We studied the characteristics and effects of the Argentine ant invasion on the native ants and other arthropods. Moreover, we assessed the effects of L. humile winter nest aggregations extirpation on its population dynamics. We measured the spread of its invasion and evaluated its nest-site preferences. Artificial nests used as a control tool were also assessed. Results indicate that the invasion causes important changes in the native ant community structure. The invasion spread is influenced by air temperature, and habitat perturbations could be favouring a faster expansion. The extirpation diminished the abundance of this ant and disturbed its population dynamics. In order to make this method more efficient, extirpation should be made in the edge of the invasion, and should focus on nests under larger rocks where mature nests are more likely to be found. Finally, this method is proposed mainly for controlling its invasion in closed or isolated areas. / Es van comparar les característiques i els efectes de la invasió de la formiga argentina sobre la comunitat de formigues natives, i altres artròpodes. Es va avaluar l'efecte de l'extirpació d’agregacions de nius d’hivern, la selecció de llocs de nidificació i l'ús de nius artificials com a eina de control, i es va mesurar la seva taxa d'expansió. Es va trobar que la invasió provoca canvis importants en la comunitat de formigues natives. La temperatura ambiental influeix en l'expansió, i les pertorbacions de l'hàbitat podrien afavorir una propagació més ràpida. L'extirpació disminueix la seva abundància i pertorba la seva dinàmica poblacional. L'extirpació s'ha de fer al marge de la invasió, i s'ha de centrar en nius situats sota les pedres més grans que és on hi ha més probabilitat de trobar nius madurs. Finalment, aquest mètode es proposa principalment per al control de la invasió en àrees tancades o aïllades.

La soca EPS125 ha mostrat ser un efectiu agent de control biològic de diferents patògens fúngics de postcollita en diferents fruits. Degut a la seva elevada eficàcia, es va plantejar desenvolupar aquesta soca comercialment i per aquest motiu en el present treball es plantejà complementar la informació necessària pel seu registre. D'acord amb els resultats obtinguts mitjançant proves fenotípiques i genotípiques, la soca EPS125 queda inclosa dins l'espècie Pantoea agglomerans (Enterobacter agglomerans-Erwinia herbicola). En relació a la utilització de fonts de carboni, en el perfil i contingut d'àcids grassos cel·lulars i en el polimorfisme en la longitud dels fragments de macrorestricció genòmica (MRFLP), la soca EPS125 mostrà trets característics que la diferencien d'altres soques. Els dos marcadors moleculars (125.2 i 125.3) específics per la soca EPS125 dissenyats en el present treball mostraren ser semiespecífics per la seva detecció mitjançant la tècnica PCR i Real Time PCR. Quedant pendent l'anàlisi d'especificitat de l'ús combinat dels dos marcadors moleculars en una reacció PCR multiplex. P. agglomerans EPS125 ha mostrat ser molt efectiva en el control de Penicillium expansum en poma amb una dosi efectiva mitjana de 2.7x105 a 7x105 ufc/ml, i una ratio de 25-101 cèl·lules de la soca EPS125 per inactivar una espora del patogen segons el model de saturació hiperbòlica. Segons les aproximacions fenotípiques i estudis genotípics realitzats, sembla que els mecanismes de biocontrol utilitzats per la soca EPS125 contra P. expansum en poma estan directament relacionats amb la capacitat de formació de biofilm per aquesta soca. / Strain EPS125 has shown effectiveness against a wide range of fungal pathogens in a large variety of fruit. However, to develop this strain as commercial biopesticide an extensive characterization is essential. For this reason, the objective of this PhD thesis was to complete the necessary information for its future registration.According to morphological and biochemical tests, strain EPS125 pertain to Pantoea agglomerans (Enterobacter agglomerans-Erwinia herbicola) species. This strain showed typical traits different from other bacteria in relation to the ability to use several carbon sources, the fatty acid profiles and the macrorestriction fragment length polymorphism (MRFLP) pattern. The two DNA molecular markers of P. agglomerans EPS125 (125.2 and 125.3) obtained in the present work were semispecific in the detection of strain EPS125 by means of PCR and Real Time PCR. However, the combined use of the two primer sets in a multiplex PCR reaction would be specific. P. agglomerans EPS125 was highly effective against P. expansum in apple fruit having a median effective dose from 2.7x105 to 7x105 cfu/ml and a ratio of 101 and 25 EPS125 cells to inactivate one pathogen spore according to the hyperbolic saturation model. Biocontrol mechanisms used by P. agglomerans EPS125 against P. expansum in apple fruit may be related with the ability of biofilm formation by this strain as show phenotypic approaches and genotypic studies.

La present tesi intenta obtenir noves dades referents a la biologia i ecologia de la formiga argentina que poden arribar a ser cabdals per al disseny o millora de noves metodologies de control de l'expansió de la plaga en ecosistemes naturals. Així doncs, l'estudi de l'activitat de cerca d'aliment i del seu espectre dietari en ecosistemes naturals, juntament amb el de les fluctuacions estacionals de la densitat de reines en nius naturals, obre les portes a la millora de mètodes de control de la plaga mitjançant esquers tòxics d'efecte retardat i a l'aplicació de noves metodologies de control sense l'ús d'agents químics basats en l'eliminació massiva de reines. La tesi també aporta noves dades sobre la fisiologia reproductiva de l'espècie en relació a la temperatura, la qual cosa permet la integració de l'aspecte fisiològic en models de predicció del rang potencial d'establiment de la plaga en ecosistemes naturals, aspecte fins ara pràcticament oblidat en aquest tipus de models predictius. / The present work attempts to obtain new information about the biology and ecology of this species in order to improve or design new control methods to stop the expansion of the plague in natural ecosystems. In that sense, the study of its foraging activity and dietary spectrum in natural environments, as well as the report of its annual fluctuations in the queen's densities of natural nests, open the door to the improvement of control methodologies based on the use of toxic baits, as well as to the design of new control methods based on the mechanical elimination of queens without the use of chemical procedures. This work also provides new data about the species' reproductive physiology according to temperature, which allow the application in predictive models of the physiological needs of the species to establish in a certain natural area.

O carrapato Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus é um ectoparasita que causa prejuízos econômicos à pecuária brasileira. Neste trabalho foi avaliada a potencialidade de extratos de Palicourea marcgravii e Derris negrensis e de extratos e óleo essencial de Piper aducum para o controle de R. microplus. Extratos de folhas de P. aduncum e P. marcgravii e caules de D. negrensis foram preparados com os solventes hexano, acetato de etila e etanol. Avaliou-se a atividade dos extratos sobre carrapatos adultos nas concentrações de 5, 25, 50, 75 e 100mg/ml, a fim de verificar a mortalidade e reprodução dos ácaros, observando-se que entre os extratos das três espécies avaliadas, o que apresentou maior potencial acaricida foi o extrato acetato de etila de P. marcgravii, o qual ocasionou taxas de mortalidade de fêmeas ingurgitadas entre 24 e 78%, estimando CL50 = 30,08 mg/ml; inibiu 100% da oviposição, estimando CI50 = 5,79 mg/ml. Avaliou-se, também, o efeito dos extratos das três plantas nas concentrações de 1,5, 10, 15 e 20mg/ml sobre larvas de R. microplus, verificando-se que o extrato acetato de etila de P. marcgravii foi o mais eficiente induzindo taxas de mortalidade que variaram de 30,32 a 95,11%, estimando CL50 = 2,46 mg/ml. A ação do óleo essencial de P. aduncum foi avaliada também em larvas, induzindo a mortalidade total das mesmas em todas as concentrações avaliadas. O óleo essencial foi analisado por Cromatografia Gasosa (CG) e Cromatografia Gasosa acoplada a Espectro de Massas (CG/EM) apresentando o dilapiol como composto majoritário(94,84%). Os extratos de D. negrensis não estimaram CL50 para fêmeas ingurgitadas e larvas de R. microplus. Estes resultados indicam a potencialidade acaricida dos extratos de P. marcgravii e do óleo essencial de P. aduncum, podendo ser uma alternativa de controle contra essa espécie de carrapato. / Submitted by Marcelo Teixeira (mvteixeira@ucs.br) on 2014-06-05T18:18:15Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese Wilson Castro Silva.pdf: 702565 bytes, checksum: 8418efdb56c5683626111a8bb8e61cd6 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-05T18:18:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese Wilson Castro Silva.pdf: 702565 bytes, checksum: 8418efdb56c5683626111a8bb8e61cd6 (MD5) / The tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus is an ectoparasite that cause economic losses to brazilian livestock. In this work, it was evaluated the toxicity of Palicourea marcgravii and Derris negrensis extracts and Piper aduncum extracts and essential oil for R. microplus. Extract of leaves of P. aduncum and P. marcgravii and stems of D. negrensis were prepared with hexane, ethyl acetate and ethanol solvents. The extracts activity was evaluated on adult ticks at concentrations of 5, 25, 50, 75 and 100 mg/ml, in order to verify mortality and reproduction of the acarids, being observed that among the extracts of three species evaluated, one that showed higher acaricidal potential was the ethyl acetate extract of P. marcgravii, which caused mortality rates of engorged female between 24 and 78%, estimating CL50 = 30,08 mg/ml; it have inhibited 100% of the oviposition, estimating CI50 = 5,79 mg/ml. It was evaluated too the extracts effect of the three plants at concentrations of 1, 5, 10, 15 and 20 mg/ml on R. microplus larvae, verifying that the P. marcgravii ethyl extract was more efficient inducing mortality rates that ranged from 30,32 to 95,11%, estimating CL50 = 2,46 mg/ml. The action of P. aduncum essential oil was evaluated on larvae too, inducing the total mortality of the same ones in all concentrations evaluated. The essential oil was analyzed by Gas Chromatography (GC) and Gas Chromatography coupled Mass Spectrum (GC/MS) showing dilapiol as the major compound (94,84%). The D. negrensis extracts didn t estimate CL50 for engorged female and larvae of R. microplus. These results indicate the acaricidal potential of the P. marcgravii extracts and P. aduncum essential oil, and could be an alternative of control against that tick species.

O carrapato Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus é um ectoparasita que causa prejuízos econômicos à pecuária brasileira. Neste trabalho foi avaliada a potencialidade de extratos de Palicourea marcgravii e Derris negrensis e de extratos e óleo essencial de Piper aducum para o controle de R. microplus. Extratos de folhas de P. aduncum e P. marcgravii e caules de D. negrensis foram preparados com os solventes hexano, acetato de etila e etanol. Avaliou-se a atividade dos extratos sobre carrapatos adultos nas concentrações de 5, 25, 50, 75 e 100mg/ml, a fim de verificar a mortalidade e reprodução dos ácaros, observando-se que entre os extratos das três espécies avaliadas, o que apresentou maior potencial acaricida foi o extrato acetato de etila de P. marcgravii, o qual ocasionou taxas de mortalidade de fêmeas ingurgitadas entre 24 e 78%, estimando CL50 = 30,08 mg/ml; inibiu 100% da oviposição, estimando CI50 = 5,79 mg/ml. Avaliou-se, também, o efeito dos extratos das três plantas nas concentrações de 1,5, 10, 15 e 20mg/ml sobre larvas de R. microplus, verificando-se que o extrato acetato de etila de P. marcgravii foi o mais eficiente induzindo taxas de mortalidade que variaram de 30,32 a 95,11%, estimando CL50 = 2,46 mg/ml. A ação do óleo essencial de P. aduncum foi avaliada também em larvas, induzindo a mortalidade total das mesmas em todas as concentrações avaliadas. O óleo essencial foi analisado por Cromatografia Gasosa (CG) e Cromatografia Gasosa acoplada a Espectro de Massas (CG/EM) apresentando o dilapiol como composto majoritário(94,84%). Os extratos de D. negrensis não estimaram CL50 para fêmeas ingurgitadas e larvas de R. microplus. Estes resultados indicam a potencialidade acaricida dos extratos de P. marcgravii e do óleo essencial de P. aduncum, podendo ser uma alternativa de controle contra essa espécie de carrapato. / The tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus is an ectoparasite that cause economic losses to brazilian livestock. In this work, it was evaluated the toxicity of Palicourea marcgravii and Derris negrensis extracts and Piper aduncum extracts and essential oil for R. microplus. Extract of leaves of P. aduncum and P. marcgravii and stems of D. negrensis were prepared with hexane, ethyl acetate and ethanol solvents. The extracts activity was evaluated on adult ticks at concentrations of 5, 25, 50, 75 and 100 mg/ml, in order to verify mortality and reproduction of the acarids, being observed that among the extracts of three species evaluated, one that showed higher acaricidal potential was the ethyl acetate extract of P. marcgravii, which caused mortality rates of engorged female between 24 and 78%, estimating CL50 = 30,08 mg/ml; it have inhibited 100% of the oviposition, estimating CI50 = 5,79 mg/ml. It was evaluated too the extracts effect of the three plants at concentrations of 1, 5, 10, 15 and 20 mg/ml on R. microplus larvae, verifying that the P. marcgravii ethyl extract was more efficient inducing mortality rates that ranged from 30,32 to 95,11%, estimating CL50 = 2,46 mg/ml. The action of P. aduncum essential oil was evaluated on larvae too, inducing the total mortality of the same ones in all concentrations evaluated. The essential oil was analyzed by Gas Chromatography (GC) and Gas Chromatography coupled Mass Spectrum (GC/MS) showing dilapiol as the major compound (94,84%). The D. negrensis extracts didn t estimate CL50 for engorged female and larvae of R. microplus. These results indicate the acaricidal potential of the P. marcgravii extracts and P. aduncum essential oil, and could be an alternative of control against that tick species.