To test the applicability of anuran tadpole functional ecology with regards to diet as a tool to determine ecosystem function of aquatic habitats, all the presently known as southern Africa anuran species’ tadpoles were assigned to ecomorphological guilds. The data set included 106 anuran tadpole species and 84 variables, which include: 23 habitat; 49 morphological; 9 behavioral; and 3 development (time metamorphosis) related variables. Although the data set for the guild delineation did not include genetic data, a phylogeny (evolutionary approach) was used to obtain a tree where species are grouped together based on shared characteristics, similar to that of a cluster analysis where each cluster or group is a guild. Maximum parsimony was employed with PAUP 4.0b10 to construct consensus trees using heuristic search settings. The phylogenetic/taxonomic affiliation of the species in each ecomorphological guilds’ was also observed by constructing a phylogenetic tree. The 12S and 16S mitochondrial gene sequences were retrieved from Genbank, to represent the major lineages documented in the anurans of southern Africa thus far. The ecomorphological guild delineation was further supported by quantify tadpole gut contents to determine their trophic status. Information on the feeding behavior of four guilds was obtained by analyzing a representative anuran tadpole species from each. The IUCN red list of threatened species was consulted to obtain the conservation status of the 106 anuran species used for this study, which made it possible to determine whether there is a link between species found in the same ecomorphological guilds and those species’ conservation status. Considering the high diversity of anuran species in the Phongolo region (offering access to a variety of tadpole guilds), and the ability to analyse the diatom communities found in the gut contents of tadpoles. A portion of this study supplemented the assessment of ecosystem functioning and management of aquatic resources of the lower Phongolo River and floodplain, by providing information regarding the health. Diatom bioassessment was applied as a tool for inferring water quality. The polygenetic approach proved to be very effective for the guild delineation, permitting the recognition of 10 fully characterized ecomorphological guilds, a number of which corresponded with previously characterized guilds. Terminology had to be produced for three new guilds, based on the guild defining criteria. The polygeny of the anuran species within the guild, although belonging to different genera and families belonged to the same phylogenetic clade. The trophic analysis supports the guild delineation, since a clear distinction could be made between the percentage and combination of materials from each trophic category ingested by tadpoles from different ecomorphological guilds. Even though some similarity can be seen between species, based on the criteria for the endangered status, there was still no true correlation between IUCN status and ecomorphological guild. The fact that the critically endangered, endangered and vulnerable species are distributed over so many guilds further emphasizes the extent of amphibian decline. The majority of the diatom species found in the Phongolo River and floodplain favor brackish water, with a moderate to high electrolyte content. Indicating that the Phongolo River and the section of the floodplain considered for this study had a high salinity. This might be due to the water bodies’ close proximity to the coast. The diatom index scores indicated the presence of organic pollutants and labelled these water bodies as mesotrophic to eutrophic. / MSc (Environmental Sciences), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

To test the applicability of anuran tadpole functional ecology with regards to diet as a tool to determine ecosystem function of aquatic habitats, all the presently known as southern Africa anuran species’ tadpoles were assigned to ecomorphological guilds. The data set included 106 anuran tadpole species and 84 variables, which include: 23 habitat; 49 morphological; 9 behavioral; and 3 development (time metamorphosis) related variables. Although the data set for the guild delineation did not include genetic data, a phylogeny (evolutionary approach) was used to obtain a tree where species are grouped together based on shared characteristics, similar to that of a cluster analysis where each cluster or group is a guild. Maximum parsimony was employed with PAUP 4.0b10 to construct consensus trees using heuristic search settings. The phylogenetic/taxonomic affiliation of the species in each ecomorphological guilds’ was also observed by constructing a phylogenetic tree. The 12S and 16S mitochondrial gene sequences were retrieved from Genbank, to represent the major lineages documented in the anurans of southern Africa thus far. The ecomorphological guild delineation was further supported by quantify tadpole gut contents to determine their trophic status. Information on the feeding behavior of four guilds was obtained by analyzing a representative anuran tadpole species from each. The IUCN red list of threatened species was consulted to obtain the conservation status of the 106 anuran species used for this study, which made it possible to determine whether there is a link between species found in the same ecomorphological guilds and those species’ conservation status. Considering the high diversity of anuran species in the Phongolo region (offering access to a variety of tadpole guilds), and the ability to analyse the diatom communities found in the gut contents of tadpoles. A portion of this study supplemented the assessment of ecosystem functioning and management of aquatic resources of the lower Phongolo River and floodplain, by providing information regarding the health. Diatom bioassessment was applied as a tool for inferring water quality. The polygenetic approach proved to be very effective for the guild delineation, permitting the recognition of 10 fully characterized ecomorphological guilds, a number of which corresponded with previously characterized guilds. Terminology had to be produced for three new guilds, based on the guild defining criteria. The polygeny of the anuran species within the guild, although belonging to different genera and families belonged to the same phylogenetic clade. The trophic analysis supports the guild delineation, since a clear distinction could be made between the percentage and combination of materials from each trophic category ingested by tadpoles from different ecomorphological guilds. Even though some similarity can be seen between species, based on the criteria for the endangered status, there was still no true correlation between IUCN status and ecomorphological guild. The fact that the critically endangered, endangered and vulnerable species are distributed over so many guilds further emphasizes the extent of amphibian decline. The majority of the diatom species found in the Phongolo River and floodplain favor brackish water, with a moderate to high electrolyte content. Indicating that the Phongolo River and the section of the floodplain considered for this study had a high salinity. This might be due to the water bodies’ close proximity to the coast. The diatom index scores indicated the presence of organic pollutants and labelled these water bodies as mesotrophic to eutrophic. / MSc (Environmental Sciences), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

No description available.

In this thesis I synthesized different aspects related to diversity, distribution, uses and conservation of medicinal plants in Nepal and also have attempted to recommend guidelines for sustainability of two highly used alpine plant species. The over-harvesting or human induced activities are not the only problem for biodiversity but recently invasion of alien species has also emerged as serious problem in Nepal. I thus also attempted to analyze the effect of invasive species on community composition in the last paper. The first two papers deal with diversity, distribution, uses and harvesting. Paper I showed that medicinal plants in Nepal have unimodal relationship with elevation and the maximum total species richness is at 1000 m. Paper II which deals with the uses of medicinal plants in the Humla region, west Nepal showed that there are 161 medicinal plant species belonging to 61 families and 106 genera used for treating 72 human and 7 veterinary ailments. Medicinal plants in Humla were mostly collected in wild. This induces a serious threat to diversity of the medicinal plants and it is therefore necessary to develop proper management guidelines for their harvesting in wild and/or their domestication. Rheum australe, an endemic plant to west Himalayan region, is widely used plant in traditional...

Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais / Myrtaceae is recognized for being one of the most abundant angiosperm family in greater part of brazilian vegetational formation, always appearing between the most representative families on the floristic surveys. The family is also well represented on the Cerrado s phytophysiognomies, mostly the campo rupestres , emerging between the 10 families with the highest richness at the already inventoried areas. Myrcia DC., one of the family most representative genus, shows about 400 species, with Minas Gerais and Goias states considered the main distribution center. This study has the purpose to catalog Myrcia s species that occur at Minas Gerais campos rupestres , providing diagnosis, occurrence and conservation data for the species from Minas Gerais state. The checklist were carried out amongst the analysis of nearly 2.500 exsicatas of Myrcia stored at BHCB, HUFU, MBM, OUPR, RB, SP, SPF and UEC herbaria. Additional collect were realized at the Ouro Branco, Ouro Preto, Lavras Novas, Biribiri, Milho Verde, Conselheiro Mata, Diamantina, Mendanha, Cabral, Cristália, Grão-Mogol and Botumirim slopes. Myrcia is represented at Minas Gerais campos rupestres for 42 species, twelve of this species has a vast distribution on the state, which arises practically all campos rupestres area. From this amount, 23 species crop up in campo rupeste , as in cerrado s.s. or in forest formations associated with campos rupestres physiognomy. Nine species occurs only in campo rupestre in Minas Gerais, and shows restrict distribution to a few areas in the state, cause of it they are considered typical of these areas. In reference of the conservation status, 26 species are related to the vulnerable category, two at the endangered and other two at the critically endangered categories. Only twelve species are included at the low risk category, for being abundant and well distributed at Minas Gerais slopes. / Myrtaceae é uma das famílias de angiospermas reconhecidamente abundantes em várias formações vegetacionais do Brasil, figurando sempre entre as famílias mais representativas nos inventários florísticos. A família encontra-se bem representada também nas diferentes fitofisionomias do bioma Cerrado, principalmente nos campos rupestres, figurando sempre entre as 10 famílias de maior riqueza nas áreas já inventariadas. O gênero Myrcia DC., um dos mais representativos da família, apresenta cerca de 400 espécies, sendo os estados de Minas Gerais e Goiás considerados os principais centros de distribuição. O presente estudo teve como objetivos levantar as espécies de Myrcia que ocorrem nos campos rupestres de Minas Gerais, fornecer diagnoses das espécies, chave de identificação para as espécies que ocorrem nos campos rupestres, bem como dados de ocorrência e de conservação dessas espécies no estado de Minas Gerais. O inventário das espécies foi realizado através da análise de aproximadamente 2.500 exsicatas de Myrcia depositados nos herbários BHCB, HUFU, MBM, OUPR, RB, SP, SPF e UEC. Coletas adicionais foram feitas nas Serras de Ouro Branco, Ouro Preto, Lavras Novas, Biribiri, Milho Verde, Conselheiro Mata, Diamantina, Mendanha, do Cabral, Cristália, Grão-Mogol e Botumirim. O gênero Myrcia encontra-se representado nos campos rupestres de Minas Gerais por 42 espécies, com doze delas apresentando distribuição ampla no estado, ocorrendo em praticamente todas as áreas de campo rupestre. Deste total 23 espécies ocorrem tanto em campo rupestre, como em cerrado s.s. ou formações florestais associadas aos campos rupestres, nove espécies ocorrem apenas em campo rupestre em Minas Gerais, e apresentam distribuição restrita a poucas áreas do estado, sendo por isso consideradas típicas destas áreas. Com relação ao estado de conservação, 26 espécies são relacionadas na categoria vulnerável, duas na categoria em perigo e duas na categoria criticamente em perigo. Apenas doze espécies enquadram-se na categoria baixo risco, por serem abundantes no ambiente e amplamente distribuídas nas serras mineiras. / Mestre em Ecologia e Conservação de Recursos Naturais

Submitted by (edna.saturno@ufrpe.br) on 2016-06-16T15:24:21Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Elifabia Neves de Lima (1).pdf: 1520164 bytes, checksum: 9882ec7f35383eb5dcd61ba913d4c80e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-16T15:24:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Elifabia Neves de Lima (1).pdf: 1520164 bytes, checksum: 9882ec7f35383eb5dcd61ba913d4c80e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-02-25 / Studies have shown that not only herbs can affect the survival and establishment of seedlings of woody but also woody may affect the establishment of herbs in dry environments. Since the herbaceous component is abundant in Caatinga region, it is expected that the dynamics of the herbs can interfere during the wood population regenerative dynamics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role that the herbaceous component plays during some wood species early regeneration phase in an abandoned farming area, called anthropogenic , and preserved vegetation in Caruaru, Pernambuco. There were 50 1x1m area plots, randomly assigned to a piece of 1ha. Monthly, the herbaceous vegetation was removed, manually, from 25 plots and kept on the other 25 plots in each area. As for the plots, all wood plants seedlings were marked and recruited, then, their growth and survival were observed. Among the wood seedlings monitored in the plots, two species were selected in order to have their survival and development monitored: Croton blanchetianus Baill. (Euphorbiaceae) and Poincianella pyramidalis Tul. L. P. Queiroz (Fabaceae). We recorded a total of 13 wood species, with a total of 1139 seedlings born in anthropogenic area and 494 seedlings born in the preserved area. Wood seedling mortality in community was significantly higher during the rainy season for both areas. Births and deaths in the impacted area were significantly higher in plots without herbs in 2008 and 2009, and in the preserved area they were significantly higher in plots with herbs in 2008. In both areas, seedling cohorts born at the beginning of the rainy season had a greater chance of survival when compared to cohorts recruited during the late period of rainy season. The relationship between the density of herbaceous and woody seedling density in the impacted and preserved area was significant. C. blanchetianus and P. pyramidalis population synchronized births at the beginning of the rainy season, allowing most of their subjects to have time to grow and to survive during the dry season. The species have shown differences concerning their preference for habitats forming larger populations of C. blanchetianus in the impacted area and P. pyramidalis ones in the preserved area. As for C. blanchetianus in the impacted area the role of herbs in population survival varied between years. In the preserved area the maintenance of the herbaceous layer favored the survival of seedlings, but did not favor their growth. As for P. pyramidalis herbaceous plants favored survival in the preserved area, but they had a negative effect on its recruitment and growth. The growth rate varied, sometimes negatively, sometimes positively, for both species during both seasons, indicating the existence of different competitive abilities concerning the individuals. The results show that the herbs affect the recruitment, survival and development of wood seedlings, but the result of plant-plant interaction, whether positive or negative for those involved, depended on the species and the conservation status of the area. / Estudos vêm demonstrando que tanto as herbáceas podem afetar a sobrevivência e o estabelecimento de plântulas de lenhosas quanto lenhosas podem afetar o estabelecimento das ervas em ambientes secos. Como o componente herbáceo é abundante na caatinga, espera-se que a dinâmica das ervas possa interferir na dinâmica regenerativa das populações lenhosas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o papel que o componente herbáceo exerce na fase inicial da regeneração de algumas espécies lenhosas em uma área de cultivo abandonada, chamada de antropizada, e de vegetação preservada, em Caruaru, Pernambuco. Foram alocadas 50 parcelas de 1x1m por área, distribuídas aleatoriamente em um trecho de 1ha. Mensalmente, a vegetação herbácea foi retirada, manualmente, de 25 parcelas e mantida nas demais 25 parcelas em cada área. Nas parcelas foram marcadas todas as plântulas de lenhosas recrutadas e foram acompanhados seu crescimento e sobrevivência. Entre as plântulas lenhosas monitoradas nas parcelas foram selecionadas duas espécies para acompanhar sua sobrevivência e desenvolvimento: Croton blanchetianus Baill. (Euphorbiaceae) e Poincianella pyramidalis Tul. L.P. Queiroz (Fabaceae). Foram registradas um total de 13 espécies lenhosas, com um total de 1139 plântulas nascidas na área antropizada e 494 plântulas nascidas na área preservada. A mortalidade das plântulas lenhosas na comunidade foi significativamente maior na estação chuvosa para ambas as áreas. Os nascimentos e mortes na área antropizada foram significativamente maiores nas parcelas sem herbáceas em 2008 e 2009, e na área preservada foram significativamente maiores nas parcelas com herbáceas em 2008. Em ambas as áreas, coortes de plântulas nascidas no início da estação chuvosa apresentaram maior chance de sobrevivência quando comparadas a coortes recrutadas no final da estação chuva. A relação entre a densidade de herbáceas e a densidade de regenerantes lenhosos na área antropizada e preservada foi significativa. As populações de C. blanchetianus e P. pyramidalis sincronizaram nascimentos no início da estação chuvosa, possibilitando que a maioria de seus indivíduos tivesse tempo para se desenvolver e sobreviver durante a estação seca. As espécies apresentaram diferenças quanto à preferência por habitats formando maiores populações de C. blanchetianus na área antropizada e P. pyramidalis na área preservada. Para C. blanchetianus na área antropizada o papel das ervas na sobrevivência dessa população variou entre anos. Na área preservada a manutenção da camada herbácea favoreceu a sobrevivência das plântulas, porém não favoreceu seu crescimento. Para P. pyramidalis as herbáceas favoreceram a sobrevivência na área preservada, mas tiveram efeito negativo no seu recrutamento e o crescimento. O crescimento variou de negativo a positivo para ambas as espécies nas duas estações climáticas, apontando a existência de diferentes habilidades competitivas nos indivíduos. Os resultados mostram que as herbáceas influenciam o recrutamento, a sobrevivência e o desenvolvimento das plântulas lenhosas, porém o resultado da interação planta-planta, se positivo ou negativo para os envolvidos, dependeram da espécie e do status de conservação da área.

Το Εθνικό Θαλάσσιο Πάρκο Ζακύνθου περιλαμβάνει τη θαλάσσια έκταση και τις νησίδες του Κόλπου του Λαγανά, τις παραλίες ωοτοκίας της θαλάσσιας χελώνας Caretta caretta (Γέρακας, Δάφνη, Σεκάνια, Καλαμάκι, Ανατολικός Λαγανάς και Μαραθονήσι) και μια ζώνη γης, που περιβάλλει αυτές, τον υγρότοπο της Λίμνης Κερίου και τις Νήσους Στροφάδες. Ιδρύθηκε με κύριο σκοπό τη διατήρηση και την προστασία των σημαντικότερων παραλιών ωοτοκίας στη Μεσόγειο της θαλάσσιας χελώνας Caretta caretta και του θαλάσσιου και χερσαίου χώρου που τις περιβάλλει. Η συνολική έκταση της χερσαίας περιοχής του Ε.Θ.Π.Ζ. είναι περίπου 45km². Η περιοχή μελέτης περιλαμβάνει το σύνολο σχεδόν της χερσαίας έκτασής του (εκτός από τις νήσους Στροφάδες), μέρος της οποίας συγκαταλέγεται στο έργο οικοτόπων, Φύση 2000, στην Ελλάδα (Κωδικός Περιοχής: GR 2210002). Η χλωρίδα της χερσαίας περιοχής του Εθνικού Θαλάσσιου Πάρκου Ζακύνθου είχε μελετηθεί κατά το παρελθόν στα πλαίσια της Ειδικής Περιβαλλοντικής Μελέτης για τον κόλπο του Λαγανά (ΥΠΕΧΩΔΕ, 1997), όπου καταγράφηκαν 173 taxa. Επιπροσθέτως, έρευνες που αφορούν στη καταγραφή της χλωρίδας της Ζακύνθου και αναφέρονται λιγότερο ή περισσότερο και σε περιοχές που απαρτίζουν το Ε.Θ.Π.Ζ αποτελούν οι εργασίες των Margot & Reuter (1839 & 1841), Bornmüller (1928) και Ronniger (1941), στις οποίες αναφέρονται 150 φυτικά taxa. Εφόσον, τα τελευταία χρόνια, δεν υπάρχει μια ολοκληρωμένη εργασία, θεωρήθηκε σκόπιμη η πλήρης καταγραφή της χλωρίδας της συγκεκριμένης προστατευόμενης περιοχής με τη συλλογή φυτικών δειγμάτων από κάθε τύπο οικοτόπου. Επιπρόσθετα, ολόκληρη η Ζάκυνθος χαρακτηρίζεται από πλούσια χλωρίδα και βλάστηση, ενώ χαρακτηριστικό είναι το γεγονός ότι απαντώνται σε αυτήν 34 ελληνικά ενδημικά φυτικά taxa, εκ των οποίων τα τέσσερα (Asperula naufraga, Limonium phitosianum, Limonium zacynthium και Micromeria browiczii) αποτελούν αποκλειστικά ενδημικά taxa της νήσου. Έτσι, θεωρήθηκε χρήσιμη η βίο-παρακολούθηση αυτών των taxa, προκειμένου να αξιολογήσουμε την κατάσταση διατήρησής τους με τη χρήση των νέων κριτηρίων της IUCN (2012). Η βίο-παρακολούθηση πραγματοποιήθηκε στα τρία από τα τέσσερα taxa, λόγω μη έγκαιρου εντοπισμού του είδους Asperula naufraga, με την κατάλληλη τοποθέτηση μόνιμων δειγματοληπτικών επιφανειών 25m² για κάθε taxon και τη μελέτη της χωρικής τους κατανομής και της αναπαραγωγικής βιολογίας τους. Σύμφωνα με τα αποτελέσματα, η χλωρίδα του Εθνικού Θαλάσσιου Πάρκου Ζακύνθου συνίσταται από 559 taxa, από τα οποία τα 236 αποτελούν νέες αναφορές για την περιοχή μελέτης. Οι οικογένειες με την υψηλότερη α ποικιλότητα είναι κατά σειρά οι Asteraceae (72 taxa), Fabaceae (67 taxa) και Poaceae (42 taxa), γεγονός που αντικατοπτρίζει την επικρατούσα κατάσταση στον ελληνικό χώρο. Επιπλέον, αναδείχτηκε ο έντονος μεσογειακός χαρακτήρας της χλωρίδας της υπό εξέταση περιοχής με την κυριαρχία των θεροφύτων στο βιολογικό φάσμα και των μεσογειακών στοιχείων στο χωρολογικό φάσμα. Ωστόσο, το μεγάλο ποσοστό συμμετοχής των κοσμοπολιτικών-υποκοσμοπολιτικών στοιχείων και των αλλόχθονων taxa στην χλωρίδα της περιοχής, υποδεικνύει την έντονη ανθρωπογενή επίδραση που φαίνεται να έχει ενταθεί κατά τα τελευταία χρόνια. Τέλος, καταγράφηκαν 12 ελληνικά ενδημικά taxa στην περιοχή, από τα οποία τα δύο (Limonium phitosianum και Limonium zacynthium) αποτελούν αποκλειστικά ενδημικά taxa για τη Ζάκυνθο. Η παρακολούθηση του είδους Micromeria browiczii καθόρισε το εύρος εξάπλωσής του (ΕΟΟ) στα 117km² και την έκταση κάλυψης στα 1,6 km². Το μέγεθος του πληθυσμού του εκτιμήθηκε στα 5.250 άτομα, ενώ η ΣΑΕ του είδους είναι πολύ χαμηλή (30%). Το Limonium zacynthium έχει εύρος εξάπλωσης 171,3 km² και έκταση κάλυψης 0,3 km². Το μέγεθος του πληθυσμού του εκτιμήθηκε στα 1.168 άτομα και η ΣΑΕ του είδους βρέθηκε αρκετά υψηλή (64,2%). Τέλος, το Limonium phitosianum έχει εύρος εξάπλωσης 93,5 km² και έκταση κάλυψης 0,17 km². Το μέγεθος του πληθυσμού εκτιμήθηκε στα 2.470 άτομα και η ΣΑΕ βρέθηκε πολύ υψηλή (79,1%). Βάσει των διαθέσιμων στοιχείων και τα τρία είδη κατατάσσονται στην κατηγορία Κρισίμως Κινδινεύον (CR) (IUCN, 2012), κυρίως λόγω της περιορισμένης χωρικής τους κατανομής, ωστόσο η αύξηση των σειρών δεδομένων σε θέματα παρακολούθησης αποτελεί απαραίτητο στοιχείο για να διαφανεί η τάση του πληθυσμού κάθε είδους και για την ανάλυση της βιωσιμότητας των πληθυσμών τους σε μεταγενέστερο στάδιο. / The National Marine Park of Zakynthos (N.M.P.Z.) includes the marine area and islands of the Bay of Laganas, nesting beaches of the sea turtle Caretta caretta (Gerakas, Daphne, Secania, Kalamaki, Laganas and Marathonisi East) and a belt land that surrounds them, the wetland of Keri Lake and the Strophadia Islands The founding of this National Marine Park began with the fundamental purpose of conservation and protection of important nesting beaches of the Mediterranean sea turtle Caretta caretta and the marine and terrestrial space surrounding them. The total land area of Marine Park is approximately 45km ². The study area includes almost the entire land area (excluding Strophadia Islands). A part of this area is included in the project of network Natura 2000 in Greece (Region Code: GR 2210002). The flora of the land area of the National Marine Park of Zakynthos had been studied previously in the context of the Special Environmental Study for the Laganas Gulf (Ministry of Environment, 1997) and had recorded 173 taxa. In addition, the work of Margot & Reuter (1839 & 1841), Bornmüller (1928) and Ronniger (1941 ), which listed 212 plant taxa, constitute a previous research related to the flora of Zakynthos and also referred in areas of the N.M.P.Z. Since, in recent years, there was no comprehensive work, it was considered appropriate to fully record the flora of the protected area by collecting plant samples from each habitat type. Additionally, the entire Zakynthos is characterized by a rich flora and vegetation, while it is important the fact that 34 Greek endemic plant taxa occur in this region, four of them (Asperula naufraga, Limonium phitosianum, Limonium zacynthium and Micromeria browiczii) are exclusively endemic taxa of island. Thus, the bio-monitoring of these taxa was considered useful, in order to evaluate their conservation status using the new criteria of IUCN (2012). The bio-monitoring took place in three of the four taxa, due to the failure in time of localization and identification of the species Asperula naufraga. Permanent sample surfaces had been placed with proper placement. These surfaces were 25m ² for each taxon and we studied their spatial distribution and their reproductive biology. According to the results of this study in the National Marine Park, the flora of this area consists of 559 taxa. 236 of these taxa are new records for the study area. The families with the highest diversity in order are Asteraceae (72 taxa), Fabaceae (67 taxa) and Poaceae (42 taxa), reflecting the status of Greek area. Moreover, the strong Mediterranean character of flora of this area designated with the dominance of therophytes in the biological spectrum and the dominance of Mediterranean elements in chorological spectrum. However, the large proportion of cosmopolitan, semi-cosmopolitan elements and alien taxa in the flora of our area indicates a strong anthropogenic influence which seems to have increased in recent years. Finally, there are 12 Greek endemic taxa in the area, two of them (Limonium phitosianum and Limonium zacynthium) are exclusively endemic for Zakynthos. By monitoring Micromeria browiczii, the extent of occurrence (EOO) estimated 117km ² and the area of occupancy (AOO) 1,6 km ². Population size was estimated at 5.250 mature individuals, while the R.R.S. (Relative Reproductive Success) of the species was very low (30%). EOO of Limonium zacynthium is 171,3 km ² and AOO is 0,3 km². The population size was estimated at 1.168 mature individuals and the R.R.S. of the species was found quite high (64.2%). Finally, Limonium phitosianum has EOO 93,5 km ² and AOO 0,17 km ². The size of the population was estimated at 2.470 mature individuals and R.R.S. was found very high (79.1%). Based on the available data, these three species classified as Critical endangered (CR) (IUCN, 2012), mainly because of their limited spatial distribution. However, the increase of datasets in monitoring is an essential element to indicate the trend of population of each species and to analyze the viability of their populations at a later stage.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Lonchophylla bokermanniSazima, Vizotto & Taddei, 1978 é uma espécie de morcego nectarívoro de médio porte endêmica do sudeste brasileiro. Pouco se sabe sobre sua biologia e distribuição geográfica, e por isso mesmo é classificada pela União para Conservação da Natureza (IUCN) como Deficiente de Dados. Está, no entanto, na lista brasileira da fauna ameaçada de extinção, sendo considerada Vulnerável por apresentar distribuição restrita, populações pequenas e isoladas, e estar vivenciando uma rápida destruição de seus habitats.Uma das mais importantes lacunas no conhecimento sobre L. bokermanni é o seu padrão de distribuição geográfica. Esta espécie possui uma distribuição disjunta, com uma forma na porção interior de sua distribuição, restrita aos arredores de sua localidade tipo, e uma forma com uma distribuição mais ampla, entre a Serra do Mar e o litoral. Existe a possibilidade de que a forma costeira possa corresponder a uma espécie ainda não descrita, visto que possui antebraços menores e algumas medidas cranianasdiferentes em relação a forma do interior.Nesta dissertação procuro gerar dados quantitativos mínimos necessários para determinar o status de conservação de L. bokermanni segundo os critérios da IUCN. Tendo em vista as incertezas taxonômicas, sempre que possível as análises foram feitas com três conjuntos de dados: i) todos os registros de ocorrência, assumindo que representam uma única espécie, ii) apenas com os dados da forma do interior, assumindo que representam L. bokermanni, e iii) apenas com os dados da forma costeira, assumindo que representam uma nova espécie. No primeiro capítulo foram identificadas áreas prioritárias para a busca de novas populações de L. bokermanni Essas áreas apresentam as condições climáticas e altitudinais típicas para a espécie, mantêm sua cobertura florestal, têm poucos inventários de quirópteros e estão fora da área de distribuição conhecida da espécie. O capítulo também apresenta o resultado da busca em campo por novas populações da espécie em três destas áreas prioritárias, ao sul da distribuição conhecida. No segundo capítulo a probabilidade de detecção e ocupação de Lonchophylla bokermanni foi modelada em escala regional e local, utilizando covariáveis ambientais e metodológicas que podem explicar os padrões encontrados. O grau de incerteza na distribuição conhecida da espécie foi avaliado, e estimou-se o esforço mínimo necessário para termos confiançana ausência da espécie em uma localidade. No terceiro capítulo a informação apresentada nos capítulos anteriores foi utilizada para determinar o status de conservação de L. bokermanni (segundo o critério de Extensão de Ocorrência da IUCN), discutir o estado atual de conhecimento sobre a espécie e as consequências de possíveis mudanças taxonômicas para seu status de conservação. / Lonchophylla bokermanni Sazima, Vizotto & Taddei, 1978 is a medium sized nectar-feeding bat endemic to forested areas in southeastern Brazil.In the Brazilian Threatened Species List it is assigned as Vulnerable to extinction because it has a restricted distribution, small and isolated populations, and its habitat is being lost at a very fast rate. The species was recorded in few localities, however, and little is known about its biology. Because not enough information is available to assess the species distribution, which may be widespread or restricted, L. bokermanni is listed as Data Deficient by the IUCN.One of the largest knowledge gaps for Lonchophyllabokermanni is the pattern of its geographic distribution. As currently defined the species has a disjunct distribution, with one form occurring in a restricted area in the interior of the distribution around its type locality, and another on a more widespread area on the coastal portion of its distribution. There is a possibility that the coastal form represents a distinct undescribed species, as it has differences in cranial measures and shorter forearms than the form found in the type locality, in the interior portion of the distribution.The aim of this study is to create minimum quantitative data necessary to assess the conservation status of L. bokermanni using the IUCN criteria. Having in mind all the taxonomic uncertainty, all analisys were made using three datasets: i) all records represent a single species, ii) records from interior form only, assuming it represents L. bokermanni, and iii) records from coastal form only, assuming it represents a new species, yet undescribed. Priority areas for the search of new populations of L. bokermanni were identified using geographic distribution models. These areas present suitable climatic and altitudinal conditions, forest cover, few bat surveys and they are outside of known range of occurrence. We also report the results of the search for new population in 3 priority areas, south to the known range of occurrence of the species. The occupancy and detectability were modeled at the local and regional scale, using environmental and methodological covariates to explain the the observed patterns. The uncertainty about the known distribution was assessed and the minimum sampling effort to be sure of the absence of L. bokermanni in anarea was estimated. To assess L. bokermannis conservation status we calculated de Extent of Occurrence (sensu IUCN) and discussed the present knowledge about the species and the possible outcomes of taxonomic changes to its conservation status.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Lonchophylla bokermanniSazima, Vizotto & Taddei, 1978 é uma espécie de morcego nectarívoro de médio porte endêmica do sudeste brasileiro. Pouco se sabe sobre sua biologia e distribuição geográfica, e por isso mesmo é classificada pela União para Conservação da Natureza (IUCN) como Deficiente de Dados. Está, no entanto, na lista brasileira da fauna ameaçada de extinção, sendo considerada Vulnerável por apresentar distribuição restrita, populações pequenas e isoladas, e estar vivenciando uma rápida destruição de seus habitats.Uma das mais importantes lacunas no conhecimento sobre L. bokermanni é o seu padrão de distribuição geográfica. Esta espécie possui uma distribuição disjunta, com uma forma na porção interior de sua distribuição, restrita aos arredores de sua localidade tipo, e uma forma com uma distribuição mais ampla, entre a Serra do Mar e o litoral. Existe a possibilidade de que a forma costeira possa corresponder a uma espécie ainda não descrita, visto que possui antebraços menores e algumas medidas cranianasdiferentes em relação a forma do interior.Nesta dissertação procuro gerar dados quantitativos mínimos necessários para determinar o status de conservação de L. bokermanni segundo os critérios da IUCN. Tendo em vista as incertezas taxonômicas, sempre que possível as análises foram feitas com três conjuntos de dados: i) todos os registros de ocorrência, assumindo que representam uma única espécie, ii) apenas com os dados da forma do interior, assumindo que representam L. bokermanni, e iii) apenas com os dados da forma costeira, assumindo que representam uma nova espécie. No primeiro capítulo foram identificadas áreas prioritárias para a busca de novas populações de L. bokermanni Essas áreas apresentam as condições climáticas e altitudinais típicas para a espécie, mantêm sua cobertura florestal, têm poucos inventários de quirópteros e estão fora da área de distribuição conhecida da espécie. O capítulo também apresenta o resultado da busca em campo por novas populações da espécie em três destas áreas prioritárias, ao sul da distribuição conhecida. No segundo capítulo a probabilidade de detecção e ocupação de Lonchophylla bokermanni foi modelada em escala regional e local, utilizando covariáveis ambientais e metodológicas que podem explicar os padrões encontrados. O grau de incerteza na distribuição conhecida da espécie foi avaliado, e estimou-se o esforço mínimo necessário para termos confiançana ausência da espécie em uma localidade. No terceiro capítulo a informação apresentada nos capítulos anteriores foi utilizada para determinar o status de conservação de L. bokermanni (segundo o critério de Extensão de Ocorrência da IUCN), discutir o estado atual de conhecimento sobre a espécie e as consequências de possíveis mudanças taxonômicas para seu status de conservação. / Lonchophylla bokermanni Sazima, Vizotto & Taddei, 1978 is a medium sized nectar-feeding bat endemic to forested areas in southeastern Brazil.In the Brazilian Threatened Species List it is assigned as Vulnerable to extinction because it has a restricted distribution, small and isolated populations, and its habitat is being lost at a very fast rate. The species was recorded in few localities, however, and little is known about its biology. Because not enough information is available to assess the species distribution, which may be widespread or restricted, L. bokermanni is listed as Data Deficient by the IUCN.One of the largest knowledge gaps for Lonchophyllabokermanni is the pattern of its geographic distribution. As currently defined the species has a disjunct distribution, with one form occurring in a restricted area in the interior of the distribution around its type locality, and another on a more widespread area on the coastal portion of its distribution. There is a possibility that the coastal form represents a distinct undescribed species, as it has differences in cranial measures and shorter forearms than the form found in the type locality, in the interior portion of the distribution.The aim of this study is to create minimum quantitative data necessary to assess the conservation status of L. bokermanni using the IUCN criteria. Having in mind all the taxonomic uncertainty, all analisys were made using three datasets: i) all records represent a single species, ii) records from interior form only, assuming it represents L. bokermanni, and iii) records from coastal form only, assuming it represents a new species, yet undescribed. Priority areas for the search of new populations of L. bokermanni were identified using geographic distribution models. These areas present suitable climatic and altitudinal conditions, forest cover, few bat surveys and they are outside of known range of occurrence. We also report the results of the search for new population in 3 priority areas, south to the known range of occurrence of the species. The occupancy and detectability were modeled at the local and regional scale, using environmental and methodological covariates to explain the the observed patterns. The uncertainty about the known distribution was assessed and the minimum sampling effort to be sure of the absence of L. bokermanni in anarea was estimated. To assess L. bokermannis conservation status we calculated de Extent of Occurrence (sensu IUCN) and discussed the present knowledge about the species and the possible outcomes of taxonomic changes to its conservation status.

Cyrtanthus nutans (RA Dyer) is a KwaZulu-Natal Province near-endemic species, classified as vulnerable in South Africa (IUCN Red Data categories). Literature references suggest that no recent ecological research has been conducted on Cyrtanthus nutans. Last assessed in 2007, the current study determined the demographics and the abiotic and biotic factors that influenced the distribution and range of Cyrtanthus nutans. Key determinants influencing the autecology, distribution and population dynamics of Cyrtanthus nutans were investigated. Anthropological factors influencing the decline of populations were addressed. Two investigations were undertaken for the current study on Cyrtanthus nutans in Dundee in North-western KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa namely a survey to determine the population dynamics and autecology of the species and the effect key determinants have on the recruitment and survival. Sites of occurrence and the ecological and anthropological factors that influence the existence of plants were documented. Experimental plots were conducted to determine the influence of climatological factors, fire and defoliation on the emergence and survival of Cyrtanthus nutans plants. A preference was found for soils with high nitrogen and organic carbon, low phosphorus and acidity levels situated on slopes of < 10% on mid to lower terrain slopes within an altitude range of between 1 100 and 1 300 m (a.m.s.l.) in the Sour Sandveld and Moist Tall Grassveld Bioresource Groups. The influence that climatological factors, fire and defoliation had on the emergence and seed recruitment of Cyrtanthus nutans were determined through a small plot experiment in the Dundee area. Mean relative humidity (%) and mean rainfall two weeks before emergence in conjunction with treatments were highly significant (P<0.001). Burning treatments B (fire inclusion and defoliation inclusion) and BC (fire inclusion and defoliation exclusion) were more highly significant on the emergence of Cyrtanthus nutans plants than any other treatments. ii | P a g e Increasing fragmentation of thriving populations of Cyrtanthus nutans populations is occurring through landuse change, mismanagement of veld and non-compliance of legislation. Continued monitoring and awareness is essential in the survival of this species. / Environmental Sciences / M. Sc. (Environmental Sciences)