Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Performance ecologies'

This practice-based project investigates modalities of performing eco-aesthetic assemblages across the modern nature―culture divide. Assemblages are here understood as non-hierarchical associations between bodies that are different amongst themselves. I argue that eco-aesthetic practices that work towards naturalcultural assemblages contribute to the wider field of ecological thought and cultural understanding of the nonhuman environment or nature. The research uses a transversal practico-theoretical approach that, following posthumanist and neomaterialist elaborations of ontology and epistemology, creates a ‘material-discursive entanglement’ (Barad, 2007) of bodies and concepts. In this posthuman continuum of practice, I argue that eco-aesthetics is an ethico-political disposition of fostering relations of accountability and responsibility with the bodies implicated in performance, especially the nonhumans understood to be minorities in the current politico-economic organisation. The research is situated within the landscape of modern biopolitics, which is understood as a set of conceptual and material strategies of appropriation of life through the ‘logic of colonisation’ (Plumwood, 1993). Situated naturalcultural performances enact a different modality of ‘intra-action’ (Barad, 2007) with the world, by creating and maintaining fields in which life is seen as a force of generative difference. The dissertation is divided in three parts which correspond to three entangled modes of performing research. The first part is a critical ontology which individuates operative modalities of modern boundary-making techniques. This part also outlines an alternative landscape of art and philosophy which go beyond binary thinking. The second part, through a posthumanist reconfiguration of the concept of assemblage from Gilles Deleuze and Fèlix Guattari, and apparatus, in the work of Michel Foucault and Karen Barad, shapes an analytics for locating possibilities of material-discursive reconfiguration of the existing power relations. The third part follows the narrative of my artistic projects that sought to create naturalcultural performances with plants, trees, molecules of carbon-dioxide, sheep, and earth. This material-discursive entanglement of critique, analytics and performance as artistic practice together shapes a posthuman ecological praxis that is oriented towards naturalcultural justice.

In this thesis I offer a philosophy and a performance practice of the ear. It is a theoretical reflection as well as a discussion on my hearing/listening and performance practice, research and workshops. Here is where sound and the body move and perform by relating to the constantly changing acoustic environment. It is an enquiry into and a corporeal experience of sound as the ear body, a bodied experience of sound and listening where the whole body becomes an ear. This is explored through my experience of chronic tinnitus, a criticism of over-determined technology and through a discussion on the trance-dance therapy of Tarantism. With a focus on environmental awareness, this thesis is an ecophenomenological investigation in my theory of site contingency, where I connect my ecophenomenological approach to contingency – contingency intended as a necessary experience of the world – and to acoustic ecology. It offers a methodology for performance-making, also through workshops. They are a ground for shared mutual experience and contribution, with participants from different backgrounds and abilities, and are also a pedagogical instrument, for students and others, in the form of a ‘training’ practice of the ear. This methodology becomes a basis for what I call site-contingent performance, where sound is intended and experienced as relation and as contingency. The kinaesthetics of sound is exemplified in ‘aural choreography,’ a moving by following environmental sounds, and where the experience of contingency is also in the practice of ‘earlines’ drawing; a form of performance and of acoustic documentation.

All forms of cultural interaction are expressive and creative. In particular, what the performing arts express is not always the conscious, the ideal and the rational, but more often the preconscious, pre-verbal, asocial and irrational, touching on darker undercurrents of human and extra-human interrelations, experiences, beliefs, fears, desires and values. So what is performance and how does it differ in cultures? A performance is a translation of an idea into a synaesthetic experience. In the context of this thesis, however, translation does not imply reductive literal translation as can be attempted by analogy in spoken or written descriptions and notation systems. The translation is one through which participating groups and individuals seek to understand the being in the world of the Other by means of mutual, embodied negotiation of meaning - sensually, experientially, perceptually, cognitively and emotionally - that is, by means of performance. As a contribution towards a social theory of human performance, the author offers reflections on an exchange between two performance ecologies - those of a group of Aboriginal Australian performers from Mimili, Central Australia and a mixed ethnic group of Australian performers from Penrith, NSW, Australia.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Within the domain of novel performative electronic interactions there is an aspiration to develop musical interactions that allow or exhibit high levels of performative skill, virtuosity and expressive qualities. Research and development in the domain has primarily focused on these features as functions of the performer-system relationship, with little regard for the fact that the experience of them is an ecologically situated subjective assessment made by a spectator. Furthermore it has often been assumed that a spectator is inherently qualified to understand novel performative interactions in a similar manner to acoustic instruments, regardless of the radical divergence of many novel electronic interactions. In this thesis I examine and unpack underlying factors influencing the spectator experience of novel performative electronic interactions. This was achieved through three exploratory studies of spectatorship in which primarily qualitative, phenomenological data was collected relating to participants’ cognition, judgment and experience of contrasting musical performances. This yielded diverse and rich datasets allowing for the examination of central hypotheses and research questions but also allowing for the exploration of unexpected emergent phenomena, which ultimately guided the direction of this work. Analysis highlighted the rich, holistic nature of the spectatorship and demonstrated unique features in the spectator experience of novel performative interactions. This showed that the cognition and judgement of some electronic interactions may be analogous to acoustic instruments but others offer vastly divergent spectator experiences, influenced by a range of novel factors including the cognition of a wide range of perceptual-motor, cognitive and preparatory skills. Phenomena surrounding mental models, embodiment and communities of practice were observed to be central in the experience of skill in novel performative interaction and indicative of distinct challenges in the development of novel performative interactions.

Este relatório analisa e discute o projeto em epígrafe, desenvolvido em duas fases distintas: um exercício exploratório e a apresentação de uma performance sumário de residências artísticas, que suscitaram a pesquisa sobre a relação do site-specific, no processo de criação artística, performática, integrando as opções e ferramentas aplicáveis à interpretação e direção. Estabelece diálogos simultâneos entre pressupostos da arte na paisagem, que permitiram construir materialidades, um corpo plástico, numa ótica sustentável, abordando novas manifestações de ecologia e processo antrópico, numa poética ambiental e cénica. Impôs-se, por isso uma investigação transversal, que resultou numa apresentação teatral fora do espaço convencional, complementada por uma instalação imersiva, multidisciplinar, inserida numa paisagem sonora, física, visual onde o processo de criação plástico e dramático são visíveis, assumidos como parte integrante da obra e ilustrados por uma exposição fotográfica; Abstract: This report analyses and discusses the project in question, developed in two distinct phases: an exploratory exercise and the presentation of a summary performance of artistic residencies, which gave rise to research on the site-specific relationship, in the process of artistic creation, performatics integrating the options and tools applicable to interpretation and direction. It establishes simultaneous dialogues between presuppositions of art in the landscape, which allowed building materialities, a plastic body, in a sustainable perspective, approaching new manifestations of ecology and anthropic process, in an environmental and scenic poetics. Therefore, a transversal investigation was imposed, which resulted in a theatrical presentation outside the conventional space, complemented by an immersive, multidisciplinary installation, inserted in a sound, physical, visual landscape where the process of plastic and dramatic creation are visible, assumed as an integral part of the work and illustrated by a photographic exhibition.

A evolução da morfologia serpentiforme, caracterizada simultaneamente pelo alongamento do corpo e pela redução de membros locomotores, ocorreu repetidas vezes durante a história evolutiva de Squamata. Alterações em parâmetros morfológicos relacionados à locomoção de um organismo afetam diretamente seu desempenho em atividades essenciais à sobrevivência e à produção de descendentes e, portanto, espera-se que estejam relacionadas a adaptações a características do ambiente ocupado por ele. Estudos ecomorfológicos sugerem que o surgimento de morfologias serpentiformes em Squamata ocorreu frequentemente associado à ocupação de diferentes habitats, resultando em duas ecoformas distintas: espécies epígeas, que geralmente possuem tronco e cauda alongados, e espécies fossoriais, que geralmente possuem tronco alongado e cauda curta. O objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar a existência de relações evolutivas entre ecologia e aspectos morfológicos, como alongamento do corpo e redução dos membros, em espécies de lagartos neotropicais da família Gymnophthalmidae, avaliando como essas mudanças influenciam seu desempenho locomotor.
Evolution of snakelike morphology, characterized by both body elongationand and limb reduction, has ocurred several times during evolutionary history of Squamata. Changes in morphological parameters related to locomotion directly affect organismal performance in several activities that are crucial to survival and descendent produciton. Therefore, these morphological changes are expected to be adaptive to the environment where the organism occurs. Ecomorphological studies suggests that the evolution of snakelike morphologies in Squamata ocurred frequently associated to the ocupation of different habitats, giving rise to two distinct ecomorphs: grass-swimming species, which generally have elongation of trunk and tail, and fossorial species, which generally have elongation of trunk and short tail. The aim of the present study was to investigate the existence of evolutionary relationships between ecology and morphological aspects like body elongation and limb reduction in species of neo-tropical lizard family Gymnophthalmidae, evaluating how these evolutionary changes affect locomotor performance.

O intenso crescimento industrial associado às pressões de todos os setores da sociedade por processos, produtos e serviços mais ambientalmente corretos, levou ao surgimento de novos paradigmas de desenvolvimento que assegurem a perpetuação de recursos para as futuras gerações, alicerçada no tripé da sustentabilidade. Nesse contexto, para o setor produtivo, é nítida a necessidade de que os sistemas humanos devam ser considerados como parte dos sistemas naturais e se aproximar ao máximo das características destes. Essa concepção de sistemas industriais similares aos ecossistemas naturais, onde pouquíssimas perdas são verificadas, é a base do conceito de Ecologia Industrial, principal conceito usado no desenvolvimento desse trabalho para melhoria da sustentabilidade de uma empresa no setor eletroeletrônico, o que até o presente momento ainda não havia sido estudado. A metodologia adotada seguiu as premissas principais da Ecologia Industrial integradas ao Sistema Integrado de Gestão, a saber: o estabelecimento de ecossistemas industriais, a medição de desempenho através dos graus de sustentabilidade, e o amplo acesso à informação, via criação de um software customizado de Ecologia Industrial, que considera inclusive a comparação de produtos, com metodologia similar ao início de Análise do Ciclo de Vida simplificado, no que concerne ao desenvolvimento de novos produtos. Neste trabalho, o estudo de caso considerou uma empresa de grande porte e uma das características mais importantes observadas neste trabalho foram as similaridades, no país e no exterior, para implantação de sistemas de prevenção de poluição na área de microeletrônica. No que tange à área de Surface Mouting Technology, o estudo mostrou que, ao contrário dos setores de base, o maior impacto ambiental está relacionado à geração de resíduos sólidos e significativas perdas ambientais e econômicas são percebidas devido à Gestão de Fim de Tubo. A análise da área de Printed Circuit Board mostrou que ecossistemas industriais incipientes existem, tanto para água como para resíduos sólidos. 6 Através dos estudos de caso interno a essa empresa, foi possível concluir que no setor produtivo, mesmo em empresas de grande porte, que apresentam princípios, políticas e sistemas de gestão claramente definidos, a questão da sustentabilidade não é compreendida e aplicada em seu sentido mais amplo. Quanto aos ecossistemas industriais internos, ferramenta fundamental da Ecologia Industrial, a formação é muito difícil em função de tamanha distinção dos processos existentes em cada planta industrial. Notou-se a viabilidade, com ganhos expressivos, da formação de ecossistemas externos principalmente para dois tipos de co-produtos da empresa, metais nobres e óleos. Assim, conclui-se que as ferramentas da Ecologia Industrial adotadas para melhorar a sustentabilidade empresarial propiciam maior eficiência a partir da adoção de métricas, atingem, em geral, a maioria dos envolvidos e operações, permitem melhor formatação e padronização de processos, favorecem a visão sistêmica da organização, tornando a tomada de decisão um processo factual e por fim, permite a implantação de métodos e/ou procedimentos para mudança estratégica, incluindo a mudança cultural, fator essencial para o desenvolvimento. Deste modo, foi possível observar que a formação de tais ecossistemas industriais, em geral, promove uma melhora ambiental, econômica e social. Estas ferramentas, muito provavelmente, podem ser rapidamente aplicadas, seguindo-se a metodologia proposta, em qualquer empreendimento, independente de seu porte ou processo de produção.
The industrial development and the increasing pressure for more environmentally friendly processes, products and services led to new development paradigms, based on the three sustainability pillars, that essentially assure resource availability for the next generations. The need for making human systems part of the natural ecosystems and similar to natural environment is clearly stated. This approach, which is the basis of Industrial Ecology, aims to enhance industrial symbiosis cooperating to mitigate process or material loss. Industrial Ecology was the main concept used to improve sustainability at an electronic company, first applied to the industrial area in Brazil. The defined methodology followed the most important premises of Industrial Ecology aligned to the Integrated Management Systems which consists in the establishment of industrial ecosystems, performance evaluation through sustainability levers and the spread of information to stakeholders, by the development of a customized Industrial Ecology software, which also compares products with the simplified Life Cycle Assessment methodology, when it comes to the development of new products. Indeed, the case study has been conducted at a big enterprise and the similarities for Pollution Prevention implementation between the Brazilian facility and the European one were the most important features related to the microelectronics area. Regarding the Surface Mouting Technology area, this study has shown that unlike other segments, the end of pipe is still applied. The most relevant environmental impact is the generation of solid waste and therefore significant economic and environmental loss is easily observed. The Printed Circuit Board sector was also analyzed and the results showed that industrial ecosystems are not formalized but do exist for water and solid waste. Important issues were concluded such as the idea that even though big enterprises present principles, policy and sound management systems, the sustainability concept is not fully comprehensive and applied. The development of industrial ecosystems is considered one of the fundamental tools of industrial ecology. It is hard to establish them within the facilities 8 once the processes differ significantly. However, the creation of external ecosystems for metals and oils, leads to great benefit. It was possible to conclude that the Industrial Ecology concept tools used in the company did benefit its industrial sustainability because it allowed more efficient processes through the use of metrics, involved most of the employees and operations, favored better process standardization, enhance the systemic approach making the decision process easier once it is based on real time facts and it finally contributed to the adoption of methods, systems and procedures that enabled deep strategic change and as a consequence improved cultural change, which is one of the essential aspects of the sound sustainable development. Finally, it is suggested that Industrial Ecology be used as a fruitful metaphor for facilitating the improvement of sustainability. The tools developed in this study might be easily applied to any enterprise, independently of the level or production processes. Ecosystems

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Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos
The study evaluated the growth of tambaqui, Colossoma macropomum with the inclusion of different concentrations of flour in the feed mango (20, 30, 40 and 50%) and reduction of protein (38, 33, 28 and 23%). To conduct the study, we used 240 fish in 12 separate lots, with four treatments and three repetitions each, delineated entirely random. The average weight was 5.21 g, 5.24 g, 5.19 g and 4.99 g respectively. The experiment lasted 56 days, biometrics being held regularly. Diets were fed daily and the fish were fed ad libitum. Were analyzed in relation to the performance of the following variables: specific growth rate TCE (%), biomass gain (GB), feed conversion rate (FCR), survival analysis, metabolic profile and activity of digestive enzyme. Burger tambaqui was prepared with flour adding mango concentrations: 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% with subsequent sensory analysis. The statistic used was ANOVA, Tukey test at 5% and polynomial regression. To evaluate the sensory analysis was calculated referring to the overall quality attributes such as appearance, color, flavor, odor and texture. The performance variables showed a significant effect, with superior results with the highest concentration in the rations of flour, sleeves and lower protein. The final average weight was R20: 8.65 g; R30: 8.81 g; R40: 8.68 g; R50: 11.39 g. From the analysis of the metabolic profiles of glucose, hepatic glycogen, amino acids and total cholesterol was noted that no mobilization of metabolites to maintain the energy in the processes for fish growth. It is concluded that the best performance of tambaquis occurs with the inclusion of 50% flour and sleeve 23% protein. The metabolic profile of the fish is positively affected by protein replacement meal by mango. You can include up to 5% of flour in the preparation of mango burger tambaqui.
O trabalho avaliou o crescimento do tambaqui, Colossoma macropomum com a inclusão de diferentes concentrações de farinha de manga na ração (20, 30, 40 e 50%) e redução dos teores de proteína (38, 33, 28 e 23%). Para realização do trabalho utilizou-se 240 peixes, separados em 12 lotes iguais, com quatro tratamentos e três repetições cada, delineados inteiramente ao acaso. O peso médio inicial foi de 5,21g; 5,24g; 5,19g e 4,99g respectivamente. O período experimental foi 56 dias, sendo realizadas biometrias periodicamente. O arraçoamento foi diário e os peixes foram alimentados ad libitum. Foram analisados em relação ao desempenho as seguintes variáveis: taxa de crescimento específico TCE (%), ganho de biomassa (GB); conversão alimentar aparente (CAA), sobrevivência, análise de perfil metabólico e atividade de enzima digestiva. Hambúrguer de tambaqui foi elaborado com inclusão de farinha de manga nas concentrações: 0, 5, 10, 15 e 20% com posterior análise sensorial. A estatística utilizada foi ANOVA, teste de Tukey a 5% e regressão polinomial. Para avaliar a análise sensorial foi calculada a qualidade global referente aos atributos de aparência, cor, sabor, odor e textura. As variáveis de desempenho apresentaram efeito significativo, com resultados superiores nas rações com maior concentração de farinha de manga e menores teores de proteína. O peso médio final foi R20:8,65g; R30:8,81g; R40:8,68g; R50:11,39g. A partir das análises do perfil metabólico: glicose, glicogênio hepático, aminoácidos totais e colesterol, observou-se que há mobilização destes metabólitos para manter os processos de energia no crescimento do tambaqui. Conclui-se que, o melhor desempenho dos tambaquis ocorre com a inclusão de 50% de farinha de manga e 23% de proteína. O perfil metabólico dos peixes é afetado positivamente pela substituição da proteína pela farinha de manga. Pode-se incluir até 5% de farinha de manga na elaboração de hambúrguer de tambaqui.

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Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES
Although the collection of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) is considered less harmful to ecosystems than timber extraction, there is evidence that these resources are exploited unsustainably, because they affect the dynamics of populations that are targeted in this activity. The latex and the stem bark of some plant species are NTFPs of medicinal and economic value, spread widely throughout the world. In areas of Cerrado and Moist Forests in Northeastern Brazil, local human populations extract the stem bark of Himatanthus drasticus [Mart.] Plumel (to collect the latex) and Stryphnodendron rotundifolium Mart. for medicinal use. The removal of the bark of these species in the region is a very common activity locally, however there are no known consequences of this activity to the biology and ecology of these. The present study aims to verify the consequences of the extraction of stem bark of H. drasticus e S. rotundifolium on reproductive performance of these species. Our hypothesis is that such activity interferes negatively in their reproductive capacity. We selected 30 individuals without extraction of each species, with similar height and diameter, and half was subjected to the extraction of the bark. The dimensions of the extracted area were similar to those performed by extraction of the region in the study area. The dimensions of the extracted area were similar to those performed by extraction of the region in the study area. Compared between the two groups of individuals (extracted-treatment; non-extracted control) the number of inflorescences, buds, flowers, pollen, ovules, fruits and seeds, as well as characteristics of fruit and seed size and reproductive success preemergent. All reproductive parameters of H. drasticus were negatively affected by the extraction of the bark, except for the production of pollen and ovules. By contrast, the only reproductive parameters in S. rotundifolium negatively affected by the extraction of the bark were producing pollen and ovules. The extraction of the bark of the species undertakes its reproduction and hence the generation of new individuals, suggesting that this activity may not be sustainable extractive.
Embora a coleta de produtos florestais não madeireiros (PFNMs) seja considerada menos impactante para os ecossistemas do que o extrativismo madeireiro, existem evidências de que esses recursos são explorados de maneira não sustentável, pois afetam a dinâmica das populações que são alvo dessa atividade. A casca do caule e o látex de algumas espécies vegetais constituem PFNMs de valor medicinal e econômico amplamente difundidos em todo o mundo. Em áreas de Cerrado e de Florestas Úmidas no Nordeste do Brasil, populações humanas locais extraem a casca do caule de Himatanthus drasticus [Mart.] Plumel (para coleta do látex) e de Stryphnodendron rotundifolium Mart. para fins medicinais. A retirada da casca dessas espécies na região é uma atividade muito difundida localmente, no entanto não se conhecem os efeitos dessa atividade para a biologia e ecologia das mesmas. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo verificar as consequências da retirada da casca do caule de H. drasticus e S. rotundifolium sobre o desempenho reprodutivo destas espécies. A nossa hipótese é de que tal atividade interfere negativamente em sua capacidade reprodutiva. Foram selecionados 30 indivíduos sem sinal de extração para cada espécie, com altura e diâmetro semelhantes, e metade destes foi submetida à extração da casca. As dimensões da área extraída foram baseadas naquelas realizadas por extrativistas locais na área de estudo. Comparamos entre os dois grupos de indivíduos (extraídos-tratamento; não extraídos-controle) o número de inflorescências, botões, flores, pólen, óvulos, frutos e sementes, bem como características das dimensões de frutos e sementes e o sucesso reprodutivo pré-emergente. Todos os parâmetros reprodutivos de H. drasticus foram afetados negativamente pela retirada da casca, exceto a produção de pólen e de óvulos. Em contra partida, os únicos parâmetros reprodutivos de S. rotundifolium afetados negativamente pela retirada da casca foram produção de pólen e de óvulos. A extração da casca das espécies estudadas compromete sua reprodução e, consequentemente, a geração de novos indivíduos, sugerindo que a referida atividade extrativista pode não ser sustentável.

Orientador: Flávio Antonio Maes dos Santos
Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia
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Resumo: A alta diversidade em florestas tropicais tem motivado questionamentos sobre a importância da diferenciação de nicho como mecanismo de coexistência. Nessa hipótese, a heterogeneidade ambiental proporcionaria eixos de diferenciação que facilitariam a coexistência, sendo, portanto, esperadas diferenças entre espécies na associação a gradientes espaciais de recursos e condições. Estudos em pequenas escalas têm encontrado muita variação no percentual de espécies associadas a microambientes, deixando dúvidas sobre a relevância da divergência de nicho como mecanismo de coexistência nessa escala. Neste estudo, avaliamos evidências da importância da divergência de nicho como mecanismo de coexistência investigando padrões de divergência ecológica em dimensões verticais e horizontais, ao longo da ontogenia, de duas espécies arbóreas congenéricas simpátricas em uma floresta tropical úmida. Esse é um sistema útil para este objetivo pois, dada a similaridade ligada a ancestralidade comum, a coexistência seria mais difícil entre essas espécies. Estudamos padrões ao longo do desenvolvimento, utilizando uma classificação de estádios ontogenéticos. Para isso, descrevemos estádios e verificamos o quanto marcadores morfológicos são indicadores adequados de mudanças ontogenéticas de tamanho, sobrevivência, reprodução e crescimento. Para avaliar divergências relacionadas à gradientes verticais de luz, testamos diferenças ontogenéticas de alometria e arquitetura aérea sob a expectativa de que as espécies tivessem morfologias adequadas à sobrevivência na sombra ou ao ganho de altura. Para avaliar divergências em gradientes horizontais, testamos a segregação espacial interespecífica de indivíduos e da mortalidade e crescimento por estádio ontogenético. As espécies apresentaram marcadores morfológicos semelhantes que permitiram identificar os estádios plântula, juvenil e reprodutivo ramificado. Na fase pré-reprodutiva, as características morfológicas sinalizam adequadamente diferenças de tamanho e sobrevivência, mas não crescimento, enquanto a entrada na fase reprodutiva foi melhor indicada pela altura. As trajetórias ontogenéticas dos aspectos demográficos analisados sugerem histórias de vida semelhantes entre espécies. Não encontramos diferenças de alometria e arquitetura aérea conforme as expectativas. Isso ocorreu principalmente por semelhanças ontogenéticas nas dimensões de troncos e copa. No entanto, houve diferenças na forma como as espécies preenchem suas copas, enquanto uma espécie tem copas muito ramificadas com folhas menores, a outra tem copas pouco ramificadas com folhas maiores. Estudos posteriores são necessários para verificar se essas diferenças conferem vantagem diferencial, contribuindo para a coexistência. As expectativas de segregação espacial interespecífica só foram confirmadas em estádios iniciais. Porém, não foi possível excluir a influência da dispersão no estabelecimento desses padrões. Raramente houve segregação espacial interespecífica nos estádios posteriores e não houve evidência de melhor desempenho em microhabitats preferenciais. Ao contrário, as localidades propícias ao crescimento foram comumente semelhantes. A grande variabilidade dos padrões interespecíficos entre estádios e localidades, e a aderência a modelos nulos de sobrevivência e mudança de estádios espacialmente aleatórios sugerem que as relações espaciais interespecíficas são dependentes de eventos estocásticos (tempo e espaço), sendo a mortalidade e crescimento correntes aparentemente incapazes de alterar padrões espaciais pré-existentes na escala temporal estudada. Neste estudo, as expectativas de divergências ecológicas entre espécies não foram corroboradas. Os resultados apontam para a possibilidade de que a diferenciação de nicho não seja essencial para a coexistência de espécies arbóreas em florestas tropicais
Abstract: High biodiversity in tropical forests has motivated an extensive debate on the importance of niche divergence as a coexistence mechanism. According to this hypothesis, coexistence would be promoted by specialization to portions of niche axis and, therefore, spatial associations of species in gradients of resources and conditions are expected. The spatial evidence for niche divergence is doubtful, because small scale studies have been finding large differences in the percentage of species associated with microhabitats. In this study, we aimed to search for evidences of niche divergence as a coexistence mechanism by investigating ecological divergence related to vertical and horizontal dimensions between a pair of sympatric congeneric tree species in a wet tropical forest. Congeneric species are useful for our objectives because due to common heritage, coexistence should be more difficult for such species. Because we chose to study a broad developmental coverage, we adopted an ontogenetic stage classification. To utilize this approach, we described stages and verified the suitability of morphological markers as indicators of size and performance transitions. Divergence related to vertical light gradients was assessed by tests of aboveground alometric and architectural differences under the expectation of morphological differences related to either survival in shade or rapid height gain. Divergence in horizontal gradients was assessed by tests of interspecific spatial segregation (ISS) of individuals and performance in ontogentic stages. We found similar morphological markers between species that enabled us to recognize seedling, juvenile, and branched reproductive stages. Morphological markers were able to indicate size and performance (except for growth) transitions at vegetative phase, but they were not efficient in indicating the onset of reproduction, of which size was a better indicator. Similarities in ontogenetic trajectories of size and performance suggests life history coincidence between species. Our expectations on allometry and architecture were not met, mainly because both species had similarly constructed crowns and trunks throughout ontogeny. However, we found differences among species in the mode of crown filling. One species had small leafed, intensely ramified crowns, whereas the other seemed to compensate for low branching levels by having large leaves. Future studies are needed to verify whether this can be related to a differential advantage contributing to coexistence. The expected ISS was only common in early stages, but we were not able to exclude the possibility of dispersal driven patterns. In later stages, we rarely found ISS, and there was no evidence of better performance of either species in preferred microhabitats. Otherwise, we found that suitable sites for growth often coincided. High variability of interspecific spatial patterns among stages and sites and adherence to null models of spatially random survival and transition to other stages suggests that spatial relationships between species are mainly due to stochastic events (space, time) and that current mortality and growth are not able to change preceding spatial patterns during the studied timescale. In summary, the general expectations of ecological divergence between species were not met. Our results point to the possibility that niche divergence should not be an essential requisite for tree species coexistence in tropical forests
Doutorado
Biologia Vegetal
Doutor em Biologia Vegetal

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Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico
Predict how biological characteristics of the species fit the peculiarities of habitats is a key issue in ecology. Morphology assists in understanding this process, which is important for evaluating the effects of the habitat disturbances in the aquatic community, while reservoirs are complex ecosystems with ideal spatial gradients to examine the habitat s effect on species distribution. Thus, the hypothesis evaluated is that the species which share similar characteristics to form groups occupy similar habitats. Samples of fish were performed in longitudinal and transverse gradients for 3 years and selected 14-18 adults of each species were selected for morphometry. Mantel s and Partial Mantel s Tests identified relationships between spatial distribution, ecomorphological index and the phylogenetic distances. By non-metric multidimensional scaling and permutational multivariate analysis of variance it was identified that both, longitudinal and transversal gradients, had influence on species distribution, but the transversal gradient was the most influential on the abundance of species. From common species, according to Indicator Species Analysis (INDVAL), six were indicators of the littoral zone, three were indicators of deep zone, and two were indicators of the pelagic zone end four species occurred in more than one. Canonical Discriminate analysis was used to identify ecomorphological index that contributed to groups of species formed at INDVAL. Index related to head and mouth separate the species of the deep zone from littoral and pelagic ones, while body form and eye separated the pelagic from littoral zone. The morphology helped to define groups of species according to transversal gradient. The littoral zone had the greatest number of indicator species and greater morphological diversity than the pelagic and deep zones of Salto Santiago Reservoir, representing the importance of this habitat for species. Among the pelagic zone and deep, the morphology of the species is more specialized in locomotion and foraging, demonstrating the close relationship between habitat and morphology
Prever como características biológicas das espécies se ajustam às peculiaridades dos habitats é uma questão-chave na Ecologia. A morfologia auxilia na compreensão desse processo, o qual é importante para avaliar os efeitos das perturbações do habitat sobre as comunidades aquáticas, enquanto que reservatórios são ecossistemas complexos que formam gradientes espaciais ideais para inferir efeitos de habitats na distribuição das espécies. Deste modo, a hipótese testada foi que espécies que partilham características similares formam grupos que ocupam habitats semelhantes dentro do reservatório. Amostragens de peixes foram realizadas nos gradientes longitudinal e transversal durante três anos e selecionados de 14 a 18 adultos de cada espécie para morfometria. Os testes de Mantel e Mantel parcial identificaram interdependências entre distribuição espacial, índices ecomorfológicos e filogenia das espécies. Através da técnica de escalonamento multidimensional não-métrico e da análise multivariada de variância permutacional foi identificado que ambos os gradientes longitudinal e transversal influenciaram na distribuição das espécies, porém o gradiente transversal foi o mais influente. Das espécies mais abundantes, a Análise de Espécies Indicadoras (INDVAL) identificou 6 espécies com preferência à zona litorânea; três à zona profunda; duas à zona pelágica e 4 espécies ocorreram em mais de uma zona. A Análise de Discriminante Canônico foi utilizada para identificar os índices ecomorfológicos que mais contribuem para distinção entre os grupos de espécies indicadoras formadas na INDVAL. Índices relacionados à cabeça e boca separam espécies da zona profunda das zonas litorânea e pelágica, enquanto forma do corpo e olho separou espécies da zona pelágica da litorânea. Assim, a morfologia contribuiu para a formação dos grupos de espécies de acordo com o gradiente transversal. A zona litorânea apresentou maior número de espécies indicadoras e maior diversidade morfológica que as zonas pelágica e profunda do reservatório de Salto Santiago, indicando a importância desse habitat para as espécies. Entre as zonas pelágica e profunda, a morfologia das espécies foi mais especializada na locomoção e forrageio, demonstrando a intima relação entre habitat e morfologia

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Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq
Most of the knowledge about cyanobacteria toxin production is traditionally associated with planktonic cynobacterial blooms. However, some studies have been showing that benthic and periphytic cyanobacterias can produce cyanotoxins. According to this, we aimed to evaluate the production of microcystins and saxitoxins and the yield potential of these toxins through the presence of genes involved in their synthesis in benthic and periphytic cyanobacterias isolated from some sample sites of the Mundaú river basin, Pernambuco, and the Environmental Protection Area of Araripe, Ceará. And due to the difficulty of strains morphological classification, phylogenetic analysis were performed using the 16S rDNA and 16S-23S ITS. The material was sampled in rivers and water supply reservoirs, using micromanipulation tec hniques. We isolated 45 clonal strains of cyanobacteria, which were identified morphologically and genetically. In order to evaluate the toxins production, the strains were cultured in controlled laboratory conditions for obtaining biomass for subsequent extraction and analysis of toxins by HPLC. In a complementary way of the toxins analysis, PCR’s were performed screening for genes involved on microcystins and saxitoxins production. Eight species were identified belonging to the Phormidiaceae, Pseudanabaenaceae and Nostocaceae families. This is the first study in Brazil that shows that strains from the Geitlerinema genus correspond to at least three phylogenetic lineages, which possibly correspond to three distinct species to be subsequently reclassified. The strains that showed one of the genes involved in the cyanotoxins production were analyzed by HPLC and Geitlerinema amphibium, G. lemmermannii, Cylindrospermum stagnale and Phormidium uncinatum were identified as producing one or more saxitoxins variants. Thus, this is the first report of saxitoxins producing for those first three species and the first report in Brazil for P. uncinatum.
A maior parte do conhecimento sobre a produção de toxinas por cianobactérias concentra-se no estudo das espécies planctônicas formadoras de florações. Entretanto, alguns estudos vêm mostrando que espécies bentônicas e perifíticas podem produzir várias toxinas. Neste sentido, objetivou-se avaliar a produção de saxitoxinas e microcistinas e a potencialidade de produção dessas toxinas através da presença de genes envolvidos na sua síntese em cianobactérias bentônicas e perifíticas isoladas de alguns pontos da bacia do rio Mundaú, Pernambuco, e da Área de Proteção Ambiental do Araripe, Ceará e, em razão da dificuldade de classificação morfológica das cepas isoladas, foram realizadas análises filogenéticas utilizando os genes 16S rDNA e 16S-23S ITS. O material foi coletado em rios e reservatórios de abastecimento e, usando técnicas de micromanipulação, foram isoladas cepas clonais de cianobactérias, as quais foram identificadas morfologicamente e geneticamente. A fim de avaliar a produção de toxinas, as cepas foram cultivadas em condições controladas de laboratório para obtenção de biomassa para posterior extração de toxinas e análise por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (CLAE). De maneira complementar à análise de toxinas, foram realizadas análises genét icas (reação em cadeia da polimerase – PCR) para identificar genes responsáveis pela produção de microcistinas e saxitoxinas. Das 45 cepas isoladas, foram identificadas oito espécies pertencentes às famílias Phormidiaceae, Pseudanabaenaceae e Nostocaceae. Este é o primeiro trabalho feito no Brasil, onde é mostrado que isolados do gênero Geitlerinema correspondem a pelo menos três linhagens filogenéticas, que possivelmente correspondem a três espécies distintas a serem posteriormente reclassificadas. Os isolados que apresentaram um dos genes envolvidos na produção de cianotoxinas foram analisados por CLAE e Geitlerinema amphibium, G. lemmermannii, Cylindrospermum stagnale e Phormidium uncinatum foram identificadas como produtoras de um ou vários análogos de saxitoxinas, sendo o primeiro registro da produção de saxitoxinas para as três primeiras espécies e o primeiro registro no Brasil para P. uncinatum.

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Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient?fico e Tecnol?gico (CNPq)
Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior (CAPES)
A sele??o sexual ? respons?vel pela evolu??o de diversos sinais visuais consp?cuos utilizados na comunica??o intra e interespec?fica de in?meras esp?cies. Os lagartos t?m sistema visual com fotorreceptores que s?o sens?veis aos comprimentos de onda UV, e algumas esp?cies utilizam ornamentos de cor UV na comunica??o. Neste estudo, utilizamos espectrofotometria para obter evid?ncias de ornamenta??o UV em lagartos Ameivula ocellifera. Utilizando um aparato experimental em formato de arena, obtivemos evid?ncias do papel da sinaliza??o UV na sele??o sexual (prefer?ncia de f?meas e competi??o entre machos). Nossos resultados revelaram que a sinaliza??o UV ? importante na prefer?ncia de f?meas, uma vez que as mesmas exibem prefer?ncia por machos com maior reflect?ncia UV em rela??o aos machos com reflect?ncia experimentalmente reduzida. Tamb?m descobrimos que os machos com UV reduzido n?o foram mais propensos a perder disputas do que os controle, embora quanto maior a diferen?a de reflect?ncia UV entre os pares, menor o tempo de avalia??o entre os rivais antes do combate. Para avaliar se os sinais de cor s?o informativos da qualidade, testamos dois ornamentos de machos de A. ocellifera contra tra?os morfol?gicos e desempenho fisiol?gico. Descobrimos que machos maiores apresentaram comprimentos de onda UV e m?dio mais intensos nos ocelos dorsolaterais e, em contraste, os machos de cabe?a menor tiveram o croma UV mais intenso nas escamas ventrais exteriores (EVEs). Conclu?mos que a mesma caracter?stica de cor transmite diferentes mensagens dependendo da posi??o do sinal no corpo dos lagartos, sendo um indicativo de estrat?gias alternativas de sinaliza??o. Al?m disso, um maior brilho nas EVEs foi associado a maior for?a de mordida, sendo este um sinal confi?vel de capacidade de luta do macho. Esses resultados sugerem que existe um sistema de sinaliza??o m?ltipla na esp?cie. Por fim, modelamos os sistemas visuais de A. ocellifera e de dois tipos de predadores (ave de rapina e serpente) para descobrir como as manchas de colora??o s?o percebidas e explorar as consequ?ncias da colora??o consp?cua em termos de press?es seletivas. Encontramos dicromatismo entre os sexos, com a reflect?ncia UV de machos mais vis?veis e altamente distingu?veis dos das f?meas a partir do sistema visual de A. ocellifera. Os sinais UV foram altamente percept?veis quando em contraste com a colora??o do corpo e do ambiente natural para A. ocellifera e, menos mas ainda percept?veis, para os predadores, concordando com a hip?tese da condu??o sensorial. Esta tese esclarece o papel dos sinais sexuais e sua import?ncia nas comunica??es intra e interespec?ficas em lagartos. Nossas descobertas baseiam futuros estudos sobre evolu??o e comportamento e expandem o conhecimento acerca das sele??es natural e sexual propostas por Darwin.
Sexual selection is responsible for the evolution of many conspicuous visual signals used in intra and interspecific communication of innumerous species. Lizards have acute visual systems with retinal photoreceptors that are sensitive to UV wavelengths, and some species use UV colour ornaments for communication. In this study, we used UV full-spectrum reflectance spectrophotometry to collect data from Ameivula ocellifera UV structural colouration. Using an arena-form experimental set, we obtained evidence for the role of UV signaling in sexual selection (mate choice and male-male interactions). Our results showed that UV chroma is important in female association preference, as females exhibit spatial preference for males of higher UV reflectance over males with experimentally reduced UV reflectance. We also found that A. ocellifera males with experimentally reduced UV reflectance were not more likely to lose contests than control males, although bigger the difference of UV reflectance between pairs, smaller the evaluation time between rivals before the contest. We also tested two male ornaments in A. ocellifera against morphological traits and physiological performance to assess whether colour signals are informative for male quality traits. We found that larger males had more intense short (UV) and medium wavelength chroma on dorsolateral eyespots and, in contrast, smaller-headed males had more intense UV chroma on outer ventral scales (OVS). We concluded that the same colour trait convey different messages depending on the body position of the signal, perhaps indicative of alternative signalling strategies. Moreover, higher brightness on OVS signals were associated with stronger bite force, being a reliable signal of fighting ability. These results suggest that there is a multiple signalling system in our model species. Finally, we modeled the visual system of A. ocellifera, snake and avian predators to access how colour patches appear to the receivers. We found that there are dichromatism between sexes, with UV signals of males more conspicuous in reflectance and highly distinguishable from females to conspecifics visual system. UV signals were highly perceptible from body colouration and from natural background to conspecifics and less but still perceptible to predators, agreeing with sensory drive hypothesis. This thesis enlighten the role of sexual signals and their importance on intra and interspecific communications in lizards. Our findings support further studies on evolution and behavior and expand the knowledge on natural and sexual selections initiated by Darwin.

L'anthropisation croissante des territoires a conduit à la transformation profonde des écosystèmes et à une perte massive, rapide et irréversible de la biodiversité. La réglementation nationale française impose aujourd'hui aux aménageurs du territoire d'évaluer, a priori et a posteriori, les impacts environnementaux de leurs projets de construction (ex : infrastructures routières) et notamment les impacts sur la biodiversité. Cette réglementation impose également de proposer des mesures d'évitement, de réduction, et de compensation, lorsqu'il existe des impacts résiduels, par la création ou la restauration de la biodiversité dégradée. En l'absence d'outils performants à disposition des gestionnaires, les échecs de la prédiction des impacts et de l'évaluation de l'efficacité des mesures conservatoires sont nombreux. L'objectif général de cette thèse est de proposer une nouvelle approche méthodologique pour (i) caractériser les processus et les paramètres abiotiques impactant la diversité végétale des communautés, (ii) analyser l'efficacité d'un projet de création et (iii) proposer, à la lecture de ces résultats, des nouvelles mesures de valorisation de la biodiversité végétale du site d'étude. Le site étudié est un aménagement paysager autoroutier, au sein duquel des semis et des plantations ont été réalisées par le constructeur, deux ans avant le début de notre étude. Nous avons restreint l'étude mécaniste du compartiment abiotique à celle du fonctionnement hydrologique (modélisé à l'aide d'HYDRUS-1D). [...] Suite et fin du résumé dans la thèse.

Cereals are the basis of the normal diet in most Mediterranean countries and it is estimated that they account for 35-50% of the regional populations’ dietary energy consumption. Water deficit is the main constraint limiting cereal productivity in the Mediterranean regions. Crop management and breeding may improve the performance of cereals under such stress conditions. However, the lack of efficient tools to monitor the performance of agronomical practices or to undertake appropriate phenotyping in breeding programs limits the efficiency of both avenues. Novel tools to monitor the cereals (durum wheat and maize) performance in the thesis are: 1. Stable isotopes In C3 plants the carbon isotope composition (δ13C) measured in plant tissues is considered as one of the most promising secondary traits in wheat (and other C3 cereals) when breeding for drought resilience. The δ13C has been reported to negatively correlate with Ci/Ca (the ratio of leaf intercellular to ambient CO2 concentration) and positively correlated with A/E (the ratio of net assimilation to water evaporated from the transpiring organs). Therefore, the δ13C is positively related to WUE, which is considered as the biomass produced per unit of water transpired. Correlations between δ13C and GY and/or aerial biomass (AB) may be either negative or positive according to the plant tissue sampled and environmental conditions tested. In the case of a C4 plant like maize, variations in the δ13C in response to water conditions are small in compared to C3 plants like wheat, but they are still adequate for use in maize as an indicator of water conditions during growth. The oxygen isotope composition (δ18O) of plant tissues is known to reflect the evaporative conditions throughout the crop cycle and thus it has been proposed as a proxy method for measuring transpiration as well as an indicator of genotypic differences in stomatal conductance (gs) in C3 and C4 plants. 2. Root traits Plant roots are the key organs in the plant responsible for the absorption of water and nutrients. Concerning root traits, their response to drought stress is still a challenging subject for research. The laborious work required for the study of the root system has prevented the adoption of root characteristics as routinely phenotyping traits for crop breeding. The root weight density (RWD) and root length density (RLD) are frequently used in root studies to describe the root weight and root length, respectively, within a soil volume and they reflect the capacity of roots to extract water and nutrients. The specific root length (SRL) is considered another of the most important and commonly measured morphological traits. Previous studies showed that a high SRL facilitates nutrient uptake in low-nutrient environments and makes plants more competitive for soil nutrient uptake. 3. The use of proximal (remote) sensing The assessment of AB is important for monitoring crop growth because it could reflect the effect of stresses on crop growth and senescence. Thus, a number of studies have revealed that spectral reflectance techniques have the potential to provide precise, non-destructive instantaneous quantitative estimates of AB. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) has been used as an indicator of AB and GY in cereals. In recent years the use of digital Red-Green-Blue (RGB) images has been proposed as an alternative to develop vegetation indices that may replace spectroradiometrical based NDVI. The price, size, and the easy use of conventional digital cameras make them viable alternatives to assess AB and GY in cereals. A number of studies have used digital RGB imaging to measure different colour parameters such as: greenness; intensity of green, red and blue; and derived normalized indices from the green, red and blue bands.
Los cereales son la base de la dieta normal en la mayoría de los países del Mediterráneo y se estima que representan del 35 al 50 % del consumo de energía alimentaria de las poblaciones de la región. La falta de agua, a veces acompañada con una baja disponibilidad de nitrógeno, es el principal limitante de la productividad de los cereales en las regiones Mediterráneas. Una mejora genética y un manejo de cultivos más eficientes pueden mejorar el rendimiento de los cereales en estas condiciones de estrés. Sin embargo, la falta de herramientas eficaces para monitorear el estado fisiológico del cultivo, ya sea para su empleo en manejo agronómico, como herramientas de fenotipeado asociado a la mejora genética o incluso para la predicción del rendimiento limita la agricultura mediterránea. La composición en isótopos estables de carbono (δ13C) medida en los tejidos de la planta se considera como uno de los rasgos secundarios más prometedores del trigo (y otros cereales del C3 y C4) en la mejora genética para resistencia a la sequía. Las correlaciones entre la δ13C y el rendimiento en grano o la biomasa aérea pueden ser negativas o positivas debido las condiciones medioambientales del ensayo. Las raíces de las plantas son los órganos clave de la planta responsables de la absorción de agua y nutrientes. Cómo la arquitectura de la raíz responde a la sequía y que rasgos de las raíces son claves continúa siendo un área de investigación que no está cerrada. El laborioso trabajo requerido para el estudio del sistema radicular ha impedido determinar que rasgos de la raíz pueden emplearse como criterios de fenotipado en mejora genética de cultivos. La evaluación de la biomasa aérea es importante para monitorear el crecimiento del cultivo porque podría reflejar el efecto de las diferentes condiciones de estrés en el crecimiento y la senescencia del cultivo. Así, una serie de estudios han reportado que las técnicas de reflectancia espectral/ imágenes digitales rojo-verde-azul (RGB) tienen el potencial de facilitar una estimaciones cuantitativas, instantáneas, no destructivas y precisas de la biomasa aérea.

Music has become a dominant and popularised form of culture in the modern world, produced and reproduced by the masses. It seems that the idea of continuous separation of the ‘human’ with the ‘nonhuman’ created a deep gap regarding the conceptualization of organic and harmonious practices for sustainable development of the world’s economic, cultural and social spheres. With this individualistic perspective, the idea of community and the connection between the outside world and humans have fallen into oblivion. Music culture and the music industries, powered by a massive technological and globalised process, have allowed an international travelling of sound with traits and characteristics of different cultures, rituals and ways of making music. Music is a way of connecting with the world. Specifically, the jazz musical genre approaches change in musical and performative practices while preserving its connection to its roots, tradition and rituals. It distinguishes itself from other musical genres through its instrumental characteristics, musical dialogues, and intrinsic traits that refer to its history and sociocultural influence. Aiming to reconcile the environment and civilisation, together with the intersection of the nonhuman and human world, the physical and the cultural spheres all mediated by sound composition, this dissertation explores the musical genre of jazz and its live performances in a given surrounding. Following an extensive literature review, this work delves into the fundamental aspects of sound, music, audience, performance and performativity. It travels through sensations and relationships integrated into the ecological performative system. To question the way the spirit and sensation of a place, through an ecological approach affects the performance of a cultural product such as live jazz, and how this influences the performance/performers and audiences, the work approaches three main blocks: the social cooperation in music and its instrumental relationship, the intersection between actor and audience and the embeddedness of the performance in a specific environment.
No mundo moderno, a música tem vindo a tornar-se numa forma de cultura dominante e popularizada, produzida e reproduzida pelas massas. Parecer que a ideia de uma separação contínua do humano em relação ao ‘não-humano’ criou um espaçamento profundo relativamente à conceptualização de práticas orgânicas e harmoniosas para um desenvolvimento sustentável das esferas económicas, culturais e sociais do nosso mundo. De acordo com uma perspetiva individualista, parece que a ideia de comunidade e elo entre o mundo exterior e o homem caíram no esquecimento. A cultura e as indústrias musicais, impulsionadas por um grande processo tecnológico global, têm permitido uma viagem internacional de som com traços e características de diferentes culturas, rituais e práticas de conceção musical. A música é uma forma de ligação com o mundo. Especificamente, o género musical jazz aborda a mudança nas práticas musicais e performativas, preservando uma conexão com as suas raízes, tradições e rituais. Distingue-se de outros géneros musicais através das suas características instrumentais, diálogos musicais e traços intrínsecos que se referem à sua história e influência sociocultural. Visando uma reconciliação do meio ambiente e da civilização, juntamente com a intersecção do mundo não humano e humano, as esferas física e cultural por intermédio da composição sonora, esta dissertação explora o género musical jazz e suas performances ao vivo num determinado ambiente. Após uma extensa revisão da literária, este trabalho explora os aspetos fundamentais da música, espaço, público, performance e performatividade. O trabalho percorre as sensações e relações que se integram no sistema performativo ecológico. De forma a questionar como o espírito e a sensação de um lugar, por meio de uma abordagem ecológica, afetam a performance de um produto cultural como o jazz ao vivo, e ainda, como isso influencia a performance/atores e o público, o trabalho aborda três blocos principais: a cooperação social na música e sua relação instrumental, a interseção entre ator-performance-público e a inserção da performance num ambiente específico.

All forms of cultural interaction are expressive and creative. In particular, what the performing arts express is not always the conscious, the ideal and the rational, but more often the preconscious, pre-verbal, asocial and irrational, touching on darker undercurrents of human and extra-human interrelations, experiences, beliefs, fears, desires and values. So what is performance and how does it differ in cultures? A performance is a translation of an idea into a synaesthetic experience. In the context of this thesis, however, translation does not imply reductive literal translation as can be attempted by analogy in spoken or written descriptions and notation systems. The translation is one through which participating groups and individuals seek to understand the being in the world of the Other by means of mutual, embodied negotiation of meaning - sensually, experientially, perceptually, cognitively and emotionally - that is, by means of performance. As a contribution towards a social theory of human performance, the author offers reflections on an exchange between two performance ecologies - those of a group of Aboriginal Australian performers from Mimili, Central Australia and a mixed ethnic group of Australian performers from Penrith, NSW, Australia.

JEL Code: M14
Since 1978, China advocated the policy of reform and opening up which stressed the economic construction as a central purpose. With this challenge successfully overcome, it evolved recently as the Chinese government vigorously advocated the imperative of building an ecological civilization in order to realize the strategy of sustainable economic development. Despite general endeavors and People’s awareness on the importance of ecological responsibility, research on corporate ecological responsibility in China is lagging behind, so enterprises lack the theoretical guidance and specific measures to cognize and fulfill their ecological responsibility. Therefore, innovative research on corporate ecological responsibility, in association with central issues such as corporate reputation and sustainable development and other related theories are relevant and with important theoretical and practical significance in the background of the implementation of ecological civilization construction in China. With a sample of employees from NU SKIN Group we measured a theoretical model of the influencing mechanism between corporate ecological responsibility and corporate reputation concerning stakeholders. Findings show that corporate ecological responsibility is associated with better corporate reputation, which in turn promotes a unique positive image translating into a competitive advantage. Moreover, stakeholders positively relate with corporate ecological responsibility and their indirect influence in corporate governance reinforces this higher purpose. An important finding suggests information disclosure may play a central role in corporate ecological responsibility fulfillment. A discussion of new powers and new advantages is offered in order to help enterprises maintaining competitive advantage and achieving sustainable development from the perspective of corporate ecological responsibility.
Desde 1978, a China implementou a política de reforma e abertura que elegeu a construção económica como propósito central. Com este desafio superado o Governo chinês advogou vigorosamente o imperativo de construir uma civilização ecológica para realizar a estratégia de desenvolvimento económico sustentável. Apesar dos esforços globais e da consciencialização do povo para a importância da responsabilidade ecológica, a investigação científica nesta área está aquém, e assim as empresas não possuem a orientação teórica nem as medidas específicas para incorporarem e concretizarem a sua responsabilidade ecológica. Desta forma, a investigação inovadora sobre a responsabilidade organizacional ecológica em associação a outros tópicos centrais como a reputação organizacional, o desenvolvimento sustentável e outras teorias conexas reveste-se de um importante significado teórico e aplicado no contexto da construção da civilização ecológica na China. Com uma amostra de empregados do Grupo NU SKIN testámos um modelo teórico dos mecanismos de influência entre a responsabilidade ecológica e a reputação organizacional. Os resultados mostram que a responsabilidade ecológica está associada a melhor reputação que, por sua vez, favorece uma imagem positiva única que se traduz em vantagem competitiva. Os stakeholders têm uma associação positiva com o desempenho organizacional na dimensão da responsabilidade ecológica e a sua influência indirecta na governança organizacional reforça este propósito superior. Um resultado importante sugere que a divulgação de informação pode desempenhar um papel central na consecução da responsabilidade organizacional ecológica. No final, desenvolve-se uma discussão sobre os novos poderes e vantagens em realizar o desenvolvimento sustentável partindo da responsabilidade organizacional ecológica.