Over the last 150 years the natural nighttime environment has been drastically altered by the proliferation of artificial light. The amount of artificial light at night is on the increase, and there is a current trend to replace older lighting with more energy efficient types such as light emitting diodes (LEDs) or ceramic metal halide; in Cornwall, UK, there has been a relatively recent replacement of the street lighting, from low pressure sodium to ceramic metal halide. Alongside the increasing amount of artificial nighttime light, recent research has highlighted declines in macro moth numbers. Given the well-known ‘flight-to-light’ behaviour of moths, and the negative effects this behaviour can have, alongside other known and potential ways in which nighttime light can affect moths, the increasing amount of artificial light in the environment is a suspected contributor to the declines. It is particularly important to understand how modern lighting technologies will impact upon moths, as different spectra of light are known to vary in terms of how attractive they are. As a means to determine the potential impact of different street lighting types on moths, particularly the ceramic metal halide lighting rolled out in Cornwall, UK, we compared the attractiveness to macro moths, of a number of increasingly used, energy efficient, street lighting types. We found that shorter wavelength metal halide lighting attracted significantly more individuals and species of moth than longer wavelength high pressure sodium lighting. In a second experiment, we also found ceramic metal halide lighting to be more attractive to macro moths than LED lighting. Reduced emissions of short wavelength UV light was deemed the likely reason behind the fewer macro moths attracted to the high pressure sodium and LED lighting. Interestingly, we also found striking differences in the relative attractiveness of the different lighting types to different moth groups. The metal halide lighting attracted significantly more Noctuidae than high pressure sodium lighting, whereas both high pressure sodium and metal halide lighting were equally attractive to Geometridae. Understanding accurately the extent to which different groups of moth are attracted to different wavelengths of light could be useful in determining the impact of artificial light on moth populations. In addition to impacting moths through attraction, artificial light has the potential to alter the day length as perceived by organisms, which at mid- to high latitudes is utilised by certain species as an abiotic cue to ensure the coincidence of development with favourable environmental conditions. Due to a paucity of knowledge on how raised ambient nighttime light levels affect moths and the trophic levels with which they interact, we carried out analyses into the impact of nighttime light on the winter moth and its host plant oak; a well-studied model system, where synchrony between moth egg hatch and oak budburst is important for the moth’s survival. Firstly we carried out an analysis looking at the relationship between the amount of nighttime light and the date of oak budburst. Spatially referenced budburst dates were matched with satellite imagery of nighttime lighting and average spring temperature data, and the relationship between the variables was analysed. Model predictions suggested that oak budburst occurs earlier in brighter areas. In addition, the predicted advance of budburst in brighter areas was still apparent when analysing only the data points that fell outside of large urban areas, where the urban heat island effect is likely reduced. The findings suggested that artificial nighttime light may be causing an advance in oak budburst. To follow up the spatial analysis we carried out a field experiment. We used light cages that simulated various nighttime lighting scenarios to test whether oak budburst and winter moth egg hatch were affected by low intensity light at night. In contrast to the spatial analysis, there was no significant relationship found between light treatment and the phenology of either oak budburst or winter moth egg hatch. However, there was a suggestion in the data that the higher buds of the oak saplings emerged earlier in the yellow light treatment, highlighting the need for further research into the potential impact of artificial nighttime light on phenology and species interactions. In conclusion, the findings of this research project provide information useful to those seeking ecologically sensitive lighting solutions, and also highlight a potential tool to assist in determining whether light at night is a causative factor behind apparent moth declines. In addition, they suggest that artificial light at night may be affecting the phenology of an ecological system at a national scale. Finally, this research project has highlighted the complexity of the ecological impacts of artificial light at night, and also a need for further research.

No description available.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:35:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-10-02Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:26:43Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 nomura_e_dr_rcla.pdf: 1710426 bytes, checksum: 66fb4725979c73d334727039604ebc56 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Lagartas das traças-da-cera Galleria mellonella e Achroia grisella foram oferecidas a fêmeas do endoparasitóide solitário Apanteles galleriae de uma população mantida em condições de laboratório (população de laboratório), e a fêmeas de uma população selvagem, formada a partir de casulos coletados em apiários de Rio Claro e Araras, SP, Brasil (população de campo). Os parasitóides de cada população foram criados por 4 gerações consecutivas. Dois parasitóides machos e uma fêmea, emergidos no mesmo dia e da mesma espécie de hospedeiro foram transferidos para frascos de 30 mL, para propiciar o acasalamento. A cada fêmea fecundada de A. galleriae foram oferecidas 5, 10, 15 ou 20 lagartas de Galleria mellonella ou Achroia grisella de 5º e 6º instar, respectivamente, por uma hora. Após este período, a fêmea foi devolvida ao frasco de origem e as lagartas receberam dieta “ad libidum”. Tal procedimento foi realizado a cada 2 dias, desde o 3º dia de vida da fêmea, até a sua morte. O objetivo da pesquisa foi comparar as proles obtidas de ambas as populações, em relação ao número de descendentes e à razão sexual, bem como avaliar a capacidade de parasitismo do parasitóide, em função da idade da fêmea e da densidade de hospedeiros submetidos ao parasitismo. Utilizou-se um teste de proporções para comparar as freqüências de lagartas de G. mellonella e A. grisella parasitadas por fêmeas de A. galleriae de cada população (F4 ou Lab) e uma análise de variâncias para testar o efeito da idade das fêmeas das duas populações sobre o número de descendentes emergidos, para as quatro densidades de hospedeiros. Uma análise de correlação de Pearson foi usada para avaliar o efeito da idade materna sobre a razão sexual registrada para os parasitóides obtidos em cada grupo experimental. As maiores eficiências de parasitismo registradas foram 42,59% para... / Caterpillars of Galleria mellonella and Achroia grisella were offered to females of the solitary endoparasitoid Apanteles galleriae from a population maintained under laboratory conditions (laboratory population), and females from a wild population, formed from cocoons collected in apiaries of Rio Claro and Araras, SP, Brazil (field population). The parasitoids of each population were reared by four consecutive generations. Two males and a female, emerged on the same day and reared in the same host species, were transferred to a 30 mL vial in order to allow mating. Caterpillars of A. grisella (sixth instar) or G. mellonella (fifth instar) were offered for sixty minutes to each mated and expert female, with 2 to 5 days of age, in one of the four host densities used in this research (5, 10, 15 and 20 hosts/female). After this period, the female was given back to the original vial, and the caterpillars received diet ad libidum. Such procedure was accomplished every 2 days, since the 3rd day of the female life until her death. The objective of this research was to compare the offsprings from both populations, in relation to the number of descendants and sex ratio, and also the capacity of parasitism of A. galleriae in relation to the age of the female and the density of hosts submitted to the parasitism. A test for difference of proportions was applied to compare the frequencies of caterpillars of G. mellonella and A. grisella parasitized by A. galleriae females of each population (F4 or Lab), and an analysis of variances was used to evaluate the effect of the age of females from both populations on the number of descendants emerged, as a function of the host densities. A Pearson’s correlation analysis was utilized to test the effect of maternal age on sexual proportion recorded for parasitoids of each experimental group. The highest efficiencies of parasitism recorded were 42.59% to ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

A traça-da-batata, Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller, 1873) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), é praga-chave da batata (Solanum tuberosum L., Solanaceae), causando sérios prejuízos em países produtores do mundo inteiro, com danos que podem atingir 100% em tubérculos armazenados. O uso de inseticidas químicos para controle de P. operculella geralmente aumenta os custos de produção, gera resíduos tóxicos e causa intoxicações nos produtores. O controle biológico é uma alternativa desejável para ser incorporado no Manejo Integrado de Pragas (MIP). O granulovírus, PhopGV (Baculoviridae), é um importante inimigo natural de P. operculella, causando epizootias frequentes nas populações dessa praga. O presente trabalho investigou o potencial de um isolado nativo de PhopGV sobre a fase larval de P. operculella a diferentes temperaturas de incubação em tubérculo (18, 24 e 30 °C) e na parte aérea de batata. Estudos relacionados à persistência do vírus aplicado em tubérculos e aos efeitos subletais da infecção viral sobre o peso pupal e o sistema imune de lagartas desse inseto foram executados. A suscetibilidade de um hospedeiro alternativo ao vírus, a traça-do-tomateiro Tuta absoluta (Meyrick, 1917) (Lepid.: Gelechiidae), foi avaliada em folhas de tomateiro (Solanum lycopersium L., Solanaceae). Em outros bioensaios, avaliou-se o efeito combinado de dois produtos à base de nim (DalNeem® e NeemAZAl®) com PhopGV sobre a mortalidade larval e rendimento de lagartas infectadas de P. operculella. Uma formulação em pó seco do vírus com talco foi desenvolvida para conferir proteção aos tubérculos. As temperaturas de incubação não afetaram a suscetibilidade de lagartas de P. operculella ao vírus, nem o rendimento de lagartas infectadas e a proporção de lagartas não recuperadas nos bioensaios em tubérculos. Porém, esses parâmetros foram altamente dependentes da concentração viral e 100% de mortalidade larval foi obtida a partir de 1 x 106 OB.mL-1. Apesar de não ter ocorrido diferenças no rendimento de lagartas infectadas entre as temperaturas, o período de incubação até a coleta destas lagartas foi menor a 30 °C. Na parte aérea, lagartas de P. operculella foram menos suscetíveis ao patógeno do que em tubérculos, sugerindo aplicação de diferentes dosagens do vírus para lavoura de batata e tubérculo armazenado. O vírus demonstrou alta persistência durante o armazenamento, mantendo-se viável por até 60 dias com mortalidade > 80%. A transmissão do vírus da lagarta para pupa em baixas concentrações (< 1 x 106 OB.mL- 1) foi confirmada. As pupas infectadas não apresentaram pesos diferentes daquelas sadias. A infecção viral provocou drástica redução no número total de hemócitos circulantes na hemolinfa de lagartas doentes. A melhor combinação de vírus com nim foi obtida pela mistura de 4 ppm DalNeem + 1 x 104 OB.mL-1 PhopGV, que resultou em maior mortalidade larval do que os agentes aplicados sozinhos. NeemAzal teve efeito antagônico na mistura com PhopGV em razão da baixa mortalidade larval registrada. O vírus formulado com talco proporcionou altos níveis de mortalidade (> 70%) nas concentrações < 5 x 106 OB.mL-1 do que o vírus não formulado. PhopGV pode ser produzido in vivo em tubérculos de batata a 24-30 °C, e a sua combinação com talco ou DalNeem, ambos em baixas concentrações, foi muito eficiente contra P. operculella, devendo ser considerada em programas de manejo integrado. / The Potato Tuber Moth (PTM), Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller, 1873) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is a major pest of potato causing up to 100% damage worldwide, especially under storage conditions. The use of chemical pesticides to control PTM usually increases production costs, generates toxic residues and farmer intoxications. Biological control is a desired alternative to be incorporated in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs. The granulovirus, PhopGV (Baculoviridae) is one of the most important natural enemies of PTM, frequently causing epizootics in host populations. The current research focused on basic studies to evaluate the potential of PhopGV to control PTM at different incubation temperatures (18, 24 e 30 °C) on potato tuber and on foliage. Investigations about virus persistence were done for treated tubers, and side-effects due to viral infection were assessed on pupal weight and immune system of PTM larvae. The susceptibility of a related host, the tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick, 1917) (Lepid.: Gelechiidae), to the virus was also investigated on tomato leaves (Solanum lycopersium L., Solanaceae). In order to improve larval mortality by the pathogen, the virus was tested at different concentrations in combination with two neem products (DalNeem® and NeemAZAl®), and PhopGV was also tested in talc dust formulation. All tested temperatures did not affect the susceptibility of PTM larvae to PhopGV, neither the yield of infected larvae nor the rate of larvae not recovered on tuber bioassays. These parameters were highly dependent on the virus concentration and concentrations > 1 x 106 OB.mL-1 resulted in 100% larval mortality. Although the yield of infected larvae did not vary among the temperatures, the incubation period until the harvest of these larvae was shorter at 30 °C. On potato foliage, PTM larvae were less susceptible to the virus than on tubers, indicating that different virus dosages must be used for applications in field and storage conditions. The pathogen showed high persistence resulting in more than 80% larval mortality 60 days post-treatment. The transmission of the virus from larva to pupa at lower virus inoculum (< 1 x 106 OB.mL-1) was confirmed. However, the infected pupae had similar weights to those healthy ones. Infected larvae presented much lower densities of haemocytes compared to uninfected larvae. The best combination of PhopGV and neem products was achieved by the mixture of 4 ppm DalNeem with 1 x 104 OB.mL-1 PhopGV, which resulted in higher PTM mortalities than both agents applied alone. NeemAzal had antagonistic effect when mixed with PhopGV resulting on reduced larval mortality. The talc dust formulation of virus promoted higher mortalities (> 70%) at concentrations < 5 x 106 OB.mL-1 than to nonformulated virus. PhopGV can be produced in vivo on potato tubers at 24-30 °C, and the use of this virus in combination with talc or DalNeem, both at lower concentrations, was very efficient against PTM and must be considered in integrated management programs.

O presente estudo listou e analisou a composição e a estrutura da comunidade de saturnídeos atraídos por luz da Estação Biológica de Boraceia (EBB), Salesóplis, São Paulo, Brasil. A EBB pertence ao Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo (MZUSP) e compreende uma área de 96 ha, por sua vez localizada dentro do maior remanescente brasileiro de Mata Atlântica da atualidade. A fauna de Saturniidae foi levantada através de exemplares da coleção de Lepidoptera do MZUSP, sendo estes dados complementados com 13 meses de coletas recentes, entre 2012 e 2013, quando foram realizadas coletas noturnas de 12 horas, por quatro noites em cada mês. Adicionalmente, foi produzida uma lista de 114 espécies de Saturniidae coletados no bioma Mata Atlântica, para muitas das quais foram gerados registros fotográficos in situ e de exemplares montados. Os dados oriundos deste levantamento foram comparados com outros estudos sobre Saturniidae realizados no Brasil e demonstraram número elevado de espécies para EBB (119 espécies) quando comparado aos dados disponíveis de outros levantamentos, como os de Saturniidae do Rio Grande do Sul, do Paraná e do bioma (ou ecótono) Cerrado. Os dados das coletas recentes (2012-2013) foram comparados com a assembleia destes lepidópteros amostrada em 25 meses consecutivos durante os anos de 1948 a 1950. Esta comparação demonstrou que a riqueza e a uniformidade das espécies registradas recentemente (2012-2013) é significativamente próxima daquela registrada no período histórico (1948-1950). Alguns exemplares representaram novos registros de espécies para EBB, e algumas espécies foram coletadas exclusivamente em algum momento de todo o período histórico. A área de coleta demonstrou grande densidade de espécies do gênero Hylesia Hübner, 1920 com pelo menos 15 espécies (sendo destas 3 morfoespécies) coletadas em 1.158 exemplares. Estes resultados asseguram a importância do remanescente de Mata Atlântica da Serra do Mar para manutenção de espécies de Saturniidae e ainda, demonstram a significância da EBB para estudos faunísticos de insetos da Mata Atlântica. Algumas avaliações sobre as distribuições sazonal e circadiana dos exemplares coletados em 2012-2013 apontaram padrões que poderão ser utilizados para testar hipóteses de comportamento e biologia das espécies. As espécies apresentaram tanto distribuição restrita ao longo do ano, quanto foram mais amplamente distribuídas. Da mesma forma algumas espécies apresentaram altos picos de abundâncias em períodos restritos da noite, enquanto outras ocorreram em distintos horários. A avaliação da alternância de espécies ao longo do ano e ao longo da noite indicou que há alta alternância de espécies para ambos os ciclos, ressaltando a importância de um levantamento que se ocupe com coletas durante todos os meses do ano e durante todo o período noturno. Demonstrou ainda, que a flutuação de abundância das espécies agrupadas em cada uma das cinco subfamílias representadas nas amostras, seguem padrões tanto semelhantes, quanto contrastantes. / This study evaluated and summarized the composition and structure of the saturniid community attracted to light trapping in a remnant of Atlantic Rainforest of the Boraceia Biological Station (EBB), Salesópolis, São Paulo, Brazil. The EBB belongs to Zoological Museum of University of São Paulo (MZUSP) and comprises a 96 ha area located inside the largest Brazilina remananent of the Atlantica Rain Forest. The Saturniidae fauna of this reserve was inventoried based on the specimens deposited at the MZUSP, and it was complemented with 13 months of recently field samplings between 2012 and 2013. Complementary field sampling was based on nocturnal collections of 12 hours along four nights on each of the 13 months. As a result we listed 114 species of the family Saturniidae. Many species were photographed in situ, for illustration of the dorsal and ventral habitus of each species we used the pinned specimens of the collection. Comparisons with other inventories of Saturniidae conducted in different Brazilian localities were performed and demonstrated an elevated number of species in EBB when compared to the data available from other inverntories, from Rio Grande do Sul state, Paraná state and the Savana bioma. Recent field samplings (2012-2013) were compared with the assemblage of saturniids from 25 consecutive months between 1948 and 1950. This comparison demonstrated that the richness and the uniformity of the species recentelly registered (2012-2013) is similar to that from the historical period (1948-1950). Few specimens constituted new record for EBB and other few were sampled exclusively on the whole range of the historical period. The studied area indicated high density of species of Hyleisa Hübner, 1920 with at least 15 species (with three morphospecies) collected, distributed in 1.158 specimens. The results stress the importance of the Serra do Mar Atlatic forest remanent to the conservation of the species of Saturniidae and yet, demonstrate the importance of EBB for the study of insects from the Atlantic Rain Forest. The analysis related to the seasonality and circadian pattern of the recently collected specimens (2012-2013) can be further used to test hypothesis of behavior and biology of the species. The abundance of species showed distinct fluctuation along the year, while some had concentrated distribution, others were broadly sampled along several months. Similarly, some species presented high pics of abundance on restricted periods during the night, while other speces were sampled in several distinct periods. The evaluation of the interchange of species during the year and during the night indicated hight interchanging of species for both cicles, sazonal and cyrcadina, stressing the importance of inventories of Saturniidae with effort along the entire year and along the hole night period. The same evaluation also demonstrated that the fluctuation of the abundance of species grouped by subfamilies follow similar and contrasting patters depending on the subfamilies that are being compaired.

Orientador: André Victor Lucci Freitas / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-18T19:14:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Ribeiro_DaniloBandini_D.pdf: 21049242 bytes, checksum: aa5d5c4cafb6f3c74669788c029701d9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Resumo: A Amazônia representa mais da metade da área de todas as florestas tropicais do mundo, e vem sendo ameaçada por diversas atividades antrópicas, incluindo vários tipos de extração de madeira. O corte seletivo de impacto reduzido (em inglês "Reduced Impact Logging - RIL") é considerado um método menos destrutivo de exploração madeireira que promove uma menor alteração na estrutura da floresta comparado com métodos convencionais. No entanto, existem poucas informações sobre os efeitos do RIL em invertebrados, incluindo borboletas. Desta forma, investigamos o efeito do RIL na estrutura da vegetação florestal e sobre as borboletas frugívoras, comparando a fauna do dossel e do sub-bosque entre uma área explorada (RIL) e uma área não explorada (controle). Devido à pouca informação disponível sobre protocolos de amostragem para as borboletas tropicais, alguns aspectos metodológicos relativos à amostragem dos ninfalídeos frugívoros foram investigados. Analisamos como a detectabilidade varia entre diferentes espécies, habitats (Amazônia x Mata Atlântica), estratos da floresta e também qual o esforço adequado de amostragem para detectar uma certa quantidade espécies em uma determinada área, no prente estudo esta quantidade foi estabelecida como 25% do total de espécies estimado no local. Implicações biológicas Uma floresta não explorada apresenta árvores adultas e juvenis maiores do que as de uma floresta explorada (RIL). O número de plântulas e mudas é maior na floresta explorada (RIL) e a distribuição de freqüências de tamanhos (SDFslope) não foi diferente entre as áreas de RIL (-2,61) e não explorada (-2,31). A abertura do dossel foi maior na floresta não explorada, provavelmente devido a um aumento das plantas do sub-bosque na floresta RIL. A área basal e altura das árvores foram maiores na floresta não explorada. Em relação às borboletas frugívoras, a fauna do dossel é diferente e significativamente mais rica do que a fauna do sub-bosque, mostrando que amostrar apenas o estrato mais baixo pode subestimar a diversidade de borboletas. Os efeitos do RIL foram detectados principalmente na assembleia de borboletas do sub-bosque, onde foram observadas diferenças significativas na composição de espécies entre as áreas. Os impactos do RIL, que incluem o corte de árvores, a abertura de trilhas de arraste e de estradas, são mais intensos no sub-bosque do que no dossel. Estas diferentes intensidades de impacto no dossel e no sub-bosque podem explicar os diferentes efeitos do RIL nas borboletas presente nesses estratos. Considerando o grande potencial das borboletas frugívoras para prever as respostas de vários outros grupos taxonômicos à perturbação da floresta na Amazônia, esperamos que padrões semelhantes sejam encontrados em outros táxons. No entanto, apesar dos efeitos detectáveis do RIL em borboletas frugívoras, não pudemos perceber espécies que foram excluídas ou que invadiram a área de RIL, os nossos resultados mostram principalmente diferenças nas abundâncias das espécies entre as áreas. Este resultado é similar ao encontrado em estudos feitos com outros taxa mostra que o RIL em geral não altera a diversidade de espécies podendo ser uma alternativa para preservar uma parcela significativa da fauna em áreas com este tipo de exploração. A criação de áreas protegidas na Amazônia apesar de desejável é bastante complicada e nem sempre é efetiva na preservação da cobertura vegetal, assim sendo o corte seletivo de impacto reduzido pode ser considerado uma boa alternativa para preservar borboletas frugívoras na floresta amazônica e, certamente, muitos outros táxons. Além disso, devido ao alto valor da madeira produzida neste sistema, esta poderia ser uma alternativa econômica desejável para a região. Implicações metodológicas Quase todas as borboletas e mariposas amostrados no presente estudo foram mais facilmente amostradas em um estrato específico (dossel ou sub-bosque). No presente estudo, mesmo as espécies mais comuns do dossel raramente foram amostradas no subbosque. Assim, fazer uso de um protocolo de amostragem que não utiliza armadilhas em ambos os estratos irá aumentar os erros de detecção de muitas borboletas e pode conduzir a inferências incorretas sobre a riqueza e diversidade em uma determinada área. As diferenças na detectabilidade entre os meses no conjunto de dados da Amazônia mostraram que mesmo quando as borboletas são amostradas durante o período do ano com maior probabilidade de captura, existem diferenças importantes na detectabilidade entre os meses. A baixa detectabilidade e a grande variação entre os estratos e meses nos levam a propor que, para borboletas frugívoras, a amostragem deve ser feita na época correta e em florestas altas os diferentes estratos devem ser considerados de modo a reduzir os erros de detecção e possíveis vieses nos resultados. O esforço amostral mínimo para a detecção de 25% das espécies presentes nas florestas tropicais é de 130 armadilhas / dia para a Mata Atlântica e 510 dias para Amazônia Central. Além disso, a amostragem deve ser feita com réplicas temporais em um curto espaço de tempo para aumentar o poder de interpretação dos dados coletados / Abstract: The Amazon region represents more than half of the area of all tropical forests in the world, and has been threatened by many anthropogenic activities, including several kinds of timber harvesting. Reduced-Impact Logging (RIL) is considered a less destructive method of timber harvesting that promotes a smaller change in forest structure than conventional logging. However, there is a general lack of information about the effects of RIL on Amazonian invertebrates, including butterflies. We therefore investigated the effect of RIL on forest vegetation structure and on fruit-feeding butterflies by comparing their distribution on canopy and understory between an area under RIL and a control area without RIL. Because of the relative lack of information about sampling protocols for tropical butterflies, some methodological aspects of fruit-feeding Nymphalidae sampling were investigated. We analyzed the variation in detectability among species, habitats (Amazon x Atlantic Forest), layers and the adequate sampling effort need for detect an specific amount of species in a given area were analyzed in this thesis, in the present study this amount was established as 25% of the total estimated species richness. Biological implications An unlogged forest has bigger juveniles and adult trees, and less seedlings and saplings than a RIL forest, and the Size Frequency Distribution (SDF) slope was not different from those of logged (-2.61) and unlogged (-2.31) areas. The canopy openness was greater in the unlogged forest, probably due to an increase of understory plants in the RIL forest. The basal area was wider and the height was taller in unlogged forest trees. In relation to the fruit-feeding butterflies, the canopy fauna is different and significantly richer than the understory fauna, showing that sampling only the lower strata underestimates the diversity of fruit-feeding butterflies. The effects of RIL were mainly detected in the understory butterfly assemblage, as significant differences were observed in species composition within this stratum. Effects of the RIL regime, which include tree cutting, skid trails and road openings, are stronger in the understory than in the canopy, explaining the reported differences. Despite the detectable effects of RIL on the composition of fruit-feeding butterfly's assemblages the overall diversity was not affected, this pattern is very similar for many other taxa indicating that a noticeable part of the diversity of many taxa could be preserved in areas under RIL management. Given the problems of creating protected areas in the Amazon, RIL is a good alternatives to preserve fruit-feeding butterflies and surely many other taxa, and it might be a desirable economic alternative for the region. Methodological implications Almost all butterflies and moths sampled in the present study were more readily trapped in one specific stratum. Indeed, in the present study, even the most common canopy species were rarely sampled in the understory. Thus, using a sampling protocol that does not locate traps in both layers will increase the imperfect detection of many butterflies and could lead to incorrect inferences about the richness and diversity in a given area. The differences in detectability between months in the Amazon dataset showed that even with an experimental design planned for sampling butterflies during the period that enhances capture probability, there are important differences in butterfly detectability across months. The low detectability and great variation among strata and months in fruit-feeding butterflies lead us to assume that sampling designs must address sampling effort to the correct season and strata reducing imperfect detections and biases in the results. The minimal sampling effort for detecting 25% of the species present in tropical forests is 130 trap/days in Atlantic Forest and 510 days in Central Amazon. Additionally, such sampling should use temporal replication over a short period to improve the interpretability of the data collected / Doutorado / Doutor em Ecologia

Les invasions biologiques sont un fardeau économique important si elles affectent des ressources critiques pour l’alimentation, la sante humaine ou les productions agricoles. Les ravageurs de la pomme de terre sont un challenge économique important tant ce tubercule est un aliment clé dans les pays andins. Il est possible de suivre la dispersion récente de la teigne du Guatemala, T. solanivora en Amérique du Sud depuis son introduction au Vénézuela à sa propagation progressive vers le sud. Par ailleurs, les invasions récentes fournissent un modèle unique pour analyser les processus d’adaptation de tout l’écosystème receveur au nouveau venu. Cette introduction de T. solanivora et sa coexistence avec la teigne endémique Phthorimaea operculella, nous offre la possibilité d’étudier l’adaptation de populations virales inféodées à P. operculella au nouvel hôte T. solanivora. Une étude de terrain a été engagée dans les régions productrices de pomme de terre en Colombie. A partir des larves de T. solanivora collectées sur 5 sites distincts, des infections à granulovirus ont été détectées. Tous les isolats viraux sont apparentés au Phthorimaea operculella granulovirus (PhopGV) précédemment décrit. Des différences de pathogénicité envers les deux hôtes ont été observées. Une variabilité a été détectée pour certains isolats au niveau de deux marqueurs génétiques. Les populations présentant une diversité génétique s’avèrent plus pathogènes sur les deux hôtes que des populations génétiquement homogènes. Elles offrent une opportunité pour le contrôle biologique de ces ravageurs. Des populations artificielles ont été construites pour mimer des populations naturelles mélangées. Elles se comportent de la même manière d’un point de vue biologique, mais l’évolution de la fréquence des marqueurs n’est pas liée à l’efficacité biologique, ce qui suggère que des différences non détectées dans le génome pourraient être responsables de l’adaptation de l’hôte. La productivité des infections dans les deux hôtes a été étudiée car elle est la clé de voute du développement d’un agent de contrôle biologique. Les productivités sur P. operculella (1,36 à 2,69 × 108 OBs/ mg) et T. solanivora (0,48 à 3,64 × 108 OBs/mg) ne sont pas très différentes. Les populations génétiquement mélangées ne se distinguent pas des populations homogènes par leur production totale dans l’un ou l’autre des deux hôtes, cependant, les rendements (production virale/inoculum) montrent des différences claires, les populations mélangées (naturelles ou artificielles) sont plus performantes sur les deux hôtes. Aucune réduction de la pathogénicité sur l’hôte d’origine n’a été observée après plusieurs cycles de réplication de la population virale sur l’hôte alternatif. Les populations virales originellement adaptées à P. operculella ont évolué pour infecter T. solanivora. Dans les régions où les deux hôtes sont présents, les populations virales développent une stratégie pour être efficaces sur les deux hôtes. / Biological invasions constitute an important economical burden when they affect key resources for human alimentation, health or agronomic productions. Potato pests are important as this tuber is a key food source in Andean countries. The recent dispersion of the Guatemalan potato tuber moth, T. solanivora in South America can be traced back to the introduction in Venezuela, with progressive dispersion towards the South. Recent invasions provide, in addition, a unique model to analyse the process of adaptation of the whole receiving ecosystem to the new comers. This introduction of T. solanivora and its coexistence with the endemic potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella offer us the possibility of studying the adaptation to T. solanivora of virus populations infeodated to the later. A survey has been carried out in the potato-producing regions of Colombia. From the T. solanivora larvae collected, granulovirus infections were detected in five different locations. All virus isolates are related to the previously described Phthorimaea operculella granulovirus (PhopGV). Differences in the pathogenicity against the two hosts were observed. Variability was detected in some isolates at two genetic markers. Genetically diverse populations appear to be more pathogenic for both hosts than genetically homogeneous populations. They provide a possible solution for the biological control of these insect pests. Artificial populations were constructed to mimic the mixed natural populations. They behave similarly from a biological point of view, but the evolution of the markers frequencies is not related to the biological efficacy, suggesting that undetected differences in the genomes could be responsible of this host adaptation. The productivity of the infections in both hosts has been studied as it constitutes a key point for the development of a biocontrol agent. The productivity in P. operculella (1.36 to 2.69 × 108 OBs/ mg) and T. solanivora (0.48 to 3.64 × 108 OBs/mg) are not very different. Genotypically mixed populations cannot be differentiated from homogeneous populations by their total production in one or the other host, however, the yields (virus output/doses to infect) show clear differences, mixed populations (natural or artificial) perform better in both hosts. No reduction in the pathogenicity for one host was observed after few cycles of replication of the virus population in the second host. Virus populations originally adapted to P. operculella had evolved to infect T. solanivora. In regions where both host are present, the populations developed a strategy to be efficient on both hosts.

<p>The prevalence of monoculture and landscape simplification is correlated with diminished biodiversity and increased presence of harmful pest species in crop environments. Lepidoptera is the largest clade of herbivorous insects, with many agriculturally significant species. The pest status of insects in agricultural settings is human-defined based on behaviors that may negatively impact the yield of susceptible crops. As such, both the insect behavior and the affected crop play a part in determining pest status. One helpful means of understanding pest status involves using pest injury guilds, which distinguish different pest groups based on similar kinds of injury to comparable plant tissues. Pest injury guilds defined in the literature are reviewed and then applied to agriculturally-significant Lepidoptera. Specialized Lepidoptera behaviors are reviewed within their respective injury guilds, and the systematics, ecology, and control options for fruit-piercing moths are discussed within the context of pest Lepidoptera behaviors. To address the need for distribution information for economically relevant Lepidoptera, the first annotated checklist of pest Lepidoptera is also provided for the United States and Canada. This checklist includes 80 agriculturally significant Lepidoptera species and complexes, and incorporates notes on distribution, species delimitation, natural history, and establishment.<br></p> <p><b> </b></p> <p>Fruit-piercing moths in the genus <i>Eudocima</i> Billberg, 1820 have significant pest status as adults rather than as larvae, and directly injure fruits using a specially-adapted proboscis. There are at least 48 <i>Eudocima</i> species which are found in the world’s tropics, but confusion persists in the classification of this genus and there are several suspected complexes. Additionally, the area of origin for this group is uncertain, although the Oriental region has been postulated. A comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of <i>Eudocima</i> is conducted using 82 morphological characters, which are each described and figured, and analyzed using parsimony. Results suggest that <i>Eudocima</i> is not monophyletic. Strongly-resolved relationships were recovered, although these did not correspond with previous generic concepts. The Australian region is recovered as the most parsimonious area of origin for <i>Eudocima</i>, and patterns of dispersal, particularly between the Oriental and Australian regions along the Indo-Australian Archipelago, are discussed.</p> <p> </p> <p>The <i>Eudocima phalonia</i>-complex is distributed throughout the Old World and has been the subject of increasing interest and research due to its economic impact in the tropics and status as a potential invasive species. The recent description of closely-related sister species, as well as morphological variation documented within <i>E. phalonia</i> itself, suggests possible speciation occurring within <i>E. phalonia</i> populations across its wide geographic range. To test species boundaries for this taxon, a molecular phylogeny is constructed using anchored hybrid enrichment and a next-generation sequencing approach. Sampling for this phylogeny was informed using a global range map for <i>E. phalonia</i>, which was developed using georeferenced specimen data from natural history collections. Biogeographic analyses are also conducted to investigate the area of origin and dispersal patterns of <i>E. phalonia</i>, and to examine possible speciation modes and gene flow. Georeferenced range information is also utilized along with environmental variables in constructing a correlative environmental niche model using MaxEnt, which is used to evaluate a previous mini risk assessment for environmental suitability in the continental United States for <i>E. phalonia</i> establishment. Results suggest that <i>E. phalonia</i> is monophyletic, with gene flow still occurring between populations. The area of origin for <i>E. phalonia</i> is postulated to be the Oriental region, although further investigation is needed. Range predictions for <i>E. phalonia</i> from environmental modelling were performed for both the Old World, which concurred well with occurrence data, and for the New World. Assessment of environmental suitability for <i>E. phalonia</i> in the continental United States suggests areas in Florida and along the Gulf Coast are most favorable for establishment.</p>

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 217-230). Details the biology and life history of the Quandong moth and investigates management strategies that would enable growers to manage the pest in an economically and environmentally sustainable program.

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 217-230). / 230 leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Details the biology and life history of the Quandong moth and investigates management strategies that would enable growers to manage the pest in an economically and environmentally sustainable program. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Applied and Molecular Ecology, 2001