There is currently little knowledge about the dynamics of invertebrates in Australian viticultural ecosystems. This study was conducted in Coonawarra vineyards over three seasons (years) and has focused on identifying natural enemies, their seasonal phenology, multiple species interactions, and potential for the suppression of the pest lepidopteran Epiphyas postvittana (Tortricidae). The work presented in this thesis shows that endemic natural enemies have far greater potential to control E. postvittana than has been realised. An initial survey identified a diverse and abundant range of potential natural enemies. Of these, the species most likely to attack E. postvittana include a predatory mite Anystis baccarum and a number of hymenopteran parasitoids. The most abundant parasitoid in the vineyards was a braconid, Dolichogenidea tasmanica. Understanding the characteristic behaviour of parasitoids in response to host density can help to gauge their potential for pest suppression. The results of large-scale field experiments showed that the response of D. tasmanica to the density of E. postvittana was inversely density-dependent, and that parasitism was consistently higher in Cabernet Sauvignon compared with Chardonnay varieties. Despite the fact that interactions among multiple species of natural enemies can increase or decrease pest suppression, particularly when they share a common prey/host, few multispecies interactions have been investigated. Laboratory studies identified a novel interaction between the predatory mite A. baccarum an abundant predator in the vine canopy, the parasitoid D. tasmanica and host E. postvittana larvae. Although A. baccarum readily ate E. postvittana eggs and free roaming larvae, they could not access larva in their silk leaf rolls. However, the addition of D. tasmanica significantly increased predation of E. postvittana larvae, by altering the behaviour of host larvae and increasing their vulnerability to the mite. Experiments conducted at a landscape level in the Coonawarra showed that D. tasmanica was also present in habitat other than vineyards including native vegetation. However, it was not present in highly disturbed habitats. Although the exact mechanism for this remains unknown, results indicate that viticultural practices and resources in the surrounding landscape can influence the presence of parasitoids. Together, the findings presented in this thesis make a significant contribution towards developing sustainable pest management in Australian viticulture. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1320930 / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, 2008

Fear of predation can have a major impact on the behaviour of prey species. Despite recent codifying of the concept of the ecology of fear, there has been relatively little focus on how these ideas apply to large carnivore species which, although not prey sensu stricto, may experience fear as a result of threats from humans. This thesis argues that large mammalian carnivores are subject to a Landscape of Fear similar to that described for prey species, and will respond behaviourally to fear of human-caused mortality. The idea of a "Landscape of Coexistence" is introduced to denote the perceived risk from humans and associated behavioural responses that can be overlain on spatio-temporally heterogeneous landscapes. Literature on the ecology of fear for large mammalian carnivores and, as there is a dearth of such literature, the current theory on the ecology of fear for other guilds is reviewed, and how this might inform large carnivore behaviour in a Landscape of Coexistence is explored. Behavioural effects of human-caused mortality risk are revealed for lions living in a human dominated landscape (Laikipia County, Kenya), specifically how lions adjust their movement patterns, habitat use and foraging tactics when in proximity to humans. It is argued that these behavioural adjustments represent a trade-off between maximising fitness enhancing activities and minimising the risk of human-caused mortality, thus need to be taken into consideration along with the lethal effects of humans when explaining the density, distribution and behaviour of lions throughout much of their remaining range. Although fear is generic, 'human-caused mortality risk' represents a distinct and very important sub-set of the ecology of fear for the carnivore guild. The existence of a Landscape of Coexistence has implications for understanding their foraging ecology, and ultimately their population dynamics and role in the ecosystem, and is therefore, important for the conservation of large carnivores throughout large parts of their remaining ranges.

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No description available.

No description available.

As rodovias podem representar um importante fator na fragmentação de habitat para espécies silvestres adaptadas a habitats de alta complexidade estrutural, como as florestas tropicais. As estradas reduzem a conectividade da paisagem e a capacidade da população regional em habitar todas as áreas adequadas e estes efeitos são mais significativos nas espécies que evitam a estrada, que são, muitas vezes, espécies de interior de florestas. A magnitude dos efeitos de barreira dependerá do comportamento e mobilidade destas espécies. Quando as estradas representam ralos (sink) ou barreiras para as populações, devido, respectivamente, aos atropelamentos ou à repulsa, medidas mitigadoras são indicadas para aumentar a conectividade entre as manchas de habitat separadas por essas estradas. A qualidade do habitat é um fator que deve ser considerado, mesmo com baixas frequências de atropelamentos nesses locais. O objetivo desse estudo foi propor dois métodos de seleção de áreas prioritárias para implantação de medidas mitigadoras dos efeitos das estradas sobre espécies de vertebrados florestais: Seleção Hierárquica Multivariada e Seleção Bivariada. A área de estudo foi o bioma Mata Atlântica, sendo recortado em paisagens hexagonais em três escalas diferentes (10.000, 1.000 e 100 km), usando a extensão Repeating Shapes no programa ArcGIS 9.3. Em cada hexágono foram calculados: área de floresta e de Unidade de Conservação, densidade de estradas e de hidrografia. Apenas os hexágonos cobertos por no mínimo 45% pela Mata Atlântica, com mais de 50% de cobertura florestal e mais de 1% de Unidades de Conservação foram incluídos nas análises. Após esta seleção, no método Seleção Hierárquica Multivariada, foi feita uma análise de componentes principais (PCA) com as quatro variáveis medidas, para cada escala separadamente. Os hexágonos foram então ordenados segundo o posicionamento deles no 1 Eixo da PCA de forma hierárquica e da maior para menor escala de hexágonos. Para área de estudo o método de Seleção Bivariada foi construído um gráfico de pontos, para cada escala de hexágono, com as variáveis cobertura florestal e rios. Foram selecionados os hexágonos que estavam localizados no quadrante do gráfico que representasse maior densidade de rios e maior porcentagem de cobertura florestal. Posteriormente foi feita uma simulação para avaliar se os métodos eram capazes de recuperar escores tão alto quanto a ordenação seguindo apenas o posicionamento dos hexágonos no Eixo 1 da PCA, sem uma análise hierárquica. O método de Seleção Hierárquica Multivariada foi mais eficiente para escolha de áreas prioritárias do que a Seleção Bivariada tanto para a escala intermediária (1.000 km) quanto para a menor escala (100 km). Os cinco hexágonos de 100 km mais prioritários estão localizados em São Paulo e Paraná, abrangendo quatro UCs (PARES de Jacupiranga, APA de Guaraqueçaba, APA Cananéia- Jacuípe e PARES da Ilha do Cardoso). Devido à simplicidade e fácil aplicabilidade do método, acredita-se que este pode ser uma opção interessante para escolha de áreas prioritárias para implantação de medidas mitigadoras dos efeitos de estradas / Roads may represent an important factor in fragmentation of habitat for wild species adapted to habitats of high structural complexity as rainforests. Roads reduce landscape connectivity and the capacity of the regional population live in all suitable areas and these effects are most significant in species that avoid the road, which are often species dependent on forests. The magnitude of the barrier effects depend on the behavior and mobility of these species. When roads represent "sinkers" or barriers for populations due, respectively, trampling or avoidance, mitigation measures are indicated to increase connectivity between habitat patches separated by these roads. The habitat quality is a factor that must be considered, even at low frequencies of road kill there. The goal of this study was to propose two methods of selecting priority areas for implementation of mitigation measures of roads effects on forest vertebrate species: Multivariate Hierarchical Selection and Bivariate Selection. The study area was the Atlantic Forest biome, being cut into hexagonal landscapes at three different scales (10,000, 1,000 and 100 km), using the extension "Repeating Shapes" program in ArcGIS 9.3. In each hexagon was calculated: area of forest, protected areas, density of roads and hydrograph. Only hexagons covered by at least 45% by the Atlantic Forest, with over 50% forest cover and more than 1% of protected areas were included in the analyzes. After this using the Multivariate Hierarchical selection method, we performed a principal component analysis (PCA) with the four variables measured for each scale separately. The hexagons were then ordered according to their position in the first axis of PCA, using a hierarchical manner and the smaller scale of hexagons. For the Bivariate selection method we did a dot plot for each scale hexagon, with the variables forest cover and rivers. We selected hexagons that were located in the quadrant of the graph that represented higher density of rivers and larger percentage of forest cover. After that, we made a simulation to evaluate if the two methods were able to retrieve scores as high as the ordination following only the positioning of the hexagons on Axis 1 of the PCA, without a hierarchical analysis. For the study site, the Multivariate Hierarchical selection was more efficient for choosing priority areas than Bivariate Selection for both the intermediate scale (1000 km) and to a lesser extent (100 km). The five hexagons of 100 km of highest priorities are located in São Paulo and Paraná, covering four protected areas (PARES of Jacupiranga, Guaraqueçaba APA, and APA Cananéia-Jacuípe and PARES Ilha do Cardoso). Due to simplicity and easy applicability of the method, we believe this may be an interesting option for selecting priority areas for implementation of mitigation measures of the effects of roads

As rodovias podem representar um importante fator na fragmentação de habitat para espécies silvestres adaptadas a habitats de alta complexidade estrutural, como as florestas tropicais. As estradas reduzem a conectividade da paisagem e a capacidade da população regional em habitar todas as áreas adequadas e estes efeitos são mais significativos nas espécies que evitam a estrada, que são, muitas vezes, espécies de interior de florestas. A magnitude dos efeitos de barreira dependerá do comportamento e mobilidade destas espécies. Quando as estradas representam ralos (sink) ou barreiras para as populações, devido, respectivamente, aos atropelamentos ou à repulsa, medidas mitigadoras são indicadas para aumentar a conectividade entre as manchas de habitat separadas por essas estradas. A qualidade do habitat é um fator que deve ser considerado, mesmo com baixas frequências de atropelamentos nesses locais. O objetivo desse estudo foi propor dois métodos de seleção de áreas prioritárias para implantação de medidas mitigadoras dos efeitos das estradas sobre espécies de vertebrados florestais: Seleção Hierárquica Multivariada e Seleção Bivariada. A área de estudo foi o bioma Mata Atlântica, sendo recortado em paisagens hexagonais em três escalas diferentes (10.000, 1.000 e 100 km), usando a extensão Repeating Shapes no programa ArcGIS 9.3. Em cada hexágono foram calculados: área de floresta e de Unidade de Conservação, densidade de estradas e de hidrografia. Apenas os hexágonos cobertos por no mínimo 45% pela Mata Atlântica, com mais de 50% de cobertura florestal e mais de 1% de Unidades de Conservação foram incluídos nas análises. Após esta seleção, no método Seleção Hierárquica Multivariada, foi feita uma análise de componentes principais (PCA) com as quatro variáveis medidas, para cada escala separadamente. Os hexágonos foram então ordenados segundo o posicionamento deles no 1 Eixo da PCA de forma hierárquica e da maior para menor escala de hexágonos. Para área de estudo o método de Seleção Bivariada foi construído um gráfico de pontos, para cada escala de hexágono, com as variáveis cobertura florestal e rios. Foram selecionados os hexágonos que estavam localizados no quadrante do gráfico que representasse maior densidade de rios e maior porcentagem de cobertura florestal. Posteriormente foi feita uma simulação para avaliar se os métodos eram capazes de recuperar escores tão alto quanto a ordenação seguindo apenas o posicionamento dos hexágonos no Eixo 1 da PCA, sem uma análise hierárquica. O método de Seleção Hierárquica Multivariada foi mais eficiente para escolha de áreas prioritárias do que a Seleção Bivariada tanto para a escala intermediária (1.000 km) quanto para a menor escala (100 km). Os cinco hexágonos de 100 km mais prioritários estão localizados em São Paulo e Paraná, abrangendo quatro UCs (PARES de Jacupiranga, APA de Guaraqueçaba, APA Cananéia- Jacuípe e PARES da Ilha do Cardoso). Devido à simplicidade e fácil aplicabilidade do método, acredita-se que este pode ser uma opção interessante para escolha de áreas prioritárias para implantação de medidas mitigadoras dos efeitos de estradas / Roads may represent an important factor in fragmentation of habitat for wild species adapted to habitats of high structural complexity as rainforests. Roads reduce landscape connectivity and the capacity of the regional population live in all suitable areas and these effects are most significant in species that avoid the road, which are often species dependent on forests. The magnitude of the barrier effects depend on the behavior and mobility of these species. When roads represent "sinkers" or barriers for populations due, respectively, trampling or avoidance, mitigation measures are indicated to increase connectivity between habitat patches separated by these roads. The habitat quality is a factor that must be considered, even at low frequencies of road kill there. The goal of this study was to propose two methods of selecting priority areas for implementation of mitigation measures of roads effects on forest vertebrate species: Multivariate Hierarchical Selection and Bivariate Selection. The study area was the Atlantic Forest biome, being cut into hexagonal landscapes at three different scales (10,000, 1,000 and 100 km), using the extension "Repeating Shapes" program in ArcGIS 9.3. In each hexagon was calculated: area of forest, protected areas, density of roads and hydrograph. Only hexagons covered by at least 45% by the Atlantic Forest, with over 50% forest cover and more than 1% of protected areas were included in the analyzes. After this using the Multivariate Hierarchical selection method, we performed a principal component analysis (PCA) with the four variables measured for each scale separately. The hexagons were then ordered according to their position in the first axis of PCA, using a hierarchical manner and the smaller scale of hexagons. For the Bivariate selection method we did a dot plot for each scale hexagon, with the variables forest cover and rivers. We selected hexagons that were located in the quadrant of the graph that represented higher density of rivers and larger percentage of forest cover. After that, we made a simulation to evaluate if the two methods were able to retrieve scores as high as the ordination following only the positioning of the hexagons on Axis 1 of the PCA, without a hierarchical analysis. For the study site, the Multivariate Hierarchical selection was more efficient for choosing priority areas than Bivariate Selection for both the intermediate scale (1000 km) and to a lesser extent (100 km). The five hexagons of 100 km of highest priorities are located in São Paulo and Paraná, covering four protected areas (PARES of Jacupiranga, Guaraqueçaba APA, and APA Cananéia-Jacuípe and PARES Ilha do Cardoso). Due to simplicity and easy applicability of the method, we believe this may be an interesting option for selecting priority areas for implementation of mitigation measures of the effects of roads

Title from title page of PDF (University of Missouri--St. Louis, viewed March 9, 2010). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (MAppSc) -- AUT University, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references. Also held in print (221 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm.) in the Archive at the City Campus (T 333.9171600285574 PAL)