The Gopher Tortoise is an important component of a number of upland ecological communities throughout the southeastern U.S., but populations have experienced significant declines over the past century, largely in conjunction with the loss of longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) forests. Military installations have preserved large tracts of longleaf pine, often while implementing prescribed fires that mimic natural lightning-ignited fires (frequent low intensity fire is a necessary component of longleaf pine communities), which in turn has provided refuges for many imperiled longleaf associates, including the Gopher Tortoise. Eglin Air Force Base in the western Florida panhandle presents a unique situation in which large tracts of longleaf pine sandhill (suitable Gopher Tortoise habitat) are available, but tortoise sub-populations on base are small, and many tortoises currently inhabit treeless military testing and training ranges (test ranges) rather than typical forested sandhill. My objectives were therefore to identify factors that may have been influencing use of test ranges as habitat by gopher tortoises and that might explain observed differences in burrow densities among sites. In Chapter 1, I compared vegetation structure, composition, and burrow site selection among sites and between forested and test range vegetation types. I also attempted to identify relationships between vegetation characteristics and variation in burrow densities (a proxy for abundance within a given area) among sites. In Chapter 2, I distributed a questionnaire to other military installations throughout the southeast to identify common management techniques used to maintain testing and training areas at other tortoise-occupied military installations, as these techniques likely affect their suitability as tortoise habitat. In Chapter 3, I compared surface activity patterns of juvenile Gopher Tortoises between forested and test range vegetation types, as surface activity in these vulnerable, but important size classes may affect survival rates. I found that test ranges generally had greater herbaceous vegetation cover than forested sites (greater forage availability), were highly species diverse in terms of groundcover plants, and had herbaceous communities that shared a number of common sandhill plant species with forested sites, but also were unique in a number of ways. I also found that adult tortoises (burrow site selection) and juvenile tortoises (surface activity) may have exhibited different behaviors in novel test range vegetation types compared to individuals inhabiting more natural longleaf pine sandhill on base. However, I did not find strong evidence that current vegetation structure or composition was related to observed differences in burrow densities among sites and that other factors might have played a greater role in structuring Eglin's remnant tortoise sub-populations. / Master of Science / The Gopher Tortoise is an important component of a number of upland ecological communities throughout the southeastern U.S., but populations have experienced significant declines over the past century, largely in conjunction with the loss of longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) forests. Military installations have preserved large tracts of longleaf pine, often while implementing prescribed fires that mimic natural lightning-ignited fires (frequent low intensity fire is a necessary component of longleaf pine communities), which in turn has provided refuges for many imperiled longleaf associates, including the Gopher Tortoise. Eglin Air Force Base in the western Florida panhandle presents a unique situation in which large tracts of longleaf pine sandhill (suitable Gopher Tortoise habitat) are available, but tortoise sub-populations on base are small, and many tortoises currently inhabit treeless military testing and training ranges (test ranges) rather than typical forested sandhill. My objectives were therefore to identify factors that may have been influencing use of test ranges as habitat by gopher tortoises and that might explain observed differences in burrow densities among sites. In Chapter 1, I compared vegetation structure, composition, and burrow site selection among sites and between forested and test range vegetation types. I also attempted to identify relationships between vegetation characteristics and variation in burrow densities (a proxy for abundance within a given area) among sites. In Chapter 2, I distributed a questionnaire to other military installations throughout the southeast to identify common management techniques used to maintain testing and training areas at other tortoise-occupied military installations, as these techniques likely affect their suitability as tortoise habitat. In Chapter 3, I compared surface activity patterns of juvenile Gopher Tortoises between forested and test range vegetation types, as surface activity in these vulnerable, but important size classes may affect survival rates. I found that test ranges generally had greater herbaceous vegetation cover than forested sites (greater forage availability), were highly species diverse in terms of groundcover plants, and had herbaceous communities that shared a number of common sandhill plant species with forested sites, but also were unique in a number of ways. I also found that adult tortoises (burrow site selection) and juvenile tortoises (surface activity) may have exhibited different behaviors in novel test range vegetation types compared to individuals inhabiting more natural longleaf pine sandhill on base. However, I did not find strong evidence that current vegetation structure or composition was related to observed differences in burrow densities among sites and that other factors might have played a greater role in structuring Eglin’s remnant tortoise sub-populations.

<p>U ovoj studiji su predstavljeni rezultati taksonomskog, fitogeografskog i ekolo&scaron;kog istraživanja urbane flore Novog Sada sa posebnim osvrtom na uče&scaron;će alohtonih vrsta, i&scaron;čezlih i ugroženih taksona i prirodne resurse lekovitog bilja. Sprovedene taksonomske analize su komparativno rađene na ukupnoj urbanoj flori (850) i flori ruderalnih stani&scaron;ta (344) Novog Sada. Zabeleženi su i&scaron;čezli i ugroženi biljni taksoni na teritoriji grada Novog Sada. Ukupno 79 vrsta se smatra da je nestalo sa područja grada Novog Sada do<br />dana&scaron;njeg period,a &scaron;to je 8,04% od ukupnog broja vrsta. Utvrđeno je&nbsp; 115 (12,85%) vrsta koje su ugrožene na području grada Novog Sada. Od ukupno 895 vrsta ruderalne flore invazivne vrste&nbsp; su zastupljene sa 74 predstavnika (8,25%). Analizom ukupne flore evidentirano je 123 lekovitih biljaka. Iz ukupne flore izdvojene su biljke sa etarskim uljem, alkaloidima, fenolima i vitaminima koje koristi zvanična medicina. Od ukupnog broja taksona, izdvojeno je 23 medonosne biljke, 25 krmnih biljaka, 60 ukrasnih vrsta, 35 industrijskih, 68 alergijskih biljaka i 7 vrsta koje vezuju tlo. Analizom odabranih biljnih organa invazivnih vrsta&nbsp; (<em>Solidago gigantea, Iva xanthifolia, Amorpha futicosa, Fallopia<br />japonica i Ailanthus altissima</em>)&nbsp; utvrđen je ukupni sadržaj fenola i flavonoida.<br />Najveći sadržaj analiziranih ukupnih sekundarnih biomolekula (fenola i flavonoida) je utvrđen u&nbsp;<em> Fallopia japonica, Ailanthus altissima&nbsp; i&nbsp; Amorpha fruticosa</em>.&nbsp; Antiradikalsko delovanje&nbsp; ispitivanih ekstrakata je utvrđeno na nivou neutralizacije reaktivnih kiseoničnih vrsta (OH, NO i DPPH radikala). Antiradikalsko delovanje na nivou neutralizacije&nbsp; OH radikala odnosno najsnažnije &bdquo;skevindžer&ldquo; delovanje ispoljeno je od strane ekstrakta lista <em>Fallopia japonica</em>&nbsp; (IC50=10,89 &mu;g/ml)&nbsp; dok je ne&scaron;to manju aktivnost pokazala&nbsp;cvast pomenute vrste (IC50=14,87 &mu;g/ml).</p> / null / <p>Results of taxonomy, phitogeogrphical and ecological analysis of ruderal flora of Novi Sad with special attention in alien species and medicinal plant as natural resorces of&nbsp; ruderal flora are presented in this Thesis. Floristic review involving, taxonomy,&nbsp; phitogeographical and ecological analysis of total (895) and ruderal flora (344) of Novi Sad. Extincted (79) and endangered (115) species were recorded in the urban flora of Novi Sad. Invasive species (74) were recorded in total flora (8,25 %).<br />Analysis&nbsp; of the total urban flora of Novi Sad as potential natural resorces recorded 123 medicinal herbs (32 alien and 91 native), 23 nectar and polen rich plants, 25 forage crops, 60 ornamental, 35 plants for industrial use, 68 allergic i 7 soil errosion control plants.<br />The analysis of sampled plant organs of invasive species (Solidago gigantea, Iva xanthifolia, Amorpha futicosa, Fallopia japonica i Ailanthus altissima) were determined total phenolic compounds and flavonoids. Antioxidant activity of plant extracts&nbsp; was determined at the level of neutralizing reactive oxygenspecies (OH,&nbsp; NO and DPPH radicals). The Content of total phenolics and flavonoids were determinated in&nbsp; Fallopia japonica, Ailanthus altissima&nbsp; and Amorpha fruticosa. The best values of OH radical&nbsp; neutralization indicated leaves of&nbsp; Fallopia japonica&nbsp; (IC50=10,89 &mu;g/ml) and flowers (IC50=14,87 &mu;g/ml).</p>

No description available.

<p>Istraživanja faune stenica na prostoru Vojvodine u<br />poslednjih nekoliko decenija baziraju se pre svega na<br />praćenju brojnosti i &scaron;tetnosti vrsta u p&scaron;enici, lucerki i<br />soji. Malo je podataka o korisnim vrstama, kao i<br />drugim vrstama koji imaju mali ili gotovo beznačajan<br />uticaj na biljnu proizvodnju. Stoga je u ovom radu<br />istražena fauna stenica različitih ekosistema koji<br />obuhvataju useve p&scaron;enice i lucerke, ali i biljke<br />ruderalnih stani&scaron;ta i poljoza&scaron;titnih pojaseva navedenih<br />kultura. Istovremeno je istražena i fauna stenica sa<br />biljaka spontane flore na lokalitetima vi&scaron;ih<br />nadmorskih visina Fru&scaron;ke gore i Divčibara, koje<br />predstavljaju mesta prezimljavanja određenih vrsta.<br />Podaci o prisutnim vrstama navedenih ekosistema<br />predstavljaju dodadatak dosada&scaron;njim istraživanjima<br />faune stenica na&scaron;e zemlje.<br />Stenice su uzorkovane entomolo&scaron;kim kečerom<br />i ručno na vi&scaron;e od 48 lokaliteta na teritoriji Bačke,<br />Fru&scaron;ke gore i Divčibara. Determinacija uzorkovanih<br />jedinki rađena je prema morfolo&scaron;kim karakteristikama<br />uz upotrebu odgovarajućih ključeva, pri čemu je<br />zabeleženo ukupno 59 vrsta iz 14 familija. Najveći<br />broj vrsta zabeležen je na biljkama spontane flore,<br />ukupno 42 vrste, zatim u usevu lucerke, 26 vrsta, a<br />najmanji broj vrsta, ukupno 17, zabeleženo je u usevu<br />p&scaron;enice. Među uzorkovanim stenicama najvi&scaron;e je bilo<br />fitofagnih oligofagnih vrsta, ali je zabeleženo i<br />prisustvo ukupno &scaron;est predatorskih vrsta.<br />Kao dodatak morfolo&scaron;koj determinaciji vrsta<br />urađena je molekularna analiza osam vrsta, u prvom<br />redu žitnih stenica iz familija Scutelleridae i<br />Pentatomidae, ali i tri izrazito polifagne vrste čije<br />prisustvo je zabeleženo na velikom broju lokaliteta.<br />Kod pomenutih vrsta analiziran je mitohondrijalni<br />citohrom c oksidaza I standardni barkod fragmet i<br />formirano je filogenetsko stablo. Ova istraživanja<br />predstavljaju preliminarna istraživanja stenica sa<br />na&scaron;eg podneblja na molekularnom nivou.<br />Spisak registrovanih vrsta stenica, koji je<br />jedan od rezultata ovog rada, predstavlja značajan<br />doprinos poznavanju faune Heteroptera u gajenim<br />kulturama, p&scaron;enici i lucerki, ali i na biljkama spontane<br />flore. Molekularna analiza ukazala je na sličnost<br />pojedinih vrsta i rodova na molekularnom nivou i<br />istovremeno potvrdila pozdanost morfolo&scaron;kih<br />karaktera u determinaciji stenica. Najvažnije osobine<br />svih registrovanih stenica koje su iznete u radu<br />predstavljaju prilog izučavanju faune stenica u<br />Vojvodini, pa i Srbiji.</p> / <p>Faunistic research of true bugs (Heteroptera) in<br />Vojvodina, in several last decades was mainly<br />focused on the most important pest species in wheat,<br />alfalfa and soybean. There are very few data of<br />beneficial species and/or species of low importance to<br />named crops. Therefore the main focus of this work<br />was to investigate the whole fauna of true bugs in<br />different ecosystems, including wheat, alfalfa and<br />ruderal plants in and around the cultivated fields. At<br />the same time true bugs fauna of spontaneous flora in<br />localities of higher altitudes, such as Fru&scaron;ka gora<br />mountain and Divčibare, was also investigated. List of<br />registered species is a great contribution to the fauna<br />of true bugs in Vojvodina and Serbia.<br />During research true bugs were sampled by<br />sweep net and by hand, at more than 48 localities all<br />around the Bačka region (Vojvodina), as well as in<br />Fru&scaron;ka gora mountain and Divčibare. Specimens were<br />identified according to their morphology, using many<br />keys for identification. 59 species belonging to 14<br />terrestrial families were recorded. The most species<br />were recorded in spontaneous flora, 42 in total. This<br />was followed by 26 species in alfalfa fields and only<br />17 species registered in wheat. Most of these species<br />were phytophagous and only six were predaceous.<br />Presence of zoophagous specimens is important as<br />indicator of biological balance which exists in<br />described environment despite the human activity.<br />Molecular analysis of eight true bugs species<br />was done as additional method for identification of<br />sampled specimens. Species were chosen by their<br />importance in wheat fields, and by their presence in<br />each sampled ecosystem. Mitochondrial cytochrome c<br />oxidase subunit I gene was analyzed and phylogenetic<br />tree was constructed. This is a preliminary survey of<br />true bugs in Vojvodina on molecular level.<br />List of recorded true bug species, as one of the results<br />of this work, is a contribution to the list of species in<br />wheat and alfalfa which includes not only pest<br />species, but beneficial and neutral ones as well.<br />Knowledge of true bugs species which inhabit<br />spontaneous plants around the fields is of importance<br />for cultivated crops having in mind bugs vicinity and<br />ability to live and hide inside of different plants.<br />Molecular analysis revealed the similarity of some<br />species and genera at molecular level and at the same<br />time confirmed the reliability of morphological<br />characters in identification of true bugs. The most<br />important characteristics of recorded species were<br />given as contribution of true bugs investigations in<br />Vojvodina and Serbia.</p>

Urban development and human encroachment on the natural habitats along the coastline of Florida combined with invasive exotic pressures have resulted in the fragmentation and degradation of habitat quality within Broward County. Native habitats have been significantly altered and fragmented to a fraction their previous size. With loss of habitat area and quality, isolation of breeding populations and anthropogenic pressures, it is important to determine species composition and habitat utilization in order to conserve the remaining biological diversity. It was the intent of this study to determine the small mammal species’ population structure and habitat utilization by season in the four sampled habitats. Previously undocumented species and/or extralimital populations were predicted prior to sampling. John U. Lloyd Beach State Park in Dania Beach, Florida is an understudied location for small mammals. This study surveyed four terrestrial habitats for small mammal species using live trapping and mark/recapture techniques. Data were collected monthly over the span of thirteen months to determine habitat use from maritime hammock, mangrove swamp, coastal dune and ruderal habitat types to determine species composition and mass of individual captures and recaptures. Trapping (3749 trap nights) produced twenty-four captures (including recaptures) in two of the four habitat types: maritime hammock and coastal strand. No animals were captured in the mangrove swamp or ruderal habitats, both of which were dominated by invasive Australian pine (Casuarina equisetifolia) monocultures. Post study, a large habitat restoration project restored the habitats impacted by invasive exotic flora. This survey serves as a baseline for small mammals in the park, documenting the pre-restoration habitat use and species composition. Future study to determine changes in species composition post-restoration is recommended.

Avec la prise de conscience de l'impact environnemental et sanitaire des pesticides et l'apparition de phénomènes de résistance face à ces produits, les exigences règlementaires européennes (UE 1107/2009) encadrant leur mise sur le marché sont de plus en plus drastiques. Pour répondre à ces exigences, de nouveaux types de produits de protection des cultures font leur apparition : les bio-pesticides, ou produits de biocontrôle. Il s'agit de produits naturels d'origine végétale, animale ou microbienne, à priori moins rémanent et impactant pour l'environnement que les pesticides conventionnels. C'est dans ce contexte que mes travaux de thèse ont eu pour but le développement de biopesticides d'origine végétale destinés à lutter contre les champignons pathogènes des plantes, pour lesquels il existe encore peu ou pas de moyens de lutte naturels. Au cours de cette thèse, j'ai pu sélectionner à travers différents criblages, écologique, économique et biologique deux extraits végétaux efficaces sur des cibles biologiques d'intérêt et présentant une toxicité sur organismes non cibles bien plus faible que des fongicides conventionnels. Les molécules responsables de l'activité ont été identifiées par fractionnement bio-guidé et analyses spectrales. L'activité des extraits a pu être validée en champs notamment sur mildiou de la vigne (Plasmopara viticola) et moniliose de la nectarine (Monilinia fructigena) après une optimisation de leur formulation. / With the awareness of the environmental and sanitary impact of pesticides and emergence of resistance phenomena, the European regulation requirements (EU 1107/2009) supervising their marketing authorization are more and more drastic. To meet these requirements, new phytoprotection products are emerging: biopesticides also called biocontrol products. They are natural product of plant, animal or microbial origins, likely to be less persistent and more environmentally friendly than conventional pesticides.It is against this background that my thesis work aimed to develop some biopesticides from plant origin, for protection against phytopathogenic fungi for which there are no or few natural product.In this work, I selected, by ecological, economical and biological screening, two plant extracts, effective against biological targets and far less toxic against non-target organism than tested conventional pesticides.Active molecules were identified by bioguided fractionation and spectral analysis. Extracts activities have been evaluated in field test against vine downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola) and Moniliose infection (Monilinia fructigena)

The Ruderal Triptych is a narrative, fictional, artistic, research project. It centers itself on questions of ownership as a legal and physical machinery, that works within global extractive economies. I want to question what we are really producing when we produce architecture. For as it stands it might not be the study of space, a lofty exploration of homes and places, but a professional discipline. Tied to the economical organization of a commodity society. Ownership of land, as a means of production. As an organizational principle is the foundation of current nation states, where the plot is registered on the surface of the state and thereafter upon to the global hegemonic economy of speculation. While our profession is disciplined to work within this framework, what are we really doing when we build “sustainably” are we sustaining life? the earth? the industry or the institutions more broadly?  When we try to take Bennett, Maccormack or Haraway seriously what space is there in this system for the nonhuman actors of the world? No rat can sign a lease, they have to be spoken for by someone else. So the professional architecture comes into crisis when trying to address real sustainability.The purpose of this project is to try to imagine beyond property as constraint for the ideation of architecture, through a series of explorations, narratives, and Artifacts/drawings/paintings that together make up the triptych.