Thesis (doctoral)--Lund University, 1998. / Added t.p. with thesis statment inserted. Includes bibliographical references.

I first review the significance of dispersal for individuals and populations including the role of the most significant environmental drivers on separate phases of dispersal. Emphasis is put on aquatic insects inhabiting small standing waters. The following manuscript summarizes a quantitative study of diel and seasonal flight patterns of adult Chironomidae in the Cep II sandpit in southern Bohemia. It provides one of the first comprehensive treatments of the effect of weather conditions and seasonality on the flight activity of adult Chironomidae, phenology of most common species and differences between terrestrial and aquatic species.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:29:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 TeseRMG.pdf: 5023389 bytes, checksum: c457adcc51a13a575cfd3572aa673e01 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2004-03-12 / Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos / The Jataí Ecological Station (EEJ), located in Luiz Antônio, State of São Paulo, Brazil, is a Conservation Unit of Indirect Use in an area jeopardized by highly mechanized agriculture and subject to multiple disturbances, which pose threats to its biodiversity. The aim of this work was to evaluate the environmental conditions of the Boa Sorte, Beija-Flor and Cafundó streams in the EEJ and of a stream near this station, in Luiz Antônio, through the study of benthic macroinvertebrates. To this end eight collection sites were established, and sampling was carried out bimonthly from December 2000 to August 2002. The water samples collected were subsequently taken to the lab and had their nutrients and suspended solids analyzed. Other abiotic variables were measured in situ. Artificial substrate was used to capture the benthic macroinvertebrates. The analyses of the physical and chemical variables confirmed the characterization of distinct periods (dry and rainy) and the influence of the overflowing of the Mogi-Guaçu river at the sites located in the flood plain. There were collected 8,072 specimens, distributed among 81 taxonomic units, out of which 36 corresponded to groups of higher categories up to the family level and 46 genus of Chironomidae. The taxocenosis analyses of the benthic macroinvertebrates indicate temporal and spatial differences reflecting the two seasonal periods (dry and rainy), with higher organism densities and taxonomic richness in the dry season. Although most of the taxa were found at all sampling sites, differences in fauna composition were observed, which reflecting the activities developed in every micro-basin monitored in this work. / A Estação Ecológica de Jataí (EEJ), localizada no município de Luiz Antônio (SP), é uma Unidade de Conservação de Uso Indireto, inserida numa paisagem comprometida pela agricultura altamente tecnificada e que está sujeita a diversas perturbações que ameaçam sua biodiversidade. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar as condições ambientais dos córregos Boa Sorte, Beija-Flor e Cafundó que integram a EEJ e de um córrego próximo a essa Estação, no município de Luiz Antônio, através do estudo dos macroinvertebrados bentônicos. Para isso, foram estabelecidos oito pontos de coleta onde foram obtidas amostras bimensais no período de dezembro/2000 a agosto/2002. Amostras de água foram levadas ao laboratório para a análise dos nutrientes e sólidos em suspensão. Outras variáveis abióticas foram medidas in situ. Utilizou-se substrato artificial para a captura dos macroinvertebrados bentônicos. As análises das variáveis físicas e químicas da água confirmaram a caracterização de períodos distintos (chuvoso e seco) e a influência do transbordamento do rio Mogi-Guaçu sob os pontos localizados na planície de inundação. Foram coletados 8072 espécimes, distribuídos em 81 unidades taxonômicas, sendo 36 correspondentes a grupos de categorias superiores até o nível de família e 46 gêneros de Chironomidae. As análises da taxocenose dos macroinvertebrados bentônicos indicaram diferenças temporais e espaciais refletindo os dois períodos sazonais (chuvoso e seco), com maiores densidades de organismos e riqueza taxonômica na estação seca. Embora a maioria dos táxons tenha sido registrada em todos os pontos de amostragem, observaram-se diferenças na composição faunística, refletindo possivelmente as atividades desenvolvidas em cada corpo d água monitorado neste trabalho.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:31:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DissLMF.pdf: 942157 bytes, checksum: 89a853cd0db498e31eab19a2e5cc5845 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-04-20 / The objective of this study was to analyze the macroinvertebrate benthic communities in two small reservoirs, Monjolinho Reservoir and Fazzari Reservoir, both are localized in the campus of the Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos city, São Paulo state, but they are on different anthropogenic disturbance. The samplings were carried out during the dry (April June) ant the wet (November December) seasons in 2004. In each dams the sampling were collected in 12 points random. At each site, three sampling units were taken with an Eckman-Birge sampler. Also were determinate more three sampling points at upstream in Monjolinho and Fazzari streams. Several physical and chemical variables were measured at each site and the means calculated to every season. Differents metrics were applied to compare the macroinvertebrate communities between the reservoirs. The analyses indicate that, overall, community persistent is correlated with the state environmental of each reservoir. The macroinvertebrate benthic community in Monjolinho reservoir was characterized by tolerant species dominant like Chironomus sp and Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri, they are very commons in trophic systems. In the other side in Fazzari reservoir, the no tolerant species (Chaoboridae and Campsurus sp) were dominants, this is an indication that the system is oligotrophic. / O presente estudo teve como objetivo determinar a estrutura das comunidades de macroinvertebrados bentônicos e relacioná-las às condições ambientais das Represas do Monjolinho e do Fazzari localizadas no campus da Universidade Federal de São Carlos, em São Carlos (SP), mas condicionadas a diferentes níveis de perturbações antropogênicas. As amostragens foram realizadas nos períodos de seca (abril-junho) e chuvoso (novembro-dezembro) em 2004, sendo estabelecidos em cada represa doze pontos de amostragem e em cada ponto coletadas três unidades amostrais com auxílio de um pegador de fundo tipo Eckman-Birge (área de 225cm2). Também foram estabelecidos três pontos de amostragem nos córregos do Monjolinho e do Fazzari. As medidas das variáveis abióticas da água foram realizadas in situ e, posteriormente, estimado os valores das médias correspondentes a cada período climático. Diferentes métricas foram aplicadas visando a comparação entre as comunidades de macroinvertebrados dos dois reservatórios. As análises indicaram que as comunidades diferem entre os sistemas, cada uma refletindo a condição intrínseca do ambiente. Na Represa do Monjolinho a comunidade caracterizou-se pela dominância de espécies, como Chironomus sp e Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri, grupos comuns de ambientes eutrofizados. Já o reservatório do Fazzari, pode ser caracterizado pela dominância de espécies não tolerantes, tais como Campsurus sp e espécies da família Chaoboridae, indicadoras de sistemas oligotróficos.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:31:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 123.pdf: 3093548 bytes, checksum: a4f44627c60326a6314b390dd2e08736 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2003-09-03 / Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais / Chironomidae is an important group among the aquatic Diptera significantly participating in the composition of the benthic macroinvertebrate community of a vaariety of aquatic systems. It has been estimated that there exists at least 2.000-3.000 species in each biogeographical region. In Brazil, however, there are few studies on the ecology and taxonomy of this group. In Sao Paulo State 89 genera and 66 species were registered so far. Aiming to contribute to the advance in the knowledge on this family, the present work analized the Chironominae occurring at the State Park of Campos de Jordao, considering the absence of data regarding this family for that region which has peculiar characteristics for Sao Paulo State, such as: high altitude and subtropical high a altitude temperate climate. Samplings for the immature phase were performed by using a Surber type sampler and a D net. The samples were taken at the rivers Galharada and its affluent, Campo do Meio and Casquilho, all them of low order, with stony beds, protected by riparian vegetation; The water is transparent, cold, well oxygenated, acid, with low electrical conductivity and turbidity. Adults were captured close to the sampling points of the larvae using light trap. The results revealed differences in the structure of the communities among the streams. From cluster analysis it was possible to see the clustering of Galharada sampling points located in a central region of the park and mainly represented by the taxa aff.Omisus sp1 and Corynoneura. On the other hand the sampling points Campo do Meio and Casquilho, suffering anthropogenic impacts presented a dominance of aff. Pseudochironomus sp1 species. The diversity of adult specimens was higher than that of larvae, and new records of species for Sao Paulo State were found (Neelamia) and Brazil (Paramerina), as well as new species (Antillocladius sp1 and Goeldichironomus sp). The faunistic data will be incorporated and made available by the Environmental Information System é SinBiota/FAPESP. / A famılia Chironomidae constitui um grupo importante de Diptera aquötico, pois participa significativamente da composic ao da comunidade de macroinvertebrados bentÕnicos dos mais variados tipos de sistemas aquöticos. Estima-se pelo menos 2.000-3.000 espàcies por regiao biogeogröfica. Entretanto, no Brasil, os trabalhos sobre ecologia e taxonomia sao escassos. No Estado de Sao Paulo, foram registrados somente 89 generos e 66 espàcies. Para contribuir no enriquecimento do conhecimento desta famılia, este trabalho teve como objetivo estudar a fauna de Chironominae no Parque Estadual de Campos do Jordao, pela inexistencia de dados para esta famılia na regiao e por apresentar caracterısticas peculiares para o Estado de Sao Paulo como: altitude elevada e clima subtropical de altitude (temperado). As amostras dos imaturos, utilizando-se amostrador tipo Surber e Rede em D , foram realizadas nos corregos Galharada e seu afluente, Campo do Meio e Casquilho, todos de baixa ordem, com leito pedregoso e protegido pela vegetac ao ripöria; suas öguas sao transparentes, frias, bem oxigenadas, öcidas, com valores de condutividade elàtrica e turbidez baixos. Os adultos foram capturados proximos aos pontos de coleta das larvas utilizando-se armadilha luminosa. Os resultados mostraram diferenc as na estrutura da comunidade de larvas entre os corregos. Atravàs das anölises, pode-se constatar o agrupamento dos pontos do corrego Galharada, situados numa regiao central do parque e representados principalmente pelos töxons aff.Omisus sp1 e Corynoneura. Jö os pontos dos corregos Campo do Meio e Casquilho, sujeitos a perturbac es antropicas, apresentaram domin ncia da espàcie aff. Pseudochironomus sp1. Os exemplares adultos apresentaram diversidade superior á das larvas, sendo registradas novas ocorrencias para o Estado de Sao Paulo (Neelamia e Paramerina), bem como novas espàcies (Antillocladius sp1 e Goeldichironomus sp). Os dados faunısticos serao incorporados e disponibilizados atravàs do Sistema de Informac ao Ambiental é SinBiota/FAPESP.

Lagoas costeiras, são corpos de água doce numerosos ao longo da costa brasileira, destacam-se principalmente como habitats para organismos aquáticos. São no entanto acossistemas sujeitos a grandes impactos antrópicos. No presente trabalho foram estudadas quatro lagoas costeiras da Área de Proteção Ambiental Parque das Dunas, em Salvador, Bahia, em dois períodos sazonais, chuvoso e seco, nos quais as lagoas foram comparadas. A comunidade de macroinvertebrados bentônicos foi utilizada como bioindicadora da qualidade ambiental. Dentre os organismos bentônicos, as larvas da família Chironomidae foram as mais frequentes e abundantes, sendo também estudada a dieta das mesmas com o objetivo de conhecer o papel desses organismos na estrutura e dinâmica trófica destas comunidades, através da observação de itens alimentares presentes no conteúdo de seus tubos digestivos. Os resultados da obtidos evidenciaram que as lagoas Vitória, Junco e Camarão tiveram águas com pH ácido, relativamente bem oxigenadas e de condutividade elétrica moderada em ambos os períodos amostrados. A riqueza de táxons foi moderada nas lagoas Vitória e Junco, variando de 13 a 21 táxons, e baixa nas lagoas do Camarão e Negra variando entre 8 e 14 táxons. Em relação à similaridade na composição das comunidades, as lagoas Vitória e do Camarão foram as mais semelhantes (50%), e a lagoa Negra a mais dissimilar (20%). Os indicadores utilizados evidenciaram que todas as lagoas estão perturbadas e necessitando ações de manejo, porém a Lagoa Negra deve ser priorizada quanto a ações de restauração. Em relação à ecologia trófica das larvas da família Chironomidae, os resultados evidenciaram o consumo de diversos itens alimentares como: algas, pequenos invertebrados, matéria orgânica amorfa e detrito particulado inorgânico. De acordo com o modo de alimentação e os itens consumidos, os diferentes táxons foram classificados em quatro grupos tróficos funcionais distintos: os Coletores - catadores detritívoros, o qual abrangeu a maioria dos gêneros de quironomídeos registrados nas lagoas; os Coletores- catadores herbívoros e os Predadores-onívoros, o qual abrangeu todos os gêneros de Tanypodinae e os Fragmentadores. Pode-se concluir que a onivoria é a provável estratégia que permite a coexistência de organismos de diferentes táxons aumentando assim a riqueza das larvas de Chironomidae nas lagoas costeiras avaliadas. / Coastal lakes are numerous freshwater bodies along Brazilian coast, being principally as habitats for the aquatic biota. They are nevertheless subject to great anthropogenic impacts. In the present work four coastal lakes located in the Protection Area of Parque das Dunas, in Salvador, Bahia, in two contrasting seasonal periods, the dry and the rainy periods, in which the lakes were compared. The benthic macro-invertebrates community was used as bio-indicator of environmental quality. Among the benthic organisms the dipteran larvae of the Chironomidae family were the most frequent and abundant. Their diet was also studied aiming to know the role of these organisms in the structure and trophic-dynamics of theses community by the analysis of the food items in their digestive tube. The results obtained have shown that lakes Vitória, Junco and Camarão had acidic, relatively well oxygenated and of moderate electrical conductivity waters in both periods sampled. The richness of taxa was moderate in lakes Vitória and Junco, varying from13 to 21 taxa, and low in lakes Camarão and Negra, varying between 8 and 14 taxa. Regarding the similarity among communities composition, lakes Vitória and Camarão were the most similar (50%), and Lake Negra the most different (20%). The indicators used evidenced that all lakes are under disturbances and require management actions, however, Lake Negra should be the priority for restauration actions. In relation to the trophic ecology of the Chironomidae larvae, the results evidenced the consumption of many food items as: algae, small invertebrates, decomposing organic matter, and particulate inorganic detritus. According to their feeding modes and consumed items the different taxa were classified in four distinct functional trophic groups: Collector-gatherer-detritivores, that comprised most chironomid taxa recorded in the coastal lakes; the Collector-gatherer-herbivores, the Predator-omnivores comprising all genera of the sub-family Tanypodinae and the Shredders. We concluded that probably omnivory is the strategy allowing the co-existence of organisms from many different taxa, being responsible for the richness of Chironomidae in the benthic communities of the studied coastal lakes.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T18:13:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Fernanda de A Gurski.pdf: 1608576 bytes, checksum: 475c7482fe1de32140a798e3ebb23954 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-08-12 / The heterogeneity of substrate in streams promotes the colonization and diversity of benthic organisms. Among them, Chironomidae larvae are one of the most abundant in aquatic ecosystems. This study aimed at determining the composition, richness, diversity and the existence of distribution patterns of Chironomidae larvae in different microhabitats of preserved streams of Atlantic Forest. Samplings were performed in February and August 2010, with a Surber-type sampler. The environmental variables analyzed were not significantly different between sampled streams, but the taxonomic richness of Chironomidae larvae was distinct between the microhabitats. In the total, 6,429 Chironomidae larvae were identified and classified into 96 taxa belonging to the subfamilies Chironominae, Tanypodinae and Ortocladiinae. The analyses of density, richness, evenness and diversity, in relation to the months, sites and microhabitats, have pointed out statistically significant differences in the larval distribution for the different microhabitats. Among them, the highest richness was observed in the deposits of litter, and the highest number of exclusive species took place in the pool regions. Thus, the composition and structure of the Chironomidae assemblage is directly related to the availability and heterogeneity of habitats in streams. / A heterogeneidade de substratos em riachos favorece a colonização e diversidade dos organismos bentônicos. Entre estes, as larvas de Chironomidae são uns dos mais abundantes em diversos ecossistemas aquáticos. Este trabalho teve como objetivo determinar a composição, a riqueza, a diversidade e a existência de padrões na distribuição de larvas de Chironomidae, em diferentes microhabitats de riachos preservados da Mata Atlântica. As coletas foram realizadas em fevereiro e agosto de 2010, com um amostrador tipo Surber. As variáveis ambientais analisadas não foram significativamente diferentes entre os riachos amostrados, porém a riqueza taxonômica de larvas de Chironomidae foi distinta entre os microhabitats. Foram identificadas 6.469 larvas de Chironomidae distribuídas em 96 táxons pertencentes às subfamílias Chironominae, Tanypodinae e Ortocladiinae. As análises de densidade, riqueza, equitabilidade e diversidade desta assembleia em relação aos meses, pontos e microhabitats indicaram diferenças, estatisticamente significativas, na distribuição das larvas apenas para os diferentes microhabitats. Entre eles, a maior riqueza foi observada nos depósitos de folhiços e os maiores números de espécies exclusivas ocorreram nas regiões de remansos. Assim, a composição e estrutura da assembleia de Chironomidae está diretamente relacionada à disponibilidade e à heterogeneidade de habitats em riachos.

Lake sediments contain the remains of midge communities that may be used as biological proxies for inferring past environmental changes. Freshwater midges, including Chironomidae and Chaoboridae, from two alpine tarns (Pyramid Lake and Bullwinkle Lake) in the Cassiar Mountains of northern British Columbia were used to estimate Holocene palaeotemperature changes, and more specifically, to test for the presence of the Milankovitch thermal maximum, an early Holocene warm interval coinciding with peak Holocene summer solar insolation. Mean July air temperatures were reconstructed using midge-inference models developed via weighted averaging-partial least squares (WA-PLS) regression. Cold-tolerant midge taxa dominate the stratigraphies from both Pyramid and Bullwinkle Lakes; however, warm-adapted species are more common in Bullwinkle Lake. Early Holocene warming is apparent at both lakes, however it is unclear whether this is indicative of the Milankovitch thermal maximum. A decrease in temperature occurs from 8,700-7,900 cal. yr BP at Pyramid Lake, around the same time that the 8,200 cal. yr BP cooling event occurred in the northern hemisphere. During the middle Holocene, records from Pyramid Lake indicate an overall decrease in temperature, with a short period of warmer temperatures that peak at 5,100 cal. yr BP. Temperatures fluctuate little during this time at Bullwinkle Lake. A short warming phase is apparent at both lakes during the late Holocene. July temperatures are highest at 2,000 cal. yr BP (10.5°C) in Pyramid Lake and at 1,200 cal. yr BP (13°C) in Bullwinkle Lake. Thereafter, temperatures return to what they were before the warming occurred, and at Bullwinkle Lake, vary little throughout the remainder of the Holocene.

Lake sediments contain the remains of midge communities that may be used as biological proxies for inferring past environmental changes. Freshwater midges, including Chironomidae and Chaoboridae, from two alpine tarns (Pyramid Lake and Bullwinkle Lake) in the Cassiar Mountains of northern British Columbia were used to estimate Holocene palaeotemperature changes, and more specifically, to test for the presence of the Milankovitch thermal maximum, an early Holocene warm interval coinciding with peak Holocene summer solar insolation. Mean July air temperatures were reconstructed using midge-inference models developed via weighted averaging-partial least squares (WA-PLS) regression. Cold-tolerant midge taxa dominate the stratigraphies from both Pyramid and Bullwinkle Lakes; however, warm-adapted species are more common in Bullwinkle Lake. Early Holocene warming is apparent at both lakes, however it is unclear whether this is indicative of the Milankovitch thermal maximum. A decrease in temperature occurs from 8,700-7,900 cal. yr BP at Pyramid Lake, around the same time that the 8,200 cal. yr BP cooling event occurred in the northern hemisphere. During the middle Holocene, records from Pyramid Lake indicate an overall decrease in temperature, with a short period of warmer temperatures that peak at 5,100 cal. yr BP. Temperatures fluctuate little during this time at Bullwinkle Lake. A short warming phase is apparent at both lakes during the late Holocene. July temperatures are highest at 2,000 cal. yr BP (10.5°C) in Pyramid Lake and at 1,200 cal. yr BP (13°C) in Bullwinkle Lake. Thereafter, temperatures return to what they were before the warming occurred, and at Bullwinkle Lake, vary little throughout the remainder of the Holocene.

Bibliography: leaves 214-235 / iv, 235 leaves : ill ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Zoology, 1987