Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2007. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 210-216).

Little research has been conducted in the Republic of Panama concerning mammalian predator and prey populations. New Technologies such as remote camera-traps, allow researcher to efficiently monitor elusive wildlife species within dense tropical vegetation. The general goal of this study was to establish concrete evidence of the felid population in EcoParque Panama-a newly designated protected area adjacent to Panama City. The specific objective of the study was to estimate the relative abundance of predators and prey species in order to determine the feasibility of releasing more felids into the area that were to be removed from the Panama Canal Expansion Zone. Camera-traps were purposefully located in likely felid habitat and data were collected for approximately 5 months. Photographs were analyzed according to species and location captured, and abundances were established. Using SPSS and Statistix statistical software, tests for association between likely habitat for felids and time activity periods for prey species were conducted. EcoParque was found to have a robust prey population with relatively few predators. Felid predators present include the ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) and jaguarundi (Felis yaguarondi). Results suggest that felid carrying capacity has not been reached and additional individuals could be released into the area. This preliminary study lays the ground work for further research in EcoParque as well as the rest of Panama concerning predator and prey species relationships.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:25:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2007-05-25Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:53:12Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 peres_fsc_me_jabo.pdf: 331825 bytes, checksum: 18b3c8bc6500ae52044825067eb8d2af (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Foi avaliada a atratividade de Tagetes patula (cravo-de-defunto) sobre tripes (Thysanoptera) e micro-hymenoptera em cultivo protegido de melão. Foram estudadas a abundância, dominância, freqüência e constância de espécies de insetos utilizando-se a análise faunística, análise de agrupamento (AA) e análise de componentes principais (ACP). Nas extremidades das estufas com cultivo de melão foram plantadas duas faixas transversais de cravo-de-defunto. As amostras foram tomadas nas plantas de melão, batendo-se três ponteiros e nas plantas de T. patula 1m2 sobre bandeja branca. Os pontos de amostragem consistiram em: T. patula, melão consorciado com T. patula e melão à distancia de 6m, 12m, 18m e 24m de T. patula. Onze espécies de tripes e 21 espécies de himenópteros parasitóides foram observados. As espécies dominantes de tripes e superdominantes e constantes de himenópteros foram analisadas para avaliar a distribuição na estufa. Os resultados permitiram verificar que houve três grupos diferentes em relação a abundância de espécies de tripes: (1) T. patula, (2) melão consorciado com T. patula e (3) melão a distancia de 6m, 12m, 18m e 24m do cravo-de-defunto. Também foi possível observar que as espécies de tripes foram mais abundantes em T. patula e que a bordadura com essa planta apresenta maior população de himenópteros parasitóides. Com isso, bordaduras de T. patula podem ser utilizadas para implementar o controle biológico bem como para servir de cultura atrativa. / The attractiveness of Tagetes patula (marigold) on thrips (Thysanoptera) and parasitic wasps (Hymenoptera) was ingestigated in protected melon crop. Insect abundance, dominance, frequency, and constancy were evaluated using faunistic analysis, cluster and principal component analyses. Transversal strips of T. patula were grow at both ends of the protected melon greenhouse. Samplings were taken by shaking three melon vine tips and all T. patula plants from 1 m2 on white trays. Samplings sites were T. patula, melon along with T. patula and melon plants at 6m, 12m, 18m, and 24m from T. patula. Eleven thrips species and 21 parasitic wasps were observed. The dominant species of thrips as well as superdominant and dominant and constant species of parasitic wasps were analysed to evaluated species distribution on the crop. The results showed that there were three different groups according to thrips species abundance: (1) T. patula, (2) melon along with T. patula, and (3) melon alone at 6m, 12m, 18m, and 24m from T. patula. It was also possible to note that thrips species were more attracted to T. patula, and that the border presented a higler population of parasitic wasps. Thus, T. patula border can be used to improve biological control as well as serve as trap crop.

abstract: This dissertation consists of two essays that deal with the development of open developing economies. These economies have experienced drastic divergence in terms of economic growth from the 1970s through the 2010s. One important feature of those countries that have lagged behind is their failure to build up their domestic innovation capacity. Abstract The first chapter discusses the policies that may have an impact on the long-run innovation capacity of developing economies. The existing literature emphasizes that the backward linkage of foreign-owned firms is a key to determining whether FDI is beneficial or detrimental to a domestic economy. However, little empirical evidence has shown which aspects of FDI policies lead to a strong backward linkage between foreign-owned and domestic firms. This paper focuses on the foreign ownership structure of these foreign-owned firms. I show that joint ventures (i.e, firms with 1%-99% foreign share) have stronger backward linkages than MNC affiliates (i.e, firms with 100% foreign share) with domestic firms. I also find that the differences in backward linkages are strong enough to translate into a positive correlation between domestic innovation and the density of joint ventures and a negative correlation between domestic innovation and the density of MNC affiliates. Finally, I find that the channel through which foreign ownership structure affects domestic innovation raises innovation TFP in domestic firms. My results suggest that policies that affect the foreign ownership structure of foreign-owned firms could have a persistent effect on domestic innovation because they shift the comparative advantage of an developing economy towards the innovation sector in the long run. Abstract The second chapter provides a unified theory to study what causes the divergence in economic growth of developing economies and how the innovation sector emerges in the developing countries. I show that open developing economies become trapped at the middle-income level because they tend not to specialize in sectors that generate spillover or factor accumulation (the innovation sector). Using a dynamic Heckscher-Ohlin (H-O) model, I show that the fast growth of developing economies tends to end before they can fully catch up with the developed world, and the innovation sector will not operate in the developing countries. However, the successful growth stories of Korea and Taiwan challenge this view. In order to explore the economic miracle that happened in Korea and Taiwan, I generalize a dynamic Heckscher-Ohlin (H-O) model by introducing technology adoption and explore how it generates spillovers to domestic innovation. I show that countries with policies that encourage technology adoption will benefit most from FDI: in addition to the fact that foreign technology raises productivity in the host country, the demand for skilled labor to adopt these technologies raises the education level in equilibrium, which benefits domestic innovation and leads to catch-up in the long run. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Economics 2015

Orientador: Odair Aparecido Fernandes / Banca: Sérgio de Freitas / Banca: Sandra Regina Magro / Resumo: Foi avaliada a atratividade de Tagetes patula (cravo-de-defunto) sobre tripes (Thysanoptera) e micro-hymenoptera em cultivo protegido de melão. Foram estudadas a abundância, dominância, freqüência e constância de espécies de insetos utilizando-se a análise faunística, análise de agrupamento (AA) e análise de componentes principais (ACP). Nas extremidades das estufas com cultivo de melão foram plantadas duas faixas transversais de cravo-de-defunto. As amostras foram tomadas nas plantas de melão, batendo-se três ponteiros e nas plantas de T. patula 1m2 sobre bandeja branca. Os pontos de amostragem consistiram em: T. patula, melão consorciado com T. patula e melão à distancia de 6m, 12m, 18m e 24m de T. patula. Onze espécies de tripes e 21 espécies de himenópteros parasitóides foram observados. As espécies dominantes de tripes e superdominantes e constantes de himenópteros foram analisadas para avaliar a distribuição na estufa. Os resultados permitiram verificar que houve três grupos diferentes em relação a abundância de espécies de tripes: (1) T. patula, (2) melão consorciado com T. patula e (3) melão a distancia de 6m, 12m, 18m e 24m do cravo-de-defunto. Também foi possível observar que as espécies de tripes foram mais abundantes em T. patula e que a bordadura com essa planta apresenta maior população de himenópteros parasitóides. Com isso, bordaduras de T. patula podem ser utilizadas para implementar o controle biológico bem como para servir de cultura atrativa. / Abstract: The attractiveness of Tagetes patula (marigold) on thrips (Thysanoptera) and parasitic wasps (Hymenoptera) was ingestigated in protected melon crop. Insect abundance, dominance, frequency, and constancy were evaluated using faunistic analysis, cluster and principal component analyses. Transversal strips of T. patula were grow at both ends of the protected melon greenhouse. Samplings were taken by shaking three melon vine tips and all T. patula plants from 1 m2 on white trays. Samplings sites were T. patula, melon along with T. patula and melon plants at 6m, 12m, 18m, and 24m from T. patula. Eleven thrips species and 21 parasitic wasps were observed. The dominant species of thrips as well as superdominant and dominant and constant species of parasitic wasps were analysed to evaluated species distribution on the crop. The results showed that there were three different groups according to thrips species abundance: (1) T. patula, (2) melon along with T. patula, and (3) melon alone at 6m, 12m, 18m, and 24m from T. patula. It was also possible to note that thrips species were more attracted to T. patula, and that the border presented a higler population of parasitic wasps. Thus, T. patula border can be used to improve biological control as well as serve as trap crop. / Mestre

The study focuses in the ecology and conservation of the ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) in the conservation and tourism concession owned by the ARCC. The study site is 11 000 hectares and it is located in the Las Piedras Region, north of Tambopata province, Madre de Dios. Camera traps were used to monitor the ocelot population during a 7-month period (from August 2012 to February 2013), divided in 9 rounds were 73 cameras were installed. The camera traps found 8 independent ocelots, from which only 3 (A1, A3 and A6) were recaptured in more than one occasion. The study did a capture-recapture analysis. The distance traveled by the ocelots from a capture to a recapture site was used to estimate the effective sampled area using the Mean Maximum Distance Moved - MMDM and Half MMDM. The methods yielded a density of 70 individuals/100km2 and 180 individuals/100km2, with full MMDM and Half MMDM, respectively. The study also analyzed the camera trap capture probability with PRESENCE software. Using a closed CR analysis followed by a model of constant capture probability, it yielded a capture probability rate of 0,3 (SE 0,0567). Finally, the ocelot’s habitat preference was also studied using a combination of satellite imagery and GIS software. It was found that these animals frequently use transects aimed for tourists, prefer sites near water and that they avoid bamboo forests. / Este estudio trata sobre la ecología y conservación del ocelote (Leopardus pardalis), en la concesión de conservación y ecoturismo del albergue Amazon Research and Conservation Center - ARCC. El área de estudio, de 11 000 hectáreas, se encuentra ubicada en el distrito de Las Piedras, norte de la provincia de Tambopata, departamento de Madre de Dios, Perú. Se utilizaron cámaras trampa para monitorear la población del felino en un período de siete meses (de agosto de 2012 a febrero de 2013), dividido en nueve rondas donde se instalaron 73 cámaras en total. Fueron ocho ocelotes independientes los identificados, de los cuales solo tres (A1, A3 y A6) fueron recapturados visualmente en más de una ocasión. Se realizó un análisis de captura-recaptura. Las distancias recorridas por los ocelotes entre captura y recaptura se utilizaron para estimar el área efectiva de muestreo usando el método del Promedio de la Máxima Distancia Recorrida - MMDM y Mitad del MMDM. Los métodos dieron como resultado una densidad poblacional de 700 ocelotes/100 km2 y 180 ocelotes/100 km2 con MMDM y Mitad del MMDM, respectivamente. Por otro lado, se analizó la probabilidad de captura de las cámaras trampa con el software PRESENCE. Utilizando un análisis poblacional cerrado y un modelo constante, se halló una detección por ronda de 0,3 (SE 0,0567). Finalmente, también se evaluó la preferencia de hábitat de los ocelotes a través de imágenes satélite. Se halló que la mayoría de los felinos usan transectos turísticos, que prefieren las llanuras aluviales cercanas a las riberas de los ríos y cochas, y que evitan los pantanos.

Neste trabalho desenvolveu-se uma metodologia analítica para determinação do teor de trialometanos THMs em amostras de águas potáveis, utilizando a técnica de purga e armadilha acoplada à cromatografia a gás (GCPT). Os THMs são subprodutos da cloração da água que devem possuir um limite máximo de 100 μg.L-1 segundo a legislação brasileira, estes compostos são suspeitos carcinogênicos humanos com base em estudos em animais de laboratório. A técnica de purga e armadilha extrai eficientemente estes compostos da água e a separação no cromatógrafo a gás ocorre utilizando coluna de leve polaridade e detector por captura de elétrons. Este detector é seletivo e o mais sensível para estes compostos halogenados. A metodologia desenvolvida foi validada nos itens de: linearidade, seletividade, exatidão, precisão, limite de quantificação, limite de detecção e robustez. O limite de detecção para os THMs foi menor do que 0,5 μg.L-1. A exatidão e precisão foram adequadas para ensaios de compostos traços. As amostras de água potável foram coletadas na cidade de Suzano-SP, que pertence à região do Alto do Tietê, nesta região nas margens do rio a vegetação é predominante. Entre todos os THMs, o composto encontrado na água potável em maiores concentrações foi o clorofórmio onde os resultados quantitativos, utilizando esta metodologia apresentaram teores entre 15,9 à 111,0 μg.L-1 em águas potáveis. / This work shows an analytical methodology developed and optimized to determine trihalomethanes level THMs, in drinking water samples, using purge and trap coupled to gas chromatography (GC-PT). THMs are byproducts water chlorination, these compounds must have a maximum of 100 μg.L-1 under Brazilian law, due these compounds be suspected human carcinogens base on studies in laboratory animals. The technique of purge and trap efficiently extracts these compounds from water, and the gas chromatograph separates the THMs. The GC uses a light polarity column and electron capture detector. This detector is selective and more sensitive in the detection of these compounds. The methodology was validated in terms of: linearity, selectivity, accuracy, precision, quantification limit, detection limit and robustness. The detection limit was less than 0,5 μg.L-1. The accuracy and precision were adequate for testing the trace compounds. The drinking water samples were collected in the city of Suzano-SP, which belongs to Alto do Tietê, in this region lay Tietê river with predominant vegetation. The THMs compound found in drinking water at higher concentrations was chloroform where the spread of values found between 15,9 to 111,0 μg.L-1 in drinking water.

Uma das abelhas solitárias sugeridas para programas de polinização controlada foi Centris analis, pela constância e abundância no Brasil. Estudos mostraram a importância de C. analis na polinização de algumas culturas agrícolas, e vários trabalhos trazem informações a respeito da sua biologia. No entanto, ainda faltam informações a respeito de fatores capazes de aumentar ou diminuir a população de C. analis. Assim ninhos-armadilha confeccionados com cartolina foram oferecidos no campus da Universidade de São Paulo Ribeirão Preto, com dimensões de 0,6cm de diâmetro e em quatro comprimentos diferentes (6, 7, 8 e 9cm), de outubro de 2010 a setembro de 2012. Resultando em 500 ninhos de onde emergiram 369 fêmeas e 562 machos de C. analis, a mortalidade ocorreu em decorrência dos parasitas Leucospis sp. (100), Coelioxys sp. (55), Anthrax sp (3), por causa de fungos (107) e por causas desconhecidas (100). Ninhos-armadilha de 6 e 7cm apresentaram até quatro células, já os ninhos de 8 e 9cm apresentaram até seis células, sendo os ninhos de 8cm os mais utilizados. A razão sexual apresentou-se desviada para machos e os resultados indicam que o comprimento dos ninhos-armadilha não foi capaz de influenciar a razão sexual dessa abelha. Fêmeas de C. analis que nidificaram entre outubro de 2010 a abril de 2012 foram monitoradas (n=28) quanto ao seu comportamento na área; a atividade delas variou de 6 a 24 dias. Cinco fêmeas apresentaram comportamento considerado diferente do padrão e foram coletadas para dissecção, apresentando uma larva parasitoide em seu abdômen. Três delas fizeram depósitos adicionais de óleo em ninhos terminados dias antes, e normalmente não recebem mais materiais; as outras duas fêmeas foram coletadas após fazerem um falso fechamento, quando fecham a entrada do ninho-armadilha sem construir células de cria nele. As cinco fêmeas construíram ninhos convencionais nos primeiros dias de monitoramento, mas cessaram a construção de ninhos com células de cria e passaram a realizar os comportamentos atípicos. Esses comportamentos sugerem que as fêmeas tornam-se estéreis conforme a larva parasitoide cresce, primeiramente pela perda do espaço para transportar néctar para o ninho, e depois pela perda dos órgãos internos. Antes de morrer várias C. analis, machos e fêmeas, ocultaram-se dentro dos ninhos-armadilha, possivelmente por influência do parasitoide. C. analis encontradas mortas tem sido recolhidas de janeiro de 2008 a setembro de 2012, totalizando 186 abelhas mortas, de onde emergiram 113 conopideos adultos, pertencentes a oito espécies. A maioria foi encontrada nos três primeiros meses do ano, período de maior atividade dos hospedeiros. Assim, conclui-se que somente o comprimento dos ninhos-armadilhas utilizados não é capaz de influenciar a razão sexual da prole; as mortes nos ninhos ocorre principalmente pelos ataques de Leucospis sp., por fungos ou por causas desconhecidas, e um importante inimigo natural dos adultos são os conopideos. / One of the solitary bees suggested to programs of controlled pollination was Centris analis, because of its constancy and abundance in Brazil. Several studies have shown the importance of C. analis in the pollination of some crops, and some papers brought information on the biology of this species. However, it still lacks information about factors that can increase or decrease C. analis population. Hence trap-nests made of black cardboard were offered in the campus of Universidade de São Paulo Ribeirão Preto from October of 2010 to September of 2012. The trap-nests measured 0.6cm in internal diameter and 6, 7, 8 and 9cm in length. Five hundred nests were obtained during the study period. From these nests emerged 369 females and 562 males of C. analis, and the immature mortality occurred due the parasites Leucospis sp. (100), Coelioxys sp. (55), Anthrax sp. (3), probably fungi (107) and unknown causes (100). Trap-nests with 6 and 7cm had up to four cells, and nests with 8 and 9cm had up to six cells, the most used length of trap-nest was 8cm. Sex ratio was male biased, and it seems that the trap-nests lengths did not influence the sex ratio of this bee. Twenty-eight females of C. analis were monitored during their nesting activities that occurred from October 2010 to April 2012. These females worked in the trap-nests from 6 to 24 days. Five females showing behavior considered different from normal pattern had a parasitoid larva inside their abdomen. Three of them made additional deposits of oil on nests finished days before, which usually dont receive more materials; the other two females were collected after making a fake nest plug, when they close the nest entrance without building brood cells in it. The five females built normal nests during the first days of monitoring, but stopped building nests with brood cells and started to make behaviors considered as atypical. These behaviors suggest that females become sterile as the parasitoid larva grows, first because the loss of space to carry nectar to the nest, and later because the loss of internal organs. Before dying many C. analis, males and females, concealed themselves inside trap-nests, possibly by influence of the parasitoid. The dead bees found inside trap-nests have been collected from January 2008 to September 2012, totaling 186 bees, from where emerged 113 adult conopids, belonging to eight species. Most of them were found in the three first months of the year, period of the hosts higher activity. Therefore, the conclusion is that the lengths of trap-nests alone do not influence the brood sex ratio; mortality in nests occurred mainly because of Leucospis sp. attacks, fungi or unknown causes, and an important natural enemy of the adults C. analis are the conopids.

Species distributions reflect the suite of resources and range of environmental conditions required by a species. Distributions of many species change seasonally, however, in response to changes in resource availability and environmental conditions, many of which are projected to shift in response to climate change. We sought to identify environmental and anthropogenic factors associated with seasonal changes in the distribution of vertebrates that inhabit the Madrean Archipelago in southern Arizona, which is important for identifying mechanisms through which climate change may affect these species. From July 2012 to February 2015 (966 days), we used remote cameras to survey 200 sites across 16 mountain ranges for a total of 69,434 trap days and used dynamic occupancy models to determine how landscape features, vegetation composition, and anthropogenic factors influenced the distributions and seasonal rates of local colonization and extinction of 13 vertebrates. For these 13 species, we recorded 37,888 detections, with gray foxes, skunks, and squirrels detected most frequently. Bobcats, cottontails, gray foxes, skunks, squirrels, javelina, puma, and coatimundis were all detected across the entire range of elevations surveyed, from 935 to 2395 m. Black bears and wild turkeys were never detected below 1270 m, Sonoran opossums never detected above 1980 m, and coyotes and ringtails never detected above 2020 m. Composition and structure of vegetation in the understory, midstory, and overstory influenced initial occupancy of several species, including skunks, coatimundis, Sonoran opossums, and cottontails. Season, either directly or as an interaction with the estimated amount of solar radiation reaching a site, influenced local extinction rates of all 13 target species and local colonization rates of 9 of 13 species. Elevation influenced local colonization rates of black bears and coatimundis positively, and coyotes, Sonoran opossums, and cottontails negatively, and local extinction rates of skunks negatively and coyotes and black bears positively. These patterns indicate that the distributions of many species in this region change seasonally, likely as a mechanism to meet dietary, behavioral, or physiological needs in response to shifts in environmental conditions and resource availability. Therefore, species that depend on seasonal resources may be at higher risk of distributional shifts or range contractions if the distribution and phenology of these resources change in response to changes in climate.

Master of Science / Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources / Adam A. Ahlers / The Flint Hills ecoregion in Kansas, USA, represents the largest remaining tract of native tallgrass prairie in North America. Anthropogenic landscape change (e.g., urbanization, agricultural production) is affecting native biodiversity in this threatened ecosystem. Our understanding of how landscape change affects spatial distributions of carnivores (i.e., species included in the Order ‘Carnivora’) in this ecosystem is limited. I investigated the influence of landscape structure and composition on site occupancy dynamics of 3 native carnivores (coyote [Canis latrans]; bobcat [Lynx rufus]; and striped skunk [Mephitis mephitis]) and 1 nonnative carnivore (domestic cat, [Felis catus]) across an urbanization gradient in the Flint Hills during 2016-2017. I also examined how the relative influence of various landscape factors affected native carnivore species richness and diversity. I positioned 74 camera traps across 8 urban-rural transects in the 2 largest cities in the Flint Hills (Manhattan, pop. > 55,000; Junction City, pop. > 31,000) to assess presence/absence of carnivores. Cameras were activated for 28 days in each of 3 seasons (Summer 2016, Fall 2016, Winter 2017) and I used multisession occupancy models and an information-theoretic approach to assess the importance of various landscape factors on carnivore site occupancy dynamics. Based on previous research in other ecosystems, I expected a negative relationship between both coyote and bobcat occurrence with increasing urban development but a positive relationship for domestic cat and skunk occurrence with increasing urban landcover. I also predicted grassland landcover to positively influence site occupancy for all carnivores except domestic cats. I expected that coyotes, the apex predator in this ecoregion, may limit domestic cat distributions through intraguild competition. Thus, I predicted a negative relationship between site occupancy of domestic cats and coyote occupancy probabilities. Because urban development results in habitat loss and fragmentation, I expected native species richness and diversity to decline with increased urban development. Coyotes had lower occupancy and colonization rates in areas with increased urban landcover. Bobcat occupancy was insensitive to urban landcover and colonization rates were greater in grassland landcover and row-crop agriculture fields. Site occupancy of bobcats was highly influence by forested areas and greater edge densities. Contrary to my hypothesis, striped skunk occupancy and colonization rates were negatively related to urban landcover. As expected, domestic cats were more likely to occur in and colonize sites with increased urban development and less likely to occur at sites with high coyote occupancy probabilities. Native carnivore species diversity and richness were negatively related to urban landcover. Occupancy dynamics of carnivores were shown to be influenced by landscape structure and composition as well as intraguild interactions. My results show urban landcover has a strong influence on the spatial distributions of carnivores in the northern extent of the Flint Hills.