The distribution of beetles in the Family Silphidae has not been well studied in Virginia.  The primary purpose of this study was to survey silphid beetles in a more systematic manner across different geographic regions of the state, with a special consideration for Nicrophorus species.  The seasonal abundance and diversity of silphid beetles in Montgomery County, Virginia, was also examined.  Baited pitfall traps were used to sample beetle distribution and abundance, and were placed in each of the five geographical regions of Virginia in the summers of 2007 and 2008.  Traps were placed approximately one kilometer apart and were checked daily over a five day period for each of three sampling periods.  A total of 4375 silphid beetles, consisting of 11 species in four genera, were collected in ten counties with beetles in the subfamily Silphinae being predominant.  Within the Nicrophorinae, Nicrophorus tomentosus and N. orbicollis were dominant in 2007; whereas in the summer of 2008, N. tomentosus and N. pustulatus were the most commonly collected.  Contingency analyses indicated that species abundance was associated with sampling period and geographic region.  Nicrophorus americanus was not collected during either summer of surveying and only three N. carolinus were trapped in Suffolk County in the summer of 2008.  For the Montgomery County survey, a total of 3276 beetles were found between the middle of April and the middle of October.  The prevalent species within Nicrophorinae was Nicrophorus tomentosus and within the Silphinae it was Necrophila americana.  Species abundance was associated with sampling period. / Master of Science in Life Sciences

Submitted by EZEQUIAS CORREIA (ezequiaslca@gmail.com) on 2017-08-08T17:31:54Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese _Ezequias_Teófilo_Correia.pdf: 3210175 bytes, checksum: 872ea328869cb654d0fccdfa2518b7a9 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by LUIZA DE MENEZES ROMANETTO (luizamenezes@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2017-08-09T12:44:59Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 correia_et_dr_jabo.pdf: 3210175 bytes, checksum: 872ea328869cb654d0fccdfa2518b7a9 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-08-09T12:44:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 correia_et_dr_jabo.pdf: 3210175 bytes, checksum: 872ea328869cb654d0fccdfa2518b7a9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-07-05 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / A redução da biodiversidade nos agroecossistemas afeta populações de insetos predadores devido à limitação de recursos para o seu desenvolvimento. O controle biológico conservativo diversifica o agroecossistema e aumenta à presença de inimigos naturais, incrementando o controle de pragas. As plantas herbáceas além de aumentar a biodiversidade do hábitat, exercem influência na composição das comunidades de insetos no campo incrementando o controle biológico conservativo. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a diversidade, distribuição e sazonalidade de besouros associados ao solo em plantio de soja (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) com faixas de plantas herbáceas nas bordas. O estudo ocorreu entre novembro de 2014 e setembro de 2016 em Jaboticabal-SP. As amostragens foram realizadas com armadilhas tipo alçapão, em dois hectares de área cultivada. Foram analisados os índices de diversidade, abundância, distribuição espacial e sazonalidade de besouros associados ao solo. Resultados evidenciaram maior ocorrência de besouros carabídeos nas faixas de plantas herbáceas. Scarabaeidae e Staphylinidae, por sua vez, não obtiveram crescimento populacional nas áreas de maior diversidade vegetal. A distribuição de espécies de Carabidae e Scarabaeidae foi apresentada de forma agregada sendo que a ocorrência dos insetos dessa família foi influenciada principalmente pela temperatura e umidade relativa. / The reduction of plant diversity in agroecosystems can affect predator insect populations due to the restriction of shelter and food resources. Studies about the role of herbaceous plants have shown the increase of biodiversity and the influence of composition and distribution on predator insects communities in the field. These dates may assist in the elaboration of the conservative biological control management programs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diversity and abundance of ground beetles in the agroecosystem with soybean crop (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) and evaluate the dispersion of these insects in the habitat. The study was performed between 2014 November and 2016 September in Jaboticabal- SP. The essay was made in the field with 2 ha of soybean crop and herbaceous plant in two edges and the sample was performed with pitfall traps. The dates were analyzed and the diversity, abundance, seasonality indexes and spatial distribution of insects were calculated. The results pointed out that herbaceous plants affect positively the carabid beetle occurrence, but not affect Scarabaeidae and Staphylinidae. The distribution of insects was aggregate in the agroecosystem and the meteorological factors affect the occurrence of Carabidae and Staphylinidae beetles.

Οι έντονες εναλλαγές σχετικά ακραίων συνθηκών και η συνεξέλιξη των μεσογειακών οικοσυστημάτων με τη φωτιά αποτελούν τα βασικά στοιχεία που προσδίδουν τη μεγάλη ετερογένεια που χαρακτηρίζει τα οικοσυστήματα αυτά. Τα δάση χαλεπίου πεύκης έχουν αναπτύξει προσαρμογές για σύντομη αποκατάσταση έπειτα από πυρκαγιά. Η συνήθης διαδοχή περιλαμβάνει την εμφάνιση αρχικά ποώδους βλάστησης (που σε περίπτωση έντονης υποβάθμισης μπορεί να γίνεται φρύγανα), κατόπιν θαμνώδους (μακκίας) βλάστησης σε διάφορα στάδια ανάπτυξης, και εντέλει νέου πευκοδάσους. Το μωσαϊκό πρότυπο στη βλάστηση, το οποίο δημιουργείται από τη δράση παραγόντων όχλησης, είναι δυνατό να έχει σημαντικές συνέπειες στη δυναμική των πληθυσμών των ζώων. Με τη χρήση παγίδων παρεμβολής, μελετήθηκαν οι βιοκοινότητες των εδαφικών αρθροπόδων σε μια τέτοια σύγχρονη εμφάνιση των σταδίων διαδοχής στις παρυφές της Πάρνηθας. Τα χερσόβια Ισόποδα μελετήθηκαν σε επίπεδο είδους, ενώ οι λοιπές ζωικές ομάδες μακροαρθροπόδων, με την εξαίρεση των Αραχνών και των Κολεοπτέρων, μελετήθηκαν σε επίπεδο τάξης. Συμπερασματικά, τα αρθρόποδα σε επίπεδο τάξης και τα Ισόποδα σε επίπεδο είδους, μπορούν να εμφανίζουν το μέγιστο της δραστηριότητάς τους είτε το καλοκαίρι είτε την άνοιξη ή/και το φθινόπωρο. Επιπλέον, η παρατηρούμενη διαφοροποίηση στη σύνθεση της κοινότητας των εδαφικών αρθροπόδων (τόσο σε επίπεδο τάξης όσο και σε επίπεδο είδους για τα Ισόποδα) είναι σύμφωνη με τα στάδια διαδοχής της βλάστησης (CA, PCA). Η βιοκοινότητα των φρυγάνων εμφανίζει σαφή διαφοροποίηση και μεγαλύτερη ποικιλότητα από τις υπόλοιπες βιοκοινότητες, ενώ τα Ισόποδα εμφανίζονται ιδιαίτερα άφθονα στα φρύγανα. Μεταξύ των κοινοτήτων εδαφικών αρθροπόδων στους έξι βιοτόπους (στάδια διαδοχής), παρατηρούνται αλλαγές στη σχετική αφθονία των τάξεων των αρθροπόδων και των ειδών Ισοπόδων, ενώ παρατηρούνται ακόμη και αλλαγές κυριαρχίας μεταξύ τάξεων αρθροπόδων και ειδών Ισοπόδων. Το πρότυπο αυτό, ενδεχομένως οφείλεται στην προσαρμογή των εδαφικών αρθροπόδων στις οχλήσεις, οι οποίες είναι χαρακτηριστικές των μεσογειακών οικοσυστημάτων. / Climatic extremes and coevolution with fire make the Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems to appear highly heterogeneous. Aleppo pine forests have developed adaptations for rapid restoration after fire. A typical successional sequence includes herbaceous formations (turned into phrygana in case of severe deterioration) followed by sclerophyllous shrubland (maquis) in various stages of progressive succession to forest. Mosaic patterns in vegetation generated by disturbance are likely to have a profound effect on the population dynamics of animals. The communities of soil arthropods in a mosaic of sites in different succesional stages on the slopes of mountain Parnitha, were studied using pitfall traps. Terrestrial isopods were analysed at species level, whereas the rest of the macroarthropods, with the exception of Araneae and Coleoptera, were analysed at ordinal level. In conclusion, macroathropods at ordinal level and Isopoda at species level have activity peaks either in summer or in spring and/or autumn. In addition, the observed differences between edaphic macroarthropod communities (even at ordinal level as well as species level for Isopoda) are consistent with the successional stages (CA, PCA). The macroarthropod community in phrygana shows marked differentiation and highest diversity in comparison with the communities in the rest successional stages. The abundance of Isopoda is remarkably high in phrygana. Differences in relative abundance and distribution of dominance among the orders of macroarthropods and species of Isopoda were found between communities of different successional stages. It is likely that the observed pattern is a result of the adaptation of soil arthropods over evolutionary time to the characteristic disturbance regimes of the Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems.

Three different habitats: secondary forest, acacia plantation, and mixed forests on limestone, were chosen to determine and compare the ant species diversity in these habitats. A total of 24 identified species and 11 morphology species belonging to 20 genera in seven subfamilies were collected using pitfall traps from June 2014 to May 2015. The Shannon-Wiener’s species diversity index indicated that the diversity was the highest in the acacia plantation (2.08), followed by the secondary forest (1.99) and lowest in the mixed forests on limestone (1.83). There are three dominant species in the habitat (I), Pheidole noda, Odontomachus cf. monticola, and Odontoponera denticulate; four dominant species in the habitat (II), Odontoponera denticulata, Carebara diversa, Technomyrmex brunneus and Anoplolepis gracilipes; and only one dominant species in the habitat (III), Anoplolepis gracilipes. The species similarity (S) relatively low may be because of the difference vegetation and condition in the three habitats. / Đa dạng loài kiến trong ba môi trường sống khác nhau: rừng rậm thường xanh nhiệt đới, rừng keo và rừng hỗn giao trên núi đá vôi, được nghiên cứu để xác định và so sánh sự đa dạng các loài kiến trong những môi trường sống. Phương pháp nghiên cứu: sử dụng bẫy hố từ tháng 6 năm 2014 đến tháng 5 năm 2015. Đã ghi nhận được 35 loài, thuộc 20 giống, 7 phân họ. Chỉ số đa dạng loài Shannon-Wiener cho thấy rừng keo có chỉ số đa dạng cao nhất (2,08), tiếp theo là rừng rậm thường xanh nhiệt đới (1,99) và cuối cùng là rừng hỗn giao trên núi đá vôi (1,83). Có 3 loài ưu thế ở sinh cảnh (I) là Pheidole noda, Odontomachus cf. monticola và Odontoponera denticulata, bốn loài ưu thế ở sinh cảnh (II) là Carebara diversa, Technomyrmex brunneus, Odontoponera denticulate và Anoplolepis gracilipes. Ở sinh cảnh (III) chỉ có duy nhất một loài chiếm ưu thế là loài Anoplolepis gracilipes. Chỉ số tương đồng (S) tương đối thấp có thể là do sự khác nhau ở các thảm thực vật và điều kiện sống trong ba sinh cảnh.

The aim of the work was to describe the biodiversity of model groups of organisms (vascular plants, epigeic beetles and small mammals) in six transect crossing the two year old high way situated close to the town Písek (South Bohemia). The different methods were used for studied groups (phytocenological mapping, pitfall traps and mousetraps). The results documented the possibility of all studied organisms for the quick recolonization of new biotopes beside of the high way.

Three different habitats: secondary forest, acacia plantation, and mixed forests on limestone, were chosen to determine and compare the ant species diversity in these habitats. A total of 24 identified species and 11 morphology species belonging to 20 genera in seven subfamilies were collected using pitfall traps from June 2014 to May 2015. The Shannon-Wiener’s species diversity index indicated that the diversity was the highest in the acacia plantation (2.08), followed by the secondary forest (1.99) and lowest in the mixed forests on limestone (1.83). There are three dominant species in the habitat (I), Pheidole noda, Odontomachus cf. monticola, and Odontoponera denticulate; four dominant species in the habitat (II), Odontoponera denticulata, Carebara diversa, Technomyrmex brunneus and Anoplolepis gracilipes; and only one dominant species in the habitat (III), Anoplolepis gracilipes. The species similarity (S) relatively low may be because of the difference vegetation and condition in the three habitats. / Đa dạng loài kiến trong ba môi trường sống khác nhau: rừng rậm thường xanh nhiệt đới, rừng keo và rừng hỗn giao trên núi đá vôi, được nghiên cứu để xác định và so sánh sự đa dạng các loài kiến trong những môi trường sống. Phương pháp nghiên cứu: sử dụng bẫy hố từ tháng 6 năm 2014 đến tháng 5 năm 2015. Đã ghi nhận được 35 loài, thuộc 20 giống, 7 phân họ. Chỉ số đa dạng loài Shannon-Wiener cho thấy rừng keo có chỉ số đa dạng cao nhất (2,08), tiếp theo là rừng rậm thường xanh nhiệt đới (1,99) và cuối cùng là rừng hỗn giao trên núi đá vôi (1,83). Có 3 loài ưu thế ở sinh cảnh (I) là Pheidole noda, Odontomachus cf. monticola và Odontoponera denticulata, bốn loài ưu thế ở sinh cảnh (II) là Carebara diversa, Technomyrmex brunneus, Odontoponera denticulate và Anoplolepis gracilipes. Ở sinh cảnh (III) chỉ có duy nhất một loài chiếm ưu thế là loài Anoplolepis gracilipes. Chỉ số tương đồng (S) tương đối thấp có thể là do sự khác nhau ở các thảm thực vật và điều kiện sống trong ba sinh cảnh.

Submitted by Sandra Pereira (srpereira@ufrrj.br) on 2016-07-28T13:42:46Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2011 - Luciano Martins.pdf: 2085328 bytes, checksum: e82ea56c9ce66ac46b97ad748fb1de5a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-28T13:42:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2011 - Luciano Martins.pdf: 2085328 bytes, checksum: e82ea56c9ce66ac46b97ad748fb1de5a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-02-25 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior - CAPES / This study aims to compare three sampling techniques to estimate species richness of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in ?campos of altitude? at Itatiaia National Park, in Rio de Janeiro state. Compared richness estimates for genera and species, and curves of accumulation of species for sardine baits, pitfall traps and manual collecting are presented for two distinct sites ("steppe vegetation" [VE] and "rupicola vegetation" [VR]) in Itatiaia Plateau. The three techniques collected 31 species of 10 genera belonging to four subfamilies. In VE were registered 50% of genera and 36.4% of species collected exclusively by baits, and 20% and 50% by pitfall traps, respectively. In VR were registered 37.5% of genera and 47.61% of species exclusive for baits, but no one genus and species was restricted for manual collecting. In the case of ?campos de altitude? and when only one technique can be used, the sardine bait was the most efficient sample technique to registered richness at VE. For VR, the manual collecting was the most appropriate technique to record species richness. However, the pitfalls (in VE) and bait (in VR) recorded an important portion of species richness. In our data, the manual collecting were associated with standardized data collecting protocols, and, although much criticized, have shown effectiveness in recording species in habitats where widespread techniques cannot be used. In spite of different physiognomies show differentiated efficiency for samples techniques, it is relevant to using more than one technique associated to a colleting protocol well structured to potentiated the record of the new species in environments as the ?campos de altitude?. / O presente trabalho tem por objetivo comparar tr?s t?cnicas de coleta para estimar a riqueza de esp?cies de formigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) no Planalto do Itatiaia , Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. S?o apresentados dados comparativos das estimativas da riqueza de g?neros, de esp?cies e as curvas de acumula??o de esp?cies amostradas com iscas de sardinha, armadilhas de queda e coletas manuais, em duas fisionomias distintas (?vegeta??o est?pica? [VE] e ?vegeta??o rup?cola? [VR]), no Planalto do Itatiaia. Com a utiliza??o das tr?s t?cnicas foram coletadas 30 esp?cies de 11 g?neros, pertencentes a quatro subfam?lias. Para a VE foram registrados 50% dos g?neros e 36,4% das esp?cies coletadas exclusivamente pelas iscas, e 20% e 50% pela armadilha de queda, respectivamente. Para a VR foram registrados 37,5% e 47,61% dos g?neros e esp?cies exclusivas para iscas, por?m nenhum g?nero e esp?cie foram restritos a coleta manual. Em se tratando de ecossistema de campos de altitude e quando apenas uma das t?cnicas possa ser utilizada, a isca de sardinha foi a mais eficiente para amostrar a riqueza em VE. Para VR, a coleta manual se apresentou como a t?cnica mais apropriada para registrar sua riqueza. No entanto, as armadilhas de queda (na VE) e as iscas (na VR) registraram uma parcela n?o t?o desprez?vel da riqueza. Em nossos dados, as coletas manuais foram associadas a protocolos de coleta padronizados, e, apesar de serem bastante criticadas, mostraram efici?ncia no registro de esp?cies em habitats em que outras t?cnicas mais difundidas n?o podem ser utilizadas. Apesar de fisionomias distintas apresentarem efici?ncia de t?cnica de coleta diferenciada, ? relevante a utiliza??o das tr?s t?cnicas para se potencializar ainda mais o registro das esp?cies em ambientes de campos de altitude.

This diploma thesis is focused on invertebrates' survival and activity during winter; and on methods of their capture. The first part of the theoretical section describes principles of cold hardiness, strategies of winter survival and activity in snow environment. Furthermore, different methods of invertebrates capturing are presented. The practical part of the thesis is focused on the verification of selected invertebrates capturing methods during winter. The results summarize the differences in the diversity and quantity of animals caught; and provide an overview and characteristics of selected captured taxa. Suggestions for a snow fauna excursion and a practical exercise focused on capturing invertebrates during winter are proposed based on the results of the study. KEYWORDS cold hardiness, winter survival, winter activity, snow fauna, invertebrate animals, catching methods, pitfall traps