Sistematics, population genetics, propagation and conservation of Picconia azorica (Tutin) Knobl. (Oleaceae)

Tese de Doutoramento, Biologia (Ecologia Vegetal), 24 de Junho de 2013, Universidade dos A��ores.

Com��rcio de r��pteis ex��ticos: as suas implica����es para a conserva����o da natureza

O com��rcio de esp��cies selvagens tem crescido bastante ao longo das ��ltimas d��cadas. Atualmente �� considerado o quarto maior tr��fico ilegal no mundo, logo seguido da transa����o de drogas, de armas e de humanos. Estima-se que o com��rcio de esp��cies selvagens pode ultrapassar os 12 milh��es de euros por ano na UE. Abrange tanto as plantas como os animais vivos; mas, nestes ��ltimos, incluem-se tamb��m os seus derivados, tais como sejam as peles, os ossos, alimento, entre outros. O uso das esp��cies selvagens �� bastante vastos, as esp��cies s��o utilizadas para alimenta����o, uso medicinal, investiga����o cient��fica, com��rcio de peles, alimenta����o e o mais comum �� para animais de estima����o. As esp��cies ex��ticas muitas vezes tornam-se esp��cies ex��ticas invasoras, come��am a ser um perigo para a biodiversidade e para as esp��cies nativas. O processo de invas��o apresenta-se por quatro fases: dispers��o ou transporte, estabelecimento, naturaliza����o e por fim dispers��o geogr��fica e/ou invas��o. V��rios s��o os mecanismos para combater as esp��cies ex��ticas invasoras, sendo que o mecanismo mais radical a erradica����o de esp��cimes. Em Lisboa, est��o descritas tr��s esp��cies ex��ticas invasoras: a tartaruga da Florida Trachemys scripta, a tartaruga de Nelson Pseudemys nelsoni e a tartaruga corcunda do Mississipi Graptemys pseudogeographica; ABSTRACT: The wildlife trade is growing fast over the last decades. It is now considered the fourth largest illegal trade in the world, followed by the drugs, weapons and humans. It is estimated that trade with species can exceed 12 million ��� per year in the EU. This trade comprises plants or live animals; but also is derivatives, such as skins, bones, food, and others. The use of wildlife is diverse, can be for food, medical, scientific research, trade of skins, but the most common is for pets. Alien species can become invasive alien species and so they become a threat to biodiversity and for native species. The process of invasion has four phases: dispersion or transport, establishment, naturalization and geographic dispersion and/or invasion. There are several mechanisms to combat such invasive alien species: the most radical mechanism is eradication of specimens. In Lisbon, are described three invasive alien species: the red-eared slider turtle Trachemys Florida, the Florida red-bellied turtle Pseudemys nelsoni and the false map turtle Graptemys psedogeographica.

���Step by step���: high frequency short-distance epizoochorous dispersal of aquatic macrophytes

Aquatic macrophytes can successfully colonise and re-colonise areas separated by space and time. The mechanisms underlying such ���mobility��� are not well understood, but it has often been hypothesised that epizoochory (external dispersal) plays an important role. Yet, there is only limited, and mostly anecdotal, evidence concerning successful epizoochorous dispersal of aquatic macrophytes, particularly in the case of short-distance dispersal. Here we examine in situ and ex situ dispersal of aquatic macrophytes, including three invasive alien species. A high frequency of Lemna minor Linnaeus dispersal was observed in situ, and this was linked to bird-mediated epizoochory. We concluded that wind had no effect on dispersal. Similarly, in an ex situ examination Lemna minuta Kunth and Azolla filiculoides Lamarck, were found to be dispersed with a high frequency by mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos). No dispersal was measured for Elodea nuttalli (Planchon) H. St. John. It is concluded that short-distance or ���stepping-stone��� dispersal via bird-mediated epizoochory can occur with high frequencies, and therefore can play an important role in facilitating colonisation, range expansion and biological invasion of macrophytes.

The effect of pesticides and alien invesive species on soil biota and litter decomposition rates in a Mediterrean-climate ecosystem of Western Australia

Ecosystems are complex systems and changing one of their components can alter their whole functioning. Decomposition and biodiversity are two factors that play a role in this stability, and it is vital to study how these two factors are interrelated and how other factors, whether of human origin or not, can affect them. This study has tested different hypotheses regarding the effects of pesticides and invasive species on the biodiversity of the soil fauna and litter decomposition rate. Decomposition was measured using the litterbags technique. Our results indicate that pesticides had a negative effect on decomposition whereas invasive species increased decomposition rate. At the same time, the diversity of the soil biota was unaffected by either factor. These results allow us to better understand the response of important ecosystem functions to human���induced alterations, in order to mitigate harmful effects or restore them wherever necessary.

Responses of transplanted native tree species to invasive alien grass removals in an abandoned cattle pasture in the Lacandon region, Mexico

We tested the early performance of 16 native early-, mid-, and late-successional tree species in response to four intensities of grass removal in an abandoned cattle pasture dominated by the introduced, invasive African grass, Cynodon plectostachyus, within the Lacandon rainforest region, southeast Mexico. The increase in grass removals significantly improved the performance of many species, especially of early-and mid-successional species, while performance of late-successional species was relatively poor and did not differ significantly among treatments. Good site preparation and at least one additional grass removal four months after seedling transplant were found to be essential; additional grass removals led to improved significantly performance of saplings in most cases. In order to evaluate the potential of transplanting tree seedlings successfully in abandoned tropical pastures, we developed a "planting risk index", combining field performance measurements and plantation cost estimations. Our results showed a great potential for establishing restoration plantings with many early-and mid-successional species. Although planting risk of late-successional species was considered high, certain species showed some possibilities of acclimation after 18 months and should be considered in future plantation arrangements in view of their long-term contributions to biodiversity maintenance and also to human welfare through delivery of ecosystem services. Conducting a planting risk analysis can help avoid failure of restoration strategies involving simultaneous planting of early-, mid-, and late-successional tree species. This in turn will improve cost-effectiveness of initial interventions in large-scale, long-term restoration programs.

Nestmate recognition in a Neotropical swarm-founding wasp: no effect of seasonality on tolerance of alien conspecifics

Previous study revealed that the swarm-founding wasp Polybia paulista is accurately able to distinguish nestmates from non-nestmates in the summer. However, the risk of accepting alien intruders is considered to be low in winter colonies, and additionally brood production is limited in 30-40% of colonies during the winter in this species. Thus, it is expected that colonies might lower their acceptance threshold and accept some conspecific wasps from alien colonies in winter. We conducted field experiments to examine tolerance of conspecific (nestmate and non-nestmate) females in winter. In contrast to our prediction, our colonies did not accept any individuals from alien colonies. We suggest that P. paulista exhibits the colony-specific acceptance threshold in winter, and colonies that produced brood in their nests may have raised the acceptance threshold even if the risk of accepting alien intruders is low in winter.

Will climate change drive alien invasive plants into areas of high protection value? An improved model-based regional assessment to prioritise the management of invasions.

Species distribution models (SDMs) studies suggest that, without control measures, the distribution of many alien invasive plant species (AIS) will increase under climate and land-use changes. Due to limited resources and large areas colonised by invaders, management and monitoring resources must be prioritised. Choices depend on the conservation value of the invaded areas and can be guided by SDM predictions. Here, we use a hierarchical SDM framework, complemented by connectivity analysis of AIS distributions, to evaluate current and future conflicts between AIS and high conservation value areas. We illustrate the framework with three Australian wattle (Acacia) species and patterns of conservation value in Northern Portugal. Results show that protected areas will likely suffer higher pressure from all three Acacia species under future climatic conditions. Due to this higher predicted conflict in protected areas, management might be prioritised for Acacia dealbata and Acacia melanoxylon. Connectivity of AIS suitable areas inside protected areas is currently lower than across the full study area, but this would change under future environmental conditions. Coupled SDM and connectivity analysis can support resource prioritisation for anticipation and monitoring of AIS impacts. However, further tests of this framework over a wide range of regions and organisms are still required before wide application.

Approaching invasive species in Madagascar

While a number of plants, animals, and insects in Madagascar have been called 'invasive', the topic of invasive species has until recently received less attention here than in other island contexts. Some species, often alien to Madagascar and introduced by humans, have expanded their range rapidly and have had both negative and positive effects on landscapes, on native biodiversity, and on livelihoods. Examples include the prickly pear (raketa), the silver wattle (mimosa), and, recently, the Asian common toad (radaka boka). Building on a conceptual approach to 'invasive species', this paper emphasizes the importance of inclusive and deliberative site- and population - specific management of invasive species. It analyses three separate concepts commonly used in definitions of invasion: the origin, behaviour, and effects of particular species. It places these concepts in their broader social and ecological context, with particular attention to local perspectives on invasive species. We illustrate these concepts with Malagasy examples and data. The examples demonstrate that while invasions can have dramatic consequences, there can be multiple, often competing, interests as well as site - specific biophysical, environmental, and cultural considerations that need to be taken into account when designing policy and management interventions. We conclude with a number of lessons learned. RESUME FRANCAIS Contrairement �� la plupart des autres ��les, et en d��pit du qualificatif 'invasif' rattach�� depuis longtemps �� certaines esp��ces qui s'y sont naturalis��es, les r��flexions autour de l'approche des esp��ces invasives �� Madagascar demeurent r��centes. L'opuntia (Opuntia spp.) figure certes parmi les plus anciens exemples d'esp��ces trait��s dans la litt��rature sur les invasions biologiques. Mais ce n'est vraiment qu'avec le retentissement m��diatique autour de la d��tection en 2011 de la pr��sence du crapaud masqu�� (Duttaphrynus melanostictus) et la recherche d'une parade appropri��e que s'est affirm��e la n��cessit�� de traiter cette question des esp��ces invasives en tant que telle. Une posture nativiste et uniforme qui ignorerait la sp��cificit�� des contextes biophysiques et socio - ��conomiques locaux, mais aussi la pluralit�� des formes d'invasion biologique et des d��fi- nitions qui s'y rattachent, ne saurait ��tre privil��gi��e. L'article montre qu'il s'agit de situer les r��flexions dans un contexte insulaire socio - ��conomique dans lequel les esp��ces allog��nes tiennent depuis longtemps une large place. Il d��fend en outre la n��cessit�� d'envisager les esp��ces invasives non pas selon une forme de perception unique et autoritariste, mais selon une diversit�� de points de vue, conforme aux conflits d'int��r��ts qui se manifestent parfois, et mettant plut��t en avant le caract��re exog��ne des esp��ces invasives, leurs effets (n��gatifs, mais aussi positifs) sur le milieu, ou leur mode de fonctionnement (disper- sion, dominance) dans des contextes sp��cifiques et locaux. Il convient en particulier d'observer qu'aux co��ts g��n��r��s par les invasions biologiques peuvent s'ajouter des b��n��fices ��conomiques, et que les impacts ��cologiques n��fastes peuvent se combiner avec des incidences heureuses, y compris aupr��s d'esp��ces indig��nes en situation critique. En outre, le point de vue des populations humaines, leur connaissance d'esp��ces invasives quotidiennement rencontr��es, leur r��ticence �� scin- der le vivant en esp��ces indig��nes et allog��ne, mais aussi leur vision pragmatique, ne sauraient ��tre m��sestim��s, et moins encore oubli��s. Enfin, l'article invite �� prendre du recul face aux effets rh��toriques li��s aux discours conventionnels sur les inva- sions biologiques, �� ��viter les amalgames et les g��n��ralisations excessives, �� tenir compte des contraintes environnementales mais aussi des aspirations socio - ��conomiques des populations locales, et �� prendre en compte la diversit�� des sp��cificit��s locales, qu'elles soient biophysiques ou sociales. En conclusion, il est sans doute heureux que Madagascar n'ait rejoint que tr��s r��cemment la mouvance internationale des r��flexions sur les esp��ces invasives : cela lui permet en effet d'��tre en mesure de disposer d'une position ��quilibr��e, d��jouant certains discours catastrophistes, et pr��f��rant une approche r��solument contextualis��e, �� l'��chelle nationale comme aux ��chelles r��gionales.

Areas of high conservation value in Georgia: present and future threats by invasive alien plants

Georgia is known for its extraordinary rich biodiversity of plants, which may now be threatened due to the spread of invasive alien plants (IAP). We aimed to identify (i) the most prominent IAP out of 9 selected potentially invasive and harmful IAP IAP by predicting thetheir distribution of 9 selected IAP under current and future climate conditions in Georgia as well as in its 43 Protected Areas, as a proxy for areas of high conservation value and (ii) the Protected Areas most at risk due to these IAP. We used species distribution models based on 6 climate variables and then filtered the obtained distributions based on maps of soil and vegetation types, and on recorded occurrences, resulting into the predicted ecological distribution of the 9 IAP's at a resolution of 1km2. We foundOur habitat suitability analysis showed that Ambrosia artemisiifolia, (24% and 40%) Robinia pseudoacaia (14% and 19%) and Ailanthus altissima (9% and 11%) have the largest potential distribution are the most abundant (predicted % area covered)d) IAP, with Ailanthus altissima the potentially most increasing one over the next fifty years (from 9% to 13% and from 11% to 25%), for Georgia and the Protected Areas, respectively. Furthermore, our results show indicate two areas in Georgia that are under specifically high threat, i.e. the area around Tbilisi and an area in the western part of Georgia (Adjara), both at lower altitudes. Our procedure to identify areas of high conservation value most at risk by IAP has been applied for the first time. It will help national authorities in prioritizing their measures to protect Georgia's outstanding biodiversity from the negative impact of IAP.

Alien shrimps in evidence: new records of the genus Athanas Leach, 1814 on the coast of So Paulo, southern Brazil (Caridea: Alpheidae)

Funda����o de Amparo �� Pesquisa do Estado de S��o Paulo (FAPESP)