Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Pest monitoring'

The monitoring of animal control devices (animal traps) in remote areas currently requires field workers to visit each device on a regular basis, which is costly and time consuming. Better monitoring practices could allow DOC to increase their trapping practices through reduced costs. Essentially, the aim of this paper is to reduce the number of man-hours, and hence resources, required to check each trap. An attempt will be made to use wireless communications to check the status of each trap, and hence decide whether or not it will need to be checked, bringing benefits of efficiency and cost savings to the Department of Conservation. It is recognised that the environment is very difficult for traditional wireless communications to operate reliably and therefore new methods or technologies were investigated for this application. A system operating at 27MHz using a modified pulse position modulation scheme was found to be an appropriate solution; however the success of wireless communications in pest control management is dependent upon the trapping location, patterns and terrain.

An insect pest monitoring network spanning the major growing areas in Yuma was implemented in 1998-1999. This project was designed to measure the relative activity and movement of adult populations during the growing season and provide important information to growers and PCA’s. A series of pheromonebaited and yellow sticky traps were placed in 11 locations among the growing areas in the Yuma, Gila and Dome Valleys in Yuma county. Numbers of adults / trap /night were recorded weekly from September-April. Seasonal differences in insect species activity and abundance among locations were observed, but difficult to precisely explain because of the lack of historical trap data. Information gathered from the trapping network will provide historical baseline data for pest activity on an area wide basis from which relationships between insect trap captures and seasonal factors that influence their activity and abundance may be explained. The results of the monitoring network during the 1998-1999 growing season for is provided in this report.

Invasive species are alien to the ecosystem under consideration and cause economic or environmental damage or harm to human health. Two alien insects that fit this description are the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys and the spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula. Both invaders are polyphagous pests that feed on a myriad of plant species and inflict severe crop losses. As sustainable control methods depend on the accurate monitoring of species’ invasion and involve the use of natural enemies, we addressed these two facets by exploring novel monitoring techniques and deciphering host-parasitoid interactions for improved integrated pest management. Thus, we adopted ‘BugMap’, a citizen science initiative that enables students, farmers and everyday citizens to report sightings of H. halys from Italy, with emphasis on Trentino-Alto Adige. Aside from fostering citizen participation in scientific endeavors and the enhanced literacy that ensues, BugMap helped uncover the invasion dynamics of H. halys and forecast its potential distribution in Trentino, all while coordinating technical monitoring and informing management strategies. The most promising agent currently under study for the classical biological control of H. halys is the Asian egg parasitoid Trissolcus japonicus. To assess the wasp’s potential non-target impacts, we investigated its foraging behavior in response to chemical traces ‘footprints’ deposited by its main host H. halys and by a suboptimal predatory species, the spined soldier bug, Podisus maculiventris. Wasps exhibited a ‘motivated searching’ when in contact with footprints originating from both species. However, T. japonicus arrestment was significantly stronger in response to H. halys footprints, compared with P. maculiventris, implying the presence of underlying chemical cues that shape its natural preferences. A series of GC-MS chemical analyses revealed that n-tridecane and (E)-2-decenal were more abundant in H. halys footprints and are probably the key components utilized by the wasp for short range host location. The function of the aforementioned compounds was studied, n-tridecane acted as an arrestant, prolonging T. japonicus residence time, whereas (E)-2-decenal fulfilled its presumed defensive role and repelled the wasp. These results shed new light on the chemical ecology of T. japonicus and help expand the understanding of parasitoid foraging and its implications for classical biological control. Moving to the other invader L. delicatula, an egg parasitoid Anastatus orientalis was reported attacking it at high rates in its native range in Eastern Asia and may play a key role in reducing its populations there. A series of bioassays revealed that wasps responded to footprints deposited by L. delicatula gravid females by initiating a strong searching behavior. Moreover, A. orientalis preferred to oviposit in egg masses with intact oothecae, suggesting that the host’s egg covering functions as a trigger for A. orientalis probing and oviposition. Thus, A. orientalis not only overcomes, but also reverses an important line of host structural defense for its own fitness gains. This dissertation discusses the benefits of combining citizen science with traditional monitoring, and the usefulness of decoding host-parasitoid interactions to design more efficacious management strategies of invasive insect pests.

Invasive species are alien to the ecosystem under consideration and cause economic or environmental damage or harm to human health. Two alien insects that fit this description are the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys and the spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula. Both invaders are polyphagous pests that feed on a myriad of plant species and inflict severe crop losses. As sustainable control methods depend on the accurate monitoring of species’ invasion and involve the use of natural enemies, we addressed these two facets by exploring novel monitoring techniques and deciphering host-parasitoid interactions for improved integrated pest management. Thus, we adopted ‘BugMap’, a citizen science initiative that enables students, farmers and everyday citizens to report sightings of H. halys from Italy, with emphasis on Trentino-Alto Adige. Aside from fostering citizen participation in scientific endeavors and the enhanced literacy that ensues, BugMap helped uncover the invasion dynamics of H. halys and forecast its potential distribution in Trentino, all while coordinating technical monitoring and informing management strategies. The most promising agent currently under study for the classical biological control of H. halys is the Asian egg parasitoid Trissolcus japonicus. To assess the wasp’s potential non-target impacts, we investigated its foraging behavior in response to chemical traces ‘footprints’ deposited by its main host H. halys and by a suboptimal predatory species, the spined soldier bug, Podisus maculiventris. Wasps exhibited a ‘motivated searching’ when in contact with footprints originating from both species. However, T. japonicus arrestment was significantly stronger in response to H. halys footprints, compared with P. maculiventris, implying the presence of underlying chemical cues that shape its natural preferences. A series of GC-MS chemical analyses revealed that n-tridecane and (E)-2-decenal were more abundant in H. halys footprints and are probably the key components utilized by the wasp for short range host location. The function of the aforementioned compounds was studied, n-tridecane acted as an arrestant, prolonging T. japonicus residence time, whereas (E)-2-decenal fulfilled its presumed defensive role and repelled the wasp. These results shed new light on the chemical ecology of T. japonicus and help expand the understanding of parasitoid foraging and its implications for classical biological control. Moving to the other invader L. delicatula, an egg parasitoid Anastatus orientalis was reported attacking it at high rates in its native range in Eastern Asia and may play a key role in reducing its populations there. A series of bioassays revealed that wasps responded to footprints deposited by L. delicatula gravid females by initiating a strong searching behavior. Moreover, A. orientalis preferred to oviposit in egg masses with intact oothecae, suggesting that the host’s egg covering functions as a trigger for A. orientalis probing and oviposition. Thus, A. orientalis not only overcomes, but also reverses an important line of host structural defense for its own fitness gains. This dissertation discusses the benefits of combining citizen science with traditional monitoring, and the usefulness of decoding host-parasitoid interactions to design more efficacious management strategies of invasive insect pests.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico
The growth in the production of ornamental plants is increasingly significant in Brazil and in the Northeast region, but the occurrence of pests is shown as a limiting factor. To minimize losses, adequate control measures should be employed. Accordingly, the correct identification of pests, population monitoring and studies on managements should be performed. The objective of this study was to identify thrips species in rose, characterize and quantify the damage loss caused by arthropod pests in the production of roses in Serra da Ibiapaba; to assess the fluctuation of thrips species in ten cultivars of rose, at different stages of flower development and monitoring systems, and; evaluate the efficiency of pesticides on Frankliniella spp. The experiments were conducted at the Company âReijers ProduÃÃo de Rosasâ, SÃo Benedito, Cearà State, âLagoa Jussaraâ in planting roses in greenhouses. Three species of thrips have been identified: Frankliniella schultzei (Trybom, 1910), F. occidentalis (Pergande, 1895) and Caliothrips phaseoli (Pergande, 1825) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) with the largest recorded infestations for F. occidentalis and F. schultzei in phenological phases of roses, especially in flowering. The injury caused by thrips in floral cut roses button affected the quality invalidating them for marketing. There was no difference between the sampling periods (morning and afternoon) and sampling (tray beat and direct view of the floral button) to the ten cultivars of roses, so the choice of the time and method must be reconciled with practicality and cost. The insecticides demonstrated ability to cause mortality of thrips in extreme conditions, within completely enclosed structures (flower buds).
O crescimento na produÃÃo de plantas ornamentais à cada vez mais significativo no Brasil e na regiÃo Nordeste do paÃs, porÃm a ocorrÃncia de pragas mostra-se como fator limitante. Para minimizar as perdas, medidas adequadas de controle devem ser empregadas. Nesse sentido, a identificaÃÃo correta das pragas, seu monitoramento populacional e estudos sobre manejos devem ser realizados. O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar espÃcies de tripes em roseira, caracterizar danos e quantificar as perdas ocasionadas pelo artrÃpode-praga na produÃÃo de rosas na Serra da Ibiapaba; avaliar a flutuaÃÃo populacional das espÃcies de tripes em dez cultivares de roseira, em diferentes fases do desenvolvimento floral e sistemas de monitoramento, e; avaliar a eficiÃncia de produtos fitossanitÃrios sobre Frankliniella spp. Os experimentos foram conduzidos na Empresa Reijers ProduÃÃo de Rosas, Unidade SÃo Benedito/CE, Fazenda Lagoa Jussara, em plantio de roseiras sob cultivo protegido. Foram identificadas trÃs espÃcies de tripes: Frankliniella schultzei (Trybom, 1910), F. occidentalis (Pergande, 1895) e Caliothrips phaseoli (Pergande, 1825) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) sendo as maiores infestaÃÃes registradas para F. occidentalis e F. schultzei nas diferentes fases fenolÃgicas das roseiras, especialmente na floraÃÃo. As injÃrias causadas pelos tripes no botÃo floral de rosas de corte afetaram aqualidade inviabilizando-as para a comercializaÃÃo. NÃo houve diferenÃa estatÃstica entre os perÃodos de amostragem (manhà e tarde) e os mÃtodos de amostragem (batida de bandeja e visualizaÃÃo direta do botÃo floral) para as dez cultivares de roseiras, assim a escolha do horÃrio e do mÃtodo devem ser conciliadascom praticidade e custo.Os inseticidas demonstraram capacidade de causar mortalidade de tripes em condiÃÃes extremas, ou seja, dentro de estruturas completamente fechadas (botÃes florais).

Management of pest species is ordinarily required in the production of protected crops. Integrated pest management (IPM) is commonly used when controlling insects. The European Union Sustainable Use Directives states that "integrated pest management’ means careful consideration of all available plant protection methods and subsequent integration of appropriate measures that discourage the development of populations of harmful organisms and keep the use of plant protection products and other forms of intervention to levels that are economically and ecologically justified and reduce or minimise risks to human health and the environment. ‘Integrated pest management’ emphasises the growth of a healthy crop with the least possible disruption to agro-ecosystems and encourages natural pest control mechanisms.” Effectively monitoring pests is a key component of IPM, with decisions to use biological control agents (BCA) and insecticides often based on the presence of pests in traps. A commonly used monitoring tool is the sticky trap; these traps are coloured and rely primarily on their visual attractiveness to the pest. The capture efficiency of sticky traps can potentially be increased with the addition of light emitting diodes (LEDs). The objective of this project was to use LEDs to enhance the efficacy of yellow sticky traps for trapping a range of insect pests, to enable more effective timing of pest management by optimising pest monitoring. The addition of LEDs may also enable more effective mass trapping via yellow sticky traps, and minimize the trapping of beneficial insects. Comparisons between standard yellow sticky traps and those equipped with green (540 nm) or blue (480 nm) LEDs were carried out at four commercial growing facilities. Green (540 nm) LED equipped traps were compared with standard yellow traps in a mass release of the biological control agent Encarsia formosa Gahan (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), to determine if there are negative consequences to the addition of green (540 nm) LEDs when using this biological control agent. Relative spectral preferences of western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande (Thysanoptera: Thripidea)) and Glasshouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)) were determined using a choice test comparing a range of wavelengths in 20 nm steps against a control wavelength. Green (540 nm), and blue (480 nm) LED equipped traps captured significantly more dark-winged fungus gnats (Bradysia difformis Frey (Sciaridae: Diptera)) and diamondback moths (Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)) than those without. No significant differences were found between green (540 nm) LED equipped traps and those without for E. formosa, and a significant decrease in the capture of the shore fly parasitoid Kleidotoma psiloides Westwood (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) was observed. In behavioural experiments F. occidentalis showed a peak spectral preference at 360, 420, and 480 nm, and T. vaporariorum at 320, 340, and 380 nm. The addition of LEDs to yellow sticky traps enhanced their capture efficiency for some key pests in commercial protected crop growing environments, and has the potential to enable pest detection at an early stage, consequently optimising the timing of pest management options.

Doctor of Philosophy
Department of Entomology
Brian P. McCornack
Timely enactment of insect pest management and incursion mitigation protocols requires development of time-sensitive monitoring approaches. Numerous passive monitoring methods exist (e.g., insect traps), which offer an efficient solution to monitoring for pests across large geographic regions. However, given the number of different monitoring tools, from specific (e.g., pheromone lures) to general (e.g., sticky cards), there is a need to develop protocols for deploying methods to effectively and efficiently monitor for a multitude of potential pests. The non-random movement of the Hessian fly, Mayetiola destructor (Say) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), toward several visual, chemical, and tactile cues, makes it a suitable study organism to examine new sensor technologies and deployment strategies that can be tailored for monitoring specific pests. Therefore, the objective was to understand Hessian fly behavior toward new sensor technologies (i.e., light emitting diodes (LEDs) and laser displays) to develop monitoring and deployment strategies. A series of laboratory experiments and trials were conducted to understand how the Hessian fly reacts to the technologies and how environmental factors may affect the insect’s response. Hessian fly pupae distribution within commercial wheat fields was also analyzed to determine deployment of monitoring strategies. Laboratory experiments demonstrated Hessian fly attraction to green spectrum (502 and 525 nm) light (LEDs), that response increased with light intensity (16 W/m2), and that they responded in the presence of wheat odor and the Hessian fly female sex-pheromone, but, response was reduced under ambient light. These laboratory experiments can be used to build a more targeted approach for Hessian fly monitoring by utilizing the appropriate light wavelength and intensity with pheromone and wheat odor to attract both sexes, and mitigating exposure to ambient light. Together this information suggested that light could be used with natural cues to increase attraction. Therefore, a light source (green laser display) was applied to a wheat microcosm, which resulted in greater oviposition in wheat covered by the laser display. Examination of Hessian fly pupal distribution within commercial wheat fields showed that proportion of wheat within a 1 km buffer of the field affected distribution between fields. This helps to inform deployment of monitoring strategies as it identified fields with a lower proportion of wheat within a 1 km buffer to be at higher risk Hessian fly infestation, and therefore monitoring efforts should be focused on those fields. Together this work demonstrates Hessian fly behavior toward new sensor technologies, how those technologies interact with environmental cues, and how environmental composition affects pupal distribution. Collectively this information will enable cheaper, more accurate and more efficient monitoring of this destructive pest.

The work presented in this thesis falls naturally into two parts. The first part (Chapter 2), is concerned with the benefit of perturbing a population into an immediately undesirable state, in order to improve estimates of a static probability which may improve long-term management. We consider finding the optimal harvest policy for a theoretical harvested population when a key parameter is unknown. We employ an adaptive management framework to study when it is worth sacrificing short term rewards in order to increase long term profits.
Active adaptive management has been increasingly advocated in natural resource management and conservation biology as a methodology for resolving key uncertainties about population dynamics and responses to management. However, when comparing management policies it is traditional to weigh future rewards geometrically (at a constant discount rate) which results in far-distant rewards making a negligible contribution to the total benefit. Under such a discounting scheme active adaptive management is rarely of much benefit, especially if learning is slow. In Chapter 2, we consider two proposed alternative forms of discounting for evaluating optimal policies for long term decisions which have a social component.
We demonstrate that discount functions which weigh future rewards more heavily result in more conservative harvesting strategies, but do not necessarily encourage active learning. Furthermore, the optimal management strategy is not equivalent to employing geometric discounting at a lower rate. If alternative discount functions are made mandatory in calculating optimal management policies for environmental management, then this will affect the structure of optimal management regimes and change when and how much we are willing to invest in learning.
The second part of this thesis is concerned with how to account for partial observability when calculating optimal management policies. We consider the problem of controlling an invasive pest species when only partial observations are available at each time step. In the model considered, the monitoring data available are binomial observations of a probability which is an index of the population size. We are again concerned with estimating a probability, however, in this model the probability is changing over time.
Before including partial observability explicitly, we consider a model in which perfect observations of the population are available at each time step (Chapter 3). It is intuitive that monitoring will be beneficial only if the management decision depends on the outcome. Hence, a necessary condition for monitoring to be worthwhile is that control polices which are specified in terms of the system state, out-perform simpler time-based control policies. Consequently, in addition to providing a benchmark against which we can compare the optimal management policy in the case of partial observations, analysing the perfect observation case also provides insight into when monitoring is likely to be most valuable.
In Chapters 4 and 5 we include partial observability by modelling the control problem as a partially observable Markov decision process (POMDP). We outline several tests which stem from a property of conservation of expected utility under monitoring, which aid in validating the model. We discuss the optimal management policy prescribed by the POMDP for a range of model scenarios, and use simulation to compare the POMDP management policy to several alternative policies, including controlling with perfect observations and no observations.
In Chapter 6 we propose an alternative model, developed in the spirit of a POMDP, that does not strictly satisfy the definition of a POMDP. We find that although the second model has some conceptually appealing attributes, it makes an undesirable implicit assumption about the underlying population dynamics.

4 pp.
The alfalfa aphid discussed in this publication includes blue alfalfa aphid, pea aphid, and the spotted alfalfa aphid. This publication discusses the biology of these alfalfa aphids, the damages they cause, the resistant varieties and biological control, and their monitoring and treatments.

False codling moth (FCM), Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is considered the most important indigenous pest of citrus in southern Africa. It is recognized by several markets as a phytosanitary organism and the efficient control of this pest is now more important than ever. The pheromone communication between the male and female moths has been exploited in order to control FCM through the sterile insect technique (SIT). The sterilized males used for all SIT programmes across South Africa come from a colony that originates from wild material collected from the Citrusdal area of the Western Cape Province. The aim of this study was to determine if any differences in attractiveness of females to males exist between different geographical populations of FCM and if so what impact this would have on the male’s ability to locate females from other populations via the volatile sex pheromone released by the female. Laboratory trials with Y-tube olfactometers and flight tunnels tested the attraction of male moths to virgin females, but did not yield any consistent results. Field experiments were conducted with sterile male Citrusdal moths released and recaptured in yellow delta traps in two separate trials. For one trial, the traps were baited with live virgin females from five different geographical populations including Addo, Nelspruit, Marble Hall, Citrusdal and the Old colony, which is a mixture of several populations. For the other trial traps were baited with various synthetic pheromone blends including three regional blends which included South Africa, Ivory Coast and Malawi and three commercial blends including Pherolure, Isomate and Checkmate. For the virgin female trial the Citrusdal males showed a significant preference for females from their own population. There was also a significant difference in the recaptures from the different synthetic pheromones. The South African blend was the most attractive of all the regional and commercial blends. A cross-mating trial was also conducted under laboratory conditions in petri dishes with five different FCM populations including Citrusdal, Addo, Marble Hall, Nelspruit and Old (mixed origin). Females produced more eggs when mated with males from the same population for the Addo, Marble Hall, Nelspruit and Old (mixed origin) populations. The only case in which this was statistically significant was for the Marble Hall population. All the crosses produced viable eggs and the origin of the male or female did not influence egg hatch. The results from this study may lead to improvements in both the control and monitoring of FCM populations. The control methods include mating disruption, attract-and-kill and SIT. Tailoring these methods for a specific growing area with a pheromone blend originating from the area or releasing sterile moths from a colony that originates from the area may optimize the available monitoring and control options.

Thesis (PhD (Agric) (Conservation Ecology and Entomology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006.
A study was performed to develop a generic pest monitoring system for sampling the main table grape pests in vineyards in the Hex River Valley, Western Cape Province of South Africa. The presence of phytophagous and predatory mites on cover crop plants was also investigated as this may contribute to biological control of the phytophagous mites in vines. Life table studies for Epichoristodes acerbella (Walker), an important phytosanitary pest, were conducted to determine whether or not this pest was sensitive to high temperatures. Information gained from the latter can also be used for breeding purposes in the possible future development of a sterile insect technique (SIT) programme to control this pest. The sampling system consisted of inspecting 20 plots of five vines per plot per one to two hectares. The top fork of each of the five vines per plot was examined for Planococcus ficus (Signoret) to a distance of within 30 cm of the stem, as well as the distal 15 cm of one cane per vine for the presence of P. ficus and damage caused by Phlyctinus callosus Boh. One bunch per vine was examined for insect damage or presence, and one leaf per vine for the presence of leaf infesting arthropods, such as Tetranychus urticae Koch, P. ficus and Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande). Corrugated cardboard bands, tied around the stem of one vine per plot, were used to monitor activity of P. callosus. Blue sticky traps, at a density of four to five traps per one to two hectares, were used to monitor activity of F. occidentalis. Pheromone traps, at a density of one trap per one to two hectares, were used to monitor activity of P. ficus, E. acerbella and Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner). All the above-mentioned inspections were done at two-weekly intervals, except traps for E. acerbella and H. armigera, which were inspected weekly. In each of the rows in which the sample plots were situated, one leaf of each of the cover crop plant species was examined for the presence of phytophagous mites and their predators. The abundance and distribution of cover crop plants were determined using a co-ordinate sampling system. Cover crop sampling was done at monthly intervals. The current threshold for P. ficus is 2% stem infestation, which is reached when more than 65 males per pheromone trap are recorded. Counting mealybugs on the sticky pads in the pheromone traps is time consuming. However, the number of grid blocks on the sticky pad with males present can be counted. When P. ficus males are found in 27 blocks on the sticky pad, stem inspections should commence. Due to the spatial association between P. ficus bunch and stem infestation, stem infestation could give an indication of where bunch infestation could be expected. The use of blue sticky traps for predicting halo spot damage, caused by F. occidentalis, is not recommended. The presence of thrips on the vine leaves could not give an indication of where to expect bunch damage, since thrips on the leaves and halo spot damage were not spatially associated. A suitable sampling method for F. occidentalis still needs to be developed. The monitoring system described here can only provide information on the infestation status of the vineyard. For E. acerbella, H. armigera and P. callosus, the traps and cardboard bands could be used to identify vineyards where these pests are present and therefore, where phytosanitary problems may arise. The presence of P. callosus under the bands was spatially associated with P. callosus damage and could be used as an indicator of the latter. The presence of drosophilid flies in the bunches could not be used as an indicator of the presence of E. acerbella in the bunches. If 5% bunch damage is used as an economic threshold for E. acerbella and P. callosus, there will be a good chance of not under spraying if control measures are applied at 1% bunch damage. Epichoristodes acerbella favoured more moderate constant temperatures, with constant temperatures of 28°C and above being unfavourable for development. The economic threshold for Tetranychus urticae Koch is six mites per leaf, or if presence-absence sampling is used, 11 to 29% leaf infestation. Three important predatory mites, that kept T. urticae under control, were found in the Hex River Valley, namely Euseius addoensis (Van der Merwe & Ryke), Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) and an undescribed phytoseiid in the genus Typhlodromus. Various cover crop plants served as hosts for T. urticae and predatory mites. The presence of these plants created suitable conditions for the survival of these mites and may have influenced their presence on the vine leaves. In the case of phytosanitary pests, both field and pack shed inspections can be used to conclude with a 99% degree of certainty that infestation levels in the pack shed will be 10% or less, since similar results for both methods were obtained. However, more than 20 plots will have to be inspected.

This thesis studies the water resources of Laidley Creek catchment within the Lockyer Valley where groundwater is used for intensive irrigation of crops. A holistic approach was used to consider groundwater within the total water cycle. The project mapped the geology, measured stream flows and groundwater levels, and analysed the chemistry of the waters. These data were integrated within a catchment-wide conceptual model, including historic and rainfall records. From this a numerical simulation was produced to test data validity and develop predictions of behaviour, which can support management decisions, particularly in times of variable climate.

Over the years, global agriculture has grown in acreage and productivity, accompanied by heavy use of pesticides, which also suffered from major developments. Many new molecules have emerged, with physical and chemical characteristics that provide different features and different environmental behaviors, with major changes in ecotoxicological profiles, resulting from advances and environmental pressures. This study aims to evaluate the potential for contamination of surface waters by products used in the management of cane sugar in the sub-basin of Rio Poxim / SE. The risk analysis was performed using criteria of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), GUS index, method and rate of GOSS Leach. These criteria are based on physicochemical properties of the active ingredients of each pesticide by providing coefficients of adsorption of organic carbon (Koc) and half-life (t ½) of the product in the soil, which is then applied to respective formulas. This study assessed the main products used in the cultivation of sugar cane, through a survey conducted in rural properties and trade of inputs in the region. It may be noted that the 17 studied 12 active probable risk of suffering leaching, this demonstrates the importance of monitoring the river to control both water quality and the frequency and volume of pesticides applied. These components are fitted in between I Toxicologic Classification Extremely Toxic (Paraquat) and IV Slightly toxic (metribuzin). After these results was done bi-monthly monitoring at sub-basin of Rio Poxim between the periods July 2009 to July 2010 in order to detect possible pesticide amount of sugar cane-sugar in the river and Poxim- Mirim Poxim. The results of the samples were analyzed by ITEP found that the presence of ametrina and diuron. In Rio Poxim-Mirim was verified the presence of diuron and ametrine especially in rainy periods for Diuron reaching maximum values of 0.9 and 0.2 for Ametrine and maximum values of 0.04 and 0.05 in May and July 2010. Your maximum permissible are not defined in current standards in Brazil. Therefore, the water quality in the sub-basin of Rio Poxim is influenced by seasonal rains in which there was an increased concentration of pesticides in surface water caused by soil runoff. So, it is recommended to expand the monitoring of groundwater and surface waters that supply the ETA, restore riparian vegetation in this sub-basin, including new rules update the pesticides, increase surveillance and thus arouse the attention of the competent authorities on water quality provided to the community of Greater Aracaju.
Ao longo dos anos, a agricultura mundial cresceu em produtividade e área cultivada, acompanhada pelo uso intenso de pesticidas. Foram produzidas muitas moléculas novas, com características físico-químicas que propiciam funcionalidades diferenciadas e comportamentos ambientais distintos, fruto dos avanços e pressões ambientalistas. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o potencial de contaminação de águas superficiais por produtos utilizados no manejo da cana-de-açúcar na sub-bacia do rio Poxim. Esse rio é o manancial de onde é captada a água para abastecimento da cidade de Aracaju, capital do estado de Sergipe. A análise de risco foi realizada mediante critérios da Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), índice de GUS, método de GOSS e índice de Leach. Esses critérios baseiam-se em propriedades físico-químicas dos princípios ativos de cada pesticida, mediante o fornecimento de valores de coeficiente de adsorção ao carbono orgânico (Koc) e de meia-vida (t½) do produto no solo, os quais são posteriormente aplicados às fórmulas respectivas. Neste estudo, foram avaliados os principais produtos aplicados na cultura de cana-de-açúcar, por meio de levantamento realizado em propriedades rurais e comércio de insumos da região. Observou-se que, dos 17 princípios ativos estudados, 12 sofreram risco de lixiviação, demonstrando a importância do monitoramento do rio para controle tanto da qualidade da água como da frequência e volume de pesticidas aplicado. Esses componentes são enquadrados na Classificação Toxicológica entre I (Extremamente Tóxico, como Paraquat) e IV (Pouco Tóxico, como o Metribuzim). A partir desses resultados, foi feito o monitoramento bimensal na sub-bacia do rio Poxim, durante o período de julho de 2009 a julho de 2010, com o objetivo detectar possíveis pesticidas à montante das plantações de canade- açúcar, no rio Poxim-Mirim e Poxim. Os resultados das amostras foram analisados pelo ITEP, que constatou a presença de Ametrina e Diuron. No rio Poxim-Mirim, foi constatada a presença de Diuron e Ametrina, principalmente nos períodos chuvosos, com valores máximos de 0,9 e 0,2 (μ.gL-1), para o Diuron e valores máximos de 0,04 e 0,05 (μ.gL-1), para a Ametrina, nos meses de maio e julho de 2010. Os limites máximos permitidos, para o Diuron e Ametrina, não estão definidos nas normas vigentes no Brasil.A qualidade da água na sub-bacia do rio Poxim está sendo influenciada pela sazonalidade das chuvas, visto que houve um aumento da concentração de pesticidas na água superficial, durante um período do ano, provocado pelo escoamento superficial do solo. Então, recomenda-se ampliar o monitoramento das águas subterrâneas e superficiais que abastecem a cidade; recompor a mata ciliar dessa sub-bacia; atualizar as normas, incluindo novos pesticidas; intensificar a fiscalização e, por fim, despertar a atenção das autoridades competentes para a qualidade da água fornecida para a comunidade da Grande Aracaju.

The main goal of the master thesis is design and implementation of information system for monitoring purposes. The implemented monitoring system will be able to automatically monitor devices of a certain company. This goal is preceded by strategic analysis using PEST and 7S methods for examination of current state of the company. Another part is the analysis of the efficiency of service processes using the HOS method together with the selection of a suitable monitoring system. An enhancement of service processes is designed by the Lewin model. Finally, the selected information system for monitoring was designed, implemented and tested. A deployment of the system should provide simplification of devices supervision, to save costs as well as to speed-up the response-time to unexpected situations.

The Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) (Diptera: Tephritidae), a major pest of horticulture in eastern Australia, is a relatively poor coloniser of new habitat. This thesis examines behavioural properties that might limit the ability of B. tryoni to establish new populations. As the potential for B. tryoni to establish an outbreak population may be most directly limited by mechanisms associated with dispersal and mating behaviour, these two factors were the focus of this research project. The relevance of dispersal and mating behaviour for control of outbreak populations was assessed. Dispersal (i) Dispersal patterns of males and females are not different. Dispersal of post-teneral male B. tryoni from a point within an orchard near Richmond, New South Wales, was monitored following temporally replicated releases. Application of sterile insect technique (SIT) requires knowledge of dispersal from a release point so that effective release rates can be determined. In addition, dispersal following introduction to new habitat can lead to low or negative population growth and an Allee effect. In Spring and Autumn, 2001 – 2003, three different strains of B. tryoni were released: (1) wild flies reared from infested fruit collected in the Sydney Basin; (2) a laboratory-reared strain with a colour mutation (white marks); and (3) sterile flies obtained by gamma-irradiation of a mass-reared strain. Dispersal was monitored using a grid of traps baited with the male attractant, cuelure. During the majority of releases, flies were massmarked using a self-marking technique and fluorescent pigment powder to enable identification of recaptured flies. A preliminary study found that fluorescent pigment marks had no effect on adult survival and marks did not fade significantly in the laboratory over a period of five weeks after eclosion. As cuelure repels inseminated sexually mature female B. tryoni, unbaited, coloured flat sticky traps, and black and yellow sticky sphere traps baited with a food lure (protein autolysate solution) were used to supplement traps baited with cuelure. The effectiveness of these two sticky trap types was assessed, and recaptures used to compare patterns of dispersal from a release point by male and female B. tryoni. Fluorescent yellow (chartreuse), green, and clear unbaited flat sticky traps were relatively ineffective for monitoring dispersal of sterile male and female B. tryoni, recapturing only 0.1% of released sterile flies. Monitoring dispersal with sticky ball traps baited with protein autolysate solution was more successful, with yellow spheres and black spheres recapturing 1.7% and 1.5%, respectively. Trap colour had no effect on recaptures on flat sticky traps or sticky spheres. Equal recapture rates on yellow and black sticky sphere traps suggests that the odour of yeast autolysate solution was more important than colour for attraction of post-teneral flies to traps. Using the results of recaptures on odoriferous black and yellow sticky sphere traps within one week of release, regression equations of male and female recaptures per trap were found to be similar (Figure 4-3). This is the first study to clearly indicate that post-teneral dispersal patterns of male and female B. tryoni released from a point do not differ, enabling the use of existing models to predict density of both sexes of B. tryoni following post-teneral dispersal. (ii) Males disperse further in Spring than in Autumn, but this is not temperature-related. Analysis of replicated recaptures in traps baited with cuelure revealed that dispersal of male B. tryoni in an orchard near Richmond, New South Wales, was higher in Spring than in Autumn (Figure 5-6). As the maximum daily temperature was significantly higher in Spring than in Autumn this result was unexpected, since earlier studies have found that B. tryoni disperse at the onset of cool weather in search of sheltered over-wintering sites. Dispersal of post-teneral B. tryoni may have been affected by habitat suitability; it was found that seasonal trends in dispersal could have been influenced by local habitat variables. Low mean dispersal distances in Autumn may be explained by the presence of fruiting hosts in the orchard, or the availability of resources required by over-wintering flies. There was no significant correlation between temperature and mean dispersal distance, suggesting that higher rates of dispersal cannot be explained by temperature-related increases in activity. Recapture rate per trap was significantly negatively correlated with increasing daily maximum and average temperature. This may have consequences for detection of B. tryoni outbreaks in quarantine areas due to reduced cuelure trap efficiency. (iii) Maturity and source variation affect dispersal and response to cuelure. This research indicated that most male and female B. tryoni do not disperse far from a release point, suggesting that an invading propagule would not spread far in the first generation. However, there is considerable variation in flight capability among individuals. Comparison of wild, laboratory-reared white marks, and gamma-irradiated sterile male B. tryoni indicated that mean dispersal distance and redistribution patterns were not significantly affected by fly origin. Despite no difference in dispersal distance from the release point, recaptures of wild and sterile males per Lynfield trap baited with cuelure were highest within one week after release, whereas recaptures of white marks males per trap increased in the second week. This result may offer evidence to support the hypothesis that sterile male B. tryoni respond to cuelure at an earlier age. Rearing conditions used to produce large quantities of males for sterilisation by gamma-irradiation may select for earlier sexual maturity. Mating Behaviour (i) Density and sex ratio do not affect mating, except at low densities. Demographic stochasticity in the form of sex ratio fluctuations at low population density can lead to an observed Allee effect. The effect of local group density and sex ratio on mating behaviour and male mating success of a laboratory-adapted strain of B. tryoni was examined in laboratory cages. In the laboratory-adapted strain of B. tryoni used in this study, a group of one female and one male was sufficient for a good chance of mating success. The proportion of females mated and male mating success was not significantly affected by density or sex ratio, although variability in male mating success was higher at low density. This could indicate that mating success of B. tryoni can be reduced when local group density is low owing to decreased frequency in encounters between males and females. (ii) Mass-reared males exhibit aberrant mating behaviour, but this does not reduce mating success. Strong artificial selection in mass-rearing facilities may lead to decreased competitiveness of sterile males released in SIT programs as a result of alteration or loss of ecological and behavioural traits required in the field. The effects of domestication and irradiation on the mating behaviour of males of B. tryoni were investigated by caging wild, mass-reared and sterile (mass-reared and gammairradiated) males with wild females. Mating behaviour of mass-reared males was different from that of wild males, but behaviour of wild and sterile males was similar. Mass-reared males were found to engage in mounting of other males much more frequently than wild and sterile males, and began calling significantly earlier before darkness. Male calling did not appear to be associated with female choice of mating partners, although this does not exclude the possibility that calling is a cue used by females to discriminate between mating partners. Conditions used to domesticate and rear large quantities of B. tryoni for SIT may select for an alternative male mating strategy, with mass-reared males calling earlier and exercising less discrimination between potential mating partners. Despite differences in behaviour of wild, mass-reared and sterile males, frequency of successful copulations and mating success were similar. (iii) Pheromone-calling by males was increased in larger aggregations but this did not result in significantly more female visits. Finally, large laboratory cages with artificial leks were used to investigate the importance in B. tryoni of male group size for female visitation at lek sites and initiation of male pheromone-calling. Calling propensity of male B. tryoni was increased by the presence of conspecific males. Females visited the largest lek more frequently than single males, but there was no correlation between lek size and female visitation. Female B. tryoni had a limited capacity to perceive a difference between the number of calling males; female visitation at leks was only weakly associated with male calling, suggesting that lek size and the number of pheromone-calling males may not be the only factor important in locating mates in B. tryoni. The weak, but positive correlation between male calling and female visitation may indicate that passive attraction maintains lek-mating in B. tryoni. Further studies are essential on mating behaviour of B. tryoni, including identification of male mating aggregations in the field, measurement of habitat variables associated with male aggregations, the influence of density on wild B. tryoni mating success, and the role of pheromone-calling, in order to optimise use of SIT for control of this pest.

The Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) (Diptera: Tephritidae), a major pest of horticulture in eastern Australia, is a relatively poor coloniser of new habitat. This thesis examines behavioural properties that might limit the ability of B. tryoni to establish new populations. As the potential for B. tryoni to establish an outbreak population may be most directly limited by mechanisms associated with dispersal and mating behaviour, these two factors were the focus of this research project. The relevance of dispersal and mating behaviour for control of outbreak populations was assessed. Dispersal (i) Dispersal patterns of males and females are not different. Dispersal of post-teneral male B. tryoni from a point within an orchard near Richmond, New South Wales, was monitored following temporally replicated releases. Application of sterile insect technique (SIT) requires knowledge of dispersal from a release point so that effective release rates can be determined. In addition, dispersal following introduction to new habitat can lead to low or negative population growth and an Allee effect. In Spring and Autumn, 2001 � 2003, three different strains of B. tryoni were released: (1) wild flies reared from infested fruit collected in the Sydney Basin; (2) a laboratory-reared strain with a colour mutation (white marks); and (3) sterile flies obtained by gamma-irradiation of a mass-reared strain. Dispersal was monitored using a grid of traps baited with the male attractant, cuelure. During the majority of releases, flies were massmarked using a self-marking technique and fluorescent pigment powder to enable identification of recaptured flies. A preliminary study found that fluorescent pigment marks had no effect on adult survival and marks did not fade significantly in the laboratory over a period of five weeks after eclosion. As cuelure repels inseminated sexually mature female B. tryoni, unbaited, coloured flat sticky traps, and black and yellow sticky sphere traps baited with a food lure (protein autolysate solution) were used to supplement traps baited with cuelure. The effectiveness of these two sticky trap types was assessed, and recaptures used to compare patterns of dispersal from a release point by male and female B. tryoni. Fluorescent yellow (chartreuse), green, and clear unbaited flat sticky traps were relatively ineffective for monitoring dispersal of sterile male and female B. tryoni, recapturing only 0.1% of released sterile flies. Monitoring dispersal with sticky ball traps baited with protein autolysate solution was more successful, with yellow spheres and black spheres recapturing 1.7% and 1.5%, respectively. Trap colour had no effect on recaptures on flat sticky traps or sticky spheres. Equal recapture rates on yellow and black sticky sphere traps suggests that the odour of yeast autolysate solution was more important than colour for attraction of post-teneral flies to traps. Using the results of recaptures on odoriferous black and yellow sticky sphere traps within one week of release, regression equations of male and female recaptures per trap were found to be similar (Figure 4-3). This is the first study to clearly indicate that post-teneral dispersal patterns of male and female B. tryoni released from a point do not differ, enabling the use of existing models to predict density of both sexes of B. tryoni following post-teneral dispersal. (ii) Males disperse further in Spring than in Autumn, but this is not temperature-related. Analysis of replicated recaptures in traps baited with cuelure revealed that dispersal of male B. tryoni in an orchard near Richmond, New South Wales, was higher in Spring than in Autumn (Figure 5-6). As the maximum daily temperature was significantly higher in Spring than in Autumn this result was unexpected, since earlier studies have found that B. tryoni disperse at the onset of cool weather in search of sheltered over-wintering sites. Dispersal of post-teneral B. tryoni may have been affected by habitat suitability; it was found that seasonal trends in dispersal could have been influenced by local habitat variables. Low mean dispersal distances in Autumn may be explained by the presence of fruiting hosts in the orchard, or the availability of resources required by over-wintering flies. There was no significant correlation between temperature and mean dispersal distance, suggesting that higher rates of dispersal cannot be explained by temperature-related increases in activity. Recapture rate per trap was significantly negatively correlated with increasing daily maximum and average temperature. This may have consequences for detection of B. tryoni outbreaks in quarantine areas due to reduced cuelure trap efficiency. (iii) Maturity and source variation affect dispersal and response to cuelure. This research indicated that most male and female B. tryoni do not disperse far from a release point, suggesting that an invading propagule would not spread far in the first generation. However, there is considerable variation in flight capability among individuals. Comparison of wild, laboratory-reared white marks, and gamma-irradiated sterile male B. tryoni indicated that mean dispersal distance and redistribution patterns were not significantly affected by fly origin. Despite no difference in dispersal distance from the release point, recaptures of wild and sterile males per Lynfield trap baited with cuelure were highest within one week after release, whereas recaptures of white marks males per trap increased in the second week. This result may offer evidence to support the hypothesis that sterile male B. tryoni respond to cuelure at an earlier age. Rearing conditions used to produce large quantities of males for sterilisation by gamma-irradiation may select for earlier sexual maturity. Mating Behaviour (i) Density and sex ratio do not affect mating, except at low densities. Demographic stochasticity in the form of sex ratio fluctuations at low population density can lead to an observed Allee effect. The effect of local group density and sex ratio on mating behaviour and male mating success of a laboratory-adapted strain of B. tryoni was examined in laboratory cages. In the laboratory-adapted strain of B. tryoni used in this study, a group of one female and one male was sufficient for a good chance of mating success. The proportion of females mated and male mating success was not significantly affected by density or sex ratio, although variability in male mating success was higher at low density. This could indicate that mating success of B. tryoni can be reduced when local group density is low owing to decreased frequency in encounters between males and females. (ii) Mass-reared males exhibit aberrant mating behaviour, but this does not reduce mating success. Strong artificial selection in mass-rearing facilities may lead to decreased competitiveness of sterile males released in SIT programs as a result of alteration or loss of ecological and behavioural traits required in the field. The effects of domestication and irradiation on the mating behaviour of males of B. tryoni were investigated by caging wild, mass-reared and sterile (mass-reared and gammairradiated) males with wild females. Mating behaviour of mass-reared males was different from that of wild males, but behaviour of wild and sterile males was similar. Mass-reared males were found to engage in mounting of other males much more frequently than wild and sterile males, and began calling significantly earlier before darkness. Male calling did not appear to be associated with female choice of mating partners, although this does not exclude the possibility that calling is a cue used by females to discriminate between mating partners. Conditions used to domesticate and rear large quantities of B. tryoni for SIT may select for an alternative male mating strategy, with mass-reared males calling earlier and exercising less discrimination between potential mating partners. Despite differences in behaviour of wild, mass-reared and sterile males, frequency of successful copulations and mating success were similar. (iii) Pheromone-calling by males was increased in larger aggregations but this did not result in significantly more female visits. Finally, large laboratory cages with artificial leks were used to investigate the importance in B. tryoni of male group size for female visitation at lek sites and initiation of male pheromone-calling. Calling propensity of male B. tryoni was increased by the presence of conspecific males. Females visited the largest lek more frequently than single males, but there was no correlation between lek size and female visitation. Female B. tryoni had a limited capacity to perceive a difference between the number of calling males; female visitation at leks was only weakly associated with male calling, suggesting that lek size and the number of pheromone-calling males may not be the only factor important in locating mates in B. tryoni. The weak, but positive correlation between male calling and female visitation may indicate that passive attraction maintains lek-mating in B. tryoni. Further studies are essential on mating behaviour of B. tryoni, including identification of male mating aggregations in the field, measurement of habitat variables associated with male aggregations, the influence of density on wild B. tryoni mating success, and the role of pheromone-calling, in order to optimise use of SIT for control of this pest.

La confusió sexual mitjançant feromones és una tàctica de control de plagues que, en impedir l'aparellament entre arnes, ha ajudat enormement a reduir els danys en cultius, així com l'ús de pesticides. La necessitat de disminuir els costos associats a la seva aplicació ha fomentat el desenvolupament de dispensadors automàtics o puffers. Aquests puffers alliberen una gran quantitat de feromona mentre els insectes estan sexualment actius. No obstant això, la falta d'informació sobre la biologia i el comportament dels insectes i de l'efecte que alguns factors externs tenen sobre la seva periodicitat diària impedeixen un correcte ajust dels puffers, la qual cosa pot suposar una disminució de la seva eficàcia en camp. A pesar que el parany automàtic pot servir per a determinar aquests períodes d'activitat i decidir quan alliberar feromona, els paranys disponibles comercialment no confereixen una resolució temporal suficient per a esbossar l'activitat dels insectes, que pot estar reduïda a unes poques hores. Per a la meva tesi hem dissenyat i posat a prova un parany assequible i fàcil de construir que m'ha permès determinar el vol sexual diari i estacional de Grapholita molesta (Busk) a partir de fotografies preses amb una gran resolució temporal. Tant en paranys encebats amb feromona sintètica com en paranys encebats amb femelles verges, la majoria de les captures van tenir lloc entre 3 hores abans i una hora després de la posta de sol, indicant una activitat diürna crepuscular en l'espècie. El tipus d'esquer (septe de feromona o femella verge) no va afectar al període de vol diari. Així i tot, les baixes temperatures van avançar els vols, mentre que les temperatures més altes retardaven el vol fins a hores pròximes a la posta de sol. Aquests resultats destaquen la necessitat de programar els puffers perquè alliberin la feromona en diferents hores al llarg de l'any, seguint la corba de vol dels insectes. Fent-t'ho així augmentaria l'eficàcia d'aquest sistema en camp, al mateix temps que reduiria el cost de la seva aplicació i evitaria un desaprofitament de feromona. Per a explicar els mecanismes subjacents al funcionament de la confusió sexual en el control de plagues, la majoria dels estudis s'han centrat en l'efecte de grans nivells de feromona sintètica sobre els mascles. Les femelles, d'altra banda, s'han considerat insensibles a la seva pròpia feromona. No obstant això, una revisió recent indica que hi ha una alteració notable en el comportament de les femelles en ser exposades a la seva pròpia feromona, un fenomen conegut com a “autodetecció”. Malgrat això, no hi ha proves que confirmin que les femelles siguin capaces de detectar la seva pròpia feromona a nivell de les neurones olfactòries. Mitjançant tècniques d'electrofisiologia, he comparat la resposta de les neurones olfactòries allotjades en sensilla trichodea de mascles i femelles a compostos biològicament rellevants per a G. molesta, una espècie en la qual s'ha descrit autodetecció. Una anàlisi d'agrupament jeràrquic indica un sistema olfactori perifèric radicalment diferent en cada sexe, la qual cosa podria estar relacionat amb les diferents necessitats biològiques de cadascun. Mentre que en els mascles no hi havia cèl·lules que responguessin a la seva pròpia feromona de festeig, cinamato d'etil, la majoria (63%) van respondre específicament als compostos de feromona sexual majoritari i minoritari (Z8-12:Ac i E8-12:Ac, respectivament). La freqüència de cadascun d'aquests tipus de cèl·lules és similar al ràtio de mescla de feromones de les femelles. En femelles, un 6% de les cèl·lules responien a volàtils de planta i un 3% són específiques per a la feromona de festeig dels mascles. A pesar que algunes cèl·lules eren estimulades per la feromona sexual de les femelles, aquestes respostes eren sempre menors que les de mascles i, a més, responien a més composts. De fet, l'agrupació jeràrquica les inclou en un grup (91%) de neurones inespecífiques. L'absència en femelles de receptors per a la feromona sexual i la seva baixa sensibilitat a la mateixa els impediria detectar variacions en les ràtios de feromona en la naturalesa. Per tant, qualsevol alteració del comportament després d'una exposició a feromona coespecífic en el laboratori no podria ser atribuïda a un reconeixement de la pròpia espècie. El comportament de les femelles sí que es pot veure alterat per altres senyals més rellevants per a les seves necessitats biològiques. L'olor característica d'una planta pot provocar un efecte diferent en femelles que provenen d'hostes diferents. En la meva tesi he analitzat respostes electroantenogràfiques de mascles i femelles adults de Lobesia botrana (Denis et Schiffermüller) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) recollides en la fase larvària de la vinya (Vitis vinífera L.) o del torvisco (Daphne gnidium L.) a volàtils específics i compartits dels hostes, així com a compostos de feromona sexual. Els meus resultats indiquen que la detecció de feromona no difereix entre totes dues poblacions. A més, la detecció de volàtils de planta no es veu afectada pel sexe o la planta de desenvolupament larvari. Poblacions polífagues desenvolupant-se en un hoste concret semblen retenir la capacitat per a respondre als volàtils d'altres hostes. Aquesta falta de diferències estadístiques en la diferenciació de compostos olfactoris al nivell de l'antena no implica que els individus que provenen de cada hoste mostrin preferències similars davant tots dos conjunts de volàtils, atès que les respostes biològiques depenen en última instància de la integració cerebral de cada individu. Així i tot, és important comprendre la capacitat dels insectes polífags per a reproduir-se o buscar aliments i refugis alternatius a l'hora de determinar els límits topogràfics de la confusió sexual. La meva tesi serveix per a entendre millor les repercussions que alguns factors ambientals poden tenir sobre el funcionament d'una tècnica complexa com és la confusió sexual. A pesar que l'ús de pesticides s'ha reduït, encara ens valem d'aquests químics per a evitar el descontrol de les plagues, i és necessari conèixer les variables que afecten l'eficàcia de les alternatives sostenibles.
La confusión sexual mediante feromonas es una táctica de control de plagas que, al impedir el apareamiento entre polillas, ha ayudado enormemente a reducir los daños en cultivos, así como el uso de pesticidas. La necesidad de disminuir los costes asociados a su aplicación ha fomentado el desarrollo de dispensadores automáticos o puffers. Estos puffers liberan una gran cantidad de feromona mientras los insectos están sexualmente activos. Sin embargo, la falta de información sobre la biología y el comportamiento de los insectos y del efecto que algunos factores externos tienen sobre su periodicidad diaria impiden un correcto ajuste de los puffers, lo que puede suponer una disminución de su eficacia en campo. A pesar de que el trampeo automático puede servir para determinar estos periodos de actividad y decidir cuándo liberar feromona, las trampas disponibles comercialmente no confieren una resolución temporal suficiente para bosquejar la actividad de los insectos, que puede estar reducida a unas pocas horas. Para mi tesis hemos diseñado y puesto a prueba una trampa asequible y fácil de construir que me ha permitido determinar el vuelo sexual diario y estacional de Grapholita molesta (Busk) a partir de fotografías tomadas con una gran resolución temporal. Tanto en trampas cebadas con feromona sintética como en trampas cebadas con hembras vírgenes, la mayoría de las capturas tuvieron lugar entre 3 horas antes y una hora después de la puesta de sol, indicando una actividad diurna crepuscular en la especie. El tipo de cebo (septo de feromona o hembra virgen) no afectó el periodo de vuelo diario. Aun así, las bajas temperaturas avanzaron los vuelos, mientras que las temperaturas más altas retrasaban el vuelo hasta horas cercanas a la puesta de sol. Estos resultados destacan la necesidad de programar los puffers para que liberen la feromona a distintas horas a lo largo del año, siguiendo la curva de vuelo de los insectos. Hacerlo aumentaría la eficacia de este sistema en campo, al tiempo que reduciría el coste de su aplicación y evitaría un desperdicio de feromona. Para explicar los mecanismos que subyacen al funcionamiento de la confusión sexual en el control de plagas, la mayoría de los estudios se han centrado en el efecto de grandes niveles de feromona sintética sobre los machos. Las hembras, por otro lado, se han considerado insensibles a su propia feromona. Sin embargo, una revisión reciente indica que hay una alteración notable en el comportamiento de las hembras al ser expuestas a su propia feromona, un fenómeno conocido como “autodetección”. A pesar de ello, no hay pruebas que confirmen que las hembras sean capaces de detectar su propia feromona a nivel de las neuronas olfativas. Mediante técnicas de electrofisiología, he comparado la respuesta de las neuronas olfativas alojadas en sensilla trichodea de machos y hembras a compuestos biológicamente relevantes para G. molesta, una especie en la que se ha descrito autodetección. Un análisis de agrupamiento jerárquico indica un sistema olfativo periférico radicalmente diferente en cada sexo, lo que podría estar relacionado con las diferentes necesidades biológicas de cada uno. Mientras que en los machos no había células que respondieran a su propia feromona de cortejo, cinamato de etilo, la mayoría (63%) respondieron específicamente a los compuestos de feromona sexual mayoritario y minoritario (Z8-12:Ac y E8-12:Ac, respectivamente). La frecuencia de cada uno de estos tipos de células es similar al ratio de mezcla de feromonas de las hembras. En hembras, un 6% de las células respondían a volátiles de planta y un 3% son específicas para la feromona de cortejo de los machos. A pesar de que algunas células eran estimuladas por la feromona sexual de las hembras, estas respuestas eran siempre menores que las de machos y, además, respondían a más compuestos. De hecho, la agrupación jerárquica las incluye en un grupo (91%) de neuronas inespecíficas. La ausencia en hembras de receptores para la feromona sexual y su baja sensibilidad a la misma les impediría detectar variaciones en las ratios de feromona en la naturaleza. Por lo tanto, cualquier alteración del comportamiento tras una exposición a feromona conspecífica en el laboratorio no podría ser atribuida a un reconocimiento de la propia especie. El comportamiento de las hembras sí que puede verse alterado por otras señales más relevantes para sus necesidades biológicas. El olor característico de una planta puede provocar un efecto diferente en hembras que provienen de huéspedes distintos. En mi tesis he analizado respuestas electroantenográficas de machos y hembras adultos de Lobesia botrana (Denis et Schiffermüller) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) recogidas en fase larvaria de la vid (Vitis vinífera L.) o del torvisco (Daphne gnidium L.) a volátiles específicos y compartidos de los huéspedes, así como a compuestos de feromona sexual. Mis resultados indican que la detección de feromona no difiere entre ambas poblaciones. Además, la detección de volátiles de planta no se ve afectada por el sexo o la planta de desarrollo larvario. Poblaciones polífagas desarrollándose en un huésped concreto parecen retener la capacidad para responder a los volátiles de otros huéspedes. Esta falta de diferencias estadísticas en la diferenciación de compuestos olfativos al nivel de la antena no implica, sin embargo, que los individuos que provienen de cada huésped muestren preferencias similares ante ambos conjuntos de volátiles, dado que las respuestas biológicas dependen en última instancia de la integración cerebral de cada individuo. Aun así, es importante comprender la capacidad de los insectos polífagos para reproducirse o buscar alimentos y refugios alternativos a la hora de determinar los límites topográficos de la confusión sexual. Mi tesis sirve para entender mejor las repercusiones que algunos factores ambientales pueden tener sobre el funcionamiento de una técnica compleja como es la confusión sexual. A pesar de que el uso de pesticidas se ha reducido, aún nos valemos de estos químicos para evitar el descontrol de las plagas, y es necesario conocer las variables que afectan a la eficacia de las alternativas sostenibles.
Pheromone-mediated mating disruption (MD), a pest management tactic that prevents moth mating, has helped reduce insecticide use and crop damage in agriculture. The need to decrease the economic and labor costs associated with its application has encouraged the development of automated dispensers. These puffers disrupt mating behavior of moth pests by releasing pheromone during the time when insects are active. However, the lack of a firm basis on the biology and behavior of moths, and how external factors can alter their periodicity, prevent the proper adjustment of the puffers, and may result in a decrease of their efficacy in the field. Although automated traps can be used to determine these activity periods and adjust puffer pheromone release, commercially automated traps do not offer enough temporal resolution to outline insect activity periods, which usually last one or a few hours. In my thesis, we have designed and tested a cheap and easy to build high temporal resolution image-sensor insect trap. Based on captures in traps lured with synthetic pheromone and virgin females I have determined the daily and seasonal Grapholita molesta male sexual responsiveness. Although the lure did not influence the daily and seasonal sexual responsiveness period of Grapholita molesta (Busk), the flight activity within 24 h circadian rhythm is often influenced by sunset time and temperature. Most captures were registered between 3 hours before and 1 hour after sunset, indicating a diurnal to crepuscular activity of the species. Lure type (septum or female) did not influence the daily time of flight. While low temperatures led to an earlier flight in males, warmer temperatures resulted in flights closer to the sunset time. To reduce the cost of MD and avoid wasting pheromone, puffers should be programmed to spray at a variable time throughout the season, following the curve of activity of the insects. In order to explain the mechanisms of pheromone-mediated MD in pest management, most studies have focused on the effect high levels of synthetic pheromones have on the behavior of males, whereas females were considered unresponsive to their own pheromone. However, a recent review shows that there is substantial behavioral evidence that female moths respond to their own sex pheromone. Nevertheless, the evidence for sex pheromone "autodetection" at the olfactory receptor neuron (ORN) level is limited. By means of electrophysiological methods I compared the responses of ORNs housed in antennal sensilla trichodea to an array of biologically relevant compounds of male and female G. molesta, a species with reported pheromone autodetection. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) indicated a radically different peripheric olfactory system between sexes that could be related to their specific ecological roles. In males no cells responded to their own courtship pheromone ethyl trans-cinnamate, while most (63%) were tuned specifically to the major or minor pheromone compounds (Z8-12:Ac and E8-12:Ac, respectively), their relative abundance being similar to their ratio in the female pheromone. Plant volatile cells were relatively frequent in females (6%) and 3% of the female ORNs were also tuned to the male-produced courtship pheromone. Several female cells were excited by female-produced sex pheromone, but their responses were generally lower than in males, and they responded broadly to the other compounds as well, so the HCA grouped them in a large cluster (91%) of "unspecific" female neurons. The lack of differential sex pheromone receptor neurons in females, and their relatively low sensitivity to sex pheromone would not allow females to detect variations in the pheromone ratios in nature. Thus, the alteration of their behavior after exposure to conspecific pheromone under laboratory conditions does not appear to be species-specific. Female behavior can nonetheless be specifically altered by other cues more relevant to their biological needs. The headspace of different plants may induce a different effect on females stemming from different hosts. I analyzed electroantennogram (EAG) responses of male and female adults of the European grapevine moth Lobesia botrana (Denis et Schiffermüller) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) collected as larvae from grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) and flax-leaved daphne (Daphne gnidium L.) to specific and shared plant volatiles of the two hosts, as well as to sex pheromone compounds. My results indicate that pheromone detection did not differ between the two populations. Furthermore, host-plant volatile detection was not affected by sex or larval host plant. Polyphagous populations developing on a specific host seem therefore able to detect the plant volatiles of alternative hosts. However, lack of statistical differences in odor discrimination at the antennal level does not imply that insects from each host would show similar preference for the two host-specific odor blends, since behavioral responses to plant odors require brain integration of the antennal input of each individual odorant in a blend. Differences in plant preference could still occur if there are no differences at the EAG level. Understanding the potential ability of a polyphagous moth to reproduce or find food and shelter in alternative hosts is important to assess the topographical limitations of MD. My thesis serves to understand a bit better the complex functioning of a technique like MD and the repercussions that some environmental factors can have in its proper functioning. Even though pesticide use has been reduced, we still rely on these chemicals to prevent pest outburst. A more deep and rigorous study of the variables affecting the efficacy environmentally friendly alternatives should be conducted.

Foi feita uma revisão bibliográfia sobre a aplicação da amostragem seqüencial em manejos de pragas. A metodologia para o desenvolvimento de planos de amostragem seqüencial, foi baseada na teoria de Wald. Verificou-se que a distribuição binomial ajustou-se aos dados de presença-ausência da cochonilha-branca Aulacaspis tubercularis na cultura da manga, obtidos em duas propriedades localizadas na região de Jaboticabal, interior do estado de São Paulo. Seis planos de amostragem seqüencial foram elaborados para o monitoramento dessa praga, três com níveis de erros iguais a 0; 20 e outros três com níveis de erros iguais a 0; 10. Dentre esses, foram elaborados: dois planos para a amostragem em ramos durante o período vegetativo, dois para a amostragem em ramos durante o período de frutificação e outros dois planos para a amostragem em frutos. Nos planos de amostragem seqüencial para ramos no período vegetativo foram utilizados níveis de segurança iguais a 0; 35 e níveis de dano econômico iguais a 0; 50. Já no período de frutificação, houve um rigor maior quanto ao uso desses níveis, devido à presença de frutos. Foram utilizados níveis de segurança iguais a 0; 20 para ramos e 0; 05 para frutos, e níveis de dano econômico iguais a 0; 30 e 0; 15 para ramos e frutos, respectivamente. Foram construídas tabelas para o processo de amostragem em campo, facilitando assim, o trabalho do amostrador. Com o uso dessas tabelas o produtor poderá decidir rapidamente se há, ou não, a necessidade de se realizar o controle dessa praga.
A bibliographical revision on the application of the sequential sampling in management of pests was made. The methodology for the development of plans of sequential sampling, was based on the theory of Wald. It was verified that the binomial distribution adjusted to data of presence-absence of the mango scale Aulacaspis tubercularis on mango crop, gotten in two properties located at the region of Jaboticabal, interior of the state of São Paulo. Six plans of sequential sampling was elaborated for the monitoring of this pest, three with errors levels equal to 0; 20 and others three with errors levels equals to 0; 10. Amongst these, they was elaborated: two plans for the sampling in branches during the vegetative period, two for the sampling in branches during the period of fructification and others two plans for the sampling in fruits. In the plans of sequential sampling for branches in the vegetative period security level equal to 0; 35 and economic damage level equal to 0; 50 had been used. Already in longer period of fructification, had a bigger severity how much to the use of these levels, due to presence of fruits. Security levels equals to 0; 20 for branches and 0; 05 for fruits, and economic damage levels equals to 0; 30 and 0; 15 for branches and fruits, respectively, had been used. Tables for the sampling process in field, thus facilitating, the sampler's work was constructed. With the use of these tables the producer will be able to decide quickly has itself, or not, the necessity of if carrying through the control from this pest.

The European House Borer (EHB) is a timber pest which attacks dead timber. This pest can cause large scale damage to wooden structures and has already spread throughout many parts of the world. The larvae usually remains undetected for many years while it busily inflicts irrevocable and substantial harm to the timber. Since the pest was first discovered in Western Australia in 2004 the Government has endeavoured to extinguish its existence. In this research, an electronic sensor has been developed in order to detect the presence of EHB larvae in timber. Only an accurate detection can allow for selective treatment, which is required in order to eliminate the pest. In the past no reliable detection methods were available. However, with the developed acoustic sensing device, non-destructive and reliable detection of EHB is now possible. The developed handheld device is capable of analysing the acoustic emissions from a timber structure which allows for determining whether or not EHB is present in its vicinity. Depending on the level of the infestation, the detection can take as little as a few seconds. The tests, which have been carried out on infested timber beams in a secured laboratory, show a reliable detection of the larvae over a distance of several metres. The research discusses the challenges encountered throughout the development of the acoustic sensor and the limitations of the technology. Also presented are other potential applications for the device and areas which require further research in order to improve the efficiency of the sensor.

Thesis (MScAgric)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Lucerne is the most important pasture and fodder crop in the winter rainfall area of South Africa. Various pests are known to cause damage to this crop. The use of the sweep net for monitoring pests is a cheap, easy and quick technique. If the sweep net is suitable for the lucerne pests in South Africa, potential pest status can be determined easily and quickly and the necessary precautionary measures taken to prevent crop losses. From a managerial point of view, it is also important to know the composition of the insect community in order to follow practices in which the number of beneficial insects can be increased and the injurious insects decreased. Therefore a study was done to quantify the use of the sweep net as a survey technique for monitoring pests on established lucerne stands. Insect diversity was also determined to obtain information on the insect families and guilds on lucerne. The redlegged earth mite, due to its importance as a pest, and the Anystis mite, important as a predator, were also included. The sweep net proved to be suitable for the sampling of the main lucerne pests. If a 29 cm diameter sweep net is swiped once per pace for six long paces, twelve systematically chosen sampling units are recommended for the lucerne earth flea and aphids. It is not necessary to differentiate amongst the three aphid species, or between the winged and unwinged aphids. Actual counts should be used instead of absence-presence data. Instead of counting all the insects in a sample, sub-samples can be taken. Operational characteristic curves can be used to determine the risk involved in the decision not to intervene, for example by spraying or grazing. Recommendations for monitoring and the accuracy of control decisions for the redlegged earth mite, Sitona weevil and lucerne butterfly can only be made after threshold values have been determined. The pea aphid, bluegreen aphid and lucerne earth flea showed peaks in their population levels during spring. Peak numbers of the spotted alfalfa aphid occurred during late summer and autumn. The Sitona weevil and lucerne butterfly numbers reached peak levels during late spring and early summer. For all pests population levels were dramatically reduced after grazing or cutting of the plantings. Therefore, these cultivation practices provided good control. The herbivores made up more than 85% of the insect community in lucerne. The largest herbivorous families, in terms of the number of individuals per family, were the Aphididae and Sminthuridae. These two families contain the main lucerne pests, the pea aphid, bluegreen aphid, spotted alfalfa aphid and the lucerne earth flea. The largest predatory family was the Anystidae, represented by the Anystis mite, the most important predator of the red legged earth mite and lucerne earth flea. Another well represented predatory family was the Coccinellidae, containing natural enemies of the aphids. The dryland plantings had a higher percentage of predators than the irrigated lucerne. The most important parasitaids were those in the superfamily Chalcidoidea and in the family Braconidae. The main detritivores were springtails in the suborder Arthropleona, insects in the families Mycetophilidae on irrigated lucerne, and Mycetophagidae on dryland lucerne. The most abundant visitors were in the families Chironomidae, Drosophilidae and Tephritidae. The dryland plantings had a lower percentage of visitors than the irrigated plantings. The number of insect families, as well as the number of individuals per family, was lower at the dryland plantings than at the irrigated plantings. The vast majority of insect families found on lucerne were collected during the one-year sampling period. A lower diversity was found where grazing was more severe, and there was a negative relationship between diversity and evenness.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Lusern is die belangrikste wei- en voergewas 10 die winterreëngebied van Suid- Afrika. Hierdie gewas word deur 'n verskeidenheid plae aangeval. Die gebruik van die swaainet vir die monitering van plae is 'n goedkoop, maklike en vinnige tegniek. lndien die swaainet geskik is vir die betrokke plae in Suid-Afrika, kan potensiële plaagstatus van die plae dus maklik en vinnig bepaal word en die nodige voorsorgmaatreëls getref word om verliese te voorkom. Vanuit 'n bestuursoogpunt is dit ook belangrik om te weet wat die samestelling van die insekgemeenskap is sodat praktyke gevolg kan word waardeur die getal voordelige insekte verhoog en nadelige insekte verlaag word. Gevolglik is 'n studie uitgevoer om die gebruik van die swaainet te kwantifiseer as 'n monsternemingsmetode vir die monitering van plae op gevestigde lusernstande. Insekdiversiteit is ook bepaal ten einde inligting te bekom oor die insekfamilies en -gildes op lusern. Die lusernerdvlooi en swartsandmyt, vanweë hul belang as plae, en die Anystis-roofmyt, vanweë sy belang as predator, is ook ingesluit. Die swaainet blyk geskik te wees vir die monitering van die. vernaamste lusernplae. Wanneer 'n 29 cm deursnee swaainet vir ses lang treë een keer per tree geswaai word, word 12 sistematies gekose steekproefnemingseenhede vir die lusernerdvlooi en plantluise aanbeveel. Daar hoef nie onderskeid tussen die plantluisspesies en tussen gevleuelde en ongevleuelde plantluise getref te word nie. Daar moet gebruik gemaak word van werklike insektellings en nie van aanwesigheid-afwesigheid data nie. In plaas van om al die insekte in 'n monster te tel, kan submonsters geneem word. Operasionele karakteristieke kurwes kan gebruik word om die risiko verbonde aan die besluit om nie op te tree, deur byvoorbeeld te spuit of bewei nie, te bepaal. Vir die swartsandmyt, Sitona-snuitkewer en lusernskoenlapper moet drempelwaardes eers vasgestel word voordat aanbevelings vir monitering en die akkuraatheid van besluite rakende beheer, gegee kan word. Vir die ertjieluis, blougroenluis en lusernerdvlooi het die bevolkingsvlakke 'n piek in die lente bereik. Die gevlekte lusernluis se piekgetalle was hoofsaaklik in die laat somer en herfs. Die Sitona-snuitkewer en lusernskoenlapper het piekgetalle gehad in die laat lente en vroeë somer. Vir al die plae het bevolkingspieke drasties afgeneem nadat die aanplantings bewei of gesny is. Hierdie verbouingspraktyke blyk dus goeie beheer te verskaf. Die herbivore op lusern het meer as 85% van die insekgemeenskap beslaan. Die grootste herbivoorfamilies, in terme van aantal individue per familie, was die Aphididae en Sminthuridae. Hierdie twee families bevat die vernaamste lusernplae, naamlik die ertjieluis, blougroenluis, gevlekte lusernluis en lusernerdvlooi. Die grootste predatoriese familie was die Anystidae, wat verteenwoordig is deur die Anystis-roofmyt. 'n belangrike predator van die swartsandmyt en lusernerdvlooi. Nog 'n predatoriese familie wat goed verteenwoordig was, was die Coccinellidae, natuurlike vyande van plantluise. Die droëland aanplantings het 'n hoër persentasie predatore gehad as die besproeide lusern. Die belangrikste parasitoïede aanwesig was dié in die superfamilie Chalcidoidea en familie Braconidae. Die vernaamste detritivore was erdvlooie in die suborde Arthropleona, insekte in die families Mycetophilidae by besproeide lusern, en Mycetophagidae by droëland lusern. Die volopste besoekers was lede van die families Chironomidae, Drosophilidae en Tephritidae. Die droëland aanplantings het 'n laer persentasie besoekers gehad as die besproeide lusern. Die aantal insekfamilies, asook die aantal individue per familie, was laer by die droëland aanplantings as by die besproeide aanplantings. Die oorgrote meerderheid insekfamilies wat op lusern voorkom, is gedurende die een jaar opnameperiode waargeneem. 'n Laer insekdiversiteit is gevind waar beweiding strawwer was, en daar was 'n negatiewe verband tussen diversiteit en gelykmatigheid.

The functional hydrological components of the ombrotrophic mire water balance are, considered in terms of their ecological relevance. It is proposed that numerical models provide a suitable framework for mire hydro-systems and their potential as quantitative tools for mire restoration and conservation management is demonstrated. Existing models previously applied to mires are reviewed. The USGS 3-D groundwater model MODFLOW is selected and a new shallow surface and groundwater model GSHAW5 is developed for application to mires. Extensive ecohydrological case studies are undertaken at two mire sites and the models are tested using data collected at the sites. Field studies at Wedholme Flow, Cumbria, extended over four years and the data collected were combined with historical records to form a 10-year hydrological data set. Studies at Trough End Bog, Northumbria, extended over a 3-year period. Topographic, soil and vegetation surveys were carried out at both sites. Watertable fluctuation was recorded manually on a weekly basis and electronically at a 20-minute interval along with automatic meteorological records. New hydrometric techniques were developed in the Surface Water Monitoring Plot, SWaMP, constructed at Trough End to record hydrological exchanges within the hummock-hollow complex of the mire acrotelm. The models operate on very different spatial and temporal scales. GSHAW5 is applied to reproduce ground and surface exchanges in the acrotel. MODFLOW is used to simulate large-scale exchanges in undisturbed areas and between regenerating and active peat cutting areas. Predictive MODFLOW simulations are used to examine the impact of different peat cutting regimes on mire hydrology and potential regeneration. Both models produce simulations strongly correlated to observed hydrological exchanges. The usefulness of numerical models as tools for mire management is considered in light of the model test results from both case studies. It is concluded that both models provide insight and quantitative estimates of hydrological exchanges not possible by other means. MODFLOW simulations reveal considerable water loss from the Wedholme Flow mire reserve to an active peat cutting area. Simulations of Trough End bog reveal hydrological acrotelm processes strongly related to vegetation assemblages. An extensified GSHAW5 acrotelm model is recommended for the simulation of intact ombrotrophic mires.

The Eurasian spruce bark beetle Dendroctonus micans is a major pest of spruce which is expanding its range in France, Turkey, England and Wales. Its monospecific predator Rhizophagus grandis has followed naturally the bark beetle into most areas and, since the 1960s, has also been mass-produced and successfully released within newly infested locations.

In this scope, the development of an effective trapping method would be very useful to assess the bark-beetle presence at previously uninfested sites, or predator establishment after release or natural spread. We demonstrated the efficiency of oxygenated monoterpenes-baited kairomone traps to monitor R. grandis in various epidemiological conditions, including areas localized behind or at the limit of the pest’s distribution, or in areas where artificial releases were performed. Because the predator is strictly species-specific, another exciting possibility offered by the kairomone trapping is the indirect monitoring of the pest itself in areas of unknown status (e.g. areas under colonization, or considered as at risk at medium- term).

R. grandis is also considered as one of the most valuable natural enemies to strike aggressive North-American Dendroctonus species. In this respect, R. grandis has been recently applied in a neo-classical biological program against the red turpentine beetle D. valens, which invaded China from North America in the late 1990’s. In laboratory tests conducted on pine logs in the laboratory, or on living pine trees in the field, we demonstrated that R. grandis adults can successfully enter and reproduce into D. valens galleries.

In Europe, R. grandis is the only species regularly found in the brood systems of D. micans, where adults and larvae attack the gregarious larvae of their prey. In such enclosed systems, R. grandis’ functional response is therefore influenced by various interrelated components, such as the prey density, the predator density, or the prey distribution. Measuring the predator’s success in terms of larval survival and growth rates, we demonstrated the time spent by R. grandis larvae to wound and kill their prey to be the main factor limiting their development. This factor may be considerably influenced by the proportions of diseased, wounded or molting prey rise in the brood system, for instance as a result of an increase in prey density, or due to the presence of conspecific adults (which wound their prey but do not consume them entirely). Furthermore, our tests suggest that no cannibalism or noticeable intraspecific competition occurred between R. grandis larvae, whereas some lighter mode of competition probably took place.

R. grandis also exhibits a reproductive numerical response to prey density, which mainly relies on the perception of chemical stimuli and inhibitors released in the bark beetle brood system. In the current study, we developed a non-destructive approach to follow the dynamics of volatile compound production, using sequential sample collection on SPME fibers. Our tests demonstrated that the larval activity of D. micans or D. valens strongly influences the release of some oxygenated monoterpenes. However, our attempts to correlate the relative quantities of some identified chemicals to offspring production were less successful as it concerns the identification of potential oviposition stimuli and inhibitors.

The problematic rose by the progression of D. micans, as well as detailed results of each of the described above studies are discussed in the two published papers and the three manuscripts forming this thesis. Bringing all these studies together, several perspectives are also presented in the general discussion.

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Ravageur des épicéas, Dendroctonus micans est toujours en voie d’extension en France, en Turquie, en Angleterre et au Pays de Galles. Dans la plupart de ces zones, le dendroctone est accompagné de manière naturelle par son prédateur monospécifique, Rhizophagus grandis. Depuis les années 1960, le prédateur a également fait l’objet d’une production de masse et de programmes de lâchers dans les zones d’arrivée récente du scolyte.

Dans le cadre de la lutte biologique contre D. micans, les gestionnaires forestiers doivent donc estimer au plus tôt la présence du ravageur dans des zones jusque là indemnes, mais également vérifier l’établissement du prédateur par progression naturelle ou résultant d’introductions délibérées. Dans la présente étude, nous avons démontré l’efficacité de pièges d’interception appatés à l’aide de monoterpènes oxygénés pour la capture de R. grandis. Celle-ci s’est faite dans différentes conditions épidémiologiques, incluant notamment des zones situées en arrière du front de progression du scolyte et des zones où des lâchers artificiels ont été réalisés. Comme R. grandis est strictement inféodé au dendroctone, un autre avantage de la technique est la possibilité de réaliser un dépistage indirect du ravageur dans les zones où son statut est incertain (zones en cours de colonisation, ou considérées comme à risque à moyen terme).

Par ailleurs, R. grandis est également considéré comme un des meilleurs ennemis naturels potentiels pour lutter contre d’autres espèces de Dendroctonus aggressifs. Dans cette optique, R. grandis a été récemment utilisé dans un programme de lute biologique contre D. valens, ravageur invasif arrivé en Chine dans la fin des années 1990 en provenance d’Amérique du Nord. Nous avons démontré la capacité de R. grandis à s’introduire et à se reproduire dans les galeries de D. valens lors de tests de laboratoire, mais aussi sur des arbres vivants en pinèdes.

En Europe, R. grandis est strictement inféodé aux galeries de D. micans, où larves et adultes du prédateur s’attaquent aux larves grégaires du scolyte. Dans ce système clos, la réponse fonctionelle de R. grandis est influencée par plusieurs facteurs étroitement corrélés, la densité de proies, la densité de prédateurs, et la distribution des proies. En mesurant l’efficacité de prédation de R. grandis en termes de survie des larves et de taux de croissance, nous avons démontré l’influence sur leur développement du temps passé par les larves à blesser et à tuer leurs proies. Ce facteur est par ailleurs fortement dépendant de la proportion de larves malades, blessées ou en cours de mue au sein du système ;une proportion qui peut augmenter en réponse à une augmentation de la densité de proies, ou lorsque des adultes sont présents (ceux-ci blessent les proies mais ne les consomment pas entièrement). Enfin, nos tests suggèrent qu’il n’existe que peu de cannibalisme ou de compétition intraspécifique entre larves de R. grandis, tandis que des modes de compétition moins importants prennent vraisemblablement place.

R. grandis présente également une réponse numérique reproductive à la densité de proies disponibles, principalement basée sur la perception de stimuli et d’inhibiteurs présents dans les galeries du scolyte. Par la collecte de composés volatils présents dans ces systèmes à l’aide de fibres SPME, nous avons développé une méthode non-destructive pour suivre la dynamique de production des médiateurs chimiques. Nos tests ont démontré que l’activité des larves de D. micans ou D. valens influence fortement la dynamique de production de certains monoterpènes oxygénés. En revanche, il n’a pas été été possible de corréler les différents composés identifiés au nombre de larves de R. grandis présentes dans le système.

La problématique soulevée par la progression de D. micans, de même que les résultats détaillés de chacune des études décrites ci-dessus sont discutés dans les deux papiers publiés et les trois manuscrits formant cette thèse. Les différentes perspectives apportées par ce travail sont également présentées dans la discussion générale.

Doctorat en Sciences agronomiques et ingénierie biologique
info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Head motion is a significant source of image quality degradation in neurological PET scans. It is especially detrimental in PET scanners with high resolution, specifically the HRRT (High Resolution Research Tomograph) with a spatial resolution of approximately 2.5 mm. Head restraints are often used to minimize subject movement and subject comfort is essential to obtain reliable data. We have investigated subject movement during long scans (over an hour) and subject repositioning accuracy for a series of scans. The Polaris Vicra is a commercially available optical measurement device we used to measure the position and orientation of the subject's head over the course of the scan. A tracking tool was attached to a swim cap worn by the subject and tracked relative to a second tool attached to the scanner gantry. The head is a body part that can be treated as a rigid body. For rigid bodies, movement detected at the surface can be directly translated to any point in that body. We have used this principle and the Polaris Vicra's movement data to track several ROIs in subject's brains. We found that over the course of a long scan, ROIs placed near the occipital pole can move as much as 14 mm. This will cause significant blurring in images taken with the HRRT. The repositioning device tested was very accurate and repositioned the subject within 2 mm of her initial position.
Les mouvements de la tête sont une source significative de dégradation de la qualité de l'image provenant de PET scans. Ils jouent un rôle particulièrement négatif avec les scanners PET à haute définition comme le HHRT (High Resolution Research Tomograph) qui possède une résolution approximative de 2,5 mm. Différents outils de stabilisation de la tête sont souvent utilisés afin de minimiser les mouvements, et le confort du sujet est essentiel pour obtenir des résultats fiables. Nous avons testé les mouvements du sujet au cours de longs scans (plus d'une heure) ainsi que la précision du repositionnement du sujet lors d'une série de scans. Le Polaris Vicra est un instrument de mesure optique disponible sur le marché que nous avons utilisé pour mesurer la position et l'orientation de la tête du sujet durant le scan. Un outil mesurant les mouvements de la tête relativement au scanner a été attaché à un bonnet de bain déposé sur la tête du sujet. La tête peut être considérée comme un corps rigide. Pour les corps rigides, un mouvement détecté à la surface est directement relié au mouvement de n'importe quel point sur ce corps. Nous avons utilié ce principe ainsi que les données de mouvement du Polaris Vicra afin de dépister plusieurs régions d'intérêts dans le cerveau du sujet. Nous démontrons que durant un long scan, les régions d'intérêts situés près du pôle occipital peuvent se déplacer sur près de 12 mm. Ceci peut donc rendre l'image floue. L'outil de repositionnement testé s'est avéré très précis et a repositionné le sujet en deçà de 2 mm de sa position initiale.

In-beam positron emission tomography (in-beam PET) is currently the only method for an in-situ monitoring of highly tumor-conformed charged hadron therapy. In such therapy, the clinical effect of deviations from treatment planning is highly minimized by implementing safety margins around the tumor and selecting proper beam portals. Nevertheless, in-beam PET is able to detect eventual, undesirable range deviations and anatomical modifications during fractionated irradiation, to verify the accuracy of the beam portal delivered and to provide the radiotherapist with an estimation of the difference in dosage if the treatment delivered differs from the planned one. In a first study within this work, a set of simulation and fully-3D reconstruction routines shows that minimizing the opening angle of a cylindrical camera is determinant for an optimum quality of the in-beam PET images. The study yields two favorite detector geometries: a closed ring or a dual-head tomograph with narrow gaps. The implementation of either detector geometry onto an isocentric, ion beam delivery (gantry) is feasible by mounting the PET scanner at the beam nozzle. The implementation of an in-beam PET scanner with the mentioned detector geometries at therapeutic sites with a fixed, horizontal beam line is also feasible. Nevertheless, knowing that previous in-beam PET research in Berkeley was abandoned due to detector activation (Bismuth Germanate, BGO), arising most probably from passive beam shaping contaminations, the proposed detector configurations had to be tested in-beam. For that, BGO was substituted with a state-of-the-art scintillator (lutetium oxyorthosilicate, LSO) and two position sensitive detectors were built. Each detector contains 32 pixels, consisting of LSO finger-like crystals coupled to avalanche photodiode arrays (APDA). In order to readout the two detectors operated in coincidence, either in standalone mode or at the GSI medical beam line, a multi-channel, zero-suppressing free, list mode data acquisition system was built.The APDA were chosen for scintillation detection instead of photomultiplier tubes (PMT) due to their higher compactness and magnetic field resistance. A magnetic field resistant detector is necessary if the in-beam PET scanner is operated close to the last beam bending magnet, due to its fringe magnetic field. This is the case at the isocentric, ion beam delivery planned for the dedicated, heavy ion hospital facility under construction in Heidelberg, Germany. In-beam imaging with the LSO/APDA detectors positioned at small target angles, both upbeam and downbeam from the target, was successful. This proves that the detectors provide a solution for the proposed next-generation, improved in-beam PET scanners. Further confirming this result are germanium-detector-based, spectroscopic gamma-ray measurements: no scintillator activation is observed in patient irradiation conditions. Although a closed ring or a dual-head tomograph with narrow gaps is expected to provide improved in-beam PET images, low count rates in in-beam PET represent a second problem to image quality. More importantly, new accelerator developments will further enhance this problem to the point of making impossible in-beam PET data taking if the present acquisition system is used. For these reasons, two random-suppression methods allowing to collect in-beam PET events even during particle extraction were tested. Image counts raised almost twofold. This proves that the methods and associated data acquisition technique provide a solution for next-generation, in-beam positron emission tomographs installed at synchrotron or cyclotron radiotherapy facilities.

In-beam positron emission tomography (in-beam PET) is currently the only method for an in-situ monitoring of highly tumor-conformed charged hadron therapy. In such therapy, the clinical effect of deviations from treatment planning is highly minimized by implementing safety margins around the tumor and selecting proper beam portals. Nevertheless, in-beam PET is able to detect eventual, undesirable range deviations and anatomical modifications during fractionated irradiation, to verify the accuracy of the beam portal delivered and to provide the radiotherapist with an estimation of the difference in dosage if the treatment delivered differs from the planned one. In a first study within this work, a set of simulation and fully-3D reconstruction routines shows that minimizing the opening angle of a cylindrical camera is determinant for an optimum quality of the in-beam PET images. The study yields two favorite detector geometries: a closed ring or a dual-head tomograph with narrow gaps. The implementation of either detector geometry onto an isocentric, ion beam delivery (gantry) is feasible by mounting the PET scanner at the beam nozzle. The implementation of an in-beam PET scanner with the mentioned detector geometries at therapeutic sites with a fixed, horizontal beam line is also feasible. Nevertheless, knowing that previous in-beam PET research in Berkeley was abandoned due to detector activation (Bismuth Germanate, BGO), arising most probably from passive beam shaping contaminations, the proposed detector configurations had to be tested in-beam. For that, BGO was substituted with a state-of-the-art scintillator (lutetium oxyorthosilicate, LSO) and two position sensitive detectors were built. Each detector contains 32 pixels, consisting of LSO finger-like crystals coupled to avalanche photodiode arrays (APDA). In order to readout the two detectors operated in coincidence, either in standalone mode or at the GSI medical beam line, a multi-channel, zero-suppressing free, list mode data acquisition system was built.The APDA were chosen for scintillation detection instead of photomultiplier tubes (PMT) due to their higher compactness and magnetic field resistance. A magnetic field resistant detector is necessary if the in-beam PET scanner is operated close to the last beam bending magnet, due to its fringe magnetic field. This is the case at the isocentric, ion beam delivery planned for the dedicated, heavy ion hospital facility under construction in Heidelberg, Germany. In-beam imaging with the LSO/APDA detectors positioned at small target angles, both upbeam and downbeam from the target, was successful. This proves that the detectors provide a solution for the proposed next-generation, improved in-beam PET scanners. Further confirming this result are germanium-detector-based, spectroscopic gamma-ray measurements: no scintillator activation is observed in patient irradiation conditions. Although a closed ring or a dual-head tomograph with narrow gaps is expected to provide improved in-beam PET images, low count rates in in-beam PET represent a second problem to image quality. More importantly, new accelerator developments will further enhance this problem to the point of making impossible in-beam PET data taking if the present acquisition system is used. For these reasons, two random-suppression methods allowing to collect in-beam PET events even during particle extraction were tested. Image counts raised almost twofold. This proves that the methods and associated data acquisition technique provide a solution for next-generation, in-beam positron emission tomographs installed at synchrotron or cyclotron radiotherapy facilities.

This diploma thesis deals with the project proposal to install continuous monitoring on company’s travel and expense, which will be performed by internal audit department. It contains an analysis of the current state of the company, based on which the project is designed using project management methods.

Le tecniche di imaging molecolare permettono di visualizzare e caratterizzare processi biologici e rivestono un ruolo fondamentale in oncologia, consentendo di identificare marcatori per la diagnosi e la risposta al trattamento. In questo lavoro di tesi è stato valutato il ruolo della PET come possibile marcatore di risposta al trattamento in a) un modello con k-ras oncogenico e b) un modello di glioma, focalizzando l’attenzione sulle alterazioni del metabolismo e l’ipossia. L’incremento della glicolisi e del consumo di glutammina sono associati a mutazioni dell’oncogene ras in diversi tumori. Il disaccoppiamento di tali processi determina una riprogrammazione del metabolismo per supportare l’aumentata proliferazione fornendo un interessante target terapeutico. Scopo dello studio è la valutazione in vivo delle alterazioni metaboliche e della risposta alla terapia nel modello ottenuto mediante inoculo di fibroblasti con k-ras oncogenico (NIH-RAS). A tale scopo gruppi di topi sono stati monitorati longitudinalmente mediante PET-[18F]FDG e [18F]FLT per la valutazione del metabolismo glucidico e della proliferazione cellulare. I tumori sono stati sottoposti ad analisi immunoistochimiche per confermare i dati ottenuti in vivo. Nello stesso modello è stato valutato l’effetto di un inibitore dell’autofagia (Clorochina) e della glutaminasi (BPTES) singolarmente e in combinazione mediante PET-[18F]FDG e [18F]FLT. Gli animali hanno sviluppato in breve tempo tumori glicolitici e caratterizzati da un’omogenea captazione di [18F]FDG e [18F]FLT. Le immagini PET hanno mostrato un aumento della captazione di [18F]FDG nel tempo e un andamento stabile della proliferazione come mostrato dalla costante captazione di [18F]FLT. Clorochina e BPTES in combinazione hanno determinato un rallentamento della crescita tumorale rispetto ai controlli, ma non sono state osservate variazioni nella captazione di [18F]FDG e [18F]FLT. La presenza di vie alternative per la produzione di glutammato e la necessità di dosi più elevate potrebbero spiegare l’assenza di efficacia di questi trattamenti. L’ipossia rappresenta un fenomeno sfavorevole per la progressione tumorale. L’espressione di HIF1α, principale regolatore dell’ipossia, è associata alla resistenza alla terapia in molti tumori, compreso il glioma. Per questo, una migliore comprensione della modulazione dell’attività di HIF1α nel processo di risposta alla terapia è di particolare interesse. Cellule di glioma U251-HRE-mCherry in grado di esprimere l’enzima luciferasi sotto il controllo di HRE (Hypoxia Responsive Element) e mCherry sotto controllo di un promotore costitutivo sono state utilizzate per valutare la modulazione di HIF1α in seguito a trattamento con Temozolomide (TMZ) in vitro e in vivo. La crescita tumorale è stata monitorata in vivo in animali sottoposti ad inoculo intracerebrale tramite bioluminescenza, fluorescenza, RM e PET con [18F]FAZA e [18F]FLT. In seguito, è stato valutato in vivo l’effetto di due diversi regimi di TMZ. Mediante bioluminescenza è stato possibile monitorare la crescita tumorale e identificare aree ipossiche. I dati ottenuti sono stati confermati dalle immagini di fluorescenza e PET-[18F]FAZA. Le analisi ex vivo per Ki67 hanno invece confermato i dati PET-[18F]FLT ed hanno mostrato un’elevata proliferazione cellulare. Entrambi i dosaggi di TMZ hanno determinato una diminuzione dell’attività di HIF1α a tempi precoci. Al contrario, il segnale di fluorescenza e la captazione di [18F]FLT hanno subìto una diminuzione solo a tempi più tardivi. L’attività di HIF1α può essere considerata un marcatore di risposta al TMZ e questo modello un utile strumento per la valutazione in vivo di farmaci per il trattamento del glioma.
Molecular imaging allows the non-invasive visualization and characterization of biological processes. It can be used in oncology to identify biomarkers for the evaluation of tumor progression and response to therapy. In this thesis work, the animal PET was used as potential biomarker of tumor response to therapy focusing on altered metabolism and hypoxia in a) a model of oncogenic k-ras and b) in a model of glioma. Metabolic alterations, such as increased glycolysis and glutamine consumption, are associated with mutations in k-ras gene. The decoupling of glucose and glutamine uptake leads to a reprogramming of their metabolism to support cell proliferation representing a target for cancer therapy. The aim of this study is to investigate metabolic alterations in k-ras transformed fibroblasts (NIH-RAS) in in vivo studies and to assess response to therapy. Animals subcutaneously implanted with NIH-RAS performed [18F]FDG- and [18F]FLT-PET at several time points to evaluate glucose metabolism and cell proliferation, respectively. Tumors were collected and evaluated for different markers by immunohistochemistry (IHC) to confirm in vivo results. In the same model, the efficacy of chloroquine (autophagy blocker) and BPTES (glutaminase inhibitor) alone or in combination was monitored by [18F]FDG- and [18F]FLT-PET before and 48 hours after treatments. All animals developed fast growing and highly glycolytic tumors in few days that appear homogeneous for both [18F]FDG and [18F]FLT uptake. PET imaging showed a significant increase in [18F]FDG uptake while cell proliferation remained stable over time, as depicted by [18F]FLT uptake. IHC analyses confirmed the high aggressiveness of these cells. Chloroquine and BPTES combined treatment slowed down tumor growth only if compared to vehicle, without affecting glucose metabolism or cell proliferation. The presence of alternative pathways for glutamate production and the need of higher doses of treatments may provide explanations to the lack of treatments’ efficacy. Hypoxia is implicated in many aspects of tumor progression and it is involved in the intracellular stabilization of the hypoxia regulator gene HIF-1α. Since the expression of HIF-1α is associated with poor prognosis and therapy resistance in glioblastoma, a better comprehension of its involvement in tumor response to treatment can be of great interest for clinical translation. U251-HRE-mCherry cells expressing Luciferase under control of a Hypoxia Responsive Element (HRE) and mCherry under the control of a constitutive promoter have been used to assess HIF-1α modulation and cell survival after treatment, both in vitro and in vivo. In vivo analyses characterized the model obtained by stereotaxic injection of glioma U251-HRE cells in mice brain. Tumor progression was monitored comparing bioluminescence, fluorescence and PET with [18F]FAZA and [18F]FLT. Afterwards, two regimens of temozolomide (TMZ) were administered starting 21 days after cells injection. TMZ efficacy was monitored by optical and fluorescence imaging, [18F]FLT-PET and MRI. Bioluminescent signals provided information about tumor growth and hypoxia presence, confirmed by both fluorescence acquisition and [18F]FAZA PET. IHC for Ki67 confirmed data obtained by [18F]FLT-PET, showing a high rate of cell proliferation. Both TMZ regimens showed a decrease of HIF-1α-dependent Luciferase activity at early time after TMZ administration. On the contrary, mCherry fluorescence, such as [18F]FLT uptake, decreased only at the end of treatments. HIF-1α activity reduction can be considered a biomarker of tumour response to TMZ and the U251-HRE-mCherry cell model a feasible tool to evaluate HIF-1α activity and treatment effects in in vivo studies.

Suitability of herbivore-induced plant volatiles as indicators of cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni, Noctuidae) infestation on tomato plants was assessed for developing a pest monitoring system inside tomato greenhouses. From volatile blends of infested tomato plants, four compounds have been selected as T. ni infestation indicators: (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate, (E)- β-ocimene, limonene and β-caryophellene. Laboratory results indicated significant quantitative differences in the emission level of these indicator chemicals from infested plants compared to clean plants. Research greenhouse trials confirmed these results and also indicated that these differences are detectable six hours after initiation of infestation. The research greenhouse trials also indicated that is it possible to obtain information about T.ni population density, their location within the plant canopy and their feeding duration. A survey was conducted inside a commercial greenhouse. Indicator chemical emission levels, pest infestation status, environmental factors and operational practices were recorded. Pest infestation was found to have significant effect on the emission of indicator chemicals. A portable gas chromatograph was used for most phases of this research. This instrument was found suitable for fieldwork and monitoring rapid changes in the emission levels of plant volatiles. In general, these four chemical volatiles were found to be suitable indicators of T. ni infestation in greenhouse tomato plants.

L’objectif du travail de cette thèse est la contribution au développement de nouvelles techniques dans le domaine dessystèmes de détection sans marqueur pour une utilisation dans trois domaines vitaux de la santé en utilisant des capteursinnovants et peu coûteux. Pour la réalisation de nos objectifs nous avons eu recours principalement à de l’électroniqueembarquées et du traitement du signal en utilisant le capteur Kinect. Des résultats encourageants ont été obtenus et sontprésentés tout au long de cette thèse. Dans la première partie de ce travail, nous présentons un nouveau système desurveillance visuelle sans marqueur en temps réel pour détecter et suivre les personnes âgées et surveiller leurs activitésdans leur environnement intérieur en utilisant un réseau de capteurs Kinect. Le système identifie également l’événementde chute des personnes âgées sous surveillance. Dans la deuxième partie nous utilisons également le capteur Kinectmais cette fois ci pour la détection sans marqueur des mouvements de la tête d’un patient lors d’un examen utilisant LaTomographie par Emission de Positons (CT/PET) du cerveau. Ce travail est basé sur la compensation de la dégradationde l’image TEP due aux mouvements de la tête du patient. Pour nos essais un cobaye dit « fantôme » a été réalisé,les résultats sur le fantôme sont prometteur ce qui a donné lieu à un test sur un vrai patient volontaire. Les résultatsfinaux montrent l’efficacité de ce nouveau système. La troisième partie du travail présente la mise en oeuvre d’un nouveausystème intelligent pour contrôler un fauteuil roulant électrique par des mouvements spéciaux de la tête toujours sansmarqueur. Un algorithme adapté est conçu pour détecter en continu les degrés des mouvements du visage en utilisant lecapteur Kinect. Fautes de fauteuil roulant électrique, le système a été testé sur un véhicule radio commandé
The objective of the work of this thesis is the contribution in developing novel technical methods in the field of marker-lesssensing systems for use in three vital health areas by using new inexpensive sensors. Several scientific areas are involvedin achieving our objective such as; electronics and signal processing by using the Kinect sensor. Encouraging results wereachieved as presented throughout this thesis. In the first part of this work we present a new real-time marker-less visualsurveillance system for detecting and tracking seniors and monitoring their activities in the indoor environment by usingnetwork of Kinect sensors. The system also identifies the fall event with the elderly. In the second part, we present anew approach for a marker-less movement detection system for influential head movements in the brain Positron EmissionTomography imaging (CT/PET) by employing the Kinect sensor. This work addresses the compensation of the PET imagedegradation due to subject’s head movements. A developed particular phantom and volunteer studies were carried out.The experimental results show the effectiveness of this new system. The third part of the work presents the design andimplementation of a new smart system for controlling an electric wheelchair by special mark-less head movements. Anadaptable algorithm is designed to continuously detect the rotation degrees of the face pose using the Kinect sensor inreal-time that are interpreted as controlling signals through a hardware interface for the electric wheelchair actuators

Dissertation deals with a draft of the system for monitoring and planning of attendance of promoters on the stores of the Slovakian store chain NAY, where the project management is used for securing of versatilely effective project. PEST, SWOT, RIPRAN of analysis and analysis of risks are used in this draft. It contains the plan of solution from the schematic imaging to the graphic previews and time schedule of realization. This is the real project from practice which should be realized based on this dissertation and commercially spread and innovated.

Ion beam therapy (IBT) is a promising treatment option in radiotherapy. The characteristic physical and biological properties of light ion beams allow for the delivery of highly tumour conformal dose distributions. Related to the sparing of surrounding healthy tissue and nearby organs at risk, it is feasible to escalate the dose in the tumour volume to reach higher tumour control and survival rates. Remarkable clinical outcome was achieved with IBT for radio-resistant, deep-seated, static and well fixated tumour entities. Presumably, more patients could benefit from the advantages of IBT if it would be available for more frequent tumour sites. Those located in the thorax and upper abdominal region are commonly subjected to intra-fractional, respiration related motion. Different motion compensated dose delivery techniques have been developed for active field shaping with scanned pencil beams and are at least available under experimental conditions at the GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung (GSI) in Darmstadt, Germany. High standards for quality assurance are required in IBT to ensure a safe and precise dose application. Both underdosage in the tumour and overdosage in the normal tissue might endanger the treatment success. Since minor unexpected anatomical changes e.g. related to patient mispositioning, tumour shrinkage or tissue swelling could already lead to remarkable deviations between planned and delivered dose distribution, a valuable dose monitoring system is desired for IBT. So far, positron emission tomography (PET) is the only in vivo, in situ and non-invasive qualitative dose monitoring method applied under clinical conditions. It makes use of the tissue autoactivation by nuclear fragmentation reactions occurring along the beam path. Among others, β+-emitting nuclides are generated and decay according to their half-life under the emission of a positron. The subsequent positron-electron annihilation creates two 511 keV photons which are emitted in opposite direction and can be detected as coincidence event by a dedicated PET scanner. The induced three-dimensional (3D) β+-activity distribution in the patient can be reconstructed from the measured coincidences. Conclusions about the delivered dose distribution can be drawn indirectly from a comparison between two β+-activity distributions: the measured one and an expected one generated by a Monte-Carlo simulation. This workflow has been proven to be valuable for the dose monitoring in IBT when it was applied for about 440 patients, mainly suffering from deep-seated head and neck tumours that have been treated with 12C ions at GSI. In the presence of intra-fractional target motion, the conventional 3D PET data processing will result in an inaccurate representation of the β+-activity distribution in the patient. Four-dimensional, time-resolved (4D) reconstruction algorithms adapted to the special geometry of in-beam PET scanners allow to compensate for the motion related blurring artefacts. Within this thesis, a 4D maximum likelihood expectation maximization (MLEM) reconstruction algorithm has been implemented for the double-head scanner Bastei installed at GSI. The proper functionality of the algorithm and its superior performance in terms of suppressing motion related blurring artefacts compared to an already applied co-registration approach has been demonstrated by a comparative simulation study and by dedicated measurements with moving radioactive sources and irradiated targets. Dedicated phantoms mainly made up of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and a motion table for regular one-dimensional (1D) motion patterns have been designed and manufactured for the experiments. Furthermore, the general applicability of the 4D MLEM algorithm for more complex motion patterns has been demonstrated by the successful reduction of motion artefacts from a measurement with rotating (two-dimensional moving) radioactive sources. For 1D cos^2 and cos^4 motion, it has been clearly illustrated by systematic point source measurements that the motion influence can be better compensated with the same number of motion phases if amplitude-sorted instead of time-sorted phases are utilized. In any case, with an appropriate parameter selection to obtain a mean residual motion per phase of about half of the size of a PET crystal size, acceptable results have been achieved. Additionally, it has been validated that the 4D MLEM algorithm allows to reliably access the relevant parameters (particle range and lateral field position and gradients) for a dose verification in intra-fractionally moving targets even from the intrinsically low counting statistics of IBT-PET data. To evaluate the measured β+-activity distribution, it should be compared to a simulated one that is expected from the moving target irradiation. Thus, a 4D version of the simulation software is required. It has to emulate the generation of β+-emitters under consideration of the intra-fractional motion, their decay at motion state dependent coordinates and to create listmode data streams from the simulated coincidences. Such a revised and extended version that has been compiled for the special geometry of the Bastei PET scanner is presented within this thesis. The therapy control system provides information about the exact progress of the motion compensated dose delivery. This information and the intra-fractional target motion needs to be taken into account for simulating realistic β+-activity distributions. A dedicated preclinical phantom simulation study has been performed to demonstrate the correct functionality of the 4D simulation program and the necessity of the additional, motion-related input parameters. Different to the data evaluation for static targets, additional effort is required to avoid a potential misleading interpretation of the 4D measured and simulated β+-activity distribu- tions in the presence of deficient motion mitigation or data processing. It is presented that in the presence of treatment errors the results from the simulation might be in accordance to the measurement although the planned and delivered dose distribution are different. In contrast to that, deviations may occur between both distributions which are not related to anatomical changes but to deficient 4D data processing. Recommendations are given in this thesis to optimize the 4D IBT-PET workflow and to prevent the observer from a mis-interpretation of the dose monitoring data. In summary, the thesis contributes on a large scale to a potential future application of the IBT-PET monitoring for intra-fractionally moving target volumes by providing the required reconstruction and simulation algorithms. Systematic examinations with more realistic, multi-directional and irregular motion patterns are required for further improvements. For a final rating of the expectable benefit from a 4D IBT-PET dose monitoring, future investigations should include real treatment plans, breathing curves and 4D patient CT images
Die Ionenstrahltherapie (englisch: ion beam therapy, IBT) ist eine vielversprechende Behandlungsoption im Bereich der Strahlentherapie. Die charakteristischen physikalischen und biologischen Eigenschaften der Ionenstrahlen werden genutzt, um tumorkonformale Dosisverteilungen zu erzeugen. Die verbesserte Schonung des an den Tumor angrenzenden Normalgewebes und eventuell naheliegender Risikoorgane ermöglicht eine Dosissteigerung im Zielgebiet und somit potentiell höhere Tumorkontroll- und Überlebensraten. Für tiefliegende, gegenüber konventioneller Strahlung resistente, statische und gut fixierte Tumore wurden bereits beachtliche klinische Resultate erzielt. Wahrscheinlich könnten noch mehr Patienten von den Vorteilen der IBT profitieren, wenn diese auch für häufiger auftretende und intrafraktionell bewegliche Tumore uneingeschränkt nutzbar wäre. Verschiedene bewegungskompensierte Bestrahlungsmethoden wurden entwickelt und stehen zumindest unter experimentellen Bedingungen für weitere Untersuchungen am GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung (GSI) in Darmstadt zur Verfügung. Um eine sichere und präzise Dosisapplikation in der IBT zu ermöglichen, werden hohe Anforderungen an die Qualitätssicherung gesetzt. Sowohl auftretende Überdosierungen im Normalgewebe als auch Unterdosierungen im Tumor können den Therapieerfolg gefährden. Da bereits kleine, unerwartete anatomische Veränderungen, zum Beispiel durch Fehlpositionierung des Patienten, Schrumpfung des Tumors oder Schwellungen, zu erheblichen Abweichungen zwischen geplanter und applizierter Dosisverteilung führen können, gibt es Bestrebungen, die applizierte Dosis zumindest qualitativ zu verifizieren. Die Positronen-Emissions-Tomografie (PET) ist derzeit die einzige, bereits klinisch erprobte Methode für ein in vivo, in situ und nicht-invasives qualitatives Dosismonitoring. Diese Methode ist im Stande, die Autoaktivierung des bestrahlten Gewebes zu erfassen, welche aufgrund von Kernfragmentierungsprozessen entlang des Strahlweges erzeugt wird. Unter anderem werden in diesen Reaktionen instabile Nuklide erzeugt, die entsprechend ihrer Halbwertszeit unter Emission eines Positrons zerfallen. Bei der anschließenden Positron-Elektron-Annihilation werden zwei 511keV Photonen in entgegengesetzter Richtung emittiert und können mittels eines geeigneten PET-Scanners als Koinzidenzereignis detektiert werden. Die im Patienten induzierte dreidimensionale (3D) β+-Aktivitätsverteilung kann aus den gemessenen Koinzidenzen rekonstruiert werden. Ein Vergleich der gemessenen mit einer erwarteten, mittels Monte-Carlo Simulation erzeugten β+-Aktivitätsverteilung erlaubt es, Schlussfolgerungen über die tatsächlich im Patienten deponierte 3D Dosisverteilung zu ziehen. Diese Art der Datenauswertung wurde erfolgreich für die qualitative Dosisverifikation von über 440 Patienten eingesetzt, deren Tumore (vorwiegend im Kopf- und Halsbereich) an der GSI mit 12C-Ionen bestrahlt wurden. Bei der konventionellen 3D IBT-PET-Datenverarbeitung wird eine mögliche intrafraktionelle Bewegung des Zielgebietes nicht berücksichtigt und fehlerhaft rekonstruierte β+-Aktivitätsverteilungen sind die Folge. Daher werden vierdimensionale, zeitaufgelöste (4D) Rekonstruktionsalgorithmen benötigt, die für die spezielle Geometrie eines in-beam PET-Scanner adaptiert wurden und eine Kompensation der bewegungsinduzierten Artefakte ermöglichen. Im Rahmen der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde für den an der GSI installierten Doppelkopf-PET-Scanner Bastei ein 4D Maximum-Likelihood-Expectation-Maximization (MLEM) Algorithmus implementiert. Die Funktionsfähigkeit des Algorithmus sowie dessen verbesserte Reduktion von Bewegungsartefakten im Vergleich zu einem bereits vorhandenen Koregistrierungsansatz wurde anhand verschiedener Messungen mit bewegten radioaktiven Quellen und bestrahlten Phantomen sowie einer vergleichenden Simulationsstudie dargelegt. Für die Experimente wurden entsprechende Phantomgeometrien (zumeist aus Polymethylmethacrylat (PMMA)) sowie ein Bewegungstisch für reguläre eindimensionale (1D) Bewegungsmuster entworfen und gefertigt. Zudem wurde durch die erfolgreiche, quasi-statische und nahezu artefaktfreie Rekonstruktion einer rotierenden und sich damit zweidimensional bewegenden Aktivitätsverteilung die prinzipielle Anwendbarkeit des 4D MLEM Algorithmus für komplexere Bewegungsmuster gezeigt. Systematische Punktquellenmessungen mit 1D cos^2- und cos^4-förmigen Bewegungsmustern haben deutlich gemacht, dass der Bewegungseinfluss mit der gleichen Anzahl an Bewegungsphasen besser kompensiert werden kann, wenn die Bewegungsphasen entsprechend der Bewegungsamplitude anstelle der -phase unterteilt sind. In jedem Fall können aber zufriedenstellende Rekonstruktionsergebnisse erzielt werden, wenn durch geeignete Parameterwahl eine mittlere Restbewegung pro Bewegungsphase von maximal etwa der halben Größe eines Detektorkristalls eingestellt wird. Durch weitere Experimente konnte gezeigt werden, dass nach der Rekonstruktion mit dem 4D MLEM Algorithmus die relevanten Parameter für die qualitative Dosisverifikation (Teilchenreichweite, laterale Feldposition und -gradienten) zuverlässig erfasst werden können. Dies ist auch dann der Fall, wenn nur eine verminderte Anzahl an Koinzidenzereignissen, so wie sie unter klinischen Bedingungen zu erwarten ist, für die Auswertung verwendet wird. Um die gemessene β+-Aktivitätsverteilung besser zu beurteilen, sollte sie mit einer simulierten, für die bewegungskompensierte Bestrahlung erwarteten Verteilung verglichen werden und es bedarf deshalb einer 4D Version der Simulationssoftware. Diese muss die Erzeugung sowie den Zerfall der Positronenemitter unter Berücksichtigung der intrafraktionellen Bewegung simulieren und aus den gültigen Koinzidenzereignissen Listmode-Datensätze erstellen. Eine derart überarbeitet Version des Simulationsprogramms wurde für den Bastei PET-Scanner erstellt und wird in dieser Arbeit vorgestellt. Informationen über den exakten Verlauf der bewegungskompensierten Bestrahlung werden durch das Therapiekontrollsystem geliefert. Diese Informationen sowie die intrafraktionelle Bewegung werden in die Simulation realistischer β+-Aktivitätsverteilungen bzw. der zugehörigen Listmode-Datensätze einbezogen. Anhand einer präklinischen Phantom-Simulationsstudie wurde die korrekte Funktionsweise des Simulationsprogramms sowie die Notwendigkeit der zusätzlichen Parameter gezeigt. Im Gegensatz zur Datenauswertung für statische Zielvolumina bedarf es bei intrafraktioneller Bewegung gegebenenfalls zusätzlichen Aufwand, um eine Fehlinterpretation aus dem Vergleich der gemessenen und simulierten β+-Aktivitätsverteilung zu vermeiden. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird beispielhaft gezeigt, dass sich bei fehlerhafter Bewegungskompensation die gemessene und simulierte β+-Aktivitätsverteilung einander ähneln können, obwohl die applizierte Dosisverteilung deutlich von der geplanten abweicht. Im Gegensatz dazu können auch Abweichungen zwischen Messung und Simulation auftreten, die nicht auf anatomische Veränderungen, sondern auf eine ungenaue 4D Datenverarbeitung zurückzuführen sind. Es werden Vorschläge unterbreitet, um den Prozess der 4D IBT-PET Datenauswertung zu optimieren und somit Fehlinterpretationen zu vermeiden. Die vorliegende Dissertationsschrift enthält durch die Bereitstellung der benötigten 4D Rekonstruktions- und Simulationsprogramme grundlegende Arbeiten für eine mögliche zukünftige Anwendung der 4D IBT-PET als qualitatives Dosismonitoring bei intrafraktionell bewegten Zielvolumina. Für weitere Verbesserungen des Verfahrens sind zusätzliche systematische Betrachtungen mit realistischeren, mehrdimensionalen und unregelmäßigen Bewegungsmustern notwendig. Zukünftige Untersuchungen sollten außerdem echte Bestrahlungspläne, Atemkurven sowie 4D Patienten-CT-Daten einschließen, um den erwartbaren Nutzen eines 4D IBT-PET Dosismonitorings besser abschätzen zu können

Артеменко, В. В. Організація моніторингу та захисних заходів проти основних хвоє- та листогризних шкідників в ДП «Корюківське лісове господарство» : випускна кваліфікаційна робота : 205 «Лісoве гoспoдарствo» / В. В. Артеменко ; керівник роботи О. М. Корма ; НУ "Чернігівська політехніка", кафедра аграрних технологій та лісового господарства. – Чернігів, 2021. – 74 с.
Кваліфікаційна робота «Організація моніторингу та захисних заходів проти основних хвоє- та листогризних шкідників в ДП «Корюківське лісове господарство»» присвячена проблемі негативного впливу шкідливих комах на лісові ценози та їх моніторинг, який в останні роки, як вважають багато дослідників, є причиною масового всихання лісових насаджень як в поліській зоні України так і на Європейському континенті. Автором проаналізовано стан вивчення питання на основі 39 літературних джерел, 5 з яких – іноземною мовою. В ході дослідження автором було встановлено систему організації і проведення лісопатологічного моніторингу в господарстві.
Qualification work «Organization of monitoring and protective measures against major coniferous and leaf-eating pests in SE «Koryukivske Forestry»» is devoted to the problem of negative impact of pests on forest coenoses and their monitoring, which in recent years, according to many researchers, is the cause of mass deforestation both in the Polissya zone of Ukraine and on the European continent. The author analyzes the state of study of the issue on the basis of 39 literature sources, 5 of which are in a foreign language. During the study, the author established a system of organization and conduct of forest pathological monitoring in the economy.

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The aim goal is to know the frequency, distribution, development and monitoring of the factors associated to the excess weight and chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is essential to qualify policies and surveillance and health promotion actions for the execution of the Care Policy Health and Safety of the Federal Civil Servants (PASS). This study aimed to analyze the association between risk factors for NCDs and food consumption with excess weight in federal civil servants. Transversal population-based study which data collection was carried out between September- November 2014, at the rectory and the 10 campuses of the Federal Institute of Goiás (IFG) in the capital and provincial cities of Goiás. The sample was stratified by campus and professional category. Were collected through an electronic questionnaire the following variables: weight and height to calculate BMI; office; sex; age; body perception (silhouette of scale); frequency of physical exercise; dietary intake of sweets, fried foods, legumes - vegetables, soft drinks, canned foods, sausages and place of meals. The qualitative variables were expressed as absolute and relative frequencies and quantitative variables with mean and standard deviation. Poisson regression was used to examine bivariate and multivariate. The overweight (BMI≥30,0Kg - m2) was considered the outcome and other variables were considered independent. Results: Were interviewed 429 servers, with 55.7% technical administrators and teachers 44.3% with a mean age of 36.3 ± 9.2 years, 59.7% were women, 68.8% had less than 40 years and 69.0% were sedentary. About the nutritional status, 55.0% were not overweight (BMI), but 74.8% (n = 321) were perceived with overweight (silhouette of scale). Women had lower prevalence of overweight (67.8%) than men (32.2%), p <0.000. Women also follow more the healthy eating recommendations for frying 72.4% (p <0.003) and vegetables 63.8% (p <0.033), soft drinks, 70.7% (p <0.000) and built-in 68.1 % (p <0.028) than men. Were associated with being overweight: be teaching (OR = 1.325; p = 0.011), male gender (RP = 1.401; p = 0.002), be more than 40 years of age (RP = 1.357; p = 0.004), and being sedentary (RP = 1.310; p = 0.009) and having meals outside the home (RP = 1.310; p = 0.044). Conclusion: The factors associated with excess weight were: to be teaching, male, age less than 40 years, being sedentary and eat meals outside the home.
Conhecer a frequência, a distribuição, a evolução e o monitoramento dos fatores associados ao excesso de peso e às doenças crônicas não transmissíveis (DCNT) é fundamental para qualificar as políticas e ações de vigilância e promoção da saúde em prol da efetivação da Política de Atenção à Saúde e Segurança do Trabalho do Servidor Público Federal (PASS). Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar a associação entre os fatores de risco para as DCNT e o consumo alimentar com o excesso de peso em servidores públicos federais. Estudo transversal de base populacional cuja coleta de dados foi realizada no período de setembro a novembro de 2014, na reitoria e nos 10 campus do Instituto Federal de Goiás (IFG) na capital e cidades do interior de Goiás. A amostra foi estratificada por campus e categoria profissional. Foram coletadas por meio de questionário eletrônico as seguintes variáveis: peso e altura referidos para o cálculo do IMC; cargo; sexo; idade; percepção corporal (escala de silhueta); frequência da prática de exercício físico; consumo alimentar de doces, frituras, legumes-verduras, refrigerantes, enlatados, embutidos e local de realização das refeições. As variáveis qualitativas foram apresentadas com frequências absolutas e relativas; e as variáveis quantitativas, com média e desvio padrão. A Regressão de Poisson com ajuste robusto de variância foi utilizada nas análises uni e multivariada. Para o excesso de peso (IMC≥30,0Kg-m2) foi considerado o desfecho; já as demais variáveis foram consideradas independentes. Resultados: Foram entrevistados 429 servidores, sendo 55,7% técnico-administrativos e 44,3% docentes com idade média de 36,3±9,2 anos, 59,7% eram mulheres, 68,8% tinham menos que 40 anos e 69,0% eram sedentários. Quanto ao estado nutricional, 55,0% não apresentaram excesso de peso (IMC), mas 74,8% (n=321) percebiam-se com excesso de peso (escala de silhueta). As mulheres tiveram menor prevalência de excesso de peso (67,8%) que os homens (32,2%), p<0,001. As mulheres também seguem mais as recomendações da alimentação saudável para frituras 72,4% (p<0,003), legumes e verduras 63,8% (p<0,033), refrigerantes 70,7% (p<0,001) e embutidos 68,1% (p<0,028) do que os homens. Associaram-se ao excesso de peso: ser docente (RP= 1,325; p=0,011), sexo masculino (RP=1,401; p=0,002), ter mais que 40 anos de idade (RP=1,357; p=0,004), e ser sedentário (RP=1,310; p=0,009) e realização das refeições fora de casa (RP=1,310; p=0,044). Conclusão: Os fatores associados ao excesso de peso foram ser docente, do sexo masculino, idade igual ou superior a 40 anos, ser sedentário e fazer as refeições fora de casa.

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The objective of this work was to identify the species of Lepidoptera primary pests for the eucalyptus and to evaluate the influence of the temperature and rainfall on their population fluctuation in the area of Bom Despacho, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Five light traps were used during one night, every fifteen days, from January 1994 to December 2001. The species collected were Thyrinteina arnobia and Oxydia vesulia (Geometridae), Sarsina violascens (Lymantriidae), Psorocampa denticulata (Notodontidae) and Eupseudosoma aberrans (Arctiidae). A total of 12,040.5 individuals were collected per trap, being T. arnobia the most abundant species, with 96.05% of the individuals during the eight years of collection. The largest number of individuals was collected in April and May, indicating that the outbreaks of these species are concentrate in these months. T. arnobia had no significant correlations with the temperature and the rainfall but O. vesulia had negative correlation with the rainfall. S. violascens and E. aberrans presented similar population fluctuation with negative correlation with the temperature and the rainfall. P. denticulata presented positive correlation with these factors. The Lepidoptera primary pests of eucalyptus collected in the area of Bom Despacho presented higher number of individuals in the coldest and dry months of the year, especially in April and May, except P. denticulata. This last species had higher number of individuals collected in October and November and in February and March at the beginning and the final of the raining season.
O objetivo deste trabalho foi identificar as espécies de lepidópteros pragas primárias para o eucalipto e avaliar a influência da temperatura e da precipitação pluviométrica na flutuação populacional das mesmas na região de Bom Despacho, Minas Gerais, Brasil. Foram utilizadas cinco armadilhas luminosas acionadas durante uma noite, a cada quinze dias, de janeiro de 1994 a dezembro de 2001. As espécies coletadas foram Thyrinteina arnobia e Oxydia vesulia (Geometridae), Sarsina violascens (Lymantriidae), Psorocampa denticulata (Notodontidae) e Eupseudosoma aberrans (Arctiidae). Foram coletados 1.2040,5 indivíduos por armadilha, sendo T. arnobia a espécie mais abundante, com 96,05% dos indivíduos coletados durante os oito anos de coleta. O maior número de indivíduos foi coletado em abril e maio, indicando que os surtos dessas espécies se concentram nesses meses. Não verificou-se correlação significativa da temperatura e da precipitação pluviométrica com T. arnobia, mas O. vesulia teve correlação negativa com a precipitação pluviométrica. S. violascens e E. aberrans apresentaram flutuação semelhante, com correlações negativas com a temperatura e a precipitação pluviométrica. P. denticulata apresentou correlação positiva para esses fatores. Os lepidópteros pragas primárias de eucalipto coletados, na região de Bom Despacho, apresentaram maior número de indivíduos nos meses mais frios e secos do ano, nos meses de abril e maio, exceto P. denticulata que teve maior número de indivíduos coletados de outubro a novembro e de fevereiro a março coincidindo com o início e final do período chuvoso.

Thesis (MSc (Conservation Ecology)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004.
89 leaves single sided printed, preliminary pages i-xiv and numbered pages 1-89. Includes bibliography. List of tables, figures used.
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ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The main aim of an old field rehabilitation trial initiated in 2000 was to find a solution to the rehabilitation process for approximately 90 000 ha of unutilised land in the Little Karoo, South Africa. Depending only on a natural succession process to restore unutilised old fields would mean that the period of recovery would be longer than the life span of an average farmer. The trial, initiated by Witbooi in 2000 aimed to see how human intervention can facilitate the process of rehabilitation of old-fields. Three years later, the trial was again monitored to evaluate the success of reseeded indigenous species and method of cultivation in the rehabilitation process. A second objective was based on a result of Witbooi (2002) who showed that there was a tendency of 0. pes-caprae to invade disturbed areas, and aimed to evaluate the effect of this species on the rehabilitation process. Seven indigenous species were reseeded in 2000, of which only four species germinated and survived to the present. These surviving species are Pteronia incana Burm Dc., Tripteris sinuata DC., Ehrharta calycina SM and Chaetobromus dregeanus Nees. The highest level of recruitment in 2001 was recorded for T sinuata followed by P. incana, E. calycina and C. dregeanus. In September 2003, three years after the trial was initiated, the highest number of surviving seedlings were of T sinuata followed by E. calycina, C. dregeanus and P. incana. Five different cultivation methods were used to enhance the germination rate and survival of seedlings. The number of seedlings that survived differs according to the cultivation methods and soil type. Tripteris sinuata had the highest number of surviving seedlings in all cultivation methods off-heuweltjies. Tripteris sinuata was therefore selected to analyse the effect of various cultivation methods. The second objective was to study the impact of Oxalis pes-caprae on species diversity in restored old fields by assessing its ability to disperse in old fields under different cultivation methods. The multivariate ANOVA results showed that there was a significant difference in the density of O. pes-caprae between on and off heuweltjies (sites) and treatments (cultivation methods). There was a significant difference in the density of O. pes-caprae between cultivation methods. A Post Hoc LSD test showed a significant difference in the density of aboveground O. pes-caprae plants between control sites (no disturbance) compared to those sites that underwent some sort of soil disturbance. There was, however, no significant difference in the abundance of O. pes-caprae on plots that underwent some sort of disturbance (i.e Cleared vs Tilled vs Disked vs Ploughed sites) on heuweltjies. There was a significant difference in the number of O. pes-caprae bulbs collected between blocks (on and off-heuweltjie) and significant differences between cultivation methods. There was also a significant difference in bulb diameter between cultivation methods when compared between on and off-heuweltjie sites. The bulbs were classified into four measurement classes. The highest number of small (2-5 mm diameter) and medium (5-8 mm diameter) sized bulbs were found in the Tilled cultivation method. In contrast the Control treatment (uncultivated) had the highest number of large sized bulbs (14-17 mm diameter) and medium bulbs size categories. In conclusion, T. sinuafa has the potential to be used for rehabilitation of old fields in combination with Tilled cultivation method. Attention should be paid to the effect of O. pes-caprae especially on heuweltjies where this species showed a complete dominance in the rehabilitation trial.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die hoof doel van 'n ou veld rehabilitasie eksperiment wat in 2000 geinisieer is was om 'n oplossing te vind vir die rehabilitasie proses vir ongeveer 90 000 ha onbenutte land in die Klein Karoo, Suid-Afrika. Indien daar slegs op natuurlike suksessie prosesse staatgemaak word om die onbenutte ou lande te restoreer, sou dit beteken dat die periode van herstel langer sou wees as die lewensverwagting van die gemiddelde boer. Hierdie eksperiment, wat in 2000 deur Witbooi geinisieer is, het gepoog om te bepaal hoe menslike inmenging die proses van rehabilitasie van ou velde kan fasiliteer. Drie jaar later is die eksperiment weer gemonitor om die sukses van die teruggesaaide inheemse spesies en bewerkings-metodes in die rehabilitasie proses te evalueer. 'n Tweede doelwit is gebaseer op 'n resultaat van Witbooi (2002) wat aangetoon het dat daar 'n neiging was vir O. pes-caprae om versteurde areas binne te dring, en het dus gemik om die effek van hierdie spesie op die rehabilitasie proses te evalueer. Sewe inheemse spesies is in 2000 teruggesaai, waarvan slegs 4 spesies ontkiem en oorleef het tot die hede. Hierdie oorlewende spesies is Pteronia incana Burm Dc., Tripteris sinuata DC., Ehrharta calycina SM en Chaetobromus dregeanus Nees. Die hoogste vlak van werwing in 2001 is vir T sinuata aangeteken, gevolg deur P. incana, E. calycina en C. dregeanus. In September 2003, drie jaar na die aanvang van die eksperiment, was die hoogste getal oorlewende saailinge die van T sinuata, gevolg deur E. calycina, C. dregeanus en P. incana. Vyf verskillende bewerkings-metodes is gebruik om ontkiemingstempo en saailing oorlewing aan te help. Die aantal saailinge wat oorleef het varieer volgens die bewerkings-metode wat gevolge is en die grondtipe. Tripteris sinuata het die grootste aantal oorlewende saailinge gehad in al die bewerkings-metodes af van heuweltjies. Tripteris sinuata is daarom geselekteer om te analiseer vir die effek van verskillende bewerkings-metodes. Die tweede doelwit was om die inpak van Oxalis pes-caprae op spesie-diversiteit in die gerestoreerde ou land te bepaal deur die vermoë van hierdie spesie om in ou velde te versprei onder verskillende bewerkings-metodes te evalueer. Die multi-veranderlike ANOVA resultate het aangetoon dat daar 'n beduidende verskil in O. pes-caprae digtheid tussen heuweltjie en nie-heuweltjie (persele) en verskillende bewerkings-metodes was. Daar was 'n beduidende verskil in die digtheid van o. pes-caprae tussen verskillende bewerkingsmetodes. 'n Post Hoc LSD toets het 'n beduidende verkil in die digtheid van bogrondse O. pes-caprae plante tussen kontrole terreine (geen versteuring) vergeleke met persele wat een of ander vorm van grondversteuring ondergaan het aangedui. Daar was egter geen beduidende verskil in die volopheid van 0. pes-caprae op persele wat een of ander vorm van versteuring ondergaan het (i.e Skoongemaakte vs Getilde vs Geskottelde vs Geploegde persele) op heuweltjies nie. Daar was 'n beduidende verskil in die aantal O. pes-caprae bolle wat versamel is tussen blokke (op en af van heuweltjies) en beduidende verskille tussen die bewerkings-metodes. Daar was ook 'n beduidende verskil in bol-deursnitte tussen bewerkings-metodes wanneer dit tussen heuweltjie en nie-heuweltjie persele vergelyk is. Die bolle is in vier metingsklasse verdeel. Die grootste aantal klein (2-5 mm deursnit) en medium (5-8 mm deursnit) bolle is in die Getilde bewerkings-metode gevind. In kontras het die Kontrole behandeling (onbewerk) die grootste aantal groot (14-17 mm deursnit) en medium bolle gehad. Samevattend het T. sinuata die potensiaal om gebruik te word in die rehabilitasie van ou lande in kombinasie met die tilting bewerkings-metode. Aandag moet geskenk word aan die effek van 0. pes-caprae, veral op heuwetjies waar hierdie spesies 'n totale dominansie in die rehabilitasie eksperiment getoon het.

Abstract Mercury is a global pollutant that accumulates easily in forest soils, even in remote areas. Mercury accumulated in soils can be subsequently released into surface waters causing an increased eco-toxicological and human health risk. The most toxic form of mercury to humans and wildlife is methyl mercury (MeHg), which can be formed in the environment via methylation processes. In freshwaters, MeHg is readily accumulated in fish, which are the main source of human exposure to MeHg. The determination of both total mercury and MeHg concentrations in environmental samples, such as natural waters and soils, is important in environmental risk assessment. This study involved the development of analytical methods for the determination of ultra-trace total mercury and MeHg concentrations in humic-rich natural water and peat soil samples. Each developed method was carefully optimized and validated by using real natural water and peat soil samples, certified reference materials and/or reference methods. The cold vapor inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (CV-ICP-MS) method developed during this study was found to be a reliable method for the determination of total ultra-trace mercury concentrations in natural freshwaters. Purge and trap gas chromatography, coupled to an ICP-MS, was used in mercury speciation analysis. Together with species-specific isotope dilution this technique proved to be a reliable method in MeHg determinations. Prior to instrumental determination, MeHg was successfully isolated from humic-rich water and peat soil samples using N2-assisted distillation. The analytical methods developed in this study were successfully applied to an investigation of the effects of forest harvesting practices on the mobilization of mercury in boreal forest catchments
Tiivistelmä Elohopeaa pääsee ilmakehään sekä luonnollisista lähteistä (mm. tulivuorenpurkaukset ja kiviaineksen rapautuminen), että ihmisen toiminnan kautta. Elohopean viipymäaika ilmakehässä on hyvin pitkä, minkä vuoksi se voi kulkeutua kauas päästölähteestä ennen päätymistään maaperään ja vesistöihin. Ympäristössä olevasta epäorgaanisesta elohopeasta voi muodostua erittäin myrkyllistä metyylielohopeaa, joka rikastuu helposti ravintoketjussa. Metyylielohopean muodostuminen on merkittävä osa elohopean biogeokemiallista kiertoa, minkä vuoksi metyylielohopean määrittäminen näytteen kokonaiselohopeapitoisuuden ohella antaa tärkeää tietoa elohopean käyttäytymisestä ympäristössä. Tutkimuksessa kehitettiin analyysimenetelmät, joilla määritettiin ultrapieniä kokonaiselohopea- ja metyylielohopeapitoisuuksia humuspitoisista luonnonvesistä ja turvemaanäytteistä. Tutkimuksessa käytetyt näytteet oli kerätty turvemaametsien valuma-alueilta Sotkamosta. Luonnonvesinäytteiden kokonaiselohopeapitoisuuksien määrityksessä käytettiin kylmähöyrymenetelmää (CV) yhdistettynä induktiiviplasma-massaspektrometriaan (ICP-MS). Vesi- ja turvenäytteiden metyylielohopeapitoisuuksien määrityksessä elohopeaspesiekset erotettiin kaasukromatografisesti (GC) ja määritettiin isotooppilaimennus-ICP-MS:lla. Ennen GC-ICP-MS -määritystä näytteet esikäsiteltiin typpiavusteisella tislausmenetelmällä ja esikonsentroitiin ’purge and trap’ -tekniikalla. CV-ICP-MS ja ’purge and trap’ GC-ICP-MS -menetelmät optimoitiin huolellisesti sekä laiteparametrien, että reagenssimäärien suhteen. Menetelmillä saatavien tulosten oikeellisuus varmistettiin vertailumateriaalien ja/tai vertailumenetelmien avulla. Kehitettyjä analyysimenetelmiä hyödynnettiin tutkimuksessa, jossa seurattiin metsähakkuiden mahdollisia vaikutuksia elohopean huuhtoutumiseen ja metyloitumiseen ojitetuilla turvemailla

Peat moorlands represent a nationally significant carbon store. Wildfires in peat moorlands release CO2 into the atmosphere, reducing the carbon store and burn into the seed bank preventing vegetation recovery. Burned areas of bare peat remain, known as ‘burn scars’ which are eroded by freeze thaw and desiccation, then weathered by precipitation and wind to cause discolouration of the water supply. A technique for the systematic monitoring of peat moorland burn scars is essential for informing land management and moorland restoration. Satellite data enables peat moorland burn scars to be monitored at the landscape scale for operational services e.g. European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS). However, in the UK cloud is highly problematic for optical satellites and thermal data provides only a short window of opportunity for active fire detection. This thesis provides a unique line of enquiry by exploring the potential of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) intensity and Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) coherence for burn scar characterisation and persistence, using a multi-temporal and multi-sensor approach for degraded peat moorland. The Peak District National Park (PDNP) was selected because it is a marginal moorland environment, which experiences high rates of peat erosion and will experience more wildfires, based on future projections of increased temperature, due to global warming. Initial SAR intensity results for the Bleaklow 2003 burn scar showed a clear post-fire increase of 7 dB for burned peat bog when acquired under wet conditions. Post-fire, dry − wet InSAR pairs were characterised by vegetation removal caused by combustion within the burn scar area, whereas wet − wet InSAR pairs characterised the burn scar, but also degraded peat moorland caused by previous wildfires blurring the new burn scar perimeter. Intensity differed significantly with slope for the PDNP 2003 wildfires, reducing the effectiveness of the technique for characterising burn scars on slopes facing away from the sensor, although these wildfires showed no significant difference on coherence for the inland bare ground class. When using coherence as a burn scar discriminator, this research found that it is essential to acquire InSAR pairs immediately post-fire with B⊥ < 550 m. Using a combination of intensity and coherence data a multi-difference colour composite was produced and an ISODATA classification applied. Results were reclassified to produce a burned area map with an overall map accuracy of 94% and Kappa Coefficient of 0.69 covering the Bleaklow and Kinder 2003 burn scars. Burn scars < 6 km2 provided a persistently higher burned area intensity signal for up to six months after the wildfire but only 2 − 3 months for coherence. The smaller Edale burn scar (0.10 km2) was characterised by 2 − 3 dB greater intensity for the burned area over a year after the wildfire. The Edale 2008 case study showed that L-band PALSAR data is less sensitive to characterising peat moorland burn scars compared to C-band data. This study therefore strongly recommends C-band data for peat moorland burn scar characterisation and monitoring. Future research will explore the new C-band Sentinel-1 data which offers improved spatial resolution and repeat-pass time.

Gray mold, caused by Botrytis cinerea is the major cause of postharvest loss in strawberries. Detection of flower and fruit infections enables producers to make intelligent management decisions. A plate-trapped ELISA protocol using a Botrytis-specific monoclonal antibody (BC-12.CA4) was developed for the detection of Botrytis cinerea in strawberry flower receptacles and red fruits. Horseradish peroxidase, was chosen as enzyme conjugate because it gave lower background absorbance in disease-free samples. B. cinerea reference antigen (RAg) was isolated from strawberry. BC-12.CA4 was very sensitive to the RAg, detecting up to 6 mug/ml of RAg when mixed with strawberry extracts. The MAb did not show any reaction to Rhizopus sp., Mucor sp. and Penicillium sp. associated with strawberry. B. cinerea could be detected in receptacles two days after inoculation. Treatment of inoculated receptacles with paraquat speeded-up detection. Inoculated red fruit infection could be detected after three days of incubation. Disease in commercially-produced receptacles and red fruits were assessed visually and by ELISA. The ELISA detected B. cinerea in 95% of commercial flower samples, whereas the traditional visual method detected only 50 to 70%. No dramatic differences between methods were found for red fruits.