Centaurea tchihatcheffii Fisch. &amp / Mey. is a critically endangered annual endemic plant found only in Ankara. This study aimed to determine its distributional range, metapopulation status, the effects of agricultural activities, and assess conservation options. Occurrences and population size estimates were carried out by ground surveys. Two adjacent subpopulations were intensively studied during 2004-2008. Plant and seed demographic data were collected in the field and by laboratory tests. Field experiments simulated the effects of agricultural practices. Risks of extinction and possible impacts of different management actions were investigated through a population viability analysis (PVA) by constructing a two-stage stochastic model. Six scenarios involving different management actions were run with 10,000 replications each using RAMAS Metapop. A total of 14 patchily distributed subpopulations were found to have an extent of occurrence of &gt / 700 km2. Herbicide applications caused extreme mortality and reduced germination success, and were shown to be the major anthropogenic threat against long-term survival of C. tchihatcheffii. Tillage led to an increase in density and reproductive success in the following year. PVA simulations for most scenarios predicted extinction of both subpopulations within 4 to 95 years, but a conservation management scenario involving delayed tillage ensured viable populations with a combined size of 21 million individuals. PVA results demonstrated that timing and frequency of tillage is crucial. Therefore, we propose tillage to be carried out after seed set every other year for protected subpopulations to ensure their long term persistence. Alternatively, unprotected subpopulations elsewhere can benefit from organic or nature-friendly farming.

<p> The Brownsberg Nature Park (BNP) in Suriname is home to eight monkey species: <i>Saguinus midas, Saimiri sciureus, Cebus apella, Alouatta seniculus. Pithecia pithecia, Cebus olivaceus, Chiropotes satanas (sagulatus), </i>and <i>Ateles paniscus.</i> Several studies have undertaken the task to better study the feeding and behavioral ecology of these species within the park. However, studies on the black spider monkey (<i>Ateles paniscus</i>) have been absent. As part of my thesis, I decided to conduct a baseline feeding and behavioral ecology study of this species during the period May 2008 &ndash; July 2008. In addition, I developed a field method for determining mercury levels (in parts per million = ppm) in fecal and urine samples of wild monkeys. Since the park is under enormous pressure from illegal gold mining activities, I decided to collect baseline data on potential exposure of wild monkeys to mercury in the environment. I also collected samples from monkeys at the zoo in Paramaribo and monkeys born in captivity at Hiram College in Ohio. I collected data on the frequency of feeding, resting, and traveling by black spider monkey subgroups every 10 minutes during all day follows. Feeding ecology data consisted of identifying fruits eaten by these subgroups. For the mercury analysis I used the OSUMEX LTD. home testing kit. Results from the behavioral data show the following frequencies of activities for the entire study period: 32% feeding, 43% resting, and 25% traveling. The feeding data further justifies spider monkeys as ripe fruit frugivores: 76% of food items consisted of ripe fruit, while 22% consisted of leaves, and 2% was comprised of flowers. The mercury testing results from the Brownsberg and zoo populations ranged between 0.025 ppm to 0.1 ppm (toxic level = 0.8 ppm). The Hiram College monkeys all displayed levels at 0.000 ppm. The results from the mercury analyses indicate that 1) wild monkeys in the vicinity of gold mining activities may not be under the same threat as humans, with regards to mercury exposure through food, and 2) that wild monkeys are still relative exposed to mercury in the environment whether it be natural or anthropogenic.</p>

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Cornell University, 2008. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on Apr. 20, 2009). Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

A maior parte da biodiversidade global está concentrada nas florestas tropicais. Um dos principais fatores que ocasionam o desaparecimento dessa diversidade é a perda de hábitats pelas ações antrópicas, como o desmatamento e o crescimento urbano desordenado. Fragmentos florestais que possuem elevada biodiversidade, altas taxas de endemismo e fortes pressões antrópicas, são chamados de hotspots. A Floresta Atlântica é um dos hotspots brasileiros mais devastados. Por serem sensíveis as alterações do ambiente, as aves são consideradas importantes bioindicadores da qualidade dos ecossistemas. O presente estudo foi realizado na Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural (RPPN) Rio dos Pilões, em uma região antropizada e com remanescentes de Mata Atlântica (Floresta Ombrófila Densa Montana), localizada no município de Santa Isabel, no Estado de São Paulo. A RPPN pertence a um empreendimento imobiliário que visa à integração entre as atividades de proteção dos recursos naturais com as ações humanas. Com o intuito de conhecer e analisar a comunidade de aves da RPPN estudou-se três ambientes principais: um ambiente de campo antrópico (ACA), um ambiente antrópico inundado (AAI) e um ambiente florestal antropizado (AFA). O estudo foi realizado de maio de 2005 a maio de 2006, utilizandose o método de captura e recaptura com redes-neblina e o método de observações em trajetos irregulares, sendo o primeiro aplicado no AFA e o segundo no ACA e no AAI. Foram registradas 141 espécies de aves em um total de 1.824 horas de trabalhos. Estas espécies estão distribuídas em 20 ordens, 46 famílias, 125 gêneros, resultando em 2.243 indivíduos observados, 184 capturados e 17 recapturados. A curva acumulada de espécies não mostrou tendência à estabilização, sugerindo que o esforço de coleta despendido não tenha sido suficiente para amostrar toda a comunidade, indicando assim que novas espécies possam ser registradas. Os Não-Passeriformes somaram 56 espécies, com maior representatividade nas famílias Ardeidae e Trochilidae. Os Passeriformes foram os mais representativos, com 85 espécies, sendo Tyrannidae a de maior número. O ambiente que apresentou maior riqueza foi o AAI com 85 espécies, seguido pelo AFA com 72 e o ACA com 52 espécies. As espécies mais freqüentes (FR) foram Patagioenas picazuro no ACA, Thraupis sayaca no AAI e Chiroxiphia caudata no AFA. A análise da freqüência de ocorrência (FO) mostrou que a maioria das espécies teve FO abaixo de 25%, enquanto que poucas espécies apresentaram FO maior que 75%. As espécies com maiores FO foram Vanellus chilensis, Pitangus sulphuratus, T. sayaca e Basileuterus leucoblepharus. A comunidade foi agrupada em 13 guildas tróficas, sendo a insetívora a de maior predomínio em todos os ambientes. Das espécies registradas, 04 são migrantes e 03 estão ameaçadas de extinção. Embora a RPPN apresente um elevado grau de degradação, possui elevada riqueza e diversidade de espécies de aves, fator este que pode contribuir não somente para aumentar seu valor de conservação, como também auxiliar na implantação de projetos de restauração ecológica dos remanescentes. / The most of global biodiversity is intent in the tropical forests. One of the main factors that they cause the disappearance of this diversity is the loss of habitats for the anthropic actions, as the deforestation and the disordered urban growth. Forest fragments that possess high biodiversity, high taxes of endemism and forts anthropics pressures, are called hotspots. The Atlantic Forest is a Brazilian hotspots more deforested. By being sensible the alterations of the environment, the birds are considered the most important bioindicators of the quality of ecosystems. The present study River of the Piloes was carried through in the Particular Reserve of Patrimony Natural (RPPN), in an anthropic region and with remainders of Atlantic Forest, located in the city of Santa Isabel, State of Sao Paulo. The RPPN belongs to a real estate enterprise that aims at the integration enters the activities of protection of the natural resources with the actions human beings. Whit the intention to know and to analyze the community of birds of the RPPN one studied three main environments: environment of anthropic field (ACA), anthropic environment flooded (AAI) and the anthropic forest environment (AFA). The study has been at the May of 2006 to May of 2005, using the capture method with mist-nets and the method of irregular courses, being the first one applied in the AFA, and as in the ACA and the AAI. They had been registered 141 species of birds in a total of 1.824 working hours. These are distributed in 20 orders, 46 families, 125 genders, resulting in 2.243 observed individuals, 184 captured and 17 recaptured. The accumulated curve of species as soon as did not show to trend to the stabilization, suggesting that the expended effort of collection has not been enough to show to all the community, indicating new species can be registered. The Non- Passeriformes had added 56 species, with bigger representation in the families Ardeidae and Trochilidae. The Passeriformes had been most representative, with 85 species and in Tyrannidae are the bigger. The environment that presented greater wealth was the AAI with 85 species, AFA with the 72 and the ACA with 52 species. The most frequent species (FR) had been Patagioenas picazuro in ACA, Thraupis sayaca in AAI and Chiroxiphia caudata in AFA. The analysis of the occurrence frequency (FO) showed that the majority of the species had FO below of 25%, whereas few species had presented bigger FO that 75%. The bigger with FO had been Vanellus chilensis, Pitangus sulphuratus, T. sayaca and Basileuterus leucoblepharus. The community was grouped in 13 trophic guilds, being the insectivora of the bigger predominance in all environments. Of the registered species, 04 are migrants and 03 are threatened of extinguishing. Although the RPPN presents one high degree of degradation, it possess high wealth and diversity of species of birds, it is the factor that can contribute to not only increase its value of conservation, as well as auxiliary in the implantation of projects of ecological restoration of the remainders.

A maior parte da biodiversidade global está concentrada nas florestas tropicais. Um dos principais fatores que ocasionam o desaparecimento dessa diversidade é a perda de hábitats pelas ações antrópicas, como o desmatamento e o crescimento urbano desordenado. Fragmentos florestais que possuem elevada biodiversidade, altas taxas de endemismo e fortes pressões antrópicas, são chamados de hotspots. A Floresta Atlântica é um dos hotspots brasileiros mais devastados. Por serem sensíveis as alterações do ambiente, as aves são consideradas importantes bioindicadores da qualidade dos ecossistemas. O presente estudo foi realizado na Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural (RPPN) Rio dos Pilões, em uma região antropizada e com remanescentes de Mata Atlântica (Floresta Ombrófila Densa Montana), localizada no município de Santa Isabel, no Estado de São Paulo. A RPPN pertence a um empreendimento imobiliário que visa à integração entre as atividades de proteção dos recursos naturais com as ações humanas. Com o intuito de conhecer e analisar a comunidade de aves da RPPN estudou-se três ambientes principais: um ambiente de campo antrópico (ACA), um ambiente antrópico inundado (AAI) e um ambiente florestal antropizado (AFA). O estudo foi realizado de maio de 2005 a maio de 2006, utilizandose o método de captura e recaptura com redes-neblina e o método de observações em trajetos irregulares, sendo o primeiro aplicado no AFA e o segundo no ACA e no AAI. Foram registradas 141 espécies de aves em um total de 1.824 horas de trabalhos. Estas espécies estão distribuídas em 20 ordens, 46 famílias, 125 gêneros, resultando em 2.243 indivíduos observados, 184 capturados e 17 recapturados. A curva acumulada de espécies não mostrou tendência à estabilização, sugerindo que o esforço de coleta despendido não tenha sido suficiente para amostrar toda a comunidade, indicando assim que novas espécies possam ser registradas. Os Não-Passeriformes somaram 56 espécies, com maior representatividade nas famílias Ardeidae e Trochilidae. Os Passeriformes foram os mais representativos, com 85 espécies, sendo Tyrannidae a de maior número. O ambiente que apresentou maior riqueza foi o AAI com 85 espécies, seguido pelo AFA com 72 e o ACA com 52 espécies. As espécies mais freqüentes (FR) foram Patagioenas picazuro no ACA, Thraupis sayaca no AAI e Chiroxiphia caudata no AFA. A análise da freqüência de ocorrência (FO) mostrou que a maioria das espécies teve FO abaixo de 25%, enquanto que poucas espécies apresentaram FO maior que 75%. As espécies com maiores FO foram Vanellus chilensis, Pitangus sulphuratus, T. sayaca e Basileuterus leucoblepharus. A comunidade foi agrupada em 13 guildas tróficas, sendo a insetívora a de maior predomínio em todos os ambientes. Das espécies registradas, 04 são migrantes e 03 estão ameaçadas de extinção. Embora a RPPN apresente um elevado grau de degradação, possui elevada riqueza e diversidade de espécies de aves, fator este que pode contribuir não somente para aumentar seu valor de conservação, como também auxiliar na implantação de projetos de restauração ecológica dos remanescentes. / The most of global biodiversity is intent in the tropical forests. One of the main factors that they cause the disappearance of this diversity is the loss of habitats for the anthropic actions, as the deforestation and the disordered urban growth. Forest fragments that possess high biodiversity, high taxes of endemism and forts anthropics pressures, are called hotspots. The Atlantic Forest is a Brazilian hotspots more deforested. By being sensible the alterations of the environment, the birds are considered the most important bioindicators of the quality of ecosystems. The present study River of the Piloes was carried through in the Particular Reserve of Patrimony Natural (RPPN), in an anthropic region and with remainders of Atlantic Forest, located in the city of Santa Isabel, State of Sao Paulo. The RPPN belongs to a real estate enterprise that aims at the integration enters the activities of protection of the natural resources with the actions human beings. Whit the intention to know and to analyze the community of birds of the RPPN one studied three main environments: environment of anthropic field (ACA), anthropic environment flooded (AAI) and the anthropic forest environment (AFA). The study has been at the May of 2006 to May of 2005, using the capture method with mist-nets and the method of irregular courses, being the first one applied in the AFA, and as in the ACA and the AAI. They had been registered 141 species of birds in a total of 1.824 working hours. These are distributed in 20 orders, 46 families, 125 genders, resulting in 2.243 observed individuals, 184 captured and 17 recaptured. The accumulated curve of species as soon as did not show to trend to the stabilization, suggesting that the expended effort of collection has not been enough to show to all the community, indicating new species can be registered. The Non- Passeriformes had added 56 species, with bigger representation in the families Ardeidae and Trochilidae. The Passeriformes had been most representative, with 85 species and in Tyrannidae are the bigger. The environment that presented greater wealth was the AAI with 85 species, AFA with the 72 and the ACA with 52 species. The most frequent species (FR) had been Patagioenas picazuro in ACA, Thraupis sayaca in AAI and Chiroxiphia caudata in AFA. The analysis of the occurrence frequency (FO) showed that the majority of the species had FO below of 25%, whereas few species had presented bigger FO that 75%. The bigger with FO had been Vanellus chilensis, Pitangus sulphuratus, T. sayaca and Basileuterus leucoblepharus. The community was grouped in 13 trophic guilds, being the insectivora of the bigger predominance in all environments. Of the registered species, 04 are migrants and 03 are threatened of extinguishing. Although the RPPN presents one high degree of degradation, it possess high wealth and diversity of species of birds, it is the factor that can contribute to not only increase its value of conservation, as well as auxiliary in the implantation of projects of ecological restoration of the remainders.

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