Master of Science / Department of Statistics / Weixing Song / The potency of a pesticide or some materials is widely studied in agricultural and biological fields. The level of a stimulus that results in a response by 50% of individuals in a population under study is an important characterizing parameter and it is denoted by the median lethal concentration (LC50) or the median lethal dose (LD50) or median. Estimation of LC50 is a type of quantal response assays that belong to qualitative indirect bioassays. In this report, seven methods of estimating LC50 are reviewed with reference to two normal distributions of tolerance in four different cases. Some modified methods are also discussed. Simulation shows that the maximum likelihood method generally outperforms all other traditional methods, if the true tolerance distribution is available. The comparison results indicate that the modified Dragstedt-Behrens method and modified Reed-Muench method are good substitutes for the original ones in most scenarios.

This research compares LC50 and LD50 of earthworms, Lumbricus terrestris and Eisenia foetida exposed to cadmium nitrate and chlordane using 48-h contact filter paper (FP) and 14-d artificial soil (AS) protocols. Both LC50 and LD50 showed that chlordane was more toxic than cadmium in both species regardless of the exposure. The reference toxicant 2-chloroacetamide using the standardized 48-h FP exposure was used to assess the general response of the earthworm prior to toxicity experiments. A glucose test was developed as an internal standard to assess homogeneity of mixtures among both replicates and dilutions. Accuracy of dilutions is assessed by the slope of a regression line relating nominal dilution to observed internal standard concentration. Precision of replicate preparation is assessed by among replicate variance.

Orientador: Rafael Mendonça Duarte / Resumo: As regiões estuarinas vêm historicamente sofrendo impactos negativos devido ao aumento da carga poluidora, onde níveis aumentados de metais, principalmente por atividades industriais, e de amônia, pelo aporte de esgoto e efluentes domésticos, têm sido reportados tanto em água quanto no sedimento. Embora essas substâncias sejam reconhecidas como relativamente tóxicas a invertebrados estuarinos quando testadas isoladamente; poucos estudos têm avaliado como níveis aumentados de amônia afetam a toxicidade de metais. Assim, o presente estudo avaliou os efeitos tóxicos da exposição a níveis sub letais de amônia na água sobre a toxicidade aguda do cobre e cádmio em duas espécies de invertebrados: Artemia salina e Litopenaeus vannamei. Primeiramente a toxicidade dos metais e da amônia foram avaliadas por meio da determinação da concentração letal média (CL50) em 24 e 48 h de exposição, para ambas as espécies aclimatadas em salinidade 15 ppm. Além disso, testes de toxicidade para cádmio e cobre foram realizados na presença de níveis sub letais de amônia na água, representando 25% e 50% dos valores da CL50-48 h calculada para cada espécie. Para A. salina a substância mais tóxica foi o cobre, seguido pelo cádmio e amônia, enquanto para L. vannamei, o cádmio foi a substância mais tóxica, seguido pelo cobre e amônia. Para ambas as espécies, a toxicidade dos xenobióticos testados foi aumentada após 48 h de exposição, em relação as primeiras 24 h, como visto pelos menores valores de CL50-48... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Estuarine regions have been historically impacted by the augment of pollutant load, where increased levels of metals, mainly by industrial activities, and ammonia, by both domestic sewage and effluents, are reported in both water and sediment. Although these substances are recognized as relatively toxic to estuarine invertebrates when tested isolated; few studies have evaluated how increased levels of ammonia affect the toxicity of metals. Thus, this study evaluated the influence of exposure to sub-lethal levels of ammonia in water on acute toxicity of copper and cadmium to two invertebrate species: Artemia salina and Litopenaeus vannamei. Firstly, the toxicity of metals and ammonia were evaluated by determining the mean lethal concentration (LC50) at 24 and 48 h of exposure for both species acclimated at 15 ppm of salinity. In addition, toxicity tests for cadmium and copper were performed in the presence of sub-lethal levels of ammonia in water, that represents 25% and 50% of the calculated LC50-48 h values for each species. For A. salina the most toxic substance was copper, followed by cadmium and ammonia, while for L. vannamei, cadmium was the most toxic substance, followed by copper and ammonia. For both species, the toxicity of the xenobiotics was increased after 48 h of exposure, in comparison to 24 h, as seen by the lower values of LC50-48 h. For A. salina, the toxicity of copper and cadmium decreased during exposure to sub-lethal levels of ammonia, particularly during... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Este estudo teve por objetivos conhecer aspectos da toxicidade de Cu e Cd, separadamente e em combinacao (Cu+Cd) em tilapias (Oreochromis niloticus), verificando possiveis efeitos sinergicos ou antagonicos. Determinou-se nessas situacoes, a bioacumulacao dos metais no tecido muscular, branquias e figado dos especimes, enfase ao potencial bioindicador da especie. Para tanto, ensaios de toxicidade aguda na forma estatica foram conduzidos por um periodo de 96 horas. Previamente a esses, foram realizados testes preliminares com as referidas especies quimicas em concentracoes logaritmicas, com o intuito de se determinar os intervalos onde 100% de mortalidade e 100% de sobrevivencia eram observados para a especie. Atraves desta etapa estabeleceram-se para os ensaios de toxicidade aguda, as concentracoes de 0,0, 0,5, 1,0, 2,5, 5,0 e 10,0 mg L-1 para Cu e Cu+Cd e de 0,0, 1,0, 5,0, 10,0, 25,0 e 50,0 mg L-1 para Cd. As variaveis temperatura, pH, amonia, oxigenio dissolvido e metais dissolvidos foram aferidas no inicio e a cada 24 horas. A dureza total foi monitorada apenas para os tratamentos controle, no inicio e termino dos experimentos para fins de verificar a qualidade da agua. Para os ensaios cronicos, conduzidos na forma semi-estatica e com duracao de 21 dias, duas concentracoes de cada metal foram utilizadas, onde o criterio de estabelecimento dos valores foi a CL50/10 e a media dos logaritmos das CL50/10 e CL50/100. Amostragens para verificacao da bioacumulacao foram realizadas em 24 e 96 horas, 07, 14 e 21 dias, sendo que durante essas amostragens, as variaveis pH, temperatura, oxigenio dissolvido, amonia e teores de metais nas solucoes foram determinadas. Como nos ensaios anteriores, a dureza total foi determinada no primeiro e ultimo dia para controle de qualidade da agua. As CL50-96h para o cobre, cadmio e cobre+cadmio foram respectivamente 3,53 mg L-1, 20,13 mg L-1 e 1,36 mg L-1 Pode-se observar durante os ensaios preliminar e agudo, uma acentuada precipitacao do Cu principalmente nas maiores concentracoes, isso em decorrencia do produto de solubilidade do hidroxido de cobre formado nas cubas experimentais. 8 Nessas concentracoes, observou-se que o Cd apresentou reducao quando em combinacao, atribuido a co-precipitacao ocorrida com o Cu. No que diz respeito a bioacumulacao dos metais nos orgaos e tecidos, pode-se observar, com algumas excecoes, que o figado, devido as suas funcoes metabolicas, apresentou uma maior acumulacao, seguido das branquias e tecido muscular. A tilapia apresentou maior resistencia ao CdCl2.H2O do que ao CuCl2 tendo a combinacao das duas especies quimicas potencializado a toxicidade de forma sinergica. Esse estudo possibilitou concluir que a afericao das concentracoes efetivas dos elementos de interesse durante ensaios de toxicidade e de relevante importancia, pois a concentracao esperada para as especies quimicas dissolvidas podem diferir daquelas esperadas, em funcao do elemento analisado e do tempo de duracao do experimento / The aim of this work was to assess for the toxicity of Cu and Cd, separately and in combination (Cu+Cd) in tilapias (Oreochromis niloticus), checking for the possible synergical or antagonic effects. In these situations, the bioaccumulation of metals in muscle tissue, gill and liver were determinated, emphasizing the potential bioindicator of the specie. Acute toxicity test in static mode were carried out for a period of 96 hours. Prior to these, preliminary tests were performed with such chemical species in logarithmic concentration, in order to establish the range of concentrations in which 100% mortality and 100% survival were observed for the specie. Through this step, concentrations of 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 mg L-1 for Cu and Cu+Cd and of 0.0, 1.0, 5.0, 10.0, 25.0 and 50.0 mgL-1 for Cd were defined in acute toxicity assays. Temperature, pH, ammonia, dissolved oxygen and dissolved metals were measured at the beginning and every 24 hours. Total hardness was monitored only for the control treatments, in the beginning and at the end of the experiments to check the water quality. Semi-static chronic assays, were conducted during 21 days, by using two concentrations of each metal. Concentrations were calculated as CL50/10 and average of logarithms of CL50/10 and CL50/100. Samplings for assessing the metals bioaccumulation were performed at 24 and 96 hours, 07, 14 and 21 days. In a mean time, pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, ammonia and dissolved metals were also determinated. Like in previous assays, total hardness was determined in the first and in the last day. The LC50 for copper, cadmium and copper+cadmium were respectively 3.53 mg L-1, 20.13 mg L-1 and 1.36 mg L-1. A precipitation of copper hydroxide, moreover for the higher concentrations were observed in both, preliminary and acute assays. On these situations, Cd concentration was decreased when combined, assigned to the co-precipitation occurred with Cu. Liver, due to it metabolic functions, showed higher metals accumulation, followed by gills and musclular tissue. It can be concluded that tilapia showed greater resistance to CdCl2.H2O, than to CuCl2 and with the combination of the two chemical species, potentiated the toxicity of synergic form. This study also enabled to conclud that measurement of effective concentrations of the elements of interest during test of toxicity is relevant, because the concentrations obtained may differ to those expected, according to the element and the duration of the experiment

Dissolved oxygen (DO) level is a critical factor for the survival of fishes and sustainable management of an aquatic ecosystem. This study aims to investigate the lethal thresholds of three major fish species in the Love River, Kaohsiung, S. W. Taiwan, in an attempt to provide ecological points of view for the further improvement of the river-water quality, as well as for the restoration of its fish community. Laboratory tolerance experiments of fish fries, including mullet (Liza macrolepis), milkfish (Chanos chanos) and tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus), exposed to low levels of dissolved oxygen were conducted in the period of January 2002 to April 2003. At water temperature of 23¢J, median lethal times (LT50) and 48 hours median lethal concentrations (48h LC50) at the salinity of 10‰, 20‰ and 30‰ were determined, respectively. We also carried out a lethal DO experiment to mullet fry in a sudden drop of salinity from 30‰ to 20‰, which is always the case when the sewage gate of the Love River interception system is opened to avoid flooding after heavy rainfall. Under the condition of 20‰ salinity, the tolerance of low dissolved oxygen for the three species of fish fries were significantly different. Among them, milkfish was found to be the most sensitive species, followed by mullet, whereas tilapia was the most tolerant species. The 48h LC50s of milkfish, mullet and tilapia were 15.7, 8.6 and 7.8% air saturation, respectively, which were 1.16, 0.63 and 0.57 mg/l at 23¢J. Similarly, the LT50s also showed species-specific differences. At DO level of 0.52 mg/l, the LT50s were 77.9 minutes for milkfish, 245.7 minutes for mullet and over 1000 minutes for tilapia. The changing of salinity affecting the tolerance of low dissolved oxygen in fish fries was species depending. The DO lethal concentrations of mullet fry increased with the decrease of salinity, but not the case for milkfish fries. The 48h LC50 of mullet fries in 30‰ saline water was 11.5% air saturation (0.8 mg/l), which was higher than those in 10‰ and 20‰ saline water. However, no significant difference in 48h LC50 was found between milkfish kept in 10‰ and 20‰ saline water. The 48h LC50 for the former was 14.9% air saturation while the latter was 15.7%. Both are equivalent to 1.16 mg/l at water temperature of 23¢J. A rapid change of salinity reduced the low Do tolerance of fish fry. When mullet fry were introduced to 20‰ saline water from acclimated salinity of 30‰, its 48h LC50 raised significantly (13.9% air saturation; 1.02 mg/l). Under the DO concentration of 0.52 mg/l, the LT50 also dropped to 7.6 minute. It means that the opening of sewage interception gate largely challenges the survival fish fry. Based on the results of current study, the DO level of Love River is suggested to be maintained beyond 2.19 mg/l (28 % air saturation, 48h LC50 of milkfish at 10‰ salinity and 23¢J water temperature), in order to achieve a sustainable environment for the present fish community. In case of that DO occasionally fall to the above level, it is strongly recommended that a manual aeration system should be operated within 100 minutes.

Este estudo teve por objetivos conhecer aspectos da toxicidade de Cu e Cd, separadamente e em combinacao (Cu+Cd) em tilapias (Oreochromis niloticus), verificando possiveis efeitos sinergicos ou antagonicos. Determinou-se nessas situacoes, a bioacumulacao dos metais no tecido muscular, branquias e figado dos especimes, enfase ao potencial bioindicador da especie. Para tanto, ensaios de toxicidade aguda na forma estatica foram conduzidos por um periodo de 96 horas. Previamente a esses, foram realizados testes preliminares com as referidas especies quimicas em concentracoes logaritmicas, com o intuito de se determinar os intervalos onde 100% de mortalidade e 100% de sobrevivencia eram observados para a especie. Atraves desta etapa estabeleceram-se para os ensaios de toxicidade aguda, as concentracoes de 0,0, 0,5, 1,0, 2,5, 5,0 e 10,0 mg L-1 para Cu e Cu+Cd e de 0,0, 1,0, 5,0, 10,0, 25,0 e 50,0 mg L-1 para Cd. As variaveis temperatura, pH, amonia, oxigenio dissolvido e metais dissolvidos foram aferidas no inicio e a cada 24 horas. A dureza total foi monitorada apenas para os tratamentos controle, no inicio e termino dos experimentos para fins de verificar a qualidade da agua. Para os ensaios cronicos, conduzidos na forma semi-estatica e com duracao de 21 dias, duas concentracoes de cada metal foram utilizadas, onde o criterio de estabelecimento dos valores foi a CL50/10 e a media dos logaritmos das CL50/10 e CL50/100. Amostragens para verificacao da bioacumulacao foram realizadas em 24 e 96 horas, 07, 14 e 21 dias, sendo que durante essas amostragens, as variaveis pH, temperatura, oxigenio dissolvido, amonia e teores de metais nas solucoes foram determinadas. Como nos ensaios anteriores, a dureza total foi determinada no primeiro e ultimo dia para controle de qualidade da agua. As CL50-96h para o cobre, cadmio e cobre+cadmio foram respectivamente 3,53 mg L-1, 20,13 mg L-1 e 1,36 mg L-1 Pode-se observar durante os ensaios preliminar e agudo, uma acentuada precipitacao do Cu principalmente nas maiores concentracoes, isso em decorrencia do produto de solubilidade do hidroxido de cobre formado nas cubas experimentais. 8 Nessas concentracoes, observou-se que o Cd apresentou reducao quando em combinacao, atribuido a co-precipitacao ocorrida com o Cu. No que diz respeito a bioacumulacao dos metais nos orgaos e tecidos, pode-se observar, com algumas excecoes, que o figado, devido as suas funcoes metabolicas, apresentou uma maior acumulacao, seguido das branquias e tecido muscular. A tilapia apresentou maior resistencia ao CdCl2.H2O do que ao CuCl2 tendo a combinacao das duas especies quimicas potencializado a toxicidade de forma sinergica. Esse estudo possibilitou concluir que a afericao das concentracoes efetivas dos elementos de interesse durante ensaios de toxicidade e de relevante importancia, pois a concentracao esperada para as especies quimicas dissolvidas podem diferir daquelas esperadas, em funcao do elemento analisado e do tempo de duracao do experimento / The aim of this work was to assess for the toxicity of Cu and Cd, separately and in combination (Cu+Cd) in tilapias (Oreochromis niloticus), checking for the possible synergical or antagonic effects. In these situations, the bioaccumulation of metals in muscle tissue, gill and liver were determinated, emphasizing the potential bioindicator of the specie. Acute toxicity test in static mode were carried out for a period of 96 hours. Prior to these, preliminary tests were performed with such chemical species in logarithmic concentration, in order to establish the range of concentrations in which 100% mortality and 100% survival were observed for the specie. Through this step, concentrations of 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 mg L-1 for Cu and Cu+Cd and of 0.0, 1.0, 5.0, 10.0, 25.0 and 50.0 mgL-1 for Cd were defined in acute toxicity assays. Temperature, pH, ammonia, dissolved oxygen and dissolved metals were measured at the beginning and every 24 hours. Total hardness was monitored only for the control treatments, in the beginning and at the end of the experiments to check the water quality. Semi-static chronic assays, were conducted during 21 days, by using two concentrations of each metal. Concentrations were calculated as CL50/10 and average of logarithms of CL50/10 and CL50/100. Samplings for assessing the metals bioaccumulation were performed at 24 and 96 hours, 07, 14 and 21 days. In a mean time, pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, ammonia and dissolved metals were also determinated. Like in previous assays, total hardness was determined in the first and in the last day. The LC50 for copper, cadmium and copper+cadmium were respectively 3.53 mg L-1, 20.13 mg L-1 and 1.36 mg L-1. A precipitation of copper hydroxide, moreover for the higher concentrations were observed in both, preliminary and acute assays. On these situations, Cd concentration was decreased when combined, assigned to the co-precipitation occurred with Cu. Liver, due to it metabolic functions, showed higher metals accumulation, followed by gills and musclular tissue. It can be concluded that tilapia showed greater resistance to CdCl2.H2O, than to CuCl2 and with the combination of the two chemical species, potentiated the toxicity of synergic form. This study also enabled to conclud that measurement of effective concentrations of the elements of interest during test of toxicity is relevant, because the concentrations obtained may differ to those expected, according to the element and the duration of the experiment

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T18:55:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 4432.pdf: 1388434 bytes, checksum: d65f99bf92f697e1cf8e1d2b5a5fc2f9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-05-09 / Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos / Melipona scutellaris bee, known as "uruçu" belong to the tribe Meliponini, popularly called stingless bees. This bee is endemic in northeastern Brazil and is distinguished by its ease of domestication and management, significant honey production and potential for pollination in greenhouses and open field. The insecticide fipronil acts on the insect nervous system by blocking the chloride channels through of the receptors gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate (GluCl). Widely used in Brazil and more than 70 countries is considered highly toxic to bees, which is why its use was banned in France in 2004. Toxicological studies of pesticides to bees use mostly as a model species A. mellifera bee, which sublethal doses of fipronil can cause behavioral changes related to core tasks for the colony, such as feeding and foraging. However, differences in susceptibility between species of bees to insecticides may expose native bees there is a greater risk. The aim of this study was to determine the topical LD50 and oral LC50 of insecticide fipronil for stingless bee M. scutellaris and evaluate the effects of fipronil sublethal doses and concentrations in the locomotor activity and in the Proboscis Extension Reflex (PER) these bees. Foragers were collected in the output of three different colonies, consisting of three repetitions with ten bees each and they were placed in plastic pots of 250 mL. Bees subjected to topical treatments were anesthetized with CO2 and received 1.0 μL insecticide solution on pronotum with previously established doses (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 5.0 ng of fipronil / μL solution), applied with a repetitive automatic micropipette. Bees subjected to oral contamination received sucrose solution contaminated with concentrations of fipronil determined previously (0.0, 0.005, 0.01, 0.03, 0.05, and 0.5 ng a.i./ μL sucrose solution) for 24 hours. The insecticide fipronil was considered highly toxic to these bees, both topically and orally. The topical intoxication resulted in a LD50 (48 hours) was 0.41 ng / bee (4.1 ng / g bee). The oral contamination resulted in a LC50 (48 hours) was 0.011 ng / μL of sucrose solution or, considering the amount of food they forage M. scutellaris consume daily in an oral LD50 of 0.6 ng a.i. / bee. The topic sublethal dose 0.05 ng a.i./bee and oral sublethal concentration 0.0011 ng a.i./ μL sucrose solution were cause significant changes for the locomotor activity these bees. The PER don't was a functional methodology for M. scutellaris bees. Results show that the bee M. scutellaris is more sensitive to fipronil than A. mellifera and that fipronil sublethal dose and concentrations affected the locomotor activity these bees. / A abelha Melipona scutellaris, conhecida como uruçu , pertencem à tribo Meliponini, popularmente chamadas de abelhas sem ferrão. Essa abelha é endêmica do nordeste brasileiro e se destaca por sua fácil domesticação e manejo, expressiva produção de mel e potencial para polinização em ambientes protegidos e campo aberto. O inseticida fipronil atua no sistema nervoso dos insetos bloqueando os canais de cloro através dos receptores ácido gama-aminobutírico (GABA) e glutamato (GluCl). Amplamente usado no Brasil e em mais de 70 países é considerado altamente tóxico para abelhas, motivo pelo qual seu uso foi proibido na França em 2004. Estudos toxicológicos de inseticidas para abelhas utilizam em sua grande maioria como espécie modelo a abelha A. mellifera, na qual doses subletais de fipronil causam alterações comportamentais relacionadas a tarefas fundamentais para a colônia, como alimentação e forrageamento. No entanto, diferenças quanto à suscetibilidade entre as espécies de abelhas aos inseticidas poderiam estar expondo as abelhas nativas a um maior risco. O objetivo desse trabalho foi determinar a DL50 tópica e a CL50 oral do inseticida fipronil para abelhas sem ferrão M. scutellaris e avaliar os efeitos das doses e concentrações subletais desse inseticida na atividade locomotora e no Reflexo de Extensão da Probóscide (REP) dessas abelhas. As forrageiras foram coletadas na saída de três colmeias diferentes, consistindo em três repetições formadas por dez abelhas cada e colocadas em potes plásticos de 250 mL. Abelhas submetidas aos tratamentos tópicos foram anestesiadas com CO2 e receberam 1.0 μL de solução de inseticida no pronoto com doses previamente estabelecidas (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 e 5.0 ng de fipronil/μL de solução), aplicadas com uma micropipeta automática repetitiva. Abelhas submetidas aos tratamentos de contaminação oral receberam solução de sacarose com as concentrações de fipronil determinadas anteriormente (0.0, 0.005, 0.01, 0.03, 0.05, e 0.5) durante 24 horas. O inseticida fipronil foi considerado altamente tóxico para essas abelhas, tanto por via tópica como oral. A intoxicação tópica resultou em uma DL50 (48 horas) de 0.41 ng i.a./abelha (4.1 ng i.a./g de abelha). A contaminação oral resultou em uma CL50 (48 horas) de 0.011 ng i.a./μL de solução de sacarose ou, considerando a quantidade de alimento que as forrageiras de M. scutellaris consomem por dia, em uma DL50 oral de 0.6 ng i.a./abelha. A dose subletal tópica de 0.05 ng i.a./abelha e a concentração subletal oral de 0.0011 ng i.a. /μL de solução de sacarose causaram alterações significativas para a atividade locomotora dessas abelhas. O REP não foi uma metodologia funcional para abelhas M. scutellaris. Os resultados mostram que a abelha M. scutellaris é mais sensível ao fipronil que A. mellifera e que doses e concentrações subletais desse inseticida afetam a atividade locomotora dessas abelhas.

Orientador: Sergio Antonio de Bortoli / Resumo: O cultivo intensivo de Brassicaceae favorece o aparecimento de algumas pragas como Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), a traça-das-crucíferas, cujos danos podem comprometer seriamente a produção. Esse inseto-praga pode ser controlado tanto com inseticidas sintéticos, como com biológicos, sendo, no entanto, usualmente utilizados os sintéticos em seu combate. A traça-das-crucíferas foi a primeira espécie de inseto a ser constatada resistência a inseticidas biológicos, com o uso indiscriminado de inseticidas sintéticos para o seu controle contribuindo também para a seleção de indivíduos tolerantes ou resistentes, além de causar a mortalidade de organismos não alvos. Sendo assim, este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar a atividade inseticida e os efeitos subletais de duas toxinas lepidóptero-ativas de Bacillus thuringiensis, Cry1Ca e Cry2Ac, em três populações de traças-das-crucíferas, sendo uma delas suscetível (PC) e duas consideradas resistentes (Bt e NO-QA) a toxinas de B. thuringienis, em condições de laboratório. Foram realizados bioensaios de suscetibilidade com as três populações e as toxinas Cry1Ca e Cry2Ac, estimando-se a concentração letal (CL50) e os seus efeitos subletais. A toxina Cry2Ac não causou mortalidade nas lagartas das três populações, então os testes subletais foram realizados apenas com a toxina Cry1Ca que provocou mortalidade. Os parâmetros biológicos avaliados foram: período e peso pupal, sobrevivência larval e pupal, longevi... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Intensive brassics cultivation favors appearing of some pests as Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), diamondback moth (DBM), whose damage can seriously compromise production. This insect-pest can be controlled either synthetic insecticides as biological insecticides, but synthetics are usually used to combat. Diamondback moth was the first insect species to be verified resistance to biological insecticides, with indiscriminate use of synthetic insecticides for its control, also contributing to selection of tolerant or resistant individuals, as well as causing mortality on non-target organisms. Therefore, the objective of this work was to evaluate insecticide activity and sublethal effects of two lepidopteran-active toxins of Bacillus thuringiensis, Cry1Ca and Cry2Ac, on three DBM populations, one of them susceptible (PC) and two considered as resistant (Bt and NO-QA) to B. thuringiens toxins under laboratory conditions. Susceptibility bioassays were performed on the three populations and toxins Cry1Ca and Cry2Ac, estimating lethal concentration (LC50) and its sublethal effects. Cry2Ac toxin did not cause mortality on the caterpillars from the three populations, so the sublethal tests were performed only with Cry1Ca toxin. The biological parameters evaluated were: pupal period and weight, caterpillar and pupal survival, male and female longevity and fecundity. The populations showed susceptibilities to Cry1Ca toxin, with statistically equal behavio... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

The amphibian decline phenomenon now involves in excess of a third of the roughly 6000 species of amphibians on the planet. The problems that drive the declines are diverse with no end in sight. The Amphibian Conservation Action Plan (ACAP) aims to stem amphibian decline through four recommended actions by researchers and conservation biologists: (1) Expand scientific understanding of amphibian declines and extinctions; (2) continue to document amphibian diversity and ecology and how they are changing; (3) develop and implement long-term conservation programs; (4) prepare emergency response actions for eminent crises. This Dissertation focused on two of those recommendations: expanding scientific understanding of amphibian declines and extinctions and continuing to document amphibian diversity and ecology and how they are changing. The first chapter is a review of the amphibian decline phenomenon. The second, third, and fourth chapters focus on expanding scientific understanding of amphibian diversity and ecology with the description of a formerly unknown species (chapter 2), and ecological papers on two poorly known species (chapters 3 and 4). Chapter five focuses on the first ACAP recommendation in improving scientific understanding of the causes behind amphibian decline. The chapter is an experimental examination of two related species and their developmental reactions to common heavy metal contaminants. The goal of this Dissertation is to contribute toward the general amphibian knowledge base relative to the recommendations of ACAP.

No description available.