Thesis (MScConEcol (Conservation Ecology and Entomology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Two populations of Acacia mellifera were noted in Pniel, which is a semi-arid savanna, near Kimberley in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. One population appeared on a rocky, andesitic laval ridges (soil pHKCL 6.5-7.0) along the Vaal river. The other appeared in a sandveld area (soil pHKCL 4). Bush encroachment by A. mellifera was found to be more extensive on the rocky areas than in the sandveld and the two habitats differed extensively on soil pH, clay and silt contents and also on water holding capacities. The rocky habitat was thus deduced to have a higher CEC. Seeds were sampled on a logarithmic scale for allozyme analysis and also randomly in each of the two habitats for local adaptation tests, in which case lime (CaCO3) and organic matter (cow-dung) were used in a completely-crossed design. Detected interaction effects (between population source and pH; population source and organic matter and between pH and organic matter) and significant differences could not separate the two populations as the differences occurred across populations. Random genetic differences leading to phenotypic plasticity in the two observed populations, might be responsible for the observed phenotypic differences. Allozymic data showed no significant differences between the two populations and the genetic distance between and within the populations also confirmed that the two populations had not genetically differentiated. The Mantel Test on the two populations, showed nonsignificant results. Nei‟s UPGMA dendrogram revealed that the game farm subpopulations were more primitive and genetically related to each other. Despite differences in allozyme frequencies, between the sampled sites, genetic differentiation was found to be low (FST = 0.337). Nei‟s (1972) original measures of genetic distance ranged between 0.871 and 1.000 with a mean of 0.949 ± 0.053. The study concluded that the two observed populations had not genetically differentiated and no local adaptation could be established rather phenotypic plasticity was evident and resulted in the observed divergent growth forms. Nonetheless, the overall direction of spread of encroachment appeared to be the eastward. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Twee bevolkings van Acacia mellifera is gevind in Pniel, wat „n semi-ariede savanna is naby Kimberley in die Noord-Kaap provinsie van Suid-Afrika. Een bevolking het voorgekom op klipperige andesitiese lava riwwe (grond pHKCL 6.5-7.0) al langs die Vaalrivier. Die ander het voorgekom in „n sandveld area (soil pHKCL 4). Bos-oorskryding deur A. mellifera was meer uitgebreid op die klipperige areas as in die sandveld en die twee habitats het noemenswaardig verskil ten opsigte van grond pH, klei en silt inhoud asook waterhoukapasiteit. Dit kan was dus afgelei word dat die klipperige habitat „n hoër CEC het. Die sade was versamel op „n logaritmiese skaal vir allosiem-analise en ook ewekansig in die twee habitats vir lokale aanpassings toetse. In dié gevalle was kalk (CaCO3) en organiese material (koeimis) gebruik in „n totaal-gekruisde ontwerp. Bespeurde interaksie effekte (tussen bevolkings bron en pH; bevolkings bron en organiese material en tussen pH en organiese material) en noemenswaardige verskille kon nie die twee bevolkings skei nie, aangesien die verskille voorgekom het regdeur die twee bevolkings. Ewekansige genetiese verskille wat lei tot fenotipiese plastisiteit tussen die twee waargeneemde bevolkings mag dalk verantwoordelik wees vir die waargeneemde fenotipiese verskille. Allosiem-data het geen beduidende verskille gelewer tussen die twee bevolkings nie en genetiese afstand binne en tussen die bevolkings het ook bevestig dat die twee bevolkings nie geneties gedifferensiëer is nie. Die Mantel toets op die twee bevolkings het geen beduidende resultate gelewer nie. Nei se UPGMA dendogram get gewys dat die wildsplaas bevolkings was meer primitief en geneties verwant aan mekaar. Ten spyte van die allosiem frekwensies tussen die gemonsterde gebiede, was die genetiese differensiasie laag (FST = 0.337). Nei (1972) se oorspronlike meeting van genetiese afstand het tussen 0.871 en 1.000 beloop met „n gemiddeld van 0.949 ± 0.053. Die studie het bepaal dat die twee waargeneemde bevolkings nie geneties gedifferensiëer het nie en dat geen lokale aanpassing teenwoordig was nie. Fenotipiese plastisiteit was duidelik waarneembaar en het gelei tot die divergerende groeivorme. Nieteenstaande, was die algehele rigting van oorskryding ooswaarts.

Au vu de l’impact croissant du changement climatique global et en particulier de la sécheresse sur les forêts, il est nécessaire de comprendre les mécanismes de réponse des arbres face à des variations de disponibilité en eau. Ces dernières années, des études ont montré un contrôle épigénétique et notamment par la méthylation de l’ADN de la plasticité phénotypique des plantes en réponse aux variations environnementales. Dans ce contexte, cette thèse visait à évaluer le rôle de la méthylation de l’ADN des cellules du méristème apical caulinaire dans la plasticité développementale de la tige feuillée en réponse à des variations de disponibilité en eau chez le peuplier, un arbre modèle. A cette fin, le méthylome de la chromatine non condensée dans le méristème apical caulinaire de Populus trichocarpa a été caractérisé. Ensuite, l’impact de variations de disponibilité en eau sur la méthylation de l’ADN a été étudié dans l’apex caulinaire de différents hybrides (P. × euramericana). Les loci et les réseaux de gènes affectés pour leur expression et leur méthylation ont ainsi été identifiés. Ces travaux ont montré que dans le méristème apical caulinaire, la majorité des gènes étaient dans un état non condensé de la chromatine et méthylés dans leur corps. Ils ont également mis en évidence une forte variation de la méthylation globale de l’ADN selon les génotypes et en réponse à des variations de disponibilité en eau. De plus, des corrélations ont été établies entre les niveaux de croissance des arbres et de méthylation globale de l’ADN dans l’apex caulinaire. Enfin, les variations de la méthylation de l’ADN en réponse aux variations de la disponibilité en eau s’accompagnent de variations d’expression et ont ciblé particulièrement des gènes impliqués dans la signalisation par les phytohormones ou la morphogenèse. Ainsi, les travaux effectués lors de cette thèse suggèrent un rôle de la méthylation de l’ADN dans la plasticité phénotypique en réponse à des variations de disponibilité en eau chez le peuplier via le contrôle de l’expression de réseaux de gènes dans le méristème apical caulinaire. / Predicted climate changes and particularly drought represent a major threat to forest health. Therefore, understanding mechanisms that control trees response to variations in water availability is of great interest. These last years, epigenetic marks such as DNA methylation have been involved in plant phenotypic plasticity in response to environmental stresses. In this context, this work aimed at assessing the role of shoot apical meristem cells DNA methylation in the shoot developmental plasticity towards variations in water availability in poplar, a model tree. For this purpose, the methylome of non condensed chromatin in Populus trichocarpa shoot apical meristem was characterized. Then, the impact of variations in water availability on shoot apex DNA methylation in different hybrids (P. × euramericana) was studied. Loci and gene networks affected by DNA methylation and expression changes were thus identified. This work showed that in shoot apical meristem, most of the genes was in non condensed chromatin state with DNA methylation in their body. A strong variation in DNA methylation depending on genotypes and water availability was highlighted. Moreover, correlations between trees growth and shoot apex DNA methylation levels were established. Lastly, DNA methylation changes in response to variations in water availability correlated to expression variations were identified for genomic loci and gene networks. Thus, the work performed during this thesis suggests a role for DNA methylation in poplar phenotypic plasticity in response to variations in water availability through the control of gene networks transcription in the shoot apical meristem.

Prédire les réponses de la biodiversité aux changements climatiques anthropiques est devenu un champ de recherche avec des enjeux scientifiques et sociétaux majeurs. Mon travail de thèse a consisté à évaluer les impacts du réchauffement climatique sur un parasitoïde de drosophiles, Leptopilina boulardi, à une petite échelle géographique, le sud-est de la France. L'objectif était non seulement d'examiner l'évolution de la distribution du parasitoïde en réponse à une hausse des températures qu'il fallait préciser à cette échelle géographique, mais aussi d'appréhender les adaptations mises en place dans la zone de progression de l'espèce. Dans un premier temps, l'analyse de données d'échantillonnages et de données météorologiques m'ont permis de mettre en évidence une rapide expansion de l'aire de répartition du parasitoïde vers le nord, à un taux moyen de 90km/décennie, simultanément à une augmentation moyenne de la température de 1,57°C ces 30 dernières années, dans l'aire d'étude. Après avoir identifié les principaux facteurs environnementaux, structurant la répartition spatiale de L. boulardi, j'ai modélisé sa distribution potentielle dans le sud-est de la France, sous conditions climatiques actuelles et pour 2050, pour deux scénarios d'émission de CO2. En 2050, la distribution géographique de L. boulardi devrait considérablement s'étendre vers le nord sous l'effet des changements climatiques. Ensuite, en mesurant plusieurs traits d'histoire de vie selon 4 régimes thermiques fluctuants, j'ai montré que les populations de L. boulardi situées en limite d'aire de répartition sont génétiquement différenciées de celles situées dans l'aire centrale de répartition. Le fait que les populations marginales aient une valeur sélective plus importante à faible température suggère une adaptation locale des parasitoïdes dans la zone de progression de l'aire de répartition. La dernière partie de ce travail de thèse a pour objectif de mieux comprendre le processus de colonisation de L. boulardi. Pour cela, j'ai entrepris le développement de marqueurs RAD-sequencing sur 15 populations de cette espèce, distribuées le long d'un cline de latitude dans le sud-est de la France. Les nombreuses données issues du séquençage Illumina me permettront de connaître la structuration génétique de ces populations. L'ensemble de ces résultats obtenus au cours de ma thèse révèlent la force avec laquelle les changements climatiques peuvent impacter les espèces, principalement celles de haut niveau trophique, en provoquant des changements très rapide de distribution et des modifications génotypiques et phénotypiques permettant une meilleure adaptation locale / Predicting biodiversity responses to anthropogenic climate change has become a field of research with major scientific and societal issues. The main goal of my thesis was to evaluate the impacts of global warming on a Drosophila parasitoid, Leptopilina boulardi, at a small geographical scale, the South-East of France. The aim was not only to examine the change in the distribution of the parasitoid in response to rising temperatures, but also to understand the adaptations associated with this change. First, the analysis of insect sampling and meteorological data allowed me to demonstrate a rapid expansion of the parasitoid range to the north with an average rate of 90km/decade as well as a simultaneous temperature increase of 1.57°C on average over the past 30 years in the studied area. Following the identification of the main environmental factors structuring the spatial distribution of L. boulardi, I fitted a model predicting its potential distribution in the south-east of France, under the current climate and in 2050, for two CO2 emission scenarios. In 2050, the geographical distribution of L. boulardi should significantly extend northward as a result of climate change. Then, by measuring several life history traits under four fluctuating temperature regimes, I have shown that populations of L. boulardi located on the border of the range are genetically differentiated from those in the central range. The fact that marginal populations have a greater fitness at low temperature suggests local adaptation of parasitoids in the area of progression of range. The last part of this thesis aimed to better understand the process of colonization of L. boulardi. For this, I undertook the development of RAD-sequencing markers to genotype 15 populations of this species distributed along a cline of latitude in the southeast of France. Numerous data from Illumina sequencing will allow me to characterize the genetic structure of the populations. All the results obtained in my thesis highlight the force with which climate change may impact species, in particular those of high trophic level, causing rapid changes in distribution along with genotypic and phenotypic changes underlying local adaptation

De acordo com o paradigma Darwin-Bateman, fêmeas não ganham benefícios em copular com múltiplos machos (i.e., poliandria), dado que seu sucesso reprodutivo depende principalmente da qualidade dos seus parceiros sexuais. Porém, a poliandria é um comportamento amplamente encontrado nas espécies com reprodução sexuada. O objetivo central desta tese foi explorar as possíveis causas e consequências da poliandria. No Capítulo 1, utilizamos experimentos em laboratório para investigar como a experiência social antes e depois da maturação influencia o grau de poliandria. A espécie estudada foi o grilo australiano Teleogryllus commodus, para a qual o ambiente acústico antes da maturação determina o comportamento reprodutivo das fêmeas após a maturação. Nossos resultados mostram que o grau de poliandria não varia entre fêmeas criadas em dois ambientes acústicos distintos, um composto por machos de qualidade variada (QV) e outro composto por machos de alta qualidade (AQ). As fêmeas do grupo AQ foram menos responsivas aos machos de alta qualidade e aceitaram machos independentemente de sua qualidade, um padrão diferente daquele encontrado para as fêmeas do grupo QV. Quando a qualidade média dos machos encontrados pelas fêmeas do grupo QV foi baixa, o número total de machos aceitos foi baixo, porém quando a qualidade média dos machos foi alta, o número de machos aceitos foi alto. Portanto, há uma interação entre a experiência social antes e após a maturação na determinação do grau de poliandria. No Capítulo 2, utilizamos métodos comparativos para testar se o risco de competição espermática promovido pela poliandria determina a evolução de características masculinas relacionadas à monopolização de fêmeas. Nosso modelo de estudo foram rãs da subfamília Leptodactylinae, cujas espécies podem depositar ovos na água (onde o risco de competição espermática é alto) ou dentro de tocas na terra (onde o risco de competição espermática é baixo). Encontramos que há correlação entre o tipo de local de reprodução (aquático x terrestre) e quatro características masculinas relacionadas à monopolização de fêmeas. Nossos resultados provêem uma relação causal entre características dos machos e a reprodução terrestre, mas os padrões encontrados nem sempre seguiram as previsões propostas pela hipótese de que o risco de competição espermática é menor em espécies com reprodução terrestre. Tais resultados sugerem que as pressões seletivas que agem nas quatro características masculinas exploradas aqui não são as mesmas, provavelmente devido a diferenças nas funções que cada característica tem durante as interações inter- e intra-sexuais. Ao fim desta tese, fornecemos evidências de uma nova causa da poliandria, além de mostrarmos as consequências da poliandria sobre a evolução de características dos machos / According to the Darwin-Bateman paradigm, females derive no benefit from multiple mating (i.e., polyandry) and their reproductive success is mainly influenced by the quality of their partners. However, there is increasing evidence that polyandry is ubiquitous across many animal groups. The main goal of this thesis was to explore possible causes and consequences of polyandry. In Chapter 1, we conducted an experiment to investigate how the social experience pre- and post-maturity influences the degree of polyandry. We studied the Australian cricket Teleogryllus commodus, for which we know that the acoustic environment prior to maturity alters female reproductive behavior after maturity. We found that the degree of polyandry did not differ between females reared in two acoustic environments, one composed of varied-quality (VQ) males and other composed of only high-quality (HQ) males. However, whereas females from the HQ group were less responsive to high quality male calls, accepting males regardless of their quality, females from the VQ group showed a different response. When the mean male quality experienced by a female from the VQ group was low, the total number of accepted males was low, and when the mean male quality was high, the total number of accepted males was high. Thus, the social experience pre- and post-maturation interact to determine the degree of polyandry in females of the Australian cricket. In Chapter 2, we used comparative methods to test if the risk of sperm competition promoted by polyandry drives the evolution of male traits related to female monopolization. We studied frogs of the subfamily Leptodactylinae, which lay eggs either on the water (where sperm competition risk is high) or inside terrestrial burrows (where sperm competition risk is low). We found evidence of an evolutionary correlation between the type breeding site (aquatic x terrestrial) and four male traits related to female monopolization. Our study creates a causal link between male traits and terrestrial reproduction, but the patterns not always followed the hypothesis that sperm competition risk is lower in terrestrial breeders. This finding suggests that the selective pressure acting on male traits is not the same, probably because they have different functions during inter- and intrasexual interactions. In conclusion, we provide evidence of a new cause of polyandry and show that polyandry may have consequences for the evolution of weaponry traits in males

Este trabalho objetivou a avaliação da presença de plasticidade fenotípica e de adaptação local de três procedências de palmiteiro: Ombrófila Densa, Estacional Semidecidual e Restinga, em três locais no Estado de São Paulo: Parque Estadual da Ilha do Cardoso, Parque Estadual de Carlos Botelho e Estação Ecológica dos Caetetus, em ensaios de adaptação no estabelecimento (ou de semeadura) e de adaptação em juvenis (ou de crescimento). Os conjuntos de dados foram analisados utilizando estruturas de grupos de experimentos, com efeitos cruzados e aninhados. As variáveis relacionadas com a massa de matéria seca das plantas, nos dois ensaios, foram analisadas usando a abordagem de modelos lineares de efeitos mistos, por meio da incorporação de fatores de efeito aleatório, e fazendo uso do método da máxima verossimilhança restrita (REML) para estimação dos componentes de variância associados a tais fatores com um menor viés. Por outro lado, para a proporção de sementes germinadas, no ensaio de adaptação no estabelecimento, a análise estatística foi realizada a partir da abordagem dos modelos lineares generalizados mistos, sob a pressuposição de que a variável segue uma distribuição binomial, com função de ligação logito. O método da pseudo-verossimilhança foi empregado para obtenção da solução das equações de verossimilhança. Os resultados mostraram que as plantas originadas de sementes dos três biomas avaliados apresentaram um comportamento plástico, para todos os caracteres avaliados no ensaio de adaptação no estabelecimento. Com relação ao ensaio de adaptação em juvenis, a característica de plasticidade foi verificada somente para a massa de matéria seca da folha em plantas provenientes do bioma Estacional Semidecidual. A característica de adaptação local, apresentou-se de forma evidente no ensaio de adaptação no estabelecimento. Estes resultados evidenciaram que em cada local avaliado, as plantas originadas das sementes de diferentes procedências apresentaram um comportamento diferenciado nos caracteres relacionados à massa de matéria seca, podendo em alguns casos, tratar-se de adaptação local. Concluiu-se que os locais Carlos Botelho e Ilha do Cardoso são os mais favoráveis para a germinação das sementes de sua mesma procedência. / The aim of this work was to evaluate the presence of phenotypic plasticity and local adaptation of three provenances of the palm specie Euterpe edulis: Atlantic Rainforest, Seasonally Dry Forest and Restinga Forest, in permanent parcels inserted in three forest types of the São Paulo State (Brazil): Parque Estadual da Ilha do Cardoso, Parque Estadual de Carlos Botelho e Estação Ecológica dos Caetetus, in experiments of seedling establishment and juveniles plants growth. The data sets were analyzed using structures of groups of experiments, with crossed and nested effects. The variables related to dry matter content of plants in both assays were analyzed using linear mixed models (LMM) approach, through the incorporation of random effect factors, and using the restricted maximum likelihood method (REML) for estimation of variance components associated with these factors with a minor bias. On the other hand, germination proportion of the seeds at seedling establishment assay was analyzed using the generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) approach, under the assumption that the variable follows a binomial distribution, with logit link function. The pseudo-likelihood (PL) method was used to obtain the numerical solution of the likelihood equations. The results showed that, plants from seeds of the three biomes evaluated presented a plastic behavior for all characters assessed in the seedling establishment assay. In respect to juveniles adaptation assay, the phenotypic plasticity characteristic was observed only to the leaf dry matter content of plants from Seasonally Dry Forest biome. The local adaptation characteristic was clearly observed in the seedling establishment assay. These results showed that at each site evaluated, plants originating from seeds of different provenances exhibited different behavior on characters related to the dry matter content and may in some cases be local adaptation. It was concluded that locations Carlos Botelho and Ilha do Cardoso are the most favorable for seed germination of its same provenance.

La dynamique d’une population résulte de la combinaison de plusieurs traits d’histoire de vie qui sont façonnés par l’histoire évolutive de cette population. L’altération d’un de ces traits par des contraintes environnementales peut donc avoir des effets sur la persistance de la population. Les ajustements individuels de certains traits phénotypiques pourraient permettre à cette population de répondre rapidement à ces contraintes sans la nécessité immédiate d’adaptations génétiques. Durant cette thèse, la variabilité de certains traits a été identifiée chez 3 espèces sentinelles des écosystèmes polaires. Ces résultats permettent de mieux comprendre les associations entre ces traits et les pressions évolutives qui en sont à l’origine, ainsi que l’importance de traits tels que la personnalité dans la part inexpliquée de la variabilité de la valeur sélective des individus. A terme, nous pourrions ainsi mieux évaluer la capacité d’adaptation des populations face aux changements globaux. / Population dynamics is driven by several life history traits shaped by the evolutionary history of the population. The alteration of one of these traits by environmental constraints may thus have effects on the population persistence. Individual adjustments of some phenotypic traits could then enable this population to rapidly respond to these constraints without the immediate necessity of genetic adaptations. During this PhD project, we identified variability in some of these traits in 3 sentinel species of polar ecosystems. These results allowed us to better understand the associations between these traits and the evolutionary pressures underlying these associations, as well as the importance of traits such as personality in the amount of variability in individuals’ fitness that remains unexplained. In the long term, we should then be able to better gauge the adaptive capacity of populations to face global changes.

Chez les plantes à fleurs, la gynodioécie -- système dans lequel coexistent des individus femelles et des individus hermaphrodites -- est le système de reproduction le plus commun après l'hermaphrodisme. La question de l'évolution et surtout du maintien de la gynodioécie et du polymorphisme génétique sous-jacent a intrigué les chercheurs depuis le 19e siecle. Aujourd'hui, les grands principes de son évolution sont posés mais beaucoup de zones d'ombres persistent. Durant ma thèse, j'ai exploré trois aspects de la gynodioécie en utilisant une approche expérimentale chez l'espèce Silene nutans et une approche théorique. Je me suis en premier lieu intéressée au déterminisme génétique de la gynodioécie grâce à la réalisation de croisements contrôlés qui m'ont permis de montrer que le déterminisme génétique du sexe était cytonucléaire, c'est à dire contrôlé par plusieurs gènes de stérilité mâle cytoplasmique (CMS) et plusieurs restaurateurs nucléaires de fertilité. En parallèle, j'ai porté une attention particulière aux plantes gynomonoïques -- celles où coexistent sur le même pied des fleurs pistillés (femelles) et des fleurs parfaites (hermaphrodites) -- fréquentes chez Silene nutans comme chez d'autres espèces gynodioïques. J'ai montré que les caractéristiques reproductrices et florales de ce troisième phénotype sexuel étaient souvent intermédiaires entre celles des femelles et des hermaphrodites mais pouvaient dépendre de la proportion de fleurs pistillées sur la plante. Par ailleurs et contrairement à ce qui avait été suggéré, la plasticité du phénotype gynomonoïque s'est révélée être relativement réduite, suggérant un déterminisme génétique dont la caractérisation est encore en cours. La troisième partie de ma thèse a été motivée par les preuves récentes d'hétéroplasmie -- coexistence de différents génomes mitochondriaux au sein d'un individu -- et de la transmission occasionnelle du génome mitochondrial par le pollen chez Silene vulgaris. J'ai montré théoriquement que la présence d'un gène de stérilité mâle cytoplasmique favorisait l'évolution de la fuite paternelle de mitochondries. J'ai également vérifié expérimentalement l'hérédité mitochondriale chez Silene nutans par le génotypage des descendances de croisements contrôlés. / In flowering plants, gynodioecy -- a system in which females and hermaphrodites coexist within populations -- is the most common sexual system after hermaphroditism. The evolution and maintenance of gynodiocy and its underlying polymorphism have puzzled evolutionary biologists since the 19th century. The main principles of its evolution are well known but some points remain vague. During my PhD, I explored three aspects of gynodioecy using an experimental approach in the species Silene nutans and a theoretical approach. First, I studied the genetic determination of gynodioecy using controlled crosses that showed that the genetic determination of sex was cytonuclear, i.e. controlled by several cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) genes and several nuclear restorers of fertility. Second, I focused on gynomonoecious plants -- those that carry both pistillate (female) flowers and perfect (hermaphrodite) flowers -- that are frequently found in Silene nutans as in other gynodioecious species. I showed that the floral and reproductive traits of this third sex phenotype were often intermediate between those of females and hermaphrodites but varied with varying proportions of pistillate flowers on the plant. Contrary to what was previously thought, the plasticity of the gynomoneocious phenotype was found to be limited, suggesting a genetic determination whose characterization is still in progress. The third part of my PhD was motivated by recent evidences of heteroplasmy -- the coexistence of different mitochondrial genomes within an individual -- and occasional transmission of the mitochondrial genome through pollen in Silene vulgaris. I showed theoretically that the occurrence of a cytoplasmic male sterility gene can favor the evolution of paternal leakage of mitochondria. I also investigated mitochondrial inheritance in Silene nutans by genotyping progenies from controlled crosses.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:30:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-05-06Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:40:38Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 vieira_dcm_dr_rcla.pdf: 661675 bytes, checksum: 027c5de7e016fd68cc667e08fc20b57d (MD5) / As espécies invasoras são reconhecidas como um dos mais importantes e difíceis fatores que influenciam a conservação dos ecossistemas nativos. Na restauração de ambientes degradados, estas espécies podem afetar profundamente a trajetória do recobrimento vegetal pelas espécies nativas e, conseqüentemente, a composição do ecossistema. Um fator importante para o sucesso de algumas espécies vegetais invasoras é a plasticidade fenotípica, dandolhes grande capacidade de aclimatação em diversas condições ambientais. O conhecimento dos fatores ambientais e das características da planta que contribuem para o sucesso das espécies invasoras é de grande importância para predizer a habilidade de invasão e para esforços de manejo. Neste contexto, o objetivo principal deste estudo foi conhecer algumas características fisiológicas e ecológicas de Clausena excavata Burm. f., uma espécie de árvore exótica reconhecida como invasora em algumas regiões no mundo, no intuito de compreender o sucesso da espécie como invasora e contribuir com informações relevantes para possíveis tentativas de controle. Primeiramente, foram avaliados os efeitos da luz e da temperatura em sua germinação (condição controlada) e o efeito da luz na emergência de suas plântulas (condição natural, a pleno sol e sob a copa das árvores). As sementes germinaram tanto na presença como na ausência de luz, nas temperaturas de 20 a 35°C, sem diferença entre a porcentagem de sementes germinadas nas diferentes temperaturas. Sementes mantidas a 20°C, em ambas as condições de luz, germinaram mais lentamente em relação às demais temperaturas. Independente da temperatura, na presença de luz as sementes apresentaram uma germinação muito mais sincronizada do que aquelas mantidas no escuro. Tais resultados mostraram que as sementes de C. excavata são fotoblásticas neutra. Em campo, a emergência... / The invasive species are recognized one of more important and difficult factors that prejudice the conservation of native ecosystems. In the restoration of degraded environment, these species can to affect profoundly the trajectory of recovery by native species and, therefore, the ecosystems composition. An important factor to the success of invasive species is their phenotypic plasticity, which gives them a great ability to adjust in several environmental conditions. The knowledge of environmental factors and plant characteristics that contribute to the success of invasive species is very important to predict the invasion capacity and to manage efforts. In this context, the main objective of this study was to know some physiological and ecological characteristics of Clausena excavata Burm. f., a nonnative tree species recognized as invasive somewhere of the world, with intention to understand the success of this species as invasive and to contribute with relevant informations for a possible management. At first, were evaluated the effects of light and temperature on their seeds germination (controlled condition) and the effect of light on seedling emergence (natural condition, at full sun and shade). The seeds germinated in presence and absence of light, from 20 to 35°C, without difference among the germination percentage at different temperatures. Seeds maintained in 20°C, at both light conditions, germinated slowly than others temperatures. Independent of temperature, in light the seeds showed a germination more synchronized than the seeds kept in darkness. Those results showed that C. excavata have neuter photoblasics seeds. On the field, the emergence occurred at both environments, but at full sun all seeds produced a seedling. The seedling emergence occurred with same rate and synchronization index on two tested conditions. Thereafter, the seedlings were observed with purpose... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

La plasticité phénotypique, i.e. la capacité d’un génotype à exprimer plusieurs phénotypes en fonction des conditions environnementales, représente une source de variabilité phénotypique, et tient donc un rôle majeur dans l’évolution. Dans un environnement variable, les stratégies généralistes, capables de maintenir une valeur d’aptitude phénotypique (fitness) stable sur une plus large gamme de conditions environnementales grâce à une plus grande plasticité de traits sous-jacents, devraient être favorisées. L’analyse de normes de réaction, au laboratoire et en conditions naturelles, de traits physiologiques et de traits liés à la fitness en fonction de la température, révèle chez le parasitoïde Venturia canescens, que (i) la variabilité thermique de l’habitat détermine la forme des normes de réaction selon le compromis entre stratégies généraliste et spécialiste, (ii) les différences entre individus généralistes et spécialistes se maintiennent face à des fluctuations de la température mimant les conditions naturelles et (iii) les individus subissant une plus grande variabilité thermique dans leur habitat possèdent une capacité d’acclimatation au froid plus importante. Ces résultats montrent l’existence de deux stratégies chez V. canescens et donc une différenciation de leur niche thermique, autorisant leur coexistence en environnement hétérogène / Phenotypic plasticity, i.e. the ability of a genotype to express several phenotypes depending on environmental conditions, represents an important source of phenotypic variability and so plays a major role in evolution. In a variable environment, generalist strategies, able to maintain a stable value of fitness over a wide range of environmental conditions, thanks to a greater plasticity of underlying traits, should be favored. The analysis of reaction norms of physiological traits and traits related to fitness as a function of temperature reveals in the parasitoid Venturia canescens that (i) thermal variability of the habitat determines the shape of reaction norms, according to the trade-off between generalist and specialist strategies, (ii) differences between generalist and specialist individuals are maintained face to rapid fluctuations in temperature that mimic natural conditions and (iii) individuals experiencing greater variability in their thermal habitat have a greater capacity for cold acclimation. These results indicate the existence of two different strategies in V. canescens and therefore a thermal niche differentiation, allowing their coexistence in a heterogeneous environment

Understanding the ability of species to respond to climate change is essential for prediction of their future distribution. When migration is not adequate, reaction via phenotypic plasticity and/or genetic/epigenetic adaptation is necessary. The main aim of this study is to determine mechanisms of response to climate change in dominant grass species Festuca rubra. The study used reciprocal transplant experiment with growth chambers simulating different climatic conditions. Original localities in western Norway represent factorially crossed gradients of temperatures and precipitations, thus it was possible to study the effect of temperature and moisture separately as well as combined. In first part of the experiment, plastic responses were separated from genetic differentiation. To do this, plants with different genotypes from original localities were transplanted to growth chambers set to simulating temperature and moisture course in the four extreme localities (wettest and driest combined with warmest and coldest). After five months, ecophysiological photosynthetic-related traits were measured. These traits are important for species ability to adapt and maintain high fitness and thus they are essential for plants function. Specifically, it was net photosynthetic rate (PN), fluorescence of...