MSc., Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, 2011 / The behaviour and physiology of every insect, during all developmental stages, is largely determined by temperature. Metabolic rate, flight activity, nutrition, growth rate, oviposition and longevity can all be correlated to temperature. Consequently, insect development occurs within a definite temperature range which can be experimentally determined. This serves as a basis from which models that estimate insect growth, development and reproduction can be formulated. Such studies on temperature-dependent development are therefore important for understanding predator-prey relationships and insect population dynamics relevant in epidemiology, pest management and biological control of weeds and insect pests. The biological control of water hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes (Pontederiaceae), in South Africa currently relies on six established agents. However, the results of this programme do not compare well with the achievements made elsewhere. This has been attributed to a number of constraining factors, chief among which is a wide variety of climatic regions, low minimum temperatures and a high incidence of frosting which slows the build-up of natural enemy populations. This research verified and augmented the thermal tolerance data available for three of South Africa’s more efficacious agents used against water hyacinth, namely Neochetina eichhorniae, N. bruchi (Curculionidae) and Eccritotarsus catarinensis (Miridae). Using these data, plant productivity and insect activity was modelled against fine-scale temperature data incorporating three distinct microclimates from 14 field sites distributed throughout South Africa’s climatic regions. Water hyacinth and its natural enemies were found to be negatively affected by low average temperatures. However, the relative consequences for each species at a population level were quite different. Similar thresholds for development, close to 10°C, meant that periods available for growth in areas where temperature is limiting were roughly the same for both plant and insects. Nevertheless, although plant growth largely ceased each winter and aerial parts were often extensively damaged from frost, low temperatures rarely led to significant plant mortality. By contrast, reduced insect recruitment coupled with a high susceptibility to cold- and frost-induced mortality of all life-history stages, pushed insect populations into winter bottlenecks and even caused local extinctions. The ability to overwinter effectively appears to the primary cause for limited control in colder regions. Surviving post-winter insect populations were therefore small, inflicted minimal damage due to reduced feeding rates, and were generally asynchronous with the recovery of water hyacinth. This asynchronous development translated into a lag period of roughly 42 days between the onset of water hyacinth growth and the time at which the plant was subjected to meaningful herbivory. Free from early season herbivory, coupled with the fact that vegetative reproduction continued through winter, water hyacinth populations were able to quickly recover and outpaced the detrimental affects caused by insect feeding well into the growth season. The implications for supplementary management strategies are also discussed in light of these outcomes.

by So Lai Man, Rachel. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 83-103). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Acknowledgements --- p.i / Abstract --- p.ii / Table of Contents --- p.iv / List of Figures --- p.viii / List of Tables --- p.ix / Chapter 1. --- Literature Review --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Overview of metal ions pollution --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3 --- Treatment of metal ions in wastewater --- p.4 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Conventional methods --- p.4 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Microbial methods --- p.5 / Chapter 1.4 --- Phytoremediation --- p.6 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Rhizofiltration --- p.10 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Mechanisms of metal ion removal by plant root --- p.12 / Chapter 1.5 --- Using water hyacinth for wastewater treatment --- p.15 / Chapter 1.5.1 --- Biology of water hyacinth --- p.15 / Chapter 1.5.2 --- Water hyacinth based systems for wastewater treatment --- p.21 / Chapter 1.6 --- Biology of rhizosphere --- p.23 / Chapter 2. --- Objectives --- p.26 / Chapter 3 --- Materials and Methods --- p.28 / Chapter 3.1 --- Metal ion stock solution --- p.28 / Chapter 3.2 --- Plant material and growth conditions --- p.28 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Preparation of Hoagland solution --- p.28 / Chapter 3.3 --- Metal ion resistance of water hyacinth --- p.31 / Chapter 3.4 --- Effect of metal ion concentration on the bacteria population --- p.31 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Minimal medium (MM) --- p.31 / Chapter 3.5 --- Isolation of rhizospheric metal ion-resistant bacteria --- p.34 / Chapter 3.6 --- Metal ion removal capacity of isolated bacteria --- p.34 / Chapter 3.7 --- Colonization efficiency of a metal ion-adsorbing bacterium onto the root --- p.35 / Chapter 3.7.1 --- Suppression of the bacterial population in the rhizosphere by an antibiotic --- p.35 / Chapter 3.7.2 --- Colonization efficiency --- p.36 / Chapter 3.8 --- Effect of colonizing the metal ion-adsorbing bacteria on the metal ion removal capacity of roots --- p.37 / Chapter 4. --- Results --- p.38 / Chapter 4.1 --- Selection of optimum metal ion concentration for water hyacinth and rhizo spheric bacteria --- p.38 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Metal ion resistance of water hyacinth --- p.38 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Effect of metal ion concentration on population of rhizospheric bacteria --- p.43 / Chapter 4.1.3 --- Selection for optimum metal ion concentration for water hyacinth and rhizospheric bacteria --- p.43 / Chapter 4.2 --- Screening for bacterial strain with high metal ion resistance and removal capacity --- p.46 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Enrichment of the metal ion-resistant bacteria in the rhizosphere --- p.46 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Isolation of the natural bacterial population in rhizosphere --- p.50 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Determination of the metal ion removal capacity of rhizospheric metal ion-resistant bacterial strains --- p.52 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- "Comparison of Cu2+, Ni2+ and Zn2+ removal capacities of Cu2+-resistant bacterial strains" --- p.53 / Chapter 4.3 --- Effect of inoculating Cu2+-resistant bacterial strain to the rhizosphere on the metal ion removal capacity of the root --- p.59 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Bactericidal efficiency of oxytetracycline --- p.59 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Effect of inoculating Cu2+-adsorbing bacterial cells into the rhizosphere --- p.62 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Effect of bacterial cell density of inoculum on colonizing efficiency --- p.63 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Colonizing efficiency and metal ion removal capacity of root by direct inoculation of metal ion-adsorbing bacterial cells into metal ion solution or pre-inoculation in Hoagland solution --- p.64 / Chapter 4.3.5 --- Effect of inoculating Strain FC-2-2 into the rhizosphere on the removal capacity of roots --- p.64 / Chapter 5. --- Discussion --- p.69 / Chapter 5.1 --- Selection of optimum metal ion concentration for water hyacinth and rhizospheric bacteria --- p.69 / Chapter 5.1.1 --- Metal resistance of water hyacinth --- p.69 / Chapter 5.1.2 --- Effect of metal ion concentration on population of rhizospheric bacteria population --- p.70 / Chapter 5.1.3 --- Selection for optimum concentration --- p.70 / Chapter 5.2 --- Screening for high metal ion-resistant and -removal bacterial strains --- p.71 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Enrichment of the metal ion-resistant bacteria in the rhizosphere --- p.71 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Select metal ion-resistant bacterial strain from the natural population in the rhizosphere --- p.72 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Determination of the metal ion removal capacity of respective metal ion-resistant bacterial strain --- p.72 / Chapter 5.3 --- Effect of inoculating Cu2+-resistant bacterial strain in the rhizosphere on the metal ion removal capacity of the root --- p.74 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Bactericidal efficiency of oxytetracycline --- p.74 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Effect of inoculating Cu2十-adsorbing bacterial cells into the rhizosphere --- p.75 / Chapter 5.3.3 --- Effect inoculum cell density on the colonizing efficiency --- p.76 / Chapter 5.3.4 --- Comparison of colonizing efficiency and metal ion removal capacity of root by direct inoculation metal ion-adsorbing bacterial cells into metal solution or pre-inoculationin Hoagland solution --- p.77 / Chapter 5.3.5 --- Effect of inoculating strain FC-2-2 into the rhizosphere on the removal capacity of roots --- p.78 / Chapter 5.4 --- Limitation and future development --- p.79 / Chapter 6. --- Conclusion --- p.81 / Chapter 7. --- References --- p.83

In Taiwan, swine wastewater has become one of the major causes of the deterioration of surface water quality. To minimize the operational and maintenance cost of the conventional wastewater treatment utilities, less expensive natural treatment systems (e.g., aquatic plant treatment system) have been proposed to enhance the efficacy of existing three-stage treatment system (solid separation followed by anaerobic and aerobic treatment). Using the natural treatment system is an appropriate technology for treating livestock wastewater in tropical or subtropical regions or developing countries because it is inexpensive, easily maintained, and has environmentally friendly and sustainable characteristics. The main objectives of this study were to (1) examine the efficacy and capacity of using aquatic plant treatment system to polish the treated wastewater to meet the discharge standards in Taiwan (COD = 600 mg/L, BOD = 80 mg/L, and SS = 150 mg/L), (2) evaluate the potential of reusing the treated wastewater, (3) evaluate the feasibility of replacing the aerobic treatment process contained in the three-stage system with the aquatic plant system, and (4) improve the efficiency of sludge (obtained from the three-stage treatment system) composting process. In this study, a hog farm was selected as the case study site. An aquatic plant unit [13.5 (L) ¡Ñ 4 (W) ¡Ñ 3 (D)] planted with Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth) was placed after the aerobic system for wastewater polishment. Influent and effluent sa mples from each unit were collected and analyzed for water quality parameters including chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and suspended solids (SS). Water samples were collected monthly during the 15-month investigation period. Results show that the averaged COD, BOD, and SS concentrations were approximately 708, 83, and 123 mg/L, respectively after the three-stage treatment scheme. The observed COD, BOD, and SS concentrations dropped to 518, 56, and 48 mg/L, respectively which could meet the discharge standards. Thus, the aquatic plant treatment system played an important role in meeting the discharge standards for swine wastewater. More than 99% of all pollutants were removed by the three-stage system followed by the aquatic plant system. The effluent from the treatment system has been used for hog farm cleaning. Thus, the aquatic plant system has the potential to be applied as the final polishment process to enhance the treatment efficacy of swine wastewater. Results also show that it is feasible to replace the aerobic treatment process with the aquatic plant system from the cost and regulation compliance point of view. Results from the composting study show that rice straws could enhance the activity of microorganisms and also cause the increase the quantity of potassium in the compost pile. Moreover, mixing the water hyacinth in the compost pile could increase the quantity of nitrogen and phosphorous. Results also reveal that using ceramic bioballs as the filling materials could minimize the composting time due to the increase of permeability in the piles.

published_or_final_version / Botany / Master / Master of Philosophy

Thesis (M.Com. (Economics & Economic History)) - Rhodes University, 2008.

Thesis (M.Sc. (Zoology & Entomology)) - Rhodes University, 2009.

Thesis (Ph.D. (Zoology & Entomology)) - Rhodes University, 2009.

Nos ambientes aquáticos tropicais, o crescimento das macrófitas aquáticas é favorecido pelas altas temperaturas e elevada intensidade de radiação solar. Nestas condições, tal crescimento pode subsidiar efetivamente a manutenção das cadeias tróficas e os fluxos de energia dos ambientes aquáticos naturais ou até mesmo construídos. Considerando que as alterações ao longo do tempo na diversidade das macrófitas aquáticas ocorrem pelas variações na biomassa e na abundância relativa das espécies, o presente trabalho limitou sua pesquisa a espécie Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms. Deste modo, são apresentados dois artigos científicos desenvolvidos sobre o tema: um enfocando o ambiente natural e as relações alométricas foliares da espécie com sua biomassa e outro desenvolvido em ambiente construído (estação de tratamento de efluentes) onde foram introduzidos exemplares da espécie com o objetivo de avaliar a capacidade depuradora em um sistema aquático contendo cromo e sua reação ao elemento químico. A conexão dos dois artigos desenvolvidos está no fato de que o primeiro faz uma definição e avaliação detalhada da metodologia a ser utilizada (não destrutiva) e o segundo aplica o método, já devidamente aferido, em plantas desenvolvidas em ambiente construído e com acentuada concentração de contaminantes. Desta forma, o presente trabalho, além de estabelecer uma nova metodologia de determinação de biomassa vegetal com base em dados alométricos, utiliza o mesmo para definir a eficiência de Eichhornia crassipes no processo de depuração de efluentes da indústria de couro. / In tropical aquatic environments, the growth of the aquatic macrophytes is favored had to the high temperatures and the raised intensities of solar radiation. In these conditions, such growth can effectively subsidize the maintenance of the trophic chains and the flows of energy of natural aquatic environments or even though constructed. Considering that the alterations in the diversity of aquatic macrophytes throughout the time occur for the substitution and variations in the biomass and relative abundance of the species, the present work limited its research the species Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms and presents two developed scientific articles on the subject: one focusing the natural environment and the allometry leaf relations of the species with its biomass and developed other in constructed environment (station of treatment of effluent) where had been introduced exemplary of the specimen with the objective to evaluate the depurant capacity in aquatic system contends chromium and its reaction to the chemical element. The connect of two produced articles is in the fact of that the first one makes a definition and detailed evaluation of the methodology to be used (not destructive) and as it applies the method, already duly surveyed, in plants developed in environment constructed and with accented concentration of contaminantes. In such a way, the present work, beyond establishing a new methodology of determination of vegetal biomass on the basis of given allometric, uses the same to define the efficiency of Eichhornia crassipes in the process of purification of effluent of the leather industry.

Nos ambientes aquáticos tropicais, o crescimento das macrófitas aquáticas é favorecido pelas altas temperaturas e elevada intensidade de radiação solar. Nestas condições, tal crescimento pode subsidiar efetivamente a manutenção das cadeias tróficas e os fluxos de energia dos ambientes aquáticos naturais ou até mesmo construídos. Considerando que as alterações ao longo do tempo na diversidade das macrófitas aquáticas ocorrem pelas variações na biomassa e na abundância relativa das espécies, o presente trabalho limitou sua pesquisa a espécie Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms. Deste modo, são apresentados dois artigos científicos desenvolvidos sobre o tema: um enfocando o ambiente natural e as relações alométricas foliares da espécie com sua biomassa e outro desenvolvido em ambiente construído (estação de tratamento de efluentes) onde foram introduzidos exemplares da espécie com o objetivo de avaliar a capacidade depuradora em um sistema aquático contendo cromo e sua reação ao elemento químico. A conexão dos dois artigos desenvolvidos está no fato de que o primeiro faz uma definição e avaliação detalhada da metodologia a ser utilizada (não destrutiva) e o segundo aplica o método, já devidamente aferido, em plantas desenvolvidas em ambiente construído e com acentuada concentração de contaminantes. Desta forma, o presente trabalho, além de estabelecer uma nova metodologia de determinação de biomassa vegetal com base em dados alométricos, utiliza o mesmo para definir a eficiência de Eichhornia crassipes no processo de depuração de efluentes da indústria de couro. / In tropical aquatic environments, the growth of the aquatic macrophytes is favored had to the high temperatures and the raised intensities of solar radiation. In these conditions, such growth can effectively subsidize the maintenance of the trophic chains and the flows of energy of natural aquatic environments or even though constructed. Considering that the alterations in the diversity of aquatic macrophytes throughout the time occur for the substitution and variations in the biomass and relative abundance of the species, the present work limited its research the species Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms and presents two developed scientific articles on the subject: one focusing the natural environment and the allometry leaf relations of the species with its biomass and developed other in constructed environment (station of treatment of effluent) where had been introduced exemplary of the specimen with the objective to evaluate the depurant capacity in aquatic system contends chromium and its reaction to the chemical element. The connect of two produced articles is in the fact of that the first one makes a definition and detailed evaluation of the methodology to be used (not destructive) and as it applies the method, already duly surveyed, in plants developed in environment constructed and with accented concentration of contaminantes. In such a way, the present work, beyond establishing a new methodology of determination of vegetal biomass on the basis of given allometric, uses the same to define the efficiency of Eichhornia crassipes in the process of purification of effluent of the leather industry.

Submitted by GIOVANA ROBERTA FRANCISCO BRONZATO null (giba_roberta@hotmail.com) on 2016-07-30T22:47:31Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação8.pdf: 3329976 bytes, checksum: 1e0d85f78fcf14b969e03a86c3ce4b3e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ana Paula Grisoto (grisotoana@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2016-08-02T14:18:50Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 bronzato_grf_me_bot.pdf: 3329976 bytes, checksum: 1e0d85f78fcf14b969e03a86c3ce4b3e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-02T14:18:50Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 bronzato_grf_me_bot.pdf: 3329976 bytes, checksum: 1e0d85f78fcf14b969e03a86c3ce4b3e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-07-18 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / A Eichhornia crassipes, conhecida popularmente como aguapé, é uma macrófita aquática nativa no Brasil que tem um grande poder de adaptação e uma taxa de crescimento muito elevada, chegando a cobrir o leito de um rio em poucas semanas. Por esses motivos, atualmente, esse vegetal é considerado uma praga, pois sua grande quantidade causa danos ambientais a corpos hídricos, como a eutrofização desses habitats e no setor econômico prejudica a navegação e a produção de energia, pois se prendem aos motores e as turbinas, respectivamente. Uma alternativa para resolver o problema do excesso de aguapé é utilizar a sua biomassa para a produção de etanol de segunda geração, uma tecnologia que utiliza a celulose dos vegetais como matéria-prima. Nesta dissertação foram estudadas algumas rotas de produção, com a intenção de encontrar uma metodologia eficiente para a produção de etanol 2G a partir do aguapé. Para isso foram utilizados quatro diferentes processos químicos de pré-tratamento, auto-hidrólise, hidrólise com peróxido de hidrogênio, e hidrólise com os ácidos sulfúrico e acético, e duas formas de hidrólise enzimática, simultânea ou separada do processo de fermentação alcoólica. Pela caracterização química e pelas análises de TG-DTA, XRD e FTIR, foi possível determinar que a hidrólise com ácido sulfúrico é o pré-tratamento mais eficiente e que os processos de hidrólise enzimática e fermentação alcoólica simultâneas apresentam uma maior produtividade. Em um ano, com apenas um hectare, em corpos hídricos, de aguapé, é possível produzir 265 litros de etanol. / Water hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes, is a native macrophyte from Brazil that has a great ability to adapt and a very high growth rate, reaching to cover the riverbed in a few weeks. For these reasons, currently, water hyacinth is considered a pest because its large amount causes environmental damage to the rivers and lakes, such as eutrophication of these habitats, and economic sector, affecting navigation and energy production because they are arrested to engines and turbines respectively. An alternative to resolve the excess water hyacinth problem is to use its biomass to second generation ethanol production, which technology use cellulose like feedstock. In this work were studied some ways to optimize the production of 2G ethanol from water hyacinth. For this were used different chemical pre-treatment processes (hydrolysis with water, peroxide, sulfuric and acetic acids), and two way to enzymatic hydrolysis (SSF and SHF). Through the chemical characterization and TG-DTA, XRD and FTIR analyses, was possible to determine that sulfuric acid hydrolysis is the pretreatment more effective and that SSF has the bigger productivity. In one year, from one hectare covered by water hyacinth, it's possible to produce 265 liters of ethanol.