Ecological speciation involves the evolution of reproductive isolation (RI) as a by-product of adaptation to different selective environments. Parallel patterns of non-random mating by environment type provide strong evidence that ecological speciation has occurred. The processes involved in the origins of RI are more difficult to detect however. One mechanism involves the correlated evolution of mating preferences and sexually selected traits. I developed a conceptual model for detecting RI under various scenarios of mate preference evolution. The model predicts that RI will not evolve if preferences are evolutionarily constrained relative to the preferred traits, but is detectable as long as preferences evolve in parallel. I then applied this framework to an empirical system with populations of guppies (Poecilia reticulata) adapted to low- and high-predation environments. I measured female mate preferences for male colour and size; traits which are divergent between the two environment types. Preference functions for colour also diverged in the predicted direction. The parallel pattern of preference divergence suggests that divergent natural selection from predators may be contributing to RI between guppy populations.

The objective of this study is to assess current distributional patterns of species within a community, while taking into account species' evolutionary histories, as reflected in their phylogenetic relationships. The hypothesis is that closely related species segregate along environmental gradients, either due to historic evolutionary divergence of their niches, or to ecological processes presently occurring within a community. Distribution along environmental gradients was compared to phylogenetic structure of the 27 sedge species (Cyperaceae) growing in the subarctic fen communities of Schefferville, northern Quebec. Field data suggest that within these fens, sedges mostly differentiate along gradients of rooting depth and pH. Species growing in similar (micro)habitats often belong to different taxonomic sedge clades, and species belonging to the same clade usually differentiate on at least one environmental gradient. Further comparison of natural distribution to responses under greenhouse experimental conditions for four selected Carex species suggests that the two relatives in section Limosae differ in their tolerance ranges to environmental conditions due to past evolutionary events, while the two members of section Paniceae differentiate along environmental gradients in nature due to ongoing ecological processes.

[Truncated abstract] Aspects of the biology of the commercial sea cucumber Holothuria whitmaei were investigated at Coral Bay, Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. The study was partitioned into several components: i) spatial distribution, ii) temporal changes in behaviour and iii) reproduction biology. The spatial distribution of H. whitmaei at Coral Bay was typical of that reported in the literature. H. whitmaei had distinct preferences for outer reef habitats, including the outer reef flat and reef slope. However, the distribution of H. whitmaei within these habitats was heterogeneous, or, aggregated within certain micro-habitat zones - predominantly at the leading edge of the reef flat, perpendicular to the prevailing current. Two potential biological advantages of this distribution were hypothesised: i), that species aggregation enhances prospects for gamete fertilisation, a process which may be impeded under typical densities, and ii), large deposits of detrital matter, an important food source for holothurians, may accumulate within these zones. ... A striking feature of the reproduction biology of this species was the potential for specimens to mature asynchronously. It was hypothesised that this phenomenon may be a reflection of isolated individuals located too far from conspecifics to receive pheromone signals; cues which are known to entrain synchronous gonad development in some holothurians. Hence, it was proposed that aggregations of H. whitmaei may be important to the maintenance of population recruitment, given that animals at the periphery of species concentrations may have relatively little chance of achieving fertilisation. ... Given that H. whitmaei were observed to maintain highly specific patterns of distribution, this may have significant ramifications for trophic level cascades in the outer reef zone, particularly where this species is present in higher densities (i.e. >100 ind. ha-1). The findings of this study, apart from highlighting the spatial and temporal biological attributes which may facilitate feeding and reproductive success, also emphasised the importance of biological knowledge to the management of sea cucumber fisheries. The study highlighted the need for further research to ascertain both the importance of species aggregations to population recruitment, and of the actual densities required to achieve high rates of gamete fertilisation. Such knowledge may help ultimately to identify suitable habitats for inclusion in marine protected areas.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniv., 2007. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Submitted by Angélica Vieira de Souza null (angelicaviso@hotmail.com) on 2018-01-09T18:55:39Z No. of bitstreams: 1 SouzaLopes_AngelicaVieiraDOC.pdf: 10321700 bytes, checksum: 4ba6df8d0f4c9b90967437b8b728a72f (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Aparecida Puerta null (dripuerta@rc.unesp.br) on 2018-01-10T17:14:47Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 souzalopes_av_dr_rcla.pdf: 10321692 bytes, checksum: 59f8d46531ef1e32b00f1bccaa895cda (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-01-10T17:14:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 souzalopes_av_dr_rcla.pdf: 10321692 bytes, checksum: 59f8d46531ef1e32b00f1bccaa895cda (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-11-22 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / A presente Tese de Doutorado teve como escopo avaliar as ocorrências dos acidentes com produtos químicos no estado de São Paulo. Apesar da utilização de novas tecnologias que visam a minimizar ou eliminar a ocorrência dos acidentes com tais produtos, houve aumento no número de acidentes com esses produtos, no período de 1980 – 2009, no estado de São Paulo. Um acidente com produto químico pode contaminar as águas e solos, devido ao vazamento de substâncias químicas, acarretando danos irreparáveis ao meio ambiente; além de ocasionar, por conseguinte, graves danos aos seres humanos, inclusive com óbitos. Conforme dados coletados, 72,2% do total dos acidentes com produtos químicos, ocorridos no estado de São Paulo, no período de 1980-2009, foram registrados nas atividades, relacionados aos riscos industriais e riscos tecnológicos. Nas atividades referentes aos riscos industriais: armazenamento, descarte, indústria, postos e sistemas retalhistas de combustíveis, ocorreram 22,6% do total de acidentes; nas atividades referentes aos riscos tecnológicos: transportes aquaviário, ferroviário, por duto e rodoviário, ocorreram 49,6% do total dos acidentes. Tais dados sobre os acidentes com produtos químicos só foram possíveis de serem devidamente analisados e interpretados porque foram espacializados. Nesse sentido, o uso do software Arc Gis foi importante para visualizar o total de acidentes, causas e meios atingidos no estado de São Paulo e, posteriormente, a distribuição espacial desses acidentes com produtos químicos por Região Administrativa, foi de grande valia para a compreensão dos acidentes pesquisados. A pesquisa revelou, também, que a legislação ambiental brasileira e paulista apresenta um histórico de atribuição de regulamentos referentes à preservação ambiental, relacionado ao desenvolvimento econômico desde a década de 1970. A tese a ser defendida, portanto, é a seguinte: apesar do emprego de novas tecnologias, da consciência ambiental e da legislação ambiental existente, muitos acidentes com produtos químicos têm ocorrido, ainda, no estado de São Paulo, demandando estudos sobre esses acidentes e a necessidade de fiscalização na aplicação das leis ambientais. / The purpose of this PhD thesis was to evaluate the occurrence of chemical accidents in the São Paulo state. Despite the use of new technologies aimed at minimizing or eliminating the occurrence of accidents with such products, there was an increase in the number of accidents with these products, from 1980 to 2009, in the São Paulo state. A chemical accident can contaminate water and soil due to the release of chemicals, causing irreparable damage to the environment; besides causing, consequently, serious damages to the human beings, even with deaths. According to data collected, 72.2% of the total number of chemical accidents occurred in the São Paulo state during the period 1980-2009 were recorded in activities related to industrial risks and technological risks. In activities related to industrial risks: storage, disposal, industry and gas stations, there were 22.6% of total accidents; in activities related to technological risks: waterway, rail, duct and road transportation, 49.6% of all accidents occurred. Such data on chemical accidents were only possible to be properly analyzed and interpreted because they were spatialized. In this sense, the use of the Arc Gis software was important to visualize the total number of accidents, causes and means reached in the São Paulo state and, later, the spatial distribution of these accidents with chemical products by Administrative Region, was of great value for the understanding of the accidents investigated. The research also revealed that Brazilian and São Paulo environmental legislation presents a history of the attribution of regulations regarding environmental preservation, related to economic development since the 1970s. The thesis to be defended, therefore, is the following: despite employment new technologies, environmental awareness and existing environmental legislation, many accidents with chemical products have also occurred in the São Paulo state, demanding studies on these accidents and the need for enforcement in the application of environmental laws.

Distribution patterns and levels of genetic diversity in extant taxa are a product of complex palaeogeographic processes and climatic oscillations as well as the species’ intrinsic ecological adaptations. The Cape Floristic Region of South Africa presents a unique system for studying the processes that promote species diversification and distribution patterns. This region has a high degree of endemism of both terrestrial and aquatic biota and is clearly isolated from neighbouring areas by the Cape Fold Mountains and the Great Escarpment. The objective of this study was to firstly examine the ecology of freshwater fishes belonging to the genera Galaxias, Pseudobarbus and Sandelia in the south-western CFR. This was followed by an assessment of the genetic diversity of these taxa. Unique lineages were identified and their distribution was mapped. The work aimed to explore the role of the region’s complex palaeogeographic and climatic history as well as the role of the species’ ecological adaptations in driving lineage diversification and shaping contemporary distribution patterns. The four main components of the study can be summarised as follows: 1. Habitat associations of three widely distributed lineages of Galaxias zebratus Pseudobarbus burchelli and Sandelia capensis were evaluated at multiple localities in minimally disturbed mountain tributaries of the Breede, Duiwenhoks and Goukou River systems. The lineages have distinct habitat associations which were related to differences in their morphological traits. The slender-bodied Galaxias ‘nebula’ and the fusiform-shaped Pseudobarbus ‘Breede’ are capable of exploiting upper reaches with faster water velocity. By contrast, the laterally compressed Sandelia ‘eastern’ is restricted to lower reaches, making this lineage more susceptible to a wide array of impacts. 2. A recently discovered lineage of Galaxias zebratus, (Galaxias ‘nebula’), was found to be capable of tolerating emersion for a prolonged period of time. This is the first time that such capabilities have been documented in an African galaxiid. These adaptations have implications for the interpretation of Galaxias ‘nebula’s wide distribution range. 3. The phylogeography of Galaxias ‘nebula’ across its entire distribution range was investigated using two mitochondrial genes (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and cytochrome b (cyt b)). This lineage has a complex evolutionary history that was influenced by both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Rare events such as episodic drainage connections during Pleistocene and Holocene pluvial periods, possibly augmented by river confluences during periods of lower sea-levels and river capture events seem to be the most credible explanation for the extensive contemporary distribution and the relatively shallow genetic divergence between different river systems. 4. Mitochondrial cyt b sequences were used (i) to assess genetic diversity in G. zebratus, P. burchelli and S. capensis from the south-western CFR and (ii) to determine the roles of intrinsic ecological adaptations and extrinsic landscape and climatic changes in promoting genetic diversification and shaping present day distribution patterns of lineages in the three taxa. Marine incursions during periods of major sea-level transgressions are proposed to have isolated populations in upland refugia, thereby driving allopatric divergence in these species. Subsequent connections of rivers during wetter periods and lower sea-levels are proposed to have facilitated post-speciation dispersal of lineages to attain present day distribution patterns. While detailed morphological studies and further genetic analysis are needed to substantiate the taxonomic status of the newly discovered lineages of Galaxias zebratus, Pseudobarbus burchelli and Sandelia capensis, results of the present study indicate that the south-western CFR represents a previously unrecognised centre of freshwater fish diversity and microendemism in the broader Cape Floristic Region. Accurate identification of lineages and comprehensive mapping of their distribution is a fundamental pre-requisite for ecological studies, assessing conservation status and implementation of appropriate conservation measures.

Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Bibliography: Includes bibliographical references (leaves 62-64). / During the nonbreeding season I observed the degree of site faithfulness of individual Sanderlings, Calidris alba, on the Pacific coast of southcentral Oregon, and the linear home range size was estimated. Home range size of Oregon birds and range sizes of individuals wintering in coastal areas of California and Peru were compared to determine if annual migration distance from the high arctic breeding ground is positively correlated with home range size. Oregon sanderlings on average remained within a minimum range of 17 kID during the nonbreeding season from October thrcugh April, although spring data are sparse. The Oregon home range is significantly larger than that of birds in Bodega Bay, California, and similar to that of birds in Peru. Therefore home range size is not correlated with distance from the breeding ground.

Penelope superciliaris Temminck, 1815, comumente conhecido como jacupemba, é o jacu com a mais ampla área de distribuição, ocorrendo no Brasil, Paraguai, Argentina e Bolívia, sendo também uma das sete espécies do gênero Penelope distribuída no Brasil. Suas subespécies foram descritas com base na largura e a tonalidade das bordas das penas, no desenvolvimento da linha superciliar, pigmentação das partes nuas, coloração geral da plumagem e tamanho. A taxonomia deste táxon é complexa e até hoje muitos autores nunca chegaram a um consenso sobre a validade dos táxons subordinados, a maioria deles reconhece apenas três subespécies: P. s. superciliaris, P. s. jacupemba e P. s. major, outras populações propostas como novas subespécies geográficas são atualmente sinonimizadas com as três anteriores. Para este complexo nenhuma revisão foi realizada nos últimos 70 anos, é por isso que, com coletas recentes de material novo, estamos realizando uma revisão taxonômica com base em caráteres morfológicos externos. O objetivo deste trabalho é verificar quantos táxons estão no nível de espécie no complexo Penelope superciliaris e delimitar suas respectivas distribuições geográficas, de acordo com o bioma em que eles ocorrem. Para atingir esses objetivos, realizamos análises qualitativas de carácteres morfológicos externos como coloração da plumagem, pigmentação das partes nuas, e também foram testadas variações inter- e intra-populacionais de acordo com esses caráteres. Para a análise estatística foram realizados testes univariados e multivariados para avaliar o dimorfismo sexual e a variação geográfica. De dezoito grupos geográficos formados, as análises qualitativas revelam que não há dimorfismo sexual, e a maioria delas tem um alto grau de variação individual. As análises estatísticas não discriminaram os sexos e populações com base nas oito medidas corporais utilizadas, porém os táxons foram discriminados pela coloração da plumagem e a pigmentação das regiões nuas. De acordo com o Conceito Filogenético de Espécies (PSC), consideramos que o complexo Penelope superciliaris deve ser dividido em quatro espécies: Penelope pseudonyma Neumann, 1933, uma população de jacus de cara azul restrita ao interflúvio Madeira-Tapajós na floresta amazônica; Penelope ochromitra Neumann, 1933, da Caatinga e Cerrado que limita com este bioma; Penelope alagoensis Nardelli, 1993, do Centro de Endemismo Pernambuco; e Penelope superciliaris Temminck, 1815, que ocorre no resto da distribuição do complexo. / Penelope superciliaris Temminck, 1815, known as Rusty-margined Guan, is a forest guan with the widest distribution, occurring in Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina and Bolivia, being also one of the seven species of the genus Penelope distributed in Brazil. Its subspecies have been described based on the width and shade of edges of feathers, the development of the superciliary stripe, naked parts pigmentation, general plumage coloration and size. The taxonomy of this taxon is complex and even today many authors never reached a consensus on the validity of the subordinate taxa; most of them recognize only three subspecies: P. s. superciliaris, P. s. jacupemba and P. s. major; other populations proposed as new races are currently synonymized with the previous three. For this complex, no review was conducted in the last 70 years that is why, with recent collection of new material, I performed a taxonomic revision based on external morphological characters. The aim on this work is to verify how many taxa exist at the species level in the Penelope superciliaris complex, and delimit their respective geographic distributions. To achieve these goals, we performed qualitative analyzes of external morphological characters as plumage coloration, naked parts pigmentation, and were tested inter- and intra-populational variations according to these characters. For statistical analyzes we performed univariate and multivariate tests to evaluate the sexual dimorphism and geographical variation. From eighteen geographic groups formed, the qualitative analyzes reveals that there is no sexual dimorphism, and most of them have a high degree of individual variation. Statistical analyzes did not discriminate the sexes and populations based on the eight body measurements used, but the taxa were discriminated by plumage coloration and naked parts pigmentation. According to the Phylogenetic Species Concept (PSC), we consider that the Penelope superciliaris complex must be divided in four species: Penelope pseudonyma Neumann, 1933, a blue-faced guans population restricted to the Madeira-Tapajós interfluvium in the Amazon forest; Penelope ochromitra Neumann, 1933, from the Caatinga and Cerrado that borders with this biome; Penelope alagoensis Nardelli, 1993, from the Pernambuco Center of Endemism; and Penelope superciliaris Temminck, 1815, which occurs in the rest of the distribution of the complex.

Roedores Cricetidae e Echimyidae e marsupiais Didelphidae formam o grupo dos pequenos mamíferos não-voadores das florestas neotropicais, o qual engloba boa parte da diversidade de mamíferos do Brasil, exerce papel ecológico importante na regeneração e dinâmica das florestas, e funciona como indicador de alterações da paisagem e da estrutura local dos habitats. No entanto, a identificação das espécies do grupo é difícil já que a taxonomia é baseada principalmente em caracteres cranianos e cromossômicos, muitas espécies ainda vêm sendo descritas, e faltam listas recentes para muitos biomas e regiões brasileiras. Além disso, apesar de sua importância numérica e ecológica, existe uma carência de informações, e de sínteses e compilações, sobre a diagnose, história natural, distribuição geográfica e ameaças para as espécies deste grupo. Esta dissertação apresenta uma compilação do conhecimento atualmente existente sobre os caracteres diagnósticos, distribuição, uso de habitats e respostas às alterações humanas, dieta, uso do espaço, reprodução e ameaças das espécies de pequenos mamíferos não-voadores de uma das regiões mais ricas da Mata Atlântica, o Planalto Atlântico de São Paulo, encontro entre duas áreas de endemismo adjacentes, que abriga respectivamente cerca de 22 e 32% das espécies de roedores Cricetidae e marsupiais Didelphidae com ocorrência no Brasil. A diagnose das espécie foi baseada na comparação e descrição das mesmas características para todas as espécies, focando principalmente em caracteres externos, passíveis de serem analisadas nos animais vivos e algumas características cranianas e dentárias mais relevantes para os grupos analisados. Já a descrição de características ecológicas foi baseada em extenso banco de dados coletados em 155 sítios com 118.322 armadilhas-noite de esforço no Planalto pelos projetos do Laboratório de Diversidade e Conservação de Mamíferos do Departamento de Zoologia do Instituto de Biociências da Universidade de São Paulo, e revisão padronizada da literatura. Para cada uma das 53 espécies, são apresentadas informações sobre: 1- \"Identificação\" que inclui medidas corporais externas (mínimo, máximo e média), um texto de diagnose que descreve características morfológicas externas e cranianas ilustradas em figuras e pranchas, e cariótipo; 2- \"Distribuição\" onde é descrita a distribuição geográfica seguida por informações sobre a ocorrência em biomas e estados brasileiros, e a distribuição e abundância nas matas do Planalto Atlântico de São Paulo; 3- \"História Natural\" onde são descritas a preferência por florestas ou áreas abertas de agricultura, a resposta à fragmentação florestal e regeneração da floresta, a capacidade de ocupar diferentes tipos de ambientes alterados, dieta, hábito, reprodução, uso do espaço e outras informações importantes; e 4- \"Ameaças\" onde se ressalta a presença em listas de espécies ameaçadas estaduais, nacional e internacional e se apresenta uma consideração sobre as ameaçadas sofridas, com base nas informações detalhadas obtidas no Planalto Atlântico de São Paulo. / Rodents from the families Cricetidae and Echimyidae and Didelphidae marsupials represent the non-volant small mammals from Neotropical forests, a group that encompasses much of the diversity of mammals in Brazil, play important ecological roles in forest regeneration and dynamics, and indicates changes in both landscape and local habitat structure. However, species identification is difficult since taxonomy is mainly based on cranial and chromosomal characters, many species are still being described, and recent lists for many biomes and regions are lacking. Moreover, despite their numerical and ecological importance, there is a lack of information, syntheses and compilations on the diagnosis, natural history, distribution and threats to the species of this group. This dissertation presents a compilation of the current knowledge about the diagnostic characters, distribution, habitat use and responses to human disturbances, diet, use of space, reproduction and threats for the non-volant small mammals from one of the richest regions of the Atlantic Forest, the Atlantic Plateau of São Paulo, where two adjacent areas of endemism meet, and which harbors about 22 and 32% of Cricetidae rodents and Didelphidae marsupials occurring in Brazil. Species diagnosis were based on the comparison and description of the same characteristics for all species, focusing mainly on external characters, which can be analyzed in live animals and some dental and cranial features most relevant to the analyzed groups. The description of ecological characteristics was based on an extensive database collected at 155 sites with an effort of 118.322 traps-night by the projects of the Laboratory of Diversity and Conservation of Mammals, Department of Zoology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, and a standardized review of the literature. For each of the 53 species, I present information on: 1- \"Identification\" that includes external body measurements (minimum, maximum and mean), a text on diagnosis that describes the external morphological and cranial characteristics illustrated in figures and plates, and karyotype; 2- \"Distribution\" that describes the geographical distribution followed by information on the occurrence in Brazilian biomes and states, and the distribution and abundance in forests of the Atlantic Plateau of São Paulo; 3- \"Natural History\" where the preference for forests or open areas of agriculture, the response to forest fragmentation and regeneration, the ability to occupy different types of altered habitats, diet, habit, reproduction, use of space and other important information are described; and 4- \"Threats\" that highlights the presence in state, national and international lists of endangered species and presents a consideration of the threats, based on the detailed information obtained in the Atlantic Plateau of São Paulo.

Neste estudo foram comparadas anatomicamente as espécies de gastrópodes terrestres pertencentes ao \"complexo Megalobulimus paranaguensis\" (M. paranaguensis, M. granulosus, M. abbreviatus, e M. foreli) e as espécies M. cf. haemastomus e M. aff. gummatus, utilizadas como comparativo externo. Todas foram comparadas conquiliologicamente entre si e com M. ovatus, M. sanctipauli, M. yporanganus, e M. gummatus. O complexo apresenta uma distribuição geográfica contígua entre o litoral sul de São Paulo e o nordeste do Rio Grande do Sul, mas não possuem embasamento morfológico que o sustente. Todas as espécies possuem um conjunto exclusivo de caracteres que as individualizam. M. paranaguensis e a simpátrica M. aff. gummatus compartilham caracteres na cavidade palial, sistema digestivo e reprodutivo, diferenciando-se morfologicamente das demais espécies e consideradas como espécies-irmãs. A esculturação de M. foreli e M. abbreviatus similares a M. sanctipauli infere que estas espécies sejam transferidas para o complexo homônimo. M. granulosus, com ocorrência para o litoral de Santa Catarina, possui uma concha singular, mas apresenta uma anatomia interna similar a M. abbreviatus. M. cf. haemastomus distribuiu-se pela depressão central do Rio Grande do Sul e Uruguai, com simpatria na região de Porto Alegre com M. abbreviatus diferenciando-se por caracteres na borda do manto e sistemas digestivo e reprodutivo. O confronto de M. aff. gummatus, com ocorrência no Vale do Ribeira em São Paulo, e M. gummatus de distribuição no Rio de Janeiro, evidenciou que a primeira é uma espécie independente / This study compares anatomically species of the terrestrial gastropods belonging to the \"complex Megalobulimus paranaguensis\" (M. paranaguensis, M. granulosus, M. abbreviatus and M. foreli). M. aff. gummatus and M. cf. haemastomus was analyzed as outgroup. They also were conchologically compared with M. ovatus, M. sanctipauli, M. yporanganus and M. gummatus. The complex has a contiguous geographical distribution, between the south of São Paulo and northeastern Rio Grande do Sul States, but lacks morphological foundation supports. The species of the complex have a unique set of characters that individualizes it. M. paranaguensis and sympatric M. aff. Gummatus share characters in the palial cavity, digestive and reproductive systems, differing morphologically from other species, they are regarded as sister species. The shell sculpture of M. foreli and M. abbreviatus is similar to M. sanctipauli, infering that these species may be transferred to the complex M sanctipauli. The M. granulosus, occurring in Santa Catarina coastal zone, has a singular shell, but presents an internal anatomy similar to M. abbreviatus. The M. cf. haemastomus, distributed in the central depression of the Rio Grande do Sul State and Uruguay, sympatric in the region of Porto Alegre with M. abbreviatus, possesses different characters on the edge of the mantle and digestive and reproductive systems. The confrontation of M. aff. Gummatus, occurring in Vale do Ribeira, São Paulo, with M. gummatus, from Rio de Janeiro, showed that the first is an independent species