Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Species displacement'

BACKGROUND:Ecological character displacement is a process of phenotypic differentiation of sympatric populations caused by interspecific competition. Such differentiation could facilitate speciation by enhancing reproductive isolation between incipient species, although empirical evidence for it at early stages of divergence when gene flow still occurs between the species is relatively scarce. Here we studied patterns of morphological variation in sympatric and allopatric populations of two hybridizing species of birds, the Common Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos) and the Thrush Nightingale (L. luscinia).RESULTS:We conducted principal component (PC) analysis of morphological traits and found that nightingale species converged in overall body size (PC1) and diverged in relative bill size (PC3) in sympatry. Closer analysis of morphological variation along geographical gradients revealed that the convergence in body size can be attributed largely to increasing body size with increasing latitude, a phenomenon known as Bergmann's rule. In contrast, interspecific interactions contributed significantly to the observed divergence in relative bill size, even after controlling for the effects of geographical gradients. We suggest that the divergence in bill size most likely reflects segregation of feeding niches between the species in sympatry.CONCLUSIONS:Our results suggest that interspecific competition for food resources can drive species divergence even in the face of ongoing hybridization. Such divergence may enhance reproductive isolation between the species and thus contribute to speciation.

Dissertation presented to obtain the Ph.D degree in Chemistry
Anions are ubiquitous and very important species in biological, medicinal, industrial and environmental processes. In biology, anions are essential for normal metabolic functions, where their specific recognition, transport and detection play a very important role. On the other hand, the uncontrolled release of anions into the environment poses a significant threat. The development of synthetic receptors capable of sequestering anions should, therefore, provide solutions to a number of problems of current interest. To be suitable for real-life applications, as for instance the detection and quantification of biologically active anions in clinical laboratories or the environmental monitoring and/or removal of pollutants, synthetic receptors need to be able to function in aqueous solution. However, due to the high dielectric constant and good hydrogen bond donor and acceptor capabilities, water is the most challenging medium for anion recognition.(...)
The work described in this thesis was entirely carried out in Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Oeiras, Portugal. Pedro Mateus has received financial support from Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, ref. SFRH/BD/36159/2007.

[EN] The doctoral thesis presented under the title "Hybrid inorganic-organic materials for the optical recognition of neutral and anionic species" has had as its main objective the synthesis and characterization of organic-inorganic hybrid materials based on the combination of the principles of Supramolecular Chemistry and Materials Science. Recent studies confirm that cooperation between these two areas of Chemistry allow the simulation of what natural living beings have been doing for millions of years in a natural way. At cellular level, many vital functions are related to the ability of a particular receptor to recognize a particular species, giving a specific answer. But what is more interesting is that in living organisms, most of these systems do not exist as dissolved molecules, but are bounded to a (bio)organic skeleton with more or less flexibility. When we imitated these systems bearing in mind the supramolecular and analytical chemistry, we find that we need a sensory molecule able to join with the specie that we want to detect and at the same time, this union must produce a change in its physico-chemical properties giving as a result a signal. But moreover, if we take advantatge of the fact that siliceous nanostructured materials present a high physical and chemical stability and that they have cavities where the sensor system can be incorporated into, we have the synthetic hybrid organic-inorganic combination similar to the natural one. In order to develop this idea, we have used sensor systems widely studied in molecular recognition processes in aqueous media and we have applied them to the inorganic-organic hydrid materials. Therefore, the present work thesis has been structured in two parts: on the one hand, the synthesis and characterization of the functionalized inorganic porous solid materials by the study and detection of amines using the "chemodosimeter" approach. On the other hand, we have made the synthesis and characterization of the organic functionalized inorganic porous solid materials for the study and detection of anionic species through the displacement assays approach.
[ES] La tesis doctoral que se presenta bajo el título "Hybrid inorganic-organic materials for the optical recognition of neutral and anionic species" ha tenido como objetivo principal la síntesis y caracterización de materiales híbridos orgánico-inorgànicos basados en la combinación de los principios de la Química Supramolecular y la Ciencia de los Materiales. Recientes estudios corroboran que la cooperación entre estas dos áreas de la Química permite simular lo que ya hace millones de años realizan de forma natural los organismos vivos. A nivel celular, muchas de las funciones vitales están relacionadas con la habilidad de un receptor concreto para reconocer una determinada especie, dando una respuesta específica. Pero lo que resulta más interesante, es que en los organismos vivos, la mayoría de estos sistemas no existen en forma de moléculas disueltas, sino que están unidos con mayor o menor flexibilidad a un esqueleto bio(in)orgánico. Cuando imitamos estos sistemas teniendo en cuenta la química supramolecular y analítica, nos encontramos que necesitamos de una molécula indicadora que sea capaz de unirse a la especie que queremos detectar y que a su vez, esta unión produzca un cambio en las propiedades físico-químicas de la entidad para producir una señal. Pero además, si aprovechamos el hecho de que los materiales silíceos nanoestructurados presentan una alta estabilidad física y química y que proporcionan cavidades donde alojar al sistema sensor, tenemos la combinación híbrida orgánico-inorgánico sintética similar a la natural. Con el objetivo de desarrollar esta idea, hemos utilizado sistemas sensores ampliamente estudiados en procedimientos de reconocimiento molecular en disolución acuosa y los hemos aplicado a los materiales híbridos orgánico-inorgànicos. De esta manera, el trabajo de tesis se ha estructurado en dos partes: por una parte, la síntesis y caracterización de materiales sólidos inorgánicos porosos funcionalizados para el estudio y detección de aminas utilizando el procedimiento de "dosímetro químico", y en una segunda parte, se ha llevado a cabo la síntesis y caracterización de sólidos inorgánicos porosos funcionalizados para el estudio y detección de especies aniónicas mediante el procedimiento de "ensayos por desplazamiento".
[CA] La tesis doctoral que es presenta sota el títol "Hybrid inorganic-organic materials for the optical recognition of neutral and anionic species" ha tingut com objectiu principal la síntesi i caracterització de materials híbrids orgànic-inorgànics basats en la combinació dels principis de la Química Supramolecular i la Ciència dels Materials. Estudis recents corroboren que la cooperació entre aquestes dues àrees de la Química permet simular el que ja fa milions d'anys realitzen de forma natural els organismes vius. A nivell cel·lular, moltes de les funcions vitals estan relacionades amb l'habilitat d'un receptor concret per a reconèixer una espècie determinada, donant una resposta específica. Però el que és més interessant, és que als organismes vius, la majoria d'aquests sistemes no existeixen en forma de molècules dissoltes, sinó que estan units amb major o menor flexibilitat a un esquelet bio(in)orgànic. Quan imitem aquests sistemes tenint en compte la química supramolecular i analítica, ens trobem que necessitem d'una molècula indicadora que sigui capaç d'unir-se a l'espècie que volem detectar i que alhora, aquesta unió produeixi un canvi en les propietats fisico-químiques de l'entitat per produir una senyal. Però a més, si aprofitem el fet que els materials silícics nanoestructurats presenten una alta estabilitat física i química i que proporcionen cavitats on es pot allotjar el sistema sensor, tenim la combinació híbrida orgànica-inorgànica sintètica semblant a la natural. Per tal de desenvolupar aquesta idea, hem utilitzat sistemes sensors ampliament estudiats en procediments de reconeixement molecular en dissolució aquosa i els hem aplicat als materials híbrids orgànic-inorgànics. Així el present treball de Tesis s'ha estructurat en dues parts: per una banda, la síntesis i caracterització de materials sòlids inorgànics porosos funcionalitzats per l'estudi i detecció d'amines utilitzant el procediment de "dosímetre químic", i en una segona part, s'ha realitzat la síntesis i caracterització de sòlids inorgànics porosos funcionalitzats per a l'estudi i detecció d'espècies aniòniques mitjançant el procediment "d'assajos per desplaçament".
Comes Navarro, M. (2016). Hybrid inorganic-organic materials for the optical recognition of neutral and anionic species [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/62153
TESIS

En muchas áreas citrícolas del mundo el piojo rojo de California (PRC), Aonidiella aurantii (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), está considerado una plaga clave. En el Este de España se ha extendido durante las últimas décadas hasta cubrir una amplia extensión de cítricos. El control químico es difícil y frecuentemente es seguido de infestaciones recurrentes en poco tiempo, de la aparición de resistencias a diferentes productos usados para su control y de la eliminación de enemigos naturales en el campo. La mejora del manejo integrado y las técnicas de control biológico del PRC requieren conocer la composición de los enemigos naturales en cada zona climática, la fluctuación en su abundancia estacional, los niveles de parasitismo y depredación, como se distribuyen en la planta y como son afectados por el clima y el cambio climático. Aunque mucho se ha estudiado en laboratorio sobre los parasitoides Aphytis (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), los principales agentes de control del PRC, todavía no se conoce qué combinación de enemigos naturales consigue el mejor nivel de control en el campo, cómo varían los niveles de parasitismo a lo largo del año o cómo los parasitoides se distribuyen y compiten en el campo en relación con el clima. La acción de los Aphytis, ectoparasitoides, es complementada en muchas zonas citrícolas por los endoparasitoides Comperiella bifasciata y Encarsia perniciosi (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), los cuales pueden parasitar estadíos diferentes a Aphytis. Muy poco se sabe sobre el comportamiento y las respuestas biológicas bajo diferentes condiciones climáticas de estos endoparasitoides. Del mismo modo, el efecto de los depredadores sobre la población del piojo ha sido raramente estudiado. Actualmente, A. melinus, una especie introducida en el Este de España y el competidor superior, ha desplazado al parasitoide nativo A. chrysomphali de las zonas cálidas y secas ya que puede tolerar mejor las temperaturas cálidas del verano.
Sorribas Mellado, JJ. (2011). Biological control of California red scale, Aonidiella aurantii (Hemiptera: Diaspididae): spatial and temporal distribution of natural enemies, parasitism levels and climate effects [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/14794
Palancia

El presente proyecto de investigación está enfocado al desarrollo de sensores químicos fluoro-cromogénicos, para la detección y determinación de especies químicas de interés biológico, industrial y medioambiental de forma selectiva y con alta sensibilidad. En forma general, se busca el diseñar nuevos sistemas sensores basados en compuestos (receptores) formados por dos unidades: una unidad coordinante que interacciona con el anión a determinar y una unidad generadora de señal que alerta del reconocimiento molecular efectuado. Durante este estudio se están preparando diversas moléculas receptoras funcionalizandas con grupos modificadores de estructura para evaluar su influencia sobre las capacidades de detección y selectividad como receptores de especies específicas en diferentes condiciones y medios. Las diferentes aproximaciones en prueba implican a su vez el diseño y síntesis molecular, así como el análisis de las diferentes señales ópticas producidas en el reconocimiento, con el fin de diseñar sistemas de alta eficacia y eficiencia, y con posibilidades reales de aplicación.
Santos Figueroa, LE. (2014). New approaches for the development of chromo-fluorogenic sensors for chemical species of biological, industrial and environmental interest [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/43216
TESIS
Premiado

Aboveground and belowground ectomycorrhizal (ECM) communities associated with different age classes of the exotic plantation species Pinus radiata were investigated over the course of two years in the North Island of New Zealand. ECM species were identified with a combined approach of morphological and molecular (restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and DNA sequencing) analysis. ECM species richness and diversity of a nursery in Rotorua, and stands of different ages (1, 2, 8, 15 and 26 yrs of age at time of final assessment) in Kaingaroa Forest, were assessed above- and belowground; furthermore, the correlation between the above- and belowground ECM communities was assessed. It was found that the overall and stand specific species richness and diversity of ECM fungi associated with the exotic host tree in New Zealand were low compared to similar forests in the Northern Hemisphere but similar to other exotic plantations in the Southern Hemisphere. Over the course of this study, 18 ECM species were observed aboveground and 19 ECM species belowground. With the aid of molecular analysis the identities of Laccaria proxima and Inocybe sindonia were clarified. In the aboveground study, five species were found associated with P. radiata that were previously not reported with this host in New Zealand (Inocybe sindonia, Lactarius rufus, Lycoperdon gunii, Rhizopogon pseudoroseolus and Wilcoxina mikolae). Belowground, the species Psudotomentella sp., P. tristis, R. luteorubescens, Tomentella sp., Wilcoxina mikolae were found as new associates of P. radiata in New Zealand, additionally nine ECM types were found that could not be identified with molecular analysis. There was little correlation between the species fruiting and the species colonising root tips. Only seven species were found in common between the above- and belowground communities, furthermore the dominant species aboveground were not observed in the belowground ECM communities. The influence of host age on the above- and belowground ECM communities of different age classes of P. radiata plantations was investigated. The aboveground species richness increased from the nursery to the oldest age group investigated (26 yrs), while diversity increased to the 15 yr old age group and decreased slightly to the oldest stand. A clear sequence of ECM species changes was observed to be related to stand age with a growing complexity over the chronosequence. The belowground ECM communities showed a different picture and richness and diversity initially decreased from the nursery to the outplanting but increased thereafter. Belowground no change in ECM composition that was directly related to the age of the host was observed, but two distinct groups of ECM species were found – a 'young' and a 'plantation forest' group, with the respective discriminating species being Rhizopogon rubescens and Type unknown Basidiomycete/Amanita muscaria. Another aspect of the study was the fate of the nursery ECM species in the outplanting and the arrival of non-nursery species. The ECM communities of seedlings in the nursery were investigated in 2006 and these seedlings were followed up over eight assessments in the field for one year, furthermore data from the 1-, 2 and 8 yr old plantation stands was analysed. It was found that the nursery species do survive the first year of outplanting and are dominant in the first year. The first non-nursery species occurred six months after outplanting but was only in minor abundance. Nursery ECM were dominant for two years after the seedlings were planted, and were completely replaced after seven years. Rhizopogon rubescens was found to be the most persistent and dominant species in the outplanting, facilitating the successful establishment of the seedlings in the plantation forest.

This paper deals with two-dimensional Finite Element Analysis of the End Notched Flexure (ENF) specimen. The specimen is known to be unstable if the crack length is shorter than some critical crack length acr. A geometric linear two-dimensional Finite Element (FE) analysis of the ENF specimen is performed to evaluate acr for isotropic and orthotropic elastic materials, respectively. Moreover, the Mode II Energy Release Rate (ERR) JII and the compliance of the specimen are calculated. The influence of anisotropy is studied. Comparisons are made with the results from beam theory. This work is an extension of previous work.

We reviewed the taxonomy of the Trogon rufus species-complex under the premises of the Biological Species Concept. Putative taxonomic units, breaks and transition zones, were visualised by heatmaps and isophenes (phenotypic contour lines) of the colour, barring, morphometric and song characters and tested by discriminant function analyses. Colourmetric data were obtained via spectrometry and barring patterns analysed via high quality digital photographs. We found four distinct biological species. Trogon chrysochloros Pelzeln 1856 from the Atlantic Forest with its denser and blacker undertail and wing covert barring, larger size and faster, generally higher song with more notes. Its upperparts vary from bluer to more coppery-green with increasing altitude. The bill is also relatively smaller and more serrated, linked to a diet that consists almost exclusively of large arthropods, making it the most insectivorous new world Trogon species yet known, which may account for its relative rarity compared to other Trogonids with which it is sympatric. Trogon tenellus Cabanis 1862, from Central America, and Trogon cupreicauda Chapman 1914 from the Chocó-Magdalena provide a classic case of typical biological species, coming into contact in the extreme NW Chocó Province, Colombia, but without intermediate forms. T. tenellus is identified by its blue to blue-green uppertail, blue or grey eye-rings, grey tarsi and song with 2-4 notes, longer note duration and greater change in peak and high frequencies between the intro note and loudsong. This contrasts with the shiny olive-green to coppery green uppertails, yellow eye-ring, usually olive tarsi, brown wash on the undertail of females and song with 6-8 notes of shorter duration and little change in frequency between the intro note and loudsong of T. cupreicauda. T. cupreicauda varies clinally from generally bluer- to more coppery-green plumage and from thicker to thinner black bars in a gradient from the Pacific coast on the border with Ecuador to the Magdalena Valley. The greater difference in colour and barring relative to T. tenellus in the region they come into contact provides possible evidence of character displacement as a result of the competitive exclusion between these two species, maintaining their parapatric distributions. The Amazonian population belongs to a single species, Trogon rufus Gmelin 1788, but with two highly distinct forms that we designate as Trogon rufus rufus in the Guiana Shield and Trogon rufus sulphureus in S & W Amazonia, for which Todd\'s amazonicus is synonymised. They are morphologically and, to a lesser extent, vocally distinct across the lower Rio Negro and matrix of highland and open habitats of the Rio Branco basin but show limited character exchange between the 52-58th parallels west on the southern bank of the Amazon, centred around the Rio Arapiuns on the left bank of mouth of the Tapajos. We postulate that this is the result of secondary contact as a consequence of shifts in the course of the main channel of the Amazon River at times of lower sea levels during the Plio-Pleistocene. T .r. sulphureus is identified by a typically coppery uppertail with subterminal tailband of greener hue, yellow eye-ring, low barring density and broad black bars of the undertail and wing-coverts barring with and lack of a pectoral band. They are also sometimes distinguishable in song by a higher frequency introduction note and/or more pronounced descending modulation across the loudsong. This varies clinally on a west-east gradient, from strong-coppery to shiny olive-green uppertails with more to less distinct subterminal tailbands, diminishing black bar widths with corresponding increasing density and decreasing intro note low frequency. T. r. rufus have green uppertails, blue eye-rings, presence or absence of a white pectoral band and denser undertail and wing panel barring with thinner black bars. These characters were shown to change as a function of geographic distance between specimens of sulphureus and rufus, connected via the \'Arapiuns contact zone\', suggesting isolation by distance. This is reminiscent of a ring species pattern and two specimens with a possible mixture of characters were indeed found from the upper Rio Negro and in Pantepui, where T. r. rufus and T. r. sulphureus would be expected to come into contact, effectively \'closing the ring\'. Whether Trogon rufus constitutes a valid ring species requires further testing, preferably including molecular characters, but this clearly illustrates that the distinction between clinal variation and ring-species is a matter of degree, not kind, with the formation of the ring-species necessarily passing through a clinal stage with no overlap between terminal taxa. We therefore propose the concept of a loop species, where the terminal forms do not overlap but are connected via a series of intergrading populations. It seems likely that such patterns are more widespread in Amazonia than presently known due to the propensity for clinal variation and parapatric speciation lended by its massive geographical extent and abundance of biogeographical semi-permeable barriers. With regards to the population from the Pernambuco Center of Endemism, the few records suggest that it is a valid taxonomic unit. It has the unique combination of a song very similar to T. r. sulphureus due to the high introduction note frequency and pronounced descent in frequencies across the loudsong, with a corresponding widening range but moderately large size, serrated bill and blue eye-ring but this certainly requires confirmation. This requires urgent attention, as the remnant population is very small and localised, recorded only from the Murici municipality, Alagoas.
Nós revisamos a taxonomia do complexo Trogon rufus sob o conceito Biológico de Espécies. Unidades taxonômicas possíveis, quebras e zonas de transição taxonômicas foram definidas usando mapas de calor e isofenas (linhas de contorno de fenótípo) baseados em caráteres de cor, barramento e morfometria. Esses possíveis táxons foram testados pelas análises de discriminantes. Dados de coloração foram obtidos por meio de espectrometria, e os padrões de barramento por meio de fotos de alta qualidade. Nós encontramos quatro espécies biológicas distintas Trogon chrysochloros Pelzeln 1856, da Mata Atlântica, diagnosticável pelo barramento mais escuro e denso na face inferior da cauda e coberteiras da asa, maior tamanho corpóreo, canto mais rápido, com mais notas e de frequência mais alta. Suas partes superiores (cabeça, dorso e cauda) variam de azul a verde acobreado com o aumento da altitude. O bico também é relativamente menor e mais serrilhado, o que está ligado a uma dieta que consiste quase exclusivamente de grandes artrópodes, fazendo desta espécie o Trogon mais insetívoro do mundo, o que deve ser a razão de sua relativa raridade quando comparado a outros Trogonidae com os quais vive em simpatia. Trogon tenellus Cabanis 1862, da América Central, e Trogon cupreicauda Chapman 1914, do Chocó-Magdalena, formam um caso clássico de espécies biológicas, entrando em contato no extremo noroeste da província de Chocó, na Colômbia, sem a presença de formas intermediárias. T. tenellus é identificável pela face superior da cauda azul ou azul esverdeado, anel perioftálmico azul ou cinza, tarso cinza, e voz com de 2 a 4 notas, maior duração das notas e maior mudança entre frequência de pico e frequência alta entre a nota introdutória e nota principal. Essas características contrastam com a cor verde-oliva brilhante da face superior da cauda, anel perioftámico amarelo, tarso geralmente oliva, presença de marrom claro na face inferior da cauda das fêmeas e canto com entre 6 e 8 notas, de menor duração, pouca mudança na frequência entre a primeira nota e o canto principal de T. cupreicauda. Este varia clinalmente de azul para uma plumagem mais verde acobreada e de barramento preto mais espesso para mais fino em uma gradiente da costa do Pacífico, do noroeste do Equador até o Vale do Magdalena. A maior distinção de estados de caráter relativa a T. tenellus na região onde os dois grupos se encontram provê uma possível evidência de deslocamento de caracteres como resultado de exclusão competitiva entre estas duas espécies, mantendo suas distribuições parapátricas. A população amazônica pertence a única espécie biológica Trogon rufus Gmelin 1788, mas com duas formas altamente distintas que designamos como Trogon rufus rufus do Escudo Guianense, e Trogon rufus sulphureus no sul e oeste da Amazônia, com a qual amazonicus de Todd é sinonimizada. Estas são morfologicamente, e em menor escala, vocalmente distintas nas duas margens do baixo Rio Negro e áreas abertas e/ou montanhosas da bacia do Rio Branco, mas apresentam troca de caracteres limitada nas longitudes entre 52 e 58 Oeste na margem sul do Rio Amazonas, centrado nos arredores do Rio Arapiuns, na margem esquerda da foz do Tapajós. Nós postulamos que isto é um resultado de contato secundário, como consequência de mudanças no curso principal do Rio Amazonas em tempos de níveis mais baixos do mar durante o Plio-Pleistoceno. T. r. sulphureus é identificado pela coloração tipicamente acobreada da face superior da cauda com uma banda sub-terminal de tonalidade esverdeada, anel perioftálmico amarelo, barras negras espessas e de baixa densidade na face inferior da cauda e nas coberteiras das asas e pela ausência de uma faixa peitoral. Em certos casos eles também podem ser distinguíveis pela voz com uma nota introdutória de maior frequência e/ou uma modulação descendente mais pronunciada no canto principal. Este grupo varia clinalmente em gradiente de oeste para leste, de uma coloração cobre forte até verde oliva na face superior da cauda com faixa sub-terminal mais ou menos distinta, anel perioftálmico azul, presença ou ausência de uma faixa peitoral branca e barramento na face inferior da cauda e coberteiras de menor espessura e, consequentemente, maior densidade. Nossos dados apontam que estes caracteres mudam linearmente entre sulphureus e rufus de acordo com a distância ao longo de uma gradiente clinal em forma de laço do Oeste Amazônico até o Escudo das Guianas, conectado pela zona de contato de Arapiuns, sugerindo isolamento por distância. Isto sugere um remanescente de um padrão de espécie em anel. Além disso, dois espécimes com possível mistura de caracteres foram de fato encontrados no alto Rio Negro e Pantepui, onde se espera que T. r. rufus e T. r. sulphureus entrem em contato, fechando o anel efetivamente. Ainda é necessário testar se Trogon rufus constitui uma espécie em anel válida, preferencialmente usando dados moleculares, mas este caso ilustra claramente que a distinção entre variação clinal e espécie em anel é uma questão de grau e não de tipo, com a formação de espécie em anel necessariamente passando por um estágio clinal sem sobreposição entre os grupos terminais. Nós assim sugerimos o conceito de espécie em laço, onde as formas terminais não se sobrepõem, mas são ligadas através de uma série de populações onde há fluxo gênico. Parece provável que estes padrões são mais amplamente distribuídos na Amazônia do que é sabido atualmente devido a uma propensão à variação clinal e especiação parapátrica causada por sua grande extensão geográfica e abundância de barreiras geográficas semipermeáveis. Em relação a população do Centro de Endemismo Pernambuco, os poucos registros sugerem que esta é uma unidade taxonômica válida. Este grupo apresenta uma combinação única de canto muito similar ao de T. r. sulphureus, devido à alta frequência da nota introdutória e pronunciada modulação descendente ao longo do canto principal, com uma maior amplitude da frequência, combinada a maior tamanho, bico serrilhado, e anel perioftálmico azul, mas isso requer confirmação. Este caso demanda atenção urgente, já que a população remanescente é muito pequena e de distribuição restrita ao município de Murici, em Alagoas.

The management of congestible recreation resources has been based largely on the concept of satisfaction. This concept is poorly defined and often does not reflect objectives for management of recreation resources. One way of addressing these problems is to define and use measurable objectives for management of recreation resources. One such objective is economic efficiency. The concept of efficiency is defined and economic theory developed to identify efficient allocations of congestible resources, the efficient capacities of resources under different allocation mechanisms, and the efficiency costs of use of lottery-based allocation mechanisms. The usefulness of this body of economic theory in allocation of backcountry recreational resources is addressed through investigation of ability to measure demand for congestible resources, and the problems associated with use of surrogate measures of demand. Theoretical models of efficient management of congestible resources cannot be applied with the current state of knowledge because existing non-market valuation methods are not able to identify Hicksian-compensated demand functions for congestible backcountry recreation. Use of Marshallian demand measures introduces the possibility of resource misallocations of unknown direction and magnitude.

The mechanical engineering department at the University of Idaho is conducting a project with the purpose of developing a complete system for investigating creep-, creep-fatigue- and fatigue properties of metallic materials at elevated temperatures up to 650 ˚C with Compact Tension (CT) specimens. Considerable efforts have been made to study and understand these phenomena, although numerous problems still exist. It is important to explore more extensively the complicated phenomena of creep, fatigue and of creep-fatigue interactions. The Direct Current Potential Drop (DCPD) method is a common method used to investigate, for example, the initiation of cracks, crack growth rates and to monitor crack growth. The technique utilizes the fact that the electrical resistance of a CT specimen changes with crack growth. By applying a constant current over the specimen and measuring the resulting voltage over the crack, the crack length can be related to the voltage, and the difference in crack length with difference in voltage. Standards from the American Society for Testing of Materials (ASTM) were used as guidance when designing the DCPD system and CT specimen. The development and implementation processes were divided into an analytical and an experimental stage. The final product consisted of a high temperature extensometer, to measure crack mouth opening displacement (CMOD), and a DCPD system, to measure crack growth, controlled by separate control units. The DCPD system consisted of a DC supply and a nano voltmeter along with Constantan wire and NiCr60 wire respectively, that were mechanically fastened. The DCPD system delivered overall satisfying results and was able to generate sufficient data to produce a crack growth curve, da/dN vs. ΔK. Although, by taking advantage of resistance welding equipment to attach the DCPD wires, along with implementing one shared control unit for the DCPD system and the extensometer, more accurate and accessible measurements and correlations could be extracted.
Mechanical engineering avdelningen på University of Idaho genomför just nu ett utvecklingsprojekt med syftet att utveckla ett komplett system för undersökning av krypnings, krypnings-utmattnings- samt utmattnings- egenskaper av metalliska material vid höga temperaturer upp till 650 ˚C med hjälp av kompakta spänningsprovstavar (CT specimens). Betydande ansträngningar har gjorts för att undersöka och förstå dessa fenomen, men flera problem kvarstår. Det är viktigt att djupare undersöka kopplingen mellan krypnings- och utmattningsegenskaper. Direct Current Potential Drop (DCPD) metoden är en vanlig metod vilken används för att undersöka, exempelvis, sprickinitiering, spricktillväxthastigheter och spricktillväxt. Tekniken utnyttjar faktumet att den elektriska resistansen i en provstav ändras med spricktillväxt. Genom att föra en konstant ström genom provstaven och sedan mäta den resulterande spänningen över sprickan, kan spricklängden relateras till uppmätt spänning. På samma sätt kan spricktillväxt relateras till spänningsförändringar. Standarder från American Society for Testing of Materials (ASTM) användes för att designa ett DCPD system samt en CT provstav. Utvecklings- och implementeringsprocessen var uppdelad i en analytisk och en experimentell del. Den slutgiltiga produkten bestod av en extensometer, för mätning av spricköppning vid höga temperaturer, och ett DCPD system, för mätning av spricktillväxt vid höga temperaturer, vilka kontrollerades av separata kontrollenheter. DCPD systemet bestod av en strömkälla och en nanovoltmeter tillsammans med Constantan kablar respektive NiCr60 kablar, vilka fastsättes mekaniskt. DCPD systemet levererade generellt sett tillfredställande resultat och hade kapacitet att generera tillräckligt precisa data för att producera en spricktillväxtkurva, da/dN vs. ΔK. Däremot, genom att utnyttja en resistanssvets, för att fastsätta DCPD-kablarna, tillsammans med en gemensam kontrollenhet för extensometern och DCPD systemet, kan det tänkas att bättre och mer tillgängliga resultat kunde åstadkommas.

Bone is a common site for metastases and spine represent the most frequent site. Lytic lesions are associated with the loss of bone tissue, which can compromise the mechanical competence of the vertebra, leading to spine instability. Rigid stabilization is a solution, but it is a complex surgery, that can be very critical for oncologic patients; on the other hand, an untreated metastasis can lead to mechanical failure of the bone, leading to pain, immobilization and in the worst case, paralysis. In this study, a protocol to analyse the strain with simulated lytic metastasis under compressive loading has been developed and optimized using a porcine vertebra. The strain distribution has been measured experimentally using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and Digital Volume Correlation (DVC), which provided three-dimensional displacements and strains maps inside the specimen. The ideal parameters for the DVC have been found by analysing two repeated scans in constant strain condition and setting a target of 200 microstrain for the errors (one order of magnitude lower than typical strains in bone subjected to physiological loading conditions). An ideal nodal spacing of 50 voxels (approximately 2 mm) has been chosen and a voxel detection algorithm has been applied to all data to remove regions outside the bone. In order to understand how the presence of the defect could alter the strain distribution, the porcine vertebra has also been subjected to non-destructive compressive load before and after the preparation of a mechanically induced lytic metastasis in the vertebral body. An increase of the 40% of the compressive principal strain after the defect has been found in proximity of the lesion. This protocol will be used in future studies to analyse the effect of size and position of artificially metastatic lesions in the vertebral body of human spines.

碩士
國立臺灣大學
生態學與演化生物學研究所
101
Character displacement hypothesis states: when species with character similarity coexist in the same community, the population in sympatric location would displace in one or more characters. The increased differences in character space would reduce the strength of inter-specific competition for limited resources. Both Japalura swinhonis and Japalura polygonata xanthostoma occur in northern Taiwan. The two congeners have similar morphology and ecology, yet different macro-habitats. I applied species distribution model to identify environmental features that describe their differences in macrohabitat use, and predict the potential contact zone of the two species. Then use the latter to examine the pattern of character displacement. The results of species distribution modeling showed the distance to human-use area and total area of forest contribute the most to the distribution of the two species. The models allowed me to successfully locate four main regions of species coexistence. I found evidence for character displacement in most sympatric locations of Japalura swinhonis and Japalura polygonata xanthostoma. In four of the sympatric locations I surveyed, three of them showed significant intra-specific differences in their morphology between sympatric and allopatric locations. The head related parameters were consistently smaller for both species. While inter-specific difference of bite force related characters were greater in the sympatric than allopatric locations, characters related to sprint speed were more similar in the sympatric locations. Character displacement may be effect by inter-specific competition and predation risk in sympatric location, therefore, the characters related to sprint speed would be more similar.

Rozprawa doktorska składa się z trzech opublikowanych publikacji naukowych.
Rozprawa doktorska dra Michała Rachalewskiego pt. „Weak and strong invaders: which biotic factors shape interactions among Ponto-Caspian invasive gammaridean species?” otrzymała nagrodę w VII edycji Konkursu „Ekologiczny magister i doktor" w kategorii ekologiczny doktor. Zwycięska praca została napisana pod kierunkiem naukowym dr hab. Karoliny Bąceli-Spychalskiej z Katedry Zoologii Bezkręgowców i Hydrobiologii UŁ. Konkurs „Ekologiczny magister i doktor” organizowany jest przez Wojewódzki Fundusz Ochrony Środowiska i Gospodarki Wodnej w Łodzi. Celem Konkursu jest wyłonienie przez Zarząd WFOŚiGW w Łodzi najlepszych prac magisterskich i rozpraw doktorskich z dziedziny ochrony środowiska, które oceniane były zarówno pod względem naukowym jak i praktycznym.
The aim of this thesis was to investigate interactions and possible biotic factors that could be agents modulating coexistence and dispersal of three most widespread Ponto-Caspian species Dikerogammarus villosus (Sovinsky, 1894), Dikerogammarus haemobaphes (Eichwald, 1841) and Pontogammarus robustoides (G.O. Sars, 1894). Each chapter presented in this thesis is focused on a different biotic factor that defines the boundaries of possible coexistence of the studied species. This thesis fills some gaps in knowledge about possible ecological mechanisms that stand behind the invasion of those animals. Thus, their temperature preferences were investigated to find whether this factor might determine coexistence of species by relocation leading to their spatial segregation among microhabitats. Ponto-Caspian amphipods are often highly infected with microsporidian parasites, which coevolved with them in their native region and undergo the invasion with their hosts to Europe, Thus, incorporation of microsporidia into study upon thermal preferences of Ponto-Caspian amphipods allowed to investigate both infection presence and temperature selection as agents capable of determining the possibility of coexistence of the studied amphipods. Therefore, physical and chemical contact with competitors, thermal preferences and possible modulators of these factors – microsporidian parasites were chosen as imsportant factors potentially affecting the intensity and direction of amphipod migrations. All ecological experiments were conducted with intention to define behaviour of each studied species while facing with those factors.
Polish National Science Centre grants 2011/03/D/NZ8/03012 and 2012/05/B/NZ8/00479

Small molecule Zn(II) complexes containing N- and S- donor environments may serve as appropriate models for mimicking Zn protein sites, and thus, their reactions with heavy metal ions such as Pt(II) and W(0) may provide insight into possible adduct formation and zinc displacement. To study such possible interactions between zinc finger proteins and platinum-bound DNA, the ZnN2S2 dimeric complex, N,N?-bis(2- mercaptoethyl)-1,4-diazacycloheptane zinc (II), [Zn-1?]2, has been examined for Znbound thiolate reactivity in the presence of Pt(II) nitrogen ? rich compounds. The reactions yielded Zn/Pt di- and tri- nuclear thiolate-bridged adducts and metalexchanged products, which were initially observed via ESI-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) analysis of reaction solutions, and ultimately verified by comparison to the ESI-MS analysis, 195Pt NMR spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography of directly synthesized complexes. The isolation of Zn-(?-SR)-Pt-bridged [(Zn(bme-dach)Cl)(Pt(dien))]Cl adduct from these studies is, to our knowledge, the first Zn-Pt bimetallic thiolatebridged model demonstrating the interaction between Zn-bound thiolates and Pt(II). Additional derivatives involving Pd(II) and Au(III) have been explored to parallel the experiments executed with Pt(II). The [Zn-1?]2 was then modified by cleavage with Na+[ICH2CO2]- to produce (N- (3-Thiabutyl)-N?-(3-thiapentaneoate)-1,4-diazacycloheptane) zinc(II), Zn-1?-Ac or ZnN2SS?O, and 1,4-diazacycloheptane-1,4-diylbis(3-thiapentanoato) zinc(II), Zn-1?-Ac2 or ZnN2S?2O2, monomeric complexes (where S = thiolate, S? = thioether). The [Zn-1?]2 di- and Zn-1?-Ac mono-thiolato complexes demonstrated reactivity towards labile-ligand tungsten carbonyl species, (THF)W(CO)5 and (pip)2W(CO)4, to yield, respectively, the [(Zn-1?-Cl)W(CO)4]- complex and the [(Zn-1?-Ac)W(CO)5]x coordination polymer. With the aid of CO ligands for IR spectral monitoring, the products were isolated and characterized spectroscopically, as well as by X-ray diffraction and elemental analysis. To examine the potential for zinc complexes (or zinc-templated ligands) to possibly serve as a toxic metal remediation agents, Zn-1?-Ac and Zn-1?-Ac2 were reacted with Ni(BF4)2. The formation of Zn/Ni exchanged products confirmed the capability of ?free? Ni(II) to displace Zn(II) within the N-, S-, and O- chelate environment. The Zn/Ni exchanged complexes were analyzed by ESI-MS, UV-visible spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy of the acetate regions, and X-ray crystallography. They serve as foundation molecules for more noxious metal exchange / zinc displacement products.

碩士
國立成功大學
工程科學系碩博士班
95
In order to find stress-strain-damage behavior of solder ball by using solder joint specimen, this thesis defined, at first, the stiffness of material testing system, whose value could be determined from the slope of linear range of loading or unloading of the load-displacement hysteresis loop. Within this range, the solder joints behaved linear elastic with Young’s modulus and shear modulus of bulk material. As a result, the (elastic) stiffness of solder joint specimen under proportional displacement path (Φ) could be determined. Employing the series combination of spring for material testing system, the stiffness of grips could be calculated, whose value was fixed under its corresponding proportional displacement path. Consequently, the load-displacement hysteresis loop of solder joint specimen could be constructed. In this paper, isothermal undamage simple shear test data of solder joint specimen having 9 Sn/3.5Ag/0.75Cu balls were used as a base to determine the kernel function of endochronic viscoplasticity and the material function in the intrinsic time measure whose values were increased from Φ=90° to 0° but decreased as increased of the effective inelastic strain amplitude. Based on these, the isotropic endochronic viscoplasticity with cyclic damage under various proportional displacement path was used to compute load-displacement hysteresis loops. The computational results were in excellent agreement with data. According to Lee’s evolution equation of cyclic damage and the small increase in effective inelastic strain amplitude with increasing cyclic number, the relationship between damage factor D and the cyclic number N could be derived: , here was increased both from Φ=90° to 0° and the increase of effective inelastic strain amplitude. But the trend of was reversed. Usage of data of D vs. N curves and load-displacement hysteresis loops of various Φ, critical values of damage factor could be determined, 0.4