Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2015-12-04T14:26:24Z No. of bitstreams: 1 marianamonteirodecastro.pdf: 1344483 bytes, checksum: 04c81ff2b18dd0d28d9de6b3fb0ff016 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2015-12-07T03:21:40Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 marianamonteirodecastro.pdf: 1344483 bytes, checksum: 04c81ff2b18dd0d28d9de6b3fb0ff016 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-12-07T03:21:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 marianamonteirodecastro.pdf: 1344483 bytes, checksum: 04c81ff2b18dd0d28d9de6b3fb0ff016 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-05-15 / FAPEMIG - Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais / Com o processo de urbanização, algumas espécies de formigas encontraram ambiente ideal para a sobrevivência nas cidades. Na área urbana, a ocorrência em hospitais se configura como um risco pelo transporte de micro-organismos patogênicos. Diversas pesquisas sobre o assunto foram conduzidas no Brasil, contudo muitas lacunas ainda permanecem desconhecidas. Com o intuito de preencher parte desse conhecimento, este trabalho buscou ampliar os conhecimentos sobre a ecologia comportamental da mirmecofauna que habita ambientes hospitalares. Este trabalho está formatado em quatro capítulos: (i) o primeiro capítulo teve como objetivo discutir a importância das formigas em ambientes urbanos, destacando o processo de urbanização e sua ocorrência, a importância nas áreas hospitalares e na saúde pública; (ii) o objetivo do segundo capítulo foi realizar um levantamento da literatura sobre formigas em ambiente hospitalar no Brasil nos últimos 20 anos, visando o progresso do conhecimento desta questão através de uma discussão sobre os avanços e prioridades de pesquisa; (iii) e (iv) os capítulos três e quatro trouxeram análises de um conjunto de informações sobre a ecologia e o comportamento da mirmecofauna em ambiente hospitalar, coletada ao longo de dois anos de monitoramento (2012 – 2014) no Hospital Regional João Penido localizado no município de Juiz de Fora – MG, sudeste do Brasil. As amostragens foram realizadas bimestralmente por meio de iscas atrativas não tóxicas nos períodos diurno e noturno e nas áreas interna e externa do hospital. Foram encontrados 10342 indivíduos, pertencentes a 26 espécies de formigas, representando quase a totalidade da fauna esperada para o local. Pheidole susannae Forel, 1886 foi a espécie mais abundante (21,87%) e, juntamente com Tetramorium simillimum (Smith, 1851) foi também a mais constante (100%). O índice de dominância encontrado foi baixo (0,1395), demonstrando não haver dominância de nenhuma espécie. Abundância e riqueza não diferiram entre as estações climáticas, o que representa a estabilidade da mirmecofauna no local. Houve diferença entre a abundância para o período noturno (t= -2,2067; p= 0,038) e também entre riqueza (U= 9,000; p= 0,01) e abundância (U= 70,500; p< 0,0001) das espécies entre as áreas interna e externa. Os setores Casa de Gestante, Recepção e UTI Neonatal se mostraram mais similares em relação à fauna encontrada na área interna e externa. O índice geral de infestação foi de 48,87%, sendo superior no período noturno e na área externa e a espécie P susannae apresentou o maior índice. Foram localizados 25 ninhos em três substratos: fissura em alvenaria (80%), madeira (12%) e tubulação de esgoto (8%). A identificação de maior abundância à noite reforça a ideia de que há grande necessidade dos monitoramentos contemplarem também esse horário, visto que algumas espécies possuem hábitos exclusivamente noturnos. E a infestação no interior do hospital ratifica a preocupação existente com a possibilidade de infecção nosocomial decorrente do transporte de micro-organismos patogênicos. Soma-se a isso, o registro de nidificações no interior do hospital, o que aumenta a preocupação em se estabelecer estratégias alternativas de controle. Com estes resultados, profissionais da área da saúde e que prestam serviços de controle de pragas estarão mais bem norteados para atuar na redução da infestação de formigas nesses ambientes, visto que estratégias de controle mais eficientes poderão ser implementadas. / Along with the urbanization process, some ant species have found in cities an ideal environment. Among these areas, occurrence in hospitals represents risk due to the transport of pathogenic microorganisms. Many research studies have been carried out in Brazil, and still there are many gaps to explore. Intending to fill some lacks on that knowledge, this work studied the behavioral ecology of hospitals‟ ant fauna. This study is formatted into four chapters: (i) the first chapter aimed to discuss the importance of ants in urban environments, highlighting the process of urbanization and its occurrence, the importance in hospital areas and public health; (ii) the objective of the second chapter was to survey the literature on ants in hospitals in Brazil in the last 20 years, aimed at advancing the knowledge of this issue through a discussion of advances and research priorities; (iii) and (iv) the three and four chapters presented analysis of a set of information on the ecology and behavior of the ant fauna in the hospital, collected over two years of monitoring (2012-2014) in a public hospital located in Juiz de Fora, southeastern Brazil. Samples were taken every two months through non-toxic baits attractive day and night periods and the internal and external areas of the hospital. We found 10342 individuals of 26 species of ants, representing almost all the expected fauna to the site. Pheidole susannae Forel, 1886 was the most abundant species (21.87%) and, together with Tetramorium simillimum (Smith, 1851) was also the most constant (100%). The dominance index found was low (0.1395), stating no dominance for any species. Abundance and richness did not differ between seasons, which is the stability of the ant fauna in the area. There were differences between the abundance for the night period (t = -2.2067, p = 0.038) and also between richness (U = 9.000, p = 0.01) and abundance (U = 70.500, p <0.0001) of species between internal and external areas. The sectors “Casa da Gestante, “Recepção” and “UTI Neo Natal” were more similar in terms of fauna found in the internal and external area. The infestation index was 48.87%, higher than at night and in the outdoor area and the species P. susannae had the highest index. We found 25 nests on three substrates: fissure in masonry (80%), wood (12%) and sewer pipe (8%). The finding of greater abundance at nighttime reinforces the need of monitoring in such time, since some species are exclusively nocturnal. The infestation of some species in the inner hospital area confirms the concerns with the possibility of pathogenic microorganism transporting. In addition, the register of nesting inside the hospital increases the need of establishing alternative pest control strategies. Therewith, health professionals and pest control service providers will be better guided to reduce ant infestations in those environments, since better control strategies may be implemented.

The Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) is declining throughout its range, yet is capable of persisting in both contiguous forests and small forest patches surrounded by human suburban development. Thus, it is an ideal species for gaining insight into the effects of suburbanization on migrant songbirds. I investigated two aspects of Wood Thrush nesting ecology: nest ectoparasites and nest defense behavior in order to determine if suburbanization influences either aspect. Nests from suburban forests had fewer haematophagous mites, though the abundance of haematophagous blowfly larvae did not differ between suburban and contiguous forests. There was no relationship between the abundance of mites and nest site characteristics, though blowfly abundance may be related to nesting substrate species. Parasites had little effect on nestling condition. In regard to nest defense, suburban Wood Thrushes had shorter flight initiation distances and mounted more active defenses during initial nest visits than birds nesting in contiguous forests, suggesting a previously-established sensitization response to human disturbances in suburban birds. I found no consistent shifts in aggression over subsequent nest visits in either habitat type, suggesting that throughout the breeding season, Wood Thrushes neither habituate nor sensitize further to repeated human disturbances. My results suggest that Wood Thrushes nesting in suburban forest patches are subject to fewer nest ectoparasites and defend their nests more aggressively than conspecifics nesting in contiguous forests. These results draw attention to the fact that although Wood Thrushes persist in both rural and suburban habitats, their nesting ecology may be different between these habitat types.

Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) are a species of conservation concern throughout their range including the state of Idaho. Little is known about the size of areas used by female sage-grouse during the breeding and nesting seasons, fidelity of females to those areas, or fidelity of female sage-grouse to specific leks or nest sites. The recent miniaturization of global positioning system (GPS) transmitting devices allows for a more thorough analysis of this behavior. We placed GPS transmitters on 234 female sage-grouse in Idaho, USA, from 2015 to 2019. We monitored 145 nest attempts, 15 of which occurred in consecutive years, from 130 female sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) with GPS transmitters to document movements and space-use during nesting. We quantified the length and direction of off-nest excursion distances for all 145 nest attempts. Also, for the 15 consecutive nest attempts, we compared the excursion distances for each bird, each year. The mean distance for an off-nest excursion across all study areas was 93.7 m (n = 145, SD = 57.9, range = 15.5 to 275.8 m). Rayleigh’s test of uniformity indicated that eight of 145 nest attempts had off-nest excursions that were not in a consistent direction. Mean excursion distances in the consecutive year were longer than those of the initial year (T = -3.1, n = 15, p-value = 0.013), and females with smaller excursion distances in the initial year also had smaller excursion distances in the consecutive year. We also quantified size of breeding areas for 50 female sage-grouse and identified factors that influenced breeding-area size. For 18 of those females, we quantified size and fidelity to breeding areas and leks between successive years. We generated 95% brownian bridge estimates of breeding-area size for each bird and counted the number of leks those females visited. To quantify breeding-area fidelity for the 18 females, we overlaid 95% brownian bridge estimates for females with consecutive breeding attempts, calculated percent overlap, and documented number of leks visited each year. Median size of breeding areas for all females was 21 km2 (interquartile range = 7.8 to 59.3 km2). Each bird visited a mean of 2 leks (SD = 1.2, range = 1 to 6 leks). Between years, breeding areas overlapped for all 18 females, and size of breeding areas did not differ between the first and second year (W-value = 61, p-value = 0.49). For those 18 females, only 7 visited the same lek in consecutive years, and none visited more than one common lek in consecutive years. Our results indicate that females use large areas while breeding and nesting and exhibit strong fidelity to those areas. Our results provide novel information on the breeding and nesting ecology of this species that will help agencies that manage sage-grouse and their habitat.

In the extensive and remote sub-Antarctic forests of South America, birds are the dominant terrestrial vertebrates. Despite considerable efforts to understand the ecology of birds breeding in these forests, our current knowledge for many species is still incomplete. During three breeding seasons (2014 – 2017), I studied the breeding ecology of the five most abundant open-cup forest-dwelling passerines in the sub-Antarctic forest of Navarino Island, Chile (55°04′S, 67°40′W). There were differences in some of the breeding strategies used by birds breeding on Navarino Island versus conspecific populations breeding at lower latitudes. Milvago chimango was the main nest predator of open-cup nesting forest passerines, and the main cause of nest failure. In addition, I found that species built their nests in sites with higher density and taller understory; however, these two factors decreased their nest survival. This mismatch could be due to a change in depredation risk on Navarino Island, and thus, passerines breeding there may be in an ecological trap. In addition, using light-level geolocators, I determined that the migratory connectivity of Elaenia albiceps is weak as a result of the large spatial spread of individuals on the wintering ground, and that the distances among individuals on the breeding grounds are not maintained in the wintering grounds. My study opens further questions about the mechanisms driving differences in breeding strategies among populations. In addition, further research is needed to assess hypotheses that could explain the mismatch between nest-site selection and nest survival and to understand what drives elaenias' movements, not only during winter but throughout their annual cycle.

There are a number of species of geese in Sweden that can be found in large flocks during spring migration, but are also relatively numerous during breeding. The accumulation of geese can cause damage to growing crops, something that costs farmers and the state a large amount annually. In this study, nesting geese were counted in fields in the vicinity of Lake Tåkern, Southern Sweden, during six days in the spring in the year 2015. Their location on the fields was noted to investigate any preferences regarding distances to the lake, buildings, trees and roads. The conclusion is that proximity to water was the factor that had the greatest importance in field selection, but it also showed that they avoid trees but not settlements and roads.

Birds may have the ability to view their environments at a wide range of spatial scales; accordingly, they may make habitat-selection decisions at multiple spatial scales. I investigated the implications of hierarchy theory and a landscape perspective on nestsite selection in cavity-nesting birds in the Uinta Mountains in northeastern Utah. I used · three different approaches to address the concept of a multi-scaled nest-site selection Ill process. First, I conducted an exploratory study in which I investigated nest-site selection at three spatial scales for Red-naped Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus nuchalis), Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus), Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor), and Mountain Chickadee (Parus gambeli). By conducting a hierarchically structured analysis, I was able to investigate the habitat relationships that might result from a hierarchically organized nest site selection process . I found that the four species were associated with patterns of vegetation at three spatial scales and that these associations combined in such a way as to imply a process of nest-site selection that may be more complex than that posited by the niche-gestalt concept. Second, I conducted an experiment in which I investigated nest-site selection at two spatial scales. I compared the use of four types of aspen stands in a two-by-two factorial design according to within-stand structure and landscape context. Stands were classified as either dense or sparse and as having predominantly meadow or forested edges. To address nest-site selection by secondary cavity nesters , who may be limited by cavity availability, I augmented the natural cavities with nest boxes. I found that birds predominantly nested in sparse stands and in stands with meadow edges. Although only five nest boxes were used for nesting, all five of these boxes were in sparse stands with meadow edges. The third way in which I investigated the process of nest-site selection was to build and test predictive models using associations between birds and landscape patterns. By using landscape patterns to predict habitat, I was able to build models that were easily applied ; predictions could be made without any additional data collection in the field. The models were very accurate for both Red-naped Sapsuckers and Tree Swallows (86- 98% and 53-93% nests correctly predicted, respectively) but were less accurate for Mountain Chickadees and Northern Flickers (33-42% and 19-37%, respectively) .

I replicated a nesting study carried out 40 years ago in southern Utah to assess reasons for long-term population declines of mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) in the western United States. I compared current nesting patterns to similar data collected in 1952. I saw little difference in nest success and nest predation, but reproductive output and nest density decreased dramatically. The number of young fledged per pair of adults was only 64% of that estimated in 1952. A 1-2 week delay in the nesting season contributed to this decrease, but cannot explain it entirely. Nest density was about 20% of that in 1952 and total reproductive output for the study area about 12-19%. Underlying causes for these changes are uncertain, but patterns of delayed nesting, high nest abandonments, and low reproductive output are similar to those seen in stressed bird populations (e.g., food/nutrient limitation or increased toxicant levels). Finally, highest nest density occurred in a habitat type (i.e., Chalk Creek) considered unimportant for doves in 1952. Nests in Chalk Creek suffered higher predation and abandonment rates than those in irrigation ditches. I also examined the effect of perch sites on nest density and distribution in two ways. First, I demonstrated a significant correlation between nest density and perch s:te density in riparian plots. Second, I erected artificial perch sites in the second year of the study and recorded changes in nest densities. For the year of the study only, nest density was higher in the experimental plots, but the difference was not statistically significant. From the levels recorded the previous year, however, nest densities increased in the experimental plots and decreased in the control plots. This difference was statistically significant, suggesting that mourning doves use the presence of perch sites as cues for habitat selection. Finally, in comparing the presence of other avian species, I found significantly more blackbirds (Aqelaius phoenicus and Euphaqus cyanocephalus) and western meadowlarks (Sturnella neglecta) in experimental plots than in control plots.

The Columbian sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus columbianus; CSTG) has experienced range-wide population declines, primarily as a result of habitat loss or degradation, and currently occupies <10% of its historic range. Expansion of wind energy developments across the remaining occupied CSTG range has been identified as a potential threat to the species. To assess the potential influence of wind energy development on CSTG breeding season ecology, I captured and radio-marked 135 female CSTG during 2014-2015 at leks located between 0.1-13.8 km from wind turbines in restored grassland habitats. I subsequently monitored 147 nests and 68 broods and used an information-theoretic model selection approach to assess the potential influence of wind energy distance and density variables, multi-scale habitat features, temporal factors, and precipitation on CSTG nest site selection, daily nest survival, brood success, and chick survival. The best nest site selection model suggested a positive functional response to the amount of restored grassland habitat with >30% forb cover at the nesting core use (60 ha) scale. Daily nest survival was positively associated with visual obstruction readings at the nest and the amount of restored grassland habitat containing >30% forb cover at the core use (60 ha) scale. Nest site selection and daily nest survival were not influenced by proximity to turbines or turbine density at the core use or breeding season home range (1385 ha) scales. Early (14-day) brood success was positively influenced by post-hatch precipitation and late (42-day) brood success was positively influenced by earlier hatch dates. Chick survival to 42 days post hatch was positively influenced by post-hatch precipitation and earlier hatch dates and negatively influenced by increasing densities of wind turbines at the breeding season home range scale. The probability of an individual chick surviving to 42 days decreased by 50% when there were ≥10 turbines within 2.1 km of the nest. In restored grassland habitats, such as Conservation Reserve Program fields, I recommend plantings and management practices that will result in diverse, bunchgrass-dominated nesting habitat with residual grass cover and >30% forb canopy cover during the nesting season. My results suggest that wind turbines occurring within 2.1 km of nesting habitats (i.e., 4.8 km of occupied leks) may negatively affect CSTG recruitment.

Eared Grebes (Podiceps nigricollis) are migratory birds that build their nests over water and in large groups called colonies. Their typical breeding range is in central southern Canada and northern United States; however, a previously uncertain number of Eared Grebes (grebes) also nest around the Great Salt Lake (GSL), Utah, at the southern edge of their breeding range. Little is known about the habitat requirements for grebe nesting colonies at such low latitudes and if they are different from colonies found elsewhere. My objectives for this research were to determine the status of the grebe nesting population as well as their habitat characteristics along the GSL in freshwater wetlands. I found over 4,280 grebe nests distributed among 35 colonies. Grebes built nests by mounding submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) beginning the first week of June. The results from my habitat study show that grebes prefer to nest in areas with an average water depth of 48 cm, high invertebrate density, and abundant areas of floating SAV. Water depth and vegetation type at colony sites as well as timing of nesting and average number of eggs per nest of GSL colonies differed from colonies located at more northern latitudes. The differences in nesting could be attributed to the need to wait for SAV to grow and form mats on the water’s surface, or a need to wait for their food source to reach harvestable size. After grebes leave their nesting grounds, they stop at the GSL where they prepare for their final migration southward by consuming their fill of brine shrimp (Artemia franciscana). Brine shrimp are tiny invertebrates that are well-adapted to salty environments; they produce hard-walled eggs called cysts which are of great economic value and are commercially harvested from the GSL. I compared cyst viability, which is the percentage of cysts in a condition conducive to hatching, for cysts that had passed through the digestive tract of grebes and cysts samples obtained from the GSL. Only 30% of the cysts that had passed through grebes were viable, whereas 63% of cysts from the GSL were viable.

Background. Performance monitoring of C/C++ programs has often been a tedious and straining process, where insufficient and complex tools/APIs are required. Performance monitoring tools and APIs tend to focus on ease of use or flexibility, but rarely both. Hence, a tool that combines ease of use and flexibility while enhancing abstraction, would greatly simplify the monitoring of C/C++ programs and seamlessly integrate them into pre-existing projects. Objectives. This study aims to extend the developed EDPM prototype used for the manual performance monitoring of C/C++ programs. The extension will comprise the dynamic nesting feature which will be the primary focus of this thesis study. Method. In this thesis study, experiments that evaluate the extended EDPM version will be conducted. These experiments will be conducted using a homogeneous testing environment using an independent benchmark created for this study: strncpy, and a C/C++ benchmark: rodinia. The experiments will consist of measuring the execution benefits, overheads, and precision of the initial EDPM version, extended EDPM version, and the raw Performance API(PAPI) which will be used manually. For this purpose, four sets of tests will be orchestrated; iterative and recursive test programs for the strncpy benchmark; binary search tree and b+tree test programs for the rodinia benchmark. Additionally, each set is divided into two scenarios: nested and alternate structures. The iterative tests will be used to evaluate all of the three aformentioned subjects, and the recursive tests will evaluate the extended EDPM version and the PAPI API. The binary search tree and b+tree tests will further evaluate the initial and extended EDPM versions in CPU and memory-intensive environments. Furthermore, the test sets will each adopt different configurations, depending on the specific test. Additionally, the reason why the initial EDPM version won’t be evaluated using the recursive tests is because it doesn’t support the dynamic nesting feature. Results. The results show that the extended EDPM version had an improved execution time, for each respective configuration, for each benchmark. The results also show that the PAPI API outperforms both of the EDPM versions significantly but with the compromise of sacrificing some precision. Conclusions. As of this thesis study, EDPM is a prototype in development, but now with the implemented dynamic nesting extension, EDPM will facilitate the implementation of further extensions, such as the multithreading monitoring, by primarily using the PAPI API as its core backend. Additionally, the extended EDPM version is slightly optimized compared to the initial EDPM version but significantly unoptimized when compared to the PAPI API, depending on how a program has been annotated. / Bakgrund. Prestandamätning av C/C++ program har ofta varit en påfrestande process, där otillräckliga och komplexa verktyg samt API:er är nödvändiga. Verktyg och API:er ämnade för prestandamätning fokuserar vanligen på en sida av spektrumet; användarvändlighet eller flexibilitet, men oftast inte båda. Därför, ett verktyg som slår ihop användarvändlighet och flexibilitet, som samtidigt också höjer abstraktionsnivån hade underlättat både processen av prestandamätning men även integrationen av ett sådant verktyg i existerande och framtida projekt. Syfte. Denna studie fokuserar på att utöka EDPM prototypen som används för manuell prestandamätning av C/C++ program. Utökningen kommer att omfatta implementationen av funktionaliteten dynamisk nestning. Metod. I denna studie kommer experiment som utvärderar den utökade EDPM versionen att utföras. Experimenten kommer att använda en homogen testmiljö och två teststandarder, där en teststandard kommer att skapas: strncpy; och en C/C++ teststandard att återanvändas: rodinia. Experimenten kommer att bestå av att mäta fördelarna, överhuvudet för exekveringstiden samt precisionen för den initiala EDPM versionen, utökade EDPM versionen och det råa/manuellt använda Performance API:et(PAPI). Experimentet kommer att omfatta fyra distinkta par av tester; de iterativa och rekursiva testerna för strncpy teststandarden; de binary search tree och b+tree testerna för rodinia teststandarden. Varje par är uppdelat i två scenario: nästade och alternerande strukturer. De iterativa testerna kommer att användas för att utvärdera alla tidigare nämnda testsubjekt, medan de rekursiva testerna kommer att utvärdera den utökade EDPM versionen och PAPI API:et. De binary search tree och b+tree testerna kommer att användas för att ytterligare utvärdera den initiala och utökade EDPM versionerna i en CPU and minnes-intensiv programmiljö. Paren av tester kommer dessutom att använda sig av olika konfigurationer, beroende på det specifika testet som utförs. Anledningen till varför den initiala EDPM versionen inte kommer att utvärderas med de rekursiva testerna är eftersom versionen inte stödjer funktionaliteten dynamisk nesting. Resultat. Resultaten visar att den utökade EDPM versionen presterar både snarlikt och bättre i jämförelse mot den initiala EDPM versionen, för respektive test från samt konfiguration. Resultaten visar även att PAPI API:et överträffar båda EDPM versionerna genom att offra någon andel precision. Slutsatser. Under tiden av skrivandet av detta examensarbete är EDPM endast en prototyp under utveckling, men genom additionen av funktionaliteten dynamisk nesting, kommer implementation av framtida utökningar att underlättas, t.ex. mätning av multitrådade program genom att primärt använda PAPI API:et. Utöver den generella utökningen har EDPM blivit något mer optimerad jämförelsevis med den initiala EDPM versionen men avsevärt sämre jämförelsevis med PAPI API:et, detta beroende på hur ett program blivit annoterat.