Human-caused destruction of xeric habitats in Florida that support gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus Daudin) is occurring at a rapid rate. One conservation strategy that has been used for numerous taxa is translocation. The effects of translocation on the health, reproductive activity, and movements of translocated and resident telemetered individuals was evaluated for a population of gopher tortoises in central-Florida from 2001 to 2004. Only one of the 13 individuals released left the site during the study. The home range estimates of resident individuals were not significantly different before and after the release of the translocated individuals on the site, and all mean home ranges fit within the range of estimates reported in the literature for natural populations of gopher tortoises. Habitat use of several individual resident gopher tortoises was significantly different after the translocation events. The degree that the home ranges of the residents were overlapped by other individuals in the study was not significantly different. The spatial locations of the home ranges of resident and translocated individuals were significantly different. There was evidence of reproduction for both resident and translocated females a year after the release of the translocates. The body condition of the resident individuals was higher at the end of the study relative to the start, although this may be explained by other factors. This study illustrates some of the problems associated with studies designed to assess translocation success, namely the lack adequate baseline data for the population and the challenge of balancing the sample sizes necessary for acceptable statistical power with the mechanics of translocation. The results of this study suggest that translocation is a potentially useful conservation strategy, although there are other potential consequences of translocation that need to be considered prior to its implementation.

<p><em>Natrix tessellata </em>predstavlja vrstu neotrovne zmije koja ima &scaron;iroko rasprostranjenje.<br />Posebno interesantnu populaciju ribarica čine zmije koje naseljavaju izolovana ostrva kao &scaron;to je to slučaj na ostrvu Golem grad koje se nalazi na Prespankom jezeru u Makedoniji.</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Imajući u&nbsp; vidu da je ova populacija na ovom lokalitetu izuzetno brojna i slabo istražena, cilj studije je bio da se ispita životna istorija date vrste zmija, njene osnovne morfolo&scaron;ke karakteristike, seksualni polimorfizam, zastupljenost različitih kolor morfi, dnevnu i sezonsku aktivnost, predaciju kao i njihove reproduktivne karakteristike.</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp; Studija je sprovedena na ukupno 3850 jedinki ribarica na ostrvu Golem grad tokom prolećne i letnje sezone u periodu od 2008. do 2012. godine, a uključila je i određivanje kondicionog indeksa i njegovu vezu sa kolor morfama, polom i uzrasnim kategorijama.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp; Rezultati ove studije su pokazali da je populacija ribarica koja naseljava ostrvo Golem grad, specifična iz nekoliko razloga. Najpre, na relativno malom prostoru stalno je naseljen veliki broj jedinki, sa podjednakom zastupljeno&scaron;ću sve tri kolor morfe (tačkasta, siva i melanična kolor morfa) &scaron;to predstavlja specifičnost i različitost u odnosu na sve ostale lokalitete koje naseljava ova vrsta zmije. Takođe, prosečne vrednosti ispitivanih morfolo&scaron;kih karakteristika ženki su značajno veće u odnosu na mužjake u sve tri uzrasne kategorije (juvenilni, subadulti i adulti). Fertilitet i fekunditet, kao i kondicioni indeks je pokazao specifičnost u odnosu na ispitivane zone ostrva.</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp; Sumiranjem i analizom svih iznesenih rezultata može se zaključiti da je populacija<br />ribarica <em>Natrix tessellata</em> na ostrvu Golem grad jako specifična zbog ujednačenog prisustva sve tri kolor morfe koje pokazuju svoju ekolo&scaron;ku, reproduktivnu i morfolo&scaron;ku specifičnost u odnosu na populacije ribarica koje su ispitivane na drugim lokalitetima njihovog rasprostranjenja. Kako bi se posebnost ove populacije u potpunosti&nbsp; objasnila sa različitih evolutivnih i ekolo&scaron;kih aspekata, neophodno je izvr&scaron;iti dalja ispitivanja tokom sledećih aktivnih sezona.</p> / <p><em>Natrix tessellata</em> represents one specific type of non-toxic snake that have a wide distribution. Particularly this population of dice snake is interesting because it is consists of snakes that inhabit the isolated island Golem grad in Prespa lake in FYR Macedonia.</p><p>Bearing in mind that this population at this particular site is extremely dense and poorly investigated, the goal of this study was to examine the life history of these species, its morphological characteristics, sexual polymorphism, presence of the&nbsp; different color morphs, duirnal and seasonal activity, predation and their&nbsp; reproductive &nbsp; characteristics. The study was conducted on a total of 3850 individuals of dice snake on the island Golem grad during the spring and summer season in the period from 2008. to 2012., and included the determination of the fitness index and its relationship with a color morph, sex and age categories.&nbsp;</p><p>Results of this study showed that the population of dice snakes that inhabits the island Golem grad, are specific for several reasons. First, the relatively small area has been inhabited by large number of individuals, with equal representation of all three color morphs&nbsp; (dotted, gray and melanic morph) which represents the specificity&nbsp; and diversity in relation to all other localities inhabited by this species of snake. Also, the average value of measured morphological characteristics in females&nbsp; were significantly higher than in males in all three age categories (juvenile, subadult and adult). Fertility and fecundity, and fitness index have showed the specificity acording to specific zone of the island.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp; By summarizing and analyzing of results it can be conclude that the population of <em>Natrix tessellata</em> which inhabits island Golem grad are very specific due to the uniform presence of all three color morphs that demonstrate their&nbsp; environmental, reproductive and morphological specificity in comparison of dice snakes populations that have been studied in other localities of their distribution range. In order to be fully explained unicity of this population from different&nbsp; evolutionary and ecological aspects, it is necessary to do further research during the next active seasons.</p>

Submitted by Carlos Augusto Rolim da Silva Junior (carlos_jrolim@hotmail.com) on 2015-11-19T15:51:43Z No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 2129832 bytes, checksum: 3b684f127d50c659a84b4938455dd401 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-11-19T15:51:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 2129832 bytes, checksum: 3b684f127d50c659a84b4938455dd401 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-08-14 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Variations in the Body Condition Index (BCI), glycemia and ketonemia of Artibeus planirostris (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) were analyzed in Tabuleiro and Atlantic Forest areas of Paraíba State, at field and captivity conditions. BCI was chosen based on the minimum influence of forearm length on body mass and evaluated according to sex, reproductive status, location and time of capture. Glycemia and ketonemia were also correlated with BCI and other variables. Variations in the BCI and glycemia were recorded after capture, fasting and feeding bats in captivity. The results showed that Le Cren’s Relative Condition Factor (Kn) and Simple Ratio with Curve Fitting (CFt) indices were the most suitable for A. planirostris. Blood glucose was correlated with Kn and proved to be a good method to validate the BCI. In Guaribas Biological Reserve, females had higher Kn, probably related to biases in the methodology or energy reserves during reproductive status. Tabuleiro’s bats had higher Kn and glucose levels than those in Atlantic Forest, which may indicate sub-sampling by the exclusion of bats in the canopy of the latter area. The twelve hours of collection indicated that A. planirostris forages throughout the night and presents a variation of Kn and glucose, especially during early morning, when it reaches the maximum levels before it returns to the shelter. In captivity, bats showed a great variation of Kn and glucose levels after fasting and feeding, recording Kn measures for these states that can be used as a parameter for field studies in the region. Blood glucose remained at normal values for mammals, but about 30% of the bats had levels higher than normal during capture in all areas, probably due to stress. Ketone bodies have been correlated only to glucose, and thus were not considered a good method to validate Kn in these animals. / As variações no Índice de Condição Corporal (ICC), glicemia e cetonemia de Artibeus planirostris (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) foram analisadas em áreas de Tabuleiro e Mata Atlântica da Paraíba em campo e cativeiro. O ICC escolhido foi baseado na menor influência do comprimento do antebraço na massa corporal e avaliado de acordo com o sexo, estado reprodutivo, local e horário de coleta. A glicemia e cetonemia também foram correlacionadas entre si, com o ICC e as demais variáveis, e variações no ICC e glicemia foram registradas após captura, jejum e alimentação de morcegos em cativeiro. Os resultados mostraram que o Fator de Condição Relativa de Le Cren (Kn) e a Razão Simples com Ajuste de Curva (AjC) foram os índices mais indicados para A. planirostris. A glicemia esteve correlacionada com o Kn e se mostrou um bom método para validar o ICC utilizado. Na REBIO Guaribas, as fêmeas tiveram maior Kn, provavelmente relacionado a vieses na metodologia ou a reservas energéticas durante o estado reprodutivo. Os morcegos do Tabuleiro obtiveram maior Kn e glicemia que os da Mata Atlântica, o que pode indicar subamostragem pela exclusão de morcegos que forrageavam no dossel da última área. As doze horas de coleta indicaram que A. planirostris forrageia durante toda a noite com variação de Kn e glicemia, sobretudo durante a madrugada, quando atinge o valor máximo antes de retornar para o abrigo. Em cativeiro, os morcegos apresentaram grande variação de Kn e glicemia em jejum e após a alimentação, registrando medidas de Kn para estes estados que podem ser utilizadas como parâmetro para estudos em campo na região. A glicemia manteve valores considerados normais para mamíferos, mas cerca de 30% dos morcegos apresentaram níveis acima do normal após a captura em todas as áreas, provavelmente devido ao estresse. Os corpos de cetona estiveram correlacionados apenas aos níveis de glicose e, portanto, não foi considerado um bom método para validar o Kn nestes animais.

abstract: Niche variation among sexes and life stages within a population has been documented in many species, yet few studies have investigated niche variation within demographic groups or across ecological contexts. We examined the extent to which pregnant California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) at each of three breeding colonies target alternative prey resources and habitats. The three colonies are distributed across distinct regions of the Gulf of California, Mexico and have divergent population dynamics. We compared the nature of niche variation among colonies and investigated the fitness consequences of different foraging strategies within each colony. We analyzed the &delta;13C and &delta;15N values from fur collected from 206 suckling pups to characterize relative maternal foraging locations (&delta;13C) and trophic levels (&delta;15N) during the metabolically demanding late stages of gestation and lactation that occur simultaneously in California sea lions. The &delta;13C and &delta;15N values were regressed against pup body condition index values to compare the relative individual-level fitness benefits of different maternal foraging strategies. We found that the nature and extent of niche variation differed among colonies. Niche variation was most pronounced at the two largest colonies that appear to experience the highest levels of intraspecific competition and the variation was consistent with habitat features. One colony (Granito) displayed two distinct foraging groups with indistinguishable median pup body condition values, whereas the second (San Jorge) exhibited continuous niche variation and pup body condition varied in relation to maternal foraging location and trophic level, suggesting disparities among alternative foraging strategies. For the smallest colony (Los Islotes), females occupy similar niches with a few outliers. Body condition values of pups at this colony were most variable, but did not vary with maternal foraging strategy. Our results provide evidence for intrapopulation niche variation among demographically similar individuals during a period of high metabolic stress and reproductive importance. This work suggests possible fitness benefits conferred by alternative foraging strategies, and calls into question the common assumption that members of a population are ecologically equivalent. Future research aimed at understanding animal foraging strategies should consider the nature and extent of niche variation in the context of local ecological conditions. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Biology 2013