Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T20:36:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 5580.pdf: 12897921 bytes, checksum: 7de4b9e632d7de714eb77bf5afad7e21 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-03-27 / Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos / The leaf-cutting ants are social species, living in permanent colonies. The genera of the greater importance, Atta (saúvas) and Acromyrmex (quenquéns), are the major plagues of Brazilian agriculture, to cause serious damages by its large and uncontrolled grazing, which leads to serious economic losses for many agrosystems. In the same way, the corn maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais, belonging to the family Curculionidae, is the major pest species of stored corn. The corn grains are drilled and damaged by larvae and adults, causing numerous qualitative and quantitative losses of corn grains disabling its marketing. As the consequence, the effective control of these plagues is extremely important for agriculture and economy that aims to provide the nacional and international market quality products with high commercial value. In this context, the phytochemistry study of Annona sylvatica provides an alternative way to control these plagues, since that studies of these species showed a wide variety of natural products with promising activities, including, insecticide and fungicide, due to the large presence of acetogenins and lignans as secondary metabolites. This study allowed the isolation of fourteen compounds (four lignans, four acetogenins, three alkaloids and three steroids), however were identified eleven compounds due to the high structural complexity presented for the acetogenins. The identification techniques employed have been using single and two-dimensional spectra of 1H and 13C NMR and Mass Spectrometry (HPLC/NMR; HPLC/ESI-MS/MS e HPLC/APCI-MS/MS). For the biological tests, the ethanolic extract of the seeds stood out as potentially toxic to three bioassays cited above. The leaves and branches dichlorometanic fractions obtained by liquid-liquid partitioning of the extracts were toxic for leaf-cutting ants and their symbiotic fungus. Among the acetogenins isolated, only one of them showed a significant activity against corn maize weevil. / As formigas cortadeiras são espécies sociais, vivendo em colônias permanentes. Os gêneros de maior importância econômica, Atta (saúvas) e Acromyrmex (quenquéns), são as principais pragas da agricultura brasileira, por causarem sérios danos pela sua grande e descontrolada herbivoria, o que gera sérios prejuízos econômicos para muitos agroecossitemas. Nessa mesma vertente, o gorgulho do milho, Sitophilus zeamais, pertencente à família Curculionídea, é a principal espécie praga do milho armazenado. Os grãos são perfurados e danificados pelas larvas e adultos, inutilizando sua comercialização. Como consequência, o controle eficaz de tais pragas é de extrema importância para a agricultura e economia do país que visa oferecer ao mercado nacional e internacional produtos de qualidade e alto valor comercial. Nesse contexto, o estudo fitoquímico de Annona sylvatica fornece uma forma alternativa de controle a estas pragas, uma vez que estudos destas espécies mostraram uma ampla variedade de produtos naturais com atividades promissoras, entre elas, inseticida e fungicida, devido à ampla presença de acetogeninas e lignanas como metabólitos secundários. Este estudo resultou no isolamento de 14 compostos (quatro lignanas, quatro acetogeninas, três alcaloides e três esteroides), no entanto, foram identificados 11 compostos, devido à alta complexidade estrutural apresentada para as acetogeninas. As técnicas de identificação utilizadas foram através dos espectros uni e bidimensionais de RMN 1H e 13C e por Espectrometria de Massas (HPLC/NMR; HPLC/ESI-MS/MS e HPLC/APCI-MS/MS). Para os ensaios biológicos, o extrato etanólico das sementes destacou-se como potencial tóxico frente aos três bioensaios citados acima. As frações diclorometânicas das folhas e ramos obtidas através do particionamento líquido-líquido dos extratos foram tóxicas para as formigas cortadeiras e seu fungo simbionte. Dentre as acetogeninas isoladas, apenas uma apresentou uma atividade significativa frente ao gorgulho do milho.

Dando continuidade a uma pesquisa estética iniciada em 1991, este projeto de pesquisa em arte propõe a realização da série FORMIGAS, e o texto desta dissertação trata das relações entre a ética e a estética que essa obra estabelece ao longo dos quatro anos de duração do seu processo instaurador. No decorrer desse período, uma primeira versão dessa mesma série, composta por uma seqüência de nove eletrongrafias de caras de formigas de várias espécies, gerou um impasse ético que a presente versão, composta por uma seqüência de quinze eletrongrafias de caras de formigas do gênero acromyrmex, propõe discutir e contornar. / The current paper is a research project in art that discusses the relation between the ethics and the aesthetics brought about by the making of the ANT series. It is part of an aesthetic investigation initiated in 1991 and the series instauration process has taken four years. A first version of the series was composed by a sequence of nine electrongraphs of ant faces of several species, and the second version is composed by fifteen electrongraphs of ant faces of the genus acromyrmex. The first version raised an ethical dilemma which the second one and this paper are meant to discuss and resolve.

All living organisms require food for growth and survival. Heterotrophs depend on autotrophs such as green plants which can synthesize their own food unlike heterotrophic animals. Among heterotrophs, only humans and some insects have the remarkable ability to cultivate crops for food. While humans cultivate plants, three insect lineages—ants, termites, and beetles—cultivate fungi inside their nests in obligate mutualistic exo-symbioses. Interestingly, just like human agriculture, insect fungus farms are also threatened by weeds and pests, e.g. the farms of fungus-growing termites which cultivate Termitomyces fungi can be overgrown by weeds such as the parasitic fungus Pseudoxylaria. Studies on ant and beetle fungus-farming systems have uncovered the important role of chemicals and behaviour in helping these insects to protect their crops from parasitic fungi. On the other hand, studies on the termite system till now, have only revealed the presence of antifungal compounds and actinobacteria which are largely non-specific and inhibitory to the mutualistic crop fungi. Antifungal behavioural mechanisms, if present, are yet to be discovered. Therefore, this thesis focuses on different anti-Pseudoxylaria mechanisms employed by fungus-growing termites, viz. role of nest abiotic factors, mechanism of fungal recognition by termite hosts, behavioural response of termite to Pseudoxylaria presence and coupling of this behaviour to anti-Pseudoxylaria activity. The present thesis has been divided into six chapters. CHAPTER 1 gives a brief literature review on fungus-farming insects and the different mechanisms which insects employ in order to keep their fungal farms safe from growth of parasitic fungi with specific reference to fungus-growing termites. The obligate mutualistic interaction between termites and the Termitomyces fungus is 19–49 My-old and is, therefore, a very ancient agriculture system. The mutualistic fungus is cultivated on partially digested plant matter called fungus comb inside the nest and harvested by termites for nutrition. At the same time, the weedy fungal parasite Pseudoxylaria can compete with the mutualistic fungus for nutrition leading to negative effects on the fungal farms. Termite hosts are believed to use abiotic factors, antibiotics and hygienic behaviours to keep their fungal gardens free from parasitic fungi such as Pseudoxylaria. However, the actual mechanisms used by termites against parasitic fungi are unclear. Unravelling the proximate mechanisms used in fungal cultivar protection is central to understanding the evolutionary stability of these farming mutualisms. CHAPTER 2 examines the diversity and population genetic structure of Termitomyces and Pseudoxylaria strains associated with the fungus-growing termite Odontotermes obesus. Genetic diversity of cultivar and parasite could have important implications for the stability of the mutualistic interaction, e.g. genetic clonality arising from monoculture is generally thought to make populations more prone to infection by parasites. Using molecular phylogenetic tools, within-nest genetic homogeneity was found in Termitomyces species but not in Pseudoxylaria species. Lower OTU but higher genotypic diversity (within the most abundant OTU) was found in the genus Termitomyces compared to Pseudoxylaria. Additionally, population genetics methods suggested a sexual population structure for Termitomyces and clonal propagation for Pseudoxylaria species. This is the first study to investigate the population genetics of the symbiotic fungi associated with the termite genus Odontotermes or any other termite species from India. In CHAPTER 3, the effect of nest micro-environment alone on the growth of the parasitic fungus Pseudoxylaria was examined. For this, seasonal changes in nest xiii temperature and CO2 were recorded and in situ and ex situ growth experiments were performed on Pseudoxylaria. The monthly pattern of mound temperatures was found to be similar to the outside—cycling from highs in summer to lows in winter—but characterised by dampened variation compared to high daily fluctuations outside. Moreover, the mound CO2 levels were found to be orders of magnitude above atmospheric levels and, unlike the outside, were characterised by daily and monthly fluctuations. With in situ experiments during summer and winter, the effect of these dissimilar conditions—inside and outside mounds—was examined on Pseudoxylaria growth. The growth of the parasite was found to be greater inside than outside the mound. Following this, the growth of different parasite isolates under controlled ex situ conditions was examined—spanning the variation in environmental conditions that mounds exhibit daily and seasonally. High CO2 levels decreased parasitic fungal growth in general but temperature had an isolate-dependent effect. Taken together, these results suggested that the parasite is adapted to survive in the mound. However, mound environmental conditions still seemed to exert a negative effect on parasite growth, even if they cannot inhibit Pseudoxylaria completely. These results shed light on the possible new role of termite-engineered structures in impacting parasitic fungus ecology, independent of any direct role of termites in suppressing parasite growth. This is the first study to investigate the effect of abiotic factors on Pseudoxylaria growth. In CHAPTER 4, whether termites can differentiate between Termitomyces and Pseudoxylaria was investigated. In a novel, laboratory-based choice assay, termites displayed a differential response towards the two fungi by burying the Pseudoxylaria with agar. Also, termites were found to be able to differentiate between the fungi using olfactory cues, i.e. smell, alone, for this task. The mutualistic and parasitic fungi were found to emit unique volatile bouquets which could help termites to distinguish between them. This is important because, whether termites use antifungal compounds or hygienic behaviours, it is crucial that they are able to differentiate between the parasitic and mutualistic fungi so that they can selectively use antifungal mechanisms—whether chemical or behavioural—against Pseudoxylaria. This is of special significance because, many actinobacteria and anti-Pseudoxylaria compounds isolated from this system till now, lack specificity and inhibit the mutualistic Termitomyces as well. Also, fungal grooming and weeding behaviours as displayed by fungus-growing ants have not yet been reported in termites. This is the first study to show that termites have the behavioural capacity to differentiate between the mutualistic and parasitic fungi in an ecologically relevant setting. In CHAPTER 5, whether the burying of Pseudoxylaria could affect its growth was investigated. It was found that termites can utilise agar, glass beads and soil for deposition over the offered fungal plugs but the use of agar and glass beads did not inhibit Pseudoxylaria growth effectively. On the other hand, soil deposition was found to decrease growth of both Pseudoxylaria and Termitomyces fungi post-burial. However, Pseudoxylaria was found to be affected more strongly than Termitomyces. Further, hypoxia acting alone seemed to decrease only Pseudoxylaria survival without any apparent effect on Termitomyces. Therefore, hypoxia induced by soil deposition may be the reason behind the decrease in Pseudoxylaria survival. However, presence of antifungal compounds can not be ruled out and they may be selectively applied in larger quantities on Pseudoxylaria with soil deposition. This study demonstrates an anti-Pseudoxylaria activity of this insect behaviour, unique to termites among fungus-farming insects, to the presence of the parasitic fungus. CHAPTER 6 concludes the findings of this thesis and suggests a working model for the mechanism of growth suppression of Pseudoxylaria inside a termite nest. In particular, focus is on the important role of abiotic factors when combined with termite behaviour in the apparent absence of Pseudoxylaria from termite nests. These results not only shed new light on how the ecology of these fungi is affected by their termite host but also reveal the mechanistic bases that may contribute fundamentally to the evolutionary stability of this ancient mutualism.

Orientador: Odair Correa Bueno / Coorientador: Marcos Botton / Banca: Ana Eugênia de Carvalho Campos / Banca: Alci Enimar Loeck / Banca: Luís Garrigós Leite / Banca: Marcos Aparecido Pizano / Resumo: A pérola-da-terra Eurhizococcus brasiliensis (Wille, 1922) (Hemiptera: Margarodidae) - cochonilha de raiz- é a principal praga da videira no Brasil, pois ao sugar a seiva da planta pode causar redução na produção e sua morte. A dispersão da cochonilha é realizada por formigas que se associam aos cistos em busca dos excrementos açucarados. Este trabalho objetivou determinar a diversidade da fauna de formigas presente em parreirais com a presença de pérola-da-terra nos Estados do Rio Grande do Sul e Santa Catarina; conhecer a interação de Linepithema micans (Forel, 1908) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) e E. brasiliensis em raízes de videira; conhecer aspectos da bioecologia de L. micans como a descrição de larvas, o ciclo de vida sazonal e a atividade de forrageamento; avaliar a atratividade de substâncias açucaradas e ricas em proteínas e lipídios e avaliar o efeito de inseticidas e formulações de iscas tóxicas visando o controle de L. micans. No levantamento realizado no Rio Grande do Sul e Santa Catarina, L. micans foi classificada como muito abundante, dominante e muito frequente em todas as localidades amostradas. Em relação a interação entre estes dois organismos, os resultados revelaram que L. micans transporta e auxilia na fixação de E. brasiliensis nas raízes da videira. As larvas apresentam traços típicos do gênero Linepithema (Mayr, 1866), em relação ao formato geral do corpo e da mandíbula, a presença de uma protuberância abdominal dorsal, nove pares de espiráculos e pelos simples. O ciclo de vida sazonal de L. micans em parreirais tem início no final do inverno (julho - agosto) e começo da primavera (setembro) com o aumento da oviposição pelas rainhas. Durante os meses quentes do ano foi possível observar um número maior de ninhos dispersos nos parreirais, constituídos principalmente por ovos e pupas... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The ground-pearl Eurhizococcus brasiliensis (Wille, 1922) (Hemiptera: Margarodidae) is a soil scale considered as the main pest of vineyards in Brazil, because while sucking the plant sap it causes production reduction and death. The dispersion of ground-pearl is made by ants that associate to cysts in search of sugary excretions. The main objectives of this work were: to determine the diversity of ant fauna present in vineyards with the presence of ground-pearl in the states of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina; to know the interaction between Linepithema micans (Forel, 1908) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and E. brasiliensis in vine roots; to know aspects of L. micans' bioecology, such as description of the larvae, seasonal life cycle, and foraging activity; and to evaluate the attractiveness of sweet and highfat and -protein substances and to evaluate the effect of insecticides and toxic bait formulations aimed to control L. micans. In a survey conducted in Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina L. micans was classified as very abundant, dominant and very common in all cities sampled. As regards the interaction between these organisms, the results revealed that L. micans transports and aids the fixation of E. brasiliens in vine plants. The larvae of L. micans displayed typical traits of the genus Linepithema Mayr as regards general body and mandible shape, the presence of a dorsalabdominal protuberance, nine pairs of spiracles, and simple hairs. The seasonal life cycle of L. micans in vineyards began in late winter (July-August) and early spring (September) with the deposition of eggs by queens. During the warm months of the year it was possible to observe a larger number of nests spread throughout the vineyards, consisting primarily of eggs and pupae. During the winter the colonies were composed by workers, with predominance of... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

Formigas são insetos eusociais intensamente dependentes da comunicação química, possuindo características morfológicas, bioquímicas, fisiológicas e comportamentais adaptadas a um estilo de vida circundado por mensagens químicas. Esta peculiaridade olfativa do ponto de vista biológico, reflete nos padrões altamente polimórficos encontrados nas colônias dos grupos mais derivados, como as formigas cortadeiras (Attini). Assim, as castas e sub castas encontradas nos ninhos de formigas do gênero Atta, possuiriam características, como os órgãos olfativos e a sensibilidade eletrofisiológica, variáveis de acordo com seus tamanhos corpóreos e funções exercidas na colônia. Portanto, haveria uma correlação direta ou indireta do tamanho das formigas, os perfis comportamentais e comunicação química nessas espécies. Essa relação poderia ser vista em diversas atividades, como a limpeza entre os indivíduos e a troca de alimentos via oral. Dessa forma, a presente tese foca na interação entre o polimorfismo, polietismo e comunicação química nas formigas de Atta sexdens. Ainda descreve a participação das operárias e rainha nos comportamentos de grooming e trofalaxia, ligando-os à possível função de dispersão de hidrocarbonetos de cutícula na colônia. A tese esta dividida em quatro capítulos. O Capítulo 1, compreendeu uma introdução dos conhecimentos abordados em toda tese, e as linhas gerais do trabalho. No Capítulo 2, foi realizado uma descrição quantitativa e qualitativa das sensilas em todas as castas e sub castas encontradas em ninhos de A. sexdens. Os resultados indicaram que esses órgãos sensoriais variaram de acordo com os padrões polimórficos e perfis etológicos. O Capítulo 3 abordou as respostas eletrofisiológicas da antenas a diferentes feromônios, comparando todos os grupos polimórficos de A. sexdens. Foram observados neste caso, similaridades e discrepâncias na sensibilidade aos conteúdos das glândulas de veneno, Dufour e mandibular entre as sub castas (jardineiras, generalistas, forrageiras e soldados), e também entre os machos e rainhas, possibilitando a correlação com as atividades que exercem no ninho. No Capítulo 4 investigou-se a participação de cada tipo de operárias de A. sexdens nos comportamentos de trofalaxia, allogrooming e self-grooming, relacionando-os com a presença da rainha dentro da câmara. Adicionalmente, frente aos resultados, as diferentes ações das sub castas nesses comportamentos puderam ser associadas à possível importância da limpeza e troca de alimentos na dispersão de compostos de reconhecimento e formadores do gestalt químico da colônia. Estes resultados, contribuem para uma melhor compreensão do complexo cenário sustentado pela eusocialidade, ecologia química, percepção olfativa e comportamento nas formigas cortadeiras. / Ants are eusocial insects intensely dependent on chemical communication. They have morphological, biochemical, physiological and behavioral features adapted to a life surrounded by many molecules messages. Furthermore, each olfactory peculiarity in any of the biological level mentioned above, reflects on the highly polymorphic patterns found in the colonies of the most derived groups, as the leaf cutter ants (Attini). Thus, the castes and sub castes of Atta ants, would have characteristics, as olfactory organs and electrophysiological sensibility, that vary following the body sizes and tasks performed in the colonies. Therefore, it would have a direct or indirect correlation among the sizes of the ants, their ethological profiles and the chemical communication in these species. This relation could be seen over different activities, as the grooming and oral trophallaxis. In this way, this thesis focus in the interaction among the polymorphism, polyethism and chemical communication in Atta sexdens. It still describes the participation of workers and queen in grooming and trophallaxis, linking them to a possible role in cuticular hydrocarbon dispersion over the colony. The thesis is divided in four chapters. In the Chapter 1, it is presented an introduction to the knowledge explored in all thesis, and also its outline. In the Chapter 2, there is a quantitative and qualitative description of sensilla from all castes and sub castes of A. sexdens, showing that these sensory organs vary following the polymorphic patterns and ethological profiles. The Chapter 3 explores the differences in the antennae electrophysiological responses to three pheromones, comparing them with all polymorphic groups of A. sexdens. The results demonstrate similarities and discrepancies in the sensibility to the contents of poison, Dufour and mandibular glands among the sub castes (gardeners, generalists, foragers and soldiers), and also between males and queens, enabling a correlation with their tasks. In the Chapter 4, it is investigated the roles of each type of A. sexdens workers in the trophallaxis, allogrooming and self-grooming behaviors, relating them with the queen presence. Additionally, and based in the results, the different roles of the sub castes can be associated to a possible action of grooming and trophallaxis in the dispersion of intraspecific recognition molecules and in the formation of a colony chemical gestalt. All results and discussion distributed along the thesis, therefore, contribute to a better understanding of a complex scenario, supported by the eusociality, chemical ecology, olfactory perception and behavior of the leaf cutter ants.

Dando continuidade a uma pesquisa estética iniciada em 1991, este projeto de pesquisa em arte propõe a realização da série FORMIGAS, e o texto desta dissertação trata das relações entre a ética e a estética que essa obra estabelece ao longo dos quatro anos de duração do seu processo instaurador. No decorrer desse período, uma primeira versão dessa mesma série, composta por uma seqüência de nove eletrongrafias de caras de formigas de várias espécies, gerou um impasse ético que a presente versão, composta por uma seqüência de quinze eletrongrafias de caras de formigas do gênero acromyrmex, propõe discutir e contornar. / The current paper is a research project in art that discusses the relation between the ethics and the aesthetics brought about by the making of the ANT series. It is part of an aesthetic investigation initiated in 1991 and the series instauration process has taken four years. A first version of the series was composed by a sequence of nine electrongraphs of ant faces of several species, and the second version is composed by fifteen electrongraphs of ant faces of the genus acromyrmex. The first version raised an ethical dilemma which the second one and this paper are meant to discuss and resolve.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The Caatinga is going through a process of accelerated modification resulting from the inappropriate use of their natural resources. These modifications end up provoking a number of changes in the dynamics of the communities and becoming one of the factors that may affect directly or indirectly the richness and composition of myrmecofauna. This work has been verified as heterogeneity (wealth of trees), complexity (density of trees) and environmental soil nutrients concentration influence in the richness of ant s epigaeic into three fragments of the Caatinga. The collections occurred in four steps distributed throughout the year (February, may, July, November) by 2011, in three areas of the Caatinga located in Alto Sertão Sergipano. Early - area used as pasture; Intermediate - area in the natural regeneration process of 4 years; Late - fragment of the Caatinga well-preserved with a presence of tree large species. The myrmecofauna collection have been delineated five plots (20 m x 50 m) in each area, in which 10 were installed type Pitfall traps of drop baits containing sardines, respecting a minimum distance of 10 m between them, totaling 50 traps/stage. The traps remained were exposed for a period of 48 hours. Also were collected 46,616 at specimens, distributed in six subfamilies and 44 morpfospecies. Through the analysis of multidimensional scale non-metric (NMDS), parcels of late stage were isolated from other areas, initially and intermediary, showing that there is a change in the composition of species of ants as they progress through the successional stage. The wealth of epigaeic ants ranged between the successional stages (F = 11.78; p = 0.0003), being that the portions of the late stage have a greater wealth of average compared to other ants. On one hand, a significant difference was observed between the successional gradients and soil nutrients, with emphasis on the intermediate stage, which presented the largest concentrations of (Na, K, P, CTC, Ca and Mg) compared to the other stages. On the other hand, there was no significant difference when assessing the influence of soil nutrients under the richness and composition of epigéicas ants. Wealth and plant density may represent increased resources available such as nesting sites and food sources, contributing to the increase in species richness of ants during the process of forest succession. / O bioma Caatinga vem passando por um processo de modificação acelerado resultante do uso inapropriado dos seus recursos naturais. Essas modificações acabam provocando uma série mudanças na dinâmica das comunidades e se tornando um dos fatores que podem afetar direta ou indiretamente a riqueza e a composição da mirmecofauna. Neste trabalho foi verificado como heterogeneidade (riqueza de árvores), complexidade (densidade de árvores) ambiental e a concentração de nutrientes do solo influenciam na riqueza de formigas epigéicas em três fragmentos de Caatinga. As coletas ocorreram em quatro etapas distribuídas ao longo do ano (fevereiro, maio, julho, novembro) de 2011, em três áreas de Caatinga localizadas no Alto Sertão Sergipano. Inicial (INI) área utilizada como pastagem; Intermediário (INT) área em processo de regeneração natural a 4 anos; Tardio (TA) fragmento de Caatinga muito bem preservado, com presença de espécies arbóreas de grande porte. Para coleta da mirmecofauna foram delimitadas cinco parcelas (20 m x 50 m) em cada área, nas quais foram instaladas 10 armadilhas de queda tipo Pitfall contendo iscas de sardinha, respeitando uma distância mínima de 10m entre elas, totalizando 50 armadilhas/estágio. As armadilhas permaneceram expostas por um período de 48 horas. Foram coletadas 46.616 espécimes de formigas, distribuídas em seis subfamílias e 44 morfoespécies. Através da análise de escala multidimensional não-métrica (NMDS), as parcelas do estágio tardio foram isoladas das demais áreas, inicial e intermediário, mostrando que existe uma mudança na composição de espécies de formigas à medida que se avança no estágio sucessional. A riqueza de formigas epigéicas variou entre os estágios sucessionais (F= 11,78; p= 0,0003), sendo que as parcelas do estágio tardio apresentaram uma maior riqueza média de formigas em comparação com os demais estágios. Foi observada uma diferença significativa entre os gradientes sucessionais e os nutrientes do solo, com destaque para o estágio intermediário, o qual apresentou as maiores concentrações de (Na, K, P, CTC, Ca e Mg) em comparação com os demais estágios. Por outro lado, não houve diferença significativa ao avaliar a influência dos nutrientes do solo sob a riqueza e a composição de formigas epigéicas. Riqueza e densidade vegetal podem representar aumento de recursos disponíveis, tais como fontes alimentares e locais para nidificação, contribuindo pra o aumento na riqueza de espécies de formigas durante o processo de sucessão florestal.

Deforestation for the acquisition of land for agriculture and livestock is a major impacting activities in tropical ecosystems. The study of ants as biological indicators is a useful tool in evaluating the condition and degradation in terrestrial and in monitoring areas in the restoration process. This work aimed to study the soil ants communities in two areas reforested with native plant species: ZRI (7 years) and ZRII (5 years), and a native forest fragment (FMN) in good condition, located near the Laranjeiras city in the Sergipe State, in February (dry season) and June (rainy season) 2012. We estimated the wealth and the degree of similarity between areas, the effect of sampling time on ant species richness and identification of indicator species successional stage. To collect the ant was demarcated five transects (20 x 50m), spaced at 150 meters. In each transect was installed five traps "pitfall" without bait 10 meters apart from each other on each parcel, totaling 25 traps/area/season. Traps were buried with the opening at ground level and remained installed for 48 hours. We sampled 82 morphospecies of ants distributed in 31 genera and seven subfamilies. The richness of ants did not differ among the three study areas (F = 1.71, p = 0.19), however, the species richness of ants was higher in the dry period (F = 10.85, p = 0.0027). Through the analysis of non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS), two distinct groups were formed, a group of parcels of native forest fragment and another group of two reforested areas. The composition of ant communities did not differ between forested areas, but significant difference between those with the last forest remnants of native bush. Current work made possible the appointment of a group of species that were the main contributors to the dissimilarity between the environments. The results demonstrate that ants have great potential for use as biomarkers, it is possible to infer about the restoration of the communities through the study of these organisms, and also highlights the importance of conservation of natural environments to maintain the biodiversity of native ants / O desmatamento visando a aquisição de áreas para agricultura e a pecuária é uma das principais atividades impactantes em ecossistemas tropicais. O estudo das formigas como indicadores biológicos é uma ferramenta útil na avaliação do estado de conservação e de degradação em ambientes terrestres e no monitoramento de áreas em processo de restauração. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo, estudar as comunidades de formigas epigéicas em duas áreas reflorestadas com espécies vegetais nativas: ZRI (7 anos) e ZRII (5 anos), e em um fragmento de mata nativa (FMN) em bom estado de conservação, localizadas próximas a cidade de Laranjeiras-SE, nos meses de fevereiro (período seco) e junho (período chuvoso) de 2012. Foram estimadas a riqueza e o grau de similaridade entre as áreas, o efeito da época de amostragem na riqueza de espécies de formigas e a identificação das espécies indicadoras de estágio sucessional. Para a coleta dos formicídeos foram demarcados cinco transectos (20 x 50m), distanciados em 150 metros. Em cada transecto instalou-se 5 armadilhas do tipo pitfall sem isca distanciadas de 10 metros uma da outra em cada parcela, totalizando 25 armadilhas/área/época. As armadilhas foram enterradas com a abertura ao nível do solo e permaneceram instaladas por 48 horas. Foram amostradas 82 morfoespécies de formigas distribuídas em 31 gêneros e sete subfamílias. A riqueza de formigas não diferiu entre as três áreas estudadas (F=1,71; p=0,19), entretanto, a riqueza de espécies de formigas foi maior no período seco (F=10.85; p=0,0027). Através da análise de escala multidimensional não-métrica (NMDS), dois grupos distintos foram formados, um grupo das parcelas do fragmento florestal de mata nativa e outro grupo das duas áreas reflorestadas. A composição das comunidades de formigas não diferiu entre as áreas reflorestadas, mas houve diferença significativa entre essas últimas com a área do fragmento florestal de mata nativa. Os trabalhos desenvolvidos possibilitaram a indicação de um grupo de espécies que foram as principais contribuintes para a dissimilaridade entre os ambientes. Os resultados demonstram que as formigas apresentam grande potencial para serem utilizadas como bioindicadores, sendo possível inferir sobre a recuperação de ambientes através do estudo das comunidades desses organismos, além de evidenciar a importância da conservação de ambientes naturais para a manutenção da biodiversidade de formigas nativas

Orientadores: Antonio Carlos Moretti, Luis Leduino de Salles Neto / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Matematica, Estatistica e Computação Cientifica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-15T18:13:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Marciniuk_FernandaLedo_M.pdf: 1221484 bytes, checksum: b1408936331c027b4c3cc1129bc0105a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / Resumo: O problema de corte de estoque ordenado, um problema relativamente novo na literatura, e uma adaptação do problema de corte de estoque tradicional onde algumas restrições quanto a limitação do numero de ordens de produção em processamento são adicionadas. Esta dissertação tem como objetivo estudar uma nova abordagem deste problema utilizando uma aplicação da metaheurística colônia de formigas. Esta metaheurística utiliza os princípios de auto-organização de uma população de formigas visando a resolução de problemas de otimização combinatorial / Abstract: The Ordered Cutting Stock Problem (OCSP), a relatively recent problem in technical literarture, is a variant of the more well-known Cutting Stock Problem (CSP). This variant includes some new constraints in the mathematical formulation, regarding the number of production orders being processed simultaneously. This work studies a new approach to solve the OCSP, applying the Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) metaheurisitic. This metaheuristic is based in the self-organizing principles that govern ant population's behaviour, solving combinatorial optimization problems / Mestrado / Pesquisa Operacional / Mestre em Matemática Aplicada

Estudos demonstram que os hospitais sÃo locais propÃcios para a instalaÃÃo e proliferaÃÃo de determinados insetos. Essa situaÃÃo à particularmente preocupante, pois alguns insetos, como as formigas, apresentam o potencial de carrear microrganismos em sua superfÃcie. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a capacidade das espÃcies de formigas presentes em dois hospitais terciÃrios do MunicÃpio de Fortaleza, Cearà de carrear espÃcies fÃngicas, buscando uma correlaÃÃo com a microbiota fÃngica do ar. No perÃodo entre marÃo de 2007 a fevereiro de 2008, 2.899 formigas foram capturadas nos dois hospitais. A fauna de formigas foi amostrada mensalmente, em dois turnos, por meio da disposiÃÃo de iscas atrativas nÃo tÃxicas. Concomitantemente à coleta das formigas, por meio da sedimentaÃÃo passiva em placas de Petri, contendo Ãgar Sabouraud 2% de dextrose, foi possÃvel isolar e identificar fungos presentes no ar dos ambientes hospitalares. Para a identificaÃÃo entomolÃgica, uma amostra das formigas capturadas em cada isca foi enviada ao LaboratÃrio de Entomologia da Universidade Estadual do CearÃ, sendo classificadas por critÃrios morfolÃgicos. Simultaneamente, outra amostra das formigas capturadas de cada isca foi encaminhada ao Centro Especializado em Micologia MÃdica. A identificaÃÃo micolÃgica foi realizada mediante cultivo em meios de cultura, que eram semeados e incubados a 26 â 28ÂC por atà 15 dias, sendo identificados por anÃlise macro e micromorfologica, perfil bioquÃmico e utilizaÃÃo de meio cromogÃnico. Foram identificados cinco gÃneros e 13 espÃcies de formigas, presentes em Ãreas crÃticas (8% das formigas coletadas) e semicrÃticas (92%) e nos perÃodos diurno (48% das formigas coletadas) e noturno (52%). Na anÃlise micolÃgica, observou-se que 75% das formigas carreavam fungos, sendo a espÃcie Tapinoma melanocephalum e as espÃcies do gÃnero Pheidole as com maior potencial carreador de fungos anemÃfilos (75% e 18%, respectivamente) e de leveduras (6% e 1%, respectivamente). Dentre os fungos anemÃfilos, os gÃneros Aspergillus (46%), Penicillium (18,5%) e Cladosporium (7%) foram os mais comuns na superfÃcie externa das formigas. Com relaÃÃo ao grupo de leveduras, destacou-se o gÃnero Candida (70% dos isolados). Ao comparar os dados referentes Ãs cepas fÃngicas encontradas no ar com as cepas fÃngicas encontradas na superfÃcie externa das formigas, nÃo se estabeleceu qualquer tipo de correlaÃÃo estatÃstica, embora os gÃneros fÃngicos encontrados na microbiota fÃngica do ar e na microbiota fÃngica das formigas sejam semelhantes. Em suma, as formigas atuam como carreadoras de fungos anemÃfilos e leveduras, incluindo algumas espÃcies patogÃnicas, sendo a vigilÃncia entomolÃgica e o monitoramento sistematizado do ar, de grande importÃncia para a saÃde hospitalar. / Estudos demonstram que os hospitais sÃo locais propÃcios para a instalaÃÃo e proliferaÃÃo de determinados insetos. Essa situaÃÃo à particularmente preocupante, pois alguns insetos, como as formigas, apresentam o potencial de carrear microrganismos em sua superfÃcie. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a capacidade das espÃcies de formigas presentes em dois hospitais terciÃrios do MunicÃpio de Fortaleza, Cearà de carrear espÃcies fÃngicas, buscando uma correlaÃÃo com a microbiota fÃngica do ar. No perÃodo entre marÃo de 2007 a fevereiro de 2008, 2.899 formigas foram capturadas nos dois hospitais. A fauna de formigas foi amostrada mensalmente, em dois turnos, por meio da disposiÃÃo de iscas atrativas nÃo tÃxicas. Concomitantemente à coleta das formigas, por meio da sedimentaÃÃo passiva em placas de Petri, contendo Ãgar Sabouraud 2% de dextrose, foi possÃvel isolar e identificar fungos presentes no ar dos ambientes hospitalares. Para a identificaÃÃo entomolÃgica, uma amostra das formigas capturadas em cada isca foi enviada ao LaboratÃrio de Entomologia da Universidade Estadual do CearÃ, sendo classificadas por critÃrios morfolÃgicos. Simultaneamente, outra amostra das formigas capturadas de cada isca foi encaminhada ao Centro Especializado em Micologia MÃdica. A identificaÃÃo micolÃgica foi realizada mediante cultivo em meios de cultura, que eram semeados e incubados a 26 â 28ÂC por atà 15 dias, sendo identificados por anÃlise macro e micromorfologica, perfil bioquÃmico e utilizaÃÃo de meio cromogÃnico. Foram identificados cinco gÃneros e 13 espÃcies de formigas, presentes em Ãreas crÃticas (8% das formigas coletadas) e semicrÃticas (92%) e nos perÃodos diurno (48% das formigas coletadas) e noturno (52%). Na anÃlise micolÃgica, observou-se que 75% das formigas carreavam fungos, sendo a espÃcie Tapinoma melanocephalum e as espÃcies do gÃnero Pheidole as com maior potencial carreador de fungos anemÃfilos (75% e 18%, respectivamente) e de leveduras (6% e 1%, respectivamente). Dentre os fungos anemÃfilos, os gÃneros Aspergillus (46%), Penicillium (18,5%) e Cladosporium (7%) foram os mais comuns na superfÃcie externa das formigas. Com relaÃÃo ao grupo de leveduras, destacou-se o gÃnero Candida (70% dos isolados). Ao comparar os dados referentes Ãs cepas fÃngicas encontradas no ar com as cepas fÃngicas encontradas na superfÃcie externa das formigas, nÃo se estabeleceu qualquer tipo de correlaÃÃo estatÃstica, embora os gÃneros fÃngicos encontrados na microbiota fÃngica do ar e na microbiota fÃngica das formigas sejam semelhantes. Em suma, as formigas atuam como carreadoras de fungos anemÃfilos e leveduras, incluindo algumas espÃcies patogÃnicas, sendo a vigilÃncia entomolÃgica e o monitoramento sistematizado do ar, de grande importÃncia para a saÃde hospitalar. / Studies show that hospitals are propitious sites for the establishment and proliferation of certain insects. This situation is of particular concern because some insects, such as ants, can carry microorganisms on their body surfaces. The aim of this study was evaluate capacity to the ant species present in two tertiary public hospitals in the city of Fortaleza, CearÃ, to carry fungi and to establish a correlation with the airborne fungal microbiota. From March 2007 to February 2008, 2,899 ants were evaluated at two hospitals. The ant communities were sampled monthly, during two periods (day and night), by setting out nontoxic baited traps. Along with collection of the ants, the fungi present in the air of the hospital environments were isolated and identified through the passive sedimentation method in Petri dishes containing Sabouraud dextrose agar. To identify the ant species, a sample from each trap was sent to the Entomology Laboratory of State University of CearÃ, where the ants captured were classified by morphological criteria. Another sample of the captured ants from each trap was sent to the Specialized Medical Mycology Center of the same university. The mycological identification was done by growth in culture media, seeded and incubated at 26-28ÂC for up to 15 days, with identification through macro and micromorphological analysis, biochemical profiling and growth in chromogenic medium. From this study, five genera and thirteen species of ants were identified, from the hospitalsâ critical areas (8% of the collected ants) and semi-critical areas (92%), during the daytime (48%) and nighttime (52%) periods. In the mycological analysis, 75% of the ants were fungi carriers, with Tapinoma melanocephalum and species from the genus Pheidole having the most potential as carriers of airborne fungi (75% and 18%, respectively) and yeasts (6% and 1%, respectively). Among the airborne fungi identified, those belonging to the Aspergillus (46%), Penicillium (18.5%) and Cladosporium (7%) genera were most common on the antsâ body surfaces. The predominant yeasts belonged to the Candida genus (70% of those isolated). Comparison of the fungal strains found in the air with those found on the ants did not establish any statistic correlation between the two fungal microbiotas. In summary, ants act as potential vectors of airborne fungi and yeasts, including some pathogenic species. Therefore, vigilance against insects and systematic air monitoring are important measures to ensure the healthfulness of hospital environments. / Studies show that hospitals are propitious sites for the establishment and proliferation of certain insects. This situation is of particular concern because some insects, such as ants, can carry microorganisms on their body surfaces. The aim of this study was evaluate capacity to the ant species present in two tertiary public hospitals in the city of Fortaleza, CearÃ, to carry fungi and to establish a correlation with the airborne fungal microbiota. From March 2007 to February 2008, 2,899 ants were evaluated at two hospitals. The ant communities were sampled monthly, during two periods (day and night), by setting out nontoxic baited traps. Along with collection of the ants, the fungi present in the air of the hospital environments were isolated and identified through the passive sedimentation method in Petri dishes containing Sabouraud dextrose agar. To identify the ant species, a sample from each trap was sent to the Entomology Laboratory of State University of CearÃ, where the ants captured were classified by morphological criteria. Another sample of the captured ants from each trap was sent to the Specialized Medical Mycology Center of the same university. The mycological identification was done by growth in culture media, seeded and incubated at 26-28ÂC for up to 15 days, with identification through macro and micromorphological analysis, biochemical profiling and growth in chromogenic medium. From this study, five genera and thirteen species of ants were identified, from the hospitalsâ critical areas (8% of the collected ants) and semi-critical areas (92%), during the daytime (48%) and nighttime (52%) periods. In the mycological analysis, 75% of the ants were fungi carriers, with Tapinoma melanocephalum and species from the genus Pheidole having the most potential as carriers of airborne fungi (75% and 18%, respectively) and yeasts (6% and 1%, respectively). Among the airborne fungi identified, those belonging to the Aspergillus (46%), Penicillium (18.5%) and Cladosporium (7%) genera were most common on the antsâ body surfaces. The predominant yeasts belonged to the Candida genus (70% of those isolated). Comparison of the fungal strains found in the air with those found on the ants did not establish any statistic correlation between the two fungal microbiotas. In summary, ants act as potential vectors of airborne fungi and yeasts, including some pathogenic species. Therefore, vigilance against insects and systematic air monitoring are important measures to ensure the healthfulness of hospital environments.