Gruvbrytnings- och anrikningsverksamheten av komplexa zink-och kopparsulfidmalmer orsakar på flera håll i Västerbottens län vattenföroreningsproblem. För att studera effekterna av utsläppen i recipienten, har undersökningar och utvärderingar gjorts av de fysikalisk-kemiska och biologiska förhållandena i Vormbäcken 1971 - 1975.Vattenmiljön förändras främst genom utsläppen av svavel, kalcium och tungmetaller. Förutom haltförhöjningarna av ett antal enskilda ämnen sker också en försurning som tydligast märks i de nedre delarna av bäcksystemet. pH-sänkfiingen är. störst under sommaren och hösten, då också metallhalterna är som högst. Flera av de fysikalisk-kemiska parametrarna är nära korrelerade. Mest tydligt är det positiva sambandet mellan konduktivitet och sulfat. Men även grumlighet, järn och färg samt i viss mån pH är på olika sätt relaterade till varandra. Detta betyder att ur översiktlig vattenkvalitetsbedömning ett överflöd av information finns i det omfattande materialet av mätdata. Inom ramen för det nuvarande kontrollprogrammet skulle därför ett noggrannare urval av parametrar och provtagningstidpunkter ge en betydligt bättre bild av de fysikalisk-kemiska effekterna.Bottenfaunan i bäckens forsar, som undersökts med en enkel håvmetodik, är kvalitativt förändrad i hela recipienten. De känsligaste evertebratgrupperna är musslor, dagsländor och bäcksländor. Av basresultaten framgår att antalet taxa både totalt och för dag-, bäck- och nattsländor hopslaget har mindre spridning och osäkerhet jämfört med totalindividtal och individtal för enskildataxa. Antalet taxa följer också de förändrade fysikalisk-kemiska förhållandena bättre än ett ofta använt diversitetsindex, Shannonindexet. Antalet bottenfaunataxa är i recipienten lägst under sommaren och hösten.Förändringarna av antalet bottenfaunataxa och Shannonindexen är tydligast relaterade till de ospecifika parametrarna färg, konduktivitet, pH och grumlighet. Det minskade antalet fors-faunataxa hänger också samman med minskningen av primärproduktionen i form av påväxtalger och mossor.Utifrån dessa resultat föreslås vissa förändringar av kontrollprogrammet. Som nödvändigt komplement till detta bör bottenfalanaundersökningar läggas in varje år under senhösten. Detta som indikator på de biologiska förändringar som gruv-utsläppen ger, och som hjälp att utforma reningsåtgärder som ger avsevärt mindre påverkan på Vormbäckens ekosystem. / The raining and milling of complex zinc and copper pyrite ore is the cause of water pollution in some districts of the county of Västerbotten. To determine the effects of the wastewater from the mining process in the stream Vorm-bäcken 1971 - 1975, physical, chemical and biological investigations have been performed and evaluated.The character of the stream is changed principally by the inflow of sulphur, calcium and heavy metals. In addition to higher concentrations of a number of substances an acidification occurs, which is most distinct in the lower reaches of the stream. The pH decrease is greatest during summer and autumn, when the metal concentrations also peak. Several of the physicochemical parameters are closely correlated. Most evident is the correlation between conductivity and sulphate. But turbidity, iron, colour and pH are also related to each other in different ways. This means that for a continuous survey of the physical and chemical conditions there is redundancy of data in this comprehensive material. Within the framework of the present control program, a more careful selection of parameters and sampling times should therefore provide a considerably better overall picture of the physicochemical effects.The bottom fauna in the riffles, sampled by a simple netting technique, are qualitatively changed. The effects are most accentuated on mussels, mayflies and stoneflies. The number of taxa for the total fauna and for the combined orders mayflies, stoneflies and caddisflies is the most reliable parameter compared to the total abundance and the number of specimens of each taxon. The number of taxa also follows the changing physicochemical conditions better than the commonly used diversity index (the Shannon-Weaver index). The number of riffle fauna taxa are lowest in summer and autumn.The changes in number of taxa and diversity indices are best related to colour, conductivity, pH and turbidity. The decrease in number of taxa is also associated with the decrease in primary production, such as perifyton and mosses. Based upon these results, some alterations of the existing physical and chemical control program are proposed. As an indicator of the changed biological conditions, it is suggested that bottom fauna investigations should be performed annually each autumn. / digitalisering@umu

In an energy system, diversity of supply—that is, reliance on a variety of mutually disparate energy suppliers and their energy supplies—is seen by many researchers and policymakers as an important component of energy security. This thesis describes a novel and generic method for examining the relationship between energy security (as represented by an energy-security index derived from a set of energy security indicators) and diversity (as defined by the Shannon-Wiener diversity index) of an energy system, its entities, and flows. While diversity is often presented by policy makers as being essential to maintaining or improving the energy security of an energy system, the thesis employs the equations associated with the two indices to show that a diverse supply need not be secure and a secure supply need not be diverse. Several examples of the relationship and the events that can affect it are also provided. / N/A

Between 33 and 91 percent of marine species are currently undescribed, with the majority occurring in tropical and offshore environments. Sponges act as important microhabitats and promote biodiversity by harboring a wide variety of macrofauna and microbiota, but little is known about the relationships between the sponges and their symbionts. This study uses DNA barcoding to examine the macrofaunal communities associated with sponges of the central Saudi Arabian Red Sea, a drastically understudied ecosystem with high biodiversity and endemism. In total, 185 epifaunal and infaunal operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were distinguished from the 1399 successfully-sequenced macrofauna individuals from 129 sponges representing seven sponge species, one of which (Stylissa carteri) was intensively studied. A significant difference was found in the macrofaunal community composition of Stylissa carteri along a cross-shelf gradient using relative OTU abundance (Bray-Curtis diversity index). The abundance of S. carteri also follows a cross-shelf gradient, increasing with proximity to shore. The difference in macrofaunal communities of several species of sponges at one location was found to be significant as well, using OTU presence (binary Jaccard diversity index). Four of the seven sponge species collected were dominated by a single annelid OTU, each unique to one sponge species. A fifth was dominated by four arthropod OTUs, all species-specific as well. Region-based diversity differences may be attributed to environmental factors such as reef morphology, water flow, and sedimentation, whereas species-based differences may be caused by sponge morphology, microbial abundances, and chemical defenses. As climate change and ocean acidification continue to modify coral reef ecosystems, understanding the ecology of sponges and their role as microhabitats may become more important. This thesis also includes a supplemental document in the form of a spreadsheet showing the number of macrofauna individuals of each OTU found within each sponge sample.

Like coral reefs worldwide, the Florida Reef Tract has dramatically declined within the past two decades. Monitoring of 40 sites throughout the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary has undertaken a multiple-parameter approach to assess spatial and temporal changes in the status of the ecosystem. The objectives of the present study consist of the following: In chapter one, we review past coral reef studies; emphasis is placed on recent studies on the stony corals of reefs in the lower Florida Keys. We also review the economic impact of coral reefs on the state of Florida. In chapter two, we identify the underlying probability distribution function of the stony coral cover proportions and we obtain better estimates of the statistical properties of stony coral cover proportions. Furthermore, we improve present procedures in constructing confidence intervals of the true median and mean for the underlying probability distribution. In chapter three, we investigate the applicability of the normal probability distribution assumption made on the pseudovalues obtained from the jackknife procedure for the Shannon-Wiener diversity index used in previous studies. We investigate a new and more effective approach to estimating the Shannon-Wiener and Simpson's diversity index. In chapter four, we develop the best possible estimate of the probability distribution function of the jackknifing pseudovalues, obtained from the jackknife procedure for the Shannon-Wiener diversity index used in previous studies, using the xi nonparametric kernel density estimate method. This nonparametric procedure gives very effective estimates of the statistical measures for the jackknifing pseudovalues. Lastly, the present study develops a predictive statistical model for stony coral cover. In addition to identifying the attributable variables that influence the stony coral cover data of the lower Florida Keys, we investigate the possible interactions present. The final form of the developed statistical model gives good estimates of the stony coral cover given some information of the attributable variables. Our nonparametric and parametric approach to analyzing coral reef data provides a sound basis for developing efficient ecosystem models that estimate future trends in coral reef diversity. This will give the scientists and managers another tool to help monitor and maintain a healthy ecosystem.

Orientador: Adriane Pinto Wasko / Resumo: Amazona vinacea (Kuhl, 1820) (papagaio-de-peito-roxo) é uma espécie de psitacídeo considerada ameaçada de extinção em consequência, principalmente, da perda de seu habitat e do intenso tráfico ilegal. Sua população original era distribuída desde a região do sul da Bahia ao Rio Grande do Sul no Brasil, incluindo ainda o sudeste do Paraguai e a província de Misiones na Argentina. Atualmente, sua distribuição encontra-se fragmentada e estima-se que o número de indivíduos em vida livre no Brasil esteja entre 1.000 a 2.500 animais. Diante do exposto, com o objetivo de estimar os níveis de diversidade genética de A. vinacea e o grau de parentesco, foram analisados indivíduos reintroduzidos no Parque Nacional das Araucárias no Estado de Santa Catarina e também de animais cativos de diferentes regiões do Brasil, por meio de marcadores moleculares microssatélites e da região controle D-loop do DNA mitocondrial. Foram genotipadas 160 amostras de A. vinacea para 7 locos microssatélites e 103 amostras foram sequenciadas para caracterização do DNA mitocondrial. Os resultados obtidos detectaram uma alta variabilidade genética em A. vinacea, quando comparada com outros psitacídeos. Uma maior variabilidade foi observada nos locos de microssatélites quando comparados com a região controle do DNA mitocondrial. As análises de diferenciação genética apontaram uma baixa estruturação entre os grupos amostrados, o que pode sugerir fluxo gênico ou expansão populacional / colonização recente. Nas com... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Amazona vinacea (Kuhl, 1820) (purple-breasted parrot) is a parrot species that is considered endangered, especially as a result of habitat loss and intense illegal traffic. Its original population was found from the south region of Bahia to Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil, and also included the southeastern Paraguay and the province of Misiones in Argentina. Its current distribution is fragmented and it is estimated that the number of free-living individuals in Brazil is around 1,000 to 2,500 animals. Due to this scenario, in order to estimate the levels of genetic diversity of A. vinacea and the kinship degree, animals that were reintroduced at the National Park of Araucárias at Santa Catarina State and also captive individuals from different regions of Brazil were analyzed throughout microsatellite molecular markers and the D-loop control region of the mitochondrial DNA. A total of 160 samples of A. vinacea were genotyped for 7 microsatellite locos and 103 samples were sequenced in order to characterize the mitochondrial DNA. The results indicated a high genetic variability in A. vinacea, when compared to other Psittacidae species. A higher variability was observed in microsatellite locos when compared to the mitochondrial DNA control region. Genetic differentiation analyzes indicated low structuring among the sampled groups, which could suggest gene flow or population expansion / recent colonization. In pairwise comparisons between the individuals, kinship analyzes indicated t... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

Le aflatossine sono tra i composti naturali conosciuti più cancerogeni. Queste molecole, tossiche sia per gli animali sia per l’uomo, sono prodotte su importanti colture, quali mais, arachidi e cotone da differenti specie fungine di Aspergillus in particolare quelli afferenti alla sezione Flavi. In Italia il principale fungo responsabile della contaminazione da aflatossine su mais è A. flavus e l’area più esposta alla contaminazione è il nord della penisola dove si localizza circa il 90% della coltivazione del mais. Generalmente, le condizioni climatiche in questa area non sono favorevoli alla contaminazione da aflatossine; comunque stress idrico e alte temperature possono verificarsi durante il ciclo di crescita del mais favorendo la produzione di AFB1 da parte del fungo e determinando un accumulo superiore ai limiti di legge, come accadde nel 2003. Infatti, a partire dal 2003 più attenzione è stata dedicata alla caratterizzazione della popolazione italiana di A. flavus associate alla coltivazione del mais e allo sviluppo di una valida tecnica, come il controllo biologico degli isolati tossigeni mediante l’utilizzo di isolati non tossigeni, per ridurre la contaminazione da aflatossine. / Aflatoxins are the most carcinogenic natural compound known in nature. These molecules, toxic for animal and humans, are produced on important economic commodities worldwide by the secondary metabolism of several fungal species of Aspergilli of the section Flavi. In Italy the principal responsible of aflatoxins contamination on maize is A. flavus and the more exposed area to contamination is the northern of the peninsula where almost 90% of the cultivation is located. Generally, climatic conditions in this area are not favourable for aflatoxins contamination; however, reduced rainfall and increased temperature during maize developing season can occur along with associated levels of AFB1 exceeding the legal limits, as happened in 2003. Since this year, more attention has been dedicated to characterize Italian A. flavus populations associated with maize cultivation and to develop a useful tool to reduce aflatoxins contamination. To accomplish this goal, vegetative compatibility analysis, identification of atoxigenic isolates, evaluation of the ability of atoxigenic isolates to reduce in vitro aflatoxins produced by toxigenic isolates in vitro, selection of atoxigenic isolates potentially useful as biocontrol agents, individuate deletions in the aflatoxin biosynthesis gene cluster of selected atoxigenic isolates and biocontrol field trial with the selected potential biocontrol agents were achieved.

No description available.

Human disturbance is becoming an ever-bigger threat to biodiversity across the globe and should continue to be a field of conservation priority. Urbanisation, research and tourism put unavoidable pressure on the surrounding flora and fauna, therefore we need to gain knowledge on how to reduce future harm. Here we investigated the effects of human presence on medium-large terrestrial mammals in the south-eastern Peruvian Amazon, using camera traps to measure the number of human and mammal observations at varying distances from our research centre and the hiking trails. Species richness and the Shannon and Inverse Simpson diversity indices were also calculated during the four-month study period. Nineteen species were detected across fourteen camera sites. Distance from camp was positively correlated with species richness and the diversity indices, but showed no correlation with total mammal observations. Distance from nearest trail was negatively correlated with species richness, total mammal observations and the diversity indices. Total human observations was negatively correlated with species richness and the diversity indices, but had no impact on total mammal observations. Nevertheless, these results often had high p-values and low sample size and therefore should be interpreted with caution. Omnivores were the most sensitive trophic guild, showing a statistically significant negative correlation with total human observations, and a statistically significant positive correlation with distance from nearest trail. It is important then to assess these responses to human disturbance at the community and species level, as to truly understand the impact we are having.

Terra Preta Antropogênica (TPA) é um dos tipos de solos mais \"férteis\" do mundo. A TPA recebe esta denominação por ser encontrada em sítios arqueológicos onde viveram grupos pré-históricos. São pequenas faixas de solos que apresentam altas concentrações de nutrientes, matéria orgânica e encontram-se distribuídas aleatoriamente pela região Amazônica. A verdadeira origem destes solos ainda não está bem esclarecida. Devido à falta de informações sobre sua diversidade bacteriana, este trabalho estudou a diversidade bacteriana em amostras de solos TPA coletadas em duas regiões: Lagoa Balbina - sítio Terra preta (Amazônia Central- Amazonas) e Floresta Nacional de Caxiuanã - sítio arqueológico Mina I (Amazônia Oriental - Pará), através de técnicas moleculares independentes de cultivo. O DNA genômico total das amostras de solo foi extraído e usado como molde em uma reação de PCR utilizando oligonucleotídeos específicos do gene 16S rRNA para o Domínio Bactéria. O produto de PCR amplificado foi clonado no vetor pGEM-T e 980 clones foram selecionados e comparados com o banco de dados de 16S rRNA do RDP II e GenBank (NCBI-EUA). Os resultados apresentaram predominância com microrganismos não-conhecidos representando 41,6 % das seqüências de solo TPA- Balbina, 68,3 % das seqüências de ADJ-Balbina, 84,8% das seqüências de solo TPAMina e 47,7 % das seqüências de ADJ-Mina. O filo mais predominante nas amostras TPABalbina foi Firmicutes, representando 37,1% do total de seqüências analisadas. Os filos em destaque foram Proteobacteria (9,6%), seguidos de Verrucomicrobia (5,6%), Acidobacteria (2,5%), Gemmatimonadetes (2,5%), Actinobacteria (0,5%) e Nitrospira (0,5%). Por outro lado, em ADJ-Balbina destacaram-se os filos Proteobacteria 15,1%, Acidobacteria (12,5%), Firmicutes (2,3%), Nitrospira (1,1%) e Verrucomicrobia (0,8%). Em TPA-Mina, os filos apresentados foram Proteobacteria (6,5%), Acidobacteria (4,7%), Firmicutes (1,4%), Nitrospira (1,1%), Planctomycetes (1,1%) e Verrucomicrobia (0,4%). Contudo, na biblioteca ADJ-Mina verificou a presença dos filos Acidobacteria (27,2%), Proteobacteria (14,2%), Firmicutes (3,8%), Verrucomicrobia (3,8%), Nitrospira (1,3%), Planctomycetes (1,3%), Actinobacteria (0,4%) e Gemmatimonadetes (0,4%). O pH do solo pode ser um dos atributos do solo que pode ter influência direta na diversidade bacteriana dos solos estudados, assim como pode ter efeito uma floresta natural sobre as populações microbianas em seu solo, fato observado na adjacência do solo Terra Preta em Caxiuanã - PA. A estimativa da riqueza de UTOs pelo Bootstrap corroborou diretamente os valores de diversidade obtidos pelos índices de Simpson e Shannon. De um modo geral, uma maior probabilidade de ocorrência de UTOs únicas empregadas pelo estimador Jackknife se correlacionou com uma maior percentagem de baixas frequências de filotipos nas quatro bibliotecas. Os métodos não-paramétricos ACE e Chao1 para a estimativa da riqueza de UTOs também corroboraram com os valores obtidos com o estimador Jackknife. / Anthropogenic Dark Earth (ADE) is one of the most fertile soils in the world. ADE soils have received this nomination due to the pre-historical origin of these archaeological sites, established by pre-colombian populations. ADEs are small areas of soil which present high nutrient and organic matter contents and are randomly distributed throughout the Amazonian region. The true origin of these soils is not known yet. Due to the lack of information concerning the bacterial diversity, this work studied the bacterial diversity in ADE soils collected from two regions: Lagoa Balbina - site Terra Preta (Central Amazonia- Amazonas state) and National Forest of Caxiuanã - archaeological site Mina I (Oriental Amazonia - Pará state), using culture-independent molecular techniques. The total genomic DNAs extracted from the soil samples were used as templates in the PCR reactions using the universal primers for the 16S rRNA bacterial gene. The PCR-products were cloned into the pGEM-T vector and 980 clones were selected and searched using the GenBank (NCBI-USA) and the RDP II program. Data analyses indicated predominance of unknown microorganisms, representing 41.6 % among the sequences from ADE-Balbina, 68.3 % from Adjacent-Balbina, 84.8% from ADE-Mina and 47.7 % from Adjacent-Mina. The predominant phylum in ADEBalbina was Firmicutes, representing 37.1% of the total sequences from that site, followed by Proteobacteria (9.6%), Verrucomicrobia (5.6%) Acidobacteria (2,5%), Gemmatimonadetes (2,5%), Actinobacteria (0,5%) and Nitrospira (0.5%). On the other hand, in the adjacent soil ADJ-Balbina, the predominant phylla were Proteobacteria (15.1%), Acidobacteria (12.5%), Firmicutes (2.3%), Nitrospira (1.1%) and Verrucomicrobia (0.8%). In the Oriental Amazon, the prevalent phylla from the ADE-Mina soil were Proteobacteria (6.5%), Acidobacteria (4.7%), Firmicutes (1.4%), Nitrospira (1.1%), Planctomycetes (1.1%) and Verrucomicrobia (0.4%). In the ADJ-Mina verificou a presença dos filos Acidobacteria 27.2%, Proteobacteria 14.2%, Firmicutes 3.8%, Verrucomicrobia 3.8%, Nitrospira 1.3%, Planctomycetes 1.3%, Actinobacteria 0.4% e Gemmatimonadetes 0.4%. The soil pH may be of the soil attributes which may have directly influenced the bacterial diversity in those soils, as well as the above-ground vegetation from the natural forest in Caxiuanã-Pará. The estimates of the Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) richness using Bootstrap directly corroborated the diversity values obtained from the Simpson and Shannon indexes. Unique UTOs using Jackknife estimator were correlated with a higher percentage of the low frequencies of phylla in all the four clone libraries. The nonparametric ACE and Chao1 methods to estimate the OTUs richness also corroborated the Jackknife values.

My thesis is focused on valuation methods intensively used agricultural landscapes according to the importance of near-natural habitats in terms of their natural values and ecosystem services. This is done at four sites using pitfall traps, where there was a catch beetles (Carabidae). To evaluate the data I used indicators such as the Shannon index serenity. Procedures for calculating the ecological value of the area and the ecosystem services provided I processed according to the proposed method Seják et al., (2010). Rating I performed by BVM (,, habitat valuation methods "). Replacement cost method I used for the calculation of ecosystem services.