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  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
11

Mise au point d'un procédé associant bioaugmentation et phytoextraction pour le traitement de sediments viticoles riches en cuivre : mise au point au laboratoire et application en microcosmes / Implementation of a bioaugmentation-assisted phytoextraction process for the treatment of copper contaminated sediments coming from vineyard soils : lab set up and microcosm application

Huguenot, David 06 July 2010 (has links)
Les traitements phytosanitaires intensifs en viticulture, conjugués aux flux de ruissellement, se traduisent par l'arrivée de cuivre dans les bassins d'orage (BO). Des phénomènes de bioatténuation impliquant la microflore et les macrophytes s'observent, mais les niveaux d'épuration sont souvent faibles et variables. La phytoextraction du Cu est une technique intéressante in situ mais sa lenteur la pénalise. La bioaugmentation couplée à la phytoremédiation est une solution pour augmenter la vitesse d'extraction. L'étude a consisté à sélectionner un triplet «bactérie-plante-sorbant » afin d'extraire le Cu du sédiment et de réduire sa teneur dans les eaux en sortie de BO. Les trois composantes ont ensuite été assemblées dans des microcosmes remplis d'un mélange sable-sédiment reproduisant les caractéristiques d'un BO de référence. Sur 564 isolats bactériens cultivables, 84 ont montré une capacité à complexer les métaux et l'isolat n°l06 a été retenu pour sa capacité à complexer le Cu. Des trois macrophytes testés, Phragmites australis, espèce retenue dans la suite de l'étude, a accumulé le plus de Cu dans les parties aériennes. Enfin, la pulpe de betterave s'est révélée être le sorbant le plus efficace dans une matrice complexe et en présence d'herbicides. Des expériences en microcosmes, mettant enjeu le triplet sélectionné, ont été réalisées. La localisation de la pulpe de betterave en sortie de microcosmes a réduit de 20% les quantités de Cu exportées par les eaux en atteignant un abattement de 95%. La phytoextraction du Cu a été augmentée par 1,7 grâce à la bioaugmentation dans le cas d'un régime hydraulique semi-continu et d'une inoculation répétée de l'isolat n°106. / Intensive pesticides use in viticulture combined with runoff often result in amounts of Cu getting to storm basins (SB). Biological pesticide mitigation has been observed and related to the role of natural macrophyte together with their associated microflora. Nevertheless, low and variable mitigation levels are most often reported. Cu phytoextraction is a promising in situ technology but requires time. Bioaugmentation-assisted phytoextraction is a new technology that may enhance the phytoextraction rate. The study consisted in selecting the best "microorganism-plant-sorbent" association in order to extract Cu from sediments and mitigate Cu load in SB outlet waters. The association of these three selected components has been studied in SB-scaled microcosms filled with a sand-sediment mixture to a better understanding of the depollution process feasability. Among the 564 isolates extracted from SB sediments, 84 were able to complex metals and isolate 106 was selected for the process implementation on the base of its ability to complex Cu. On the 3 studied macrophytes, Phragmites australis accumulated more Cu in aerial parts. Finally, sugar beet pulp has been selected as the best Cu sorbant in mixture with herbicides and in a complex matrix. Microcosm experiments that associated the best three components were carried out. Results showed that sugar beet pulp located at the outlet of microcosms reduced significantly (20 %) Cu amounts in outlet waters to reach a mitigation rate of 95%. Cu extraction in aerial parts of P. australis has been improved by a factor of 1,7 thanks to an intermittent wate Joad, with drying and rewetting periods along with repeated inoculations.
12

Some Effects of a Grazer, Hyalella azteca on Ecosystem Level Properties in Aquatic Microcosms

Werner, Martin D. 01 May 1979 (has links)
A study to determine some ecosystem level effects of an aquatic invertebrate grazer, Hyalella azteca, was performed in aquatic ix microcosms. Impact of the grazer was assessed in three general areas: 1) inorganic nutrient levels of the microcosm water column, 2) productivity and respiration of the biotic community, and 3) plant community composition in the microcosms. The grazing amphipod caused inorganic phosphorus and nitrogen (except ammonia) levels to be elevated in the microcosms. The increase was due, at least partially, to excretion of nutrients into the water by the amphipod. The presence of H. azteca did not significantly alter levels of gross productivity for the whole system nor for the sediment surface. Productivity to respiration ratios were significantly reduced by the grazing amphipod, indicating the amphipod was inhibiting plant biomass accumulation even though gross productivity was not affected. Systems exposed to amphipod grazing had a twenty-five percent lower plant biomass than controls at the termination of the experiment. Gross productivity to plant biomass ratios were significantly higher in grazed systems, indicating a more actively growing plant community was being maintained by the grazer's activities. Plant community composition was significantly altered by the amphipod. Chara biomass was higher in grazed systems, while filamentous algae, blue-green algal colonies and periphyton had significantly higher biomasses in the control systems. The phosphorus distribution within the grazed microcosms was significantly different from that found in the controls. More phosphorus was incorporated into filamentous algae, blue-green algal colonies and the overall plant compartment in the control, while Chara and the water column contained more phosphorus in the grazed microcosms. The amphipod also caused the percent content of phosphorus to be higher in certain plant categories.
13

Degradation of Cypermethrin by indigenous bacteria in local industrial, beech- and spruce-forest soil

Engblom, Joakim January 2007 (has links)
<p>Soil from local beech-forest, spruce-forest and an industrial area was taken. Control- and test-microcosms containing 150 ml soil were spiked with cypermethrin 0,4 mg/ml soil. Cypermethrin residues were extracted on day seven and 14.</p><p>Cyclohexane and deionized water was utilized in multiple step extraction processes. Samples were analyzed in a Gas Chromatograph (GC) with electron capture detector (ECD). </p><p>Concentration values for the samples were highest for beech-forest soil and lower for the other two soil-types. Statistical differences in concentrations between control- and test-microcosms for each soil-type on day seven and day 14 were evaluated with Mann Whitney U tests. Significant result was only found in the industrial 14-day group. The small amounts of cypermethrin in the extracts could not only be ascribed to a bacterial degradation process. Used insecticide has a high bonding affinity for particles and is sequestered in soil.</p>
14

Degradation of Cypermethrin by indigenous bacteria in local industrial, beech- and spruce-forest soil

Engblom, Joakim January 2007 (has links)
Soil from local beech-forest, spruce-forest and an industrial area was taken. Control- and test-microcosms containing 150 ml soil were spiked with cypermethrin 0,4 mg/ml soil. Cypermethrin residues were extracted on day seven and 14. Cyclohexane and deionized water was utilized in multiple step extraction processes. Samples were analyzed in a Gas Chromatograph (GC) with electron capture detector (ECD). Concentration values for the samples were highest for beech-forest soil and lower for the other two soil-types. Statistical differences in concentrations between control- and test-microcosms for each soil-type on day seven and day 14 were evaluated with Mann Whitney U tests. Significant result was only found in the industrial 14-day group. The small amounts of cypermethrin in the extracts could not only be ascribed to a bacterial degradation process. Used insecticide has a high bonding affinity for particles and is sequestered in soil.
15

Bulk deposition of pesticide mixtures in a Canadian prairie city and the influence of soil temperature fluctuations on 17β-estradiol mineralization

Andronak, Lindsey Amy 16 August 2013 (has links)
Tests were conducted for 71 pesticides in weekly bulk (wet + dry) deposition samples collected from May 25 to September 21 over two years at two sites in the City of Winnipeg, Canada. Twenty-one pesticides and their metabolites were detected in this study and 99% of samples collected contained mixtures of two or more pesticides. Malathion and glyphosate were the largest contributors to bulk deposition in 2010 and 2011, respectively. A second study examined the mineralization of 2,4-D and 17β-estradiol using a novel in-field soil microcosm study and a series of laboratory experiments under different temperature incubations. Results indicated that temperature fluctuations do not greatly affect the amount or rate of mineralization relative to the traditionally constant laboratory incubations of 20°C; however long-term freezing of soil reduced potential mineralization over time. This research advances scientific knowledge of agri-chemical fate and provides data for strengthening current environmental policy analysis in Canada.
16

Bulk deposition of pesticide mixtures in a Canadian prairie city and the influence of soil temperature fluctuations on 17β-estradiol mineralization

Andronak, Lindsey Amy 16 August 2013 (has links)
Tests were conducted for 71 pesticides in weekly bulk (wet + dry) deposition samples collected from May 25 to September 21 over two years at two sites in the City of Winnipeg, Canada. Twenty-one pesticides and their metabolites were detected in this study and 99% of samples collected contained mixtures of two or more pesticides. Malathion and glyphosate were the largest contributors to bulk deposition in 2010 and 2011, respectively. A second study examined the mineralization of 2,4-D and 17β-estradiol using a novel in-field soil microcosm study and a series of laboratory experiments under different temperature incubations. Results indicated that temperature fluctuations do not greatly affect the amount or rate of mineralization relative to the traditionally constant laboratory incubations of 20°C; however long-term freezing of soil reduced potential mineralization over time. This research advances scientific knowledge of agri-chemical fate and provides data for strengthening current environmental policy analysis in Canada.
17

Recuperação de reservatórios eutrofizados por atividades antrópicas : estudos em microcosmos / Restoration of reservoirs impacted by anthropic activities : studies in microcosms

Pantano, Glaucia 25 May 2016 (has links)
Submitted by Livia Mello (liviacmello@yahoo.com.br) on 2016-10-11T12:18:16Z No. of bitstreams: 1 TeseGP.pdf: 8003809 bytes, checksum: 7b85795bf2e6204c63089036ccbb76e5 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marina Freitas (marinapf@ufscar.br) on 2016-10-20T19:52:05Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 TeseGP.pdf: 8003809 bytes, checksum: 7b85795bf2e6204c63089036ccbb76e5 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marina Freitas (marinapf@ufscar.br) on 2016-10-20T19:52:16Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 TeseGP.pdf: 8003809 bytes, checksum: 7b85795bf2e6204c63089036ccbb76e5 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-10-20T19:52:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 TeseGP.pdf: 8003809 bytes, checksum: 7b85795bf2e6204c63089036ccbb76e5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-05-25 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / The economic development of a country depends on good quality of water available, so the conservation and restoration of water bodies are strategic conditions for this to happen. However, water resources have become scarce over the past decades, in quantitative and qualitative terms. A variety of human activities have caused serious problems to the aquatic environment, and eutrophication is one of the most responsible for the degradation of the quality of water bodies, mainly caused by the artificial enrichment of nutrients, especially phosphorus and nitrogen. There are currently two contrasting scenarios: the excessive presence of phosphorus in aquatic ecosystems and, the depletion of phosphate rock deposits, which endangers the water security and the global food security. In this context the development of technologies aimed at the recovery of the quality of aquatic ecosystems and phosphorus contained in these compartments is of fundamental importance, since the global stock of phosphate rocks is a finite resource and may be close to being exhausted. Various technologies for the remediation of eutrophic environments have been studied, however none of which aims to reuse of phosphorus in agriculture. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the sawdust as biosorbent material to phosphorus aiming the recovery of the quality of water resources and its later use as fertilizer in agriculture. The experiments were conducted in two stages, first were assembled microcosm with water and sediment samples from eutrophic reservoir Ibirité/MG, the total incubation time was 159 days, in this time various parameters (physicochemical and chemical) were monitored in the water column, interstitial water and sediment. After the end of this first experiment arose any question about the phosphorus adsorption in sawdust, what motivated the development of a new experiment with samples of the Barra Bonita/SP. This experiment was performed with sterile and non-sterile samples as well as that had or not a previous addition of iron in the sawdust, the incubation time was 240 and 247 days, respectively for non-sterile and sterile experiment. The results of the first experiment (Ibirité) showed that there was a reduction of 90.5% of orthophosphate in the water column of the microcosms and sawdust adsorbed 16.2 μg g-1, this adsorption occurred mostly after 113 days of incubation. In the second experiment results showed that prior to addition of iron not conducive to increased adsorption in the non-sterile experiments, and the main adsorption mechanism may be not via the action of bacteria oxidizing Fe (II). The higher adsorption in the second experiment took place in sterile microcosm, where sawdust adsorbed 66.9 μg g-1 in the period of 247 days. Knowing that the success in the recovery of water bodies depends on the reduction of external phosphorus sources, the studied technology has a good potential application as a remediation technique and phosphorus reuse as fertilizer, mainly because it is an inexpensive technique and easy to use. / O desenvolvimento econômico de um país depende de disponibilidade de água de boa qualidade, logo a conservação e recuperação dos corpos aquáticos são condições estratégicas para que isto ocorra. Entretanto, os recursos hídricos têm se tornado escassos no decorrer das últimas décadas, tanto em termos quantitativos quanto qualitativos. Uma diversidade de atividades antrópicas tem provocado graves problemas aos ambientes aquáticos, sendo que a eutrofização é um dos responsáveis pela degradação da qualidade dos corpos aquáticos causada majoritariamente pelo enriquecimento artificial de nutrientes, principalmente fósforo e nitrogênio. Existem atualmente dois cenários contrastantes: um de presença excessiva de fósforo em ecossistemas aquáticos e outro de depleção das jazidas de rocha fosfática, o que coloca em risco tanto a segurança hídrica quanto a segurança alimentar global. Neste contexto, o desenvolvimento de tecnologias que visam à recuperação da qualidade de ecossistemas aquáticos e do fósforo contido nestes compartimentos, é de fundamental importância, uma vez que o estoque global de rochas fosfáticas é um recurso finito e pode estar próximo de ser esgotado. Diversas tecnologias para a remediação de ambientes eutrofizados já foram estudadas, porém nenhuma delas visa o reaproveitamento do fósforo na agricultura. Desta forma, o objetivo principal deste estudo foi avaliar a serragem como material biossorvente para fósforo visando à recuperação da qualidade do recurso hídrico e o seu posterior uso como fertilizante na agricultura. Os experimentos foram realizados em duas etapas, na primeira foram montados microcosmos com amostras de água e sedimento do reservatório eutrofizado de Ibirité/MG, o período total de incubação foi de 159 dias, tempo durante o qual diversas variáveis (físico-químicos e químicas) foram monitoradas na coluna de água, água intersticial e sedimento. Após o término desse primeiro experimento surgiram alguns questionamentos a respeito da adsorção de fósforo na serragem, o que motivou a realização de um novo experimento, que foi conduzido com amostras coletadas no reservatório de Barra Bonita-SP. Este experimento foi realizado com amostras estéreis e não estéreis, que tivessem ou não adição prévia de ferro na serragem. O tempo de incubação foi de 240 e 247 dias, para experimento não estéril e estéril, respectivamente. Os resultados para o experimento do Ibirité-MG, mostraram que houve uma redução de 90,5% na concentração de ortofosfato na coluna de água dos microcosmos e a serragem adsorveu 16,2 μg P g-1, sendo que esta adsorção ocorreu majoritariamente após 113 dias de incubação. No segundo experimento os resultados mostraram que a adição prévia de ferro não favoreceu uma maior adsorção no experimento não estéril, bem como que o mecanismo principal de adsorção pode não ocorrer via ação das bactérias oxidantes de Fe(II). A maior adsorção neste segundo experimento ocorreu no microcosmo estéril, onde a taxa de adsorção na foi de 66,9 μg g-1 no período de 247 dias. Sabendo que o sucesso na recuperação dos corpos aquáticos depende da minimização ou eliminação de fontes externas de fósforo, a tecnologia estudada apresenta um bom potencial de aplicação como técnica de remediação bem como posterior reuso do fósforo como fertilizante, principalmente por ser uma técnica de baixo custo e fácil aplicação.
18

Impacto do uso de antibióticos na microbiota do solo / Impact of use of antibiotics in the microbial community of soil

Gallego, Jefferson Cerquera [UNESP] 09 December 2016 (has links)
Submitted by JEFFERSON CERQUERA GALLEGO null (jffgallego@gmail.com) on 2017-01-11T18:32:35Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Final.pdf: 2374751 bytes, checksum: 4c444bb2f855ea07e3d575262a6ebc38 (MD5) / Rejected by LUIZA DE MENEZES ROMANETTO (luizamenezes@reitoria.unesp.br), reason: Solicitamos que realize uma nova submissão seguindo a orientação abaixo: O arquivo submetido não contém o certificado de aprovação. Corrija esta informação e realize uma nova submissão com o arquivo correto. Agradecemos a compreensão. on 2017-01-12T16:53:51Z (GMT) / Submitted by JEFFERSON CERQUERA GALLEGO null (jffgallego@gmail.com) on 2017-01-12T18:22:16Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Jefferson Cerquera Gallego.pdf: 2441699 bytes, checksum: 3fb5c0178315e1a59794457f28a8296d (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by LUIZA DE MENEZES ROMANETTO (luizamenezes@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2017-01-17T12:06:41Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 gallego_jc_me_jabo.pdf: 2441699 bytes, checksum: 3fb5c0178315e1a59794457f28a8296d (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-01-17T12:06:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 gallego_jc_me_jabo.pdf: 2441699 bytes, checksum: 3fb5c0178315e1a59794457f28a8296d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-12-09 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Devido ao grande número de antibióticos de uso veterinário que estão sendo liberados no solo através da urina e dejetos fecais dos animais de produção, algumas pesquisas têm verificado o impacto desses antibióticos na microbiota do solo. O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o impacto dos antibióticos sobre a microbiota do solo em condições de microcosmos, de um solo de pastagem de bovinos e um solo de floresta, submetidos à presença de três antibióticos utilizados na produção animal, sendo estes, ampicilina, enrofloxacina e estreptomicina, nas concentrações de 0, 30 e 100 mg/kg de solo seco. A concentração de 0 mg/kg foi usada como controle. Os solos foram incubados em frascos de vidro de tampa rosca e mantidos a temperatura ambiente no escuro para reproduzir as condições reais encontradas na natureza. Foram avaliadas atividade respiratória microbiana, atividade da enzima desidrogenase e contagem de unidades formadoras de colônias (UFC) para estabelecer se existia ou não inibição do crescimento bacteriano nos dias 0, 1, 20 e 35. Os resultados mostram um aumento considerável nas UFC nos solos que receberam a ampicilina em ambas às concentrações durante o primeiro dia com relação ao controle. No dia 35 estas contagens se tornaram semelhantes ao controle ou menores. Os solos que receberam enrofloxacina e estreptomicina tiveram uma contagem menor que o controle inicialmente e com o tempo essas UFC aumentaram. A atividade respiratória microbiana e a atividade da enzima desidrogenase também confirmam esse achado. Esses resultados sugerem que os micro-organismos estão utilizando algum composto da ampicilina para o aumento das colônias e que os outros antibióticos diminuem a população microbiana do solo, especialmente a estreptomicina. Provavelmente alguns micro-organismos estejam sendo selecionados. / Due to the large number of veterinary antibiotics that are being released into the soil through urine and fecal waste of livestock, some research has linked the impact of those antibiotics in soil microflora. In the current study was evaluated the impact of antibiotics in the soil microbial community under microcosms conditions, cattle pasture soil and a forest soil under the presence of three antibiotics used in animal husbadry; ampicilin, enrofloxacyn and streptomycin, using a concentration of 0, 30 e 100 mg/kg dry soil. The concentration of 0mg/kg was used as control. The soils were incubated in screw cap glass jars and kept at room temperature in the dark to reproduce actual conditions found in nature. It was evaluated the microbial respiratory activity as well as the activity of dehydrogenase enzyme and colony forming units (CFU) to establish whether there was inhibition of bacterial growth or not at day 0, 1, 20 and 35. The results show a considerable increase in CFU in soils that received both concentrations of ampicillin during the first day compared with control. At day 35 these counting became similar to control or lower. The soils that received enrofloxacin and streptomycin, initially had lower countings than the control and over time these CFU increased. The microbial respiratory activity and the activity of dehydrogenase also confirmed these findings. These results suggest that some microorganisms are using a compound of ampicillin to grow. The other antibiotics decrease the soil microbial population, especially streptomycin. Probably some microorganisms are being selected.
19

Effects of predators on bromeliad-aquatic arthropod communities and ecosystem functioning / Efeito de predadores sobre comunidades de artrópodes aquáticos bromelícolas e funcionamento ecossistêmico

Omena, Paula Munhoz, 1982- 24 August 2018 (has links)
Orientador: Gustavo Quevedo Romero / Texto em português e inglês / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-24T16:18:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Omena_PaulaMunhoz_D.pdf: 3562543 bytes, checksum: 5d44970e0b040040755da9a84ed62a42 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014 / Resumo: Com a intensificação das transformações dos sistemas naturais pela atividade humana, o entendimento dos processos que afetam as comunidades e o funcionamento dos ecossistemas tornou-se um tema central para a ecologia contemporânea. As interações entre as espécies, bem como as interações entre as espécies e os componentes abióticos do meio ambiente, afetam tanto os padões de diversidade biológica como funções ecossistêmicas. Neste trabalho, buscou-se compreender o papel relativo das interações predador-presa e dos componentes abióticos sobre as propriedades das comunidades e funcionamento dos ecossistemas. No primeiro capítulo, investiguei o papel do tamanho do habitat sobre os efeitos de predadores terrestres na estrutura de comunidades e funcionamento de ecossistemas adjacentes. O tamanho do habitat modera cascatas tróficas dentro de ecossistemas, deste modo, esperei que efeitos similares do tamanho do habitat poderiam afetar cascatas tróficas que ocorrem através dos limites dos ecossistemas. No segundo capítulo, explorei predições relacionadas a variação no formato de pirâmides tróficas de biomassa ao longo de gradientes ambientais (tamanho do habitat, concentração de detritos e produtividade). Além disso, investiguei a contribuição relativa dos efeitos de consumo direto e do risco de predação nas interações predador-presa como mecanismos estruturadores de pirâmides tróficas de biomassa. No terceiro capítulo, tive como objetivo investigar os efeitos de dois extremos de um gradiente ambiental e os efeitos de predadores sobre os componentes da diversidade de presas detritívoras (i.e., diversidade funcional, filogenética e taxonômica). Além disso, explorei o papel relativo do ambiente, dos predadores e dos componentes da diversidade sobre o funcionamento ecossistêmico (i.e., decomposição e fluxo de nitrogênio). Os resultados encontrados nos três capítulos demonstram que fatores abióticos são cruciais na determinação das propriedades das comunidades, interações predador-presa e, consequentemente, no funcionamento ecossistêmico. O papel relativo dos efeitos cascatas de predadores é altamente dependente das condições ambientais que medeiam as interações entre predadores e presas / Abstract: In the face of the increasing transformation of environmental conditions by human activity, understanding the processes that affect communities and ecosystem functioning has become fundamental goals in ecology. The interactions between coexisting species and, their interactions with the abiotic components of environment, affect the patterns of biological diversity and functions of ecosystems. In this study, I sought to understand the relative role of predator-prey interactions and of abiotic factors on the communities¿ properties and ecosystem functioning. In the first chapter, I investigated the role of habitat size in mediating the effects of terrestrial predators on the structure of communities and the functioning of adjacent ecosystems. Habitat size mediated trophic cascades within ecosystems; therefore, I expected that similar effects of habitat size affect cross-ecosystem trophic cascades. In the second chapter, I explored predictions related to the variation of trophic pyramids of biomass across environmental gradients (i.e., habitat size, detritus concentration and productivity). Furthermore, I investigated the relative contribution of consumptive and non-consumptive effects of predators on the shape of trophic pyramids of biomass. In the third chapter, I sought to investigate the effects of two extremes of an environmental gradient and the effects of predators on the components of detritivores diversity (i.e., functional, phylogenetic and taxonomic). Moreover, I explored the relative role of environment, predators and detritivore diversity components on the functioning of ecosystems (i.e., detritus processing and nitrogen flux). The results from this study demonstrated that abiotic factors are crucial determinants of community properties, predator-prey interactions and ecosystem functioning. The relative role of the predators cascading effects are strongly dependent on the environmental conditions which mediate the interactions between predators and prey / Doutorado / Ecologia / Doutora em Ecologia
20

In vitro investigations into the antimicrobial and microecological effects of selected anti-plaque agents

Mohamad, Mohamad January 2011 (has links)
The prevalence of oral diseases such as dental caries and periodontitis and the universal need for effective control of oral health has stimulated a great deal of interest in oral hygienic formulations both scientifically and commercially driven. Such formulations are normally deployed as complex formulations commonly containing antimicrobial actives together with excipients, where both classes of ingredients may contribute to the bacteriological effect of the oral hygienic product. However, the mode of action and/or the bacteriological and microecological effects of exposure of microorganisms to oral hygiene products are poorly understood. In this context, this doctoral dissertation represents a series of investigations to contribute to knowledge in the area. The impact of selected oral antimicrobial actives (triclosan, sodium lauryl sulphate, stannous fluoride and zinc lactate) on a key aspect of bacterial cellular membrane function was investigated. This involved measuring major cellular respiratory pathways during exposure to the test agents using two types of tetrazolium dyes possessing different redox potentials as respiration pathway indicators. Spectrophotometric analyses indicated that sub-lethal levels of triclosan and sodium lauryl sulphate act as uncoupling agents, an observation not previously been reported. Sub-lethal concentrations of stannous fluoride and zinc lactate however, blocked cellular respiration with resulting shifts towards glycolytic/fermentative pathways. The contribution of a variety of test agents to the overall antimicrobial effect of a complex formulation (Listerine®) was investigated in order to understand the relative efficacy of the actives. This was achieved by testing the essential oils present in the formulation singly and in combination utilising in vitro models. The use of the hydroxyapatite disc model (HDM) to grow salivary microcosms to test the efficacy of the ingredients revealed hitherto unreported synergistic activity between the active ingredients thymol and menthol. Proprietary dentifrices (Colgate Total® and Crest ProHealth®) containing the antimicrobial agents triclosan or stannous fluoride/zinc lactate, respectively, were comparatively evaluated. This was performed by simultaneously establishing salivary microcosms in Sorbarod Biofilm Devices (SBDs). Following the establishment of dynamic steady-states, paired devices were dosed with each of the two proprietary dentifrices. Bacteriological data generated after multiple dosing indicated that both dentifrices were comparably effective in the reduction of all tested bacterial functional groups in the plaque models. However, data generated using HDM models indicated greater reductions in Gram-negative anaerobes after exposure to Colgate total®. The observations presented in this thesis may contribute to the development of oral formulations with optimised antimicrobial efficacies against adventitious pathogens present in the oral cavity and help in reducing the incidence of oral diseases and potentially related systemic interface.

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