AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF Joshua B. Nickelson, for the Masters of Science degree in Forestry, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale TITLE: EVALUATING THE SUCCESS OF OAK AFFORESTATION ON FORMER AGRICULTURAL FIELDS IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS Major Professor: Dr. Eric Holzmueller The establishment of oak (Quercus spp.) plantations has increased over the past two to three decades to reduce fragmentation and promote wildlife habitat throughout the Midwestern United States. However, influences such as competing vegetation, previous land cover, plantation size, and site preparation techniques may have varying outcomes on restorative successes. We established 219 plots (.02 ha) in 29 oak plantations located within Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge (Williamson County, Illinois) 15-18 years after mechanical planting. Sampling data for all trees over breast height included species, diameter, and lianas existence on the main bole of the tree. Additionally, free-to-grow status was recorded for all oak saplings and estimated cover of the exotic invasive shrub Elaeagnus umbellata and vine Lonicera japonica were documented. Results show significantly higher numbers of total oaks and free-to-grow oaks in plantings previously cropped in clover and soybeans when compared to the fallow sites host to brush species that received treatment (mowing and or herbicidal application). Significantly less oaks in the soybean and clover categories possessed a vine on the main bole of the tree when compared to the treated brush sites. Brush sites showed a significantly less number of total trees compared to clover and soybean covers and a higher percent of autumn olive cover (%) compared to soybeans. No significance was found in the percent of oaks with a vine, the percent of oaks overtopped, E. umbellata density or L. japonica cover (%) across the four previous vegetation categories. One treatment of pre-planting mowing and herbicidal application is not effective on fallow sites that are host to early successional species and money should not be invested on Quercus trees or mowing and herbicidal treatments in these scenarios. The results suggest that it is best to plant Quercus species immediately following clover or soybean harvest on abandoned agricultural lands before early successional species become established.

Autumn-olive (Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb.) is an exotic species that was introduced in the U. S. in the 1800's and widely promoted as an ideal plant for erosion control, wildlife habitat and soil remediation. N-fixation by autumn-olive through a symbiotic relationship with actinomycete Frankia, can alter nitrogen cycling and potentially impair water quality through nitrate leaching. Furthermore, legacy effects of accumulated N following vegetative management and restoration efforts are unknown in areas invaded by autumn-olive. The first objective of this research was to determine if there was a relationship between autumn-olive cover and stream nitrate-N (NO3--N) concentration in twelve forested headwater watersheds in southern Illinois. Secondly, changes in autumn-olive cover and stream nitrogen concentrations were assessed by comparing current results to data collected 6 years prior. Nine of the study watersheds had significantly greater autumn-olive percent cover in 2012 compared to 2006 and mean stream NO3--N concentration significantly increased from 2006 to 2012 in all watersheds. Also, a significant exponential relationship was found between stream NO3--N concentration and autumn-olive percent cover. The long term effects of autumn-olive management on N cycling were also investigated by implementing three different vegetation treatments on invaded areas: cutting of autumn-olive trees (CU), cutting and stump herbicide application (CH) and a no treatment application or control (CO). Treated plots showed that soil NO3--N increased temporarily due to the disturbance. However, after the initial post treatment period of one year, soil water NO3--N concentrations on treated plots shifted, so that CH plots had significantly lower levels of NO3--N than in CO plots. Soil water NO3--N in CU plots also decreased, but it was not significantly different from CH plots. Subsequently, soil water NO3--N declined on CH plots, reaching the lowest levels in the third and fourth year after treatment. Reduction in soil water NO3--N in CH plots was not accompanied by differences among treatments in soil N mineralization rates or soil C:N ratios indicating persistent high nitrification rates contributing to mineralization under treated and control plots. These results demonstrate that encroachment of autumn-olive can transform N cycles in natural areas and affect water quality by saturating the soil with mobile forms of N that are leached out of the system. Significant rates of soil N cycling can persist for years after removal of autumn-olive due to the cycling of legacy N in soils and litter. Nevertheless, the cut and stump herbicide application treatment produced positive vegetation management results by halting N-fixation, controlling autumn-olive re-sprouting and by gradually decreasing N availability and NO3--N flushing in treated areas. Treatment of autumn-olive should have an impact on stream water quality in headwater watersheds, given the significant observed relationship between autumn-olive cover and stream nitrogen levels.

Due to its inherent complexity such as limited work volume and degree of freedom, minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is ergonomically challenging to surgeons than traditional open surgery. Specifically, MIS can expose performing surgeons to excessive ergonomic risks including muscle fatigue that may lead to critical errors in surgical procedures. Therefore, detecting the vulnerable muscles and time-to-fatigue during MIS is of great importance in order to prevent these errors. In this research, different surgical skill and ergonomic assessment methods are reviewed and their advantages and disadvantages are studied. According to the literature review, which is included in chapter 1, some of these methods are subjective and those that are objective provide inconsistent results. Muscle fatigue analysis has shown promising results for skill and ergonomic assessments. However, due to the data analysis issues, this analysis has only been successful in intense working conditions. The goal of this research is to apply an appropriate data analysis method to minimally invasive surgical setting which is considered as a low-force muscle activity. Therefore, surface electromyography is used to record muscle activations of subjects while they performed various real laparoscopic operations and dry lab surgical tasks. The muscle activation data is then reconstructed using Recurrence Quantification Analysis (RQA), which has been proven to be a reliable analysis, to detect possible signs of muscle fatigue on different muscle groups. The results of this data analysis method is validated using subjective fatigue assessment method. In order to study the effect of muscle fatigue on subject’s performance, standard Fundamental of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) tasks performance analysis is used.

xvi, 109 p. : ill. / Invasions by introduced plant species cost billions of dollars each year in the United States and threaten native habitat. The primary goal of my dissertation research was to examine the role that natural enemies (pathogens and herbivores) play in these invasions in both unmanaged and restored plant communities. In two related studies in seasonal wetland prairies in the Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA, I surveyed natural enemy attack on common native and introduced plant species in a restoration experiment designed to test the effects of site preparation techniques on plant community composition. Restoration treatments had little influence on enemy attack rates. Attack rates depended on idiosyncratic differences in the relationships between host species and plant community characteristics, suggesting that existing theories concerning these relationships have limited predictive power. Another field experiment tested the potential for enemy spillover from introduced to native species and dilution of natural enemy attack on introduced species by native species. I examined natural enemy attack on three native and three perennial grasses that commonly co-occur in the Willamette Valley. The native species are commonly used in restoration. The introduced species are common throughout North America and potentially harbor enemies that could affect both crops and natural communities. There was no compelling evidence of enemy spillover from the introduced to the native species, but dilution of enemies on the introduced species by the native species was evident in year 2 and even stronger in year 3 for two of the three introduced species. Using the same three introduced species from the spillover/dilution study, I tested the enemy release hypothesis, which proposes that introduced species lose natural enemies upon introduction and are thus "released" from population control. I surveyed populations of the three grass species across a wide geographic area in their native and naturalized ranges in Europe and the United States, respectively. I also compared my results to those of a previously published literature survey. My field survey supported release from herbivores but not from fungal pathogens. In contrast, the literature survey found evidence of release from fungal pathogens. This dissertation includes unpublished co-authored material. / Committee in charge: Brendan Bohannan, Chairperson; Bitty Roy, Co-Advisor; Scott Bridgham, Co-Advisor; Eric Seabloom, Member; Robert Mauro, Outside Member

O objetivo geral desta tese foi examinar diferentes 1 questões associadas ao 2 processo de invasão de plantas para investigar os mecanismos, impactos e 3 medidas de recuperação da comunidade vegetal, abordando diferentes estratégias 4 metodológicas que incluem estudos observacionais, experimentos de remoção e 5 uma revisão metodológica. Os resultados do Capítulo 1 mostraram como as 6 relações entre condições climáticas e estrutura da paisagem podem determinar o 7 grau de invasão de plantas na escala regional. Observou-se que os padrões de 8 invasão dos campos sulinos estão principalmente relacionados com maior 9 densidade de estradas, menor cobertura de campo nativo e com o aumento do 10 déficit hídrico. Além disso, constatou-se que a gramínea Eragrostis plana é a 11 planta invasora mais abundante dos campos sulinos. No entanto, os resultados do 12 experimento do Capítulo 2 mostraram que sua invasão não pode ser explicada 13 pela riqueza de espécies ou composição dos grupos funcionais de plantas da 14 comunidade residente. A invasão de E. plana foi principalmente associada ao 15 distúrbio causado pela remoção de biomassa na comunidade. Neste sentido, as 16 comunidades campestres poderiam ser resistentes à invasão de E. plana até que 17 algum distúrbio aumente sua vulnerabilidade. Por outro lado, através da 18 comparação entre comunidades invadidas, removidas e não-invadidas, os 19 resultados do experimento do Capítulo 3 contribuíram no entendimento do 20 impacto real da invasão de E. plana, em termos de redução da riqueza e cobertura 21 de plantas nativas na comunidade. No entanto, embora os métodos de remoção 22 utilizados reduziram a cobertura da invasora, não foram suficientes para conseguir 23 sua erradicação local. Além disso, após três anos de remoção de E. plana, as comunidades se tornaram distintas às invadidas mas não 1 foram semelhantes às 2 comunidades não invadias, o qual poderia indicar que outras medidas de 3 restauração são ainda necessárias. Embora os experimentos de remoção de 4 espécies sejam úteis para investigar questões associadas ao processo de 5 invasão, existem limitações importantes a considerar, como foi evidenciado nos 6 Capítulos 2 e 3. Neste sentido, oferecemos a revisão bibliográfica sistemática do 7 Capítulo 4, onde se discute o potencial dos métodos de remoção utilizados para 8 estudar a resistência e a recuperação da comunidade à invasão, apontando 9 algumas limitações. Como resultado, o Capítulo 4 mostrou que a maioria dos 10 trabalhos não propõem controles adequados nos experimentos, o que pode dar 11 lugar a confundimento de efeitos. Desta forma, foram desenvolvidas algumas 12 sugestões para serem consideradas nos experimentos de remoção de espécies, 13 com o objetivo de continuar avançando nesta temática. As informações geradas 14 nesta tese podem contribuir para o entendimento do processo de invasão de 15 plantas nos ecossistemas campestres, com vistas ao manejo, à conservação e à 16 restauração das comunidades invadidas, adquirindo um senso crítico no 17 planejamento de desenhos experimentas. / The general aim of this thesis was to investigate different 1 issues associated 2 with plant invasion process to understand the mechanisms, impacts and 3 community recovery, by employing different methodological strategies such as 4 observational studies, removal experiments and a literature review. The results 5 from Chapter 1 showed how the interactions between climate and landscape 6 structure can determine the level of invasion of South Brazilian grasslands, 7 highlighting that invasion is mainly related to high road density, less native 8 grassland cover and increased aridity. Furthermore, it was confirmed that 9 Eragrostis plana is the most important invasive species in the South Brazilian 10 grasslands. However, the results from the experiment of Chapter 2 showed that its 11 invasion could not be explained by the species richness or functional group 12 composition in the community. Eragrostis plana invasion was associated with the 13 disturbance effect caused by the amount of removed biomass. Thus, grassland 14 communities may be resistant to E. plana invasion until some disturbance 15 increases their vulnerability. Moreover, by comparing invaded, removed and non16 invaded communities, the experimental results of Chapter 3 highlighted the 17 ecological impact of E. plana invasion, in terms of richness reduction and native 18 species cover. However, although removals methods reduced the cover of the 19 invasive species, they were not enough to locally extinct it. Moreover, after three 20 years of the invasive removal, communities became different from invaded ones 21 but not resembling non-invaded references, which suggest that community 22 recovery may require restoration strategies. Although removal experiments have 23 been useful to investigate certain issues associated with invasion process, there are important limitations to consider, as was shown in Chapter 1 2 and 3. For this 2 purpose, our systematic review presented in Chapter 4 discussed the potential of 3 removal methods for assessing community resistance and recovery from invasion. 4 There, we showed that most of the studies did not use adequate controls in 5 removal experiments, which can lead to confounding effects. Thus, we developed 6 suggestions to be considered in experimental designs to advance the 7 methodological technique of removals. The information generated in this thesis can 8 contribute to the understanding of plant invasion process in South Brazilian 9 grasslands and, consequently, aid to management, conservation and restoration of 10 invaded communities by acquiring a critical sense in experimental designs.

Esta dissertação refere-se `a simulação de um sistema de controle em um manipulador robótico para compensação dos movimentos do coração em cirurgias cardíacas minimamente invasivas. No intuito de compensar os movimentos do batimento cardíaco utilizam-se técnicas de controle híbrido de posição/força e dados dos movimentos do coração obtidos in vivo, utilizadas como elementos básicos para a constituição deste sistema. Tópicos de modelagem de manipuladores robóticos e, em especial, a modelagem da relação entre as forças e deslocamentos na superfície do coração compõe a base estrutural. Focalizou-se, ainda, o papel do controle de força em relação `a posição da ferramenta do manipulador na superfície do coração. Pretende-se que a principal contribuição deste trabalho seja demonstrar que o controlador híbrido segue as restrições impostas pela dinâmica do sistema coração-pulmão. / This paper refers to the simulation of a control system for a robotic manipulator to compensate the movements of the heart in minimally invasive cardiac surgery. In order to compensate the motion of the beating heart techniques are used to implement a hybrid position/force controller based on data and the movements of the heart obtained in vivo, used as references to the input of the system. Topics modeling robotic manipulators, and in particular, modeling the relationship between forces and displacements on the surface of the heart comprises the structural basis. The role of power control over the position of the manipulator tool on the surface of the heart. It is intended that the main contribution of this study is to show that the hybrid controller follows the restrictions imposed by the dynamics of the heart-lung system.

A técnica de videolaparoscopia exploratória da cavidade abdominal utilizada atualmente em equinos implica em uma série de dificuldades. Há necessidade do acesso cirúrgico bilateral da cavidade abdominal ou anestesia geral para acesso ventral com a finalidade de obter uma avaliação adequada das vísceras e, consequentemente, um diagnóstico mais preciso. Esse procedimento prolonga o tempo e aumenta os riscos de complicações transoperatórias e pós-cirúrgicas. Apesar de ser uma técnica bem estabelecida com situações em que as vantagens de sua utilização são evidentes, alguns fatores ainda limitam sua difusão, entre eles podemos destacar: o custo do equipamento que limita a utilização fora de Universidades, Centros de Pesquisas ou clínicas particulares especializadas em cirurgias veterinárias. Com o objetivo de minimizar os aspectos negativos dessa técnica e viabilizar seu uso na rotina clínica e cirúrgica de equinos, surgiu a ideia de buscar uma nova via de acesso à cavidade abdominal e utilizando o videocolonoscópio, equipamento de menor custo. No presente estudo, foi analisado o uso do endoscópio flexível na exploração abdominal de equinos machos castrados e fêmeas pelo acesso perianal. A técnica foi avaliada quanto à viabilidade de permitir ou não o acesso à cavidade e identificação das vísceras abdominais em equinos. Além disso, buscou-se verificar se o endoscópio flexível permite a obtenção de amostras de tecido hepático para avaliação histológica. Os animais foram, alimentados, desverminados e avaliados diariamente por meio de exame clínico geral durante o período do experimento. Colheitas de amostras de sangue para hemograma e dosagem de fibrinogênio foram realizadas antes e após o procedimento cirurgico para posterior analise. Todos os cuidados de rotina em relação à antissepsia cirúrgica foram devidamente tomados e os animais submetidos a protocolo de sedação e analgesia. Os procedimentos de pós-operatório como terapia analgésica, anti-inflamatória, inspeção e higienização diária do local de incisão foram prestados. O procedimento cirúrgico teve início com incisão na região perianal laterodorsal direita entre o ânus e o musculo semimembranoso utilizando bisturi e tesoura, seguida de divulsão romba com o dedo ao longo da parede retal até alcançar uma profundidade aproximada de 10 cm, momento no qual foi introduzida cânula metálica com 56 cm de comprimento e 16 mm de diâmetro (Ø). Por meio desta cânula foi introduzido o endoscópio flexível (videocolonoscópio), sendo o restante da introdução da cânula acompanhada por visualização indireta em monitor. A cânula foi forçada lentamente até atingir a cavidade peritoneal, momento a partir do qual foi realizada exploração da cavidade abdominal. As vísceras observadas foram anotadas em ficha especialmente desenvolvida para esta finalidade. Como parte da avaliação hepática foi realizada biópsia e o material obtido analisado no setor de patologia da Faculdade de Veterinária da UFRGS. Após dez dias de pós-operatório, quando em plenas condições de saúde, os equinos receberam alta. Os resultados permitem inferir que, o uso do endoscópio flexível na identificação das vísceras abdominais por meio de laparoscopia perianal é viável na rotina clínica e cirúrgica de equinos e possibilita obter amostras teciduais para avaliação histológica. No entanto, o emprego da técnica exige o treinamento da equipe cirúrgica, principalmente do cirurgião, bom planejamento e um diagnóstico pré-operatório incompleto que necessite complementação diagnóstica. / The technique of exploratory laparoscopy abdominal cavity used currently in horses involves a series of difficulties. There is need for bilateral abdominal cavity surgical access or general anesthesia for ventral access for the purpose of obtaining an adequate assessment of the viscera and, consequently, a more accurate diagnosis. This procedure extends and increases the risks of post-surgical complications and transoperatórias. Despite being a well-established technique in situations where the advantages of its use are evident, some factors still limit its spread, some of them are: the cost of equipment that limits the use out of universities, research centers or private clinics specialized in veterinary surgeries. In order to minimize the negative aspects of this technique and enable its use in routine clinical and surgical equine, the idea of seeking a new route to the abdominal cavity and using videocolonoscópio, lower equipment cost. In the present study, we analyzed the use of the flexible endoscope in the abdominal exploration equine barrows and gilts for access perianal. The technique was evaluated on the feasibility of allowing or not the access cavity and identification of the abdominal viscera in horses. In addition, sought to verify that the flexible endoscope allows obtaining liver tissue samples for histological evaluation. The animals were fed, wormed and evaluated daily by a general clinical examination during the period of the experiment. Sampling of blood for blood count and fibrinogen were measured before and after the surgical procedure for subsequent analysis. All routine care in relation to surgical antisepsis were duly taken and animals undergoing sedation and analgesia protocol. Procedures as postoperative analgesic therapy, anti-inflammatory, inspection and cleaning daily incision site were provided. The procedure began with surgical incision in the right laterodorsal perianal region between the anus and the semimembranosus muscle using a scalpel and scissors, then blunt dilatation of the finger along the rectal wall until it reaches an approximate depth of 10 cm, at which the metal cannula with 56 cm length and 16 mm in diameter (Ø) was introduced. Through this cannula was inserted flexible endoscope (videocolonoscópio), the remainder of the introduction of the cannula followed by indirect viewing monitor. The cannula was forced slowly to the peritoneal cavity, the time from which it was held exploration of the abdominal cavity. The cannula was forced slowly to the peritoneal cavity, the time from which it was held exploration of the abdominal cavity. The viscera were observed in annotated form specially developed for this purpose. As part of the evaluation of the liver, biopsy was performed and the obtained material analyzed at the pathology of the Veterinary School of UFRGS. After ten days postoperatively, when in full health, horses were discharged. The results allow us to conclude that the use of the flexible endoscope in the identification of abdominal viscera through perianal laparoscopy is feasible in routine clinical and surgical equine and enables to obtain tissue samples for histologic evaluation. However, the use of the technique requires training of the surgical team, especially the surgeon, good planning and a preoperative diagnosis requiring incomplete diagnostic workup.

This thesis was focused on invasive fish species, especially prussian carp (Carassius auratus gibelio) and topmouth gudeon (Pseudorasbora parva) in the Sokolov area and their potential impact on native fish species population in the post-mining water reservoirs. The aim was to compare reservoirs with and without specific maintenance.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / A introdução de espécies em locais fora de sua distribuição natural é uma preocupação importante na conservação da biodiversidade. A espécie Callithrix aurita é endêmica das regiões de floresta de altitude da Mata Atlântica do Sudeste do Brasil. Os critérios mais relevantes que a enquadram como espécie ameaçada de extinção são: destruição do habitat, incapacidade de adaptação a florestas secundárias degradadas, declínio populacional, distribuição restrita e introdução de espécies exóticas invasoras. Estes critérios, aliados à evidente raridade, explicam a sua inclusão na Lista Oficial de Espécies da Fauna Brasileira Ameaçadas de Extinção. Os objetivos do trabalho são: estimar o tamanho populacional de C. aurita, C. penicillata e seus híbridos no Parque Nacional da Serra dos Órgãos, avaliar a hibridação entre as espécies por caracteres morfológicos e laboratoriais, verificar o estado de saúde e confirmar a participação de C. aurita na paternidade dos animais capturados, propor um plano de erradicação e de controle de invasão de C. penicillata no Parque. Os tamanhos populacionais das duas espécies de primatas foram estimados através do método Distance Sampling. Um total de sete sagüis foi capturado com armadilhas de captura viva para a contenção física e química e posterior realização dos procedimentos. Para o hemograma, as dosagens bioquímicas e as análises genéticas, o sangue foi recolhido em um tubo de ensaio contendo anticoagulante e mantido em temperatura de refrigeração até o momento da manipulação / processamento das amostras. Callithrix aurita parece estar bem preservada apenas na área do Parque correspondente ao trecho situado no município de Petrópolis. As análises citogenéticas e moleculares dos híbridos são uma ferramenta útil para confirmar se há ou não hibridação, identificando as espécies envolvidas e verificando se há tendência nos retrocruzamentos. Pode-se sugerir que existe uma tendência à diferenciação das espécies e identificação de indivíduos híbridos pelo padrão hematológico e bioquímico, a ser confirmada com uma amostragem maior de animais da espécie C. aurita, preferencialmente da mesma localidade e nas mesmas condições. No caso de C. aurita, as principais recomendações para sua conservação incluem pesquisas para o registro de outras populações em áreas de distribuição livres de invasão, para que se possa avaliar as chances de recuperação populacional e sobrevivência da espécie. A criação de novas Unidades de Conservação deve ser estimulada, assim como estudos mais aprofundados sobre a espécie nos locais já conhecidos de ocorrência, além de um programa seguro de criação em cativeiro. / The introduction of species in places outside their natural distribution is an important concern in biodiversity conservation. Callithrix aurita is endemic in regions of high-altitude forests of the Atlantic forest of southeastern Brazil. The most relevant criteria of fitting as endangered species are: habitat destruction, inability to adapt to degraded secondary forests, population decline, restricted distribution and introduction of invasive alien species. These criteria, coupled with the apparent rarity, explain its inclusion on the Official List of Species of Brazilian Fauna Threatened with Extinction. The objectives are: to estimate the population size of C. aurita, C. penicillata and their hybrids in the Serra dos Órgãos National Park, assess hybridization between species by morphology and laboratory check the health status and confirm the involvement of C. aurita in the fatherhood of trapped animals, propose a plan for eradication and control of invasion of C. penicillata in the Park. The population sizes of the two primate species were estimated by the method "Distance Sampling". A total of seven marmosets were captured with live traps set for the chemical and physical restraint and subsequent completion of the procedures. For the haemogram, the biochemical and genetic analysis, blood was collected in a test tube containing anticoagulant and kept at refrigerator temperature until the moment of handling / processing of samples. Callithrix aurita appears to be well preserved only in the park area corresponding to the portion located in the city of Petrópolis. The cytogenetic and molecular analysis of hybrids are a useful tool to confirm whether or not hybridization, identifying the species involved and seeing if there is a tendency in the backcrosses. One may suggest that there is a tendency for species differentiation and identification of hybrid individuals by standard hematological and biochemical, to be confirmed with a larger sample of the species C. aurita, preferably from the same locality and under the same conditions. In the case of C. aurita, the main recommendations for its conservation research to include the registration of other populations in areas of distribution free of intrusion, so you can evaluate the chances of population recovery and species survival. The creation of new protected areas should be encouraged, as well as more detailed studies on the species already known sites of occurrence, and a safe program of captive breeding.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:26:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2007-08-31Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:54:34Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 noronha_af_me_botfm.pdf: 252791 bytes, checksum: c5cc71429a0a70b1c137589b43b42506 (MD5) / Fundação para o Desenvolvimento Médico e Hospitalar (Famesp) / Avaliar a prevalência de disfunções do assoalho pélvico após o tratamento de carcinoma invasor de colo uterino. Uma amostra de sessenta mulheres submetidas á histerectomia radical (n=20), radioterapia exclusiva (n=20) ou quimiorradiação (n=20) foram incluídas para análise. As funções de assoalho pélvico foram avaliadas por meio de questionários e avaliação física após, pelo menos, 6 meses do final do tratamento. A análise estatística realizada foram os testes de Mann-Whitney, kruskal-Wallis, Wilcoxon, Qui-quadrado quando apropriados. O p<0,05 foi considerado significativo. A idade variou de 28 a 75 anos (52,5 l 9,3 anos). O estádio clínico do tumor (FIGO) foi I em 25 casos (41,67%), II em 12 (20%), III em 22 (36,67%) and IV em 1 caso (1,67%). Os grupos foram semelhantes em relação a idade, paridade, menopausa e IMC. O comprimento vaginal foi menor em pacientes submetidas à radioterapia ou quimiorradiação quando comparadas com o grupo de histerectomia radical (5,5l1,9, 5,3l1,5 versus 7,4l1,1 cm, respectivamente; p<0,001). Não houve diferença em relação à incontinência urinária de esforço (p=0,56), urgência (p=0,44), urgeincontinência (p=0,54) e noctúria (p=0,53). Vida sexual ativa foi mais freqüente nas mulheres submetidas à cirurgia (90%) quando comparadas com o grupo da radioterapia (50%) e quimiorradiação (50%) (p=0,01). A dispareunia foi maior no grupo da radioterapia exclusiva, seguida da quimiorradiação e da histerectomia radical (p=0.021). O grupo da quimiorradiação apresentou maior freqüência evacuatória/dia (p<0.001) e a presença de diarréia foi menor no grupo da histerectomia radical (p=0.025), nos outros dois grupos foi semelhante. As disfunções do assoalho pélvico são comuns após o tratamento para carcinoma invasor de colo uterino. A radioterapia e a quimiorradiação são mais associadas às limitações... / This study was undertaken to evaluate the prevalence of pelvic floor dysfunction following treatment for invasive carcinoma of the cervix. Sixty patients submitted to radical hysterectomy (n=20), radiotherapy (n=20) or chemoradiation (n=20) were included for analysis. Pelvic floor function was assessed by questionnaires and physical examination at least 6 months after the treatment has finished. Main outcome measures were urinary, intestinal and sexual functions and vaginal length. Data of patients were collected prospectively. Statistical analysis was performed using oe2 , Mann- Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon as appropriate. P-value< 0.05 was significantly. The age of patients ranged from 28 to 75 years old (52.5 l 9.3 years). Tumor staging (FIGO) was I in 25 cases (41.67%), II in 12 (20%), III in 22 (36.67%) and IV in 1 case (1.67%). Vaginal length was shorter in the patients submitted to radiotherapy or chemoradiation compared to radical hysterectomy group (5.5l1.9, 5.3l1.5 versus 7.4l1.1 cm; p<0.001). There were no differences regarding stress incontinence (p=0.56), urgency (p=0.44), urgeincontinence(p=0.54) and nocturia (p=0.53). Active sexual life was significantly higher in women submitted to surgical treatment (p=0.01), and dyspareunia was higher in the group of radiotherapy (p=0.021). The bowel frequency was higher in group of patients submitted to chemoradiation (p=0.025). Pelvic floor dysfunctions are common after treatment for invasive cervical carcinoma. Radiotherapy and chemoradiaiton are more associated to a limitation in sexual activity and bowel dysfunction than surgery.