This thesis presents two studies where natural and sexual selection have interacted to evolve sexual behaviours. The thesis uses mathematical modelling to understand how these forces have caused each behaviour to evolve. This is useful because the results allow for reflection on the potential role of sexual selection in adaptation of these species to a changing environment. The first study is of early male arrival to spring breeding grounds in migratory avian species, this is termed protandry. The study explores the main hypotheses for avian protandry and then tests the susceptibility of each hypothesis to changing environment. The second study is of convenience polyandry in species where there is conflict over mating rate. Females have multiple strategies to avoid harassive males but strategies vary in cost and success rate; she must balance her strategy use to minimise her fitness depreciation. The study identifies the main factors that cause convenience polyandry to evolve and paves the way for future studies to investigate if sexual selection over resistance strategy provides these species a future advantage in adaptation to a changing environment.

As águas residuárias provenientes da indústria do charque são conhecidas por apresentarem elevado teor de cloreto de sódio, aliado a grandes concentrações de matéria orgânica proveniente do sangue liberado ao longo do processo industrial. Esse tipo de água residuária apresenta potencial para degradação biológica, contudo, o cloreto de sódio, em concentração elevada, pode inibir a atividade dos microrganismos e, em alguns casos, levar sistemas biológicos à falência. No presente trabalho, foi avaliada a viabilidade de degradação anaeróbia de efluente sintético de Charqueada contendo elevado teor de cloreto de sódio, em reator anaeróbio tipo UASB (Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket), em escala de laboratório. Foram utilizados 4 reatores, alimentados com água residuária sintética com características similares à água residuária de Charqueada. O reator 1 foi utilizado como controle, o reator 2 recebeu NaCl e os demais (3 e 4) foram operados na presença de NaCl acrescidos de: betaína e potássio com cálcio, respectivamente. Os compostos citados são conhecidos como antagonizantes, por possuirem capacidade de minimizar o efeito inibitório do sódio sobre o processo de digestão anaeróbia. Os reatores foram inoculados com lodo de reator UASB e submetidos à concentração de 5000 mg/L de matéria orgânica, como DQO. A carga orgânica aplicada foi de 5 Kg/m3.d e os reatores não suportaram tal carga. Reiniciou-se a operação com aumento progressivo da DQO de 500 a 2000 mg/L resultando em cargas orgânicas de 0,5 a 2,0 Kg/m3.d, respectivamente. Após estabilização dos reatores, iniciou-se a fase de introdução de cloreto de sódio (1.500 a 13.500 mg/L) e antagonizantes com aumento progressivo a cada fase. Na presença ou ausência de antagonizantes, os reatores 2, 3 e 4 não tiveram o desempenho alterado até a concentração de NaCl de 6000 mg/L. Na presença de 9000 mg/L de NaCl, a betaína se mostrou pouco efetiva como soluto compatível no reator 3 e os antagonizantes do reator 4, potássio e cálcio, apresentaram efeitos estimulatórios. As morfologias encontradas ao longo do experimento foram cocos, víbrios, bacilos, sarcinas, além de morfologias semelhantes a Methanosarcina sp. e Methanosaeta sp. O aumento da concentração de cloreto de sódio provocou a redição da população de Arqueas. / Wastewaters from the charque industry (salted and dried meat) are known for their high levels of sodium chloride, allied to high organic concentrations originary from blood which is disposed along the industrial process. That kind of wastewater presents good potential for biological degradation (relationship DBO/DQO aproximately 0,5). However, the high concentration of sodium chloride can inhibit microorganisms activity and in some cases, take the biological systems to failure. The present work studied the viability of anaerobic degradation of synthetic charqueada wastewater, containing high salinity, in reactor UASB, at laboratory scale. Four reactors were used. Reactor 1 was used as control, reactor 2 received just NaCl and the two others (3 and 4) were operated in the presence of NaCl in increased with betaine and potassium with calcium, respectively. The mentioned compounds are known to be antagonists, for they possess capacity to minimize the inhibitory effect of sodium in the anaerobic digestion process. The reactors were inoculated with UASB sludge and the operation began with concentration from 5000 mg/L of organic matter, expressed as DQO. The organic load applied from 5,0 Kg/m3.d and the reactors did not support such load. The operation was restarted with progressive increase of 500 to 2000 mg/L of DQO, resulting in organic load from 0,5 to 2,0 Kg/m3.d, respectively. After reactors stabilization, the phase of introduction of NaCl (1500 to 13500 mg/L) and antagonists was started, with the progressive increase of sodium chloride and antagonists. In presence or absence of antagonists, reactors 2, 3 and 4 did not present performance alterations until the concentration of NaCl of 6000 mg/L was reached. When NaCl concentrations were from 9000 to 13500 mg/L, betaine was shown to have small effects in the reactor 3 and the antagonists of reactor 4, potassium and calcium, presented stimulant effects. The morphologies found along the experiment were: coconuts, víbrios, bacilli, sarcinas, besides morphologies similar to the Methanosarcina sp. and Methanosaeta sp. When concentrations of sodium chloride were increased the population of Arqueas were reduced.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T17:37:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Luciana Villanova Obici.pdf: 1177002 bytes, checksum: 01dddf93e43aa5c55d8bd97f82de407d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-08-26 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The aim of this study was to evaluate Arachis pintoi, Canavalia ensiformis and Stylosanthes Campo Grande legumes cultivation over nematodes in naturally infested soils with a history of sugarcane crop. For this, naturally infested silt loam and clay loam soils were distributed into pots being transplanted two maize seedlings in order to facilitate nematode multiplication. After 60 days, plants aerial part was discarded and initial nematode population determined by assessing nematodes number (in the soil and roots). Legume seedlings were transplanted into the pots where remained for three or four months, analyzing again, the same nematodes populations. Maize was used as susceptible control. Finally, two sugarcane seedlings were transplanted into each pot, in order to assess the residual effect of the plants over nematodes in soil, by using the same parameters. Pratylenchus zeae and Helicotylenchus dihystera were present in analyzed samples. The results obtained showed that, regardless of soil type and cultivation time spent in pot, the three legume species were efficient for controlling P. zeae, with an outstanding effect even after 120 days of subsequent sugarcane cultivation. Canavalia ensiformis allowed increasing of H. dihystera population, whereas the other legumes caused its reduction. The conducted work allowed concluding that the three tested legumes may be used to P. zeae control. However, more studies need to be performed in relation to its effect, and in particular for C. ensiformis, over H. dihystera / O presente estudo foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar o cultivo das leguminosas Arachis pintoi, Canavalia ensiformis e Stylosanthes Campo Grande sobre os nematoides em solos naturalmente infestados com histórico de cultivo de cana-de-açúcar. Para isto, um solo franco siltoso e um solo franco argiloso, naturalmente infestados, foram distribuídos em vasos, nos quais foram transplantadas duas plântulas de milho, para possibilitar a multiplicação dos nematoides. Após 60 dias, a parte aérea das plantas foi descartada e determinou-se a população inicial, por contagem dos nematoides (no solo e raízes). Plântulas das leguminosas foram transplantadas para vasos, onde permaneceram durante três ou quatro meses, avaliando-se novamente as populações de nematoides. Foi utilizado milho como testemunha suscetível. Por fim foram transplantadas duas plântulas de cana-de-açúcar para cada vaso, com o intuito de avaliar o efeito residual das leguminosas sobre os nematoides no solo, analisando-se os mesmos parâmetros. Nas amostras avaliadas registrou-se a presença de Pratylenchus zeae e Helicotylenchus dihystera. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que, independente do tipo de solo e do tempo de cultivo, as três espécies de leguminosas foram eficientes na redução de P. zeae, com efeito ainda pronunciado após 120 dias do cultivo subsequente da cana-de-açúcar. Canavalia ensiformis possibilitou o aumento populacional de H. dihystera, enquanto as outras duas leguminosas promoveram a sua redução. O trabalho realizado permitiu concluir que as três leguminosas testadas poderão ser utilizadas no controle de P. zeae. No entanto, mais estudos terão que ser realizados relativamente ao seu efeito, e em particular de C. ensiformis sobre H. dihystera

Sexual conflict has been proposed to be important for evolution, and is often implicated in population divergence and speciation through sexually antagonistic co-evolution (SAC). However, empirical tests of these ideas on field populations are few. How sexual conflict, and SAC, operates in the wild, remains an important unanswered question if we are to fully understand the role of sexual conflict in evolution in nature. Here, I studied sexual conflict over mating in the seed feeding bugs Lygaeus equestris and Lygaeus simulans. Firstly, I show that laboratory adapted populations of L. equestris that differ in the magnitude of sexual conflict also differ in aspects of their reproductive development and mating propensity, with the population displaying greater conflict load also mating more readily. Study of female receptivity to mating as an evolvable trait, that could be involved in conflict over mating, revealed moderate to low heritability at two age groups. To better understand variation in the expression of sexual conflict in the wild, field caught populations of L. equestris, ranging across its distribution, and also of its sister species, L. simulans, were assayed for the magnitude of sexual conflict over mating in common garden laboratory experiments. High female mating costs were apparent across the populations, but the magnitude of these costs did not vary. No consistent patterns of mating costs and life history variation were found however, arguing against close links between mating costs and life-history. Finally, I investigated whether populations displaying sexual conflict over mating have begun to diverge, and evolve reproductive isolation. I found no evidence of reproductive isolation, or variation in mating propensity, between populations of L. equestris when crossed in reciprocal no-choice mating trials. However, L. equestris and L. simulans did show pre-zygotic reproductive isolation albeit with asymmetries between the reciprocal crosses (L. simulans males were able to mate L. equestris females, but male L. equestris were largely unable to mate L. simulans females). As expected for close taxa that perhaps have not been diverged for long, pre-zygotic isolation was perhaps stronger than post-zygotic isolation, as F2 offspring were generated by some of the inter-specific crosses: gene flow can therefore occur between these species contrary to previous studies. My data suggest that sexual conflict over mating may reduce the likelihood of speciation through the evolution of male persistence, as well as promote it through population divergence.

Humans and chimpanzees differ in a number of phenotypic traits chief among them being a larger sized human brain and an increased propensity for cancer in humans. Apoptosis or programmed cell death plays a role during brain development and disease progression to cancer. Results from my study, based on gene expression analysis, suggest that the apoptotic function may be generally reduced in humans relative to chimpanzees. In this thesis, I test the hypothesis that the apoptotic function is generally reduced in humans relative to chimpanzees by gene expression and experimental data. The experimental data are consistent with the hypothesis and also suggest that the apoptotic function may be reduced in humans relative to chimpanzees and macaques, suggesting that the reduced apoptotic function may be an evolutionary derived condition within the human lineage. I also evaluate the role of this reduced function in humans during brain development and disease progression to cancer. In addition, I also correlate Insertion/Deletion sequence variation between humans and chimpanzees with differences in gene expression between the two species.

Phenotypic differences between the sexes evolve largely because selection favours a different complement of traits in either sex. Theory suggests that, despite its frequency, sexual dimorphism should be generally constrained from evolving because the sexes share much of their genome. While selection can lead to adaptation in one sex, correlated responses to selection can be maladaptive in the other. In this thesis I use Drosophila to examine the extent to which the shared genome constrains the evolution of sexual dimorphism and whether the sex chromosomes might play a special role in resolving intralocus sexual conflict. Gene expression data shows that intersexual genetic correlations are generally high, suggesting that genes often affect both sexes. The intersexual genetic correlation is negatively associated with sex-bias in expression in D. melanogaster, and the rate of change in sex-bias between D. melanogaster and six closely related species, showing that a sex-specific genetic architecture is a prerequisite for the evolution of sex difference. In further studies I find that genetic variance affecting lifespan is found in the male-limited Y chromosome within a population, which could offer a route to the evolution of further sexual dimorphism in lifespan, though the amount of variance was small suggesting adaptive potential from standing genetic variance is limited. Genetic variance on the X chromosome is also expected to be depleted once the sex chromosomes evolve, but here I find no evidence of depletion in either sex. Dosage compensation does not appear to double the male X-linked genetic variance, but this effect may be complex to detect. Finally, the X chromosome appears to be enriched for sex-specific genetic variance, and the consequences of this are explored using a variety of analytical methods to test biologically meaningful aspects of G-matrix structure. In summary, this thesis suggests that the evolution of sexual dimorphism is generally constrained by the shared genome, but intralocus sexual conflict could be resolved by novel mutations on the Y chromosomes, and by standing sex-specific genetic variance on the X chromosome. It highlights a special role for the X chromosome in the evolution of sexual dimorphism.

<p>We hypothesize that South African medicinal plants contain compounds that can act in synergism with synthetic antifungal compounds. Four fungicides - Sporekill&trade / , Rovral&trade / , Terminator&trade / and Teldor&trade / at doses 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.8 mL L-1 and plant species Galenia africana, Elytropappus rhinocerotis and Tulbaghia violacea were tested aloneand in different combinations for their potency (efficacy) on radial growth inhibition of Botrytis cinerea strains on potato dextrose plates. Four doses of plant extract for each of the respective plant species were used. A total of 48 combinations were tested for each strain. Mixtures of plant extracts were far more effective in controlling strains compared to the individual components alone, representing significant levels of in vitro synergistic interactions. Combinations of these components represent an attractive future prospect for the development of new management strategies for controlling B. cinerea. Since the in vitro tests of these mixtures showed inhibitory activity, the mixtures were tested for activity in assays on Granny Smith apples. In vitro tests can be used to screen mixtures to obtain information on their inhibitory activity on a pathogen, however, the environmental conditions of the fruit and the ability of the pathogen to grow into the fruit cannot be simulated in vivo. A series of two-fold doses of medicinal plant extracts were combined with fungicides to conduct decay inhibition studies. The incidence of gray mold was significantly reduced by mixtures of plant extracts and fungicides. Under conditions similar to those in commercial storage, a drench treatment with G. africana and Rovral&trade / significantly (p=0.05) inhibit gray mold on the apples and was more effective than the plant extract and fungicide alone. The treatments exerted synergistic effects and were markedly better than the components applied alone. The wound colonization assay was used for optimal decay control. In a drench, much higher volumes of the treatments are used to ensure that the components of the suspension are deposited evenly over the entire fruit surface. Drenching of fruit to apply other chemicals is an established practise in the pome (fleshy) fruit industry, and simplifies the commercial application of the mixtures, as no additional infrastructure at commercial packing houses will be required. This approach not only makes it possible to reduce fungicide concentrations while maintaining adequate decay control, but also ensures a reduction of the chemical residue on the fruit.</p>

Interactions between multiple anthropogenic stressors can have unexpected synergistic or antagonistic effects, making it difficult to predict their combined effect using single stressor studies. The interaction between invasive consumers and nutrient enrichment is particularly important as both of these stressors frequently co-occur and their respective bottom-up and top-down effects have the potential to interact across multiple trophic levels. We conducted a mesocosm experiment that crossed an increasing nutrient addition gradient against an increasing zebra mussel invasion gradient. Native zooplankton communities were added to the mesocosms, and after three months we examined how the single stressor effects on available resources and the zooplankton community were altered by their multiple stressor interaction. Added nutrients had no effect on primary producer abundance, but increased the abundance and dominance of the top consumer, which likely increased predation pressure on the producers and so prevented their response to increased nutrients. Zebra mussels reduced total phytoplankton abundance by ~75%, rotifer abundance by ~80%, and shifted communities towards dominance of cladocerans and adult/juvenile copepods. When combined, the top-down control exerted by the mussels interacted antagonistically to prevent any bottom-up influence of nutrient enrichment on the zooplankton community. These results provide insight into the potential outcomes of nutrient and invasive consumer stressor interactions, and illustrate the need for researchers to consider single stressor problems in a multiple stressor context. / Thesis (Master, Biology) -- Queen's University, 2014-01-31 15:20:15.387

Šio darbo tikslas – nustatyti skirtingų laktobacilų antagonistines savybes ir atsparumą antibiotikams. Darbo tikslo įgyvendinimui iškelti sekantys uždaviniai: Išgryninti jogurtuose esančias laktobacilas – Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus. Ištirti laktobacilų Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus plantarum ir Lactobacillus fermentum antagonistines savybes Salmonella enteritidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli ir Proteus mirabilis bakterijoms. Ištirti laktobacilų Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus plantarum ir Lactobacillus fermentum atsparumą antibiotikams. Palyginti Lactobacillus plantarum ir Lactobacillus fermentum antagonistines savybes prieš liofilizaciją ir po liofilizacijos praėjus 10 metų. Tirtos pienarūgščių mikroorganizmų Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus plantarum ir Lactobacillus fermentum antagonistinis aktyvumas Salmonella enteritidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli ir Proteus mirabilis bakterijų atžvilgiu, bei atsparumas antibiotikams. Atlikus tyrimus nustatyta, kad Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus plantarum ir Lactobacillus fermentum kultūros pasižymi antagonistiniu aktyvumu Salmonella enteritidis, Staphylococcus aureus... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The aim of this work is to identify antagonistic characteristics of different lactobacillus as well as notify the resistance to antibiotics. In order for this work to succeed, the following tasks were adressed: Purification the following lactobacillus in yogurts – Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus. Examination the antagonistic characteristic of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus fermentum for bacteria Salmonella enteritidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis. Examination of resistance to antibiotics of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus fermentum. Comparison in antagonistic characteristics of Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus fermentum before lyophilization and after 10 years of lyophilization. The characteristics of the following lactic microorganisms have been examined: antagonistic activeness of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus fermentum in terms of resistance to antibiotics in Salmonella enteritidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis bacteria. Performed examinations revealed that: Lactobacillus acidophillus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus... [to full text]

The field of autonomous walking robots has been dominated by the trajectory-control approach, which rigidly dictates joint angle trajectories at the expense of both energy efficiency and stability, and the passive dynamics approach, which uses no actuators, relying instead on natural mechanical dynamics as the sole source of control. Although the passive dynamics approach is energy efficient, it lacks the ability to modify gait or adapt to disturbances. Recently, minimally actuated walkers, or dynamic walkers, have been developed that use hip or ankle actuators---knees are always passive---to regulate mechanical energy variations through the timely application of joint torque pulses. Despite the improvement minimal actuation has provided, energy efficiency remains below target values and perturbation rejection capability (i.e., stability) remains poor. In this dissertation, we develop and analyze a simplified robotic system to assess biologically inspired methods of improving energy efficiency and stability in dynamic walkers. Our system consists of a planar, dynamically swinging leg with hip and knee actuation. Neurally inspired, nonlinear oscillators provide closed-loop control without overriding the leg's natural dynamics. We first model the passive stiffness of muscles by applying stiffness components to the joints of a hip-actuated swinging leg. We then assess the effect active knee control has on unperturbed and perturbed leg swinging. Our results indicate that passive joint stiffness improves energy efficiency by reducing the actuator work required to counter gravitational torque and by promoting kinetic energy transfer between the shank and thigh. We also found that active knee control 1) is detrimental to unperturbed leg swinging because it negatively affects energy efficiency while producing minimal performance improvement and 2) is beneficial during perturbed swinging because the perturbation rejection improvement outweighs the reduction in energy efficiency. By analyzing the effects of applying passive joint stiffness and active knee control to dynamic walkers, this work helps to bridge the gap between the performance capability of trajectory-control robots and the energy-efficiency of passive dynamic robots.