Conservation of natural habitats and planting wildflower plots are two commonly promoted tactics to enhance pollination services and biological control of crop pests, which are ecosystem services that can improve agricultural outputs. There are several programs at various levels of government in the United States that landowners can use to defray the costs of implementing these conservation strategies. Studies of European Agricultural Environmental Schemes have shown these tactics to have positive outcomes for crop production. However, real-world applications of cost-sharing programs have not been evaluated in the United States on pollination services and biological control. Furthermore, these tactics may inadvertently perform ecosystem disservices, like increasing crop pests or creating habitat for disease vectors. In this study, we evaluated the effects of natural habit and wildflower plots on biological control, pollination services, bee communities, and tick populations in Eastern Virginia and Maryland. This research was conducted on 22 farms. 10 of these farms had wildflower plots that were designed by Natural Resource Conservation Service personnel, and implemented by cooperating farmers. Collards, strawberries, tomatoes, and squash were used as model systems. We measured pest density, sentinel egg predation, crop damage, seed pollination, biomass production, marketable crop yield, sampled the bee community, and recorded tick abundance in wildflower plots. Many of the measures of biological control and pollination services had idiosyncratic results in regards to the wildflower plots and natural habit in the landscape. However, the proportion of high quality yield for all four crops increased with increasing natural habitat in the landscape. Bee communities between sites with and without wildflower plots were not different. Bee abundance did increase at wildflower sites when natural habitat comprised a certain proportion of the habitat around the site. Ticks were sampled from wildflower plantings, but not in greater abundance compared to field margins. In this study, the effects of wildflower plots were overshadowed by the landscape effects of natural habitat. Government personnel that oversee these programs may need to consider the surrounding landscape when helping implement on-farm conservation measure like wildflower plots. Such measures, do not perform an ecosystem disservice in regards to ticks. / Doctor of Philosophy / Conservation of natural habitats and planting wildflower plots are two strategies to enhance pollination services and biological control of crop pests. These two ecosystem services are of needed to improve agricultural production without further damaging the environment. There are several programs at various levels of government in the United States that landowners can use to subsidize the costs of implementing these strategies. European studies have shown these government programs to be successful. However, these programs have not been evaluated in the United States on their ability to enhance pollination services and biological control. Furthermore, studies investigating potential ecosystem disservices these strategies. In this study, we evaluated the effects of natural habit and wildflower plots on biological control, pollination services, bee communities, and tick populations in Eastern Virginia and Maryland. This research was conducted on 22 farms. 10 of these farms had wildflower plots that were designed by Natural Resource Conservation Service personnel, and implemented by cooperating farmers. Collards, strawberries, tomatoes, and squash were used as model systems. We measured pest density, egg predation, crop damage, seed pollination, and yield. We also sampled the bee community, and recorded tick abundance in wildflower plots. There were no consistent trends for many measures of biological control and pollination services in response to the wildflower plots and natural habit. However, the proportion of high quality yield for all four crops increased with increasing natural habitat in the landscape. Bee communities between sites with and without wildflower plots were not different. Bee abundance did increase at wildflower sites when natural habitat comprised a certain proportion of the habitat around the site. Ticks were sampled from wildflower plantings, but not in greater abundance compared to field margins. In this study, the effects of wildflower plots were overshadowed by the landscape effects of natural habitat. Government personnel that oversee these programs may need to consider the surrounding landscape when helping implement on-farm conservation measure like wildflower plots. Such measures, do not perform an ecosystem disservice in regards to ticks.

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2016-09-12T14:45:10Z No. of bitstreams: 1 andressamendesribeiroesilva.pdf: 2026948 bytes, checksum: 19277115bed655135017cdb6e87636f9 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Diamantino Mayra (mayra.diamantino@ufjf.edu.br) on 2016-09-13T12:56:39Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 andressamendesribeiroesilva.pdf: 2026948 bytes, checksum: 19277115bed655135017cdb6e87636f9 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-13T12:56:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 andressamendesribeiroesilva.pdf: 2026948 bytes, checksum: 19277115bed655135017cdb6e87636f9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-01-24 / Dentre as várias espécies de ixodídeos existentes na região neotropical, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus e Amblyomma cajennense são duas das que despertam maior interesse econômico e em saúde pública, ocasionando perdas na produção animal e atuando como vetores de agentes patogênicos. A utilização de carrapaticidas químicos sintéticos é o método predominante no controle destes artrópodes, entretanto, o uso indiscriminado tem resultado em sérios problemas, como a pressão de seleção de carrapatos resistentes, risco de intoxicação de animais e do homem. Uma alternativa a estes métodos tem sido o uso de substâncias de origem vegetal de pouca ou nenhuma toxidez para animais e humanos. Assim, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a atividade carrapaticida do timol em diferentes concentrações sobre larvas e ninfas de A. cajennense e fêmeas ingurgitadas e ovos de R. microplus. O estudo foi desenvolvido no Laboratório Avançado de Zoologia da Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brasil. No primeiro estudo (subdividido em dois experimentos) foi avaliada a influência de diferentes concentrações de timol (1,0%, 1,5%, e 2,0%) sobre os parâmetros biológicos da fase não parasitária de fêmeas ingurgitadas de R. microplus e também sua atividade sobre ovos deste carrapato. Os seguintes parâmetros biológicos foram observados: peso inicial (mg); peso de massa de ovos (mg); período de pré-postura (dias), período de postura (dias), período de sobrevivência (dias); percentual de eclosão de larvas; índice de produção de ovos (IPO), índice nutricional (IN) e eficácia do tratamento. No primeiro experimento os parâmetros peso da fêmea antes da postura e período de pré-postura não apresentaram diferenças significativas (p>0.05) entre os grupos. As diferentes concentrações de timol causaram alterações nos parâmetros peso da massa de ovos, período de postura, período de sobrevivência, percentual de eclosão de larvas, IPO, e IN, sendo constatadas diferenças altamente significativas entre os grupos tratados e o controle (p<0.01). A eficácia de controle foi superior a 95% em todos os tratamentos, chegando a 99% na concentração de 2,0%. O percentual de eclosão de larvas não foi afetado em nenhum dos tratamentos (p>0.05). No segundo estudo foi avaliado o potencial carrapaticida do timol sobre larvas não ingurgitadas e ingurgitadas e ninfas ingurgitadas de A. cajennense. Os valores referentes à mortalidade de larvas não ingurgitadas foram de 18,2%, 51,8%, 97,6%, 93,5%, 94,5%, e para ninfas ingurgitadas foi de 26,0%, 92,2%; 100,0%, 100,0%, 100,0% nas concentrações de 0,25%; 0,5%; 1,0%; 1,5% e 2,0%, respectivamente. No teste com larvas ingurgitadas a mortalidade foi de 100,0% em todos os tratamentos. Os resultados encontrados no estudo demonstram que o timol possui ação carrapaticida, interferindo na maioria dos parâmetros analisados para R. microplus, apresentando também atividade acaricida sobre imaturos de A. cajennense, sendo larvas e ninfas ingurgitadas mais susceptíveis do que larvas não ingurgitadas. / Among the various species of Ixodidae existing in the Neotropics, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus and Amblyomma cajennense are two of the ones that arouse more economic and public health interest, causing losses in animal production and acting as pathogens vectors. The use of synthetic chemical acaricide is the predominant method in controlling these arthropods; however, the indiscriminate use has resulted in serious problems such as the pressure on the selection for resistant ticks and the risk of animal and man toxicity. An alternative to this method has been the use of plant origin substances with little or no toxicity to animals and humans. The fore, this study aimed to evaluate the acaricide activity of thymol in different concentrations on larvae and nymphs of A. cajennense and engorged females and eggs of R. microplus. The study was conducted in the Advanced Laboratory of Zoology at the Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil. In the first study (divided into two experiments) it was evaluated the influence of different concentrations of thymol (1.0%, 1.5% and 2.0%) on the biological parameters of the non-parasitic phase of R. microplus engorged females and also its activity on the eggs of this tick. The following biological parameters were observed: initial weight (mg), eggs weight mass (mg), pre-oviposition (days), oviposition period (days), survival period (days), percentage of hatching; egg production index (IPO), nutritional index (NI) and treatment efficacy. In the first experiment, the parameters weight of the female before oviposition and pre-oviposition presented no significant differences (p> 0.05) between groups. The different concentrations of Thymol caused changes in the parameters eggs weight mass, oviposition period, survival period, percentage of hatching, IPO, and IN, having found highly significant differences between the treated and control groups (p <0.01) . Control efficacy was greater than 95% in all treatments, reaching 99% at 2.0%. The percentage of hatching was not affected in any treatment (p> 0.05). In the second study it was evaluated the acaricide potential of Thymol on not engorged and engorged larvae and engorged nymphs of A. cajennense. The values concerning the mortality of not engorged larvae were 18.2%, 51.8%, 97.6%, 93.5%, 94.5%, and for engorged nymphs they were 26.0%, 92.2 % 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% at concentrations of 0.25%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5% and 2.0% respectively. In tests with engorged larvae the mortality was 100.0% in all treatments. The results found in this study demonstrate that Thymol has an acaricide action, interfering in the majority of the analyzed parameters for R. microplus, also showing acaricidal activity on immature A. cajennense, being larvae and engorged nymphs more susceptible than not engorged ones.

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2017-09-20T19:27:14Z No. of bitstreams: 1 fernandacalmon.pdf: 376302 bytes, checksum: f059fa7ccf2af6362e23df2ba62301fb (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2017-09-22T15:20:06Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 fernandacalmon.pdf: 376302 bytes, checksum: f059fa7ccf2af6362e23df2ba62301fb (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-09-22T15:20:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 fernandacalmon.pdf: 376302 bytes, checksum: f059fa7ccf2af6362e23df2ba62301fb (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-02-07 / O presente estudo objetivou avaliar a toxicidade de diferentes solventes e do Tween 80 sobre os estágios imaturos de Rhipicephalus sanguineus e sobre larvas e ninfas ingurgitadas e ninfas não ingurgitadas de Amblyomma cajennense. Para larvas não ingurgitadas de R. sanguineus foi utilizado o teste de pacote de larvas modificado e a mortalidade foi avaliada após 24 horas. O mesmo teste foi adaptado para a realização do experimento com ninfas não ingurgitadas das duas espécies e nesses dois experimentos foram testados os solventes etanol, metanol e acetona puros e dimetilsufóxido e tween 80 na concentração de 50μl/ml. Em relação aos testes com larvas e ninfas ingurgitadas foi utilizada a metodologia de imersão e a mortalidade foi avaliada após 15 dias. Os solventes etanol, metanol e acetona foram testados nas concentrações de 50, 250, 500, 750 e 1000 μl/ml, enquanto que o solvente dimetilsufóxido e o surfactante Tween foram testados somente a 50μl/ml, no entanto, para A.cajennense o surfactante foi acrescido com a concentração de 25μl/ml para os estágios ingurgitados. Para cada teste foi feito um controle com água destilada. Foram feitas dez repetições por tratamento e os grupos experimentais foram mantidos em câmara climatizada (27±1°C e UR>80±10%). Para R. sanguineus a acetona se mostrou tóxica nos estágios ingurgitados na maior concentração, o etanol e metanol foram tóxicos na maior concentração apenas para larvas ingurgitadas; para as larvas ingurgitadas de A. cajennense o etanol, metanol e a acetona forma tóxicos na maior concentração e o Tween matou 52 e 80% das larvas para as concentrações de 25 e 50μl/ml respectivamente, já para ninfas ingurgitadas o metanol matou 17,4 e a acetona 100% quando testados em qualidade pura, as ninfas não ingurgitadas não demonstraram sensibilidade aos solventes testados. Quanto a observação preliminar sobre a presença de ectoparasitos em aves silvestres, foram examinadas 58 aves de 5 famílias com prevalência de 15,5% de ectoparasitos. / The present study aimed to evaluate the toxicity of different solvents and of Tween 80 in immature stages of Rhipicephalus sanguineus and in larvae and engorged and non engorged nymphs of Amblyomma cajennense. For non engorged larvae of R. sanguineus it was utilized the larval packet test modified and mortality was evaluated after 24 hours. The same test was adapted for non engorged nymphs of both species and in both assays were tested ethanol, methanol and acetone in its pure concentrations and dimethylsulphoxide and Tween 80 in a concentration of 50μl/ml. For engorged larvae and nymphs it was utilized the immersion test and mortality was available after 15 days. The solvents ethanol, methanol and acetone were testes at concentrations of 50, 250, 500, 750 and 1000 μl/ml, while dimethylsulphoxide and the surfactant Tween were tested at concentrations of 50μl/ml, however, in the assays with A.cajennense engorged stages, the surfactant was added with a concentration of 25μl/ml. Ten repetitions were made for each treatment and the experimental groups were maintained in a BOD incubator (27±1°C e UR>80±10%).For each test it was made a control group with distilled water. For R.. sanguineus acetone showed toxic effects in engorged stages at the higher concentration, ethanol and methanol were toxic at higher concentration only for engorged larvae; to engorged larvae of A. cajennense the ethanol, methanol and acetone were toxic in the higher concentrations and the Tween caused mortality of 52 and 80% of larvae in concentrations of 25 and 50μl/ml respectively, for engorged nymphs, methanol caused a mortality of 17,4 and acetone of 100% when tested in pure concentrations, the tested solvents did not show any effect in engorged nymphs. As a preliminary remark on the presence of ectoparasites in wild birds, 58 birds were examined from 5 families with a prevalence of 15.5% of ectoparasites.