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Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-15T20:31:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DaianaSS_DISSERT.pdf: 992609 bytes, checksum: 09ead14cb109f1d0241dab4527cc9c70 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-08-28 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This study aimed to assess the the effect of direct sunlight and shade in two groups of AHB colonies. Sheets of carnauba trees were used to provide shading for a group of hives and as control another group of hives were installed direct under the sun. The experiment was conducted at the Technology Center of Beekeeping and Meliponiculture of Rio Grande do Norte, at the Experimental Station of UFERSA, Mossoró-RN. 16 Langstroth beehives were used, 8 in the shade and 8 under the sun. During the period from April, 05, 2012 to March 18, 2013 were performed monthly monitoring and about the development of the colonies. Approximatelly every 10 days the survey was conducted with data collected in % in the areas of oviposition (eggs laying by queens) ,open brood, capped brood, honey and pollen. The data were tested for normality, analysis of variance based on the least squares method and the comparison of means was done by Tukey test with 5% level of significance The environment showed an influence upon duration or longevity of colonies with difference statistically significant (P <0.01), with an average duration of 132 days in the sun and 155 days in the shade. During the experiment, the colonies had 65% reduction in bee populations in the shade and 90% under the sun. There were no statistical differences between the groups as oviposition, open brood and capped brood. The area of honey was higher in the colonies under the sun and pollen area was higher in shadow environment, both differences statistically significant (P<0,01). The drought of 2012, the most serious in the last 50 years in the Brazilian Northeast, had an important impact on both groups of colonies but the AHB colonies had a better adaptation in the shadow than under the sun in the semiarid Northeast region. Honey production accumulated in the colonies supers installed in the shade was approximately 45% higher than under the sun. It was found that bees (AHB) have a better adaptation to the environment under the shadow of the sun in the semiarid Northeast / Este estudo objetivou avaliar o efeito da ação direta do sol e da sombra em colônias de abelhas africanizadas (AHB). Foram utilizadas coberturas naturais com folhas de carnaúba para o sombreamento das colmeias, tendo como controle colmeias instaladas ao sol. O experimento foi realizado na Fazenda Experimental da UFERSA, (CETAPIS) em Mossoró-RN. Foram utilizadas 16 colmeias modelo Langstroth com abelhas AHB, 8 na sombra e 8 sob o sol. Durante o período de 05/04/2012 a 18/03/2013, foram realizados monitoramento mensais para avaliar o desenvolvimento das colônias e a cada 10 dias o levantamento das áreas de oviposição, cria aberta, cria operculada, mel e pólen. Foi testada a normalidade dos dados, aplicada análise de variância (método quadrados mínimos) e comparação das médias pelo Teste de Tukey com nível de 5% de significância. O ambiente exerceu influência sobre a duração das colônias (P<0.01) com média de 132 dias no sol e 155 dias à sombra. Durante o experimento as colônias tiveram 65% de redução nas populações de abelhas à sombra e 90% sob o sol. Não foram encontradas diferenças estatísticas entre os ambientes quanto a oviposição das rainhas, cria aberta e cria operculada. A área de mel foi superior no sol e a área de pólen foi superior na sombra. A seca de 2012, uma das mais sérias nos últimos 50 anos no nordeste brasileiro, teve impacto em ambos os grupos. A produção de mel acumulado ao longo do experimento nas melgueiras das colônias à sombra foi aproximadamente 45% superior às colônias submetidas ao sol. Constatou-se que as abelhas africanizadas apresentam melhor adaptação ao ambiente sombra do que sob o sol no semiárido Nordestino

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No. of bitstreams: 1 LianaMPC_DISSERT.pdf: 2474434 bytes, checksum: f2bb5ffb379f9469038f03a2e7fdd955 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-03-28 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / In semiarid regions, as the Caatinga, the rains distribution can determine the food availability and the intensity of hydric stress. This, with frequency, affects breeding aspects of birds, as time, length and reproduction intensity. In this study we have tested the hypothesis: (1) The breeding of the sampled species is restricted to the rainy season characteristic of the region; (2) Intra-annual variations in the rains’ volume and frequency are correlated with the quantity of individuals and species reproducing; (3) the species of the community reproducing in a way temporally jointly, independent of the feeding guilds. The study was accomplished in Caatinga’s region, with assessments every 14 days of brood patch occurrence. Three reproductive cycles was studied between september-2012 and october-2015. It was utilized the Cross-Correlation Function – CCF to verify the relation existing between the rains and the breeding birds. Altogether, 46 species (377 records) were observed with patches. The reproduction occurred in a seasonal way between february and july, with 94% of the records of patches restricted to the period. The intensity and duration of the breeding (total of individuals and species) was significantly correlated with the rains, when considered the time lag of 14 days. The length (140, 168, and 154 days) and time (march/02 to july/20, February/01 to july/19, February/12 to july/18) of breeding differed between three reproductive cycles. The analysis by feeding guild (insectivore-restrictive, insectivore-frugivorous, insectivore-granivorous and omnivorous) resulted in a similar pattern to general, mainly when it’s considered the correlation and time lag with the rains. Our study indicates that the breeding birds in the Caatinga’s area studied it was not just, generally, related to rainy seasons, as it was break out via answer of short deadline to the rainfall intensity. Including having it period, length and intensity regulated by this climatic factor or by other factors correlated to rains (g.e. food availability) / Em regiões semiáridas, como a Caatinga, a distribuição das chuvas pode determinar a disponibilidade do alimento e a intensidade do estresse hídrico. Isso, com frequência, afeta aspectos reprodutivos das aves, tais como época, comprimento e intensidade da reprodução. Neste estudo, testamos as hipóteses: (1) A reprodução das espécies amostradas é restrita ao período chuvoso característico da região; (2) variações intra-anuais no volume e na frequência das chuvas estão correlacionadas com a quantidade de indivíduos e espécies se reproduzindo; (3) as espécies da comunidade se reproduzem de forma temporalmente conjunta, independentemente da guilda alimentar. O estudo foi realizado em uma região de Caatinga, com avaliações a cada 14 dias de ocorrência de placa de incubação. Três ciclos reprodutivos foram estudados entre set-2012 e out-2015. Foi utilizada a Função de Correlação Cruzada (Cross-correlation Function – CCF) para verificar a existência de relação entre as chuvas e a reprodução das aves. Ao todo, 46 espécies (377 registros) foram observadas com placas. A reprodução ocorreu de forma sazonal entre fevereiro e julho, com 94% dos registros de placas restritos ao período. A intensidade e a duração da reprodução (total de indivíduos e de espécies) foram significativamente correlacionadas com as chuvas, quando considerado o time lag de 14 dias. O comprimento (140, 168 e 154 dias) e a época (02/mar a 20/jul, 01/fev a 19/jul, 13/fev a 18/jul) da reprodução diferiram entre os três ciclos reprodutivos. As análises por guilda alimentar (insetívoro-restritivo, insetívoro-frugívoro, insetívoro-granívoros e onívoros) resultaram em padrão semelhante ao geral, principalmente quando considerada a correlação e time lag com as chuvas. Nosso estudo indica que a reprodução das aves na área de Caatinga estudada não só esteve, de modo geral, relacionada às épocas chuvosas, como foi deflagrada via resposta de curto prazo à intensidade da precipitação. Inclusive, tendo seus períodos, comprimentos e intensidades regulados por este fator climático ou por outros fatores correlacionados às chuvas (e.g. disponibilidade de alimento) / 2017-03-23

Le développement comportemental de l’individu est particulièrement sensible aux influences sociales précoces. La mère, en tant que partenaire privilégié des jeunes dès la naissance, joue un rôle primordial dans leur survie et leur développement. Chez l’oiseau précoce, s’il est bien établi que le comportement maternel varie en fonction des caractéristiques personnelles de la mère, en revanche le rôle des jeunes dans ces variations et les conséquences sur leur développement restent encore méconnus. Chez la caille japonaise (Coturnix coturnix japonica), nous nous sommes, dans un premier temps, intéressés à l’influence d’un lien de parenté entre la mère et tous ses cailleteaux. Nous avons montré que ce facteur n’induisait pas de variation de son comportement maternel, permettant de poser l’hypothèse d’une faible sélectivité parentale chez cette espèce. Nous avons montré qu’en revanche un changement de comportement des cailleteaux suite à une modification de l’environnement prénatale pouvait améliorer le comportement maternel en diminuant l’agressivité maternelle. Nous avons ensuite démontré qu’un nombre de cailleteaux plus important induisait une amélioration des premières interactions mais amenait un rejet émancipatoire plus précoce de la part de la mère. Enfin nous avons exploré l’influence de la composition sexuée de la fratrie. Il apparait que les mères s’investissaient plus auprès de leurs petits mâles mais que cela était dépendant du sexe des autres membres de la fratrie. L’ensemble de nos travaux montre que les variations du comportement maternel ont une influence certaine sur le développement comportemental des jeunes dont le sexe détermine leur sensibilité aux différents traits maternels. / The behavioural development of the individual is particularly sensitive to early social influences. The mother, as a privileged partner of the young from the birth, plays a primordial role in their survival and their development. In the precocial bird, although it is well established that maternal behavior varies according to the mother's personal characteristics, the role of the young in these variations and the consequences on their development remain unknown. In the Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica), we were initially interested in the influence of a relatedness between the mother and all her chicks. We showed that this factor did not induce any variation in its maternal behaviour, allowing us to place the hypothese of a weak parental selectivity in this species. We showed that, on the other hand, a change in the chicks’ behaviour following a modification of the prenatal environment improved the maternal behaviour, decreasing maternal aggressivity. We then demonstrated that a greater number of chicks induced an improvement of the first interactions but induced an emancipatory rejection earlier by the mother. Finally, we explored the influence of the sexual brood composition. It appears that mothers were more involved in their male chicks but that it was dependent on the sex of the other members of the brood. All of our work shows that these variations in maternal behaviour have a sure influence on the behavioural development of chicks whose sex determines their sensitivity to different maternal traits.

This study examines thermoregulation behavior of wood ant genus Formica on elevation gradient. Two years long dataloger records of inner nest and ambient temperature were combined with detailed spring-summer manual measurement of nest temperature in different depths below nest surface. Results show that inner nest temperature was higher than air temperature in all seasons. Temperature of ant nest is highest in the deepest layer, the heat flows from inside out. We can assume that thermal homeostasis of ant nest in spring and summer i.e. in period of ant highest activity is influenced mainly by inner heat sources - microbial activity and ant metabolism. Insulation seems to have direct effect on nest temperature only in early spring; in summer insulation affects nest temperature indirectly, via ant activity. In winter there is pronounced effect of nest volume which corresponds high isolative properties of nest material. Our results indicate that thermoregulatory behavior of wood ants is driven by endogenous factors, namely colony needs in sense of queen oviposition brood development. Both of these require high temperature. Nests at variable altitude did not differ in average seasonal temperature or seasonal temperature fluctuation. Variability of nest temperature was bigger among nests from one...

Conspecific brood parasitism (CBP) is a situation, when female (a parasite) lays egg or eggs in a nest of other conspecific female (a host). Then she leaves the nest and doesn't provide any subsequent parental care, such incubation and care for young. To distinguish between parasitic and host egg or young could be difficult, because there are not obvious morphological differences. CBP was documented in more than 234 species and its frequency is different between species, but also between population of the same species. The main aim of my master thesis was to describe the degree of parasitism in two population of Common Pochard (Aythya ferina). The field work was carried out from 2004-2006 in Třeboň Biosphere Reserve and form 2008-2010 in Poodří Landscape Protected Area. We found that the degree of CBP is relatively high. In Třeboň was found 72 % (41) of parasitized nests and 32 % (165) of parasitic eggs and in Poodří 93 % (39) of parasitized nests and 37 % (153) of parasitic eggs. The mean number of eggs per clutch was around 9 and mean number of host eggs per clutch was 6 in Třeboň. The mean number of eggs per clutch in Poodří was about 10, and the mean number of host eggs was also about 6. The mean number of parasitic eggs per clutch was 3 resp. 4. It was also found, that parasitized nests are...

Master of Science / Department of Biology / David A. Haukos / The lesser prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) is a species of prairie grouse native to the southwest Great Plains. Population declines and threats to populations of lesser prairie-chickens led U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to list the species as “threatened” under the protection of the Endangered Species Act in May 2014. Lesser prairie-chickens are found within three distinct ecoregions of Kansas and Colorado and portions of the species’ range are affected by tree encroachment into grasslands. The effect of trees on lesser prairie-chickens is poorly understood. I evaluated habitat selection and reproductive success and across the northern portion of the species’ range. I captured female lesser prairie-chickens within the three different ecoregions in Kansas and Colorado to track nest and brood survival and measure nest and brood habitat. My findings show that there are regional and annual variations in nest and brood survival. Mean nest survival during 2013 and 2014 was estimated to be 0.388 (95% CI = 0.343 – 0.433) for a 35-day exposure period. Brood survival during 2013 and 2014 was estimated to be 0.316 (95% CI = 0.184 – 0.457) for 56 days. Chick survival was the lowest during the first week of life and is probably a limiting factor for population growth. Chick and brood survival decreased as Julian hatch date increased. Across the northern portion of the species’ range, females consistently select visual obstruction between 2-3 dm. Vegetation at the nest changes between regions and years to reflect environmental and regional conditions. Broods consistently selected habitats with greater percent cover of forbs than was expected at random across all study sites. Broods also selected against areas of bare ground. The threshold of lesser prairie-chicken use was 2 trees/ha throughout the year. No nests were located within areas with greater densities. Lesser prairie-chickens had a greater probability of use at greater distances from trees and at lower tree densities. To provide adequate nesting habitat managers should provide 2-3 dm of visual obstruction. Providing forb cover with visual obstruction between 2.5-5 dm near nesting habitat should provide adequate habitat for broods. Removing trees in core habitats and expand removal efforts outward should expand potential habitat for lesser prairie-chickens.

This study is aimed at analysis of long-term and short-term changes in numbers of Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina) in Třeboň region. This species is increasing in long-term period and it is also spreading into new localities in the Czech Republic. There were recorded two waves of arrival of Red-crested Pochard arrive, i.e. in April and in May. The total numbers were decreasing at the end of breeding season (from the beginning of July) in study area. The water surface area and area of littoral vegetation were found to be the most important factors affecting preference of individual ponds in pre-breeding season. Furthermore, water transparency seems to be important factor affecting numbers of broods, ducklings and adults in post-breeding season. Low numbers of broods per 1 female were recorded in years with high numbers of Red- crested Pochard at the start of breeding season. However, the frequency of brood parasitism was higher in these years. Key words: Netta rufina, Red-crested Pochard, population dynamics, ducks, breeding, numbers, brood parasitism, south Bohemia

Avian brood parasitism is an ideal system for the study of coevolution. Brood parasites and their hosts have developed interesting adaptations during co-evolution allowing them to maximize their fitness. The evolution of these adaptations has a character of an "arms race" where the evolution of one trait in the host is tied with the evolution of another trait in the parasite. In my doctoral thesis, I deal with two of these adaptations: recognition of parasitic eggs by hosts and mimicry of eggs in parasites. Since both these adaptations are influenced by birds' visual system, in all my studies I used an objective method to measure the colour and the modelling of avian visual system that is quite different from the human visual system. For instance, humans in contrast to birds cannot perceive ultraviolet (UV) light. However, this part of spectrum influences behaviour of birds substantially (e.g. courtship or foraging). We found that the hosts of brood parasites can use UV light when recognizing parasitic eggs. However, it seems that this part of spectrum is not the main cue in egg recognition (manuscript 1). Ambient light has also an important impact on colour perception. We determined whether the light conditions in nests influence host responses to alien eggs. The Red Bishop (Euplectes orix) was an ideal...

Estudos sobre a influência da variação sazonal na disponibilidade de recursos florais na coleta de pólen e néctar pelas abelhas sem ferrão são escassos na literatura devido à ausência de métodos viáveis de se quantificar o alimento armazenado nas colônias por longos períodos. O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar o armazenamento de alimento em colônias de Scaptotrigona aff. depilis em relação a distribuição espaçotemporal dos recursos florais em uma área urbanizada na região tropical, bem como estratégias utilizadas pelas colônias no período de menor disponibilidade alimentar. De abril de 2011 a março de 2012, a estrutura da comunidade vegetal do campus da Universidade de São Paulo, cidade de Ribeirão Preto, foi avaliada sob os aspectos da composição florística e fenologia de floração para avaliar a ocorrência de sazonalidade na distribuição dos recursos florais disponibilizados para as abelhas. Concomitantemente, foi analisado qualitativamente e quantitativamente o armazenamento mensal de pólen e néctar em colônias experimentais (CEs) de S. aff. depilis, formadas a partir da remoção de colônias mães (CMs) de seus lugares originais e substituídas por caixas de madeira vazias, as CEs, em cujas as forrageiras armazenaram o alimento durante sete dias. No mesmo período de um ano, foi avaliada a produção mensal de cria nas CMs de S. aff. depilis por meio de fotografias tomadas na região da cria em intervalos de 24h durante quatro dias consecutivos. Espécies melitófilas floresceram durante o ano todo e, consequentemente, a disponibilidade de alimento para as abelhas foi contínua. A distribuição dos recursos foi sazonal, com abundância de disponibilidade na transição da estação seca com a chuvosa e na estação chuvosa. O armazenamento de alimento foi afetado pela associação entre a sazonalidade na disponibilidade de pólen e a temperatura ambiente. O pólen foi armazenado ao longo de todo o ano, ao passo que o néctar começou a ser armazenado no final da estação seca e permaneceu durante toda a estação chuvosa. Nas CEs, a maior quantidade de alimento foi armazenada na estação chuvosa, com pico no bimestre de fevereiro-março. Mesmo apresentando um hábito generalista, as forrageiras de S. aff. depilis intensificaram, espacial e temporalmente, a coleta de recursos em poucas fontes florais. As espécies Eucalyptus moluccana, E. grandis e Myracrodruon urundeuva foram preferencialmente utilizadas no armazenamento de pólen durante a estação seca, ao passo que durante a estação chuvosa apenas Schinus terebinthifolius foi a fonte preferencialmente utilizada. A sazonalidade na disponibilidade de pólen influenciou inclusive a produção de cria, a qual diminuiu na estação seca. A disponibilidade de pólen parece ser um fator central influenciando no crescimento e no desenvolvimento das colônias de S. aff. depilis. / Studies on the influence of seasonal variation in the availability of floral resources on the collection of pollen and nectar by stingless bees are scarce due to lack of methods to quantify the stored food in the colonies for long periods of time. The aim of this study was to evaluate the storage of food in colonies of Scaptotrigona aff. depilis in relation to the spatiotemporal distribution of floral resources in an urbanized area in the tropical region, as well as assess the strategies used by the colonies during periods of food scarcity. From April 2011 to March 2012, the plant community structure in the campus of Universidade de São Paulo, located in the city of Ribeirão Preto, was studied under the aspect of floristic composition and flowering phenology to evaluate the occurrence of seasonality in the distribution of floral resources available to bees. Concurrently, it was analyzed the monthly storage of pollen and nectar in experimental colonies (ECs) of S. aff. depilis formed from removal of colonies (MCs) from their original places and replaced by empty wooden boxes, the ECs, whose foragers stored food for seven days. In the same period of an year, it was evaluated the monthly brood production in MCs of S. aff. depilis through photographs taken in the brood region at intervals of 24h for four consecutive days. Melittophilous were in bloom year-round, and therefore the availability of food resources was continuous for bees. The resource distribution was seasonal, with plenty of available resources in the transition from the dry to the rainy season and in the rainy season. The storage of food was affected by the association between the seasonal availability of pollen and ambient temperature. Pollen was stored throughout the year, while the nectar started to be stored in the dry season and remained throughout the rainy season. In ECs, the largest amount of food was stored during the rainy season, peaking in February-March. Even though foragers display a generalist habit, food collection was intensified at few sources in spatiotemporal scale. The species Eucalyptus moluccana, E. grandis and Myracrodruon urundeuva were preferentially used in the storage of pollen during the dry season, while Schinus terebinthifolius was the most frequently used species during the rainy season. Seasonality in pollen availability also influenced brood production, which decreased in the dry season. The availability of pollen seems to be a central parameter influencing the growth and development of S. aff. depilis colonies.