Na presente tese estudei a biologia de Centris (Paracentris) burgdorfi, uma abelha solitária de ampla distribuição no Brasil. O único local de nidificação conhecido até o momento fica em uma área de dunas, no nordeste do Brasil, à 25 km da cidade de Natal. Neste local as fêmeas nidificam exclusivamente em paleodunas à cerca de 1 km do mar. Estudei o sistema de acasalamento da espécie, onde pude constatar que a alta competição por fêmeas próxima ao ninho faz com que o macho tenha que retirar a fêmea do local para conseguir o contato genital. Nenhuma fêmea foi vista acasalando mais de uma vez e, logo após a cópula a fêmea dá início à construção do ninho. O ninho é constituído de um túnel raso com acesso às células de cria, construídas uma ao lado da outra. Avaliei o número de viagens que a fêmea faz para a coleta de óleo e pólen e o tempo despendido em cada ação dentro do ninho (deposição de pólen, óleo, ovoposição e operculação). Durante o período de construção das células as fêmeas não dormem dentro do ninho, e sim, em ramos de Krameria tomentosa, a planta utilizada como fonte de óleo no local. Buscando ampliar nosso conhecimento sobre a espécie, procurei outras populações no Brasil para que pudesse avaliar o nicho trófico. Utilizei o pólen encontrado no corpo das fêmeas para inferir sobre a dieta parcial de adultos e imaturos. Além da área de dunas, no Nordeste, encontramos C. burgdorfi no cerrado em Cavalcante, Goiás e em áreas de campo de altitude, em Ponta Grossa, Paraná. Através da análise polínica, constatei a importância de plantas do gênero Chamaecrista como fonte de pólen, sendo este um dos poucos gêneros compartilhados entre os três locais. Krameria grandiflora foi a fonte de óleo em Cavalcante e em Natal, e Angelonia integérrima, foi a fonte de óleo no Paraná. Isso revela a amplitude de nicho trófico em C. burgdorfi não apenas em relação às espécies de plantas utilizadas na dieta mas, também, quanto ao tipo de elaióforo que a fêmea consegue acessar (epitelial e tricromático). Esta plasticidade possibilita a ampla distribuição da espécie em diferentes fitofisionomias. Analisei nutricionalmente a dieta na provisão da cria de C. burgdorfi do nordeste do Brasil e de células de cria de Centris (Paracentris) pallida, coletadas no sudoeste dos Estados Unidos. Centris pallida é uma espécie de Centridini que perdeu o comportamento da coleta de óleo. Centris burgdorfi possui uma dieta mais rica em lipídeos e proteínas, sendo a dieta de C. pallida mais rica em carboidratos. A dieta mais protéica de C. burgdorfi se deve à presença de Chamaecrista já que plantas que anteras poricidas contem mais proteínas em comparação às não-poricidas, como é o caso das fontes de pólen de C. pallida (Parkinsonia e Olneya) / In the present thesis, I studied the biology of Centris (Paracentris) burgdorfi, a solitary bee of wide distribution in Brazil. The only nesting site known is in a dune area in northeastern Brazil, 25 km from the city of Natal. In this place, the females nest exclusively in petrified dunes about 1 km from the sea. I studied the mating system of the species, where I could verify that the high competition by females near the nest forces the male to carry the female to another place to mate. No female was seen mating more than once and, soon after copulation, the female begins to construct the nest. The nest consists of a shallow tunnel with access to the brood cells. I evaluated the number of trips that the female made to the collection of oil and pollen and the time spent in each action within the nest (depositions of pollen, oil, oviposition and operculation). During the period of construction of the cells the females do not sleep inside the nest, but in branches of Krameria tomentosa, the plant used as source of oil. In order to increase our knowledge about the species, I searched for other populations in Brazil so that I could evaluate the trophic niche. I used pollen found in the body of females to infer about the partial diet of adults and immature. In addition to the dune area in the Northeast, I found C. burgdorfi in the tropical Savanna (Cerrado) in Cavalcante, state of Goiás and in high altitude field areas, in Ponta Grossa, state of Paraná. Through pollen analysis, I verified the importance of plants of the genus Chamaecrista as a source of pollen, being this one of the few genera shared among the three sites. Krameria grandiflora was the source of oil in Cavalcante and in the Natal, and Angelonia integerrima, was the source of oil in the Ponta Grossa. This reveals the trophic niche amplitude in C. burgdorfi not only in relation to the species of plants used in the diet, but also to the type of elaiophore that the female can access (epithelial and trichromatic). This plasticity makes possible the wide distribution of the species in different phytophysiognomies. Nutritionally I analyzed the diet in the provision of C. burgdorfi offspring from northeastern Brazil and from the breeding cells of Centris (Paracentris) pallida collected in the southwestern United States. Centris pallida is a species of Centridini that has lost the behavior of the oil-collection. Centris burgdorfi has a diet richer in lipids and proteins, and the diet of C. pallida is richer in carbohydrates. The most proteinic diet of C. burgdorfi is due to the presence of Chamaecrista, since plants with poricidal anthers contain more proteins compared to non-poricidal ones, such as C. pallida (Parkinsonia and Olneya) pollen sources

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This thesis addresses the mechanisms regulating the evolution and maintenance of colour polymorphism in the shrimp Hippolyte obliquimanus. It includes four chapters that illustrate, in an integrative approach, the ecological and behavioural consequences of different camouflage and habitat use strategies selected in main colour morphs. In the first chapter entitled Camouflage through colour change: mechanisms, adaptive value, and ecological significance, the physiological and structural mechanisms underpinning colour change, and hence camouflage, in different species were detailed within a general framework. Also in this section, both the adaptive value and the ecological and evolutionary implications of these processes were discussed. In the second chapter entitled Shape, colour plasticity, and habitat use indicate morph-specific camouflage strategies in a marine shrimp morph-specific colour change and habitat selection were investigated as potential mechanisms affecting camouflage efficiency and the natural distribution of H. obliquimanus colour morphs between macroalgal habitats formed by Sargassum furcatum and Galaxaura marginata. Moreover, morph-specific morphology and behavioural traits were also assessed. Shrimp showing a homogeneous coloration (H) changed colour when placed in colour-mismatching backgrounds and also exhibited a more robust shape associated to high substrate fidelity and specialization. On the other hand, striped translucent shrimp (ST) were not capable of colour change and showed high mobility, consistent with a more streamlined shape and a generalised use of algal habitats. In the third chapter entitled The adaptive value of camouflage and colour change in a polymorphic shrimp visual models and predation trials were used to test the adaptive value of camouflage and colour change of H. obliquimanus colour morphs against colour-contrasting macroalgae, which provide different levels of colour concealment. The low colour discrimination predicted by a visual model of a seahorse predator for pink shrimp against the red weed Galaxaura was directly translated to lower detection and consumption rates on this morph by captive seahorses in a laboratory experiment, demonstrating the high adaptive value of camouflage in this species. Finally, in the fourth chapter entitled Habitat-dependent niche partitioning between colour morphs of the algal-dwelling shrimp Hippolyte obliquimanus the trophic ecology of H and ST morphs when using Sargassum and Galaxaura habitats were assessed through stable isotope analysis. Morphs showed different isotopic signatures only in Galaxaura, where the supply of food resources are limiting, leading to a tropic niche diversification between H and ST shrimp and a probable relaxation of intra-specific competition. Conversely, in Sargassum, where resources are abundant, morphs coexistence is possible even without niche partitioning. Altogether, the results of this thesis contributed to a better understanding of the adaptive value and the underlying mechanisms controlling for the maintenance of colour polymorphism in H. obliquimanus. From both an ecological and evolutionary perspective, morph-specific strategies of camouflage and habitat use likely promote the stability of shrimp populations in a spatially heterogeneous and markedly seasonal habitat. / Esta tese aborda os mecanismos que regulam a evolução e manutenção do polimorfismo de cor no camarão Hippolyte obliquimanus ao longo de quatro capítulos que ilustram de forma integrada as consequências ecológicas e comportamentais das distintas estratégias de camuflagem e de uso do habitat selecionadas nos principais morfótipos da espécie. No Capítulo 1, intitulado Camouflage through colour change: mechanisms, adaptive value, and ecological significance, são detalhados de maneira geral os mecanismos fisiológicos e estruturais responsáveis pelo processo de mudança de cor e obtenção de camuflagem em diferentes espécies de animais. Nessa seção também é detalhado o valor adaptativo e as implicações ecológicas e evolutivas desses processos. No Capítulo 2, intitulado Shape, colour plasticity, and habitat use indicate morph-specific camouflage strategies in a marine shrimp, são investigados os processos de mudança de cor e de seleção de habitat como possíveis mecanismos reguladores dos padrões de camuflagem e de distribuição dos morfótipos de cor de H. obliquimanus entre os bancos das algas Sargassum furcatum e Galaxaura marginata. Além disso, também são avaliadas diferenças morfológicas e comportamentais entre os morfótipos na utilização dos habitats vegetados. Camarões caracterizados por uma coloração homogênea (H) mudam de cor quando em contato com substratos de coloração diferente à sua, exibindo também uma morfologia mais robusta e um comportamento de alta fidelidade e especialização aos substratos de macroalgas. Por outro lado, camarões transparentes listrados (TL) não mudam de cor e apresentam elevada mobilidade, consistente com uma morfologia mais hidrodinâmica e com uso mais generalizado dos habitats estudados. No Capítulo 3, intitulado The adaptive value of camouflage and colour change in a polymorphic shrimp, são utilizados modelos visuais e experimentos de predação para testar o valor adaptativo da camuflagem e mudança de cor em diferentes morfótipos do camarão H. obliquimanus quando estes estão associados a macroalgas que fornecem diferentes graus de semelhança cromática. O baixo grau de discriminação cromática previsto para camarões rosa em associação à alga vermelha Galaxaura através da modelagem visual de um predador (cavalo-marinho) resultou em baixas taxas de detecção e predação desse morfótipo por cavalos-marinhos em um experimento de laboratório, demonstrando um alto valor adaptativo da camuflagem nessa espécie. Por fim, no Capítulo 4, intitulado Habitat-dependent niche partitioning between colour morphs of the algal-dwelling shrimp Hippolyte obliquimanus, a ecologia trófica dos morfótipos de cor H e TL na utilização dos bancos de Sargassum e Galaxaura é avaliada através de análises de isótopos estáveis. Os morfótipos de cor mostraram diferenças nas razões isotópicas apenas em Galaxaura, onde a abundância de recursos alimentares é limitante, levando à diversificação de nicho trófico entre camarões H e TL e uma provável redução da competição intraespecífica. Por outro lado, em Sargassum, onde há abundância de recursos, a coexistência entre os morfótipos é possível mesmo sem partição de nicho ecológico. Em conjunto, os resultados obtidos nessa tese detalham tópicos centrais sobre os mecanismos reguladores e o valor adaptativo do polimorfismo cromático em H. obliquimanus. Dentro de uma abordagem ecológica e evolutiva, as diferentes estratégias de camuflagem e de uso de habitat dos morfótipos de cor parecem ser essenciais para o equilíbrio populacional da espécie, uma vez que os bancos de macroalgas utilizados como habitat pelos indivíduos são bastante heterogêneos e sua disponibilidade varia sazonalmente.

Submitted by Jorge Silva (jorgelmsilva@ufrrj.br) on 2017-07-14T19:27:20Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2015 - Susana Linhares Haidamus.pdf: 4430503 bytes, checksum: 8b067f3310cc073f8b11947a2a31ce98 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-14T19:27:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2015 - Susana Linhares Haidamus.pdf: 4430503 bytes, checksum: 8b067f3310cc073f8b11947a2a31ce98 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-08-06 / CAPES / The identification of the blossoms in honeys for marketing is a major challenge for the Brazilian beekeeping sector, which requires information on the botanical and geographical origin of honey and also assist in quality control of this bee product. The aim of this study is to identify the plant species that contribute mostly to the production of honey in the state of Rio de Janeiro, to evaluate the floral origin presents on the label is in line with the laboratory method, and check the quality of the product according to the presence of figurative elements. 152 honey samples were acquired in trade from the state of Rio de Janeiro, among informal and legalized brands. The melissopalinological analysis followed the European standard methodology without acetolysis, to identify the pollen types, their percentages in the sample and their arrangement in the frequency classes. Were identified 60 pollen types, belonging to 27 plant families, 34 genera and nine species. Fabaceae and Asteraceae presented the highest diversity of pollen types. Of all pollen types, 31% were more frequent as Eucalyptus sp., Myrcia sp. and Piptadenia sp. According to the predominance of pollen types in the honey samples, 58.5% were honeys classified as unifloral, the major is Eucalipto honey; 35.5% were heterofloral and 8% bifloral. In the melissopalinological analysis there was an important difference in the floral diversity from the report of the samples and from the frequency of sampling. When the floral identification is made from lab and check the brands of the honeys, there was a difference; only 13% from 89 monofloral samples were in agreement with its botanical origin; five were Eucalyptus, three Citrus, two Vernonia and two Gochnatia. The analysis of the figurative elements in the honey samples, either biological origin or dust, was high (73% of samples). In the sampling, 58% did not obey the standards and quality of honey, due to the presence of microorganism and distiness. / A identifica??o das floradas dos m?is comercializados ? um importante desafio para o segmento ap?cola brasileiro, que requer informa??es sobre a origem bot?nica e geogr?fica do mel e tamb?m por auxiliar no controle de qualidade deste produto da abelha. O objetivo do presente trabalho ? identificar as esp?cies vegetais que mais contribuem para a produ??o de mel no estado do Rio de Janeiro, verificar se a nomina??o da origem floral no r?tulo est? em conson?ncia com o m?todo de laborat?rio, e verificar a qualidade do produto por meio da presen?a de elementos figurativos. Foram avaliadas 152 amostras de m?is do com?rcio do estado do Rio de Janeiro, dentre marcas informais a legalizadas. A an?lise melissopalinol?gica seguiu a metodologia padr?o europ?ia, sem uso de acet?lise, para a identifica??o dos tipos pol?nicos, de suas porcentagens na amostra e da disposi??o em classes de frequ?ncia. Foram identificados 60 tipos pol?nicos, pertencentes a 27 fam?lias, 34 g?neros e nove esp?cies. Fabaceae e Asteraceae apresentaram a mais alta diversidade em tipos pol?nicos. Do total de tipos pol?nicos, 31% foram mais frequentes como, Eucalyptus sp., Myrcia sp. e Piptadenia sp. Segundo a predomin?ncia dos tipos pol?nicos nas amostras, 58,5% foram do tipo monofloral, sendo o mel de Eucalipto o mais predominante; 35,5% do tipo heterofloral e 8%, biflorais. H? importante diferen?a na diversidade floral pela an?lise melissoplanol?gica de laudo das amostras e das frequ?ncias na amostragem. A identifica??o floral pelo m?todo de laborat?rio diverge da presente no r?tulo, apenas 13% das 89 amostras tipo monofloral no r?tulo, estavam em concord?ncia com sua origem bot?nica; cinco eram de Eucalyptus, tr?s de Citrus, duas de Vernonia e duas de Gochnatia. A presen?a de elementos figurativos, sejam de origem biol?gica ou sujidades, foi alta (73% das amostras). Das amostras, 58% estavam fora dos padr?es de identidade e qualidade do mel, devido ? presen?a de microrganismos e sujidades.

This work gives an overview of the composition of the diet of bats in the eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, discusses the structure of bat communities in different bioregions of the area in terms of hunting strategies and resource partitioning and last but not least, how echolocation and morphological characteristics of bats affect the composition of the diet. Although some samples were relatively small therefore it is necessary to look soberly at their informative value, and thus their importance is undeniable. The study in some cases provides completely the first information regarding the composition of diet in several species. Asellia arabica mainly catches Coleoptera (Scarabaeidae), Triaenops persicus hunts Lepidoptera, but Heteroptera, Coleoptera (Scarabaeidae) and Orthoptera too, while Triaenops parvus is a specialist in hunting Lepidoptera. Rhinopoma muscatellum hunts mainly Formicoidea, followed by Coleoptera (Melolonthinae) and Heteroptera, Rhinopoma hadramauticum hunts Formicoidea. Lepidoptera of different size, Heteroptera and Coleoptera are the prey of Chaerephon nigeriae. Pipistrellus hanaki has a wide niche breadth as other species of the genus Pipistrellus. In this study Brachycera, Auchenorrhyncha and Coleoptera primarily occurred in its diet. Not yet described species of...

This work gives an overview of the composition of the diet of bats in the eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, discusses the structure of bat communities in different bioregions of the area in terms of hunting strategies and resource partitioning and last but not least, how echolocation and morphological characteristics of bats affect the composition of the diet. Although some samples were relatively small therefore it is necessary to look soberly at their informative value, and thus their importance is undeniable. The study in some cases provides completely the first information regarding the composition of diet in several species. Asellia arabica mainly catches Coleoptera (Scarabaeidae), Triaenops persicus hunts Lepidoptera, but Heteroptera, Coleoptera (Scarabaeidae) and Orthoptera too, while Triaenops parvus is a specialist in hunting Lepidoptera. Rhinopoma muscatellum hunts mainly Formicoidea, followed by Coleoptera (Melolonthinae) and Heteroptera, Rhinopoma hadramauticum hunts Formicoidea. Lepidoptera of different size, Heteroptera and Coleoptera are the prey of Chaerephon nigeriae. Pipistrellus hanaki has a wide niche breadth as other species of the genus Pipistrellus. In this study Brachycera, Auchenorrhyncha and Coleoptera primarily occurred in its diet. Not yet described species of...

Aquatic invasive species are a major threat to native freshwater biodiversity. The North American signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus was introduced to Great Britain during the 1970s and is now widely distributed throughout England, Wales and Scotland. First recorded in Scotland in 1995, P. leniusculus is now established at more than twenty sites. The only other introduced crayfish species present in Scotland is the white-clawed crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes. A. pallipes is restricted to only two locations in Scotland, Loch Croispol and Whitemoss Reservoir. P. leniusculus negatively impacts macrophytes, invertebrates and fish though ecological and physical processes. Additionally, P. leniusculus has displaced A. pallipes throughout much of its native range within Great Britain due to competition and disease. Consequently, the two A. pallipes populations in Scotland have a high conservation value. This PhD study aimed to improve understanding of P. leniusculus invasion success by examining trophic dynamics and to develop methodologies that could improve the detection and control of P. leniusculus populations in Scotland. Stable isotope analysis was used to determine the diet composition, trophic position and whether an ontogenetic dietary shift occurs in the Loch Ken population of P. leniusculus. Bayesian mixing models indicated that P. leniusculus in Loch Ken do exhibit an ontogenetic dietary shift. Additionally, individuals of all sizes occupied the trophic position of a predator in Loch Ken suggesting that invertebrates and fish constitute an important component of P. leniusculus diet. Stable isotope analysis was used once again to compare the isotopic niche width and diet composition of P. leniusculus populations from Loch Ken and A. pallipes populations from Loch Croispol and Whitemoss Reservoir. At the species level, A. pallipes exhibited a larger niche width than that of P. leniusculus. At the population level, the isotopic signatures of the A. pallipes populations were considerably different from each other suggesting an overestimation of A. pallipes’ niche width at species level. Results showed no dietary overlap between species and Bayesian mixing models suggested P. leniusculus and A. pallipes were consuming different resources, indicating there would be no direct competition for food resources if they were to co-occur. A plus-maze study was used to determine if P. leniusculus exhibited a preference for one of four food attractants (Oncorhynchus mykiss, P. leniusculus, beef or vegetation), which could be used to improve trapping efficiency. In the maze system, P. leniusculus exhibited no preference for any food attractant presented. This would suggest that either the maze was not a good model or food attractants would not improve trapping efficiency of P. leniusculus. Additionally, a comparative investigation into the use of gill nets as a method to control P. leniusculus was conducted. Results showed that the net type and the presence of fish entangled in the net influenced the number of P. leniusculus caught. Finally, environmental DNA (eDNA) was used and evaluated for detection of P. leniusculus. A robust quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) assay and DNA extraction protocol were developed. Using the developed qPCR assay, P. leniusculus eDNA was detected in controlled aquaria conditions but not in environmental water samples collected from the field. Furthermore, the quantities of P. leniusculus eDNA declined in aquaria conditions while individuals were still present suggesting the mechanisms for eDNA release by P. leniusculus are complex. Stable isotope analysis indicates that P. leniusculus exhibit an ontogenetic dietary shift, and in each life stage, P. leniusculus function as an omnivore but occupy the trophic position of a predator. Niche width analysis revealed that the diet of P. leniusculus was less general than that observed in A. pallipes and thus diet of P. leniusculus may not be responsible for invasive success. Food attractants will not enhance trapping efficiency but nets may present a potential new method to control P. leniusculus. Similarly, eDNA presents a promising new method for rapid detection of P. leniusculus. It will not be possible to eradicate P. leniusculus in Scotland but the findings of this PhD may help prevent establishment of new populations. These results should be incorporated into future management strategies for P. leniusculus populations in Scotland and may have broader applications in Great Britain and Europe.

Nearshore marine environments are known to be highly productive systems with relatively high faunal diversity and abundances, but these systems are particularly vulnerable to negative impacts from anthropogenic disturbances that can result in habitat degradation. Despite these challenges, many shark species of various life stages utilize coastal shelf habitats, inshore estuaries, and bays. The inshore habitats of Cumberland and Nassau Sounds in northeast Florida have been proposed as potential nursery grounds by earlier work, but this suggestion did not satisfy all of the standard criteria of shark nursery designation. It has recently been stated that the combination of surveys inside and outside suspected nursery habitats, especially those incorporating mark-recapture studies, would provide a very comprehensive test of the nursery criteria. A primary objective of the present study was to initially describe the composition and abundance of shark populations utilizing the nearshore habitats of northeast Florida, while also comparing them to inshore communities, with emphasis on spatial and temporal variations in assemblages. Fishery-independent longline sampling was conducted across the region and while considerable overlap of species were observed, significant differences in community structure between inshore and nearshore locations were detected. Specifically, the inshore waters of the First Coast support nursery habitat designation for Atlantic sharpnose, blacktip, and sandbar sharks after satisfying the accepted criteria. Given the high amounts of spatial and temporal overlap observed along the First Coast, relative trophic niche dynamics were also investigated via stable isotope analysis of two tissue types. These results revealed varying trophic niche sizes in the long term, but suggest some degree of shared resource use when animals are present on the First Coast. The identification of factors that influence coastal shark habitat utilization, such as competition and resource use, can contribute to understanding and predicting how they may respond to future environmental changes.