Continuous cover forestry (CCF), an alternative forest management approach to clearfelling, is increasingly being adopted in the UK. It aims at enhancing stand structural diversity and favouring natural regeneration and subsequent seedling growth below the existing canopy of plantation forests. One area of limited knowledge is the critical level of below-canopy light for the growth of naturally regenerating seedlings. In addition, plant growth beneath canopies is influenced by other factors (e.g. herbivory). Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr. (Sitka spruce) seedlings under canopies have been observed to be severely damaged by Elatobium abietinum (Walker) (green spruce aphid) attacks. The combined effects of light availability and insect attack on seedling growth are not well understood, however, this understanding is crucial in order to ensure successful management of regeneration within CCF systems. A controlled experiment, which mimicked different natural understorey light levels along with repeated artificial aphid infestation, was conducted over two years to look at seedling performance through structural and physiological (chlorophyll fluorescence) measurements. Aphid population assessments showed significant increased population density under shaded conditions. Nevertheless, aphid impacts were mainly localised in extent while the impact of light was the major component that described seedling growth. Light was the primary factor affecting the whole-plant biomass, whereas aphids had only localised effects on the total dry weight of older needles and roots, and on leader extension growth. A significant interaction between light levels and presence/absence of aphid infestation was found for main leader extension growth of the seedlings during the second year of the experiment, with lower values at low light levels under infestation. Plant biomass allocation was affected strongly by light, while aphid presence did not result in significant changes. At the leaf physiologylevel, the light environment was found to be the main driving factor affecting photosynthetic response, whilst aphid presence had only a short-term localised effect on photosynthesis. The impact of light levels and aphid presence on seedling growth were also determined at an experimental field site where plots were located across two light regimes typical of CCF conditions in upland UK coniferous forests. The comparison of the photosynthetic response of the seedlings in both the controlled and field experiment highlighted the importance of considering the temporal heterogeneity of the light environment experienced by understorey seedlings in CCF stands, while aphid and aphid x light interaction effects could not be determined due to very low aphid levels during the year. Finally, a pre-existing light model was parameterised to predict the understorey light environment required to promote successful seedling growth in CCF stands. Sensitivity and validation analyses were also performed.

The federally endangered tan riffleshell (<I>Epioblasma florentina walkeri</I>) is restricted to only one known reproducing population, in Indian Creek, Tazewell County, Virginia. Attempts to recover this species by augmenting relic populations throughout its historic range are aided through knowledge of its population biology and requirements in culture environments. Infestations of host fish (fantail darters, <I>Etheostoma flabellare</I>), obtained from four river drainages, with tan riffleshell glochidia showed that significantly more juveniles transformed per fish from infestations on fantail darters from Indian Creek (mean = 59.22 ± 10.01) than on fantail darters from the Roanoke River (mean = 9.45 ± 10.64) (p = 0.024). Number of juveniles from fantail darters collected from Elk Garden and the South Fork Holston River were not significantly different from those of either Indian Creek fish or Roanoke River fish. These results support the hypothesis that mussel-host fish relationships are likely mediated by fish immune responses. Furthermore, this study suggests that this compatibility has resulted from coadaptation between the tan riffleshell and fantail darter populations in Indian Creek. The tan riffleshell population in Indian Creek was estimated to be 1078 adults (95% CI= 760 - 1853), using Schumacher's modification of Schnabel's maximum likelihood estimator. The sex ratio and size distribution of males and females were approximately equal. Specimen ages, determined from thin-sections of shells, showed that mussels aged by external annuli on shells likely underestimates the true ages of individuals. Appropriate culture conditions for this species were examined using juveniles of the wavyrayed lampmussel (<I>Lampsilis fasciola</I>) as a surrogate. In the first experiment, juvenile growth and survival was compared between four substratum types (fine sediment, < 120μm; fine sand, 500 μm-800 μm; coarse sand, 1000 μm-1400 μm; and mixed sediment, < 1400 μm) and two light treatments in open versus covered recirculating troughs (2.8 m). Juveniles in fine sediment substratum and covered troughs fared poorest, with 7% survival and growth to only 0.86 mm in length after 16 wk. Juveniles in mixed sediment and open troughs fared best, with 26% survival and growth to 1.09 mm after 16 wk. Additionally, juveniles in fine sand in covered troughs had significantly higher survival (23.1%) than juveniles in fine sediment (p = 0.04), and juveniles in fine sand survived consistently better between light treatments than in the other substrata. There were no significant differences among the other treatments. A second experiment was performed to determine whether juveniles were responding directly to the presence of light or whether only the increased autochthonous production improved growth and survival. One-half of each of three 2.8 m troughs were covered with 50% shade cloth, while the other sides were left open to ambient light. Additionally, the best and worst sediments from the first experiment (fine sand and fine sediment) were used again to verify the results from the previous experiment. In this case, juveniles in both sides of the troughs grew equally well, but juveniles in the open sides had significantly poorer survival (open mean: 1.78%, sd = 5.01; covered mean: 7.4%, sd = 5.01) (p = 0.046). Fine sediment yielded significantly higher growth of juveniles than fine sand (p = 0.009), with shell lengths of 2.63 mm (sd = 0.075) in fine sediment and 1.94 mm (sd = 0.102) in fine sand. The differences in survival and growth between the two experiments were attributed to differential numbers of chironomids and platyhelminths, which are predators of young juveniles. Additionally, the fine sediment was more tightly packed in the first experiment than in the second, which may have restricted movement and subsequently reduced survival. Light alone likely did not affect juvenile survival and growth; rather, it was seemingly the greater abundance of aufwuchs available as food. This hypothesis was corroborated by a juvenile behavior experiment, which showed that juveniles did not act differently when in tanks not exposed to light versus those open to ambient light. / Master of Science

Der große Artenreichtum der mitteleuropäischen Kulturlandschaften ist zu weiten Teilen unmittelbar von bestimmten extensiven Formen der Landbewirtschaftung abhängig. Vielfältige, artenreiche Biozönosen waren und sind ein wichtiger Bestandteil landwirtschaftlicher Nutzflächen. Sie haben sich seit dem Neolithikum im Wechselspiel mit den landwirtschaftlichen Wirtschaftsweisen kontinuierlich weiterentwickelt. Erst als synthetische Pflanzenschutzmittel, Mineraldünger und leistungsstarke Landmaschinen in der zweiten Hälfte des 20. Jahrhunderts weite Verbreitung erfuhren, setzte ein bis dato beispielloser, stetiger und schneller Rückgang der Artenvielfalt von Äckern, Wiesen und Weiden ein. Trotz politischer Absichtserklärungen den raschen Artenschwund zu stoppen, hat sich der Druck auf die verbleibenden Populationen auch in den letzten Jahren weiter erhöht. Der Klimawandel und der Wunsch die Abhängigkeit von endlichen fossilen Energieträgern zu reduzieren, haben dazu geführt, dass die Nachfrage nach Ackerland zum Anbau von Energiepflanzen, bedingt durch einschlägige Subventionen, stark gestiegen ist. Nur wenige wissenschaftliche Publikationen haben sich bisher mit den Folgen der schnellen Ausweitung des Energiepflanzenanbaus Ackerflora beschäftigt. Diese Dissertation soll dazu beitragen, diese Lücke durch Untersuchungen der Habitatbedingungen (Bewirtschaftungsmethoden, Lichtklima im Bestand, Bodenchemie) und der Phytodiversität in verschiedenen Energiepflanzenbeständen (Silomais zur Biogaserzeugung, Winterraps zur Biodieselherstellung, Kurzumtriebsplantagen (KUP) aus Pappeln oder Weiden zur Hackschnitzelverbrennung) zu schließen. Die Energiepflanzenbestände wurden zudem mit konventionellem Wintergetreide zur Nahrungs- und Futtermittelproduktion (Winterweizen und -gerste) und mit extensiven Weizenbeständen aus Agrarumweltmaßnahmen (AUM) verglichen. Die Untersuchungsergebnisse weisen eindeutig darauf hin, dass die eigentlichen Ursachen des starken Phytodiversitätsverlustes auf Äckern weiter reichen und grundlegender sind als der Anbau von Energiepflanzen. Es wurde gezeigt, dass die Phytozönosen im Inneren von Bioenergiemais- und Rapsäckern sowie auch in Wintergetreidebeständen extrem verarmt sind (im Mittel 3–6 Arten 100 m 2). Die durchschnittliche Stickstoffdüngung (195 kg N ha-1 a-1) und der Herbizidbehandlungsindex (HI = 1.8) waren sowohl in Mais- als auch in Winterweizenbeständen ähnlich hoch. Eine Bedrohung für die Pflanzenartenvielfalt durch übermäßige Phosphatdüngung (im Mittel 96 kg P2O5 ha-1 a-1) wurde jedoch vor allem beim Maisanbau festgestellt. Zudem war die Beschattung in Maisbeständen erhöht (11 % PAR Transmissivität im Vergleich zu 19 % in Wintergetreide), was mit einem Rückgang der mittleren Artenzahlen am Feldrand einherging (11 Arten 100 m-2 im Mais, 15 Arten 100 m-2 in Wintergetreide). Die Pflanzengesellschaften konventioneller Äcker wurden regionsübergreifend von nur 5–10 häufigen Problemunkrautarten dominiert. Maisbestände wiesen als Sommerkulturen eine von Winterkulturen leicht abweichende Artenzusammensetzung auf. Eine ausgeglichene Mischung von konventionellem Mais, Winterraps und Wintergetreide in der Agrarlandschaft bietet mehr Arten einen geeigneten Lebensraum als jede dieser Kulturen für sich genommen. Insgesamt waren die Habitatbedingungen auf den im Rahmen von AUM extensiv bewirtschafteten Äckern jedoch wesentlich heterogener und boten einer weitaus größeren Zahl von Pflanzenarten (darunter auch seltene und bedrohte Taxa) geeignete Lebensbedingungen. Im Mittel wurden 21 Arten 100 m-2 im Inneren und 33 Arten am Feldrand gezählt. Auch die Regressionsmodelle weisen darauf hin, dass moderate Beschränkungen der Herbizidbehandlungsintensität oder der Düngung, die sich im Rahmen der zur Zeit üblichen konventionellen Bewirtschaftungspraktiken bewegen, kaum dazu beitragen den Rückgang der Ackerflora zu stoppen. Neue, an die jeweiligen regionalen Gegebenheiten angepasste Konzepte und extensive Ackerhabitate sind hierzu unerlässlich.  Die Vegetationsaufnahmen zeigen zudem, dass die Phytodiversität von KUP mit dem Alter der Plantagen stark zurückgeht. Junge KUP, ohne Düngung und mit nur geringem Herbizideinsatz, wiesen eine mit frühen Sukzessionsstadien von Ackerbrachen vergleichbare Artenzusammensetzung auf. Im Gegensatz hierzu wurden die 5–8 jährigen, dichtgepflanzten Plantagen von wenigen stickstoffliebenden Habitatgeneralisten dominiert. Obwohl sie seit mehreren Jahren weder gedüngt noch mit Herbiziden behandelt wurden, waren diese Bestände zudem dunkler (1–4 % PAR Transmissivität) und nur wenig artenreicher (8–19 Arten 75 m-2) als einjährige Energiepflanzenkulturen. Die Pflanzung von 5–20 m breiten Energieholzstreifen zur Zerteilung großer Schläge in strukturarmen, landwirtschaftlichen Intensivregionen kann jedoch aus naturschutzfachlicher Sicht empfohlen werden, insbesondere wenn Maßnahmen nur Erhöhung der Habitatvielfalt in den Plantagen ergriffen werden. Um die grundlegenden Ursachen des Pflanzenartenschwundes in Agrarlandschaften zu beheben, erscheint es jedoch darüber hinaus dringend notwendig, ein langfristig angelegtes Netzwerk extensiver Feldflorareservate zu begründen, um dauerhaft überlebensfähige Ackerwildkrautpopulationen zu erhalten und eine Ausbreitung dieser Arten in die weitere Agrarlandschaft in Zukunft wieder zu ermöglichen. Um politische Entscheidungsfindungen zu unterstützen, erscheint es notwendig im Rahmen von zukünftigen Forschungsprojekten den Blickwinkel vom Feld auf die Landschaftsebene zu erweitern und verbleibende offene Fragen über die Wirkungen der Ackerflora auf andere taxonomischen Gruppen zu klären.

Submitted by JÚLIO HEBER SILVA (julioheber@yahoo.com.br) on 2017-04-19T20:01:35Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Laudson Ferreira da Silva - 2017.pdf: 1543389 bytes, checksum: bb788555db9f07968a84048025a2232d (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2017-04-20T14:42:18Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Laudson Ferreira da Silva - 2017.pdf: 1543389 bytes, checksum: bb788555db9f07968a84048025a2232d (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-04-20T14:42:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Laudson Ferreira da Silva - 2017.pdf: 1543389 bytes, checksum: bb788555db9f07968a84048025a2232d (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-03-24 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Goiás - FAPEG / This work aimed to analyze the growth and the partition of assimilates in plants such as Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu, U. decumbens cv. Basilisk, Panicum maximum cv. Massai and Cynodon dactylon cv. Vaquero, submitted to three levels of luminosity (100, 50 and 25%). The plants were collected at regular intervals of seven days, from the 20th day after the emergency (DAE), to seventy six DAE, with a last collection of ninety DAE. The height (H), tiller number (TN), root dry matter (RDM), stem dry matter (SDM), leaf dry matter (LDM), leaf mass ratio (LMR), ratio between root dry matter and aerial part of the dry matter (RRAP), total dry matter (TDM), specific leaf area (SLA), leaf area ratio (LAR), liquid assimilation rate (LIAR), relative growth rate (RGR), leaf area index (LAI), crop growth rate (CGR), chlorophyll and carotenoids content. The analyzed species grew and developed in an environment with 50% of light equivalent to plants grown in full sun, since there were no significant differences regarding H, RDM, SDM, LDMC, TDM. Similarly, there was no significant difference in LIAR, RGR and CGR in the species, except in P. maximum, which presented such physiological indicators of growth higher than plants grown in the full sun. LAI was also equivalent, except for U. brizantha and U. decumbens, which presented higher index than plants in full sun. The luminosity level of 25% negatively affected the growth and development of the species, except in P. maximum, whose results were equivalent to those presented in full sun and 50% of light. Species demonstrate tolerance to light restriction and, therefore, production potential to be used in silvopasture and agrosilvopasture production systems. / O presente trabalho teve como objetivo analisar o crescimento e a partição de assimilados em plantas de Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu, U. decumbens cv. Basilisk, Panicum maximum cv. Massai e Cynodon dactylon cv. Vaquero, submetidas a três níveis de luminosidade (100, 50 e 25%). As plantas foram coletadas em intervalos regulares de sete dias, a partir do vigésimo dia após a emergência (DAE), até setenta e seis DAE, sendo efetuada uma última coleta com noventa DAE. Avaliaram-se a altura (H), número de perfilhos (NP), matéria seca da raiz (MSR), matéria seca do colmo (MSC), matéria seca foliar (MSF), razão da massa foliar (RMF), razão entre a matéria seca radicular e a matéria seca da parte aérea (RRPA), matéria seca total (MST), área foliar específica (AFE), razão de área foliar (RAF), taxa assimilatória líquida (TAL), taxa de crescimento relativo (TCR), índice de área foliar (IAF), taxa de crescimento da cultura (TCC), teores de clorofilas e carotenoides. As espécies analisadas cresceram e desenvolveram-se em ambiente com 50% de luz de modo equivalente às plantas cultivadas em pleno sol, uma vez que não houve diferenças significativas quanto a H, MSR, MSC, MSF, MST. De modo similar, não houve diferença significativa na TAL, TCR e TCC nas espécies, exceto, em P. maximum, que apresentou tais indicadores fisiológicos do crescimento superiores às plantas cultivadas em pleno sol. O IAF foi igualmente equivalente, exceto, para U. brizantha e U. decumbens, que apresentou índice superior às plantas em pleno sol. O nível de luminosidade de 25% afetou negativamente o crescimento e desenvolvimento das espécies, exceto, em P. maximum, cujo resultado foi equivalente aos apresentados em pleno sol e 50% de luz. As espécies demonstram tolerância à restrição luminosa e, portanto, potencial de produção para serem utilizadas nos sistemas de produção silvipastoris e agrossilvipastoris.