Perfect simulation  and the EM algorithm are the main topics in this thesis. In paper I, we present coupling from the past (CFTP) algorithms that generate perfectly distributed samples from the multi-type Widom--Rowlin-son (W--R) model and some generalizations of it. The classical W--R model is a point process in the plane or the  space consisting of points of several different types. Points of different types are not allowed to be closer than some specified distance, whereas points of the same type can be arbitrary close. A stick-model and soft-core generalizations are also considered. Further, we  generate samples without edge effects, and give a bound on sufficiently small intensities (of the points) for the algorithm to terminate. In paper II, we consider the  forestry problem on how to estimate  seedling dispersal distributions and effective plant fecundities from spatially data of adult trees  and seedlings, when the origin of the seedlings are unknown.   Traditional models for fecundities build on allometric assumptions, where the fecundity is related to some  characteristic of the adult tree (e.g.\ diameter). However, the allometric assumptions are generally too restrictive and lead to nonrealistic estimates. Therefore we present a new model, the unrestricted fecundity (UF) model, which uses no allometric assumptions. We propose an EM algorithm to estimate the unknown parameters.   Evaluations on real and simulated data indicates better performance for the UF model. In paper III, we propose  EM algorithms to  estimate the passage time distribution on a graph.Data is obtained by observing a flow only at the nodes -- what happens on the edges is unknown. Therefore the sample of passage times, i.e. the times it takes for the flow to stream between two neighbors, consists of right censored and uncensored observations where it sometimes is unknown which is which.       For discrete passage time distributions, we show that the maximum likelihood (ML) estimate is strongly consistent under certain  weak conditions. We also show that our propsed EM algorithm  converges to the ML estimate if the sample size is sufficiently large and the starting value is sufficiently close to the true parameter. In a special case we show that it always converges.  In the continuous case, we propose an EM algorithm for fitting  phase-type distributions to data.

Trichogramma carverae Oatman and Pinto is mass-released for biological control of the leafroller pest, light brown apple moth, Epiphyas postvittana (Walker) in Australian vineyards. Parasitoid performance can, however, be constrained by a lack of suitable adult food and no information is available on the effect of nectar on the parasitism and longevity of T. carverae. To address this, the effect of alyssum, Lobularia maritima (L.) flowers on E. postvittana parasitism was studied in a vineyard experiment with and without releases of T. carverae. Egg parasitoid activity was assessed with E. postvittana egg �sentinel cards� and no parasitism was recorded in plots without T. carverae releases. Where T. carverae were released, there was no significant enhancement of parasitism by the presence of L. maritima flowers. Three hypotheses were subsequently tested to account for the lack of an effect: (i) T. carverae does not benefit from L. maritima nectar, (ii) T. carverae was feeding on nectar from other flowering plants (weeds) present in the vineyard, (iii) T. carverae was feeding on sugars from ripe grapes. A growth-cabinet experiment using potted L. maritima plants with and without flowers did not support hypothesis one. No parasitism was recorded after day two for T. carverae caged without flowers whilst parasitism occured until day eight in the presence of flowers. A laboratory experiment with common vineyard weeds (Trifolium repens, Hypochoeris radicata, Echium plantagineum) as well as L. maritima did not support hypothesis one but gave partial support to hypothesis two. Survival of T. carverae was enhanced to a small but statistically significant extent in vials with intact flowers of L. maritima, white clover (T. repens) and catsear (H. radicata) but not in vials with flowering shoots of these species from which flowers and flowering buds had been removed. Paterson�s curse (E. plantagineum) flowers had no effect on T. carverae survival. In a laboratory study, punctured grapes significantly enhanced T. carverae survival compared with a treatment without grapes, supporting hypothesis three. Trichogramma carverae performance in the field experiment was probably also constrained by relatively cool and wet weather. Further work on the enhancement of T. carverae efficacy by L. maritima and other carbohydrate sources is warranted. Greenhouse and field experiments were conducted to investigate whether T. carverae benefit from different groundcover plant species. Ten T. carverae adults (<24h after eclosion) were caged with different groundcover species and a control with no plant materials. Epiphyas postvittana egg sentinel cards were used to measure parasitism and longevity was recorded visually. Survival and realised parasitism of T. carverae was significantly higher in L. maritima than in Brassica juncea, Coriandrum sativum, shoots of these species from which flowers had been removed and nil control treatments. A similar experiment with Fagopyrum esculentum (with- and without-flowers) and a control treatment showed that survival was significantly higher in intact F. esculentum than in without-flower and control treatments. There was no significant treatment effect on parasitism in the early stages of that experiment, though parasitism was recorded in the presence of F. esculentum flowers for 12 days, compared with 6 days in other treatments. Higher parasitism was observed in intact Borago officinalis than in the flowerless shoot, water only and no plant material control treatments in a third experiment. There was no significant treatment effect on parasitism. Fitted exponential curves for survival data differed significantly in curvature in the first, second and third experiments but the slope was a non-significant parameter in the second and third experiments. In a second series of laboratory experiments, one male and one female T. carverae were caged with groundcover species to investigate male and female longevity and daily fecundity. Both male and female longevity in F. esculentum and L. maritima treatments were significantly higher than on shoots of these species from which flowers had been removed, and than in the control treatments. Daily fecundity was significantly greater in the intact L. maritima treatment than in all other treatments. Fitted exponential curves for daily fecundity differed significantly in position and slope but not in curvature. There was no significant treatment effect on longevity or parasitism when a male and female were caged with intact B. juncea, B. officinalis or without-flower of these species, nor in the treatment with no plant materials. No parasitism was observed in a survey of naturally occurring egg parasitoids on two sites close to Orange and Canowindra in New South Wales, illustrating the importance of mass releases of T. carverae in biological control of E. postvittana. In an experiment on the Canowindra site, parasitism was significantly higher on day one and day two after T. carverae release when with-flower treatments were compared with without-flower treatments. Parasitism was significantly higher in the F. esculentum treatment than in C. sativum, L. maritima, vegetation without-flowers and control treatments on these dates. On day five, parasitism was higher in C. sativum than in all other treatments. There was no significant increase in parasitism in a second experiment conducted on the Orange site. Coriandrum sativum, F. esculentum and L. maritima appear to be suitable adult food sources for T. carverae and offer some scope for habitat manipulation in vineyards The adults of many parasitoid species require nectar for optimal fitness but very little is known about flower recognition. Flight cage experiments showed that the adults of T. carverae benefited from L. maritima bearing white flowers to a greater extent than was the case for light pink, dark pink or purple flowered cultivars, despite all cultivars producing nectar. Survival and realised parasitism on non-white flowers were no greater than when the parasitoids were caged on L. maritima shoots from which flowers had been removed. The possibility that differences between L. maritima cultivars were due to factors other than flower colour, such as nectar quality, was excluded by dyeing white L. maritima flowers by placing the roots of the plants in 5% food dye (blue or pink) solution. Survival of T. carverae was lower on dyed L. maritima flowers than on undyed white flowers. Mixing the same dyes with honey in a third experiment conducted in the dark showed that the low level of feeding on dyed flowers was unlikely to be the result of olfactory or gustatory cues. Flower colour appears, therefore, to be a critical factor in the choice of plants used to enhance biological control, and is likely to also be a factor in the role parasitoids play in structuring invertebrate communities. Provision of nectar producing plants to increase the effectiveness of biological control is one aspect of habitat manipulation, but care needs to be taken to avoid the use of plant species that may benefit pest species. Greenhouse experiments were conducted to investigate whether the adult E. postvittana and larvae benefit from nectar producing groundcover species. Newly emerged E. postvittana adults were caged with different groundcover species and a honey-based artificial adult diet. The longevity of male and female E. postvittana when caged with shoots of borage (B. officinalis) and buckwheat (F. esculentum) bearing flowers was as long as when fed a honey-based artificial diet. This effect was not evident when caged with shoots of these plants from which flowers had been removed. Longevity was significantly lower than in the artificial diet treatment when caged with coriander (C. sativum) or alyssum (L. maritima) irrespective of whether flowers were present or not. There was no significant treatment effect on the lifetime fecundity of E. postvittana. A second experiment with mustard (B. juncea) (with- and without-flowers), water only and honey-based artificial adult diet showed no significant treatment effects on the longevity of male and female E. postvittana or on the lifetime fecundity of E. postvittana. The anomalous lack of a difference between the water and honey-based diet treatments precludes making conclusions on the value of B. juncea for E. postvittana. Two greenhouse experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of groundcover species on the larval development of E. postvittana. In the first experiment, larval mortality was significantly higher in C. sativum, and L. maritima than in B. juncea, B. officinalis and white clover (T. repens) a known host of E. postvittana. Coriandrum sativum and L. maritima extended the larval period. In B. juncea and B. officinalis, mortality did not differ from that in T. repens. In F. esculentum, larval mortality was significantly higher than in T. repens. A short larval period was observed on B. juncea, B. officinalis and F. esculentum. Fitted exponential curves for larval mortality differed significantly in curvature between plant treatments. Similarly, successful pupation was significantly lower in C. sativum, F. esculentum and L. maritima than in T. repens. The percentage of successful pupation in B. juncea and B. officinalis did not differ from F. esculentum and T. repens. Fitted exponential curves for pupation differed significantly in curvature. A similar trend was observed in a second experiment with potted plants. The overall results suggest that C. sativum and L. maritima denied benefit to E. postvittana adults and larvae, so could be planted as vineyard groundcover with minimal risk of exacerbating this pest. Overall results suggest that T. carverae require nutrients to reach their full reproductive potential and flowers provide such nutrients. Lobularia maritima and C. sativum may be considered �selective food plants� for T. carverae whereas F. esculentum appears to be a �non-selective food plant�; both T. carverae and E. postvittana benefited from it. Fruits such as grapes can be used as food resources in habitat manipulation and this merits further research. This result also suggests that within species flower colour is an important factor for flower selection in habitat manipulation.

The European honey bee (Apis mellifera) has been present in Australia for approximately 150 years. For the majority of that time it was assumed this species could only be of benefit to Australia‘s natural ecosystems. More recently however, researchers and conservationists have questioned this assumption. Honey bees are an introduced species and may be affecting native fauna and flora. In particular, native bees have been highlighted as an animal that may be experiencing competition from honey bees as they are of similar sizes and both species require nectar and pollen for their progeny. Most research to date has focused on indirect measures of competition between honey bees and native bees (resource overlap, visitation rates and resource harvesting). The first chapter of this thesis reviews previous research explaining that many experiments lack significant replication and indirect measures of competition cannot evaluate the impact of honey bees on native bee fecundity or survival. Chapters two and four present descriptions of nesting biology of the two native bee species studied (Hylaeus alcyoneus and an undescribed Megachile sp.). Data collected focused on native bee fecundity and included nesting season, progeny mass, number of progeny per nest, sex ratio and parasitoids. This information provided a picture of the nesting biology of these two species and assisted in determining the design of an appropriate experiment. Chapters three and five present the results of two experiments investigating the impact of honey bees on these two species of native bees in the Northern Beekeepers Nature Reserve in Western Australia. Both experiments focused on the fecundity of these native bee species in response to honey bees and also had more replication than any other previous experiment in Australia of similar design. The first experiment (Chapter three), over two seasons, investigated the impact of commercial honey bees on Hylaeus alcyoneus, a native solitary bee. The experiment was monitored every 3-4 weeks (measurement interval). However, beekeepers did not agist hives on sites simultaneously so measurement intervals were initially treated separately using ANOVA. Results showed no impact of honey bees at any measurement interval and in some cases, poor power. Data from both seasons was combined in a Wilcoxon‘s sign test and showed that honey bees had a negative impact on the number of nests completed by H. alcyoneus. The second experiment (Chapter 5) investigated the impact of feral honey bees on an undescribed Megachile species. Hive honey bees were used to simulate feral levels of honey bees in a BACI (Before/After, Control/Impact) design experiment. There was no impact detected on any fecundity variables. The sensitivity of the experiment was calculated and in three fecundity variables (male and female progeny mass and the number of progeny per nest) the experiment was sensitive enough to detect 15-30% difference between control and impact sites. The final chapter (Chapter six) makes a number of research and management recommendations in light of the research findings.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:35:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-06-02Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:46:50Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 souza_up_dr_rcla.pdf: 976950 bytes, checksum: b3702264109c8e9210e947b1e4df6b90 (MD5) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / O objetivo geral do presente estudo foi analisar a biologia e o ciclo de vida de Astyanax cf. scabripinnis paranae no ribeirão Grande, um riacho de cabeceira localizado no Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar (PESM), Núcleo Santa Virgínia, SP. Os exemplares foram coletados mensalmente de janeiro a dezembro em 2004 e 2006, utilizando-se redes de espera, redinha de mão e covo. Foram coletados dados de temperatura da água, oxigênio dissolvido e pH. Dados de pluviosidade, umidade relativa e temperatura do ar foram obtidos junto à Estação Meteorológica do PESM. Os peixes foram fixados em formalina a 10% e conservados em álcool 70%. No laboratório foram mensurados quanto ao comprimento total e padrão, peso e registrados os graus de repleção estomacal, de gordura acumulada, o sexo e os estádios de maturação gonadal. As correlações entre as variáveis ambientais e os meses de coletas foram verificadas por uma análise de componentes principais, que indicou uma separação entre períodos mais chuvosos (outubro a abril) e menos chuvosos (maio a setembro). A dieta foi analisada pelo grau de preferência alimentar. Diferenças no consumo de itens autóctones e alóctones e possíveis mudanças ontogenéticas ao longo do desenvolvimento da espécie foram verificadas por uma análise de correspondência. Para o estudo da reprodução foram analisadas as variações nos estádios de maturação, relação gonadossomática, grau de gordura acumulada, condição corporal, fecundidade e tipo de desova. O comprimento médio de primeira maturação gonadal foi estimado pelo ajuste não-linear e a condição corporal foi avaliada por modelos de análise de covariância. A fecundidade foi estimada pelo método volumétrico e relacionada ao comprimento padrão, ao peso total, ao peso das gônadas e à relação gonadossomática. No estudo do crescimento, a separação das coortes... / The present study aimed to analyze the biology and ecology of Astyanax cf. scabripinnis paranae in the Ribeirão Grande, a headwater stream located in the Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar (PESM), Núcleo Santa Virgínia, SP. The fishes were sampled monthly from January to December in 2004 and 2006, using gillnets, sieves and funnel traps. Temperature, dissolved oxygen and pH of the water were measured. Pluviometric data, relative humidity and temperature of the air were obtained in the Meteorological Station of PESM. The fishes were fixed in 10% formalin and conserved in 70% alcohol. In the laboratory they were measured as for the total and standard length, weighed and registered the degrees of stomach repletion, of accumulated fat, the sex and the stadiums of gonad maturation. The correlation structure among the environmental variables measured in the sampling collections was verified by a principal components analysis (PCA), which indicated a separation among rainier (October to April) and the less rainy periods (May to September). Differences in the consumption of autochthonous and allochthonous items and possible ontogenetic changes along the specimens development were verified by a correspondence analysis (CA). For the study of the reproduction the variations were analyzed at the maturation stadiums, gonadossomatic relationship, degrees of accumulated fat, corporal condition, fecundity and spawning type. The mean length of first gonad maturation was assessed by a no-linear adjustment. The corporal condition was evaluated by analysis of covariance. The fecundity was estimate by the volumetric method and related to the standard length, to the total weight, to the gonad weight and to the gonadossomatic relationship. In the study of the fish growth, the cohorts’ separation and their mean lengths were obtained using the package MIXDIST and the Bhattacharya method... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

The theoretical part of diploma thesis is aimed at breeding, growth and molting events in crayfish. Thesis is also aimed at life cycle and reproduction of three indigenous crayfish species (Astacus astacus, Austropotamobius torrentium, Pontastacus leptodactylus) and two introduced crayfish species (Faxonius limosus, Pacifastacus leniusculus). The results show apparent linear dependence between female size (POCL), abdomen surface (1M: y = -1061,2 + 65,4*x; r2 = 0,9829; p10-5; 2M: y = -1160,4 + 68,7*x; r2 = 0,8732; p < 10-5) and fertility (1M: y = -194,4 + 12,8*x; r2 = 0,4104 p = 0,0042; y = -330.9 + 15,9*x; r2 = 0.4372; p < 10-4) in once (1M) and twice (2M) molted females. As the length of carapax increase, the area of the abdomen increase and fertility increase in both groups of females. Furthermore, the differences in fertility, carapax length, abdomen surface, and weights in once and twice molted females of signal crayfish. In group of once molted females fertility (t-test, t = -3.12, p = 0.003), carapax length (t-test, t = -3.17, p = 0.003) = -3.24; p = 0.002) and the weight (t-test, t = -3.35; p = 0.002) was higher than in twice molted group of female. Consequentially evaluation of egg size of females. The size of the eggs did not differ between groups of females (1M and 2M) (t-test, t = -0.975, p = 0.335). The mean egg size for both groups of females was 2.71 ? 0.18 mm. Evaluation of post-ovulation conditions of the ovary, including visible signs of females that resorbed unovulated oocytes. Evaluating how much unovulated oocytes were found in the ovaries. Only in 46.4% of the total number of females were ovaries completely empty. In once and twice molted females were found in average 2.2 ? 3.8 and 1.9 ? 2.6. unovulated oocytes, respectively. In once molted, three females didn't lay eggs, two females lost the clutch of eggs. In twice molted females, six females did not lay the eggs and four females lost the clutch.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / In the Neotropics, the major fishes reproductive stimuli are rainfall, temperature and flood. Environmental changes caused by humans affects reproduction directly. The aim of this study was to compare the differences in reproductive investment of Serrasalmus brandtii (native) and Metynnis maculatus (introduced) and its relationship with hydrologic modification in an area of Lower São Francisco. Bimonthly samples were conducted from December/2013 to August/2012 in the main channel of the river, between Propriá (SE) and Porto Real do Colégio (AL) with gillnets of different mesh. Rainfall, temperature, elevation and river flow data were also obtained. The specimens were measured, weighed and dissected to characterize the stage of gonadal maturation, gonad, liver and coelomic fat weight to calculate the gonadosomatic (GSI), hepatossomatic and coelomic fat index. A portion of the left ovary was dissociated to calculate fish fecundity and measurement of oocytes. Serrasalmus brandtii (109 females and 102 males) showed no significant difference in the sex ratio, however M. maculatus (166 females and 259 males) exhibited 1.5 males for each female (χ ²: 20.3, p<0.05). The asynchrony between the sexes, absence of reproductive peaks and lack of correlation between GSI and environmental characteristics observed in S. brandtii indicate losses coming from hydrologic modification. The new environment does not seems to have been a barrier in synchrony (Spearman 0.72, p<0.05), and reproductive process of M. maculatus. Environmental pressures and competition with introduced species may have resulted in earlier maturation of S. brandtii (female: 105mm, male: 92mm) to compensate the losses in its population. Despite the similarity in oocyte size among the species, the positive correlation between body size and absolute fecundity (Pearson: 0.608, p<0.05), allowed a greater number of oocytes in S. brandtii (U: 398, p<0.05) due to its larger size. Both species have opportunistic strategy, characterized by medium-sized body and high reproductive output, with fractional spawning, small oocytes and high relative fecundity. The high colonizing ability of M. maculatus allied to river flow changes facilitated its establishment. Preventive measures should be taken to minimize their impacts on native fauna. / Na regiao neotropical, os principais estimulos reprodutivos para peixes sao pluviometria, temperatura e cheia dos rios. Modificacoes das caracteristicas ambientais em consequencia das acoes antropicas interferem diretamente na reproducao. O objetivo do presente estudo foi comparar a reproducao de Serrasalmus brandtii (nativa) e Metynnis maculatus (introduzida) e sua relacao com a modificacao hidrologica em uma area do Baixo Sao Francisco. Coletas bimestrais ocorreram de agosto/2012 a dezembro/2013 na calha principal do rio, entre Propria (SE) e Porto Real do Colegio (AL) com redes de espera de distintas malhas. Dados de pluviometria, temperatura, cota e vazao do rio tambem foram obtidos. Os especimes foram medidos, pesados e dissecados para caracterizacao do estadio de maturacao gonadal, peso das gonadas, figado e gordura celomica para calculo do indice gonadossomatico (IGS), hepatossomatico e de gordura celomica. Uma porcao do ovario esquerdo foi dissociada para calculos de fecundidade e medicao de ovocitos. Serrasalmus brandtii (109 femeas e 102 machos) nao apresentou diferenca significativa na razao sexual, diferente de M. maculatus (166 femeas e 259 machos), que apresentou 1.5 machos para cada femea ( Ô2: 20.3; p<0.05). A assincronia entre os sexos, ausencia de picos reprodutivos e falta de correlacao entre IGS e caracteristicas ambientais observada para S. brandtii, indicam prejuizos procedentes da modificacao hidrologica. O novo ambiente parece nao ter sido uma barreira na sincronia (Spearman: 0.72; p<0.05) e no processo reprodutivo de M. maculatus. As pressoes ambientais e a competicao com especies introduzidas podem ter resultado na maturacao precoce de S. brandtii (femea: 105mm; macho: 92mm), devido aos prejuizos a sua populacao. Apesar da semelhanca no tamanho do ovocito entre as especies, a correlacao positiva entre tamanho corporal e fecundidade absoluta (Pearson: 0.608; p<0.05) possibilitou um maior numero de ovocitos para S. brandtii (U: 398; p<0.05), em virtude do seu maior porte. Ambas as especies apresentaram estrategia oportunistica, caracterizada pelo medio porte corporal e alto investimento reprodutivo, com desova parcelada, ovocitos pequenos e fecundidade relativa alta. A alta plasticidade de M. maculatus aliada a modificacao fluvial facilitou seu estabelecimento. Medidas preventivas devem ser adotadas para minimizar seus impactos causados a fauna nativa.

Plecoptera é uma ordem relativamente pequena e primitiva de insetos. São conhecidas cerca de 2000 espécies pertencentes a 16 famílias. No Brasil são conhecidas duas famílias, Gripopterygidae e Perlidae. Dois gêneros são registrados no Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Anacroneuria e Kempnyia. O objetivo deste estudo foi inventariar a fauna de Anacroneuria na bacia hidrográfica do Rio dos Sinos, Rio Grande do Sul. Além disso, devido à ausência de estudos sobre fecundidade de Perlidae para a região Neotropical, especialmente Anacroneuria, também objetivou determinar as taxas de fecundidade potencial e realizada de A. trimacula do referido Estado. Foram utilizados adultos coletados junto a rios da região de nascente do Rio dos Sinos, com a técnica de atração luminosa. Os adultos foram acondicionados em álcool etílico 80% e identificados com o auxílio de estereomicroscópio. Onze fêmeas de A. trimacula foram selecionadas, dissecadas e seu ovários analisados. Duas espécies novas foram descritas, Anacroneuria fiorentini e A. caraa, e outras oito espécies foram registradas: A. cathia Froehlich 2002, A. debilis (Pictet 1841), A. flintorum Froehlich 2002, A. fuscicosta (Enderlein 1909), A. plaumanni Jewett 1959, A. stanjewetti Froehlich 2002, A. trimacula Jewett 1959, e A. uyara Froehlich 2002. Além disso, em A. trimacula foram encontrados 398 ovos maduros, em média, variando de 302 a 491, valores referentes à fecundidade realizada da espécie. Também foi encontrada uma média de 120 ovaríolos, cada um com cerca de nove ovócitos, sendo 1500 o número total médio de ovos produzidos por fêmea, correspondendo à fecundidade potencial da espécie. / Stoneflies are ancient and relatively primitive insects. Plecopterans number about 2000 species belonging to 16 families. In Brazil two families are known, Gripopterygidae and Perlidae. Two genera of Perlidae have been reported from Rio Grande do Sul State, Anacroneuria and Kempnyia. The intention of this work was to inventory the Anacroneuria fauna in the Sinos River catchment, Rio Grande do Sul. Moreover, given the absence of studies on Perlidae fecundity for the Neotropical region, especially Anacroneuria, another aim of this study was to determine the realized and potential fecundity of A. trimacula from the metioned State. Adults were collected next to rivers of the region of spring of the Sinos River, with light trap. The adults had been preserved in 80% ethanol and they were observed under a stereomicroscope. Eleven females of Anacroneuria trimacula were dissected to determine the number of eggs and ovarioles. Two new species were described, Anacroneuria fiorentini and A. caraa, and eight more were reported: A. cathia Froehlich 2002, A. debilis (Pictet 1841), A. flintorum Froehlich 2002, A. fuscicosta (Enderlein 1909), A. plaumanni Jewett 1959, A. stanjewetti Froehlich 2002, A. trimacula Jewett 1959, and A. uyara Froehlich 2002. Moreover, in A. trimacula were found 398 mature eggs, on average, ranging from 302 to 491. These values may be considered as the realized fecundity of the species. A great number of ovarioles was found, each with about 9 oocytes. The total number of eggs may be greater than 1500 per female and it corresponds to the potential fecundity of the species.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T17:40:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2013_Tese_Tatiani_Alano_Modolon.pdf: 1381280 bytes, checksum: 030e95c78878a1de4045f816336a2a83 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-12-16 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The current system of corn production, provide high productivity while favoring pest outbreaks, such as the stink bug Dicheplos melacanthus and fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda. Conventional control strategies have been ineffective so far. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of homeopathic preparations on the development of S. frugiperda and D. melacanthus in corn plants. To study the consumption of fall armyworm S. frugiperda seeds were treated before planting by soaking in distilled water and homeopathic preparations at a dose of 1 mL.L-1. After soaking, the seeds were sown in pots. In experiments with fall armyworm in addition to the seed treatment (a), the dynamizations 12, 36, 60 and 84CH (centesimal hahnemaniana) of Silicea were applied in spraying (b) or irrigation (c), with an first application was made just after emergence, the second in V2 stage, and the third application in V3 stage of corn plants. Leaf sections of plants at V6 stage derived from the respective treatment were provided daily to caterpillars in individualized test tubes and maintained in the development room at 25 ± 3 °C and 14 hours photoperiod. Were evaluated consumption of leaves, formation and sex ratio of pupae and adults, fertility, fecundity, longevity of adult and food preference in free choice test. For the experiment with green-belly stink bug, D. melacanthus, homeopathic preparations Nux vomica was also applied as seed treatment (a) the dynamizations 12, 36, 60 and 84DH (decimal order of Hering) and combined with spraying (b) or irrigation (c), and started ten days after sowing and followed within three days until the 22th day after sowing, totaling five applications. Five days after the last application, fresh and dry mass of shoots and roots, root volume, primary root length, height and stem diameter of corn plants were evaluated. On the sixth day after the last treatment, the plots replicas were subjected to stress by the insect. Corn plants were infested with a D. melacanthus bug for 36 hours. Ten days after removal of the bug, the classification of attacked plants was performed through a rating scale of damage. Data analysis showed that corn plants sprayed or irrigated with 36CH Silicea interfered in the consumption and utilization of food. In addition, it provided greater amount of pupae and adults of deformed S. frugiperda. Plants sprayed or irrigated on soil with 36CH Silicea also interfered with fertility and fecundity of S. frugiperda, providing shorter oviposition and post-reproductive periods, as well as fewer egg masses, eggs per ovoposition and eggs per female. The results suggest that larvae of S. frugiperda have difficulty while feeding on corn plants sprayed or irrigated with 36CH Silicea. Corn plants treated with 36CH Silicea homeopathic preparation, applied by spraying the shoots or by irrigating the soil, interfered with the feeding and, therefore, with fertility and fecundity of S. frugiperda, reducing insect population. The method of application of homeopathic preparations Nux vomica more suitable for the corn crop was in the through irrigation on soil. Nux vomica at 33, 36 and 38DH irrigated to soil favored the early development of shoots and roots of corn plants. Corn plants irrigated Nux vomica 36 and 38DH were not damaged by green-belly stink bug D. melacanthus, showing the effect of repellency or not food preference / O sistema atual de produção de milho, proporcionam elevada produtividade ao mesmo tempo que favorece a surtos epidêmicos pragas, como o percevejo Dichelops melacanthus e a lagarta Spodoptera frugiperda. Estratégias de controle convencionais têm sido ineficazes até o momento. O presente estudo teve o objetivo avaliar o impacto de preparados homeopáticos no desenvolvimento de S. frugiperda e D. melacanthus em plantas de milho. Para estudo do consumo da lagarta S. frugiperda sementes foram tratadas antes do plantio por imersão em água destilada e nos preparados homeopáticos na dose de 1 mL.L-1. Após a embebição, as sementes foram semeadas nos vasos. Nos experimentos com a lagarta-do-cartucho, além do tratamento de semente (a), as dinamizações 12, 36, 60 e 84CH (ordem centesimal hahnemaniana) de Silicea foram aplicadas em pulverização (b) ou irrigação (c), sendo a primeira aplicação logo após a emergência, a segunda no estádio V2 e a terceira no estádio V3 das plantas. Secções foliares das plantas em estágio V6 oriundas do respectivo tratamento foram diariamente fornecidas às lagartas individualizadas em tubos de ensaio e mantidas em sala de desenvolvimento em 25 ± 3 °C e fotoperíodo 14 horas. Foram avaliados o consumo das folhas, formação e razão sexual de pupas e adultos, fertilidade, fecundidade, longevidade de adultos e preferência alimentar em ensaio de livre escolha. Para experimentos com o percevejo barriga-verde, D. melacanthus, preparado homeopático Nux vomica também foi aplicado via tratamento de semente (a) nas dinamizações 12, 36, 60 e 84DH (ordem decimal de Hering) e combinado com pulverização (b) ou irrigação (c), sendo iniciados dez dias após a semeadura e seguidas no intervalo de três dias até o 22° dia após a semeadura, totalizando cinco aplicações. Cinco dias após a última aplicação dos tratamentos foram avaliados massa fresca e seca de parte aérea e de raízes, volume das raízes, comprimento da raiz primária, altura e diâmetro do colmo das plantas de milho. No sexto dia após a última aplicação dos tratamentos, as parcelas réplicas foram submetidas ao estresse pelo inseto. As plantas de milho foram infestadas com um percevejo D. melacanthus por 36 horas. Dez dias após a retirada do percevejo foi realizada a classificação plantas atacadas através de escala de notas de dano. A análise dos dados mostrou que plantas de milho pulverizadas ou irrigadas com Silicea 36CH interferiram no consumo e utilização do alimento, além de proporcionarem maior quantidade de pupas e adultos de S. frugiperda deformados. Plantas pulverizadas ou irrigadas no solo com Silicea 36CH também interferiram na fertilidade e fecundidade de S. frugiperda proporcionando menor período de oviposição e pós-reprodutivo, menor número de massas de ovos, ovos por postura e ovos por fêmea. Os resultados sugerem que lagartas de S. frugiperda têm dificuldade ao se alimentarem de plantas de milho pulverizadas ou irrigadas com Silicea 36CH. Plantas de milho tratadas com o preparado homeopático Silicea em 36CH aplicado através de pulverização na parte aérea ou por irrigação no solo interferiram na alimentação e, conseqüentemente, na fertilidade e fecundidade de S. frugiperda, reduzindo assim, a população do inseto. O método de aplicação do preparado homeopático Nux vomica mais adequado para a cultura do milho foi através da irrigação no solo. Nux vomica na 33, 36 e 38DH irrigado ao solo favoreceu o desenvolvimento inicial de parte aérea e raízes de plantas de milho. Plantas de milho irrigadas com Nux vomica 36 e 38DH não foram danificadas pelo percevejo barriga-verde D. melacanthus, evidenciando o efeito de repelência ou não preferência alimentar

Male mate choice occurs in species in which males face high mating costs, leading to few opportunities to copulate. Additionally, if male-male competition is strong, male mate choice should be influenced by male fighting ability. Good competitors should choose high quality females because they may be able to fight off contenders, while poor competitors should choose lower quality females. In Nephila clavipes spiders, males have limited sperm supply and fight for access to females. Here, using field experiments and observational data, we tested whether female quality and male size (a proxy of fighting ability) affect the pairing likelihood of males. In our experiments, we found that males did not express mate choice initially, but, after a few hours, chose their mates based on female size and female recent pairing status. Importantly, male mate choice direction and intensity varied with male size, as large males guarded larger females that were not recently paired and small males guarded smaller females that were recently paired. The observational data provided little evidence of assortative pairing regarding body size. With our field experiments, we show that crucial information can be collected by assessing mate choice in multiple moments. Taken together, our findings reveal the importance of considering male traits and the social context in understanding variation in male mate choice, which is often neglected in empirical studies / A escolha de parceiras por machos ocorre em espécies em que machos sofrem altos custos associados ao acasalamento, o que gera poucas oportunidades para copular. Adicionalmente, se a competição entre machos é intensa, a escolha de parceiras por machos deveria ser afetada pela habilidade de luta dos machos. Bons competidores deveriam escolher fêmeas de alta qualidade porque eles seriam capazes de afastar rivais, enquanto maus competidores deveriam escolher fêmeas de má qualidade. Em aranhas da espécie Nephila clavipes, machos possuem um estoque limitado de esperma e lutam pelo acesso a fêmeas. Usando experimentos de campo e dados observacionais, testamos se a qualidade das fêmeas e o tamanho dos machos (variável operacional de habilidade de luta) afetam a probabilidade de pareamento dos machos. Nos nossos experimentos, vimos que machos não expressam escolha de parceiras inicialmente, mas, depois de algumas horas, escolhem parceiras baseado no tamanho e no estado recente de pareamento delas. A direção e intensidade da escolha de parceiras por machos variou com o tamanho dos machos, pois machos grandes guardaram fêmeas maiores que não estavam pareadas recentemente, enquanto machos pequenos guardaram fêmeas menores que estavam pareadas recentemente. Nossos dados observacionais forneceram pouca evidência para pareamento assortativo referente a tamanho corporal. Com nossos experimentos de campo, mostramos que informação crucial pode ser coletada avaliando a escolha de parceiras em diferentes momentos. Em conjunto, nossos resultados revelam a importância de considerar características dos machos e contexto social no entendimento da variação na escolha de parceiras por machos, que é comumente negligenciada em estudos empíricos

The main aim of this thesis was to prove the hypothesis that the intake of blood with specific antibodies against sand fly saliva affects sand fly fecundity and mortality. Phlebotomus argentipes and Mesocricetus auratus were used for most experiments. ELISA revealed high levels of specific antibodies in repeatedly exposed hosts. However, a five-day study of mortality and fecundity of bloodfed females demonstrated that feeding on repeatedly bitten hamsters has no effect on number of eggs or survival of females. Salivary antigens of P. argentipes recognized by sera of repeatedly bitten hamsters were characterized by immunoblotting and mass spectrometry. Immunoblotting showed that antibodies in the hamster sera recognize salivary proteins with molecular weight from 25 to 60 kDa. Mass spectrometry revealed that the antigens correspond to D7, apyrases, antigen 5-related proteins and yellow-related proteins. In addition, Phlebotomus females were fed through a chicken membrane on rabbit blood with high concentrations of histamine, serotonin or prostaglandin E2 to find out if they influence fecundity or mortality of sandfly females. While the approximate number of eggs layed by one female did not significantly differ from controls in any experimental group studied, the total mortality of females was lower...