Most models for the spread of an invasive species into a new environment are based on Fisher's reaction-diffusion equation. They assume that habitat quality is independent of the presence or absence of the invading population. Ecosystem engineers are species that modify their environment to make it (more) suitable for them. A potentially more appropriate modeling approach for such an invasive species is to adapt the well-known Stefan problem of melting ice. Ahead of the front, the habitat is unsuitable for the species (the ice); behind the front, the habitat is suitable (the open water). The engineering action of the population moves the boundary ahead (the melting). This approach leads to a free boundary problem. In this thesis, we mathematically analyze a novel free-boundary model for the spread of ecosystem engineers that was recently derived from an individual random walk model. The Stefan condition for the moving boundary is replaced by a biologically derived two-sided condition that models the movement behavior of individuals at the boundary as well as the process by which the population moves the boundary to expand their territory. We first consider the model with logistic growth and study its well-posedness. We assign a convex functional to this problem so that the evolution system governed by this convex potential is exactly the system of evolution equations describing the above model. We then apply variational and fixed-point methods to deal with this free boundary problem and prove the existence of local in-time solutions. We next study traveling wave solutions of the model with the strong Allee growth function. We use phase plane analysis to find traveling wave solutions of different types and their corresponding existence range of speed for the model with an imposed speed of the moving boundary. We then find the speeds in those ranges at which the corresponding traveling wave follows the speed of the free boundary.

Oyster reef habitats have declined from historic levels due to a variety of reasons, including overharvest, disease, and degraded water quality. The harvesting of oysters has led to a loss of reef habitat for both oysters and reef-associated fauna. When oysters spawn, the larval oysters, or spat, depend on hard substrate for settlement and growth. Oyster shell is the preferred substrate for use in restoration because it most closely matches natural reef habitat, but it is often expensive and in limited supply. This study incorporated field and laboratory experiments to assess the relative habitat value of alternative substrates (crushed concrete, porcelain, crushed limestone, and river rock, as well as oyster shell) for larval oyster recruitment as well as reef resident fishes and macro-invertebrates. Replicate trays of each substrate type were deployed in St. Charles Bay, TX for four months during spring and summer 2012 and assessed for oyster recruitment and faunal diversity and density. Concrete, river rock, limestone and porcelain had similar spat recruitment densities compared to oyster shell (1300-2300 spat). Spat shell heights were also larger on these substrates (13-16 mm), while spat on porcelain substrates were slightly smaller (10-13 mm). All substrates except bare sediment had similar fauna species densities (200-500 individuals m-2). Limestone had lower fauna diversity (H’; 0-1) than concrete and shell (1-2). Laboratory experiments compared the effectiveness of these substrates in providing prey refuge from pinfish and blue crab predators. All substrates performed similarly resulting in very low (<20 %) prey mortality rates for either predator. Results may enable future restoration plans to be implemented at a lower cost while providing similar habitat functions.

Submitted by Celso Magalhaes (celsomagalhaes@ufrrj.br) on 2017-07-27T13:09:11Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2017 - Marina Vasconcelos de Oliveira.pdf: 1221503 bytes, checksum: 9381f92942c7388888364c8566c8a781 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-27T13:09:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2017 - Marina Vasconcelos de Oliveira.pdf: 1221503 bytes, checksum: 9381f92942c7388888364c8566c8a781 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-13 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior - CAPES / Tropical forests support a great vegetal diversity, in part, through an nutrient cycling initiated by the soil arthropod?s fauna, which facilitated the litter decomposers action, propitiating the release of stock nutrients to the soil. Therefore, studies about these fauna and what factors alter it are extremely important to understand the nutrient cycling process in tropical forests. Among epigeic fauna represents, the leaf-cutting ants are considered the Neotropical region dominant herbivores and studies relate their multiple effects on vegetable community and the soil . Nonetheless, there aren?t studies about leaf-cutting ants effects on other arthropods communities, including mirmecofauna. This study aim to investigate the nests effects of the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens (Linnaeus, 1758) (Formicidae: Myrmicinae) on a soil arthropod community. The study site was Reserva Ecol?gica de Guapia?u, Cachoeiras de Macacu, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where we collected samples at ten A. sexdens nests in period of 2 February to 9 February 2016. Along a linear transect of 32 meters, we collected litter samples from 0,25 m? size at intervals of 8 meters from each nests? edge of A. sexdens, whereby we also measured the air and soil temperature, the light and the air relative humidity. We aim to verify if litter structure and microclimatic conditions alter arthropod community structure and if these effects can be mediated by A. sexdens nests. The hypothesis in question are: 1) Litter Hypothesis, whereby arthropod community structure would be influenced by litter and litter would be altered by A. sexdens; 2) Abiotic Factors Hypothesis, whereby arthropod community structure would be influenced by abiotic factors and these factors would be altered by A. sexdens and 3) Nest Hypothesis, whereby community alterations would happen through intrinsic factors to active nests presence and not explained by alterations in a litter and/or in abiotic factors measured. For the test of the first and the second hypothesis, we did simple regressions and next variance analysis, assessing the litter and abiotic factors effects on arthropod community parameters and if this effects can be mediated by A. sexdens. To test Nest Hypothesis, we did variance analysis and analysis of similarities, assessing direct effects of A. sexdens on other arthropods community. We collected 3074 arthropods, among them Acari and Collembola were the most abundant groups. In relation of the ants, we obtained 63 specimens, in 26 genera and 32 identified species. The Strumigenys genus was one of the most frequent genera and it detained the biggest richness among mirmecofauna predators.We didn?t detect A. sexdens effects on soil arthropod community around its nests. Studies that include sazonality and behavior comparison between different species of leaf-cutting ants can result in new knowledge about the interaction between these organisms and other arthropods / As florestas tropicais sustentam uma grande diversidade vegetal, em parte, devido ? ciclagem de nutrientes iniciada pela fauna de artr?podes do solo, que facilita a a??o dos decompositores da serrapilheira, propiciando a libera??o dos nutrientes estocados para o solo. Logo, estudos sobre essa fauna e que fatores a afetam s?o importantes para a compreens?o dos processos de ciclagem de nutrientes em florestas tropicais. Dentre os representantes da fauna epigeica, as formigas-cortadeiras s?o consideradas os herb?voros dominantes da regi?o Neotropical e estudos relatam seus m?ltiplos efeitos sobre a comunidade vegetal e o solo. Entretanto, n?o h? estudos sobre os efeitos das formigas-cortadeiras sobre a comunidade dos demais artr?podes. Este estudo visa investigar os efeitos dos ninhos de formigas-cortadeiras Atta sexdens (Linnaeus, 1758) (Formicidae: Myrmicinae) sobre a comunidade de artr?podes do solo. A ?rea de estudo foi a Reserva Ecol?gica de Guapia?u, munic?pio de Cachoeiras de Macacu, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, na qual coletamos amostras em 10 ninhos de A. sexdens no per?odo de 2 a 9 de fevereiro de 2016. Ao longo de um transecto linear de 32 metros, coletamos amostras de serrapilheira de tamanho 0,25m? a intervalos de 8 metros a partir da borda de cada ninho de A. sexdens, nos quais tamb?m medimos as temperaturas do ar e do solo, a luz e a umidade relativa do ar. Objetivamos averiguar se a estrutura da serrapilheira e as condi??es microclim?ticas alteram a estrutura da comunidade de artr?podes e se esses efeitos podem ser mediados pelos ninhos de A. sexdens. As hip?teses em estudo s?o: 1) Hip?tese da Serrapilheira, na qual a estrutura da comunidade de artr?podes seria influenciada pela serrapilheira e a serrapilheira seria alterada por A. sexdens; 2) Hip?tese dos Fatores Abi?ticos, na qual a estrutura da comunidade de artr?podes seria influenciada pelos fatores abi?ticos locais e estes fatores seriam alterados por A. sexdens e 3) Hip?tese do Ninho, em que as altera??es na comunidade se dariam por fatores intr?nsecos ? presen?a dos ninhos ativos e n?o explicados por altera??es na serrapilheira e/ou nos fatores abi?ticos medidos. As duas primeiras hip?teses foram testadas atrav?s de regress?es lineares simples, seguidas de an?lises de vari?ncia, avaliando os efeitos da serrapilheira e dos fatores abi?ticos sobre os par?metros da comunidade de artr?podes e se esses efeitos podem ser mediados por A. sexdens. No teste da hip?tese do Ninho, fizemos an?lises de vari?ncia e an?lises de similaridade, avaliando os efeitos diretos de A. sexdens sobre a comunidade dos demais artr?podes. Coletamos 3074 artr?podes, dentre os quais Acari e Collembola foram os grupos mais abundantes. Em rela??o ?s formigas, obtivemos 63 morfoesp?cies, em 26 g?neros e 32 esp?cies identificadas. O g?nero Strumigenys foi um dos g?neros mais frequentes e deteve a maior riqueza dentre os predadores da mirmecofauna. N?o detectamos efeitos de A. sexdens sobre a comunidade de artr?podes do solo do seu entorno. Estudos que incluam a sazonalidade e que comparem o comportamento entre diferentes esp?cies de formigas-cortadeiras podem resultar em novos conhecimentos a respeito da intera??o desses organismos com os demais artr?podes

The geomorphological impact of small fossorial mammals (adapted to digging and living underground), such as rodents can be significant, and both their direct and indirect effects may contribute to landscape formation. This thesis is based on empirical field studies of two burrowing rodent species in sub-polar environments, namely invasive House mice (Mus musculus) on sub-Antarctic Marion Island and Norwegian lemmings (Lemmus lemmus) in sub-Arctic Abisko. The spatial distribution, sediment displacements, impact on vegetation and microclimatic effects of the rodents are documented. Invasive mice and rats, introduced on sub-Antarctic Islands during the 19th century, lack natural enemies and are shown to have a significant direct and indirect geomorphic impact by direct sediment displacement, vegetation removal by burrowing, grazing and trampling and thereby exposing the sediments for rain, wind and frost processes.  The geomorphic impacts of lemmings are comparatively more limited as they rely on natural hollows and snow cover for protection and do not burrow to the same extent as other fossorial rodents in cold regions. Lemmings are thus suggested to have little impact on landform integrity, but can affect vegetation composition. A comparison of the findings from this study with published data on seven other rodent species and other physical mass transfer mechanisms in sub-polar and alpine environments suggests that fossorial rodents are a significant and sometimes dominant geomorphic force in sub-polar and alpine environments. The geomorphic work by ground squirrels, ice rats, plateau pikas and zokors is shown to be in the same order of magnitude as solifluction and rock falls. In alpine and periglacial environments these rodents are considered to act as key-stone species and ecosystem engineers through the creation of landforms by  dislocation and of soil and other impacts on soil properties, vegetation and ecosystem function

Rising temperature caused by global warming alters physiology, phenology and/or distribution in a wide array of plant and animal species, which has dramatic knock-on effects at different levels of organisation. This study investigates the individual and interactive effects of temperature (18ᵒC, 22ᵒC and 30ᵒC) and additions of the macroalga Gracilaria gracilis (high and low) on the performance of the seagrass Zostera capensis, which occurs in Langebaan Lagoon, South Africa over a seven-week period. Results from the laboratory experiment revealed that G. gracilis did not significantly affect the performance of Z. capensis although temperature did result in greater leaf width, fouling and senescent biomass, as well as marginally greater leaf area and lower below-ground biomass at 30ᵒC. Increasing temperature also increased G. gracilis biomass, percent cover and fouling by microalgae. In addition, there was no interaction between temperature and the additions of Gracilaria. The overall findings of this study indicate that Z. capensis abundance is likely to decrease while G. gracilis will conversely increase in abundance in response to warming. Changes in abundance of those two ecosystem engineers highlight the possibility of a phase shift from a seagrass- to macroalgal-dominated state in Langebaan Lagoon.

Stability of coastal systems are threatened by oceanic and atmospheric drivers of climate change. Sea-level rise compounded with increased frequency and intensity of storms emphasizes need for protection of inner island systems by dune formations. Dune building processes are affected by interactions between growth of ecosystem engineering dune grasses and environmental factors associated with disturbance such as sand burial and salt spray. Climate change may also cause latitudinal expansion of some species, resulting in emergence of competitive interactions that were previously absent. Topographic structure of coastlines, traditionally influenced by sand burial, could change as a result of competition emergence. My goal was to determine if species functional trait responses to common abiotic factors are altered by novel and current biotic interactions. I performed a multi-factorial greenhouse experiment by planting three common dune grasses (Ammophila breviligulata, Uniola paniculata, and Spartina patens) in different biotic combinations, using sand burial and salt spray as abiotic stressors. I hypothesized that biotic interactions will cause these dune grasses to shift functional trait responses to abiotic factors that are associated with dune building. I found that plants consistently decreased in biomass when buried. I also found that competition between A. breviligulata and U. paniculata negatively affected dune building function traits of A. breviligulata. This indicates that competition with U. paniculata could alter dune structure. In comparison A. breviligulata had a positive interaction with S. patens, which increased functional trait responses to abiotic stress. Last, we found that competitive intransitivity could occur between these species. My results can be used to make predictions on cross-scale consequences of novel competitive events. This experiment also provides evidence that consideration of local biotic interactions is important in understanding connections between plant level dynamics and large-scale landscape patterns in high stress environment.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:22:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-03-26Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:28:31Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 vieira_c_me_sjrp.pdf: 516040 bytes, checksum: 821016a30a1a01c83f46226e00f63cb0 (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Engenharia dos ecossistemas é um processo em que organismos modificam a distribuição de recursos (i.e, disponibilizando novos habitats) para outras espécies via interação não trófica. Lagartas de Lepidoptera enroladoras de folhas podem atuar como engenheiros dos ecossistemas florestais, uma vez que são capazes de modular interações entre comunidade artrópode – planta fornecendo aos colonizadores secundários diversos tipos de benefícios. Essas lagartas quando engenheiras influenciam o padrão de distribuição e abundância de outras espécies facilitando indiretamente a ocorrência de novas espécies, bem como aumentam a diversidade de artrópodes sobre planta. Apesar de estudos terem demonstrado que lagartas engenheiras ampliam a diversidade de artrópodes sobre folhas (efeito local), apenas um estudo avaliou o efeito na planta por inteiro (efeito regional), mas apenas para guildas específicas (i.e., herbívoros); nenhum estudo até agora avaliou como comunidades diversificadas, de regiões tropicais, respondem aos impactos de lagartas engenheiras. Nesse estudo reportamos a influência das lagartas enroladoras sobre comunidades de artrópodes em grande escala espacial (i.e., efeito local e regional) e temporal (i.e., diferentes períodos sazonais). Especificamente, avaliamos se (i) abrigos foliares favorecem a ocorrência de artrópodes e amplificam diversidade sobre plantas, (ii) se o tipo de abrigo (funil, cilindro com diferentes diâmetros) interfere na colonização por diferentes guildas de artrópodes, (iii) se os efeitos dos abrigos é local (folha) ou estende-se por toda a planta hospedeira (efeito regional), (iv) se plantas com abrigos foliares atraem maior número de artrópodes nos períodos secos, e se (v) plantas com abrigos foliares, por atraírem mais predadores, têm menor taxa de herbivoria foliar. Nossos resultados demonstram que abundância, riqueza... / Ecosystem engineering is a process by which some organisms change the distribution of resources (i.e., creating new habitats) for other species via non-trophic interactions. Shelter-building caterpillars can act as forest ecosystem engineers, because they may modulate interactions, between arthropods-plant communities, by providing the secondary settlers with several kinds of benefits. These caterpillars as ecosystem engineers influence the distribution pattern and abundances of other species facilitating the occurrence of new species indirectly, as well as increasing the diversity of arthropods on the plant. Although some studies have demonstrated that caterpillar leaf shelters amplify the diversity of arthropods on leaves (local effect), only one study evaluated the effect in the whole plant (regional effect), but this study only took into account specific guilds (i.e., herbivores); To date, no evaluated how speciose communities of tropical regions respond to the impacts of engineer caterpillars. In this study we reported, for the first time the influence of the lepidopteran shelter leafs on communities of arthropods in the tropics along both large spatial (i.e., local and regional effects) and temporal scales (i.e., different seasonal periods). Specifically, we evaluated if (i) leaf shelters benefit the occurrence of arthropods and amplify the diversity on plants, (ii) if the shelter architecture (funnel, cylinders with different diameters) interferes with the colonization of differents arthropods guilds, (iii) if the effects of shelters are local (within leafs) or extends to the whole host plant (regional effect), (iv) if plants with leaf shelters attract more arthropods in the dry periods, and if (v) plants with leaf shelters, which likely attract more predators, have lower levels of leaf herbivory. Our results show that the abundance, richness and total biomass of arthropods within... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Orientador: Gustavo Quevedo Romero / Banca: Martin Francisco Pareja / Banca: Thiago Junqueira Izzo / Resumo: Engenharia dos ecossistemas é um processo em que organismos modificam a distribuição de recursos (i.e, disponibilizando novos habitats) para outras espécies via interação não trófica. Lagartas de Lepidoptera enroladoras de folhas podem atuar como engenheiros dos ecossistemas florestais, uma vez que são capazes de modular interações entre comunidade artrópode - planta fornecendo aos colonizadores secundários diversos tipos de benefícios. Essas lagartas quando engenheiras influenciam o padrão de distribuição e abundância de outras espécies facilitando indiretamente a ocorrência de novas espécies, bem como aumentam a diversidade de artrópodes sobre planta. Apesar de estudos terem demonstrado que lagartas engenheiras ampliam a diversidade de artrópodes sobre folhas (efeito local), apenas um estudo avaliou o efeito na planta por inteiro (efeito regional), mas apenas para guildas específicas (i.e., herbívoros); nenhum estudo até agora avaliou como comunidades diversificadas, de regiões tropicais, respondem aos impactos de lagartas engenheiras. Nesse estudo reportamos a influência das lagartas enroladoras sobre comunidades de artrópodes em grande escala espacial (i.e., efeito local e regional) e temporal (i.e., diferentes períodos sazonais). Especificamente, avaliamos se (i) abrigos foliares favorecem a ocorrência de artrópodes e amplificam diversidade sobre plantas, (ii) se o tipo de abrigo (funil, cilindro com diferentes diâmetros) interfere na colonização por diferentes guildas de artrópodes, (iii) se os efeitos dos abrigos é local (folha) ou estende-se por toda a planta hospedeira (efeito regional), (iv) se plantas com abrigos foliares atraem maior número de artrópodes nos períodos secos, e se (v) plantas com abrigos foliares, por atraírem mais predadores, têm menor taxa de herbivoria foliar. Nossos resultados demonstram que abundância, riqueza... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Ecosystem engineering is a process by which some organisms change the distribution of resources (i.e., creating new habitats) for other species via non-trophic interactions. Shelter-building caterpillars can act as forest ecosystem engineers, because they may modulate interactions, between arthropods-plant communities, by providing the secondary settlers with several kinds of benefits. These caterpillars as ecosystem engineers influence the distribution pattern and abundances of other species facilitating the occurrence of new species indirectly, as well as increasing the diversity of arthropods on the plant. Although some studies have demonstrated that caterpillar leaf shelters amplify the diversity of arthropods on leaves (local effect), only one study evaluated the effect in the whole plant (regional effect), but this study only took into account specific guilds (i.e., herbivores); To date, no evaluated how speciose communities of tropical regions respond to the impacts of engineer caterpillars. In this study we reported, for the first time the influence of the lepidopteran shelter leafs on communities of arthropods in the tropics along both large spatial (i.e., local and regional effects) and temporal scales (i.e., different seasonal periods). Specifically, we evaluated if (i) leaf shelters benefit the occurrence of arthropods and amplify the diversity on plants, (ii) if the shelter architecture (funnel, cylinders with different diameters) interferes with the colonization of differents arthropods guilds, (iii) if the effects of shelters are local (within leafs) or extends to the whole host plant (regional effect), (iv) if plants with leaf shelters attract more arthropods in the dry periods, and if (v) plants with leaf shelters, which likely attract more predators, have lower levels of leaf herbivory. Our results show that the abundance, richness and total biomass of arthropods within... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Termites are important ecosystem engineers in tropical and sub-tropical terrestrial regions where they influence ecosystem processes by altering the physical and chemical structure of the habitat. Termites affect nutrient availability by decomposition and comminution (shredding) of organic matter and act as agents of bioturbation as they re-work substrates during the construction of nests, tunnels and runways. At present we have a relatively good understanding of termite diversity patterns in the tropics through the extensive use of the standardised transect sampling protocol by Eggleton et al. (1995). These diversity data suggest that there is a functional difference in termite assemblage structure, and potentially in termite abundance and biomass, among comparable habitats across continents. However due to the lack of comparable abundance and biomass data from South America this has not previously been confirmed. In this thesis I, therefore, collected extensive data on termite taxonomic and functional assemblage structure in a South American site in Peru. The data were used to compare termite abundance and biomass from two comparable sites in Africa (Cameroon) and south east Asia (Malaysia) in order to gain better understanding of the role termites play in ecosystem processes. I found that there was an intercontinental difference in the abundance and biomass of termite feeding-groups mainly due to the dominance of soil-feeding termites in Cameroon and the absence of fungus-growing termites from Peru. The impact of certain lineages on the intercontinental differences suggests that the differences may be due to biogeographical evolution. Moreover, Eggleton et al. (1998) show that larger-bodied soil-feeding termites in Cameroon process more energy per unit area than predicted by their body size. Due to the need for an examination of the allometric relationships in termite assemblages outside Africa and the development of a more sophisticated feeding-group classification I explore the findings in Eggleton et al. (1998) further using population density - body mass relationships in three termite feeding-groups among the three continental sites in Cameroon, Peru and Malaysia. I found that large-bodied soil-feeding termites in Cameroon and large-bodied wood-feeding termites in Peru had higher population densities than expected by their body masses. As the population density - body mass relationship is inverse to that of the energy - body mass relationship the results suggest that the two feeding-groups also use more energy than expected by their body masses. Further, we have a relatively good understanding of the role termites play as ecosystem engineers e.g. in nutrient cycling and distribution, however, compared with our understanding of wood and litter decomposition in tropical forests quantitative data on the impact of termites in soil processes is poorly understood. In this thesis I conducted, to our knowledge, the first in situ soil macrofauna exclusion experiment using translocated soil in Peru to examine the impact of termites on soil C and N loss. I found that termites promote soil C and N loss which may be linked to the increase in microbial activity due to the passage of soil through the termite gut as well as the affect termites have on bioturbation and nutrient distribution. To conclude, in this thesis I present the first intercontinental comparison of abundance and biomass as well as the first in situ soil macrofauna exclusion experiment to date. The link between termite ecology, biogeography and evolution is discussed as well as the contribution of this thesis to the field of termite ecology.

No description available.