Thesis (Ph.D.)--Aberdeen University, 2009. / Title from web page (viewed on Mar. 30, 2010). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of North Carolina at Wilmington, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves: [52]-62)

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Orientadores: Vera Nisaka Solferini , Ronaldo Bastos Francini / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-16T07:03:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Mattos_RicardoGabriel_M.pdf: 2519012 bytes, checksum: c1ae364f964860960c7576b69620aca4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / Resumo: Actinote pellenea é uma espécie da tribo Acraeini (Lepidoptera: Heliconiinae) com ampla distribuição na América Neotropical, sendo possível encontrá-la desde a Argentina até o México: no sudeste do Brasil, suas populações são caracterizadas por apresentar polimorfismos nos padrões alares. Foram estudadas cinco populações de A. pellenea no sudeste e centro-oeste do Brasil e utilizando medidas morfométricas da asa anterior e marcadores moleculares de microssatélites foram caracterizados padrões de variação morfológica e níveis de estruturação genética. Os resultados revelaram que as populações estão estruturadas geneticamente (Fst=0.21) e análises de covariânciae de agrupamento da distribuição das características fenotípicas mostraram que as populações também estão estruturadas morfologicamente. A estruturação genética pode ser atribuída tanto a processos estocásticos como fluxo gênico e a pressões seletivas atuando diferentemente em cada população. Provavelmente, a isntabilidade do ambiente e a estrutura das paisagens e das comunidades de plantas hospedeiras exerçam papel na estrutura e na diferenciação morfológica. Aparentemente, as estruturas genética e morfológica das populações seguem um modelo em que estão sujeitas a intensidades de fluxo gênico variáveis onde seleção e deriva genética também influenciam de forma distinta cada população / Abstract: Actinote pellenea is a butterfly specie of the tribe Acraeini (Lepidoptera: Heliconiinae) with wide distribution in Neotropical America, were it is possible to find populations from Argentina to Mexico. On its continental distribution, the populations can be differentiated in fifteen geographical races. Moreover, in a small scale, the populations of the southeastern of Brazil are polymorphic, characterized by a variation on wing patterns. We studied five populations of A. pellenea in southeast and central-west Brazil, using morphometric measurements to characterize patterns of porphological variation on the (brewing, both within and between populations, and microsatellite markers to evaluate the genetic diversity and levels of structuring. The results showed that populations are genetically structured (FST = 0.21). what can be attributed to stochastic processes and/or selective pressures acting differently in each population. It is possible to observe regional patterns on the distribution of phenotypic characteristics based on covariance and clustering analysis. The length of the (brewing varies both within and between populations (F (3.111) = 40.8 p = 0) and the area of a wing spot also varies between populations. The results of this study have opened a new perspective, exploring, for example, if the dynamics of populations of A. pellenea is influenced by the relationship with host plants and its distribution, or how resources availability, mainly for immatures, and the biology and ecology of adults are important in the structure and differentiation of populations / Mestrado / Mestre em Ecologia

The Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) sibling species group is known to comprise several morphologically undistinguishable mitotypes which can be separated into seven major phylogeographic clades using the 3' half of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene. B. tabaci is the only vector of begomoviruses; it transmits the complex of viruses that cause the cotton leaf curl disease, which has rapidly spread from Pakistan to the Philippines, at southeast of Asia, in the last decade. The study of B. tabaci mitotypes has been limited to variants of worldwide distribution and those associated to agroecosystems, however, the study of indigenous mitotypes has been scarce. This dissertation provides a comprehensive study of the phylogeography and population biology of mitotypes belonging to two major phylogeographic clades, the Asia II and the Americas. The Asia II major clade contains the highest number of mitotypes, in contrast, there is a large gap in knowledge about mitotypes associated to highly endemistic niches in the Americas. To study the population biology of mitotypes belonging to the Asia II major phylogeographic clade, two fragments of the mtCOI gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for adult whiteflies sampled from mono and multi-cropping systems in the provinces of Punjab and Sindh in Pakistan. Phylogenetic analyses suggested that three indigenous mitotypes were distinctively distributed across ecosystems of Pakistan. The Asia II-5 and II-7 were found restricted to multi-cropping systems of Lahore, while the Asia II-1 was found widespread throughout the cotton growing region of Pakistan. Moreover, population analyses suggested the Asia II-1 is undergoing demographic expansion following a recent selective sweep or bottleneck. This event explains the predominance of Asia II-1 in Pakistan and its spread towards the southern province of Sindh. Additionally, differences in DNA polymorphism and diversity between mtCOI fragments derived in dissimilar evolutionary pairwise distances, suggestive of future implications in the “species” delimitation at a global scale when choosing one fragment over the other. The endosymbiotic bacteria assemblages associated to indigenous mitotypes Asia II-1, II-5 and II-7 were studied by analysis of 16S rRNA profiles. Besides the primary symbiont Portiera, Arsenophonus was detected almost fixed in the studied populations and several unique strains of Arsenophonus were detected in Asia II-5 and II-7, suggesting possible unique environmental adaptation capacities of these mitotypes. Hierarchical clustering of 16S rRNA profiles, proposed host-based and environmental-related differentiation. Additionally, the disruption of parallel cladogenesis between the primary symbiont and B. tabaci, disallows rejection of the hypothesis that gene flow among B. tabaci mitotypes occurs. To study the population biology of indigenous mitotypes belonging to the Americas major clade, adult whiteflies were sampled from ecosystems of nine provinces in Ecuador. Based on phylogenetic analyses, three indigenous and one invasive mitotype were detected. Among the indigenous, a previously unrecognized mitotype, named ECU3, was found. Moreover, mitotypes were found coexisting in five locations, and the invasive B is thought to have displaced endemic mitotypes to the northern and eastern coastal habitats of Ecuador.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Biology / David C. Hartnett / In perennial grasslands, the belowground population of meristems (the bud bank) plays a fundamental role in local plant population structure and dynamics. I tested the “meristem limitation hypothesis” prediction that bud banks increase along an increasing precipitation/productivity gradient in North American grasslands. I sampled bud populations quarterly at six sites across a 1,100 km gradient in central North America. Bud banks increased with average annual precipitation, which explained 80% of variability in bud banks among sites. Seasonal changes in grass bud banks were surprisingly similar across a 2.5-fold range in precipitation and a 4-fold range of aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP). Secondly, I tested the hypothesis that tallgrass prairie plants respond to increases in a limiting resource (nitrogen) through demographic effects on the bud bank. I parameterized matrix models for individual genets, considering each genet as a population of plant parts (buds and stems). Nitrogen addition significantly impacted bud bank demography of both Sporobolus heterolepis and Koeleria macrantha. In 2005, emergence from the bud bank and growth rates (λ) of the tiller population were significantly higher in S. heterolepis genets that received nitrogen. In contrast, nitrogen addition decreased λ in K. macrantha. Both prospective and retrospective analyses indicated that bud bank dynamics are the key demographic processes driving genet responses to nutrient availability. Lastly, I tested the hypothesis that the effects of fire and grazing on plant species composition and ANPP are mediated principally through demographic effects on bud banks. I found that plants respond to fire and grazing with altered rates of belowground bud natality, bud emergence, and both short-term (fire cycle) and long-term changes in bud density. The size of the bud bank is an excellent predictor of long-term ANPP, supporting my hypothesis that ANPP is strongly regulated by belowground demographic processes. Meristem limitation due to water or nutrient availability or management practices such as fire and grazing may constrain grassland responses to inter-annual changes in resource availability. An important consequence is that grasslands with a large bud bank may be the most responsive to future climatic change or other phenomena such as nutrient enrichment, and may be most resistant to exotic species invasions.

Please read the abstract in the section 00front of this document / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Microbiology and Plant Pathology / Unrestricted

Anthrax was associated with the death of a large number of animals in the Selous Game Reserve. The significance of this disease to the populations of these animals was of concern to the reserve's management. Models are presented of the evolutionary effects of four host-pathogen relationships. Based on a demographic study of the wildebeest and a study of the characteristics of the disease, the anthrax-wildebeest relationship was compared with the models. The results of the study indicate that even though anthrax was responsible for the death of approximately 10% of the wildebeest, it had a balanced relationship with the population. The pathogen was probably an asset to its host population's continued existence rather than a hazard, as its mortality was associated with animals that appeared to be a disadvantage to the wildebeest population. If the management of the reserve wished to reduce the occurrence of anthrax, it is suggested that they reduce the number of wildebeest older than calves. In addition to maintaining a stable age configuration, this would improve the quality of the habitat, reduce the number of animals in poor condition, and thus reduce the number dying of anthrax. In addition, I deal with several other topics in Appendices. / Science, Faculty of / Zoology, Department of / Graduate

This study of mammals of the Bull Run Planning Unit has a dual character. First, mammals of special scientific or natural history interest such as threatened or endangered species were sought. This was in conjunction with a Mt. Hood Bull Run Planning Unit. Second, a zoogeographical study of mammals of the Bull Run was performed. Abundance and distributional data was recorded for each species observed. This data was related to availability to moisture as indicated by plant associations trapped. Difference in habitat utilization along a moisture gradient was investigated as a possible coexistence mechanism for sympatric small mammals in the Bull Run Planning Unit.

Roosts provide an opportunity to census philopatric populations of bats. Comparing the efficacy of traditional methods with novel methods can provide guidance on the use of new technologies in the field. This project aims to compare the count efficacy of external emergence methodologies, i.e., drone-acquired thermal imagery, acoustic estimates, and visual counts. Surveys were conducted ten nights at two emergence sites and synchronized to compare counts. Acoustic estimates could not be established as there was a weak prediction of the linear relationship between root-mean-square pressure and emergence count; therefore, this method was removed from the comparative analysis. A linear mixed-effects model and Bonferroni correction found a significant difference in visual and thermal methods at the eastern Tennessee site. Additionally, there was an overall median similarity of 92% from counts obtained from the compared methods. This study supports the validity of drone-acquired thermal imagery for external emergence counts.