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A agricultura intensiva é uma das actividades que mais influencia a estrutura da paisagem, levando frequentemente à destruição e à perda de biodiversidade local. Por exemplo, a intensidade e gestão das actividades agrícolas pode influenciar dramaticamente a composição e abundância das comunidades de artrópodes que habitam nos agroecosistemas. Alguns artrópodes fitófagos podem causar danos aos pomares ao consumirem parte da planta ou fruto. No entanto, muitos outros podem fornecer serviços benéficos, como a polinização, o controlo de pragas e a decomposição. Os carochos, formigas e aranhas são predadores generalistas importantes para ajudar a controlar pragas de insectos, e, inclusive, reduzir a quantidade de ervas daninhas ao consumir as suas sementes. Quer os ecólogos quer os agrónomos acreditam que a simplicidade dos modernos campos agrícolas, especialmente os extensos campos em monoculturas que recebem frequentes aplicações de pesticidas, contribuem para os surtos de pragas, bastante típicos desses tipos de sistema. Os agroecossistemas mais simples podem ser ambientes relativamente hostis para os inimigos naturais, conduzindo à depauperação das comunidades de predadores e parasitóides. Os ecossistemas agrícolas mais diversificados, por outro lado, tendem a recrutar espécies ruderais, as quais, em geral, são mais resistentes à perturbação destes ambientes agrícolas. O declínio da biodiversidade dos inimigos naturais geralmente enfraquece o controlo biológico. Uma das razões por trás disso é que as comunidades mais ricas podem reunir espécies de inimigos naturais que atacam pragas usando diferentes estratégias ou nichos espaciais e temporais, de modo que a mortalidade total infligida sobre as pragas é maximizada apenas quando várias espécies inimigas ocorrem simultaneamente. O desafio que se coloca aos ecólogos e agrónomos é entender de que forma a biodiversidade dos inimigos naturais pode fortalecer o controlo biológico. Este livro contribui para a identificação e proteção dos artrópodes predadores, que são muito úteis para a agricultura e por isso benéficos para toda a sociedade. [da Nota Introdutória] FINANCIAMENTO: Este livro é um produto do projecto AGRO-ECOSERVICES (ACORES-01-0145-FEDER-000073), financiado pelo FEDER em 85% e por fundos regionais em 15%, através do Programa Operacional Açores 2020. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

II Encontro Internacional de Jovens Investigadores, "JOIN 2017". Ponta Delgada, Universidade dos Açores, 19 e 20 de abril de 2017. […]. Neste volume estão integrados os textos completos de uma boa parte das comunicações apresentadas pelos estudantes no Encontro, testemunhando a sua capacidade de produção de conhecimento e de mobilização de procedimentos científicos nas suas atividades de aprendizagem, devidamente supervisionadas pelos respetivos docentes, que atuaram enquanto facilitadores e responsáveis científicos pelo processo e os ajudaram, muitas vezes, a dar forma aos textos finais. Estes últimos foram preparados, sobretudo, em três áreas científicas principais. A área científica que apresentou um maior volume de trabalhos finais escritos foi a da Psicologia. Nesta, as temáticas específicas abordadas foram bastante diversificadas, integrando tópicos como, por exemplo, a qualidade de vida e os comportamentos de saúde da população, a relação entre a propensão para o tédio e a alexitimia em adolescentes, os programas ativos focalizados na experiência do envelhecimento, a saúde mental, o burnout, a satisfação profissional e o bem-estar subjetivo, o perfecionismo, as estratégias de memória, a perceção de risco e aspetos relevantes ligados às temáticas da homoafetividade e da homoparentalidade. Uma segunda área científica com forte presença no JOIN 2017, ao nível das comunicações e da produção de textos finais, foi a da Educação, na qual foram abordados temas como a ludicidade na aprendizagem, a utilização dos jogos e dos materiais manipuláveis estruturados na promoção do sucesso educativo, a aprendizagem cooperativa, a excelência académica e o estilo de vida dos estudantes universitários, entre outros. Por fim, uma terceira área em destaque foi a dos estudos mais ligados à Economia e à Gestão. Neste âmbito, foram produzidos textos sobre aspetos como a qualidade dos serviços públicos, a avaliação de desempenho, a satisfação laboral, as motivações para a participação em eventos e a avaliação do impacto e satisfação dos participantes com os mesmos. […]. cE3c; Azorean Biodiversity; Universidade dos Açores; CICS.NOVA; CICS.NOVA.UAc; FCT info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

A secção Biologia é coordenada pelo Professor Universitário Armindo Rodrigues. […] A Universidade dos Açores, por via de projectos de investigação que desenvolve, tem dado um importante contributo para a preservação dos ecossistemas dos Açores. Um exemplo vem do projecto EDEN Habitats Açores (http://www.eden-azores.com). Neste projecto foram desenvolvidas metodologias para assegurar a identificação, para 8 habitats tipo, naturais e agrícolas (comunidades arbóreo-arbustivas e herbáceas), de espécies bioindicadoras chave (insectos, aranhas e plantas), bem como a criação e manutenção de uma Entomoteca da biodiversidade de invertebrados do arquipélago. A caracterização molecular de bioindicadores complementa a coleção, repartida por 40 subcolecções por ilha e habitat dos Açores. A estrutura do projecto EDEN Habitats Açores, financiado pelo Fundo Regional Ciência e Tecnologia PROEMPREGO e pela Fundação Luso-Americana para o Desenvolvimento (FLAD) avalia o impacte da acção antropogénica nos ecossistemas insulares dos Açores, mediante a identificação e uso de espécies bioindicadoras e pretende a incorporação destes organismos nas metodologias de análise e gestão de impacte ambiental e/ou nos processos de decisão económica e governamental. […] info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

The introduction of exotic species in islands is recognized as a major threat to native biota and ecosystems. In this contribution we list thirteen widespread exotic invertebrate species (two Araneae, one Orthoptera, four Hemiptera, four Coleoptera and two Diptera) that were recorded from the Azorean Islands in the last few years for the first time. In addition, we list another ten invertebrate species (two Araneae, one Orthoptera, two Phasmatodea, one Hemiptera, three Coleoptera and one Diptera) that expanded their known range in the archipelago. The pathways of entrance for species in the Azores, their impact on the local economy and biodiversity, as well as strategies to halt the introduction of alien species are discussed.

Submitted by RUA REPOSITORIO (repositorio@uac.pt) on 2012-07-05T16:11:44Z No. of bitstreams: 1 LMS_Short3_BEN-DOV_etal_N29.pdf: 33875 bytes, checksum: 11caf461898802e7b3e2b3461067cc6d (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2012-07-05T16:12:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 LMS_Short3_BEN-DOV_etal_N29.pdf: 33875 bytes, checksum: 11caf461898802e7b3e2b3461067cc6d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012

Copyright © 2012 Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata © 2011 The Netherlands Entomological Society. Human-assisted introductions, including those in the context of biological control, are considered to be one of the most important factors of global environmental change. However, the mechanisms underlying environmental changes, such as a decrease in the relative abundance of native species, are poorly understood. Since the introduction of the ladybird beetle, Hippodamia variegata (Goeze) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), in Chile in the 1970s for biological control of aphids, a reduction in the relative abundance of the native ladybird beetle Eriopis connexa (Germar) has been noticed. To explore the role of cannibalism, intraguild predation (IGP) or competition as possible mechanisms that might increase dominance of H. variegata over E. connexa, several laboratory experiments were carried out. The native and the exotic species were very similar in their voracity and biotic interactions. Although H. variegata was able to maintain constant reproductive performance, E. connexa reproduction decreased at lower densities of aphids, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) (Hemiptera: Aphididae). The impacts of cannibalism, IGP, and competition exerted by these species were very symmetrical in both larvae and adults. We conclude that these biotic factors may not fully explain the increase in relative abundance of H. variegata. The higher sensitivity of E. connexa to prey patch size, along with other factors such as chemical-mediated negative interspecific interactions may be operating in alfalfa fields, changing the composition of associated coccinellid assemblages.

Copyright © International Organization for Biological Control (IOBC) 2011. Species of predatory Coleoptera have become abundant in new geographic regions recently, raising concerns for invaded ecosystems. We address this topic by focusing on invasive alien ladybird beetles (Coccinellidae; known also as ladybugs). Humans appear directly or indirectly responsible for all or most ladybird invasions. Factors hypothesized to have promoted ladybird invasions include genetic diversity (e.g., for polymorphism), phenotypic plasticity, adaptation and genetic shift, generalized diet and habitat preferences, flexible life history and reproduction, large body size, and release from enemies. Factors such as climate, habitat and prey availability, and biotic resistance may sometimes prevent or slow ladybird invasions. Indigenous species (e.g., herbivores) may suffer from invasions, and biological control programs may be affected. Species of indigenous ladybirds throughout the world are reported to have declined in abundance following ladybird invasions, with increased competition and/or intraguild predation most often hypothesized or inferred. Similar recent studies especially of ground beetles (Carabidae) also make clear the potential of invasive alien predatory Coleoptera to disrupt invaded natural and agricultural ecosystems.

XII Expedição Científica do Departamento de Biologia - Pico 2005. In order to record new Coccinellidae species to the Azores, forty one samplings were made in S. Miguel, Graciosa and Pico islands. Graciosa and Pico islands surveys were performed during the scientific expeditions organised by the Department of Biology from the University of the Azores, between the 7th and 15th of June, 2004 and the 6th and 15th of June, 2005, respectively. A total of eleven species were collected. The presence of two new species was noticed: one Scymnini species to Pico island, Clitosthetus arcuatus (Rossi) and one Coccinellini species to S. Miguel island, Myrrha octodecimguttata (Linnaeus).

8th International Symposium, Ponta Delgada 1-6 September 2002. Aphids and their natural enemies were central stage from 1st to 6th of September, 2002, at the University of the Azores in Ponta Delgada. Aphids were recorded as major pests early in the XXth Century (GAUMONT 1977) and continue to threaten field and greenhouse crops. As a consequence, pesticides are used regularly and intensively, which hampers the move towards sustainable agriculture. In theory, biological control of aphids is an alternative to chemical control but the record of biological control is not good (DIXON 2000). This does not mean that biological control should be abandoned. On the contrary, we should attempt to improve it, and this is the main objective of the IOBC Working Group “Ecology of aphidophaga”. Traditionally the majority of the communications presented at the meetings of this Working Group are on ladybird beetles. This was also the case at this meeting but the prominence of ladybirds was not a deliberate attempt to restrict the scientific scope of the meeting. History partly explains the domination of ladybirds. The outstanding success of Rodolia cardinalis in California many years ago still influences these conferences. This is not the only explanation. Ladybirds are a good model organism for improving our understanding of the role of natural enemies in regulating herbivore populations. Parasitoids have, and continue to be used as models for studying predator prey dynamics. However, the biology of parasitoids differs fundamentally from that of predators (DIXON 2000) and it is therefore unlikely that studies on parasitoids will shed light on all the theoretical and practical aspects of the interactions between prey and natural enemies. Studies on ladybirds complement those on parasitoids and give a better understanding of why the biological control of aphids sometimes fails. This was central to the interesting communications on predator-prey models, guild structure, fundamental biology and applications presented at the meeting. FCT - Apoio do Programa Operacional Ciência, Tecnologia, Inovação do Quadro Comunitário de Apoio III; Fundação Luso-Americana info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Proceedings of the 8th International Symposium on Ecology of Aphidophaga : Biology, Ecology and Behaviour of Aphidophagous Insects, Ponta Delgada 1-6 September 2002. H. axyridis is a highly polymorphic ladybird beetle with a wide geographical distribution in the palearctic region. Genetic polymorphism seems to be the strategy adopted in order to face different habitats at different times. In this paper we suggest that a genotype that confers a specific elytral pattern may also confer a particular reproductive capacity when fed on single diets of essential preys such as A. fabae or M. persicae. We discuss KOMAI & HOSINO (1951) hypothesis, which predicts that the differences in the relative frequency of elytral pattern phenotypes in relation to the host plants in a same habitat could be related with specific composition of aphid populations. Our results revealed that A. fabae significantly increased reproductive capacity of nigra phenotype without affecting reproductive capacity of aulica phenotype.

Proceedings of the 8th International Symposium on Ecology of Aphidophaga: Biology, Ecology and Behaviour of Aphidophagous Insects. H. axyridis is a highly polymorphic ladybird beetle with phenotypes that vary in their elytral patterns. In natural populations the relative frequency of phenotypes is not constant, but is subject to a strong geographic and temporal variation. The selective forces that are the basis for those variation are diverse and difficult to determine. In this work we suggest that fitness of phenotypes could contribute to these variations. That is, a specific genotype could also confer a specific reproductive capacity. We compare the reprodutive capacity of adults of five phenotypes [succinea (h) or s0, succinea-3 (h3) or s9, conspicua -1 (hC1) or c1, aulica-1 (hA1) or au and nigra [? (h?)] or ni]. Our results show that under the same biotic and abiotic conditions, there are differences in biological parameters of the phenotypes that affect their fitness. The rare phenotype nigra, and the relatively uncommon aulica have lower reproductive capacity than the most frequent phenotypes succinea and conspicua.

An updated list of the Coccinellidae species of the Azores archipelago is presented. New records for S. Miguel: Nephus (Sidis) hiekei; Sta. Maria: Rodolia cardinalis; S. Jorge: Stethorus punctilium, Clitosthetus arcuatus, Scymnus nubilus, N. (Sidis) hiekei; Pico: R. cardinalis; Graciosa: C. arcuatus, S. (Scymnus) interruptus, N. (Sidis) hiekei, Lindorus lophantae and R. cardinalis; Corvo: S. nubilus, N. (Sidis) hiekei and Coccinella undecimpunctata. Regressions of species richness against area of the islands and distance from the nearest mainland were performed. No statistical significant correlation between species richness against area was found but a statistical significant negative correlation between the number of species and the distance from the nearest mainland was obtained. The results are, in part, in accordance with the predictions of MACARTHUR & WILSON’S (1967) equilibrium theory of island biogeography, relating differences in the diversity within Azorean islands with isolation.

Proceedings of the 8th International Symposium on Ecology of Aphidophaga: Biology, Ecology and Behaviour of Aphidophagous Insects. Submitted by João Tavares (tavares@uac.pt) on 2011-01-13T10:53:02Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Intraguild predation among the aphidophagous ladybird beetles Harmonia axyridis PALLAS and Coccinella undecimpunctata L. (Coleoptera Coccinelidae) Characterization of the direction.pdf: 306757 bytes, checksum: 7a758b5954f3e87729db0f0d46b96b4f (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2011-01-18T11:54:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Intraguild predation among the aphidophagous ladybird beetles Harmonia axyridis PALLAS and Coccinella undecimpunctata L. (Coleoptera Coccinelidae) Characterization of the direction.pdf: 306757 bytes, checksum: 7a758b5954f3e87729db0f0d46b96b4f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2003

Proceedings of the 8th International Symposium on Ecology of Aphidophaga: Biology, Ecology and Behaviour of Aphidophagous Insects. We present a list of coccinellids collected in Madeira archipelago and notice the presence of two new species; of Scymnini; Scymnus (Scymnus) abietis (Paykull) and Nephus hiekei Fürsch. We analyse the distribution and abundance at the community level, using the following measures: species richness index, abundance and relative abundance, similarity index, diversity, and evenness. 13 species from 3 families were recorded. Hippodamia variegata was the most abundant one with 29.7 % of the 141 specimens collected. Two main groups of relative abundance were identified. The first group included the 6 most common H. variegata, S. interruptus, C. arcuatus, C. septempunctata, S. levaillanti and R. litura and the second one included S. abietis, L. lophante and R. chrysomeloides. Diversity index values are relatively high. The 6 most common species comprised more than 90 % of the individuals without a very different relative abundance. Many factors other than extinction and immigration could explain the variation of the number of species on islands. The highest number of species collected in Madeira island, compared to Porto Santo, could be related with its higher elevation, soil and substrate types, plant species richness, number of habitat, habitats diversity, structure and heterogeneity of the former.