M.Tech. (Fine Art) / Unemployment and the crime levels which escalate as a result of it, are very realistic social problems in South Africa and training for job skills and entrepreneurship has become a priority. This study identifies the use of invasive plant fibres as a viable resource for the hand papermaking industry and the development of a new cultural industry. The research' funded by the National Research Foundation (NRF) and the Technikon Research Committee (TRC) has been implemented in an established poverty relief programme called Phumani Paper', which creates jobs especially in rural or impoverished sectors through technology transfer and training. A curriculum is currently being developed for current and future participants of this programme to obtain qualifications in hand papermaking. An investigation has been undertaken to define suitable invasive plant species for the purpose of this research. The investigation included the extent of invasive encroachment, plant identification, methods of control and government legislation. Initially water hyacinth (eichhomia crassipes) was identified as a suitable fibre, but because Phumani Paper supports 21 small paper businesses in seven provinces, research had to be undertaken on several different species found in each of the regions. Species such as moth catcher (Araujia sericifera), milkweed (Asclepias fruticosa), pampas grass (Cortadeira selloana), giant reed (Arundo donax) and bugweed (Solanum mauritianum) have been identified as viable fibres for the hand papermaking industry, due to their fibrous characteristics...

O objetivo geral desta tese foi examinar diferentes 1 questões associadas ao 2 processo de invasão de plantas para investigar os mecanismos, impactos e 3 medidas de recuperação da comunidade vegetal, abordando diferentes estratégias 4 metodológicas que incluem estudos observacionais, experimentos de remoção e 5 uma revisão metodológica. Os resultados do Capítulo 1 mostraram como as 6 relações entre condições climáticas e estrutura da paisagem podem determinar o 7 grau de invasão de plantas na escala regional. Observou-se que os padrões de 8 invasão dos campos sulinos estão principalmente relacionados com maior 9 densidade de estradas, menor cobertura de campo nativo e com o aumento do 10 déficit hídrico. Além disso, constatou-se que a gramínea Eragrostis plana é a 11 planta invasora mais abundante dos campos sulinos. No entanto, os resultados do 12 experimento do Capítulo 2 mostraram que sua invasão não pode ser explicada 13 pela riqueza de espécies ou composição dos grupos funcionais de plantas da 14 comunidade residente. A invasão de E. plana foi principalmente associada ao 15 distúrbio causado pela remoção de biomassa na comunidade. Neste sentido, as 16 comunidades campestres poderiam ser resistentes à invasão de E. plana até que 17 algum distúrbio aumente sua vulnerabilidade. Por outro lado, através da 18 comparação entre comunidades invadidas, removidas e não-invadidas, os 19 resultados do experimento do Capítulo 3 contribuíram no entendimento do 20 impacto real da invasão de E. plana, em termos de redução da riqueza e cobertura 21 de plantas nativas na comunidade. No entanto, embora os métodos de remoção 22 utilizados reduziram a cobertura da invasora, não foram suficientes para conseguir 23 sua erradicação local. Além disso, após três anos de remoção de E. plana, as comunidades se tornaram distintas às invadidas mas não 1 foram semelhantes às 2 comunidades não invadias, o qual poderia indicar que outras medidas de 3 restauração são ainda necessárias. Embora os experimentos de remoção de 4 espécies sejam úteis para investigar questões associadas ao processo de 5 invasão, existem limitações importantes a considerar, como foi evidenciado nos 6 Capítulos 2 e 3. Neste sentido, oferecemos a revisão bibliográfica sistemática do 7 Capítulo 4, onde se discute o potencial dos métodos de remoção utilizados para 8 estudar a resistência e a recuperação da comunidade à invasão, apontando 9 algumas limitações. Como resultado, o Capítulo 4 mostrou que a maioria dos 10 trabalhos não propõem controles adequados nos experimentos, o que pode dar 11 lugar a confundimento de efeitos. Desta forma, foram desenvolvidas algumas 12 sugestões para serem consideradas nos experimentos de remoção de espécies, 13 com o objetivo de continuar avançando nesta temática. As informações geradas 14 nesta tese podem contribuir para o entendimento do processo de invasão de 15 plantas nos ecossistemas campestres, com vistas ao manejo, à conservação e à 16 restauração das comunidades invadidas, adquirindo um senso crítico no 17 planejamento de desenhos experimentas. / The general aim of this thesis was to investigate different 1 issues associated 2 with plant invasion process to understand the mechanisms, impacts and 3 community recovery, by employing different methodological strategies such as 4 observational studies, removal experiments and a literature review. The results 5 from Chapter 1 showed how the interactions between climate and landscape 6 structure can determine the level of invasion of South Brazilian grasslands, 7 highlighting that invasion is mainly related to high road density, less native 8 grassland cover and increased aridity. Furthermore, it was confirmed that 9 Eragrostis plana is the most important invasive species in the South Brazilian 10 grasslands. However, the results from the experiment of Chapter 2 showed that its 11 invasion could not be explained by the species richness or functional group 12 composition in the community. Eragrostis plana invasion was associated with the 13 disturbance effect caused by the amount of removed biomass. Thus, grassland 14 communities may be resistant to E. plana invasion until some disturbance 15 increases their vulnerability. Moreover, by comparing invaded, removed and non16 invaded communities, the experimental results of Chapter 3 highlighted the 17 ecological impact of E. plana invasion, in terms of richness reduction and native 18 species cover. However, although removals methods reduced the cover of the 19 invasive species, they were not enough to locally extinct it. Moreover, after three 20 years of the invasive removal, communities became different from invaded ones 21 but not resembling non-invaded references, which suggest that community 22 recovery may require restoration strategies. Although removal experiments have 23 been useful to investigate certain issues associated with invasion process, there are important limitations to consider, as was shown in Chapter 1 2 and 3. For this 2 purpose, our systematic review presented in Chapter 4 discussed the potential of 3 removal methods for assessing community resistance and recovery from invasion. 4 There, we showed that most of the studies did not use adequate controls in 5 removal experiments, which can lead to confounding effects. Thus, we developed 6 suggestions to be considered in experimental designs to advance the 7 methodological technique of removals. The information generated in this thesis can 8 contribute to the understanding of plant invasion process in South Brazilian 9 grasslands and, consequently, aid to management, conservation and restoration of 10 invaded communities by acquiring a critical sense in experimental designs.

Submitted by Jorge Silva (jorgelmsilva@ufrrj.br) on 2018-01-26T16:05:57Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2014 - Sebasti?o Nunes da Rosa Filho.pdf: 2091591 bytes, checksum: f35a1bfbdc5bdd66764178c67ffba67b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-01-26T16:05:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2014 - Sebasti?o Nunes da Rosa Filho.pdf: 2091591 bytes, checksum: f35a1bfbdc5bdd66764178c67ffba67b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-07-30 / CAPES / Industrial tomato production is hampered by weed occurrence, which may reduce productivity through competition, affect the efficiency of products applied to crops and host commercially important diseases and pathogens. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the occurrence and management of weeds in industrial tomato cropping systems in the Cerrado of Goi?s. In Chapter One, the viable seed bank was evaluated in areas with different weed management systems. The evaluation was made in two conventional tillage areas (CT); two with no-till (NT) and four with no-till and reduced soil preparation (RSP). The most frequent weeds were Conyza bonariensis, Cenchrus echinatus, Ipomoea aristolochiaefolia, Leonotis nepetifolia, Spermacoce latif?lia, Senna obtusifolia, Nicandra physaloides, Euphorbia heterophylla, Gnaphalium spp., Brachiaria plantaginea, Zea mays, Bidens pilosa, Macroptilium spp., , Solanum lycopersicum (tiguera), Commelina benghalensis and Sida rhombifolia. Among the soil preparation systems, reduced preparation (RSP) resulted in two species with higher germination: Phyllanthus tenellus and Oxaliss pp. Conventional tillage (CT) resulted in six species with the highest plant emergence number ? Ageratum conyzoides, Coronopus didymus, Portulaca oleracea, Eragrostis pilosa, Digitaria horizontalis and Solanum americanum. In Chapter Two, different systems of weed management in tomato crops for industrial processing under center-pivot irrigation were evaluated. The applied treatments were combinations between harrowing and chemical management with glyphosate, s-metolachlor, sulfentrazone and metribuzin-based products at different application periods. The variables plant population and ?Brix were not influenced by the treatments. There was statistical difference within the production components: twenty-fruit mass, yield per plant and productivity. Highest productivity was observed in the following treatments: a) harrowing thirty days after transplant (DAT), application of glyphosate (1,080 g ha-1), metribuzin (480 g ha-1) and s-metolaclhor (1,200 g ha-1) on the seventh DAT (83.39 t ha-1); harrowing on the 30th DAT, glyphosate (1,080 g ha-1) and s-metolachlor (1,200 g ha-1) on the seventh DAT (74.75 t ha-1); c) harrowing on the thirtieth DAT, glyphosate (1,080 g ha-1) on the 14th DAT and sulfentrazone (100 g ha-1) on the seventh DAT (73.06 t ha-1); d) harrowing on the 30th DAT, glyphosate (1,080 g ha-1) on the 14th DAT and s-metolachlor (1,200 g ha-1) on the seventh DAT (71.83 t ha-1) and; e) harrowing on the 30 DAT, glyphosate (1,080 g ha-1) and sulfentrazone (100g ha-1) on the seventh DAT (71.75 t ha.-1).With the ?no weeding? and ?harrowing-only? treatments, there was reduction of 63.82% and 69.29% in fruit productivity, respectively, compared to the weeded sample. The conclusion is that the applications of sulfentrazone (100 g ha-1) or s-metolachlor (1,200 g ha-1) in weed management systems using glyphosate revealed potential alternatives for industrial tomato production in Goi?s. / O cultivo de tomateiro industrial ? prejudicado pela ocorr?ncia de plantas daninhas que podem reduzir a produtividade por competi??o, afetar a efici?ncia de produtos aplicados nas lavouras e serem hospedeiras de pragas e pat?genos de import?ncia comercial. Com isso, este trabalho teve como objetivos avaliar a ocorr?ncia e o manejo de plantas daninhas em sistemas de cultivo de tomateiro industrial no Cerrado goiano. No primeiro cap?tulo, avaliou-se o banco de sementes vi?veis de ?reas com diferentes sistemas de manejo de plantas daninhas. As avalia??es foram feitas em duas ?reas de plantio convencional (PC), duas de plantio direto (PD) e quatro de plantio direto modificado com preparo reduzido do solo (PPR). As esp?cies de plantas daninhas mais frequentes foram Conyza bonariensis, Cenchrus echinatus, Ipomoea aristolochiaefolia, Leonotis nepetifolia, Spermacoce latif?lia, Senna obtusifolia, Nicandra physaloides, Euphorbia heterophylla, Gnaphalium spp., Brachiaria plantaginea, Zea mays, Bidens pilosa, Macroptilium spp., Solanum lycopersicum(tiguera), Commelina benghalensis, Sida rhombifolia. Entre os sistemas de preparo do solo, o preparo reduzido (PPR) apresentou duas esp?cies entre as de maior germina??o, a esp?cie Phyllanthus tenellus e a Oxalis spp. O plantio convencional (PC) apresentou tr?s esp?cies com maior n?meros de plantas emergidas, sendo Eleusine indica, Digitaria horizontalis e Amaranthus hybridus. O plantio direto (PD) teve seis esp?cies com maior emerg?ncia em compara??o aos outros manejos de solo, sendo Ageratum conyzoides, Coronopus didymus, Portulaca oleracea, Eragrostis pilosa, Digitaria horizontalis e a Solanum americanum. No segundo cap?tulo, objetivou-se avaliar diferentes sistemas de manejo de plantas daninhas na cultura do tomateiro para processamento industrial em parte de lavoura comercial sob piv? central. Os tratamentos utilizados foram combina??es entre o uso da gradagem e manejo qu?mico com produtos ? base de glyphosate, s-metolachlor, sulfentrazone e metribuzin em diferentes ?pocas de aplica??o. As vari?veis popula??o de plantas e ?Brix n?o foram influenciadas pelos tratamentos. Houve diferen?as estat?sticas para os componentes de produ??o: massa de vinte frutos, produ??o por planta e produtividade. As maiores produtividades foram observadas nos seguintes tratamentos: a) gradagem aos trinta dias antes do transplantio (DAT), aplica??o de glyphosate (1.080 g ha-1), metribuzin (480 g ha-1) e de s-metolaclhor (1.200 g ha-1) aos sete DAT (83,39 t ha-1); b) gradagem aos 30 DAT, glyphosate (1.080 g ha-1) e s-metolachlor (1.200 g ha-1) aos sete DAT (74,75 t ha-1);c) gradagem aos trinta DAT, glyphosate (1.080 g ha-1) aos 14 DAT e sulfentrazone (100 g ha-1) aos sete DAT (73,06 t ha-1); d) gradagem aos 30 DAT, glyphosate (1.080 g ha-1) aos 14 DAT e s-metolachlor (1.200 g ha-1) aos sete DAT (71,83 t ha-1) e ; e) gradagem aos 30 DAT, glyphosate (1.080 g ha-1) e sulfentrazone (100 g ha-1) aos sete DAT (71,75 t ha.-1). Nos tratamentos ?sem capina? e ?apenas gradagem?, houve redu??o de 63,82% e 69,29% na produtividade de frutos, respectivamente, em rela??o ? testemunha capinada. Conclui-se que as aplica??es de sulfentrazone (100 g ha-1) ou s-metolachlor (1.200 g ha-1), em sistemas de manejo de plantas daninhas contendo glyphosate, se revelaram alternativas potenciais na cultura do tomateiro industrial em Goi?s.

As human development occurs in forested areas, forests become fragmented into small islands in a matrix of urban land uses. This study examined the effect of surrounding urban land uses on the native and exotic plant species found on the edges of forest fragments in the Portland, OR metropolitan region.

The spread of invasive weeds continues to be a serious economic and environmental threat. Weed prevention has the potential to stop weeds before they become well established in an area conserving time, energy, and resources. Unfortunately, weed prevention is often overlooked. Weed Prevention Areas (WPAs) are a relatively new tool developed to help improve the application of weed prevention. They are cooperatively managed areas that focus on implementing prevention and early detection strategies at a community level. The purpose of this research was to establish baseline data that will be used to evaluate the overall effectiveness of the WPA concept, as well as to produce materials to assist individuals with the development of a WPA. Two rural communities, with new WPAs, were each paired with a non-WPA community for data collection purposes. On-the-ground GPS vegetation inventories were conducted to determine the initial abundance and distribution of selected invasive weed species. This information was then used to demonstrate how to prioritize species and sites within a WPA in order to utilize limited resources more efficiently. A mail-back survey was also conducted to evaluate landowners' current opinions and activities in regards to prevention and control. In general, weed prevention was viewed as an important part of integrated weed management, but fewer than half of all respondents applied prevention strategies on their property. The failure to implement prevention strategies was attributed to limited funding and resources, a lack of weed prevention knowledge, and a high level of perceived risk. The knowledge gained from this research was then used to create Step-By-Step Guidelines for Establishing a Weed Prevention Area. These Guidelines provide interested individuals the resources necessary to successfully organize a WPA in their community. In addition, four wildland weed mapping methods were evaluated to identify their strengths and weaknesses. There was no difference in the estimation of patch size or location between the buffered point, screen-drawn, and perimeter walked methods. In most situations, time and distance factors favor the selection of either the buffered point or screen-drawn method. If patch shape is an important consideration, the perimeter-walked or buffered point method should be selected.

Thesis (M.S. zoology)--Washington State University, December 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 24-26).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2001. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.) in Ecology and Environmental Science--University of Maine, 2009. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 78-87).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, Riverside, 2008. / Includes abstract. Title from first page of PDF file (viewed Febrary 3, 2010). Available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations. Includes bibliographical references. Also issued in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2001. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.