Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'North western NSW'

Five species of stoneflies (Zapada haysi, Plumiperla diversa, Taenionema pacificum, Isoperla petersoni, Arcynopteryx compacta) from the North Slope and Interior of Alaska were examined for seasonal patterns of emergence of adults and growth of nymphs. Generally growth was retarded during the winter in this region, and all species except I. petersoni completed growth prior to January. The life cycles of six stonefly species (Prostoia besametsa, Triznaka signata, Sweltsa coloradensis. Isoperla fulva, Skwala parallela, Claassenia sabulosa) are described from northern New Mexico. In this region growth was generally less retarded during the winter than in Alaska; P. besametsa completed all nymphal growth during late fall and winter. Drumming behavior of a Colorado population of Pteronarcella badia was described using an evolutionary framework to explain the maintenance of signal variation in this species. Laboratory experiments were used to explore the effect of intraspecific and interspecific interactions on spatial partitioning in P. badia and Claassenia sabulosa. P. badia exhibited clumping and distributed itself as the surface area of substrate in low densities; however, in the presence of C. sabulosa its distribution was random and different from available surface area. A field study was used to examine spatial partitioning by three New Mexico stonefly species (I_. fulva, P. besametsa, T. signata) and to ascertain patterns of microdistribution relating to several abiotic and biotic factors. Generally, there was an interaction of the measured abiotic parameters (current, water temperature, time) with nymphal size. Additionally, void space and sample volume were successfully used to compare biotic densities among leaf and mineral substrates, which were higher in leaf packs than in mineral substrates.

This thesis examines the response to P fertiliser by wheat crops growing in the vertosol soils of the low rainfall areas of the northern grain zone of eastern Australia. Farmers in this region depend on water accumulated from rainfall over a fallow period and stored in the subsoil to increase wheat grain yield beyond that normally achievable from in-crop rainfall and to decrease the production risks due to rainfall variability. The large variability in stored water, seasonal rainfall and subsoil properties result in extremely varied yield and yield responses to P fertiliser between seasons and between sites. Finally, as a practical guide to predicting wheat response to P fertilizer: 1/. current sampling strategies of determining P only in the surface 10 cm appear to be adequate for soils with bicarbonate P concentrations greater than 15 mg/kg. 2/. For soils with lower concentrations in the surface, sampling of 80 cm is recommended. Crops with a mean concentration of bicarbonate P greater than 7 mg/kg between 10 - 80 cm are unlikely to respond to P fertiliser. 3/. No increase in profitable grain yield response was found for fertiliser applications greater than 10 kg P/ha.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Anthropogenic soil salinity caused by produced water (i.e., brine) contamination is an issue in all oil and gas producing regions. The objectives of this research are to develop soil electrical conductivity (EC) conversion equations for rapid site assessment of brine spills and to determine the efficacy of crystallization inhibitors as an in-situ remediation method. Conversion equations were developed for soil-to-water suspensions and saturated paste extracts (ECe) on brine-contaminated soils. These new equations provided the best prediction of ECe when compared to 14 other equations reported in the literature. A crystallization inhibitor (C18Fe7N18) applied to NaCl-contaminated soils using various concentrations and methods of application yielded dendritic salt crystals above the soil surface. On average, between 0.29 and 0.57 g g-1 of NaCl salts effloresced when surface applying a 0.01M concentration of the crystallization inhibitor. Results from these studies will guide consultants and researchers in the assessment and remediation of brine-contaminated soils.

This study examines the influence of various Western mystical traditions on Leonard Cohen’s second novel, Beautiful Losers. It begins with a discussion of Cohen’s public remarks concerning religion and mysticism followed by an assessment of twentieth century Canadian criticism on Beautiful Losers. Three thematic chapters comprise the majority of the study, each concerning a different mystical tradition—Kabbalism, Gnosticism, and Christian mysticism, respectively. The author considers Beautiful Losers in relation to these systems, concluding that the novel effectively depicts the pursuit of God, or knowledge, through mystic practice and doctrine. This study will interest scholars seeking a careful exploration of Cohen’s use of religious themes in his work.

Along the western margin of the Culverden Basin, North Canterbury, on the SE edge of the New Zealand plate boundary zone, deformation in Late Cretaceous and younger cover rocks has produced synchronous faulting and folding about orthogonal NNE-NE and WNW-NW orientations that are younger than early Pleistocene. The folds in the cover sequence are asymmetric, steeply inclined, gently plunging structures that are parallel to the major faults. Non-classical irregular basin and dome interference patterns are defined by prominent marker horizons, and triangular, corrugated hose and irregular T-shaped fold surface geometries (defined by structure contours) are common. The main folds, which vary in shape along their hinge line, have secondary folds developed at various angles to their axial trace. The major NNE-NE trending folds are characterised by composite conical geometries and are defined by several distinct cone segments. Folding in the cover rocks has developed in response to both fault propagation and displacement in the basement, and to shortening within the fault bounded blocks. The axial surfaces of the folds that parallel the faults are truncated by the propagating faults. Fault-related folds have half wavelengths of 1.5-5km and amplitudes of 0.5-2.4km whilst folding within the fault bounded blocks have dimensions of 0.5-1.5km and 0.2-0.6km respectively. Meso scale faults, joints, calcite veins, fractures and pressure solution seams indicate two phases of post Late Cretaceous deformation: 1) a weak late Oligocene event related to the beginning of plate boundary inception, and 2) a post Pliocene phase related to widening of the plate boundary deformation during the last 2-3ma. Analysis of fault and slickenside striation data suggests faulting is dominated by oblique-reverse faults and thrusts, which verge NW, SE and SW. Locally the stress and strain directions are variable but generally imply a predominant NW-SE compression comparable to local geodetic shortening and focal mechanism compression directions. Principal incremental shortening axes and stress tensors suggest the shortening and compression directions plunge gently to horizontally NW-SE but can switch with the intermediate stress to NE-SW. Movement planes tend to be less conclusive, often showing girdle distributions of M-plane intersections. Interspersed with the regional contractional faulting are local areas of oblique-normal NNE and normal faults indicating strain partitioning. Late Holocene terraces incised into older Pleistocene aggradation gravels are dated by weathering rinds and document deformation. Two seismically triggered landslides and a ground rupture event of the Balmoral Fault appear to have occurred during the same seismic event, approximately 1700 years B.P. A magnitude 6.5+ event necessary to produce ground rupture and the landslides would cause both local, and possibly regional, destruction. The main contractional deformation along the western margin of the Culverden Basin, commonly associated with thrusting to the southeast is atypical of North Canterbury structure, is distinct from the right-lateral tectonics of Marlborough and marks a transition between the inner and outer plate boundary zones and subduction related tectonics.

Batoid fishes are among the most threatened and least understood chondrichthyan species worldwide due to their large body size, conservative life-history characteristics, and predominantly coastal distributions where fishing and habitat degradation threaten the stability of populations. A lack of empirical life history data is widespread across batoid taxa — nearly half of all species are considered data deficient, thus hindering species assessments and the development of effective management strategies. Furthermore, many batoid taxa are in need of taxonomic re-examination. Increasing our understanding of life history traits that determine population productivity, such as age and size at maturity, growth rate, and fecundity is prerequisite to examining the potential for populations to increase or stabilize in response to fishing mortality. The Butterfly Rays (Myliobatiformes: Gymnuridae) are comprised of 10 globally distributed species that inhabit shallow coastal regions and are commonly caught in benthic fishing gears targeting commercially valuable species. Two species are recognized in the western Atlantic: the Spiny Butterfly ray, Gymnura altavela (Linnaeus 1758), and the Smooth Butterfly Ray, G. micrura (Bloch & Schneider 1801). Previous life history studies on U.S. Butterfly Rays were often spatially and temporally limited, which may bias conclusions due to underrepresentation of some life stages, and lead to inaccurate biological characterizations. Furthermore, sexual dimorphism and ontogenetic variability in body shape, and inter- and intraspecific inconsistencies in taxonomic characters (e.g., disk coloration, tail banding patterns) have contributed to substantial taxonomic confusion in the Gymnuridae. To address knowledge gaps in the life history and taxonomy of western Atlantic Butterfly Rays, this dissertation describes the age and growth of G. altavela, the reproductive biology of G. altavela and G. micrura, and the taxonomic status of G. micrura. The largest male and female G. altavela were estimated to be 11 and 18 yrs old, respectively. Disk width at maturity was 1278 mm and 946 mm for male and female G. altavela, respectively, and was significantly greater in Atlantic G. micrura (male: 390 mm; female: 551 mm) than Gulf of Mexico G. micrura (male: 298 mm; female: 448 mm). Maximum fecundity was seven in G. altavela, and ranged from six to 12 in G. micrura from the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, respectively. Based on geographical variation in life history parameters, morphology, and genetics, a re-description and proposed neotype for G. micrura is presented, and two new species and holotypes are described from the Atlantic (Gymnura n. sp. A) and Gulf of Mexico (Gymnura n. sp. B). In U.S. waters, Gymnura n. sp. A may be more vulnerable than Gymnura n. sp. B to indirect fishing mortality due to its larger size, potential later age at sexual maturity, and lower fecundity, since the probability of an individual encountering fishing gear before successfully reproducing is likely greater. This disseratation provides empirical support for the conservation and sustainable management of Atlantic Butterfly Rays. Careful consideration of species-specific taxonomy and biology is required to accurately assess the vulnerability of contemporary populations to extinction risk, and to document and maintain the true biodiversity of this taxon.

New Zealand was colonised by the German wasp, Vespula germanica (F.) in the 1940s and it became established throughout the country, The common wasp, V. vulgaris (L) colonised in the late 1970s and is still expanding its range. Wasps are now common in honeydew beech forests of the South Island and can reach high densities. The behaviour and ecology of V. vulgaris and V. germanica were studied from 1988 to 1991 to investigate competitive interactions in honeydew beech forests of the north-western South Island. v: germanica disappeared from areas of honeydew beech forest within 3-5 years of the first arrival of v: vulgaris and has not returned to them. A change in the relative abundance of the two species occurred in spring following the arrival of V. vulgaris, and was consistent with the predictions of Archer's (1985) model of wasp population fluctuation. In north-western South Island honeydew beech forests where both species occur, the more abundant species dominates honeydew trunks. Aggressive interactions may take place on this high quality, potentially defensible sugar resource. The two wasp species show different foraging patterns that provide the potential for local coexistence. Although both are generalist feeders, v: germanica is more commonly found foraging for protein amongst the forest litter, whereas v: vulgaris forages more on shrubs and tree saplings. Approximately 15% of foragers returning to sampled nests carried animal prey. The proportion of protein in the diets of wasps decreased sharply after rain. V. germanica collected more Orthoptera and large Hymenoptera, whereas V. VUlgaris collected more Hemiptera and Lepidoptera. An estimated 0.8 and 4.8 million prey loads, or 1.4 and 8.1 kg per hectare per year was taken into nests in western and northern South Island honeydew beech forests, respectively. Wasp foraging and rainfall reduced the honeydew standing crop. As standing crop decreased, more wasps occurred on honeydew trees, they became less active, spent more time lapping the tree surface, and fed at a slower rate. v: vulgaris was more active and fed more efficiently than v: germanica. Variation in queen size was found between wasp colonies and sites. Small queens were present in juvenile queen populations but were under represented in the reproductive population suggesting that small queens have a lower probability of survival. A conceptual model of population regulation and species replacement involving an overcompensating control mechanism is presented. Variation in queen quality is a consequence of differential larval nutrition in autumn when the food resource fluctuates with changes in wasp density and environmental conditions. The competitive advantage that V. vulgaris has in harvesting honeydew means that foragers spend less time obtaining carbohydrate and more time meeting larval food demands. This increases the relative fitness of V. vulgaris queens, and results in V. vulgaris densities increasing relative to those of V. gennanica. Eventually, V. gennanica is eliminated from patches of honeydew beech forest.

The air campaign conducted by the RAAF in the North-Western Area during the Second World War has been largely ignored by historians yet it contributed significantly to the outcome of the Pacific war. This thesis sets out to discuss the campaign by considering various factors that impacted on the RAAF in the lead up to and during the course of the Pacific war and their relevance to the campaign. It looks at the way air operations were conducted in the North-Western Area between 1942 and 1945 and describes the role played by the flying squadrons based in the area. Using primary sources such as operational record books, documents and files at archives and libraries and interviews with veterans and experts the thesis found that the campaign was conducted in several phases. It started with the defence of Darwin. In keeping with overall allied strategy the RAAF then went on an offensive into what was then the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) using medium and heavy bombers and mine laying sea planes flying from bases in Australia???s north west. The NEI was vital to the Japanese war effort as a source of essential raw materials such as oil, timber, and rubber. To defend this part of their new empire the Japanese had amassed large military garrisons on the islands. The vessels used to transport troops and materials became the most important targets for the RAAF???s bomber squadrons. As General MacArthur???s forces advanced along the north coast of New Guinea the North-Western Area based units conducted raids into the NEI to deceive the Japanese into thinking an invasion would be launched from Darwin. As the New Guinea campaign gained momentum the RAAF???s task was to protect its western flank, to prevent the Japanese from moving troops and aircraft east to the Philippines. The thesis concludes the campaign was successful because Darwin was defended, it denied the Japanese vital materials for the conduct of the war and it kept hundreds of aircraft and tens of thousands of troops away from the allied advance.

Durante as décadas de 1980 e 1990, a Western History, campo de estudos que se dedica à história do Oeste norte-americano, enfrentou uma tormenta intelectual de proporções pouco vistas antes em suas searas. O motivo para tal inquietação foi o surgimento da assim chamada “New Western History”, movimento que tinha por principal meta reescrever a história regional a partir de uma completa reestruturação de suas bases intelectuais, para tentar salvar o campo de uma suposta crise de identidade surgida ainda nos anos 1960. Neste caso, o principal alvo destes revisionistas foi a antiga historiografia constituída à imagem das teses de Frederick Jackson Turner sobre a fronteira norteamericana. Aqui, a idéia era substituir uma narrativa histórica considerada excessivamente otimista por uma que realçasse os aspectos trágicos do avanço norte-americano em direção ao Pacífico. Esta tentativa, contudo, de se escrever uma história trágica encontrou forte oposição não só entre segmentos da historiografia profissional, mas também entre elementos da opinião pública, num debate que tinha mais a ver com a própria identidade dos Estados Unidos do que com questões meramente historiográficas.
During the 1980s and 1990s, the Western History, field of studies dedicated to the the history of the American West, went through a intellectual storm of proportions seldom seen before in its midst. The motive for such unrest was the arrival of the so-called “New Western History”, a movement whose main aim was the rewriting of the history of the West from the standpoint of a total reestructuring of the field’s intellectual foundations, in an attempt to save it from a crisis of identity that emerged still in the 1960s. In this case, the revisionists’ main target was the old historiography constituted in the image of Frederick Jackson Turner’s theses about the American frontier. Here, the idea was to substitute a historical narrative considered to be excessively optimistic for one that highlighted the tragic aspects of the American advance to the Pacific. However, this attempt to write a tragic history was met with a fierce opposition not only from segments of the professional historiography, but also from the public opinion itself, in a debate that had more to do with the very identity of the US and less with “mere” historiographical questions.

Waterfowl are known to be capable of influencing wetland ecology in a number of ways, sometimes to the detriment of other species that also inhabit this type of environment. Western Golden Bay including Farewell Spit is one of the largest areas of intertidal sand flat habitat in New Zealand and supports a wide array of species including internationally important populations of bar-tailed godwits (Limosa lapponica) and red knot (Calidris canutus). These species, particularly red knot, have declined in number over the last the 25 years at this site. Another numerous species at this site, the black swan (Cygnus atratus), has been suggested as a possible contributor to the observed decline in wader numbers through their impact on the habitat. This thesis presents the findings of a research project on the role of black swans in the tidal seagrass (Zostera muelleri) ecosystem in western Golden Bay carried out between October 2007 and October 2008. In an effort create a clear picture of what role the black swans play in this environment the project focused on four major aspects of swan-ecosystem interactions. The first of these looked at the activity patterns of black swan. This showed the swans’ activity is largely dictated by the tidal cycle with foraging occurring during the intertidal period when the seagrass is accessible while roosting is mostly confined to around high and low tides. The second part of the project explored the influence black swans have on the tidal seagrass landscape through their foraging habits. This showed that while swan foraging occurs across the tide flats it is concentrated on denser patches, on both small (meters) and large (hectares) scales. Experimental grubbings showed that the grubbing activity of swans is capable of forming and expanding bare sand patches within seagrass beds and that these bare patches can persist for at least two months. The third part of the project focused on the direct impacts of swan foraging on the seagrass and associated benthic invertebrates. Exclusion plots showed that at some sites swan foraging can significantly reduce Zostera biomass and invertebrate biodiversity. The final aspect examined was the role of swan in biomass and nutrient cycling. A faecal deposition survey showed swans consume 23.40 g DW ha-1 day-1 of Zostera. The average intake rate was 27.25 g DW ha-1 day-1. Nutrient analysis of seagrass 4 showed that shoot material has significantly higher N, P, Ca and fibre than rhizome and that rhizome has significantly more soluble carbohydrates than shoots. On the basis of the swans’ direct and/or indirect influences on Zostera muelleri beds and the associated invertebrate fauna, swans could arguably be considered to be a major ecosystem engineer in the intertidal sandflats of Golden Bay.

Le but de cette étude est de retracer l’évolution de l’hydrologie dans la partie occidentale de l’Océan Pacifique subtropical en utilisant le proxy εNd analysé sur les foraminifères et sur les oxydes de ferromanganèse authigéniques dans les sédiments. Ceux-ci proviennent de carottes sédimentaires prélevées au nord de la Mer de Chine du Sud (MCS). Avant d’utiliser l’εNd dans les sédiments profonds de la MCS, 16 profils d’eau de mer, collectés au nord de la MCS et dans le Mer des Philippines, ont été analysés afin d’établir la distribution d’εNd des masses d’eau dans l’ouest du Pacifique tropical et dans la MCS, qui jusqu’à aujourd’hui n’était pas documentée. Les valeurs d’εNd des masses d’eau profondes et intermédiaires varient de -2,7 à -4,4 et augmentent légèrement avec la profondeur. Dans la mer des Philippines, les valeurs d’εNd de l’eau intermédiaire du Pacifique Nord (North Pacific Intermediate Water, NPIW) atteint -2.7±0.4 à moyenne profondeur (500 à 1400m). En-dessous de de 1800m, l’eau profonde Pacifique (Pacific Deep Water, PDW) est caractérisée par du Nd moins radiogénique (-4.1±0.5), indiquant l’intrusion de masses d’eau australes. Pour la plupart des stations du nord de la MCS, les masses d’eau en-dessous de 1500m (PDW) affichent des valeurs d’εNd homogènes (~ -4.1), similaires à celles de la PDW dans la Mer des Philippines. Les valeurs d'εNd pour l'eau intermédiaire de la mer de Chine du Sud (South China Sea Intermediate Water, SCSIW, 500-1500m) varient entre -3.0 et -3.9 dû au mélange vertical de la NPIW avec la PDW. Les valeurs d'εNd de l'eau de mer dans la MCS (-5.3 à -7.0) affichent des modifications locales dans des zones où l'eau s'écoule au-dessus de systèmes de dépôt sédimentaire. Ceci implique que "l'échange à la marge" avec des sédiments non radiogéniques (autour de -11) peut se produire dans le temps et dans l'espace sans modifier la composition isotopique du Nd de la PDW dans le Nord de la MCS. Dans un second temps, l’εNd extrait des foraminifères planctoniques G. ruber a été étudié sur la carotte MD05-2904, collectée à 2000m de profondeur sur la marge nord-ouest de la MCS. Cette étude a été conduite dans le but de retracer les variations hydrologiques depuis le Dernier Maximum Glaciaire (DMG) dans la partie occidentale du Pacifique Nord subtropical. Les enregistrements d'εNd ainsi obtenus couvrent les derniers 25 000 ans. Ils affichent une large gamme de valeurs de -4±0.2 à -6.7±0.3, suggérant d'importants changements dans la contribution de la NPDW (εNd=-4) et de la UCDW (Upper circumpolar Deep Water, εNd -6 to -8) dans la zone étudiée. Durant la déglaciation, les enregistrements d'εNd indiquent une diminution des excursions négatives de l'εNd impliquant une plus forte proportion de SSW (Southern-sourced Water) entre 17 et 15 ka BP ainsi qu'entre 10 et 8 ka BP. Ces intervalles de temps sont contemporains de l’évènement Heinrich 1 (HS1) et de l’Holocène inférieur. Les shifts négatifs centrés sur le HS1 coïncident avec un phénomène d'upwelling renforcé dans l'océan austral, associé à un déplacement vers le pôle des vents d'ouest. Ceci implique une augmentation de la formation de la SSW qui se propage dans l'Ouest du Pacifique subtropical. L'excursion négative de l'εNd durant l’Holocène inferieur (~10-8 cal ka BP) indique une plus grande proportion de SSW qui pourrait être associée avec une plus forte production de SSW, comme observé récemment dans l'atlantique Sud, et/ou avec une possible réduction de la NPIW. Nos données suggèrent que le schéma de circulation actuel dans la partie occidental du Pacifique subtropical s'est mis en place il y a 4600 ans
The aim of this study is to reconstruct the evolution of the hydrology of the western subtropical North Pacific Ocean by using εNd proxy analysed on foraminifera and dispersed authigenic ferromanganese oxide precipitates in sediments from deep-sea cores collected in the northern SCS. Before using the εNd proxy on deep sea sediments of the SCS, Nd of 16 seawater profiles collected in the northern South China Sea (SCS) and the Philippine Sea were investigated to establish the εNd distribution of water masses along the tropical western Pacific and the SCS that, until now have not been documented. εNd values for mid- and deep-water masses of the Philippine Sea and the SCS range from -2.7 to -4.4 and generally increase slightly with water depth. In the Philippine Sea, εNd values for the North Pacific Intermediate Water (NPIW) reach- 2.7±0.4 at mid-depths (500 to 1400 m). Below ~1800 m, the Pacific Deep Water (PDW) is characterized by less radiogenic Nd (-4.1±0.5) indicating the instrusion of southern sourced water masses. For most of the stations in the Northern SCS, water masses below 1500m (PDW) display homogenous εNd values (~ -4.1) similar to those of the PDW in the Philippine Sea. εNd values for the South China Sea Intermediate Water (SCSIW, 500-1500m) vary from -3.0 to -3.9 as a result of the vertical mixing of the NPIW with the PDW in the SCS. Seawater εNd values for the SCS (~5.3 to -7.0) display local modification in areas where the water lies above sediment drift deposit systems. This implies that “boundary exchange” with unradiogenic sediments (around~11) may occur temporally and spatially and does not modify he Nd isotopic composition of the PDW in the Northern SCS. In a second step, seawater εNd extracted from cleaned planktonic foraminifera G. ruber has been investigated on core MD05-2904, collected at a deph of 2000m on the north-western margin of the SCS. This study was undertaken in order to reconstruct hydrological variations since the LGM in the western subtropical North Pacific. The εNd records obtained from foraminifera spanning the past 25kyr. Display a wide range of values, ranging from -4±0.2 to -6.7±0.3, suggesting important changes in the contribution of the NPDW (εNd=-4) and the UCDW (εNd -6 to -8) in the subtropical western Pacific. During the period of deglaciation, εNd records indicate a relative decrease in the negative excursions of the εNd implying a higher proportion of SSW during the time intervals 17-15 cal kyr BP and 10-8 cal kyr BP; these intervals are coeval with the HS1 and early Holocene. The negative shifts centered on the HS1coincide with an enhanced upwelling in the Southern Ocean, associated with a polewards shift of the southern westerlies, inducing an enhanced formation of the SSW that propagates to the subtropical western Pacific. The negative excursion of the εNd during the Early Holocene (~10-8 cal kyr BP) indicates a higher relative proportion of SSW that could be associate with higher production of the SSW, as has been recently observed in the South Atlantic, and/or with a possible reduction of the NPIW. Our data suggest that the present modern circulation pattern in the western subtropical Pacific Ocean was fully established after 4.6 cal kyr BP

Aboriginal people are over represented in prison in Australia, being 13 times more likely to be incarcerated than non-Indigenous people. Repeat offenders make up a high proportion of the Aboriginal prison population, yet most repeat offenders eventually cease offending or desist from crime. Why do they stop? The process of desistance is complex, non-linear and varies between individuals. North American and British studies report the role of structure and, more latterly, cognition and agency in desistance and re-formation of offender identities. Few of these studies examine the context, particularly the cultural context, of desisters and desistance. This thesis uses anthropological and ethnographic approaches to present and analyse the life narratives of Aboriginal men from north-western New South Wales who have been repeat offenders and are now ‘going good’ (i.e. have ceased offending). Concepts of agency (and its temporal orientations), cultural schemas and figured worlds are applied. The stories of the early lives of participants and the views of community members paint the backdrop of offence, desistance, identity formation and re-formation. The agentic role of the motivating cultural schemas of fatherhood, life partnership, committed kin and respected man are found to operate in the initiation of desistance as men consider ontological security and extricate themselves from the figured world of repeat offender. The interplay of contingency and capacity is critical in the maintenance of desistance, with shortfalls in the individual’s capacity sometimes being bolstered by spousal and family support. The thesis examines the role and interaction of Aboriginal and offender identity in desistance and maps the repeated expression of the underlying value of ‘looking after’ family and kin, and in this context the role of post-release occupation in desistance is critically examined. Continuity of aspects of identity are discovered to be critical in achieving desistance and paradoxically, achieving continuity often involves innovation in relationships with kin and/or in expression of the moral value of ‘looking after’ or ‘caring for’ (kin).

Conceptualizations of actual biological patterns as preserved in the fossil record must accommodate the results of biotic and abiotic drivers of faunal dynamics. However, those conceptualizations also may reflect cognitive biases resulting from foundational philosophical stances. Whether fossils are conceptualized as the remains of biological entities or as geological objects will affect both taxonomic identifications and secondary inferences derived from those identifications. In addition, operational research bias centered on relativistic views of ‘importance’ of particular components (i.e., taxonomic or skeletal region) of the assemblage results in preferential documentation of some taxa and marginalization of others. I explored the consequences of those specific cognitive and operational biases through examination of Triassic and Eocene faunal assemblages in western North America. For the Triassic I focused on taxonomic and systematic treatments of Paleorhinus, a group of phytosaurs important for the establishment of biochronologic correlations. Specimen-level reexamination of Paleorhinus supported a restricted usage of Paleorhinus as a clade, dissolved a biochronologic connection between terrestrial and marine deposits, and indicated a prior compression of the early part of the Late Triassic as a result of previous conceptualizations of species. I reexamined the Otis Chalk tetrapod assemblage in light of new specimens and modern phylogenetic frameworks. My examination supported a restricted usage of the Otischalkian for biochronologic correlation of the Late Triassic, and emphasized the importance of apomorphic character-based specimen examinations in conjunction with detailed lithostratigraphy prior to the development of biochronologic schema. For the Eocene I focused on undocumented terrestrial reptiles from the late Uintan fauna of West Texas. Specifically I discovered new taxa and new geographic occurrences of amphisbaenians and caimanine crocodylians. The amphisbaenians represent the southernmost record of the clade in the North American Paleogene, and, when combined with other amphisbaenian records, document that the clade responded to late Paleogene climatic changes in ways different from the inferred mammalian response. The new taxon of caimanine crocodylian represents a new geographic and temporal record of that clade. That new record indicates that the biogeographic range of extant caimans represents a climate-driven restriction from a formerly more expansive range, and suggests that the previous geographic and temporal gap in paleodistribution data is related to sampling biases and is not a solely a biological phenomenon. These data indicate that reliable characterization of vertebrate faunal dynamics requires open acknowledgment and appropriate documentation of cognitive and operational biases that affect interpretations of paleontological data.
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The thesis analyses post-colonial relations between Aborigines and Europeans in a remote region of Australia - the Kimberley division in the north of Western Australia. Post-colonial relationships stem from the political and economic enfranchisement of Western Australian Aborigines consequent on a series of legislative changes, and changed material relationships, from about 1963. Post-colonial relations are conceived of as occurring between cultural systems. The thesis initially describes traditional Aboriginal culture and the early period of colonisation. Post­ colonial developments then analysed are: the use of language in the formation of a regional Aboriginal identity in distinction to that of white Australians; the special role of mixed-descent Aborigines in the north; the creation of Aboriginal post-colonial communities; the dynamics of servicing and administering these communities; and finally in the last two chapters the emerging instruments of Aboriginal post-colonial self-government. The central tenet of the thesis is that two differently ordered structured socio-cultural systems exist side by side in the remote regions of Australia. The two systems absorb and transform each other’s products without themselves merging. Even in the post­ colonial era the points at which the two systems intersect are still few and restricted. This thesis is an analysis of these points of intersection. They occur within, and create, a middle ground in which institutions are functionally polyvalent and their processes inherently ambiguous.

This study focused on the interactions between small skinks and their major predators/competitors (birds) and prey (arthropods) in core and edge areas of small, long established remnant Cumberland Plain woodlands of Richmond, New South Wales, Australia. Eight study sites were selected (4 edge and 4 core) within the peri-urban environment to compare the abundance and diversity of small skinks, birds and arthropods. Of the three taxa, only arthropods maintained a similar abundance and diversity between edge and core areas. Birds and skinks were either in lower numbers in the perimeter areas (skinks), or were interior/perimeter specialists (birds). Arthropod diversity and abundance of preferred skink prey, was also examined. It was concluded that the distribution of arthropod prey was similar between core and edge areas, and therefore, was not considered to have an influence on small skinks’ ability to inhabit edges. However, large, aggressive/noisy birds (including skink and small bird predators) dominated edge areas. Those birds encountered in the edge foraged in a variety of niches, such as on the ground or they swooped from vantage points. This, coupled with other anti competitor behaviour (e.g. noise, aggression, flocking), placed these birds in proximity to skinks in the edge areas. However, as most of these birds were also predators of skinks, it was concluded that the evidence supported a predator/prey relationship in the perimeter area, rather than a competitive one. This was supported by predation rates on skinks, using decoys. Birds preyed on small skink in greater numbers in the perimeter of woodland remnants than in their interior. This predation pressure was sustained throughout the year. It was concluded that predation and/or displacement of skinks and small birds resulted in lower numbers being observed in edge compared to core areas. This study demonstrated that old, small remnants not continually exposed to major disturbances (e.g. logging, agricultural practices) can re-establish stability in terms of environmental conditions. However, a stable environment or a single taxonomic group does not necessarily predict the response individual taxa will have to edge habitats and that this can alter the interactions between dependent groups such as prey/predator or competitors. .
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

碩士
輔仁大學
餐旅管理學系碩士班
97
The purpose of this study is mainly explored the factors of new product development for the western Fast-food restaurant. We focused on understand the discrepancy in the importances about the factors of new product development between consumers’ demography, lifestyle and buying behavior. Fanilly, we also analyzed the relationships between consumers’ lifestyle, the factors of new product development and consumer buying behavior. The questionnaires are used to investigate the primary data about consumers’ demography, lifestyle, buying behavior and the viewpoint of new product development. We send 700 questionnaires and collected 548 valid questionnaires totally. The return rate of valid questionnaires is 70.65%. Hypotheses are confirmed in the statistical techniques including t test, oneway ANOVA, reliability analysis, correction analysis and multiple regression analysis. There are four major results in the study: 1. The factors of new product development could separate into six groups through the result of factor analysis. They are “product value”, “consumer demand”. “sales promotion”, “perceived quality”, “product form” and “product innovation”. 2. The demography of consumers had some significant discrepancy in the importances about the factors of new product development, and consumer buying behavior. 3. There are some significant influence mutually on consumers’ lifestyle, the factors of new product development and consumer buying behavior. 4. We suggested the western fast-food restaurant that strengthen on “product innovation”, “product quality”, “product value”, “brand perception”. “informational communication” and “sales promotion” for new product development.

Structural analysis, interpretation of seismic reflection lines, and apatite fission-track analysis in the Western Serrania del Interior fold and thrust belt and in the Guarico basin of north-central Venezuela indicate that the area underwent Mesozoic and Tertiary-to-Recent deformation. Mesozoic deformation, related to the breakup of Pangea, resulted in the formation of the Espino graben in the southernmost portion of the Guarico basin and in the formation of the Proto-Caribbean lithosphere between the diverging North and South American plates. The northern margin of Venezuela became a northward facing passive margin. Minor normal faults formed in the Guarico basin. The most intense deformation took place in the Neogene when the Leeward Antilles volcanic island arc collided obliquely with South America. The inception of the basal foredeep unconformity in the Late Eocene-Early Oligocene marks the formation of a perisutural basin on top of a buried graben system. It is coeval with minor extension and possible reactivation of Cretaceous normal faults in the Guarico basin. It marks the deepening of the foredeep. Cooling ages derived from apatite fission-tracks suggest that the obduction of the fold and thrust belt in the study area occurred in the Late Oligocene through the Middle Miocene. Field data and seismic interpretations suggest also that contractional deformation began during the Neogene, and specifically during the Miocene. The most surprising results of the detrital apatite fission-track study are the ages acquired in the sedimentary rocks of the easternmost part of the study area in the foreland fold and thrust belt. They indicate an Eocene thermal event. This event may be related to the Eocene NW-SE convergence of the North and South American plates that must have caused the Proto-Caribbean lithosphere to be shortened. This event is not related to the collision of the arc with South America, as the arc was far to the west during the Eocene.