Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Habitat'

Virtually all marine conservation planning and management models in place or proposed have in common the need for improved scientific rigour in identifying and characterising the marine habitats encompassed. An emerging central theme in the last few years has been the concept of representativeness, or representative systems of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The habitat classification and mapping needed to incorporate considerations of representativeness into MPA planning must logically be carried out at the same scale at which management occurs. Management of highly protected areas occurs almost exclusively at local scales or finer, independent of the reservation model or philosophy employed. Moreton Bay, on Australia’s east coast, was selected for studies at the local scale to map and classify macrobenthic habitats. In a site scale (1 km) trial for the major habitat classification study, remote underwater videography was used to map and characterise an unusual assemblage of epibenthic invertebrates on soft sediments. The assemblage included congregations of the comatulid crinoid Zygometra cf. Z. microdiscus (Bell) at densities up to 0.88 individuals.m-2, comparable to those found in coral reef habitats. There was no correlation between the distribution of this species and commonly used abiotic surrogates depth (6 – 18 m), sediment composition and residual current. This site scale trial is the first quantitative assessment of crinoid density and distribution in shallow water soft-sediment environments. The high densities found are significant in terms of the generally accepted picture of shallow-water crinoids as essentially reefal fauna. The findings highlight the conservation benefits of an inclusive approach to marine habitat survey and mapping. Assemblages such as the one described, although they may be of scientific and ecological significance, would have been overlooked by common approaches to marine conservation planning which emphasise highly productive or aesthetically appealing habitats. Most habitat mapping studies rely solely or in part on abiotic surrogates for patterns of biodiversity. The utility of abiotic variables in predicting biological distributions at the local scale (10 km) was tested. Habitat classifications of the same set of 41 sites based on 6 abiotic variables and abundances of 89 taxa and bioturbation indicators were compared using correlation, regression and ordination analyses. The concepts of false homogeneity and false heterogeneity were defined to describe types of errors associated with using abiotic surrogates to construct habitat maps. The best prediction by abiotic surrogates explained less than 30% of the pattern of biological similarity. Errors of false homogeneity were between 20 and 62%, depending on the methods of estimation. Predictive capability of abiotic surrogates at the taxon level was poor, with only 6% of taxon / surrogate correlations significant. These results have implications for the widespread use of abiotic surrogates in marine habitat mapping to plan for, or assess, representation in Marine Protected Areas. Abiotic factors did not discriminate sufficiently between different soft bottom communities to be a reliable basis for mapping. Habitat mapping for the design of Marine Protected Areas is critically affected by the scale of the source information. The relationship between biological similarity of macrobenthos and the distance between sites was investigated at both site and local scales, and for separate biotic groups. There was a significant negative correlation between similarity and distance, in that sites further apart were less similar than sites close together. The relationship, although significant, was quite weak at the site scale. Rank correlograms showed that similarity was high at scales of 10 km or less, and declined markedly with increasing distance. There was evidence of patchiness in the distributions of some biotic groups, especially seagrass and anthozoans, at scales less than 16 km. In other biotic groups there was an essentially monotonic decline in similarity with distance. The spatial agglomeration approach to habitat mapping was valid in the study area. Site spacing of less than 10 km was necessary to capture important components of biological similarity. Site spacing of less than 2.5 km did not appear to be warranted. Macrobenthic habitat types were classified and mapped at 78 sites spaced 5 km apart. The area mapped was about 2,400 km2 and extended from estuarine shallow subtidal waters to offshore areas to the 50 m isobath. Nine habitat types were recognised, with only one on hard substrate. The habitat mapping characterised several habitat types not previously described in the area and located deepwater algal and soft coral reefs not previously reported. Seagrass beds were encountered in several locations where their occurrence was either unknown or had not previously been quantified. The representation of the derived habitat types within an existing marine protected area was assessed. Only two habitat types were represented in highly protected zones, with less than 3% of each included The study represents the most spatially comprehensive survey of epibenthos undertaken in Moreton Bay, with over 40,000 m2 surveyed. Derived habitat maps provide a robust basis for inclusion of representative examples of all habitat types in marine protected area planning in and adjacent to Moreton Bay. The utility of video data to conduct a low-cost habitat survey over a comparatively large area was also demonstrated. The method used has potentially wide application for the survey and design of marine protected areas.

Virtually all marine conservation planning and management models in place or proposed have in common the need for improved scientific rigour in identifying and characterising the marine habitats encompassed. An emerging central theme in the last few years has been the concept of representativeness, or representative systems of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The habitat classification and mapping needed to incorporate considerations of representativeness into MPA planning must logically be carried out at the same scale at which management occurs. Management of highly protected areas occurs almost exclusively at local scales or finer, independent of the reservation model or philosophy employed. Moreton Bay, on Australia’s east coast, was selected for studies at the local scale to map and classify macrobenthic habitats. In a site scale (1 km) trial for the major habitat classification study, remote underwater videography was used to map and characterise an unusual assemblage of epibenthic invertebrates on soft sediments. The assemblage included congregations of the comatulid crinoid Zygometra cf. Z. microdiscus (Bell) at densities up to 0.88 individuals.m-2, comparable to those found in coral reef habitats. There was no correlation between the distribution of this species and commonly used abiotic surrogates depth (6 – 18 m), sediment composition and residual current. This site scale trial is the first quantitative assessment of crinoid density and distribution in shallow water soft-sediment environments. The high densities found are significant in terms of the generally accepted picture of shallow-water crinoids as essentially reefal fauna. The findings highlight the conservation benefits of an inclusive approach to marine habitat survey and mapping. Assemblages such as the one described, although they may be of scientific and ecological significance, would have been overlooked by common approaches to marine conservation planning which emphasise highly productive or aesthetically appealing habitats. Most habitat mapping studies rely solely or in part on abiotic surrogates for patterns of biodiversity. The utility of abiotic variables in predicting biological distributions at the local scale (10 km) was tested. Habitat classifications of the same set of 41 sites based on 6 abiotic variables and abundances of 89 taxa and bioturbation indicators were compared using correlation, regression and ordination analyses. The concepts of false homogeneity and false heterogeneity were defined to describe types of errors associated with using abiotic surrogates to construct habitat maps. The best prediction by abiotic surrogates explained less than 30% of the pattern of biological similarity. Errors of false homogeneity were between 20 and 62%, depending on the methods of estimation. Predictive capability of abiotic surrogates at the taxon level was poor, with only 6% of taxon / surrogate correlations significant. These results have implications for the widespread use of abiotic surrogates in marine habitat mapping to plan for, or assess, representation in Marine Protected Areas. Abiotic factors did not discriminate sufficiently between different soft bottom communities to be a reliable basis for mapping. Habitat mapping for the design of Marine Protected Areas is critically affected by the scale of the source information. The relationship between biological similarity of macrobenthos and the distance between sites was investigated at both site and local scales, and for separate biotic groups. There was a significant negative correlation between similarity and distance, in that sites further apart were less similar than sites close together. The relationship, although significant, was quite weak at the site scale. Rank correlograms showed that similarity was high at scales of 10 km or less, and declined markedly with increasing distance. There was evidence of patchiness in the distributions of some biotic groups, especially seagrass and anthozoans, at scales less than 16 km. In other biotic groups there was an essentially monotonic decline in similarity with distance. The spatial agglomeration approach to habitat mapping was valid in the study area. Site spacing of less than 10 km was necessary to capture important components of biological similarity. Site spacing of less than 2.5 km did not appear to be warranted. Macrobenthic habitat types were classified and mapped at 78 sites spaced 5 km apart. The area mapped was about 2,400 km2 and extended from estuarine shallow subtidal waters to offshore areas to the 50 m isobath. Nine habitat types were recognised, with only one on hard substrate. The habitat mapping characterised several habitat types not previously described in the area and located deepwater algal and soft coral reefs not previously reported. Seagrass beds were encountered in several locations where their occurrence was either unknown or had not previously been quantified. The representation of the derived habitat types within an existing marine protected area was assessed. Only two habitat types were represented in highly protected zones, with less than 3% of each included The study represents the most spatially comprehensive survey of epibenthos undertaken in Moreton Bay, with over 40,000 m2 surveyed. Derived habitat maps provide a robust basis for inclusion of representative examples of all habitat types in marine protected area planning in and adjacent to Moreton Bay. The utility of video data to conduct a low-cost habitat survey over a comparatively large area was also demonstrated. The method used has potentially wide application for the survey and design of marine protected areas.
Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
School of Environmental and Applied Science
Full Text

The research herein relates to the development and ideology behind the creative piece Natural Habitat, and is concerned with exploring effective narrative techniques. The goal of this research is to provide a methodology towards creating effective narrative in the medium of hypertext by developing a better understanding of how narrative functions. The research explores the social and cognitive elements of narrative, and the manner in which structure impacts the understanding and development of narrative. The genre boundaries of medium and content are explored to gain an understanding of reader preference and expectation. The concept of reader expectation is then applied to multiform narrative in order to understand its functionality, before the question of effective combination of these elements is raised in regards to the medium of hypertext. This methodology is then implemented in the piece Natural Habitat, testing the merit of this approach in the resulting work of fiction. Natural Habitat is a story describing the journey four friends make through the Amazon jungle after surviving a plane crash. Isolated and in a hostile environment, the four survivors find themselves slipping into surreal worlds that seem futuristic, fantastic, horrific, and tinged with noir. Some begin to question their sanity, while others adapt to their environs readily, but each faces their darker side as the fears in their minds begin to play out on the landscape around them. Fighting to survive, their only chance is to find each other and to conquer their inner demons. The story is both the exploration and implementation of the arguments of the thesis, with the research guiding the construction of the story from planning, through initial writings and up to the final presentation. Natural Habitat itself is presented as a traditional novel and a piece of hypertext, facilitating comparative analysis between the two mediums.

Le projet de cette thèse est l'étude d'éléments du climat importants pour l'habitat humain, à l'échelle topoclimatique (quelques mètres à quelques kilomètres) en insistant sur le rôle du site (relief surtout). La démarche est surtout indictive et, s'appuyant sur différentes techniques de recueil des données ensuite soumises à traitements statistiques multivariés, elle débouche sur des applications opérationnelles dans trois directions : - Étude de la répartition spatiale des températures en milieu rural, ainsi que des mécanismes radiatifs et advectifs qui la contrôlent, en pays de plateaux, la Lorraine, et en relief contraste, les Alpes-Maritimes, donnant lieu à une méthode automatique d'interpolation spatiale de la température et des degrés-jours. - Étude de l'effet de l'habitat groupe sur la température, l'humidité et l'écoulement de l'air (îlot de chaleur urbain) dans une petite ville, Vence, et surtout dans une grande ville, Nice. - Étude d'un risque sous contrôle climatique, grave pour l'habitat rural et péri-urbain en région méditerranéenne : le risque d'incendie de forêt, quantifié par des indices de risque, et utilisé par les services de secours des Alpes-Maritimes
This thesis is aimed at studying specific climatic elements of vital importance to human settlement, on a topoclimatic space scale -from a few meters only to a few kilometers- considering the setting of the place (relief). Most of the method is inductive, with different techniques of data collection which are then treated with statistical multivaried analysis, and it results in operational implements in three direction : - The studyof the space layout of temperatures in a rural environment, as well as of the radiative and advective mechanisms controlling the layout. The field of studies is low lands of plateaux, the Lorraine, and a highly contrasted area, the alpes-maritimes, and it results in a spatial interpolation method of temperature. - A research work in the effects of human settlements -grouped in townson temperature, air humidity, airflow (irban heat island) in a small twon, Vence, and a large town, Nice. - A study of a climate-bound hazard, serious in rural and peri-urban settlement in mediterranean region - the forest-fire hazard, quantified by risk indices values, which are used the Alpes-Maritimes rescue department

South of the Anacostia River in Washington DC, the Oxon Run park runs through the Washington Highlands and Congress Heights neighborhoods. Though these neighborhoods sit within Ward 8 of DC, which is has the lowest education levels and household incomes, Oxon Run park acts as a lively community magnet, sitting adjacent to the metro station, a vibrant community center, the public pool and multiple schools. One resource that is lacking in Ward 8, similarly to under served communities around the country, is animal care. Pets For Life, an organization that attempts to address this inequity, states "...there are animal resource deserts—entire neighborhoods with no veterinarians, no pet supply stores, no groomers, and no animal welfare infrastructure. When there are no veterinarians in a community, standard wellness care is not the norm—and familiarity, experience, and knowledge concerning common pet health concerns do not exist" 1 This thesis design, Shelter to Habitat, attempts to provide a place for dog care, sheltering, homing and education to a community that needs it. It pushes the definition of sheltering and provides dogs with a space scaled and intentionally designed for their mental and physical health. The design prioritizes light, materiality and airflow to create a space that responds to the life of a dog. It addresses the needs of the community and integrates into the fabric of the neighborhood. The design creates an adaptive building that adjusts to the scale of the dog, while providing a public and private face that addresses the various needs of the community. In this proposed dog shelter design, the 1st floor, which faces the Oxon Run park, acts as the public face of the building. This space houses adoptable dogs, volunteer work spaces, training rooms, and community classrooms. This floor fluctuates the interior-exterior experience by providing a variety of ways to inhabit the spaces. In the main boarding space, the building design scales to the dog, the main user of the space. There are indoor-outdoor runs that penetrate an interior courtyard with wide 12' corridors that circulate the space. The undulation of this boarding space limits the dogs direct views of other dogs in the space, which helps enhance their sense of safety and security. Contrastingly, the 2nd floor acts as a private face of the building, connecting with the 1st floor through a central atrium. On the second floor , medical, quarantine, and short term boarding spaces provide services to the community for lost, sick or rehomed dogs. Together, this public-private, indoor-outdoor design nestles itself into the site and provides a safe, healthy, lively place for both the dogs and the community. Footnotes 1 "Pets for Life Tools and Guides," HumanePro, https://humanepro.org/pets-for-life/tools-and-guides
Master of Architecture
South of the Anacostia River in Washington DC, the Oxon Run park runs through the Washington Highlands and Congress Heights neighborhoods. Though these neighborhoods sit within Ward 8 of DC, which is has the lowest education levels and household incomes, Oxon Run park acts as a lively community magnet, sitting adjacent to the metro station, a vibrant community center, the public pool and multiple schools. This thesis design, Shelter to Habitat, attempts to provide a place for dog care, sheltering, homing and education to a community that needs it. It pushes the definition of sheltering and provides dogs with a space scaled and intentionally designed for their mental and physical health. The design prioritizes light, materiality and airflow to create a space that responds to the life of a dog. It addresses the needs of the community and integrates into the fabric of the neighborhood. The design creates an adaptive building that adjusts to the scale of the dog, while providing a public and private face that addresses the various needs of the community. These intentionally designed connection spaces become a very important part of the building design proposal. There a 3 unique scenarios that need to be considers and designed for when it comes to animal shelter. The first is proving shelter that is scaled to the size of the dog. Juxtaposed to this is hallways and lobbies that are scaled for the overlapping and interacting area of dogs and humans. Finally there are admin and community spaces that are scaled just for the human. These 3 defining scenarios led the design to a dynamic, flexible building that serves a variety of needs.

2 pp.
Tips for Arizona's Rural Landowners: Wildlife Unit
The Tips for Arizona's Rural Landowners Fact Sheet Series is intended to educate homeowners who have recently purchased small acreages in Arizona. The purpose of the series is to give homeowners information about living in rural settings. The Wildlife Unit includes fact sheets on wildlife habitat enhancement, the legal status of wildlife, venomous wildlife, wildlife transmitted diseases, aggressive wildlife and pet safety, wildlife-human conflicts, fencing, safe pesticide alternatives, and invasive wildlife.

Orientador: Ivan Sazima
Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia
Made available in DSpace on 2018-07-20T17:47:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Uieda_VirginiaSanches_D.pdf: 21349788 bytes, checksum: aafa2580ef648a6b572916adec3f1b16 (MD5) Previous issue date: 1995
Resumo: Não informado
Abstract: Not informed.
Doutorado
Doutor em Ecologia

The following four broad aims were addressed in this study. (1) To ascertain whether the characteristics of the benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages within the different nearshore marine habitat types identified by Valesini et al. (2003) on the lower west coast of Australia differ significantly, and whether the pattern of those spatial differences matches those among the environmental characteristics that were used to distinguish those habitat types; (2) To develop a quantitative approach for classifying nearshore habitats in estuarine waters that employs readily-available data for a range of enduring environmental characteristics, and to use that approach to classify the various habitat types present in nearshore waters of the Swan-Canning Estuary on the lower west coast of Australia; (3) To test the hypothesis that the characteristics of the benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages in the in the Swan-Canning Estuary differ significantly among nearshore habitat types, and that the pattern of those differences matches that among the environmental characteristics used to distinguish those habitat types and (4) To test the hypothesis that, as a result of environmental changes in the Swan-Canning Estuary, the characteristics of the benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages at various habitats in this estuary in 1986/7 differ from those in 2003/4. To address the first aim, benthic macroinvertebrates were sampled seasonally for one year in the subtidal waters and intertidal zone (upper and lower swash zones) at the six nearshore habitat types that were identified by Valesini et al. (2003) on the lower west coast of Australia. The habitat types, which differed mainly in the extent of their exposure to wave activity and whether seagrass and/or nearshore reefs were present, had been distinguished quantitatively using values for a suite of seven statistically-selected enduring environmental characteristics. The faunal samples yielded a total of 121 species representing eight phyla, among which the Polychaeta, Malacostraca and Bivalvia were the most speciose classes and contributed ~ 38, 23 and 10%, respectively, to the total number of individuals. The total number of species and mean density of macroinvertebrates was far greater at the most protected habitat type (1), which also contained dense beds of seagrass, than at any other habitat type, i.e. 70 species and 209.2 individuals 0.1 m-2, compared to 32 species and 36.9 individuals 0.1 m-2 at the most exposed habitat type (6), which had a substrate comprised only of sand. Differences among habitat type influenced the benthic macroinvertebrate species composition to a greater extent than differences among either zones or seasons. Significantly different faunal compositions were detected among those latter two factors only at the most protected habitat type. The faunal assemblage at habitat type 1 was clearly the most distinct from those at the other five habitat types, particularly in the subtidal zone (R-statistics=0.642-0.831, p=0.1%), and was typified by five abundant polychaete species that were adapted to deposit-feeding. In contrast, the fauna at habitat type 6 was typified by four crustacean species and a species of bivalve and polychaete, whose mobility and tough external surface facilitated their survival and feeding in those turbulent waters. The extents of the differences in species composition among the six habitat types was significantly matched with that among the suite of enduring environmental characteristics that distinguished those habitat types, particularly in the case of the subtidal zone (Rho=0.676). Such results indicated that the environmental variables used to distinguish the nearshore habitat types could be used to reliably predict the types of benthic macroinvertebrate species likely to occur at any site along the lower west coast of Australia. The above biological validation of the nearshore marine habitat classification scheme developed by Valesini et al. (2003) provided the justification for the approach to the second broad aim of this study, namely to develop a quantitative scheme for classifying habitat types in the Swan-Canning Estuary. This approach was similar to that employed by Valesini et al. (2003) in that it considers that differences among habitat types are well reflected by differences in a suite of enduring environmental variables. However, it improves on that earlier method by employing a completely objective and quantitative approach. Thus, a large number of environmentally-diverse nearshore sites (102) were initially selected throughout the Swan-Canning Estuary and a suite of 13 enduring environmental variables quantified at each using remotely-sensed images of the estuary in a Geographic Information System. Such variables were chosen to reflect either (i) the type of substrate and submerged vegetation present, (ii) the extent of exposure to wave action or (iii) the location of the site within the estuary with respect to its vicinity to marine and fresh water sources. These data were then subjected to the CLUSTER routine and associated SIMPROF procedure in the PRIMER v6 multivariate statistical package to quantitatively identify those groups of sites that did not differ significantly in their environmental characteristics, and thus represented habitat types. Eighteen habitat types were identified, which were shown to well reflect spatial differences in a suite of non-enduring water quality and sediment characteristics that were measured in situ at a range of estuarine sites during both summer and winter in 2005 (Rho=0.683 and 0.740, respectively, p=0.1%). However, those latter environmental characteristics required far more time in the field and laboratory to quantify than the enduring variables used to identify the habitat types. Benthic macroinvertebrates were sampled during summer and winter in 2005 in the shallow subtidal regions (~1 m depth) at sites representing eight of the habitat types identified in the Swan-Canning Estuary. These samples contained a total of 51 and 36 species during summer and winter, respectively, and, in both seasons, represented nine phyla, namely Annelida, Crustacea, Mollusca, Sipuncula, Nematoda, Platyhelminthes, Cnidaria, Uniramia and Nemertea. The compositions of the benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages differed significantly among habitat types and, to a similar extent, between seasons (Global R-statistic=0.408 and 0.409, respectively, p=0.1%). However, the spatial differences were considerable greater in winter than in summer (Global R-statistic=0.536 vs 0.280, p=0.1%), presumably due to the greater spatial variation in particular non-enduring in situ environmental characteristics, such as redox depth and salinity. While the number of species, overall density and taxonomic distinctness of benthic macroinvertebrates also differed significantly among habitats, those variables differed to a greater extent between seasons, being greater in winter than in summer. While the measures of taxonomic distinctness tended to be greater at habitat types located in the lower to middle reaches, i.e. habitat types 6, 7, 9, 10, 13 and 18, than the upper reaches i.e. habitat types 1 and 3, the number of species and overall density reflected this trend only during winter. During summer, the mean numbers of species at habitat types 1, 3, 6 and 10 (3.4-6.0) were significantly lower than those at habitat types 7, 13, and 18 (8.8-10.9), whereas the overall density of benthic macroinvertebrates was far greater at habitat type 7 (32260 individuals 0.1 m-2)than at any other habitat type in this season (3135-18552 individuals 0.1 m-2). Overall, the greatest differences in assemblage composition occurred between those at habitat types 1 and 18 (R-statistic=0.669, p=0.1%), which were located in the uppermost region of the estuary and the lower reaches of the basin, respectively, and differed to the greatest extent in their enduring environmental characteristics. The assemblage at habitat type 1, and also that at habitat type 3, located just downstream, were relatively distinct from those at all other habitat types, particularly during winter (R-statistics=0.666-0.993, p=0.1%). The fauna at the first of these habitat types was relatively depauperate, containing low numbers of species and densities, and was characterised by the polychaetes Leitoscoloplos normalis and Ceratonereis aequisetis and the bivalve Arthritica semen. The assemblage at habitat type 3 was also characterised by those three species and the amphipod Paracorophium minor and the polychaete Boccardiella limnicola. In contrast, the assemblage at habitat type 18 was characterised by a more diverse assemblage, i.e. the polychaetes Capitella capitata, C. aequisetis, L. normalis and Pseudopolydora kempi, the amphipods, Grandidierella propodentata and Corophium minor and the bivalve Sanguinolaria biradiata. The number of species was among the highest at this habitat type during both seasons, which was also reflected in the high taxonomic diversity, and the overall density was the highest in winter and second highest in summer. Despite the above faunal differences, those between assemblages at habitat types 7 and 9, which were both located in the basin of the Swan-Canning Estuary, were similar in magnitude to those that occurred between pairs of habitat types located in two different regions of the estuary. Although both habitat types 7 and 9 were characterised by a similar suite of species, i.e. Oligochaete spp., C. aequisetis, C. capitata, C. minor, G. propodentata, L. normalis, and S. biradiata, the substantial differences in assemblage composition between these habitat types in both summer and winter (R-statistics=0.570 and 0.725, respectively) was due to marked differences in the relative contributions of each of these species. Significant and strong correlations were shown to exist in both summer and winter between the pattern of differences in the benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages among habitat types and that among the enduring environmental characteristics used to identify those habitat types (Rho=0.625 and 0.825, respectively, p=0.1%). Furthermore, these correlations were greater than those obtained between the benthic macroinvertebrate fauna and any combination of the non-enduring environmental characteristics (i.e. water quality and sediment parameters) recorded in situ at each habitat type (Rho=0.508 and 0.824, in summer and winter, respectively, p=o.1%). This demonstrates the greater capacity of surrogate enduring environmental characteristics to account for differences in the range of variables that may influence the distribution of benthic invertebrate fauna. Thus, the lists of characteristic benthic macroinvertebrate taxa produced for each of the eight habitat types studied in the Swan-Canning Estuary provide a reliable benchmark by which to gauge any future changes in those fauna. Moreover, these results indicate that the above habitat classification scheme can be used to reliably predict the types of benthic macroinvertebrate fauna that are likely to occur at any nearshore site of interest in this estuarine system. The final component of this study showed that the benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages at four sites in the middle reaches of the Swan-Canning Estuary in 2003/4 differed significantly from those recorded at the same sites in 1986/7. Such differences were reflected in (1) changes in the relative densities of a suite of ten species that were responsible for distinguishing the faunas in these two periods, (2) the absence of 22 rare species in 2003/4 (i.e. 42% of the number of species recorded in 1986/7), (3) the presence of 17 new species in 2003/4, including an abundant polychaete that is likely to have been introduced and (4) a far greater extent of seasonal variation in the number of species and densities of benthic macroinvertebrates in 2003/4. Such changes are likely to be related to lower sediment oxygen levels in certain seasons in 2003/4, as well as an altered hydrological regime due to increased temperatures and decreased rainfall in that more recent period. The fact that these changes have occurred within the Swan-Canning Estuary highlights the need for effective management tools, such as the habitat classification scheme and associated faunal survey undertaken in this study. Such data will provide a sound basis by which to examine the ways in which fauna vary spatially within the system, and allow for the establishment of comprehensive benchmarks for detecting future changes.

Thesis (Ph. D.) -- University of Maryland, College Park, 2006.
Thesis research directed by: Marine-Estuarine-Environmental Sciences. Title from t.p. of PDF. Includes bibliographical references. Published by UMI Dissertation Services, Ann Arbor, Mich. Also available in paper.

Use of forage, cover, and border habitat by Columbian black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columblanus (Richardson)) was examined at two levels of selection: within home ranges and during home range establishment. Patterns of habitat use were evaluated in relation to changing seasons, different migratory behaviours, and areas of intensive deer use (defined by concentrations of radio locations). Relative use did not differ from relative availability for forage, cover, and border habitats. Availability of those habitats, however, changed seasonally as deer home ranges changed or different intensities of deer use were examined. Cover and border habitats, particularly borders between old-growth and second-growth forests, were more available in winter than, in summer home ranges. Areas receiving intensive deer use were characterized by more border and cover habitat than areas of less intensive use. Because use was directly proportional to availability, changing availability suggested that habitat selection occurred as home ranges were established. Comparisons of forage, cover, and border composition in actual home ranges and areas where home ranges potentially could have been located suggested preference for cover and border habitats. These comparisons, however, did not indicate disproportionately high use of interspersed habitats, perhaps because of the high degree of habitat interspersion in the study area.
Forestry, Faculty of
Graduate

The breeding biology and nest-site selection of American crows (Corvus brachrhynchos) was studied in 2 areas of aspen parkland habitat in Saskatchewan in 1987 and 1988.
Overall, density of nests at St. Denis averaged twice that found at Elstow and clutches were initiated earlier at St. Denis than at Elstow. Clutch size and hatching success did not differ between years or areas, but in 1987, nests at St. Denis produced nearly twice as many young as at Elstow.
Crows nested in willow, aspen, and other trees. Nest trees were larger than randomly-selected trees in both years and areas. At St. Denis, the area near active crow nests had, on average, more permanent wetlands, a greater proportion of pasture and wetland, and less area of cultivation than areas adjacent to random sites. At St. Denis, successful nests were closer to permanent water and had more permanent wetlands nearby than depredated nests, but discriminant function analysis could not correctly distinguish successful nests in either area. Selection of nest characteristics to evade predators does not appear to provide predictable advantages to breeding crows.

Connectivity, defined as the movement of individuals among populations or habitats, is a crucial ecological process that underpins the function of ecosystems. Animal movements promote a wide array of ecological outcomes, from genetic diversity to ecosystem recovery after disturbance. Therefore, it is necessary to have a clear understanding of the capabilities, scale, frequency, and locations of animal movements. In aquatic ecosystems, obtaining and analysing movement data is challenging because constantly changing environmental conditions hamper the use of traditional frameworks and methods. The study of animal movement in dynamic aquatic ecosystems also requires large volumes of data because animal movements cover different magnitudes, directions, and spatial levels of ecological organisation. As a result, new data collection and processing technologies are being developed to increase our understanding of this complex ecological process. Among new technologies, computer vision, machine learning and deep learning have received increased attention for their robust capabilities for rapidly processing large volumes of underwater imagery. Computer vision (CV) techniques are particularly suited to animal movement research because they can capture and process large amounts of raw data from underwater imagery. Despite their potential, CV techniques are only now beginning to be assessed in studies of aquatic animal movement, and their integration with appropriate statistical frameworks for behavioural analyses is required. In this thesis, I aim to identify, develop and apply CV techniques to measure animal movement in aquatic ecosystems. The focus is on measuring fish movements in connectivity corridors in estuarine systems. Fish movement research provides fundamental information about fisheries stocks, the status of protected areas, and the impact of habitat loss. Connectivity corridors are hotspots of fish migration, colonisation, feeding and reproduction. Yet much of fish behaviour in aquatic ecosystems remains hard to observe and timeconsuming to document manually. Connectivity corridors are a challenging but useful case study to test novel computer vision techniques for tracking fish. I first explored the current uses of CV techniques in fish movement studies and identified the benefits of CV for fish movement research. While the uptake of CV in fish movement studies has been slow, CV techniques provide two key benefits: 1) rapid, accurate and reliable datasets and 2) complementary information with traditional data collection techniques. Then, I developed a CV pipeline that automatically detects and tracks fish from underwater imagery. The pipeline has an 84% accuracy at detecting and subsequently tracking fish and provides large, raw movement datasets useful for ecological insight. To translate the raw movement data into behavioural events, I developed a new methodology for applying structural equation models to infer latent behavioural states of fish from observations of behavioural indicators. The statistical models accurately predicted behavioural events such as foraging (a slow, sinuous movement near the substrate) and fine-scale migrations (a fast, directional movement near the surface). Finally, I applied the CV pipeline to study the fine-scale movement and predation dynamics of fish at piped weirs in multiple estuaries. I used multi-species occupancy models to characterise fine-scale temporal changes in predator-prey co ccurrence and determined if behavioural differences could be detected at different categories of predator-prey co-occurrences. The fine-scale temporal changes of predator-prey co-occurrence varied among sampling days and locations, but I nevertheless identified that prey exhibited significantly different behaviours that depended on the probability of co-occurring predators. Overall, I bridged the gap between the development and application of new technologies for ecological research. CV can help us improve our understanding of critical interconnections among habitats and help researchers and managers increase data availability into conservation ecology and decision making. CV has the capacity to inform data-driven decisions that directly influence the health and productivity of marine ecosystems.
Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
School of Environment and Sc
Science, Environment, Engineering and Technology
Full Text

2 pp.
Tips for Arizona's Rural Landowners: Wildlife Unit
The Tips for Arizona's Rural Landowners Fact Sheet Series is intended to educate homeowners who have recently purchased small acreages in Arizona. The purpose of the series is to give homeowners information about living in rural settings. The Wildlife Unit includes fact sheets on wildlife habitat enhancement, the legal status of wildlife, venomous wildlife, wildlife transmitted diseases, aggressive wildlife and pet safety, wildlife-human conflicts, fencing, safe pesticide alternatives, and invasive wildlife.

Two designs were developed to model and compare the effects of scale on resource utilization by moose in a managed lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) forest. Statistical models, based on population and individual design levels (using microsite and moderate polygon habitat scales, respectively), were used to 1) test the hypotheses that moose track presence was increased i) in openings of increasing shrub cover, ii) in forests adjacent to openings of increasing shrub cover, 2) model moose utilization of forest cover, based on distance-from-nearest-opening, to determine appropriate leave strip widths adjacent to openings used by moose, 3) further understanding of how different opening and forest cover types influence moose presence and utilization and 4) compare these results from the different designs. Moose track occurrence and habitat attributes were recorded on 55 snow track transects to model moose presence as a function of distance-from- opening-edge and variation in vegetation cover. Over 15,000 UTM relocations were obtained from 15 GPS collared cow moose over two winters, in the same area. Based on track transect data, the model containing bog birch (Betula glandulosa), Salix species and mean shrub height was the best predictor of moose presence. Resource utilization functions indicated natural and forest management openings, up to 40 years old, were utilised more than older forest habitats. Modeling at both scales confirmed the use of early seral openings (natural or harvested) and indicated that forested distance-from-an-opening-edge does not influence resource utilization or presence of moose. Track presence was greater in wetlands with average shrub cover between 6 - 20% and > 20% than within adjacent forest cover but there was no difference between wetlands with shrub cover < 6% and adjacent forest cover. Tracks were more numerous in forest cover adjacent to wetlands with shrub cover > 20% than in forest cover adjacent to wetlands with shrub cover < 6% and 6 - 20%. The study implies that leave strips may have little immediate effect on the use of early seral openings by moose in winter although, this does not rule out that climate, predation or hunting pressure will influence habitat selection in the future.
Forestry, Faculty of
Graduate

Abstract The subject of the study was to search and test restoration measures for the most common physical habitat degradations in Finnish rivers. Methods for constructing nursery and spawning habitats for salmonid fishes were tested in small rivers dredged for timber floating in the Iijoki watercourse. Physical habitat modelling was used to simulate the effects of restoration measures to the hydro-physical conditions and potential fish habitats. The rehabilitation of the river bed and the placement of boulder structures, especially large boulder dams, made the rapids spatially more complex and increased the availability of potential physical habitat for brown trout (Salmo trutta). The physical habitat model was applied in the river Siikajoki to estimate the impacts of flow regulation patterns on the physical habitat quality. No single flow event causing a bottle-neck effect on the potential habitat suitable for brown trout was found. In a sensitivity analysis of habitat modelling, modifications of the suitability criteria appeared to have a major influence on habitat suitability for young brown trout. The applicability of low reefs and narrow side channels for fish habitat improvement was studied, using the large river impoundment of Oulujoki as a test area. Limited validation experiments of the model results were carried out on the basis of fish telemetry experiments and observations by local rod fishermen. The restoration measures appeared to diversify the channel structure and increase sheltered lateral habitats for grayling (Thymallus thymallus). Habitat structure and fish populations of seven small forest streams and two modified streams were surveyed using visual evaluation and electrofishing studies. None of the studied streams was found to be in pristine condition in all of its reaches. Brown trout was the most abundant species in most of the study streams. In most streams the brown trout distribution correlated positively with substrate size. The accumulation of fine materials on the stream bottom due to forestry operations was estimated to be the most harmful human impact on the studied streams. Some restoration suggestions were made for each of the streams.

This thesis demonstrates how tidal changes in the availability of intertidal zone habitats can affect the distribution and behaviour of juvenile pollock (Pollachius virens). Schools of pollock moved from the subtidal zone to the open habitat in the intertidal zone. On rising tides, pollock switched from the open habitat at low tidal stages to the dense algal habitat at high tidal stages. On falling tides, pollock rapidly schooled downshore in the open habitat. Pollock were rarely solitary in the open habitat and usually formed large schools. In the algal habitats, pollock were usually dispersed and preferred the dense algae over the sparse algae. Predation risk from birds was widely distributed among depths, habitats and stages of the tide, during the day. In a mesocosm experiment, pollock increased their use of the algal habitat and were more difficult to detect following a simulated bird predator threat. Preference for the algal habitat was density-dependent when either pollock abundance or algal habitat area were manipulated. Pollock responded to their potentially high density in the algae by schooling in the open habitat.

Golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos canadensis Linnaeus 1758) are declining in some areas throughout their Nearctic range (Sauer et al. 2011). This reduction is linked to changes in their habitat caused by human activities. Golden eagles inhabit an extensive range of environments (Watson 1997, Kochert et al. 2002). In the American Continent, the golden eagleâ s range encompasses Alaska, Canada, the United States and the Northern and Central portions of Mexico. Northern golden eagle populations migrate during winter to southern grounds, crossing international boundaries of Canada, the US and Mexico and therefore, their conservation is of trilateral concern. Golden eagles are protected by domestic laws in the three North American countries where they occur (FWCA 1997, BGEPA 1940, MBTA 1918, Lacey Act 1900, DOF 2002) and although the IUCN list the species as Least Concern, the A. c. canadensis subspecies has been protected by CITES since 1975 (Birdlife International 2012). While intensively studied in the United States, very little is known in Mexico about golden eagle ecology and their populations. As the national bird of Mexico, its conservation has been a priority for the Mexican government since its inclusion in the Endangered Species List in 1994 (SEDESOL 1994). Several threats jeopardize golden eagle populations throughout their range in North America: habitat alteration and fragmentation, electrocution, collisions with vehicles, collision with windmills and wires, poisoning from lead ingestion, drowning, shooting and trapping, and poaching for illegal wildlife trade. Mexican experts believe that a dramatic decline occurred over recent decades and that the remaining pairs have been restricted to remnant suitable habitat patches (SEMARNAP-INE 1999). Long-term survival of golden eagles largely depends on the effectiveness of current conservation efforts of habitat at a landscape level. Successful conservation and management requires accurate information on ecology of the species upon which decisions can be based. This study investigated habitat characteristics of the areas occupied by golden eagles and developed strategies for habitat management and protection to improve golden eagle viability in Chihuahua State. I surveyed a portion of Chihuahuan Desert Ecoregion in Mexico to locate golden eagle territories during 2009 and 2010. I located 30 golden eagle nesting territories and found similar composition of cover type, vegetation structure and prey indices between the territory cores and their buffer zones. Distance to most anthropogenic disturbance sources was similar between golden eagle sites and random areas (n=60). Grassland was the most common cover type, occurring in 100% of the nesting territories, and comprising 58% of the territoriesâ area, suggesting a disproportionate use of this cover type compared to its overall availability (25% of the state area). I used landscape attributes such as topographic characteristics and human disturbances to model the probability of occurrence of golden eagles across the landscape. I used logistic regression to model the occurrence of golden eagles at two different landscape scales and selected the best model at a home range scale based on AIC values to develop a predictive map of golden eagle distribution in Chihuahua, Mexico. I found that at a home range scale, golden eaglesâ occurrence was positively related to open areas and terrain ruggedness and negatively to human settlements, while at a larger scale it was positively related to open areas and negatively related to forested areas. The results confirm that golden eagles are dependent on grasslands and rugged terrain. I developed predictive maps of golden eagle occurrence using a logistic regression and a Mahalanobis distance approach using the variables from the model chosen to compare the performance and output with logistic regression modeling. I analyzed the Mexican National Plan for Golden Eagle Recovery (PACE - Ã guila Real) and proposed a conservation strategy oriented to protect golden eagle populations and their habitat in Chihuahua, Mexico. This strategy integrates ecologic knowledge developed in the first two chapters and incorporates social participation of all stakeholders. The strategy recognizes the potential limitations of conservation implementation programs in Mexico and explores the potential opportunities to protect golden eagles populations and their habitat.
Ph. D.

Coastal lagoons and their habitats perform an important nursery function for marine migrant (MM) fish species, which enter in these ecosystems to exploit the abundant trophic resources and the best biotic and abiotic conditions. The aim of this work is to study the nursery function carried out by shallow water habitats of the Venice lagoon, i) studying the sea-lagoon connectivity, ii) studying and characterizing the habitat preferences, iii) studying the trophic ecology of a target species (Sparus aurata). In this work: i) analyzing the distribution of eggs, larvae and juveniles, collected with a bongo net and a seine net in the whole Venice lagoon, it was possible to observe that the north sub-basin is the one where MM are more concentrated, ii) developing predictive models on distribution of juveniles MM in different habitats of the north sub-basin, it was possible to observe how preferences towards environmental parameters and habitats change with ontogeny but in general saltmarshes were positively selected iii) analyzing diet, head morphology and stable isotope of S. aurata during ontogeny it was possible to observe the importance of tidal creek for the trophic ecology of this MM species. Only through the integration of these methods it is possible to evaluate the complex nursery function of the lagoons, to direct the actions of restoration and management.

This thesis evaluates the interaction between four habitat factors vital to the gopher tortoise in Florida. Federally and state listed as threatened throughout its entire range, the gopher tortoise is vital to protect, not only for itself individually but its burrows provide an essential habitat to over 300 species making it a key stone species within its environment. Historic habitat modeling methods are reviewed for the gopher tortoise to highlight the gap on this topic. This research expanded on the methods utilized by Baskaran et al. (2006) evaluating the soil, landcover, percentage of canopy cover and the depth to water table habitat factors key to the gopher tortoise. Statistical analysis was used to establish the interactions using a regression type analysis of the presence/absence data relative to the four factors. A probability map for the study site was then computed from the results. The Analysis of Deviance results for the statistical model with land cover type as an independent variable and a 3-way interaction term for the other factors found that the land cover term was significant as an independent variable and the 3-way interaction of the other 3 habitat factors was significant. This result demonstrates that there is in fact an interaction between the habitat factors influencing the location of gopher tortoises. This finding is significant in future gopher tortoise research as it indicates that habitat factors evaluated individually may not be as important as the interactions between the factors. By understanding the interactions between the habitat factors, the FWC can work alongside other agencies to ‘increase and improve’ these key habitat areas preventing them from destruction. The map results also help pinpoint those fragmented potential habitat sites which are most at risk from full destruction and loss allowing agencies the work on protecting and expanding the suitable habitat landscape in order to ‘enhance and restore’ the gopher tortoise populations residing there, helping them to ‘maintain the gopher tortoise’s function as a keystone species’

The purpose of this thesis is to find architectural solutions which apply the theoretical findings centered around the biophilia hypothesis. The principles resulting from this investigation should help architecture to soften the separated conditions of the natural and the man-made environment. The application of these principles will then result in the design development of an Art in Nature Habitat in Kyoto, Japan.

A study of muskrat population variables in southern Quebec did not allow differentiation between the quality of ditches bordered by corn fields and those bordered by hay fields. Annual turnover of adults and juveniles was very high in both ditch types. The average maximum density of muskrats was the second highest recorded in the literature. Muskrat activity was not predictive of activity of other co-occurring vertebrates. The direct relationship between the logarithm of the number of burrows and the number of muskrats showed the usefulness of this sign of presence as an indicator of population size. Within given ditches, we failed to detect different genetic proximity between adults from successive years between corn and hay ditches. We failed to show that adult genetic proximity within ditches and within years difference between hay and corn ditches. Analyses of adult genetic proximity within and among ditches within a year confirmed the limited dispersal of female muskrat. Muskrat DNA fingerprinting analyses supported the general usefulness of spatiotemporal associations to determine kinship. Habitat use models based on muskrat signs of presence in southern Quebec high clay bank farm ditches showed that muskrat presence was positively associated with water depth, water velocity, and pulpy plant cover (excluding cattail), but was negatively associated with dredging. The type of crop was not important in explaining muskrat presence. In various habitats of the James Bay area, the habitat use models identified a positive relationship with percentages of submerged and floating plant cover, width of the shore herbaceous belt, bank slope and dominance of clay-loam soil on banks. Such models could be used to assess the potential of boreal wetlands to harbour burrow-dwelling muskrats.

O objetivo do trabalho é compreender alguns princípios norteadores do habitat na década de 1960 através da análise da cidade com as megaestruturas de Yona Friedman; da análise do material teórico de Kisho Kurokawa sobre as cápsulas; e sobre o processo de produção através da industrialização de João Filgueiras Lima - Lelé. As megaestruturas de Yona Friedman eram estruturas com funções de cidade, utilizavam tecnologias emergentes e o objetivo era acolher a população como espaço do habitar. As cápsulas eram componentes do habitar, envoltórios ou invólucros para o habitar humano, produzidos industrialmente, propunham a autonomia e simbiose entre máquina e homem. A industrialização para João Filgueiras Lima era compreendida como instrumento para atingir a equidade e resultado da consciência social e coletiva. Para Lima, o habitat era constituído pelas partes necessárias para o desenvolvimento do ser humano, composto pela urbanização, habitação e equipamentos sociais.
The objective of this essay is to comprehend the guiding principles of habitation in the 1960s through the analysis of the city with Yona Freidman\'s megastructures; of Kisho Kurokawa didatic materials regarding capsules; and João Filgueiras Limas production process through industrialization. The megastructures of Yona Friedman were structures with functions of a city, utilized emerging technologies and their objective was to shelter the population in a living space. The flexibility of the environments, the users mobility and participation were fundamental. The capsules, components of the living, involucres to the human living and industrially produced, proposed autonomy and symbiosis between man and machine. The industrialization was comprehended as an instrument to achieve fariness and result of the collective social conscience. To Lima, the habitat is composed by the necessary parts for the human development, composed by the urbanization, habitation and social equipments.

Dissertação de Mestrado Integrado em Arquitetura, com a especialização em Arquitetura apresentada na Faculdade de Arquitetura da Universidade de Lisboa para obtenção do grau de Mestre.
projeto urbano e arquitetónico dando origem a um equipamento social, uma residência para idosos. Um conjunto de procedimentos e estudos foram adotados para a conceção urbana e arquitetónica para a inserção do projeto no terreno. O estudo prévio foi constituído de conhecimentos a partir de análises teóricas e práticas relativas às atividades de um equipamento social. O estudo apresentado relata a busca do público-alvo por um espaço adequado para viver ou passar parte do dia convivendo com pessoas na sociedade, em que verificamos que há poucas ofertas para solucionar o problema existente. Na zona de intervenção, detetamos uma carência e a falta de equipamentos e serviços direcionados para a terceira idade, constatado nas primeiras análises ao território de Benfica. O estudo prévio estabelece alguns parâmetros, sendo um destes a de intervir no espaço urbano e integrar a população no espaço, para que se possa tirar um maior proveito dos espaços e equipamentos. Entretanto, não podemos projetar um espaço ou um equipamento sem pensar na envolvente ou como aproveitar o exterior. Assim, começámos por intervir no espaço urbano, onde encontramos a força do projeto arquitetónico, na figura do equipamento social, uma residência para idosos, para responder às necessidades do território e dos residentes. Na proposta optámos por uma arquitetura contemporânea e moderna, buscando sempre estudar os equipamentos com qualidade espacial e social, onde a vertente social foi inserida no projeto com o intuito de criar um espaço intergeracional de proximidade da família, amigos, moradores e visitantes, pois a proposta tem o propósito de unir as pessoas e evitar barreiras sociais.
ABSTRACT: This work seeks to demonstrate a combination of valence to carry out an urban and architectural project giving rise to a social equipment, a nursing home. A set of procedure and study were adopted for urban and architectural design for the insertion of the project on the ground. The previous study consists of knowledge from theoretical and practical analysis related to the activities of a social equipment. The existing study reports the search of the target audience for a suitable space to live or spend part of the day living with people in society, we find that the few offers to solve the existing problem. In our area of intervention we detected a lack in this area, the lack of equipment and services directed to the elderly is noted in the first analyzes. The previous study establishes some parameters the first is to intervene in urban space and integrates the population into space so that it can take better advantage of space and equipment, we cannot design a space or equipment without thinking about the surroundings, or how to enjoy the outside. Thus, we began to intervene in the urban space where we find the strength of the architectural project, but soon began to arise questions that had to be answered within that concept, we returned to study social equipment to answer our questions. With the answers of each problem solved we started to the architectural project, where we began to develop a proposal based on studies and needs existing in that parish. In the proposal we opted for a contemporary and modern architecture, always seeking to study equipment with high quality social and spatial quality, the social aspect was inserted in the project in order to create an intergenerational space of proximity of family, friends, residents and visitor, the proposal It brings this weight of uni people and avoid social barrier.
N/A

I described recreational use in mountain sheep (Ovis canadensis mexicana) habitat in the Pusch Ridge Wilderness (PRW), Tucson, Arizona. I also examined human attitudes held by PRW recreationists and homeowners within 1 mile (1.6 km) of PRW boundary towards several mountain sheep management options. I used geographic information system modeling and social science survey methodology. Recreational use along two trails that traverse mountain sheep habitat was frequent (66 individuals/day use Pima Canyon trail, 26 individuals/day use Romero Canyon trail) and primarily limited to the lower 3 miles (4.8 km) of the trails. Compliance with existing dog leash regulations is low (41.8% on Pima Canyon trail, 62.8% on Romero Canyon trail). Recreationists and homeowners within 1 mile (1.6 km) of PRW support the elimination of dogs within PRW and support planned burns of PRW to improve mountain sheep habitat. Recreationists and homeowners also support closing all or parts of PRW to protect the long term viability (>100 years) of the sheep population. Homeowners within 1 mile (1.6 km) of PRW primarily enjoy passive recreational use of PRW (i.e, viewing the wilderness).

Echoes of a Sonic Habitat is a forty-minute work for small ensemble in five movements. While the artist-in-residence at Crater Lake National Park in 2012, I created a series of field recordings that became the basis for this piece. In the second and fifth movements, the recordings are integrated into the musical material. The remaining movements (I, III, and IV) surface deeper structures within field recordings but do not include the sounds themselves. The work explores three habitats at Crater Lake National Park by evoking the evolution of sounds in these spaces throughout a 24-hour period and serves as a documentary of my experiences while I explored the soundscapes of the park.
10000-01-01

This thesis deals with the specific issues of designing a suitable type of heat exchanger for ventilation in a rescue habitat. The paper presents an overview of the most common types of heat exchangers and characterizes basic heat transfer mechanisms (radiation, convection). Based on the above and other knowledge, a thermal-hydraulic calculation model suitable for a regenerative heat exchanger type is compiled and the necessary calculations are performed. The thesis also contains an evaluation of the results for three materials which can be used in the production of a heat exchanger (aluminum, copper, steel).

The diversity of fish species found in warmwater stream systems provides a perplexing challenge when selecting species for Instream Flow Incremental Methodology (IFIM) studies. An often-suggested approach has been to use habitat guilds to incorporate the diversity found in these systems. My goal is to determine the feasibility of developing habitat suitability criteria (HSC) for the entire fish assemblage in the North and South Fork Shenandoah River, Virginia, using habitat guilds. I examined the strengths and weaknesses of direct underwater observation via snorkeling and throwable anode electrofishing to sample fish habitat use (e.g., depth, velocity, distance to cover, dominant and subdominant substrate, cover, and embeddedness) indicates that using the data collected from both techniques may produce better criteria than using just one of the two sampling techniques. To develop habitat suitability criteria using habitat guilds I placed each species a priori into a guild based on a hypothesized guild structure. Transitional life stages with significantly different habitat use were placed separately into the guild structure. The four guilds (riffle, fast generalist, pool-run, and pool-cover) were found to be significantly different from each other using the data collected for the species assigned to the guilds. Criteria were then developed for representative species from each guild and the entire guilds. Criteria developed for depth, velocity, Froude number, cover, distance to cover, substrate, and embeddedness were used to estimate a habitat response function (i.e., the relations between usable habitat and stream flow) for a representative species from each guild, the guild itself, and for a second species from each guild for comparisons. Both the representative species and guild criteria showed similar habitat response functions for the riffle guild, fast generalist guild, and pool-run guild. However, neither set of criteria performed well for the pool-cover guild. For guilds, other than pool-cover, either the guild or the representative species approach may be a viable option to developing habitat suitability criteria. The transferability tests were performed to determine if criteria developed in the North Fork Shenandoah River, Virginia would transfer to the South Fork Shenandoah River, Virginia. Only criteria for the margined madtom (Noturus insignis) and the juvenile smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) transferred for both suitable and optimal habitat. Criteria for mottled sculpin (Cottus bairdi), Cyprinella sp. (spotfin and satinfin shiners), river chub (Nocomis micropogon), adult and juvenile redbreast sunfish (Lepomis auritus), and adult smallmouth bass did not transfer. Only the pool-cover guild criteria transferred for both suitable and optimal habitat, while riffle guild, fast generalist guild, and pool-run guild criteria did not transfer. I recommend the use of site-specific criteria for the South Fork Shenandoah or different variable combinations.
Master of Science

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2000.
Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains x, 123 p. : ill. (some col.), maps. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 117-121).

Two widely-recognised hypotheses propose that increases in fish abundance at artificial reefs are caused by: (a) the attraction and redistribution of existing individuals; and/or (b) the addition of new individuals by production. Inadequate experimental designs compromised by a lack of sufficient replication and/or spatial interspersion of reefs with controls have prevented researchers from distinguishing between attraction and production. Infrequent sampling has also led to insufficient temporal coverage of life history-driven variations in fish abundance and biomass at reefs. Detection and resolution of these trends, together with incorporation of fish age/length data, and the use of techniques such as stable isotope analysis to infer trophic link(s) between reef residents and potential sources of epibenthic nutrition at reefs should help demonstrate mechanisms underlying attraction and/or production. Given that fish numbers tend to increase after artificial reef deployments, artificial reefs have been proposed as a means by which fish stocks could be enhanced by providing new habitat in areas where natural habitat vital for feeding, shelter and reproduction have been removed, such as residential canals. The purpose of my study was to investigate whether or not artificial reefs could be used to enhance fish production within residential canals. Five reefs were deployed into Lake Rumrunner on the Gold Coast in southeast Queensland, Australia (28°02’59”S, 153°25’19”E). Reefs were interspersed among five soft sediment (control) sites of similar depth. Fish assemblages at reefs, controls and shoreline jetties were quantitatively sampled using a modified seine pop net. Very few fish were recorded at controls, but fish abundance and biomass increased dramatically at reefs shortly after deployment, stabilising at levels above that of shoreline jetties. Reefs and jetties accommodated different fish assemblages and assemblage structure varied through time. Multivariate analyses indicated that the fish assemblage at jetties within Lake Rumrunner differed from assemblages at jetties in adjacent lakes in terms of biomass composition, accommodating numerous individuals of small-bodied species. The fish assemblage at reefs featured individuals of large-bodied species and occasional, itinerant individuals of species typical of offshore subtidal reefs. Among co-occurring (reef and jetty) fish species, strong differences in the distribution of Monodactylus argenteus (Monodactylidae) between reefs, jetties and controls suggested possible new production driven by reef deployment. Abundance and biomass of M. argenteus was significantly greater at reefs relative to controls (where no fish were caught) and jetties at all times after deployment. Individuals were consistently larger on reefs than on jetties. Analyses of length-frequency distributions through time indicated the size of individuals differed from one sampling time to the next for most sampling times at reefs, possibly representing cohort growth and movement through time...
Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
School of Environment
Science, Environment, Engineering and Technology
Full Text

Riparian systems are important for breeding bird communities and are highly used as migratory corridors; however, their importance for wintering birds has not been assessed systematically. In order to assess the value of riparian areas for birds wintering in Sonora, data from 1,816 standard point counts were collected from 87 locations during January and February 2004-2006. A total of 253 species were detected across 14 vegetation types, including nine categories of riparian vegetation. The mean number of species and individuals detected per count was significantly higher in riparian vegetation than in non-riparian vegetation for migratory species, but not for residents. Riparian bird communities are different from those in non-riparian habitats, and contribute 22% of the regional avifauna's species.
Anthropogenic disturbance has imposed significant changes in riparian habitats, and is known to have negative effects on biological communities. To assess the effects of human induced disturbance on wintering bird communities, I recorded community composition, relative abundance of species, and three indicators of bird condition in relatively undisturbed and highly disturbed sites at three river systems in Sonora. There is, in general, little effect of disturbance on the composition of wintering communities, with less than 20% of the most common species having significant differences in their abundances between relatively undisturbed and highly disturbed sites. Condition indicators were similar in the two disturbance levels, but the mean heterophil/lymphocyte ratio in the blood of sampled birds showed increased levels of physiological stress in disturbed sites. A more experimental approach is needed to determine the specific cause of the stress expression in leucocytes.
Modification of natural flooding regimes has modified riparian areas, as has been the case in the Colorado River Delta. I present a summary of the changes experienced by riparian systems and some of the measures implemented for riparian restoration in the southwestern United States, and then I compare the scenario with that in central Sonora, where some of the same stressors exist on riparian systems, but where traditional management practices have also mitigated some of the negative consequences of flow control along mid-sized river systems.

The deep sea represents the largest biome on earth, and for most of it, no maps of resolutions comparable to terrestrial environments are available. As new species continue to be discovered, it is clear that our knowledge of species spatial patterns is insufficient to properly inform marine spatial planning, and for complex habitats, high-resolution surveys are crucial for understanding species-environment relationships. This thesis examined two deep-sea areas of the NE Atlantic, Rockall Bank and Whittard Canyon. By linking acoustic maps to benthic imagery datasets, environmental variables describing the spatial arrangement of different substratum types and topographic variability were found to be good predictors of species composition and biodiversity. Employing an ensemble of statistical techniques provided a more robust approach for the creation of biological full-coverage predictive maps and allowed for the identification of areas with high biodiversity. With these maps, it was possible to demonstrate that biological spatial patterns in Whittard Canyon required mapping resolutions of 20-50m while the more heterogeneous Rockall Bank area needed to be mapped at <5m. The continued sparse availability of biological datasets in the deep-sea remains a significant limiting factor in informing conservation needs, but the work carried out shows improvements over previous approaches, and can be applied to identify biodiversity hotpots and assess habitat suitability for vulnerable marine ecosystems, such as cold-water corals. Through such hierarchical multi-disciplinary studies, the currently available biological information can be employed to increase our understanding of the relationships between habitat heterogeneity and biodiversity as well as help establish the baseline state of these ecosystems in order to effectively monitor potential impacts.

The ecological interrelationships between the habitat composition, habitat quality and abundance of three wild ungulate species, viz. Chital (Axis axis), Sambar (Cervus unicolor) and Nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) were investigated in three National Parks in India. The study sites differ in the structure and composition of the habitat and also occur along a rainfall gradient. The study incorporates a new approach of using forest compartments for gathering baseline ecological data. The significance of these compartments in serving as ecological bench-marks for monitoring habitat condition has been demonstrated. Toe-point transect, a modification of the point-intercept method has been extensively used to obtain rapid, reliable but coarse ecological data on ground and aerial cover and the results obtained are compared with those from the visual estimation method. Motorcycle and foot-based line transects have been used to obtain data on animal abundance. The significance of the results indicating that motorcycle transects are an efficient and reliable means of estimating the abundance of Chital and Nilgai, while foot transects provide more reliable estimates of Sambar abundance is discussed. Data on 22 habitat variables were gathered in the summer and winter seasons from all the study sites and were statistically analysed using Generalized Linear Interactive Modelling (GLIM) procedures. The habitat requirements of the three ungulate species have been determined, which enhance our understanding of the complex herbivore-habitat relationships. Analyses of habitat selection, central to the understanding of animal ecology, has been done to understand the mechanisms which permit species to co-exist. The results indicate that the three species are ecologically separated and that resource partitioning is achieved primarily by habitat partitioning. Sambar, a forest ungulate, largely occurs in the forest-woodland habitats; Chital, a species of the habitat 'edge', occurs in the woodland-grassland habitats while Nilgai prefers the miscellaneousopen and grassland habitats. The three ungulate species together contribute more than 78% to the total wild ungulate biomass. This is presumably because these species are by nature generalist and are able to exploit the unpredictable resources more efficiently than specialist species. The differential biomass/rainfall relationships of three species observed in the study have been explained on the basis of habitat requirements and feeding strategies adopted by these species. The ecological biogeography of the three ungulate species has been discussed and their ecological equivalents in Africa have been examined. The significance of above in enhancing our understanding of evolutionary biology is discussed. The study has shown that habitat composition is an all-important factor in large herbivore biology and that animal density may be used as an indicator of habitat quality.

The first observations of Florida burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia floridana) occurred in the 19th century on historical dry prairie habitat in south central Florida. These early observations documented the ecology of burrowing owls in rural environments. Since then the vast majority of research on this subspecies has been undertaken in suburban and urban environments during the breeding period. The research undertaken on burrowing owls in suburban and urban environments includes determining natal dispersal distance, assessing female fecundity, mate fidelity, territory fidelity, date of juvenile and adult dispersal from breeding habitat, date of clutch initiation, nesting success, density of breeding pairs, causes of mortality, prey preference, and minimum annual survival of fledglings, juveniles, and adults. Very little research has been undertaken on burrowing owls in rural environments. The purpose of this thesis was to elucidate the behavior and ecology of burrowing owls in a rural environment. The topics researched in this thesis include home range in breeding habitat, dispersal distance to post-breeding habitat, location of post-breeding habitat, behavior during the breeding period, diet of rural versus urban owls, and the evaluation of three methods to trap burrowing owls. The results of this thesis indicate that, during the daytime, juvenile burrowing owls utilized habitat very close to the main and satellite burrows during the breeding period. At night juvenile owls foraged in an extensive saw palmetto patch surrounding the breeding habitat. The predominant prey of both rural and urban burrowing owls during the breeding period was insects. Dispersal of juvenile burrowing owls from breeding habitat coincided with the flooding of the breeding habitat during the rainy season.

Död ved är mycket viktigt för skogens ekosystem. Minskningen av död ved i dagens produktionsskogar har skapat ett stort problem för flertalet vedlevande arter. Denna studie gjordes för att ge en ökad kunskap om vilka faktorer som spelar in när det gäller förekomst och utbredning av de två vedlevande arterna Anastrophyllum hellerianum och Dicranum flagellare. Täckningsgraden av de två arterna undersöktes på lågor, tillsammans med faktorerna: art, diameter, nedbrytningsgrad, antal lågor i närheten, solexponering, markkontakt och fuktighet i mark. Tre typer av skogar inventerades. Studien visade att diameter/tillgänglig area, nedbrytningsgrad och solexponering var de viktigaste faktorerna som påverkade förekomst och utbredning av de två undersökta arterna. Utbredningen och sannolikheten för förekomst av arterna ökade med en ökad diameter samt med mer nedbrutna lågor, men minskade med ökad solexponering. Studien visade även att A. hellerianum föredrog lågor av nedbrytningsklass 5. Fördelningen av nedbruten ved var väldigt olika i de tre undersökta skogarna. I den urskogsartade skogen fanns stor volym död ved och många lågor av olika diameter och nedbrytningsklass. I produktionsskogen fanns endast ett fåtal lågor, varav ingen av större diameter och de flesta i tidigare nedbrytningsstadier. En slutsats av studien var att mängden död ved i brukade skogar verkar vara för liten för de båda undersökta arterna. Därför krävs en större mängd död ved i brukade skogar alternativt tillräckligt stor areal skyddad skog i landskapet för att långsiktligt bevara dessa arter.
Dead wood is a very important element of forest ecosystems. The reduction of dead wood in production forests has created major problems for several dead wood dependent species. This study was made to provide a better understanding of the factors that affect presence and coverage area of the two dead wood dependent species Anastrophyllum hellerianum and Dicranum flagellare. The coverage area of these species on logs was examined in relation to the factors: species of the log, diameter, length, degree of decomposition, number of logs close to the one examined, sun exposure, ground contact and soil moisture. The key finding of the study was that diameter/available area, degree of decomposition and sun exposure was the most important factors that affected the two species. The coverage area and the probability of presence of the species increased with increased log diameter and extent of decomposition, but decreased with sun exposure. Other findings were that A. hellerianum preferred logs of decomposition stage 5. The distribution of decayed wood differed greatly in the studied forests. In the primeval forest there were many logs, of many different diameters and decay stages. In the production forest there were only a few logs, none of larger diameters and most of them less decayed. As a conclusion the amount of dead wood in production forests seem too small for the two studied species to occur. Therefore, a larger amount of dead wood in production forests or sufficiently large areas of protected forests are needed to preserve these species.