University, Diss., 2003--Bayreuth.

Bees are subject to permanent threat from predators such as ants. Their nests with large quantities of brood, pollen and honey represent lucrative targets for attacks whereas foragers have to face rivalry at food sources. This thesis focused on the role of stingless bees as third party interactor on ant-aphid-associations as well as on the predatory potential represented by ants and defense mechanisms against this threat. Regular observations of an aphid infested Podocarpus for approaching stingless bees yielded no results. Another aim of this thesis was the observation of foraging habits of four native and one introduced ant species for assessment of their predatory potential to stingless bees. All species turned out to be dietary balanced generalists with one mostly carnivorous species and four species predominantly collecting nectar roughly according to optimal foraging theory. Two of the species monitored, Rhytidoponera metallica and Iridomyrmex rufoniger were considered potential nest robbers. As the name implies, stingless bees lack the powerful weapon of their distant relatives; hence they specialized on other defense strategies. Resin is an important, multipurpose resource for stingless bees that is used as material for nest construction, antibiotic and for defensive means. For the latter purpose highly viscous resin is either directly used to stick down aggressors or its terpenic compounds are included in the bees cuticular surface. In a feeding choice experiment, three ant species were confronted with the choice between two native bee species - Tetragonula carbonaria and Austroplebeia australis - with different cuticular profiles and resin collection habits. Two of the ant species, especially the introduced Tetramorium bicarinatum did not show any preferences. The carnivorous R. metallica predominantly took the less resinous A. australis as prey. The reluctance towards T. carbonaria disappeared when the resinous compounds on its cuticle had been washed off with hexane. To test whether the repulsive reactions were related to the stickiness of the resinous surface or to chemical substances, hexane extracts of bees’ cuticles, propolis and three natural tree resins were prepared. In the following assay responses of ants towards extract treated surfaces were observed. Except for one of the resin extracts, all tested substances had repellent effects to the ants. Efficacy varied with the type of extract and species. Especially to the introduced T. bicarinatum the cuticular extract had no effect. GCMS-analyses showed that some of the resinous compounds were also found in the cuticular profile of T. carbonaria which featured reasonable analogies to the resin of Corymbia torelliana that is highly attractive for stingless bees. The results showed that repellent effects were only partially related to the sticky quality of resin but were rather caused by chemical substances, presumably sesqui- and diterpenes. Despite its efficacy this defense strategy only provides short time repellent effects sufficient for escape and warning of nest mates to initiate further preventive measures. / Bienen sind permanent Gefahren ausgesetzt, ihre Nester voll Brut, Pollen und Honig bieten ein ertragreiches Ziel für Räuber und auch bei der Nahrungssuche droht Konkurrenz an den Futterquellen, beispielsweise durch Ameisen. Ziel dieser Arbeit war es zu untersuchen, welche Rolle stachellose Bienen in Australien als dritter Interaktionspartner an Ameisen-Blattlaus-Assoziationen einnehmen, welcher Bedrohung sie durch räuberische Ameisen ausgesetzt sind und wie sie sich gegen diese verteidigen. Regelmäßige Beobachtungen einer von Blattläusen befallenen Steineibe auf Besuche von stachellosen Bienen blieben erfolglos, es wurden keine Anflüge erfasst. Ein weiterer Fokus dieser Arbeit lag auf der Untersuchung des Nahrungseintrags von vier heimischen, sowie einer eingeschleppten Ameisenart zur Erfassung des räuberischen Potenzials gegenüber stachellosen Bienen. Alle Ameisenarten stellten sich als Generalisten mit ausgewogenem Nahrungseintrag heraus. Eine der Arten ernährte sich hauptsächlich räuberisch, während der Eintrag von Nektar für vier Arten die Hauptressource darstellte und annäherungsweise gemäß der „optimal foraging theory“ erfolgte. Zwei der untersuchten Arten, Rhytidoponera metallica und Iridomyrmex rufoniger, wurden als potenzielle Nesträuber eingestuft. Stachellose Bienen können sich nicht durch Stiche verteidigen, sie nutzen daher andere Strategien. Pflanzenharz stellt für Bienen eine vielseitige Ressource dar, welche als Baumaterial, Desinfiziens und auch zur Verteidigung eingesetzt wird. Das Harz wird entweder in zähflüssiger Form dazu verwendet, um Angreifer zu verkleben oder die darin enthaltenen Terpene gelangen in Bestandteilen auf die Oberfläche der Bienen. In einem Futterwahl-Experiment wurden Tetragonula carbonaria und Austroplebeia australis, zwei heimische Bienenarten mit unterschiedlichen Harzsammel-Gewohnheiten und Oberflächenprofilen, drei Ameisenarten als Beute vorgelegt. Während zwei der Ameisenarten, insbesondere die eingeführte Tetramorium bicarinatum, keinerlei Präferenzen zeigte, entschieden sich die karnivoren R. metallica vorrangig für A. australis, deren Oberflächenprofil weniger Harzkomponenten aufwies. Wurden die Oberflächenbestandteile von T. carbonaria durch Waschen mit Hexan entfernt, verschwand auch die Zurückhaltung der Räuber. Um zu untersuchen ob diese Abwehrreaktion durch die Klebrigkeit der Oberfläche oder durch chemische Substanzen verursacht wurde, wurden Hexan-Extrakte der Bienenoberflächen sowie von drei Baumharzen und Nestmaterial angefertigt. Die nachfolgenden Untersuchungen richteten sich daraufhin auf die Beobachtung der Reaktion von Ameisen bei Kontakt mit Extrakt-behandelten Oberflächen. Bis auf einen der Harzextrakte zeigten alle untersuchten Substanzen unterschiedlich stark abstoßende Effekte auf Ameisen. Die eingeführte T. bicarinatum wurde jedoch nicht durch Bienenextrakt in ihrem Verhalten beeinflusst. Eine GCMS-Analyse ergab, dass einige der Harzsubstanzen auch im Oberflächenprofil von T. carbonaria zu finden waren, welches vor allem Übereinstimmungen mit dem Harz von Corymbia torelliana aufwies, einer Pflanze deren Harz für Bienen besonders attraktiv ist. Es zeigte sich, dass nicht nur die Klebrigkeit, sondern auch chemische Substanzen, vermutlich Sesqui- und Diterpene, für abstoßende Effekte verantwortlich sind. Trotz der Effektivität dieses Mechanismus sorgt er nur für eine kurzzeitige Abwehrreaktion, ermöglicht jedoch die Gelegenheit zur Flucht und Warnung von Nestgenossen, sowie zur Einleitung weiterer Gegenwehr.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-07-29T16:24:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Marcos F Oliveira.pdf: 565936 bytes, checksum: 18bd41ea7085a64e38785d2f152d4eab (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-02-26 / Bemisia tabaci biotype B presently constitutes a great threat not only for the tomato crop but to several other cultures. The objective of this research was to evaluate the influence of the nutrition of tomato in the resistance induction for shelter, feeding and oviposition of B. tabaci biotype B. The experiments were driven in Escola de Agronomia e Engenharia de Alimentos (EA/UFG), Goiânia, Goiás, Brasil. Three experiments were accomplished outdoors in temperature conditions, humidity and natural photoperiod. In the first different sources of nitrogen were tested, in the second different ratios nitrogen/potassium and in the third party different associations between corrected soil and earthworm manure. Each experiment was subdivided in: with choice chance and without chance of choice of the insect, the first one was carried out on randomized blocks design and the second one completely randomized design. Each treatment had four replications, with one plant per pot. In the first experiment the treatments used were: corrected soil (without addition of fertilizers); potassium saltpeter; urea; phosphate monoamonic; nitrate of calcium; sulfate of ammonium; chicken manure; bone flour; castor oil plant pie; composed organic; and earthworm manure. In the second experiment the ratios were compared N/K: 1/1; 2/1; 4/1; 8/1; 1/2; 1/4; and 1/8. In the third experiment the associations corrected soil were compared + earthworm manure: 100% + 0%; 80% + 20%; 60% + 40%; 40% + 60%; 20% + 80%; 0% + 100%. Five evaluations on the observation of the behavior of B. tabaci biotype B in relation to the feeding preference and shelter were accomplished: 3, 27, 51, 75 and 99 hours after the insect infestation. Leaves were collected at four days after the insect infestation, and appraised in laboratory for oviposition analysis. The different sources of nitrogen, ratios nitrogen/potassium, and associations between corrected soil and earthworm manure used in the tomato fertilization did not induce any effect at the feeding or oviposition of B. tabaci biotype B behavior. / A Bemisia tabaci biótipo B constitui-se atualmente uma grande ameaça não só a cultura do tomateiro mais a diversas outras culturas. O objetivo dessa pesquisa foi avaliar a influência da nutrição do tomateiro na indução de resistência para abrigo, alimentação e oviposição de B. tabaci biótipo B. Os experimentos foram conduzidos na Escola de Agronomia e Engenharia de Alimentos (EA/UFG), Goiânia, Goiás, Brasil. Foram realizados três experimentos ao ar livre em condições de temperatura, umidade e fotoperíodo naturais. No primeiro foram testadas diferentes fontes de nitrogênio, no segundo diferentes relações nitrogênio (N)/potássio (K) e no terceiro diferentes associações entre solo corrigido e esterco de minhoca. Cada experimento foi subdividido em: com chance de escolha e sem chance de escolha do inseto, para o primeiro foi utilizado o delineamento de blocos casualizados e para o segundo o delineamento inteiramente casualizado. Cada tratamento foi composto por quatro repetições, com uma planta por vaso. No primeiro experimento os tratamentos utilizadas foram: solo corrigido (sem adição de adubos); salitre de potássio; uréia; fosfato monoamônico; nitrato de cálcio; sulfato de amônio; esterco de galinha; farinha de osso; torta de mamona; composto orgânico; e esterco de minhoca. No segundo experimento foram comparadas as relações nitrogênio/potássio: 1/1; 2/1; 4/1; 8/1; 1/2; 1/4; e 1/8. No terceiro experimento foram comparadas as associações solo corrigido + esterco de minhoca: 100% + 0%; 80% + 20%; 60% + 40%; 40% + 60%; 20% + 80%; 0% + 100%. Para observação do comportamento de B. tabaci biótipo B em relação à preferência alimentar e abrigo foram realizadas cinco avaliações às 3, 27, 51, 75 e 99 horas após a infestação dos insetos. Para a análise da oviposição, foram coletadas folhas quatro dias após a infestação dos insetos, e avaliadas em laboratório. As diferentes fontes de nitrogênio, relações nitrogênio/potássio e associações entre solo corrigido e esterco de minhoca, utilizadas na adubação de plantas de tomateiro, não foram capazes de induzir a expressão de nenhum efeito inibidor de alimentação, abrigo ou oviposição de B. tabaci biótipo B.