Thesis -- Departmental honors in Art History. / Bibliography: ℓ. 130-133.

Os bioindicadores são organismos ou comunidades de organismos que apresentam respostas às mudanças do ecossistema, servindo como guia da condição ambiental como um todo. Dentre estas mudanças se destacam as resultantes de ações antrópicas que, no Cerrado, foram responsáveis pela redução da área nativa à metade do valor original. As formigas têm sido utilizadas como bioindicadores em programas de monitoramento de ecossistemas por compartilharem características de alto valor na bioindicação. O presente trabalho buscou o levantamento da diversidade de formigas e identificação de espécies indicadoras em duas áreas com diferentes níveis de regeneração de Cerrado: nível de regeneração inicial e avançado. Objetivou-se testar o pressuposto de que a diversidade de formigas responde ao gradiente de regeneração do Cerrado, apresentando um aumento na diversidade quanto maior for nível de regeneração da área. Adicionalmente, buscou-se avaliar a riqueza e composição de espécies de formigas através das seguintes hipóteses: (1) a riqueza de formigas aumenta sob influência do nível de regeneração mais avançada, possivelmente em decorrência do aumento da diversidade vegetal e de nichos disponíveis; que (2) há uma separação na composição taxonômica e de guildas nas áreas regeneração; e (3) que a riqueza e abundância das guildas, da mesma forma, aumentam sob influência do nível de regeneração das áreas. Para a execução deste trabalho foi realizada uma coleta no início da estação seca as áreas de reserva da fazenda Nova Monte Carmelo, Minas Gerais, Brasil. Foram estabelecidas 16 parcelas em cada nível de regeneração nas quais foram distribuídos um total de 128 pitfalls epigéicos. No total, foram coletadas 87 espécies/morfospécies de formigas sendo 64 em regeneração inicial e 71 em regeneração avançada sendo que 55,17% das espécies foram encontradas nas duas áreas. Os gêneros mais abundantes coletados foram Pheidole, Solenopsis e Camponotus. As áreas de regeneração avançada apresentaram maior riqueza que a área de regeneração inicial. Foram encontradas diferentes espécies indicadoras em cada área sendo em regeneração inicial: Solenopsis sp. e Dorymyrmex sp., e em regeneração avançada: Atta sp., Camponotus crassus, C. personatus, C. sp. E, Ectatomma permagnum, Pheidole sp., Pheidole sp., Pseudomyrmex termitarius e Pogonomyrmex naegelli. A análise de composição taxonômica resultou na formação de dois grupos distintos sugerindo que a regeneração dirige a separação taxonômica. Por outro lado, a composição taxonômica de guildas não apresentou distinção estatística clara entre as áreas. As áreas de regeneração avançada apresentaram representantes de todas as nove guildas coletadas, enquanto as áreas de regeneração inicial obtiveram apenas oito. Além disso, houve diferença entre as proporções de guildas entre as áreas. Desta forma, excetuando-se a composição de guildas, as demais hipóteses aqui testadas foram corroboradas concordando assim com o pressuposto do trabalho. O presente trabalho reafirma a eficiência destes componentes em análises comparativas de áreas de regeneração do Cerrado, apresentando respostas visíveis e eficientes em todos os componentes de comunidades aqui analisados / Bioindicators are organisms or communities of organisms that respond to ecosystem changes, serving as a guide to the overall environmental condition. Among these changes are those resulting from anthropic actions that, in the Cerrado, were responsible for reducing the native area to half the original value. Ants have been used as bioindicators in ecosystem monitoring programs because they share characteristics of high value in bioindication. The present work sought to survey the diversity of ants and identification of indicator species in two areas with different regeneration level of Cerrado: initial and advanced regeneration levels. The objective was to test the assumption that the response of ant diversity to the regeneration gradient varies according to the regeneration level of each area. In addition, we aimed to evaluate the richness and composition of ant species through the following hypotheses: (1) ant richness increases under the influence of the more advanced regeneration level, possibly due to the increase of plant diversity and available niches; That (2) there is a separation in the taxonomic composition and of guilds in the regeneration areas; And (3) that the wealth and abundance of the guilds likewise increase under the influence of the level of regeneration of the areas. For the execution of this work a collection was carried out at the beginning of the dry season the reserve areas of Nova Monte Carmelo farm, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Sixteen plots were established at each regeneration level in which a total of 128 epigene pitfalls were distributed. In total, 87 species / morphs of ants were collected, 64 in initial regeneration and 71 in advanced regeneration, and 55.17% of the species were found in both areas. The most abundant genera collected were Pheidole, Solenopsis and Camponotus. The areas of advanced regeneration presented greater wealth than the initial regeneration area. Different indicator species were found in each area and in initial regeneration: Solenopsis sp. And Dorymyrmex sp., And in advanced regeneration: Atta sp., Camponotus crassus, C. personatus, C. sp. E, Ectatomma permagnum, Pheidole sp., Pheidole sp., Pseudomyrmex termitarius and Pogonomyrmex naegelli. The analysis of taxonomic composition resulted in the formation of two distinct groups suggesting that regeneration drives the taxonomic separation. On the other hand, the taxonomic composition of guilds did not present a clear statistical distinction between the areas. The areas of advanced regeneration presented representatives of all nine guilds collected, while the areas of initial regeneration obtained only eight. In addition, there was a difference between the proportions of guilds between the areas. Thus, with the exception of guild composition, the other hypotheses tested here were corroborated, thus agreeing with the assumption of the work. The present work reaffirms the efficiency of these components in comparative analyzes of Cerrado regeneration areas, presenting visible and efficient responses in all components of communities analyzed here

This dissertation explores the path of Tibet’s economic integration with China in the first half of the twentieth century. It particularly examines the borderland region of Kham that encompasses parts of present-day Sichuan, Qinghai, and Yunnan. Drawing on borderland histories and bringing together Tibetan and Chinese archival sources, it focuses on indigenous institutions and local economic practices in order to demonstrate that the twentieth-century Sino-Tibetan integration was mediated primarily by Tibetan economic institutions and actors. While previous scholarship has examined the history of Kham in relation to Chinese state-building practices, this dissertation acknowledges the equally important place of Tibetan state-building practices and their impact on the region. As a borderland, Kham was caught between two modernizing states with conflicting agendas. Understanding its economic history, I argue, requires a direct engagement with the Tibetan financial and monetary structures, taxation practices, and labor regimes that not only dominated life Kham but also conditioned the development of the Chinese state itself in the frontiers. Chinese officials frequently collided, clashed, and collaborated with local Tibetan leaders, while Chinese merchants and companies engaged in trade and partnered with and worked alongside Tibetan merchant companies, whose economic reach extended from Shanghai to Calcutta. This dissertation focuses on four main institutions to rethink this history on the Chinese borderlands by focusing on the indigenous Tibetan institutions and structures: ulak conscript labor, currency, monasteries, and merchant companies. All four of these institutions were rooted in Tibetan socio-economic practices and were critical in the transformation of Tibetan society in the Sino-Tibetan borderland. The economic interconnectedness of the twentieth century and the increased links between Tibet and China brought a simultaneous and seemingly contradictory economic trajectory to Tibet. As the Chinese presence on the plateau increased, so did the power of Tibetan economic institutions, for the Chinese government, military, and merchants had to rely on them to exist. In a politically and economically fragmented environment, Tibetan institutions challenged state building efforts and thrived by asserting their own political, religious, and economic power across the Tibetan Plateau and beyond. A history of Tibetan economy as seen and written through the eyes of the Tibetans offers a new perspective to not only rethink modern Chinese history, but also the present day in which the Tibetan institutions still continue to mediate social and economic life on the fringes of the People’s Republic of China.

Examination of bird assemblages along an environmental gradient which encompasses both climate and habitat change is needed if we are to better understand the potential effects of these changes for avians and the ecological process that depend upon them. Climate change is predicted to have a significant impact on deserts and desert margins, resulting in distributional shifts of entire ecosystems and new community associations. This study explores the probable responses of avian communities to increasing desertification. In general, species richness and numbers of birds in arid zones are low compared to more mesic areas. Different combinations of habitat types and the variety of patches in a landscape influence the diversity and community structures of avians in that landscape. The role of vegetation structure in avian habitat selection in semi-arid areas is dictated by horizontal habitat density as well as vertical structure. Although bird distribution is determined by habitat boundaries, most birds are flexible and can disperse across small habitat barriers. The hypothesis tested, was that bird species assemblages along an aridity gradient are affected primarily by rainfall and secondarily by habitat type. Assessing the impacts of rainfall and habitat on bird variables, such as species richness, abundance, diversity, biomass, and life history traits, were the objectives of the study. An east-west aridity gradient of 300 mm, stretching over 370 km, was chosen in central Namibia for the study area. The climate is harsh with localised rain and considerable daily fluctuations in temperature. Grasses, and trees and shrubs up to 7 m in height are the co-dominant life-forms. Surveys were conducted over three years; one winter and one summer survey in each year. Rainfall, seasons and vegetation height were recorded as environmental variables. Three structurally different habitat types were selected for stratified sampling: open areas, rivers and thickets. Open areas were dominated by grass; river refers to ephemeral dry river lines with mature trees; and thickets comprise woody shrubs and trees. At each site, the same three habitats were used for bird sampling, resulting in 15 sample units. Sampling took place on 51 discontinuous line transects of 1km in length and without a width limit. Univariate analyses included ANOVA and t-tests. Multivariate analyses consisted of cluster analysis, MRPP tests, indicator analysis, Shannon diversity index and NMS ordinations. NMS bi-plots were used to define avian community structures responding to aridity, habitat, migration and life history traits. The results showed that bird species richness, abundance, and diversity remained relatively constant across the aridity gradient, until they declined significantly once a certain aridity threshold was crossed at the most arid site. There were significantly more bird species and individual birds at the wetter sites than at the drier sites. Rivers contained more birds than thickened or open habitat types, suggesting the importance of riparian habitat types for maintaining avian diversity. The three more mesic sites included higher numbers of species from the nesting and feeding guilds, regardless of habitat type, than the two more arid sites. The aridity threshold had a significant effect on bird community structures: more migrant and nomadic species, and omnivore and insectivore species persisted in very arid conditions. From the results it was predicted that climate change will cause avian species to undergo range shifts from west to east, resulting in community composition changes and a reduction in diversity. Life history traits affect the adaptive capabilities of bird species and it is predicted that nomadism, flexibility in diet, and adaptability of nesting requirements will contribute to species persistence in the drier conditions predicted under current climate change scenarios. Dry river lines will act as refugia for avian diversity, but crucial habitat types that currently contain less diversity are also important for maintaining unique avian assemblages. / MSc (Environmental Sciences), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Examination of bird assemblages along an environmental gradient which encompasses both climate and habitat change is needed if we are to better understand the potential effects of these changes for avians and the ecological process that depend upon them. Climate change is predicted to have a significant impact on deserts and desert margins, resulting in distributional shifts of entire ecosystems and new community associations. This study explores the probable responses of avian communities to increasing desertification. In general, species richness and numbers of birds in arid zones are low compared to more mesic areas. Different combinations of habitat types and the variety of patches in a landscape influence the diversity and community structures of avians in that landscape. The role of vegetation structure in avian habitat selection in semi-arid areas is dictated by horizontal habitat density as well as vertical structure. Although bird distribution is determined by habitat boundaries, most birds are flexible and can disperse across small habitat barriers. The hypothesis tested, was that bird species assemblages along an aridity gradient are affected primarily by rainfall and secondarily by habitat type. Assessing the impacts of rainfall and habitat on bird variables, such as species richness, abundance, diversity, biomass, and life history traits, were the objectives of the study. An east-west aridity gradient of 300 mm, stretching over 370 km, was chosen in central Namibia for the study area. The climate is harsh with localised rain and considerable daily fluctuations in temperature. Grasses, and trees and shrubs up to 7 m in height are the co-dominant life-forms. Surveys were conducted over three years; one winter and one summer survey in each year. Rainfall, seasons and vegetation height were recorded as environmental variables. Three structurally different habitat types were selected for stratified sampling: open areas, rivers and thickets. Open areas were dominated by grass; river refers to ephemeral dry river lines with mature trees; and thickets comprise woody shrubs and trees. At each site, the same three habitats were used for bird sampling, resulting in 15 sample units. Sampling took place on 51 discontinuous line transects of 1km in length and without a width limit. Univariate analyses included ANOVA and t-tests. Multivariate analyses consisted of cluster analysis, MRPP tests, indicator analysis, Shannon diversity index and NMS ordinations. NMS bi-plots were used to define avian community structures responding to aridity, habitat, migration and life history traits. The results showed that bird species richness, abundance, and diversity remained relatively constant across the aridity gradient, until they declined significantly once a certain aridity threshold was crossed at the most arid site. There were significantly more bird species and individual birds at the wetter sites than at the drier sites. Rivers contained more birds than thickened or open habitat types, suggesting the importance of riparian habitat types for maintaining avian diversity. The three more mesic sites included higher numbers of species from the nesting and feeding guilds, regardless of habitat type, than the two more arid sites. The aridity threshold had a significant effect on bird community structures: more migrant and nomadic species, and omnivore and insectivore species persisted in very arid conditions. From the results it was predicted that climate change will cause avian species to undergo range shifts from west to east, resulting in community composition changes and a reduction in diversity. Life history traits affect the adaptive capabilities of bird species and it is predicted that nomadism, flexibility in diet, and adaptability of nesting requirements will contribute to species persistence in the drier conditions predicted under current climate change scenarios. Dry river lines will act as refugia for avian diversity, but crucial habitat types that currently contain less diversity are also important for maintaining unique avian assemblages. / MSc (Environmental Sciences), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

O presente trabalho investiga três aspectos da estrutura de comunidades de formigas do bioma Cerrado: interações interespecíficas, riqueza e diversidade de espécies e guildas. Primeiramente, investiguei a influência dos comportamentos agressivos observados em interações interespecíficas nos levantamentos faunísticos que empregam iscas, verificando a existência de hierarquias de dominância dentro das comunidades de formigas e tentando responder se essa eventual dominância comportamental da fonte alimentar poderia alterar os resultados de freqüência relativa das espécies obtidos em levantamentos. Utilizei como modelo iscas de sardinha que mimetizam fontes de proteína. Registrei os atos comportamentais de formigas visitando 60 iscas oferecidas por 90 minutos sobre o solo de duas localidades de Cerrado. Setenta e duas espécies foram registradas realizando 682 atos comportamentais interativos, dos quais 352 foram agressivos, resultando na morte de 29 indivíduos. A maioria das espécies observadas monitora constantemente o habitat à procura de alimentos, sobrepondo as áreas de forrageamento das colônias que estão próximas, resultando assim na competição freqüentemente observada. A maioria das iscas (85%) foi visitada nos primeiros cinco minutos de exposição e em média 4,8 espécies (1-8) visitaram cada isca durante os 90 minutos. O comportamento mais comum registrado foi a visita oportunista das formigas nas iscas; nesta situação a operária encontra solitariamente a isca, coleta uma porção da sardinha e retorna ao ninho. Muitas vezes operárias foram observadas obstruindo o acesso das outras que visitavam as mesmas iscas, por utilizarem químicos repelentes, recrutamento de massa ou por serem agressivas. Minhas observações indicam que, embora a dominância da isca por determinadas espécies possa ocorrer, resultando na exclusão das espécies subordinadas, a ordem na hierarquia de dominância pode se inverter em outra ocasião, possivelmente como resultado da distância da fonte ao ninho, da composição de espécies interagindo na mesma isca e das diferentes estratégias de recrutamento empregadas em cada situação. Na segunda etapa do trabalho, realizei um levantamento da fauna de formigas em 7 localidades de Cerrado, utilizando métodos quantitativos e qualitativos. Para as coletas quantitativas, uma área de 1ha de Cerrado sensu stricto foi escolhida em cada localidade e 25 pontos foram sorteados de um total de 121 pontos demarcados em uma grade de coleta, formada por 11 transectos, separados 10m entre si, com 11 pontos separados, também 10m um do outro. Em cada localidade as iscas foram oferecidas por 90 minutos no solo e na vegetação nos períodos diurno e noturno. Um total de 4.400 iscas foram oferecidas em todas as 7 localidades, com o objetivo de comparar a similaridade faunística entre as áreas amostradas. Utilizei ainda, em cinco localidades, 500 iscas dispostas em Matas Ciliares (100 por localidade), no solo e na vegetação, apenas no período diurno, em transectos cobrindo 250m lineares. Para as amostragens qualitativas utilizei: coletas com pinça, frasco aspirador, escavação de cupinzeiros, o revirar de pedras, a abertura de troncos, galhos e gravetos caídos, amostras de serapilheira submetidas a funil de Berlese-Tüllgren e extrator de Winkler, a instalação de armadilhas do tipo pit-fall, bandejas com água e para a captura de alados Malaise e armadilha luminosa. Um total de 331 espécies foi registrado, somando todas as espécies de formigas amostradas nos levantamentos qualitativos e quantitativos nas 7 localidades de Cerrado. Neste levantamento foram registradas as subfamílias Formicinae, Myrmecinae, Dilichoderinae, Ecitoninae, Ponerinae, Pseudomyrmecinae e Cerapachyinae. Os gêneros Camponotus, Pheidole, Crematogaster e Solenopsis foram os mais ricos em número de espécies. Pseudomyrmex mostrou uma grande diversidade de espécies (29), incluindo espécies ainda não descritas. Muitas espécies foram registradas pela primeira vez nesta latitude como Blepharidatta conops, Gigantiops destructor, Paraponera clavata, Megalomyrmex acauna e Tingimyrmex mirabilis. Como última etapa do trabalho, analisei a comunidade amostrada no Cerrado, tentando revelar as guildas de formigas existentes, baseando-me na taxonomia, na preferência trófica, nos hábitos de nidificação, nas estratégias de forrageamento, no padrão de comportamento observado em interações interespecíficas, no tamanho das operárias, na agilidade relativa das espécies e no tamanho da população das colônias maduras. Selecionei para análise os táxons associados com os dados de observações de campo, considerando para este propósito um total de 110 espécies. Uma análise de agrupamento com distância Euclidiana e ligação completa orientou a formação de 12 guildas: predadoras grandes, patrulheiras, oportunistas, espécies crípticas, desfolheadoras, cultivadoras de fungos sobre carcaças, mirmicíneas generalistas, dolichoderíneas de recrutamento massivo, nômades, especialistas mínimas, cefalotíneas e dolichoderíneas coletoras de néctar. Por fim, eu comparo a estrutura da comunidade de uma localidade no “core" do Cerrado, com uma localidade “ilha" de Cerrado, utilizando o modelo de classificação das guildas, demonstrando que existe uma substituição de espécies dentro dos grupos e que as comunidades são funcionalmente semelhantes. / The present work investigates three aspects of ant community structure in the tropical dry forest of the Brazilian Central Plateau (Cerrado): interespecific interactions, richness and diversity of species and guilds. Firstly, I investigated the influence of aggressive behaviors in interspecific interactions on ant faunistic surveys that employ baits, assessing if the eventual behavioral dominance hierarchy on the food source influences the relative frequencies observed in surveys. I used as model sardine baits that mimic sources of protein, recording the behavioral acts of ants visiting 60 baits, offered for 90 minutes, on the soil of two Cerrado localities. Seventy-two ant species were registered performing 682 interactive behavioral acts, of which 352 were aggressive, resulting in the death of 29 individuals. Of the observed species, most constantly monitor the habitat searching for food, resulting in niche overlapping, and hence interespecific competition was quite frequent. Most baits (85%) were visited in the first five minutes after exposition, and in average 4,8 (1-8) species visited each bait during the 90 min. The most common behavior registered was the opportunistic visit of ants to baits, in which individuals find the bait alone, take some of it and leave the spot. Nevertheless some species were observed obstructing the access of others visiting the same bait, either by releasing irritating sprays, employing massive recruitment, or by agonistic behaviors. My observations indicate that although dominance may occur resulting in the exclusion of subordinate species, the order in dominance hierarchies may change, possibly as a result of the different distances from the nest to the food source, of the species composition interacting at a given bait, and of the different recruiting strategies employed by them in each situation. Secondly, I check the ant fauna through qualitative and quantitative surveys in seven Cerrado localities. For this purpose the samples include all species collected by different techniques. To perform the quantitative surveys, one area (1ha) of Cerrado sensu stricto was chosen before collecting events in each locality, and 25 points were randomly chosen among 121 points in a grid made by 11 transects, separated 10m either, with 11 points, also separated 10m from each other. At each locality sardine baits were offered for 90 minutes, over the soil and on the vegetation, at day and night periods. A total of 4400 baits in all seven localities were offered in order to compare the ant species composition in each surveyed area. I summed to this total 500 baits set in Forests bordering rivers, on transects covering 250m, in five localities. For the qualitative surveys, a set of general procedures was applied including general collecting using forceps and aspirator, excavations on termites nests, the turn of rocks and opening of rotting wood, tearing up logs and stumps, submitting litter samples to Berlese-Tüllgren funnels and Winkler extractors, the setting of pit-fall traps and yellow water trays, and Malaises and light-traps to capture winged forms. Summing all ants collected in qualitative and quantitative surveys I registered 331 species. In this survey I registered the subfamilies: Formicinae, Myrmicinae, Dolichoderinae, Ecitoninae, Ponerinae, Pseudomyrmecinae, and Cerapachyinae. The genera Camponotus, Pheidole, Crematogaster, and Solenopsis were the most rich in number of species. Pseudomyrmex showed a great diversity (29 species), including undescribed ones. Several species had their first record in this latitude as Blepharidatta conops, Gigantiops destructor, Paraponera clavata, Megalomyrmex acauna, and Tingimyrmex mirabilis. Finally, I analyzed the Cerrado ant community trying to classify the species in guilds based on taxonomy, throphic preference, nidification habits, foraging and recruitment strategies, behavioral patterns observed on interespecific interactions, size of workers, “readiness of movement" and estimated mature colony population. I selected for this analysis those taxa associated with field observation data, considering for this purposes a total of 110 species. A cluster analysis, with Euclidean distance, and with complete linkage oriented the formation of 12 guilds: big predators, patrollers, opportunistic, cryptic, leaf cuttings, fungus growers over carcass, generalist myrmicines, aggressive arboreal, nomads, minimal specialist, cephalotines, and nectars feed dolichoderines. After that I compared two Cerrado localities, utilizing the guild model, revealing as well which species substitute others in different localities, and that the communities are functionally similar.

Os Campos Sulinos são uma fisionomia de vegetação encontrada no Sul do Brasil. Integram dois Biomas brasileiros, sendo eles a Mata Atlântica e o Pampa. Desenvolvem-se em clima temperado e úmido, com chuvas bem distribuídas ao longo do ano. Abrigam muitas espécies vegetais e apresentam uma fauna diversa, com grande número de espécies endêmicas da região. Na América do Sul, os campos e/ou pampas se estendem por uma área de aproximadamente 750 mil km², compartilhada por Brasil, Uruguai e Argentina e parte do Paraguai. No Brasil, o bioma Pampa está restrito ao Rio Grande do Sul, onde ocupa 178.243 km². Ainda que o clima atual favoreça expansões de florestas sobre os campos, muitos fatores interagem para definir se o campo ou a floresta irão se estabelecer num determinado local. Ambos são estados ecossistêmicos estáveis que coexistem, com um grau variável de tensão. Restam apenas 50% da área original de campos no Rio Grande do Sul, por conta de distúrbios antropogênicos, como a agricultura, silvicultura, pecuária extensiva (através do pastejo) e queimadas. A perda de hábitat é acompanhada da fragmentação dos remanescentes e da invasão por espécies exóticas, sendo a conservação desses campos negligenciada já de longa data. Sabe-se atualmente que, em alguns trabalhos, a vegetação e fauna pode ser restabelecida ou mantida após alguns tipos de distúrbios e ambas têm uma forte correlação. Aranhas parecem ser bons modelos para o entendimento da funcionalidade desses ecossistemas. Esse táxon é o sétimo maior em termos de riqueza, atualmente tem descritas cerca de 46 mil espécies e pouco se sabe sobre essa diversidade nos Campos Sulinos. O trabalho teve como objetivos o conhecimento acerca da diversidade (riqueza de espécies, abundância, composição) e a função desses organismos (através de guildas e atributos funcionais) para realizarmos comparações dessa diversidade funcional entre as fisionomias vegetais encontradas nos dois Biomas. Foram selecionadas oito áreas de estudo, sendo cinco delas incluídas no Bioma Pampa e três no Bioma Mata Atlântica. O método empregado para coleta dos indivíduos foi o de D-Vac. Os municípios tiveram apenas uma réplica e foram coletados em estações diferentes. Comparações com cluster de Jaccard e Bray-Curtis foram realizados para o entendimento de correlação das fisionomias vegetais encontradas e os índices de diversidade encontrado para cada área. Agrupamentos de Pampa e Mata Atlântica foram formados, nos mostrando que existe sim uma similaridade da diversidade de aranhas quando relacionada com a vegetação. Apesar dessas análises nos revelarem agrupamentos, o teste de ANOSIM com índices de Jaccard e Morisita não revelaram diferenças significativas, mas apresentaram quando testados com o índice de Bray-Curtis. As curvas de rarefação nos mostram que ainda existe a necessidade de um esforço maior para termos a compreensão da diversidade existente para os campos. Quando refinamos as análises e inserimos os grupos funcionais (aqui considerados guildas) para continuar a descrever esse ecossistema, o resultado pode continuar a ser corroborado, nos trazendo novas evidências de diferenças entre os biomas. As aranhas tiveram quatro atributos morfológicos mensurados, sendo o comprimento total do indivíduo, o comprimento do abdômen, a largura do abdômen e o comprimento da patela e tíbia da perna I. Esses atributos posteriormente foram relacionados com as guildas de aranhas e testados também referente ao sexo. Todos os testes foram realizados através de Teste de MannWhiteney, pois os dados não seguiam uma distribuição normal e todos tiveram uma resposta significativa. Quando realizada a MANOVA que lidou com as diferentes variáveiss abióticas e bióticas de cada município, como: localidade/fitofisionomia, estação, guildas, sexo, obtivemos respostas não significativas apenas quando testadas Estação por Sexo, com p=0.3758 e Localidade por Sexo p=1. Quando analisados Localidades por Guildas (p=0.0002), Localidade por Sexo (p= 0.0025); Estação por Guildas (p=0.0002) e Guildas por Sexo (p=0.0002) todos os valores de P foram significativos. Apesar de já termos bastante diferenças significativas entre as áreas de estudos, estudos futuros se fazem necessários. Sugere-se que o uso de atributos funcionais seja utilizado com uma abrangência maior para futuramente poder utilizar esse dado morfométrico como descritores de guildas, e consequentemente sugere-se fortemente o uso de análise separada para os sexos, visto que estes organismos apresentam uma alta variabilidade dimorfismo sexual e seleção sexual através de atributos morfológicos. Conseguimos por fim, aceitar nossa hipótese inicial que era tentar separar a diversidade de aranhas para os Campos Sulinos, através dos descritores ambientais e as variáveis bióticas. / The Southern Fields (SC, PR and RS) are a physiognomy of vegetation found in southern Brazil. They integrate two Brazilian Biomes, being them the Atlantic Forest and the Pampa Biome (grasslands). They develop in temperate and humid climate, with rains well distributed throughout the year. They shelter many plant species and they present a diverse fauna, with great number of endemic species of the region. In South America, the fields extend over an area of approximately 750,000 km², shared by Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina and part of Paraguay. In Brazil, the Pampa biome is restricted to Rio Grande do Sul, where it occupies 178,243 km². Although the current climate favors forest expansions over fields, many factors interact to define whether the field or forest will settle in a particular location. Both are stable ecosystem states that coexist, with a varying degree of tension. Only 50% of the original field area remains in Rio Grande do Sul because of anthropogenic disturbances such as agriculture, forestry, extensive cattle grazing (through grazing) and fires. Habitat loss is accompanied by the fragmentation of remnants and invasion by exotic species, and the conservation of these fields has long been neglected. It is now known that in some studies, vegetation and fauna can be reestablished or maintained after some types of disturbances and both have a strong correlation. Spiders appear to be good models for understanding the functionality of these ecosystems. This taxon is the seventh largest in terms of wealth, currently has described about 46 thousand species and little is known about this diversity in the Southern Fields. The objective of this work was to know the diversity (richness of species, abundance, composition) and the function of these organisms (through guilds and functional attributes) to make comparisons of this functional diversity between the vegetation physiognomies found in the two Biomes. Eight study areas were selected, five of them included in the Pampa Biome and three in the Atlantic Forest. The method used to collect individuals was D-Vac. The municipalities had only one replica and were collected at different stations. Comparisons with Jaccard and Bray-Curtis clusters were performed to understand the corelation of the vegetation physiognomies found and the diversity indexes found for each area. Clusters of 12 Pampa and Atlantic Forest were formed, showing that there is a similarity of spider diversity when related to vegetation. Although these analyzes reveal groupings, the ANOSIM test with Jaccard and Morisita indices revealed no significant differences, but they did present when tested with the Bray-Curtis index. The rarefaction curves show us that there is still a need for a greater effort to compete the diversity of the fields. When we refine the analyzes and insert the functional groups (here considered guilds) to continue to describe this ecosystem, the result can continue to be corroborated, bringing us new evidence of differences between the Biomes. The spiders had four morphological attributes measured, being the total length of the individual, the length of the abdomen, the width of the abdomen and the length of the patella and tibia of leg I. These attributes were later related to the spider guilds and also tested for the sex. All tests were performed using the Mann-Whiteney Test, as the data did not follow a normal distribution and all had a significant response. When performed MANOVA that dealt with the different abiotic and biotic variables of each municipality, such as: locality / phytophysiognomy, station, guilds, sex, we obtained non-significant responses only when tested by Sex Station, with p = 0.3758 and Place by Sex p = 1. When analyzed by Guilds (p = 0.0002), Place by Sex (p = 0.0025); Station by Guilds (p = 0.0002) and Guilds by Sex (p = 0.0002) all P values were significant. Although we already have significant differences between the study areas, future studies are necessary. It is suggested that the use of functional attributes be used with a greater abraction to be able to use this morphometric data as guild descriptors in the future, and consequently strongly suggests the use of separate analysis for the sexes, since these organisms present a high variability Sexual dimorphism and sexual selection through morphological attributes. We finally managed to accept our initial hypothesis which was to try to separate the spider diversity for the Southern Fields, through the environmental descriptors and the biotic variables.

Submitted by Jean Medeiros (jeanletras@uepb.edu.br) on 2016-08-19T13:31:37Z No. of bitstreams: 1 PDF - Sílvia Yasmin Lustosa Costa.pdf: 6352303 bytes, checksum: 9c7c74b2fe13c7e43d90a1b7a2d8a92d (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-19T13:31:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PDF - Sílvia Yasmin Lustosa Costa.pdf: 6352303 bytes, checksum: 9c7c74b2fe13c7e43d90a1b7a2d8a92d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-19 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The studies of diversity survey and dynamics of fish communities of reservoirs from semiarid are important as a basis for ecological studies and conservation of species. Extreme environmental events in ecosystems such as reservoirs and changes in fishes' morphology can cause the change of eating habits. The first manuscript of this study aimed to make the taxonomic survey of the ichthyofauna from two reservoirs of the basin of the River Paraíba do norte and and their respective downstream (Epitácio Pessoa and Argemiro Figueiredo). The second manuscript aimed to analyze the trophic structure of the reservoir Argemiro de Figueiredo and possible seasonal variations and ontogenetic in feeding on an extended drought event, for this manuscript the following hypotheses were tested, (I) the trophic guilds show changes depending on the hydrological regime of the reservoirs of semi-arid which, affects the abundance of prey items reducing the preferences of the species in the lowest water volume period, (ii) reducing the water volume of the reservoir causes changes in food availability and in the trophic strategies of individuals, Leading the species to override their trophic niches in the lowest period of water volume, which may result in interspecific and intraspecific competitions. To achieve the goal of the first manuscript, Monthly collections were made with various fishing tackle, in the period from October 2014 to September 2015 in the reservoirs of Epitácio Pessoa (Boqueirão) and Argemiro de Figueiredo (Acauã), belonging to the basin of the River Paraíba do norte, in the semiarid of Northeast. Within the reservoirs 2057 specimens were collected distributed in 17 species, 10 families and three fishes orders. In the downstream areas of the reservoirs were collected 271 individuals belonging to 24 species, 11 families and five orders. To achieve the objectives of the second manuscript, were selected for the analysis of the diet, the most abundant species in the reservoir Argemiro de Figueiredo, and for the ontogenetic analysis these species were divided into youth and adults. Seasonal variation in the study was negligible for the variation of the diet of most species, While ontogenetically the species range the dietary preferences, reflecting in the formation of different trophic guilds for each species, and even with relatively high values of niche overlap, species coexist, because they adopt different strategies for a trophic partition in the reservoir. / Estudos de levantamento da diversidade e dinâmicas da comunidade de peixes de reservatórios do semiárido faz-se importante para o embasamento de estudos de ecologia e conservação das espécies. Eventos ambientais extremos em ecossistemas como os reservatórios e mudanças na morfologia dos de peixes podem acarretar mudanças de hábitos alimentares. O primeiro manuscrito deste estudo teve como objetivo fazer o levantamento taxonômico da ictiofauna de dois reservatórios da bacia do Rio Paraíba do Norte e suas respectivas jusantes (Epitácio Pessoa e Argemiro de Figueiredo). O segundo manuscrito objetivou-se analisar a estrutura trófica do reservatório Argemiro de Figueiredo e possíveis variações sazonais e ontogenéticas na alimentação diante um evento de seca prolongada, para este manuscrito foram testadas as seguintes hipóteses (i) as guildas tróficas sofrem alterações em função do regime hidrológico de reservatórios do semiárido, que afeta a abundância das presas reduzindo os itens mais consumidos pelas espécies no período de menor volume hídrico, (ii) a redução do volume hídrico do reservatório acarretará mudanças na disponibilidade de alimentos e estratégias tróficas dos indivíduos, levando as espécies a sobrepor seus nichos tróficos no período de menor volume hídrico, o que pode resultar em competições interespecíficas e intraespecíficas. Para atingir o objetivo do primeiro manuscrito, foram realizadas coletas mensais com diversos apetrechos de pesca, no período de Outubro de 2014 a Setembro de 2015 nos reservatórios Epitácio Pessoa (Boqueirão) e Argemiro de Figueiredo (Acauã), pertencentes a bacia do Rio Paraíba do Norte, semiárido nordestino. Dentro dos reservatórios foram coletados 2057 espécimes distribuídos em 17 espécies, 10 famílias e três ordens de peixes. Nas áreas de jusantes dos reservatórios foram coletados 271 indivíduos, distribuídos em 24 espécies, 11 famílias e cinco ordens. Para atingir os objetivos do segundo manuscrito, foram escolhidas para a análise da dieta as espécies mais abundantes no reservatório Argemiro de Figueiredo, e para a análise ontogenética essas espécies foram divididas em juvenis e adultos. A variação sazonal no estudo fez-se insignificante para a variação da dieta da maioria das espécies, enquanto ontogeneticamente as espécies variam de preferências alimentares refletindo formações de guildas tróficas distintas para cada espécie, e mesmo diante de valores relativamente altos de sobreposição de nichos, as espécies coexistem, pois, adotam estratégias distintas para uma partição trófica no reservatório.

Benthic mobile invertebrates are important components of coral-reef diversity and community structure, though, in most cases, their ecological contributions are poorly known. Baseline information on their diversity, prevalence, assemblages, and ecological roles is needed to aid in the conservation of coral-reef habitats. The objectives of this study are to 1) describe diversity and assemblages of epibenthic, mobile invertebrates in shallow water coral-reef communities in Florida, 2) evaluate their ecological roles by reviewing published literature on diet, and 3) measure the degree of linear dependence between mobile invertebrates and scleractinian corals. Underwater surveys were conducted in the summer of 2013 at 40 sites distributed along the Florida Reef Tract from Broward County to the Dry Tortugas. The presence/absence of all mobile, epibenthic invertebrate fauna observed were recorded and identified to the lowest level possible. The survey data include 618 records of 116 unique taxa, 83 species, 61 genera, 46 families, 19 orders, seven classes, and four phyla of mobile invertebrates, comprising herbivores, detritivores, carnivores, omnivores, and suspension feeders. These taxa represent 22% of the comparable taxa in a historical dataset that spans 60 years, plus an additional 18 taxa. The survey data also show that the percent composition of major phyla is similar to the historical dataset, despite taxonomic bias evident in the historical dataset. During the survey, novel unique taxa were encountered frequently, but were seldom recurrent, which highlights their cryptic nature. While regional patterns were not identified in the study, assemblages of dominant taxa were characteristic of reef type: echinoderms were the most diverse on patch reefs and southeast Florida reef complexes, mollusks were most diverse on shallow bank reefs, and arthropods were diverse on deep bank reefs, Southeast Florida reef complexes, and shallow bank reefs. Herbivorous mobile invertebrate diversity was negatively correlated with scleractinian coral diversity, underlining competition between corals and macroalgae, and association of herbivores with macroalgae. All of these results suggest that reef types are distinct, but interrelated communities of fauna having specific habitat requirements and important roles. This study also reinforces the challenges in assessing the diverse and often cryptic mobile invertebrate fauna and emphasizes the need for further research and monitoring to detect changes in their communities for the conservation of Florida reef systems.

Worldwide degradation and conversion of tropical forests affects many species and their provided ecosystem services. Among them are birds, responsible for pollination, seed dispersal, pest control and scavenging. This study, conducted in southwest Ethiopia, compares species composition and bird functional diversity between forest and homegardens close to and far from forest, both in terms of species numbers and bird abundances. Point counts and mist netting were used to obtain data. While the former method detected more species, abundance data from the latter revealed patterns not observed by just comparing species numbers. I found that species diversity was lower in forest compared to gardens and that the species composition of both communities was significantly distinct. Whereas forest had more forest specialists, gardens held more forest visitors and species of open country. Close and far gardens did not differ in any aspect, except that abundances of forest generalist birds were somewhat higher close to forest. Regarding bird feeding guilds, I found that granivores and nectarivores were more numerous in gardens, while frugivores were more common in forest. Carnivores and omnivores showed no effect. Insectivore proportions were the same for forest and farmland, but their numbers (including those of all sub-guilds) were higher in gardens. The Ethiopian forest avifauna is poor in comparison with other Afromontane regions, lacking several, mostly insectivorous genera. This could be the result of an extinction after which its geographic isolation made recolonization difficult, especially for dispersal-limited understory species. Nonetheless, and despite their impoverished state, the results suggest that forest remnants are important for forest-dependent species, being a stronghold for forest specialists and supporting higher numbers of forest generalists in nearby gardens. However, future forest regrowth might be at stake with ongoing agricultural encroachment, because gardens hold fewer frugivores, especially forest specialists, which might affect seed dispersal. / Många arter påverkas negativt av avskogning och annan mänsklig påverkan på tropiska skogar, vilket också kan få konsekvenser för de ekosystemtjänster dessa arter levererar. En viktig artgrupp i detta avseende är fåglar, som kan ha betydelse för pollination, fröspridning, naturlig skadedjurskontroll och som asätare. Denna studie, utförd i sydvästra Etiopien, jämför artsammansättning och funktionell diversitet hos fåglar i skogar och trädgårdar både nära och långt ifrån skogen. Både antal arter och antal individer har undersökts. Data materialet bygger både på observationer från punktinventering och fåglar fångade med slöjnät. Med den första metoden noterade jag fler arter, medan abundansvärden från den andra metoden gjorde att jag såg mönster som inte syntes vid endast jämförelser av artrikedom. Jag fann att artrikedomen var lägre i skogen i jämförelse med trädgårdarna, men att artsammansättningen var signifikant skiljd däremellan. Skogarna hade fler skogsspecialister medan trädgårdarna hade fler arter från öppna marker och tillfälliga skogsbesökande arter. Trädgårdar som låg nära eller långt ifrån skogen skiljde sig inte på något sätt utom att individtätheten av skogsgeneralister var något högre i trädgårdar nära skogen. När det gäller uppdelningen av fåglarna utifrån vad de äter så fann jag att fröätande och nektarätande arter var vanligare i trädgårdar medan fruktätande arter var vanligare i skogen. Rovfåglar och allätare uppvisade inget tydligt mönster. Proportionen insektsätande fåglelarter var samma i skogen och trädgårdarna, men det absoluta antalet arter (inklusive alla olika underkategorier) var högre i trädgårdarna. Den etiopiska skogsfågelfaunan är artfattig i förhållande till andra bergstrakter i Afrika och saknar flera släkten av framförallt insektsätande fåglar. Detta skulle kunna bero på ett tidigare utdöende varefter en senare återkolonisering varit svår på grund av den geografiska isoleringen, speciellt för insektsätande fåglar som huvudsakligen finns i undervegetationen. Trots den relativa artfattigdomen så visar resultatet från min studie hursomhelst på att skogarna är viktiga för skogsberoende fåglar. Den största betydelsen har de för skogsspecialister där, men även genom en positiv effekt på abundansen av skogsgeneralister i närliggande trädgårdar. Dock kan framtida återväxt av skogar bli problematisk på grund av en pågående omvandling av skogar till trädgårdar, eftersom trädgårdar hyser färre fruktätande fåglar, vilket kan påverka fröspridning över landskapet. / Examining mismatches between management and the supply of ecosystem services in Ethiopian agroecosystems across scales in space and time