Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Alps, Western – Human ecology'

Soils formed from ultramafic rocks are normally by pH values close to neutrality, a high base status and are usually rich in Mg, Fe and heavy metals. The low Ca/Mg ratio and the high heavy metal content could cause toxic effects in the biological communities. Plant communities, in particular, are usually different from nearby areas with different substrates and rich in endemisms and adapted species and subspecies. Despite their great environmental and ecological interest, pedological and ecological properties of mountain or boreal soils developed on similar substrates have seldom been studied worldwide. 198 soil pits (associated with phytosociological surveys) have been opened and analyzed in the ophiolitic area of Mont Avic Natural Park (Val d’Aosta, Western Alps, Italy), beween 900 and 2900 m above see level. Soils formed from ultramafic, mafic rocks and calcschists have been observed, in order to recognize the most ecologically important soil factors. The results show that soil properties are related with altitude and slope aspect in forest habitats, while the effect of substrate becomes important above timberline. Strong leaching in forest soils, related to high acidity and to the podzolization process, decrease the total and bioavailable heavy metal contents, above the treeline pedogenic and geomorphic processes release and accumulate large quantities of potentially hazardous trace elements. The plant communities strictly depend on the edaphic properties above the treeline, while in the forest habitats the differences caused by substrate are less discernible. Microbial and microarthropodal communities suffer stress caused by heavy metals in forest soils, while at the alpine level non significant statistical or ecological correlation are visible. Heavy metals (Ni, in particular) are the most important edaphic properties in differentiating plant communities on different substrata, while the Ca/Mg ratio (usually considered the most influencing soil properties on ultramafic soils) has no particular ecological effect.

London remains the most thoroughly excavated city in Britain, with a significant corpus of data recovered from many hundreds of excavations. The vast majority of this work has been carried out under the auspices of development control and planning guidance, although the situation has developed from one of rescue excavations carried out by volunteers to the position we see today of large professional teams working on multi-disciplinary projects. It is entirely within this milieu that my own career has progressed. The portfolio presented within this thesis presents the stages of analysis and publication in use at MOLA, my employer. I have published the results of many excavations, a selection of which I have chosen to illustrate the issues which I consider to be pertinent within the development-led commercial sector. Chapter 1 provides a background to the legislative and professional situation within which I operate, as well as relevant discussion of the current research agendas and frameworks which should be considered by archaeologists working in the City. Chapter 2 contains the portfolio material. The concluding Chapter 3 provides a detailed introduction to the portfolio sites and the contribution to knowledge provided by the archaeology excavated. This chapter also presents the critique of the portfolio sites and all aspects of the projects, from fieldwork to publication. I observe difficulties with the current structure of the commercial sector and in the following recommendations and conclusion suggest ways in which these can be alleviated.

As humans continue to modify natural habitats in Africa, particularly outside of protected areas, the survival of many chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) populations is dependant on their ability to adapt to human-dominated landscapes, and the willingness of local people to share their environment and resources with these large mammals. Unless hunted, chimpanzees may persist in anthropogenically-modified habitats including forest–farm mosaics, but competition and conflict can characterise their relationship with people. Conservation strategies are needed to facilitate successful coexistence. However, few studies have examined human–ape sympatry in detail. This thesis explores the ecological and behavioural adaptation of a previously unstudied chimpanzee community to an increasingly ‘agriculturalised’ landscape at Bulindi, Uganda. These chimpanzees live in exceptionally close proximity to farmers that exert unsustainable pressure on small unprotected forests. Research was conducted during 21 months between February 2006 and January 2008. Quantitative ecological methods were used to characterise the apes’ habitat and measure seasonal food availability. Indirect methods (e.g. faecal analysis and nest mapping) were employed to investigate chimpanzee diet and range use, supplemented by opportunistic behavioural observations. Riverine forests at Bulindi are rich in chimpanzee foods, but are rapidly being destroyed by people. Important foods in the apes’ diet include both wild and cultivated items; chimpanzees increased consumption of cultivars during the low forest fruiting season. Unique among studied populations in Uganda, Bulindi chimpanzees use tools to dig up subterranean bee nests for honey. Interviews were conducted to survey residents’ attitudes towards chimpanzees and forests. Chimpanzee behaviour is widely perceived by residents to have undergone recent negative changes, including increased crop-raiding and ranging into village areas, which correspond to major land-use changes (i.e. commercial logging and agricultural intensification). Further, adult males exhibit frequent human-directed aggression, apparently in response to harassment and intensifying competition with humans. Most residents fear chimpanzees. Because of poverty, insecure land tenure, inadequate law and policy enforcement, and corruption, local people currently have little incentive to maintain forest on their land. The study concludes that, under present conditions, chimpanzees will not survive at Bulindi or in similar unprotected forest–farm landscapes regionally without immediate, effective intervention. Recommendations for the conservation and management of chimpanzees in human-dominated landscapes are provided.

The present study analyses Roman-native interaction from a landscape perspective in a core territory of both Iron Age and Roman Dacia. The study are includes the royal Dacian heartland (the Orastie Mountains) and its surrounding lowlands, and also the hinterlands of Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa and Apulum, the two most important Roman towns in the province. The research considers the nature and distribution of lower-order settlements in the pre-Roman and Roman periods, human impact on the local landscape and the changes which occurred as a result of the Roman occupation. Also, it addresses previous biases of interpretation through re-evaluation of earlier data and consideration of new datasets provided by the interpretation and mapping of recent oblique aerial photographs. New detailed plans of the sites discovered through aerial photography have been integrated within a significant amount of scattered published data (excavation and field walking reports; gazetteers) and relevant information from historical maps. Al the material has been analysed utilising a relational database linked to a GIS. The results provide a complex reconsideration on a more realistic and up-to-date basis of previous theories regarding the native settlement pattern and the impact of Roman colonisation in the chronological and geographical context specified. Also, through the resulting database and GIS, it provides a methodological framework and a customised tool for further analysis of the landscape and of the evolution of the settlement pattern which can be extended throughout the province of Dacia and into the neighbouring areas. Finally, it creates a useful source of analogy or contrast for Empire-wide studies of Romanisation and Roman-native interaction.

[Truncated abstract] Understanding the effect that the disturbance of habitat by humans has on the population dynamics and ecology of wild animals is critical for the management of these populations. By understanding the demographic effects of disturbance the ways in which a population can be managed to increase or decrease its rate of change in size also become apparent. This thesis describes the effect that human disturbance, through the establishment of a large naval base, has had on the population dynamics and ecology of tammar wallabies (Macropus eugenii) on Garden Island, Western Australia. The disturbance of the environment on the HMAS Stirling Naval Base included the establishment of large areas of irrigated and fertilised couch grass (Cynodon dactylon) that increased and made virtually constant the amount of food available to the tammars in that area. In addition, traffic associated with the naval base resulted in large numbers of tammar wallabies being killed by vehicles. The effects of these disturbances were determined by comparing population dynamics, through vital rates of survival and fecundity and population growth rates, and spatial ecology, through the size of the animals' home ranges, in three areas of Garden Island. The three areas were the naval base (highly disturbed), southern bushland (adjacent to the naval base) and the northern bushland (undisturbed). The tammars on the naval base were in better body condition than those living in the two bushland areas of the island. ... When the impact of road-kills was removed, increased to 1.150.101 per year on the naval base and 0.960.076 per year in the southern bushland. Fecundity transitions, defined as the product of the rates of birth and pouch-young survival, and adult survival rates were lower in the bushland areas compared with the naval base in two of the three years, which were the main reasons for the lower estimates. There were no significant differences in the size of the tammars' home ranges between areas with modified or unmodified habitats or between the sexes (P>0.05). In summer the mean size of the home ranges was 3.90.66 ha, which was larger than winter when home ranges were 3.20.54 ha, but this difference failed to reach significance (P=0.058). These results indicate that the modification of the tammars' habitat has probably not caused significant changes in the size of the animals' home ranges. The size of the home ranges of tammar wallabies is likely to be determined by a complex interaction of many factors, and habitat modification alone has not been sufficient to cause substantial changes. The results presented in this thesis demonstrate that the disturbance caused by the establishment of the naval base on Garden Island has altered the population dynamics of the tammars wallabies, through increasing in the amount of food available to the tammars and through high numbers of road-kills. These results also demonstrate how gaining detailed knowledge of population dynamics can have direct application to managing the impact of disturbance on populations of wild animals.

Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2006.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The conservation of biodiversity is becoming increasingly challenging as habitats are disturbed, fragmented or destroyed. Although nature reserves now cover more than 10 % of the earths’ surface it has become clear that more will have to be done to ensure the long-term survival of species. Therefore, focus is increasingly shifting towards conserving biodiversity in natural and semi-natural remnants in human-influenced areas. This study aimed to determine the contribution of remnants in human-influenced areas to the conservation of biodiversity in the Cape Floristic Region (CFR) lowlands, using ground-dwelling arthropods, specifically ants, as the focal taxon. Initially, base-line information of arthropods and in particular ants was obtained. Sampling arthropods generally involves a large sample effort. Therefore maximizing sampling effort for ants in the CFR was investigated by trapping ground-dwelling ants at a single locality. Doubling the number of grids of pitfall traps was found to be more effective in trapping a greater number of species than doubling the duration of sampling. Therefore increasing spatial sampling intensity rather than sampling duration maximizes sample effort for CFR ants. Also, the seasonal changes of ground-dwelling arthropods, including ants, were determined by sampling four times during the year at a single locality. Overall arthropod abundance was found to peak in summer while dropping to a minimum in winter. This pattern was mirrored by that of the ants, indicating that ant results have a broader relevance than to ants only. The ground-dwelling fauna was dominated by ants emphasizing their importance in the CFR lowlands, and demonstrating that ants are an appropriate flagship taxon for epigaeic arthropod diversity in the CFR. Finally the contribution of remnants in human-influenced areas to the conservation of the CFR was investigated. A nested hierarchical approach was used, where five localities were selected across the CFR, each containing one reserve site and one site with natural remnants. Ants were sampled, along with environmental variables, namely weather, vegetation and soil. Overall, remnants were found to support similar ant assemblages to those of reserves. However for individual localities some remnants were significantly different to their reserve counterparts. Differences in ant assemblages were found to be greater between localities than between reserves and remnants. The relatively high heterogeneity of ants found in this study emphasizes the conservation significance of invertebrates along with that of plants in the CFR. Remnants clearly show the potential to conserve ant assemblages, however correct management is needed for these areas to maximize their potential. Disturbances such as the presence of the invasive Argentine ant and increasing soil nutrients by fertilization, pose a distinct threat to the ability of remnants to conserve ant assemblages. This study has shown that remnants currently support ant assemblages representative of those present in the CFR today. Therefore, some remnant patches of habitat in agricultural areas currently do contribute highly to the conservation of a functional important taxon in this global biodiversity hotspot, and if managed correctly, may continue to do so in the future.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die vernietiging en fragmentering van habitatte maak die bewaring van biodiversiteit al hoe meer van ‘n uitdaging. Alhoewel natuur reservate reeds meer as 10 % van die aarde se oppervlak beslaan is dit duidelik dat meer gedoen sal moet word vir die lang-termyn voortbestaan van spesies. Dus word die fokus van biodiversiteit-bewaring toenemend gerig op bewaring van natuurlike en semi-natuurlike fragmente in menslik-beinvloede gebiede. Die doel van hierdie studie was om te bepaal wat die bydrae van fragmente van natuurlike veld in menslik-beinvloede gebiede is tot die bewaring van die streek. Dit is gedoen deur van grond-lewende geleedpotiges en spesifiek, miere in die Kaapse floraryk (CFR) gebruik te maak. Aanvanklik is kennis ingewin oor die geleedpotiges en spesifiek miere in die omgewing. Omdat die versameling van geleedpotige diere gewoonlik baie moeite vereis is ‘n maksimum steekproef gedoen by ‘n enkele lokaliteit. Daar is gevind dat ‘n verdubbling van die aantal ruitsteekproefnemings met vanggate meer effektief is om miere te vang as ‘n verdubbling in die tydperiode wat vanggate oop is. Dus, is ‘n hoër ruimtelike steekproef intensiteit meer effektief in vergelyking met ‘n langer tydsduur vir miere in die CFR. Die seisoenale veranderinge van grond-lewende geleedpotiges, sowel as miere, was ook bepaal. Dit was gedoen deur vier seisoenale steekproewe te doen by ‘n enkele lokaliteit. Die totale geleedpotige-talrykheid was die meeste gedurende die somer en die minste in die winter. Die miertalrykheid het ook hierdie patroon weerspieël. Dit dui daarop dat veranderinge in mier versamelings van breër belang is vir alle grondlewende geleedpotiges. Miere was die dominante grond-lewende geleedpotiges en beklemtoon die belangrikheid van miere in die CFR, sowel as hulle toepaslikheid as vlagskip taksa vir grond-lewende geleedpotige diversiteit in die CFR. Laastens was die bydrae van gefragmenteerde natuurlike veld in menslik–beinvloede gebiede tot die bewaring van die CFR ondersoek. ’n Krimpende/ genestelde hiërargies benadering is gebruik in vyf geselekteerde lokaliteite, elk het bestaan uit ‘n area in ‘n natuur reservaat en ‘n area in ‘n naasliggende fragment. Miere was versamel saam met ‘n verskeidenheid omgewings veranderlike, naamlik weer, plantegroei en grond. In die algemeen is gevind dat fragmente en reservate gelyksoortige mier versamelings het. Daar was wel gevind dat party fragmente aansienlik verskillend was van die reservaat teenstuk. Verskille in mier versamelings tussen lokaliteite was groter as verskille tussen reservate en fragmente. Die relatief hoë heterogeniteit van miere beklemtoon die bewaringsbelang van invertebrate saam met dié van plante in die CFR. Dit is duidelik dat fragmente wel ‘n potensiale bydrae kan maak om die mier versamelinge te bewaar, maar gepaste bestuur is nodig om hierdie potentiaal te maksimaliseer. Versteurings soos die teenwoordigheid van die indringer Argentynse mier en toenemende grondvoedingstofkonsentrasie as gevolg van bemesting is ‘n groot bedreiging tot die vermoë van fragmente om mier versamelings te bewaar. Hierdie studie wys dat mier versamelings in gefragmenterde areas verteenwordigend is van die algemene mier versamlings wat op die oomblik in die CFR is. Dus lewer party fragmente in landbou gebiede op die oomblik ‘n wesenlike bydrae tot die bewaring van ‘n funksioneel belangrike takson in hierdie globale biodiversiteitsbrandpunt en die bydra sal volhoubaar wees met korekte bestuur.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Western Sydney, 2009.
A thesis presented to the University of Western Sydney, College of Arts, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Includes bibliographies.

New Zealand forests have been reduced and degraded by gross removal, logging, and the effects of mammals introduced by Polynesian and European settlers. These changes increase the value of the remaining forests, so information on the effects of these disturbances will be useful to inform the management of forest protection. Integrated measurements of C and N cycling within forests can be obtained using foliar stable isotope ratios, which may detect differences between forests resulting from natural or anthropogenic disturbances. This thesis characterises the stable isotopic composition distribution and likely drivers of isotopic variation of vegetation in several central South Island forests, and provides a baseline for future ecological New Zealand studies of present and pre-human vegetation. The largest detected stable isotope variation in modern leaf material was that of δ15N values between the eastern and western podocarp-broadleaf forests. This variation was probably controlled by the lower soil N availability associated with the high rainfall of western forests causing low δ15N values (-8.5 ± 3.5 ‰) relative to an eastern forest (+1.6 ± 1.3 ‰) and global temperate forests (average -2.8 ± 2.0 ‰ (Martinelli et al. 1999)). The significant but slightly higher mean δ15N (0.6 ‰) of a historically selectively logged forest (Saltwater Forest) in comparison to the mean in an unlogged forest (Okarito Forest), on the West Coast, could be attributed to either alteration to N cycling from logging, site differences in topography, or local soil N differences between the forests. Although δ13C showed no significant geographical variation, the well-described ‘canopy effect’ was observed in all modern forests, manifested as a positive covariation between δ13C and vegetation height. Similarly, large taxon-specific differences were observed between δ15N and δ13C values in both modern and fossil leaves. Well-preserved fossil leaves, from sediments c. 4500 years B.P in Pyramid Valley, North Canterbury, had higher δ13C (4.2 ‰) and δ15N (2.5 ‰) values than modern vegetation from Riccarton Bush, Christchurch. The difference between ecosystems spanning several millennia probably reflects ecosystem-scale changes in C and N cycling within New Zealand forests following human arrival, particularly from the degradation caused by invasive animals.

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Western Sydney, [2002].
"This thesis has been presented in fulfilment of the requirements of a PhD at the University of Western Sydney " Bibliography: leaves 252-279, and Appendices.

Public awareness of environmental problems and the need to work towards their solution have been heightened at international conferences for over two decades.Knowledge of the range of environmental perspectives and attitudes, and understanding the reasons for them, are important requirements for decision-making when dealing with global environmental issues. It is argued that culture may impact on environmental views and attitudes may shape worldwide views that give rise to them.In this study, Australian, Maldivian and Indonesian trainee teacher communities served as sources of data to examine the influence of culture on environmental attitudes. The three communities examined viewed the term 'environment' differently, and that was one reason for different environmental attitudes being exhibited.It was also found that knowledge about environments was obtained from different sources, and some individuals and communities exhibited both pro-New Environmental Paradigm and pro-Human Exemptionalist Paradigm views simultaneously. This is inconsistent with a western view of environmentalism. The findings have implications for environmental education curricula and the negotiation of global environmental issues.

There is now substantial literature directly attributing what is commonly described as the global environmental crisis to a crisis within human beings themselves. Ecologically alienated and restricted consciousness is proposed as substantially causative of decisions and behaviours that lead to environmental degradation. As an environmental professional, community activist, concerned parent and citizen, I share with others the view that an ecologically affective, respectful and relational consciousness, or ‘ecological consciousness’, is to be encouraged in order to not only improve environmental behaviours but meet the challenges posed by a global environmental crisis. This thesis explores my experience of developing ecological consciousness. An interpretive phenomenological approach was brought to consideration of the research questions: ‘What is my experience and understanding of ecological consciousness?’ and ‘What is my experience and understanding of developing ecological consciousness?’ In order to evoke ecological consciousness, I developed structured experiential exercises that incorporated sensorial, mindful and affective approaches to engaging with nonhuman ‘other’. This experiential approach was supplemented by heuristic inquiry in which I maintained personal journals of my experiences, reflections and feelings in dwelling upon the research questions. These three activities were undertaken in a range of natural settings, from urban bushland to wilder mountain terrain. In thematically analysing my journal entries and exercise worksheets, as well as being informed by relevant literature, I arrived at a more thorough and nuanced understanding of the phenomenon of ecological consciousness. I found that for me, there are two aspects to ecological consciousness. The first, which I describe as heightened ecological consciousness, is a transitory state consisting of highly relational, restorative and meaningful experiences. The second aspect I refer to as durable ecological consciousness. This involves an overall level of ecological awareness during normal waking consciousness, characterised by: (1) a sense of connectedness with, respect for, and appreciation of nonhuman nature, (2) a deep concern about the consequences of industrial modernity, and (3) responding to a perceived global ecological crisis in pre-rational, affective and psycho-spiritual ways. I discovered that there is a mutual connection between these two forms: heightened states can be recalled in suburban, busy living to strengthen durable ecological consciousness, while the durable aspect provides the motivation and the foundation from which a heightened state can grow. Significantly, I also learned that undertaking experiential ‘nature’ exercises provided respite from negative states of mind, such as anxiety, despair and anger, and increased my emotional resilience regarding news of environmental degradation, particularly evidence of climate change. Consistent with interpretive phenomenology, I identified potential uses for ecological consciousness development to the broader social context. If my experience of ecological consciousness has commonalities with the experiences and concerns of others, future applications of my approaches to eco-consciousness development have the potential to (1) offer individuals a structured way of deepening connection with nonhuman nature, and (2) provide a practical, psychological coping tool for helping people, as I experienced, in managing negative states of mind such as anger, stress, anxiety, powerlessness and despair, especially in regard to perceived threats of a global ecological crisis, including climate change.

I attempted to track a population of urban foxes in Kings Park, but due to collar failure, only one collar was retrieved. The GPS telemetry data from this fox produced home range estimates for minimum convex polygon (MCP) and kernel density (KD) of 0.302 km² and 0.331 km², respectively. The fox was predominantly active at night, with a ten-fold increase in movement during nocturnal periods when compared to daytime movements. Roads and man-made tracks were important for facilitating movement of the fox through its home range, with almost 97% of location fixes recorded within 100m of these features. The fox showed a preference for parrot bush Banksia sessilis shrubland and disturbed areas containing exotic weeds and revegetation, while avoiding woodlands and open spaces. Monitoring programs aimed at assessing the abundance of invasive species, as well as the severity of their impacts to the environment, are crucial for designing and implementing effective control strategies. I investigated the relative occupancy and diet of foxes at the local scale. Thirty one fox scats taken from two urban reserves revealed that medium-sized mammals, particularly brush-tailed possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) and quenda (Isoodon fusciventer), and black rats (Rattus rattus) comprised a large proportion of fox diet. Fruits and seeds, predominantly those produced by the Moreton Bay Fig (Ficus macrophylla), also contributed to a large portion of the diet of foxes. I used 21 motion cameras deployed across 10 monitoring sites to estimate fox occupancy within Kings Park. Seasonality had a significant influence on probability of occupancy and detection for foxes inhabiting Kings Park, with the highest rates of detection seen during the summer months (December-February). This spike in detections is consistent with the timing of dispersing juveniles, which are likely to be immigrating into the area in search of a suitable home range. Improving the effectiveness of conservation strategies through collaborative research is a key outcome of the Kings Park and Botanic Gardens Management Plan 2014-2019 strategic framework and implementing control measures for pest animals is a priority target for both this plan and the Bold Park Management Plan 2011-2016. Numerous methods have been used to control and/or mitigate their impacts within Australia, however, the success rates of these strategies vary. With the information gained from this investigation, it is my hope that future fox monitoring and control programs can be improved within the reserves and surrounding land uses.

In June of 2010, two permanent research plots were established in Forest Park, based on their differing proximities to downtown Portland, Oregon. As part of a long-term ecological research project that seeks to explore the ecological status and human thumbprint on this 5,100 acre forested reserve, the 2010 tree data was investigated for emergent compositional and spatial patterns. Stand composition, tree size, growth rates, and spatial patterns were analyzed, along with ecological and land use histories. Results indicate that the Balch plot, more closely located to the urban center, has different stand composition, condition, and vegetation growth rates, compared to the more rural Miller site. This study supports findings from a study done by Broshot in 2009, where more urban plots demonstrate a different stand composition and recruitment pattern than rural sites. The study is an initial step for exploring questions regarding the ecological status of Forest Park and how land use and disturbance, past and present, shape Portland's forested reserve.

Defence date: 7 December 1996
Examining board: Prof. Dr. Ute Frevert (Universität Konstanz) ; Prof. Dr. Heinz-Gerhard Haupt (Martin-Luther-Universität Halle) ; Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Kaschuba (Humboldt-Universität Berlin) ; Prof. Dr. Dieter Langewiesche (Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen) ; Prof. Dr. Luisa Passerini (Europäisches Hochschulinstitut Florenz)
PDF of thesis uploaded from the Library digitised archive of EUI PhD theses completed between 2013 and 2017

This thesis examines the 'way of thinking' that dominates the modern worldview, which has been, it is argued, responsible for the ecological crisis. 'Modernism' - which includes scientism, rationalism, humanism, and psychologism - is being universalized and applied throughout the world, largely by means of the Western-led process of globalization. The thesis traces the development of this thinking from its roots in early Christianity, through Scholasticism, the Renaissance, the Reformation, the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment, to the present day myth of material progress and growth. It is argued that predominant philosophical and practical solutions to the ecological crisis are limited since they are constructed within a conceptual framework which is part of the problem. The modem worldview represents a loss of traditional wisdom. 'Traditionalism' — or the sophia perennis — identifies the crisis as primarily a spiritual crisis. This timeless wisdom, which is found within all traditional religions, is investigated. The thesis notes the demise of this wisdom within Western Christianity during the Scientific Revolution, and identifies Islam as an example of a civilization which endeavoured to retain the restraining influence of the sophia perennis within its science. The thesis concludes by arguing that a metanoia — a transformation of consciousness leading to a change of thinking — urgently needs to occur if we are to acquire the means by which we can solve the ecological crisis.

Effective conservation and management are paramount to long-term recovery of endangered species. Achieving recovery relies on knowledge of their behaviour and habitats. Neophoca cinerea (Australian sea lion) is an endangered species endemic to Australia. This study focused on three key questions aimed at improving its management near Perth (Western Australia): testing a sea lion identification tool, describing haul-out patterns, and identifying human disturbance sources. N. cinerea whisker spot patterns as a tool for individual identification were tested using Chamfer distance-transform. Patterns contained sufficient information to reliably (99%) identify individuals in populations of 50, matching 90% correctly when testing known captive animals photographed at 90°. Off-angle photographs resulted in 48% correct matches. Resighting in the wild proved unfeasible in this study. However, resights of four scarred N. cinerea at Carnac and Seal Islands (the main study sites) confirmed returns and visitations to both islands. To describe haul-out patterns, generalized additive models were applied to hourly counts between 0800h- 1600h. N. cinerea numbers followed 17-18 month cycles, inversely aligned with the breeding cycle. During non-breeding seasons, hauled-out numbers increased throughout the day, and were associated with air temperature and tide. Research investigating human disturbance indicated that all human activity types elicited responses, which varied between islands depending upon stimulus types (vessel types, people), ranges to stimuli, and activities at each islands. People at close range elicited most elevated responses, including aggression and retreating. This occurred mainly at Carnac Island since direct beach access is allowed. Significant rates of lower-level disturbances were also elicited by vessels within close proximity, including paddlers and those undertaking noisy activities. Resulting recommendations include further restriction and enforcement in approach distances allowed. Also, ongoing monitoring of abundance and behaviour is required for long-term trend estimation. Because of high variability in haul-out behaviour, surveys undertaken at comparable times are recommended.

The thesis aims to develop an account of the ecological self and its relationship to nature which takes account both of a feminist perspective and of the critique advanced by recent environmental philosophy, and to understand the role of gender and gendered nature/culture dualism in the development of a human identity alienated from nature in western culture. I argue that the fact that the dominant human identity has been masculinised has been a major aspect of the problem. A major resulting theme is concern with problems in ecofeminism and especially the question of how far an alternative identity can be based on women and the affirmation of the feminine. Chapter One sets e c ological feminism in a political context, examining its relationships to both feminist and green theory. Chapter Two reviews the major literature in the area and its critique of western culture , as well as examining problems arising from it concerning the history of patriarchal culture, the status of the »-body as nature, and tension between accounts stressing dualism and those stressing difference. Chapter Three problematises both liberal feminist (androcentric) and radical feminist (gynocentric) positions, and tries to clarify the range of options to the androcentric model of human identity, and what is defensible in the affirmation of the feminine. Chapters Four, Five and Six d e v e l o p a feminist and historical perspective on environmental philosophy, arguing that dualism — a notion clarified in Chapter Four with the help of gender theory — has shaped not only our concepts of human identity as alien to nature (Chapter Four), but also our concept of nature as mechanism (Chapter Five) . These chapters examine the histo r i c a l legacy of rationalism, while Chapter Six develops a feminist perspective on instrumentalism and on the self. This is built on in Chapter Seven, which also critiques from the p e r s pective of feminist ethics current trends in environmental ethics and deep ecology, arguing that these positions have been insuffic i e n t l y sensitive to the c o n t r i b u t i o n of r a t i onalism to the problem and its continued influence in their philosophical frameworks. Chapter Eight returns to consideration of the major theme of earlier chapters in clarifying the affirmation of the feminine and options for the reconstruction of gender, and presents an account which combines elements of both power and difference analyses.

As diverse implications of the climate crisis become increasingly apparent, the Environmental Humanities (EH) have responded to the need for a transformation of conventional paradigms, attempting to dislodge anthropocentric assumptions by re-positioning humans as just one part of a complex, interdependent Earth system, an ethico-onto-epistemological concern. Earthing Bodies in Place (EBP) is a transdisciplinary research project that contributes to this field of inquiry through an exploration of whether a simple embodied awareness practice can foster a deeper sense of awareness for participants of the subtle workings of their own body and an increased sense of their relationship with place, and the more-than-human. And, if it does, what the implications are, then, for an expanded ecological consciousness amongst participants and the choices they make in how they live on Earth. The EBP Project workshopped a body awareness practice developed by the researcher, informed by her background in dance, experiential education, and social ecology. Participants spent one day learning and doing the practice and extending their engagement with it through individual creative responses, group reflection and dialogue. After the workshop, the participants did the practice on their own for four weeks before reuniting for a final focus group. Data generated by this mixed methods research was organised thematically and a Baradian diffractive analysis was utilised to grapple with divergent patterns of relational dynamics at play. The thesis argues that simple embodied awareness can serve as a practice of attentiveness for humans to their embeddedness with all sorts of more-than-human, including various experiences of awkwardness in such relationships.

It is well documented that humans may have a major impact on native ecosystems including the animals that reside within them. In Australia, over the past 200 years there have been major changes to the landscape, including land clearing, habitat fragmentation, urbanisation, the creation of roadways, and the introduction of exotic species. Freshwater turtles are one taxon that has been affected by both terrestrial and aquatic changes. The long-necked turtle Chelodina longicollis (Shaw 1794) is the most widespread, and abundant freshwater turtle in Australia. Because of their broad geographic range, their ability to survive within a diversity of aquatic habitats, urban and rural, and because they have a penchant for terrestrial movement, they are an appropriate species to use as a case study on the effect of urbanisation on the long-term viability of freshwater turtles. In addition, because C. longicollis represent the largest vertebrate biomass in many impoundments, their demise is likely to have a major impact on the functioning of these systems. This study was undertaken in Sydney, the largest city in Australia, in areas that have had significant habitat change due to urbanisation, and continue to have rapid change due to increasing density and extent of urbanisation. It was observed that C. longicollis remain the ubiquitous freshwater turtle, although recruitment to the population varied both at different human population density, and among wetlands, and there was little to no recruitment in the urban and suburban sites. Another native freshwater turtle, Emydura macquarii was found at all three sites (urban, suburban and peri urban). In the peri urban site there were very few of this species netted, whilst at both the urban and suburban sites they were in greater numbers, with E. macquarii in greater density than C. longicollis in the urban area. Successful recruitment of E. macquarii was only observed to have occurred in the suburban site and not in the other two sites (suburban, peri urban). A potential impact on C. longicollis was competition from other species such as Trachemys scripta elegans the feral red-eared slider that has demonstrated to outcompete native species in many areas of the world, including Australia. In the peri-urban area it was found that wetland characteristics were influencing the population structure in wetlands, and juveniles were more prevalent in wetlands with low dissolved oxygen and higher percentages of emergent vegetation. It was also observed that over the decade of the study, there was a shift in the population structure to a female bias in the population. Females were also shown to have greater site fidelity than males. Approximately 15% of females were recaptured in the wetland of first capture 13 years after they were first netted in the wetland, although no males were recaptured after this length of time. These females were also in better condition than those that had been netted only in the more recent study period. Vehicle collision impacted both sexes of C. longicollis in all stages of their lifecycle. Females were killed in higher numbers in the nesting season (spring) than at other times, potentially exacerbating the impact on local populations. Casual observation may indicate that C. longicollis, and where they are present, Emydura macquarii, have viable populations, even within wetlands within the most densely populated area of Sydney. However, in these long-lived animals, lack of, or limited, recruitment to the population, losses due to vehicle collision during terrestrial movement, supplementary feeding, water quality, and loss of wetlands in the urbanising areas, question whether the populations over the longer term are viable in the urbanised/rapidly urbanising areas of the Sydney Basin. Without knowledge of longevity and age of senescence, it is effectively impossible to predict when the population will become non-sustainable. However, without intervention such as raising the awareness of the plight of freshwater turtles, the provision of safe nesting sites, mitigation measures to reduce vehicle collision, and removal of exotic animals, the population will decline over time.

This thesis maps the psychological terrain of those who are engaged with the phenomenon of global warming. The theories and practices of depth psychology informed this research conducted through collaborative research and auto-ethnographic methods with the aim of exploring and analysing the psychological experience of working with climate change concerns through professional and personal commitments. This thesis provides a rationale and argument for expanding opportunities to acknowledge and discuss the disturbing nature of global warming awareness in community contexts, in order to facilitate increased commitment to action through addressing the stresses, provocations, complexities and opportunities that accompany the knowledge of climate change consequences and threats. The impetus behind this research was to chart the emerging landscape of climate change engagement in order to capture the shifts in worldviews, meaning-making, identity, social and political understandings, actions, behaviours and anticipations of the future within individuals whose daily realities involved thinking about and working with global warming issues. Data for the research came from the researcher’s journal writing between 2009 and 2014, and from a collaborative research group of eight people in Sydney, Australia, who met over a period of seven months in 2011, and who also participated in one-to-one initial and final research conversations. The methodological approach used was a blend of depth psychological and collaborative research methods, both of which have reference points within a phenomenological orientation. This approach supported the development of analysis grounded in close observation and recording of subjective knowledge and experience, which validates the multiple realities, understandings and unconscious dynamics that underlie human existence. A focus on complex and rich descriptions of lived experience, inter-subjective fields and the acknowledgement of multiple epistemological sources served to widen and contextualise complex analyses and interpretations that avoided simplistic or reductive views of psychological responses to climate change. The recording and sharing of dreams within this research added crucial insights to unconscious perceptions and responses in relation to global warming awareness. Dream sharing within group discussions also served to open discussions to feelings and experiences that were inaccessible through more conscious questioning and dialogues. The research questions I initially proposed focused on tracking the shifts between existing and emerging worldviews, asking if an understanding of the changing myths of these times could increase creative and resilient responses to confusion, grief and fears associated with climate change. A further question I asked was what happens when individuals come together in a group to inquire into and share their reflections on these processes? While the collaborative research group acknowledged the importance of worldviews and the shifts of paradigms, the major focus that developed within group discussions was on an exploration of the dilemmas of global warming engagements, along with a consideration of the effect of group process on resilience, psychological wellbeing, and developments of consciousness in relationship to interconnected psychological, ecological and socio-political concerns. While this research necessitated the acknowledgement and discussion of many disturbing and threatening factors and consequences of climate change, it yielded benefits to its participants who reported increased feelings of resilience, maturity, compassion, motivation, commitment and direction through having developed greater levels of toleration for exploring discomforting feelings and listening to conflicting views, while re-evaluating values and practices. The research’s outcomes support the creation of safe spaces for community conversations that contribute to the development of collective and relational understandings and practices that can inspire and sustain global warming action. People with psychological training and skills can make a vital contribution in support of such an initiative only once they have undergone a process of experiencing and analysing the development of their individual identity and consciousness within a systemic socio-political and ecological awareness. I argue that psychology needs to further its own evolution within emerging worldviews based upon relational being and inter-related systems, developing creative, participatory and inclusive methods which empower and enliven individuals and their communities towards liberating self-reflection and creative action.

The attendance and succession of carrion insects at remains is ecologically and forensically significant. In a forensic context, these insects are commonly utilised for minimum post-mortem interval (PMI) estimates in cases involving suspicious death and homicides. Preceding this study, information on the carrion insects present in the Sydney Basin and factors affecting their attendance and succession at remains had not been available. As a result, this study presents information on the attendance and succession of carrion insects at carcasses during different seasons, sites, and levels of access in Richmond, NSW, where many of the species recorded at carrion are representative of the Sydney Basin. Additionally, while previous Australian studies on carrion insects have focused on fly species of significance or their hymenopteran parasitoids, coleopteran species of significance have been largely neglected. This study, in an attempt to rectify this problem, investigated the identification, phylogeny, and feeding habits of a number of significant beetle taxa.