A hipótese sobre preferência de oviposição/performance do imaturo considera que a fêmea adulta estaria maximizando seu fitness ao ovipositar em hospedeiros que otimizam a performance da larva. Porém vários outros fatores podem atuar no momento da seleção de sítio para oviposição, dentre eles a influência do recurso alimentar utilizado pelo adulto, a indução comportamental e a aprendizagem associativa. O presente trabalho teve por objetivo responder às seguintes questões relacionadas ao comportamento de oviposição de Anastrepha obliqua: O carboidrato presente na dieta do adulto (glicose ou sacarose) pode exercer influência positiva sobre a preferência da fêmea por um sítio de oviposição com composição semelhante?(Fase 1) A experiência prévia com um hospedeiro que possui um dos dois carboidratos citados pode interferir em escolhas futuras entre sítios de oviposição (indução comportamental)? (Fase 2) As moscas associam uma substância estranha (sulfato de quinino) à presença de proteína no sítio de oviposição? (Fase 3) Na Fase 1, substratos para escolha contendo glicose ou sacarose foram colocados à disposição de moscas alimentadas com um desses dois carboidratos. Na Fase 2, as moscas, que tiveram contato prévio com sítios artificiais para oviposição constituídos por lêvedo e glicose ou lêvedo e sacarose, foram testadas quanto à preferência de oviposição entre esses dois tipos de substratos. As moscas dos dois grupos constituintes da Fase 3 tiveram contato, durante cinco dias, com substratos contendo lêvedo e sulfato de quinino. Depois desse período, as fêmeas escolheram entre substratos para oviposição contendo ou não a substância estranha. Em um grupo, os sítios artificiais continham lêvedo, no outro, apenas ágar. A preferência de oviposição nas três fases foi determinada através da quantidade de ovos depositados pelas fêmeas nos substratos para escolha. O tipo de carboidrato presente na dieta do adulto não exerceu influência positiva sobre a preferência de fêmeas de A. obliqua por um sítio artificial para oviposição com composição semelhante. Supõe-se que isso se deva às moscas, ao longo de suas vidas, terem contato com diversos recursos alimentares e para oviposição, e aos açúcares terem valor nutritivo adequado para a espécie. A influência da experiência (indução) no comportamento de oviposição foi notada quando o contato prévio foi com substratos contendo lêvedo e sacarose, e não quando as fêmeas tiveram contato anterior com os constituídos por lêvedo e glicose. Para explicar esse resultado, levantou-se a hipótese de ter havido, durante a evolução do grupo, uma pressão de seleção maior em favor da existência de indução comportamental decorrente do contato prévio com o carboidrato mais abundante na natureza (sacarose). Através dos experimentos realizados, não se verificou a associação do sulfato de quinino à presença de proteína no sítio de oviposição. No entanto, seria precipitado dizer que as fêmeas de A.obliqua não são capazes de fazer tal associação, uma vez que o comportamento de oviposição inclui várias etapas. / The hypothesis concerning the oviposition preference/immature performance considers that the adult female would be maximizing its fitness when ovipositing in hosts that optimize the larval performance. However, several other factors can act in the moment site selection for oviposition occurs, among them the influence of the alimentary resource used by the adult, the behavioral induction and the associative learning. The purpose of this study was to answer the following questions related to the Anastrepha obliqua oviposition behavior: Can the carbohydrate present in the adult diet (glucose or sucrose) exert positive influence on the female preference for an oviposition site with similar composition? (Phase 1) Can previous experience with a host that possesses one of the two mentioned carbohydrates interfere in choosing oviposition sites in the future (behavioral induction)? (Phase 2) Do the flies associate a foreign substance (quinine sulphate) to the presence of protein in the oviposition site? (Phase 3). In Phase 1, substrates for choice containing glucose or sucrose were offered to flies fed with one of the above mentioned carbohydrates. In Phase 2, the flies which had previous contact with artificial oviposition sites constituted by yeast and glucose or yeast and sucrose were tested concerning preference for oviposition between these two types of substrate. The two Phase 3 groups flies had contact during five days with substrates containing yeast and quinine sulphate. After that period, the females have chosen between oviposition substrates containing or not the foreign substance. In one group, the artificial sites contained yeast and in the other only agar. The oviposition preference in the three phases was determined by the amount of eggs deposited by the females in the substrates for choice.

A hipótese sobre preferência de oviposição/performance do imaturo considera que a fêmea adulta estaria maximizando seu fitness ao ovipositar em hospedeiros que otimizam a performance da larva. Porém vários outros fatores podem atuar no momento da seleção de sítio para oviposição, dentre eles a influência do recurso alimentar utilizado pelo adulto, a indução comportamental e a aprendizagem associativa. O presente trabalho teve por objetivo responder às seguintes questões relacionadas ao comportamento de oviposição de Anastrepha obliqua: O carboidrato presente na dieta do adulto (glicose ou sacarose) pode exercer influência positiva sobre a preferência da fêmea por um sítio de oviposição com composição semelhante?(Fase 1) A experiência prévia com um hospedeiro que possui um dos dois carboidratos citados pode interferir em escolhas futuras entre sítios de oviposição (indução comportamental)? (Fase 2) As moscas associam uma substância estranha (sulfato de quinino) à presença de proteína no sítio de oviposição? (Fase 3) Na Fase 1, substratos para escolha contendo glicose ou sacarose foram colocados à disposição de moscas alimentadas com um desses dois carboidratos. Na Fase 2, as moscas, que tiveram contato prévio com sítios artificiais para oviposição constituídos por lêvedo e glicose ou lêvedo e sacarose, foram testadas quanto à preferência de oviposição entre esses dois tipos de substratos. As moscas dos dois grupos constituintes da Fase 3 tiveram contato, durante cinco dias, com substratos contendo lêvedo e sulfato de quinino. Depois desse período, as fêmeas escolheram entre substratos para oviposição contendo ou não a substância estranha. Em um grupo, os sítios artificiais continham lêvedo, no outro, apenas ágar. A preferência de oviposição nas três fases foi determinada através da quantidade de ovos depositados pelas fêmeas nos substratos para escolha. O tipo de carboidrato presente na dieta do adulto não exerceu influência positiva sobre a preferência de fêmeas de A. obliqua por um sítio artificial para oviposição com composição semelhante. Supõe-se que isso se deva às moscas, ao longo de suas vidas, terem contato com diversos recursos alimentares e para oviposição, e aos açúcares terem valor nutritivo adequado para a espécie. A influência da experiência (indução) no comportamento de oviposição foi notada quando o contato prévio foi com substratos contendo lêvedo e sacarose, e não quando as fêmeas tiveram contato anterior com os constituídos por lêvedo e glicose. Para explicar esse resultado, levantou-se a hipótese de ter havido, durante a evolução do grupo, uma pressão de seleção maior em favor da existência de indução comportamental decorrente do contato prévio com o carboidrato mais abundante na natureza (sacarose). Através dos experimentos realizados, não se verificou a associação do sulfato de quinino à presença de proteína no sítio de oviposição. No entanto, seria precipitado dizer que as fêmeas de A.obliqua não são capazes de fazer tal associação, uma vez que o comportamento de oviposição inclui várias etapas. / The hypothesis concerning the oviposition preference/immature performance considers that the adult female would be maximizing its fitness when ovipositing in hosts that optimize the larval performance. However, several other factors can act in the moment site selection for oviposition occurs, among them the influence of the alimentary resource used by the adult, the behavioral induction and the associative learning. The purpose of this study was to answer the following questions related to the Anastrepha obliqua oviposition behavior: Can the carbohydrate present in the adult diet (glucose or sucrose) exert positive influence on the female preference for an oviposition site with similar composition? (Phase 1) Can previous experience with a host that possesses one of the two mentioned carbohydrates interfere in choosing oviposition sites in the future (behavioral induction)? (Phase 2) Do the flies associate a foreign substance (quinine sulphate) to the presence of protein in the oviposition site? (Phase 3). In Phase 1, substrates for choice containing glucose or sucrose were offered to flies fed with one of the above mentioned carbohydrates. In Phase 2, the flies which had previous contact with artificial oviposition sites constituted by yeast and glucose or yeast and sucrose were tested concerning preference for oviposition between these two types of substrate. The two Phase 3 groups flies had contact during five days with substrates containing yeast and quinine sulphate. After that period, the females have chosen between oviposition substrates containing or not the foreign substance. In one group, the artificial sites contained yeast and in the other only agar. The oviposition preference in the three phases was determined by the amount of eggs deposited by the females in the substrates for choice.

The range of a species often extends across a diverse landscape, necessitating that individuals make different movement and habitat decisions, despite consistent food and shelter requirements. Great Basin gophersnakes (Pituophis catenifer deserticola) are threatened in Canada, where they occur at the northern extent of their range in southern interior river valleys of British Columbia such as the Okanagan Valley. I followed 39 radio-transmittered adult gophersnakes at four sites in the Okanagan, to obtain information on life history, movement and range patterns, and habitat use. Habitat selection and movement patterns exhibited by gophersnakes differed between study sites, sexes, and months, indicating that snake choice varies depending on resources and life history traits. Despite these fine-grain differences, males moved more than females in the spring. In addition to this, females moved more than males in the summer and fall. Differences in movement and range were apparent among the study sites. Habitat selection differed by study site, however rock-outcrops were consistently selected overall. Microhabitat selection varied, but retreat sites including logs, rocks, and holes in the ground, were consistently located closer than random. Hibernation sites in the south Okanagan were in rock features, while in the north Okanagan a good proportion were in rodent burrows in hillsides. Hibernation site fidelity was low, and annual reproduction was common. Oviposition sites were on south-facing slopes of moderate grade with little to moderate grass cover. Three ecdysis periods were observed when most or all transmitter-equipped snakes shed their skin. These findings will be very valuable to species conservation goals in British Columbia when developing guidelines on the habitats and sizes of areas to protect. With an iii understanding of the movement and ranges patterns exhibited by individuals, the area required to sustain a healthy population of gophersnakes can be determined. Knowledge of the habitats and microhabitats gophersnakes select makes it possible to identify and protect important areas at sites known to contain gophersnakes, including the Vaseux, Ripley, and Vernon study sites. Characterization of hibernation and oviposition sites allows surveys to identify these areas in locations that may support gophersnakes. Finally, identification of the timing of various important life history behaviours means human disturbance can be avoided during mating and oviposition periods, especially on sites such as Vernon, where land is used for multiple purposes.

The range of a species often extends across a diverse landscape, necessitating that individuals make different movement and habitat decisions, despite consistent food and shelter requirements. Great Basin gophersnakes (Pituophis catenifer deserticola) are threatened in Canada, where they occur at the northern extent of their range in southern interior river valleys of British Columbia such as the Okanagan Valley. I followed 39 radio-transmittered adult gophersnakes at four sites in the Okanagan, to obtain information on life history, movement and range patterns, and habitat use. Habitat selection and movement patterns exhibited by gophersnakes differed between study sites, sexes, and months, indicating that snake choice varies depending on resources and life history traits. Despite these fine-grain differences, males moved more than females in the spring. In addition to this, females moved more than males in the summer and fall. Differences in movement and range were apparent among the study sites. Habitat selection differed by study site, however rock-outcrops were consistently selected overall. Microhabitat selection varied, but retreat sites including logs, rocks, and holes in the ground, were consistently located closer than random. Hibernation sites in the south Okanagan were in rock features, while in the north Okanagan a good proportion were in rodent burrows in hillsides. Hibernation site fidelity was low, and annual reproduction was common. Oviposition sites were on south-facing slopes of moderate grade with little to moderate grass cover. Three ecdysis periods were observed when most or all transmitter-equipped snakes shed their skin. These findings will be very valuable to species conservation goals in British Columbia when developing guidelines on the habitats and sizes of areas to protect. With an iii understanding of the movement and ranges patterns exhibited by individuals, the area required to sustain a healthy population of gophersnakes can be determined. Knowledge of the habitats and microhabitats gophersnakes select makes it possible to identify and protect important areas at sites known to contain gophersnakes, including the Vaseux, Ripley, and Vernon study sites. Characterization of hibernation and oviposition sites allows surveys to identify these areas in locations that may support gophersnakes. Finally, identification of the timing of various important life history behaviours means human disturbance can be avoided during mating and oviposition periods, especially on sites such as Vernon, where land is used for multiple purposes.

The range of a species often extends across a diverse landscape, necessitating that individuals make different movement and habitat decisions, despite consistent food and shelter requirements. Great Basin gophersnakes (Pituophis catenifer deserticola) are threatened in Canada, where they occur at the northern extent of their range in southern interior river valleys of British Columbia such as the Okanagan Valley. I followed 39 radio-transmittered adult gophersnakes at four sites in the Okanagan, to obtain information on life history, movement and range patterns, and habitat use. Habitat selection and movement patterns exhibited by gophersnakes differed between study sites, sexes, and months, indicating that snake choice varies depending on resources and life history traits. Despite these fine-grain differences, males moved more than females in the spring. In addition to this, females moved more than males in the summer and fall. Differences in movement and range were apparent among the study sites. Habitat selection differed by study site, however rock-outcrops were consistently selected overall. Microhabitat selection varied, but retreat sites including logs, rocks, and holes in the ground, were consistently located closer than random. Hibernation sites in the south Okanagan were in rock features, while in the north Okanagan a good proportion were in rodent burrows in hillsides. Hibernation site fidelity was low, and annual reproduction was common. Oviposition sites were on south-facing slopes of moderate grade with little to moderate grass cover. Three ecdysis periods were observed when most or all transmitter-equipped snakes shed their skin. These findings will be very valuable to species conservation goals in British Columbia when developing guidelines on the habitats and sizes of areas to protect. With an iii understanding of the movement and ranges patterns exhibited by individuals, the area required to sustain a healthy population of gophersnakes can be determined. Knowledge of the habitats and microhabitats gophersnakes select makes it possible to identify and protect important areas at sites known to contain gophersnakes, including the Vaseux, Ripley, and Vernon study sites. Characterization of hibernation and oviposition sites allows surveys to identify these areas in locations that may support gophersnakes. Finally, identification of the timing of various important life history behaviours means human disturbance can be avoided during mating and oviposition periods, especially on sites such as Vernon, where land is used for multiple purposes. / Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences (Okanagan) / Biology, Department of (Okanagan) / Graduate