Agricultural environments are critical to the conservation of biota throughout the world. This is due both to the limited extent of current reserve systems and the large, and still expanding, proportion of terrestrial environments already dominated by agricultural land-uses. Consequently, there is a growing call from scientists around the world for the need to maximise the conservation value of agricultural environments. Efforts to identify key influences on the conservation status of fauna in agricultural landscapes have taken complementary approaches. Many studies have focussed on the role of remnant or semi-natural vegetation, and emphasised the influence on biota of spatial patterns in the landscape. Others have recognised that many species use diverse ‘countryside’ elements (matrix habitats) within farmland, and emphasise the benefits of landscape heterogeneity for conservation. Here, these research themes have been combined. This study takes a whole-of-landscape approach to investigating how landscape pattern and countryside heterogeneity influence the occurrence of birds in agricultural environments. Birds were sampled in 27 agricultural mosaics, each 1 km x 1 km in size (100 ha), in Gippsland, south-eastern Australia. Mosaics were selected to incorporate variation in two landscape properties: the cover of native vegetation, and richness of different types of element (i.e. land-uses/vegetation types). In each mosaic, 15 fixed sampling locations were stratified among seven different elements in proportion to their cover in the mosaic: native vegetation, linear vegetation, tree plantation, scattered paddock trees, pasture, wetlands and farm dams. Six point counts of birds were undertaken at all sample points in each mosaic: three each in the breeding and non-breeding months of a one-year period (October 2004 – August 2005). Independent measures of the composition, configuration, and heterogeneity of elements in the mosaic had differing effects on the richness of bird species recorded in these same mosaics. Sub-groups of birds based on habitat requirements responded most strongly to the extent of preferred element types in mosaics. Woodland birds (those of greatest conservation concern in farmland environments in Australia) were richer in mosaics with higher cover of native vegetation while open-tolerant species responded to the extent of scattered trees. In contrast, for total species richness, mosaic heterogeneity (richness of element types) and landscape context (cover of native vegetation in surrounding area) had the greatest influence. Mosaic structural properties also influenced the composition of entire bird assemblages in study mosaics. Avifaunal composition showed systematic variation along two main gradients which were readily interpreted in relation to landscape properties: 1) a gradient in the cover of wooded vegetation and, 2) the proportional composition of vegetation types in the mosaic. These gradients represent common trajectories of landscape modification associated with agricultural development: namely, the removal of wooded vegetation and the replacement of native species with exotic vegetation (e.g. crops and plantations). Species possessing different characteristics in relation to three avian life-history traits (nest type, feeding guild and clutch size) varied significantly in their position along these gradients of landscape modification. Species with different nesting requirements showed a strong relationship with the gradient in wooded vegetation cover while species belonging to different feeding guilds were influenced by the gradient defined by the replacement of native vegetation with exotic species. More bird species were recorded in native vegetation than in any other type of element sampled in this study. Nevertheless, most countryside elements had value for many species; particularly structurally complex elements such as scattered trees and tree plantation. Further, each type of landscape element contained different bird assemblages. Species that were recorded in a greater number of different types of landscape element were also recorded in more mosaics. This was true for all species and for woodland birds, and indicates that species that can use a greater range of countryside elements may have an increased tolerance of future landscape modification. The richness of woodland species at survey sites in different elements was influenced by features of the mosaic in which they occurred. Notably, the richness of woodland bird species recorded at sites in scattered trees and pasture increased with a greater cover of native vegetation in the overall mosaic. Of the overall pool of woodland bird species documented in the broader study region, 35% of species were not recorded in the agricultural mosaics sampled here. While many of these species were uncommon in the study area, or were associated with vegetation communities infrequently sampled in mosaics, this shows that conservation efforts in agricultural landscapes will not be appropriate for all species. For those woodland species that were recorded, measures of the extent of wooded vegetation cover had a strong, positive influence on the frequency of occurrence of individual species in mosaics. Thus, individual species of woodland bird occurred more frequently in mosaics with a greater cover of wooded vegetation. Nine woodland species showed a stronger response to measures of vegetation cover that included tree plantation and/or scattered trees than to the cover of native vegetation alone. For these species, structurally complex countryside elements provide valuable supplementary habitat at the landscape scale. Results of this study show that landscape properties influence the occurrence of birds in agricultural mosaics. The extent of cover of element types, particularly native vegetation, had the strongest influence on all measures of bird occurrence in mosaics. Thus, native vegetation is vital for the persistence of birds in farmland landscapes and is the primary element on which conservation efforts in these environments depend. Nevertheless, with careful management, countryside elements may provide additional conservation benefits for many bird species. Countryside elements made an important contribution to landscape heterogeneity, the landscape property with greatest influence on overall bird richness in mosaics. Countryside elements also increased the structural complexity of cleared agricultural land, and so have the capacity to enhance connectivity in fragmented landscapes. A focus on these factors (landscape heterogeneity and structural complexity) will provide the greatest opportunities for using countryside elements to increase the conservation value of farmland environments for native fauna. The relatively small scale of this study indicates that the cumulative effect of even small elements in farm mosaics contributes to the structural properties of entire landscapes. Critically, this emphasises the important contribution that individual landholders can make to nature conservation in agricultural environments.

An ecological approach to land-use planning is essential to maintain the long-term sustainability of ecosystem benefits, services, and resources. Concern about environmental quality and the long-term livability of urban areas is now a driving force in urban planning and design. The interrelated issues of growth management, smart growth, sustainable development, and new urbanism are topics in the most vibrant discussions at all levels of planning and landscape architecture. Within this context, this study starts from the interest in the ecological planning and management in urban areas, especially related to the issue of local development regulation and guidelines. Landscape regulations have come into existence recently in communities across the nation and these regulations vary from one region to another and from one community to another. The aims of this study were to investigate the relationship between ecological landscape structure and local development regulations over time. Comparison analysis was conducted between two areas that had similar pre-development ecological conditions but were developed under vastly different regulatory environments. The Woodlands (regulated to protect ecological condition) and the North Houston area (which followed traditional subdivision regulations) were examined at three different developmental time periods: predevelopment, early development (after 10 years), and matured development (after 30 years). Aerial photos of each site from the three time periods were classified into forested and non-forested classes and the landscape structure was quantified with a number of landscape metrics related to fragmentation??an indicator of habitat degradation. Two factors, the ecological approach to landscape planning and the adoption of more restrictive landscape regulations and guidelines, are discussed on the premise that they exert influence in developing and maintaining the long-term sustainability of ecosystems. In conclusion, this study provides the quantified landscape configuration and composition of the effects of development regulations on landscape structure. The ecologically planned community shows a less fragmented forest pattern and more restrictive development guidelines result in more ecologically structured environments. Understanding how elements of local development regulations affect ecological landscape patterns is important for landscape architects, planners, and administrators because it can lead to better strategies for planning and designing sustainable communities.

The topic of thesis deals with a hydrological model SWAT used for impact assessment of landscape structure on surface water pollution in Krivoklatsko protected area. For this purpose using ArcSWAT in the ArcGIS environment there were built hydrological models of three watersheds of various landscape structure located in the area of interest. The measured data of nitrate were used for these models. Concentration of nitrates in the surface waters were simulated by using these models in the period from 2003 until mid-2014. The statistical evaluation of the models including actual landscape structure did not show satisfactory match of the simulated values with the measured values. Due to the uncertainties of the model, including insufficient quantity of measured nitrates, it was not possible to expect exact results. After validation of basic models, it was important to create new models that would include various scenarios of landscape structure organization. New versions represented changes in the use of land classified as arable land in pasture or mixed forests, in the area around the stream to 250 m and 500 m. Modelling of the impact of individual scenarios on the structure of the landscape structure on nitrate concentrations there was displayed a positive effect of grassing and afforestation of...

This thesis deals with current issues in the field of nature conservation, t. i. landscape fragmentation due to transport infrastructure in selected model areas in the Czech Republic. The project also evaluates the issue of landscape structure and its development with a focus on individual landscape elements and their characteristics. The thesis focuses on the impact of landscape fragmentation on dimensionally small organisms. Model locations are cadastral areas of two popular tourist destinations in the South Bohemian Region at Lipensko site. The target organisms were invertebrates, common representatives of families Carabidae and Formicidae. Occurence of those species is typical for these areas. Landscape structure of the two areas and its changes during a period of sixty years has been defined by analyzing the document. Existence of suitable habitat for various kinds of target species was calculated through Meff index. Obtained values represent a numerical expression of the existence of suitable areas for the studied organisms in both locations. Interviews conducted in model areas also pointed out to a very low public awareness of the issue of landscape fragmentation.

The diploma thesis deals with the change of landscape structure in the selected cadastral area Žabovřesky. The village lies in the South Bohemian Region, 11 km from České Budějovice. The first part of the diploma thesis is focused on description of selected area. Further, the structure of the landscape was evaluated before land improvement and after the design of the land improvement in the area. The changes were plotted in the land use map and the newly created landscape areas were calculated, their size and shape determined. Based on this, the index of the shape was calculated, which led to the evaluation of the results of the landscape landscape change due to the complex land treatment

A pesquisa apresenta análises da estrutura da paisagem da Ilha Comprida com base em fundamentos teórico-metodológicos da Geoecologia ou Ecologia da Paisagem, conforme as abordagens geográficas e biológicas/ecológicas. Os mapeamentos foram elaborados em escala 1:15.000 por meio de fotointerpretação, controle de campo, Modelo Digital de Elevação (MDE) do terreno, associação entre unidades ambientais e antrópicas (vegetação, usos antrópicos, quaternárias, solos e potenciais de inundação) e aplicação de índices (métricas) de estrutura da paisagem. Os produtos cartográficos indicam áreas prioritárias para a conservação, considerando a melhor aptidão menor conflito entre as unidades antrópicos e ambientais e a distribuição dos fragmentos florestais. Em escala 1:30.000 são apresentados os mapas de: Unidades de Paisagens (UPs) da Ilha Comprida: Setor Boqueirão Sul Córrego da Barra Nova; Unidades de Paisagens (UPs) da Ilha Comprida: Setor Córrego da Barra Nova Boqueirão Norte; Aptidão para a Conservação das Unidades de Paisagens (UPs) da Ilha Comprida: Setor Boqueirão Sul Córrego da Barra Nova; Aptidão para a Conservação das Unidades de Paisagens (UPs) da Ilha Comprida: Setor Córrego da Barra Nova Boqueirão Norte. Em escala 1:60.000 são apresentados os mapas de: Classes de Áreas dos Fragmentos de Floresta Baixa de Restinga (FbR) na Ilha Comprida; Consequências do Efeito de Borda (50 m) Aplicado aos Fragmentos de Floresta Baixa de Restinga (FbR) na Ilha Comprida; Classes de Importância dos Fragmentos para a Conectividade da Floresta Baixa de Restinga (FbR) na Ilha Comprida; Classificação dos Fragmentos de Floresta Baixa de Restinga (FbR) para a Conservação na Ilha Comprida; Classes de Áreas dos Fragmentos de Floresta Alta de Restinga Úmida (FaRu) na Ilha Comprida; Consequências do Efeito de Borda (50 m) Aplicado aos Fragmentos de Floresta Alta de Restinga Úmida (FaRu) na Ilha Comprida; Classes de Importância dos Fragmentos para a Conectividade da Floresta Alta de Restinga Úmida (FaRu) na Ilha Comprida; Classificação dos Fragmentos de Floresta Alta de Restinga Úmida (FaRu) para a Conservação na Ilha Comprida; Classes de Áreas dos Fragmentos de Floresta Alta de Restinga (FaR) na Ilha Comprida; Consequências do Efeito de Borda (50 m) Aplicado aos Fragmentos de Floresta Alta de Restinga (FaR) na Ilha Comprida; Classes de Importância dos Fragmentos para a Conectividade da Floresta Alta de Restinga (FaR) na Ilha Comprida; Classificação dos Fragmentos de Floresta Alta de Restinga (FaR) para a Conservação na Ilha Comprida. Identificaram-se três setores heterogêneos na Ilha Comprida: entre o Boqueirão Sul e Pedrinhas com aptidão alta para a conservação e contínuos florestais prioritários para o estabelecimento de normas restritivas ao uso antrópico; entre Pedrinhas e o Boqueirão Norte, onde há uma condição intermediária de conservação, fragmentos retalhados e isolados por descontinuidades ambientais e perturbações antrópicas; e do Boqueirão Norte até a desembocadura de Icapara ocorre o setor mais urbanizado e com alterações permanentes nos componentes ambientais das paisagens. Um padrão observado nos três setores é a maior intensidade e recorrência de usos antrópicos em áreas próximas à praia. Os resultados mostram que integrar as análises geográficas e ecológicas da paisagem favorecem as estratégias de conservação. / The research presents analysis of landscape structure of the Ilha Comprida based on theoretical and methodology of Geoecology and Landscape Ecology, according with approaches geographical and biological/ecological. The maps were produce in 1:15,000 scale using photo interpretation, field control, Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of the terrain, the association between environmental and anthropic units (vegetation, anthropic uses, quaternaries, soils and potential flood) and application indices (metrics) of landscape structure. Cartographic products indicate priority areas for conservation, considering the best potential - less conflict between anthropic and environmental units - and the distribution of forest fragments.In 1:30.000 scale are presented the maps of: Landscape Units (UPs) of Ilha Comprida: Portion Boqueirão Sul Córrego da Barra Nova; Landscape Units (UPs) of Ilha Comprida: Portion Córrego da Barra Nova Boqueirão Norte; Potential for Conservation of Landscape Units (UPs) of Ilha Comprida: Portion Boqueirão Sul Córrego da Barra Nova; Potential for Conservation of Landscape Units (UPs) of Ilha Comprida: Portion Córrego da Barra Nova Boqueirão Norte. In 1:60.000 scale are presented the maps of: Classes Areas of Fragments of Restinga Low Forest (FbR) in Ilha Comprida; Consequences of Edge Effect (50 m) Applied to Fragments of Restinga Low Forest (FbR) in Ilha Comprida; Classes of Importance of Fragments for Connectivity of Restinga Low Forest (FbR) in Ilha Comprida; Classification of Fragments of Restinga Low Forest (FbR) for Conservation in Ilha Comprida; Classes Areas of Fragments of Wet Restinga Hight Forest (FaRu) in Ilha Comprida; Consequences of Edge Effect (50 m) Applied to Fragments of Wet Restinga Hight Forest (FaRu) in Ilha Comprida; Classes of Importance of Fragments for Connectivity of Wet Restinga Hight Forest (FaRu) in Ilha Comprida; Classification of Fragments of Wet Restinga Hight Forest (FaRu) for Conservation in Ilha Comprida; Classes Areas of Fragments of Restinga Low Forest (FbR) in Ilha Comprida; Classes Areas of Fragments of Restinga Hight Forest (FaR) in Ilha Comprida; Consequences of Edge Effect (50 m) Applied to Fragments of Restinga Hight Forest (FaR) in Ilha Comprida; Classes of Importance of Fragments for Connectivity of Restinga Hight Forest (FaR) in Ilha Comprida; Classes of Importance of Fragments for Connectivity of Restinga Hight Forest (FaR) in Ilha Comprida. Three different areas were identified in Ilha Comprida: between Boqueirão Sul and Pedrinhas with high potential for conservation and priority continuous forest for establishing restrictive regulation for the use anthropic; between Pedrinhas and Boqueirão Norte, where there is an intermediate condition of conservation, fragments cut and isolated by discontinuities environmental and anthropic disturbances; and between Boqueirão Norte to the Icapara inlet occurs the most urbanized area and permanent changes in environmental components of landscapes. A pattern observed in the three portions is the highest intensity and recurrence of anthropic uses in areas near the beach. The results showed integrate analysis geographic and ecological of landscape favors conservation strategies.

As florestas representam o mais importante reservatório de carbono (C) dentre os ecossistemas terrestres e sua conversão para usos antrópicos da terra pode afetar o estoque de C na vegetação e no solo. Esse processo pode ser mediado pela composição e configuração da paisagem, em particular em função dos efeitos de borda nas áreas florestais e pelas mudanças no tipo de uso do solo e na idade das matas. Este trabalho tem como objetivo investigar como a distância da borda, as mudanças de uso do solo, a matriz e a idade da mata impactam os estoques de C na vegetação e no solo em paisagens fragmentadas de Mata Atlântica. Para isso, foram escolhidos doze fragmentos florestais (14 - 235 ha) em duas classes de idade (jovens: =70 anos) e em contato com diferentes tipos de matriz (plantações de Eucalipto, que têm menor contraste com a floresta, e campo antrópico, com maior contraste), onde foram estimados os estoques de C acima e abaixo do solo ao longo de dois transectos com 130 x 5 m perpendicular à borda de cada fragmento. No total foram amostrados 1.310 troncos e coletadas amostras de solo em três profundidades entre 0-30 cm e em quatro distâncias da borda, além de amostras de solo nos dois tipos de matriz. O estoque de C foi calculado por equações alométricas para a vegetação e por oxidação do C orgânico para o solo. Concorreram modelos lineares mistos com o estoque de C na vegetação ou no solo em função de diferentes combinações das variáveis: idade do fragmento, tipo de matriz e a distância da borda. Para o estoque de carbono no solo também concorreram modelos com combinações entre tipo de uso do solo e a declividade do terreno. O estoque de C teve média de 14,84 ± 5,67 Mg ha-1 na vegetação e 74,86 ± 19,0 Mg ha-1 no solo da floresta (profundidade 0-30 cm). O estoque de C na vegetação foi, conforme esperado, menor nas bordas de fragmentos antigos com matriz de campo, principalmente nos primeiros 40 m. No entanto, contrariamente ao esperado, em fragmentos jovens, o estoque de C foi invertido, sendo maior nas bordas, principalmente em contato com a matriz de eucalipto e nos primeiros 40 m da borda. Esse padrão foi determinado principalmente pela contribuição de C das árvores com DAP 10-20 cm, as quais foram responsáveis por grande parte do estoque de C (46%). O estoque de C no solo não foi explicado pela idade, matriz ou distância da borda, mas varia com a declividade dependendo do tipo de uso do solo: aumentou na floresta, diminuiu no eucaliptal e não variou no campo. Os resultados sugerem que os efeitos de borda têm um impacto diferente na biomassa aérea em fragmentos antigos (remanescentes) e jovens (regenerantes). Assim, os efeitos de borda podem estar beneficiando a comunidade vegetal presente nos fragmentos jovens e prejudicando a comunidade dos fragmentos antigos. O estoque de C do solo é pouco sensível às alterações da estrutura florestal (i.e. aos efeitos de borda e da idade da mata), porém responde ao tipo de uso do solo, sendo perdido quando este uso é mais intenso. Em suma, os resultados mostram que os estoques de C em paisagens que sofreram longo processo de desmatamento e fragmentação, como as da Mata Atlântica, são bastante heterogêneos e modulados pela estrutura da paisagem. Esse processo levou a importantes perdas nos estoques aéreos, enquanto os estoques no solo ainda permanecem altos, em particular em áreas florestais ou menos manejadas. Esse padrão espacial heterogêneo nos estoques de C em paisagens fragmentadas deve ser considerado em políticas públicas que visem fomentar serviços ecossistêmicos de regulação climática em florestas tropicais / Among terrestrial ecosystems, the forests compose the most important carbon reservoir and its conversion for anthropogenic use may affect the stored carbon in both vegetation and soil. In this context, the landscape structure (composition and configuration) can strongly modulated this process throughout edge effects and consequently by changes on land use and forest age. We aim investigate how edge effects, the changes on land use, the type of matrix and the forest age affects the carbon stock in fragmented landscapes in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. For this, were chosen twelve forest fragments (14-235 ha) in two age classes (second growth =70 years) and in contact with different kinds of matrix (eucalyptus plantations - less contrasting edge and anthropogenic fields - more contrasting edge). In each forest fragment was stablished two perpendicular transects to the forest edge (130 x 5 m) were the stored carbon below and above-ground were estimated. In total were sampled 1.310 trunks and 756 soil samples in both types of matrix in four edge distances and carbon stored was calculated using alometric equations for vegetation and carbon organic oxidation for soil. Linear Mixed Models were building where the carbon stored above and below-ground could be a function of different combining variables: forest age, matrix type and edge distance. For the stored carbon below-ground were also included in the models the soil type and soil slope. The mean stored carbon above and below-ground was respectively 14.84 ± 5.67 Mg.ha-1 and 74.86 ± 19.0 Mg.ha-1. The stored carbon above-ground was lower in the edge (mainly first 40 m) in the most contrasting matrix (anthropogenic fields). However, unlike our hypothesis the stored carbon was reverse in the youngest forests with higher values in the edge (mainly in eucalyptus matrix and in the first 40m of the edge). This pattern can be assigned by the higher number of trees with DAP 10-20 which were responsible of the major part of the stored carbon (46%). The stored carbon below-ground has no relationship with the forest age, with the matrix type, neither with the edge distance. Although, it varies with the slope and land use: increase in the forest and decrease in eucalyptus plantations and does not change in the anthropogenic fields. Our results suggests that edge effects has different impact on stored carbon above-ground in old-growth and second-growth forests. The microclimatic changes due edge effects seems benefits second-growth forest composition while in old-growth forests, the opposite seems occurs. The carbon stored below-ground is little sensitive to changes on forest structure (i.e. edge effects and forest age), for another hand, it seems be strongly related with the land use type where the higher losses occurs when the land use is more intense. Nevertheless, the stored carbon above-ground are very heterogeneous and it should be due the intense process of deforestation and fragmentation of the Atlantic Forest. This intense process lead to important losses of stored biomass while the stored carbon below-ground remains higher mainly in forested areas or lesser managed lands. This heterogeneous pattern of stored carbon found in fragmented landscapes should be considered by decision makers aiming the provision of regulation ecosystem services mainly related to climate change in tropical forests

O risco transmissão de hantavírus para humanos na Mata Atlântica está diretamente relacionado à abundância de duas espécies de roedores, Oligoryzomys nigripes e Necromys lasiurus, reconhecidas como os principais reservatórios destes vírus naquele bioma. Ambas as espécies são beneficiadas por alterações antrópicas, porém, pouco se sabe sobre quais parâmetros da estrutura da paisagem e a escala espacial (em termos de extensão e resolução) em que a paisagem influencia a abundância destas espécies. Este trabalho procura preencher essa lacuna de conhecimento e investigar como uma definição adequada de parâmetros e escalas pode afetar modelos de extrapolação espacial das abundâncias destas espécies, o que pode ter amplas implicações para um melhor controle da propagação de hantavírus. O trabalho foi desenvolvido em seis paisagens da Mata Atlântica no Planalto Paulista, próximas ao local do primeiro registro de hantavirose no Brasil, sendo três de mata contínua e três paisagens fragmentadas, as quais diferiam com relação à porcentagem de cobertura florestal (11, 31 e 49%). Os pequenos mamíferos foram coletados em contextos de fragmentos florestais, mata contínua e matriz, totalizando 104 pontos de coleta. A análise, baseada em uma abordagem de seleção de modelos, considerou a estrutura da paisagem em diferentes extensões espaciais ao redor dos pontos de coleta (raios de 200, 500 e 800 m), em três mapeamentos que diferiam quanto a suas resoluções espaciais (10, 30 e 260 m). A partir do melhor modelo selecionado para cada espécie e para cada resolução, foi feita uma extrapolação das abundâncias, através da qual comparou-se os resultados obtidos em cada mapeamento. Foram capturados 1074 indivíduos de O. nigripes, a maioria nos fragmentos florestais. A maior abundância observada ocorreu nos fragmentos da paisagem de 11% de mata, diminuindo gradativamente nas paisagens com maiores porcentagens de cobertura florestal. N. lasiurus foi quase que exclusivamente coletado na matriz e, a maioria, na paisagem de 11% de mata. A abundância de O. nigripes foi diferentemente influenciada pela cobertura florestal da paisagem dependendo do contexto (fragmentos, mata contínua e matriz) em que a espécie se encontrava e também foi influenciada pela cobertura florestal e densidade de borda em escala local (200 m). A abundância de N. lasiurus foi negativamente influenciada pela cobertura florestal em escalas mais locais e variou de acordo com o tipo de cultura agrícola. A escala que mais influenciou ambas as espécies foi a de 200 m. Os mapeamentos com resolução de 10 e 30 m foram mais semelhantes entre si do que quando comparados com o mapeamento de 260 m, o que se refletiu nos melhores modelos de abundância selecionados, assim como nas extrapolações das abundâncias. Nossos resultados mostram que estas duas espécies respondem à degradação das paisagens e que paisagens mais biodiversas impedem um grande aumento da abundância de espécies que atuam como reservatórios dos hantavírus. Os resultados reforçam a necessidade de serem tomadas medidas que impeçam ou diminuam o desmatamento e a degradação da Mata Atlântica, ou que incentivem a regeneração e restauração florestal, para que possam ser evitados outros surtos de hantavirose. Além disso, evidenciam a importância de se escolher adequadamente a resolução do mapeamento em estudos ecológicos, baseando-se em atributos biológicos da espécie estudada, e ressaltam que extrapolações de abundância das espécies reservatório feitas em escalas muito grosseiras (e.g. acima da escala de resposta das espécies) podem levar a erros expressivos, potencialmente reduzindo a efetividade de ações voltadas para o controle da propagação de hantavírus. / Hantavirus transmission risk to humans in the Atlantic Forest is directly related to the abundance of two rodents species, Oligoryzomys nigripes and Necromys lasiurus, recognized as the main reservoir species of Hantavirus in this biome. Both species benefit by landscape anthropogenic changes, however, the structural parameters and the spatial scale (in terms of extension and resolution) in which the landscape influences the abundance of these two species remains to be examined. This study aims to fill this research gap and specifically test how a proper definition of parameters and scales may affect spatial extrapolation models of the abundance of these species, what may have broad implications for a better control of Hantavirus. This study was conducted in Plateau Paulista, Atlantic Forest, near to the first Hantavirus case in Brazil. Six landscapes were selected, being three control areas (continuous forest) and three fragmented landscapes, which differ in relation to the forest cover percentage (11, 31 e 49%). Small mammals were colected in forest patches, continuous forest and matrix contexts, totaling 104 collect stations. We performed a model selecting approach considering the landscape structure in different spatial extensions around each colect station (200, 500 and 800 m radius) in three different mapping that differ in their spatial resolution (10, 30 and 260 m). The best selected model to each specie in each map resolution was used to extrapolate the species abundance for the entire fragmented landscapes studied, whereby the obtained results for each mapping resolution were compared. A total of 1074 individuals of O. nigripes were captured, most of them in forest patches. The highest abundance ocurred in forest patches of the 11% forest cover landscape, decreasing gradually in landscapes with higher forest cover percentage. N. lasiurus was almost exclusively colected in the matrix with most of the individuals being colected in the 11% forest cover landscape. The abundance of O. nigripes was differently influenced by the landscape forest cover depending on the context (forest patches, continous forest and matrix) in which the species was colected and it was influenced by forest cover and edge density at the local scale (200 m). The abundance of N. lasiurus was negatively influenced by forest cover at more local scales and varied according with type of crop. The scale that most influenced both species was 200 m. The 10 and 30 m resolution mappings were more similar to each other than with the 260 m resolution mapping, what reflected on the best selected models of abundance, as well as on the abundance extrapolations. Our results show that these two species respond to the landscape degradation and that more biodiverse landscapes prevent the increase of the species abundance that act as Hantavirus reservoirs. Ours results reinforce the need of measures that prevent or reduce the Atlantic Forest deforestation and degradation, or encourage the regeneration and forest restoration, in order to avoid other Hantavirus outbreaks. Besides, our results evidence the importance of chosing accordingly the mapping resolution in ecological studies, which should consider the biological traits of the studied species. Additionally we highlight that abundance extrapolations of reservoir species done in a very coarse grain resolution (e.g. above the species response scale) may lead to significant errors, potentially reducing the effectiveness of actions aimed at controlling Hantavirus spread.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Entomology / James F. Campbell / James R. Nechols / Theoretical and empirical ecological research has emphasized the need for understanding how animals perceive and respond to landscape structure and the importance of integrating both behavioral and landscape approaches when studying movement behavior. Knowledge of insect movement behavior is essential for understanding and modeling dispersal and population structure and developing biologically-based integrated pest management programs. My dissertation research addresses questions concerning how insects respond to landscape structure by examining movement behavior of an important stored-product pest, red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum), in experimental landscapes. Results show that beetles modify movement behavior depending on landscape structure. Edge effects and interpatch distances may influence landscape viscosity, or the degree to which landscape structure facilitates or impedes movement, resulting in significant differences in velocity and tortuosity (amount of turning) of movement pathways, as well as retention time in landscapes with different levels of habitat abundance and aggregation. Perceptual range, or the distance from which habitat is detected, appears to be limited while beetles are moving in a landscape as they did not respond to a flour resource before physical encounter. Beetles showed differential responses to patches with various characteristics, entering covered patches more quickly than uncovered patches with more resource or the same amount of resource. Permeability of patches changed with subsequent encounters suggesting that full evaluation of patch quality may only occur after entering a patch. Beetles responded to landscape structure differently depending on the activity in which they were engaged. Distribution of movement pathways was similar to that of the habitat, but distribution of oviposition sites were significantly more aggregated than pathways and habitat. Oviposition site choice may be influenced by a complex set of factors which include previous visitation, amount of resource, travel costs, and edge effects. Insights were gained concerning how red flour beetle perceives resources, modifies search strategies, responds to boundaries, and chooses reproductive sites in patchy landscapes. This research provides new information regarding how red flour beetle interacts with landscape structure that has implications in the areas of behavioral and landscape ecology and applications in stored-product insect ecology.

The theme chosen for the dissertation is based on the research which deals with the question how to transform a real perception into abstraction. In a free way, I am inspired by my abstract paintings created through all my master's degree study. For a long time, the subject matter of my paintings has been the blending of structure, light and landscape. By gradual simplyfication and penetration of scenery motives with arquitecture and living nature, I try to create a complex piece of work. This abstract composition exposes always with particular impression of landscape's mood. It also stylizes a question,what we are focusing on and where we are looking, while being fascinated by the scenery - when staring into space.