Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:32:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DissLAMM.pdf: 1369398 bytes, checksum: c744f5df579c7578594d901457690c3c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2002-12-03 / Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos / Terrestrial insectivorous birds seem to be the most vulnerable avian guild to tropical forest fragmentation; nevertheless, some species in this group can persist in forest remnants and second growth areas. If sensitivity to forest fragmentation could be associated with diet, thus we expected that species with relatively flexible diet be the ones most likely to persist in forest remnants. This study compared diet overlap, niche breath, prey size, and diet variability in two pairs of sympatric species of terrestrial insectivorous birds, each pair containing one species that persists in small forest fragments and one that does not: Myrmeciza ferruginea and Sclerurus rufigularis, and Formicarius colma and Formicarius analis, respectively. Prey availability in forest fragments was also sampled and compared with availability in continuous forests. The species pair, with similar weight, has diet more overlapped. Niche breath indices did not differ between pair members, and diet variability differed in the opposite direction from that hypothesised. Although the two bird species most vulnerable to forest fragmentation fed on larger prey than less sensitive species, prey availability, including that based on prey size, did not differ among fragmented versus continuous forest sites. Thus, diet per se appears not to be an important cause of extinction-proneness in these species. The simplest explanation proposed, that vulnerability to fragmentation is directly related to territory size, requires testing. However, it is consistent with unpublished observations that the bird species feeding on larger prey have larger territories. / As aves insetívoras terrestres parecem ser um dos grupos mais vulneráveis à fragmentação de florestas tropicais, no entanto algumas espécies desta guilda ainda sobrevivem em fragmentos florestais e em florestas secundárias. Se a sensibilidade destas aves à fragmentação de florestas estivesse associada à dieta, então espécies com a dieta relativamente flexível teriam maior propensão em persistir nos fragmentos florestais. Este estudo comparou sobreposição trófica, amplitude de nicho, tamanho de presas e variabilidade de dieta de dois pares de espécies de aves insetívoras terrestres, onde cada par foi composto por uma espécie que persiste nos fragmentos e outra que não: Myrmeciza ferruginea e Sclerurus rufigularis; Formicarius colma e Formicarius analis, respectivamente. A disponibilidade de presas foi também amostrada e comparada entre os fragmentos florestais e a floresta contínua. As espécies pares de peso aproximado têm dietas mais sobrepostas. Os índices de amplitude de nicho não foram significativamente diferentes entre os pares. Embora as espécies mais vulneráveis tenham consumido presas maiores que as espécies mais resistentes, a disponibilidade de presas não diferiu significativamente entre os fragmentos e a floresta contínua. Assim, dieta parece não ser o principal determinante na extinção destas espécies nos pequenos fragmentos florestais. A simples explanação proposta, de que vulnerabilidade à fragmentação é diretamente relacionada ao tamanho da área de vida, requer testes. No entanto, a probabilidade de que estas aves precisem de áreas maiores por estar se alimentando de presas maiores é consistente com observações não publicadas feitas nas áreas de estudo.

The depletion of a great many conventional fish stocks is urgent testimony for fisheries management to evaluate risk and uncertainty in an interpretable manner. We propose a novel decision based approach to time-series analysis that explores the spectrum of alternative population trajectories, each of which can be formulated as hypotheses about the state of the fishery. In the first chapter, we evaluate the ability of different regions of the surplus production state space to describe the true state of three North American fisheries: Pacific cod, porbeagle shark and yellowtail flounder. We consider how environmental variability and life history traits may alter our assumptions about population productivity, and we lay the foundation for a decision based age-structured analysis. In the second chapter, the approach is extended further into the ecological realm by considering how community interactions between Atlantic cod and harp seals can be represented in state space. Our results indicate that since the fishing moratorium in 1992, harp seals have potentially lowered cod productivity, preventing their recovery.

Submitted by Divisão de Documentação/BC Biblioteca Central (ddbc@ufam.edu.br) on 2018-02-07T15:24:31Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertação_Edizon V. Lopes.pdf: 4850594 bytes, checksum: f3439ff70178fccde2f5d8fc7e63746f (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Divisão de Documentação/BC Biblioteca Central (ddbc@ufam.edu.br) on 2018-02-07T15:24:46Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertação_Edizon V. Lopes.pdf: 4850594 bytes, checksum: f3439ff70178fccde2f5d8fc7e63746f (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-02-07T15:24:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertação_Edizon V. Lopes.pdf: 4850594 bytes, checksum: f3439ff70178fccde2f5d8fc7e63746f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-04-30 / FAPEAM - Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas / Bonamia ferruginea (Choisy) Hallier f., popularly known as cipó-tuíra is a small liana that has velvety, brown-colored leaves and stems. It is used by the Amazonian people in the treatment of malaria. In vitro antiplasmodial activity against Plasmodium falciparum was evaluated for extracts that were prepared by infusion and decoction of stem and leaf, and soxhlet extraction using chloroform, methanol and water as solvents. The methanol and aqueous leaf extracts were tested against Plasmodium berghei in vivo in mice. All extracts were inactive in vitro and in vivo. This work was performed to study the chemical composition of B. ferruginea. We opted for the chromatographic fractionation of the chloroform extract, although it was not considered active (40.6%) inhibition at 50 μg mL-1) against P. falciparum in the in vitro test. From the hexane extract of the stem of B. ferruginea the triterpenes lupeol, friedelin and glutinol were isolated. The chloroform extract of the stem provided the coumarins scopoletin and isofraxidin. A hemiterpene, 2-methyl-1,2,3,4-butanetetrol, was isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of the stem of B. ferriginea. The characterization of the isolated compounds was performed by spectroscopic techniques such as MS and one and two dimensional NMR, and comparison with literature data. / Bonamia ferruginea (Choisy) Hallier f., popularmente conhecida como cipó-tuíra, é uma liana de pequeno porte com caule e folhas aveludadas de cor marrom, utilizada pela população amazônica no tratamento de malária. No presente trabalho, foi avaliada a atividade antiplasmódica in vitro contra o Plasmodium falciparum dos extratos preparados por infusão e decocção de caule e folha, e extratos feitos das mesmas partes da planta, em aparelho de soxhlet com clorofórmio, metanol e água. Os extratos metanólico e aquoso da folha foram testados contra o Plasmodium berghei in vivo em camundongos. Os extratos não apresentaram atividade antimalárica in vitro ou in vivo. Também foi realizado um estudo da composição química de B. ferruginea. Optou-se pelo fracionamento cromatográfico do extrato clorofórmico do caule, mesmo não sendo considerado ativo (40,6% de inibição a 50 μg/mL-1) frente ao P. falciparum no teste in vitro. Do extrato hexânico proveniente do caule de B. ferruginea, foram isolados os triterpenos lupeol, friedelina e glutinol. Do extrato clorofórmico do caule, obtiveram-se as cumarinas escopoletina e isofraxidina e o hemiterpeno 2-metil-1, 2, 3, 4-butanotetrol, isolado do extrato acetato de etila do caule de B. ferriginea. A caracterização das substâncias isoladas foram realizada por técnicas espectroscópicas como EMAR e RMN uni e bidimensional, além de comparação com dados da literatura.

No description available.

The decline in range and density of many native New Zealand birds from mammalian predation has raised concerns over the functioning of ecosystem processes such as pollination and seed dispersal. At Maungatautari, almost all mammalian pests have been eradicated from within a pest-proof fence enclosing 3400 ha of native forest. I examined whether Maungatautari is restoring pollination and seed dispersal services to native plants, compared to a nearby non-treatment site, Pirongia Mountain. Five-minute bird counts made at Maungatautari and Pirongia (in 2002 and 2005 prior to pest eradication from Maungatautari, and in 2008 and 2010 following eradication) indicated that 10 of the 12 individual bird species examined showed significant changes in abundance following pest control. Six species showed an increase in abundance, including bellbirds (Anthornis melanura), tui (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae) and kereru (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae). Counts of all native species combined increased at Maungatautari while counts of all exotic species showed no trend over count years. In December 2010, 140 five-minute bird counts showed tui and bellbirds, key pollinators, to be more abundant at Maungatautari than Pirongia. Higher pollen loads on the stigmas of both female and hermaphrodite Fuchsia excorticata flowers at Maungatautari, compared to Pirongia, suggest that F. excorticata at Maungatautari received better pollination service. Fuchsia excorticata pollen loads collected from 67 sites around New Zealand indicate that female plants at sites with lower abundances of mammalian predators generally received better pollination service. Hermaphrodite F. excorticata plants had similar and high pollen scores in all regions, except for in the North Island. Five-minute bird counts in December 2010 also showed that kereru and blackbirds (Turdus merula), key seed dispersers along with tui and bellbirds, were more abundant at Maungatautari than Pirongia. A second measure of bird abundance, maximum counts, showed flock sizes of tui, bellbirds and kereru were larger at Maungatautari, but only significantly so for tui and bellbirds. Fuchsia excorticata fruits were removed more rapidly from plants at Maungatautari than at Pirongia (a 6-fold difference). There was twice the density of tawa fruits (bird cleaned and fleshy) under trees at Maungatautari compared to Pirongia, perhaps from reduced mammalian fruit predation. There was no significant site effect on tawa dispersal service (percent of fruit consumed by birds), but a significant site x fruit density interaction, suggests birds at Maungatautari provided better dispersal service to large fruit crops. A similar number of miro fruit (bird cleaned and fleshy) were caught in seed traps under miro trees, but a greater percentage of fruits were consumed by birds at Maungatautari (59%) compared to Pirongia (26%). The results from this thesis indicate that increased densities of key native birds at Maungatautari are providing better pollination and dispersal services to the native plants examined. Projects which increase the density of key bird mutualists, such as tui, bellbirds and kereru, on the mainland, may have positive benefits for pollination and seed dispersal mutualisms.

This work describes for the first time chemical study and evaluation of the biological potential of extracts and isolated compounds from the leaves and stem Myrciaria ferruginea (Myrtaceae). After drying at room temperature and grinding, leaves and stems were subjected to maceration with acetone and 90% EtOH, respectively. After removal of the solvents under vacuum, crude extracts were suspended in MeOH-H2O solution and successively extracted with hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate. The fractions resulting from this procedure were evaluated for their antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, Enterococus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter aerogenes, as well as citotoxic (fibroblasts 3T3 cells and macrophages J774), horizontal migration in vitro, inhibition of production of ROS induced by LPS, larvicidal (Aedes aegypti larvae) and anticholinesterasics. Phytochemical study from actives fractions resulted in the isolation of three phytosteroids (β-Sitosterol, Stigmasterol and 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosylsitosterol), five triterpenes (Lupeol, 3β- Betulinaldehyde, Betulinol, Betulinic acid and 3α,2β,23-Trihydroxyolean-12-en-oic acid, very likely a new natural product) and an ellagic acid derivative (Hexamethylcoruleoellagic acid) which is being described for the first time in the Myrtaceae family. All isolated compounds had their structures identified on the basis of their NMR spectral data, including 2D experiments (HSQC and HMBC), and by comparison with literature data. Extracts also inhibited the growth of S. aureus and S. epidermidis, two infectious agents commonly found in intensive care units. With exception of MeOH-H2O fraction of the leaves that showed no cytotoxic effect at 15.625 μg/mL, the remaining fractions exhibited cytotoxic activity against 3T3 cells at all tested concentrations (15.625 to 500 μg/mL). The crude EtOH extract, hexane and MeOH-H2O fractions from stems at concentrations of 15.625 to 62.5 μg/mL showed no cytotoxic effect against 3T3 cells (cell viability > 80%) and EtOAc fraction was cytotoxic at lower concentration tested (15.625 μg/mL). When compared to the group exposed only to the cell culture medium, the cells treated with isolated compounds (mixture of Lupeol and 3β-Betulinaldehyde, Hexamethylcoruleoellagic acid and 3β-Betulinaldehyde), at concentrations from 15.625 to 32.25 μg/mL, they did not increased ROS-production in a model of inflammation induced by LPS. However, when compared the group of cells treated with the compounds and the stimulated with LPS a significant reduction in ROS-production was observed. These results suggest that these compounds interfere with the inflammatory process induced by LPS. In larvicidal assays samples from leaves and stems exhibited weak to moderate activity and analogously to isolated compounds (β-sitosterol and Stigmasterol, Lupeol and 3β-Betulinaldehyde, Hexamethylcoruleoellagic acid, and Betulinic acid) they have provided positive results as anticholinesterase. / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Este trabalho descreve pela primeira vez o estudo químico e a avaliação do potencial biológico de extratos e compostos isolados das folhas e caule de Myrciaria ferruginea (Myrtaceae). Após secagem e trituração, folhas e caule foram submetidos a maceração com acetona e EtOH 90%, respectivamente. Após remoção dos solventes, os extratos brutos foram suspensos em solução MeOH-H2O e extraídos com hexano, CHCl3 e AcOEt. As frações resultantes foram avaliadas quanto ao seu potencial antibacteriano frente à Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, Enterococus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa e Enterobacter aerogenes, bem como quanto à viabilidade celular (células fibroblastos 3T3 e de macrófagos J774), Migração horizontal in vitro, inibição da produção de espécies reativas de oxigênio induzida pelo lipopolissacarídeo, larvicida (larvas do Aedes aegypti) e anticolnesterásicos. O estudo químico das frações ativas resultou no isolamento de três fitoesteroides (β-Sitosterol, Estigmasterol e 3-O-β-Dglicopiranosilsitosterol), cinco triterpenos (Lupeol, 3β-Betulinaldeído, Betulinol, Ácido betulínico e, possivelmente um novo produto natural, o Ácido 3α,2β,23-Trihidroxiolean-12-en-óico) e de um derivado do ácido elágico (Ácido hexametilcoruloelágico) que está sendo descrito pela primeira vez na família Myrtaceae. Estes compostos tiveram suas estruturas identificadas com base na análise dos dados de RMN em uma e duas dimensões (HSQC e HMBC) e pela comparação com dados da literatura. Os extratos inibiram o crescimento de S. aureus e S. epidermidis, dois agentes infecciosos comumente encontrados em unidades de terapias intensivas e, com exceção da fração em MeOH-H2O das folhas que não apresentou efeito citotóxico na concentração de 15,625 μg/mL, as demais foram citotóxicas frente a células 3T3 em todas as concentrações testadas (15,625 a 500 μg/mL). O extrato bruto em EtOH e as frações em hexano e em MeOH-H2O do caule, nas concentrações de 15,625 a 62,5 μg/mL, não apresentaram citotoxicidade frente a células fibroblastos 3T3 (viabilidade celular > 80%) e a fração em AcOEt não apresentou efeito citotóxico na menor concentração testada (15,625 μg/mL). Quando comparadas com o grupo de células expostas somente ao meio de cultura, as células tratadas com os compostos isolados (mistura de Lupeol e 3β-Betulinaldeído, Ácido hexametilcoruoloelágico e 3β-Betulinaldeído puro), nas concentrações de 15,625 a 32,25 μg/mL, não causaram aumento na produção de EROs. Contudo, quando comparadas com o grupo de células tratadas com os compostos e as estimuladas com LPS, uma significativa redução da produção de EROs foi observada, sugerindo, portanto, que estes compostos interferem no processo inflamatório induzido pelo LPS. Nos ensaios larvicidas, amostras de folhas e caule exibiram de fraca a moderada atividade e, de modo análogo aos compostos isolados (β-Sitosterol e Estigmasterol, Lupeol e 3β-Betulinaldeído, Ácido hexametilcoruoloelágico e Ácido betulínico), também foram ativos como anticolinesterásico.

Plants can interact with many different organisms on many trophic levels in their life. In this thesis I investigated how three biotic inertactions, powdery mildew infection, caused by Podosphaera ferruginea, predispersal seed predation by Dusky Large Blue (Phengaris nausithous) and Scarce Large Blue (P. teleius) and deer grazing affect life cycle and population biology of the Great Burnet (Sanguisorba officinalis L.). I also analysed their preferences of environmental conditions. Most of studied plant populations growth rates (λ) were lower than 1 and population decreased, but quite surprisingly for more populations vegetative reproduction was more important than reproduction by seeds. All intraction mentioned above affects more generative reproduction, and thus their influence on Great Burnet population dynamics is low, even with modelled maximal possible effect. Environment conditions analysis showed that powdery mildew occurs on sites with more flowering individuals, where spreading is very easy, butterflies preferred high, well noticeable flower heads grown high above other vegetation and host ant presence. For host ants' presence model locality was only significant variable.

No description available.

The goals of this research project were to identify the various insects observed to visit inflorescences of Echinacea angustifolia DC, and to rank these visitors according to their importance as pollinators of E. angustifolia in Saskatchewan. Studying nectar and the nectary is essential to understanding the interaction of disc florets with pollinators. Nectar-sugar production by disc florets of E. angustifolia and E. purpurea (L. Moench) was quantified from anthesis to cessation with production per disc floret peaking in the afternoon of the staminate phase (191.7 µg) and at midday of the first day of the pistillate phase (156.6 µg), respectively. Morphology of the disc-like floral nectaries of both Echinacea species was studied, as well as the ultrastructure of the nectary of E. purpurea. Modified stomata on the nectary rim are the most likely exits for nectar, but creases in the epidermis may also participate. The nectary of E. purpurea is vascularized by phloem alone, which occurred adjacent to the epidermis. Companion cells possessed wall ingrowths, and these cells may unload arriving sugar destined for either an apoplastic or symplastic pathway. Lobed nuclei were a key feature of secretory parenchyma cells, as was a predominance of mitochondria, suggesting that energy-requiring eccrine secretion predominates in E. purpurea. E. angustifolia exhibited a generalist pollination system, with pollinating insects belonging to the orders Coleoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera, and Lepidoptera. The pollination efficiency of visitors was determined by single insect visits to bagged, virgin inflorescences followed by quantifying pollen tubes at the bases of receptive styles and/or calculating the percentage of shrivelled styles. It was determined that bumble bees (Bombus spp.) were efficient pollinators, indicating that they would likely contribute much to the pollination of E. angustifolia. Grasshopper bee flies (Systoechus vulgaris Loew) were plentiful but individually were not efficient pollinators, but taken together, they provided much pollination. Golden blister beetles (Epicauta ferruginea Say) were efficient pollinators but where yellow-petalled flowers occurred, their numbers on E. angustifolia decreased. Honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) were efficient pollinators and were present in low numbers without managed introduction. Pierid (2003) butterflies were regular visitors and efficient pollinators, and likely contributed significantly to E. angustifolia pollination. When introduced, the alfalfa leafcutter bee (Megachile rotundata Fabr.) preferred not to forage on E. angustifolia and as such, these solitary bees were not suitable as managed pollinators. In large agricultural plantings of E. angustifolia, however, native insects may not be capable of providing sufficient pollination for seed production when floral competition occurs.

The goals of this research project were to identify the various insects observed to visit inflorescences of Echinacea angustifolia DC, and to rank these visitors according to their importance as pollinators of E. angustifolia in Saskatchewan. Studying nectar and the nectary is essential to understanding the interaction of disc florets with pollinators. Nectar-sugar production by disc florets of E. angustifolia and E. purpurea (L. Moench) was quantified from anthesis to cessation with production per disc floret peaking in the afternoon of the staminate phase (191.7 µg) and at midday of the first day of the pistillate phase (156.6 µg), respectively. Morphology of the disc-like floral nectaries of both Echinacea species was studied, as well as the ultrastructure of the nectary of E. purpurea. Modified stomata on the nectary rim are the most likely exits for nectar, but creases in the epidermis may also participate. The nectary of E. purpurea is vascularized by phloem alone, which occurred adjacent to the epidermis. Companion cells possessed wall ingrowths, and these cells may unload arriving sugar destined for either an apoplastic or symplastic pathway. Lobed nuclei were a key feature of secretory parenchyma cells, as was a predominance of mitochondria, suggesting that energy-requiring eccrine secretion predominates in E. purpurea. E. angustifolia exhibited a generalist pollination system, with pollinating insects belonging to the orders Coleoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera, and Lepidoptera. The pollination efficiency of visitors was determined by single insect visits to bagged, virgin inflorescences followed by quantifying pollen tubes at the bases of receptive styles and/or calculating the percentage of shrivelled styles. It was determined that bumble bees (Bombus spp.) were efficient pollinators, indicating that they would likely contribute much to the pollination of E. angustifolia. Grasshopper bee flies (Systoechus vulgaris Loew) were plentiful but individually were not efficient pollinators, but taken together, they provided much pollination. Golden blister beetles (Epicauta ferruginea Say) were efficient pollinators but where yellow-petalled flowers occurred, their numbers on E. angustifolia decreased. Honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) were efficient pollinators and were present in low numbers without managed introduction. Pierid (2003) butterflies were regular visitors and efficient pollinators, and likely contributed significantly to E. angustifolia pollination. When introduced, the alfalfa leafcutter bee (Megachile rotundata Fabr.) preferred not to forage on E. angustifolia and as such, these solitary bees were not suitable as managed pollinators. In large agricultural plantings of E. angustifolia, however, native insects may not be capable of providing sufficient pollination for seed production when floral competition occurs.