Submitted by (edna.saturno@ufrpe.br) on 2016-12-02T11:27:57Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Marcos Aurelio Paes de Oliveira.pdf: 851630 bytes, checksum: 2143362518b27ef1e6da1fcf00bdbee8 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-02T11:27:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Marcos Aurelio Paes de Oliveira.pdf: 851630 bytes, checksum: 2143362518b27ef1e6da1fcf00bdbee8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-02-07 / Atlantic forest fragments, surrounded by crops such as sugarcane, may undergo changes in terms of termite community richness and composition. This study aimed to analyze termite richness in Pernambuco's sugarcane region and to compare the communities found in sugarcane plantations and in Atlantic forest fragments near such plantations. For the richness study, four 1 ha areas were delimited within the plantations in each sugarcane processing plant selected – Trapiche, União & Indústria, São José, and Central Olho D'Água. A comparative analysis between the termites that occur in forest fragments and in sugarcane plantations was carried out at the São José processing plant, where three transects were placed 10, 50, and 300 m parallel to each environment's border, respectively. The insects were collected from all of the micro-habitats in ten intercalated sectors of 10 m2 for each transect. The richness study in the sugarcane plantations recorded 13 species of eight genera and two families (Rhinotermitidae and Termitidae). The number of species varied from six to nine per processing plant. Twelve Termitidae species occurred, of which Subfamily Nasutitermitinae was the richest (S=6). Rhinotermitidae included only one species, which belonged to Subfamily Heterotermitinae. The comparative analysis between the two environments studied revealed 27 termite species in the Atlantic forest fragments, from 17 genera and three families. Termitidae had the greatest number of species (24), Subfamily Nasutitermitinae was the richest. Ten species occurred in sugarcane, including six genera and one family; Subfamily Syntermitinae stood out in terms of species number (S=4). The results showed a higher termite richness than what had been previously recorded for Pernambuco's sugarcane plantations. Additionally, termite associations to forest fragments and sugarcane plantations were distinct – for the latter, species richness decreased the further away the transects were from the forest's edge. / Fragmentos florestais de Mata Atlântica, circundados por culturas como a cana-de-açúcar, podem sofrer alterações na riqueza e na composição de comunidades termíticas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar a riqueza de cupins nas regiões canavieiras de Pernambuco e comparar as comunidades termíticas existentes em cana-de-açúcar e remanescentes de Mata Atlântica, próximas a canaviais. No estudo da riqueza delimitaram-se quatro áreas de um hectare para cada Usina – Trapiche, União & Indústria, São José e Central Olho D`água. A análise comparativa entre os cupins que ocorrem em fragmentos de mata e em canavial foi realizada na Usina São José, onde foram traçados três transectos a 10, 50 e 300 metros, respectivamente, paralelos à borda de cada ambiente. Em 10 setores intercalados, de 10m2, de cada transecto, os insetos foram coletados em todos os micro-habitats. O estudo de riqueza nos canaviais registrou 13 espécies pertencentes a oito gêneros e a duas famílias (Rhinotermitidae e Termitidae). O número de espécies variou de seis a nove por Usina. Em Termitidae ocorreram 12 espécies, com a subfamília Nasutitermitinae apresentando maior riqueza (S=6). Rhinotermitidae contou com apenas uma espécie da subfamília Heterotermitinae. A análise comparativa entre os dois ambientes estudados registrou 27 espécies de cupins nos fragmentos de Mata Atlântica, sendo 17 gêneros e três famílias. Termitidae apresentou maior número de espécies (24) e a maior riqueza (S=12) foi observada na subfamília Nasutitermitinae. Em cana-de-açúcar ocorreram 10 espécies incluídas em seis gêneros e em uma família, tendo a subfamília Syntermitinae se destacado em número de espécie (S=4). Os resultados apresentaram uma riqueza de térmitas mais elevada que aquela previamente registrada para os canaviais pernambucanos e a associação termítica entre os fragmentos de mata e cana apresentaram-se distintas, havendo diminuição na riqueza de espécies, nessa última, à medida que os transectos se afastavam da borda da mata.

Regulation of the Upper Tombigbee River and its incorporation into the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway has resulted in main-channel flows that differ from the pre-regulation condition. Flows differ in (1) magnitude: higher base flows, damped peak flows, and (2) variability: the river rises and falls faster and the number of reversals has increased. A shift in the trophic ecology of the resident fish assemblage corresponded with the altered hydrology. Assemblage-level trophic plasticity manifested through dietary shifts in species present during both time periods are coupled with changes to the taxonomic structure observed previously. Species representing the contemporary assemblage feed on fewer taxa regardless of respective trophic ecologies and include taxa that are not characteristic of diets under pre-regulation conditions. More basal resources contributing to production resulted in a greater number of trophic pathways flowing through a decreased dietary breadth. Reduced foraging efficiency is inferred for riverine specialists, possibly resulting in lower fitnesses. Tributaries are highlighted as important in maintaining biodiversity in the regulated main-channel because flows and associated trophic ecologies of resident fishes are relatively similar to those observed under pre-regulation conditions. Materials and taxa exhibit unique interactions at “zones of confluence” where unregulated tributaries merge with the main-channel. Quantifiable characteristics of trophic ecology and ecomorphology, along with connectance to free flowing major tributaries, emerge as potential indicators of the vulnerability of fishes to hydrologic alteration.