Islands are valuable research systems for evolution and conservation, but most work has focused on oceanic islands. Far less study has occurred on near-shore islands where inter-island and island-mainland dispersal is an important microevolutionary process. Further studies in near-shore systems would aid the expansion of island evolutionary theory and conservation initiatives. In this thesis, I studied populations of Song Sparrows (Melospiza melodia) on near-shore islands along the Pacific coast of North America to examine the causes and consequences of dispersal for microevolutionary and ecological processes. Within an island metapopulation, where inter-island distances ranged from 200m to 2km, male and female immigration rates were influenced by adult density and sex ratio respectively, suggesting that intrasexual territoriality influences immigration. Islands differed in immigration levels, with low immigration and high resident recruitment on more isolated islands. I next examine genetic structuring at a larger spatial scale (0-300km). I found that the scale of genetic structuring within continuously distributed populations was less than 10km, suggesting that Song Sparrows are a sedentary passerine. Regional comparisons revealed that holding geographic distance constant, larger genetic distances occur in areas located at subspecific boundaries or across water barriers. The apparent reduction in dispersal to islands had broad-scale consequences. Across Pacific Coast islands, island populations consistently had lower genetic variation than mainland populations. Small and remote island populations tended to have the lowest genetic variation. From an in situ conservation stance, populations on large, remote islands could be important contributors to intraspecific genetic diversity because of high genetic differentiation. Finally, I link genetic structuring with contemporary dispersal and show that migration rates among the Channel Islands are low, suggesting that these islands are demographically independent. The absence of shared mtDNA haplotypes between extant and extinct populations suggests that inter-island migration was historically low, potentially explaining why the two extirpated islands have not been recolonized. Collectively, my thesis results increase our understanding of the mechanisms of divergence on insular populations by examining factors affecting dispersal, the spatial scale of divergence and estimating the consequences of reduced gene flow on islands for broad-scale patterns of genetic variation, microevolution and demographic stability.

Islands are valuable research systems for evolution and conservation, but most work has focused on oceanic islands. Far less study has occurred on near-shore islands where inter-island and island-mainland dispersal is an important microevolutionary process. Further studies in near-shore systems would aid the expansion of island evolutionary theory and conservation initiatives. In this thesis, I studied populations of Song Sparrows (Melospiza melodia) on near-shore islands along the Pacific coast of North America to examine the causes and consequences of dispersal for microevolutionary and ecological processes. Within an island metapopulation, where inter-island distances ranged from 200m to 2km, male and female immigration rates were influenced by adult density and sex ratio respectively, suggesting that intrasexual territoriality influences immigration. Islands differed in immigration levels, with low immigration and high resident recruitment on more isolated islands. I next examine genetic structuring at a larger spatial scale (0-300km). I found that the scale of genetic structuring within continuously distributed populations was less than 10km, suggesting that Song Sparrows are a sedentary passerine. Regional comparisons revealed that holding geographic distance constant, larger genetic distances occur in areas located at subspecific boundaries or across water barriers. The apparent reduction in dispersal to islands had broad-scale consequences. Across Pacific Coast islands, island populations consistently had lower genetic variation than mainland populations. Small and remote island populations tended to have the lowest genetic variation. From an in situ conservation stance, populations on large, remote islands could be important contributors to intraspecific genetic diversity because of high genetic differentiation. Finally, I link genetic structuring with contemporary dispersal and show that migration rates among the Channel Islands are low, suggesting that these islands are demographically independent. The absence of shared mtDNA haplotypes between extant and extinct populations suggests that inter-island migration was historically low, potentially explaining why the two extirpated islands have not been recolonized. Collectively, my thesis results increase our understanding of the mechanisms of divergence on insular populations by examining factors affecting dispersal, the spatial scale of divergence and estimating the consequences of reduced gene flow on islands for broad-scale patterns of genetic variation, microevolution and demographic stability.

As Cartas de Sensibilidade Ambiental para Derramamentos de óleo (Cartas SAO) constituem um componente essencial e fonte de informação primária para o planejamento de contingência, balizamento das ações de resposta e avaliação de danos em casos de derramamento de óleo. Este trabalho teve como objetivo geral, elaborar um mapa de sensibilidade ambiental a vazamentos de óleo para os ambientes insulares do município de Ubatuba, Litoral Norte do Estado de São Paulo; os objetivos específicos visaram realizar a caracterização e o diagnóstico ambiental da região. A metodologia adotada para o presente trabalho está baseada na proposta elaborada pelo Ministério do Meio Ambiente nas Especificações e Normas Técnicas para Elaboração das Cartas de Sensibilidade Ambiental a Derramamentos de Óleo (Cartas SAO), e seus Anexos (MMA, 2004). Contemplou uma etapa prévia de levantamento de dados, uma etapa de trabalho de campo, realizada no verão e no inverno de 2007, a elaboração da base cartográfica georreferenciada e por fim a migração dos dados obtidos em campo para a base gerada e para o banco de dados. Como resultado obteve-se a caracterização das 34 unidades insulares do município de Ubatuba (16 ilhas, 7 ilhotes e 11 lajes) nos seguintes aspectos: físico (clima, geologia, geomorfologia e oceanografia); ambiental (fauna e flora presentes e os ecossistemas costeiros) e socioeconômico (atividades antrópicas, usos do ambiente, estruturas e os impactos gerados), e ainda, a determinação da sensibilidade ambiental dos ecossistemas insulares presentes. Foram identificadas 11 praias, localizadas em 6 ilhas, com características geomorfológicas e topográficas distintas. As praias foram classificadas com índice de sensibilidade 4, pelo fato de estarem abrigadas das ações das ondas e correntes. A maior parte dos ambientes mapeados (44,8%) foi classificada com índice de sensibilidade 8, indicando o alto grau de sensibilidade das regiões insulares. Os impactos gerados por derrame de óleo em ambientes costeiros podem ser significativamente minimizados durante as ações emergenciais, quando há um conhecimento prévio dos ecossistemas que integram a área atingida e especialmente se o ambiente está mapeado e com suas características registradas e disponíveis em bancos de dados. O mapeamento de sensibilidade ambiental é um importante instrumento de gestão e manejo, principalmente em se tratando de áreas sensíveis e carentes de instrumentos de gestão, como os ambientes insulares da região de Ubatuba. / The Environmental Sensitivity Maps for Oil Spills (SAO Charts) constitute an essential component and source of basic information for emergency planning, response decision support and damage evaluation in case of oil spills. This study had as a goal the elaboration of a sensitivity map for oil spills at Ubatuba islands, north coast of the State of São Paulo; the specific objectives were the characterization and the environmental diagnosis of the study area. The adopted methodology is based on the method proposed by the Brazilian Federal Ministry of Environment defined as Technical Specifications for the creation of Environmental Sensitivity Maps for oil spills (SAO charts) and its Appendices (MMA, 2004). The study had a previous information compilation followed by the field work carried out in summer and winter of 2007; the elaboration of the cartographic base (geographic data) and finally the migration of the data to a GIS (Geographic Information System). As a result it was registered and mapped the physical (geology, geomorphology, oceanography, climatology), biological (fauna, flora, coastal environments) and socioeconomic (anthropic influence, human use, artificial structures and impacts) aspects of Ubatuba coastal islands. The oil spill impacts on coastal environments can be significantly minimized during the contingency actions, if it is available a GIS structure, showing a previous knowledge of the ecosystems that compose the islands environment, with easy-to-use maps and databanks. The environmental sensitivity mapping is an important instrument of management, especially when dealing with sensible and poorly studied areas like the islands of Ubatuba.

Islands are valuable research systems for evolution and conservation, but most work has focused on oceanic islands. Far less study has occurred on near-shore islands where inter-island and island-mainland dispersal is an important microevolutionary process. Further studies in near-shore systems would aid the expansion of island evolutionary theory and conservation initiatives. In this thesis, I studied populations of Song Sparrows (Melospiza melodia) on near-shore islands along the Pacific coast of North America to examine the causes and consequences of dispersal for microevolutionary and ecological processes. Within an island metapopulation, where inter-island distances ranged from 200m to 2km, male and female immigration rates were influenced by adult density and sex ratio respectively, suggesting that intrasexual territoriality influences immigration. Islands differed in immigration levels, with low immigration and high resident recruitment on more isolated islands. I next examine genetic structuring at a larger spatial scale (0-300km). I found that the scale of genetic structuring within continuously distributed populations was less than 10km, suggesting that Song Sparrows are a sedentary passerine. Regional comparisons revealed that holding geographic distance constant, larger genetic distances occur in areas located at subspecific boundaries or across water barriers. The apparent reduction in dispersal to islands had broad-scale consequences. Across Pacific Coast islands, island populations consistently had lower genetic variation than mainland populations. Small and remote island populations tended to have the lowest genetic variation. From an in situ conservation stance, populations on large, remote islands could be important contributors to intraspecific genetic diversity because of high genetic differentiation. Finally, I link genetic structuring with contemporary dispersal and show that migration rates among the Channel Islands are low, suggesting that these islands are demographically independent. The absence of shared mtDNA haplotypes between extant and extinct populations suggests that inter-island migration was historically low, potentially explaining why the two extirpated islands have not been recolonized. Collectively, my thesis results increase our understanding of the mechanisms of divergence on insular populations by examining factors affecting dispersal, the spatial scale of divergence and estimating the consequences of reduced gene flow on islands for broad-scale patterns of genetic variation, microevolution and demographic stability. / Forestry, Faculty of / Graduate