ECOLOGY OF INSECTS

Author: ALVAREZ JIMENEZ MARUXA.
Year: 2003.
University: VIGO [www.uvigo.es].
Place of defense: FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS.
Place of preparation: FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS.

Summary: Despite the fact that groundwater is almost all the water resources of the island, it is also found carved out by small rivers, commonly known as torrents, which are different from the typical image of a river to experience a phase recurring dry and variable duration along its annual cycle, hence to in the title of the thesis was wanted to highlight the temporality of mismos.En overall, despite the fact that the study of this particular type of ecosystem temporary it has been intensified over the past few years, driven primarily by its extensive distribution on the planet and by the recognition that have some intrinsic ecological characteristics, temporary rivers have received much less attention than those with a continuous flow of water, hence remains limited to the knowledge that even though there are having on ellos.Si with characteristics very different from those who, for their particular climatic and hydrological we bathe in the rivers basin mediterránea.Por therefore rivers temporary that xnstituyen the hydrographic network on the island of Majorca are a kind of unique ecosystems that until now had not been studied from the point of view Ecological, hence the importance of this thesis to give an overview of the ecology of the same. To accomplish this goal, and try to provide a first approximation to the ecology of rivers temporary Island, studies conducted along this thesis are developed at different spatial scales and levels of organización.La thesis begins a characterization of the temporary rivers on the island, studies conducted along this thesis were developed at different spatial scales and levels of organización.La thesis begins with a description of the rivers in Majorca in which he describes environmental factors affecting the macroinvertebrate community that habitann in mismos.Una time it covers characterization on a scale broad descriptive, and continued with the study of ecological aspects to a smaller spatial scale, trying to understand the structure and operation of sections well conservados.Dentro this spatial scale objectives were: first to estimate the relative importance of food sources (vs. alochthonous, native) and estructurra trophic the macroinvertebrate community and another to study the distribution and regulation dela abiotic Biomass from the field autóctona.Además withina this spatial scale, the thesis also included a study at the level of populations, which described the life cycle and felt the secondary production of a dominant herbivore, and tricóptero Agapetus quadratus Mosely 1931. Besides a final objective of this thesis involved the study, under controlled conditions, biological interactions, particularly herbivoría, benthic organisms and their primary food resource.

Author: SÁNCHEZ OSORIO ISRAEL.
Year: 2004.
University: HUELVA [www.uhu.es].
Place of defense: FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS EXPERIMENTALES.
Place of preparation: FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS EXPERIMENTALES.

Summary: New trends in the integrated pest management measures based on betting on the attraction of insects, or confusion repellent odors. This requires the study of chemical messengers (semioquímicos compounds), constituting the electroantenografía of olfactory stimuli (EAG) a valuable tool for addressing studies of this type. The objectives in this study are summarized below:-Establish an appropriate device for the study electorantenográfico (EAG) of olfactory stimuli. B-To study the effects on the response of EAG in CERAMBYX WELENSII KUSTER and PRINOBIUS GERMARI stop some experimental and other factors linked to the characteristics of individuals. C-Consider the response of EAG C WELENSII & P. GERMARI face of volatile compounds characteristic of tree species and non-host host. We have found a great variability in responses between individuals for both species: 0.92 MV + -0.6 (Media +-TD, N = 16) in C. WELENSII front of the (E) -2-HEXENAL and 0.28 MV + -0.24 (Media +-TD, N = 18) in P. GERMARI compared to the essence of turpentine; both dissolved to 50% V / V in paraffin oil or hexane. Up to 68% of this variability can be explained, in C. WELENSII factors pilot and the physiological state of the individual. Moreover, C. WELENSII and P. GERMARI have responded olfativamente significantly in front of a large group of volatile (20 and 16 substances respectively, of 33 studied), most are monoterpenes and volatile leafy greens (GLV) issued by foliar. Four of the five substances which complete between 70 and +80% dela issuing Q. ILEX and Q. SUBER (A-PINENO, B-PINENO, limonene and mirceno) are detected by both decay, with the first two responses regarding high while isomers mirceno and limonno are detected with low and medium intensity.

Author: LUQUE GARCÍA GLORIA MARIA.
Year: 2005.
University: CÓRDOBA [www.uco.es].
Place of defense: FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS.
Place of preparation: FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS.

Summary: The overall objective of this work is to study the composition and structure of the mechanisms communities ants different spatial and temporal scales, as tools for evaluating the effects of alterations caused by human activity in the Mediterranean ecosystems. To this end, on the one hand we examined the effect of a large-scale environmental disruption caused by the toxic spill in the Guadiamar River, which takes place in the first two chapters. In the following two chapters, describes the study of the effect of the spatial variations in a small-scale pilot area located in the Campus Rabanales. The basic methodology used was, on the one hand, the use of traps fall and subsequent identification of the species of ants captured, with the aim of exploring the richness and specific composition. Moreover, using baits for ants, with the aim of studying the use of resources and trophic relationships interspecific competition in the communities of ants. This study showed that recovery of communities ant Guadiamar River, still show a nascent stage, after six years following the impact caused by a mining accident, demonstrating the slow recovery is happening to such a great human activities scale. Moreover, the study in a very small scale showed that the introduction of woody species in an area has shown to be related to an increase in species richness of the communities of ants, as well as the development of a community of ants associated. So, the ants may interact with the structural heterogeneity of their environment to a very small scale, so that the competitive environment that can be given at each trophic resource type can be modified by the structural complexity of microhabitat.

Author: TABOADA PALOMARES ÁNGELA.
Year: 2006.
University: LEÓN [www.unileon.es].
Place of defense: FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS BIOLÓGICAS Y AMBIENTALES.
Place of preparation: FACULTAD DE CC. BIOLÓGICAS Y AMBIENTALES. UNIVERSIDAD DE LEÓN.

Summary: Recent studies on ecology Carabids (Coleoptera, Carabidae) focus on their value as tools for assessment and monitoring of the state of conservation of ecosystems. The objective of this thesis is to examine whether the carabids respond reliably and predictably to the management and use of ecosystems, supporting its use as ecological indicators. To assess the effects of past practices and recent management in the patterns of distribution of carabids, were studied various types of ecosystems under management for thousands of years, representing the forest landscape of the Cordillera Cantabrica, northwestern Spain. Simultaneously, as the management and use of land affecting the habitat structure and microclimatic conditions, investigated the responses of carabids several environmental variables, both as a plot at the landscape level. Our results indicate that habitat alteration significantly affect the distribution of carabids, supporting its use as reliable indicators of the management and use of forest ecosystems in landscapes severely modified. The continued practice of traditional management benefited species generalists and specialists in open habitats, but resulted in the disappearance of species forestry specialists. Therefore, it was speculated that the current carabids communities of this region are formed by a group of species resistant to repeated alteration of their habitat. The main differences in the composition of the communities of carabids were detected between ecosystems and open forest, with tree canopy cover the environmental variable that most affected fauna carabids level landscape. Nevertheless, in terms of plot, characteristics of the soil and vegetation in sotobosque significantly affect their patterns of distribution. The results also show the need to develop a more detailed classification of the association habitat of each species (ie, a detailed knowledge of their habitat requirements), with the aim of developing more accurate predictions about the effects of conditions environmental fauna carabids. Also, this thesis shows the high regional diversity of this group in the study area and confirms the value of preserving some of the managed ecosystems (eg. Ecosystems dehesa, prone to disappear, and pine plantations acting as habitats side) for the fauna of carabids. Based on these results, recommending strategies for the conservation and management plans to maintain certain traditional management practices, maximizing the diversity of habitat types on a regional scale and ensure conservation of ecosystems unique, historically managed.