Thesis (Ph.D.)--Brown University, 2008. / Advisor: Osvaldo E. Sala. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 111-117).

Thesis (M Arch)--Montana State University--Bozeman, 2008. / Typescript. Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Christopher Livingston. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 101-105).

Applied ecology has been used to design communities around the world; however suburban neighborhoods in west central Florida do not usually utilize existing or potential ecological function as a modeling parameter or success measure. Since the end of the great depression, developments in the Tampa Bay Area have displaced many wetland and upland natural communities. Private ownership and development of sensitive natural lands have restricted their use and hampered the functional longevity of important ecological systems in this area. These displaced areas have historically functioned as habitat for many types of animal life, have passively conveyed nutrient loads, and have facilitated the succession of organisms. They have also been used as recreational opportunities for local residents and visitors, children and adults. Applied ecological design usually occurs at a community or master plan scale, or separately at a singular building level, but rarely both simultaneously. This design proposal was the investigation and formation of an ecocentric architectural design methodology for coastal environments; from master plan to conceptual building design. The scope was the synthesis of a recreational tourism facility with the existing ecological communities of Rattlesnake Key, a barrier island in northwest Manatee County, Florida. The program included an ecological education center, where visitors could learn about their relationship with the ecological communities present on the island, and a group of cabins, where inhabitants could interact with each other and the surrounding natural communities intimately. Master planning strategies were outlined using extensive ecological mapping overlays, in-field observation, and feasibility analysis. Building forms, means of construction, and structural systems were created by integrating biomimicry methods, habitat restoration techniques, and sustainable practices into a programmed, built environment. The results of the investigation were a series of physical models and graphic representations of spaces that manifest the sensitive relationship between human inhabitance and ecological function; where both processes coexist and support the longevity and persistence of one another through habitat creation. By analyzing the existing ecological functions present on a site, a designer could propose a typology that strengthens the relationship between man and his environment; where development is no longer displacement.

FERREIRA, Raimundo Nonato Costa. Microartrópodes do solo em um agroecossistema irrigado com água da exploração de petróleo no semiárido. 2015. 86 f. Tese (Doutorado em ecologia e recursos naturais)- Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza-CE, 2015. / Submitted by Elineudson Ribeiro (elineudsonr@gmail.com) on 2016-09-29T19:44:16Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2015_tese_rncferreira.pdf: 1631831 bytes, checksum: 0f1d1a25f05043957422b236763792ee (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Jairo Viana (jairo@ufc.br) on 2016-10-10T19:31:36Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2015_tese_rncferreira.pdf: 1631831 bytes, checksum: 0f1d1a25f05043957422b236763792ee (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-10-10T19:31:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2015_tese_rncferreira.pdf: 1631831 bytes, checksum: 0f1d1a25f05043957422b236763792ee (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015 / In arid and semiarid lands with continental oil fields, the water obtained with oil, known as "produced water" (PW), has been suggested as an alternative source for irrigation. Because the relevance of microarthropods assemblage for the soil, in this study was evaluated the disturbances promoted by the PW on those edaphic organisms. In Chapter I, was assessed whether the irrigation with PW filtered and PW filtered and then treated by reverse osmosis, comparing with groundwater from Açu aquifer, changes the mesofauna in sunflower and castor bean crops during dry and rainy seasons. PW and seasonality changed the abundance and richness in castor bean. In the sunflower crop, the assemblage structure was different from the aquifer in PW treated by reverse osmosis during the rainy season, while in castor bean that difference occurred in both seasons. Disturbances promoted by PW on mesofauna can be used for environmental monitoring of irrigation. In Chapter II the effects of PW filtered, PW filtered and then treated by reverse osmosis and the glutaraldehyde, commonly used in treatment of PW by reverse osmosis, on microarthropods taxa was assessed in an ornamental pineapple crop. Ecotoxicological tests evaluated the survival and reproduction of Folsomia candida and Enchytraeus crypticus on soil samples collected in the treatments after a year of irrigation and in soil contaminated with glutaraldehyde. PW influenced Hymenoptera, Cosmochthonius sp. and Entomobryomorpha. The PW treated by reverse osmosis reduced reproduction of F. candida and E. crypticus and the PW filtered affected the reproduction of E. crypticus. Glutaraldehyde reduced the reproduction of F. candida. Our study reveals that AP and glutaraldehyde affect the mesofauna taxa reducing their reproduction. In chapter III the environmental responses of total microarthropod and Mesostigmata mites were compared. Microarthropods were assessed in irrigated plots under castor bean and sunflower cultivation, and native vegetation during the dry and rainy seasons. The response of the two assemblages to irrigation and seasonality was similar. Mites were affected by seasonality in the sunflower and by irrigation in castor bean crops, while the total microarthropod have been affected by both factors. Mesostigmata mites or total microarthropd assemblages can be assessed to monitor seasonality and land use. / Em regiões áridas e semiáridas com campos de exploração petrolífera, a água obtida junto com petróleo, conhecida como “água produzida” (AP), vem sendo considerada para irrigação. Devido a importância dos microartrópodes para o funcionamento do solo, foram avaliadas as perturbações promovidas pela AP sobre esses organismos. No capítulo I, foi avaliado se irrigação com AP filtrada e AP tratada por osmose reversa, comparado com água do subsolo captada, altera a estrutura da assembleia de microartrópodes do solo em culturas de mamona e girassol em período seco e chuvoso. A abundância e a riqueza de táxons de microartrópodes foram afetadas pela irrigação e a sazonalidade na mamona. A estrutura da assembleia foi alterada durante a estação chuvosa no girassol, e nas duas estações na mamona. As perturbações promovidas pela AP indicam que a mesofauna do solo pode ser utilizada no monitoramento ambiental da irrigação. No capítulo II, foi avaliado o efeito da irrigação com AP, da AP tratada por osmose reversa e do glutaraldeído, utilizado no tratamento de osmose reversa, sobre os táxons da mesofauna na cultura de abacaxi ornamental. Avaliou-se, através de testes ecotoxicológicos, a reprodução de Folsomia candida e Enchytraeus crypticus em solo coletado nos tratamentos após um ano de irrigação e em solo contaminado com glutaraldeído. A AP influenciou Hymenoptera, Cosmochthonius sp, e Entomobryomorpha. A AP tratada por osmose reversa reduziu a reprodução de F. candida e E. crypticus e a AP filtrada afetou a reprodução de E. crypticus. O glutaraldeído reduziu a reprodução de F. candida. Este estudo revela que a AP e o glutaraldeído afetam os táxons da mesofauna reduzindo sua reprodução no solo. No capítulo III as respostas ambientais de ácaros Mesostigmata e do restante dos microartrópodes foram comparadas. Microartrópodes foram coletados em parcelas irrigadas com as três águas e cultivadas com girassol e mamona e na vegetação nativa durante a estação seca e chuvosa. As respostas da abundância e riqueza das duas assembleias em relação a irrigação e sazonalidade foram similares. Os ácaros foram afetados pela sazonalidade no girassol e pela irrigação na mamona e o resto dos microartrópodes por ambos os fatores. Essas assembleias podem ser acessadas para monitorar sazonalidade uso do solo.

Insect pests represent major threats to food production, biodiversity conservation, and human and animal health. Currently, the most widespread strategy to control their populations is through the spraying of synthetic chemical insecticides. However, the overuse of these compounds has had significant negative environmental consequences. Additionally, our reliance on insecticides has resulted in major reductions in their efficacy through pest-evolved resistance. To successfully manage insect pests, while avoiding environmental degradation, thus requires the development of novel, more sustainable, pest management strategies. Recent advances in our understanding of recombinant DNA methods and molecular biology have allowed the application of transgenic tools to pest management. Here, synthetic genes can be engineered, transformed into the genomes of pest species, and transported into wild target populations through the natural mating behaviour of the insect. A strategy in which these transgenes are lethal to those insects inheriting them in the field is known as RIDL – Release of Insects carrying a Dominant Lethal. A variant of RIDL limits this lethality to females – female specific RIDL (fsRIDL) – which explicitly targets the reproductive capacity of a target population. The aim of this thesis is to investigate the application of such an fsRIDL strategy to the diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella L.). This economically important pest of brassica crops is highly adept at developing resistance to insecticides and is considered extremely difficult to manage effectively. I present findings which demonstrate the power of diamondback moth lines transformed with fsRIDL transgenes to eliminate target pest populations, and combine synergistically with other transgenic control strategies such as Bt crops in counteracting the evolution of pesticide resistance. Additionally, an exploration into an alternative gene expression system to that used in current RIDL strategies – the Q system – suggests that not all expression systems will be suitable for transgene control within this highly specific framework. It is hoped that this work will contribute towards the effective control of the diamondback moth, and form a model for the sustainable control of other lepidopteran species through genetic pest management.

Orientador: Milton Cezar Ribeiro / Resumo: A conectividade é uma propriedade das paisagens que influencia fortemente a abundância e a distribuição da biodiversidade e é chave para entender as interações entre organismos e os processos ecológicos resultantes de tais interações. Como a conectividade da paisagem é afetada tanto pela estrutura da paisagem como pelo comportamento e características dos organismos, tanto fatores intrínsecos quanto extrínsecos devem ser considerados em estudos ecológicos e práticas de conservação que utilizam uma abordagem de paisagens. Aqui nós combinamos elementos de ecologia de paisagens e ecologia do movimento para avaliar os efeitos de mudanças nas paisagens, como a perda e a fragmentação de habitat, sobre a persistência de populações, sobre a conectividade da paisagem, e sobre a dispersão de sementes e a regeneração natural. O foco não foi em um grupo ecológico ou ecossistema específico mas em como a interação entre o espaço e o movimento influenciam processos ecológicos em diferentes contextos. No primeiro capítulo, nós apresentamos uma ferramenta livre e de código aberto, chamada LandScape Metrics (LSMetrics), desenhada para calcular índices da paisagem calibrados ecologicamente, integrando a estrutura das paisagens às características comportamentais das espécies. Nós descrevemos a ferramenta e a aplicamos a dois contextos: a avaliação do status de fragmentação da Amazônia brasileira, que apesar de conter uma extensas áreas de floresta contínua, está sendo rapidamente fragmentada em s... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Landscape connectivity is a property of landscapes that greatly influences biodiversity abundance and distribution and is a key to understand interactions between organisms and the ecological processes provided by them. As landscape connectivity is affected by both landscape structure and the behavior and characteristics of organisms, both intrinsic and extrinsic factors must be considered in ecological studies and conservation planning. Here we combined landscape ecology and movement ecology frameworks to assess the effects of landscape changes such as habitat loss and fragmentation on the persistence of populations, on landscape connectivity, and on seed dispersal and natural regeneration. The focus was not on a specific group or ecosystem but on how the interplay between space and movement influences ecological processes in different contexts. In the first chapter, we presented a free and open source tool, called LandScape Metrics (LSMetrics), designed to calculate ecologically-scaled landscape indices by integrating landscape structure and behavioral characteristics of species. We described the tool and applied it to two contexts: the assessment of the fragmentation status of the Brazilian Amazon, that still present a large extent of continuous forest, but has being rapidly fragmented along its human occupied boundaries; and the design of sampling points for ecological research using a landscape approach, to maximize the representativeness and minimize the correlation bet... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

As mudanças no uso da terra que ocorreram no estado de Rondônia nas últimas décadas transformaram a paisagem da região. Especialmente ao longo da BR-364, o que antes era constituído quase que exclusivamente por florestas, hoje apresenta extensas áreas cobertas por pastagens, com impactos ainda desconhecidos no ambiente aquático. O presente trabalho procurou identificar a importância relativa das características naturais e antrópicas da bacia de drenagem na biogeoquímica das águas do rio Ji-Paraná e seus principais tributários, levando-se em consideração que a composição química de um rio reflete os processos que ocorrem em sua bacia de drenagem. Para isto, foi utilizada uma abordagem comparativa, na qual se avaliaram as diferenças entre sistemas com distintos usos e cobertura do solo, além das variações sazonais ao longo do período de estudo (1999-2002). Em relação às variações espaciais, as menores concentrações de analitos foram encontradas nos rios drenando áreas com solos mais arenosos e menor fertilidade, enquanto as maiores foram encontradas nos rios localizados na região central da bacia, com os solos mais argilosos e férteis. Em relação às variações temporais, observou-se que os rios em cujas bacias predominam florestas apresentaram correlações positivas entre a descarga e as concentrações de íons, enquanto que, para os rios em cujas bacias predominam pastagens, apesar de apresentarem correlação, esta foi negativa. Estes resultados poderiam indicar um controle da química destas águas apenas por processos naturais. Entretanto, analisando as variações dos nutrientes C, N e P, observou-se que a presença humana já começa a influenciar a biogeoquímica destes rios. / Land use changes that occurred in the state of Rondonia in the last decades transformed the landscape of this region. Mainly along the road BR-364, what was almost all forest before is now covered with extensive pastures, with impacts in the aquatic systems that are still not known. This dissertation aims the identification of the relative importance of the natural and anthropogenic characteristics of the basin in the biogeochemistry of the Ji-Paraná river and its main tributaries, assuming that the chemistry of river waters reflects what happens in its basin. To achieve that, a comparative approach was used, in which differences between systems with distinct soils and land use/cover were analyzed, as well as seasonal variations during the period of this study (1999-2002). Regarding spatial variations, the lowest concentrations of ions were found in rivers draining areas with sandy and less fertile soils, whereas the highest ones were found in rivers located in the central part of the basin, draining soils with higher clay content and more fertile. In relation to seasonal variations, it was observed that rivers draining basins in which forests predominate show positive correlations between discharge and ionic content, while rivers draining basins with large areas of pastures, showed inverse correlations between discharge and concentrations of ions. These results indicate that the natural characteristics of these basins might be the main controlling factor of river biogeochemistry. However, variations in nutrient concentrations, such as C, N and P, also indicate that human influences are already present in these systems.

Um sistema de áreas alagadas construídas para o tratamento de esgoto, situado na cidade de Piracicaba e pertencente ao SEMAE (Serviço Municipal de Água e Esgoto), foi investigado. Esse sistema, composto por três estágios de tratamento: fossa séptica; canteiros plantados com arroz (substrato solo e fluxo de efluente sub-superficial vertical) e canal com aguapés (fluxo de efluente horizontal superficial), operou com uma taxa de aplicação de 414 L.m-2.dia-1 de esgoto doméstico. Este trabalho teve por finalidade avaliar parâmetros biogeoquímicos, verificar a eficiência do sistema quanto à remoção de poluentes e apresentar o seu balanço de massa de nutrientes. Para tanto, os seguintes parâmetros biogeoquímicos no efluente foram monitorados durante um ano hidrológico: temperatura, pH, condutividade, oxigênio dissolvido (OD), material particulado (MP), demanda bioquímica de oxigênio (DBO5), demanda química de oxigênio (DQO) e frações dissolvidas, particuladas e totais de carbono (C), nitrogênio (N) e fósforo (P). Nas plantas e no solo foram monitorados os acúmulos de C, N e P. O sistema apresentou como desempenho no tratamento do esgoto as seguintes taxas anuais de remoção de carga orgânica e nutrientes: 81% para MP, 89% para DBO5, 86% para DQO, 76% para CT, 70% para NID+NPT e 80% para PT. Quanto a qualidade do efluente final, ou seja, as alterações propiciadas pelo sistema nas concentrações finais de carga orgânica e de nutrientes, encontramos os seguintes decréscimos medianos anuais: 60% para MP, 77% para DBO5, 76% para DQO, de 51% para CT, 45% para NID+NPT e 60% para PT. No balanço de massa de C, a eficiência do sistema em remover cargas de C foi de 84%. A fossa séptica reteve 16% e o substrato dos canteiros e canal retiveram 48% desse total. A diferença de 18% encontrada no balanço de massa pode ser atribuída principalmente às perdas gasosas e ao acúmulo de C no substrato, abaixo dos 20 cm amostrados. No balanço de massa de N, a eficiência do sistema em remover cargas de N foi de 75%. A fossa séptica reteve 4%, o substrato dos canteiros e canal retiveram 25% e as plantas (arroz e aguapé) exportaram ou imobilizaram 11% desse total. A diferença de 35% encontrada no balanço de massa pode ser atribuída às perdas gasosas, ao acúmulos de N em sub superfície e acréscimos de NOD no sistema. No balanço de massa de P, a eficiência do sistema em remover cargas de P foi de 86%. A fossa séptica reteve 5%, o substrato dos canteiros e canal retiveram 54% e as plantas exportaram ou imobilizaram 7% desse total. A diferença de 20% encontrada no balanço de massa, pode ser atribuída ao acúmulo de P em forma de compostos orgânicos refratários ou adsorvido ao substrato. Contudo, mesmo diante dos resultados de despoluição favoráveis, concluiu-se que a capacidade do sistema em tratar o esgoto a longo prazo passará a ser limitada pela deficiência na oxigenação do efluente e do substrato e pela colmatação do substrato. / It was investigated a constructed wetlands system for the treatment of sewage, placed in the city of Piracicaba, which is serviced by SEMAE (Municipal Service of Water and Sewage). The system, composed of three treatment phases: septic tank; rice beds (soil substratum and flow of vertical sub-superficial effluent) and channel with water hyacinth (flow of superficial horizontal effluent), operated with a load of 414 L.m-2.day-1 of domestic sewage. The aim of this work was to evaluate biogeochemical parameters in order to verify the efficiency of the system to remove pollutants and to present its mass budgets of nutrients. For so much, the following biogeochemical parameters in the effluent were monitored for one hydrological year: temperature, pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen (DO), particulate material (PM), biochemical demands of oxygen (BOD5), chemical demands of oxygen (COD) and dissolved fractions, particulate fractions and total of carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). In the plants and in the soil the accumulations of C, N, and P were monitored. The performance of the system presented the following annual rates of organic load and nutrient removal in the treatment of sewage: 81% for PM, 89% for BOD5, 86% for COD, 76% for TC (total carbon), 70% for DIN+TPN (dissolved inorganic nitrogen plus total particulate nitrogen), and 80% for TP (total phosphorus). The quality of the final effluent, meaning the alterations propitiated by the system in the final concentrations of organic load and of nutrients, the following annual median decrease was found: 60% for PM, 77% for BOD5, 76% for COD, 51% for TC, 45% for DIN+TPN and 60% for TP. In the mass budget of C, the efficiency of the system in removing loads of C was 84%. The septic tank retained 16% and the substratum of the rice beds and channel retained 48% of that total. The difference of 18% found in the mass budget can be attributed mainly to the gaseous losses and the accumulation of C in the substratum, below the 20 cm sampled. In the mass budget of N, the efficiency of the system in removing loads of N was of 75%. The septic tank retained 4%, the substratum of the rice beds and channel retained 25%, and the plants (rice and water hyacinth) exported or immobilized 11% of that total. The difference of 35% found in the mass budget can be attributed to the gaseous losses, to the accumulations of N in sub surface and increments of NOD in the system. In the mass budget of P, the efficiency of the system in removing loads of P was of 86%. The septic tank retained 5%, the substratum of the rice beds and channel retained 54% and the plants exported or immobilized 7% of that total. The difference of 20% found in the mass budget can be attributed to the accumulation of P in the form of refractory organic compositions or sorbed to the substratum. However, even before the results of favorable depuration, it is concluded that the capacity of the system in treating sewage in the long term will become limited by the deficiency in the aeration of both the effluent and the substratum and for the clogging the substratum.

Durante o período de 2001-2002, foi estudado um sistema de área alagada construída para tratamento de esgoto de um bairro de aproximadamente 3.000 habitantes em Piracicaba/SP. Foi feito o levantamento da fauna de Rotifera e das variáveis físicas e químicas da água residuária nos canais do sistema de tratamento, incluindo também análises de coliformes e DBO5, cujos valores foram relacionados com a composição de espécies de rotíferos ao longo dos canais de tratamento. Um total de 20 táxons de rotíferos monogonontas, além de outros organismos que puderam ser identificados foram registrados no sistema de tratamento estudado. O efluente no início do tratamento apresentou características polisapróbias (mais poluído), enquanto no final do tratamento foi caracterizado como alfa-mesossapróbio (menos poluído). A riqueza e densidade de espécies de rotíferos aumentaram com a melhoria da qualidade da água. Concluiu-se que a riqueza e densidade de espécies de rotíferos podem servir como indicativo de qualidade de água e eficiência de remoção de poluentes em sistemas de tratamento de esgoto, podendo também ter importante papel na redução de bactérias patogênicas / During the period of 2001-2002, a system of constructed wetlands for sewage treatment for approximately a quarter of 3,000 inhabitants in Piracicaba/SP was studied. The survey of the fauna of Rotifera and the physical and chemical variable of the residuary water in the canals of the treatment system was made, also including analyses of coliformes and DBO5, which values were related to the composition of species of rotifers along the treatment canals. A total of 20 taxa of rotifers monogonontas, besides other organisms that could have been identified were registered in the treatment system studied. The effluent at the beginning of the treatment presented polysaprobic characteristics (polluted), while at the end of the treatment it was characterized as alpha-mesosaprobic (less polluted). The richness and density of species of rotifers had increased with the improvement of the water quality. It was concluded that the richness and density of species of rotifers could serve as indicative of water quality and efficiency of removal of pollutants in systems of sewer treatment, also being able to have important role in the reduction of pathogenic bacteria

Durante o período de 2001-2002, foi estudado um sistema de área alagada construída para tratamento de esgoto de um bairro de aproximadamente 3.000 habitantes em Piracicaba/SP. Foi feito o levantamento da fauna de Rotifera e das variáveis físicas e químicas da água residuária nos canais do sistema de tratamento, incluindo também análises de coliformes e DBO5, cujos valores foram relacionados com a composição de espécies de rotíferos ao longo dos canais de tratamento. Um total de 20 táxons de rotíferos monogonontas, além de outros organismos que puderam ser identificados foram registrados no sistema de tratamento estudado. O efluente no início do tratamento apresentou características polisapróbias (mais poluído), enquanto no final do tratamento foi caracterizado como alfa-mesossapróbio (menos poluído). A riqueza e densidade de espécies de rotíferos aumentaram com a melhoria da qualidade da água. Concluiu-se que a riqueza e densidade de espécies de rotíferos podem servir como indicativo de qualidade de água e eficiência de remoção de poluentes em sistemas de tratamento de esgoto, podendo também ter importante papel na redução de bactérias patogênicas / During the period of 2001-2002, a system of constructed wetlands for sewage treatment for approximately a quarter of 3,000 inhabitants in Piracicaba/SP was studied. The survey of the fauna of Rotifera and the physical and chemical variable of the residuary water in the canals of the treatment system was made, also including analyses of coliformes and DBO5, which values were related to the composition of species of rotifers along the treatment canals. A total of 20 taxa of rotifers monogonontas, besides other organisms that could have been identified were registered in the treatment system studied. The effluent at the beginning of the treatment presented polysaprobic characteristics (polluted), while at the end of the treatment it was characterized as alpha-mesosaprobic (less polluted). The richness and density of species of rotifers had increased with the improvement of the water quality. It was concluded that the richness and density of species of rotifers could serve as indicative of water quality and efficiency of removal of pollutants in systems of sewer treatment, also being able to have important role in the reduction of pathogenic bacteria