Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Performance ecosystem'

Coastal ecosystems are crucial to sustain productive and functioning seascapes because they provide numerous ecosystem services. However, they are under threat and overburdened by multiple anthropogenic land-based and marine-based threats. Managing these threats is challenging because governance of the activities from which threats derive is often segregated and atomistic. Therefore, it is important to assess how management performs across the seascape to ensure adequate protection for coastal ecosystems from multiple threats. Assessing management performance, defined as the ability to meet management objectives, can help managers identify under-performing sites that may need extra management attention (e.g., enforcement, capacity building, or monitoring). Further, it can infer the recovery potential of targeted species or habitats to inform on biologically realistic performance targets. We use the systematic conservation planning framework to explore targeted questions about conservation planning, to identify management gaps and inform on global and regional management decisions.This work begins by asking a series of questions about why management is failing to protect one of the most neglected coastal ecosystems, seagrass. The underlying reason is that seagrass ecosystems are not recognised in legislation or policy and therefore their status and trends are not evaluated against any performance targets. This work has formed part of a global movement to improve the management of seagrass ecosystems, together with authorities charged with global governance of the environment. I then consider how performance targets take into account the social and environmental drivers of fish biomass and assess how this shapes fish recovery. I use this information to inform on management decisions in two case-studies: the northern region of New South Wales, Australia, and in two regional Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in southern Raja Ampat, Indonesia. In the NSW case study, I identify coastal areas that are at greatest risk to cumulative threats and suggest how management performance could be improved to protect temperate reef fish. In the Indonesian case-study, I suggest that to effectively evaluate MPA performance, it is critical to link historical threats and environmental conditions with coral reef fish outcomes. I then return to seagrass ecosystems as a case study to refine performance targets for monitoring to enable better detection of ecosystem trends. This work, carried out in southern Moreton Bay, Queensland, indicated that metabolomics could allow ecosystem trends to be identified more consistently and with greater accuracy than current methods. In my final chapter, I discuss the implications of these findings and make recommendations for key areas of further research. Each chapter of this thesis, although broad in design, has the same application to inform managers to make better decisions to protect coastal ecosystems. All chapters have an applied outcome and have utilised collaborators to make the information accessible to conservation managers.
Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
School of Environment and Sc
Science, Environment, Engineering and Technology
Full Text

This thesis and portfolio of compositions are the result of four years of research conducted through compositional practice and theoretical reflection. This thesis examines in some depth, what the art and craft of composition could be in the context of information age paradigms of communication and interaction. It provides an investigation into compositional approaches fitting to contemporary means of music-making. The focus of this project is composition through real-time, interactive performance systems, this subject is examined within the wider context of network performance, musical interaction and design, live electronics, live scoring, spatial consideration in composition, and new notational practices. This thesis presents the notion of a performance ecosystem, a ground from which a work of art can emerge through the act of performance. The performance ecosystem is conceived of as a self-generating environment that engages a process of genetic replication to expand the system in scope and complexity. Within these performance ecosystems, actions and interactions are generative, and the work is negotiated in real-time between multiple, independent yet interdependent actors. The product of this activity is not only the ensuing sounds, movements, and images that are created, but also the system, with all of its infrastructure and possibilities, and the performance act, as a combination of negotiations and explorations, through which each performer and experiencer partakes in a literal journey through the work. I believe that the performance ecosystem presents a satisfying framework for artistic creation in the context of contemporary constructs of creativity, thought, relationship and being and the way they are represented, experienced and engendered.

Purpose – This dissertation in practice is an evaluation study conducted at Iowa State University, entitled, Learning Ecosystem Assessment Review of Needs (LEARN). The evaluation posed these questions: (a) What educational technologies are currently used and what technologies will be needed in the future? (b) What are the attitudes and practices of faculty and students toward online and blended learning? (c) What academic technology support services are used? What are the perceptions of the support provided for the application of academic technologies? Methodology/design – The study was a mixed-methods design employing interviews with deans and focus groups and surveys of faculty and students. Findings – Iowa State University faculty and students use a wide array of academic technologies both in physical and virtual classrooms. The prevailing sentiment regarding the need for future academic technologies is not for new offerings and new features but for easier to use, more reliable technologies, and more timely support. Although Iowa State University has formally adopted online learning by offering numerous programs and courses, the university is in the early stages of adopting blended learning. Implications – The results and implications of the study inform the university on next steps to ready the institution for leveraging technology and preparing for the transformation toward strategic adoption of online and blended learning. The author outlines an organizational learning approach to manage change and promote adoption of blended learning.
Ed.D.
Doctorate
Education and Human Performance
Education

The effect of increased neutral detergent fibre digestibility (NDFD) of sugarcane silage on intake, rumen kinetics and metabolism, microbial population, performance, and body fatness of beef cattle was evaluated through two trials. In the metabolism trial, eight ruminal-cannulated Nellore steers were used in a replicated 4×4 Latin square design. In the performance trial, forty-eight Nellore young bulls were used in a complete randomized block design with a 2×2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Two sugarcane genotypes with high or low NDFD harvested for silage in two maturity stages were used (2 genotypes and 2 maturity stages). Diets were formulated with 40% of sugarcane on dry matter (DM) basis. Intake of DM was likely limited by metabolic feedback. The DM intake (DMI) of cannulated steers was reduced when late-maturity sugarcane was fed, but only with low-NDFD genotype. Turnover and passage rate of NDF was accelerated when high-NDFD genotype was fed. Rumen DM, NDF and iNDF pools were greater when diets with the low-NDFD genotype were fed. There was a tendency for greater relative populations of F. succinogenes and R. albus when animals were fed with diets containing low-NDFD genotype. Performance and carcass characteristics were not affected by treatments. Excess of NFC and fermentation end products of sugarcane silage can limit intake by metabolic pathway. High-NDFD genotype can accelerated NDF turnover and passage rate in the rumen. Late-maturity ensiled sugarcane can reduce DMI of beef steers fed with low-NDFD genotype. The effect of live yeast (LY - Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-1077) on in situ fiber digestibility, rumen fermentation, and rumen cellulolytic bacteria population of grazing Nellore cattle was evaluated throughout the year. Eight rumen cannulated steers were used in a 2x4 factorial arrangement of treatments: with or without LY, and the four seasons of the year. Yeast was given daily to provide 8x109 CFU per animal. Animals were kept on a rotational grazing system with mineral supplementation. Every 45 d, in situ rumen NDF degradability of 5 reference forages was determined after 24 and 48h incubation. Rumen fluid was collected to measure yeast count and fermentation parameters, and rumen contents collected for quantitative PCR quantification of cellulolytic bacteria. Although pasture composition varied greatly throughout the year, there was no LY*season interaction. Yeast supplementation increased NDF degradability in all seasons. Among the four rumen bacteria evaluated, R. flavefaciens was the most prevalent and LY increased R. flavefaciens population in the summer and spring. Supplementing LY can benefit fibre-degrading bacteria and increase fibre degradability of grazing animals, independently of the season.
O efeito do aumento da digestibilidade da fibra detergente neutro (DFDN) da silagem de cana-de-açúcar sobre consumo, cinética e metabolismo ruminal, população microbiana, desempenho e características de carcaça de bovinos de corte foram avaliados através de dois experimentos. No experimento de metabolismo, oito novilhos Nelore canulados no rúmen foram utilizados em delineamento experimental com dois quadrados latinos 4×4 contemporâneos. No experimento de desempenho, quarenta e oito novilhos nelore foram usados em delineamento em blocos inteiramente casualizados com arranjo de tratamento em fatorial 2×2. Dois genótipos de cana-de-açúcar com alta e baixa-DFDN colhidos para ensilagem em dois estágios de maturidade (2 genótipos e 2 estágios de maturidade). As dietas foram formuladas contendo 40% de silagem de cana-de-açúcar na matéria seca. O consumo de matéria seca (CMS) foi limitado pela via metabólica. O CMS dos novilhos canulados no rúmen foi reduzido quando foram alimentados com a cana-de-açúcar colhida na maturidade tardia, mas somente para o genótipo de baixa-DFDN. A taxa de passagem e o turnover de FDN foram acelerados quando o genótipo de alta-DFDN foi fornecido. O pool ruminal de MS, FDN e FDNi foram maiores para as dietas contendo o genótipo de baixa-DFDN. Houve tendência para maior população relativa de F. succinogenes e R. albus quando os animais foram alimentado com dietas contendo o genótipo de baixa-DFDN. O desempenho e as características de carcaça não foram afetados pelos tratamentos. O excesso de carboidratos não fibrosos (CNF) e os produtos de fermentação das silagens podem limitar o consumo pela via metabólica. O genótipo de alta-DFDN pode acelerar a taxa de passagem e o turnover de FDN no rúmen. O CMS pode ser reduzido quando o genótipo de baixa-DFDN é colhido para ensilagem com maturidade tardia. O feito da suplementação com levedura viva (LV - Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-1077) sobre a digestibilidade in situ, fermentação ruminal e população de bactérias celulolíticas no rúmen de bovinos Nelore em pastejo foi avaliado ao longo de um ano. Oito novilhos canulados no rúmen foram usados em arranjo fatorial 2×4: com ou sem LV e quantro estações do ano. O tratamento com LV foi realizado diariamente para promover uma suplementação de 8x109 UFC por animal. Os animais foram mantidos em sistema de pastejo rotativo com suplementação mineral. A cada 45 dias, foi realizada a degradação de FDN n situ de 5 forragens referencia, determinada após 24 e 48h de incubação ruminal. O fluido ruminal foi coletado para avaliar a contagem de leveduras e os parâmetros de fermentação, e ainda para a quantificação de bactérias celulolíticas por PCR. Mesmo com grande variação da qualidade do pasto ao longo do ano, não foi observado interação entre LV*estação do ano. A suplementação com LV aumentou a degradabilidade da FDN em todas as estações do ano. Entre as quatro bactérias ruminais avaliadas, a R. flavefaciens foi a mais prevalente e o tratamento com LV aumentou sua população relativa no verão e na primavera. A suplementação com LV pode beneficiar bactérias degradadoras de FDN e aumentar a digestibilidade ruminal de fibra em animais em pastejo, independentemente da estação do ano.

Questa ricerca ha lo scopo di esplorare, attraverso quattro diversi paper, l’impatto della Digital Transformation sul comportamento e la performance delle imprese innovative, in particolare piccole e medie imprese (PMI). Nel primo articolo, si è cercato di fornire un breve excursus, attraverso una disanima della letteratura, sui meccanismi alla base dei processi di creazione di valore delle imprese attive in un ambiente innovativo, tenendo in particolare considerazione le cosiddette managerial dynamic capabilities. Si è cercato di dimostrare come le tecnologie digitali, quali IoT, Big Data e Intelligenza Artificiale, pur con i loro numerosi vantaggi, siano in grado di fornire solo un piccolo contributo ai processi di creazione di valore delle imprese, se non supportate da un insieme di competenze manageriali e organizzative di vario genere. Alla luce di ciò, si è cercato di superare l’approccio tecno-centrico alla Digital Transformation, sottolineando piuttosto l’alto potenziale delle abilità manageriali e organizzative proprie degli attori di tale processo trasformativo, sia dal lato dell’offerta (fornitori di soluzioni digitali) che della domanda (PMI). Nel secondo articolo è presentata un’analisi empirica a livello regionale che vuole rappresentare una preliminare indagine qualitativa sul ruolo svolto dalla stampa 3D nel contesto manifatturiero italiano. Si è cercato di dimostrare come specifici vantaggi percepiti dalle imprese in riferimento alla stampa 3D possono influenzare in modo significativo il loro comportamento di adozione in merito a questa nuova tecnologia digitale. Inoltre, viene rilevato, attraverso lo studio di più casi aziendali, come la percezione delle imprese manifatturiere italiane sul proprio livello di innovazione sia, il più delle volte, in disaccordo con il loro reale livello di innovatività. Successivamente, nel terzo paper, si è cercato di spostare il focus della ricerca su un piano nazionale, progettando un’articolata web-survey, sulla base delle ultime linee guida dell’OCSE. Si è cercato, in tal modo, di identificare, a livello quantitativo, le abilità manageriali più rilevanti per l’incremento della performance nelle PMI italiane innovative. I risultati ottenuti si sono rivelati perfettamente in linea con la letteratura analizzata nel primo capitolo, specialmente rispetto alle dynamic managerial capabilities ed agli altri asset intangibili cruciali per la performance innovativa delle imprese. Infine, nell’ultimo lavoro di ricerca, si è spostato il focus dell’analisi a livello internazionale, esplorando i meccanismi sottostanti gli effetti della Digital Transformation sulla performance dei system integrators, attori business che forniscono un supporto cruciale alle imprese nella trasformazione dei loro processi di creazione del valore. Rispetto al secondo e al terzo paper in cui l’analisi è stata condotta dal lato della domanda di digitalizzazione, in quest’ultima parte si è adottato il punto di vista dell’offerta, concentrandosi sul ruolo svolto dalle nuove tecnologie digitali e dalle capacità organizzative degli integratori di sistema sulla loro performance. I risultati supportano tutti quelli precedenti e forniscono nuovi interessanti spunti sugli effetti della Digital Transformation nel mondo business.
The aim of this research is to explore, through four different papers, the impact of Digital Transformation on behaviour and performance of innovative firms, especially small and medium- sized companies (SMEs). In the first paper, I tried to provide a brief excursus, through the most relevant literature review, on the mechanisms underlying firms’ value creation processes in a Digital Transformation environment, especially from a dynamic capabilities’ perspective. Therefore, it has been proved that digital technologies such as IoT, Big Data and Artificial Intelligence, albeit their numerous benefits, are able to provide just a little contribution to the firms’ value creation if not supported by a diversified set of managerial and organizational skills. In line with this, I tried to go beyond the technology-centric perspective of Digital Transformation, emphasizing instead the actor-driven organizational transformation of capabilities, both from a supply-side (digital solution providers) and a demand-side perspective (SMEs). In my second paper, I carried on an empirical regional analysis to provide a preliminary qualitative investigation of the role played by 3D-printing (3DP) technology in the Italian manufacturing environment. It is shown that specific 3DP’s benefits can significantly influence the firms’ 3DP adoption behaviour. Moreover, it is demonstrated, through a multiple-case study analysis, how the perception of Italian manufacturing firms about their own innovation level is, most of time, not in line with their real level of innovativeness. Thereafter, in my third paper, I tried to extend the focus of my research on a national level by designing a richer web-survey, based on the last OECD guidelines to identify, in a quantitative way, the main business capabilities impacting on the performance of Italian SMEs with a strong innovation component. The results obtained turned out to be perfectly in line with the relevant literature abovementioned in terms of the crucial role played by dynamic managerial capabilities and intangibles assets on firms’ innovation performance. Finally, in my last research essay, I moved my analysis on an international level, by exploring the mechanisms underlining the effects of the Digital Transformation on system integrators’ performance. Compared to the second and third papers where I analysed the phenomenon of interest by a demand-side perspective, in this last analysis it is adopted a supply-side point of view, focusing on the crucial role played by the organizational capabilities in system integrators’ performance improvement. The results support all the foregoing findings and provide new interesting insights on the effects of Digital Transformation in the business context.

Accurate estimation of the responses of understory plants to natural and anthropogenic disturbance is essential for understanding efficacy and non-target effects of management and restoration activities. However, ability to assess changes in abundance of understory plants that result from disturbance may be hampered by inappropriate sampling methodologies. Conventional methods for sampling understory plants may be robust for common, well-distributed species, but may fail to adequately characterize the abundance of less-common species, which are often the taxa of management concern. I tested conventional and novel approaches to sampling understory plants to determine their efficacy (in terms of number of replicates and time required) for quantifying abundance of plants of varying frequency and spatial heterogeneity on three control and three thinned-and-burned treatment units located within the western Montana block of the Fire and Fire Surrogates Project (FFS) a large-scale investigation of the effects of fuel-hazard reduction treatments on a variety of ecosystem components. In each treatment unit, I used four sampling methods (modified Whittaker plots, Daubenmire transects, point line intercept transects, and strip adaptive cluster sampling) to estimate the cover of 24 understory species that vary in abundance. Compared to Daubenmire and point line intercept transects, modified Whittaker plots estimated cover with the lowest variances and, consequently, for the majority (67%) of species required the smallest sample sizes to accurately measure cover. However, this greater sampling efficiency was offset by increased time required to sample. For species grouped by growth-form and for common species, all three conventional sampling designs (i.e. Daubenmire transects, modified Whittaker plots, and point line intercept transects) were capable of estimating cover with a 50% relative margin of error with reasonable sample sizes (3-36 plots or transects for growth-form groups; 8-14 for common species); however, increasing the precision to 25% relative margin of error required sampling sizes that may be logistically infeasible (11-143 plots or transects for growth-form groups; 28-54 for common species). In addition, all three designs required enormous sample sizes to estimate cover of non-native species as a group (29-60 plots or transects) and of individual less-common species (62-118 plots or transects), even with 50% relative margin of error. Strip adaptive cluster sampling was the only method tested that efficiently sampled less-common species: for Cirsium arvense, an invasive non-native plant, adaptive sampling required five times fewer replicates than needed for modified Whittaker plots and 20 times less than for Daubenmire or point line intercept transects. My findings suggest that conventional designs may not be effective for accurately estimating the abundance of newly establishing, non-native plants as a group or of the majority of forest understory plants, which are characterized by low abundance and spatial aggregation. Novel methods such as strip adaptive cluster sampling should be considered in investigations for which cover of these species is a primary response variable.

Rising temperature caused by global warming alters physiology, phenology and/or distribution in a wide array of plant and animal species, which has dramatic knock-on effects at different levels of organisation. This study investigates the individual and interactive effects of temperature (18ᵒC, 22ᵒC and 30ᵒC) and additions of the macroalga Gracilaria gracilis (high and low) on the performance of the seagrass Zostera capensis, which occurs in Langebaan Lagoon, South Africa over a seven-week period. Results from the laboratory experiment revealed that G. gracilis did not significantly affect the performance of Z. capensis although temperature did result in greater leaf width, fouling and senescent biomass, as well as marginally greater leaf area and lower below-ground biomass at 30ᵒC. Increasing temperature also increased G. gracilis biomass, percent cover and fouling by microalgae. In addition, there was no interaction between temperature and the additions of Gracilaria. The overall findings of this study indicate that Z. capensis abundance is likely to decrease while G. gracilis will conversely increase in abundance in response to warming. Changes in abundance of those two ecosystem engineers highlight the possibility of a phase shift from a seagrass- to macroalgal-dominated state in Langebaan Lagoon.

A presente pesquisa apresenta um estudo das Capacidades Digitais a fim de compreende-las e examiná-las melhor, e analisar o impacto dessas capacidades digitais na performance de negócios digitais. A literatura indica que as Capacidades Digitais são um alicerce fundamental a partir do qual os negócios digitais podem transformar a experiência do cliente, os processos operacionais e os modelos de negócios. Do estudo teórico dessas capacidades emergiram as seguintes questões de pesquisa: quais são as capacidades digitais relacionadas a performance de negócios digitais? E, qual o impacto das capacidades digitais na performance de negócios digitais? Para responder essas questões os objetivos gerais estabelecidos são: entender quais são as capacidades digitais relacionadas ao desempenho dos negócios digitais e medir o impacto dos recursos digitais no desempenho dos negócios digitais. A pesquisa é apresentada em quatro artigos que foram desenvolvidos em sequência de acordo com o processo da pesquisa científica para responder à questão de pesquisa. O primeiro é uma revisão sistemática de literatura que foi desenvolvida para entender as capacidades digitais. Esta pesquisa é apresentada no artigo 1. Na sequência, foram desenvolvidos estudos qualitativos, com entrevistas e estudos de caso apresentados nos artigos 2 e 3. O segundo artigo examina as capacidades digitais e seu papel no desempenho dos negócios digitais. O terceiro trabalho foi desenvolvido para entender a relação entre os ecossistemas digitais e o valor dos negócios digitais. Após isso, o modelo de pesquisa foi ajustado e uma pesquisa quantitativa foi realizada para medir o impacto das capacidades digitais no desempenho dos negócios digitais, que é apresentado no artigo 4. Por fim, foi possível entender que um negócio digital necessita desenvolver capacidades a fim de monitorar o ambiente, ser responsiva, ter processos digitais eficientes e deve ser capaz de pertencer a outros ecossistemas, com isso ela conseguirá melhorar sua performance. Além disso, os principais resultados indicam que a capacidade de resposta é um recurso crucial que causa um impacto significativo no desempenho dos negócios digitais.
This research presents a study of digital capabilities in order to better understand these capabilities and the impact of these digital capabilities on digital business performance. The literature indicates that digital capabilities is a critical foundation from which digital business can transform the customer experience, operational processes, and business models. From the theoretical study of these capabilities emerged the following research questions: what are the Digital Capabilities that are related to digital business performance? And, what is the impact of digital capabilities on digital business performance? To answer these questions, the following general objectives were elaborated: to understand what are the digital capabilities that are related to digital business performance, and to measure the impact of digital capabilities on digital business performance. Then research started and is presented in here in four articles that have been developed in sequence in order to answer the research question. So, the first step was a systematic review that was developed in order to understand the digital capabilities state of the art. This research is presented in article 1. In the sequence, qualitative studies were developed, with interviews and case studies presented in article 2 and 3. The second paper examines digital capabilities and their role in the digital business performance. We could better understand the digital capabilities, but it was noticed that ecosystem capability needed more studies as it is a new and fundamental theme for understanding the impact of digital capabilities on the performance of the digital business. So, the third paper was developed to understand the relationship between ecosystems and digital business value. Finally, the research model was adjusted, and a survey was carried out in order to measure the impact of digital capabilities on the performance of the digital business, which is presented in article 4. Finally, it was possible to understand that a digital business should develop digital capabilities in order to be capable of monitoring, being responsive, having efficient digital process and able to belong to other ecosystems what will lead to a improve the digital business performance. In addition, the primary results indicate that responsiveness is a crucial capability that makes a significant impact on digital business performance.

User experience is today widely known but the complexity of this phenomenon is rarely left unnoticed. It is righteous to claim that the mobile application landscape is characterized by tough competition and high demands from users. To meet these demands the performance of the application is essential. There appears to exist consensus in existing literature regarding the importance of performance attributes for the user experience of mobile applications. However, there is limited research on how startup time is perceived and its effects on the user experience. Hence, this thesis aims to contribute to this field by investigating the formulated research question: To what extent does startup performance affect the user experience for a mobile application? Using a mixed method approach, this research aims to deepen the understanding of how end users of mobile applications perceive performance. The quantitative part of this study investigates what proxy variables that affect the performance during the startup process of a mobile application. The qualitative part aims to assess how users perceive startup time with respect to influencing factors and the effects on user experience.
Användarupplevelse är idag ett välkänt men komplext fenomen. Marknaden för mobila applikationer karaktäriseras av hård konkurrens och höga krav från användarna där tidigare studier har fastställt att prestanda-attribut har betydelse för användarupplevelsen. Det finns däremot begränsad empirisk litteratur kring hur prestanda uppfattas av användarna och effekterna på användarupplevelsen. Det är inom detta område som denna uppsats syftar till att bidra med kunskap. Detta genom att undersöka och besvara den formulerade forskningsfrågan: I vilken utsträckning påverkar start-prestandan användarupplevelsen för en mobilapplikation? Genom att använda en kombination av kvantitativa och kvalitativa metoder, syftar studien till att öka förståelsen kring hur användare av mobila applikationer uppfattar prestanda. Den kvantitativa studien undersöker vilka proxy-variabler som påverkar starttiden för en mobilapplikation. Den kvalitativa studien syftar följaktligen till att utvärdera hur användare uppfattar starttiden för en mobilapplikation med hänsyn till externa faktorer och dess effekt på användarupplevelsen.

La perte de biodiversité est une des problématiques mettant en cause le modèle actuel de production animale. Les systèmes d’élevage utilisant les processus écologiques plutôt que des intrants permettent d’inverser l’érosion de la biodiversité, mais quelles sont leurs performances environnementale et productive ? Les systèmes d’élevage ont des impacts environnementaux dus à la consommation de ressources, l’utilisation de surfaces et aux émissions de polluants, affectant ainsi la biodiversité, support à la fourniture de services écosystémiques (SE). Les impacts environnementaux, la biodiversité et les SE sont trois dimensions clés de la performance environnementale. Cette thèse a visé à (1) analyser des méthodes d’évaluation de la performance environnementale, les combiner et les appliquer à des systèmes d’élevage contrastés afin d’(2) quantifier la performance environnementale de ces derniers.L’analyse du cycle de vie de ces systèmes a permis d’identifier différentes relations entre productivité et impacts, avec une faible productivité et une bonne efficience énergétique dans les systèmes d’élevage visant la restauration de la biodiversité. L’adaptation et la mise en œuvre d’une combinaison de méthodes a permis d’évaluer le degré de naturalité et l’influence de ce dernier sur la biodiversité des systèmes étudiés. Enfin, au vu de l’importance des prairies permanentes dans les systèmes étudiés, une méthode d’évaluation des SE qu’elles fournissent a été développée et mise en œuvre. L’implémentation de ces méthodes a permis la considération des impacts environnementaux, de la biodiversité et des SE afin d’évaluer la performance environnementale des systèmes étudiés
Biodiversity loss is one of the issues challenging the current livestock production model. Livestock systems that use ecological processes rather than inputs can reverse biodiversity loss, but what are their environmental and productive performances? Livestock production systems have environmental impacts due to resource consumption, land use and pollutant emissions, affecting biodiversity, which supports the supply of ecosystem services (ES). Environmental impacts, biodiversity and ES are thus three key dimensions of environmental performance. This thesis aimed to (1) analyse methods for assessing environmental performance, combine them and apply them to contrasting livestock systems in order to (2)quantify the systems’ environmental performance. Life cycle assessment of these systems identified different relations between productivity and impacts, with low productivity and good energy efficiency of livestock systems aiming at biodiversity restoration. Adapting and applying a combination of methods assessed the degree of wildness and its influence on the biodiversity of the systems studied. Finally, given the importance of permanent grasslands in the systems studied, a method to assess ES provided by these areas was developed and applied. Applying these methods allowed environmental impacts, biodiversity and ES to be considered in order to assess the environmental performance of the systems studied

Die Ökosysteme unserer Erde sind durch das rasante Artensterben infolge von Umweltveränderungen durch den Menschen und des globalen Klimawandels stark betroffen. Mit den Auswirkungen dieses Artenverlustes und der damit einhergehenden Veränderung der Diversität beschäftigt sich die heutige Biodiversitätsforschung. Spezieller wird der Effekt der Diversität auf Ökosystemprozesse wie beispielsweise den Biomasseaufbau von Primärproduzenten oder der Resistenz einer Gemeinschaft gegen die Einwanderung neuer Arten untersucht. Die Quantifizierung des Einflusses der Diversität auf die Primärproduktion und das Verständnis der zugrunde liegenden Mechanismen ist von besonderer Wichtigkeit. In terrestrischen Pflanzengemeinschaften wurde bereits ein positiver Diversitätseffekt auf die Gemeinschaftsbiomasse beobachtet. Dies wird hauptsächlich durch den Komplementaritäts- und/oder den Dominanzeffekt erklärt. Die Komplementarität zwischen Arten ist beispielsweise bei Unterschieden in der Ressourcenausnutzung gegeben (z.B. unterschiedliche Wurzeltiefen). Diese kann zu einer besseren Nährstoffausnutzung in diverseren Gemeinschaften führen, die letztlich deren höhere Biomassen erklärt. Der Dominanzeffekt hingegen beruht auf der in diverseren Gemeinschaften höheren Wahrscheinlichkeit, eine hochproduktive Art anzutreffen, was letztlich die höhere Biomasse der Gemeinschaft verursacht. Diversitätseffekte auf Ökosystemprozesse wurden bisher hauptsächlich auf der Gemeinschaftsebene untersucht. Analysen über die Reaktionen, die alle Arten einer Gemeinschaft einschließen, fehlen bisher. Daher wurde der Einfluss der Diversität auf die individuelle Performance von Pflanzenarten innerhalb des Biodiversitätsprojektes „Das Jena Experiment“ untersucht. Dieses Experiment umfasst 60 Arten, die charakteristisch für Mitteleuropäische Graslandschaften sind. Die Arten wurden in die 4 funktionellen Gruppen Gräser, kleine Kräuter, große Kräuter und Leguminosen eingeteilt. Im Freilandversuch zeigte sich, dass mit steigender Artenzahl die individuelle Pflanzenhöhe zunahm, während die individuelle oberirdische Biomasse sank. Der positive Diversitätseffekt auf die pflanzliche Gemeinschaftsbiomasse kann folglich nicht auf der individuellen oberirdischen Biomassezunahme beruhen. Überdies reagierten die einzelnen funktionellen Gruppen und sogar die einzelnen Arten innerhalb einer funktionellen Gruppe unterschiedlich auf Diversitätsveränderungen. Folglich ist zu vermuten, dass einige Ökosystemprozesse auf Gemeinschaftsebene durch die Reaktionen von bestimmten funktionellen Gruppen bzw. Arten hervorgerufen werden. Diversitätseffekte auf Gemeinschaftsbiomassen wurden bislang hauptsächlich mit terrestrischen Pflanzen und weniger mit frei-schwebenden Algenarten (Phytoplankton) erforscht. Demzufolge wurde der Einfluss der Diversität auf die Biomasse von Phytoplankton-Gemeinschaften experimentell untersucht, wobei es sowohl zu negativen als auch positiven Diversitätseffekten kam. Eine negative Beziehung zwischen Diversität und Gemeinschaftsbiomasse zeigte sich, wenn schnell-wüchsige Algenarten nur geringe Biomassen in Mono- und Mischkultur aufbauten. Die vorhandenen Nährstoffe in der Mischkultur wurden von den schnell-wüchsigen Arten monopolisiert und folglich standen sie den langsam-wüchsigen Algenarten, welche viel Biomasse in Monokultur aufbauten, nicht mehr zur Verfügung. Zu einem positiven Diversitätseffekt auf die Gemeinschaftsbiomasse kam es, wenn die Artengemeinschaft eine positive Beziehung zwischen Wachstumsrate und Biomasse in Monokultur zeigte, sodass die schnell-wüchsige Algenarten viel Biomasse aufbauten. Da diese schnell-wüchsigen Algen in der Mischkultur dominant wurden, bestand die Gemeinschaft letztlich aus hoch-produktiven Algenarten, was zu einer erhöhten Gesamtbiomasse führte. Diese beiden Versuchsansätze verdeutlichen Mechanismen für die unterschiedlichen Reaktionen der Gemeinschaften auf Diversitätsveränderungen, welche auch für terrestrische Pflanzengemeinschaften gefunden wurden. Ein anderer wichtiger Ökosystemprozess, der von der Diversität beeinflusst wird, ist die Anfälligkeit von Gemeinschaften gegenüber invasiven Arten (Invasibilität). Die Invasibilität wird von einer Vielzahl von Faktoren beeinflusst und demzufolge wurde der Effekt der Diversität und der Produktivität (Nährstoffgehalt) auf die Invasibilität von Phytoplankton-Gemeinschaften in An- und Abwesenheit eines Herbivoren untersucht. Die zwei funktionell unterschiedlichen invasiven Arten waren die Blaualge Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii (schlecht fressbar) und der Phytoflagellat Cryptomonas sp. (gut fressbar). Es zeigte sich, dass der Fraßdruck, welcher selber durch die Produktivität beeinflusst wurde, einen bedeutenden Effekt auf die Invasibilität von Phytoplankton-Gemeinschaften hat. Die funktionellen Eigenschaften der invasiven und residenten Arten waren zudem bedeutender als die Artenzahl.
To date, positive relationships between diversity and community biomass have been mainly found, especially in terrestrial ecosystems due to the complementarity and/or dominance effect. In this thesis, the effect of diversity on the performance of terrestrial plant and phytoplankton communities was investigated to get a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms in the biodiversity-ecosystem functioning context. In a large grassland biodiversity experiment, the Jena Experiment, the effect of community diversity on the individual plant performance was investigated for all species. The species pool consisted of 60 plant species belonging to 4 functional groups (grasses, small herbs, tall herbs, legumes). The experiment included 82 large plots which differed in species richness (1-60), functional richness (1-4), and community composition. Individual plant height increased with increasing species richness suggesting stronger competition for light in more diverse communities. The aboveground biomass of the individual plants decreased with increasing species richness indicating stronger competition in more species-rich communities. Moreover, in more species-rich communities plant individuals were less likely to flower out and had fewer inflorescences which may be resulting from a trade-off between resource allocation to vegetative height growth and to reproduction. Responses to changing species richness differed strongly between functional groups and between species of similar functional groups. To conclude, individual plant performance can largely depend on the diversity of the surrounding community. Positive diversity effects on biomass have been mainly found for substrate-bound plant communities. Therefore, the effect of diversity on the community biomass of phytoplankton was studied using microcosms. The communities consisted of 8 algal species belonging to 4 functional groups (green algae, diatoms, cyanobacteria, phytoflagellates) and were grown at different functional richness levels (1-4). Functional richness and community biomass were negatively correlated and all community biomasses were lower than their average monoculture biomasses of the component species, revealing community underyielding. This was mainly caused by the dominance of a fast-growing species which built up low biomasses in monoculture and mixture. A trade-off between biomass and growth rate in monoculture was found for all species, and thus fast-growing species built up low biomasses and slow-growing species reached high biomasses in monoculture. As the fast-growing, low-productive species monopolised nutrients in the mixtures, they became the dominant species resulting in the observed community underyielding. These findings suggest community overyielding when biomasses of the component species are positively correlated with their growth rates in monocultures. Aquatic microcosm experiments with an extensive design were performed to get a broad range of community responses. The phytoplankton communities differed in species diversity (1, 2, 4, 8, and 12), functional diversity (1, 2, 3, and 4) and community composition. The species/functional diversity positively affected community biomass, revealing overyielding in most of the communities. This was mainly caused by a positive complementarity effect which can be attributed to resource use complementarity and/or facilitative interaction among the species. Overyielding of more diverse communities occurred when the biomass of the component species was correlated positively with their growth rates in monoculture and thus, fast-growing and high-productive species were dominant in mixtures. This and the study mentioned above generated an emergent pattern for community overyielding and underyielding from the relationship between biomass and growth rate in monoculture as long as the initial community structure prevailed. Invasive species can largely affect ecosystem processes, whereas invasion is also influenced by diversity. To date, studies revealed negative and positive diversity effects on the invasibility (susceptibility of a community to the invasion by new species). The effect of productivity (nutrient concentration ranging from 10 to 640 µg P L-1), herbivory (presence/absence of the generalist feeder) and diversity (3, 4, 6 species were randomly chosen from the resident species pool) on the invasibility of phytoplankton communities consisting of 10 resident species was investigated using semi-continuous microcosms. Two functionally diverse invaders were chosen: the filamentous and less-edible cynaobacterium C. raciborskii and the unicellular and well-edible phytoflagellate Cryptomonas sp. The phytoflagellate indirectly benefited from grazing pressure of herbivores whereas C. raciborskii suffered more from it. Diversity did not affect the invasibility of the phytoplankton communities. Rather, it was strongly influenced by the functional traits of the resident and invasive species.

Within the twenty&ndash
first century, nearly three billion people, half of total population of the world, live in cities. It is estimated that in the forthcoming twenty&ndash
five years, two billion more people will settle in urban lands. Essentially most of these devastating changes will occur in developing countries, both in terms of the total global urban population as well as increased percentage of the individual country&rsquo
s population living in urban areas. For many developing countries, the urban population is already large. Further increases in size and rates of growth will no doubt stress already impacted environments and living quality. All cities, however, are not impacting the ecology of the world similarly. On the one hand, developed cities have mostly cope with their environmental problems regarded as traditional
concern has focused to their impacts on ecosystems as well as those larger in scale. Cities in the developing world are more concerned with other issues. However, it is not only the development level of countries but the urban planning and development tendencies of their cities impacting the environment differently should be considered, which comprehensively shows us environmental performance of urban patterns. Environmental performance basically refers to the abilities and capabilities of urban patterns to mitigate their impacts on environment and ecology of the world and to cope with the negative of all. As an indicator of environmental performance of urban patterns, ecological footprints, its reasons and long term effects should be specified as inseparable part of urban development and inevitably ecological footprints of different urban patterns and their effects on climate change should be concerned while taking planning and development decisions for urban areas. The basic purpose of the thesis is to specify the environmental performance of different urban patterns in terms of their ecological footprints through defining the relationship between implications of urban patterns and their contributions to the ecological footprint.

The UNFCCC initiated mechanism Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) is an important policy instrument for combating climate change, using payments to create economic incentives for developing countries to preserve their forests. However, there is a need for closer scrutiny of whether the mechanism is able to generate its intended outputs and outcomes. The study assessed REDD+ productivity performance in collaborative governance using an instrumental case study of a Collaborative Governance Regime (CGR), the CarBi project in Vietnam. The assessment was based on Emerson and Nabatchi’s productivity performance matrix encompassing three units of analysis - the Participant Organisations, the CGR and the Target Goals. The study was conducted as a Minor Field Study (MFS) using in-depth interviews, complemented with official documents. The findings showed that progress was made in achieving target goals such as forest restoration and enhanced biodiversity, but that REDD+ was not adapted to suit the CGR’s need for stable payments and was not financially feasible to implement in a conservation focused project. Instead, outputs and outcomes were sustained as a result of the transition to the national Payment for Forest Ecosystem Services (PFES). However, the REDD+ safeguards, supporting the inclusion of local communities and indigenous peoples, were lost in the transition and PFES reliance on funding from hydropower dams posed both environmental and social challenges to CGR sustainability.

Cette thèse s’inscrit au croisement de l’entrepreneuriat et du management stratégique. Elle contribue à l’émergence d’un nouveau courant qui s’inspire de l’approche écosystémique et qui vise à mieux comprendre le rôle du contexte sur les dynamiques entrepreneuriales. Son objectif est plus précisément une meilleure compréhension des stratégies des incubateurs dans l'écosystème entrepreneurial. Cette recherche s'intéresse également à la relation entre ces stratégies et la performance des incubateurs. La thèse sur travaux s’articule autour de quatre articles et s’appuie sur une méthodologie mixte séquentielle combinant des méthodes qualitatives et quantitatives. Une étude qualitative a été menée auprès de 48 acteurs de l’écosystème de l’accompagnement entrepreneurial du Sud de la France. Cette recherche a été prolongée par une enquête quantitative conduite au niveau national en récoltant 156 questionnaires auprès de directeurs d’incubateurs. La contribution conceptuelle majeure repose sur une théorisation de l’écosystème entrepreneurial à partir de l’approche multi-niveaux et de la théorie du capital social. De plus, elle offre une vision holistique des stratégies des incubateurs en privilégiant une approche en termes de co-opétition. Enfin, elle permet de tester le lien entre l’écosystème, la stratégie et la performance. Nos résultats montrent des effets positifs de la stratégie de co-opétition sur la performance. La mise en œuvre de cette stratégie apparaît comme l’une des conditions pour construire un écosystème entrepreneurial durable. Des implications et recommandations sont formulées et aboutissent notamment à l’élaboration d’un plan d’action stratégique pour les acteurs de l’écosystème entrepreneurial
This thesis is at the intersection of entrepreneurship and strategic management. It contributes to the emergence of a new theoretical steam inspired by the ecosystem approach and which aims to better understand the role of the context on the entrepreneurial dynamics. Its objective is more precisely a better understanding of incubator strategies in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. This research also addresses the relationship between these strategies and the incubators performance. The thesis by publication is structured around four articles and is based on a mixed sequential methodology combining qualitative and quantitative methods. A qualitative study was carried out among 48 actors in the entrepreneurial support ecosystem in the South of France. This research was extended by a quantitative survey conducted at the national level, collecting 156 questionnaires from incubator managers. The major conceptual contribution carries on a theorization of the entrepreneurial ecosystem based on multilevel approach and social capital theory. In addition, it provides a holistic view of incubator strategies by focusing on a co-opetition approach. Finally, it allows to test the link between the ecosystem, the strategy and the performance. Our results show positive effects of the co-opetition strategy on performance. Implementation of this strategy appears to be one of the conditions for building a sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem. Implications and recommendations are formulated, leading in particular to the elaboration of a strategic action plan for the actors of the entrepreneurial ecosystem

Cette thèse propose un cadre théorique et empirique portant sur la croissance et le développement et offre des éléments et outils nécessaires à l’amélioration de notre compréhension des dynamiques de croissance des EOS. Pendant tout ce travail de thèse, on a insisté sur les dynamiques des EOS en lien avec leurs performances et leur croissance. Avant toute enquête plus poussée, avec l’analyse des principales contributions taxonomiques, une définition générale des Entreprises à Orientation Scientifique (EOS) est formulée eu égard du fait que ces entreprises cherchent à appliquer des connaissances scientifiques et compétences technologiques afin de commercialiser les produits qui sont au cœur de leurs activités.En appliquant la définition mentionnée ci-dessus, une première étude a été effectuée avec l’objectif double de présenter un portrait actualisé de l’état de l’art et d’examiner de manière critique l’adoption de facteurs de performance des EOS afin de mieux comprendre la manière dont on a étudié les performances des EOS et de suggérer un sens définissant l’axe des études et approches méthodologiques futures. Les résultats démontrent que les études se concentrent sur des dimensions spécifiques aux entreprises, ce qui permet, dans certains cas, d’expliquer les performances des EOS. Dans de nombreux autres, on a abouti à des résultats contradictoires. De manière générale, dans cette enquête, on a expliqué pourquoi l’étude des performances des SBF est encore largement sous-développée et les indicateurs en lien aux capabilités d’innovation et à la gestion des connaissances, tels que les évolutions de l’innovation, le développement des technologies ou les transferts de connaissances, semblent plus appropriés pour démontrer la spécificité de ces entreprises. De plus, à partir des résultats, on a abouti à la nécessité d’adopter une approche holistique prenant en compte des aspects plus variés, avancés par exemple par les théories des écosystèmes.Suivant une méthodologie holistique, une étude exploratoire a été menée dans la région de Lyon, en France en adoptant l’approche des Ecosystèmes Entrepreneuriaux (EE). Dans cette étude, grâce à une démarche rétrospective, il a été possible de souligner les relations opérant de manière sous-jacente entre les éléments de l’écosystème et des Nouvelles Entreprises à Orientation Scientifique (NEOS). Les résultats montrent que les institutions coordonnées et concentrées sur les axes des capabilités principales et de l’excellence du domaine contribuent de manière exceptionnelle à la fondation de nouvelles entreprises. De manière générale, les résultats montrent que l’EE peut être une construction théorique cohérente, et particulièrement pendant le premier temps du développement des NEOS.Cependant, en considération du processus complet de création des EOS, trois éléments se démarquent : le gouvernement, les universités et les investisseurs, s’inscrivant dans la filiation de ce que l’on appelle l’approche de la triple hélice, appliquée dans la plupart des sociétés du savoir modernes. La région de Lyon présente une application réussie de ce modèle, ce qui nous permet de débattre de l’analyse suivant laquelle une macro-observation préliminaire des configurations institutionnelles est nécessaire pour comprendre les dynamiques des EOS.Pour les raisons précédemment évoquées, la perspective de l’enquête passera du niveau micro au niveau méso dans la troisième enquête. La dernière étape de cette thèse portera son attention sur le modèle à trois hélices italien dans l’industrie à orientation scientifique
This thesis proposes a theoretical and empirical framework on growth and development and offers elements and tools necessary to improve the understanding of the growth dynamics of SBFs. Throughout this thesis, emphasis has been placed on the study of SBFs dynamics related to their performances and growth. Prior further investigation, through the analysis of the main taxonomical contributions, a comprehensive definition of Science-Based Firms (SBFs) is formulated which incorporates the consideration that these ventures seek the application of scientific knowledge and technological skills to commercialize products at the core of their activities. Applying the above mentioned definition, a first study was performed with the double objective to provide an updated, state-of-the-art picture of the SBFs and to critically examine the adoption of SBFs’ performance determinants in order to be able to better comprehend the way in which SBFs’ performances have been approached and suggest future directions in terms of focus of studies and methodological approaches. Results show that studies concentrate on firm-specific dimensions succeeding in some situations to explain SBFs’ performances and in many other cases contradicting results emerged. In general, in the investigation, was outlined how the study of SBFs’ performances, is still widely underdeveloped and indicators related to innovation capabilities and knowledge management such as innovation developments, technology development or knowledge transfer, seem more appropriate to infer the peculiarity of these firms. Moreover, from the findings emerged the necessity to adopt a holistic approach considering broader dimensions proposed for example by ecosystem theories. Following a holistic methodology, an explorative study was conducted in the area of Lyon, France, adopting the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem (EE) approach. Thanks to the retrospectivity adopted, in this study was possible to underline the relationships underpinning between the elements of the ecosystem and New Science-Based Firms (NSBFs). Findings show that institutions coordinated and focused on the main capabilities and excellence of the area make an extraordinary contribution to the establishing of new companies. In general results show that the EE can be a consistent theoretical construct, especially during the first stage of NSBF’s development. However, looking at the whole process of SBF creation, three elements stand out: government, university and investors, incorporating the lineages of the so-called triple-helix approach applied in most modern knowledge-based societies. The area of Lyon represents a successful application of this model, opening the debate on the analysis that at first, to understand SBFs’ dynamics, a macro look at the institutional configuration is needed. For the previous reasons, the focus of the investigation shift from micro and meso level to macro level in the third investigation. The last step of the dissertation research focused its attention on the Italian triple-helix model for the science-based industry. Collecting interviews among the most representative Italian institutions supporting SBFs and collecting precious insights among Italian SBFs, both established and nascent, a comprehensive understanding on “what went wrong” situation is shown providing insights into the relationship dynamics that did not occur to make the innovation system work efficiently. Moreover, possible streams for future researches and suggestion for policy makers are provided. In general, this dissertation provided advancements for the understanding of SBFs’ growth dynamics providing fresh insights for academics and policy makers in designing future studies and policies

The thesis combines laboratory experiments and field expeditions to study production, transfer and consumption of non-enzymatic antioxidants and thiamine in an aquatic food web. In particular, I (1) documented spatial and seasonal variation of tocopherols and carotenoids in the Baltic Sea pelagic food web, and (2) examined the effects of abiotic and biotic factors on tocopherol, carotenoid and thiamine concentrations in phytoplankton, zooplankton and fish. Moderate differences in temperature and salinity affected α-tocopherol, β-carotene and thiamine production in microalgae. Furthermore, the results suggest that acute stress favors the expression of non-enzymatic antioxidants rather than enzymatic antioxidants. Because production of α-tocopherol, β-carotene and thiamine differ markedly between microalgae, the availability of non-enzymatic antioxidants and thiamine is likely to be highly variable in the Baltic Sea and is difficult to predict. The transfer of non-enzymatic antioxidants from phytoplankton to zooplankton was biomass dependent. The field expeditions revealed that phytoplankton biomass was negatively associated with α-tocopherol concentration in mesozooplankton. Thus, increased eutrophication of the Baltic Sea followed by an increase in phytoplankton biomass could decrease the transfer of essential biochemicals to higher levels in the pelagic food web. This could lead to deficiency syndromes, of the kind already observed in the Baltic Sea. Astaxanthin is synthesized from precursors provided by the phytoplankton community. Thus biomass dependent transfer of astaxanthin precursors from phytoplankton to zooplankton could be responsible for astaxanthin deficiency in zooplanktivorous herring. Astaxanthin in herring consists mostly of all-Z-isomers, which are characterized by low bioavailability. Therefore, astaxanthin deficiency in salmon could be explained by the low concentration of this substance and its isomeric composition in herring.

Public institutions own the greater proportion of the world’s forests and wooded areas —about 86%. In general, there are important regional variations of the proportion of state and private or municipal ownership. Recent European studies in the forestry sector show that nearly half of the European Union (EU) forests are publicly owned – around 42%. Considering the importance of forest resources, it is essential to ensure they are used sustainably. National governments and different agreements regulate use of forest resources; however, the actual manager has the greatest responsibility over the exploitation of the resource. Bearing in the mind the ownership structure of the forests in Europe, state forest organizations play an important role in the management of forest resources. This key place is justified by the overall duties they are dealing with and of course by their resourcefulness and significant influence on stakeholders. The future of forests and forestry strongly depends on the direction of state forest organizations development. In fact, the forestry sector has undergone enormous changes in the past decades, but the forest institutions in many countries have been slow to adapt to these changes. Changes in the forest sector normally do not happen quickly, it takes a longer time that in other sectors. The main reasons to explain this fact are that, firstly, investments in forestry may take several generations to yield returns. Secondly, foresters are generally conservative, feeling more comfortable with forest botany rather than with social concerns that prevail forestry nowadays. Therefore, while the demands and expectations of society have changed, the structure of most forest institutions have remained largely unchanged. Despite the conservative mode of most forest institutions, a number of changes have taken place in the sector. Agrawal, Chhatre, and Hardin (2008) state that major features of modern forest governance include decentralization of forest management, logging concessions in publicly owned commercially valuable forests, and timber certification, mainly in temperate forests in the developed world and, additionally privatization of state-owned enterprises. In addition, the rise of labor costs and a decrease in timber prices forced the sector to undertake radical rationalization of production processes. It resulted in intensive mechanization of harvesting and personnel reduction. Despite the importance of state owned forest and the changes it faces, there is little literature about management of state forests, the lack of such literature is particularly palpable in the European countries. Therefore, this work aims to contribute to narrowing the knowledge gap about the topic by clarifying the role of state forest in the EU countries, its status, trends, challenges and opportunities. The work applies a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, including a review of reporting system, qualitative, quantitate data analysis, Principal Component Analysis, cluster analysis and case study research. Chapter II of the dissertation investigates the reporting system of State Forest Management Organizations (SFMOs). This chapter explores how SFMOs report about their activities, what kind of information is available and the way they present it to the public. Therefore, the questions of transparency and accountability of State organizations are examined. Chapter III seeks to group SFMOs in the EU according to their management priorities and to see if they are influenced by characteristics of the forest sector of their countries. The existence of different forest management alternatives is essential for sustainable forest management (SFM) and this knowledge should be shared between forest experts, the forest industry, and various interest groups. Chapter IV presents a discussion about a management model of the Cansiglio (CF) forest in Italy (a publicly owned forest) as a case study. In this case, I analyze the main priorities, outcomes and possible scenarios for the future development of this publicly owned forest. In terms of the main findings about the information disclosure of SFMOs, there is the lack of a coordinated reporting framework or a minimum standard of indicators in common use. Comparability between SFMOs is limited due to the use of different indicators, periods and units of measure. Another important focus of the dissertation is the comparative synthesis of different management models of SFMOs; it can be observed that the countries under study show an application of different management priorities and SFMOs apply diverse business strategies. With the help of the cluster analysis, we obtained three SFMOs’ clusters (C1, C2, and C3) and three outliers (O1, O2 and O3). The clusters present different approaches SFMOs use in prioritizing pillars of SFM: C1 has diversified goals, C2 behaves as a protector of public interests and C3 is commercially oriented. This division is partly defined by natural conditions of the country where the organizations are located, but also by the decisions of an organization itself (e.g. profit-oriented in Ireland, a country with a low forest cover and, on the other side, Czech Republic – profit oriented SFMO in the country with a high forest cover). The case study (the Cansiglio forest in Italy, Veneto region) presents a management model of a publicly owned forest with clear objectives and a vision for the next 5-10 years. The CF has diversified goals providing production of timber and social services. Specific attention is given to recreational activities as there is an increased demand from society for ecotourism and outdoor recreation. The management of the forest is performed by the regional administration together with some private actors (e.g. concessioner, logging companies). Among four presented scenarios, the fourth scenario "Long-term forest concessions signed by private enterprises" was evaluated as the most promising. To conclude, SFMOs in Europe have adopted different organizational models in their management. However, they have common tendencies. Among the most notable are (i) they are owned by the state but function as a private unit; (ii) functions of supervision and management are separated and divided between different institutions; (iii) SMFOs often engage the help of private companies to perform some activities; (iv) SFMOs increase attention to the environmental and social pillar of SFM; (v) SFMOs have low level of information disclosure. As the main recommendations to SFMOs, there are two clear priorities: the need to optimize the balance between the three SFM pillars (social, economic and ecological) and also a need for improvement in their reporting systems and communications with the public.
Le istituzioni pubbliche sono proprietarie della maggior parte delle foreste e delle altre aree boscate del mondo, circa l’86%. Esistono tuttavia importanti differenze a livello regionale nella proporzione tra proprietà statali, private o comunali. Studi europei nel settore forestale mostrano che quasi la metà delle foreste dell'Unione europea (UE) sono di proprietà pubblica - circa il 42%. Considerando l'importanza delle risorse forestali, è essenziale assicurarne un uso sostenibile. I governi nazionali e diversi accordi intergovernativi regolamentano l'utilizzo delle risorse forestali, tuttavia, sono i gestori forestali che hanno la più alta responsabilità sullo sfruttamento delle risorse forestali. Tenendo presente la struttura fondiaria delle foreste europee, le organizzazioni di gestione delle foreste demaniali hanno un ruolo importante nella gestione delle risorse forestali. Questa importanza è giustificata dagli impegni globali che hanno assunto e, naturalmente, dalle numerose risorse a disposizione e dall’influenza che hanno sugli stakeholder. Il futuro delle foreste e della gestione forestale dipende quindi fortemente dalla direzione di sviluppo delle organizzazioni di gestione delle foreste demaniali. Il settore forestale ha subito enormi cambiamenti negli ultimi decenni, ma le istituzioni forestali di molti paesi sono state lente ad adattarsi a questi cambiamenti. I cambiamenti nel settore forestale normalmente non sono rapidi e sicuramente sono più lenti che in altri settori. Le ragioni principali per spiegare questo sono diverse. In primo luogo, gli investimenti forestali possono richiedere diverse generazioni per produrre ritorni d’investimento. In secondo luogo, i forestali sono generalmente conservatori, sentendosi più a proprio agio con la botanica forestale piuttosto che con le questioni sociali che prevalgono il settore oggi. Pertanto, mentre le esigenze e le aspettative della società sono cambiate, la struttura della maggior parte dei dipartimenti forestali è rimasta sostanzialmente invariata. Nonostante l’approccio conservativo della maggior parte dei dipartimenti forestali, numerose modifiche hanno avuto luogo nel settore. Agrawal, Chhatre e Hardin (2008) affermano che le principali caratteristiche di una moderna governance forestale includono il decentramento della gestione, concessioni di taglio in foreste pubbliche di alto valore commerciale e la certificazione forestale, soprattutto nelle foreste temperate del mondo sviluppato, oltre alla privatizzazione delle organizzazioni di gestione delle foreste demaniali. In aggiunta, l'aumento del costo del lavoro e la diminuzione dei prezzi del legname hanno costretto il settore a intraprendere una radicale razionalizzazione dei processi produttivi, risultata in intensa meccanizzazione delle utilizzazioni e della riduzione del personale. Nonostante l'importanza delle foreste statali e dei cambiamenti che sta vivendo, c'è una scarsa letteratura scientifica sulla gestione delle foreste statali, e questa mancanza è particolarmente riscontrabile in Europa. Pertanto, questo lavoro mira a contribuire alla riduzione del divario conoscitivo sul tema chiarendo il ruolo delle foreste statali nei paesi dell'UE, il suo status, le tendenze, le sfide e le opportunità. Il lavoro si basa su una combinazione di metodi qualitativi e quantitativi, tra cui una revisione del sistema di reporting, l'analisi quantitativa e qualitativa dei dati, la Principal Component Analysis, l'analisi dei cluster e casi studio. Il capitolo II della tesi esamina il sistema di reporting delle organizzazioni di gestione delle foreste demaniali. Questo capitolo esplora come le organizzazioni di gestione delle foreste demaniali riportano le loro attività, quali informazioni sono disponibili e il modo in cui le presentano al pubblico. Pertanto, anche le questioni della trasparenza e della responsabilità delle organizzazioni statali sono incluse. Il capitolo III tenta di raggruppare le organizzazioni di gestione delle foreste demaniali dell'UE in base alle loro priorità e vedere se sono influenzate dalle caratteristiche del settore forestale dei loro paesi. L'esistenza di diverse alternative di gestione forestale è essenziale per una Gestione Forestale Sostenibile e questa conoscenza dovrebbe essere condivisa tra esperti forestali, industria e gruppi di interesse. Il capitolo IV presenta una discussione sul modello di gestione della foresta di Cansiglio in Italia (foresta di proprietà pubblica) come caso di studio. In questo caso, sono analizzate le principali priorità gestionali, i risultati e le direzioni future. Dai principali risultati sulla divulgazione di informazioni delle organizzazioni di gestione delle foreste demaniali, emerge la mancanza di un quadro di reporting coordinato o di uno standard minimo di indicatori di uso comune. La comparabilità tra le organizzazioni di gestione delle foreste demaniali è tuttavia limitata a causa dei differenti indicatori, periodi e unità di misura. Un altro aspetto importante della tesi è la sintesi comparativa di diversi modelli di gestione delle organizzazioni di gestione delle foreste demaniali; si può osservare che i paesi in esame mostrano un'applicazione di diverse priorità di gestione e le organizzazioni di gestione delle foreste demaniali applicano diverse strategie di business. Con l'aiuto dell'analisi cluster abbiamo ottenuto tre cluster (C1, C2 e C3) e tre outliers (O1, O2 e O3). I cluster presentano diversi approcci che le organizzazioni di gestione delle foreste demaniali usano per le priorità dei pilastri della Gestione Forestale Sostenibile: C1 ha obiettivi diversificati, C2 si comporta come protettore di interessi pubblici e C3 è commerciale. Questa divisione è in parte definita dalle condizioni naturali del paese in cui si trovano le organizzazioni, ma anche dalle decisioni dell’organizzazione stessa (ad esempio, da un lato, in Irlanda è orientata al profitto in un paese con una bassa copertura forestale, dall'altro, in Repubblica Ceca, l’organizzazione di gestione delle foreste demaniali è orientata al profitto in un paese con invece un'alta copertura forestale). Il caso studio (foresta del Cansiglio in Italia, regione Veneto) presenta un modello di gestione di una foresta pubblica con traguardi specifici e una prospettiva di sviluppo per i prossimi 5-10 anni. La foresta del Cansiglio si pone diversi obiettivi per la produzione di legname e la fornitura di servizi sociali. Una particolare attenzione è rivolta alle attività ricreative in quanto vi si è creata una crescente domanda da parte della società per l'ecoturismo e la ricreazione all'aperto. La gestione della foresta viene eseguita dall'amministrazione regionale insieme ad alcuni gestori privati (ad esempio concessionari, imprese boschive). Tra i quattro scenari presentati, il quarto scenario "Concessioni forestali a lungo termine firmate da imprese private" è stato valutato come il più promettente. Per concludere, le organizzazioni di gestione delle foreste demaniali in Europa hanno adottato diversi modelli organizzativi nella loro gestione. Tuttavia, hanno delle tendenze comuni. Tra i più notevoli sono le organizzazioni di gestione delle foreste demaniali (i) che sono posseduti dallo Stato ma che funzionano come unità privata; (ii) la maggior parte delle quali decide di separare le funzioni di supervisione e di gestione tra le varie istituzioni; (iii) che spesso impegnano l'aiuto di società private per svolgere alcune attività; (iv) che aumentano l'attenzione sul pilastro ambientale e sociale di gestione sostenibile delle foreste; (v) che hanno un basso livello di divulgazione di informazioni. Le prioritarie raccomandazioni per le organizzazioni di gestione delle foreste demaniali sono due: la necessità di ottimizzare l'equilibrio tra i tre pilastri di gestione sostenibile delle foreste (sociale, economico e ecologico) e di migliorare i propri sistemi di comunicazione con il pubblico.

In this thesis I show how various theories and methodologies borrowed from complexity science, organisation science, and network science can be suitably integrated to provide a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to the study of innovation processes. I study the network foundations of success in innovation ecosystems and I conduct several empirical investigations to identify those network characteristics that are expected to correlate with positive outcomes and success. I assess the extent to which the diversity and the strength in the networks of relationships boost the performance and success of scientists and early-stage firms. To this end I analyse two large-scale data sets about scientific publishing and start-up firms by making use of already existing topological network measures and by proposing novel measures to characterise the degree of interdisciplinarity and access to diverse pools of knowledge in scientific collaborations. Results provide empirical support to the idea that collaboration sustains innovation and performance by facilitating knowledge diffusion, acquisition and creation. First, results indicate that the networks of interaction between start-ups have a strong impact on the firms' longterm success. Second I find that, while abandoning specialisation in favour of moderate degrees of interdisciplinarity deteriorates scientific performance, very interdisciplinary scientists tend to outperform specialised ones. Additionally, I address the computational challenges related to the size of the data sets used and their time-varying nature. In particular I focus on the scalability challenges of incremental graph algorithms. The thesis contributes in this direction by proposing new efficient algorithms and data structures to handle and to analyse large graphs whose nodes and edges change rapidly over time. These efforts have been collected and made available to the public in the form of a web platform (http://lab.startup-network.org/) and an open-source python package, NetworkL (https://networkl.github.io/).

Cette thèse porte sur les organisations intermédiaires de transfert de connaissance et de technologies des universités vers l'industrie, au sein des écosystèmes d'innovation. Les pratiques de gestion et le contexte régional des organisations européennes de transfert de connaissances (OTC) sont étudiés afin d'enrichir la compréhension de leurs déterminants managériaux. Une approche systémique est adoptée qui aboutit à des études empiriques à de multiples niveaux.La première porte sur l'influence du contexte régional et analyse le rôle des acteurs dans les systèmes d’innovation régionaux. Sur la base d'entretiens dans des OTC régionales françaises et de la théorie des parties prenantes, un modèle théorique sur l’ambidextrie de création de valeur est développé, sept parties prenantes régionales identifiées, ainsi que six rôles organisationnels adoptés.La deuxième étude porte sur les pratiques de gestion interne et examine leur maturité par rapport à d'autres dimensions de la performance des OTC en mobilisant les capacités dynamiques et la théorie de la contingence. Il en résulte l'élaboration et l'utilisation d'un modèle de maturité holistique fondé sur les pratiques managériales des OTC. Les données d'enquête de 17 OTC européennes montrent que la maturité est la plus élevée dans le domaine des pratiques de “traduction et combinaison” et la plus faible pour “la gestion des connaissances”.La troisième étude utilise le groupe de référence et l'analyse de benchmarking pour développer une approche de regroupement de OTC européennes basée sur des indicateurs d‘activité. Un cadre est proposé sur la base duquel des clusters européens transnationaux sont créés. Il en ressort que les variables liées à la culture interne de transfert des connaissances sont principalement à l'origine de la création de groupes, suivies de la variable ”'écosystème externe” et de celle relative au budget.En conclusion, cette recherche contribue à l'émergence de nouveaux thèmes dans la littérature sur le transfert des connaissances entre l'université et l'industrie, en particulier sur l'existence et l'influence des intervenants régionaux, le rôle des capacités et des pratiques dans la performance des OTC et la capacité non seulement de créer des groupes transnationaux pour le benchmarking et le benchlearning, mais aussi la mise en évidence des variables qui déterminent la création de groupes. Cela a des répercussions managériales ainsi que sur les politiques publiques, mais également offre un terrain fertile pour la recherche future en management sur les liens entre les universités et l'industrie
This thesis research is on intermediary organisations for the transfer of knowledge and technology from academia to industry in innovation ecosystems. Managerial practices and regional context of European Knowledge Transfer Organisations (KTOs) are investigated to enrich the understanding of their managerial determinants. A systemic approach is adopted resulting in research on multiple analytical levels. Consequently, the empirical part of this thesis consists of three studies.The first is on the regional context and analyses the influence of actors in the regional innovation system. Based on interviews at French regional KTOs and stakeholder theory, a theoretical model on their value creation ambidexterity is created and seven regional stakeholders identified, as well as six organisational roles which are adopted in response.The second study is on the internal managerial practices and investigates their maturity in relation to other KTO performance dimensions using dynamic capabilities and contingency theory. It results in the development and initial use of a holistic practice-based maturity model for KTO performance management. Initial data from 17 European KTOs shows that maturity is highest in the area of ‘translation & combination’ practices and lowest for ‘knowledge management’.The third study uses reference group and benchmarking theory to develop a clustering approach for the comparison of similar European KTOs based on existing activity metrics. A framework is proposed based on which transnational European peer groups are created with a clustering approach. Variables related to the internal knowledge transfer culture primarily drove cluster creation, followed by the external ecosystem and KTO budget.In conclusion, the research findings shed light on emerging topics in the university-industry knowledge transfer literature, particularly on the existence and influence of regional stakeholders, the role of capabilities and practices in performance management and the ability to not only create transnational groups for benchmarking and bench-learning but also visibility on the variables that drive cluster creation. This has managerial and policy implications as well as provides fertile ground for future research on management at the intersection of academia and industry

Les cultures intermédiaires multi-services (CIMS) implantées en interculture entre deux cultures de rente permettent de produire de nombreux services écosystémiques. Parmi les familles d’espèces utilisées comme CIMS, les crucifères réduisent efficacement la lixiviation de nitrate et de sulfate en captant l’azote (N) et le soufre (S) minéral du sol (services de piège à N et à S). Les crucifères ont aussi la capacité de contrôler les pathogènes via des composés biocides issus de l’hydrolyse de métabolites secondaires appelés glucosinolates (GSL). L’objectif de nos travaux de recherche est d’évaluer les performances en termes de services écosystémiques liés à l’azote, au soufre et au potentiel de bio-contrôle d’une grande diversité de mélanges bispécifiques de crucifères et de légumineuses en comparaison aux CIMS pures. Nous avons réalisé des expérimentations sur 2 sites contrastés (région de Toulouse et Orléans, France) et sur 2 années pour tester les performances de mélanges crucifère-légumineuse en comparaison aux espèces pures. Les espèces testées sont i) pour les crucifères : colza, moutarde blanche, moutarde brune, moutarde éthiopienne, navet, navette, radis, roquette, et ii) pour les légumineuses : trèfle Egyptien, trèfle incarnat, vesce commune, vesce pourpre, vesce velue, pois, soja, féverole et lupin blanc. Nos travaux de recherche montrent que les mélanges crucifère-légumineuse peuvent produire simultanément divers services écosystémiques avec un haut niveau d’expression, allant de 2/3 (production de GSL, engrais vert à N et S), à quasiment 100% (piège à N et S) du service produit par la famille d’espèce pure la plus performante. La concentration et les types de GSL ne changeant pas en mélanges, les interactions des crucifères avec leurs pathogènes restent identiques. Via une revue de littérature nous concluons également que le service de bio-contrôle des cultures pures de crucifères peut être maintenu en mélanges crucifère-légumineuse sur une grande diversité de pathogènes et adventices tout en réduisant les potentiels dis-services sur les auxiliaires et sur le cycle de l’azote
Multi-services cover crops (MSCC) grown during fallow period between two cash crops provide various ecosystem services. Among species used as MSCC, crucifers can efficiently prevent nitrate and sulphate leaching by catching residual soil mineral nitrogen (N) and sulphur (S) afterthe preceding cash crop (N and S catch crop services). Crucifers also have a unique capacity to suppress pathogens due to the biocidal hydrolysis products of endogenous secondary metabolites called glucosinolates (GSL). The aim of our study was to assess the provision of various ecosystem services linked to N, S cycles and biocontrol potential for a wide range of bispecific crucifer-legume mixtures in comparison to sole cover crops of legume and crucifer. We carried out experiments in 2 contrasted sites (Toulouse and Orléans regions, France) during 2 years in order to assess these services and the compatibility of various bi-specific crucifer-legume mixtures. We tested a great diversity of species, such as i) crucifers : rape, white mustard, Indian mustard, Ethiopian mustard, turnip, turnip rape, radish and rocket, and ii) legumes: Egyptian clover, crimson clover, common vetch, purple vetch, hairy vetch, pea, soya bean, faba bean, and white lupin. Our study demonstrated that crucifer-legume mixtures can provide and mutualize various ecosystem services by reaching from 2 thirds (GSL production, S and N green manure) to the same level ofservice (N and S catch crop) than the best sole family of species. GSL profile and concentration did not change in mixtures meaning that crucifer-pests interactions were identical. Through a literature review we also illustrated that biocontrol services of crucifers could be largely maintained in crucifer-legume mixtures for a wide range of pathogens and weeds while reducing potential disservices on beneficials and increasing N related service

Pharmaceutical contamination is increasing in the environment and the consequences this will bring are of growing concern. The highest contamination of pharmaceuticals can be found in aquatic ecosystems and the organisms of these systems are therefore of utmost importance to research in order to understand the ecological consequences of pharmaceutical contamination. This report will reveal the effect contamination can have on an important apex predator often found in temperate aquatic systems, the Northern pike (Esox lucius) when exposed to the psychiatric pharmaceutical Oxazepam. The predatory performance of pike was studied before and after Oxazepam exposure by monitoring how fast each pike caught three prey of roach (Rutilus rutilus), as well as observing the amount of failed predation attempts when hunting the roach. The exposed pike displayed more failed predation attempts after exposure as opposed to the control group. Furthermore it took the exposed pike longer to catch all three roach after exposure while the mean for the control group decreased. Hence, Oxazepam exposure seem to have an effect on predation performance of pike but no definite conclusion could be drawn about to which extent this affects the foraging success and thereby the survival of the pike considering the complex nature of aquatic systems. More studies are therefore needed in order to determine the full effect pharmaceutical contamination can have on complex aquatic ecosystems and more specifically on an apex predator.

This thesis aims to enhance the current literature by investigating the causes for the service paradox in service ecosystems and the capabilities required to avoid them. To fulfill this purpose the following research questions were derived: RQ 1: What are the possible key causes for the service paradox for integrated solution providers in a triadic value constellation? RQ 2: What key capabilities allow integrated solution providers to avoid the service paradox in a triadic value constellation? This study used an exploratory, qualitative, single-case study of a service ecosystem, with an abductive research approach. In total, 13 companies within the ecosystem took part in the research, and the data was collected through five unstructured interviews, 19 semi-structured interviews, and one workshop. The result from the interviews was derived using thematic analysis. The findings are divided into three parts. First, we identified four key causes of the service paradox for integrated solution providers in a triadic value constellation. The four key causes are: (1) Cost creep, (2) Unsustainable in-house costs, (3) Brand damage, and (4) Industry-specific factors. Second, we identified five key capabilities for integrated solution providers to mitigate the service paradox. The five key capabilities are: (1) Relational capabilities, (2) Technological capabilities, (3) Learning and communication capabilities, (4) Operational capabilities, and (5) Market capabilities. Finally, the two previous findings were combined into a framework that provides a guide for which key capabilities mitigate which key causes. This study contributes to current servitization literature by deepening knowledge on factors affecting the success of servitization efforts. Furthermore, this study extends the knowledge of how a dynamic and collaborative approach impacts the development of novel servitization solutions. For practitioners seeking to develop integrated solution offerings, the framework developed in this study provides a list of priorities for the servitization effort. The framework also allows managers to evaluate their servitization process and implement quick actions to improve performance.
Denna avhandling syftar till att bidra till den aktuella litteraturen genom att undersöka orsakerna till tjänsteparadoxen i tjänsteekosystem och de färdigheter som krävs för att undvika dem. För att uppfylla detta syfte formulerades följande forskningsfrågor: RQ 1: Vilka är de möjliga huvudorsakerna till tjänsteparadoxen för integrerade lösningsleverantörer i en triadisk värdekonstellation? RQ 2: Vilka nyckelfunktioner gör det möjligt för integrerade lösningsleverantörer att undvika tjänsteparadoxen i en triadisk värdekonstellation? För att besvara dessa frågor använde vi oss av en undersökande, kvalitativ, enfallsstudie av ett tjänsteekosystem, med en abduktiv forskningsmetod. Totalt deltog 13 företag inom ekosystemet och data samlades in genom fem ostrukturerade intervjuer, 19 semistrukturerade intervjuer och en workshop. Intervjusvaren analyserades med hjälp av tematisk analys och resultaten presenteras i tre delar. För det första identifierade vi fyra huvudorsaker till tjänsteparadoxen för integrerade lösningsleverantörer i en triadisk värdekonstellation. De fyra huvudorsakerna är: (1) Smygande kostnader, (2) Ohållbara interna kostnader, (3) Varumärkesskador och (4) Branschspecifika faktorer. För det andra identifierade vi fem nyckelfärdigheter för integrerade lösningsleverantörer för att motverka tjänsteparadoxen. De fem nyckelfärdigheterna är: (1) Relationskapacitet, (2) teknisk kapacitet, (3) inlärnings- och kommunikationskapacitet, (4) operativ kapacitet och (5) marknadskapacitet. Slutligen kombinerades de två tidigare resultaten till ett ramverk som ger en vägledning för vilken nyckelfunktionerna minskar vilka viktiga orsaker. Denna studie bidrar till aktuell tjänstefieringslitteratur genom att fördjupa kunskapen om faktorer som påverkar framgången för tjänstefieringsinsatser. Vidare utökar denna studie kunskapen om hur ett dynamiskt och samarbetsinriktat förhållningssätt påverkar utvecklingen av nya tjänstefieringslösningar. För utövare som försöker utveckla integrerade lösningserbjudanden ger ramverket som utvecklats i denna studie en lista över prioriteringar för tjänstefieringsarbetet. Ramverket gör det också möjligt för chefer att utvärdera sin egen tjänstefieringsprocess och vidta relevanta åtgärder för att undvika tjänsteparadoxen.

The aims of this research about learners affected or orphaned by HIV/AIDS was to determine, by means of a case study, the psychological well-being of learners affected or orphaned by HIV/AIDS; the general performance of these learners at school; the nature and extent of social support they get from their schools, family, community and society; and the physical well-being of these learners; as well as to make suggestions for an ecosystemic psycho-social support of these learners in order to enhance and strengthen their psycho-social well-being. The literature review highlighted that, as a result of HIV/AIDS, new family forms are emerging, such as "skipgeneration" families, where the parent generation has succumbed to HIV/AIDS and HIV/AIDS-related illnesses and the families are made up of grandparents and orphaned grandchildren, and child-headed families, where grandparents are not available to care for orphaned grandchildren. The case study of this research revealed that parental illness and the death of parents of adolescents affected and orphaned by HIV/AIDS are causes of these adolescents' emotional trauma and grief, stress, scholastic problems, stigmatization and discrimination, missing out on educational opportunities and experiencing poverty. The empirical research also revealed that these children and adolescents do not get the necessary familial support from their relatives, especially immediately after the death of their parents. On the basis of both the literature review and the empirical research findings, the researcher made suggestions for an ecosystemic psycho-social support of learners affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic in order to enhance and strengthen their psycho-social well-being.
Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2009.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2009.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. Vita.
Includes bibliographical references (v. 4, p. 698-745).
This dissertation contributes toward the building of a theory of the evolution of business ecosystems. In the process, it addresses a question that has been posed by evolutionary theorists in the economics and sociology literatures for decades: "Why do firms in the same industry vary systematically in performance over time?" Seeking a systematic explanation of a longitudinal phenomenon inevitably requires characterizing the evolution of the industrial ecosystem, as both the organization (firm) and its environment (industry, markets and institutions) are co-evolving. This question is therefore explored via a theoretical sample in three industrial ecosystems covering manufacturing and service sectors, with competitors from the US, Europe and Japan: commercial airplanes, motor vehicles and airlines. The research is based primarily on an in depth seven-year, multi-level, multi-method, field-based case study of both firms in the large commercial airplanes industry mixed duopoly as well as the key stakeholders in their extended enterprises (i.e. customers, suppliers, investors and employees). This field work is supplemented with historical comparative analysis in all three industries, as well as nonlinear dynamic simulation models developed to capture the essential mechanisms governing the evolution of business ecosystems.
(cont.) A theoretical framework is developed which endogenously traces the co-evolution of firms and their industrial environments using their highest-level system properties of form, function and fitness (as reflected in the system sciences of morphology, physiology and ecology), and which embraces the evolutionary processes of variation, selection and retention. The framework captures the path-dependent evolution of heterogeneous populations of enterprise architectures engaged in symbiotic inter-species competition and posits the evolution of dominant designs in enterprise architectures that oscillate deterministically and chaotically between modular and integral states throughout an industry's life-cycle. Architectural innovation - at the extended enterprise level - is demonstrated to contribute to the failure of established firms, with causal mechanisms developed to explain tipping points.
by Theodore F. Piepenbrock.
Ph.D.

Une toiture végétalisée (TV) est un système complexe qui peut être décrit par ses propriétés, en considérant d'une part les propriétés de ses composants abiotiques (substrat et couche de drainage) et d'autre part ses composants biotiques (végétation, faune spontanée et microbiote). Comme dans tous les systèmes biotiques/abiotiques des interactions complexes se produisent. Tout d'abord, le système externe - introduit ici comme étant des facteurs - induit un effet de vieillissement qui se traduit par l'évolution des propriétés. De plus, les interactions entre les composants abiotiques et biotiques peuvent également induire une évolution des propriétés. Ces interrelations et interactions entre tous les facteurs et propriétés peuvent contrôler le niveau des performances qui pourraient être soumit à des changements dans le temps. Notre approche met en lumière la possibilité de simplifier les relations entre les performances de chaque facteur et donc de mieux comprendre l'évolution et les performances d'une TV. Ce besoin de recherche est né du fait que la plupart des études pertinentes menées à ce jour ont négligé cette dynamique temporelle de l'évolution des TV et des propriétés du technosol hautement réactives. Cette thèse vise à atteindre un point de croisement entre le vieillissement des matériaux inertes et la pédogenèse qui décrit l'évolution des milieux vivants puis à évaluer l'évolution des performances des TV au fil du temps. Pour ce faire, une méta-analyse a d'abord été menée, dont les principaux résultats ont mis en évidence que la plupart des facteurs et des propriétés ont une influence positive sur les performances des TV, montrant qu'il existe de nombreux leviers pour améliorer leurs performances et résoudre certains des principaux problèmes environnementaux urbains. Mais, considérant que ce recensement était loin d'être exhaustif, il a été noté qu'un énorme potentiel dans la détermination des performances des TV reste à découvrir. Des expériences ont été conduites afin de reproduire dans des conditions contrôlées certains facteurs considérés comme influents (e.g. pluie, végétation, alternance gel/dégel), sur des mésocosmes de 3 substrats de TV différentes choisis en fonction de leur composition et de leur granulométrie. Les propriétés de leurs substrats ont été suivies en suivant un protocole de vieillissement artificiel sur une période de 2 mois pour simuler l'évolution en temporelle. Nos résultats ont montré des preuves de pédogenèse précoce, en particulier pour le substrat le plus fin. Selon le substrat : i) la végétation stimule ou maintient la microbiologie ii) la pluie modifie la granulométrie par des processus de lessivage iii) le gel modifie la granulométrie par fractionnement. Il y a également un changement dans la structure porale, ce qui modifie les performances de rétention d'eau. De plus, les changements dans les performances des autres propriétés étudiées semblent plus dus à l'évolution temporelle qu'à une influence des facteurs. Le suivi des échantillons de référence ont révélé une diminution ou une augmentation du pH selon le substrat, de petites variations dans la microbiologie et dans les concentrations de carbone organique et d'azote total. Enfin, des prélèvements in situ, nous ont permis de mesurer l'évolution des propriétés vieillies de 7 substrats provenant de deux sites d'âges différents et de 3 végétations différentes. Elles ont révélé que l'évolution est principalement déterminée par l'âge ; les substrats les plus jeunes (3 ans) subissant une pédogenèse rapide par rapport aux substrats plus anciens (10 ans) dont l'évolution semble s'être relativement stabilisée. En considérant l'ensemble des résultats, on peut dire que dans les premières années, les trajectoires de pédogenèse des substrats de TV sont principalement dominées par la nature et la composition de leurs matériaux intrinsèques. Puis, après un certain temps, les facteurs semblent régir les performances
The green roof system is a complex system that could be described by its “properties”, considering on the nature and physical, chemical, and thermal properties of its abiotic components (i.e., substrate and drainage layers) and on the other hand its biotic components (i.e., vegetation, spontaneous fauna, and microbiota). As in all biotic/abiotic systems, complex interactions happen. First, the external system—here described as “factors”—induces an ageing effect that results in the evolution of “properties” over time (e.g., rain may induce leaching of fine particles; cold temperature may alter the vegetation development). Moreover, interactions between abiotic and biotic components may also induce evolution of “properties” (e.g., plant litter may increase the organic matter content in the substrate; decrease of the substrate physico-chemical fertility can decrease the biomass production). Eventually, such inter-relations and interactions between all “factors” and “properties” can control the level of performances that could be submitted to changes over time. Though the system is complex, our approach sheds light on the potential of simplifying each Factor property performance relations and hence understanding the system evolution and performances better. This research need originated from the fact that most of the relevant studies conducted to date have neglected these temporal dynamics of green roof evolution and their high reactive technosol properties. This PhD aimed to reach a crossroad point between ageing -of inert materials and pedogenesis- that describes evolution of living media and to evaluate the performance evolution of green roof over time. To evaluate this, first, a meta-analysis was conducted whose main findings highlighted that most factors and properties have a positive influence on the performances of green roofs, showing there are many existing levers to enhance the green roof performances and tackle some of the main urban environmental issues. But, considering that these lists were far from exhaustive, it was noted that a huge potential in determining green roof performances remains unearthed. Thus, experiments were designed and conducted with the purpose to reproduce certain factors considered as influential (i.e. rain, vegetation and freeze/thaw alternation), under controlled conditions, on mesocosms of 3 different green roof substrates chosen based on composition and granulometry. Their substrate properties were monitored over time through self-designed artificial aging over a period of 2 months to mimic real time evolution. Our results showed evidence of early pedogenesis especially for the finer substrate. Depending on the substrate: i) vegetation stimulates or maintains microbiology; ii) rain modifies granulometry through leaching processes; iii) frost modifies granulometry through fractionation. There was also change in the poral structure thus modifying the water retention performance. Other than that, the changes in the performance of other studied properties seem more due to the temporal evolution rather than factorial based. It was also noted in monitoring of the reference samples which revealed: a decrease or increase in pH depending on the substrate, small variations in microbiology and in organic carbon and total nitrogen concentrations. As a final step, in situ aged property evolution measurements from 7 substrates originating from two different sites of different ages and 3 different vegetation, revealed that the evolution is mainly driven by the age where the younger substrates (3 years) could be seen undergoing a rapid pedogenisis compared to the older substrates (10 years) whose evolution seem to have comparatively settled. Considering the results overall, it can be said that within the first years, the pedogenesis trajectories of green roof substrates are mostly dominated by the nature and composition of their parent materials. Then, after a while, the factors could take the lead

Orientador: Daniel Jugend
Resumo: Considerada como o elemento que une normas e conjuntos de valores, ideais sociais ou crenças compartilhadas pelos membros de uma organização, a Cultura Organizacional (CO) pode estimular a inovação, na medida em que influencia hábitos, valores e comportamentos. Há estudos que relacionam CO à inovação de forma integrada, porém, a literatura ainda apresenta gaps sobre a compreensão entre as diferentes formas de CO e suas relações com a adoção da Open Innovation (OI), que é definida como o uso intencional de parcerias externas e internas à organização, com o objetivo de desenvolver inovações. A OI pode ser analisada por seus fluxos, ou práticas, que são o inbound e outbound. A literatura tem indicado diversas dimensões de cultura organizacional e maneiras de compreendê-la, por exemplo, níveis como artefatos, valores e pressupostos, características de culturas nacionais e sua relação com a cultura organizacional ou análise dos elementos que colaboram com a inovação. Este trabalho utilizou o modelo proposto por Cameron e Quinn (2006), que por meio do questionário, nomeado como OCAI - Organizational Culture Assessment Instrument, busca classificar a cultura organizacional predominante das empresas, classificando-as como adhocráticas, clãs, de mercado ou hierárquicas. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar como o tipo de cultura organizacional pode impactar o desempenho inovador, por meio das práticas de OI inbound e outbound e moderado pelo desempenho do ecossistema de negócios. Po... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo)
Abstract: Considered as the element that unites norms andsets of values, social ideals or beliefs shared by the members of an organization, Organizational Culture (CO) can stimulate innovation, insofar as it influences habits, values and behaviors. There are studies that relate CO to innovation in an integrated way, however, the literature still presents gaps on the understanding between the different forms of CO and their relationship with the adoption of Open Innovation (OI), which is defined as the intentional use of external partnerships and internal to the organization, with the aim of developing innovations. OI can be analyzed by its flows, or practices, which are inbound and outboundThe literature points out several dimensions of organizational culture and ways of understanding it, for example, levels such as artifacts, values and assumptions, characteristics of national cultures and their relationship with organizational culture or analysis of the elements that collaborate with innovation. This work used the model proposed by Cameron and Quinn (2009),which through a questionnaire, named as OCAI -Organizational Culture Assessment Instrument, seeks to classify the predominant organizational culture of companies, classifying them as adhocratic, clan, market or hierarchical. The aim of this study was to investigate how the organizational culture type can impact innovative performance, through inbound and outbound OI practices and moderated by the business ecosystemperformance.Throu... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)
Doutor

O intenso crescimento industrial associado às pressões de todos os setores da sociedade por processos, produtos e serviços mais ambientalmente corretos, levou ao surgimento de novos paradigmas de desenvolvimento que assegurem a perpetuação de recursos para as futuras gerações, alicerçada no tripé da sustentabilidade. Nesse contexto, para o setor produtivo, é nítida a necessidade de que os sistemas humanos devam ser considerados como parte dos sistemas naturais e se aproximar ao máximo das características destes. Essa concepção de sistemas industriais similares aos ecossistemas naturais, onde pouquíssimas perdas são verificadas, é a base do conceito de Ecologia Industrial, principal conceito usado no desenvolvimento desse trabalho para melhoria da sustentabilidade de uma empresa no setor eletroeletrônico, o que até o presente momento ainda não havia sido estudado. A metodologia adotada seguiu as premissas principais da Ecologia Industrial integradas ao Sistema Integrado de Gestão, a saber: o estabelecimento de ecossistemas industriais, a medição de desempenho através dos graus de sustentabilidade, e o amplo acesso à informação, via criação de um software customizado de Ecologia Industrial, que considera inclusive a comparação de produtos, com metodologia similar ao início de Análise do Ciclo de Vida simplificado, no que concerne ao desenvolvimento de novos produtos. Neste trabalho, o estudo de caso considerou uma empresa de grande porte e uma das características mais importantes observadas neste trabalho foram as similaridades, no país e no exterior, para implantação de sistemas de prevenção de poluição na área de microeletrônica. No que tange à área de Surface Mouting Technology, o estudo mostrou que, ao contrário dos setores de base, o maior impacto ambiental está relacionado à geração de resíduos sólidos e significativas perdas ambientais e econômicas são percebidas devido à Gestão de Fim de Tubo. A análise da área de Printed Circuit Board mostrou que ecossistemas industriais incipientes existem, tanto para água como para resíduos sólidos. 6 Através dos estudos de caso interno a essa empresa, foi possível concluir que no setor produtivo, mesmo em empresas de grande porte, que apresentam princípios, políticas e sistemas de gestão claramente definidos, a questão da sustentabilidade não é compreendida e aplicada em seu sentido mais amplo. Quanto aos ecossistemas industriais internos, ferramenta fundamental da Ecologia Industrial, a formação é muito difícil em função de tamanha distinção dos processos existentes em cada planta industrial. Notou-se a viabilidade, com ganhos expressivos, da formação de ecossistemas externos principalmente para dois tipos de co-produtos da empresa, metais nobres e óleos. Assim, conclui-se que as ferramentas da Ecologia Industrial adotadas para melhorar a sustentabilidade empresarial propiciam maior eficiência a partir da adoção de métricas, atingem, em geral, a maioria dos envolvidos e operações, permitem melhor formatação e padronização de processos, favorecem a visão sistêmica da organização, tornando a tomada de decisão um processo factual e por fim, permite a implantação de métodos e/ou procedimentos para mudança estratégica, incluindo a mudança cultural, fator essencial para o desenvolvimento. Deste modo, foi possível observar que a formação de tais ecossistemas industriais, em geral, promove uma melhora ambiental, econômica e social. Estas ferramentas, muito provavelmente, podem ser rapidamente aplicadas, seguindo-se a metodologia proposta, em qualquer empreendimento, independente de seu porte ou processo de produção.
The industrial development and the increasing pressure for more environmentally friendly processes, products and services led to new development paradigms, based on the three sustainability pillars, that essentially assure resource availability for the next generations. The need for making human systems part of the natural ecosystems and similar to natural environment is clearly stated. This approach, which is the basis of Industrial Ecology, aims to enhance industrial symbiosis cooperating to mitigate process or material loss. Industrial Ecology was the main concept used to improve sustainability at an electronic company, first applied to the industrial area in Brazil. The defined methodology followed the most important premises of Industrial Ecology aligned to the Integrated Management Systems which consists in the establishment of industrial ecosystems, performance evaluation through sustainability levers and the spread of information to stakeholders, by the development of a customized Industrial Ecology software, which also compares products with the simplified Life Cycle Assessment methodology, when it comes to the development of new products. Indeed, the case study has been conducted at a big enterprise and the similarities for Pollution Prevention implementation between the Brazilian facility and the European one were the most important features related to the microelectronics area. Regarding the Surface Mouting Technology area, this study has shown that unlike other segments, the end of pipe is still applied. The most relevant environmental impact is the generation of solid waste and therefore significant economic and environmental loss is easily observed. The Printed Circuit Board sector was also analyzed and the results showed that industrial ecosystems are not formalized but do exist for water and solid waste. Important issues were concluded such as the idea that even though big enterprises present principles, policy and sound management systems, the sustainability concept is not fully comprehensive and applied. The development of industrial ecosystems is considered one of the fundamental tools of industrial ecology. It is hard to establish them within the facilities 8 once the processes differ significantly. However, the creation of external ecosystems for metals and oils, leads to great benefit. It was possible to conclude that the Industrial Ecology concept tools used in the company did benefit its industrial sustainability because it allowed more efficient processes through the use of metrics, involved most of the employees and operations, favored better process standardization, enhance the systemic approach making the decision process easier once it is based on real time facts and it finally contributed to the adoption of methods, systems and procedures that enabled deep strategic change and as a consequence improved cultural change, which is one of the essential aspects of the sound sustainable development. Finally, it is suggested that Industrial Ecology be used as a fruitful metaphor for facilitating the improvement of sustainability. The tools developed in this study might be easily applied to any enterprise, independently of the level or production processes. Ecosystems

Dans un contexte de limitation de l'utilisation des antibiotiques, de nouvelles stratégies doivent être mises en place pour préserver la santé des animaux, en particulier lors du sevrage. En cuniculture, les stratégies de limitation de l'ingestion permettent de réduire les troubles digestifs en post sevrage et améliorent l'efficacité alimentaire, mais induisent inévitablement un retard de croissance et une baisse du rendement à l'abattage. Ce travail de thèse avait pour objectif d'une part d'optimiser les performances de croissance et de rendement à l'abattage des animaux soumis à une restriction alimentaire via une modulation de la quantité et de la qualité énergétique des aliments et d'autre part d'expliciter les mécanismes physiologiques sous-jacents aux effets bénéfiques d'une ingestion restreinte sur la santé et l'efficacité alimentaire. Nous avons démontré que dans le cadre d'une stratégie de restriction alimentaire un aliment riche en énergie digestible permet d'optimiser la croissance (+2%), le rendement à l'abattage (+0,6 points) et l'efficacité alimentaire (+11%), via notamment une amélioration de l'efficacité digestive, sans pénaliser les paramètres sanitaires, mais ne permet de rattraper que partiellement le retard de croissance induit par la restriction alimentaire (-3% de poids à l'abattage par rapport aux animaux nourris à volonté). Un aliment riche en amidon était favorable à la croissance de ces animaux et en particulier au rendement à l'abattage et n'avait pas d'effet délétère sur les paramètres sanitaires. La restriction alimentaire et la concentration énergétique alimentaire dans une moindre mesure, modulaient la réponse immunitaire via une réduction de la réponse humorale digestive (IgA intestinaux) et systémique (IgA et IgG circulants) sans modification de la réponse inflammatoire. L'activité du microbiote caecal était quant à elle modulée par la masse d'aliment ingérée alors que le profil de la communauté bactérienne caecale, sa diversité et sa richesse ne semblaient pas modifiés par la restriction alimentaire. Toutefois l'abondance relative de certaines familles (Eubacteriaceae, Peptococcaceae et Christensenellaceae) et genres montraient des variations spécifiques à la restriction ou à la concentration énergétique de l'aliment. L'ensemble de ces résultats indiquent que les relations entre les mesures physiologiques et les effets bénéfiques de la restriction alimentaire sur la santé digestive restent complexes et suggèrent l'implication d'autres paramètres métaboliques non évalués. Des hypothèses complémentaires de travail doivent ainsi être envisagées Toutefois nos travaux établissent l'intérêt économique de la restriction alimentaire, quel que soit le contexte sanitaire, et celui de l'utilisation d'aliments à haute valeur énergétique sur les performances zootechniques. Notre étude ouvre dès lors des perspectives de recherches complémentaires d'optimisation des stratégies alimentaires via une modulation de la durée de restriction alimentaire et de la qualité énergétique des aliments
With the reduction in antibiotic use new strategies are required in order to preserve animal health, particularly around weaning. In rabbit breading feed restriction strategies allow for the reduction of post-weaning digestive disorders and improve feed efficiency, but are inevitably responsible for a reduced growth and carcass yield at slaughter. This work aimed to optimize the growth performances and slaughter yield of restricted fed rabbits through a modulation of the dietary energy concentration and quality. The second objective of this work was to explain the physiological mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of feed restriction upon health and feed efficiency. We demonstrated that, under a restriction strategy, a diet rich in digestible energy increased growth (+2%), slaughter yield (+0.6 points) and feed efficiency (+11%), through an improved digestive efficiency, without penalizing the sanitary parameters. The reduced growth induced by feed restriction was however only partially compensated for (-3% in final weight compared to the ad libitum fed animals). A diet rich in starch induced a higher growth and slaughter yield and did not penalize the sanitary parameters under a restriction strategy. Feed restriction and, to a lesser extent, the dietary energy concentration, modulated the immune response through a reduced humoral response at the digestive (fecal IgA) and systemic (plasmatic IgA and IgG) levels without modifying the inflammatory response. The cecal microbial activity was modulated by the amount of feed ingested while the cecal bacterial community profile, diversity and richness were not affected by the feed intake level. However, the relative abundance of certain families (Eubacteriaceae, Peptococcaceae and Christensenellaceae) and generas demonstrated specific variations according to the feed intake level and the dietary energy concentration. These results indicate that the relationship between the physiological measurements and the beneficial effects of feed restriction upon health remain complex and suggest the implication of other metabolic parameters that weren't measured. Complementary work hypothesis must therefore be considered. This work however enabled us to establish the economic advantage of feed restriction strategies regardless of the sanitary status and demonstrated the beneficial effects of a high energy diet on growth parameters. Our study opens the door to new complementary research projects regarding the optimization of the feeding strategies through for instance the modulation of the restriction length and the dietary energy quality

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A busca pelo homem por uma vida saudável tem impulsionado pesquisas por novas substâncias capazes de atender tal desejo. O composto fenólico resveratrol (3, 4\', 5- trihidroxiestilbeno) é uma dessas substâncias que apresenta uma variedade de ações farmacológicas, como potencial antioxidante, capacidade antiinflamatória, proteção contra doenças cardíacas e câncer. Apesar dos inúmeros estudos sobre os benefícios do resveratrol à saúde, há poucos dados na literatura sobre sua toxicidade em organismos aquáticos, e principalmente sua concentração no ambiente, tornando o presente estudo fundamental para a contribuição de informações sobre a ecotoxicidade do resveratrol no ambiente aquático. O presente estudo avaliou a toxicidade do resveratrol em embriões e larvas de Danio rerio (zebrafish). Para isso foi realizado o ensaio in vitro de citotoxicidade do resveratrol, ensaios de ecotoxicidade e ensaio de biomarcadores enzimáticos. A avaliação do resveratrol por cromatografia líquida de alta pressão (HPLC) também foi realizada. De acordo com os resultados obtidos, o índice de citotoxicidade (IC50), concentração do resveratrol que causou a morte de 50% das células da linhagem NCTC-L929 foi de 39 mg L-1. A concentração de resveratrol que causa mortalidade em 50% dos organismos expostos (CL50), nos ensaios de ecotoxicidade crônica de curta duração com larvas do peixe Danio rerio foi de 51,37 mg L-1. A CL50 obtida no ensaio de ecotoxicidade aguda no estágio embriolarval do peixe Danio rerio com 96 h de duração foi de 75,33 mg L-1 e a CL50 obtida no ensaio de ecotoxicidade aguda no estágio embriolarval do peixe Danio rerio com 168 h de duração foi de 50,87 mg L-1. Nas concentrações mais elevadas de resveratrol foram observadas deformidades em embriões e larvas. O resveratrol alterou as atividades das enzimas LDH e ChE no estágio embriolarval de Danio rerio. Na análise do resveratrol por HPLC não foi observado degradação do composto.
Dissertação (Mestrado em Tecnologia Nuclear)
IPEN/D
Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares - IPEN-CNEN/SP

Les contaminations entrainent des dégradations générant des dysfonctionnements des sols et des atteintes à leurs fonctions écologiques. Le phytomanagement, qui utilise des espèces végétales pour extraire, contenir ou dégrader des polluants, apparaît comme une solution adaptée pour produire de la biomasse végétale tout en favorisant la réhabilitation de ces sols délaissés. Les approches récentes s’accordent sur l'importance des associations végétales dans l’optimisation de ces dispositifs. Ce projet de thèse s’articule autour d’un dispositif agroforestier novateur, associant la grande ortie (Urtica dioica L.) à une plante modèle dans le domaine, le peuplier. Dans des plantations de peuplier, l’ortie offre de nouvelles perspectives liées à son aptitude à se développer spontanément sur des sites contaminés et à la qualité de sa fibre végétale, utilisables pour la fabrication de biomatériaux.A partir de deux sites ateliers contaminés par les éléments trace métalliques (ETM) et différentes approches disciplinaires, ces travaux ont permis i) de mieux comprendre le fonctionnement de cedispositif peuplier-ortie à l’interface rhizosphérique et sa réponse aux ETM via des approches de barcoding environnemental et de métabolomique ciblée ii) d’appréhender le rôle des plantes modèles dans la restauration écologique de ces sites au travers d’études phytosociologique et entomologique et évaluer l’implication des communautés associées dans les flux d’ETM par uneapproche écotoxicologique, et finalement iii) de caractériser et optimiser le potentiel économique de ce dispositif selon une approche agroécologique. Enfin, cette thèse ambitionne d’être un travail de référence pour les futurs projets de phytomanagement basés sur des associations arbres – orties
Contamination generates soil degradations and dysfunction, affecting many ecological function. Phytomanagement, which uses plants to extract, contain or degrade contaminants, represents a suitable solution for producing plant biomass while promoting the rehabilitation of these marginal lands. Recent approaches highlight the importance of plant associations to improve the efficiency of phytomanagement applications. This thesis focused on an innovative agroforestry system, combining stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.) with a model plant for phytomanagement, poplars. Within poplar plantations, nettle offers new perspectives related to its ability to spontaneously develop at contaminated sites and to the quality of its plant fibre, which can be used for the manufacture of biomaterials.Based on two field trials conducted at trace metals (TM) contaminated sites and several scientific fields, the present work enables i) to better understand the functioning of this poplar-nettle agrosystem at the rhizospheric interface and its response to TM using environmental barcoding and a targeted metabolomics approaches, ii) to estimate its involvement in the ecological restoration of these sites through phytosociological and entomological studies and to determine the role of these communities on TM flows through an ecotoxicological approach, and finally iii) to evaluate and optimize the economic potential of this system through an agroecological approach. Finally, this thesis aims to be a reference work for future phytomanagement projects based on tree - nettle associations

La culture de céréales vivaces, fournissant une production de grains sur plusieurs années consécutives sans être ressemées, est proposée comme une innovation agroécologique pour des systèmes de culture productifs et plus respectueux de l’environnement. L’espèce Thinopyrum intermedium est ici étudiée car elle propose un potentiel de production en progression et est susceptible de fournir de nombreux services écosystémiques visant la protection du sol et des ressources naturelles. La multifonctionnalité de cette culture est un élément clé de sa valorisation, compensant pour partie les faibles rendements en grains. Cependant, les caractéristiques du développement aérien et racinaire de la céréale sont encore peu évaluées au champ, et l’influence des conditions de culture peu définie (e.g. eau, azote, température). Ce manque de connaissances limite fortement le raisonnement des méthodes de gestion adaptées à la culture et favorisant l’obtention de services et la durabilité de l’agroécosystème. Ce travail propose d’étudier le potentiel de cette culture dans le cadre d’une implantation de 2-3 ans au sein d’une rotation céréalière. Il s’appuie sur un réseau de 12 expérimentations en stations ou en plein champ, en France et en Belgique. Ce travail a permis de caractériser le fonctionnement de la culture et d’évaluer ses performances pendant deux années de production consécutives (l’année d’implantation et l’année de repousse suivante). Plusieurs paramètres clés ont été identifiés (développement du système racinaire, conditions de l’induction florale, dynamique de croissance, composantes du rendement en grains) pour la compréhension des performances de production grain-fourrage, de protection des sols, de gestion des ressources et de régulation des bio-agresseurs (adventices) de cette culture. Les résultats présentés illustrent une évolution notable de la culture entre les deux années de production (augmentation de la biomasse racinaire et aérienne) à prendre en compte dans la caractérisation des capacités d’acquisition et d’utilisation des ressources du sol. D’une manière générale, les traits aériens (e.g. biomasse, phénologie, composantes du rendement) et racinaires (e.g. profondeur, biomasse, diamètre, densité) indiquent une allocation des ressources défavorable à la production grainière au profit d’une forte production de biomasse aérienne et racinaire, support de la pérennité de l’espèce. Les résultats de la thèse témoignent aussi d’un fort potentiel de cette culture pour concevoir des systèmes de culture plus diversifiés, plus efficients dans l’utilisation et la conservation des ressources et, favorables à la fertilité du sol
Growing perennial grains, yielding several years from one seeding, is suggested as a valuable option toward more agroecological systems, sustaining production and environmental goals. The Thinopyrum intermedium species is studied since it may offer significant grain yields while providing other important ecosystem services regarding soil conservation and natural resources protection. The multifunctionality of the crop is a key aspect of its relevance and value, partially offsetting the lower grain yields as compared to annual grain counterparts. However, a thorough assessment of its above and belowground growth is still missing, and the influence of growth conditions mostly unknown (e.g. water, nitrogen, temperature). This lack of knowledge is strongly hindering the development of suitable management practices to ensure services provision and to increase the agroecosystem sustainability. This work assesses the crop performances in a context of a temporary insertion (2-3 years) into a grain crop rotation. The study is based on 12 fields experiments, either on-farm or in research station, in France and Belgium. This work allowed to characterize the growth and functioning of the crop and to evaluate its performances during two consecutive years (establishment and following year). Several key parameters have been identified (rooting system development, flowering induction, growth dynamic, grain yields components) to understand the potential of grain-forage dual production, soil protection, resources management, and weed control. Results are notably illustrating the crop changes between the establishment year and the following year (above and belowground biomass increase). These changes are important when analyzing the crop ability to capture and use soil resources. Generally, aboveground traits (e.g. biomass, phenology, grain yield components) and belowground traits (e.g. root depth, biomass, diameter, density) indicate an unfavorable resource allocation impacting grain productivity, while favoring the vegetative biomass (roots, stems, leaves) that supports the perenniality of the species. Meanwhile, results of this work are showing a great potential from this perennial grain to build diversified cropping systems, using and conserving resources efficiently, and supporting soil fertility

L’écologie microbienne concerne l’étude des microorganismes et de leurs interactions biotiques et abiotiques dans un écosystème donné. Ces vingt dernières années, l’avancement des techniques moléculaires pour analyser la diversité microbienne et, notamment, les nouvelles technologies de séquençages (NGS) ont permis de surmonter les limitations associées aux approches traditionnelles basées sur la culture et la microscopie. Ces approches moléculaires ont conduit à une accumulation des données de diversité microbienne et de potentiel métabolique dans des communautés microbiennes des écosystèmes variés.Cependant, ces efforts ont été principalement appliqués sur des environnements facilement accessibles ou liés à l’humain, comme le plancton (marin principalement) et la flore intestinale. Néanmoins, ceci a conduit à une très forte augmentation de données environnementales et au développement de la bioinformatique par le biais de nombreux outils. Parmi les environnements délaissés des études, les environnements faibles en oxygène sont probablement également porteurs de nouveautés phylogénique ou métaboliques.Afin de palier à cela, nous avons choisi d’explorer deux environnements suboxiques relativement peu étudiés : la cave Movile (Roumanie) et les sédiments du lac Baikal (Sibérie, Russie). Notre but étant de montrer les diversités phylogénétiques et fonctionnelles des microbes de ces biotopes.Pour cela, j’ai d'abord développé un pipeline d’analyse de données métabarcoding (petite sous-unités ribosomique). Ensuite, j’ai appliqué cet outil sur des données de métabarcoding de protistes provenant d’échantillons d’eau et de tapis microbiens de la cave de Movile, un écosystème chemosynthétique pratiquement fermé. Nous avons montré que la diversité des protistes de la cave s’étendait à quasiment tous les grands groupes eucaryotes et provenait à la fois d’origine d’eaux douces et marines. De plus, la plupart ont été affiliées à des groupes d’organismes typiquement anaérobies, ce qui est concordant avec les paramètres abiotiques de la cave. Écologiquement, ces protistes sont des prédateurs mais aussi vraisemblablement des partenaires symbiotiques avec des espèces procaryotes de la cave.Dans une deuxième étude, j’ai eu l’opportunité d’appliquer ce pipeline de métabarcoding sur des données procaryotes et eucaryotes provenant des couches superficielles des sédiments du lac d’eau douce Baikal. Comme attendu, les communautés microbiennes dans ces sédiments sont particulièrement diverses et relativement enrichis en archées. Nous avons aussi pu mettre en évidence des lignées que l’on pensait exclusivement marines dans ces sédiments. Ces lignées sont probablement planctoniques mais s’accumulent au fond par sédimentation. Enfin, les échantillons ont été prélevés dans le but de tester les influences de la profondeur, du bassin et de la latitude sur les communautés. Aucune d’elles ne s’est révélée significative.Dans une troisième étude, j'ai utilisé une approche métagénomique afin de révéler les acteurs écologiquement majeurs dans les sédiments, leurs rôles et de reconstruire leurs génomes. Cela nous a permis notamment de mettre en évidence le rôle primordial des Thaumarchaeota dans le cycle de l’azote et la production primaire de molécules de carbone. Les chloroflexi et les protéobacteries ont aussi un rôle important dans la surface des sédiments du lac Baikal. Ce travail de thèse participe à la connaissance globale de la diversité microbienne sur la planète en mettant en lumière des environnements peu étudiés. De plus, l’étude de la surface des sédiments du lac Baikal apporte de nouvelles données sur le sujet de la transition eau douces/eau marines des microbes. Enfin, la métagénomique a permis de révéler le cycle des nutriments et les microorganismes y participant dans ces échantillons de sédiment. En résumé, ce travail vient mettre en lumière l’écologie microbienne d’écosystèmes suboxiques, notamment la surface des sédiments du lac Baikal
Microbial ecology is the science of micro-organisms and their biotic and abiotic interactions in a given ecosystem. As technology has advanced, molecular techniques have been widely used to overcome the limitations of classical approaches such as culturing and microscopy. Indeed, the development of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies in the past twenty years has largely helped to unravel the phylogenetic diversity and functional potential of microbial communities across ecosystems.Nonetheless, most of the environments studied through these techniques concentrated on relatively easily accessible, tractable and host-related ecosystems such as plankton (especially in marine ecosystems), soils and gut microbiomes. This has contributed to the rapid accumulation of a wealth of environmental diversity and metagenomic data along with advances in bioinformatics leading to the development of myriads of tools. Oxygen-depleted environments and especially their microbial eukaryote components are less studied and may lead to future phylogenetic and metabolic discoveries.In order to address this, we conducted analyses on two poorly studied suboxic ecosystems: Movile Cave (Romania) and lake Baikal sediments (Siberia, Russia). In this task, we aimed at unveiling the taxonomic and functional diversity of microorganims in these environments.To do so, I first evaluated the available bioinformatics tools and implemented a bioinformatics pipeline for 16S/18S rRNA gene-based metabarcoding analysis, making reasoned methodological choices. Then, as a case study, I carried out metabarcoding analyses of the water and floating microbial mats found in Movile Cave in order to investigate its protist diversity. Our study showed that Movile Cave, a sealed off chemosynthetic ecosystem, harbored a substantial protist diversity with species spanning most of the major eukaryotic super groups. The majority if these protists were related to species of freshwater and marine origins. Most of them were putatively anaerobic, in line with the cave environment, and suggesting that in addition to their predatory role, they might participate in prokaryote-protist symbioses.In a second study, I applied my metabarcoding pipeline to explore unique and relatively unexplored environment of Lake Baikal sediments. I first applied a metabarcoding approach using 16S and 18S rRNA genes to describe prokaryotic as well as protist diversity. Overall, the communities within these ecosystems were very diverse and enriched in ammonia-oxidizing Thaumarchaeota. We also identified several typical marine taxa which are likely planktonic but accumulate in sediments. Finally, our sampling plan allowed us to test whether differences across depth, basin or latitude affected microbial community structure. Our results showed that the composition of sediment microbial communities remained relatively stable across the samples regardless of depth or latitude.In a third study, we applied metagenomics to study the metabolic potential of communities associated to Baikal sediments and to reconstruct metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) of dominant organisms. This revealed the considerable ecological importance of Thaumarchaeota lineages in lake Baikal sediments, which were found to be the major autotrophic phyla and also very implicated in the nitrogen cycle. Chloroflexi and Proteobacteria-related species also appeared ecologically important.This PhD thesis reveals the taxonomic diversity of poorly studied suboxic ecosystems and therefore contributes to our knowledge of microbial diversity on Earth. Additionally, the analyses of surface sediment samples in lake Baikal adds new light on freshwater-marine transitions. The metagenomic analyses reported here allowed us to postulate a model of nutrient cycle carried out by microorganismsin these sediments. Overall, this work sheds light on the microbial ecology of oxygen-depleted environments, and most notably lake Baikal surface sediments

碩士
國立成功大學
高階管理碩士在職專班(EMBA)
107
This study clarifies the reasons behind the interfirm division of labor in the ICT business ecosystem, and further explains how Taiwanese ODM collaborates with foreign brand company to create higher performance of interfirm division of labor. The analysis of this research is the server business ecosystem, in which Intel is the platform leader. Server brand company and Server ODM need to rely on the technical information provided by Intel in order to effectively carry out server product developments. We believe that the technological changes in the technological platform itself will affect the interfirm division of labor between server brand company and server ODM. When the technical changes of the CPU belong to the reinforced type, the server brand company and the server ODM obtain their respective knowledge from Intel in order to strengthen and supplement their specialized assets, thereby pursuing the performance of server product developments. Moreover, when the technical changes of CPU belong to the overturned type, the server brand company and the server ODM obtain each other’s knowledge and their own knowledge respectively from Intel to strengthen and supplement their specialized assets, thereby pursuing the performance of server product developments. The results of this study also depict that modularization, standardization, etc. may be just one of the factors to determine the relationship of interfirm division of labor in the ICT business ecosystem. The knowledge assimilation based on the types of technical changes from platform leader, which will help companies to achieve higher performance of new product developments.

The role of earthworms for plant performance and ecosystem functioning in a plant diversity gradient was investigated as part of the “Jena Biodiversity Experiment”. Concomitantly effects of the plant diversity on earthworms, springtails, microorganisms and decomposition were studied. Two greenhouse experiments and one field experiment were conducted. The first greenhouse experiment focused on the responses of three decomposer groups (earthworms, springtails and microorganisms) to manipulations in plant species diversity (1, 2, 4, 8), plant functional group diversity (1, 2, 3, 4) and functional group identity (grasses, legumes, small herbs, tall herbs) in a microcosm experiment. Also, the response of the plant community to the four decomposer treatments (control, earthworms, springtails and combined) was investigated. The use of 15N labelled litter allowed tracking of nutrient fluxes from dead organic matter into plants and animals. We hypothesised (1) that an increase in plant species and functional group diversity will beneficially affect earthworms and microorganisms, and accelerate decomposition processes, (2) that plant species and functional groups will differentially respond to earthworms and springtails in the rhizosphere. As hypothesised, earthworm performance (biomass and 15N incorporation) increased with increasing plant species and functional group diversity. Presence of legumes also beneficially affected earthworm performance. The mechanism of the beneficial effect of increasing plant species diversity differed between the earthworm functional groups. For anecic species (Lumbricus terrestris) the effect of plant diversity was mainly due to the presence of legumes; nitrogen rich legume litter being preferred by this species. The endogeic species also benefited from increased plant diversity, but via belowground effects of plant diversity based on rhizodeposits. Increasing plant species and functional group diversity also affected microorganisms in soil. Respiration rates decreased with increasing plant species and functional group diversity, but correlated with root biomass. Identity of plant functional groups was also important; legumes increased and grasses decreased microbial respiration. Microbial biomass, however, was little responsive to changes in plant diversity. Plant performance (biomass, N tissue concentration, 15N) was strongly affected by the decomposer treatments and plant diversity. Increasing plant species and plant functional group diversity increased total number and total weight of seeds. Shoot biomass increased with increasing plant species diversity and, even more pronounced, with plant functional group diversity. The increased shoot biomass with increasing plant species and functional group diversity remained significant when calculated without legume biomass. Increasing plant species diversity but not plant functional group diversity, decreased root biomass. Plant functional group diversity but not plant species diversity, increased total plant biomass. Plant functional group identity mattered; grasses benefited most from the presence of earthworms. Decomposers strongly increased shoot biomass, being at a maximum in the earthworm only treatment. Root biomass decreased in presence of collembolans, and even stronger in presence of earthworms; however, it increased when both animal groups were present. In treatments with decomposers, total N tissue concentration and 15N enrichment of three focal species was increased. In the second greenhouse experiment the effect of the anecic earthworm L. terrestris on plant seedling recruitment and aggregation was investigated by varying the number of plant functional groups (grass, legumes, herbs), seed size (small and large), plant species diversity (1, 3, 6) and plant functional group diversity (1, 3). L. terrestris strongly affected the recruitment of plant seedlings depending on seed size and plant functional group. Furthermore, earthworms increased microhabitat heterogeneity. Seed translocation, surface cast deposition and formation of burrows presumably act as intermediate disturbances favouring the formation of a more diverse plant community. In the field experiment similar hypothesis as in the first greenhouse experiment were investigated. Manipulations of the density of earthworms (reduced and increased) and springtails (reduced and natural) were established. In addition, decomposition of litter as affected by plant species (1, 4, 16) and functional group diversity (1, 2, 3), decomposers and litter functional group identity was investigated. Consistent with the microcosm experiment earthworm performance (biomass) was increased with increasing plant species diversity. Microbial respiration increased with increasing plant species diversity and was correlated with root biomass. Soil texture and presence of legumes but not plant diversity affected the community composition of earthworms. Decomposition of litter was primarily affected by local abiotic conditions (block effects) and less by the plant diversity gradient. As expected, litter decomposition was strongly affected by the identity of plant functional groups; legume litter decomposed faster than grass and herb litter. Earthworms and increasing plant functional group diversity increased the decomposition of legume litter. The increase in earthworm density with increasing plant diversity accelerated the decomposition and mineralization of nitrogen rich organic matter; therefore, earthworms may have contributed to higher plant productivity in particular in treatments with high plant species and functional group diversity. The effects of earthworms on plant performance were more distinct in the greenhouse experiments than in the field. After two years from the establishment of the plant communities in the field we did not find significant effects of earthworms on plant performance (biomass) or plant community composition (plant species diversity or cover). Overall, the results document that there is a strong interdependence between plant diversity and the functioning of the decomposers and vice versa. The results suggest that increasing plant diversity has beneficial effects on decomposer performance. Legumes represent a key plant functional group that strongly affects the decomposition processes at least in part via beneficial effects on soil decomposer invertebrates, such as earthworms. The results also show that plant performance is beneficially affected by decomposers and that some decomposers, such as anecic earthworms, are promoting plant diversity.

碩士
國立嘉義大學
企業管理學系
106
With the changes of the business environment and the influence of global internationalization, as well as the development of science and technology, the shortening of the industrial cycle and the fierce competition, how do companies respond to changes in the business environment, However, it is more and more important to enhance the competitive advantage and the innovation of the organization. Only constant changes and adjustments can make the enterprise survive. How companies can improve their ecosystem innovation capabilities, how to successfully construct new ecosystems, and promote enterprise transformation or innovation have highlighted the importance of these issues. This study studies and analyzes product architecture and ecosystem innovation capabilities, and uses the questionnaire survey method to conduct questionnaires for Taiwan-listed companies manufacturing industries, and is targeted at high-level managers of the company., The total number of questionnaires issued was 1,282, and the actual number of copies was 207. This study used SPSS for hypothesis verification and analysis. In general, research shows the matching relationship between product structure and ecosystem innovation capability. The integral product architecture needs to match the technological ecosystem innovation capability. On the other side, the modular product architecture needs to match the modular ecosystem innovation capability. This study believes that what companies need is to cooperate and communicate with the industry and jointly develop and design to develop their capabilities and create business performance.

Despite increasing use of ecosystem models, the effects of model structure and formulation detail on the performance of these models is largely unknown. Two biogeochemical marine ecosystem models were constructed as the foundation of a study considering many aspects of model simplification. The models use a trophic web that is resolved to the level of functional groups (feeding guilds), and includes the main pelagic and benthic guilds from primary producers to high-level predators. Both models are process based, but the Integrated Generic Bay Ecosystem Model (IGBEM) is highly physiologically detailed, while Bay Model 2 (BM2) uses simpler general assimilation equations. Both models compare well with real systems under a wide range of eutrophication and fishing schemes. They also conform to general ecological checkpoints and produce spatial zonation and temporal cycles characteristic of natural systems. The performance of IGBEM is not consistently better than that of BM2, indicating that high levels of physiological detail are not always required when modelling system dynamics. This was reinforced by a section of the study that fitted BM2, IGBEM and an existing ecosystem model (ECOSIM) to Port Phillip Bay. The predictions of all three models lead to the same general conclusions across a range of fishing management strategies and scenarios for environmental change. Models that are less resolved or use simpler formulations have lower computational demands and can be easier to parameterise and interpret. However, simplification may produce models incapable of reproducing important system dynamics. To address these issues simplified versions of BM2 and IGBEM were compared to the full models to consider the effects of trophic complexity, spatial resolution, sampling frequency and the form of the grazing and mortality terms used in the models on the performance of BM2 and IGBEM. It was clear in each case that some degree of simplification is acceptable, but that using models with very little resolution or very simplistic linear grazing and mortality terms is misleading, especially when ecosystem conditions change substantially. The research indicates that for many facets of model structure there is a non-linear (humped) relationship between model detail and performance, and that there are some guiding principles to consider during model development. Developmental recommendations include using a sampling frequency of 2 —4 weeks; including enough spatial resolution to capture the major physical characteristics of the ecosystem being modelled; using quadratic mortality terms to close the top trophic levels explicitly represented in the modelled web; aggregating species to the level of functional groups when constructing the model's trophic web, but if further simplification of the web is necessary then omission of the least important groups is preferable to further aggregation of groups; giving careful consideration to the grazing terms used, as the more complex lolling type responses may be sufficient; and if an important process or linkage is not explicitly represented in the model, or is poorly known, then a robust empirical representation of it should be included. The work presented here also has implications for wider ecological topics (e.g. the stability-diversity debate) and management issues. Consideration of the effects of trophic complexity on model performance under a range of environmental conditions supports the ecological "insurance hypothesis", but not the existence of a simple relationship between diversity and stability. The biological interactions captured in the web are a crucial determinant of ecosystem and model behaviour, but simple aggregate measures such as diversity, interaction strength and connectance are not. Similarly, the work on the effects of spatial resolution on model performance indicates that spatial heterogeneity is a crucial system characteristic that contributes to many of the emergent properties of the system. The comparison of the full models with each other, and with ECOSIM, leads to five general conclusions. First, shallow enclosed marine ecosystems react more strongly to eutrophication than to fishing. Second, a selected set of indicator groups can signal and characterise the major ecosystem impacts of alternative management scenarios and large-scale changes in environmental conditions. Third, policies focusing on the protection of a small sub-set of groups (especially if they are concentrated at the higher trophic levels) can fail to achieve sensible ecosystem objectives and may push systems into states that are far from pristine. Fourth, multispecies and ecosystem models can identify potential impacts of anthropogenic activities and environmental change that a series of single species models cannot. Finally, and most importantly, the use of a single "ultimate" ecosystem model is ill advised, but the comparative and confirmatory use of multiple "minimum-realistic" models is very beneficial.

Mining for oil sands in the Athabasca Basin in northeastern Alberta is rapidly expanding. As economics continue to drive growing mining practices, waste management, reclamation and bio-monitoring strategies are becoming increasingly important. This project aims to determine the practicality of testate amoebae assemblages as an indicator of microbial community health and ecosystem establishment in wetlands impacted by oil sand processed materials (OSPM). Testate amoebae are unicellular, shelled protists that live in abundance in soils, leaf litter and in fresh water habitats. This group of protists forms shells (or tests) which makes them relatively easy to identify. Ecological studies have shown they occupy specific niches controlled by environmental parameters such as pH and moisture variables. These features make testate amoebae excellent bioindicators, and this project explores the potential of applying testate amoebae bioindicators in wetlands affected by OSPM. Using compound and epifluorescent microscopy techniques, testate amoebae species assemblages were identified and tabulated from a series of wetlands with different impacts by oil sands processed materials. Bacterial and fungal proportions were characterized to compare with the testate amoebae and identify possible links within the microbial community. A total of 44 species of testate amoebae were encountered in 24 wetlands, with Centropyxis platystoma and Centropyxis aculeata being the most common taxa. Natural peatland sites, not affected by OSPM contained the most diverse assemblage of testate amoebae containing Arcella, Assulina, Centropyxis, Englypha, and Heleopera. Open-water wetlands not impacted by OSPM were less diverse than peatland sites, but maintained between two and 12 taxa per site. Open-water sites amended with OSPM contained fewer taxa (between 0 and 4 taxa at any given site) and fewer individuals than any other site type, with Difflugia being most common. Bacteria contributed an average of 65% of the microbial community in open-water sites and an average of 80% in peatland sites. Peatland sites were significantly different (P<0.05) from all other site types in terms of testate amoebae, bacteria, and fungal biomass. This study demonstrated that differences exist in testate amoebae assemblages between site types do exist, this study establishes the fact that testate amoebae are too few (<1% of biomass), and not in sync with the other microbial facets studied (bacteria and fungi) limiting their use as bioindicators of microbial community establishment in wetlands impacted by oil sands processed materials. However the predominance of bacteria in all site types calls attention to their vital role in these sites and their importance in further research in oil sands reclamation.