Submitted by LUZ MARIA RUIZ MACHUCA (luzmy_rm@hotmail.com) on 2019-01-30T02:24:26Z No. of bitstreams: 1 TESE MACHUCA-LMR 2018.pdf: 2581969 bytes, checksum: c24f7e0a1623abf87965a575431111f4 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Maria Lucia Martins Frederico null (mlucia@fca.unesp.br) on 2019-01-30T12:15:28Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 machuca_lmr_dr_botfca.pdf: 2581969 bytes, checksum: c24f7e0a1623abf87965a575431111f4 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2019-01-30T12:15:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 machuca_lmr_dr_botfca.pdf: 2581969 bytes, checksum: c24f7e0a1623abf87965a575431111f4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-11-13 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / O pimentão é uma cultura de grande interesse agrícola e econômico para o Brasil. Como hortaliça, demanda práticas de irrigação, para garantir a produção e qualidade de frutos. Devido à dependência direta da água para seu manejo, este recurso pode ser fator limitante para o desenvolvimento da cultura. Neste contexto, este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar as diferenças na morfologia e fisiologia em plantas de pimentão, submetidas a diferentes lâminas de irrigação nas estações inverno e verão. As plantas foram cultivadas em vasos de 22 Kg de solo, utilizando o sistema de irrigação por gotejamento. O desenho experimental foi organizado em delineamento inteiramente casualizado (DIC) com três tratamentos e cinco repetições. Os tratamentos foram divididos em controle (C; Ψm do solo= 10 a 15 KPa); Deficiência Hídrica Moderada (DHM; Ψm do solo= 34- 40 KPa) e Deficiência Hídrica Severa (DHS; Ψm do solo= 54 a 60 KPa). As plantas se mantiveram sem restrição hídrica até os 50 dias após transplantio (DAT). Foram realizadas quatro avaliações aos 50, 65, 80 e 95 DAT em que as plantas foram coletadas e separadas para avaliar o potencial hídrico foliar (ψhf), conteúdo relativo de água, perda de eletrólitos, biometria, avaliação nutricional da folha, variáveis fisiológicas, discriminação isotópica do δ13C e δ15N e análises bioquímicas. Finalmente coletou-se frutos para determinação da produtividade. A deficiência hídrica (DH) provocou redução no potencial hídrico foliar, ocasionando diminuição geral dos parâmetros avaliados o que resultou em perdas consideráveis na produção de frutos. No entanto, o tratamento DHS ocasionou danos mais marcantes no crescimento e produtividade da cultura de pimentão. Os resultados obtidos confirmaram a hipótese da dependência da água no crescimento e produtividade da cultura do pimentão em ambiente protegido. / Bell pepper is a crop of great agricultural and economic interest to Brazil. As a vegetable, it demands irrigation practices, to guarantee the production and quality of fruits. Due to the direct dependence of water for its management, this resource can be a limiting factor for the development of the crop. In this context, this study had as objective to evaluate the differences in morphology and physiology in Bell pepper plants, submitted to different irrigation depths in winter and summer seasons. The plants were cultivated in pots of 22 kg of soil, using the drip irrigation system. The experimental design was arranged in a completely randomized design (CRD) with three treatments and five replicates. The treatments were divided in control (C; Ψm of soil = 10 to 15 KPa); Moderate Water Deficiency (MWD; Ψm of soil = 34-40 KPa) and Severe Water Deficiency (SWD; Ψm of soil = 54 to 60 KPa). The plants were maintained without water restriction until 50 days after transplanting (DAT). Four evaluations were performed at 50, 65, 80 and 95 DAT in which the plants were collected and separated to evaluate leaf water potential (ψlw), relative water content, electrolyte loss, biometry, leaf nutrient evaluation, physiological variables, isotopic discrimination of δ13C and δ15N and biochemical analyzes. Fruits were finally collected for yield determination. The water deficit (WD) caused a reduction in the leaf water potential, causing a general decrease of the evaluated parameters, which resulted in considerable losses in the fruit production. However, the SWD treatment caused more marked damages in the growth and productivity of the Bell pepper crop. The results confirmed the hypothesis of water dependence on the growth and productivity of the pepper crop in a protected environment. / CNPq: 141414/2015-4

Submitted by Maria Beatriz Vieira (mbeatriz.vieira@gmail.com) on 2017-06-14T12:50:51Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) tese_leticia_neutzling_rickes.pdf: 1993198 bytes, checksum: 613414279ef93ce417b50eba90eee46c (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Aline Batista (alinehb.ufpel@gmail.com) on 2017-06-14T20:55:29Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) tese_leticia_neutzling_rickes.pdf: 1993198 bytes, checksum: 613414279ef93ce417b50eba90eee46c (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-14T20:55:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) tese_leticia_neutzling_rickes.pdf: 1993198 bytes, checksum: 613414279ef93ce417b50eba90eee46c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-09-24 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / A fruticultura é um importante componente do agronegócio brasileiro, assumindo destaque cada vez maior no Rio do Grande do Sul, principalmente na região Sul deste Estado. Esta região se destaca por ser a maior detentora da produção de pêssegos do Brasil, porém ainda apresenta a menor produtividade média dos pomares, quando comparado a outros Estados. Isso se deve principalmente pelas condições edafoclimáticas da região, onde há presença de solos com horizonte „A‟ pouco profundo e com problema de drenagem, que dependendo do período do ano, podem sofrer situações de déficit hídrico em períodos críticos para a cultura, prejudicando o desenvolvimento e a produtividade da mesma. A restrição hídrica afeta diretamente o metabolismo das plantas, como por exemplo, a diminuição da taxa assimilatória líquida, o fechamento estomático, a utilização e partição de carboidratos e em nível molecular, a expressão de genes relacionados ao déficit hídrico. Desta forma, este trabalho visou caracterizar respostas diferenciais à nível fisiológico e molecular em plantas do gênero Prunus persica enxertadas sobre diferentes portaenxertos submetidas ao déficit hídrico, a fim de auxiliar na escolha de genótipos mais tolerantes à essa condição hídrica. O trabalho foi dividido em três experimentos, no primeiro, foram avaliados os parâmetros das trocas gasosas da cultivar copa Chimarrita enxertada sobre cinco diferentes portaenxertos (Tsukuba 1, Tsukuba 2, Tsukuba 3, Aldrighi 1 e Seleção UFPel 0402) submetidos ao déficit hídrico, com esquema fatorial: 2 x 8, sendo duas condições hídricas (controle e déficit hídrico) e oito dias de avaliação (0, 1º, 2º, 3º, 4º, 6º, 7º e 9º, sendo os dois últimos, período de recuperação: 24h e 72h, respectivamente). As diferentes combinações de portaenxertos com a cultivar copa Chimarrita, demonstraram comportamento fisiológico diferencial para a tolerância inicial ao déficit hídrico. A combinação „Chimarrita‟/Adrighi 1‟ apresentou-se com uma maior de tolerância inicial ao déficit hídrico. A redução da taxa assimilatória líquida perante o déficit hídrico não está relacionada principalmente à limitação estomática, sugerindo-se que ocorrem também limitações não estomáticas. No segundo experimento, objetivou-se analisar genes normalizadores para estudos de expressão gênica através da técnica de RT-qPCR em folhas de „Chimarrita‟, enxertadas sobre „Aldrighi 1‟ e „Tsukuba 2‟ submetidos ao déficit hídrico por um período de nove dias. Não houve influência das diferentes combinações „Chimarrita‟/portaenxertos para expressão dos genes normalizadores nas condições impostas do presente estudo, sendo os genes TUA e CYP2 considerados os mais adequados mediante as condições impostas. Por outro lado, os genes Ef-1α e ACT foram os menos indicados para as mesmas condições. No terceiro experimento, objetivou-se verificar através da técnica de RT-qPCR a expressão de sete genes-chave envolvidos no processo de resposta ao déficit hídrico em folhas de pessegueiro cultivar copa „Chimarrita‟ enxertadas sobre os portaenxertos „Aldrighi 1‟ e „Tsukuba 2‟. Os resultados demonstraram que houve indução de resposta diferencial da combinação „Chimarrita‟/portaenxertos em relação à expressão dos genes envolvidos no metabolismo do ajustamento osmótico, tais como, SDH, SIP1 GTL e P5SC. O gene S6PDH, apresentou expressão bastante pronunciada e similar para ambas as combinações copa/portaenxertos no quarto dia de estresse, evidenciando a participação e importância do sorbitol no ajustamento osmótico para uma possível tolerância ao déficit hídrico. No entanto, expressão dos genes relacionados ao metabolismo de sorbitol e de prolina, podem ser utilizados como marcadores moleculares para tolerância ao déficit hídrico em portaenxertos de Prunus persica. / Fruit growing is an important component of Brazilian agribusiness, assuming increasing prominence in the Rio Grande do Sul, mainly in the southern region of this state.This region stands out as the largest holder of the production of peaches in Brazil, but also has the lowest average productivity of the orchards when compared to other states. This is mainly the soil and climatic conditions of the region, where there is presence of soils with horizon 'A' superficial and with drainage problem, which depending on the time of year, may suffer water stress situations at critical periods for culture, impairing development and productivity of the same. Water restriction intake directly affects the metabolism of plants, such as the decrease in net assimilation rate, stomatal closure, use and carbohydrates partition and molecular level the expression of genes related to drought. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize differential responses to physiological and molecular level in the genus Prunus persica plants, grafted on different rootstocks subjected to water stress in order support choose the most tolerant to this condition water. The work was divided into three experiments, the first evaluated the parameters of gas exchange of the cultivar cup Chimarrita grafted on five different rootstocks (Tsukuba 1, Tsukuba 2, Tsukuba 3, Aldrighi 1 and Seleção UFPel 0402) submitted to water deficit, with factorial design: 2 x 8, two water conditions (control and water deficit ) and eight days of evaluations (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 9, the latter two, recovery time: 24 hours and 72 hours respectively). The different combinations of rootstocks with the cultivar cup Chimarrita demonstrated physiological performance differential for initial tolerance to water deficit. The combination 'Chimarrita'/Aldrighi 1 'presented with an initial greater tolerance to water deficit. The reduced net assimilation rate before the water deficit is not related mainly to stomatal limitation, suggesting that also occur not stomatal limitations. The second experiment aimed to analyze normalizing genes for gene expression studies by RT- qPCR technique in leaves 'Chimarrita' grafted on 'Aldrighi 1' and 'Tsukuba 2' and subjected to water stress for a period of nine days. There was no influence of different combinations 'Chimarrita'/rootstocks for normalizing gene expression of the imposed conditions of this study, and the TUA and CYP2 genes considered best suited by the conditions imposed. However, the EF-1α gene and the ACT less suitable for the same conditions. In the third experiment aimed to verify through RT- qPCR technique the expression of seven key genes involved in the response process to water deficit in peach leaves cultivar cup 'Chimarrita' grafted on rootstocks „Aldrighi 1' and „Tsukuba 2'. The results showed induction differential response of the combination 'Chimarrita'/rootstocks compared to the expression of genes involved in the metabolism of the osmotic adjustment, such as SDH, SIP1, GTL and P5SC. The S6PDH gene, presented quite pronounced and similar expression for both compounds canopy/rootstocks on the fourth day of stress, suggesting a participation and importance of sorbitol in osmotic adjustment for possible tolerance to water deficit. However, expression of genes related to the metabolism of sorbitol and proline, can be used as molecular markers for tolerance to water deficit in rootstocks of Prunus persica.

Submitted by Maria Beatriz Vieira (mbeatriz.vieira@gmail.com) on 2017-06-21T12:32:09Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) tese_davi_silva_dalberto.pdf: 2087823 bytes, checksum: b7d0285490b7743c0c6c522caefddca3 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Aline Batista (alinehb.ufpel@gmail.com) on 2017-06-21T18:58:29Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) tese_davi_silva_dalberto.pdf: 2087823 bytes, checksum: b7d0285490b7743c0c6c522caefddca3 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-21T18:58:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) tese_davi_silva_dalberto.pdf: 2087823 bytes, checksum: b7d0285490b7743c0c6c522caefddca3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-02-23 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Dentre as espécies vegetais oleaginosas utilizadas como fonte renovável de combustíveis e matéria prima industrial, a mamona (Ricinus communis L.) tem grande destaque em virtude do alto teor de óleo nas sementes e conteúdo de ácido ricinoléico (80-90% da composição dos ácidos graxos), além de sua rusticidade. Em razão da necessidade de aumentar a produção vegetal de forma a suprir as necessidades energéticas frente ao rápido crescimento populacional, o entendimento de como os fatores ambientais alteram a fisiologia das plantas é de grande interesse, uma vez que as plantas são frequentemente expostas a estresses abióticos. Neste trabalho foi avaliado o efeito de estresses ambientais como seca, alagamento do solo e exposição à baixa temperatura sobre a capacidade fotossintética e crescimento de plantas jovens de mamona. No primeiro experimento, plantas jovens de mamona das cultivares ‘BRS Gabriela’ e ‘IAC Guarani’ foram cultivadas em casa de vegetação. Quando apresentaram o par de folhas primárias expandido, as mesmas foram submetidas ao estresse por seca por 36 dias. No segundo experimento, plantas jovens de mamona das cultivares ‘AL Guarany 2002’ e ‘IAC Guarani’ foram cultivadas na mesma condição do primeiro experimento. Quando apresentaram sete a oito folhas foram submetidas ao alagamento do solo por cinco dias. No terceiro ensaio, plantas jovens de mamona das cultivares ‘AL Guarany 2002’, ‘BRS Gabriela’ e ‘IAC Guarani’ foram submetidas ao frio quando apresentaram o par de folhas primárias, pela transferência para condições naturais de campo no período de inverno. No primeiro experimento, a redução da fotossíntese ocorreu em função do aumento da resistência estomática com o decorrer do estresse, e posteriormente, pelo aumento de centros de reação inativos e da dissipação da energia absorvida, sendo observado redução dos índices de performance aos 36 dias estresse. Foi detectado que as plantas estressadas apresentaram menor crescimento. No segundo experimento, a redução da assimilação de carbono ocorreu em função da menor abertura estomática em conjunto com a redução da eficiência de carboxilação. Por outro lado, a atividade da cadeia transportadora de elétrons foi estimulada quando as plantas estão em condições de alagamento do solo, sendo registrado aumento dos índices de performance em relação ao controle. No terceiro experimento, a exposição às baixas temperaturas afetou o funcionamento do aparato fotossintético, reduzindo a atividade fotoquímica e o fluxo de elétrons pelo interssistema. O tempo para alcançar fluorescência máxima aumentou nas plantas expostas às baixas temperaturas. Foi identificado que a atividade do fotossistema II foi mais sensível do que o do fotossistema I em plantas de mamona expostas às baixas temperaturas. No entanto, apesar dos danos ocorridos ao aparato fotossintético durante o estresse, as plantas jovens de mamona apresentaram capacidade de recuperação após o retorno à casa de vegetação com temperatura normal. Portanto, durante o desenvolvimento deste trabalho, pode-se notar que os estresses alteraram a atividade fotossintética das plantas de mamona com intensidade e mecanismos distintos, sendo observando menor tolerância da cultivar ‘IAC Guarani’ aos estresses hídricos estudados neste trabalho, quando comparada às cultivares ‘AL Guarany 2002’ e ‘BRS Gabriela’, enquanto que no estresse por baixas temperaturas as três cultivares apresentaram comportamento semelhante, sendo a cultivar BRS Gabriela menos sensível a esse estresse. / Among the oil plant species used as a renewable source of fuels and industrial raw material, castor bean (Ricinus communis L.) is of great importance due high oil content of the seeds and content of ricinoleic acid (80-90% of the acid fatty composition), and its rusticity. The need to increase crop production in order to meet the energy needs ahead with rapid population growth, the understanding about environmental impact in the physiology of plants is of great interest, since the plants are often exposed to abiotic stresses. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of environmental stresses such as drought, flooding and exposure to low temperature on the photosynthetic capacity and growth of young plants of castor bean. In the first experiment, young plants of castor bean cultivars 'BRS Gabriela' and 'IAC Guarani' were grown in the greenhouse. Plants were used at the primary pair leaf stage and divided into well-drained and drought treatments for 36 days. In the second experiment, young plants of castor bean cultivars 'AL Guarany 2002’ and ‘IAC Guarani' were grown in the same condition in the first experiment. Plants were used at the 7- to 8-leaf stage and were divided into well-drained and flooded treatments for five days. In the third test, young plants of castor cultivars 'AL Guarany 2002', 'BRS Gabriela' and 'IAC Guarani’ were subjected to low temperatures at primary pair leaf stage, through of the transfer to natural field conditions during the winter. In the first experiment, the impair of photosynthesis was due to increased stomatal resistance in the course of stress, and subsequently, increase of inactive reaction centers and dissipation of the absorbed energy, being observed reduction in performance indices at 36 days stress. It was noted that stressed plants showed lower growth. In the second experiment, the reduction of carbon assimilation occurred due to decreased of both stomatal aperture and carboxylation efficiency. On the other hand, the transport chain activity of electrons was stimulated in flooded plants, with largest performance index in relation to the control. In the third experiment, exposure to low temperatures affected the functioning of the photosynthetic apparatus, with decrease the photochemical activity and the electron flow from the intersystem. The time to reach maximum fluorescence increased in plants exposed to low temperatures. It was identified that the activity of photosystem II was more sensitive than photosystem I in castor bean plants exposed to low temperatures. However, despite the damage incurred to the photosynthetic apparatus during stress, castor bean seedlings showed resilience after returning to the greenhouse with normal temperature. Therefore, during the development of this work, it can be noted that the stresses changed the photosynthetic activity of the castor bean plants with intensity and different mechanisms, and observed a lower tolerance 'IAC Guarani' to water stress studied in this work compared to cultivars 'AL Guarany 2002' and 'BRS Gabriela', while in stress low temperatures the three cultivars behaved similarly, however, ‘BRS Gabriela’ was less sensitive to this stress.

Este trabalho apresenta o desenvolvimento de um simulador numérico para o transporte convectivo-reativo, não linear, de oxigênio, em oxigenadores de sangue, compostos por fibras ocas. O modelo computacional possui caráter bi-dimensional e obtém para a condição de regime permanente, a condição de saída do sangue, frente a uma condição de entrada especificada. Os parâmetros de entrada do sangue são: vazão, temperatura, pH, PCO2 , PO2 e concentração de hemoglobina. Já os parâmetros de entrada do gás são, basicamente: vazão, temperatura, umidade relativa, frações molares de oxigênio e gás carbônico. O simulador numérico também contempla a simulação do transporte de gás carbônico, uma vez que a afinidade da oxihemoglobina é afetada pelo pH local do sangue, que depende principalmente do conteúdo local de CO2 no sangue. O simulador baseia-se num coeficiente global de transporte de massa obtido a partir de resultados experimentais em sangue bovino. As equações utilizadas para o transporte de oxigênio e gás carbônico estão parametrizadas em função da temperatura, o que permite simular o desempenho do oxigenador em circulações extracorpóreas tanto em normo como em hipotermia. O modelo computacional foi desenvolvido para a geometria de escoamento de sangue externo a um feixe de fibras, com o gás escoando no interior das mesmas, com uma única passada de ambos os fluidos. O modelo foi aplicado para dois tipos de geometrias: feixe de fibras alinhadas e feixe de fibras em quicôncio. Adicionalmente, avaliou-se a viabilidade da predição do transporte de massa no sangue, calibrando-se o simulador numérico a partir de ensaios em água. Como principais resultados do trabalho desenvolvido, temos: 1) A modelagem utilizada para o transporte convectivo-reativo no sangue mostrou ser adequada para a calibração do simulador numérico desenvolvido. Desta forma, obteve-se uma estimativa precisa dos coeficientes locais de transporte de massa para o oxigênio e o gás carbônico. 2) A obtenção da distribuição de pH, ao longo do oxigenador, demonstrou que valores de pH alcalino elevado são observados no trajeto do sangue, na vizinhança do local de entrada de gás. 3) O simulador numérico obtido pode ser utilizado como uma ferramenta computacional de auxílio no projeto de oxigenadores de sangue. 4) Os testes com água são pouco eficientes na calibração do simulador, uma vez que, para isto, é necessário o conhecimento das difusividades de oxigênio e gás carbônico no sangue, as quais são modificadas pela ocorrência de intensificação. / A numeric simulator was developed to predict the non-linear, convective-reactive, oxygen transport in hollow fibers blood oxygenators. The bidimensional computational model calculates, at the steady state condition, the blood outlet for a specified inlet condition. The blood flow inlet parameters taken into account are: flow, temperature, pH, PCO2 PO2 and hemoglobin concentration. The gas flow inlet parameters are: flow, temperature, relative humidity, molar fractions of oxygen and carbonic gas. The numeric simulator also simulates the CO2 transport, as the oxyhemoglobin affinity is affected by the pH local value, which depends mostly on CO2 local blood content. The simulator is calibrated against experimental data which allows the determination of the global mass transport coefficient for oxygen and CO2. Oxygen and CO2 blood content equations are explicitly temperature dependent to allow the simulation of both normothermic and hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass. The computational model was tested for in-line and staggered fibers bundles. In addition, it was evaluated the advantages of simulator calibration from water tests. The principal results are: 1) The convective-reactive transport modeling showed to be adequate to the calibration of the numeric simulator. 2) Local values for pH, PCO2 and PO2 were obtained along the blood path. This analysis shows that very alkaline pH values occur at the blood path at the gas inlet side of the fiber bundle. 3) The numeric simulator can be used as a computational tool to support blood oxygenators development. 4) The water tests are not effective in the prediction of blood mass transport once different values for the oxygen and CO2 blood diffusivities were used to correlate blood-water results according to fiber bundle type, which is in agreement with other results, that point out that, at blood, intensification phenomena modifies blood gases diffusivities.

Invasive non-indigenous species are among the principle drivers of global change, altering nutrient cycles, changing disturbance regimes, and generally threatening biodiversity. Climate change is widely expected to exacerbate invasions by relaxing abiotic barriers, such as low temperature, but the mechanistic evidence supporting this is limited. Here, I evaluate the hypothesis that low temperatures determine the northern range limit of kudzu (Pueraria montana var. lobata), an invasive Asiatic vine in North America, by assessing freezing and chilling tolerance of kudzu plants in winter, spring, summer, and fall. Kudzu was widely planted throughout the southeastern U.S. in the early 20th Century to prevent erosion. It is winter-deciduous and reproduces primarily from buds on stem nodes. In the last 40 years, kudzu has migrated northward in concert with a northward shift in the -20oC minimum winter temperature isocline, indicating that less severe winter cold is permitting northward migration. Freezing mortality during winter does not explain this correlation. Electrolyte leakage assays demonstrate that above- and belowground kudzu stems can survive to -27oC and -17oC. Insulation provided by soil and snow protects belowground stems from lethal temperatures to well north of kudzu's current range limit. Severe spring chill stops growth and photosynthesis and causes some shoot mortality, but both growth and photosynthesis recover quickly following the chill. Summer growth rates are rapid (up to 22 cm/d), responding within hours to temperature changes, and are unimpaired by nighttime lows. Photosynthesis is reduced at cool temperatures, but on cool days, kudzu leaves tend to be warmer than air temperature, so photosynthesis rates generally remain close to optimal values. In autumn, growth stops below 15oC, but leaves are retained and maintain modest photosynthetic competence until killed by frost in November. In colder climates that occur far north of kudzu's current range, reductions in the length and quality of the growing season could accumulate over time to reduce kudzu's success. There is, however, no strong evidence that low temperatures in any season will prevent kudzu from migrating throughout southern Ontario, making kudzu a good candidate for invasive species regulations.

Invasive non-indigenous species are among the principle drivers of global change, altering nutrient cycles, changing disturbance regimes, and generally threatening biodiversity. Climate change is widely expected to exacerbate invasions by relaxing abiotic barriers, such as low temperature, but the mechanistic evidence supporting this is limited. Here, I evaluate the hypothesis that low temperatures determine the northern range limit of kudzu (Pueraria montana var. lobata), an invasive Asiatic vine in North America, by assessing freezing and chilling tolerance of kudzu plants in winter, spring, summer, and fall. Kudzu was widely planted throughout the southeastern U.S. in the early 20th Century to prevent erosion. It is winter-deciduous and reproduces primarily from buds on stem nodes. In the last 40 years, kudzu has migrated northward in concert with a northward shift in the -20oC minimum winter temperature isocline, indicating that less severe winter cold is permitting northward migration. Freezing mortality during winter does not explain this correlation. Electrolyte leakage assays demonstrate that above- and belowground kudzu stems can survive to -27oC and -17oC. Insulation provided by soil and snow protects belowground stems from lethal temperatures to well north of kudzu's current range limit. Severe spring chill stops growth and photosynthesis and causes some shoot mortality, but both growth and photosynthesis recover quickly following the chill. Summer growth rates are rapid (up to 22 cm/d), responding within hours to temperature changes, and are unimpaired by nighttime lows. Photosynthesis is reduced at cool temperatures, but on cool days, kudzu leaves tend to be warmer than air temperature, so photosynthesis rates generally remain close to optimal values. In autumn, growth stops below 15oC, but leaves are retained and maintain modest photosynthetic competence until killed by frost in November. In colder climates that occur far north of kudzu's current range, reductions in the length and quality of the growing season could accumulate over time to reduce kudzu's success. There is, however, no strong evidence that low temperatures in any season will prevent kudzu from migrating throughout southern Ontario, making kudzu a good candidate for invasive species regulations.

Recent work has described how gas exchange can occur through sea ice. First, carbon fluxes over sea ice surfaces have been measured. Second, sea ice brine has an elevated capacity over seawater to absorb CO2(g) due to its cold temperature and chemical equilibrium promoting carbon phase changes. Sea ice pCO2 profiles were collected using a new method of remotely sampling gas in situ via diffusive membranes placed within growing sea ice. Gas analysis was complimented by measurements of local meteorology and ice chemistry. The work was part of the CASES 2004 project. The observed elevation in sea ice pCO2 coupled with the mobility of the brine points to the role that brine plays in Arctic carbon transport. The gas transport links the Arctic atmosphere and ocean and indicates that a thinning and receding ice cover may not result in creating a negative feedback to the increasing atmospheric CO2(g) concentration. / October 2008

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 162-176).

Recent work has described how gas exchange can occur through sea ice. First, carbon fluxes over sea ice surfaces have been measured. Second, sea ice brine has an elevated capacity over seawater to absorb CO2(g) due to its cold temperature and chemical equilibrium promoting carbon phase changes. Sea ice pCO2 profiles were collected using a new method of remotely sampling gas in situ via diffusive membranes placed within growing sea ice. Gas analysis was complimented by measurements of local meteorology and ice chemistry. The work was part of the CASES 2004 project. The observed elevation in sea ice pCO2 coupled with the mobility of the brine points to the role that brine plays in Arctic carbon transport. The gas transport links the Arctic atmosphere and ocean and indicates that a thinning and receding ice cover may not result in creating a negative feedback to the increasing atmospheric CO2(g) concentration.

The purpose of this study was to examine VT and LT in boys and men. Eight boys (10-11 years) and nine men (18-30 years) completed a graded exercise test on a cycle ergometer. A two-way (group x threshold) ANOVA compared physiological responses (V02 1/min and ml/kg/min, percentage of V02max, and HR) at VT and LT. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. No significant interaction was observed. Significant main effects for group included a higher V02 (1/min) in the men, and a higher percentage of VO2max in the boys. Significant main effects for threshold showed all variables were greater at VT than LT. Within each group, all variables were significantly higher at VT than LT. For the boys and all subjects together, significant correlations between thresholds were observed for V02 (1/min and ml/kg/min) and HR, but not percentage of VO2max. For the men alone, no significant correlations were found. Together, these results suggest that physiological changes associated with LT may contribute to the onset of VT, and the occurrence of the thresholds (expressed as a percentage of VO2max) declines with maturation. / School of Physical Education