EFEITOS DE DIFERENTES TIPOS DE CONTROLE DE PLANTAS INFESTANTES SOBRE A MIRMECOFAUNA EM Eucalyptus grandis

Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar os efeitos de diferentes tipos de controle de plantas infestantes sobre a mirmecofauna em um plantio inicial de Eucalyptus grandis . Para tanto, em março de 2011 foi realizado o início da implantação da cultura, em uma área localizada no município de Santa Maria - RS. Os seis tratamentos constituíram-se em controle químico total de plantas infestantes, na linha e na entrelinha de plantio, com glifosato (T1); controle químico total de plantas infestantes, na linha de plantio, com glifosato (T2); controle químico de monocotiledôneas na linha e entrelinha de plantio, com setoxidim (T3); controle químico de dicotiledôneas na linha e entrelinha de plantio, com bentazona (T4); controle químico total de plantas infestantes em faixa de um metro paralela à linha de plantio, com glifosato, e de um metro na parte central da entrelinha, sem controle (T5); e testemunha, sem controle de plantas infestantes (T6). O levantamento da mirmecofauna foi realizado no período de um ano utilizando-se três métodos de coleta: isca atrativa, armadilha de solo e funil de Berlese, com seis repetições por tratamento, em cada data de coleta. Nesse período foram coletadas 46.675 formigas, distribuídas em 37 espécies, não sendo verificada diferença significativa entre o total de espécimens coletados. Na área do tratamento constituído pelo controle de plantas infestantes somente na linha de plantio verificou-se eficiência amostral de 99,0% e Sobs = 35. Entre os índices de Diversidade de Shannon (H’), destacou-se o valor encontrado para a área do tratamento T2 (H’= 1,34) em detrimento dos valores das áreas nas quais foram instalados os tratamentos T1 (H’= 1,25) e T5 (H’= 1,23). Havendo assim, uma maior coexistência de espécies de formigas entre as áreas com estrutura florística menos alterada e entre as áreas mais simplificadas. Não tendo sido verificada correlação significativa (r = 0,0463) entre a riqueza de espécies de formigas coletadas e o número de plantas infestantes encontradas ao final do experimento. Assim, conclui-se que os efeitos indiretos da ação dos herbicidas afetam mais a composição local de espécies de formigas do que sua riqueza.

Mealybug wilt disease

Mealybug wilt disease (MWD) is a serious field disease of pineapples worldwide that was first described in Hawaii in 1910. MWD is thought to be caused by a complex involving viruses, mealybugs and ants. The viruses are transmitted by mealybugs, which in turn are tended by ants. Although a number of distinct viruses have been associated with the disease, the identity of the causal agent(s) has not been determined unequivocally. This chapter describes the disease symptopms, aetiology and management of MWD. In the last 20 years, significant advances have been achieved in identifying the causal viral agents, and gaining a better understanding of MWD. However, the interactions between the viruses, mealybugs and environmental factors are complicated, and the conditions required for the expression of MWD have only been partially elucidated at this time. The possible role of gene silencing, the identity of the additional ampelovirus(es) and badnavirus(es) that have been detected but not characterized, and the interaction between these disease-inducing factors are fertile areas for future research.

Accumulation de dose à partir de champs de déformation 4D appliqués aux traitements au CyberKnife et à l'IMRT

Le cancer pulmonaire est la principale cause de décès parmi tous les cancers au Canada. Le pronostic est généralement faible, de l'ordre de 15% de taux de survie après 5 ans. Les déplacements internes des structures anatomiques apportent une incertitude sur la précision des traitements en radio-oncologie, ce qui diminue leur efficacité. Dans cette optique, certaines techniques comme la radio-chirurgie et la radiothérapie par modulation de l'intensité (IMRT) visent à améliorer les résultats cliniques en ciblant davantage la tumeur. Ceci permet d'augmenter la dose reçue par les tissus cancéreux et de réduire celle administrée aux tissus sains avoisinants. Ce projet vise à mieux évaluer la dose réelle reçue pendant un traitement considérant une anatomie en mouvement. Pour ce faire, des plans de CyberKnife et d'IMRT sont recalculés en utilisant un algorithme Monte Carlo 4D de transport de particules qui permet d'effectuer de l'accumulation de dose dans une géométrie déformable. Un environnement de simulation a été développé afin de modéliser ces deux modalités pour comparer les distributions de doses standard et 4D. Les déformations dans le patient sont obtenues en utilisant un algorithme de recalage déformable d'image (DIR) entre les différentes phases respiratoire générées par le scan CT 4D. Ceci permet de conserver une correspondance de voxels à voxels entre la géométrie de référence et celles déformées. La DIR est calculée en utilisant la suite ANTs («Advanced Normalization Tools») et est basée sur des difféomorphismes. Une version modifiée de DOSXYZnrc de la suite EGSnrc, defDOSXYZnrc, est utilisée pour le transport de particule en 4D. Les résultats sont comparés à une planification standard afin de valider le modèle actuel qui constitue une approximation par rapport à une vraie accumulation de dose en 4D.

Mesurer la résilience des ménages ruraux sénégalais : Une approche en termes de trajectoires et seuils de moyens d’existence

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Mesurer la résilience des ménages ruraux sénégalais : Une approche en termes de trajectoires et seuils de moyens d’existence

Full Text / Article complet

Sistemas vivos

Dissertação para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Arquitectura, apresentada na Universidade de Lisboa - Faculdade de Arquitectura.

Cryptococcus haglerorum, sp nov., an anamorphic basidiomycetous yeast isolated from nests of the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens

A yeast strain (CBS 8902) was isolated from the nest of a leaf-cutting ant and was shown to be related to Cryptococcus humicola. Sequencing of the D1/D2 region of the 26S ribosomal DNA and physiological characterization revealed a separate taxonomic position. A novel species named Cryptococcus haglerorum is proposed to accommodate strain CBS 8902 that assimilates n-hexadecane and several benzene compounds. Physiological characteristics distinguishing the novel species from some other members of the C. humicola complex are presented. The phylogenetic relationship of these strains to species of the genus Trichosporon Behrend is discussed.

Metabolism of plant polysaccharides by Leucoagaricus gongylophorus, the symbiotic fungus of the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens L.

Atta sexdens L, ante feed on the Fungus they cultivate on cut leaves inside their nests. The fungus, Leucoagaricus gongylophorus, metabolizes plant polysaccharides, such as xylan, starch, pectin, and cellulose, mediating assimilation of these compounds lay the ants, This metabolic integration may be an important part of the ant-fungus symbiosis, and it involves primarily xylan and starch, both of which support rapid fungal growth. Cellulose seems to be less important for symbiont nutrition, since it is poorly degraded and assimilated by the fungus. Pectin is rapidly degraded but slowly assimilated by L. gongylophorus, and its degradation may occur so that the fungus can more easily access other polysaccharides in the leaves.

Activity of Ricinus communis (Euphorbiaceae) and ricinine against the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens rubropilosa (Hymenoptera : Formicidae) and the symbiotic fungus Leucoagaricus gongylophorus

The focus of this study was the identification of compounds from plant extracts for use in crop protection. This paper reports on the toxic activity of fractions of leaf extracts of Ricinus communis L (Euphorbiaceae) and isolated active compounds in the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens rubropilosa Forel and its symbiotic fungus Leucoagaricus gongylophorus (Singer) Moller. The main compounds responsible for activity against the fungus and ant in leaf extracts of R communis were found to be fatty acids for the former and ricinine for the ants. (C) 2004 Society of Chemical Industry.

Synthetic amides toxic to the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens rubropilosa L. and its symbiotic fungus

1 Nine synthetic amides similar to natural N-piperidine-3-(4,5-methylenedioxyphenyl)-2-(E)-propenainide and N-pyrrolidine-3-(4,5-methylenedyoxiphenyl)2-(E)-propenamide were synthesized and identified by their spectroscopic data.2 the toxicity of these synthetic amides to the Atta sexdens rubropilosa workers and the antifungal activity against Leticoagaricus gongylophorus, the symbiotic fungus of the leaf-cutting ants, were determined.3 Workers ants that were fed daily on an artificial diet to which these compounds were added had a higher mortality rate than the controls for N-pyrrolidine-3(3',4'-methylenedioxyphenyl)-2-(E)-propenamide and N-benzyl-3-(3',4'-methylenedioxyphenyl)-2-(E)-propenamide at a concentration of 100 mu g/mL.4 the completely inhibition (100%) of the fungal growth was observed with N-piperldine-3-(3',4'-methylenedioxyphenyl)-2-(E)-propenamide and N,N-diethyl-3-(3',4'-methylenedioxyphenyl)-2-(E)-propenamide at concentrations of 50 and 100 mu g/mL and N-pirrolidine-3-(3',4'-methylenedioxyphenyl)-2-(E)-propenamide at a concentration of 100 mu g/mL.5 the possibility of controlling these insects in the future using synthetic piperamides that can simultaneously target both organisms is discussed.

Avaliação do potencial de formigas (Hymenoptera: formicidae) como vetores mecânicos de bactérias do gêneroSstaphylococcus no ambiente hospitalar.

In a hospital environment, these bacteria can be spread by insects such as ants, which are characterized by high adaptability to the urban environment. Staphylococcus is a leading cause of hospital infection. In Europe, Latin America, USA and Canada, the group of coagulase negative staphylococci (CoNS) is the second leading cause of these infections, according to SENTRY (antimicrobial surveillance program- EUA). In this study, we investigated the potential of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) as vehicle mechanics of Staphylococcus bacteria in a public hospital, in Natal-RN. The ants were collected, day and night, from June 2007 to may 2008, in the following sectors: hospitals, laundry, kitchen, blood bank. The ants were identified according to the identification key of Bolton, 1997. For the analysis of staphylococci, the ants were incubated in broth Tryptic Soy Broth (TSB) for 24 hours at 35 º C and then incubated on Mannitol Salt Agar. The typical colonies of staphylococci incubated for 24 hours at 35 ° C in Tryptic Soy Agar for the characterization tests (Gram stain, catalase, susceptibility to bacitracin and free coagulase). The identification of CoNS was performed through biochemical tests: susceptibility to novobiocin, growth under anaerobic conditions, presence of urease, the ornithine decarboxylation and acid production from the sugars mannose, maltose, trehalose, mannitol and xylose. The antimicrobial susceptibility examined by disk-diffusion technique. The technique of Polymerase Chain Reaction was used to confirm the presence of mecA gene and the ability to produce biofilm was verified by testing in vitro using polystyrene inert surface, in samples of resistant staphylococci. Among 440 ants, 85 (19.1%) were carrying coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) of the species Staphylococcus saprophyticus (17), Staphylococcus epidermidis (15), Staphylococcus xylosus (13), Staphylococcus hominis hominis (10), Staphylococcus lugdunensis (10), Staphylococcus warneri (6), Staphylococcus cohnii urealyticum (5), Staphylococcus haemolyticus (3), Staphylococcus simulans (3), Staphylococcus cohnii cohnii (2), and Staphylococcus capitis (1). No Staphylococcus aureus was found. Among the isolates, 30.58% showed resistance to erythromycin. Two samples of CoNS (2.35%), obtained from the ant Tapinoma melanocephalum collected in the post-surgical female ward, S. Hominis hominis and S. lugdunensis harbored the mecA gene and were resistant to multiple antibiotics, and the specie S. hominis hominis even showed to be a biofilm producer. This study proves that ants act as carriers of multidrug-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococci and biofilm producers and points to the risk of the spreading of pathogenic microorganisms by this insect in the hospital environment

A rank-based ant system algorithm for solving 0/1 knapsack problem

The 0/1 Knapsack Problem (KP), which is a classical NP-complete problem, has been widely applied to solving many real world problems. Ant system (AS), as one of the earliest ant colony optimization (ACO) algorithms, provides approximate solutions to 0/1 KPs. However, there are some shortcomings such as low efficiency and premature convergence in most AS algorithms. In order to overcome the shortcomings of AS, this paper proposes a rank-based AS algorithm, denoted as RAS to solve 0/1 KP. Taking advantages of the ranked ants with a higher profit, the pheromone of items will be updated with better solutions in RAS. Experimental results in different datasets show that this new kind of AS algorithm can obtain a higher efficiency and robustness when solving 0/1 KP.

Social structure and landscape genetics of the endemic New Caledonian ant Leptomyrmex pallens Emery, 1883 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Dolichoderinae), in the context of fire-induced rainforest fragmentation

Habitat fragmentation is a major threat to biodiversity, as it can alter ecological processes at various spatial and trophic scales. At the species level, fragmentation leading to the isolation of populations can trigger reductions in genetic diversity, potentially having detrimental effects on population fitness, adaptability and ultimately population persistence. Leptomyrmex pallens is a widespread rainforest ant endemic to New Caledonia but now confined to habitat patches that have been fragmented by anthropogenic fire regimes over the last 200 years. We investigated the social structure of L. pallens in the Aoupinié region (c.a. 4900 ha), and assessed the impacts of habitat fragmentation on its population genetic structure. Allele frequencies at 13 polymorphic microsatellite loci were compared among 411 worker ants from 21 nests distributed across the region. High within-nest relatedness (r = 0.70 ± 0.02), and a single queen found in 38 % of the nests by pedigree analysis indicate that the species is monogynous to weakly polygynous. Estimates of gene flow and genetic structure across the region were subsequently determined using a combined dataset of single workers per nest and of unrelated foraging workers. These estimates coupled with a comprehensive landscape genetic analysis revealed no evidence of significant population structure or habitat effects, suggesting that the Aoupinié region harbours a single panmictic population. In contrast, analyses of mitochondrial DNA sequence data revealed a high degree of genetic structuring, indicating limited maternal gene flow and suggesting that gene flow among nests is driven primarily by winged males. Overall these findings suggest that fire-induced habitat fragmentation has had little impact on the population dynamics of L. pallens. Additional studies of less mobile species should therefore be conducted to gain further insights into fire related disturbances on the unique biodiversity and function of New Caledonian ecosystems.