Recent changes in climate have increased public attention and scientific evaluation of climate impacts on wild animals and plants. Variation in local weather and regional climate may affect breeding success in birds. Migratory species may be sensitive to these changes as breeding and wintering areas may experience different climate variations; some insectivorous species may be unable to alter timing of migration or laying dates and experience a mismatch between timing of nesting and peak insect availability for their nestlings. Therefore, I investigated the influence of local weather variables and regional climate on breeding performance of an insectivorous migrant songbird, the Tree Swallow (<i>Tachycineta bicolor</i>), and tried to examine effects of a mismatch between the timing of breeding and food availability.<p>I used a 14 year data set from St. Denis, Saskatchewan, Canada, 1991-2004, to evaluate correlations among local weather, wetland conditions, aerial insects and regional climate indices and their relationships with variation in clutch initiation date, clutch size, and fledging success. Swallows returned to the study site in late April each year. Annual variation in median clutch initiation date was best explained by mean minimum temperatures during 1-15 May. Larger clutches were laid in years with higher pond water levels (possibly an indication of increased insect availability) and when the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) was positive (representing La Niña conditions). Fledging success was not influenced greatly by any explanatory variable; however, fledging success tended to increase in years with higher average temperatures. Individual variation in clutch initiation date was examined using path analysis. I found high correlations between initiation date and both local environmental variables and regional climate indices; earlier nesting was associated with warmer temperatures (increased local temperatures, more positive North Atlantic Oscillation Index (NAOI) values and more negative SOI values) and decreased moisture (more positive NAOI values). Two reduced data sets, including female age or insect abundance, were also examined. Clutches were initiated earlier by older females and during springs with higher abundance of aerial insects.<p>I applied two heating treatments to nest boxes used by pre-laying swallows and compared reproductive measures (timing of nesting, laying sequence, clutch size, egg weight and fledging success) of birds using heated boxes to those of females attending unheated control boxes. However, I was unable to directly examine the predictions of the mismatch hypothesis because nest box heating failed to advance laying dates. Furthermore, no increases in clutch size, egg weight and fledging success were detected between treatment and control nests. Although box heating increased nest temperatures an average of 6.1C (+ 0.8 SE) over controls, length of time females spent in heated boxes may have been too short to alleviate energetic constraints on egg production, or energy savings associated with box use were insufficient to supersede the influence of ambient environmental conditions that control food availability and energy expenditure of foraging swallows. My results demonstrated that local and regional climate variation strongly affected timing of nesting in swallows, likely via their effects on food supply.

Recent changes in climate have increased public attention and scientific evaluation of climate impacts on wild animals and plants. Variation in local weather and regional climate may affect breeding success in birds. Migratory species may be sensitive to these changes as breeding and wintering areas may experience different climate variations; some insectivorous species may be unable to alter timing of migration or laying dates and experience a mismatch between timing of nesting and peak insect availability for their nestlings. Therefore, I investigated the influence of local weather variables and regional climate on breeding performance of an insectivorous migrant songbird, the Tree Swallow (<i>Tachycineta bicolor</i>), and tried to examine effects of a mismatch between the timing of breeding and food availability.<p>I used a 14 year data set from St. Denis, Saskatchewan, Canada, 1991-2004, to evaluate correlations among local weather, wetland conditions, aerial insects and regional climate indices and their relationships with variation in clutch initiation date, clutch size, and fledging success. Swallows returned to the study site in late April each year. Annual variation in median clutch initiation date was best explained by mean minimum temperatures during 1-15 May. Larger clutches were laid in years with higher pond water levels (possibly an indication of increased insect availability) and when the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) was positive (representing La Niña conditions). Fledging success was not influenced greatly by any explanatory variable; however, fledging success tended to increase in years with higher average temperatures. Individual variation in clutch initiation date was examined using path analysis. I found high correlations between initiation date and both local environmental variables and regional climate indices; earlier nesting was associated with warmer temperatures (increased local temperatures, more positive North Atlantic Oscillation Index (NAOI) values and more negative SOI values) and decreased moisture (more positive NAOI values). Two reduced data sets, including female age or insect abundance, were also examined. Clutches were initiated earlier by older females and during springs with higher abundance of aerial insects.<p>I applied two heating treatments to nest boxes used by pre-laying swallows and compared reproductive measures (timing of nesting, laying sequence, clutch size, egg weight and fledging success) of birds using heated boxes to those of females attending unheated control boxes. However, I was unable to directly examine the predictions of the mismatch hypothesis because nest box heating failed to advance laying dates. Furthermore, no increases in clutch size, egg weight and fledging success were detected between treatment and control nests. Although box heating increased nest temperatures an average of 6.1C (+ 0.8 SE) over controls, length of time females spent in heated boxes may have been too short to alleviate energetic constraints on egg production, or energy savings associated with box use were insufficient to supersede the influence of ambient environmental conditions that control food availability and energy expenditure of foraging swallows. My results demonstrated that local and regional climate variation strongly affected timing of nesting in swallows, likely via their effects on food supply.

The Madden-Julian Oscillation is a tropical atmospheric phenomenon detected as anomalies in zonal winds, convection and cloudiness. This perturbation has a definitive timescale of about thirty to sixty days, allowing its signal to be extracted from background data. The Madden-Julian Oscillation originates over the western Indian Ocean and generates a convective region which moves east along the equatorial region. This perturbation is thought to contribute to the timing and intensity of the eastern hemisphere monsoons, the El Niño/ Southern Oscillation and tropical storms and cyclones. The current understanding of the Madden-Julian Oscillation is that it restricts the bulk of its' influence to the tropics, however some evidence suggested that the impact is more extensive. Analysis of about 30 years of data showed significant modulation of rainfall by the equatorial passage of the MJO. The real-time multivariate Madden-Julian Oscillation Index was used to estimate the location and amplitude of the Madden-Julian Oscillation, and forms the basis of the basic rainfall prediction tool developed. The method developed here clearly linked the low latitude passage of the Madden-Julian Oscillation with suppressed and enhanced rainfall events in the Australasian region and beyond. A rudimentary forecasting capability at the intraseasonal time scale has been developed suitable for assisting Australian agricultural sector. A subsequent and independent analysis of global mean sea level pressure anomalies provided evidence of teleconnections between the Madden-Julian Oscillation and higher latitude atmospheric entities. These anomalies confirm the existence of teleconnections capable of producing the rainfall pattern outputs. The MJO is strongly influenced by the season. However the seasonally dependant analysis of rainfall with respect to the Madden Julian Oscillation conducted was inconclusive, suggesting aspects of the MJO influence still require clarification. Considering the importance of rainfall variability to the Australian agricultural sector the forecasting tool developed, although basic, is significant.

<p>In this thesis, a computer program that in a simple way can calculate the performance of control loops at the refinery Preemraff Lysekil has been created. The computer program has been adapted to the environment at Preemraff Lysekil. Theories for evaluation has been studied in aspect of reliability and of automatic implementation. The evaluation has been carried out from data collected directly from control loops at the refinery and from simulated control loops with implemented errors. </p><p>Among the studied methods are Harris index and Stattin´s oscillation index. According to the literature the Harris index is the most used for measure of control performance, but the results show that it does not work as a single measure at Preemraff Lysekil. However Stattin´s oscillation index works well and can be used for detection of oscillations. Statistic measures like variance, IAE, ISE and a method based on histogram are also studied. All the statistical measures are simple to implement and are rather accurate. Several tests on control loops has been carried out and it has been shown that it ís enough to use the method based on histograms and Stattins oscillation index to get a good picture of the performace of the control loops at Preemraff Lysekil. </p><p>The work has resulted in a MATLAB tool that evaluates the control loops and can be run at any time. The tool first calculates Stattin´s oscillation index. The loops that are oscillating are marked. In the next step, the method based on histograms is used and a list with the worst performing loops at the top is created.</p>

In this thesis, a computer program that in a simple way can calculate the performance of control loops at the refinery Preemraff Lysekil has been created. The computer program has been adapted to the environment at Preemraff Lysekil. Theories for evaluation has been studied in aspect of reliability and of automatic implementation. The evaluation has been carried out from data collected directly from control loops at the refinery and from simulated control loops with implemented errors. Among the studied methods are Harris index and Stattin´s oscillation index. According to the literature the Harris index is the most used for measure of control performance, but the results show that it does not work as a single measure at Preemraff Lysekil. However Stattin´s oscillation index works well and can be used for detection of oscillations. Statistic measures like variance, IAE, ISE and a method based on histogram are also studied. All the statistical measures are simple to implement and are rather accurate. Several tests on control loops has been carried out and it has been shown that it ís enough to use the method based on histograms and Stattins oscillation index to get a good picture of the performace of the control loops at Preemraff Lysekil. The work has resulted in a MATLAB tool that evaluates the control loops and can be run at any time. The tool first calculates Stattin´s oscillation index. The loops that are oscillating are marked. In the next step, the method based on histograms is used and a list with the worst performing loops at the top is created.

Ο Δείκτης της Νότιας Κύμανσης (Southern Oscillation Index, SOI) περιγράφει την ατμοσφαιρική κυκλοφορία στον τροπικό Α. Ειρηνικό Ωκεανό σε σχέση με το παγκόσμιας κλιματικής σημασίας φαινόμενο ΕΝSO (El Niño-Southern Oscillation). Μετά τα τέλη της δεκαετίας του 1970, βρέθηκε ότι η ισχυρότερη αρνητική φάση του Δείκτη της Νότιας Κύμανσης των τελευταίων 150 ετών συμπίπτει με την ισχυρότερη θετική φάση του Δείκτη της Βορειοατλαντικής Κύμανσης (North Atlantic Oscillation Index, ΝΑΟΙ) των τελευταίων 180 ετών. Μάλιστα, η ανάλυση της συσχέτισης μεταξύ των Δεικτών της Νότιας και της Βορειοατλαντικής Κύμανσης την περίοδο 1950-2007 εμφάνισε, αλλά μόνο μετά το 1978, μια στατιστικά σημαντική σχέση ανάμεσα στις 20 ισχυρότερες αρνητικές φάσεις των τριμήνων Σεπτεμβρίου-Νοεμβρίου του Δείκτη της Νότιας Κύμανσης και των χειμερινών (Δεκεμβρίου-Φεβρουαρίου) φάσεων του Δείκτη της Βορειοατλαντικής Κύμανσης που χρονικά ακολούθησαν. Παρόμοια, οι 20 ισχυρότερες θετικές φάσεις των τριμήνων Οκτωβρίου-Δεκεμβρίου και Νοεμβρίου-Ιανουαρίου του Δείκτη της Νότιας Κύμανσης την περίοδο 1950-2007 παρουσίασαν, μετά τα τέλη της δεκαετίας του 1970, μια στατιστικά σημαντική συσχέτιση με τις χειμερινές (Δεκεμβρίου-Φεβρουαρίου) φάσεις του Δείκτη της Βορειοατλαντικής Κύμανσης που ακολούθησαν. Οι σχέσεις αυτές συνέπεσαν με μειωμένη χειμερινή βροχόπτωση στην Α. Μεσόγειο. Εάν οι σχέσεις μεταξύ των Δεικτών της Νότιας και της Βορειοατλαντικής Κύμανσης διατηρηθούν και στο μέλλον, επιτρέπουν, με βάση τη φθινοπωρινή φάση του Δείκτη της Νότιας Κύμανσης, τη δυνατότητα πρόγνωσης της χειμερινής βροχόπτωσης στις περιοχές που επηρεάζονται από τη Βορειοατλαντική Κύμανση (ΝΑΟ) (για περιοχές της Ελλάδας ακόμη και με πιθανότητα 90%). Αναλύθηκε η ετήσια κατά πάχος προσαύξηση του βλαστού σε δένδρα χαλεπίου (Pinus halepensis subsp. halepensis) και τραχείας (Pinus halepensis subsp. brutia) πεύκης από τη θερμο-μεσογειακή ζώνη βλάστησης των νήσων Ζακύνθου, Σκύρου, Σάμου και Κρήτης (Ιεράπετρα). Το πλάτος των αυξητικών δακτυλίων τους βρέθηκε πολύ ευαίσθητο στις μεταβολές της βροχόπτωσης και εμφάνισε στατιστικά σημαντική συσχέτιση με το μέσο όρο της μέσης ετήσιας βροχόπτωσης 37 μετεωρολογικών σταθμών της Α. Μεσογείου. Οι αυξητικοί δακτύλιοι κατέδειξαν, επίσης, ότι η ετήσια βροχόπτωση στην Α. Μεσόγειο μετά το 1970 εμφάνισε τη σημαντικότερη μείωση τουλάχιστον των τελευταίων 200 ετών. Η μείωση της αύξησης των δένδρων συμπίπτει χρονικά με την πρόσφατη αύξηση της θερμοκρασίας του πλανήτη. Συμφωνεί, δε, με την πρόβλεψη, μέσω των κλιματικών μοντέλων, της Διακυβερνητικής Επιτροπής για την Kλιματική Aλλαγή (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC, 2007) ότι στη Μεσόγειο αναμένεται σημαντική μείωση των βροχοπτώσεων λόγω περαιτέρω αύξησης της θερμοκρασίας του πλανήτη, πράγμα που παρατηρήθηκε στο πρόσφατο παρελθόν. Τίθεται, επίσης, το ερώτημα εάν οι πρόσφατες διασυνδέσεις μεταξύ των Δεικτών της Νότιας και της Βορειοατλαντικής Κύμανσης (που σχετίζονται με την πρόσφατη μείωση της βροχόπτωσης στην Α. Μεσόγειο) συνδέονται και με την αύξηση της θερμοκρασίας του πλανήτη. Κατά τις υγρές περιόδους του 20ου αιώνα (620-760 mm μέση ετήσια βροχόπτωση) η ετήσια αύξηση των δένδρων στις περιοχές μελέτης καθορίστηκε σε μεγάλο βαθμό από βροχοπτώσεις που σημειώθηκαν εντός λίγων εβδομάδων ή μηνών πριν ή και κατά την έναρξη της αυξητικής περιόδου. Όμως, κατά την ξηρότερη περίοδο που καταγράφηκε (1990-96, 480 mm μέση ετήσια βροχόπτωση) η αύξηση εξαρτήθηκε από βροχόπτωση 3-4 ετών πριν, συμπεριλαμβανομένου του έτους σχηματισμού του δακτυλίου. Αυτό δείχνει ότι το νερό από βαθύτερα στρώματα του εδάφους, συσσωρευμένο από βροχοπτώσεις προηγούμενων ετών, κατέστη ιδιαιτέρως σημαντικό καθώς η ξηρασία εντάθηκε. Αυτή η διαδικασία πρέπει να σχετίζεται με το βαθύ ριζικό σύστημα των πεύκων. Όμως, μια σειρά ξηρών ετών μπορεί να εξαντλήσει τα υπόγεια «αποθέματα υγρασίας». Στην περίπτωση αυτή τα πεύκα μπορεί να φτάσουν πολύ κοντά στα όρια της επιβίωσης τους, ακόμη και να ξεραθούν. Τέτοια περιστατικά καταγράφηκαν στη νήσο Σάμο και στην Αχαΐα (Πελοπόννησο), όπου ακόμη και 80-χρονα πεύκα ξεράθηκαν στο τέλος των καλοκαιριών του 2000 και 2007. Με βάση το σενάριο Α1B-SRES (IPCC 2007), η μέση ετήσια βροχόπτωση στην περιοχή μελέτης προβλέπεται να μειωθεί την περίοδο 2090-2099 ακόμη και κατά 30% σε σχέση με τα επίπεδα του 1980-1999, φτάνοντας τα 390 mm. Τα επίπεδα αυτά βροχόπτωσης είναι πολύ χαμηλότερα από την οριακή τιμή των 480 mm που προσδιορίστηκε ως κρίσιμη για τους μελετηθέντες πληθυσμούς πεύκων (Pinus) στο να επιβιώσουν υπό ξηρασία στηριζόμενοι σε βαθύτερα αποθέματα υγρασίας. Συνεπώς, εάν τέτοιες συνθήκες επικρατήσουν κατά τον 21ο αιώνα, θα αυξηθεί σημαντικά ο κίνδυνος καταστροφής των δασών της θερμο-μεσογειακής ζώνης βλάστησης. Επίσης, με τη συνδυασμένη επίδραση αυξημένων θερινών θερμοκρασιών και πυρκαγιών θα μεγαλώσει και ο κίνδυνος ερημοποίησης. / The Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) describes atmospheric circulation in the eastern tropical pacific related to ENSO (El Niño-Southern Oscillation), a phenomenon of global climatic significance. After the late 1970s, SOI’s strongest negative phase in 150 year was found to coincide with the strongest positive phase of the North Atlantic Oscillation Index (NAOI) in 180 years. Correlation analysis between SOI and NAOI during 1950-2007 revealed a statistically significant connection between the 20 strongest negative phases of the Sept.-Nov. SOI and the following winter’s (Dec.-Feb.) NAOI phases only after 1978. Similarly, the 20 strongest positive phases of the Oct.-Dec. and Nov.-Jan. SOI of 1950-2007 produced a statistically significant correlation with the following winter’s (Dec.-Feb.) NAOI phases after the late 1970s. Such relationships coincided with reduced winter precipitation in the eastern Mediterranean. If these SOI-NAOI connections hold, the possibility exists to forecast winter precipitation conditions in regions effected by NAO from the previous autumn’s SOI state (with even a 90% accuracy for regions of Greece). Annual radial stem increment was analysed in Pinus halepensis subsp. halepensis and Pinus halepensis subsp. brutia trees for Thermo-Mediterranean vegetation zones of the Greek islands of Zakinthos, Skiros, Samos and Crete (Ierapetra). Tree-ring width was found to be very sensitive to precipitation and produced a statistically significant correlation with annual rainfall from mean of 37 meteorological stations of the eastern Mediterranean. Tree-rings also indicated that annual rainfall reached its lowest values in nearly 200 years after the 1970s. This reduction in growth coincides with recent global warming. Thus, it is in line with IPCC (2007) climate model projections’ that the Mediterranean will experience a significant decline in precipitation as global warming progresses, as was the case in the recent past. It also raises the question whether recent SOI-NAOI links (involved in the recent decline in precipitation in the eastern Mediterranean) are also connected to global warming. During moist periods of the 20th century (ca. 620-720 mm average annual precipitation) annual tree growth in the regions under investigation was largely controlled by rainfall during a few weeks or months before or during the beginning of the growing season. In contrast, during the driest period on record (1990-1996; 480 mm average annual precipitation) growth depended on rainfall of 3-4 years before, including the year of tree ring formation. This suggests that water from deeper ground, accumulated during rainfall of previous years and became increasingly important as drought intensified. Deep rooting must be involved in such a process. However, a series of dry years may exhaust deeper ground “moisture reserves”. In this case pines may be pushed very close to their survival limits and can even be desiccated. Such incidents were recorded in Samos and Achaia (Peloponnesus) of Greece where pines died in late summer 2000 and 2007, including some 80-year-old trees. Mean annual precipitation for the studied area in 2090-2099 is projected to decrease by even 30% compared to 1980-99 levels, based on Α1B-SRES (IPCC 2007), reaching 390 mm. These levels of rainfall are far bellow the threshold of 480 mm determined as critical for the investigated populations of Pinus to survive drought by relying on deeper moisture reserves. Thus, if such conditions persist during the 21st century they will contribute to the risk of devastation for Thermo-Mediterranean zone forests. Combined with higher summer temperatures and fire outbreaks the risk of desertification will also increase.

Esta tese apresenta um estudo hidroclimático para a bacia hidrográfica do rio Piquiri-Pr, o trabalho desenvolve-se sob a égide sistêmica e a bacia hidrográfica entendida como unidade de análise da paisagem é a delimitação espacial escolhida para fornecer respostas à hipótese norteadora da pesquisa. O objetivo da pesquisa é compreender como ocorre a dinâmica hidroclimática na bacia em questão, para isso considera-se a precipitação pluviométrica e a vazão fluvial como elementos dinamizadores do sistema e o El Niño Oscilação Sul (ENOS) como o responsável por influenciar a variabilidade temporal desses elementos. Para isso buscou-se descrever estatisticamente a precipitação e a vazão fluvial, os dados de 41 postos pluviométricos foram fornecidos pelo Instituto das Águas do Paraná e os dados de três postos fluviométricos pela Agência Nacional de Águas (ANA) no período de 1976 a 2010. Por meio da correlação linear procurou-se explicar as relações existentes entre a precipitação pluviométrica e a vazão fluvial, calculou-se a evapotranspiração e o coeficiente de escoamento da bacia hidrográfica. Determinou-se a influência do ENOS na precipitação e na vazão fluvial utilizando-se dos dados do Índice de Oscilação Sul (IOS) disponibilizados pelo Bureau of Meteorology National Climate Centre da Austrália, a partir da correlação entre as variáveis e a aplicação do modelo GAMLSS (Modelos aditivos generalizados para posição, escala e forma) buscou-se explicar a participação do ENOS na variabilidade temporal da precipitação pluviométrica e da vazão. Com o desenvolvimento da pesquisa conclui-se que a vazão não é apenas resultante da precipitação, mas os processos de evapotranspiração e infiltração também influenciam na sua variabilidade. Com relação à influência do fenômeno ENOS, as correlações mostraram que o IOS influencia a precipitação e a vazão na bacia hidrográfica do rio Piquiri, com maior confiança, de um a três meses de defasagem, o modelo GAMLSS mostrou-se satisfatório para a determinação da influência do IOS nas variáveis precipitação e vazão. / This thesis presents a hydroclimatic study for the Piriqui watershed, Paraná State, Brazil. The study was developed under a systemic approach, and the watershed, understood as the unit of analysis of the landscape, was the spatial limit chosen to provide responses to the hypothesis guiding the research. The objective was to investigate the hydroclimatic dynamics of the watershed in question, considering precipitation and river flow as elements dynamizing the system and the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) as responsible for influencing the temporal variability of these elements. To this end, precipitation and river flow were described statistically. Data from 41 rain gauge stations in the period from 1976 to 2010 were provided by Instituto das Águas do Paraná and the river flow datas were provided by National Water Agency (Agência Nacional de Águas - ANA). Using linear correlation analysis, we explained the relationships existing between precipitation and river flow and calculated the evapotranspiration and the runoff coefficient of the drainage basin. The influence of ENSO on precipitation and river flow was determined using data from the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) provided by the Bureau of Meteorology - National Climate Centre of Australia. The correlation between the variables and the application of the GAMLSS model allowed us to explain the participation of ENOS in the temporal variability of precipitation and flow. Through the development of the research, we concluded that the river flow results not only from precipitation, but the processes of evapotranspiration and infiltration may interfere with its variability. With respect to the influence of the ENSO phenomenon, the correlations revealed that SOI influences the precipitation and flow in the Piquiri watershed, with greater reliability with a delay of one to three months, and the GAMLSS model showed to be satisfactory for determining the influence of SOI on the precipitation and river flow variables.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Sardinella brasiliensis is a marine pelagic fish that belongs to a single fish stock confined at the Brazilian coast, occurs from Rio de Janeiro (22 ° S) to Santa Catarina (29 ° S) states in southern Brazil. Environmental variables influence on the biology of fishes in different ways. Here we investigate the influence of marine environmental variability on the Catch per Unit of Effort (CPUE) of S. brasiliensis in southern Brazil for 10 years. We tested the correlation of the peaks of oscillation of CPUE with variables such as the sea surface temperature (SST), chlorophyll concentration and the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI). CPUE data were obtained from Fisheries Statistics Bulletins, from the University of Vale do Itajai (UNIVALI). The SST data come from the NOAA Pathfinder project, the chlorophyll concentration (CC) from the NASA Giovanni database and the SOI from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology database. We divided the study area into four areas, confined at the southern coast of Brazil down to the 100 m isobath. We calculated the anomalies of sea surface temperature (SSTA). All time series were treated using linear interpolation for missing points, a 3-point moving average filter, then submitted to cross-correlation analysis and wavelet transform. We found that CPUE and SST are inversely correlated while CPUE and CC are directly correlated. There is an annual cycle of CC and biannual for SSTA. The wavelet transform CPUE shows a strong signal in the period of 16 months, all along the time series. In the years 2001 to 2002 and from 2003 to 2006, the period of 21 months is also important and strong. Knowing that the sardine adult stock follows the dynamics of the Brazil Coastal Current, we suggest greater stability of the current in terms of more positive SSTAs and CCs favoring higher spawns more successful and improve conditions for recruitment of S. brasiliensis adult stock to a year later. / A Sardinella brasiliensis, peixe pelágico marinho que tem um único estoque pesqueiro confinado na costa brasileira, ocorre desde o Rio de Janeiro (22° S) até Santa Catarina (29° S). As variáveis ambientais influenciam a biologia dos peixes de diferentes formas. Aqui investigamos a influência de variabilidade ambiental marinha na Captura por Unidade de Esforço (CPUE) da S. brasiliensis no Sul do Brasil durante 10 anos. A CPUE é relacionada com os picos de oscilação da captura da espécie com variáveis como a temperatura da superfície do mar (TSM), concentração de clorofila (CC) e o Índice de Oscilação Sul (SOI). Os dados de CPUE foram obtidos a partir dos Boletins Estatísticos Pesqueiros da Universidade do Vale do Itajaí (UNIVALI). Os dados de TSM provém do projeto NOAA Pathfinder, a CC a partir do banco de dados Giovanni da NASA e o SOI a partir do banco de dados do Bureau of Meteorology australiano. Dividimos o local de estudo em quatro áreas, confinadas na costa sul do Brasil até a isóbata de 100 m. Calculamos as anomalias de temperatura da superfície do mar (ATSM). Todas as séries de tempo foram tratadas utilizando interpolação linear para dados faltantes, filtradas por um filtro de média móvel de três pontos e submetidas à análises de correlação cruzada e transformada de ondeleta. Observamos que CPUE e ATSM são correlacionados inversamente enquanto que CPUE e CC são correlacionados diretamente. Há um ciclo anual para CC e bianual para ATSM. A transformada de ondeleta de CPUE mostra fortes sinais no período de 16 meses, ao longo de toda a série de tempo. Nos anos de 2001 a 2002 e entre 2003 e 2006 o período de 21 meses é igualmente importante e forte. Sabendo que o estoque adulto da sardinha acompanha a dinâmica da Corrente Costeira do Brasil, sugerimos que uma maior estabilidade dessa corrente em termos de ATSMs mais positivas e CCs mais altas favorecem desovas mais bem sucedidas e condições mais propícias para o recrutamento da S. brasiliensis ao estoque adulto um ano mais tarde.

Esta tese apresenta um estudo hidroclimático para a bacia hidrográfica do rio Piquiri-Pr, o trabalho desenvolve-se sob a égide sistêmica e a bacia hidrográfica entendida como unidade de análise da paisagem é a delimitação espacial escolhida para fornecer respostas à hipótese norteadora da pesquisa. O objetivo da pesquisa é compreender como ocorre a dinâmica hidroclimática na bacia em questão, para isso considera-se a precipitação pluviométrica e a vazão fluvial como elementos dinamizadores do sistema e o El Niño Oscilação Sul (ENOS) como o responsável por influenciar a variabilidade temporal desses elementos. Para isso buscou-se descrever estatisticamente a precipitação e a vazão fluvial, os dados de 41 postos pluviométricos foram fornecidos pelo Instituto das Águas do Paraná e os dados de três postos fluviométricos pela Agência Nacional de Águas (ANA) no período de 1976 a 2010. Por meio da correlação linear procurou-se explicar as relações existentes entre a precipitação pluviométrica e a vazão fluvial, calculou-se a evapotranspiração e o coeficiente de escoamento da bacia hidrográfica. Determinou-se a influência do ENOS na precipitação e na vazão fluvial utilizando-se dos dados do Índice de Oscilação Sul (IOS) disponibilizados pelo Bureau of Meteorology National Climate Centre da Austrália, a partir da correlação entre as variáveis e a aplicação do modelo GAMLSS (Modelos aditivos generalizados para posição, escala e forma) buscou-se explicar a participação do ENOS na variabilidade temporal da precipitação pluviométrica e da vazão. Com o desenvolvimento da pesquisa conclui-se que a vazão não é apenas resultante da precipitação, mas os processos de evapotranspiração e infiltração também influenciam na sua variabilidade. Com relação à influência do fenômeno ENOS, as correlações mostraram que o IOS influencia a precipitação e a vazão na bacia hidrográfica do rio Piquiri, com maior confiança, de um a três meses de defasagem, o modelo GAMLSS mostrou-se satisfatório para a determinação da influência do IOS nas variáveis precipitação e vazão. / This thesis presents a hydroclimatic study for the Piriqui watershed, Paraná State, Brazil. The study was developed under a systemic approach, and the watershed, understood as the unit of analysis of the landscape, was the spatial limit chosen to provide responses to the hypothesis guiding the research. The objective was to investigate the hydroclimatic dynamics of the watershed in question, considering precipitation and river flow as elements dynamizing the system and the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) as responsible for influencing the temporal variability of these elements. To this end, precipitation and river flow were described statistically. Data from 41 rain gauge stations in the period from 1976 to 2010 were provided by Instituto das Águas do Paraná and the river flow datas were provided by National Water Agency (Agência Nacional de Águas - ANA). Using linear correlation analysis, we explained the relationships existing between precipitation and river flow and calculated the evapotranspiration and the runoff coefficient of the drainage basin. The influence of ENSO on precipitation and river flow was determined using data from the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) provided by the Bureau of Meteorology - National Climate Centre of Australia. The correlation between the variables and the application of the GAMLSS model allowed us to explain the participation of ENOS in the temporal variability of precipitation and flow. Through the development of the research, we concluded that the river flow results not only from precipitation, but the processes of evapotranspiration and infiltration may interfere with its variability. With respect to the influence of the ENSO phenomenon, the correlations revealed that SOI influences the precipitation and flow in the Piquiri watershed, with greater reliability with a delay of one to three months, and the GAMLSS model showed to be satisfactory for determining the influence of SOI on the precipitation and river flow variables.

The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of Rift Valley fever (RVF) in South Africa. The first part of the study consisted of the compilation of a full history of RVF in South Africa. This was done by compiling all references to outbreaks of the disease in South Africa from all available literature, annual reports, disease reports and animal disease databases. The geographic location and temporal occurrence of each outbreak was recorded as accurately as allowed by the available records. The result was a better and more complete picture than has hitherto been available of the spatial and temporal distribution of RVF for the period 1950, when the disease was first recognised in South Africa, to 2010. Several smaller outbreaks not mentioned in the literature were found. It emerged that large outbreaks occur in the Free State Province, Eastern Cape Province and Northern Cape Province with long periods of absence and smaller outbreaks occur in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Gauteng at more frequent intervals.The second part of the study used the data collected during the first part of the study to determine which climatic and other environmental factors could have played a role in the occurrence of RVF in South Africa. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to estimate associations between the various potential risk factors and the occurrence of Rift Valley fever.The study found that the El Niño/Southern Oscillation influence on rainfall in South Africa has an effect on the occurrence of RVF in South Africa which is opposite to the effect that has been described for Kenya. A positive Southern Oscillation Index (La Niña) increases the likelihood of a RVF outbreak in South Africa.The study also found that very high rainfall during the summer months (December to February) is an important risk factor for the occurrence of RVF and it confirmed the increased risk of an outbreak where pans and wetlands are present as reported in several articles and disease reports on past outbreaks. Several other factors, such as minimum and maximum temperature were also found to have a statistically significant effect on the occurrence of Rift Valley fever. Copyright / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Production Animal Studies / unrestricted