Small UAV?s and flight vehicles in other atmospheres such as Mars are characterized by low Reynolds numbers. Low Reynolds number airfoil testing has been difficult to achieve and there are few centers that can accomplish this task. This study is an effort to develop a flight test system that will enable low Reynolds number tests to be performed with a simple glider design. The concept is to develop a high altitude glider that will be transported to altitudes reaching 100,000 feet or more by a helium filled balloon. At altitude, the glider will be released and will perform flight experiments as it descends. This region of Earth?s atmosphere, ?near space? has the conditions desired for low Reynolds number testing as well as similar properties to the surface of Mars. With the knowledge gained from this experiment, a better understanding of accomplishing flight on Mars may be attained.

Hypoxia is a major stressor at high altitudes that limits tissue oxygen availability. High altitude environments are also extremely cold which increases thermogenic demand. Small mammals living at high altitude face the competing energetic challenge of maintaining thermogenesis in a hypoxic environment that can impair aerobic ATP supply. It has been suggested that hypoxia-induced impairments in ATP synthesis capacity and cold-induced increases in thermogenic demand could be counteracted by an increase in tissue oxidative capacity and/or fuel selection. As the organelle that consumes oxygen to produce ATP, changes in mitochondrial physiology can help offset physiological impairments at high altitudes. We explored this hypothesis in North American deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus), from populations native to high and low altitude. We compared mitochondrial volume densities, intracellular distribution, respiratory capacities, enzyme activities of the mitochondrial complexes, capillarity, and fibre-type distribution in skeletal and cardiac muscles. To examine potential changes to mitochondrial physiology at high altitudes deer mice (P. maniculatus) were acclimated to: warm (25°C) normoxia; warm hypoxia (simulated altitude of 4300m); cold (5°C) normoxia; and cold + hypoxia. In skeletal muscle, highlanders had higher mitochondrial volume densities than lowlanders, entirely due to an increased abundance of mitochondria in a subsarcolemmal location next to capillaries. Mitochondria from highland mice also had higher mitochondrial respiratory capacities and cytochrome c oxidase activity in control conditions, but these values converged after hypoxia acclimation. Cold acclimation restored pyruvate and fatty acid respiratory capacity to control levels in highland mice, which also showed an increase in mitochondrial uncoupling. Cold increased respiratory capacities in lowland mice. Acclimation to cold+hypoxia did not change mitochondrial physiology beyond cold alone and appeared to counteract the effects of hypoxia on highland mice. In cardiac muscle highland mice had higher respiratory capacities, but after hypoxia acclimation lowland mice significantly increased respiratory capacities. In response to hypoxia, highland mice increased the relative capacity to oxidize carbohydrates compared to fatty acids. Our results suggest that both highland ancestry and plasticity affect mitochondrial physiology, and likely contributes to performance at high altitudes. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Hypoxia encountered at high altitude (HA) can limit energy production via aerobic metabolism in animals. Carbohydrate oxidation (CHO) has a greater ATP yield/mole O2 than fat oxidation, and HA-native deer mice show an increased reliance on CHO during submaximal exercise after hypoxia acclimation as an O2-saving strategy. However, hypoxia acclimation does not increase glycolytic capacity in muscle. We therefore tested the hypothesis that altered metabolic regulation of the CHO pathway allows HA mice to achieve higher rates of CHO during submaximal exercise. The objective of our study was to identify the effects of hypoxia acclimation on the regulation of two key proteins in the CHO pathway and their activation with exercise. Using first generation (G1) laboratory born and raised HA deer mice acclimated to normoxia or chronic hypoxia, we examined the metabolic regulation of muscle glucose uptake by glucose transporter (GLUT) 4 and of pyruvate oxidation by pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH). The gastrocnemius was electrically stimulated in situ under anaesthesia and acute normoxia at two submaximal workloads relative to maximal force production, which was measured using a force transducer. In frozen gastrocnemius following stimulation or rest, GLUT4 protein content was measured via Western blotting of the sarcolemmal membrane fraction and PDH activity was measured using a radiolabelled assay. We found no differences in sarcolemmal GLUT4 content with stimulation, but PDH activity was increased in hypoxia, indicating increased rates of carbohydrate breakdown at similar workloads after acclimation. These data were compared to data from wild HA deer mice sampled at their native altitude. In support of our hypothesis, these data show that the metabolic regulation of the carbohydrate oxidative pathway changes with acclimation to support higher CHO rates during submaximal exercise. These data will help uncover the mechanistic underpinnings responsible for the exercise fuel use strategies observed exclusively in HA-native mice. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc) / At high altitude, oxygen availability is low and can be challenging for active animals. Preferential carbohydrate oxidation is a metabolic strategy used by high altitude-native deer mice to fuel exercise because of its high energy yield per oxygen consumed. Despite the increase in carbohydrate breakdown, the capacity for muscles to use carbohydrates did not change, suggesting that the regulation of this metabolic pathway may be changing instead. We measured the contributions of two proteins involved in carbohydrate metabolism in active muscle, pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4), at different muscle workloads and after acclimation to high altitude conditions. We found no differences in GLUT4 content, but PDH activity was higher in hypoxia-acclimated mice at similar intensities, indicating increased rates of carbohydrate breakdown after acclimation. These data suggest that the regulation of the carbohydrate metabolic pathway changes with acclimation to support higher rates of carbohydrate oxidation during exercise.

No description available.

Miniature Autonomous Underwater Vehicles are a major area of research and development today. Because of their size and agility, they are capable of exploring and operating in smaller bodies of water in addition to areas of the ocean that would be out of reach for a larger vehicle. Being autonomous requires that the system must be capable of performing without the need for human supervision, so use of external sensors such as sonar are needed to ensure the safety of the vehicle during missions. However, since all of the onboard instrumentation and external equipment must also be miniature in size, the implementation of a small sonar system is desirable. This thesis contains a brief introduction to sound and sonar, leading into a description of the design and development of a small, inexpensive sonar altimeter. Piezoelectric material is used for transduction in the sonar system while a PIC microcontroller processes the return signals from the water. This altimeter was made to be implemented on a miniature autonomous underwater vehicle developed by the Autonomous Systems and Controls Laboratory at Virginia Polytechnic Institute. In addition to being capable of reporting ocean depths, sonar systems can be used to aid in the navigation of underwater vehicles. A constant altitude controller based on sonar data has been designed, tested, and implemented on the autonomous underwater vehicle. Possibilities for an obstacle avoidance system involving sonar are also discussed in this thesis. / Master of Science

Le projet HiCIBaS (High-Contrast Imaging Balloon System) est une mission de télescope à ballon dirigé dans le but de l'imagerie exoplanète en utilisant des techniques à contraste élevé. Pour la première mission en 2018, les principaux objectifs étaient de développer les systèmes nécessaires et de valider leurs performances, d'acquérir des données de vol et de prouver la capacité de survie de tous les systèmes et composants majeurs dans des conditions proches de l'espace. Ce projet de maîtrise porte sur deux aspects de la charge utile : la conception de la monture de télescope alt-az dynamique pour le système de pointage et le développement des sangles thermiques personnalisées pour le système optique. La monture du télescope est la structure qui supporte le télescope et permet aux moteurs du système de pointage de le diriger vers la position souhaitée. Les sangles thermiques personnalisées sont une solution développée pour dissiper la chaleur générée par les principaux composants du système optique (caméras, contrôleurs, etc.). Les deux solutions ont été testées lors d’un vol de nuit en août 2018 dans le cadre de la campagne STRATOS de l’agence spatiale canadienne à Timmins, en Ontario. Ce mémoire définira les exigences des deux systèmes, présentera le développement des conceptions, détaillera les analyses et les tests effectués, démontrera la conformité aux exigences, commentera sur les performances de la mission et donner des conseilsdes moyens d'améliorer les deux conceptions pour les futures itérations du projet. / The HiCIBaS (High-Contrast Imaging Balloon System) project is a balloon-borne telescope mission with the big-picture goal of exoplanet-imaging using high-contrast techniques. For the scope of the pilot mission in 2018, the main goals were to develop the necessary systems and validate their performance, acquire flight data, and prove the survivability of all systems and major components in near-space conditions. This Master’s project deals with two aspects of the overall payload : the design of the dynamic alt-az telescope mount for the pointing system and the development of the custom thermal straps for the optics system. The telescope mount is the structure that supports the telescope and allows the pointing system’s motors to direct it to the desired position. The custom thermal straps are a solution that was developed to dissipate the heat generated by the optics system’s main components (cameras, controllers, etc.). Both solutions were tested during an overnight flight in August of 2018 under the Canadian Space Agency’s STRATOS campaign in Timmins, Ontario. This mémoire will define the requirements for both systems, present the development of the designs, detail the analyses and tests performed, demonstrate conformance to the requirements, commenton mission performances, and provide insight on ways to improve both designs for future iterations.

En plaine, la moitié des athlètes entrainés en endurance sont susceptibles de développer une hypoxémie induite par l’exercice (HIE). Actuellement, la pratique des sports d’endurance de montagne est en plein essor. Dans ces disciplines, les athlètes très entrainés en endurance et donc susceptibles de développer une HIE, évoluent régulièrement en altitude modérée. Ce travail s’est intéressé à l’évolution de la HIE en altitude modérée, ainsi qu’à ses conséquences et sa relation avec la modification des composantes cardio-respiratoires à l’exercice. Nos résultats indiquent que : 1) la désaturation artérielle n’est pas potentialisée en altitude aiguë chez les athlètes HIE par rapport à des athlètes non-HIE alors que les athlètes HIE ont une chute de consommation maximale d’oxygène et de fréquence cardiaque maximale plus importante, 2) les athlètes HIE développent un stress hémodynamique important associé à des réponses vasculaires pulmonaires spécifiques à l’exercice en plaine, 3) tous les athlètes présentent une limitation de la diffusion pulmonaire à l’exercice maximal en altitude aiguë et nos résultats ne permettent pas d’affirmer une limitation cardiaque plus importante chez les athlètes HIE, 4) en hypoxie chronique, la désaturation artérielle est influencée par les modalités de pratique sportive. Notre travail a permis d’établir des recommandations pour les athlètes entrainés en endurance, de plus en plus nombreux, désirant performer en altitude modérée. / At sea level, half of endurance trained athletes can develop an exercise induced hypoxemia (EIH). Currently, the practice of mountain endurance sports is booming. In these disciplines, highly endurance trained athletes, and thus likely to develop EIH, practise regularly at moderate altitude. This work has focused on the evolution of EIH at moderate altitude, as well as its consequences and its relationship with the change in cardiorespiratory components during exercise. Our results show that: 1) arterial desaturation is not potentiated at acute altitude in EIH athletes compared to non-EIH athletes while EIH athletes have a greater fall in maximal oxygen uptake and in maximal heart rate, 2) EIH athletes develop a significant hemodynamic stress associated with specific pulmonary vascular responses at sea level, 3) all athletes have a lung diffusion limitation at maximal exercise in moderate altitude and our results do not show a greater cardiac limitation in EIH athletes, 4) in chronic hypoxia, arterial desaturation is influenced by exercise modality. Our work resulted in a number of recommendations to help endurance trained athletes who want to perform at moderate altitude.

This study had as objective to analyze the differences in the dominant hight (h100) growth trends of two Eucalyptus saligna Smith clones, implanted on different conditions of soil and relief. The differences due this variable growth were used to separate both clones in distinct growth groups, and this way to classify the sites to each group, to adjust, validate and organize a set of functions such as number of trees per hectare (N), average quadratic diameter (dg), basal area and commercial volumes with and without bark, building this way a whole stand prognosis system to the evaluated clones. The analysis of growth trends defined tree different groups: The first one encompassing the clone 2864 implanted on hight quality soils (Group I), the second one the same clone 2864 but implanted on medium and low quality soils (Group II), and the third one that consisted in the clone 4039 on all soil classes (Group III), which did not show the same growth difference among the soil classes as the clone 2864 did. The variables altitude and slope, even showing some significant differences in the analysis, did not justify the separation in distinct groups. The analysis of number of trees per hectare showed different pattern between both clones, but did not between both groups based on 2864 clone, sharply indicating that this pattern is due the genetic characteristics of each clone. Among the stand density interval analyzed (700 to 1500 trees per hectare) the fitted equation estimated adequately, did not showing different mortality trends as the stand density changed. The average quadratic diameter was modeled by the variables dominant hight (h100), N and age for all groups in conjunction, did not requiring an specific function to each growth group to estimate accurately the average diameters. Basal area and volumes with and without bark were modeled by the previous variables (h100, N and dg) and showed different trends among the three groups. The final yield was highly superior in the group I, followed by the group II and after by the group III. The age of maximizing production (AMP) was distinct among each group and, the smaller AMP were found in the best sites to all groups. AMP values, from the best to the worst site, fluctuated from 9,5 to 12 years, from 8,5 to 10,5 years and from 7 to 8,4 years for the groups I, II and III, respectively. This study allowed concluding that there are differences in the growth and yield, not only between the two evaluated clones, but also between the different soils classes. / Este trabalho objetivou a análise de diferentes tendências de crescimento em altura dominante (h100) de dois clones de Eucalyptus saligna Smith, implantados em diferentes condições de solo e relevo. As diferenças no crescimento desta variável foram utilizadas para segregar os dois clones em distintos grupos de crescimento, com isso realizar a classificação de sítio em cada grupo e, posteriormente o ajuste, validação e estruturação de funções de número de árvores por hectare (N), diâmetro quadrático médio (dg), área basal e volumes comercias com e sem casca, criando um sistema de prognose em nível de povoamento para os clones avaliados. A análise das tendências de crescimento indicou a existência de três distintos grupos: O primeiro formado pelo clone 2864 implantado em solos de aptidão superior (Grupo I), o segundo formado pelo mesmo clone 2864 sob solos de aptidão média e inferior (Grupo II), e o terceiro formado pelo clone 4039 (Grupo III), o qual não demonstrou a mesma diferença de crescimento entre classes de solo apresentada pelo clone 2864. As variáveis altitude e declividade, apesar de significativas em algumas análises, não justificaram a separação em diferentes grupos. A análise da mortalidade, através da tendência do número de árvores por hectare ao transcorrer da idade, mostrou-se diferenciada entre os dois clones, mas não entre os dois grupos formados pelo clone 2864, indicando que esse comportamento deve-se exclusivamente às características genéticas de cada material. No intervalo de densidade analisado, (entre 700 à 1500 árvores por hectare) a função ajustada estimou adequadamente, não apresentando diferente tendência de mortalidade quando do aumento da densidade. O diâmetro médio foi modelado pelas variáveis, h100, N e idade para todos os grupos em conjunto, não necessitando de funções específicas para cada grupo de crescimento para que estimasse com acuracidade os diâmetros. Área basal e os volumes com e sem casca foram modelados em função das variáveis anteriores (h100, N e dg) e se mostraram com tendências distintas entre grupos. A produção volumétrica final foi superior no grupo I, seguida do grupo II e por último do grupo III. As idades de maximização da produção (IMP) foram distintas entre cada grupo analisado, sendo que as menores IMP foram encontradas nos melhores sítios para todos os grupos. Os valores de IMP do melhor para o pior sítio variaram de 9,5 a 12 anos, de 8,5 a 10,5 anos e de 7 a 8,4 anos para os grupos I, II e III, respectivamente. O estudo permitiu concluir que existem diferenças no crescimento e produção final tanto entre os dois clones estudados, quanto entre as diferentes classes de aptidão de solos.

Submitted by Claudia Rocha (claudia.rocha@udesc.br) on 2018-02-27T14:58:33Z No. of bitstreams: 1 PGPV16MA209.pdf: 5712412 bytes, checksum: 8b2731215560719c3583c42e4b347214 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-02-27T14:58:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PGPV16MA209.pdf: 5712412 bytes, checksum: 8b2731215560719c3583c42e4b347214 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-07-29 / Capes / Brazil is still considered a country with mega biodiversity, which corresponds to 44.830000 plant species, and some plants have ornamental potential. Many of these ornamental species are not used, and not even known by the population, which can help to increase the introduction of exotic species. Knowledge of native ornamental flora is a key factor for their conservation and sustainable management of the species. The objectives of this study were to know the native ornamental flora in field areas and forest edge through floristic survey and carry out phenological monitoring of four species. The study was conducted in the Mixed Ombrophilous Forest High-Montana, in a Private Reserve of the State Natural Heritage (RPPNE - Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural Estadual) Nascentes Farm, Urupema, SC. The property has a total area of 1367.43 hectares, located between the coordinates 27 52'37,33 "( South latitude) and 49 55 '14.39" (West longitude), with an altitude ranging from 1450 to 1750 meters and belongs to Klabin SA company. The weather is mild , humid, with well distributed rains throughout the period of the year and average annual rainfall of 1800 mm, the average annual temperature is 13 °C. The vegetation sampling was carried out from April/2015 to April/2016 in an area of approximately 32 hectares, adopting the traversal method, looking for specimens with ornamental potential. For phenological monitoring four species were selected: Callianthe fluviatilis (Vell.) Donnell (Malvaceae), Senecio icoglossus var. icoglossus, (Asteraceae), Sisyrinchium micranthum Cav. (Iridaceae) and Trichocline catharinensis Cabrera. The vegetative stages (sprouting and leaf fall) and reproductive (button, anthesis, unripe fruit and ripe fruit) of the species were biweekly accompanied from April 2015 to April 2016, using the qualitative method to evaluate each phenophase. They were made Spearman correlation analysis (rs) of phenophases with meteorological data, rainfall (mm), temperature (°C) and heat stroke (h), provided by EPAGRI /CIRAM. The floristic survey resulted in the registration of 23 families, 39 genera and 54 species with ornamental potential. The best represented families were Asteraceae (13 species), Iridaceae (5) and Lamiaceae (4) and for the other families, were recorded between the three species, Lythraceae, Solanaceae, and Verbenaceae (3) Apiaceae, Fabaceae, Melastomataceae, Onagraceae , Polygalaceae and Rubiaceae (2), Alstroemeriaceae Apocynaceae, Begoniaceae, Campanulaceae, Commelinaceae, Convolvulaceae, Eriocaulaceae, Lentibulariaceae, Liliaceae, Malvaceae and Orobanchaceae (1). The accompanied species presented flowering, fruiting, leaf fall and sprout in the studied months. The correlation analyzes showed that Callianthe fluviatilis species correlated with ripe fruit and insolation (r = 0.64; p = 0.0027), anthesis and minimum temperature (r = 0.058; p = 0.0092), button and minimum temperature (r = 0.62; p = 0.0041), immature fruit and maximum temperature (r = 0.75, p = 0.00016), ripe fruit and maximum temperature (r = 0.73; p = 0, 00032) ripe fruit and minimum temperature (r = 0.75, p = 0.00021). The species Senecio icoglossus DC. var. icoglossus showed positive correlation between ripe fruit and precipitation (r = 0.81; p = 0.0042), budding was negatively correlated with the minimum temperature (r = -0.84; p = 0.0018), leaf fall it was negatively correlated with minimum temperature (r = -0.84; p = 0.0018), leaf fall was negatively correlated with temperature and maximum (r = -0.80; p = 0.0052). Sisyrinchuim micranthum obtained positive correlation, ripe fruit and maximum temperature (r = 0.77; p = 0.0010), ripe fruit and minimum temperature (r = 0.82, p = 0.00029). Trichocline catharinensis showed highly significant correlation between buttons and minimum temperature (r = 0.69; p = 0.0003), and button and insolation (rs = 0.60; p = 0.0029). The four species studied were correlated with weather factors, environmental variables were important to the phenology of species with ornamental potential. / O Brasil é considerado um país com megabiodiversidade, o que corresponde a 44,830 mil espécies vegetais, e parte das plantas tem potencial ornamental. Muitas dessas espécies ornamentais não são utilizadas, e nem mesmo conhecidas pela população, que pode auxiliar ao aumento da introdução de espécies exóticas. O conhecimento da flora ornamental nativa é fator fundamental para sua conservação e manejo sustentável das espécies. Os objetivos deste estudo foram conhecer a flora ornamental nativas em áreas de campo e borda florestal, por meio de levantamento florístico, e realizar acompanhamento fenológico de quatro espécies. O estudo foi conduzido na Floresta Ombrófila Mista Alto-Montana, em uma Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural Estadual (RPPNE) Fazenda das Nascentes, Urupema, SC. A propriedade possui área total de 1.367,43 hectares, localizada entre as coordenadas 27º 52’37,33” (latitude) sul e 49º 55’ 14,39” (longitude) oeste, com altitude variando entre 1450 a 1750 metros e pertence à empresa Klabin SA. O clima da região é temperado, úmido, com chuvas bem distribuídas durante todo o período do ano e precipitação média anual de 1800 mm, a temperatura média anual é de 13 °C. A amostragem da vegetação foi realizada no período de 04/2015 a 04/2016 numa área de aproximadamente 32 hectares, adotando-se o método de caminhamento, em busca de espécimes com potencial ornamental. Para o acompanhamento fenológico foram selecionadas quatro espécies: Callianthe fluviatilis (Vell.) Donnell (Malvaceae), Senecio icoglossus var. icoglossus, (Asteraceae), Sisyrinchium micranthum Cav. (Iridaceae) e Trichocline catharinensis Cabrera. Foram acompanhadas quinzenalmente as fases vegetativa (brotação e queda foliar) e reprodutivas (botão, antese, frutos imaturos, e frutos maduros) das espécies no período de abril de 2015 a abril 2016, utilizando o método qualitativo para avaliar cada fenofase. Foram feitas a análise de correlação de Spearman (rs) das fenofases com os dados meteorológicos, precipitação (mm), temperatura (°C) e insolação (h), fornecidos pela EPAGRI/CIRAM. O levantamento florístico resultou no registro de 23 famílias, 39 gêneros e 54 espécies, com potencial ornamental. As famílias melhor representadas foram Asteraceae (13 espécies), Iridaceae (5) e Lamiaceae (4) e, para as demais famílias, foram registradas entre uma a três espécies, Lythraceae, Solanaceae e Verbenaceae (3) Apiaceae, Fabaceae, Melastomataceae, Onagraceae, Polygalaceae e Rubiaceae (2), Alstroemeriaceae Apocynaceae, Begoniaceae, Campanulaceae, Commelinaceae, Convolvulaceae, Eriocaulaceae, Lentibulariaceae, Liliaceae, Malvaceae e Orobanchaceae (1). As espécies acompanhadas apresentaram floração, frutificação, queda foliar e brotação nos meses estudados. As análises de correlação mostraram que a espécie Callianthe fluviatilis apresentou correlação com fruto maduro e insolação (r = 0,64; p = 0,0027), antese e temperatura mínima (r = 0,058; p = 0,0092), botão e temperatura mínima (r = 0,62; p = 0,0041), fruto imaturo e temperatura máxima (r = 0,75; p = 0,00016), fruto maduro e temperatura máxima (r = 0,73; p = 0,00032) fruto maduro e temperatura mínima (r = 0,75; p = 0,00021). A espécie Senecio icoglossus DC. var. icoglossus mostrou correlação positiva entre fruto maduro e precipitação (r = 0,81; p = 0,0042), a brotação foi correlacionada negativamente com a temperatura mínima (r = -0,84; p = 0,0018), a queda foliar foi correlacionada negativamente com temperatura mínima (r = -0,84; p = 0,0018), a queda foliar foi correlacionada negativamente com e temperatura máxima (r = -0,80; p = 0,0052). Sisyrinchuim micranthum obteve correlação positiva, fruto maduro e temperatura máxima (r = 0,77; p = 0,0010), fruto maduro e temperatura mínima (r = 0,82; p = 0,00029). Trichocline catharinensis apresentou correlação altamente significativa entre botões e temperatura mínima (rs = 0,69; p = 0,0003) e, botão e insolação (rs = 0,60; p = 0,0029). As quatro espécies estudadas tiveram correlação com os fatores meteorológicos, as variáveis ambientais foram importantes para os eventos fenológicos das espécies com potencial ornamental.

Submitted by RODRIGO FERREIRA DE MORAIS null (morais_rf@yahoo.com.br) on 2018-02-02T20:42:19Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese-Final-Correção.pdf: 2669730 bytes, checksum: 576a54e50568133796232621abf36675 (MD5) / Rejected by Ana Paula Santulo Custódio de Medeiros null (asantulo@rc.unesp.br), reason: - Fatla a capa. - Falta a ficha catalográfica, que deve ser solicitada pela home-page da biblioteca. - Verificar a folha de aprovação que não consta a data de defesa e a informação de aprovado. on 2018-02-05T10:18:25Z (GMT) / Submitted by RODRIGO FERREIRA DE MORAIS null (morais_rf@yahoo.com.br) on 2018-03-12T00:50:14Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese-Final-Correção.pdf: 2870079 bytes, checksum: 5202fec250145dfa46a6eaec7b5e486b (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ana Paula Santulo Custódio de Medeiros null (asantulo@rc.unesp.br) on 2018-03-12T12:06:27Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 morais_rf_dr_rcla.pdf: 2562833 bytes, checksum: f79e474e4fef9378e024df78cf771f9e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-03-12T12:06:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 morais_rf_dr_rcla.pdf: 2562833 bytes, checksum: f79e474e4fef9378e024df78cf771f9e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-01-08 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Nas florestas tropicais os complexos fatores ambientais responsáveis pelos padrões de distribuição espacial da vegetação são de grande interesse de pesquisas em ecologia vegetal. O objetivo principal desta tese foi estudar a estrutura e a composição florística da comunidade arbórea da Floresta Pluvial Atlântica (Floresta Ombrófila Densa Montana) em um gradiente de altitude, e as possíveis correlações com fatores topográficos e edáficos no Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar, Núcleos de Picinguaba, Santa Virgínia e Cunha, no sudeste do Brasil. Para tanto, esta tese foi dividida em três capítulos. No primeiro analisamos as variações na estrutura, composição e a riqueza em escala local e as relações com as variáveis topográficas e edáficas. No segundo verificamos a similaridade florística, e variações na riqueza e estrutura da comunidade arbórea entre as altitudes de 600 e 1.100 m, e verificamos as relações dos padrões florísticos e de riqueza com os fatores topográficos e edáficos. Por fim, no terceiro capítulo analisamos as variações na estrutura, composição e riqueza de espécies da comunidade arbórea relacionadas as condições edáficas, e a contribuição na diversidade beta no gradiente de altitude (600, 800, 1.000 e 1.100 m). Em cada altitude foram implantadas 4 parcelas de 50 x 50 m, subdividas em 10 x 10 m. Realizamos os levantamentos florísco-fitossociológicos aos 600 e 1.100 m de altitude, e as medições das variáveis topográficas e amostragem do solo aos 600, 1.000 e 1.100 m. Compilamos os dados dos levantamentos aos 800 e 1.000 m de altitude, e para as variáveis edáficas e topográficas da cota de 800 m. Foram amostrados os indivíduos com PAP ≥ 15 cm. Os resultados indicam que as variáveis edáficas e topográficas não influenciaram nos parâmetros estruturais da comunidade arbórea, no entanto, estiveram relacionadas com a distribuição das espécies e riqueza local. Os efeitos do solo e da topografia na distribuição das espécies e na riqueza divergem parcialmente em diferentes altitudes (600 e 1.100), sendo estas divergências atribuídas às diferentes condições topográficas das florestas, nas quais os efeitos da topografia na comunidade arbórea e nas condições edáficas são mais pronunciados em ambientes com amplitudes de maior inclinação. As características florísticas e estruturais da floresta aos 1.100 m, indicam uma região de transição entre a Floresta Ombrófila Densa Montana e Altomontana. No gradiente de altitude verificamos diferenças na composição florística e alta substituição de espécies, sendo que as florestas de altitude mais elevadas (1.000 e 1.100 m) mais contribuem para diversidade beta. Diferenças na riqueza ao longo do gradiente não foram relacionadas com as variáveis edáficas, sendo as menores riquezas encontradas nos extremos do gradiente, já as diferenças na composição florísticas estiveram relacionadas às condições edáficas do gradiente de altitude. / In tropical forests, the complex environmental factors responsible for the spatial distribution patterns of vegetation are of great interest for research in plant ecology. The main objective of this research was to analyze the structure and floristic composition of the tree community of the Atlantic Rain Forest (Montana Rain Forest) in a gradient of altitude, and possible correlations with topographic and soil factors in the Atlantic Rain Forest in the State Park Serra do Mar, Núclo of Picinguaba, Santa Virgínia and Cunha, in Southeastern Brazil. To this purpose, we divided this research into three chapters. At first we examined the changes in the structure, composition and richness at the local level and relations with topographic and edaphic variables. In the second, we evaluated the floristic similarity and variations in richness and structure of the tree community between the altitudes of 600 and 1.100 m, and verify the relations of floristic patterns and richness with topographic and edaphic factors. Finally, in the third chapter we examined the changes in the structure, composition and species richness of tree community related to soil conditions, and the contribution in the beta diversity in altitude gradient (600, 800, 1.000 and 1.100 m). At each altitude, we implanted four plots of 50 x 50 m, subdivided into 10 x 10 m. We conducted flora-Phytosociological surveys at the 600 and 1.100 m a.s.l, took measurements of the environmental variables and soil sampling of the 600, 1.000 and 1.100 m. We compiled data from surveys at 800 and 1.000 m a.s.l, and the soil and topographic variables quota of 800 m. Individuals with PBH ≥ 15 cm were sampled. The results indicate that soil and topographic variables did not influence the structural parameters of the tree community, however, they were related to the distribution of species and the local richness. The effects of soil and topography in species distribution and richness partially diverge at different altitudes (600 and 1.100), and these differences attributed to the different topographical conditions of the forests, where the effects of topography on the tree community and the soil conditions are more pronounced in environments with greater inclination amplitudes. The floristic and structural characteristics of the forest at 1.100 m, indicate a transition region between the Atlantic Rain Forest and Upper Montane and Montana. In the elevation gradient, we found differences in the floristic composition and high turnover of species, and the forests at greater altitudes (1.000 to 1.100 m) contributed more to beta diversity. Differences in richness over gradient were not related to the edaphic variables, and the lowest richness found in the extremes of the gradient. In the other hand, the differences in floristic composition were related to soil conditions of altitude gradient.