Feral swine (Sus scrofa) are an invasive species in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV). They cause millions in damage annually to agriculture, and likely negatively affect native wildlife species. Using camera traps, I monitored 36 forest patches within the MAV to assess the effects of swine invasions on native wildlife species richness. I also modified the double-observer point count technique into a new method for estimating swine abundance with camera traps. Feral swine suppressed native vertebrate richness by 26% when compared to uninvaded patches. I validated the new double-observer technique by determining if it could detect an abundance-area relationship in wildlife populations and estimate a known decrease in abundance following swine removal. This technique was sensitive enough to detect the increase and decrease in abundance and estimated the number of individuals removed from the population relatively accurately. This technique may be useful in the future to manage feral swine populations.

Shaped in part by diverse landscapes, game profiles, and ruling personalities, hunting in the Indian princely states in the colonial period was heterogeneous to a previously unrecognized extent. At the same time, significant underlying political, social, and cultural continuities unified states and their rulers’ approaches to sport. Focusing on the Rajput realms of Mewar, Orchha, and Bikaner, I show how princes of different ranks negotiated their states’ divergent landscapes in pursuit of dissimilar game, and how they trusted in superior hunting grounds, wildlife, and shooting methods to advance their personal standings and sovereign powers. I also investigate how these rulers used hunting to maintain connections with their state and lineage histories, to exemplify local Rajput ideals and identities, and to manage relationships with various audiences, including their subjects, state nobles, other princes, and British officials. This study is concerned as much with princely perceptions of game and shooting grounds as with “real” landscapes or environmental changes. I examine how the princes conceptually linked natural abundance with favorable political conditions and degradation with lost power and compromised dignity. I consider what it meant to pursue tigers, wildfowl, antelope, and wild boar in dense jungles, wetlands, arid plains, and imposing hills. In addition, I look at the ways princes attempted to employ and also to modify those meanings to suit their own purposes. I did the research for this dissertation at government and private archives in India and the United Kingdom. Because my primary goal was to discover princely views, I relied as far as possible on sources produced by elite Indians or by those in their service. Among the materials I used were state government records, personal correspondence, speeches, game diaries, hunting memoirs, photographs, and miniature paintings. Much of the documentation was in English, with the major exception of records relating to Mewar State and its subordinate noble estates. The language of those papers ranged from Hindi through Rajasthani (Mewari). To understand British responses better, I consulted Government of India records. Published memoirs and travelogues written by Europeans who visited and hunted in the regions under consideration also proved useful. / text

A introdução de espécies cresceu nos últimos séculos e muitas delas têm se tornado problema devido à alta capacidade de invasão, modificando ecossistemas naturais e ameaçando espécies nativas. O javali (Sus scrofa) tem demonstrado grande capacidade de invasão e de produção de danos à biodiversidade e agropecuária. No Brasil, a combinação de ambientes com grãos cultivados e remanescentes de vegetação silvestre parece oferecer aos javalis condições alimentares adequadas. Neste trabalho analisamos o conteúdo estomacal de javalis abatidos por controladores para caracterizar a composição de alimentos explorados em três ecorregiões brasileiras – os Campos Sulinos, as Florestas de Araucária e o Pantanal - e avaliar os possíveis riscos que a espécie pode representar para a produção agropecuária e a conservação da biodiversidade. Examinamos a existência de padrões de dieta em cada ecorregião e sua relação com atributos dos indivíduos, do ambiente e da caça através de métodos de ordenação. Visualizamos a distribuição de macronutrientes através da ferramenta gráfica Triângulo-Retângulo de Mistura. Partes aéreas de plantas frescas e raízes formaram a base da dieta nas três ecorregiões. Quando disponíveis, grãos cultivados nos Campos Sulinos e Florestas de Araucária e frutos e sementes silvestres no Pantanal parecem ser preferidos à forragem, o que pode ser explicado por possuírem alto valor energético. Raízes e invertebrados são importantes alimentos no Pantanal, principalmente no período de vazante. Além do registro do consumo de fauna nativa houve o consumo de ovinos. Nas três ecorregiões estudadas há grande variação na proporção em que itens são encontrados em cada estômago. Estes achados sugerem que as necessidades nutricionais são menos importantes ou de difícil ajuste nas condições limitantes dos ambientes silvestres. Nos Campos Sulinos o consumo de proteínas alcançou níveis ideais para crescimento e lactação quando comparado ao porco doméstico o que sugere melhores condições de expansão e abundância nessa região. De forma geral, a dieta de javalis nas ecorregiões estudadas sugere que os principais danos à biodiversidade estejam mais relacionados com a competição difusa por exploração de recursos e alterações nos hábitats e processos ecossistêmicos pela busca por recursos do que pela predação de espécies de interesse especial de conservação. / Introduction of species has grown in recent centuries and many have become a problem due to high invasiveness, modifying natural ecosystems and threatening native species. Wild boar (Sus scrofa) has demonstrated great capacity for invasion and production of damages to biodiversity and agriculture. In Brazil, the combination of environments with cultivated grains and remnants of wild vegetation seems to offer the wild boars adequate food conditions. In this study, we analyzed the stomach contents of wild boars slaughtered by controllers to characterize the composition of foods exploited in three Brazilian ecoregions characterized by mosaics of fields and forests – the South Brazilian Campos, the Araucaria Forests and Pantanal - and to evaluate the possible risks that the species can represent for agricultural production and conservation of biodiversity. We examined the existence of dietary patterns in each ecoregion and its relation with individuals' attributes, the environment and hunting through ordering methods. We visualize the macronutrient distribution through the right-angle misture triangle (RMT) tool. Aerial parts of fresh plants and roots formed the basis of diet in the three ecoregions. When available, grains grown in the South Brazilian Campos and Araucaria Forests and wild fruits and seeds in the Pantanal seem to be preferred to the forage, which can be explained by their high energy value. Roots and invertebrates are important food in the Pantanal, especially in the period of ebb. In addition to the consumption of native fauna, there was consumption of sheep. In the three ecoregions studied there is great variation in the proportion in which items are found in each stomach. These findings suggest that nutritional needs are less important or difficult to adjust under conditions that limit wild environments. In the Shouth Brazilian Campos the protein consumption reached optimal levels for growth and lactation when compared to the domestic pig, which suggests better conditions of expansion and abundance in this region. In general, the wild boar diet in the ecoregions studied suggests that the main damages to biodiversity are more related to the diffuse competition for resource exploitation and changes in habitats and ecosystem processes due to the search for resources than for the predation of species of special interest to conservation.

Esta tese examina as reações sociais ao processo de invasão biológica conduzido pelo javali asselvajado europeu (Sus scrofa) e seus cruzamentos com porcos domésticos, ou “javaporcos”, no Brasil Meridional desde um ponto de vista antropológico. Atualmente, esta espécie figura entre os cem piores organismos invasores do mundo conforme o painel sobre invasões biológicas da União Internacional para a Conservação da Natureza (IUCN, na sigla em inglês). Presente no Brasil desde o final da década de 1980, o javali tem provocado inúmeros danos ao meio ambiente e à produção agropecuária, o que levou o Ministério do Meio Ambiente a decretar sua nocividade e a autorizar sua captura e abate em todo território nacional, por tempo indeterminado. Na região onde a etnografia se concentrou, conhecida como Campanha gaúcha, os suínos asselvajados têm protagonizado ataques ao rebanho ovino, o que os alçou à condição de inimigos da pecuária local. Partindo deste conflito e das negociações estabelecidas entre agentes públicos, proprietários rurais e controladores voluntários, a tese rastreia as controvérsias hoje vigentes no país a respeito do Sus scrofa, bem como as escolhas técnicas efetuadas na região tendo em vista seu controle e manejo. Da mesma maneira, examina os impactos da presença do javali na Campanha gaúcha a partir das relações e analogias estabelecidas pelos agentes locais entre este e outros problemas que afetam o seu cotidiano, como: demais processos de invasão biológica que afetam o bioma Pampa, o declínio socioeconômico da pecuária sulina e o abigeato fronteiriço. Por fim, a tese também analisa os novos contextos de biossegurança produzidos no Brasil a partir da legalização do abate do animal, sob o prisma do conceito antropológico de sacrifício. No plano teórico, a tese se guia pelo conceito de feralidade, nela empregado para refletir sobre a resistência da espécie às tentativas humanas de domesticá-la. / This thesis examines the social reactions to the biological invasion process of European wild boar (Sus scrofa) and their breed with domestic pigs, known as "javaporcos", in southern Brazil from an anthropological perspective. Currently, this species is among the top one hundred worst invasive species in the world, according to the panel on biological invasions of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Present in Brazil since the late 1980s, the boar has caused countless damage to the environment and agricultural production, which led the Ministry of Environment to declare it a harmful animal and to allow its capture and slaughter throughout the country, indefinitely. In the region where the ethnography was focused, known as Campanha gaúcha, feral swine have attacked the sheep, which made them enemies of the local ranching community. From this conflict and the negotiations between government officials, landowners and volunteer controllers, the thesis traces the current controversy in the country regarding Sus scrofa, as well as the technical choices made in the region to control and manage it. Similarly, the thesis examines the impact of the presence of boars in the Campanha gaúcha region, based on the relationships and analogies established by local agents between this and other issues that affect their daily lives, such as other biological invasion process that affect the Pampa biome, the socio-economic decline of the southern livestock raising industry and livestock raiding at the borders. Finally, the thesis also analyzes new biosecurity contexts created in Brazil after the slaughter of the animal was authorized, from the perspective of the anthropological concept of sacrifice. Theoretically, the thesis is guided by the concept of ferality, thus used to reflect upon the resistance of the species to human attempts to domesticate it.

The external dispersal ("epizoochory") of vascular plant diaspores (seeds and fruits) by roe deer and wild boar, i.e. the most common wild large mammals with a large home range in central Europe, was investigated in a 6.5-km² forest area in NE Germany dominated by mesic deciduous forests. The study involved brushing out the diaspores from the coats and hooves of 25 shot roe deer and nine wild boar. The results were compared with the forest vegetation of the study area. Whilst wild boar transported large amounts of various diaspores in the coat, the significance of roe deer for epizoochory was low due to their sleek fur and different behaviour compared to wild boar. Altogether, 55 vascular plant species were transported externally. Since only a limited number of seeds came from woodland habitats, the open landscape was at least as important as a source of attached seeds as the forest vegetation. Thus, most plant species occurring in the studied forest area, especially characteristic woodland herbs, showed no adaptations to epizoochorous dispersal, although being very abundant in the herb layer. We conclude that hoofed game play a particular role concerning the dispersal of ruderal and grassland species in the agricultural landscape of central Europe. However, the actual spread of some herb species in forests of northern Germany, e.g. <i>Agrostis capillaris</i>, <i>Brachypodium sylvaticum</i>, <i>Deschampsia flexuosa</i>, <i>Galium aparine</i> and <i>Urtica dioica</i>, may be mainly facilitated by wild ungulates. Though dispersal by large mammals is an important mechanism for long-distance dispersal of plants in general, our results suggest that most of the characteristic herb species of mesic deciduous forests have only low epizoochorous dispersal potentials. The implications for nature conservation and silviculture are discussed. / Die Ausbreitung von Gefäßpflanzen-Diasporen (Samen und Früchte) durch äußerliche Anhaftung ("Epizoochorie") an Rehen und Wildschweinen, den beiden häufigsten Schalenwild-Arten in Mitteleuropa, wurde im 6,5 km² großen Forst Brieselang bei Berlin (Bundesland Brandenburg) untersucht, in dem mesophile Laubwälder vorherrschen. Dazu wurden die Felle und Hufe von 25 geschossenen Rehen und neun Wildschweinen ausgekämmt und die Diasporen anschließend bestimmt. Die Ergebnisse wurden mit der Waldvegetation verglichen. Während Wildschweine große Mengen verschiedener Diasporentypen transportierten, war die Bedeutung von Rehen für die Ausbreitung von Pflanzen auf Grund des glatten Fells und der im Vergleich zum Wildschwein unterschiedlichen Verhaltensweisen wesentlich geringer. Insgesamt wurden 55 Phanerogamenarten epizoochor transportiert. Da nur ein kleiner Teil der ausgebreiteten Pflanzen Waldhabitate bevorzugt, war das Offenland eine mindestens ebenso wichtige Quelle anhaftender Diasporen wie die Waldvegetation. Die meisten Waldpflanzenarten wurden nicht ausgebreitet; insbesondere solche Arten, die ausschließlich in Wäldern wachsen, wurden nicht nachgewiesen. Viele Pflanzenarten sind – vermutlich auf Grund ihrer Diasporenmorphologie – weitgehend vom Transport ausgeschlossen, obwohl sie sehr häufig in der Krautschicht des untersuchten Waldes vorkommen. Daher ist Schalenwild in der Agrarlandschaft Mitteleuropas vermutlich vor allem für die Ausbreitung von Ruderal-, Segetal- und Grünlandpflanzen von Bedeutung. Die Ausbreitung einiger Pflanzenarten der Krautschicht in norddeutschen Wäldern z.B. <i>Agrostis capillaris</i>, <i>Brachypodium sylvaticum</i>, <i>Deschampsia flexuosa</i>, <i>Galium aparine</i> und <i>Urtica dioica</i>, könnte jedoch wesentlich auf Schalenwild zurückgehen. Obwohl Großsäuger insgesamt ein wichtiger Vektor für die Fernausbreitung von Pflanzen sind, zeigt unsere Studie, dass die meisten charakteristischen Waldbodenpflanzen mesophiler Laubwälder kaum ausgebreitet werden, also nur ein geringes epizoochores Ausbreitungspotenzial aufweisen. Die Bedeutung der Ergebnisse für den Waldnaturschutz und den Waldbau wird diskutiert.

Este trabajo se ha centrado en el estudio de diferentes factores que afectan a la capacidad fecundante del semen congelado, como la velocidad de descongelación y el sistema antioxidante del semen porcino. También se ha estudiado la capacidad predictiva de la fertilidad in vivo que tienen las diferentes técnicas de análisis seminal tanto para el semen congelado como en condiciones de campo para el semen refrigerado. Se pudo determinar que la velocidad de descongelación más rápida tiene un efecto positivo sobre la funcionalidad espermática de las muestras evaluada mediante un sistema de FIV. Igualmente se concluyó también que el sistema de FIV parece ser la mejor herramienta disponible para evaluar la calidad del semen congelado-descongelado. Se evidenció que el proceso de crioconservación del semen supuso una pérdida siginificativa en el contenido de GSH intracelular. Finalmente, se demostró que el análisis seminal sólo puede identificar eyaculados con bajo potencial fértil. / Boar frozen-thawed semen is still a valuable tool as a complement to artificial insemination with fresh semen in some conditions. The objectives were firstly, the design of better freezing methods in order to obtain acceptable semen quality (freezing-thawing procedures) and secondly, to address the question of whether differences in farrowing rate and litter size after the use of different ejaculates could be predicted using the standard semen parameters under commercial conditions.We can determine that the IVF fertilization system seems to be a good tool to evaluate the quality of frozen-thawed boar semen previous to its commercial way. In other way, we found that there was a loss in GSH content after cryopreservation of boar semen and the addition of GSH to the thawing extender resulted in a significant increase in sperm fertilizing ability. Finally, semen analysis, under commercial conditions, allows to identify ejaculates with very low fertility potential. Therefore, it is unlikely to detect fertility differences associated with seminal parameters.

El objetivo de este trabajo ha sido evaluar la capacitación y reacción acrosómica de espermatozoides de verraco eyaculados lavados a través de un gradiente de percoll y no lavados e incubados en medio de fecundación M199 suplementado con progesterona o con complejos cumulus-ovocito así como la penetración espermática de estos con ovocitos homólogos madurados in vitro. La determinación de la capacitación se realizó mediante el uso de lectinas (PNA, SJA y ECA) y citometría de flujo. Los resultados mostraron que la progesterona posee efecto protector sobre la vitalidad espermática y los mayores porcentajes de reacción acrosómica ocurren ente los 45-90 minutos de incubación, En cuanto a la penetración espermática no hubo diferencias entre espermatozoides lavados y no lavados. / The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the sperm capacitation and acrosome reaction of spermatozoa washed in Percoll and unwashed undergo in an in vitro incubation system with progesterone or cumulus-oocyte and the penetration rate in homologous oocytes matured in vitro. The evaluation was done with lectin (PNA, SJA and ECA) and flow cytometry. The results shown that progesterone had a protective effect on sperm vitality and the highest percentages of acrosome reaction were obtained between 45-90 minutes of incubation. The penetration rate was similar between washed and unwashed spermatozoa.

These days, wild pig, or wild boar, causes considerable damage in the Czech Republic, but also in other countries of almost the whole of Europe. The thesis describes the issues of damage done by the wild pig and the protective measures against this damage. The basis of the thesis was to measure the areas of damaged vegetation of unbearded and bearded varieties of wheat. Damaged areas on individual fields of both varieties were then compared with each other and evaluated. The choice of a variety, as an agro-technological measure against damage done by wild pigs, showed to be very effective. The damages that the wild pig did in unbearded varieties were not done in bearded ones.

Esta tese examina as reações sociais ao processo de invasão biológica conduzido pelo javali asselvajado europeu (Sus scrofa) e seus cruzamentos com porcos domésticos, ou “javaporcos”, no Brasil Meridional desde um ponto de vista antropológico. Atualmente, esta espécie figura entre os cem piores organismos invasores do mundo conforme o painel sobre invasões biológicas da União Internacional para a Conservação da Natureza (IUCN, na sigla em inglês). Presente no Brasil desde o final da década de 1980, o javali tem provocado inúmeros danos ao meio ambiente e à produção agropecuária, o que levou o Ministério do Meio Ambiente a decretar sua nocividade e a autorizar sua captura e abate em todo território nacional, por tempo indeterminado. Na região onde a etnografia se concentrou, conhecida como Campanha gaúcha, os suínos asselvajados têm protagonizado ataques ao rebanho ovino, o que os alçou à condição de inimigos da pecuária local. Partindo deste conflito e das negociações estabelecidas entre agentes públicos, proprietários rurais e controladores voluntários, a tese rastreia as controvérsias hoje vigentes no país a respeito do Sus scrofa, bem como as escolhas técnicas efetuadas na região tendo em vista seu controle e manejo. Da mesma maneira, examina os impactos da presença do javali na Campanha gaúcha a partir das relações e analogias estabelecidas pelos agentes locais entre este e outros problemas que afetam o seu cotidiano, como: demais processos de invasão biológica que afetam o bioma Pampa, o declínio socioeconômico da pecuária sulina e o abigeato fronteiriço. Por fim, a tese também analisa os novos contextos de biossegurança produzidos no Brasil a partir da legalização do abate do animal, sob o prisma do conceito antropológico de sacrifício. No plano teórico, a tese se guia pelo conceito de feralidade, nela empregado para refletir sobre a resistência da espécie às tentativas humanas de domesticá-la. / This thesis examines the social reactions to the biological invasion process of European wild boar (Sus scrofa) and their breed with domestic pigs, known as "javaporcos", in southern Brazil from an anthropological perspective. Currently, this species is among the top one hundred worst invasive species in the world, according to the panel on biological invasions of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Present in Brazil since the late 1980s, the boar has caused countless damage to the environment and agricultural production, which led the Ministry of Environment to declare it a harmful animal and to allow its capture and slaughter throughout the country, indefinitely. In the region where the ethnography was focused, known as Campanha gaúcha, feral swine have attacked the sheep, which made them enemies of the local ranching community. From this conflict and the negotiations between government officials, landowners and volunteer controllers, the thesis traces the current controversy in the country regarding Sus scrofa, as well as the technical choices made in the region to control and manage it. Similarly, the thesis examines the impact of the presence of boars in the Campanha gaúcha region, based on the relationships and analogies established by local agents between this and other issues that affect their daily lives, such as other biological invasion process that affect the Pampa biome, the socio-economic decline of the southern livestock raising industry and livestock raiding at the borders. Finally, the thesis also analyzes new biosecurity contexts created in Brazil after the slaughter of the animal was authorized, from the perspective of the anthropological concept of sacrifice. Theoretically, the thesis is guided by the concept of ferality, thus used to reflect upon the resistance of the species to human attempts to domesticate it.

A introdução de espécies cresceu nos últimos séculos e muitas delas têm se tornado problema devido à alta capacidade de invasão, modificando ecossistemas naturais e ameaçando espécies nativas. O javali (Sus scrofa) tem demonstrado grande capacidade de invasão e de produção de danos à biodiversidade e agropecuária. No Brasil, a combinação de ambientes com grãos cultivados e remanescentes de vegetação silvestre parece oferecer aos javalis condições alimentares adequadas. Neste trabalho analisamos o conteúdo estomacal de javalis abatidos por controladores para caracterizar a composição de alimentos explorados em três ecorregiões brasileiras – os Campos Sulinos, as Florestas de Araucária e o Pantanal - e avaliar os possíveis riscos que a espécie pode representar para a produção agropecuária e a conservação da biodiversidade. Examinamos a existência de padrões de dieta em cada ecorregião e sua relação com atributos dos indivíduos, do ambiente e da caça através de métodos de ordenação. Visualizamos a distribuição de macronutrientes através da ferramenta gráfica Triângulo-Retângulo de Mistura. Partes aéreas de plantas frescas e raízes formaram a base da dieta nas três ecorregiões. Quando disponíveis, grãos cultivados nos Campos Sulinos e Florestas de Araucária e frutos e sementes silvestres no Pantanal parecem ser preferidos à forragem, o que pode ser explicado por possuírem alto valor energético. Raízes e invertebrados são importantes alimentos no Pantanal, principalmente no período de vazante. Além do registro do consumo de fauna nativa houve o consumo de ovinos. Nas três ecorregiões estudadas há grande variação na proporção em que itens são encontrados em cada estômago. Estes achados sugerem que as necessidades nutricionais são menos importantes ou de difícil ajuste nas condições limitantes dos ambientes silvestres. Nos Campos Sulinos o consumo de proteínas alcançou níveis ideais para crescimento e lactação quando comparado ao porco doméstico o que sugere melhores condições de expansão e abundância nessa região. De forma geral, a dieta de javalis nas ecorregiões estudadas sugere que os principais danos à biodiversidade estejam mais relacionados com a competição difusa por exploração de recursos e alterações nos hábitats e processos ecossistêmicos pela busca por recursos do que pela predação de espécies de interesse especial de conservação. / Introduction of species has grown in recent centuries and many have become a problem due to high invasiveness, modifying natural ecosystems and threatening native species. Wild boar (Sus scrofa) has demonstrated great capacity for invasion and production of damages to biodiversity and agriculture. In Brazil, the combination of environments with cultivated grains and remnants of wild vegetation seems to offer the wild boars adequate food conditions. In this study, we analyzed the stomach contents of wild boars slaughtered by controllers to characterize the composition of foods exploited in three Brazilian ecoregions characterized by mosaics of fields and forests – the South Brazilian Campos, the Araucaria Forests and Pantanal - and to evaluate the possible risks that the species can represent for agricultural production and conservation of biodiversity. We examined the existence of dietary patterns in each ecoregion and its relation with individuals' attributes, the environment and hunting through ordering methods. We visualize the macronutrient distribution through the right-angle misture triangle (RMT) tool. Aerial parts of fresh plants and roots formed the basis of diet in the three ecoregions. When available, grains grown in the South Brazilian Campos and Araucaria Forests and wild fruits and seeds in the Pantanal seem to be preferred to the forage, which can be explained by their high energy value. Roots and invertebrates are important food in the Pantanal, especially in the period of ebb. In addition to the consumption of native fauna, there was consumption of sheep. In the three ecoregions studied there is great variation in the proportion in which items are found in each stomach. These findings suggest that nutritional needs are less important or difficult to adjust under conditions that limit wild environments. In the Shouth Brazilian Campos the protein consumption reached optimal levels for growth and lactation when compared to the domestic pig, which suggests better conditions of expansion and abundance in this region. In general, the wild boar diet in the ecoregions studied suggests that the main damages to biodiversity are more related to the diffuse competition for resource exploitation and changes in habitats and ecosystem processes due to the search for resources than for the predation of species of special interest to conservation.