Orientador: Edilberto Giannotti / Banca: William Fernando Antonialli Junior / Banca: Sulene Noriko Shima / Resumo: o presente trabalho procura contribuir para o conhecimento da arquitetura dos ninhos, divisão de trabalho, polietismo temporal e tabela de vida da espécie Pacchycondyla striata. Os esquemas dos ninhos foram confeccionados aproximando-se do natural no campo, sugerindo uma arquitetura pouco elaborada, com as câmaras e túneis distribuídos superficialmente no subsolo, sendo similar ao padrão de outras espécies da subfamília Ponerinae. Os dados comportamentais foram obtidos usando o método "scanning sample" e etograma comparativo. 0 repertório comportamental de Pachycondyla striata apresentou 46 atos, exibindo diferenças significativas de comportamento entre rainhas e operárias. A postura de ovos na posição "C" das rainhas e operárias é considerado primitivo por assemelhar-se ao de vespas do gênero Eustenogaster. 0 comportamento de dominância registrado para esta espécie pode estar relacionado ao de recrutamento e reprodução. O repertório comportamental desta espécie monomórfica sugere que as tarefas realizadas estão fundamentadas na idade dos indivíduos. A tabela de vida das operárias foi calculada segundo o método de CAREY, (1993). Pachycondyla striata atinge uma longevidade média de 74,48 ± 48,31 dias (l - 463, N = 798), cujo valor é semelhante à expectativa de vida no primeiro dia de idade (ex = 73,32). Esta espécie apresentou alto índice de mortalidade dos indivíduos jovens. O valor da entropia em operárias de Pachycondyla striata é de H = 0,611. O número de operárias desta espécie na arena de forrageamento aumenta de acordo com a carência nutritiva da colônia. / Abstract: This work seeks to contribute to the knowledge on nest architecture, division of labor, temporal polyethism and life table of the species Pacchycondyla striata. The nest designs were made in the field, indicating a poorly-elaborated architecture, with their chambers and tunnels distributed close to the horizontal surface of the ground, similar to the pattern of other species of the subfamily Ponerinae. The behavioral data were obtained using the scanning sample method and comparative ethogram. The behavioral repertoire of Pachycondyla striata showed 46 actions, with significant behavior differences between queens and workers. Laying eggs at the position "c" of the queens and workers is considered primitive, once it resembles those of the wasps of the genus Eustenogaster. The dominance behavior observed in this species may be related to the recruiting and reproduction behaviors. The behavioral repertoire of this monomorphic species suggests that tasks performed are based on the age of the individuals. The life table of the workers was calculated according to CAREY, (1993). Pachycondyla striata reaches an average longevity of 74.48 ± 48.31 days (l - 463, N = 798), whose value is similar to the life expectation on the first day of life (ex = 73.32). This species showed a high mortality rate among young individuals. The value of the entropy for the workers of Pachycondyla striata is H = 0.611. The number of workers of this species in the foraging arena increases with to the nutrition needs of the colony. / Mestre

Submitted by Automa??o e Estat?stica (sst@bczm.ufrn.br) on 2017-07-17T13:30:07Z No. of bitstreams: 1 RhudsonHenriqueSantosFerreiraDaCruz_TESE.pdf: 16062303 bytes, checksum: 7dc390e502c31be3ece0a11ff7bcc13b (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Arlan Eloi Leite Silva (eloihistoriador@yahoo.com.br) on 2017-07-20T11:41:47Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 RhudsonHenriqueSantosFerreiraDaCruz_TESE.pdf: 16062303 bytes, checksum: 7dc390e502c31be3ece0a11ff7bcc13b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-20T11:41:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 RhudsonHenriqueSantosFerreiraDaCruz_TESE.pdf: 16062303 bytes, checksum: 7dc390e502c31be3ece0a11ff7bcc13b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-03-31 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior (CAPES) / O g?nero Cyathus Haller foi estabelecido em 1768, por?m estudos taxon?micos aprofundados envolvendo o grupo s? ocorreram ? partir de 1844. Nos anos seguintes foram propostas altera??es na classifica??o infragen?rica de Cyathus baseando-se principalmente na morfologia. Lloyd, em 1906, distribuiu as esp?cies em cinco grupos, e em 1975 Brodie ampliou para sete grupos. Com o avan?o dos estudos filogen?ticos, as classifica??es morfol?gicas foram testadas e uma nova subdivis?o em tr?s grupos foi proposta por Zhao e colaboradores, em 2007. Tendo como base as caracter?sticas morfol?gicas utilizadas nas duas ?ltimas classifica??es, ? not?vel a presen?a de caracteres morfol?gicos amb?guos e mal delimitados, o que torna a identifica??o em n?vel de esp?cie muitas vezes duvidosa. Assim, esta tese se prop?s a compreender as rela??es filogen?ticas dos fungos do g?nero Cyathus, e como estas rela??es refletem na caracteriza??o taxon?mica, atrav?s de an?lises morfol?gicas e moleculares abrangendo a maior parte das esp?cies tipo do grupo. Os esp?cimes analisados procedem de empr?stimo de cole??es de fungos nacionais (JPB, URM, UESC e UFRNFungos) e internacionais (BBH, BPI, PH, DAOM, K, MA-Fungi, PC e TNS). As an?lises morfol?gicas e moleculares foram realizadas no Brasil e no Jap?o: a morfologia seguiu a metodologia padr?o para o grupo, e a an?lise molecular foi realizada com base em protocolos dispon?veis na literatura ou indicados pelos fabricantes dos reagentes, com etapas adaptadas para o g?nero Cyathus, incluindo o desenho de primers espec?ficos. Novos caracteres morfol?gicos informativos foram definidos a partir da redescri??o de 50 tipos e 4 outras esp?cies. Todas as 81 esp?cies com nome em uso corrente foram discutidas. Pranchas de imagens, lista de nomes inv?lidos e lista de sin?nimos tamb?m s?o apresentadas. As an?lises filogen?ticas utilizando M?xima Parcim?nia e Bayesiana inclu?ram 36 esp?cies, sendo 25 delas enquadradas em alguma categoria de tipo nomenclatural. O monofiletismo de Cyathus foi confirmado com suporte m?ximo em ambos os testes, e os grupos infragen?ricos da ?ltima classifica??o baseada em dados moleculares se mantiveram inalterados, entretanto o clado striatum apresentou segrega??o em cinco grupos e dois subgrupos. A organiza??o filogen?tica est? suportada com base em caracteres morfol?gicos, e s?o apresentadas diagnoses para cada um dos agrupamentos bem como uma chave dicot?mica para a separa??o infragen?rica. / The genus Cyathus Haller was established in 1768, but in-depth taxonomic studies with the group only occurred after 1844. In the following years changes in the infrageneric classification of Cyathus were proposed, based mainly on morphology. In 1906 Lloyd distributed the species into five groups, and in 1975 Brodie expanded to seven groups. With the advances of phylogenetic studies, the morphological classifications were tested and a new subdividion into three groups was proposed by Zhao and collaborators in 2007. Based on the morphological characteristics used in the last two classifications, is remarkable the presence of ambiguous and poorly delimited morphological characters, which makes identification at species level often doubtful. Thus, this PhD thesis aimed to understand the phylogenetic relationships of the fungi in the genus Cyathus and how these relations reflect in the taxonomic characterization, through morphological and molecular analyzes covering most of the type species of the group. The specimens analyzed come from national (JPB, URM, UESC and UFRN-Fungos) and international fungal collections (BBH, BPI, PH, DAOM, K, MA-Fungi, PC and TNS). Morphological and molecular analyzes were performed in Brazil and Japan: the morphology followed the standard methodology for the group, and the molecular analysis was performed based on protocols available in the literature or indicated by the reagent manufacturers, with steps adapted for the genus Cyathus, including the design of specific primers. New informational morphological characters were defined from the description of 50 types and 4 other species. All 81 species with name in current use were discussed. Figure plates, list of invalid names and list of synonyms are also presented. The phylogenetic analyzes using Maximum Parsimony and Bayesian included 36 species, 25 of them being classified in some nomenclatural type category. The monophyletism of Cyathus was confirmed with maximum support in both tests, and the infrageneric groups of the last classification based on molecular data were unchanged, however the clade striatum showed segregation into five groups and two subgroups. All the phylogenetic organization is supported based on morphological characters and diagnoses are presented for each clusters as well as a dichotomous key for the infrageneric separation.

As abelhas sem ferrão (Hymenoptera: Meliponini) possuem um sistema sexual haplodiplóide com determinação sexual complementar em um único lócus. Tal sistema é uma grande carga genética para o grupo e, assim, a diversidade genética de machos que se agregam nas proximidades dos ninhos é essencial para minimizar as chances de endogamia. As interações entre os indivíduos da colônia nas abelhas sem ferrão são diversas e grande parte delas é mediada por compostos químicos. A comunicação química é maior entre as rainhas e suas operárias, mas compostos químicos também são importantes para o acasalamento das rainhas. Como muitos machos se agregam nos eventos reprodutivos, é possível coletar e obter uma boa representatividade local de indivíduos e assim analisar certos caracteres que estruturam essas populações. Desse modo, o presente estudo teve como objetivos: (1) analisar quimicamente rainhas virgens e fisogástricas de Tetragonisca angustula; (2) analisar o perfil químico de machos dentro e fora dos ninhos; (3) analisar a diversidade genética das agregações de machos, quantas colônias contribuem com machos para formar essas agregações e avaliar qual o parentesco entre agregações de machos e rainhas dos ninhos onde havia agregações; (4) avaliar o potencial de dispersão dos machos de seus ninhos de origem até as agregações; (5) analisar morfometricamente machos compondo agregações de diferentes localidades. Técnicas de criação in vitro de rainhas virgens e instalação de ninhos-armadilha foram utilizadas a fim de otimizar a coleta de indivíduos. Nossos resultados indicam que rainhas virgens e rainhas fisogástricas são quimicamente distintas. Embora ambas possuam compostos voláteis atrativos sexualmente para os machos, as rainhas virgens possuem exclusivamente octadecenoato de octadecila e nerol em suas glândulas de Dufour e extratos cefálicos, respectivamente. Os machos que vivem dentro e os que vivem fora dos ninhos são semelhantes quimicamente, possuindo diversos ácidos carboxílicos em seus extratos cefálicos. Cinco agregações, contando com 376 machos, foram analisadas geneticamente sendo os machos provenientes de 83 colônias. Em média, eles se deslocaram ± 612 metros de seus ninhos de origem até as agregações. Essas agregações são muito semelhantes geneticamente entre si, não formando unidades distintas. Somente 3.45% dos machos das agregações eram aparentados às rainhas, o que diminui a probabilidade de inbreeding. Por fim, populações de machos de três localidades distintas puderam ser separadas com boa acuidade de acordo os dados morfométricos. Concluímos que existe comunicação química mediando a interação macho-rainha. A quantidade de colônias em uma determinada área contribui para a grande quantidade de indivíduos e para a diversidade genética das agregações. Os indivíduos nessas agregações são pouco aparentados e podem vir de colônias geograficamente muito distantes. A morfometria é útil em agrupar os machos de diferentes localidades / The stingless bees (Hymenoptera: Meliponini)present a haplodiploid sex determination system with complementary sex determination in a single locus. Such a system is a large genetic load for the group and thus the genetic diversity of male\'s aggregations near the nests is essential to minimize the chances of inbreeding. The interactions among the stingless bees nestmates are diverse and chemical compounds mediate most. The chemical communication is higher among the queens and their workers, but chemicals are also important for mating of queens. As the amount of males that aggregate near the nests with gynes is very large, these events allow us to collect and evaluate a local representation of males and thus to analyze certain characters that structure these populations. Thus, this study aimed to: (1) chemically analyzing virgin and physogastric queens of Tetragonisca angustula, (2) analyze the chemical profile of males inside and outside their nests, (3) analyze the genetic diversity of the aggregations of males, how many colonies contribute with males to these aggregations and to assess the relatedness between queens and males, (4) evaluate the potential dispersion of males from their nests to aggregations, (5) analyze morphometrically males composing aggregates of different locations. Techniques for rearing virgin queens in vitro and installation of trap-nests were used to optimize the sampling of individuals. Our results indicate that virgin queens and physogastric queens are chemically distinct. Although both present volatile compounds sexually attractive to males, virgin queens have exclusively nerol and ethyl octadecenoate in their cephalic extracts and Dufour\'s glands, respectively. Males from both types(living inside and outside their nests) are chemically similar, possessing several carboxylic acids in their cephalic extracts. About 83 colonies contributed for five aggregations with 376 males. On average, they moved ± 612 meters from their nest of origin to aggregations. These aggregations are genetically very similar to each other, without forming discrete units. Only 3.45% of the males are related to queens. Finally, populations of males of three different locations could be morphometrically separated with good accuracy. We conclude that there is chemical communication mediating the interaction male-queen. The number of colonies in one area contributes to the large number of individuals and the genetic diversity of the aggregations. Individuals in these aggregations are not related and can originate from distant colonies. The morphometry is useful to group the males from different localities

Submitted by Celso Magalhaes (celsomagalhaes@ufrrj.br) on 2017-06-14T12:23:50Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2016 - R?sia Br?gida Gon?alves Cabral.pdf: 1695689 bytes, checksum: 62b52258a8c8d2ce8559d5ab46f13ea7 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-14T12:23:50Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2016 - R?sia Br?gida Gon?alves Cabral.pdf: 1695689 bytes, checksum: 62b52258a8c8d2ce8559d5ab46f13ea7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-09-09 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior - CAPES / Heron constitutes an important group of birds in the trophic relations of humid continental areas, littoral or coastal. Herons generally breed in monospecific or mixed colonies, commonly located in flooded bushes, mangroves and islands. Breeding success varies according to the species aggregated in the colony, food availability and predators. The objective of this study was to obtain the first informations about the breeding biology of the Ardeidae species that breed in heronries in the Coroa Grande mangrove on the Sepetiba bay, RJ contributing to the understanding of the breeding of these species in southeastern Brazil. Were marked and subsequent monitored 195 active nests of Bubulcus ibis, Egretta thula and E. caerulea since the beginning of the breeding season in November 2014 until the abandonment of the nests in February 2015. The average height of the nests of B. ibis was 2,0 ? 0,5m, E. thula was 1,8 ? 0,5m, and E. caerulea was 2,2 ? 0,6m. The average size of B.ibis posture was 2,97 ? 1,2 eggs per nest, while E. thula was 2,71 ? 0,6, and E. caerulea was 2,28 ? 0,8 eggs per nest. The breeding investment for B.ibis and E. caerulea was more frequent in clutch with two eggs with respectively 41% and 52%, whereas E. thula was composed of three eggs representing 57%. The average length of eggs of B. ibis was 4,4 ? 0,2cm, E. thula was 4,0 ? 0,3cm, and E. caerulea was 4,3 ? 0,2cm. The average width of the eggs, in cm, was 3,2 ? 0,3 for B. ibis; 3,0 ? 0,1 for E. thula, and 2,9 ? 0,1 for E. caerulea. The average volume of the eggs of B. ibis was 23,6 ? 4,9cm?, E. thula 18,7 ? 2,5cm?, and E. caerulea was 18,7 ? 1,0cm?. The probability of nests success (Mayfield method) was 0,917 for B. ibis; 0,873 for E. thula, and 0,330 for E. caerulea. The fledglings of B. ibis hatched with average of 23 ? 2,9g, of E. caerulea with 20g, whereas E. thula with 17 ? 2,5g. Numerically B. ibis presented the largest number of nests, eggs and nestlings in relation to E. thula and E. caerulea, confirming the supremacy in abundance in reference to the others species. The breeding success of E. caerulea was significantly lower than the other two species. The two congener species demonstrated greater similarity in the size of eggs. The E. thula nestlings gained body mass faster, followed by B. ibis, while E. caerulea got the development of slower nestlings. The results contribute and to the information for heron breeding in the State of Rio de Janeiro necessary to enlarge the understanding of the breeding patterns of this family in southeastern Brazil. / Ardeidae constitui um grupo de aves importante nas rela??es tr?ficas das ?reas ?midas continentais, litor?neas ou costeiras. Os arde?deos se reproduzem geralmente em col?nias monoespec?ficas ou mistas, comumente localizadas em arbustos inund?veis, manguezais ou ilhas. O sucesso reprodutivo varia de acordo com as esp?cies agregadas na col?nia, disponibilidade de alimento e a??o de predadores. O objetivo do presente estudo foi levantar as primeiras informa??es sobre a biologia reprodutiva das esp?cies de Ardeidae que se reproduzem numa col?nia no manguezal de Coroa Grande na ba?a de Sepetiba, RJ contribuindo para o conhecimento da reprodu??o destas esp?cies no Sudeste do Brasil. Foram marcados e monitorados 195 ninhos ativos de Bubulcus ibis, Egretta thula e E. caerulea desde o in?cio da esta??o reprodutiva em novembro de 2014 at? o abandono do ninhal em fevereiro de 2015. A altura m?dia dos ninhos de B. ibis foi de 2,0 ? 0,5m, de E. thula foi 1,8 ? 0,5m e E. caerulea de 2,2 ? 0,6m. O tamanho m?dio da postura de B.ibis foi 2,97 ? 1,2 ovos por ninho, enquanto de E. thula foi 2,71 ? 0,6 e E. caerulea 2,28 ? 0,8 ovos por ninho. O investimento reprodutivo de B.ibis e E. caerulea foi mais frequente em ninhada com dois ovos com respectivamente 41% e 52%, enquanto que de E. thula foi composta por tr?s ovos representando 57%. O comprimento m?dio dos ovos de B. ibis foi de 4,4 ? 0,2cm, de E. thula 4,0 ? 0,3cm e de E. caerulea foi de 4,3 ? 0,2cm. A largura m?dia dos ovos, em cm, foi de 3,2 ? 0,3 para B. ibis; de 3,0 ? 0,1 para E. thula e de 2,9 ? 0,1 para E. caerulea. O volume m?dio dos ovos de B. ibis foi de 23,6 ? 4,9cm?, de E. thula de 18,7 ? 2,5cm? e de E. caerulea foi de 18,7 ? 1,0cm?. A probabilidade de sucesso dos ninhos (sucesso de Mayfield) foi de 0,917 para B. ibis; 0,873 para E. thula e 0,330 para E. caerulea. Os ninhegos de B. ibis eclodiram com m?dia de 23 ? 2,9g, de E. caeruelea com 20g, enquanto que os de E. thula com 17 ? 2,5g. Numericamente B. ibis apresentou o maior n?mero de ninhos, ovos e filhotes em rela??o ? E. thula e E. caerulea, confirmando a supremacia na abund?ncia em rela??o as demais esp?cies. O sucesso reprodutivo de E. caerulea foi significativamente menor do que as outras duas esp?cies. As duas esp?cies cong?neres demonstraram maior similaridade na dimens?o dos ovos. Os filhotes de E. thula ganharam massa corporal mais rapidamente, seguidos de B. ibis, enquanto E. caerulea obteve o desenvolvimento dos filhotes mais lento. Os resultados contribuem e fornecem informa??es para a reprodu??o de arde?deos no Estado do Rio de Janeiro, necess?rios para ampliar o conhecimento dos padr?es reprodutivos desta fam?lia no Sudeste do Brasil

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2016-05-12T18:30:43Z No. of bitstreams: 1 vivianezeringotarodrigues.pdf: 1501252 bytes, checksum: 2b0228255aec40277c0d1870ac03da16 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2016-06-27T19:54:46Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 vivianezeringotarodrigues.pdf: 1501252 bytes, checksum: 2b0228255aec40277c0d1870ac03da16 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-27T19:54:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 vivianezeringotarodrigues.pdf: 1501252 bytes, checksum: 2b0228255aec40277c0d1870ac03da16 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-02-22 / As formigas do gênero Solenopsis são comumente relatadas em ambiente urbano devido à capacidade de exploração de recursos e facilidade de encontro de locais de nidificação, o que favorece sua proliferação, vindo a acarretar acidentes. Os objetivos do presente estudo foram caracterizar os hábitos de nidificação de colônias de Solenopsis saevissima (Smith), assim como analisar sua resposta comportamental frente à perturbação das colônias em área urbana no município de Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais. Para o estudo dos hábitos de nidificação foram realizadas observações quinzenais compreendidas entre 8 e 16h, de maio de 2011 a abril de 2012. Para cada colônia ativa foi registrado o tipo de substrato e as dimensões do ninho. A resposta comportamental foi estudada com auxílio de uma ferramenta (pá de metal) para a perturbação de 30 colônias, e o deslocamento foi verificado com uma régua de madeira (150cm) posicionada verticalmente sob a colônia perturbada e duas trenas perpendiculares entre si na horizontal (5m). Dados sobre temperatura e umidade relativa do ar foram registrados ao longo das coletas. A dispersão agressiva foi observada nas posições horizontal e vertical (em centímetros) durante três minutos, com coleta de dados a cada 20 segundos. Os resultados demonstraram que essas formigas estão presentes durante todo o ano nesse ambiente, permanecem ativas mesmo nos meses mais frios, e o substrato mais utilizado como base para construção dos ninhos foi a vegetação rasteira. O período seco (de abril a agosto) pode ser considerado o mais adequado para o controle destes insetos por apresentar o menor número de colônias ativas (28%). Com relação ao comportamento de deslocamento, os resultados demonstraram que a velocidade na vertical é significativamente maior que na horizontal (p=0,0007), e o deslocamento dessas formigas não tem relação com fatores abióticos e independe do tamanho externo da colônia. Os resultados deste estudo são importantes contribuições para o estudo da biologia e do comportamento agressivo de S. saevissima em ambiente urbano, podendo subsidiar estudos de controle a fim de minimizar os acidentes que essas formigas causam. / Ants of the genus Solenopsis are common in urban environments due to their capacity to explore resources and facility to establish nesting sites, which helps their proliferation and increases the occurrence of accidents with intruders. The aims of the present study were to characterize the nesting habits of Solenopsis saevissima (Smith), as well as to analyze behavioral responses to disturbances in colonies located in urban areas of Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais. To study the nesting habits, observations were performed every two weeks from May 2011 to April de 2012, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. For each active colony the substrate and the dimensions of the nest were registered. To analyze the behavioral response, a shovel was used to disturb 30 colonies, and the displacement was verified with the aid of a wooden ruler (150cm long) positioned vertically over the disturbed colony and two (5m) measuring tapes perpendicular horizontally placed at the ground. Temperature and relative air humidity were registered during the observation period. The aggressive dispersion was observed in both directions, horizontal and vertical during three minutes, and the data were collected every 20 seconds. The results demonstrate that these ants are present throughout the year in this environment; that they remain active even in the coldest months and the substrate more utilized to build the nests was the undergrowth. The dry season (from April to August) can be considered more appropriate to controlling these insects due to the low number of active colonies. Regarding dislocation behavior, results show that the speed was significantly higher in the vertical than in the horizontal direction (p=0.0007), and it was not related to abiotic factors nor was dependent on the external size of the colony. These results add information on the biology and aggressive behavior of S. saevissima in urban environment.

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2017-04-17T18:05:35Z No. of bitstreams: 1 mateusfajardodefreitassalviatodetoni.pdf: 1310680 bytes, checksum: 07d34f3c206819ff6b208c6ab33be11a (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2017-04-18T13:50:54Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 mateusfajardodefreitassalviatodetoni.pdf: 1310680 bytes, checksum: 07d34f3c206819ff6b208c6ab33be11a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-04-18T13:50:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 mateusfajardodefreitassalviatodetoni.pdf: 1310680 bytes, checksum: 07d34f3c206819ff6b208c6ab33be11a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017 / Os ninhos de insetos sociais funcionam como a interface entre as colônias e o ambiente, e estudar como os fatores ambientais se relacionam com o comportamento de nidificação é essencial para compreender o sucesso desses animais em colonizar e sobreviver na área urbana. Dessa forma, este trabalho teve como objetivo estudar a relação entre a orientação dos ninhos da vespa social Polybia platycephala em áreas urbanas e a incidência de luz ambiental sobre os mesmos, além de descrever sua dinâmica de temperatura em relação ao microambiente em que estão localizados. Para a orientação e a incidência de luz, 11 ninhos foram selecionados em 2016 na cidade de Juiz de Fora, MG, sendo 11 na estação chuvosa e 11 na seca (n= 22). A orientação dos ninhos foi constatada e a incidência de luz de cada ninho foi verificada ao longo do dia (06:00h – 18:00h). Adicionalmente, seis ninhos tiveram sua orientação experimentalmente invertida e a luminosidade foi acompanhada antes e depois da inversão de forma a verificar o efeito da orientação natural sobre a exposição dos ninhos à luz. Para a dinâmica de temperatura utilizaram-se os mesmos 22 ninhos, e a temperatura dos ninhos e do ambiente foram medidas paralelamente à luminosidade. Para verificar o efeito da atividade das vespas sobre a temperatura da colônia, um ninho abandonado e uma colônia ativa foram acompanhados por 24 horas. Os resultados permitiram-nos concluir que P. platycephala apresenta uma orientação de ninhos fortemente enviesada para leste, aumentando a exposição à luz ambiental no período da manhã; são, no entanto, capazes de modificar esse comportamento para adaptar-se ao seu microambiente para otimizar essa exposição. A temperatura dos ninhos é muito relacionada à ambiente, flutuando paralelamente a esta, o que indica uma grande dependência das colônias do mesmo para sua sobrevivência. De forma geral, constatou-se que P. platycephala possui uma íntima relação com o seu microambiente, o que pode ajudar a explicar seu sucesso em colonizar áreas urbanas, mas também a torna sensível a alterações ambientais e climáticas nas mesmas. / Nests of social insects function as the interface between colonies and the environment, and studying how environmental factors relate to the nesting behavior is essential in order to understand these organisms’ success in settling and surviving in the urban area. On this sense, our work aimed to study the relation between the social wasp Polybia platycephala nest orientation and the incidence of environmental light, aside from describing its temperature dynamics regarding the microenvironment where it is set. In order to study nest orientation and light incidence, 22 nests were chosen in 2016 in the city of Juiz de Fora, MG, being 11 in the rainy season and 11 in the dry (n= 22). Nest orientation was verified and light incidence on each nest was assessed through the day (06:00h - 18:00h). Additionally, six nests had their orientation experimentally inverted and luminosity was assessed before and after the inversion in order to verify the effect of nest orientation on exposure to light. In order to study temperature dynamics, the same 22 nests were used, and the nest and ambient temperatures were assessed in parallel with the luminosity. In order to verify the effect of the wasp activity on colony temperatures, an abandoned nest and an active colony were observed for 24 hours. The results allowed us to conclude that P. platycephala shows nest orientation strongly biased towards east, increasing exposure to light during the morning; colonies are, however, able to perform modifications on this behavior in order to adapt themselves to their microenvironment and optimize this exposure. Nest temperatures are intensely related to the ambient, fluctuating in parallel with it, which indicates a great dependence of the colonies on the environment to assure their survival. Overall, we found that P. platycephala has an intimate relation with its microenvironment, which may help explain its success in settling urban areas, but also makes it sensible to environmental and climatic changes in them.

The beaches of Broward County, Florida are a prevalent nesting site for loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea turtles, however extensive beach erosion is threatening critical nesting habitat. Beach renourishment, the process of transporting offshore or upland sediment onshore, is a widely used method of replenishing lost sand. However, renourishment can negatively affect sea turtle nesting habitat by increasing beach compaction; the resistance to applied pressure in pounds per square inch (psi). Increased sand compaction impedes the digging of the female which affects nesting success. The influence of beach compaction on sea turtle nesting patterns has never been previously examined over the course of a nesting season on Hillsboro and Deerfield Beach. Therefore, this study was designed to examine beach compaction data for Hillsboro, a mostly natural beach, and Deerfield, a completely renourished beach, during the 2010 nesting season and analyze the compaction data against 2010 nest and false crawl (FC, non-nesting emergence) data. Compaction readings were collected during every other week March-October using a soil compaction meter at every other street address along three beach positions, the dune base, mid-beach, and average high tide line (HTL); and at three depths, 15 cm, 30 cm, and 45 cm. Values were not statistically different throughout the season for each beach, so seasonal mean compaction values were used for each beach position and depth. Hillsboro compaction values were rarely over 500 psi (35 kg/cm2), even at 45 cm depth. Deerfield compaction values exceeded the 600 psi (42kg/cm2) measurement limit of the meter in approximately 60% of the compaction values at 30 cm or 45 cm depth. Sand compaction data was analyzed for any trends between beaches as well as within each beach. Historical data shows higher loggerhead nesting success, the number of nests/total number of crawls (including FC) x 100, on Hillsboro Beach than on Deerfield Beach. The average beach compaction values were compared to nesting success and to nest and FC density within each station area. There was a significant inverse relationship (p<0.05) between beach compaction and nesting success at each of the beach positions and depths, when both Hillsboro and Deerfield Beaches were analyzed together, except at the Mid 30 cm and Dune 45 cm depth. The strongest relationship for the combined beaches was at the HTL 15 cm depth (R2=0.3821, p<0.001). When Hillsboro was analyzed alone, beach compaction and nesting success was only significantly inversely related (R2=0.0875, p<0.02) at the HTL 15 cm depth. This demonstrates that while increased beach compaction may partially influence nesting success, there are likely other beach characteristics that contribute to nest site selection of loggerheads in Northern Broward County. The inverse relationship between Hillsboro mean beach compaction and nest density (nests per meter) was significant only at the HTL 15cm depth (p<0.002) and the inverse relationship between mean beach compaction and false crawl density (FC per meter) in Hillsboro was only significant at the Dune 15 cm (p<0.019) and the Dune 30 cm (p<0.038) depths. Although, increased beach compaction was expected to relate to higher FC density, FC density showed a significant inverse relationship to mean beach compaction at all Deerfield Beach positions and depths in and this suggests off-shore factors may be affecting nest site selection.

Abstract Social information use is a widespread phenomenon across the animal kingdom and it affects various important aspects of animal behaviour. Animals observe and copy the behaviour of conspecifics and other species on the same trophic level in their own decision-making, e.g., in habitat or mate choice. Copying is adaptive only when it is selective. Thus, it would be important to understand when and which individuals should copy others, and which individuals they choose to copy and what are the consequences of social information use. In this thesis, I experimentally study these questions in wild animals living in natural conditions. By simulating arbitrary preference of great tits (Parus major), I demonstrated that the portrayed fitness does not affect the nest site choices of conspecifics, but the tit pairs with an old male prefer the nest site choices of good and poor conspecifics. Social information use among tits appears to be age- and sex-dependent. Pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca), however, selectively copy or reject a novel nest site feature preference (symbol attached to the nest box) of great tits experimentally manipulated to exhibit high or low fitness (clutch size), respectively. By offering pied flycatchers choice in nest boxes with alternative contents, I showed that nest take-overs of flycatchers are not a form of social information use, but seem to result from the reduced building effort required. Furthermore, by conducting a decoy and playback experiment, I showed that great tits covered eggs more efficiently in the presence of pied flycatchers. One function of egg covering behaviour seems to be a counter-adaptation to reduce information parasitism by pied flycatchers. My results demonstrate that the social transmission of behaviours across species can be highly selective in response to observed fitness, plausibly making the phenomenon adaptive. In contrast with the current theory of species coexistence, overlap between realized niches of species could dynamically increase or decrease, depending on the observed success of surrounding individuals. The social information revealed by success and behaviour of animals is a resource that can be used or concealed. It is a new kind of evolutionary and ecological factor which may affect the formation of ecosystems and species coevolution. / Tiivistelmä Sosiaalinen informaationkäyttö on yleinen ilmiö eläinkunnassa, ja sitä tavataan aina hyönteisistä valaisiin. Yksilöt tarkkailevat ja kopioivat sekä lajitovereiden että toisen ekologialtaan samankaltaisen lajin yksilöiden käyttäytymistä erilaisissa tilanteissa, kuten pesäpaikan tai parittelukumppanin valinnassa. Sosiaalinen informaationkäyttö on adaptiivista ainoastaan ollessaan valikoivaa. Siksi on tärkeää selvittää kenen, koska ja ketä kannattaa kopioida, ja mitä ekologisia ja evolutiivisia seurauksia siitä koituu informaation lähteelle ja käyttäjälle. Väitöskirjassani tutkin kokeellisesti informaation hankkijan (kirjosieppo Ficedula hypoleuca) valikoivaa kopioimista ja siitä mahdollisesti johtuvaa informaation lähteen (talitiainen Parus major) vasta-adaptaatiota luonnonoloissa. Symbolikokeilla selvitin, että talitiaisten lajinsisäinen kopiointi on iästä ja sukupuolesta riippuvaa, mutta informaationlähteen havaittu kelpoisuus ei vaikuta kopioinnin todennäköisyyteen. Kirjosiepot puolestaan kopioivat valikoivasti keinotekoisesti luotuja tiaisten mieltymyksiä pesäpönttöön kiinnitettyjä symboleja kohtaan, riippuen tiaisten havaitusta manipuloidusta kelpoisuudesta (munamäärästä pesässä). Siepot kopioivat tiaisia, joiden pesässä on paljon munia (13 munaa), ja rejektoivat tiaisia (valitsevat vaihtoehtoisen symbolin), joilla munia on vähän (5 munaa). Tarjoamalla kirjosiepoille vaihtoehtoisia pesäpönttöjä osoitin, että sieppojen luontainen mieltymys vallata ja rakentaa pesänsä toisten pesien päälle ei ole sosiaalisen informaationkäytön muoto, vaan se näyttää olevan pesänrakennuksen kustannusten minimointia. Playback-kokeilla osoitin, että talitiaisten munienpeittelykäyttäytymisellä on useita funktioita. Se on vasta-adaptaatio kirjosiepon informaatioloisintaa vastaan ja toimii mahdollisesti suojana kylmää vastaan. Väitöskirjani tulokset osoittavat, että eläinten käyttäytymisen paljastama sosiaalinen informaatio on resurssi, jota voidaan hyödyntää tai salata. Se on myös uudenlainen ekologinen ja evolutiivinen tekijä, joka vaikuttaa eliöyhteisöjen muodostumiseen ja lajien koevoluutioon. Lajienvälinen valikoiva sosiaalinen informaationkäyttö -hypoteesi haastaa nykyisen koevoluutioteorian. Se ennustaa, että informaatiota hyödyntävän lajin ja informaationlähteen ominaisuudet voivat joko samankaltaistua tai erilaistua, informaationlähteen havaittavasta menestyksestä riippuen.

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2016-01-15T13:48:19Z No. of bitstreams: 1 carlosmagnodossantos.pdf: 1171016 bytes, checksum: 843d57bbd25fe33ba51f921168d70aaa (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2016-01-25T17:40:14Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 carlosmagnodossantos.pdf: 1171016 bytes, checksum: 843d57bbd25fe33ba51f921168d70aaa (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-01-25T17:40:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 carlosmagnodossantos.pdf: 1171016 bytes, checksum: 843d57bbd25fe33ba51f921168d70aaa (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-09-28 / (Avaliação da atividade de escavação de ninhos em Acromyrmex subterraneus (Hymenoptera, Formicidae): estímulos e divisão de trabalho). Formigas cortadeiras dos gêneros Atta e Acromyrmex são conhecidas por sua organização social e capacidade de construir ninhos de arquitetura complexa. A construção do ninho é importante ecologicamente, pois altera as propriedades químicas e físicas do solo, contribuindo para o crescimento da vegetação. Além disso, o processo de escavação permite compreender os padrões comportamentais fundamentais na organização social em formigas cortadeiras, constituindo base relevante de estudos ecológicos vinculados à dinâmica comportamental das atividades coletivas organizadas nos insetos eussociais. Sabe-se que para algumas espécies de formigas cortadeiras, fungo simbionte e prole atuam como estímulo para a escavação, exercendo influência sobre a complexidade das estruturas emergentes (túneis e câmaras). Este estudo investigou quais são os estímulos para o comportamento de escavação em Acromyrmex subterraneus durante a construção do ninho, tendo como hipótese que a presença do fungo jardim e/ou prole constituem estímulos para a escavação de túneis e câmaras. Além disso, investigou a divisão de tarefas a fim de verificar se o nível de atividade das operárias para a tarefa de escavação se altera em função da presença do fungo e da prole. O experimento consistiu no registro da frequência de escavação de operárias individualmente marcadas colocadas em cilindros plásticos preenchidos com solo, em que foram aplicados quatro tratamentos: FB - 30 operárias médias, 5g de jardim de fungo e 30 itens de prole (larvas ou pupas), FG - 30 operárias médias e 5g de jardim de fungo, LP - 30 operárias médias e 30 itens de prole e WK - 30 operárias médias, sem jardim de fungo e prole. Após 24 horas foram registrados os parâmetros morfométricos do ninho (comprimento e largura de túneis e câmaras em cm) e o volume de solo escavado, assim como a atividade de escavação individual de cada operária. Em contraste com o esperado, não houve variação da estrutura morfológica, frequência de escavação ou volume de solo escavado em função dos tratamentos. No entanto, verificaram-se diferenças no nível de atividade das operárias gerando uma distribuição desigual de tarefas com metade das operárias permanecendo inativa em detrimento de outras que realizaram a tarefa de escavação de forma intensa e repetitiva. / (Evaluation of nest’s digging activity in Acromyrmex subterraneus (Hymenoptera, Formicidae): stimuli and division of labor). Leaf cutting ants from Atta and Acromyrmex genera are known by their social organization and ability to build nests with a complex architecture. Nest building has a great importance in the field because it alters the chemical and physical properties of the soil, contributing to the growth of vegetation. In addition, the excavation process allows us to understand fundamental behavioral patterns in social organization in cutting ants, constituting relevant basic ecological studies related to behavioral dynamics of group activities organized in eusocial insects. It is known that for some species of leaf-cutting ants, symbiotic fungus and offspring act as a stimulus for the excavation, exerting influence on the complexity of the emerging structures (tunnels and chambers). This study investigated what are the stimuli for digging behavior in Acromyrmex subterraneus during nest building, testing the hypothesis that the presence of the fungus garden and/or brood are stimuli for the excavation of tunnels and chambers. In addition, we investigated the division of labor to verify if the level of activity of workers for excavation task changes due to the presence of the fungus and brood. The experiment consisted in recording the frequency of excavation of individually marked workers placed in plastic cylinders filled with soil, in which were applied four treatments: FB - 30 medium workers, 5g of fungus garden and 30 brood items (larvae and pupae) FG - 30 medium workers and 5g of fungus garden, LP - 30 medium workers and 30 items of brood and WK - 30 medium workers without fungus garden and brood. After 24 hours we registered nest morphometric parameters (length and width of chambers and tunnels in cm) and the volume of excavated soil, as well as the excavation activity of each worker. In contrast to the expected, there was no change in the morphological structure, digging frequency or volume of excavated soil among the treatments. However, we verified differences among the activity level of the workers, leading to an unequal distribution of tasks with half of the most workers remaining inactive while the others performed the excavation intensely and repetitively.

My research was focused on greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter "sage-grouse") nest-site selection, nest success, and hen survival in relation to avian predators. The trade-off between using habitat and avoiding predators is a common decision for prey species including sage-grouse. In Chapter 2, I compared avian predator densities at sage-grouse nest and brood locations to random locations. Sage-grouse were located where densities of small, medium, and large avian predators were 65-68% less than random locations. The effects of anthropogenic and landscape features on habitat use of sage-grouse hens have not been evaluated relative to avian predator densities. In Chapter 3, I compared anthropogenic and landscape features and avian predator densities among sage-grouse locations (nest, early-brood, late-brood) and random locations. I found sage-grouse hens chose locations with lower avian predator densities compared to random locations, and selected locations farther away from anthropogenic and landscape features. Depredation of sage-grouse nests can be an influential factor limiting their productivity. Predator removal has been simultaneously proposed and criticized as a potential mitigation measure for low reproductive rates of sage-grouse. In Chapter 4, I hypothesized that sage-grouse nest success would be greater in areas where Wildlife Services lowered common raven (Corvus corax: hereafter "raven") density. I found that Wildlife Services decreased raven density by 61% during 2008-2011 but I did not detect a direct improvement to sage-grouse nest success. However, sage-grouse nest success was 22% when ravens were detected within 550 m of a sage-grouse nest and 41% when no raven was detected within 550 m. In Chapter 5, I assessed interactive effects of corvid densities relative to anthropogenic and landscape features on sage-grouse nest success. I found that sage-grouse nest success was positively correlated with rugged habitat. Survival of breeding-age birds is the most important demographic parameter driving sage-grouse abundance. In Chapter 6, I evaluated the effect of raptor densities, proximity to anthropogenic and landscape features, and hen behavior on survival of sage-grouse hens. I found that sage-grouse hen survival was negatively correlated with golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) density, proximity to anthropogenic and landscape features, and hen parental investment (nesting and brood-rearing).