The fundamental challenge to prevent species from going extinct is difficult but of grave importance. Halting species from going extinct minimizes the loss of biodiversity. One way of researching biodiversity is by studying species on a genetic level. This creates a dilemma as studying species genetically often requires using destructive sampling and is not desirable or even allowed when studying threatened species. Thus, there is a necessity for alternate sampling methods. In this study both non-lethal and lethal methods were used to gather tissues from the butterfly species Vanessa cardui. The DNA extractions turned out to give varying amounts of DNA, but it was successfully extracted from all the different tissue types. Amplifiable DNA was successfully gained using PCR and confirmed using gel electrophoresis. Existing and newly designed primers for multi-copy genes were used and several of them gave amplifiable DNA. Even if amplifiable DNA has been obtained in other studies, using various tissues, it turned out to only work with a live butterfly’s body in this study.

Orientador: Domingos Garrone-Neto / Resumo: Neste trabalho estudamos a composição, distribuição e história natural da comunidade de peixes em um riacho litorâneo da Mata Atlântica. Além disso, relatamos um estudo de caso envolvendo a utilização desta ictiofauna como ferramenta de divulgação e conscientização ambiental, no âmbito do projeto “Peixes do Lagamar”. Conduzimos os estudos ictiofaunísticos em três trechos do rio das Minas, no município de Cananeia, litoral sul do estado de São Paulo. Apesar de estar localizado, em sua maior parte, dentro do Parque Estadual do Lagamar de Cananeia, o rio das Minas não possuía registros a respeito de sua ictiofauna. Realizamos observações diretas (mergulho livre) e indiretas (BRUVS – Baited Remotely Underwater Video Station) durante dois anos (2017 e 2018) e coletas tradicionais (covo, picaré, puçá etc.) somente em uma campanha (set./2017). Ao todo, registramos 31 espécies, pertencentes a 14 famílias e cinco ordens, com 28 espécies no trecho a jusante, 17 no trecho intermediário e seis a montante, fato que esteve relacionado ao gradiente altitudinal existente entre os pontos de coleta. Descrevemos dois comportamentos para Geophagus brasiliensis: i) uma nova tática de forrageamento e ii) uma associação alimentar do tipo “nuclear-seguidor” com o lambari Deuterodon iguape. De forma complementar, realizamos estudos de capacidade de suporte no rio das Minas e em um outro riacho da região, o rio Mandira, identificando áreas com potencial de receber visitantes para a prática de atividad... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: In this work, we study the composition, distribution and natural history of the fish community in a coastal stream of the Atlantic Forest. In addition, we report a case study involving the use of this ichthyofauna as a tool for dissemination and environmental awareness, within the scope of the "Peixes do Lagamar" project. We conducted the ichthyofaunistic studies in three stretches of the Rio das Minas, in the municipality of Cananeia, south coast of the state of São Paulo. Despite being located, for the most part, within the Lagamar de Cananeia State Park, the Rio das Minas had no records regarding its ichthyofauna. We conducted direct observations (snorkelling) and indirect observations (BRUVS - Baited Remotely Underwater Video Station) for two years (2017 and 2018) and traditional captures (fish trap, seine net, dip net and hook) in only one campaign (sep/2017). In total, we recorded 31 species, belonging to 14 families and five orders, with 28 species in the downstream section, 17 in the intermediate section and six upstream, a fact that was related to the altitudinal gradient existing between the collection points. We describe two behaviours for Geophagus brasiliensis: i) a new foraging tactic and ii) a "nuclear-follower" food association with tetra Deuterodon iguape. In addition, we carried out studies of carrying capacity in the Rio das Minas and another stream in the region, the Rio Mandira, identifying areas with potential to receive visitors for the practice of flot... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

En intégrant cette étude dans un contexte d'écologie du stress, l'objectif général de cette thèse est d'une part d'évaluer l'exposition et les effets des éléments traces métalliques (ETMs)et du parasitisme chez le mulot sylvestre (apodemus sylvaticus) et d'autre part de contribuer au développement de marqueurs d'exposition et d'effets toxiques non létaux. Au cours de trois sessions de capture, des individus ont été collectés dur 30 sites localisés autour de l'ancienne fonderie de Metaleurop (Nord-Pas-de-Calais) les concentrations en Cd et Pb ont été mesurées dans les organes cibles (foie et reins) et dans les poils des mulots. différents biomarqueurs d'effets toxiques létaux et non létaux ont également été mesurés. Le nombre important de mulots prélevé (n=886) a permis d'étudier l'influence des caractéristiques individuelles (âge et sexe) et des caractéristique paysagères sur les réponses des biomarqueurs. Les résultats indiquent que les concentrations en ETMs des animaux vivants sur les sites les plus contaminés s'avèrent significativement plus importantes que celles mesurées sur les autres sites. En outre, plus de 25% des mulots provenant des sites des plis pollués présente des concentrations supérieures aux seuils toxiques et ont donc un risque accru de développer des pathologies (œdème, cancers). Par ailleurs, cette étude révèle également que ETMs chez le mulot est influencée par les caractéristiques, individuelles (âge et sexe), par l'occupation des sols et qu'elle varie en fonction de la session de capture. De plus, les résultats montrent que les concentrations ETMs [...] et les caractéristiques paysagères modulent les prévalences de certains parasites. En effet, la richesse parasitaire augmente chez les individus les plus exposés aux ETMs. Ces concentrations influencent également les différents biomarqueurs d'effets létaux [...] et non létaux [...]évalués. Ces résultats illustrent donc l'intérêt du développement de biomarqueurs on létaux pour l'évaluation des effets toxiques des ETMs les plus élevées présentent des atteintes au niveau individuel [...] et au niveau cellulaire [...] Cependant, étant donnés les effets potentiels de parasitisme sur la santé de la faune sauvage, les liens de causalité entre la présence d' ETMs et les atteintes observées sont discutables. Ce travail de thèse souligne l'intérêt des approches multi-stress dans le cadre de l'évaluation de la santé de la faune sauvage. / By integrating this study in a stess-ecology Framework, the aim of this thesis is to assess exposure and effects of trace metals (TMs) and parasitism on wood mouse[…] and to contribute to the development of non-lethal exposure and toxicity makers […].This study also reveals that the accumulations of the TMs in wood mice is influenced by individual characteristics […] and landscape features and varies according to the trapping session. In addition, results show that the concentrations of TMs […] and landscape characteristics modulate the prevalence of some parasites. […].However, given the potential effects of parasitism on animals’ health, the causal links between the presence of TMs and observed alterations are questionable. This work emphasizes the importance of multi-stress approaches on wildlife’s health assessment.