Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Across the Sea Wall'

La collaboration entre plusieurs personnes peut prendre plusieurs formes, et la technologie soutient depuis longtemps ces pratiques. Mais lorsque la collaboration doit se faire à distance, est-elle aussi bien assistée par la technologie ? Dans ce travail, je soutiens l'idée selon laquelle le succès d'un système de télécommunications ne dépend pas de sa capacité à imiter une collaboration colocalisée, mais dans sa capacité à faciliter les pratiques collaboratives découlant des caractéristiques spécifiques de la technologie. J'explore cet argument en utilisant un mur d'écrans en tant que technologie collaborative. J'ai commencé par observer des collaborateurs effectuer leur travail quotidien à distance en utilisant des prototypes. Ensuite j'ai conduit des expériences et j'ai trouvé que les utilisateurs peuvent interpréter avec précision les instructions déictiques à distance et le regard direct quand un collaborateur à distance est affiché par une vidéo, même si celle-ci n'est pas placée directement devant l'observateur. À partir de ces résultats, j'ai créé CamRay, un outil de télécommunication qui utilise une rangée de caméras pour enregistrer le visage des utilisateurs lorsqu'ils parcourent physiquement les données le long de l'écran et présente cette vidéo sur un autre mur d'écrans distant par dessus le contenu existant. Je propose deux possibilités pour afficher la vidéo: Follow-Local, où le flux vidéo de l'utilisateur distant suit l'utilisateur local, et Follow-Remote où il suit l'utilisateur distant. Je montre que Follow-Remote préserve les relations spatiales entre le collaborateur à distance et le contenu de l'écran, créant ainsi la possibilité de désigner les objets par des gestes de pointage, tandis que Follow-Local facilite les conversations grâce à un face-à-face virtuel qui transmet plus facilement la communication gestuelle. Finalement, je me base sur ces résultats pour guider la conception de futurs systèmes de communications à distance entre murs d'écrans, et dégager des considérations à suivre lorsque des capacités de communication à distance sont ajoutées à de nouvelles technologies
Collaboration can take many forms, for which technology has long provided digital support. But when collaborators are located remotely, to what extent does technology support these activities? In this dissertation, I argue that the success of a telecommunications system does not depend on its capacity to imitate co-located conditions, but in its ability to support the collaborative practices that emerge from the specific characteristics of the technology. I explore this using wall-sized displays as a collaborative technology. I started by observing collaborators perform their daily work at a distance using prototypes. I then conducted experiments and found that people can accurately interpret remote deictic instructions and direct gaze when performed by a remote collaborator through video, even when this video is not placed directly in front of the observer. Based on these findings, I built CamRay, a telecommunication system that uses an array of cameras to capture users' faces as they physically navigate data on a wall-sized display, and presents this video in a remote display on top of existing content. I propose two ways of displaying video: Follow-Local, where the video feed of the remote collaborator follows the local user, and Follow-Remote, where it follows the remote user. I find that Follow-Remote preserves the spatial relations between the remote speaker and the content, supporting pointing gestures, while Follow-Local enables virtual face-to-face conversations, supporting representational gestures. Finally, I summarize these findings to inform the design of future systems for remote collaboration across wall-sized displays

L'elaborato propone una traduzione dall’inglese di “Stories – Across the Sea”, una raccolta di 11 storie raccontate dai rifugiati di un campo profughi in Grecia, realizzata da un gruppo di volontarie del gruppo YWAM di York. Partendo da alcune brevi considerazioni riguardanti le principali caratteristiche stilistiche e morfosintattiche del testo e il suo scopo comunicativo, l’elaborato prosegue con l’illustrazione della metodologia traduttiva e delle maggiori teorie della traduzione inerenti al caso. In un secondo momento, a seguire la proposta di traduzione in italiano, si evidenziano alcune delle problematiche riscontrate nel processo traduttivo attraverso l’analisi di alcuni passi specifici e delle soluzioni adottate.

The plant cell wall is a vitally important interface connecting plant cells to their outside environment and neighboring cells. Acting as a hub for defense, signaling, and physiological processes, the plant cell wall was a crucial innovation in plant evolution. Current cell wall models are largely based on what has been observed in plants like Arabidopsis, Pisum sativum, Nicotiana tabacum, and Phaseolus vulgaris. These models are unable to consider the variety of polymers in a given wall, the mechanical and functional properties such polymers impart, and the complexity of interactions among polymeric cell wall constituents. This work deepened the understanding of wall composition of specialized walls that fall outside of the scope of current plant cell wall models. A detailed survey of cell wall polymer distribution in the transfer cell walls in three key bryophyte species the model moss Physcomitrium patens, hornwort Phaeoceros carolinianus, and liverwort Marchantia polymorpha was done utilizing histochemical techniques in the light and florescent microscopes coupled with immunocytochemical localization with monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) in the transmission electron microscope (TEM). This work demonstrated that the occurrence, abundance, and types of polymers differ among taxa and between the two generations, are more influenced by developmental and life history needs than the similar function of the cells in individual taxa. A notable difference between generations was seen in M. polymorpha with the LM2 and JIM13 MAbs targeting AGP epitopes. However, findings in P patens appear to lack the differential labeling observed in both M. polymorpha and P. carolinianus. Using these same techniques, the walls and matrices involved in the process of spermatogenesis were examined in the moss P. patens and noted differences in abundance and location of cell wall polymers during sperm cell differentiation. Another notable finding of this work was that high concentrations of arabinose as components of AGP and pectins are important in the walls of P. patens during the process of spermatogenesis. The final study focused on utilizing herbarium specimens to explore the application of immunogold localization on dried collections of the moss Polytrichum up to 100 years old. The studies compiled in this dissertation demonstrate that the major cell wall components, cellulose, pectins, hemicelluloses, and callose, are constituents of special walls in three bryophytes, but they are differentially expressed within cell types and across these plants. Taken together, these works contribute significant new data on the composition of plant cell walls by focusing on bryophytes and the unique cell walls vital to the life history processes of spermatogenesis and placental function. These findings also show that both field-collected and herbarium samples are successfully labeled with MAbs at the TEM level, unlocking the potential for further studies across time and taxa using plant collections.

Oligopeptide transport in rat small intestine has been studied in intact tissue, using the luminally and vascularly perfused isolated jejunum in situ technique, and a hydrolysis-resistant dipeptide (D-Phe-L-Gln). The data in this thesis can be divided into two main sections: (l) identification of the transporter proteins, and (2) short-term regulation of transport. The basolateral peptide transporter protein has not, to date, been identified. A candidate protein was identified from membrane vesicles by a photo affinity labelling technique using a dipeptide derivative ([4-azido-3,5-3H-D-Phe]-L-Ala), previously shown to be an efficient substrate for the basolateral transporter. The labelled candidate protein was successfully isolated by 2-DE, which revealed an apparent Mr of 112 ± 2 kDa and a pI of approximately 6.5. Initial sequence analysis, tryptic digestion followed by MALDI-TOF analysis and Q-TOF fragmentation of a tryptic peptide, produced a peptide fingerprint and a sequence tag of 9 amino acids, respectively, which, together, did not completely and conclusively match to any known protein sequence contained within databases, therefore suggesting that the 112 kDa protein may be novel. Short-term regulation of peptide transport was also investigated using the vascular perfusion method. An amino acid-sensing pathway was discovered, using L-Leucine as the regulator, involving protein kinase cacades leading to p70S6k activation and subsequent stimulation ofbasolateral membrane peptide transport. A major conclusion arising from the data was the distinction between PepTl and the basolateral transporter, i.e. the sequence data obtained from the candidate protein did not match to the PepTl sequence; in addition there appeared to be distinct mechanisms of regulatory control at the two membranes. Efficient delivery of peptidomimetic drugs when adminsitered by the oral route requires knowledge of short-term regulation of intestinal peptide transport, in addition to the sequence and structure of the basolateral transporter. This thesis provides essential information, which may eventually contribute to the unequivocal identification and sequencing of the intestinal basolateral peptide transporter, ultimately leading to the future development of compounds with high bioavailability.

A comprehensive theory explaining the relationship between periodic variations in the Earths orbital parameters and the response of the climate system remains elusive. One of the key challenges is that of the Mid-Pleistocene Transition (MPT), during which the dominant mode of glacial/interglacial climatic variability shifted without any corresponding change in the mode of orbital forcing. Subtropical climate on orbital time-scales is sensitive to variability in both the low-latitude ocean/atmosphere circulation regime and the global carbon-cycle (through its effect on atmospheric greenhouse gas levels), both of which may have played a role in the shift in mode of global climate response to orbital forcing during the MPT. This thesis presents a series of multi-proxy (foraminiferal stable isotope and trace-metal) paleoceanographic reconstructions from the subtropical southwest Pacific, as seen in marine sediment core MD06-3018, from 2470m water depth and 23ºS in the New Caledonia Trough, southern Coral Sea. The core age-model, based upon magnetic stratigraphy and orbital tuning, yields a mean sedimentation rate at the site of 20mm/ka and a core-bottom age of 1600ka. The MD06-3018 reconstruction of New Caledonia Trough deep water chemistry, based on benthic 13C measurements, shows that the spatial chemistry gradient within the Southern Ocean between deep waters entering the Tasman Sea and the open Pacific was greater during glacial (relative to interglacial) stages over at least the past 1100ka. This gradient was, however, generally reduced on the >100kyr time-scale across the MPT, consistent with it being a period of reduced deep water ventilation in both hemispheres. The MD06-3018 Mg/Ca-derived reconstruction of subtropical southwest Pacific Sea Surface Temperature (SST) shows glacial/interglacial variability of 2-3ºC but no significant trends on the >100kyr time-scale over the duration of the record. An estimate of the uncertainty associated with the SST reconstruction demonstrates that no significant changes in reconstructed southern Coral Sea mean-annual SST can be identified between interglacial stages across the MPT. It is, therefore, unlikely that regional climatic change constituted the main cause for the observed middle Pleistocene expansion of coral reef systems. The >100kyr time-scale stability of southern Coral Sea SST means that the position of the southern boundary of the Pacific warm pool has also been stable over at least the past 1500ka. Comparison with other low-latitude Pacific reconstructions shows that the early Pleistocene warm pool was consequently more hemispherically asymmetric than its present configuration, with the latter being established by ~1000ka and implying significant changes in meridional atmospheric heat and moisture fluxes prior to the MPT. On orbital time-scales, the SST reconstruction shows a clear shift from dominant 40kyr to 100kyr modes of variability over the MPT, although significant 40kyr structure is also retained into the middle/late Pleistocene. In contrast, reconstructed hydrological cycle variability (based on coupled 18O-Mg/Ca measurements) shows only limited coherence with the obliquity cycle and a stronger relationship with the precession cycle. The decoupling of the reconstructed subtropical SST and hydrological cycle responses places constraints on the extent of orbitally paced fluctuations in the low-latitude ocean/atmosphere system. Instead, comparison of the MD06-3018 SST reconstruction with others from across the lowlatitude Pacific supports a dominant role for greenhouse gas forcing in low-latitude western Pacific glacial/interglacial SST variability across the Pleistocene. The subtropical multi-proxy climate reconstructions presented here show that the timing and sense of long-term (>100kyr time-scale) changes in the low-latitude ocean/atmosphere circulation regime are consistent with that system having been important in the expansion of northern hemisphere ice-volume during the early part of the MPT. However, the subtropical reconstructions also suggest that neither the low-latitude ocean/atmosphere circulation system nor the global carbon-cycle underwent a fundamental change in mode of response to orbital forcing during the transition. Instead, the origin of the 100kyr glacial/interglacial mode was most likely related to thresholds in the dynamics of the expanding northern hemisphere icesheets, leading in turn to the existence of significant inter-hemispheric asymmetry in the orbital time-scale climate response over the middle/late Pleistocene. Summary for Non-Specialists. Over the past five million years of its history, the Earths climate has undergone a series of regular, or nearly regular, fluctuations between warmer and colder states. These fluctuations take tens to hundreds of thousands of years to occur and are known as the ‘glacial/interglacial cycles’ on account of the associated changes in ice-sheet extent in the high-latitudes. The origin of these cycles is widely held to be the regular variations in form of the Earths orbit around the sun. In spite of decades of research, however, no complete ‘orbital theory of climate’ exists, mainly because the patterns of past climate variability, as reconstructed using ‘proxies’ for variables such as surface temperature, is much more complex than that of the orbital variations themselves. It follows that processes within the Earth system, especially those associated with large ice-sheets, the carbon-cycle and the ocean circulation system, act to substantially modify the climate response to the orbital variations. Over the past ten years, new observations from both ice-cores and low-latitude marine sediment cores have suggested that the dominant system(s) involved in setting the Earths response to the orbital variations may potentially be the carboncycle and/or the low-latitude ocean/atmosphere circulation regime rather than highlatitude ice-sheet dynamics, as was generally supposed previously. If this new view is correct, it has profound implications for the general sensitivity of the climate to the carbon-cycle on a range of time-scales - making its evaluation a scientific objective of considerable current importance. This thesis presents a series of reconstructions of aspects of climate and carbon-cycle variability for the subtropical southwest Pacific, as based on proxy measurements in a marine sediment core than spans the past 1,600,000 years at around 5000 year resolution. The key focus is on an interval called the ‘Mid- Pleistocene Transition’, during which time the mode of glacial/interglacial variability changed, indicating a fundamental change in one or more aspects of the response to the orbital forcing. The study site is well placed to investigate variability in both the carbon-cycle and low-latitude ocean circulation over the climatic transition as it lies between the Southern Ocean, a key source of carbon-cycle variability and the equatorial Pacific, where the modern El-Niño system arises. By characterizing variability in these systems, the potential role played by both systems in causing the change in mode of glacial/interglacial variability can be evaluated. The key findings of the thesis are that; firstly, changes in the long-term state of the low-latitude ocean circulation system may well have been important for the expansion of northern hemisphere ice-sheets during the early part of the Mid- Pleistocene Transition. Secondly, it provides further support for a close connection between variability in the carbon-cycle and low-latitude climate on orbital timescales but suggests that there is no clear evidence for either system undergoing a fundamental change in sensitivity to the orbital forcing during the transition.

The purpose of this research was to examine a classic text - DuBose Heyward's Porgy (1925) - associated with Southern Literature in relation to its connections to the Gullah culture and language. Close critical scrutiny was made of the 1925 text, two early manuscripts, manuscript fragments, revisions, research notes, and other personal papers from Heyward's estate. Access to these papers helped establish his influences and motivations in writing Porgy. Employing both linguistic and literary analyses, the findings establish the verisimilitude of Heyward's representation of the Gullah language, rhetorical patterns, culture, beliefs, and practices, linking Porgy to a Gullah literary tradition. Examination of Heyward's life and times reveals why Porgy sits squarely within the early 20th Century literary genre, African American Literary Realism and thematically anticipates the Harlem Renaissance period. Breaking the mold of the "old South" minstrel-syle depictions of black life, Heyward portrayed the Gullah people with integrity and respect.

Bioluminescence is widespread in the deep sea. In this study, the density of bioluminescent zooplankton (BL) in the deep Mediterranean Sea (MS) and at the Mid- Atlantic Ridge (MAR) was measured using low light video cameras, including a novel Image intensified Charge coupled device for Deep-sea research (ICDeep). Sampling across the MS was undertaken to assess the potential optical interference from bioluminescent zooplankton at sites under consideration for the construction of a large volume deep-sea neutrino telescope. This revealed a general decrease in deep pelagic BL densities from the western to the eastern MS. Deep mesopelagic (500- 1000 m depth) BL density was significantly correlated (p430 urn] densities from 100 to 5 mab attwo sites south of the Charlie-Gibbs Fracture Zone. At 2500 m depth on the MAR, a rate of naturally occurring bioluminescent events was observed to be 155 times higher (3.1 min+) than literature based predictions, prompting a reappraisal of the visual environment in relation to complex topography of the deep-sea floor.

This study is the first regional synthesis and sequence stratigraphic interpretation of the Namurian (Serpukhovian to Bashkirian) successions across northern England and County Clare, Ireland. The study area includes the Central Pennine Basin and North Staffordshire Basin of northern England and the Shannon Basin, County Clare, Ireland. The aims of this thesis are to evaluate fourth and third order hierarchies of sea level change during the Carboniferous, through the development of a sequence stratigraphic framework. The collation of field data, core and public domain literature, interpretation of facies and parasequence stacking patterns have been used to identify placement of I key sequence stratigraphic surfaces and systems tracts. From these interpretations, recognition of fourth-order sequences have been defined, whose own organisation allows a third-order stacking to be defined. Correlation of outcrop sections and sub- surface data across the study area are well constrained by a rigid biostratigraphic framework, defined by goniatite bearing marine bands, which separate each phase of delta progradation. This study has identified several key characteristics defining third order stacking patterns from fourth order sequences. Sand-prone sequences containing multiple internal incisions are recognised and interpreted to correlate with third order low stand development. Mud prone sequences are also recognised as lacking in sand, making sequence boundary recognition difficult. These have been interpreted to represent third order transgressive systems tract development. Thin sequences which comprise of abundant marine fauna record the development of a third order highstand systems tract, although little preservation of this may be recorded due to removal from succeeding lowstand systems tract. In total five third order sequences have been identified in this study. Regionally comparable patterns in sedimentations have been recognised suggesting that global sea level change was one controlling factor.

Virtual source gathers were generated using the principles of seismic interferometry from 135 hours of ambient noise recorded during a controlled-source survey across the Salton Sea Geothermal Field in southern California. The non-uniform nature of the noise sources violated a primary assumption of the method and generated artifacts in the data. The artifacts generated by the high-energy impulsive sources (e.g. earthquakes, shots) were removable using traditional methods of amplitude normalization prior to cross-correlation. The continuous source artifacts generated by the geothermal wells and highways required an unconventional approach of utilizing only normalized impulsive sources to successfully reduce the artifacts. Virtual source gathers were produced successfully that contained strong surface waves at 0.4-2.5 Hz, an order of magnitude below the corner frequency of the geophones, and modest body waves at 22-30 Hz, which are generally more difficult to obtain due to the need for many large, well-distributed subsurface sources. The virtual source gathers compare well to nearby explosive shots and are more densely spaced, but have a much lower signal-to-noise ratio. Analysis of the surface waves was complicated by strong higher-order modes. Spectral analysis of virtual source gathers required utilization of the geothermal plant energy, which produced usable signal at offsets required for mode separation. The virtual source dispersion curve compared well to a dispersion curve from a nearby explosive shot. P-waves were observed on the virtual source gathers. Creation of a low-quality multichannel reflection stack revealed two weak reflectors in the upper 2 km.
Master of Science

DIAS, N. B. M. Influência do regime ondulatório sobre "sea wall" de proteção na praia de Iparana - Caucaia - Ceará - Brasil. 2005. 110 f. Dissertação (Mestrado em Engenharia Civil: Recursos Hídricos) – Centro de Tecnologia, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, 2005.
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Coastal environments of northeastern Brazil have suffered considerable environmental degradation, caused by the growing impact of human activities on natural resources. In recent years, there has been a continuous process of erosion on the beach Iparana, in the municipality of Caucaia, metropolitan region of Fortaleza. This erosion is receding shoreline, sandstone exposure and dune removal. On the coast of Fortaleza and adjacent municipalities, the occupation of coastal areas has promoted changes in the environment, so their status is very important to understand the process that occurs in Iparana area. For this research were obtained data related to the wave regime, tides and winds occurring in the region, as well as photographic surveys and topographic sections of "sea wall" in the study. In this paper a monthly monitoring of the behavior of the "sea wall" over a year. It sought to develop comparative studies between various surveys of beach profiles in order to assess their conditions of stability and possible changes in the dynamic equilibrium of the beach. Observing the sections made along the entire wall, it may be noted that there was a normal map. Also, we saw that this coastal strip, despite the intense erosion, the "sea wall" has been able to control erosion, preventing it from spreading toward the cotinente.
Os ambientes costeiros do Nordeste do Brasil vêm sofrendo um considerável processo de degradação ambiental, gerado pelo crescente impacto das atividades antrópicas sobre os recursos naturais. Nos últimos anos, tem sido observado um contínuo processo de erosão na praia de Iparana, situada no município de Caucaia, região metropolitana de Fortaleza. Este processo erosivo é recuo da linha de costa, exposição de arenito e remoção da duna. Na costa de Fortaleza e de municípios adjacentes, a ocupação das áreas costeiras tem promovido mudanças no meio ambiente, assim, seu estado é de grande importância para compreendermos o processo que ocorre na área de Iparana. Para esta pesquisa foram obtidos dados relacionados ao regime de ondas, marés e ventos ocorrentes na região, além de levantamentos fotográficos e topográficos das seções de "sea wall" em estudo. Neste trabalho foi feito um acompanhamento mensal do comportamento da "sea wall" ao longo de um ano. Nele procurou-se desenvolver estudos comparativos entre diversos levantamentos de perfis de praia de forma a avaliar as suas condições de estabilidade e as possíveis mudanças no equilíbrio dinâmico da praia. Observando-se as seções feitas ao longo de toda a parede, pode-se notar que houve uma acomodação normal. Também, vimos que nessa faixa litorânea, apesar do intenso processo erosivo, a "sea wall" tem conseguido controlar a erosão, evitando que a mesma se propague na direção do cotinente.

A quantitative description of wind-wave and wind-current momentum transfer in high wind conditions is currently unresolved, mainly due to the severe character of the problem. It is, however, necessary for accurate wave models, storm and hurricane forecasting, and atmosphere-ocean model coupling. In this research, strongly forced wind-wave conditions were simulated in a laboratory tank. On the air side, a static pressure probe mounted on a vertical wave follower measured wave-induced airflow pressure fluctuations in close proximity to the surface. Vertical profiles of wave-induced pressure fluctuations were resolved and wave phase dependent features, such as airflow separation, identified. Based on the pressure measurements, wind-wave momentum fluxes were obtained. The dependence of the spectral wave growth function on wind forcing, wave steepness, and wave crest sharpness was also investigated. The bulk air-sea momentum fluxes were estimated using the "total budget" experimental technique. It provided information on the contribution of a wind-wave flux induced by a single wave to the total air-sea momentum flux. The percentile contribution of wind-wave momentum flux into one wave was found to be dependent on the wave's steepness. An arbitrary change in steepness, however, was found to modify the wave field in such a way that it had little effect on the total wind stress. To complement wind stress measurements velocity profiles in the water were measured using Particle Image Velocimetry technique. Mean current, turbulent stress, turbulent kinetic energy and turbulent dissipation rate vertical profiles were studied as a function of wind speed. Together with wave spectrum evolution measurements they form a complete empirical description of momentum fluxes in the laboratory tank. The results provide a detailed empirical view on airflow pressure fluctuations over a wavy surface, on total wind stress, and on the velocity response in the water. A new wave growth parameterization with wind forcing range extended into storm conditions is the most significant stand alone result of this work. Combined with the near surface vertical profiles, these empirical data also serve as a test bed for coupled air-sea numerical models.

Doutoramento em Biologia
The Mediterranean Sea is characterized by homeothermia (~14ªC) and a gradient of increasing oligotrophy from west to east which makes it of particular interest to study distribution patterns of deep-sea fauna. Particular oceanographic processes and topographic characteristics vary in different regions. The northwestern Mediterranean, where the shelf is deeply incised by numerous submarine canyons, is typically more productive and it is also subjected to an intense anthropogenic pressure mainly by deep-sea bottomtrawling fisheries. The suprabenthos, loosely defined as the macrofauna living in the sediment/water column interface, is an important component of the benthic fauna, with a relevant role in deep-sea food webs, albeit poorly investigated. In this context, suprabenthic assemblages were studied along an oligotrophic gradient (600-3000 m water depths; western region, Balearic Sea; central region, Ionian Sea; eastern region, South of Crete) and in a submarine canyon and adjacent slope (400-2250 m; northwestern Mediterranean Sea, Catalan Sea) aiming to examine their biodiversity, abundance and community structure in relation to varying environmental conditions. In each sampling site, samples were collected at three water layers above the sediment (10-50 cm; 55-95 cm; 100-140 cm), allowing to characterize the vertical distribution in the close vicinity of the seafloor. The specimens collected were ascribed to 232 taxa, from which amphipods and cumaceans were the most species-rich groups. Amphipods, mostly predators on zooplankton, followed by mysids and isopods, mostly omnivores, were the most abundant groups. The analysis of the near-bottom vertical distribution of the suprabenthic fauna showed a marked decreased in densities from the layer closer to the sediment (10-40 cm water layer) to the upper layers. Community structure varied in relation to environmental variables such as food input, hydrodynamic regime, topographic features (e.g. canyon-associated conditions) and properties of the water masses. The general results showed high variability in densities (3.5-538.9 ind.100 m-2) with maximum values registered in the Blanes Canyon and adjacent slope at 900 m depth. The number of species and the Shannon biodiversity index varied from 21 to 84 and from 1.28 to 3.35, respectively, with the lowest biodiversity observed in the canyon. Along the longitudinal gradient, densities and number of species decreased, the relative abundance of animals relying on food sources from the sediment decreased in parallel with an increase in the relative abundance of animals feeding on the water column. These results likely reflect the low organic matter input to the sediments in the more oligotrophic region. The nearbottom vertical distribution of the fauna changed along the longitudinal gradient, which may be associated to the functional traits of the species (e.g. motility, dispersion capability, feeding mode), to the different responses of individual species to changing abiotic conditions, the occurrence of topographic barriers and to the oligotrophy. These changes in the composition of the suprabenthic assemblages maintained similar values of α- diversity across the longitudinal/oligotrophy gradient, but resulted in high turnover (β-diversity). In the northwestern region the community structure appeared to be driven by the quantity and quality of food sources, revealed by the presence of surface predators in the Blanes Canyon and adjacent slope and also detritivores in the latter environment. In the canyon head and upper reaches, the community structure and biodiversity appeared to be driven by the temporal variability in hydrodynamic conditions with increased intensity of currents and particle fluxes in autumn and winter (river discharges, storms). Under disturbance conditions, densities increased and biodiversity decreased due to the dominance of omnivores with high motility (e.g. mysids). In the slope, the assemblages appeared to respond to the lower particle fluxes but higher quality of the predominantly pelagic organic input, by showing an increased biodiversity, particularly in spring. At deepest sites, biodiversity was similar between canyon and open slope, probably owing to the lower intensity of natural disturbance and lessening of a putative canyon effect. Nevertheless, after the occurrence of high energetic processes, such as a dense shelf cascading event (e.g. in 2012), an important increase in the number of species and densities was observed both in the canyon and slope, probably reflecting the increment of fresh organic matter in the lower slopes and basin. Despite the overall high resilience of suprabenthic assemblages, they were affected by high and continued trawling disturbance. In conclusion, this Thesis showed evidence of highly variable patterns in the composition, biodiversity and structure of the suprabenthic assemblages typified by the occurrence of a variety of trophic groups and life styles. High levels of spatial and temporal turnover in species composition was attributed to food availability, habitat heterogeneity and natural disturbance. In order to improve the knowledge on deep-sea suprabenthos, more studies on its auto-ecology and biotic interactions are needed. Also important to enable biogeographical and even regional comparisons, is to reach a consensus on a standardized terminology and conceptual definition concerning this faunal compartment, as well as to improve the spatial and temporal replication of sampling. Finally, given the important functional role of suprabenthos in marine food webs, it is strongly recommended to include this benthic compartment in future studies focusing on deep-sea ecosystem functioning.
O mar Mediterrâneo batial apresenta características homeotérmicas (~14°C) e um gradiente de oligotrofia, que se acentua de oeste para este, de grande interesse para estudos de distribuição da fauna em mar profundo. Encontram-se também presentes outras condições específicas, de que são exemplos os processos oceanográficos e topográficos, que determinam variações ambientais nas suas diferentes regiões. Em particular, destaca-se o noroeste do Mediterrâneo cuja influência de canhões submarinos favorece uma maior produtividade e pressão antropogénica, que se traduz numa relevante atividade de pesca de arrasto em mar profundo. Embora pouco investigada, a macrofauna que habita acima do sedimento, designada por suprabentos, é uma componente importante da fauna bentónica com relevância nas cadeias tróficas de mar profundo. Neste contexto, foram estudadas as comunidades suprabentónicas ao longo de um gradiente oligotrófico (600-3000m; região oeste; mar Baleárico; centro, mar Jónico; este, Sul de Creta) e num canhão submarino e talude adjacente (400- 2250m; noroeste do Mediterrâneo, mar da Catalunha) com o objetivo de caracterizar a biodiversidade, abundância e a estrutura da comunidade em relação com as variáveis ambientais. Em cada um dos locais, obtiveram-se amostras em três níveis da coluna de água acima do sedimento (10-50cm, 55-95cm e 100-140cm), de modo a caracterizar a distribuição vertical da macrofauna suprabentónica. Este estudo identificou 232 taxa e 18 grupos tróficos, evidenciando-se os anfípodes e os cumáceos com um maior número de espécies. Os grupos mais abundantes foram os anfípodes, sobretudo predadores de zooplâncton, e os misidáceos seguidos dos isópodes, ambos maioritariamente omnívoros. A análise da distribuição vertical da macrofauna revelou uma diminuição acentuada na sua densidade do nível mais próximo do sedimento (10-50cm) para os níveis superiores. A estrutura da comunidade apresentou variações relacionadas com diversos fatores ambientais tais como, a quantidade e qualidade do alimento, o hidrodinamismo (associado a condições típicas do canhão) e a estrutura das massas de água. Os resultados mostram que as densidades apresentaram uma grande amplitude (3.5-538.9 ind.100m-2) tendo os valores máximos sido registados no canhão de Blanes e no talude adjacente a cerca de 900m de profundidade. O número de espécies e o índice de diversidade de Shannon variaram entre os 21 e 84 e entre 1,28 e 3,35, respetivamente, tendo sido registada a menor diversidade no canhão submarino. Ao longo do gradiente de oligotrofia, de oeste para este, verificou-se um decréscimo das densidades e do número de espécies e constatou-se uma diminuição da abundância relativa de grupos que se alimentam no sedimento, em paralelo com o aumento da abundância relativa de grupos que se alimentam na coluna de água. Estes resultados foram associados a uma diminuição da matéria orgânica nos sedimentos da área mais oligotrófica. A distribuição estratificada variou ao longo do gradiente longitudinal, o que parece refletir a dinâmica das espécies (e.g. mobilidade, capacidade de dispersão, alimentação), as diferentes respostas das espécies à variabilidade nas condições abióticas, possíveis barreiras à dispersão e ao gradiente de oligotrofia, resultando em valores elevados de β-diversidade. A noroeste, no canhão de Blanes, a estrutura da comunidade parece ser condicionada pela maior quantidade e diversidade de fontes de matéria orgânica indicada pela presença de predadores no sedimento e de detritívoros no talude adjacente. Nas zonas do canhão mais próximas da influência terrestre, a estrutura e a biodiversidade da macrofauna suprabentónica parecem estar relacionadas com a variabilidade temporal das condições hidrodinâmicas, em particular, no aumento da intensidade de correntes e de fluxo de partículas que ocorre no outono e no inverno (descargas do rio e tempestades). Nestas condições, verificou-se o aumento da densidade e a redução da biodiversidade, possivelmente devido a uma maior presença de omnívoros com elevada mobilidade (ex. misidáceos). No talude adjacente, caracterizado por menor perturbação natural e maior qualidade de matéria orgânica de origem pelágica, a comunidade reflete uma diversidade elevada, em especial, na primavera. A maior profundidade, observou-se uma diversidade similar no canhão e no talude, provavelmente devido a condições de inferior perturbação natural e menor influência da ação do canhão. No entanto, após a ocorrência de um processo energético de grande intensidade, como o efeito de cascata de massas de água de elevada densidade (ex. 2012), verificou-se um aumento considerável do número de espécies e das densidades no canhão e no talude. Este aumento pode dever-se a um incremento de matéria orgânica fresca no talude inferior e na bacia do Mediterrâneo. Apesar da resiliência das comunidades suprabentónicas, a sua diversidade parece ser afetada pela elevada e continuada perturbação causada pela pesca de arrasto. Concluindo, neste trabalho existem evidências de que as diferentes regiões analisadas apresentaram elevada variabilidade na composição, estrutura e biodiversidade, que se atribui à heterogeneidade de grupos tróficos e modos de vida do suprabentos. Os valores de β-diversidade observados foram atribuídos à disponibilidade de alimento, heterogeneidade do habitat e perturbação natural. Os resultados deste estudo evidenciam a necessidade de considerar os mesmos elementos faunísticos na composição teórica da fauna que vive na interface coluna água/sedimento para comparação com outras regiões. Estudos de auto-ecologia e interações bióticas e, finalmente, a necessidade de amostragem replicada, são também aspetos a considerar para uma melhor compreensão das comunidades de suprabentos. Recomenda-se, por fim, dada a relevância funcional das comunidades suprabentónicas, a inclusão deste compartimento bentónico em futuros estudos focados no funcionamento dos ecossistemas de mar profundo.

Lampreys are a group of ancient vertebrates with 360 million years of existence. Throughout their evolution, they have acquired local adaptations to the colonized habitats, showing high plasticity and adaptive capacities. The sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus L.) is a parasitic and anadromous species that occurs in both sides of the North Atlantic. The aims of this study were to analyse, using microsatellite markers, the genetic diversity and population structure of sea lamprey throughout its distributional range. Analyses demonstrated consistent signs of high population differentiation between European and North American samples (two-groups structure), most probably due to isolation by distance, but low differentiation among populations from the same coast. The apparent lack of homing in this species is in line with its high evolutive success, as homing may bring adults back to natal habitats that have changed, or that are intermittently unfavourable. Analyses also demonstrated higher levels of genetic diversity in North American samples; DIVERSIDADE GENÉTICA E ESTRUTURA POPULACIONAL DA LAMPREIA-MARINHA (PETROMYZON MARINUS L.) AO LONGO DA SUA ÁREA DE DISTRIBUIÇÃO Resumo: As lampreias são organismos ancestrais com cerca de 360 milhões de anos de existência. No decorrer da longa escala evolutiva têm vindo a adquirir adaptações aos locais que colonizaram, tendo uma forte capacidade evolutiva e adaptativa. A lampreia-marinha (Petromyzon marinus L.) é uma espécie parasita e anádroma que ocorre em ambas as costas do Atlântico Norte. Este estudo teve como principal objetivo estudar a diversidade genética e a estrutura populacional desta espécie ao longo da sua área de distribuição, através do uso de microssatélites. Os resultados demonstraram forte divergência entre populações das costas Este e Oeste do Atlântico Norte, provavelmente devido à elevada distância entre populações, mas pouca diferenciação entre populações da mesma costa. A ausência de homing nesta espécie terá contribuído para o seu sucesso evolutivo, uma vez que o homing pode levar indivíduos a reproduzirem-se em habitats que se tornaram desfavoráveis ou intermitentemente inapropriados. Os resultados demonstraram também uma maior variabilidade genética nas populações americanas.

Thesis: Ph. D., Joint Program in Physical Oceanography (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences; and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution), 2012.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 129-143).
In winter, Greenland's coastline adjacent to the subpolar North Atlantic and Nordic Seas is characterized by a large land-sea temperature contrast. Therefore, winds across the coast advect air across a horizontal temperature gradient and can result in significant surface heat fluxes both over the ice sheet (during onshore winds) and over the ocean (during offshore winds). Despite their importance, these winds have not been investigated in detail, and this thesis includes the first comprehensive study of their characteristics, dynamics and impacts. Using an atmospheric reanalysis, observations from local weather stations, and remote sensing data, it is suggested that high-speed wind events across the coast are triggered by the superposition of an upper level potential vorticity anomaly on a stationary topographic Rossby wave over Greenland, and that they intensify through baroclinic instability. Onshore winds across Greenland's coast can result in increased melting, and offshore winds drive large heat losses over major ocean convection sites. Strong offshore winds across the southeast coast are unique over Greenland, because the flow is funneled from the vast ice sheet inland into the narrow valley of Ammassalik at the coast, where it can reach hurricane intensity. In this region, the cold air, which formed over the northern ice sheet, is suddenly released during intense downslope wind events and spills over the Irminger Sea where the cold and strong winds can drive heat fluxes of up to 1000 W m-2, with potential implications for deep water formation. Moreover, the winds advect sea ice away from the coast and out of a major glacial fjord. Simulations of these wind events in Ammassalik with the atmospheric Weather Research and Forecast Model show that mountain wave dynamics contribute to the acceleration of the downslope flow. In order to capture these dynamics, a high model resolution with a detailed topography is needed. The effects of using a different resolution locally in the valley extend far downstream over the Irminger Sea, which has implications for the evolution and distribution of the heat fluxes.
by Marilena Oltmanns.
Ph. D.

Selenium (Se) is a trace element of great ecological importance whose environmental distribution is highly impacted by anthropogenic activity. In the 1980s, selenium was recognized as a major aquatic contaminant following widespread deformities and mortality among waterfowl hatchlings near the agricultural drainage evaporation ponds of the Kesterson Reservoir (CA, USA). Today, 400,000 km² in the Western United States are threatened by agricultural selenium contamination, as are parts of Canada, Egypt, Israel, and Mexico. From the soil aggregate to the watershed, from the soils of the Central Valley to the sediments of the Salton Sea, and from Environmental Science to Policy and Management, in this dissertation I explore agricultural selenium contamination across scales, ecosystems, and disciplines. I begin with a review of the science, policy, and management of irrigation-induced selenium contamination in California, the heart of worldwide research on the issue. I then delve into the physical and biogeochemical mechanisms that control selenium reduction and mobility within the structured surface soils that are the source of contamination, using an aggregate-scale combined experimental and reactive transport modeling approach. Finally, I present a diagenetic model for selenium incorporation into the sediment of the Salton Sea, which has been receiving seleniferous agricultural drainage over the last 100 years.

To extract lessons from the last 30 years of seleniferous drainage management and water quality regulation in California, I reviewed the history and current developments in science, policy, and management of irrigation-induced selenium contamination in California. Specifically, I evaluated improvements in the design of local attenuation methods and the development of programs for selenium load reductions at the regional scale. On the policy side, I assessed the site-specific water quality criteria under development for the San Francisco Bay-Delta in the context of previous regulation. This approach may be a landmark for future legislation on selenium in natural water bodies and I discussed challenges and opportunities in expanding it to other locations such as the Salton Sea. By combining proven management tools with the novel, site-specific policy approach, it may be possible to avoid future events of irrigation-induced selenium contamination. However, the majority of regional selenium load reductions in California were achieved by decreasing drainage volume rather than selenium concentrations. Thus, there appear to be opportunities for additional improvements through management practices that enhance selenium retention in source soils.

To quantify the likely implications of these experimental results for soils with different degrees of aggregation, I formulated a general mechanistic framework for aggregate scale heterogeneity in selenium reduction. Specifically, I constructed a dynamic 2D model of selenium fate in single idealized aggregates, in which reactions were implemented with double-Monod rate equations coupled to the transport of pyruvate, O₂, and Se-species (selenate, selenite, and elemental selenium). The spatial and temporal dynamics of the model were validated with the experimental data and predictive simulations were performed covering aggregate sizes between 1 and 2.5 cm diameters. Simulations predict that selenium retention scales with aggregate size. Depending on aeration conditions and the input concentrations of selenate and pyruvate, selenium retention was predicted to be 4-23 times higher in 2.5-cm-aggregates compared to 1-cm-aggregates. Under oxic conditions, aggregate size and pyruvate-concentrations were found to have a positive synergistic effect on selenium retention. Promoting soil aggregation on seleniferous agricultural soils may thus help decrease the impacts of selenium contaminated drainage on downstream aquatic ecosystems receiving it.

This work presents agricultural selenium contamination as a complex problem that crosses ecosystems, scales, and disciplines. From a management perspective, the tension between dispersed non-point sources and hotspots where elevated selenium concentrations and sensitive aquatic ecosystems converge is difficult to address. Differences in biogeochemical conditions and trophic transfer within food webs render traditional regulatory approaches ineffective and force regulators to engage with the science of site-specific selenium transfer between ecological compartments. At the same time, gaps still exist in our mechanistic understanding of selenium's environmental cycling and in our integration of scientific knowledge across different ecosystems and scales. Centimeter scale heterogeneity in the biogeochemical conditions within source soils may fundamentally control selenium emissions across large agricultural areas and thus determine the selenium loading of rivers, lakes, and estuaries. Within aquatic environments receiving seleniferous drainage, the first few centimeters of surface sediment may control selenium exposure for entire food webs. Improved understanding at this level holds the potential to simultaneously reduce selenium emissions and respond more effectively to pollution where it occurs. In order to preserve sensitive habitat while also meeting agricultural drainage needs in seleniferous regions we must bridge the gaps between ecosystems, scales, and disciplines.

(Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Tidal mixing fronts establish during the summer months over shelf-seas, and separate tidally-mixed from stratified water masses. They play an important part in shelf-sea bio-physical processes, including volume transport and facilitation of primary productivity. Frontal hydrodynamics provide the physical necessities for prey aggregations to develop, holding the potential for biodiversity hotspots. However, there is limited knowledge on long-term variability of tidal mixing fronts and its effect on associated ecosystems, due to a lack of adequate datasets. Such information would greatly benefit spatial conservation efforts and improve our understanding of ecosystem dynamics on the continental shelf. Satellite-derived frontal maps and extensive biological datasets (from 1990-2010) are employed here to investigate spatio-temporal variability of tidal mixing fronts and their significance for shelf-sea biology from zooplankton tomegavertebrates in the Celtic Sea. In addition, this study assesses the suitability and limitations of satellite-derived frontal metrics for quantitative analyses and employs innovative technology (submarine gliders) to fill data gaps in species-environment interactions. This research provides guidance on the use of frontal metrics in quantitative analysis, such as the need to account for data variability over the years and the careful consideration of the employed frontal metric. This thesis furthermore, represents the first description of long-term temporal variability of tidal mixing fronts on the European shelf and highlights a potential sensitivity to climate change due to positive correlations with rising temperatures. Consequences could include extension of the frontal season and intensification of the frontal density gradient with knock-on effects on associated biota. The density gradient of tidal mixing fronts was shown to act as a direct distribution boundary for plankton between different shelf-sea domains. Climate-change-driven shifts in the seasonality of these fronts may have a direct impact on dispersal of passive floating organisms, habitat connectivity and adult populations of species with planktonic larvae, including commercially important fish and the benthos. Apart from a barrier function, fronts were also found to be important foraging areas for specialist megavertebrates, which were strongly associated with persistent frontal areas, whereas generalist feeders were not. Tidal mixing fronts represent suitable conservation areas for sensitive species in shelf-seas. The underlying mechanisms leading to bio-aggregations at these sites require more research. High-resolution data, simultaneously collected across multiple trophic levels can be obtained by autonomous robotic fleets in the near future.

Southern Alabama holds one of the world's most complete shallow shelf Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary sections. The boundary is exposed in a sequence of marl-limestone interbeds in a roadcut south-east of Braggs in Lowndes County, Alabama. Benthic foraminifera were extracted in 10cm intervals to obtain a high-resolution record of assemblage succession across this controversial boundary. A local sea level curve was then formulated using previous paleobathymetric foraminiferal assemblage models from the Gulf Coast and the Atlantic Coastal margin. Sea-level fluctuations thus evident have revealed a fourth-order cycle similar to those found by Briskin and Fluegeman (1990) with an average period of around 430 kyr through the Paleocene. This cycle includes a drop from outer slope to middle shelf conditions in the latest Cretaceous and a subsequent increase from inner shelf to outer shelf conditions in the earliest Paleocene. Within this cycle are several fifth-order cycles that are interpreted as having a periodicity of roughly 100 kyr. Sea-level cycles with Milankovitch frequencies occurring on an ice-free Paleocene Earth lend support to the concept of astronomical forcing of climate and thus sea-level.
Department of Geology

The high toxicity and ability to be transported over long distances and biomagnify up food chains have earned Mercury (Hg) recognition as a contaminant of global concern. The Arctic region is particularly vulnerable to Hg with high levels of Hg being detected in marine mammals. The importance of the cryosphere, especially sea ice, has often been neglected in considerations of the extent to which atmospherically derived Hg impinges on the underlying marine system. This thesis reports the first systematic study of Hg transport in the Arctic cryosphere (sea ice, brine, snow, and melt ponds) conducted in the Amundsen Gulf from February to June 2008. Hg concentrations in bulk first-year sea ice were generally low (0.5 – 4 ng L-1), with the highest concentration in the surface granular ice layer. The highest concentrations of Hg were found in sea ice brine (up to 70 ng L-1). Atmospheric mercury depletion events (AMDEs) appear not to be an important factor in determining Hg in sea ice, with the exception of in frost flowers. Evidence of Hg accumulation during melt – refreezing cycles is seen in multi-year ice. Significant impact of AMDEs is observed on Hg concentrations in snow. Rates of deposition of atmospheric Hg ranged from 200 – 784 ng m-2 into the top 1 cm of snow. Although photo reduction and reemission to the atmosphere does occur, a considerable fraction of deposited Hg is retained in the snowpack due to subsequent burial. At one station it is estimated that less than 50% of the deposited Hg is re-emitted to the atmosphere. It is suggested that in the Beaufort Sea, where AMDEs occur frequently due to dynamic nature of the sea ice environment, a larger than suspected portion of atmospherically deposited Hg can be retained in the snowpack and enter the underlying marine system upon melt later in the season.

This thesis analyses the commercial, maritime and military relations between Scotland and the cities and territories in the North Western parts of the Holy Roman Empire during the early modern period; specifically Hamburg, Bremen, the Swedish duchies of Bremen and Verden, Danish Altona and Braunschweig-Lüneburg. Having identified anomalies in the histories of these locations, and bringing a more international dimension to them, my study tackles a remarkable understudied geo-political location. The core of my research identifies the immigration of Scots and the establishment of commercial networks within a region rather than an individual territory, highlighting contact across political borders. This region differed significantly from other places in Northern Europe in that it did not maintain an ethnically distinct Scottish community enforcing and encouraging interaction with the indigenous German population and other foreigners such as the English Merchant Adventurers in Hamburg. The survey reveals that despite the lack of such a community the region was of commercial significance to Scots as evidenced by the presence of individual Scottish merchants, factors and entrepreneurs whose trade links stretched far beyond their home country. Significantly, these Scots present in mercantile capacities were demonstrably linked to their countrymen who frequented the region as diplomats and soldiers who frequently resided in the neutral cities of Bremen and Hamburg. Some of these Scots within the Swedish army were of importance in the administration of Swedish Bremen-Verden while others fought for Braunschweig-Lüneburg. Their presence encouraged chain migration, particularly offering shelter to Scottish political exiles in the later seventeenth century. Analysing the collective role of these men and the relationships between them, this thesis highlights the overall significance of the wider Elbe-Weser region to the Scots and vice versa, filling a gap in our understanding of the Scottish Diaspora in the early modern period, and broadening our understanding of the region itself.

The objectives of this study were to investigate the role that fauna play in short-term OM processing, how this varies with OM supply and quality, oxygen availability and faunal community structure, and how faunal activity is linked to sediment organic geochemistry. This was achieved through experiments and organic geochemical sampling, at sites spanning the OMZ on the Pakistan margin. The steep gradients in OM quantity and quality, oxygen, and faunal communities, and seasonal changes in OM supply, provided an exceptional natural setting to assess these relationships. Incubation studies were conducted on intact sediments containing whole faunal communities, aboard ship and in situ and using a novel system to maintain ambient oxygen levels. ¹³C-labelled algae were added to the sediments and traced into organisms, sediments, and respired pools. The resulting carbon budgets are some of the most complete to date, and allowed direct comparison among an unprecedented range of site conditions. Where macrofauna and higher-quality OM were present, OM uptake by fauna was greater; at one site macrofaunal uptake equalled total respiration, illustrating the key significance of fauna. Oxygen had a threshold effect on the faunal groups responsible for OM processing, with foraminifera and macrofauna dominating OM processing below and above the threshold, respectively. Notably, a new technique was developed for the quantitative tracing of labelled amino acids, which allowed the first molecular level tracing of OM in whole community and in situ experiments, and provided among the first direct links between faunal digestive activity and sediment OM composition. Compound-selective assimilation and OM alteration were observed, the patterns of which were taxon-specific.

Thesis (M.S.)--Georgia Southern University, 2007.
"A thesis submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Georgia Southern University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Science." In Biology, under the direction of David Rostal. ETD. Electronic version approved: December 2007. Includes bibliographical references (p. 54-59) and appendices.

To study architectural space in relation to other works of art, the author aims at understanding how meaning depends upon the medium within which it is formulated. More importantly, the process of re-stating a work from one medium to another requires analytically rigorous study at the level of design thinking. In this thesis, Piet Mondrian’s sixteen Diamond Compositions, George Braque’s Studio Series, and Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres’s Comptesse d'Haussonville will be studied as points of departure of John Hejduk¡’s two sets of architectural projects: the Diamond Series and the Wall House Series. Compositional similarities among these works will be discovered as the design means of Hejduk’s architecture. Moreover, these paintings suggest two design ends: C flatness and otherness. Hejduk’s poems about paintings and his architectural drawings will be examined as working media in which the two design ends are formulated. On this basis, the Diamond Series and the Wall House Series will be analyzed once again on the basis of how flatness and otherness are constructed in architectural space. In a way, Hejduk defines his own design means in the medium of architecture. It is noted that the re-statement of meaning in the medium of architecture involves both a retrospective understanding of the spatial structure and an embodied experience of the immediate spatial condition. Only when space makes sense independent of the references back to existing works in other media such as painting or poetry and the key design move is made will the readings of such works become architectural concepts. In the media of painting, poetry, architectural drawing, and architectural space, John Hejduk designs intention in its own right as part of the design process. Therefore, working across media entails far more than superficial references or fanciful representations. Rather, it is a serious investigation into the construction of medium-specific meaning, which the work of Hejduk clearly exemplifies. For the same reason, Hejduk’s work can be understood beyond personal or mystical expressions, becoming a tangible, logical, and thereby shared construction.

This thesis is an exploration of ancestral narratives in the fiction of Thomas Keneally and Christopher Koch. Initially, ancestry in literature creates an historical relationship which articulates the link between the past and the present. In this sense ancestry functions as a type of cultural memory where various issues of inheritance can be negotiated. However, the real value of ancestral narratives lies in their power to aid in the construction of both personal and communal identities. They have the potential to transform these identities, to transgress “natural” boundaries and to reshape conventional identities in the light of historical experience. For Keneally, ancestral narratives depict national forbears who “narrate the nation” into being. His earlier fictions present ancestors of the nation within a mythic and symbolic framework to outline Australian national identity. This identity is static, oppositional, and characterized by the delineation of boundaries which set nations apart from one another. However, Keneally’s more recent work transforms this conventional construction of national identity. It depicts an Irish-Australian diasporic identity which is hyphenated and transgressive: it transcends the conventional notion of nations as separate entities pitted against one another. In this way Keneally’s ancestral narratives enact the potential for transforming identity through ancestral narrative. On the other hand, Koch’s work is primarily concerned with the intergenerational trauma causes by losing or forgetting one’s ancestral narrative. His novels are concerned with male gender identity and the fragmentation which characterizes a self-destructive idea of maleness. While Keneally’s characters recover their lost ancestries in an effort to reshape their idea of what it is to be Australian, Koch’s main protagonist lives in ignorance of his ancestor’s life. He is thus unable to take the opportunity to transform his masculinity due to the pervasive cultural amnesia surrounding his family history and its role in Tasmania’s past. While Keneally and Koch depict different outcomes in their fictional ancestral narratives they are both deeply concerned with the potential to transform national and gender identities through ancestry.

Master of Music
Department of Music
Frank C. Tracz
The following report details the research and analysis required for completion of the degree, Master of Music from Kansas State University. This project was culminated in the conducting performance by Candace Bailey of four pieces during the 2009-2010 school year. The symphonic, concert and combined bands of Shawnee Mission North High School in Overland Park, KS contributed time, skills and feedback for the successful performance of Hands Across the Sea by John Philip Sousa, Michigan’s Motors by Thomas Duffy, Yorkshire Ballad by James Barnes and In the Forest of the King by Pierre LaPlante. Documentation of processes are detailed in lesson plans and critical evaluations of rehearsals. Analysis models were provided by the Unit Teacher Resource Guide, developed by Richard Miles, and the Macro-Micro-Macro score analysis form created by Dr. Frank Tracz.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2012.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis investigates the ways in which white subjectivity is shaped by colonial and imperial spaces. Jean Rhys’s Voyage in the Dark (1934), Marguerite Duras’s The Sea Wall (1952/1967) and Marlene van Niekerk’s Agaat (2004/2006) are vastly different novels from multifarious literary traditions, yet they join each other through their protagonists: white creole women. In this study, I engage most prominently with white creole female subjectivity, framing my study with theories of the subject proposed by Homi Bhabha and Judith Butler. In order to interrogate creolité, I draw on Bhabha’s concept of “thirdness” – a category signifying a position in-between binary categories of representation – and Butler’s conceptualisation of subjectivity/subjection, through which she highlights the ambivalences of the process of interpellation. I also read through lenses proposed by whiteness studies in the United States and South Africa, approaching creolité not as an indication of racial hybridity, but rather a term connoting cultural and political in-betweenness. As my discussions of the novels illustrate, white creole femininity in the (post)colony is a subject position through which intricate webs of “complicity and resistance” (Whitlock 349) have to be negotiated. Looking at the white creole women as textual constructs embedded in genres which advance a particular set of politics, I explore the ways in which the authors, through their novels and protagonists, navigate various political and cultural ambiguities and inconsistencies. Establishing the theoretical framework in the introductory first chapter, in Chapter 2 I read Rhys’s novel as a modernist text that elicits a particular postcolonial politics. I link the protagonist’s social alienation in London and the Caribbean to the experience of the middle passage; this is followed by an exploration of her sexuality with reference to the figures of the European prostitute and the ‘Hottentot’ Venus. In Chapter 3 I investigate Duras’s novel and trace the ways in which a family of impoverished “Colonial natives” (Duras 138) continually fail to establish themselves as ‘legitimate’ white colonials in (French colonial) Southeast Asia. Lastly, in Chapter 4, I approach Van Niekerk’s novel not only as a feminist re-writing of the plaasroman, but also as a “complicitous critique” (Warnes 121) that reflects nostalgically – yet critically – on Afrikaner nationalism. I show how the novel registers a vision of the quotidian that is uncomfortable and unhomely. Together, the three novels speak in highly comparable and complex ways about how white creole women experience (un)homeliness in the (post)colony. This thesis probes the extent to which the novels negotiate ‘home’ (or the lack thereof): displaced, alienated and often expressing forms of nostalgia, the protagonists struggle to establish forms of belonging in spaces within which they oscillate between opposed cultures, ideologies and politics. Ultimately, my study is crucially underscored by the question of displacement and estrangement (in various guises), and the way in which they inflect the establishment and performance of femininity.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis ondersoek die wyses waarop koloniale en imperiale ruimtes wit subjektiwiteit beïnvloed. Jean Rhys se Voyage in the Dark (1934), Marguerite Duras se The Sea Wall (1952/1967) en Marlene van Niekerk se Agaat (2004/2006) is uiteenlopende romans uit verskeie literêre tradisies: nietemin sluit hulle by mekaar aan deur hul hoofkarakters – wit kreoolse vroue. ‘n Bespreking van wit kreoolse vroulike subjektiwiteit vorm die grondslag van my studie, en ek struktureer dit rondom Homi Bhabha en Judith Butler se teorieë van subjektiwiteit. Ek benader kreoolsheid deur middel van Bhabha se konsep van “thirdness” – a kategorie wat ‘n plek tussen binêre opposisies aandui – asook Butler se teorie van “subjectivity/subjection” waarin sy the ambivalente proses van interpellasie belig. Verder lees ek die tekste met behulp van benaderings soos uiteengelê deur blankheid studies in die Verenigde State en Suid-Afrika. Ek beskou (wit) kreoolsheid dus nie as ‘n aanduiding van ras-hibrideit nie, maar eerder kulturele en politieke ambivalensie. My bespreking van die drie romans illustreer postkoloniale wit kreoolse vroulikheid as ‘n subjek-kategorie wat verwikkeld is in vorms van medepligtigheid én opstandigheid (Whitlock 349). Ek beskou die karakters as literêre konstrukte wat ingebed is in genres met spesifieke politieke standpunte. As sodanig, dink ek ook na oor die wyses waarop the outeurs, deur middel van hul romans en hoofkarakters, uiteenlopende politieke en kulturele teenstrydighede uitbeeld. In Hoofstuk 1 lê ek ‘n teoretiese raamwerk uiteen, en in Hoofstuk 2 beskou ek Rhys se roman as ‘n modernistiese teks wat terselfdertyd opvallende postkoloniale politieke temas bevat. Ek vergelyk die hoofkarakter se posisie as sosiale verstoteling in Londen en die Karibiese Eilande met die ervaring van die “middle passage”; daarna vergelyk ek haar seksualiteit met dié van die wit Europese prostituut en die ‘Hottentot’ Venus. In Hoofstuk 3 bespreek ek Duras se roman, en verken die wyses waarop ‘n gesin van “Koloniale inboorlinge” (Duras 138) in Suidoos Asië deurentyd misluk om rykdom en sosiale aansien te bekom. Laastens, in Hoofstuk 4, interpreteer ek Van Niekerk se roman nie net as ‘n feministiese herskrywing van die plaasroman nie, maar ook as ‘n “complicitous critique” (Warnes 121) wat nostalgies, maar ook op ‘n kritiese wyse, oor Afrikaner-nasionalisme nadink. Ek argumenteer verder dat die teks ‘n ongemaklike beeld van die alledaagse, asook die identifisering met die eie, skets. Wanneer die drie romans tesame beskou word, is dit duidelik dat hulle op hoogs vergelykbare en komplekse maniere nadink oor hoe wit kreoolse vroue hul sosiale en politieke posisies in (post)koloniale ruimtes ervaar. Hierdie tesis ondersoek die wyses waarop die romans tuisheid (of die gebrek daaraan) te bowe kom: die hoofkarakters is dikwels misplaas, vervreem en nostalgies, en is dikwels verwikkeld in ‘n stryd om te behoort, midde-in teenoorgestelde kulture, ideologieë en politieke standpunte. Ek baseer my tesis op die groter oorkoepelende problematiek van ontheemdheid en verveemding (in verskeie gedaantes), en hoe dit vorm gee aan die vestiging en beoefening van vroulike subjektiwiteit.

Structural designs barely consider the dynamic scenario of a well-developed impinging wave hitting the structure. The usual area of focus is on static and stability factors (e.g. drag, inertia, resistive forces related to weight, buoyancy, sliding etc). Even the "Factor of Safety" which is regularly used in designs to account for unknown and/or unforeseen situations which might occur implies a degree of uncertainty about the dynamic scenario of breaking waves in the coastal environment. In the present study the hydrodynamics of a coastal structure-turbulent bore interaction was studied by examination (two-dimensional) of the singular case of a plunging breaking wave forming a well developed turbulent bore which impacted on a model sea wall structure. The turbulent bore impact event was found to display similar characteristics to the impact event of other wave shapes, in particular that of a plunging breaker. Examination of the impact event confirmed the conversion of nearly all horizontal velocity to vertical velocity during the "flip through" event. In accordance with theoretical expectations the location of maximum pressure was found to occur just below the still water level (SWL). Resulting pressure data in the present study consisted of two blunt spikes as opposed to the "church-roof" (high spike) shape seen in other results. The shape of the pressure data was attributed to the following: firstly, to the initial impact of the protruding jet of the breaking wave which causes the first maxima, secondly, to the sensor encountering the bulk of the entrapped air hence causing the drop in pressure between the blunt spikes and lastly, to the inherent hydrostatic pressure combined with the compression of the entrapped air bubbles, by the subsequent forward motion of the water within the wave, which causes the second maxima. The point of maximum pressure was found to always be within the second maxima. Observation of the turbulent bore-structure interaction showed that the consequential maximum pressure was a direct result of the compression of entrapped air by the weight of the water in the wave as it continued forward onto the structure combined with the inherent hydrostatic pressure of the wave. The project was conducted in an attempt to contribute to the vast knowledge of coastal structure-wave interactions and to add to the understanding of the physics and characteristics of breaking waves. Whilst numerous studies and experiments have been carried out on the phenomenon of breaking waves by previous researchers the current project highlights the advent of new equipment and technological advances in existing methods.

碩士
國立成功大學
水利及海洋工程學系碩博士班
91
The purpose of this study is to investigate wave behaviors running upon stepped sloping breakwaters experimentally. An inclined wall with 1:6 slope, and uniform stairs of 2.5cm height and 15cm length is used in wave channel. In the experiments, the water depth is 25cm, wave periods are 1.25sec, 1.5sec, 1.75sec, 2.0sec, and wave heights are 10cm, 8cm, 6cm, 3cm. Wave forms on sloping stairs are recorded using digital camera, and analyzed afterwards. Wave run-up heights are also recorded and used to investigate connections with wave heights and wave periods. From experiments, incident waves acting on sloping stairs can dissipate wave energy in running up and running down processes. Accompanying with running up shoaling effects occur which increases wave heights, that can produce wave breaking situations. While waves running down, the water surface is following the shape of the stairs going downwards. Wave envelopes on sloping stairs possess characteristics of repeating similitude between stairs. With increasing incident wave height, wave run-ups can be increased basically, however, limited by the stair height wave run-ups increase stairwisely. On the other hand, wave run-ups increase with increasing wave period, and effects of sloping stairs on wave transformation are dominant for longer waves. It is expected that the present study of waves on sloping walls with stairs can be informative for future studies.

碩士
國立臺灣藝術大學
中華藝術全英語碩士學位學程班
104
My masters project examines the connection of Taiwanese social identity to landscape. Focusing on Oceanic Culture, my study reflects on past and present cultural relations between the people of Taiwan and the ocean. In outlining the historical contexts of Taiwanese Oceanic Culture, I aim to articulate issues of contemporary diaspora in Taiwanese society. My project argues that art plays a significant role in resolving issues of displacement by responding to the landscape. I have analyzed the work of contemporary Taiwanese artists and as a means of more closely understanding these issues, and have completed my own body of work, made up of painting, sculpture, photography and drawing.

While geographic distance is a variable often used to explain population genetic differentiation, dynamic processes leading to stochastic population structure are more likely driving factors. The following thesis presents the population structure of a common reef sponge, Stylissa carteri, and yields hypotheses on the influence of environmental heterogeneity as a predictor of the observed population structure. This project represents the largest population genetics study thus conducted in the Red Sea and also includes the first population genetics data gathered for sites off the coast of Sudan and Soccotra. The study herein presented includes both a large scale (36 reef sites covering over 1000km of coastline) and small-scale (16 transects of 50m each) analysis of gene flow in a benthic dwelling organism. The variable effect of geography and environmental conditions on S. carteri population structure is assessed using a seascape genetics approach. Environmental factors from a nine-year dataset accessed from the NASA Giovanni website including chlorophyll a, sea surface temperature, dissolved and particulate organic matter for both the annual and winter temporal scale were considered.

This dissertation research explores participatory sea turtle conservation monitoring through a comparison of two case studies, one in North Carolina (NC), USA and the other in Baja California Sur (BCS), Mexico. Participatory approaches in conservation management can supplement state capacity as well as strengthen the involvement of citizens in environmental governance and knowledge production. Despite scholarship challenging the validity of the categories of developing and developed nations, this categorical assumptions derived from this binary world divide continue to inform conservation, and theoretical vocabularies for local roles in conservation management. In developed nations, participatory conservation management is framed through the broader administrative rationalism discourse, and is identified as volunteer conservation or citizen science. In developing nations, participatory conservation management is approached through the discourse of biodiversity and the threats human society poses to it, and is identified through community-based processes of conservation stewardship. The two case studies analyzed in this dissertation serve to interrogate the ways in which these distinct discourses influence outcomes, and consider what may be obscured or overlooked due to discursive constraints.

Conducting ethnographic research in each case study site, I participated in and observed sea turtle conservation activities and conducted in-depth interviews with relevant sea turtle conservation actors as well as collected documents pertaining to the conservation programs. Sea turtle conservation monitors in NC and BCS perform functionally similar conservation tasks, and I collected data using similar techniques in order to maximize comparability. I compare the case studies, not to generalize to a population, but instead to speak to theoretical propositions and inform existing theory on participatory conservation monitoring.

Although participatory monitoring in NC and BCS does not result in a democratization of science, there are beneficial outcomes to participants in both places. NC sea turtle monitors are enabled to take ownership of sea turtle stewardship, and BCS sea turtle monitors are enabled to promote conservation and cultural change using the authority of science. These outcomes challenge assumptions about state capacity and local engagements with science in participatory conservation, and the disparate approaches to local roles in conservation in each `world.' The overall findings suggest that a multitude of factors are involved in the production of conservation program frameworks and participant outcomes, and more deeply interrogating the taken for granted assumptions behind conservation designs and implementation can offer stronger understandings of what participatory conservation management can (and cannot) achieve.

Dissertation

Ecosystems are linked by spatial subsidies, the bi-directional flows of nutrients, materials and energy that cross ecosystem boundaries. Considered one of the planet’s most productive and diverse meta-ecosystems, the broad interface between land and sea is crossed by innumerable abiotic and biotic spatial subsidies, including migratory animals. Routinely crossing ecological boundaries, migrants play significant roles in subsidizing receiving ecosystems, including influencing ecosystem productivity, diversity, community structure and trophic cascades. On the Pacific coast of North America, spatial subsidies driven by migratory Pacific salmon have been intensively studied. Like many of the world’s migrants, however, salmon populations have declined considerably and most of our scientific knowledge has been gained from a diminished subsidy. Other subsidies, including those driven by migratory species in decline, remain relatively unknown. Each year, Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) migrate to shallow waters to spawn on nearshore and intertidal substrates. Despite suggestions in the literature that herring, an abundant, nearshore/intertidal spawning forage fish, subsidizes coastal ecosystems, there had been no investigation of cross-ecosystem interactions. Just as stable isotopes and fatty acids have been used to explore wrack (drift macrophytes) subsidies to intertidal ecosystems, we combined both approaches to trace the input of Pacific herring and wrack to semi-terrestrial amphipods (Traskorchestia spp.), which are highly abundant detritivores in beach ecosystems. Brown algae and seagrass were major contributors to amphipods but when available, herring was also a significant resource. Because amphipods are prey for terrestrial consumers, including bears (Ursus spp.), we also identified indirect trophic linkages between herring and terrestrial ecosystems. Bears are major consumers and vectors of salmon into terrestrial ecosystems, but little is known regarding their involvement in other spatial subsidies. Using a model-based inference approach paired with remote cameras to monitor intertidal black bear (U. americanus) activity, we determined that the best predictors of black bear intertidal activity were major intertidal prey items (herring and amphipod biomass) and Julian day. Bears positively responded to herring and amphipod biomass on beaches but it was the analysis of scats that determined the contribution of herring eggs to the diets of bears. In 2010, the herring spawn was relatively poor and consumption of eggs was negligible, with amphipods constituting a major portion of bear diets. In following years, herring egg loading was relatively high and eggs were the dominant dietary item in bear scats. Tracing the contribution of herring into terrestrial areas proved challenging and instead, we furthered knowledge of the within-watershed spatiotemporal influences of salmon on conifer tree ring growth and δ15N signatures. Both tree ring growth and δ15N signatures tracked the known spatial distribution of salmon carcasses. Using a model-based inference approach, salmon abundance and interaction terms of salmon*temperature and salmon*distance into the forest best predicted tree growth. In contrast, salmon abundance was not a leading predictor of δ15N. By broadening our understanding of the fine-scale influence of salmon on a stand of ancient trees, this research is expected to contribute to future exploration of the terrestrial influences of Pacific herring.
Graduate
0329
cfox@uvic.ca

Foraminiferal faunas across the early to middle Eocene transition (EMET) were studied from three locations in the western Caribbean: Calle G section in Cuba, ODP site 998 B the Cayman Rise, and ODP site 999 B the Colombian basin. There were three primary objectives of this project 1) to observe changes in physical and biological paleoceanographic parameters in the Western Caribbean, more directly in the Cayman Ridge and the Colombian Basin, by the use of planktonic foraminifera data, 2) determine the cause of an oxygen isotope anomaly seen in Cuba by Fluegeman (2007) and that is expected to be present in the Western Caribbean, and 3) determine if the anomaly is a local or a more widespread regional event. The Calle G section in northwestern Cuba consists of early to middle Eocene age foraminiferal chalks. The planktonic foraminiferal fauna at this section is characterized by subbotinids and acarininids but does not contain morozovellids. Oxygen isotopes were obtained across the EMET from the planktonic foraminiferan Acarinina collactea. The resultant curve shows widely fluctuating values during the early portion of the EMET with more stable values occurring in the middle Eocene. The foraminiferal paleoecologic index tau curve at the Calle G section produced is similar to the oxygen isotope curve. ODP site 998 B, Cayman Rise, contains a series of foraminiferal limestones across the EMET. Unlike the Calle G section, this interval contains an abundant planktonic foraminifera fauna including Morozovella. The Morozovella:Acarinina ratio studied at ODP site 998 shows high, fluctuating values in the early part of the EMET with low, stable values during the middle Eocene.ODP site 999 B in the Colombian Basin consists of a series of foraminiferal chalks throughout the EMET. Similar to ODP site 998 this location also has an abundant assemblage of planktonic foraminifera including Morozovella. Evidence supporting turbidities have been observed at this locale as layers of shell hash and large benthic foraminifera. The Morozovella:Acarinina ratio studied at ODP site 999 is similar to that of ODP site 998 showing a high fluctuating values in the early part of the EMET with low, stable values in the middle Eocene. The presence of fluctuating values of oxygen isotopes, tau, and the Morozovella:Acarinina ratio followed by stable values across the EMET may be related to a change in circulation patterns through the Caribbean caused by a developing oceanic gateway. The widely fluctuating oxygen isotope values in the latest Ypresian may also be related to an influx of freshwater in the North Atlantic associated with the coeval Azolla event in the Arctic Ocean.
Department of Geological Sciences

The declining summer Arctic sea ice is impacting cyclone-forcing of dynamic and thermodynamic processes in Arctic sea at different spatial and temporal scales throughout the annual cycle. A catalogue of daily synoptic weather types is generated for the southern Beaufort Sea, covering the period 1979 to 2011 using NCEP/NCAR reanalysis mean sea level pressure data, principle components and k-means cluster analyses. Synoptic type statistics are used to assess changes in atmospheric circulation characteristics, sea ice vorticity, and lead formation. Significant (p < 0.05) seasonal synoptic type frequency anomalies are revealed between 1979 – 1998 and 1999 – 2011, and indicate a stronger Beaufort high, and increased easterly wind forcing in autumn and winter. High rates of young ice production in November and December 2007 were linked to strong easterly wind forcing. A case study of the atmospheric boundary layer during a lead formation event (03 – 18 February 2008) revealed sensible heat fluxes between 0 – 80.14 W • m2 (13 February 2008). First-ever observations of a physical forcing mechanism between Arctic cyclones, the Arctic Ocean, and Arctic sea ice within the southern Beaufort Sea were observed on 06 September 2009. Large swells intruded into the multi-year pack ice, causing instantaneous widespread fracturing, and reduced the large (>1 km) parent ice floes to small (100 – 150 m diameter) floes. This process increased the ice floe perimeter exposed to the ocean by a factor of 4.5. Analysis of Radarsat-2 imagery showed that open water fractional area in the multi-year ice cover initially decreased from 3.7% to 2.7%, then increased to ~20% due to wind-forced divergence. 11.54 MJ • m-2 of additional energy was estimated for lateral melting as a result of the fracture event using radiation budgets prior to and following the event. Earlier occurrences of flexural fracture could hypothetically provide up to three times more additional energy for lateral melt. Furthermore, this process may increase the likelihood of storm-driven upwelling of ocean heat, thereby enhancing bottom melt in the ice cover. This process is therefore presented as a potentially powerful positive feedback process that may accelerate the loss of Arctic sea ice.

The deep-sea hypersaline lakes in the Red Sea are among the most challenging, extreme, and unusual environments on the planet Earth. Despite their harshness to life, they are inhabited by diverse and novel members of prokaryotes. Methanogenesis was proposed as one of the main metabolic pathways that drive microbial colonization in similar habitats. However, not much is known about the identities of the methane-producing microbes in the Red Sea, let alone the way in which they could adapt to such poly extreme environments. Combining a range of microbial community assessment, cultivation and omics (genomics, transcriptomics, and single amplified genomics) approaches, this dissertation seeks to fill these gaps in our knowledge by studying archaeal composition, particularly methanogens, their genomic capacities and transcriptomic characteristics in order to elucidate their diversity, function, and adaptation to the deep-sea brines of the Red Sea. Although typical methanogens are not abundant in the samples collected from brine pool habitats of the Red Sea, the pilot cultivation experiment has revealed novel halophilic methanogenic species of the domain Archaea. Their physiological traits as well as their genomic and transcriptomic features unveil an interesting genetic and functional adaptive capacity that allows them to thrive in the unique deep-sea hypersaline environments in the Red Sea.

The deep ocean (> 200-m depth) covers more than 65 percent of earth's surface and is known as the largest active carbon sink of the planet. Photosynthesis fixes inorganic carbon into organic rich-compounds to fuel the biological production in the upper ocean. A small portion of the photosynthetic carbon eventually sinks to the seafloor to support diverse deep-sea life. In this dissertation, the phytoplankton production and export flux of particulate organic carbon (POC) to the seafloor were linked to standing stocks and compositional changes of the deep-sea soft bottom assemblages. The pattern and processes of energy transfer from the surface ocean to the deep sea was examined by modeling the global benthic bacteria, meiofauna, macrofauna, and megafauna biomass from remotely sensed ocean color images and the seafloor relief. The analysis was then scaled down to the macrofauna of the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) to examine the global pattern on regional oceanic features with contrasting productivity regimes. These results suggested a universal decline of benthic standing stocks down the continental margins that is caused by an exponential decrease of export POC flux with depth. A revisit of historical epibenthic invertebrate sampling in the North Atlantic showed that both individual species and multi-species assemblages occurred in narrow depth bands that hugged the topography from the upper continental slope out to the Hatteras Abyssal Plain. The continuum compositional change suggested that the continuous decline of benthic food supply with depth was the potential driving force for the pattern of bathymetric faunal zonation. A broad, systematic survey across multiple depth transects in the northern GoM suggested that macrofauna zonation is not only taking place across isobaths, but also form the northeast to the northwest GoM due to a horizontal productivity gradient created by the nutrient-laden Mississippi River. Analyses of long-term demersal fish data from 1964 to 2002 in the northern GoM showed no evidence of large-scale faunal change across different sampling times. Base on the pooled data, a shift in rate of fish species replacement may be caused by complex biological interactions or changes in environmental heterogeneity along depth or productivity gradients.

Between 33 and 91 percent of marine species are currently undescribed, with the majority occurring in tropical and offshore environments. Sponges act as important microhabitats and promote biodiversity by harboring a wide variety of macrofauna and microbiota, but little is known about the relationships between the sponges and their symbionts. This study uses DNA barcoding to examine the macrofaunal communities associated with sponges of the central Saudi Arabian Red Sea, a drastically understudied ecosystem with high biodiversity and endemism. In total, 185 epifaunal and infaunal operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were distinguished from the 1399 successfully-sequenced macrofauna individuals from 129 sponges representing seven sponge species, one of which (Stylissa carteri) was intensively studied. A significant difference was found in the macrofaunal community composition of Stylissa carteri along a cross-shelf gradient using relative OTU abundance (Bray-Curtis diversity index). The abundance of S. carteri also follows a cross-shelf gradient, increasing with proximity to shore. The difference in macrofaunal communities of several species of sponges at one location was found to be significant as well, using OTU presence (binary Jaccard diversity index). Four of the seven sponge species collected were dominated by a single annelid OTU, each unique to one sponge species. A fifth was dominated by four arthropod OTUs, all species-specific as well. Region-based diversity differences may be attributed to environmental factors such as reef morphology, water flow, and sedimentation, whereas species-based differences may be caused by sponge morphology, microbial abundances, and chemical defenses. As climate change and ocean acidification continue to modify coral reef ecosystems, understanding the ecology of sponges and their role as microhabitats may become more important. This thesis also includes a supplemental document in the form of a spreadsheet showing the number of macrofauna individuals of each OTU found within each sponge sample.

碩士
大葉大學
生物產業科技學系
100
The body wall of sea cucumber was used as raw materials for extraction of pepsin-solubilized collagen (PSC) and to compare from that from the skin of tilapia and porcine. On proximate compositions, sea cucumber showed the most moisture content 85.84%, lower crude fat 0.3% and crude protein 10.29 %. Sea cucumbers belong to one of the high-protein and low-fat invertebrates. The yield of crude collagen from porcine skin 26.12 % was the highest, while sea cucumber showed the lowest value. The sea cucumbers placed on the market were almost treated via drying and rehydration processes. Collagen of the market products could not be extracted according the same method. Protein denaturation was speculated during treatment. According to the profiles of SDS-PAGE analyses, the collagens from the three species were type I. Sea cucumber showed the smallest molecular weight (80~90 kDa) among the three products. Maximum peak shown at 230 nm on UV-vis spectroscopy profiles indicated that the collagens contain aromatic amino acids with C=O, COOH and CONH2 groups. FTIR spectroscopy showed that the collagen from the three species have amide A、I、II、III peaks which were generated by the main functional groups in the proteins. The dominant amino acids of the three extracted collagen were glycine (31%), proline (9~12%) and alanine (10~12%). Differential scanning calorimetry showed the collagen from sea cucumber had the lowest thermal stability. This may related to their growth circumstances. The three collagens exhibited better moisture-retention and moisture-absorption capacity than glycerol, indicating that the collagen molecules are rich in hydrophilic groups. In conclusion, the extraction of collagen from sea cucumber was expensive cost and low yield. But its basic characteristics were better than the others. Further studies were required to retain properties of the extracted collagen during processing or other applications.

碩士
國立臺灣海洋大學
食品科學系
99
Tripneustes gratilla is a common sea urchin in Taiwan but its edible part is only about 10% of the total weight. The purpose of this study was to convert T. gratilla body wall to magnesium substituted β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCMP) as the feasibility of biomaterials. Studies on the availability of T. gratilla body wall as the bone graft material of calcium phosphate is part of the full use of waste and wide application. Body wall powder of the echinoid T. gratilla was converted by the hydrothermal reaction to bioresorbable β-TCMP. The main conversion mechanism was the ion-exchange reaction, but there was also a dissolution-reprecipitation process that some calcium phosphate precipitates was formed. After the results of X-ray diffraction, fourier transmission infrared spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry, the final material was successfully converted to β-TCMP. Then osteoblast MG-63 cell were cultured with material soaking solution by using MTT assay and WST1 assay to determine the cell increased viability. L929 cells and osteoblast MG-63 cells were also cultured with β-TCMP (T8004) tablet by using MTT assay to determine the cell viability. The result revealed that β-TCMP tablets material (T8004) were non-toxicity and the material soaking solution were also non-toxicity. Therefore, the β-TCMP produced from sea urchin body wall may be applicable for the bone graft material, but it still needs further study.