Global declines and disappearances of amphibians from high altitude, pristine habitats have been reported in recent years. To date the cause of many of these declines and/or disappearances has not been identified. Although it is well documented that life history characteristics of temperate amphibians are influenced by altitude (due to systematic variation of temperature with altitude), little work has been carried out on the effects of altitude on Australian anurans. This lack of ecological data is a major impediment to identifying the causal factors responsible for amphibian declines. Due to differences in life history characteristics, high altitude populations may be less resilient than their lowland counterparts and subsequently may be more vulnerable to extinction. Consequently, the main aim of this study was to determine whether altitude influenced life history characteristics and ultimately population resilience of anurans in the southeast Queensland region. Six anuran species; Litoria chloris, L. lesueuri, L. pearsoniana (Anura: Hylidae), Mixophyes fasciolatus, M. fleayi and M. iteratus (Anura: Myobatrachidae) were studied over three field seasons (1997-1999) in 18 sites of varying altitude (100-950m) in the southeast Queensland region. The life history characteristics examined were: activity and breeding season length, fecundity and egg size, number of clutches produced per season, tadpole growth and development rates, longevity, age at maturity, reproductive life span, average lifetime fecundity, survival and recapture rates. The data were collected using a combination of field-based surveys (body sizes, clutch sizes, and survival and recapture rates), museum specimen dissections (clutch and egg sizes), reciprocal transplant field experiments (tadpole growth and development rates) and skeletochronology (longevity, age at maturity, reproductive lifespan and average lifetime fecundity). On average, high altitude populations of all species had shorter breeding and activity seasons than low altitude populations (up to 10 weeks less in some cases). The magnitude of the difference in breeding season length varied among years depending on the average temperature and rainfall for the year; i.e. differences appeared greater in warmer and wetter years. Within a population males had longer breeding and activity seasons than females. Although breeding season length varied with altitude, the number of nights that individuals were active within the breeding season did not vary; i.e. low altitude populations were not active for more nights despite having a longer breeding season. This result was attributed to the absence of a relationship between individual activity and environmental variables (air temperature, rainfall, etc.) in many of the populations. Generally, intraspecific clutch size did not vary significantly with altitude. This result was due to the absence of a significant relationship between female body size and altitude (as clutch size is proportional to female body size). Egg size also did not vary with altitude however, suggesting egg size may be canalized (i.e. fixed) in these species. Results also suggest that females of these species only produce one clutch of eggs per season. Interspecific differences in reproductive characteristics largely reflected differences in reproductive mode, larval habitat and female body size. Altitude negatively influenced growth and development rates in L. chloris and development rates in L. pearsoniana. Tadpoles raised at high altitudes were also generally larger at each Gosner Development Stage in both species. The results of the reciprocal transplant experiments suggested that most of the variation in growth and development rates was due to environmental factors (water temperature) rather than genetic or maternal factors. Altitude or genetic factors did not significantly affect tadpole survival in either species. The results suggest that tadpoles occurring at high altitudes take longer to reach metamorphosis and do so at a larger size than their lowland counterparts. With the exception of L. lesueuri, skeletochronology was suitable for age estimation in the study species. Altitude had a significant effect on the age at maturity or longevity in some of the species, however there were trends toward older individuals and older ages at maturity in high altitude populations for the remaining species. Females were generally older than males for all species and in the case of longer-lived species (i.e. Mixophyes spp.) also tended to be older when breeding for the first time. The large overlap of body sizes of individuals of different ages demonstrates that body size is a poor indicator of age in these species. This is the first study to estimate average lifetime fecundity for more than one amphibian species and/or population. The results suggest that the absence of significant altitudinal variation in the average lifetime fecundity of different populations is due to tradeoffs made by females (current reproduction vs. survival). There was no significant altitudinal variation in annual survival and recapture rates in any of the species, and generally there was no difference in the survival and recapture rates of males and females in each population. Within a year, monthly survival and recapture rates were more variable at low than high altitudes and this was attributed to the longer breeding season of low altitude populations. The results did not support previous studies that suggested there was a size bias in survival and recapture rates. The shorter breeding seasons, slower growth and development rates, older age at maturity and greater longevity found in the high altitude study populations will result in increased generation time in those populations. In turn, increased generation time can cause high altitude populations to be less resilient (i.e. population takes longer to return to equilibrium after a disturbance away from equilibrium) (Pimm et al. 1988, Pimm 1991) and ultimately more vulnerable or prone to extinction or decline. The majority of unexplained global amphibian declines have occurred at high altitudes in tropical and subtropical areas. These latitudinal patterns may be explained by the narrow range of environmental tolerances exhibited by tropical organisms resulting in mountains being effectively “higher” in the tropics. Consequently, high altitude tropical species are likely to be even more vulnerable than temperate species occurring at similar altitudes. Further work on the effects of geographic variation, especially interactions between altitude and latitude are needed to evaluate the hypotheses for the causes of these declines and disappearances.

Submitted by Sandra Pereira (srpereira@ufrrj.br) on 2017-01-17T16:12:27Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2016 - Kelly Cristina da Silva Goncalves.pdf: 8978579 bytes, checksum: 967d7d009f51a3bbc8ce5255976e502f (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-01-17T16:12:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2016 - Kelly Cristina da Silva Goncalves.pdf: 8978579 bytes, checksum: 967d7d009f51a3bbc8ce5255976e502f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-22 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior - CAPES / Over the past decades, several authors have tried to explain the altitudinal distribution patterns and the factors that influence the distribution of species over the elevation gradients. In general, studies show that the richness distribution curve has the shape of a "hump", with intermediate altitudes with higher rates of diversity. Few are those who relate the Melastomataceae with elevation gradient and none addresses the family distribution in Brazil and, consequently, in the Atlantic Forest. The present study had two main objectives: (a) increase the knowledge of the taxonomic diversity of Melastomataceae in the study areas, providing an identification key for the genera, descriptions and evaluating the richness and peculiarities of the taxa, as well as the conservation status (Chapter I); and (b) to analyze the distribution pattern of the diversity of Melastomataceae along the altitudinal variation of a wooded stretch of Serra dos ?rg?os, in the mountainous region of the state of Rio de Janeiro (Chapter II). A floristic survey was done in contiguous protected areas, belonging to Central Fluminense Conservation Units Mosaic: Guapia?? Ecological Reserve (REGUA), Tr?s Picos State Park (PETP) and Serra dos ?rg?os National Park (PARNASO). Periodic collections in the study areas were made using methods of fixed installments and traversal, traversing up primary and secondary trails. In 11 altitudinal allotments distributed between 0-2000 m, were performed a 290 m transect per allotment, following the level curve, where 15 plots of 10 x 10 m were placed, totaling 165 plots placed and 1,65 ha sampled. Moreover, fields located above altitude of 2,100 m were also exploited for a better sampling of the species. The collected material was herborized and identified in laboratory using morphological analysis of vegetative and reproductive parts, subsequently deposited in the RBR Herbarium, with duplicates in RB. Species richness of Melastomataceae raised for the studied area is represented by 152 species belonging to 22 genera. Eight species are cited as vulnerable on the list of endangered species for the city of Rio de Janeiro, one species (Bertolonia leuzeana (Bonpl.) Cogn.) is considered Endangered on the Red Book of Brazil?s Flora and 22 endemic species of Rio de Janeiro are with some degree of threat, by the evaluation of the National Center for Conservation of Flora-CNCFlora. In all altitudinal installments Melastomataceae species were collected, with the highest richness being registered in the 1000m altitudinal installment (57 spp.). The species' altitudinal distribution curve presented a pattern shaped like a ?hump?. REGUA, PETP and PARNASO are located in a region with the largest forest remnants preserved from state of Rio de Janeiro and, because they are legally protected, they have high biological diversity under custody. Despite that in all altitudinal installments Melastomataceae species were collected, it is possible that with increased sampling effort in areas not yet visited or little explored, the number of species of Melastomataceae cited for localities may increase as well as the registration of new species and/or occurrences / Ao longo das ?ltimas d?cadas, v?rios autores t?m procurado explicar os padr?es de distribui??o altitudinal e os fatores que influenciam na distribui??o das esp?cies ao longo dos gradientes de eleva??o. Em geral, os estudos apontam que a curva de distribui??o da riqueza possui o formato de ?corcova?, com as altitudes intermedi?rias apresentando os maiores valores de diversidade. Poucos s?o os que relacionam as Melastomataceae com gradiente de eleva??o e nenhum aborda a distribui??o da fam?lia no Brasil e, consequentemente, na Floresta Atl?ntica. O presente estudo teve dois objetivos principais: (a) ampliar o conhecimento sobre a diversidade taxon?mica das Melastomataceae na ?rea de estudo, fornecendo uma chave de identifica??o para os g?neros, descri??es e avaliando a riqueza e peculiaridades dos t?xons, bem como o estado de conserva??o das esp?cies (Cap?tulo I); e (b) analisar o padr?o de distribui??o da diversidade das Melastomataceae ao longo da varia??o altitudinal de um trecho florestal da Serra dos ?rg?os, na Regi?o Serrana do estado do Rio de Janeiro (Cap?tulo II). Realizou-se o levantamento flor?stico em Unidades de Conserva??o cont?guas, pertencentes ao Mosaico de Unidades de Conserva??o Central Fluminense: Reserva Ecol?gica de Guapia?? (REGUA), Parque Estadual dos Tr?s Picos (PETP) e Parque Nacional da Serra dos ?rg?os (PARNASO). Realizaram-se coletas de campo peri?dicas na ?rea de estudo, por m?todos de parcelas fixas e do caminhamento, percorrendo-se trilhas prim?rias e secund?rias. Em 11 cotas altitudinais, distribu?das entre 0-2000 m de altitude, efetuou-se uma transec??o de 290 m por cota, acompanhando-se a curva de n?vel, onde foram alocadas 15 parcelas de 10 x 10 m, totalizando 165 parcelas alocadas e 1,65 ha amostrados. Al?m disso, os Campos de Altitude localizados acima de 2100 m tamb?m foram explorados, para uma melhor amostragem das esp?cies. O material coletado foi herborizado e identificado em laborat?rio atrav?s de an?lise morfol?gica das partes vegetativas e reprodutivas, sendo posteriormente depositado no Herb?rio RBR, com duplicata no RB. A riqueza de esp?cies de Melastomataceae levantada para a ?rea de estudo est? representada por 152 esp?cies pertencentes a 22 g?neros. Oito esp?cies s?o citadas como vulner?vel na lista das esp?cies amea?adas de extin??o para o munic?pio do Rio de Janeiro, uma esp?cie (Bertolonia leuzeana (Bonpl.) Cogn.) ? citada como Em Perigo, no Livro Vermelho da Flora do Brasil e 22 esp?cies end?micas do Rio de Janeiro encontram-se com algum grau de amea?a, pela avalia??o do Centro Nacional de Conserva??o da Flora - CNCFlora. Em todas as cotas altitudinais foram coletadas esp?cies de Melastomataceae, sendo a maior riqueza registrada na cota 1000 m altitude (57 spp). A curva de distribui??o altitudinal das esp?cies apresentou o padr?o em forma de "corcova". A REGUA, o PETP e o PARNASO est?o localizados numa regi?o que apresenta os maiores remanescentes florestais conservados do estado fluminense e, por serem legalmente protegidos, tem sob a guarda elevada diversidade biol?gica. Apesar de em todas as cotas altitudinais terem sido coletadas esp?cies de Melastomataceae, ? poss?vel que com o aumento do esfor?o amostral em ?reas ainda n?o visitadas, de dif?cil acesso e/ou pouco exploradas, o n?mero de esp?cies seja ampliado, bem como o registro de novas esp?cies e/ou ocorr?ncias.

Diversos estudos apontam uma forte influência do ambiente terrestre sobre os corpos dágua nele inseridos. No caso de riachos de cabeceira esta relação não se resume a variáveis químicas e físicas, mas também está ligada diretamente ao que chamamos de metabolismo do riacho, regulando o aporte direto de nutrientes em forma de folhiço e material particulado e a produtividade interna, através de incidência de luz. Estes são fatores que estão intrinsecamente ligados a manutenção deste metabolismo e por conseqüência da biodiversidade que existe nestes riachos. Este estudo, através da técnica isotópica do \'dela\'13C e \'delta\'15N e índices ecológicos (riqueza, abundância, diversidade, EPT e EPTC) comparou riachos de Mata Atlântica inseridos em ambientes com diferentes características. Primeiramente com relação à altitude, foram comparados riachos inseridos em matriz de Floresta Ombrófila Densa de Terras Baixas (5 a 50 m), sopé da Serra do Mar e de Floresta Ombrófila Densa Montana (500 a 1.200 m), topo da serra. E em um segundo momento, riachos em diferentes usos do solo, inseridos em matriz de floresta, eucalipto e pastagem. Foram encontradas diferenças não só relacionadas aos índices ecológicos, mas principalmente com relação as variáveis isotópicas, que apontaram mudanças nos padrões alimentares. Os riachos de terras baixas apresentaram um alto consumo de perifiton que foi substituído pelo consumo de material particulado nos riachos de altitude. O consumo de folhiço foi importante em ambas as altitudes e se manteve estável temporalmente. No caso de uso do solo, os riachos inseridos em plantações de eucalipto, seguiram um padrão muito próximo aos riachos florestados. Os padrões encontrados nos riachos de pastagem diferiram de ambas as fisionomias florestais apresentando um baixo consumo de folhiço e influência de plantas C4 na dieta de alguns invertebrados, além de uma grande variação interna explicada pela composição do folhiço e material particulado encontrados nestes riachos. / Several studies show a strong influence of terrestrial environment on streams contained therein. On headwater streams that influence is not just related to chemical and physical variables, but also is directly linked to what the stream metabolism, regulating the direct input of nutrients in the form of litter and particulate matter and internal productivity through light incidence. Factors that are inextricably linked to maintenance of these metabolism and consequently to the biodiversity that exists in these streams. This study, using the isotopic technique of \'delta\'13C and \'delta\'15N and ecological indexes (richness, abundance, diversity, EPT and EPTC) compared Atlantic Forest streams inserted in environments with different characteristics. We compared streams inserted in Tropical Rain Forest of lowlands (50-50 m), foothills of the Serra do Mar and Mountain Tropical Rain Forest (500-1200 m) upland. Also compared streams in different land uses, inserted into a matrix of forest, grassland and eucalyptus. Differences found on isotopic variables showed changes in dietary patterns. The lowland streams showed a high consumption of periphyton that was replaced by the consumption of particulate matter in the upland streams. Consumption of leaf litter was important in both altitudes and remained stable on both seasons. For land use comparison, streams inserted in eucalyptus plantations, followed a pattern similar to forested streams. The patterns found in pasture streams differed from both forest formations, showing a low consumption of leaf litter and influence of C4 plants in the diet of some invertebrates, as well as a large internal variation explained by the composition of litter and particulate matter collected in these streams.

Diversos estudos apontam uma forte influência do ambiente terrestre sobre os corpos dágua nele inseridos. No caso de riachos de cabeceira esta relação não se resume a variáveis químicas e físicas, mas também está ligada diretamente ao que chamamos de metabolismo do riacho, regulando o aporte direto de nutrientes em forma de folhiço e material particulado e a produtividade interna, através de incidência de luz. Estes são fatores que estão intrinsecamente ligados a manutenção deste metabolismo e por conseqüência da biodiversidade que existe nestes riachos. Este estudo, através da técnica isotópica do \'dela\'13C e \'delta\'15N e índices ecológicos (riqueza, abundância, diversidade, EPT e EPTC) comparou riachos de Mata Atlântica inseridos em ambientes com diferentes características. Primeiramente com relação à altitude, foram comparados riachos inseridos em matriz de Floresta Ombrófila Densa de Terras Baixas (5 a 50 m), sopé da Serra do Mar e de Floresta Ombrófila Densa Montana (500 a 1.200 m), topo da serra. E em um segundo momento, riachos em diferentes usos do solo, inseridos em matriz de floresta, eucalipto e pastagem. Foram encontradas diferenças não só relacionadas aos índices ecológicos, mas principalmente com relação as variáveis isotópicas, que apontaram mudanças nos padrões alimentares. Os riachos de terras baixas apresentaram um alto consumo de perifiton que foi substituído pelo consumo de material particulado nos riachos de altitude. O consumo de folhiço foi importante em ambas as altitudes e se manteve estável temporalmente. No caso de uso do solo, os riachos inseridos em plantações de eucalipto, seguiram um padrão muito próximo aos riachos florestados. Os padrões encontrados nos riachos de pastagem diferiram de ambas as fisionomias florestais apresentando um baixo consumo de folhiço e influência de plantas C4 na dieta de alguns invertebrados, além de uma grande variação interna explicada pela composição do folhiço e material particulado encontrados nestes riachos. / Several studies show a strong influence of terrestrial environment on streams contained therein. On headwater streams that influence is not just related to chemical and physical variables, but also is directly linked to what the stream metabolism, regulating the direct input of nutrients in the form of litter and particulate matter and internal productivity through light incidence. Factors that are inextricably linked to maintenance of these metabolism and consequently to the biodiversity that exists in these streams. This study, using the isotopic technique of \'delta\'13C and \'delta\'15N and ecological indexes (richness, abundance, diversity, EPT and EPTC) compared Atlantic Forest streams inserted in environments with different characteristics. We compared streams inserted in Tropical Rain Forest of lowlands (50-50 m), foothills of the Serra do Mar and Mountain Tropical Rain Forest (500-1200 m) upland. Also compared streams in different land uses, inserted into a matrix of forest, grassland and eucalyptus. Differences found on isotopic variables showed changes in dietary patterns. The lowland streams showed a high consumption of periphyton that was replaced by the consumption of particulate matter in the upland streams. Consumption of leaf litter was important in both altitudes and remained stable on both seasons. For land use comparison, streams inserted in eucalyptus plantations, followed a pattern similar to forested streams. The patterns found in pasture streams differed from both forest formations, showing a low consumption of leaf litter and influence of C4 plants in the diet of some invertebrates, as well as a large internal variation explained by the composition of litter and particulate matter collected in these streams.

Orientador: Vera Nisaka Solferini / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-22T01:41:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Ramos_RafaelFlora_M.pdf: 2299855 bytes, checksum: 943dfb31cd7db5f4dcc0508ca7f17c91 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / Resumo: Euterpe edulis é uma palmeira tropical ameaçada de extinção que no passado era abundante na Mata Atlântica, desde a planície costeira até 1.000 metros acima do nível do mar. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a diversidade e a estrutura genética em populações naturais de E. edulis distribuídas em diferentes altitudes dentro de um contínuo florestal. O estudo foi conduzido em uma área de proteção ambiental da Serra do Mar, no litoral norte do estado de São Paulo, onde foram amostrados 300 adultos em seis localidades, denominadas subpopulações. Cada indivíduo foi genotipado com sete locos microssatélite. O número total de alelos foi alto (140) e o número médio de alelos não variou entre as subpopulações. A heterozigosidade total esperada foi de 0,867, variando entre 0,782 e 0,859 entre subpopulações. O índice de fixação foi baixo para todas as subpopulações, concordando com o sistema de reprodução cruzada da espécie. A estruturação espacial genética foi ausente ou muito baixa nas subpopulações analisadas separadamente ou agrupadas. A estrutura genética foi alta (?' = 0,26) considerando a distância máxima de 32 km entre as subpopulações amostradas. Foram definidos quatro grupos genéticos mais prováveis de acordo com o teste de atribuição dos indivíduos, e cinco grupos de acordo com a AMOVA (Análise de Variância Molecular). O teste de Mantel parcial correlacionou à estrutura genética entre pares de subpopulações com a distância geográfica (r = 0,8; p < 0,05) e ainda com a diferença altitudinal excluído o efeito da distância geográfica (r = 0,5; p < 0,05). Se estas diferenças são causadas pelo fluxo gênico reduzido ou por adaptações locais ainda precisa ser testado em estudos futuros. Este padrão de diferenciação genética em distâncias reduzidas é inesperado dentro de um contínuo florestal, destacando a importância de abordagens em pequena escala para a compreensão das dinâmicas complexas nos sistemas tropicais / Abstract: Euterpe edulis is an endangered tropical palm, once abundant throughout the Atlantic Forest from the coastal plain up to 1000 meters above sea level. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the genetic diversity and structure in natural populations of E. edulis distributed in different altitudes within a continuous forest. The study was conducted in a protected area of Serra do Mar, at the north coast of São Paulo State, where we sampled 300 adults from six locations. Each individual was genotyped with seven microsatellite loci. The total allele number was high (140) and the mean allele number did not vary between samples. The total expected heterozygosity was 0.867, ranging from 0.782 to 0.859 among samples. The inbreeding coefficient was low in all samples, in accordance with the outcrossing breeding system. The spatial genetic structure was absent or weak at populations analyzed individually or grouped. The genetic structure was high (?' = 0.26) considering that the maximum distance of 32 km between samples. Four most likely genetic groups were defined according to the assignment test, and five groups according to AMOVA (Analysis of Molecular Variance). A partial Mantel test correlated the pairwise genetic structure with the geographical distance (r = 0.8; p < 0.05) and also with the pairwise altitudinal differences without the effect of the geographic distances (r = 0.5; p < 0.05). Whether those differences are mainly due to reduced gene flow or to local adaptation remains to be tested in future studies. This pattern of genetic differentiation at short distances is unexpected within a continuous rainforest, highlighting the importance of small scale approaches to understanding the complex dynamics of tropical systems / Mestrado / Ecologia / Mestre em Ecologia