Pittosporum undulatum Vent. (Sweet Pittosporum) is a densely foliaged tall shrub or small tree, native to the wet forests of south east Australia, This species now functions as a serious environmental weed in a range of habitats in Australia and on other continents and islands throughout the temperate, sub-tropical and tropical zones. This study investigated some of the ecological causes and consequences of P. undulatum invasion across a range of habitat types in south east Australia. Key aspects of P. undulatum biology and ecology investigated in the current study include; patterns of morphological variation across the range of habitats occupied (as a measure of the species’ plasticity), dispersal ecology and seed germinability, population structure and spatial pattern, community relationships and the ecological impacts of invasion. Phenotypic plasticity is considerable in P. undulatum. No clear patterns of geographic variation emerged from a study of leaf morphological attributes across the current range of this species on mainland south east Australia. The pattern of morphological variation is particularly complex in Victoria, where the invasion of this species is most advanced. The species’ adaptability to a range of environments and environmental conditions will likely promote further range expansion. The abundant winter fruit crop produced by functionally female P. undulatum plants attracts a suite of generalist opportunistic frugivores, which feed on P. undulatum fruits and seeds at various stages of fruit dehiscence, thereby enhancing dispersal opportunities for this species. P. undulatum seed collected from natural and invasive populations, at two stages of fruit maturity and from the scats and pellets of dispersal agents, displayed high germinability. European Blackbirds and Pied Currawongs are implicated as the main avian dispersal agents of P undulatum in south east Australia. The broader ecological implications of developing relationships between invasive fleshy-fruited bird-dispersed plant species and adaptive frugivores are likely to be considerable. The distribution of P. undulatutn seedlings was significantly negatively correlated with adult conspecifics and significantly positively correlated with trees and shrubs of other genera. This pattern reflects the importance of both firugivorous dispersal agents and the species’ germination and establishment requirements, in shaping the contagious distribution pattern typical of this species. These analyses suggest that recruitment opportunities for conspecific seedlings are limited beneath the canopy of adult conspecifics. Densities of P. undulatum were on average, 2.7 times higher in invaded populations, compared to the natural populations sampled. A male-bias was evident in all populations and no relationships between reproductive activity and the density of seedlings and juveniles were evident. Invading populations of P. undulatum impose substantial changes on ecosystem-level properties and functions. Mean species richness and cover-abundance declined notably once P. undulatum cover-abundance exceeded 20% at the invaded sites and 60% at the natural sites sampled. The natural communities sampled displayed comparatively greater resilience to the competitive effects of P. undulatum, but community attributes were affected at high densities and cover-abundance of this species. The cover-abundance of herbs and grasses declined most substantially with increasing P. undulatum at invaded sites, whereas, at the natural sites sampled, the species’ structural analogues appeared to be most affected by increasing P. undulatum cover-abundance. This study has demonstrated that the ecological consequences of P. undulatum population expansion are substantial and contribute to changes in the composition and successional trajectory of affected communities. These processes ultimately lead to the loss and simplification of biodiversity values and the homogenisation of affected habitats. P. undulatum has the potential to emerge as one of south east Australia's most serious environmental weed species.

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Cette thèse s'inscrit dans le cadre de la thématique du Laboratoire de Pharmacognosie de l'UFR des Sciences de santé, au sein de l'Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté et du Laboratoire de Produits Naturels de la Faculté de Sciences, au sein de l'Universidad de Los Andes (Venezuela). Elle vise essentiellement l'isolement, purification et identification de molécules d'origine végétale avec activité biologique. Dans ce contexte, l'étude de plantes vénézuéliennes, Bursera inversa (Burseraceae), Lepechinia Bullata (Lamiaceae) et Hydrocotyle multifida (Araliaceae) avec des cultivars Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Variegatum' et Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Gold star' a conduit à l'obtention de treize glycosides naturels, un dérivé de l'acide caféique et diverses hydrocarbures à longue chaîne par les techniques de chromatographie de couche mince préparative, de chromatographie liquide à moyenne pression, chromatographie liquide haute performance, et de chromatographie liquide sous vide. Les structures ont été élucidées principalement par les techniques spectroscopiques de RMN-1 D et -2D, et de spectrométrie de masse. Il s'agit de treize saponines triterpéniques de type oléanane (parmi lesquelles neuf sont des nouveaux composés naturels) ainsi que de l'acide rosmarinique et des alcanes et esters d'acides gras à longue chaîne. / This thesis was carried out in the Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, on the Health Sciences section of Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté (France) and also in the Laboratory of Natural Products of Sciences Faculty of Universidad de Los Andes (Venezuela). The aim of this thesis was the isolation, purification and identification of bioactive molecules from several plant species. ln this context, the study of Venezuelan species, Bursera inversa (Bùrseraceae), Lepechinia Bullata (Lamiaceae) and Hydrocotyle multifida (Araliaceae), together with the cultivars, Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Variegatum' and Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Gold star' was carried out. The study led to the isolation of thirteen natural glycosides, one caffeic acid derivative and several long chain hydrocarbons by column chromatography, preparative thin layer chromatography, medium pressure liquid chromatography, high performance chromatography and vacuum liquid chromatography. The structures were elucidate mainly by spectroscopie techniques, NMR-1 D and 2D, and mass spectrometry. The compounds were characterized as thirteen oleanane-type saponins (among them nine are new natural compounds), rosmarinic acid and several long chain alkanes and fattv acid esters / Este trabajo se presenta bajo la forma de secciones, donde en primer lugar se expone una breve introducción acerca de los géneros de interés para este estudio, como son Bursera (Burseraceae), Hydrocotyle (Araliaceae), Lepechinia (Lamiaceae) y Pittosporum (Pittosporaceae); así como los motivos que llevaron a la realización de este estudio fitoquímico. Cada género es tratado en un capítulo diferente, que abarca una revisión bibliográfica extensa (considerando los aspectos etnobotánicos, fitoquímicos y farmacológicos) del género, seguida por el procedimiento experimental llevado a cabo en cada especie analizada y por último el análisis de los resultados obtenidos.Los compuestos aislados de cultivares de Pittosporum tenuifolium estudiados: 'Variegatum' y 'Gold Star' se encuentran descritos en el primer capítulo entre los que se encuentran ocho nuevas saponinas triterpénicas tipo-oleanano: PT-PI y PT-P4 de los tallos deP. tenuifolium 'Variegatum', PT-P2 y PT-P3 de las hojas de este mismo cultivar, PT-P7 y PT-P8 de los tallos de P. tenuifolium 'Gold Star' y por último, PT-P5 y PT-P6 aisladas de los tallos de ambos cultivares. Además también se describe el compuesto ya conocido, udosaponinaF (PT-P9), identificado en los tallos de P. tenuifolium 'Variegatum' De las especie Hydrocotyle multifìda se aislaron cinco saponinas triterpénicas, descritas en el segundo capítulo, las cuales tienen al ácido oleanólico como genina. Dos de las cinco saponinas son productos naturales nuevos, HmE-P3 y HmE-P2 minoritario; las otras tres saponinas son compuestos ya conocidos, momordin I (HmE-P1), sandrosaponina X (HmE-P2 mayoritario) y hemslósido Mal (HmE-P4) En el tercer capítulo que abarca al género Bursera, incluye los resultados del estudio fitoquímico de las semillas de Bursera inversa, entre los que se puede mencionar la identificación de 45 compuestos en las semillas de esta planta. El último capítulo contiene la descripción del compuesto mayoritario, aislado de las mias de Lepechinia bullata e identificado como el ácido rosmarínico (LB-TI).

The impacts of possum herbivory were assessed on 713 individual plants of the nationally endangered Pittosporum patulum and 115 individual plants of the threatened ('Gradual Decline') mistletoes (Alepis flavida & Peraxilla tetrapetala) over three years in the Temple and Huxley river valleys in the Ohau catchment, South Island New Zealand. Statistical models were used to test the influence of several explanatory variables on the probability of survival and growth rates of these rare palatable plants. Increasing defoliation levels were the most significant predictors of mortality for both P. patulum and mistletoe, and reduced growth rates in P. patulum. Mortality of P. patulum increased with plant size although smaller plants were also affected by mortality. P. patulum mortality was greater for non-forest habitats, and growth rates were greatest on warm aspects. Mistletoe mortality increased with warm aspect, steeper slopes and at lower altitudes. Plant survival and growth increased in the Temple valley following possum control. Although indicative of a positive treatment effect, other factors may have also influenced this result. Possums are the major herbivore responsible for the widespread decline of P. patulum and beech forest mistletoes throughout New Zealand, although the autecology of P. patulum predisposes it toward extinction more so than mistletoe. Monitoring in conjunction with possum control operations provide good opportunities for understanding the impacts of possums on palatable plants and ecosystems. Assessing defoliation levels on indicator species like P. patulum and mistletoes can serve as a guide for managers to assess ecosystem stress from herbivory.