The present work had objective to analyze the economic-financial viability of aquaculture projects investment in cages for native species (jundiá, pacu and curimba). Aquaculture/fishculture inside of agribusiness has been presenting a growing interest and it should continue like this next decades, tends in view the stagnation in the fish offer originating from of the capture and of the growing increase in the demand for food with the increment of the world population. The increase of the consumption of fish and the progress of the aquaculture demand information for taking of decision about the economic viability of the enterprises in this area, mainly to native species. The investors, producers, technicians, fomentation organs and other institutions affect to the area, need safe information for taking decision about economic-financial viability of aquaculture/fishculture projects. In this sense this work verified that the production of native species in cages in the reservoir of Itaipu is unviable for the species jundiá (Rhamdia quelen) and curimba (Prochilodus lineatus), and viable for the Pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus), which presented better adaptive to the production system and the climatic conditions. Analysis of Investment Return, Rate of Return, profitable Index, Internal Return Rate (IRR), Net Present Value (NPV) and Payback Period, all favorable ones were shown positively, with positive probability of occurrence ranging between 5% to 95% (90%) of the return of investment in a period among two (2) for three (3) years for the Monte Carlo simulation method. / O presente trabalho teve como objetivo analisar a viabilidade econômico-financeira de investimento em projetos aqüícolas, especificamente em tanques-redes para espécies nativas (jundiá, pacu e curimba). A atividade aqüícola dentro do agronegócio tem apresentado um interesse crescente e assim deve continuar nas próximas décadas, tendo em vista a estagnação na oferta de pescado oriundo da captura e do crescente aumento na demanda por alimento com o incremento da população mundial. O crescimento do consumo de pescados e o avanço da aqüicultura demandam informações para tomada de decisão sobre a viabilidade econômica dos empreendimentos nesta área, principalmente no que se refere às espécies nativas. Os investidores, produtores, técnicos, órgãos de fomento e demais instituições afetas à área necessitam de informações seguras para tomada de decisão relativa a viabilidade econômica-financeira de projetos aqüícolas. Neste sentido este trabalhou verificou que a produção de espécies nativas em tanques-rede no reservatório de Itaipu se mostrou inviável para as espécies jundiá (Rhamdia quelen) e curimba (Prochilodus lineatus), e viável para a espécie Pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus), a qual apresentou melhor adaptabilidade ao sistema de produção e as condições climáticas. Para a espécie pacu, a análise de Retorno do Investimento, da Taxa de Retorno, Índice de Lucratividade, Taxa Interna de Retorno (TIR), Valor Presente Líquido (VPL) e Período de Retorno do Investimento, se mostraram todos favoráveis positivamente, com probabilidade positiva de ocorrência variando entre 5% a 95% (90%) do retorno do investimento em um período entre dois (2) a três (3) anos pelo método de simulação de Monte Carlo.

Human activities are increasing the occurrence of megafires that have the potential to alter the ecology of forest ecosystems. The objective of this study was to understand the impact of a 610 km2 megafire on patterns of forest regeneration and herbivory of three forest types (aspen/fir, oak/maple, and pinyon/juniper) within the burn scar. Sapling density, meristem removal, and height were measured across a transect network spanning the area of the burn scar over three years from 2019-2021. The network consisted of 17 burned/unburned transect pairs in adjacent burned/unburned forest stands (6 aspen/fir, 5 oak/maple, and 6 pinyon/juniper). Species that regenerated through sprouting generally responded positively to fire while regeneration from seed showed very little post-fire response. Browse pressure was concentrated on deciduous tree species and tended to be greater in burned areas but the effect diminished over time. Meristem removal of sprouting species was below the critical threshold resulting in positive vertical growth across years. Our results indicate that forest regeneration within the megafire scar was generally positive and experienced sustainable levels of ungulate browsing that are likely to result in forest recruitment success. Novel fire regimes are becoming increasingly common and megafires have burned across ecotonal boundaries across multiple forest types. Plant community structure and composition may be critically affected by changing fire regimes. Our objective was to investigate how a megafire that burned across multiple forest types impacted understory plant community assembly and biodiversity. Paired vegetation transects were installed in burned and unburned areas across aspen/fir, oak/maple, and pinyon/juniper forests within the 2018 Pole Creek Megafire burn scar. Percent cover of understory plants was measured in the summer of 2022 and plants were identified to the species level. Richness and diversity indices were then calculated and analyzed using mixed effects models. Fire decreased species richness of the aspen/fir forest understory and increased plant cover in pinyon/juniper forests, while not significantly impacting oak/maple understories. The significant effects of fire were largely driven by changes in forb species. Fire decreased the richness of native plants in aspen/fir forests but increased the richness of non-native plants in oak/maple and pinyon/juniper forests. Non-native plant abundance also increased in post-fire pinyon/juniper forests. Our results suggest that forest understory communities show variable responses to megafires that burn across multiple forest types with important implications for post-fire plant community structure, diversity, and invasibility. Large mammal herbivores (ungulates) are increasing in number and spreading into novel habitats throughout the world. Their impact on forest understory plant communities is strong and varies by herbivore, plant growth form, and season. The objective of this study was to determine the individual and collective herbivory impacts of native versus domestic ungulates on the understory plant community composition of post-fire aspen forests. Four-way fencing treatments were installed in 2012 to separate ungulate species, and Daubenmire frames were used to collect percent cover estimates for each understory plant species. Vegetation data were later used to calculate richness and diversity indices. Total understory plant cover, richness, and diversity were not significantly impacted by the herbivory fencing treatment. However, woody plant species' percent cover was 90% greater in full ungulate exclusion plots than in the fenceless controls. Herbivores likely targeted woody plant species due to their high nutrient levels that last longer into the winter than those of forb or graminoid species. Herbivory treatment did not affect non-native species. Our results indicate that herbivore fencing can protect forest understory plant communities, particularly the woody species. Successful regeneration of woody species can benefit the diversity of the entire understory plant community and preserve forest structure.

Biological invasions are one of the main factors responsible for the imperiled status of freshwater ecosystems, but much remains to be learned about their indirect effects on native communities. The first part of this dissertation examines community effects of long-term efforts to selectively control invasive Eurasian watermilfoil. Results of the first study show that native plants immediately recolonized treated areas and habitat complexity was unaffected. Fish community was not influenced by invasive plant control. Macroinvertebrate communities were highly variable and part of their variability could be explained by plant community attributes. Both fish and macroinvertebrates used invasive watermilfoil, which emphasizes the need for timely restoration of native macrophytes to mitigate for lost habitat. Because fish and macroinvertebrates were more affected by complexity than other attributes of plant assemblage, reestablishment of habitat complexity appears to be a promising restoration strategy. The second study, which examined species interactions after watermilfoil control, found that fish feeding activity was not correlated with invasive plants or habitat complexity and that invasive macrophyte control did not affect characteristics of fish feeding investigated. The relationship between fish and macrophytes was further explored in the context of interactions between an invasive piscivore and its native prey. First, I examined the prey naiveté hypothesis with non-native peacock bass in Paraná River, Brazil. Prey responded to visual and chemical cues of peacock bass and displayed avoidance behaviors similar to those observed with a native predator, meaning that lack of recognition was not responsible for the observed vulnerability of native species to this introduced predator. After confirming lack of naiveté, I assessed direct and indirect effects of this non-native predator on native prey. Peacock bass had no indirect effects on its prey feeding activity. Macrophyte type did not affect indirect predator-prey interactions, whereas direct predator effects slightly decreased in the presence of aquatic vegetation. I discuss implications of these findings for native biodiversity and convene other potential explanations for the observed effects of peacock bass. Both projects contribute to our understanding of the relationship between aquatic plants and their animal communities and effects of invasive species in freshwater habitats.

Harmonia axyridis is a ladybird native to Asia, but introduced widely as a biocontrol agent. It is invasive and detrimental to native species in North America, which meant its arrival in Britain was met with concern. Establishment was seen as an opportunity to track the spread of an invasive alien species (IAS) whilst also monitoring impacts on native species. The aims of this thesis were to examine the responses of native British ladybirds to the arrival of H. axyridis, to establish the effect of the IAS on native ladybirds when compared to other drivers, and to investigate the possible facilitation of the H. axyridis invasion by natural enemy release. Modelling ladybird distributions with life-history and resource-use traits found that species predatory on a wide range of prey families had larger range sizes than those which ate fewer prey types. This suggests that the wide diet breadth of the IAS is likely to have played a critical role in the species’ rapid spread. Dietary niche overlap between H. axyridis and native ladybirds showed positive correlation with declines of native ladybirds. This indicates that the IAS is playing an important role, but the significance of urbanisation suggests habitat destruction is also significant. Abundance of H. axyridis was influenced by habitat type and aphid abundance, but not by the native ladybird community, suggesting the spread of the IAS will not be slowed by biotic resistance. Harmonia axyridis is attacked by native parasitoids, but at a much lower rate than is the native Coccinella septempunctata, in line with natural-enemy release theory. There was no evidence of attack rate increasing with time since arrival in an area. Overall, H. axyridis is an extremely successful IAS, with detrimental effects on native ladybirds which are likely to continue.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T18:13:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Sidnei Klein.pdf: 674707 bytes, checksum: 12d531ad9dbec523abd994dd964a51c8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-02-18 / Itaipu Binacional / The present study aimed evaluate the performance of pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) reared in cages in the Itaipu Reservoir, fed diets with different protein levels. The experiment was conducted at the Centre for Development of Technology for fish farming in cages, located along the Biological Refuge of Santa Helena - PR, for a period of 74 days. We used 2.000 fish with average weight of 150,5 ± 2,1 g distributed in a completely randomized design with five treatments and four replicates in 20 cages, with 5,0 m3 of usable volume, and the experimental unit consists of a tank with 100 fish. The treatments consisted of five extruded feeds with different crude protein levels (18,5; 20,7; 23,7; 25,6; and 28,3%). The feeding was performed three times daily until satiation of the animals. After the experiment were measured the parameters of growth performance, hematology, carcass yield and fillet chemical composition. The Average final weight, weight gain and daily weight gain was statistically different (P<0,05), showing a quadratic effect. We used linear effect on feed conversion. After the derivation of the equations the average final weight was greater for fish fed 25,9% CP and greater weight gain was observed with 25,8% CP. The parameters of carcass yield showed no significant difference (P>0,05). For chemical composition only moisture and ether extract showed significant differences, showing a linear effect for both, with an inverse correlation between these parameters, as increased levels of protein in the diet increased moisture and decreased the ether extract. There were no statistical differences in the hematological and biochemical variables, showing that protein levels contained in the diets did not influence the physiological status of fish. According to the results, we recommend the use of feed containing 25,8% crude protein for pacu (P. mesopotamicus) juvenile, reared in cages system. / O presente estudo objetivou avaliar o desempenho produtivo de pacus (Piaractus mesopotamicus) cultivados em tanques rede no reservatório da Itaipu Binacional, alimentados com rações contendo diferentes níveis de proteína bruta. O experimento foi realizado no Centro de Desenvolvimento de Tecnologia para Piscicultura em Tanques rede, localizado junto ao Refúgio Biológico de Santa Helena - PR, por um período de 74 dias. Foram utilizados 2.000 peixes com peso médio de 150,5±2,1g distribuídos em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado com cinco tratamentos e quatro repetições em 20 tanques rede, com 5,0 m³ de volume útil por tanque rede, sendo a unidade experimental composta por um tanque com 100 peixes. Os tratamentos foram constituídos por cinco rações extrusadas com diferentes níveis de proteína bruta (18,5; 20,7; 23,7; 25,6 e 28,3 %). O arraçoamento foi efetuado três vezes ao dia, até a saciedade aparente dos animais. Ao término do experimento foram aferidos os parâmetros de desempenho zootécnico, rendimento de carcaça, composição química dos filés e hematologia. O peso final médio, ganho de peso e ganho de peso diário apresentaram efeito quadrático (p<0,05). Foram observados efeito linear para conversão alimentar. Após a derivação das equações o maior peso final médio ocorreu para peixes alimentados com 25,9% PB e o maior ganho de peso foi observado com 25,8% PB. Os parâmetros de rendimento de carcaça não apresentaram diferenças significativas (p>0,05). Para composição química a umidade e o extrato etéreo apresentaram efeito linear, com relação inversa entre estes parâmetros. O aumento do nível de proteína bruta na dieta elevou o percentual de umidade e reduziu a porcentagem de extrato etéreo. Não foram observadas diferenças estatísticas para as variáveis hematológicas e bioquímicas, demonstrando que os níveis protéicos contidos nas dietas não influenciaram na higidez dos peixes. De acordo com os resultados obtidos, recomenda-se a utilização de ração contendo 25,8% de proteína bruta para juvenis de pacu (P. mesopotamicus), criados em sistema de tanques rede.

Les fourmis sont des organismes cibles appropriés pour les études environnementales. Au cours de notre étude, nous nous sommes focalisés sur les fourmis de la litière via l'application de deux méthodes de récolte complémentaires selon le protocole all (ants of leaf litter). Dans les forêts naturelles de Guyane française, l'hétérogénéité environnementale et les perturbations structurent les communautés de fourmis de la litière en influençant la richesse, la diversité, l'abondance et la densité en espèces ainsi que les compositions taxonomique et fonctionnelle. Chaque type de formation végétale possède une communauté spécifique. La fragmentation et la conversion des forêts en plantations ont entrainé une altération plus ou moins profonde des communautés; cette variabilité est fonction du type d’agriculture et des espèces d'essences cultivées. Bien que l'altération des communautés se soit révélée maximale dans la plupart des monocultures, les plantations de cacaoyers ont un potentiel de conservation réel. Enfin, dans un contexte ou il est urgent de simplifier l'intégration des arthropodes dans les études de conservation, de contrôle et de suivi de la santé des écosystèmes terrestres, la méthode des réseaux de neurones est apparue comme un outil puissant pour mettre en évidence et analyser les patrons des communautés de fourmis. / Ants are reliable and relevant target organisms for environmental surveys. In our study, we focused on litter-dwelling ants through the use of two complementary sampling methods that were implemented according to the ants of leaf litter (all) protocol. In pristine forests of french guiana, leaf-litter ant communities are structured by environmental heterogeneity and natural perturbations - which influence species richness, diversity, abundance and density, as well as taxonomic and functional composition. This results in habitat-specific communities for each vegetal formation. Forest fragmentation and conversion into monocultures have led to a more or less deep alteration of the ant communities; this variability depends on the type of agricultural system and cultivated tree species. Although the intensity of community alteration peaked in tree monocultures, cocoa plantation exhibited a real potential for native species conservation. Finally, in the current context where simplifying the integration of arthropods into conservation programs as well as into surveys designed to monitor and manage the environment is critical, the use of neural networks appears to be a powerful tool for reliably highlighting and analyzing ant communities patterns.

During the 1990s, over a period of just a few years, the multi-colored Asian lady beetle, Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) invaded the entire area of northern Europe. In parallel with this invasion, a decline in native coccinellid species was recorded in Belgium, Britain, and Switzerland, affecting mainly one common species: the two-spot ladybird, Adalia bipunctata L. An impressive trait of H. axyridis, that could explain both its high invasiveness and the decline of native coccinellids, is its predation behaviour. Intraguild predation is a trophic interaction between species that share the same prey – in this case, aphids. In order to determine the precise impact of this predation on the native coccinellid species, the predation behaviour of H. axyridis larvae was observed in Petri dishes and on plants. The resistance of H. axyridis to predation was also studied by exposing it without dorsal spines to native predator larvae, in order to test whether or not the dorsal spines are a physical defence against intraguild predation. In addition to these laboratory experiments, an original method was developed and used to track predation under field conditions. This method is based on the gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) detection of exogenous alkaloids in H. axyridis, especially alkaloids from native coccinellids likely to be subject to intraguild predation. My results show that, in the absence of aphids, H. axyridis consumes both A. bipunctata eggs and all larval instars in Petri dishes. On plants, depending to aphid density, this interaction can change with regards to larvae but not eggs. In addition to intraguild predation, competitive exclusion can occur because of quite aggressive behaviour towards competitors. Dorsal spines significantly reduce the number of bites inflicted, and thereby complement the other defense mechanisms of H. axyridis that enable it to remain dominant in competition for food resources. In semi-natural conditions, predation on the native coccinellids Adalia spp. Calvia spp. Coccinella septempunctata L. and Propylea quatuordecimpunctata (L.) was detected. The number of sites where this predation was observed suggests that this interaction is frequent. It was also observed that an H. axyridis larva can ingest several native coccinellid species, confirming its status as a predator of coccinellids. We can therefore conclude that intraguild predation by H. axyridis leads, as does resource competition, to a decline in native coccinellids./Introduite pour la lutte biologique dans les années 90, la Coccinelle asiatique, Harmonia axyridis (Pallas), a envahi en quelques années toute l’Europe du Nord. Parallèlement à cette invasion, un déclin de plusieurs espèces de coccinelles indigènes dont la très commune Coccinelle à deux points, Adalia bipunctata L. a été observé dans différents biotopes en Belgique, en Angleterre ainsi qu’en Suisse. Un des traits remarquables de la Coccinelle asiatique est son comportement de prédateur intraguilde qui pourrait expliquer à la fois ce déclin mais aussi en partie son caractère hautement invasif. La prédation intraguilde est une interaction trophique entre des espèces qui se nourrissent d’une même proie, dans ce cas-ci les pucerons. Afin de mieux connaître l’impact de cette prédation sur les coccinelles indigènes, le comportement de prédation des larves d’H. axyridis a été décrit en boîtes de Petri et sur plantes. Sa résistance à la prédation a également été étudiée en exposant des larves dépourvues d’épines dorsales à un prédateur indigène, dans le but de tester le rôle de ces épines en tant que défense physique à l’égard d’un prédateur intraguilde. En plus de ces expériences de laboratoire, une méthode originale a été développée et utilisée pour suivre cette prédation en conditions semi-naturelles. Elle se base sur la détection, en GC-MS, des alcaloïdes exogènes chez H. axyridis et en particulier des alcaloïdes produits par d'autres espèces de coccinelles susceptibles de subir une prédation intraguilde. Mes résultats montrent qu'en l'absence de pucerons, H. axyridis a un comportement de prédation vis-à-vis des œufs et de tous les stades larvaires d’A. bipunctata. La présence de pucerons, suivant leur densité, peut modifier cette interaction à l’égard des larves indigènes mais pas des œufs. En plus de la prédation intraguilde, une compétition par exclusion peut être aussi suspectée et expliquée par le comportement très agressif d’H. axyridis à l’égard de ses concurrents. Quant aux épines dorsales, elles permettent de réduire significativement le nombre de morsures et complètent ainsi les autres lignes de défense utilisées par H. axyridis pour s’imposer dans des ressources déjà exploitées par d’autres prédateurs. En conditions semi-naturelles, cette prédation à l’égard des coccinelles indigènes a été confirmée vis-à-vis d’Adalia spp. Calvia spp. Coccinella septempunctata L. et Propylea quatuordecimpunctata (L.). Vu le nombre de sites où cette prédation a été détectée, elle peut être considérée comme une interaction fréquente. De plus, une même larve de coccinelle asiatique peut ingérer plusieurs espèces de coccinelles indigènes confirmant indéniablement son statut de prédateur de coccinelles. Ainsi, nous pouvons conclure que la prédation intraguilde par H. axyridis sur les coccinelles indigènes participe très certainement au déclin de celles-ci et ceci très probablement au même titre que des phénomènes de compétition pour les ressources. / Doctorat en Sciences agronomiques et ingénierie biologique / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished