For insects that develop inside discrete hosts both host size and host quality constrain offspring growth, influencing the evolution of body size and life history traits. This dissertation examines the effects of host size, host quality, and intraspecific competition on life history and associated traits of populations of the seed-feeding beetle S. limbatus adapted to different host plants, and quantifies population differences in phenotypic plasticity. Populations of the study correspond to divergent clades of the species phylogeography (Colombia and United States). Clades compared differ genetically for all traits when beetles were raised in a common garden. Contrary to expectations from the local adaptation hypothesis, beetles from all populations were larger, developed faster and had higher survivorship when reared in Acacia greggii, the larger host. Two host-plant mediated maternal effects were found: offspring matured sooner, regardless of their rearing host, when their mothers were reared on Pseudosamanea guachapele and females laid larger eggs on Ps. guachapele. These results also show that this species in addition to be a smaller is a low quality host. Females also laid more eggs and sooner on A. greggii than in Ps. guachapele and, laid more eggs on P. guachapele when A. greggii seeds were small than when they were large. Eggs were larger when laid on Ps. guachapele and Parkinsonia florida, two hosts that reduce survivorship in all populations. However, Colombia females laid eggs of similar size on Ps. guachapele and Pa. florida, while USA females laid the largest eggs on Pa. florida. Larger beetles were most affected when larval competition was increased and seed size decreased. The responses of different body sized females were asymmetrical showing significant variation in plasticity. Although differences between populations in growth and life history traits appear to be adaptations to the size and quality of their host plants, host-associated maternal effects, partly mediated by maternal egg size plasticity play an important role in the evolution of S. limbatus’ diet breadth. More generally, phenotypic plasticity mediates the fitness consequences of using novel hosts, likely facilitating colonization of new hosts but also buffering herbivores from selection post-colonization.

<p>The need to protect size and age structures from selective harvest in order to maintain sustainable fish stocks has been emphasized in recent literature. The Big Old Fat Fecund Female Fish (BOFFFF) hypothesis has been influential in discussions of changing stock management strategies, and postulates that larger, older females have a disproportionate input into stock recruitment due to physiological advantages. In this study, we utilize a meta-analysis approach to test the assumption of the BOFFFF hypothesis, that larger female fish produce larger eggs and more viable offspring, at a broad scale. Following the meta-analyses, we assess whether larger females from a subset of studies use their gonadal investment more efficiently than small females. From our meta-analyses, we found positive, significant intraspecific relationships between female size and egg size. Moreover, we found positive associations between egg size and offspring viability (offspring size and survival). However, we found in a subset of studies that although proportional survival of offspring often increases with egg size, females that produced larger eggs yielded fewer surviving offspring per unit gonadal investment. This reduced efficiency in reproductive investment is a product of the trade-off between egg size and fecundity. We conclude that although larger females may appear to produce more viable individual offspring, their input to stock recruitment, according to total stock gonadal biomass, may not be disproportionate, as stated by the BOFFFF hypothesis. However, we did not account for whether the benefits of maternal effects extend beyond the larval stage.</p><p>The theory of optimal egg size implies that fish trade off between fecundity and individual gonad investment according to their environment. Past interspecific studies suggest that in general, fishes in large, marine systems produce smaller eggs than those in small, freshwater systems. This study aims to compare egg size intraspecifically among small and large systems. In particular, we focus on populations from the Laurentian Great Lakes, which exhibit similar broadscale physical processes as marine systems, and smaller inland lakes (<1,000 ha), whose ecosystems contain many of the same species. In 2018 and 2019, we collected egg samples from spawning walleye (<i>Sander vitreus</i>) and yellow perch (<i>Perca flavescens</i>) in both inland lake and Great Lake populations. From each female, we recorded total lengths, and measured average diameters of ten eggs. Using ANCOVA models, we compared mean length-adjusted egg diameters intraspecifically among populations of both species. For both walleye and yellow perch, we found that females from inland lakes produced larger mean length-adjusted egg diameters than those of the Great Lakes. This pattern was particularly evident for yellow perch, whereas for walleye the pattern was relatively weak, potentially due to stocking eroding population-specific selection for egg size. These intraspecific patterns are consistent with cross-system interspecific variation in fish egg size.</p>

The work in this thesis deals with the ecology and evolution of adaptive individual variation. Ecologists have long used niche theory to describe the ecology of a species as a whole, treating conspecific individuals as ecological equivalent. During recent years, research about individual variation in diet and morphology has gained interest in adaptive radiations and ecological speciation. Such variation among individual niche use may have important conservation implications as well as ecological and evolutionary implications. However, up to date we know very little about the extension of this phenomenon in natural populations and the mechanisms behind it. The results in this thesis show that the extension of individual diet specialization is widely spread throughout the animal kingdom. The variation in diet is mainly correlated to morphological variation but not always. Furthermore, this variation in diet and morphology among individuals could be both genetically determined and environmentally induced and it mainly comes from trade-offs in foraging efficiency between different prey types. The results from a number of studies of perch also show that individual perch differ in morphology and diet depending on habitat, where littoral perch has a deeper body compared to pelagic perch. This difference in morphology corresponds to functional expectations and is related to foraging efficiency trade-offs between foraging in the littoral and pelagic zone of a lake. The variation in morphology in perch is mainly due to phenotypic plasticity but there are also small genetic differences between the littoral and pelagic perch. Two separate studies show that both predation and competition may be important mechanism for the variation in morphology and diet in perch. In conclusion, the results in this thesis show that individual variation in diet and habitat choice is a common phenomenon with lots of ecological and evolutionary implications. However, there are many mechanisms involved in this phenomenon on which we are just about to start learning more about, and only further research in this area will give us the full insight.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-20T12:31:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Doriane Picanco Rodrigues.pdf: 621795 bytes, checksum: eef07284526ed1e322db593a7fb7fd98 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-09-28 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas / The peach palm (Bactris gasipaes Kunth var. gasipaes) is a domesticated Neotropical palm that is important as a cultivated source of heart-of-palm. The genetic base for this agribusiness is the Pampa Hermosa landrace, Yurimaguas, Peru, that supplies the absolute majority of the seeds used in the expansion of the agribusiness and the improvement programs in Brazil, because its plants are spineless and more productive than those of other landraces. The use of molecular markers will permit better discrimination among populations and progenies of the landrace, guiding the selection of elite individuals and the search for hybrid vigor via maximization of heterozygosity within the landrace. This study evaluated the genetic diversity, population structure, and genetic relations among progenies and populations in a progeny trial maintained at INPA, Manaus, Amazonas, as well as the mating system of the peach palm using eight microsatellite loci, to support the improvement programs that use these genetic resources. Samples from three populations of the Pampa Hermosa landrace and from the market of Yurimaguas were collected from 12 progenies from the Cuiparillo River (n=140), 12 from the Paranapura River (n=130), nine from the Shanusi River (n=130), and 17 from the market at Yurimaguas (n=168). The sampling concentrated on plants (121) selected for heart length, and included non-selected plants (447). High genetic variability exists in the progeny trail, with a mean of 15.1 alleles per locus and total diversity (HT) equal to 0.82. The eight loci had 12 common alleles and 26 intermediate-frequency alleles found in all the populations and the market, and 83 alleles scattered among populations, with 14 private alleles. The observed heterozygosity (Ho) in the trail was less than the He in the majority of the loci; in locus Bg02-08 Ho was very inferior, suggesting a strong excess of homozygotes in this locus. The Ho was lowest in Shanusi (0.64) and highest in Paranapura (0.74). The inbreeding coefficient f varied among populations and market, and was highest in Shanusi (0.190) and lowest in Paranapura (0.111). Genetic divergence among the populations and the market was low (formula), certainly due to high gene flow (9.8 migrants per generation). The AMOVA detected 82.8% of the total variation within the progenies, 16% among the progenies within the populations and market, and only 1.3% among the populations and the market, describing a weak genetic structure and suggesting that the populations and the market are highly related. This relationship was confirmed by the dendrograms of the DAS genetic distances among the populations, with a greater proximity between the populations of Paranapura and Cuiparillo, and between the Mercado and Shanusi. The dendrogram of the DAS genetic distances showed high genetic affinity among the progenies and the formation of groups independent of their geographic origin. The Ho and He were high for the majority of the progenies, confirming high genetic variability within the progenies. The inbreeding coefficient (f) for the progeny trial was not different from zero, confirming an excess of heterozygotes and confirming the high variability observed from the estimates of heterozygosity. The analysis of the mating system found that the species is predominantly allogamous. The high out-crossing rate demonstrates that the progenies are derived almost exclusively from individuals experiencing out-crossing, probably due to the harvest representing the peak of the flowering season and to the synchronism of flowering associated with the behavior of the pollinator. The estimates of crossing among relatives (tm - ts) were significant (0.101 to 0.202), suggesting some biparental inbreeding, probably due to the farmers practice of planting open-pollinated seeds of only a few seed sources in the same plot. The estimate of paternity correlation was low (varying from 0.051 to 0.112), suggesting a small number of full sibs within the progenies and large number of pollen sources (9 to 20) participating in the crosses. The progenies of the trial are composed mainly of half sibs with great genetic variability, enhanced by the large number of pollen sources, and suggests that selection for heart-of-palm production could be based on the classic models of quantitative genetics applied to exclusively allogamous species. This information will be used to guide the crosses among progenies/populations. Two improvement plans are feasible with this information: population improvement, with crosses among highly divergent plants and progenies; by reciprocal recurrent selection, with the creation of divergent populations based on morphometric and genetic information. / A pupunheira cultivada (Bactris gasipaes Kunth var. gasipaes) é uma palmeira domesticada que vem se destacando como produtora de palmito. A base genética para o agronegócio vem da raça primitiva Pampa Hermosa, Yurimáguas, Peru, que fornece a maioria absoluta das sementes usadas na expansão do agronegócio e nos programas de melhoramento no Brasil, devido a possuir plantas sem espinho que são mais produtivas que as de outras raças. O uso de marcadores moleculares possibilitará discriminar com maior confiabilidade entre populações e progênies, orientando a seleção de matrizes e a busca de vigor híbrido via maximização de heterozigosidade dentro da raça. Este trabalho avaliou a diversidade e a estrutura genética, as relações genéticas entre as progênies e o sistema de reprodução de pupunheira da raça Pampa Hermosa, usando oito loci microsatélites, para apoiar os programas de melhoramento que usam estes recursos genéticos. Foram coletadas amostras de três populações de pupunheira da raça Pampa Hermosa e do mercado de Yurimáguas mantidas no ensaio de progênies do INPA, sendo 12 progênies do rio Cuiparillo (n=140), nove do rio Shanusi (n=130), 12 do rio Paranapura (n=130) e 17 do mercado de Yurimáguas (n=168). A amostragem concentrou-se em plantas selecionadas (121) para comprimento do palmito e não selecionadas (447). Existe alta variabilidade genética nas progênies do ensaio, com média de 15,1 alelos por loci e diversidade total (HT) igual a 0,82. Os oito loci apresentaram 12 alelos comuns e 26 alelos intermediários presentes em todas as populações e o mercado, e 83 alelos raros, sendo 14 privados, 10 esporádicos e 62 difundidos. As heterozigosidades observadas (Ho) no conjunto de plantas foram inferiores a heterozigosidade esperada (He) na maioria dos loci; no lócus Bg02-08 Ho foi muito inferior, sugerindo forte excesso de homozigotos neste lócus. A Ho foi menor em Shanusi (0,64) e maior em Paranapura (0,74). Os coeficientes de endogamia variaram entre populações e mercado, sendo maior em Shanusi (0,190) e menor em Paranapura (0,111). Detectou-se baixa divergência genética entre as populações e o mercado (fórmula), certamente devido ao alto fluxo gênico (9,8 migrantes por geração). A AMOVA detectou 82,8% do total da variação dentro das progênies, 16% entre as progênies dentro das populações e o mercado, e somente 1,3% entre as populações e o mercado, confirmando uma estrutura genética mínima e sugerindo que as populações e o mercado são altamente relacionadas. Este relacionamento foi confirmado pelos dendrogramas de distâncias (DAS) das populações, o qual mostra maior proximidade entre as populações de Paranapura e Cuiparillo, e entre o mercado e Shanusi. O dendrograma das progênies mostra alta afinidade genética e formação de grupos independentes de sua área geográfica de origem. As heterozigosidades observadas (Ho) e esperadas (He) foram altas para a maioria das progênies, evidenciando alta variabilidade genética dentro das progênies. O coeficiente de endogamia (f) para o conjunto de progênies não foi diferente de zero, evidenciando excesso de heterozigotos e confirmando a alta variabilidade observada pelas estimativas de heterozigosidade. A análise do sistema de reprodução revela que a espécie é predominantemente alógama. As altas taxas de cruzamento demonstram que as progênies são oriundas quase que exclusivamente por indivíduos provenientes de exocruzamento, provavelmente devido ao estágio fenológico (pico da safra) e ao sincronismo de floração associado ao comportamento do polinizador. Porém, as estimativas (tm - ts) foram significativas (0,101 a 0,202), evidenciando endogamia biparental, provavelmente decorrente da prática agrícola de plantar sementes de polinização aberta de poucas matrizes na mesma roça. A estimativa da correlação de paternidade foi baixa (variando de 0,051 a 0,112), indicando pequena proporção de irmãos-completos dentro das progênies e grande número de doadores de pólen (9 a 20) participando dos cruzamentos individuais. Portanto, as progênies do ensaio são compostas em sua maioria por meios-irmãos com elevada variabilidade genética, evidenciada pelo alto número de doadores de pólen, e sugere que a seleção para produção de palmito poderá ser baseada nos modelos clássicos de genética quantitativa aplicados para espécies exclusivamente alógamas. Essas informações serão utilizadas para orientar os cruzamentos entre e dentro de progênies/populações. Dois planos de melhoramento são factíveis com essa informação: melhoramento populacional, com cruzamentos entre plantas e acessos altamente divergentes; melhoramento por meio de seleção recorrente recíproca, com a criação de populações divergentes em termos morfométricos e genéticos.

<p>The work in this thesis deals with the ecology and evolution of adaptive individual variation. Ecologists have long used niche theory to describe the ecology of a species as a whole, treating conspecific individuals as ecological equivalent. During recent years, research about individual variation in diet and morphology has gained interest in adaptive radiations and ecological speciation. Such variation among individual niche use may have important conservation implications as well as ecological and evolutionary implications. However, up to date we know very little about the extension of this phenomenon in natural populations and the mechanisms behind it.</p><p>The results in this thesis show that the extension of individual diet specialization is widely spread throughout the animal kingdom. The variation in diet is mainly correlated to morphological variation but not always. Furthermore, this variation in diet and morphology among individuals could be both genetically determined and environmentally induced and it mainly comes from trade-offs in foraging efficiency between different prey types. </p><p>The results from a number of studies of perch also show that individual perch differ in morphology and diet depending on habitat, where littoral perch has a deeper body compared to pelagic perch. This difference in morphology corresponds to functional expectations and is related to foraging efficiency trade-offs between foraging in the littoral and pelagic zone of a lake. The variation in morphology in perch is mainly due to phenotypic plasticity but there are also small genetic differences between the littoral and pelagic perch. Two separate studies show that both predation and competition may be important mechanism for the variation in morphology and diet in perch.</p><p>In conclusion, the results in this thesis show that individual variation in diet and habitat choice is a common phenomenon with lots of ecological and evolutionary implications. However, there are many mechanisms involved in this phenomenon on which we are just about to start learning more about, and only further research in this area will give us the full insight.</p>

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This work compares the urban growth, between the years of 1995 and 2006, with the population evolution of the demographic censuses, carried through between the years of 2000 and 2010. The delimitation and classification of the urban density, in categories, occurred from interpretation of the satellite images of the Landsat-5 sensor Thematic Mapper . Bands 3, 4 and 5 were used, in false composition color (R5G4B3). The classifications of urban density were defined as: high, average and low density. The demographic data concerning the censuses were extracted from the IBGE census sectors. Both the data from satellite images and census data were indexed in a georreferenced base. The grouping of census sectors leads to the use of samples pertinent to the complaints of taxpayers regarding the urban tax registration, registered and ceded by the Municipality of Cascavel/PR. It was also verified the expansion of urban density ratings in conjunction with population growth and percentage of urban area. It was found that, the greatest population evolution was observed in the class of low urban density. While the middle class urban density got minor population growth and urban expansion. It was also observed that the complaints were present in all urban density classes. Thus, we could relate the percentage of dissatisfactions contained in the classification of low urban density as areas of greater flexibility and expansion activities. This framework has made the data became more easily outdated. The changes in terms of constructions, land divisions, zoning and growth occur with intensity in the peripheries, just by the availability of spaces to be explored. The claims generated by users/contributors distributed by region and specialized in the urban area of Cascavel/PR point to the values attributed to the IPTU, taxes, as garbage collection and public lighting and, mainly, regarding the divergences in the measures of the properties (building, houses), that in some cases are with greater measure in the urban tax registration in relation to the constructed area and this affects the value to be collected for IPTU and taxes. / Este trabalho compara o crescimento urbano, entre os anos de 1995 e 2006, com a evolução populacional dos censos demográficos, realizados entre os anos de 2000 e 2010. A delimitação e classificação da densidade urbana, em categorias, ocorreram a partir de interpretação das imagens do satélite Landsat-5 sensor Thematic Mapper . Foram utilizadas as bandas 3, 4 e 5, em composição falsa-cor (R5G4B3). As classificações de densidade urbana foram assim definidas: alta, média e baixa densidade. Os dados demográficos referentes aos censos foram extraídos dos setores censitários do IBGE. Tanto os dados das imagens de satélite quanto os dados censitários foram indexados em base georreferenciada. O agrupamento dos setores censitários remete a utilização de amostras pertinente às reclamações dos contribuintes referente ao cadastro tributário urbano, registrado e cedido pela Prefeitura Municipal de Cascavel/PR. Foi, ainda, verificada a expansão das classificações de densidade urbana em conjunto com o crescimento populacional e percentual da área urbana. Constatou-se que, a maior evolução populacional foi observada na classe baixa densidade urbana. Enquanto a classe média densidade urbana obteve menor crescimento populacional e expansão urbana. Observou-se, ainda, que as reclamações estiveram presentes em todas as classes de densidade urbana. Dessa forma, pôde-se relacionar o percentual das insatisfações contidas na classificação de baixa densidade urbana como áreas de maior flexibilidade e ações de expansão. Este quadro fez com que os dados se tornassem mais facilmente desatualizados. As mudanças em termos de edificações, loteamentos, zoneamento e crescimento ocorrem com intensidade nas periferias, justamente pela disponibilidade de espaços a serem explorados. As reclamações geradas pelos usuários/contribuintes distribuídos por região e espacializada na área urbana de Cascavel/PR apontam para os valores atribuídos ao IPTU, taxas como coleta de lixo e iluminação pública e, principalmente, quanto às divergências nas medidas dos imóveis (prédios, casas), que em alguns casos se encontram com metragem maior no cadastro tributário urbano em relação ao construído e isto afeta o valor a ser recolhido de IPTU e taxas.