A defining feature of the non-flying mammal pollinated (NMP) syndrome is inflorescence crypsis whereby flowers are close to the ground and somewhat hidden within the canopy. A number of species in the Cape Proteaceae are NMP, two of which were chosen as focal species for this study: Protea amplexicaulis and Protea humiflora. This study investigated the two previously suggested hypotheses for crypsis: hidden flowers are more difficult for nectarivorous birds to access, or hidden flowers provide greater cover for small mammal pollinators from aerial predators. Using remote triggered cameras, P. amplexicaulis and P. humiflora inflorescences were observed over the 2017 flowering period, noting visitation by birds and small mammals and assessing the legitimacy of birds as pollinators. In the literature, bird visitation to exposed inflorescences is suggested to be rare, but this study showed that it is considerable. Observations of camera footage suggest that birds are in fact illegitimate pollinators and thus nectar rob. Bird visitation to exposed inflorescences was more than tenfold that of hidden inflorescences, suggesting that crypsis is likely a strategy to avoid nectar robbing by birds. Both P. amplexicaulis and P. humiflora have been observed to retain dead leaves, which may contribute to their cryptic nature. Alternative hypotheses for dead leaf retention in Proteaceae – that it may increase flammability or result in a below canopy spike in nutrients post fire (selfish fertilization) – were assessed and rejected. Sampling of eight local Protea species showed that dead leaf retention is not a consequence of prolonged live leaf retention, with P. amplexicaulis retaining dead leaves for up to 6 years. The removal of dead leaves in 30 P. amplexicaulis individuals resulted in a significant decrease in the number of inflorescences hidden from aerial view, thus suggesting that dead leaf retention may be a strategy to enhance crypsis and thus forms part of the NMP syndrome. This research expands on the knowledge of the NMP syndrome; providing evidence in support of an anti- nectar robbing crypsis function, discovering a novel crypsis adaptation regarding dead leaf retention, and casting doubt on the Restricted Distributions hypothesis for the evolution of the syndrome.

Orientador: Evandro Pereira Prado / Resumo: Diversos fatores podem interferir nos depósitos da pulverização em plantas sendo o tamanho de gotas e a ponta de pulverização uma das mais importantes nesse processo. Diante disso, objetivou-se avaliar como o tamanho de gotas e a ponta de pulverização afetarão a quantidade e qualidade dos depósitos da pulverização em plantas de amendoim (Arachis hypogaea L.) nos diferentes estádios de desenvolvimento. A verificação da deposição em plantas de amendoim nos estádios de desenvolvimento dos primeiros ramos (V1) e nos estádios de alongamento de ginóforos (R2) em função do tamanho de gotas (fina, média, grossa e muito grossa – experimento 1) e da ponta de pulverização (TXA 8002 VK - Cônico, TTJ 60 11002 - Plano duplo, AIXR 110025 - Plano com indução de ar, DGTJ 11002 - Plano duplo de deriva reduzida, XR 8003 - Plano de faixa ampliada – experimento 2) foram realizadas em delineamento de blocos inteiramente casualizados com 4 tratamentos e 40 repetições (experimento 1) e 5 tratamentos e 40 repetições (experimento 2), pela pulverização do corante alimentício Azul Brilhante na concentração de 1,5 g. L-1. Os valores de deposição obtidos nos experimentos foram submetidos à análise de variâncias e as médias comparadas pelo teste de Scott-Knott. A uniformidade de distribuição dos depósitos foi ajustada a regressão logística. No primeiro experimento (tamanho de gotas × estádios fenológicos) as médias de deposição no estádio V1 foram todas significativamente diferentes ente si, e no estádio R... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Several factors can interfere with spray deposits on plants. It is known that the droplet size and the spray tip are some of the most important in this process. Therefore, the objective was to evaluate how the droplet size and the spray tip will affect the quantity and quality of spray deposits on peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) plants at different stages of development. The verification of deposition in peanut plants in the stages of development of the first branches (V1) and in the stages of elongation of gynophores (R2), depending on the droplet size (fine, medium, coarse and very coarse - experiment 1) and the spray tip (TXA 8002 VK - Conical, TTJ 60 11002 - Double plane, AIXR 110025 - Air induction plane, DGTJ 11002 - Double reduced drift plane, XR 8003 - Extended range plane - experiment 2), were carried out in a completely randomized block design with 4 treatments and 40 repetitions (experiment 1) and 5 treatments and 40 repetitions (experiment 2), by spraying the Brilliant Blue dye food at concentration of 1.5 g L-1. The deposition values obtained in the experiments were subjected to analysis of variances and their averages were compared by the Scott-Knott test. The uniformity of deposit distribution was adjusted to logistic regression. In the first experiment (droplet size × phenological stages), the deposition averages in the V1 stage were all significantly different from each other; in the R2 stage, the treatments with fine and medium droplets differed from the treatm... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Submitted by Gabriela Lopes (gmachadolopesufpel@gmail.com) on 2017-07-05T15:59:33Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertação Lillian Espindola Müller.pdf: 1571545 bytes, checksum: 45f2e65629e91e4df8579311ccb3058b (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Aline Batista (alinehb.ufpel@gmail.com) on 2017-07-11T21:13:16Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação Lillian Espindola Müller.pdf: 1571545 bytes, checksum: 45f2e65629e91e4df8579311ccb3058b (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-11T21:13:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação Lillian Espindola Müller.pdf: 1571545 bytes, checksum: 45f2e65629e91e4df8579311ccb3058b (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-08-12 / Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq / A necessidade de alternativas que tornem as aplicações mais eficientes no manejo fitossanitário é uma constante e para isto o uso de adjuvantes junto às caldas fitoprotetoras trazem grandes benefícios como o aumento na molhabilidade, na aderência, no espalhamento, a redução da tensão superficial e o ângulo de contato da gota e na dispersão da calda de pulverização, além de aumentar a penetração cuticular promovendo assim a eficácia contra espécies de difícil controle melhorando a atividade química e as características de aplicação. Com isso, este trabalho teve por objetivo investigar fontes de adjuvantes obtidas a partir de extratos de plantas bioativas. Foram avaliadas a presença de saponinas na composição fitoquímica, a qualidade saponosídica, o potencial tensoativo e adesivo e a melhor forma de preparo e concentração para cada espécie. As médias dos resultados obtidos pelos tratamentos foram comparadas estatisticamente pelo teste de Tukey, em nível de 5% de probabilidade. A presença de saponinas foi constatada na maioria das espécies analisadas com qualidades distintas, obtendo-se maior capacidade tensoativa para o fator de comparação utilizado (sabão neutro) enquanto a maior capacidade adesiva foi observada na espécie Aloe vera. A melhor forma de preparo e concentração se deu de acordo com as análises realizadas, sendo que para os tensoativos os melhores resultados foram através da massa seca e triturada enquanto que para os adesivos a forma verde processada em suco obteve maior destaque. No entanto ainda são necessários maiores estudos quanto às concentrações e associações passíveis de serem utilizadas no manejo fitossanitário para a agricultura familiar. / The need for alternatives which make the most efficient applications in plant management is constant and that the use of adjuvants together with the grout fitoprotetoras bring great benefits as increased wettability in adhering, the spreading, to reduce the surface tension and the angle contact drop and dispersion of the spray solution, in addition to increasing cuticular penetration thereby promoting effective against species unwieldy improving the chemical activity and application characteristics. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate sources of adjuvants derived from bioactive plant extracts. We evaluated the presence of saponins in phytochemical composition, saponosídica quality, surfactant and adhesive potential and the best way of preparation and concentration for each species. The average results for the treatments were compared statistically by the Tukey test at the level of 5% probability. The presence of saponins was observed in most of the species analyzed with distinct qualities, obtaining higher surface-active capacity for comparison factor used (neutral soap) while the higher adhesive strength was observed in the Aloe vera species. The best form of preparation and concentration was in accordance with the analysis carried out, and for the surfactants the best results were dried and crushed through mass while for the adhesives processed green form in juice obtained greater prominence. However further studies are still needed as the concentrations and associations that can be used in pest management for family farming.