Diversity and ecology of spider assemblages in secondary forests of the southern Mata Atlântica, Brazil - Implications for environmental conservation

The objective of my thesis was to assess the diversity and the ecology of spider assemblages in secondary forests of the southern Mata Atlântica, with impact for environmental conservation and the protection of the regional biodiversity. My approach to address these questions was carried out in the frame of a multi-taxon approach of the bilateral cooperation project SOLOBIOMA. The aim of this project was the evaluation of the value of different secondary forest stages for the conservation of the local and regional biodiversity and implications for soil function. Therefore my work addresses the diversity of spiders by describing and analyzing a large sampling carried out in different succesional stages of forest, as well as investigating the ecology of the predatory spider assemblage in an experimental approach of the interactions of spiders with habitat structures and nutritional resources in the soil food web. To assess the conservation value of secondary forests and their contribution to maintain the regional diversity I compared the spider assemblages of secondary forests of different age (stage) and old-growth forests (chapter 2 & 3). We sampled spiders using a standard protocol in 24 sites of three successional stages and old-growth forests in two nature reserves in the state of Paraná in Brazil. The sampled region represents a relatively good preserved region of the Mata Atlântica, where the matrix of a patchy landscape is still forest. Generic richness and diversity showed no differences between successional stages but guild diversity did. A high alpha diversity and a high turnover among sites as well as the lack of differences in richness between the stages support the value of secondary forests for species conservation in the studied region. Beta diversity turned out to be strongly based on turnover, not on gain/loss during succession. The spatial levels contributed more to beta diversity than expected, without the expected strong influence of the forest stage. Patterns were consistent for both identification levels and every method, leading to the conclusion that one of two parts of the sampling protocol and identification to genera are sufficient to assess the diversity of spiders under conservation interest. During the experimental approach (chapter 4) I discovered that adding artificial litter had no effect on the studied taxa, adding food had a positive effect on decomposers independent from the forest stage, but not on predators. These results suggest that the soil fauna in tropical forests in general is food limited and the lack of a bottom-up effect on predators suggest that these organisms are not predominantly regulated by the abundance of prey but rather by competition or predation. However, it would be premature to conclude from one single experiment that the processes influencing the soil and epigeic fauna are generally similar across different successional stages, we can see evidence for distinct functional similarity. These results highlight the value of secondary forests for the conservation of forest species and associated ecological processes. I conclude from the results of the biodiversity study and the experiment that maintaining the heterogeneity of a mosaic landscape seems to be a good recommendation for conservation of the regional invertebrate biodiversity and its ecosystem function in the southern Mata Atlântica. Our analyses from a spider perspective point out to the importance of a pattern of different land use and regeneration types as well as old-growth forest in protected areas to maximize conservation success. To guarantee a protection of the widest range of spider diversity on the long term the protection of large, contiguous areas of forest should be reached and, if a decision is obligate, preferred to the protection of small (mostly isolated) old-growth forest remnants

Morphological shifts in populations of generalist and specialist amphibians in response to fragmentation of the brazilian Atlantic forest

Volume: 13Start Page: 47End Page: 5

PASSIVE RESTORATION OF MIXED OMBROPHILOUS FOREST A DECADE AFTER FOREST PLANTATION REMOVAL IN THE SOUTH OF BRAZIL

The objective of this study was to evaluate the floristic composition, diversity and ecological characteristics of riparian forest tree species under passive restoration a decade after removing Pinus and Eucalyptus genus forest plantations and comparing the data to a reference ecosystem. The study was conducted in a Mixed Ombrophilous Forest fragment in the municipality of Ponte Alta, state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. A total of 30 plots of 200 m² were installed, 15 in the area under passive restoration and 15 in the reference ecosystem, covering the arboreal and regenerating strata. In these areas, rarefied richness, Shannon index, Pielou evenness, floristic dissimilarity, ecological group representativeness and the tree species dispersal syndromes were evaluated. The families with the highest specific richness were: Myrtaceae (14 species) in the reference ecosystem, and Lauraceae (eight species) in the area under passive restoration. Considering the ecological indicators used and the use of the reference ecosystem, it can be considered that the passive restoration after a decade in forest succession proved to be efficient for enlarging the riparian forests in the studied area.The objective of this study was to evaluate the floristic composition, diversity and ecological characteristics of riparian forest tree species under passive restoration a decade after removing Pinus and Eucalyptus genus forest plantations and comparing the data to a reference ecosystem. The study was conducted in a Mixed Ombrophilous Forest fragment in the municipality of Ponte Alta, state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. A total of 30 plots of 200 m² were installed, 15 in the area under passive restoration and 15 in the reference ecosystem, covering the arboreal and regenerating strata. In these areas, rarefied richness, Shannon index, Pielou evenness, floristic dissimilarity, ecological group representativeness and the tree species dispersal syndromes were evaluated. The families with the highest specific richness were: Myrtaceae (14 species) in the reference ecosystem, and Lauraceae (eight species) in the area under passive restoration. Considering the ecological indicators used and the use of the reference ecosystem, it can be considered that the passive restoration after a decade in forest succession proved to be efficient for enlarging the riparian forests in the studied area

Enchytraeids in two phytophysiognomies of Brazilian Cerrado.

This is the first study on enchytraeid diversity in phytophysiognomies of the Brazilian Cerrado Biome carried out with standard sampling and extraction methods. Shrubby woodland (Cerrado sensu stricto, CSR) and gallery forest (MG) was sampled in the Brasilia Botanical Garden Ecological Station and the Brasilia National Park, respectively, with samplings performed at the end of the rainy season in 2017 and 2018. Enchytraeid population density in MG was higher than in CSR, reaching more than 30 thousand individuals/ m2 in MG and 5 thousand in CSR. Enchytraeid abundance was influenced by soil organic matter and moisture. So far, six genera and six potentially new species taxa were identified. Dominant genera were Guaranidrilus and Hemienchytraeus

Annals of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences

Abstract: Brazil is considered a megadiverse country, but the soil fauna is still very poorly known. The aim of this study was to report, for the fi rst time, the abundance and genus composition of terrestrial enchytraeids (Enchytraeidae, Oligochaeta) in Savanna Tall Woodland (Cerradão) and a pasture in Cerrado Biome and in Upper Montane Atlantic Forest and a grassland in Atlantic Forest Biome. The enchytraeid density in Pasture and Cerradao was 2,036 and 18,844 (204 and 2,094, on average) individuals per square meter, respectively. At the Atlantic forest and Grassland, density was 9,666 and 12,242 individuals per square meter (1,075 and 1,471 on average). About genus composition for the studied areas, Enchytraeus and Hemienchytraeus were found in the four ecosystems evaluated, while Tupidrilus and Fridericia were found only in Cerradão and Atlantic Forest, respectively. Achaeta was absent in Upper Montane Atlantic Forest, but dominant in pasture, while Guaranidrilus was absent in Pasture, but predominant in the other ecosystem

Migraciones contemporáneas en la fotografía de Sebastiao Salgado, pautas para un análisis postcolonial.

El propósito de esta ponencia es plantear una mirada postcolonial de las migraciones contemporáneas desde los discursos que atraviesan el lenguaje visual, y en particular, la fotografía. La pretensión por supuesto implica ahondar en una intersección entre los estudios de la migración y los estudios culturales. Entre otros detalles se observarán algunos de los elementos que median la construcción de la representación de los migrantes periféricos en los países “desarrollados”, los cuales tienden a ser los receptores más visibles de los flujos migratorios. Dado el carácter experimental de la iniciativa habrá algunas discontinuidades pero, en general consideramos un avance el poder relacionar algunos aparatos simbólicos con la estructura económica de nuestro sistema mundo. En el aspecto empírico, en esta ponencia se realiza una aproximación al trabajo fotográfico “Éxodos” de Sebastiao Salgado, con el propósito de analizar el fotoensayo desde algunas variables desarrolladas por la teoría postcolonial. De acuerdo con el carácter exploratorio del documento, se realizarán algunos apuntes sobre el contexto de creación de la obra, atendiendo al recorrido personal y profesional del autor y las redes en las que circula su trabajo, para luego indagar en algunas generalidades del proyecto “Éxodos”. Finalmente, se realiza una exploración semiótica de algunas de las fotografías que integran la primera historia que aparece documentada. Y se plantean algunas conclusiones

Análise metagenômica de comunidades microbianas de solos do Paraná baseada no gene 16S rRNA

Orientador : Prof. Dr. Leonardo Magalhães CruzCoorientador : Prof. Dr. Luciano Fernandes HuergoDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Paraná, Setor de Educação Profissional e Tecnológica, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioinformática. Defesa : Curitiba, 05/02/2018Inclui referênciasResumo: Metagenômica é o estudo das comunidades microbiológicas encontradas em um ambiente, combinando técnicas de extração de material genético, genômica e bioinformática. Através deste estudo, podemos acessar um microbioma que não pode ser encontrado e analisado normalmente através de técnicas tradicionais de cultivo, devido à impossibilidade de cultivar muitos microrganismos em condições de laboratório. O acesso mais amplo à biodiversidade que esta tecnologia pode fornecer, nos permite identificar novos microrganismos, sua quantidade e seu papel no ecossistema, através da classificação taxonômica e predição funcional. O solo é considerado um dos ecossistemas biológicos mais complexos. Eles são responsáveis pelos ciclos biogeoquímicos mais fundamentais na Terra, mantendo relações vitais entre si e com organismos superiores. Os seus papéis principais estão relacionados com a decomposição da matéria orgânica, fornecimento de nutrientes para as plantas e degradação de substâncias químicas. A inoculação de microrganismos que podem realizar uma relação simbiótica benéfica com plantas, pode ajudar no crescimento vegetal e aumentar a produção agrícola. Vários microrganismos já foram identificados como bactérias promotoras de crescimento vegetal, como por exemplo o Azopirillum brasilense, uma bactéria fixadora de nitrogênio, que é usada como bio-fertilizante na agricultura em vários compostos comerciais. Este microrganismo não é aplicado apenas para promover o crescimento das plantas, mas também para moldar a região da rizosfera com outros microrganismos benéficos, que também podem atuar diretamente como bactérias promotoras de crescimento vegetal ou indiretamente na solubilização de minerais, controle biológico patógenos ou contribuindo para a estrutura e agregação de solo. Palavras-chave: Bioinformática, Fixação Biológica de Nitrogênio, Bactérias Promotoras de Crescimento VegetalAbstract: Metagenomics is the study of the microbiological communities recovered from a environment by combining techniques of genetic material extraction, genomics and bioinformatics. Through this study we are able to access a microbiome that can't be found normally with traditional techniques of cultivation and analysis due to the impossibility to cultivate many microorganisms in laboratory conditions. The broader access to biodiversity that this technology can provides allows us to identify new microorganisms, their abundance and their roles in the ecosystems through taxonomic classification and functional predictions. The soil is considered one of the most complex biological ecosystems. They are responsible to the most fundamentals biogeochemical cycles in earth, maintaining vital relationships between each other and with higher organisms. Their main roles are related with the decomposition of the organic matter, nutrients privation to the plants and the degradation of chemical substances. The inoculation of microorganisms that can performed a beneficial symbiotic relationship with plants, can help in the plant growth and increase the agricultural production. Several microorganisms were already identified as plant growth promoting bacterias such as Azopirillum brasilense, a nitrogen-fixation bacteria, that has been used as bio-fertilizer in agriculture in several commercial compounds. This microorganism is not only applied to promote plant growth, but also to shape the rhizosphere region with other beneficial microorganisms that can also acts directly as plant promoting bacterias or indirectly in the solubilization of minerals, biological control of plant pathogens or contributing to the structure and aggregation of soil. Keywords: Bioinformatics, Biological Nitrogen Fixation, Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria

ECOLOGÍA DE LOS TERPENOS VOLÁTILES DE LA PIEL DE NARANJA: COMUNICACIÓN PLANTA-FRUGÍVORO

Tesis por compendio[ES] Ecología de los terpenos volátiles de la piel de la naranja: comunicación planta-frugívoro Desde hace décadas muchos autores han investigado cómo a lo largo de la evolución, los frugívoros han configurado la forma, el tamaño, el contenido nutricional, color, etc. de los frutos carnosos. Más recientemente se ha intensificado el interés de la comunidad científica por establecer el papel de determinados compuestos químicos en la interacción entre frugívoros y frutos carnosos. Los metabolitos secundarios de las plantas se sintetizan en pequeñas cantidades y pueden realizar diferentes funciones especializadas en las interacciones bióticas y abióticas de las plantas con su entorno, como defensa frente a herbívoros, atracción de insectos polinizadores, comunicación entre diferentes órganos de una planta, etc. Los cítricos producen principalmente terpenos como metabolitos secundarios característicos, que se almacenan en las glándulas de aceites esenciales de todos sus órganos excepto raíces. En el flavedo de los frutos se producen sobretodo monoterpenos, siendo el más abundante el D-limoneno. El objetivo general de la tesis es investigar los mecanismos de comunicación cítricos-frugívoros mediados por el compuesto volátil D-limoneno del flavedo. Para ello realizamos diversos ofrecimientos de frutos cítricos en campos de cultivo de ambientes tropicales (Sâo Paulo, Brasil) y Mediterráneo (Valencia, España) y mediante el uso de cámaras de fototrampeo y huellas, estudiamos la influencia que este compuesto ejerce en el comportamiento de los frugívoros. Gracias al uso de naranjas con reducido contenido de D-limoneno en su flavedo obtenidas mediante técnicas de ingeniería genética junto a naranjas convencionales con alto contenido de D-limoneno, investigamos el papel específico (atracción/repelencia) de este compuesto en las relaciones de los frutos con los frugívoros vertebrados e invertebrados. El zumo de estos frutos, modificados o no, se somete a paneles de catadores humanos que, aunque detectan diferencias en el olor de los mismos, no son clasificadas como depreciables. La infección de los frutos cítricos por el hongo especialista P. digitatum modifica las características fisicoquímicas de los frutos haciéndolos más atrayentes para los frugívoros vertebrados. El estudio del contenido y emisión de los compuestos orgánicos volátiles de los frutos sanos e infectados revela los cambios químicos en el perfil de los compuestos volátiles como consecuencia de la infección fúngica que resultan atrayentes a los frugívoros vertebrados. La detección de picos importantes de emisión del volátil D-limoneno en frutos con reducido contenido en este compuesto infectados por P. digitatum nos conduce a investigar si el hongo es capaz de emitir este monoterpeno hidrocarbonado. Finalmente se estudia el sistema cítricos-frugívoros desde el punto de vista de su efecto en los ecosistemas. En concreto, evaluamos la posibilidad de que la interacción entre cítricos cultivados y jabalíes introducidos fuera de su distribución nativa pudiera contribuir al asilvestramiento de los cítricos en el continente americano.[CA] Ecologia dels terpens volàtils de la pell de la taronja: comunicació planta-frugívor Molts autors proposen que al llarg de l'evolució, els animals frugívors han configurat la forma, la grandària, el contingut nutricional, la textura, etc. dels fruits carnosos. L'estudi de la composició de les característiques específiques dels fruits i la seua interacció amb els animals frugívors en el seu ambient natural està despertant molt interés en la comunitat científica, per a intentar establir el paper de determinats compostos químics en la interacció entre frugívors i fruits carnosos. Els metabòlits secundaris de les plantes se sintetitzen en xicotetes quantitats i poden realitzar diferents funcions especialitzades en les interaccions biòtiques i abiòtiques de les plantes, com a defensa enfront d'herbívora, atracció d'insectes pol¿linitzadors, comunicació entre diferents òrgans d'una planta, etc. En els cítrics s'emmagatzemen principalment en les glàndules d'olis essencials del flavedo dels fruits i són principalment monoterpens, sent el més abundant el D-limonè. L'objectiu general de la tesi és investigar els mecanismes de comunicació cítrics-frugívors mediats pel compost volàtil D-limonè. Per a això realitzem diversos oferiments de fruits cítrics en camps de cultiu d'ambients tropicals (Sâo Paulo, Brasil) i Mediterrànies (València, Espanya) i mitjançant l'ús de cambres de fototrampeig i petjades, estudiem la influència que aquest compost exerceix en el comportament dels frugívors. Gràcies a l'ús de taronges amb reduït contingut de D-limonè al seu flavedo obtingudes mitjançant tècniques d'enginyeria genètica, investiguem el paper específic (atracció/repel.lència) d'aquest compost determinat en les relacions amb els frugívors vertebrats i invertebrats. El suc d'aquests fruits se sotmet a un panell de tastadors humans que, encara que detecten diferències en l'olfacte del suc, aquestes no són classificades com nocives. La infecció dels fruits cítrics pel fong especialista P. digitatum modifica les característiques fisicoquímiques dels fruits fent-los més atraients per als frugívors vertebrats. L'estudi del contingut i emissió dels compostos orgànics volàtils dels fruits sans i infectats revela els canvis químics en el perfil dels compostos volàtils com a conseqüència de la infecció que resulten atraients als frugívors vertebrats. La detecció de pics importants d'emissió del volàtil D-limonè en fruits amb reduït contingut en aquest compost infectats per P. digitatum ens condueix a investigar si el fong és capaç d'emetre aquest terpé hidrocarbonat. Finalment s'estudia la interacció de dues espècies natives del continent asiàtic (porcs senglar i cítrics) interactuant fora de la seua distribució nativa en el continent americà baix noves condicions ecològiques.[EN] Ecology of volatile terpenes from the orange peel: animal-fruit communication For decades many authors have investigated how frugivores have configured the shape, size, nutritional content, color, etc. of the fleshy fruits along their evolution. More recently, the interest of the scientific community has increased in establishing the role of certain fruit chemical compounds in the interactions between frugivores and fleshy fruits. Secondary metabolites of plants are synthesized in small quantities and perform different specialized functions in the biotic and abiotic interactions of plants with their environment, such as defense against herbivores, attraction of pollinating insects, communication between different organs within a plant, etc. Citrus fruits mainly produce terpenes as characteristic secondary metabolites, which are stored in essential oil glands in all their organs except roots. In the fruit flavedo, monoterpenes are produced predominantly, being D-limonene the most abundant one. The general objective of this thesis is to investigate the mechanisms of citrus fruit/frugivore communication mediated by the volatile compound D-limonene abundantly accumulated in the fruit favedo. For this, we make various citrus fruit offerings in orchards in both tropical (Sâo Paulo, Brazil) and Mediterranean (Valencia, Spain) environments and follow frugivores behavior through the use of photo-trapping and fingerprint cameras. By using genetically-modified oranges with reduced content of D-limonene in their flavedo compared to conventional oranges with high D-limonene content, we investigate the specific role (attraction / repellence) of this compound in fruit interactions with vertebrate and invertebrate frugivores. The juice of these fruits, modified or not, is subjected to human panels that, though detecting differences in their smell, do not find any of them as depreciable or better than the other. The infection of citrus fruits by the specialized fungus P. digitatum modifies the physicochemical characteristics of the fruits making them more attractive to vertebrate frugivores. The study of the content and emission of volatile organic compounds of healthy and infected fruits reveals the chemical changes in the profile of volatile compounds resulting from fungal infection that are attractive to vertebrate frugivores. The detection of pronounced emission peaks of D-limonene in genetically-modified fruits with reduced content in this compound infected by P. digitatum leads us to investigate whether the fungus is capable of producing this hydrocarbonated monoterpene. Finally, the citrus-frugivores system is studied from the point of view of its effect on the ecosystem. Specifically, we evaluate the possibility that the interaction between cultivated citrus and wild boar introduced from outside its native area may contribute to the naturalization of citrus in the American continent.Peris Rodrigo, JE. (2010). ECOLOGÍA DE LOS TERPENOS VOLÁTILES DE LA PIEL DE NARANJA: COMUNICACIÓN PLANTA-FRUGÍVORO [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/135827TESISCompendi