Submitted by GISLENE PARREIRAS COSTA null (giscosta1@hotmail.com) on 2017-05-02T20:25:27Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DISSERTAÇÃO FINALissima IMPRIMIR 02 maio 2017.pdf: 709377 bytes, checksum: 2269ffdcc1be5a2294b7c367a1c7e2cb (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luiz Galeffi (luizgaleffi@gmail.com) on 2017-05-03T20:14:39Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 costa_gp_me_assis.pdf: 709377 bytes, checksum: 2269ffdcc1be5a2294b7c367a1c7e2cb (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-03T20:14:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 costa_gp_me_assis.pdf: 709377 bytes, checksum: 2269ffdcc1be5a2294b7c367a1c7e2cb (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-03-07 / O Cerrado, um dos principais biomas brasileiros, tem sofrido sucessivas agressões a sua biodiversidade, ocasionando o desaparecimento de inúmeras espécies com potencial biotecnológico. Dentre as espécies típicas do Cerrado, Annona crassiflora Mart. (Annonaceae), também conhecida como marolo, possui especial importância, principalmente devido à presença de fitoquímicos com ação antioxidante. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo investigar a ação antioxidante e quantificar a presença de fenóis, flavonoides e taninos nos extratos hidroalcoólicos obtidos a partir das folhas e da polpa de frutos de A. crassiflora. Foi possível verificar que o extrato hidroalcoólico obtido a partir das folhas de A. crassiflora apresentou valores de compostos fenólicos, flavonoides e taninos equivalentes aos respectivos padrões (ácido gálico, quercetina e proantocianidinas, respectivamente). Com base nestes resultados, foi produzido e testado, in vitro, um fitocosmético em forma de gel. Com base nos resultados obtidos foi possível concluir que a formulação de um gel enriquecido com este extrato abre a possibilidade do desenvolvimento de um novo fitocosmético com atividade antienvelhecimento. / The Cerrado, one of the main Brazilian biomes, has undergone successive aggressions against its rich biodiversity, causing the disappearance of numerous species with biotechnological potential. Among the typical species of the Cerrado, Annona crassiflora Mart. (Annonaceae), also known as marolo, has special importance, mainly due to the presence of phytochemicals with antioxidant action. The present work had as objective to investigate the antioxidant action and to quantify the presence of phenols, flavonoids and tannins in the hydroalcoholic extracts obtained from the leaves and fruit pulp of A. crassiflora. It was possible to verify that the hydroalcoholic extract of A. crassiflora leaves contain phenolic compounds that can serve as natural sources of antioxidant agents, especially tannins. Based on these results, we produced and testedppp, in vitro, a phytocosmetic in gel form, obtaining very promising results. In this way, the formulation and evaluation of a gel enriched with this extract opens the possibility of the development of a new phytocosmetics with antiaging activity.

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Landscape architects and designers have the ability to construct plantings in a landscape with native or non-native plants, or a combination of both plant types. The question at hand is, why choose one over the other? This study explores what might impact the plant choice decisions of practicing landscape architects in the southeast United States. A survey is utilized to understand how respondents make plant choice decisions and perceive native plants. Comparisons between previous studies are made focusing on their distribution methods, survey populations and major findings. The findings of this study are not conclusive due to a small response rate; however, they can be applied to the survey population. The results may indicate that the most common obstacles when using native plants are limited availability of natives and difficulty sourcing them, aesthetics and negative client perception, and the maintenance requirements and lack of maintenance knowledge of native plants.

My research findings have implications for applied ecology and restoration policy in Ontario. I my discussions, and final chapter, I offer suggestions for the practitioner. / Restoration practitioners are tasked with recreating ecosystems using appropriate plant material that will provide ecological goods and services. However, best-practices for this type of intervention are not well developed for the southern Ontario landscape. Therefore, we evaluated approaches from four different aspects of seed-based restoration. First, we quantified the impact of seeding rate and application method on the success of grassland recreation. We also measured the impact of this restoration on the local bee community. Next, we compared a suite of native and nearly native wetland plants for their potential to prevent the establishment of invasive Phragmites australis. We measured the effect of competition on Phragmites across soil moisture and salinity gradients. Finally, we sought evidence for local specialization in a grassland forb, Monarda fistulosa, that would warrant policies to prevent the transfer of grassland seed for revegetation. In re-creating grasslands from seed, we found an interaction between seeding rate and application method. At a high rate, both methods had the same outcome, but at a low rate, a two-phase application method produced better results than a single-phase method. However, we also found that a single-phase method produced target plant cover with a higher floristic quality index after three years. In one study region, restored sites supported a greater bee abundance than un-restored sites, but bee abundance did not change after restoration in all regions. Of all the native species tested, Phragmites was supressed most by Bidens frondosa, a fast growing annual. We also found evidence that Phragmites may be less competitive at low soil moisture, and more competitive at high soil salinity. Finally, we found no evidence of local adaptation in M. fistulosa at the watershed scale; instead, we see independent effects of site and seed origin. This implies that current site conditions may not be favorable to the offspring of relic populations, and that local genotypes may not always be the best choice for restoration. / Dissertation / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / I tested four approaches to seed-based restoration. First I found that a two-phase hydroseeding method can be more efficient at a low seeding rate. Second, I found that the response of the bee community to local restoration may depend on broader landscape factors. Next, I found that Monarda fistulosa is not locally adapted at a watershed scale. Finally, I found that native annuals may be best at resisting invasion from Phragmites, and that some native species actually can facilitate invasion.

This dissertation is an inquiry into two disciplines: recreation ecology and geospatial analysis. The dissertation consists of three journal article manuscripts focusing on the sustainability of recreational infrastructure components in backcountry and wilderness settings. Two articles focus on campsite conditions, nodal areas of visitor use and impact. The third article focuses on trail conditions, linear corridors of visitor use and impact. Campsites and trails comprise the most visited and impacted components of recreation infrastructure; locations where protected natural area visitors spend the majority of their time and where the majority of resource impacts occur. Resource conditions at these locations affect the quality of recreational experiences and are the focus of management and scientific efforts to measure and manage visitation-related resource impacts. The articles provide a strong scientific background to understanding ecological processes and better preparing recreation planners and managers for sustainable infrastructure management decision-making. The first article assesses the sustainability of campsites over thirty-two years of use in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) in northern Minnesota. Differences in vegetation composition, tree cover and groundcover from 1982 to 2014 were measured. Paired t-tests analyzed significant ecological differences on campsites and paired controls over time. Best management practices for managing campsites for the long-term are suggested. The second article analyzes the extent of non-native plants on campsites over thirty-two years. Paired t-tests were used to look at cover and abundance on campsites and control areas between 1982 and 2014. This paper explores ecological benefits and degradation incurred by non-native plants on campsites over time and discusses implications for wilderness character at BWCAW. The third article is interdisciplinary, incorporating ground-based recreation ecology measurements with technical spatial analyses and modeling to improve understanding of erosional processes on trails. Fine resolution terrain data was used to examine terrain metrics as they relate to amount of soil loss. Multiple Linear Regression was used to test a number of variables taken from the field and derived from Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software using a 1m Digital Elevation Model. This paper explores relationships between different terrain variables and soil loss observed on the Appalachian Trail. It provides insights on which terrain features influence erosion and provides recommendations to trail managers to design more sustainable trails. / Ph. D.

Pollinators provide key ecological services. With one-third of our global food production dependent on pollinators, maintaining healthy pollinator communities is vital. Bees are the most pervasive and effective pollinator species, yet are currently declining worldwide, with the main cause linked to habitat loss. To combat this decline, researchers are turning to suburban landscapes to aid in pollinator conservation. Incorporating native plants into suburban landscapes has been shown to benefit pollinators. However, there is a lack of information on how different landscape designs and growing conditions influence pollinator communities. To better understand whether native plants can effectively improve suburban pollinator habitats, this research asked: 1) how does irrigation and soil composition influence the availability of floral resources, 2) which plants attract the greatest number and diversity of pollinators, and 3) how do native vs non-native landscape designs impact a residential neighborhood’s ability to support pollinator communities? Using 27 different native plant species that were subjected to a combination of irrigation and compost treatments, we examined plant-pollinator interactions in 16 fully replicated and randomized experimental plots. Additionally, we compared the pollinator communities of two newly developed neighborhoods - one using traditional, non-native plants and the other incorporating native plants into their landscape design. Pollinators were sampled during the spring, summer, and fall of 2022-2023 through visual counts of pollinators visiting open flowers. Blooming flowers for each plant species were counted concurrently to determine floral abundance. Compost addition at planting greatly increased both floral and pollinator abundance over two years, but regular irrigation did not have a clear impact. Native-based landscapes had significantly higher pollinator abundance and diversity when compared to traditional landscape designs. The results of this study show the benefits of incorporating native plants into suburban landscapes and their potential for supporting both water conservation and pollinator communities.

Urban landscapes can support pollinator conservation, but traditional landscape designs lack the diverse mixtures of native plants needed to support native pollinators. Although native plants support pollinators and can survive with less water and fertilizer than non-native landscape plants, they do not always grow well under modified urban soil conditions and irrigation regimes. A better understanding of the factors influencing flower production and the quality of native plants is needed if we are to design landscapes that support pollinator conservation. This study focused on how flower production and quality in different native plants responded to compost and irrigation treatments. The experiment consisted of 27 native plant species grown in sixteen 6.1 x 9.1 m plots with or without compost and with regular or as-needed irrigation in a randomized complete block design. We quantified total flower production and examined nectar production and flower size in select plant species. Results showed that compost addition greatly increased flower production and that the floral traits of individual plant species varied in their response to compost additions and different irrigation regimes. Unraveling the complexities of these interactions is important for designing urban landscapes that support pollinator conservation.

Master of Landscape Architecture / Department of Landscape Architecture/Regional and Community Planning / William P. Winslow III / The site for the Riverpond Visitor Center is located three miles northeast of Manhattan, Kansas, along K-13 on the eastern end of Riverpond Park. The design of the visitor center addresses four problems: 1) the fact that many families prefer to stay inside their homes rather than experience the outdoors, based on a study done by the Center on Education Policy in 2008, 2) people are uninformed about sustainable design practices and sustainable energies 3) people lack experience and knowledge of the natural environment creating a preference for the visual characteristics of non-native plant species, and 4) interpretive centers that attempt to reconnect people and the landscape use prescriptive interpretive methods that distract the visitor from the interpretive process. To better understand the relationship of people and the landscape, research was conducted to address the problems stated above. Two articles were reviewed that describe the importance of drawing attention to beauty in the landscape. Two precedent studies were conducted on built projects that use native plant species and vernacular architecture. The program for the visitor center was based on the project research and informed the site inventory and analysis. The site inventory and analysis of existing site conditions creates a strong foundation from which to design the visitor center. The project then went into schematic design and design development. The design of the Riverpond Visitor Center connects people to the landscape by directing them through the native tall grass prairie, informs visitors about stormwater management, wind and solar energy through demonstration, is designed using native prairie species and native limestone, and focuses visitors’ experience on the tall grass prairie by fading the line between architecture and landscape.

There is growing awareness about the value of preserving and restoring floral-rich habitats for the benefit of pollinators, especially native bees. The increasing demand for native plants in pollinator habitat restoration and other ecological landscaping applications, combined with the desire for more robust and predictable plant habits, have led to the selection and breeding of native cultivars. Yet, little is known about how these cultivated varieties differ from the native species in their ability to attract and support pollinators. I compared flower visitation by all insect pollinators to 12 native herbaceous plant species and 14 native cultivars in a replicated field experiment at two sites over two years. I classified insect pollinators during visual field observations into seven taxonomic and functional groups. I found seven native species to be visited significantly more frequently by all insect pollinators (combined) than their cultivars, four were visited equally, and one native cultivar was visited more frequently than the native species. Bees (both native and non-native) and moths/butterflies exhibited similar preferences, whereas flies showed no preference between the native species and the native cultivar. Our study shows that many insect pollinators prefer to forage on native species over cultivated varieties of the native species, but not always, and not exclusively. Some native cultivars may be comparable substitions for native species in pollinator habitat restoration projects, but all cultivars should be evaluated on an individual basis. Plant selection is integral to the value and success of pollinator habitat restorations, yet there is little consistency and overlap in pollinator planting recommendations and very little empirical data to support plant choice. Non peer-reviewed pollinator plant lists are widely available and are often region-specific, but they are typically based on anecdotal rather than empirical data and lack in specificity. To help close the gap between anecdotal and empirical data, and between practice and research, I reviewed the published literature on plant selection for pollinator habitat restoration. I explicitly reviewed and compared the value of native plant species, near-natives, non-natives and native cultivars. From there, I identified gaps in the literature that are most needed in practice and recommended basic strategies for practitioners to navigate plant lists and choose the best plants for a site's success.

Coupled two-dimensional HPLC systems were developed for the separation of complex sample matrices. Low molecular weight polystyrene oligomers were used as model compounds for the development of these systems since the sample dimensionality of oligostyrenes could be defined and classified according to two sample characteristics. That is, oligostyrenes could be classed as a two-dimensional sample, where one sample dimension is the variation in the number of monomers that make up oligomeric units determining the weight of the polymer, with a second sample dimension being the variation in stereoisomerism of each oligomer. During this study it was found that by combining two separation dimensions consisting of C18 and carbon clad zirconia (CCZ) phases separation of oligostyrenes according to molecular weight and stereochemistry was possible in coupled two-dimensional systems. The C18 phase separated the sample according to molecular weight, while the CCZ phase separated the sample according to the stereochemistry. The stereoisomer separations of the oligostyrenes reported on the CCZ surface were far superior to those previously reported in the literature. The efficiency of the separation process in a coupled two-dimensional system was then evaluated by studying the variation in band variance of a test probe. The results of the study indicated that the performance of a two-dimensional separation process was highly dependent upon the mobile phase compatibility, even when solvents were completely miscible and of similar polarities. Extracts from 17 species of Australian native plants were examined for xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity, the enzyme responsible for the formation of the disease gout. Chromatographic separation was conducted on plant extracts found to possess significant inhibitory activity against xanthine oxidase, with an extract from the species Clerodendrum floribundum R. Br. found to possess the greatest activity of the species examined. A two-dimensional separation of a crude extract from Clerodendrum floribundum R. Br. was conducted using one of the developed HPLC systems, to illustrate the use of such a system for the separation of a non-model complex sample mixture / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)