Sigma IT Consulting in Växjö gave the authors of this paper a task to change the search engine in one of their projects. To get a scientific view of the project the authors specified two research questions that could be connected to Sigma's problem. This problem is interesting to investigate since search engines are frequently used all over the world and often more user-friendly than classic menu navigation. To find a solution to the problem two experiments were conducted. The result from the experiments showed that the search engine EPiServer Find were, ever so slightly, outperformed Elasticsearch in the terms of relevance. The response time, however, had no significant difference.

Agricultural landscapes provide our society with many benefits. While food production is the primary role of these landscapes, sociocultural and ecological benefits are also provided. However, the full scope of benefits that we obtain from agricultural landscapes are not always taken into account, and with the intensification of agricultural activities, more complex multifunctional landscapes are converted into simpler and less-functional landscapes. I used a heterogeneous agricultural landscape, the Champlain Valley of Vermont, as a case study to examine the interactions between landscape structure and the provision of landscape functions and services. I analyzed sociocultural and production functions indices obtained via standardized landowner surveys, and ecological function indices collected in the field for 51 plots. Plots were clustered into landscape composition categories (forest, mixed and agriculture), and configuration categories (simple and complex). I identified a tradeoff between the production and ecological function in agricultural landscapes. When a rural landscape was managed for intensive agricultural production, ecological benefits decreased. Landscapes with diversified land use/land cover and heterogeneously distributed elements returned the greatest number of benefits. Agricultural areas that comprise between 30 and 45% of the landscape can prevent the loss of ecological benefits while retaining high production. I evaluated the importance of treed habitats in agricultural landscapes in maintaining biodiversity. I related landscape metrics to ecological function indices obtained from fine-grained land use/land cover maps. Metrics obtained from fine-grained maps more accurately predicted the abundance of edge tolerant birds than those obtained from coarse grained maps. I also explored the importance of small treed landscape elements for common breeding birds and evaluated the convenience of monitoring nests comparing temperature loggers to direct observations. More heterogeneous landscapes, rich in small treed elements, supported a greater density of nests. Nests located on small treed elements in agricultural landscapes were as successful as nests located in large landscape elements. These analyses deepen our knowledge about the relationship between landscape structure and function, facilitating the evaluation of the functionality of heterogeneous agricultural landscapes.

Current methods of mosquito surveillance estimate general population abundances, but fail to represent the relationship of vector abundance to host density important to determining transmission risk of mosquito-borne pathogens (MBP). We sought to address this limitation by creating a novel mosquito trap that directly sampled mosquitoes seeking to feed on nesting birds. The primary objectives of this study were to (1) assess the efficiency of the Nest Mosquito Trap (NMT) and how this is affected by nest box size. (2) assess whether the NMT affects bird, specifically nest success in Prothonotary Warblers (Protonotaria citrea), and adult behavior. (3) compare our novel trap to existing methods. (4) profile the ecological parameters associated with bird/ mosquito interactions. Our results allow us to conclude that the NMT is not only an effective means of capturing host-seeking mosquitoes and measuring mosquito/ bird interactions, but does not have a deleterious effect on avian nesting success.

Mating behavior has a profound impact on reproductive success and the resulting genetic structure of offspring. Extra-pair copulation is a widely observed behavior within avian species. This study explored the genetic effects of mating behaviors of Prothonotary warblers, Protonotaria citrea (Parulidae), using co-dominant microsatellite markers. Prothonotary warblers are migratory songbirds that build nests in cavities, commonly found in wetland habitats. A set of artificial nest boxes were initiated by Dr Robert Reilly in 2002 in Dutch Gap, Chesterfield County Virginia, USA, a tidal tributary off the James River. From this population, 28 nest boxes were surveyed yielding 47 adults and 110 offspring. All individuals were genotyped and the multilocus genotypes were used to identify parentage. Using paternity exclusion, 27.2% of offspring were identified as resulting from extra-pair mating. Surprisingly, an additional 11.8% of offspring were classified as genetically unrelated to the resident female, being presumably the result of an egg dumping from a female not caught at the nest box. The vast majority of nest boxes, 82.1% in this study, had at least one offspring that was a result of a mating behavior outside of the social pair. There was also positive spatial autocorrelation in extra-pair paternity suggesting that these matings are not randomly distributed across the sampling landscape. These data show that Protonotaria citrea engage in both extra-pair copulations and nest parasitism. Whether this is normal mating behavior for the species, or something that is unique to this population is unknown.

Low recruitment is the largest challenge facing the recovery of the critically endangered Mississippi Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis pulla). Lack of information on sources of nest failure hinders effective management to increase recruitment. I examined sources of nest failure for 54 nests at the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge, 2008-2009. Nest cameras identified predation as the primary source of failure, followed by flooding, abandonment, and egg inviability. Mean daily survival rate (DSR) was 0.72. The best approximating models included covariates for season date, temperature and nest age. DSR decreased with increasing season date, increasing nest age, and decreasing temperature. Hypotheses related to effects of renesting, human disturbance, precipitation, flooding, and winter rain were not supported. Because predation has been identified as a primary source of nest failure, I also monitored mammalian predators on the MSCNWR. Coyotes and raccoons were most common, with gray foxes, red foxes, domestic dogs, and bobcats also detected frequently.

A formação, recrutamento e manutenção de trilhas em formigas cortadeiras do gênero Atta é controlada quimicamente e envolve a participação de diferentes castas. Todavia, são escassos os estudos sobre a dinâmica das castas sob diferentes fontes de estímulos para a colônia, e como isso interfere na deposição de trilhas químicas. O presente trabalho visou compreender a influência de diferentes fontes de estímulos no padrão químico de deposição das trilhas, bem como no comportamento de recrutamento, forrageamento e defesa das operárias em Atta sexdens rubropilosa (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Os resultados indicaram que houve variação do perfil etológico e alocação de tarefas desempenhadas pelos indivíduos presentes na colônia, de acordo com a fonte de estímulo. Neste caso foram oferecidos uma fonte de estímulo atrativa (\"pétalas de rosas\") e outra de agressividade (\"rainha de outra colônia\"). Além disso, os perfis químicos observados nas trilhas variaram qualitativamente e quantitativamente de acordo com os estímulos oferecidos. Estes dados sugerem que as operárias de A. sexdens rubropilosa seriam capazes de manejar quimicamente seu feromônio de trilha para informar e alterar o comportamento de suas companheiras de ninho, de acordo com a fonte de estímulo em que foram expostas. / Formation, recruitment and maintenance of trail in Atta leaf-cutting ants are chemically controlled and involve participation of different castes. Nevertheless, studies on caste dynamic under different stimuli to the colony are scarce, and how it interferes in the chemical deposition of the trail. This investigation aimed to understand how different source of stimuli influence the chemical pattern of trail marking as well as the recruitment, foraging and defense behavior by workers in Atta sexdens rubropilosa (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Results indicate variation in the ethological profile and task allocation performed by the colony individuals, according to the stimuli source. In this case, it was offered an attractive stimulus source (\"rose petals\") and an aggressive one (\"other colony queen\"). Moreover, the chemical profiles of the trail varied qualitatively and quantitatively in response to the stimuli they were exposed. These data suggest that A. sexdens rubropilosa workers would be able to chemically manipulate their trail pheromone with aim to inform and alter their nestmate behavior in response to the exposed stimuli source.

As abelhas sem ferrão eram criadas pelos Maias e indígenas da América do Sul. Desde então as técnicas evoluíram, surgindo vários modelos de caixas. No entanto alguns, na colheita, contaminam o mel e submergem os ovos no alimento larval. Na Amazônia surgiu um modelo mais vantajoso, utilizado por meliponicultores e pesquisadores. Das mais de 220 espécies de abelhas sem ferrão nativas do Brasil, criar um só modelo de caixa para todas não tem lógica. Tetragona clavipes, conhecida como borá, derivado de \'\'hebora\'\', que significa \'\'o que há de ter (mel)\'\', reserva grande quantidade de alimento, interessante para produção de mel. Portanto, pretendeu-se conhecer a arquitetura do ninho, o potencial de produção de mel, a preferência polínica e as propriedades antimicrobianas do mel e da própolis. O estudo foi realizado em Ribeirão Perto/SP, em vegetação urbana. Foram transferidas 18 colônias, a maioria de dentro de troncos. Nove sucumbiram, devido principalmente aos forídeos (Diptera, Phoridae). O volume médio dos ninhos de 10 colônias foi de 3994,8 cm³ e os favos de cria, de formato espiral, um diâmetro médio de 13,9 cm. De uma colônia foram calculadas as médias do peso da rainha (101,4 mg), largura dos favos de cria (11,1 cm), largura (5,98 mm) e altura (3,11 mm) das células de cria e células reais (8,5 mm; 6,1 mm, respectivamente), o número de células de cria por área de favo (10,9/cm²), altura dos pilares entre os favos (3,7 mm), altura e largura dos potes de mel (3,5 cm; 2,38 cm, respectivamente) e de pólen (3,71 cm; 2,33 cm, respectivamente), e volume de mel (6,55 ml) e peso do pólen (6,09 g) dentro de potes fechados. Um equipamento de ultrassom auxiliou a identificação de estruturas de ninhos dentro de troncos, porém nem todas. De oito enxames foram monitoradas as área de ocupação em caixa e o peso. Cinco morreram e o restante não cresceu, provavelmente devido ao frio. Não foi quantificada a produção de mel. De outra colônia foram coletadas abelhas regressantes com pólen, entre agosto de 2010 e julho de 2011. Foram identificados 45 tipos polínicos pertencentes a 17 famílias, além de sete não identificáveis. A família com mais tipos foi a Fabaceae e o coletado por maior período o tipo Amaranthus, gênero de uma planta comercial. Foram poucas plantas de relevância econômica, incluindo o tipo Citrus, entretanto, considerou-se possibilidades na polinização. Foram avaliadas as atividades antimicrobianas do mel e própolis frente à Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Paenibacillus larvae, Escherichia coli e Candida albicans. O mel não foi ativo contra E. coli. A própolis teve leve atividade contra S. aureus e S. epidermidis. Manejar e criar esta espécie de abelha requer cuidados. É necessário um modelo de caixa, que atenda às suas exigências. A diversidade polínica serviu para conhecer parte do recurso alimentar, e não, necessariamente, o potencial polinizador. O mel apresentou relevância na medicina e apicultura, mas a própolis teve atividade singela. Destacando o mel como alternativa contra micro-organismos resistentes. / The Mayas and the Indians of South America reared the stingless bees. Since then techniques have evolved, arising several hive models. However, in these, when harvesting, the honey is contaminated, and the eggs are submerged in larval food. In the Amazon, beekeepers and researchers use a more advantageous hive. With more than 220 species of stingless bees native in Brazil, creating a single hive model for all is not logical. Tetragona clavipes, known as borá, which comes from hebora, that means the one that has honey\', stores lots of food, interesting aspect for honey production. Therefore, we sought the knowledge about the nest architecture, the potential for honey production, pollen preference and the antimicrobial properties of honey and propolis. The study was conducted in Ribeirão Preto/SP in urban vegetation. Eighteen colonies were transferred, mostly from tree trunks. Nine died mainly due to phorid flies (Diptera, Phoridae). The average volume of the nest of 10 colonies was 3994.8 cm³ and combs, all with spiral format, had an average diameter of 13.9 cm. From one colony means were calculated such as, the weight of the queen (101.4 mg), width of the combs (11.1 cm), width (5.98 mm) and height (3.11 mm) of brood cells and royal cells (8.5 mm, 6.1 mm, respectively), the number of cells per area of comb (10.9/cm²), height of the pillars between the combs (3.7 mm), height and width of honey pots (3.5 cm and 2.38 cm, respectively) and pollen (3.71 cm and 2.33 cm, respectively) and the volume of honey (6.55 ml) and weight pollen (6.09 g) in closed pots. An ultrasonic apparatus assisted identification of structures of nests within trunks, but not all. Eight colonies were monitored the occupation inside the hives and the weight. Five died and the rest did not grow, probably due to the cold. The honey production was not quantified. From another colony were collected returning bees with pollen, between August 2010 and July 2011. Forty-five pollen types belonging to 17 families were identified, and seven were not possible to identify. The family Fabaceae had more types and the one collected for a longer period was type Amaranthus, genus of a commercial plant. Few plants of economic importance appered, including the type Citrus, however it was considered a few possibilities for pollination. The antimicrobial activity of honey, and propolis against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Paenibacillus larvae, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans was evaluated. Honey was not active against E. coli. Propolis has mild antibacterial activity against S. aureus and S. epidermidis. Rearing this bee specie requires care. A hive model that meets its requirements is necessary. The pollen diversity served to know part of the food resource, and not necessarily the potential as a pollinator. Honey demonstrated its relevance in medicine and beekeeping, but propolis not as well. Highlighting, the honey seems to be an alternative against resistant micro-organisms.

Ninho vazio (NV) corresponde ao período em que os filhos deixam a casa dos pais para se lançar a novos projetos. Já Síndrome do Ninho Vazio (SNV) é o termo comumente utilizado para se referir ao sofrimento emocional dos pais associado a esse período da vida. Objetivo: contribuir para a identificação e caracterização da Síndrome do Ninho Vazio em jogadores patológicos. O estudo baseouse na comparação entre um grupo de jogadores patológicos cujos filhos já tinham saído de casa (grupo NV; n=23), e outro cujos filhos ainda moravam com os pais (grupo de comparação; n=23), quanto às variáveis sociodemográficas, comportamento de jogo, comorbidades psiquiátricas, aspectos emocionais e adequação social. A intensidade da SNV foi avaliada por meio de entrevista semiestruturada. Potenciais diferenças de gênero também foram exploradas. Não houve diferenças significativas entre os grupos NV e de comparação em nenhuma das variáveis estudadas com exceção da condição econômica, melhor no grupo de NV, possivelmente, em função do menor número de moradores na casa. No grupo NV (n=23), houve associação significativa entre a idade que o(a) jogador(a) tinha quando o(a) filho(a) deixou a casa e a idade de início dos problemas com o jogo (r=0,630; P<0,001) e a idade de procura por tratamento (r=0,681; P<0,001). Adicionalmente, observouse associação entre intensidade da SNV e idade de procura por tratamento (r=0,435; P=0,038) e também entre intensidade da SNV e gravidade do jogo patológico (r=0,610; P<0,001) medida pelos critérios do DSMIV TR. Em relação ao gênero, percebeuse que as jogadoras (n=16), em comparação aos jogadores (n=7), apresentaram maior intensidade da SNV e maior sintomatologia depressiva e ansiosa, indicando que o sofrimento na saída dos filhos de casa é maior entre as mulheres jogadoras. A análise qualitativa demonstrou que 61% dos jogadores patológicos relataram sofrer com o ninho vazio, com menção a sentimentos negativos, como tristeza e depressão após a saída de casa dos filhos. Jogadores patológicos, ainda, relacionaram a saída dos filhos da casa com o comportamento do aumento de jogo, diminuição de jogo ou busca por tratamento. Estes resultados sugerem a necessidade de estudos com amostras maiores para uma compreensão mais ampla do impacto da Síndrome do Ninho Vazio no comportamento de jogadores patológicos, particularmente, entre mulheres jogadoras / Empty Nest (NV) is the period when the children leave the family home to launch new projects. Empty Nest Syndrome (SNV) is the term commonly used to refer to parents emotional distress associated with this period of life. The purpose of this work is to contribute to the identification and characterization of the empty nest syndrome in pathological gamblers by comparing a group of pathological gamblers, whose children have already left home (NV group; n= 23), with another whose children still live with them at home (comparison group; n=23), by looking at sociodemographic variables, gambling behavior, psychiatric comorbidities, emotional aspects and social adequacy. The intensity of SNV was evaluated through semistructured interviews. Potential gender differences were also explored. There were no significant differences between the NV group and the comparison group except for economic status, higher in the NV group, possibly due to the lower number of household members. In the NV group (n=23), there was a significant association between the age of the gambler when the child left home and the age of onset of gambling problems (r=0,630; P<0,001) and the age of seeking treatment (r=0,681; P<0,001). Additionally, we observed an association between SNV intensity and the age of seeking treatment (r=0,435; P=0,038) and also between SNV intensity and the severity of pathological gambling (r=0,610; P<0,001), as measured by the number of positive criteria in DSMIVTR. Comparing genders, we observed that female gamblers (n=16), showed higher SNV intensity and more depression and anxiety symptoms compared to male gamblers (n=7) indicating that the suffering caused by their children leaving home is higher among female gamblers. The qualitative analysis showed that 61% of pathological gamblers reported suffering with empty nest, with negative feelings, sadness and depression after their children left home. Pathological gamblers also related their children leaving home whit increased gambling behavior, decreased gambling behavior or treatment seeking. These results suggest the need for studies with larger samples to broaden the understanding of the impact of empty nest syndrome in the behavior of pathological gamblers, particularly among female gamblers

As tartarugas na Amazônia são particularmente sensíveis à pressão humana, já que os impactos nas áreas de nidificação podem afetar negativamente a taxa de reprodução das populações. A seleção do local de nidificação é um componente fundamental para o sucesso de desova, no entanto, a associação entre a escolha do local e a aptidão do local escolhido ainda é pouco estudada. Neste trabalho testamos um conjunto de variáveis para explicar os padrões de nidificação em Tracajás (Podocnemis unifilis), com base em dados coletados em 73 locais de nidificação ao longo de 118 km de rio na Amazônia Oriental Brasileira. Modelos lineares generalizados (GLMs) foram usados para avaliar as influências antropogênicas e ambientais nos padrões de seleção do local de nidificação (número de ninhos, densidade de ninhos, distância do ninho à água e variação na distância à água) e adequabilidade do local de nidificação (remoção de ninhos por humanos). Como resultado, encontramos que o número e densidade de ninhos foram fortemente explicados por variáveis ambientais, e a distancia do ninho á água diminuiu com a proximidade as casas. A remoção humana foi o principal responsável pela perda de ninhos (47% dos ninhos foram removidos) principalmente nos trechos do rio com maior atividade humana. Nossos dados sugerem que mudanças antropogênicas estão levando a diferenças entre a escolha de local de nidificação e a sua adequabilidade, assim, nos rios onde humanos tem maior acesso, sinais usados pelas fêmeas para selecionar áreas de nidificação não estão permitindo desovas bem-sucedidas. Ao contrário das previsões nas hipóteses, os achados demonstram que as fêmeas não parecem evitar desovar em locais perigosos e inadequados. Portanto, ações diretas, como a proteção de áreas de nidificação, são vitais para a conservação das tartarugas na Amazônia. / Amazonian freshwater turtles are particurlarly sensitive to human pressure, since impacts on their nesting areas can negatively affect reproductive rate of populations. Nest-site selection is a fundamental component of freshwater turtle nesting success, however, linking oviposition choices to overall suitability of nest-site selection remains poorly tested. We tested a set of variables to explain nesting patterns in the yellow-spotted river turtle (Podocnemis unifilis), based on data collected from 73 nesting sites along 118 km of river in the eastern Brazilian Amazon. General Linear Models (GLMs) were used to evaluate anthropogenic and environmental influences on patterns in nest-site selection (four responses: number of nests, nest density, distance from nest to water and variation in distance to water) and nest-site suitability (removal of nests by humans). Number and density of nest were largely explained by environmental variables, and distance from nest to water decreased with the proximity to human habitations. Human removal of nests was the primary driver of nest failure (47% of the nests were removed) and removal was higher in sections of river with higher human activity. We show that anthropogenic changes are driving differences between nest-site selection and suitability, whereby the signals used by females to select nesting areas no longer enable successful nesting along rivers accessible to humans. Contrary to predictions from the hypotheses, our findings demonstrate that females do not appear to avoid nesting in dangerous and unfit sites. Therefore, direct actions including the protection of nesting areas are vital for the conservation of Amazonian freshwater turtles.

Master of Science / Division of Biology / David A. Haukos / The ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) is a popular and economically important upland gamebird in Kansas. Population declines have stakeholders seeking methods to manage populations on agricultural lands. Cover crops planted during the breeding period may provide important resources pheasants require for survival and successful reproduction. I evaluated three cover crop mixes; a custom mix, commercial mix, a wildlife mix, and a chemical fallow control in three counties in western Kansas, during 2017 and 2018 to determine their potential as a management practice for increasing pheasant habitat. I tested the relative effects of spring cover crops on female pheasant survival, nest survival, nest-site selection, and mesocarnivore occupancy. Females pheasants (73) were captured via nightlighting during February – April and fitted with 15-g very-high-frequency radio collars and monitored by telemetry. I placed 58 camera traps on field edges and within cover crop treatments from April to September. Vegetation data were collected at nests and random points to assess nest-site selection and weekly random vegetation points were sampled within treatments. I used known fate and nest survival models in the package RMark interface in R to investigate adult and nest survival (R Core Team 2018). Adult breeding season survival was 0.57 (SE < 0.0001, CI = 0.5739 – 0.5740). Percent spring cover crop positively influenced adult survival (AICc wi = 0.450). Nest survival was 0.36 (SE < 0.001, CI = 0.3614 - 0.3614). Daily nest survival followed a pattern of high survival that gradually declined over the breeding season. Resource selection functions suggest female ring-necked pheasants selected vegetation between 5-7 dm at 50% VOR for nest sites (AICc wi = 0.97). Chi-square analyses suggest females selected Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) patches for nest sites more than expected during both years (2017 χ²₄ = 26.49, P < 0.001; 2018 χ²₄ = 9.80, P = 0.04). CRP supported 57% of nests and 56% of successful nests relative to other cover types. All three of the monitored nests in cover crops were depredated. Ring-necked pheasant occupancy was greatest on edges of treatments (ψ = 0.97, SE = 0.081) and influenced by proportion of the Chick Magnet seed mix (AICc wi = 0.68). Mesocarnivore occupancy was greatest on treatment edges with a constant occupancy of 0.99 (SE = 0.47, AICc wi = 0.66). Spring cover crops provide cover and foraging resources when the majority of agricultural practices are fallow. Spring cover crops do not provide sufficient vertical cover for nesting until after peak nesting occurs, especially during cooler than average winter and spring conditions such as 2018. However, there are tangible benefits of spring cover crops to other biological periods, such as adult female survival, and brood resources if placement of cover crops is targeted near quality nest habitat. My results indicates wheat is an ecological trap for nesting due to increased predation and destruction during harvest. Providing quality nest structure will reduce females nesting in wheat. Incorporation of spring cover crops is a beneficial wildlife management tool that can increase ring-necked pheasant habitat on the landscape.