamente associadas as estrelas Ba ou early R. Estes dois grupos representam as simbióticas amarelas tipo s e d' respectivamente. Por fim, conclui-se que os sistemas simbióticos amarelos analisados neste trabalho confirmam o modelo de que seriam estrelas AGBs iluminadas por alguma fonte quente de radiação. / The present work is a contribution to the study of chemical composition of southern symbiotic stars, scarcely studied in literature. We present a complete set of yellow southern symbiotic stars extracted from Belczynski. Some of the objects analyzed had no spectroscopic data in literature. The data were obtained using 1.6m telescope in LNA, Brazil and the IUE satelite database. The reddening was calculated from Hydrogen recombination lines. From the ratio fluxes of the lines of [OIII] and [NII] and a hypothetical electronic temperature of 12 000K (Nussbaumer) we estimated the eletronic density of the nebulae present in the symbiotic system. With this data plus the fluxes of lines observed we obtained the chemical abundances in symbiotic nebulae; C,N,O in U.V. and He, Ar, S, O and N in visible. The abundances of the yellow symbiotic stars were compared to planetary disc nebulae extracted from Pottasch, cefeids form Luck & Lambert, G, K and M giant abundances from Lambert & Ries, G and K dwarfs from Reddy et. al., M giants from Smith & Lambert, Ba star abundances from Smith, mild Ba stars type G8 and K3 from Berdygina, early R from Dominy, C stars form Lambert et. al. and M and S (MS)stars from Smith & Lambert. We can distinguish two types of yellow symbiotic groups. One group presents CN cycle products and is situated near the low metalicity and solar metalicity curve. The other group is found near the C/O=1 curve that is made of rich carbon objects (Schmid & Nussbaumer).The yellow symbiotic stars enriched in carbon are not univically asociated with Ba or early R stars. These two groups represent respectively the yellow s and d' symbiotics. The yellow symbiotic stars analyzed in this work confirm the model in which they would be AGB stars iluminated by some hot source radiation.

Submitted by Ricardo Cedraz Duque Moliterno (ricardo.moliterno@uefs.br) on 2016-03-23T23:54:57Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Disserta??o ShantalaLua.pdf: 1071615 bytes, checksum: 15159372342693f6876667ee25762bff (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-23T23:54:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Disserta??o ShantalaLua.pdf: 1071615 bytes, checksum: 15159372342693f6876667ee25762bff (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-03-22 / Floral oil-collecting bees have close relations with Malpighiaceae species. This study aims to characterize the bee guilds that visit two Byrsonima (Malpighiaceae) species and investigate if the variation in floral oil supply influences on the richness and local abundance of these bees in an area in Chapada Diamantina. Bees were collected using entomological nets during the visit to Byrsonima and the floral oil supply was estimated at 12 transects through the Byrsonima spp density and the amount of oil available per flower and per plant. A large variation in Byrsonima spp density was detected among the 12 transects sampled what resulted in differences in floral oil supply among transects (1320.4g-16397.2g). The sample was 638 individuals belonging to 34 Apoidea species, being 24 species components of the floral oil-collecting bee guild. Centridini was the tribe with the largest representation of species richness and in abundance. The richness and abundance of Centridini were positively correlated to both Byrsonima spp density and the amount of oil estimated to each transect. However, the richness and abundance of Tapinotaspidini and Tetrapediini didn?t correlate to Byrsonima spp density or the amount of oil estimated to each transect. / As abelhas coletoras de ?leos florais apresentam rela??es bastante estreitas com esp?cies de Malpighiaceae. Este estudo tem como objetivo caracterizar a guilda de abelhas que visitam duas esp?cies de Byrsonima (Malpighiaceae) e investigar se a varia??o na oferta de ?leo floral influencia na riqueza e abund?ncia local destas abelhas, em uma ?rea na Chapada Diamantina. As abelhas foram coletadas com redes entomol?gicas durante a visita ?s flores de Byrsonima e a oferta de ?leo floral foi estimada em 12 transectos, atrav?s das medidas de densidade de Byrsonima spp e da quantidade de ?leo disponibilizada por flor e por planta. Foi detectada uma grande varia??o na densidade de Byrsonima spp entre os 12 transectos amostrados, o que resultou em diferen?as na oferta de ?leos florais entre os transectos (1320,4g-16397,2g). Foram amostrados 638 indiv?duos, pertencentes a 34 esp?cies de Apoidea, sendo 24 esp?cies componentes da guilda de abelhas coletoras de ?leo. Centridini foi a tribo com maior representatividade, tanto em riqueza de esp?cies quanto em abund?ncia. A riqueza e abund?ncia de Centridini estiveram positivamente correlacionadas tanto com a densidade de Byrsonima spp quanto com a quantidade de ?leo estimada para cada transecto. Entretanto a riqueza e abund?ncia de Tapinotaspidini e Tetrapediini n?o apresentaram correla??o nem com a densidade de Byrsonima spp, nem com a quantidade de ?leo estimada para cada transecto.

Remote cameras have become a popular tool for monitoring wildlife. We used remote cameras to estimate bobcat (Lynx rufus) population abundance on the Utah Test and Training Range during two sample periods between 2015 and 2017. We used two statistical methods, closed capture mark-recapture (CMR) and mark-resight Poisson log-normal (PNE), to estimate bobcat abundance within the study area. We used the maximum mean distance moved method (MMDM) to calculate the effective sample area for estimating density. Additionally, we captured bobcats and estimated home range using minimum convex polygon (MCP) and kernel density estimation (KDE) methods. Bobcat abundance on the UTTR was 35-48 in 2017 and density was 11.95 bobcats/100 km2 using CMR and 16.69 bobcats/100 km2 using PNE. The North Range of the study area experienced a decline of 36-44 percent in density between sample periods. Density declines could be explained by natural predator prey cycles, by habituation to attractants or by an increase in home range area. We recommend that bobcat abundance and density be estimated regularly to establish population trends.To improve the management of bobcats on the Utah Test and Training Range (UTTR), we investigated bobcat (Lynx rufus) habitat use. We determined habitat use points by capturing bobcats in remote camera images. Use and random points were intersected with remotely sensed data in a geographic information system. Habitat variables were evaluated at the capture point scale and home range scale. Home range size was calculated using the mean maximum distance moved method. Scales and habitat variables were compared within generalized linear mixed-effects models. Our top model (AICc weight = 1) included a measure of terrain ruggedness, mean aspect, and land cover variables related to prey availability and human avoidance.

Wildlife managers use models to aid in predicting high risk areas for human and black bear (Ursus americanus) interactions (HBI). These tools help managers implement management strategies to minimize HBI. Over 3,000 incidents of HBI were compiled from management reports at Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) during 1998-2011, a park with 9-10.2 million visitors per year and a black bear population of about 1,600 bears. We used data from bear management reports along with annual visitor use, mast and bear abundance data to develop a series of generalized linear models to assess the spatial and temporal factors affecting HBI. Although HBI occurred throughout the GSMNP, 50% of all HBI occurred in five areas. The best predictor variables of HBI across four subsets of models included interaction between mast production and number of park visitors, month, vegetation cover, visitor activity, and bear abundance. Although there was not a clear relationship between visitor use and mast abundance, the number of park visitors was always relatively high and HBI increased substantially in poor mast years. HBI was more frequent during summer months when park visitation rates and more people and food were present overnight in frontcountry and backcountry camping areas. Over 43% of HBI in hemlock forests were serious. Bear abundance data were not a strong predictor of HBI, and bear bait stations may not provide a sensitive index to bear abundance. GSMNP uses different strategies for managing HBI to protect visitors and bears. In 1991, bear proof waste disposal containers and food storage devices were placed in camping and picnic areas. In combination with aversive conditioning, HBI decreased in some areas of the park. We recommend that proactive bear management programs including education, enforcement of park regulations, and aggressive aversion conditioning of bears be implemented at the identified HBI high risk areas to provide a safer environment for both people and bears in GSMNP.

One of the most influential disturbances for stream fish assemblages is large-scale declines in flow caused by periods of drought. Although stream characteristics are known to influence the response of stream fishes to drought, we asked if ecological traits of stream fishes determine, in part, their population level response to drought. To test for ecological trait-based responses to drought in a stream fish assemblage, we quantified species abundances over a period of 5 years that represented a wet to dry period. We sampled stream fishes in Yellow Creek, Wyoming, USA, a high elevation stream dependent on snow-storage for most of its flow. There were five regularly occurring species in the study site: redside shiner (Richardsonius balteatus), northern leatherside chub (Lepidomeda copei), mottled sculpin (Cottus bairdi), speckled dace (Rhinichthys osculus), and mountain sucker (Catostomus platyrhynchus). We used size class, species, and drought measures as predictors of abundance. Mean Palmer drought severity index over the growing season from the previous year (one year lag) provided the best predictor of stream fish abundances. Four of five species showed strong declines in abundance in response to drought conditions (mountain sucker abundance was not affected), but ecological traits of species were not good predictors of the magnitude of response to drought. Northern leatherside chub are most vulnerable to local extirpation during times of severe drought. Overall, juveniles showed a greater decline in abundance than adults in response to drought. Climate models predict that mountain streams will experience changes in flow regime, which may exacerbate effects of drought. Low flow refuge habitat may need to be incorporated into stream restoration designs to help increase recolonization in streams, especially for stream fishes that are most vulnerable to local extirpation and that have low recolonization rates.

Orientador: Reginaldo José Donatelli / Resumo: Os insetos representam atualmente mais de 60% das espécies de animais descritas, mas apesar de sua riqueza a quantidade de estudos de conservação com a classe Insecta em território nacional ainda é pequena. As ordens mais utilizadas com base em conservação são também as mais diversas da Classe principalmente por desempenharem diversas funções ecológicas, tais como em associações com substrato cadavérico, tema desse trabalho. A maioria das pesquisas envolvendo insetos necrófagos está associada à ambientes urbanos. O presente estudo teve como objetivo fazer um levantamento da fauna de insetos necrófagos presentes em uma fitofisionomia de Floresta Atlântica. O local de estudo foi a Estação Ecológica dos Caetetus, localizada entre os municípios de Gália e Alvinlândia, estado de São Paulo. A Estação guarda um dos últimos fragmentos remanescentes de Floresta Atlântica, que possui fitofisionomia de floresta estacional semidecídua, caracterizada principalmente por conter duas estações: fria e seca; e quente e chuvosa. Para fazer o levantamento dos insetos foram utilizadas armadilhas atrativas com carne suína. A abundância total registrada foi de 39.412 indivíduos distribuídos em 232 morfoespécies. Dentre estas, as espécies necrófagas compreenderam aproximadamente 24% do total amostrado, sendo a segunda guilda alimentar mais abundante; a espécie mais abundante dentre elas, foi Mesembrinella sp (Diptera), registrada apenas em ambientes não antropizados, evidenciando que o fragmento ain... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Insects currently represent over 60% of the animal species described, but despite their richness there are few conservation studies with the Insecta class. The most used orders based on conservation are also the most diverse in the Class, mainly because they perform various ecological functions, such as in associations with cadaverous substrate, the subject of this work. Most research involving necrophagous insects is associated with urban environments. This study aimed to survey the scavenger insect fauna present in an Atlantic Forest phytophysiognomy. The study site was the Caetetus Ecological Station, located between the municipalities of Gália and Alvinlândia, São Paulo. The Station houses one of the last remaining fragments of the Interior Atlantic Forest, which has a semi-deciduous forest phytophysiognomy, characterized mainly by having two seasons, one dry and one rainy. To survey the insect attractive traps with pork were used throughout the four seasons. The total abundance recorded was 39,412 individuals distributed in 232 morphospecies. Among these, the necrophagous species comprised approximately 24% of the total sampled, being the second most abundant food guild; the most abundant species was Mesembrinella sp, recorded only in non-anthropized environments, showing that the fragment still manages to maintain the predominance of a native species, although exotic species are found. / Mestre

This project aims to determine the solar Mg abundance with two infrared spectral lines: MgI λ10811 and λ10965. Downloaded line data from VALD are updated with modern values for the oscillator strengths and van der Waals damping parameters, the latter obtained through ABO theory. Utilizing SME, the Mg abundances of synthetic spectra are fitted with respect to a solar atlas. The derived abundance for varied turbulence configurations is found to be between logAMg+12 = 7.40–7.52, which is slightly lower than meteoric and 3D-modeled values. Suggested improvements would be to consider the effects of NLTE and line blending.

Helium can significantly influence solar wind dynamics. The changes of its relative abundance are usually associated with crossings of the boundaries between adjacent flux tubes. However, the recent studies of the data from the BMSW instrument onboard the Spektr-R spacecraft show that the relative helium abundance could vary also inside the flux tubes. The differential motion of proton and helium solar wind components was suggested as a source of turbulence inside the flux tube. The thesis is devoted to the long-term statistical study of the fast helium abundance variations with respect to parameters of the solar wind and changes of its source region. For this purpose, the plasma data from the instruments onboard the Wind and the Spektr-R spacecraft and magnetic field measurements from Wind were used. Simultaneous changes of the relative helium abundance and solar wind parameters were investigated in the long-term Wind observations as well as in the observations prior to and behind interplanetary shocks. Finally, the study of differences between proton and helium velocities during solar minima and solar maxima was conducted.

Masters of Science / Studies on snake competitive interactions have relatively been well documented globally, however, those examples tend to be dominated by non-African examples. Africa has a large and spectacular reptile diversity and yet robust and empirical studies on snake population ecology remain poorly understood or documented. Given the close phylogenetic relationship between the two species, as well as the remarkable similarities in overall appearance, morphology, reproductive biology, and most importantly geographic distribution, Psammophis crucifer and Psammophylax rhombeatus offered an ideal study system in which to ask questions related to interspecific competition and niche partitioning. Specifically I asked (1) whether broad scale geographic sympatry is facilitated by fine-scale allopatry through separation of space-use, and (2) whether the diets of the two species provided evidence of partitioning along the dietary niche. To answer these questions, I first quantified relative abundance of the two species at a fine scale, and secondly used existing dietary data to quantify dietary niche overlap. Even though P. rhombeatus was always more abundant in my sample, I found no evidence of space-use partitioning in this study, instead it showed a positive correlation in their abundance, and therefore suggesting space was not a limiting resource. Pianka niche overlap analysis showed significant differences in their feeding habits whereby P. rhombeatus had a broader diet which included mammals and birds, whereas P. crucifer predominantly fed on lizards and other snakes. In conclusion, my study suggests that across multiple geographic scales these two snakes use the same spatial resources and are able to co-exist by partitioning food resources. Lastly, my study serves to provoke more African studies of this nature with suitable candidate snake species.

Alien invasive plants are of concern in the world because of their potential to spread into the natural environment. Invasion patterns observed in plant species can be attributed among other things to favourable environmental conditions. Understanding invasion dynamics of alien invasive plants can help in timely intervention initiatives. In Mpumalanga, Lilium formosanum (Liliaceae) appears to be an emerging plant invader and is spreading in the natural environment. The study investigated the invasion extent and predictor variables which could explain abundance patterns of L. formosanum in the invasive range in Mpumalanga province in South Africa and further predict regions of the world that could be climatically suitable. Lilium formosanum was surveyed along 11 major routes leading into the towns of Sabie and Graskop in Mpumalanga from a slow moving vehicle. A total of 241 kilometres was surveyed. Lilium formosanum was found to be invasive from the towns of Sabie and Graskop. Climatically suitable areas were predicted using DIVA-GIS and climate data was obtained from WORLDCLIM database while occurrence records were obtained from the Southern African Plant Invaders Atlas, Australia’s virtual herbarium and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility. In conclusion, distance, altitude and route were found to have an influence on the abundance of L. formosanum in Mpumalanga Province. Climatically suitable areas included the eastern coastal belt, northern provinces and the interior parts of South Africa including major parts of Limpopo and Mpumalanga. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / Plant Production and Soil Science / MSc / Unrestricted