Tropical forests of the world are fast disappearing and there is a race to understand patterns of species distribution in space and time. Studying species distributions can provide better frameworks for conservation of these ecologically important patches of floral and faunal diversity. The island of Sri Lanka is a well known harbour of unique and highly threatened biodiversity. Tropical lowland forest is remnant in the south-west of the island now mainly existing in small patches. While most are small disturbed fragments, Sinharaja Forest Reserve represents one of the largest remaining patches of this important ecosystem. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Man and Biosphere Reserve, it has a dual role as a conservation area and a historically important resource forest. While the distribution of vegetation diversity has been well documented, analyses of invertebrate species distributions are lacking. This thesis investigated a key arthropod group, ground dwelling ants, in relation to environmental gradients within the forest. Cumulative results demonstrate the high diversity of the forest patch. In an area representing less than half the reserve, over 173 ground dwelling ant species were found in distinct assemblages throughout the forest. Since the forest is located upon a series of parallel ridges, ant species distribution was first analysed in terms of this small elevation change. Species richness declined over a vertical incline from 430 m to 660 m, highlighting a possible small-scale, mountain mass effect. This section of the reserve is also characterised by a patch of once-logged forest (30 years previously). A study was undertaken to investigate whether there were residual effects of selective logging on the reserve. / Significant differences between species assemblages in once-logged forest and unlogged forest add to growing evidence that selectively logged forests continue to remain distinct from unlogged forest even after decades of regeneration. Ant distribution was then analysed for their relationship with habitat heterogeneity and tree species distribution. Long-term research on tree species in the SFR has demonstrated a close relationship to habitat complexity. Ant species appear to respond more to the structural heterogeneity of the vegetation than to actual topographic variation within the forest. From a conservation perspective, maintaining the integrity of this highly diverse forest is imperative. The impact of anthropogenic land uses surrounding the forest was investigated in terms of ant assemblages along the forest edges. Significant differences were found between assemblages within the edges bordered by different matrix types. Even relatively large forest remnants can be affected by the surrounding matrix land uses and encouraging the growth of structurally similar vegetation and maintaining low disturbance along the borders should attenuate the effect of the edge. Overall, the highly heterogeneous distribution of ant assemblages within the SFR demonstrates the potential for other small patches to be harbours of further species diversity. Future research should be undertaken to assess the diversity and distribution of ant species within this region and encourage the protection of this remnant diversity.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The Leucaena is a tree specie that it is able to improve the soil and can give food for animals. It is an alternative to farmer in dry periods in Northest. Seeds of leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala Lam) from two populations (Reserva Florestal Ibura and Campus da Universidade Federal de Sergipe), were collected and storage for different periods as goal their utilization as alternative culture aiming agroecosystem sustainability. The objective of this work was to evaluate the physiological and sanitary seed quality and fungi infection to seedlings obtained of seeds storage for 2, 28 and 48 months. The seeds were storage in paper bags inside a refrigerated chamber with 40% of humidity at 10 ± 1° C and the experiments carried out in Phytosanitary Clinical, Tissues Culture and Vegetal Breeding Laboratory and Seeds Laboratory of Universidade Federal de Sergipe from February through December, 2005. It was used a statistical totally randomized design with four replications. It was detected in batches of 48 and 28 months fungi from Aspergillus and Penicillium genus. For seeds storage for 2 months it was detected Pestalotiopsis, Fusarium and Curvularia genus. In concerned to infection of the fungi it was verified the Aspergillus was able to cause hypocotyls necrosis on seedlings. For seeds physiological analysis tests as Germination Speed Index (IVG), Emergence Speed Index (IVE), Electrical Conductivity (CE), Accelerate Ageing (EA), Humidity (%U) and isozymes were carried out. It was verified the seeds storage for two months presented higher values of IVG. In the CE test the seeds storage for two months and submitted to accelerate ageing during 24 hours presented the higher values of CE. The isozyme markers showed alteration in patterns of bands intensity and absence of alteration in protein subunit which permit to infer the batches besides from different provenances, probably were not genetically divergent. This fact corroborates to justify the comparison made in this work. It was observed a decreasing in values of germination with increasing storage periods which suggest vigor lost. It was recommended the storage the leucaena seeds for a period maximum of two years for the conditions of present work. / A leucena (Leucaena leucocephala Lam.) é uma espécie arbórea, capaz de contribuir para o melhoramento do solo, além de servir de forragem para o gado, possibilitando ao agricultor uma alternativa para as regiões áridas do Nordeste. É uma espécie bem adaptada às regiões secas, conseguindo se manter verde por grande parte do ano. Sementes de leucena provenientes de duas populações (Reserva Florestal Ibura e Campus da Universidade Federal de Sergipe) foram coletadas e armazenadas em diferentes épocas do ano visando a sua utilização como alternativa para a sustentabilidade de agroecossistemas. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar a qualidade fisiológica e sanitária e a transmissão de fungos associados às sementes armazenadas por 2, 28 e 48 meses em sacos de papel dentro de câmara fria com 40% de umidade a 10 ± 1° C. Os experimentos foram realizados na Clínica Fitossanitária, no Laboratório de Biotecnologia e Cultura de tecidos e no Laboratório de Sementes da Universidade Federal de Sergipe, no período compreendido entre fevereiro e dezembro de 2005. Para a análise fisiológica das sementes, empregou-se o delineamento inteiramente casualizado com 4 repetições e as sementes testadas foram previamente submetidas ao envelhecimento acelerado. Testes como Índice de Velocidade de Germinação (IVG), Índice de Velocidade de Emergência (IVE), Condutividade Elétrica (CE), Envelhecimento Acelerado (EA), Grau de Umidade (%U) e isoenzimas foram realizados. No teste de sanidade, nos lotes de 28 e 48 meses de armazenamento, fungos dos gêneros Aspergillus e Penicillium foram detectados Já nas sementes do lote de 2 meses de armazenamento, gêneros como Pestalotiopsis, Fusarium e Curvularia foram detectados e observou-se uma maior diversidade de gêneros fúngicos neste lote do que nos demais. Não foi verificada transmissão de fungos das sementes para as plântulas. Na análise fisiológica, verificou-se para as sementes armazenadas por 2 meses os maiores valores de IVG. No teste de CE as sementes com 2 meses de armazenamento submetidas ao EA por 24 horas apresentaram maiores valores. As análises usando marcadores isoenzimáticos mostraram alterações na intensidade de bandas dos perfis eletroforéticos e ausência de alterações nas subunidades protéicas, o que permite inferir que os lotes, apesar de serem de procedências diferentes, provavelmente não são geneticamente divergentes, o que pode justificar as comparações realizadas no presente trabalho. Observou-se, ainda, uma queda nos valores de germinação com o aumento nos períodos de armazenamento, sugerindo uma perda no vigor.