Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'South Australia Foreign population'

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 259-270) Based on 18-months fieldwork, 1997-1999, in various organisations, social clubs and radio programs that were constructed by participants and 'outsiders' as an expression of a local migrant community. Attempts to answer and challenge what it means to be a Latin American in Adelaide and in what sense Latin American migrants and refugees in Adelaide can be spoken about as members of an 'ethnic/migrant community' in relation to the official multiculturalism discourse and popular representations of migrants in Australia.

Errata slip inserted. Bibliography: leaves 282-298. Aims to contribute to a clearer understanding of the nature of current patterns of population change in the peri-urban region; conceptualized as a set of overlapping zones of net growth representing the product of four demographic processes (suburbanisation, counterurbanisation, population retention, centripetal migration). Considers three key aspects of peri-urban growth dynamics in the context of Adelaide's peri-urban region.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Adelaide, School of Applied Mathematics, 2003.
Accompanying CD-ROM is part of the appendix. It includes computer programs, data files and output tables. Bibliography: leaves 166-170. Also available in an electronic version via the Internet (ADT).

Bibliography: leaves 224-236. The study aimed to determine the distribution of both P. thornei and P. neglectus in South Australia. Also to study the field and laboratory population dynamics of P. thornei in relation to wheat yields, to determine its host range on a variety of cereal and non-leguminous hosts and to identify possible sources of nematode resistant wheat cultivars/varieties. Preliminary experiments studied the involvement of root rotting fungi with the nematode in wheat disease.

[Truncated abstract] Wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum L.), an outcrossing annual plant, is one of the most widespread and successful colonising weeds in the Australian wheat belt. It was introduced accidentally during the latter part of the 19th century, apparently independently through the major ports of southern Australia. The widespread success of wild radish, and therefore the likelihood of distinct populations, gives us the opportunity to study the colonizing process with adaptation in annual outbreeding species, and to explore their genetic diversity. The aims of this thesis were to study the genetic diversity of wild radish and to investigate which factors are important in its success. After an initial review of the literature (chapter 2), the thesis describes experiments where genetic variation between and within populations was compared at 55 sites in transects across the wheat belt and high rainfall zones of temperate Western Australia (chapter 3). In chapter 4, variation in life history traits was compared with variation in AFLP molecular markers. The role of seed dormancy in the survival of the species was examined in chapter 5, and variation in the oil content of seeds and their fatty acid composition was examined in chapter 6. Finally, the results were discussed in chapter 7 with special reference to the adaptive value of outcrossing in annual weeds. The results suggest that wild radish has evolved to fit the Australian environment. However, measurement of 14 morphological and phenological characters showed that in most cases within site variation was much greater than that between sites. Most of the variation between sites was associated with geoclusters, a name given to zones of similar environmental conditions in regard to rainfall and temperature. Thus plants from areas with high rainfall and low temperature produced longer, wider pods with more segments, heavier seeds and flowered later than plants from more arid areas.

The Roe’s abalone (Haliotis roei) fishery near Perth, Western Australia, is uniquely accessible, and highly vulnerable to overexploitation. The sustainability of this intensively utilized fishery requires robust assessment. To facilitate an assessment, this research aimed to provide rigorous and detailed biological information with appropriate interpretation. Four critical aspects of the species’ biology and population dynamics were investigated: (1) the stock structure; (2) the recreational catch; (3) an appropriate growth curve and description of size at age; and (4) abundance measures against which to assess the impact of fishing mortality. Allozyme electrophoresis was used to investigate stock structure across the species’ distribution. Standardized variance in allelic frequencies between 10 sites in south-western Australia indicated high levels of gene flow across the 3000 km sampled (mean FST = 0.009). An isolation-by-distance was evident when pairwise measures of GST were related to geographic distance (r=0.45, P<0.001). The area of complete genetic mixing was estimated from samples within the Perth fishery to be less than the distance between the two nearest sites, or 13 km. Consequently, the Perth fishery comprises numerous discrete stocks, each requiring independent assessment. A possible mechanism for this population structure is the retention of larvae in the wind driven currents oscillating in the near-shore lagoons, with rare pulses of long distance dispersal via the southerly Leeuwin current, running further offshore. The presumed impact of intensive recreational fishing, combined with substantial commercial quotas for the Perth fishery, had led to tight restrictions on fishing effort, without any quantitative measure of the recreational catch. A stratified creel survey was adapted to estimate the effort, catch rate and mean weight of abalone harvested by the recreational sector. Catches were estimated for reef complexes, or stocks, of less than 10 nautical miles (18.5 km) of coast. Between 1997 and 2000 the recreational catch varied from 30 to 45 tonnes whole weight, approximately equivalent to the commercial quota of 36 tonnes. On average 88% of the recreational catch came from two stocks, while 98% of the commercial catch came from these two, and one additional, stocks. The incidental mortality from recreational fishing, measured as the number of abalone left dead on the reef as a proportion of the estimated catch, was approximately 7% and 20% at two sites surveyed. Spatial and temporal patterns of growth were examined on the west coast of Western Australia. Growth increments were measured for abalone larger than about 30 mm from tagging studies at five sites in the Perth fishery, a site at the northern extent of the species’ distribution and a site in the southwest. Mean annual growth increments of the 0+ year class were obtained by fitting components to length frequencies from five sites in the Perth fishery, and combined with growth increments from each Perth tag site for model fitting. A von Bertalanffy growth curve provided a slightly better fit to the tag data, but a Gompertz growth curve was a much better fit when the mean increment from the 0+ to 1+ cohort was included, with the inflection occurring at about 40 mm, the size at sexual maturity. There was no difference in annual growth between the two years studied. There was significant variation in growth between the reef platform and adjacent sub-tidal reef, but this variation was site specific and faster growth rates were not consistently associated with either habitat. There was no latitudinal trend in growth rate. Growth at the Perth sites was the fastest and similar at all five sites with growth increments greater in summer than in winter. Size and abundance of abalone were measured using fixed transects and quadrats. Abalone densities were highest on the outer edge of the platform, intermediate in the middle of the reef platform, and lowest on both the inner platform and the sub-tidal reef. The pattern of mean lengths of abalone was the inverse of the density. Mean length and abundance were driven by the presence of post-settlement juveniles on the outer and middle reef habitats. There was a high spatial variation in abundance, with densities varying between transects at the same site, but the trend between years for each transect at a site was not significantly different. Abalone abundances, by size class, were examined from sites sampled between 1996 and 2002. A low density of post-settlement juveniles at all sites in 1997 was reflected in low densities of the 1+ and 2+ year classes in subsequent years. Abalone abundances at an unfished site were steady over the seven years. Two sites were located within each of the main stocks utilised by the recreational fishery. Abundance was stable or increasing in one stock, corresponding to a stable total catch. In the second stock the total catch increased over time and abundances declined. Perth is the focus of the Roe’s abalone fishery, with recreational and commercial fishers take about equal shares of the annual catch. Stocks are highly subdivided, with most of this catch coming from only 3 stocks occupying about 20 nautical miles of coast. Growth rates were found to be lower than previous estimates, and more similar to other commercial species of abalone. All life history stages are highly habitat specific, particularly the recruits, and the distribution and abundance through time indicate that the main stocks are near, or slightly over, the limit of sustainable fishing.

The objective of this project was to determine if Galaxiella nigrostriata populations could belong to a metapopulation. Metapopulation theory describes how multiple populations with occasional connectivity are a ‘population of populations’. Some populations’ habitats have optimal conditions (source habitats), others experience regular extinctions (sink habitats). Connectivity allows repopulation of extinct or uninhabited habitats. Galaxiella nigrostriata occurred randomly in 11 seasonal wetlands in the Kemerton wetland complex in south-west Western Australia over a 16 year period. The wetlands did not appear to be connected. Around 70% of wetlands on the Swan Coastal Plain in south-west WA have been filled or degraded since European settlement around 180 years ago. Of those, seasonal wetlands are at most risk from degradation. Galaxiella nigrostriata mainly live in seasonal wetlands between Augusta and Albany and in three remnant populations on the Swan Coastal Plain. They are small freshwater fish (length), aestivate in moist wetland sediments when wetlands dry and live for about one year. Seasonal wetlands and G. nigrostriata are threatened by nutrient enrichment, salinity, introduced fish, landscape modification and changes to hydroperiod by groundwater abstraction and declining rainfall. Inundated wetlands that previously contained G. nigrostriata, and wetlands where they had not been recorded, were sampled throughout south-west WA. Fish and crayfish abundance was surveyed and water samples analysed on site and in a laboratory. Physical characteristics of each wetland and surrounding landscape were also recorded. Information about wetlands was analysed to determine if physico-chemical characteristics accounted for G. nigrostriata abundance or distribution between wetlands. Lentocorrals were then established in two Kemerton wetlands prior to inundation. They were sampled following inundation to determine how and where within a wetland G. nigrostriata entered the sediment to aestivate. Aestivation was examined to determine whether any physical features may be lacking which could inhibit population persistence. Galaxiella nigrostriata specimens from each population had morphological measurements and counts taken prior to tissue being removed for genetic analyses. Two mitochondrial DNA markers were used to investigate divergence and connectivity within and between populations and catchments. Most wetlands were small (mean 0.6 ha), had tannin-stained water and 41% vegetation cover. All wetlands exceeded guideline values for Fe and Zn and those near agricultural land exceeded guideline values for TN and TP. However, no physico-chemical water properties or habitat features impeded G. nigrostriata abundance or distribution between wetlands. Additionally, it was thought there may be a commensal relationship between G. nigrostriata and burrowing crayfish, with G. nigrostriata using burrows to enter the sediment. No relationship was found between G. nigrostriata, crayfish or their burrows, indicating an alternative way for them to enter the sediment. Genetic research and examination of wetland positions in the landscape confirmed G. nigrostriata populations (particularly Kemerton) are part of metapopulation. This research showed populations between catchments had not connected for thousands of years but populations in wetland complexes had recent connectivity. Management of wetlands requires investigation and monitoring of nearby wetlands which may be part of a metapopulation, and may affect population longevity of all wetlands.

Addressing inequities in health both within and between countries has attracted considerable global attention in recent years. In theory, equity remains one of the key policy objectives of health systems and underpins the allocation of health sector resources in many countries. In practice, however, current evidence demonstrates that only limited progress has been made in terms of bridging the health inequity gap and improving the health of the least advantaged. The persistence of inequities in health and health outcomes raises concerns about how governments and health authorities distribute limited health resources to improve the health of the poor and most vulnerable and thereby promote equity. This thesis is about equity and allocation of financial resources in the health system of New South Wales, one of the eight states of Australia. It investigated the extent to which there has been a movement towards equity in resource allocation to Area Health Services under the NSW Health Resource Distribution Formula and whether this has been reflected in equitable resource allocation within Area Health Services. It considered only resources allocated through the NSW Department of Health. The study employed a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods to gather and analyse data. The qualitative component analysed data gathered through semi–structured interviews with policy makers, health executives, managers, and other stakeholders to establish the resource allocation processes and the factors upon which the allocation decisions were based. The quantitative component analysed health expenditure and health needs data to assess the extent to which allocation of resources from the State to Area Health Service levels has been equitable in terms of reflecting the level of health needs. Two indices were constructed and used as proxies for health needs. Principal component analysis was used in the construction of one of the indices, using demographic, socio–economic and health-related data. The other index was developed using a combination of premature mortality and morbidity data. The quantitative study spans the two decades 1989/90 to 2006/07, with a more detailed analysis of material for the years 2003/04 to 2006/07. The findings of the study show a considerable degree of inequity in resource allocation with several Area Health Services (AHSs) receiving less than a fair share of funding for the years analysed, although some movements towards equity were evident. This contradicts the general impression that the introduction of the resource distribution formula in NSW has significantly improved equity in resource allocation. In general, funding allocation at the State level correlated significantly with population size but not with health needs of the eight AHSs in NSW. Similarly, within the AHSs, allocation of funds was based on programs and services and not on health needs. Key issues that emerged from the qualitative data as affecting the equity with which health funds are allocated in the NSW health system include limited use of the resource distribution formula at the state level, lack of an effective resource allocation tool to guide the distribution of funds within AHSs, and insufficient emphasis on equity at the AHS level. It is crucial that these and several other issues identifies in the study are addressed if current inequities in funding and in health outcomes generally are to be effectively reduced.

Freshwater mussels can play major roles in aquatic ecosystems by improving water quality through filter feeding, providing shelter to other animals, and enhancing the connection between benthic and pelagic systems through burrowing, depositing nutrients and releasing biological waste. Carter’s freshwater mussel, Westralunio carteri, is the only freshwater mussel species in south-western Australia and is endemic to the region. The range of W. carteri has declined by 49% over the past 50 years, resulting in its classification as Vulnerable by both international and Australian conservation regulatory bodies. While recent studies have clarified many aspects of the biology of W. carteri, there remains a number of knowledge gaps that are hindering the development of an effective conservation management plan. This study addresses a number of these knowledge gaps, including the population structure and microhabitat preference of extant populations; and the tolerance of mussels to increasing salinity and water emersion, which are believed to be the key ongoing environmental stressors to the species. Living individuals of W. carteri were found in 31 of 47 sampled sites (19 of 30 sampled rivers) and most of these populations had evidence of recent (within the last 10 years) recruitment. Density ranged from 2-169 individuals m-2, with a mean over all sampled sites of 29.5 individuals m-2. Mussels were strongly aggregated in the habitat (variance:mean ratio = 5.9, Lloyd’s Patchiness Index = 3.6). The abundance of W. carteri was positively associated with fine substrate grain size, closeness to the river bank, and the presence and height of debris above the surface of the stream bed, suggesting that burrowing difficulty and protection from water flow are important habitat requirements for the species. Secondary salinisation has been primarily responsible for the dramatic recent decline in the range of W. carteri and remains a major threat to the survival of the species. Laboratory assessment of tolerance to acute increases in salinity in adult mussels from two populations found LC50 values of 5.87-5.96 gL-1, substantially greater than values found in a previous study. Mussels were able to acclimatise to gradual increases in salinity, with gradual LC50 values ranging from 6.43-6.45 gL-1. Furthermore, survival times increased with a slower rate of increasing salinity. Future research should determine both the salinity tolerance of glochidia and juvenile mussels and the non-lethal impacts of increased salinity on mussel fitness, so that the impacts of rising salinity levels in the rivers of south-western Australia can be more accurately predicted. The salinity tolerance of teleost hosts for the glochidia also warrants attention, as the decline in host abundance or presence may also impact mussel viability. South-western Australia has undergone dramatic declines in rainfall and river flow since the mid-1970s and all climate models project this drying trend to continue. In two recent cases of mass mortality in populations of W. carteri associated with drying rivers, larger shells were significantly over-represented in the cohort of dead mussels. Field and laboratory experiments suggested that mussels respond to water emersion by tracking the receding water levels and burrowing into the substrate. There was no relationship between mussel size (shell length) and horizontal movement, but smaller mussels burrowed earlier and were more likely to be completely buried in the substrate. Smaller mussels were also more likely to be removed through predation or scavenging after death. In laboratory experiments, mussels were rapidly killed by water emersion in the open, but shading and burrowing into the substrate increased the tolerance of mussels to emersion, allowing them to survive for at least 60 days out of water. Finer substrate allowed for greater depth of burrowing and increased survival rate, independent of size. These findings have a number of implications: (1) projected future reductions in water flow are likely to increase the mortality rate in W. carteri; (2) mortality risk may be greater for larger, older, more fecund mussels, producing a disproportionate decrease in recruitment; (3) factors that affect burrowing ability, such as presence of appropriate substrate, will have a synergistic effect on mortality rate; (4) the adverse effects of drying rivers may be at least partially averted by increasing riparian shading. The ongoing global decline of ecologically important but less charismatic aquatic fauna is of great concern and can only be halted by increased research, monitoring and management attention. It is hoped the findings of this thesis, along with related research on the ecology of W. carteri, will help the plight of the species and the unique ecosystems upon which it relies.

Rhizophora stylosa is a common and widespread mangrove species on tropical coasts in the Indo-West Pacific and very common and widespread in northern Australia. This aim of this study was to investigate R. stylosa's distribution, growth, reproduction and population genetics over the last 300 kms of its range at its southern limits in northern New South Wales on the Australian east coast. Rhizophora stylosa was found to be more widespread between and within estuaries in northern New South Wales than previously recorded, with evident spread over recent decades. A new southern limit of South West Rocks Creek was determined, with only two mature trees are present. Rhizophora stylosa is in small numbers in most the 16 estuaries now known to contain R. stylosa in NSW. Its distribution is illustrated from intra-estuarine scales in small 'incipient' stands developing within estuaries to the colonisation of new estuaries. Despite the evidence of recent population spread, several restricted old stands were recorded, indicating a limited presence of R. stylosa at high latitudes for much longer periods, somewhat complicating a simple model of expanding range with recently warming climate. Mangrove species are generally understood to be limited by cold, but significant provisos on ascribing R. stylosa's recent spread to the warming trends of the last several decades exist. A shoot tracking methodology was applied for 2.5 years in three estuaries, including the most southerly, and detected little if any reduction of growth over a range of 260 km. Rhizophora stylosa has a reiterative mode of growth and an average of three leaf emergences (6 leaves) per annum was found. The growth results overall are comparable to some tropical studies, particularly if herbivory is accounted for, and R. stylosa appears not to be at its thermal tolerance at its known southern limits.;Leaf longevity was greater than comparable tropical studies, suggesting the trees were compensating for climatic factors in this manner. A reproductive study conducted at the same time on the same shoots found trees reproduce successfully even at the southern limits, with little or no evidence of a decline with latitude across the study area. Only a small proportion of buds finally form propagules (overall 2.2%), but again fecundity is comparable to tropical studies, although the full reproductive cycle from flower bud primordia to viviparous propagule may be slightly longer. A generally low level of genetic diversity measured as allelic richness and heterozygosity and evidence of inbreeding was detected during the genetic study on samples from eight New South Wales estuaries, three localities in Moreton Bay and eight localities in north Queensland. Spatially, the New South Wales and Moreton Bay localities are from one pool, but there is differentiation between localities and little geographic coherence along the coast. Different origins and histories are likely for the estuaries, supporting a hypothesis arising from the distribution of R. stylosa in New South Wales that colonisation from the ocean has been and continues to be sporadic on the northern New South Wales coast. The major variation in the genetic data is between North Queensland and the southern localities, as expected, although relatedness remains, raising interesting biogeographic questions on current or recently historic gene flow between distant populations. Many questions remain about R. stylosa at the ends of its range, but there are indications that it is well within its tolerance ranges in northern New South Wales, perhaps contrary to some expectations of a mangrove species at its southern limits.

[Truncated abstract] Spatial structuring of genetic variation is commonly observed in plant species due to limited dispersal and local adaptation. Intraspecific genetic variation has significant implications for ecological restoration because the source of seed or plants influences patterns of gene flow, and may affect performance if there is adaptive divergence among source populations. This study assessed quantitative trait variation, local adaptation and molecular variation within three common, widespread, long-lived forest tree species from south-western Australia to understand the distribution of intraspecific genetic variation and predict the consequences of seed transfer for restoration. The geographic distribution of quantitative trait variation of jarrah Eucalyptus marginata was assessed through measurement of 15-year-old trees grown in a provenance trial. Survival of trees from the northern jarrah forest was significantly higher than that of trees from southern jarrah forest provenances, where mean annual rainfall is much higher, but stem diameter at breast height (d.b.h.) of southern jarrah forest trees was greater, implying faster growth. D.b.h. of trees from within the northern jarrah forest also exhibited a positive relationship with mean annual rainfall, with maximum d.b.h. observed in trees from provenances in the high rainfall zone. These patterns may reflect selection for faster growth under high rainfall conditions or environmentally-induced parental effects. The percentage of trees bearing buds and flowers varied among latitudinal divisions. ... Neither genetic variation within nor among populations of any species could explain variation of emergence and establishment in reciprocal transplant trials. Collectively, the findings of this study suggest structuring of genetic variation in these species at a broad, rather than a very local, scale. This is expected for widespread, long-lived species, where extensive gene flow and temporal variation are likely to favour high within, relative to among, population genetic variation. However, there is evidence that the source of seed may have a significant influence on the success of restoration of these species, whether as a result of genetic variation among populations or due to other factors affecting seed quality. These results highlight the importance of integrating studies of molecular and adaptive trait variation when seeking to understand the causes and consequences of genetic variation within plant species and contribute to the development of seed sourcing practices for improved restoration success.

[Truncated abstract] Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) is a technique that can be used to capture and store water in aquifers for later reuse. This method recycles water that would normally be lost or discarded to the environment. MAR has been observed to have the potential for improving the quality of recharged water through a combination of physical, chemical and biological processes. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in groundwater microbial population structure during MAR and the major influences that drive these population changes. Biogeochemical MAR studies have the potential to assist in the improved prediction of the removal of contaminants such as nutrients, pathogens and trace organics from the recharged water. Biological clogging during recharge also has the potential to overwhelm an aquifers ability to process wastewater thus reducing the hydraulic conductivity of the aquifer. Therefore further research into the spatial and temporal biogeochemical processes that occur during MAR is required. The geochemical and microbial population dynamics of two contrasting MAR techniques were investigated at two different geographical locations (Perth, Western Australia and Adelaide, South Australia). These MAR sites contained aquifers of dissimilar properties that were recharged with wastewater that contrasted in water quality. The Perth MAR site received secondary treated effluent which continuously infiltrated the unsaturated zone into an unconfined aquifer aided by infiltration galleries. Reclaimed water was extracted from a well at distance from the infiltration gallery. ... Notably the background and recovered water was most dissimilar in microbial and chemical population structure to that described for the infiltration gallery and injection well. Microbial and chemical evidence suggested that the background and extraction well groundwater were unaffected by plume migration. These results suggested that extraction well groundwater was similar in quality to that of ambient groundwater. Significant geochemical and microbial changes of secondary treated effluent during infiltration and lateral movement through aquifer were implicated in addition to the forced hydraulic gradient created from extracting fives time the volume of infiltrating wastewater. This study demonstrated that microbial populations and the geochemical processes associated with MAR can be studied and compared. Multivariate statistical methodology greatly simplified a vast array of dynamic biogeochemical information that could be dissected for meaningful interpretation over distance and time. The study evaluated the major biogeochemical influences which resulted in microbial and geochemical changes where it was noted that microbial populations were more dynamic than geochemical variation over time. Additionally biogeochemical comparative analysis indicated that microbial populations could change in population structure before a shift in aquifer geochemistry was detected. It is anticipated that the results from this study will benefit further research into the biogeochemical processes involved in water quality changes (e.g. nutrient removal, pathogen decay and biodegradation of trace organics) as well as controlling biological clogging of MAR schemes.

Foreign aid has become, since the end of World War II, a powerful and cost-effective foreign policy tool for developed states in their relations with Third World nations. In the context of the South Pacific, Australia and Japan, the region's two largest donors, increased their aid commitments during the 1970s. This was a time of rapid change in the region, characterised by decolonisation and the subsequent arrival of the Cold War. The impact of the latter on aid policy was profound. Both donors, as members of the Western Alliance, increased their aid volumes to the region to counter the perceived threat posed by Soviet inroads. The period between 1976, a time of significant change in the region, and the present day is examined to take into account the influence that the Cold War and its aftermath had on aid patterns. The aid patterns and policies of Japan and Australia are looked at individually during the Cold War period and beyond. A comparison of the two donors follows, which shows the similarities and differences as well as the changes and continuities in their approaches to the region, and the extent to which they have evolved over time. While the thesis is guided by two of only a few comparative analyses of aid donor ambitions, an attempt is made to develop a basis for comparison that takes into account the unique nature of the South Pacific. It is argued throughout that commercial, humanitarian and security dimensions, in addition to the desire to be seen as good international citizens, and a sense of identity with the region, were key determinants of each donor's aid philosophy.

Assessment of trophic interactions between increasing populations of New Zealand fur seals (Arctocephalus forsteri) and fisheries in southern Australia is limited due to a lack of species specific demographic data and an understanding of the factors influencing population growth. To establish species specific demographic parameters a cross-sectional sample of New Zealand fur seal females (330) and males (100) were caught and individually-marked on Kangaroo Island, South Australia between 2000 and 2003. The seals were aged through examination of a postcanine tooth, which was removed from each animal to investigate age-specific life-history parameters. Annual formation of cementum layers was confirmed and accuracy in age estimation was determined by examination of teeth removed from individuals of known-age. Indirect methods of assessing reproductive maturity based on mammary teat characteristics indicated that females first gave birth between 4-8 years of age, with an average age at reproductive maturity of 5 years. Among reproductively mature females, age-specific reproductive rates increased rapidly between 4-7 years of age, reaching maximum rates of 70-81% between 8-13 years, and gradually decreased in older females. No females older than 22 years were recorded to pup. Age of first territory tenure in males ranged from 8-10 years. The oldest female and male were 25 and 19 years old, respectively. Post-weaning growth in females was monophasic, characterised by high growth rates in length and mass during the juvenile growth stage, followed by a gradual decline in growth rates after reproductive maturity. In contrast, growth in males was biphasic and displayed a secondary growth spurt in both length and mass, which coincided with sexual and social maturation, followed by a rapid decline in growth rates. Age-specific survival rates were high (0.823-0.953) among prime-age females (8-13 yrs of age) and declined in older females. Relative change in annual pup production was strongly correlated with reproductive rates of prime-age females and adult female survival between breeding seasons.

[Truncated abstract] The species-rich Southwest Australian Floristic Region (SAFR) is a global biodiversity hotspot. Characterised by a Mediterranean-type climate and nutrient deficient landscape, this region is endowed with 7380 native vascular plant species/sub species, of which 49% are endemic and 2500 are of conservation concern. Despite the global significance of this region, there is still only a poor understanding of the factors influencing high diversity and endemism, and especially the population genetic consequences of narrow endemism and naturally fragmented species distribution. Holly leaved banksia (Banksia ilicifolia R. Br.), although widespread through Southwest Western Australia (SWWA), has a naturally fragmented distribution, with generally small populations restricted to swales and wetland fringes with depth to groundwater less than 10 m. As such, it provides an excellent model to better understand the ecological genetic consequences of local endemism, population size and natural population fragmentation . . . Products of wide outcrossing (over 30 km) showed a heterosis effect over local outcrossing, indicating increased ecological amplitude of offspring following interpopulation mating. These results suggest that the breeding and mating biology of B. ilicifolia counters the negative genetic erosion effects of narrow ecological amplitude and small population size. Recent habitat fragmentation, and reductions in population size and increased isolation, is impacting on these processes, but further research is required to assess the ultimate consequences of these genetic effects for population viability.

In the age of globalisation dominated by mass communication, the flow of information contributes to a big extent to the worldviews of its "global citizens". From this point of view the mass media can be seen as one of the most salient sources of cross-cultural communication. This study investigates mass communication across cultures, focusing on South East Asia (Malaysia and Singapore), Australia and Germany. The centre of attention is the Western media coverage of South East Asia and vice versa. In this context a content analysis of newspapers of the three regions has been conducted. In addition, working practices and conditions of Western foreign correspondents in South East Asia have been examined. Apart from the investigation of inter-cultural media coverage, another focus of attention will be the examination of two levels of communication: The business level, concentrating on issues like e.g. the Asian business etiquette; and the private level, looking into the transition to a different culture from the perspective of Australian and German expatriates. Apart from investigating mass communication across cultures and to provide a written analysis of the findings, a series of radio documentaries in English and in German has been produced. They cover the following issues: Foreign correspondents in South East Asia, the expatriate-lifestyle of Australians and Germans in South East Asia, business etiquette in Asia, student exchange Germany-Asia, image and prejudices East-West and Tourism.

Accompanying CD-ROM is part of the appendix. It includes computer programs, data files and output tables. Bibliography: leaves 166-170. The average length of life from birth until death in a human population is a single statistic that is often used to characterise the prevailing health status of the population. It is one of many statistics calculated from an analysis that, for each age, combines the number of deaths with the size of the population in which these deaths occur. This analysis is generally known as life table analysis. Life tables have only occasionally been produced specifically for South Australia, although the necessary data has been routinely collected since 1842. In this thesis, the mortality pattern of South Australia over the period of 150 years of European settlement is quantified by using life table analyses and estimates of average length of life. System requirements for accompanying CD-ROM: IBM compatible computer. Other requirements: Winzip. Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view or print the PDF files.

Many researchers have recognized the value of investigating the history of race contact in Australia, but too few have sought to explain in detail why the Aboriginal population declined so much and so rapidly when colonization advanced across the continent. The central aim of this thesis is to identify and assess the impact of the major causes of Aboriginal population collapse in the Riverland (Murray River) region of South Australia. It is estimated that prior to 1800 the population density of the Riverland was between 0.3 and 0.5 km^ per person with a total population for the region of around 3000. In 1881 the South Australian State Census enumerated just 14 Aboriginal people for the Riverland region. The population collapse has been viewed in two stages. The first has been termed pathological contact and is considered to be the major cause of the collapse. Introduced venereal syphilis, gonorrhoea and smallpox spread ahead of the major European frontiers of South Australia causing extreme mortality among the Riverland Aborigines. The second stage began after European settlement of South Australia. Violent clashes were quick to erupt on the overland cattle route which linked the settlement of Adelaide with the Eastern settlements. The combined effect resulted in an increase in the mortality rate, a decrease in the fertility rate and social and economic disruption. The population was unable to recover.

The average length of life from birth until death in a human population is a single statistic that is often used to characterise the prevailing health status of the population. It is one of many statistics calculated from an analysis that, for each age, combines the number of deaths with the size of the population in which these deaths occur. This analysis is generally known as life table analysis. Life tables have only occasionally been produced specifically for South Australia, although the necessary data has been routinely collected since 1842. In this thesis, the mortality pattern of South Australia over the period of 150 years of European settlement is quantified by using life table analyses and estimates of average length of life. In Chapter 1, a mathematical derivation is given for the lifetime statistical distribution function that is the basis of life table analysis, and from which the average length of life or current expected life is calculated. This derivation uses mathematical notation that clearly shows the deficiency of current expected life as a measure of the life expectancy of an existing population. Four statistical estimation procedures are defined, and the computationally intensive method of bootstrapping is discussed as an estimation procedure for the standard error of each of the estimates of expected life. A generalisation of this method is given to examine the robustness of the estimate of current expected life. In Chapter 2, gender and age-specific mortality and population data are presented for twenty five three-year periods; each period encompassing one of the colonial (1841-1901) or post-Federation (1911-96) censuses that have been taken in South Australia. For both genders within a census period, four types of estimate of current expected life, each with a bootstrap standard error, are calculated and compared, and a robustness assessment is made. In Chapter 3, an alternate measure of life expectancy known as generation expected life is considered. Generation expected life is derived by extracting, from official records arranged in temporal order, the mortality pattern of a notional group of individuals who were born in the same calendar year. Several estimates of generation expected life are calculated using South Australian data, and each estimate is compared to the corresponding estimate of current expected life. Additional estimates of generation expected life calculated using data obtained from the Roll of Honour at the Australian War Memorial quantify the reduction in male generation expected life for 1881-1900 as a consequence of military service during World War I, 1914-18, and the Influenza Pandemic, 1919.
Thesis (M.Sc.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Applied Mathematics, 2003.

Chinese migration to Australia has a long history and had an important influence on Australian development. However, the last decade has seen an unprecedented increase not only in the scale of migration from China to Australia but also in its impact on the Australian economy and society. This impact however has remained little investigated and the present study seeks to examine one important dimension – the effect of Chinese migration on the labour market. In order to do this, it focuses on immigration from China to South Australia, a state which has been lagging economically and, until recently, was experiencing low levels of immigration and population growth compared to Australia as a whole. The study focuses on the period from 2003-2008 which not only saw a rapid increase in immigration from China to Australia but was a period in which the South Australia government initiated a population policy in order to increase economic and population growth. The study examines the changes in the scale, nature and composition of Chinese immigration to Australia and South Australia focusing on both permanent settlement and temporary movement. The major part of this study examines the labour market impact of Chinese immigration by analysing the participation of Chinese immigrants in South Australia’s labour force. It considers levels of employment as well as whether the jobs taken up by China-born immigrants match their qualifications and experience. Their experience is compared to that of other migrant groups and the Australia-born population. The study utilizes data from the 2006 Census on Population and Housing collected by the Australian Bureau of Statistics as well as the Department of Immigration and Citizenship data. The final part of the study considers the impact of recent policy on China-born immigration to Australia and South Australia and draws out the policy implications of the findings. It assesses how successful immigration from China has been in meeting skill and labour shortages and in contributing to the development objectives of the South Australian government. It makes suggestions for immigration and settlement policy to maximize the benefits of China-born migration to South Australia and to the migrants themselves.
Thesis (M.A.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Social Sciences, 2010

The average length of life from birth until death in a human population is a single statistic that is often used to characterise the prevailing health status of the population. It is one of many statistics calculated from an analysis that, for each age, combines the number of deaths with the size of the population in which these deaths occur. This analysis is generally known as life table analysis. Life tables have only occasionally been produced specifically for South Australia, although the necessary data has been routinely collected since 1842. In this thesis, the mortality pattern of South Australia over the period of 150 years of European settlement is quantified by using life table analyses and estimates of average length of life. In Chapter 1, a mathematical derivation is given for the lifetime statistical distribution function that is the basis of life table analysis, and from which the average length of life or current expected life is calculated. This derivation uses mathematical notation that clearly shows the deficiency of current expected life as a measure of the life expectancy of an existing population. Four statistical estimation procedures are defined, and the computationally intensive method of bootstrapping is discussed as an estimation procedure for the standard error of each of the estimates of expected life. A generalisation of this method is given to examine the robustness of the estimate of current expected life. In Chapter 2, gender and age-specific mortality and population data are presented for twenty five three-year periods; each period encompassing one of the colonial (1841-1901) or post-Federation (1911-96) censuses that have been taken in South Australia. For both genders within a census period, four types of estimate of current expected life, each with a bootstrap standard error, are calculated and compared, and a robustness assessment is made. In Chapter 3, an alternate measure of life expectancy known as generation expected life is considered. Generation expected life is derived by extracting, from official records arranged in temporal order, the mortality pattern of a notional group of individuals who were born in the same calendar year. Several estimates of generation expected life are calculated using South Australian data, and each estimate is compared to the corresponding estimate of current expected life. Additional estimates of generation expected life calculated using data obtained from the Roll of Honour at the Australian War Memorial quantify the reduction in male generation expected life for 1881-1900 as a consequence of military service during World War I, 1914-18, and the Influenza Pandemic, 1919.
Thesis (M.Sc.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Applied Mathematics, 2003.

Bibliography: leaves 103-120.
1 v. (various pagings) : ill. (some col.), maps ; 30 cm.
Species interactions are dependent on the water regime, which affects the relative allocation to below (sediment resource acquisition) and above ground (C acquisition) parts. At shallow and regularily exposed sites, Baumea is the superior competitor. In Hacks and Bool Lagoon, South Australia, changing distribution patterns occur in deep and permanently flooded conditions, where Baumea dies back, paving the way for Triglochin to passively take it's place.
Thesis (Ph.D.)--Dept. of Botany, University of Adelaide, 1993

M.Phil. (Mineral Economics)
The energy crises in the seventies and eighties had led to an awareness in the world's business community about the profit potential in the energy mineral supply market. All the sectors in this industry came under scrutiny, also the coal export sector. This awareness and rising interest in the world's coal export market caused amongst others, two major developments : a) a significant rise in investments in coal exporting ventures b) a higher expectation by shareholders with respect to capital returns and future growth Most companies participated in this expansion campaign, and committed resources to achieving the higher objectives. The downturn in'the world's economy , and the resultant diminished demand for energy minerals, caused the coal export market to come under pressure. The long lead time existing in the establishment of mining projects, and the fact that mines under construction cannot be mothballed until times improve, also contributed to the over-capacity situation that eventuated in the coal export industry worldwide. Many companies faced a battle for survival, and participants in the industry had to re-appraise their long term strategies. Established coal producing companies had to determine which strategies would best answer their requirements : a) whether it be to divest from coal production b) whether they should diversify their operational base and many others...

This is the first study of official relations between South Africa and Australia as conducted through resident High Commissions or Embassies. It reaches the conclusion that, though neither country loomed large on the other's scale of priorities, the relationship was at the outset perceived to be of greater value to Australia than to South Africa. It was initiated by the Australian government in 1945 as was the airlink which connected the two countries in 1952. Then flown by propeller-driven aircraft, the air route led to the expansion of Australian territory when the United Kingdom transferred to Australia sovereignty over the Cocos (Keeling) Islands in the Indian Ocean, eight hours flying time from Perth and an essential refuelling stop en route to Southern Afnca. The first Australian High Commissioner, Sir George Knowles, arrived in South Africa in August 1946. The Smuts government did not attach much value to the relationship. Pleading shortage of staff, and to the embarrassment of the Australian government, it had not reciprocated with its own appointment by the time of its fall in May 1948. On assuming office the following month the new Prime Minister, Dr Malan responded positively to an Australian reminder about the lack of a South African High Commissioner. Dr P.R. Viljoen was appointed to the position and arrived in Canberra in June 1949. The relationship lacked substance and for relatively lengthy periods in the 1950s the High Commissioner's post was left vacant on both sides. The Australian government had proposed the establishment of relations on grounds inter alia that members of the British Commonwealth should be informed about each other's attitudes, policies and problems in the work of the United Nations. Yet it was the United Nations, particularly its composition, which subjected the relationship to its greatest strains. In focusing on the role and functions of individual diplomats the study throws light on what the profession or occupation of diplomacy encompassed at the time. Also canvassed is the development of the South African and Australian Departments of External Affairs from their beginnings to the early 1960s.
D. Litt et Phil. (History)

Measuring socioeconomic position (SEP) in population chronic disease and risk factor surveillance systems is essential for monitoring changes in socioeconomic inequities in health over time. A life course approach in epidemiology considers the long-term effects of physical and social exposures during gestation, childhood, adolescence, and later adult life on health. Previous studies provide evidence that socioeconomic factors at different stages of the life course influence current health status. Measures of SEP during early life to supplement existing indicators of current SEP are required to more adequately explain the contribution of socioeconomic factors to health status and monitor health inequities. The aim of this thesis was to examine how a life course perspective could enhance the monitoring of SEP in chronic disease and risk factor surveillance systems. The thesis reviewed indicators of early life SEP used in previous research, determined indicators of early life SEP that may be useful in South Australian surveillance systems, and examined the association of SEP over the life course and self-rated health in adulthood across different population groups to demonstrate that inclusion of indicators of early life SEP in surveillance systems could allow health inequities to be monitored among socially mobile and stable groups. A variety of indicators, such as parents’ education level and occupation, and financial circumstances and living conditions during childhood, have been used in different study designs in many countries. Indicators of early life SEP used to monitor trends in the health and SEP of populations over time, and to analyse long-term effects of policies on the changing health of populations, need to be feasible to measure retrospectively, and relevant to the historical, geographical and sociocultural context in which the surveillance system is operating. Retrospective recall of various indicators of early life SEP was examined in a telephone survey of a representative South Australian sample of adults. The highest proportions of missing data were observed for maternal grandfather’s occupation, and mother’s and father’s highest education level. Family structure, housing tenure, and family financial situation when the respondent was aged ten, and mother and father’s main occupation had lower item non-response. Respondents with missing data on early life SEP indicators were disadvantaged in terms of current SEP compared to those who provided this information. The differential response to early life SEP questions according to current circumstances has implications for chronic disease surveillance examining the life course impact of socioeconomic disadvantage. While face-to-face surveys are considered the gold standard of interviewing techniques, computer-assisted telephone interviewing is often preferred for cost and convenience. Recall of father’s and mother’s highest education level in the telephone survey was compared to that obtained in a face-to-face interview survey. The proportion of respondents who provided information about their father’s and mother’s highest education level was significantly higher in the face-to-face interview than in the telephone interview. Survey mode, however, did not influence the finding that respondents with missing data for parents’ education were more likely to be socioeconomically disadvantaged. Alternative indicators of early life SEP, such as material and financial circumstances, are likely to be more appropriate than parents’ education for life course analyses of health inequities using surveillance data. Questions about family financial situation and housing tenure during childhood and adulthood asked in the cross-sectional telephone survey were used to examine the association of SEP over the life course with self-rated health in adulthood. Disadvantaged SEP during both childhood and adulthood and upward social mobility in financial situation were associated with a reduced prevalence of excellent or very good health, although this relationship varied across gender, rurality, and country of birth groups. Trend data from a chronic disease and risk factor surveillance system indicated that socioeconomic disadvantage in adulthood was associated with poorer self-rated health. The surveillance system, however, does not currently contain any measures of early life SEP. Overlaying the social mobility variables on the surveillance data indicated how inequities in health could be differentiated in greater detail if early life SEP was measured in addition to current SEP. Inclusion of life course SEP measures in surveillance will enable monitoring of health inequities trends among socially mobile and stable groups. Life course measures are an innovative way to supplement other SEP indicators in surveillance systems. Considerable information can be gained with the addition of a few questions. This will provide further insight into the determinants of health and illness and enable improved monitoring of the effects of policies and interventions on health inequities and intergenerational disadvantage.
http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1367190
Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of Adelaide, School of Population Health and Clinical Practice, 2009

The Botryosphaeriaceae (Ascomycetes), with more than 2000 species (http://www.indexfungorum.com), represents one of most widely distributed groups of fungal plant pathogens. These species are known to infect both economically important crops and native plants. In this study species of the Botryosphaeriaceae associated with native woody hosts in South Africa and Western Australia were investigated. Based on ITS rDNA sequence comparisons, combined with phenotypic characters and PCR-RFLP analyses, eight species were identified on native Syzygium cordatum in South Africa. These included Neofusicoccum parvum, N. ribis, N. luteum, N. australe, N. mangiferae, Botryosphaeria dothidea, Lasiodiplodia gonubiensis and L. theobromae. Three additional cryptic species were identified in the N. parvum / N. ribis complex from S. cordatum using five gene genealogies and the genealogical concordance phylogenetic species recognition (GCPSR). These are the first species of the Botryosphaeriaceae described using fixed single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as a defining character, and are described as N. cordaticola, N. kwambonambiense and N. umdonicola. The analysis of microsatellite marker data supported the distinction of these species. These data were also used to characterise the distribution of the latter three species and N. parvum on S. cordatum. Finding the same haplotypes of N. parvum on S. cordatum and closely related, planted Eucalyptus indicates movement of this pathogen between these hosts. Since all of the species recognised from S. cordatum were pathogenic to Eucalyptus, and the newly described species were more virulent than N. parvum and N. ribis on S. cordatum, their movement between hosts can pose a serious treat to both native and non-native plants. From Western Australia, molecular sequence data and morphological analyses revealed seven new species of the Botryosphaeriaceae from baobab and other native trees. These included Dothiorella longicollis, Fusicoccum ramosum, Lasiodiplodia margaritacea, Neoscytalidium novaehollandiae, Pseudofusicoccum adansoniae, P. ardesiacum and P. kimberleyense. In the literature review, which also considers work done in this thesis, the influence of molecular tools on the taxonomy of the Botryosphaeriaceae during the last decade, with a particular focus on cryptic species recognition, is considered. This study clearly showed that a polyphasic approach in species identification, as well as investigation of less well studied native flora, will reveal numerous new and cryptic species in the Botrysphaeriaceae and improve our knowledge of this group of important plant pathogens in the future.
Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2011.
Microbiology and Plant Pathology
Unrestricted

Humpback whales undertake long-distance seasonal migrations between low latitude winter breeding grounds and high latitude summer feeding grounds. Although arguably one of the best studied of all baleen whales, there remain some critical gaps in our understanding of their population structure, migratory movement and the mixing of putative populations on the feeding grounds. Addressing these uncertainties is important in the development of demographic models that reconstruct the historical trajectory of population decline and recovery following the cessation of commercial whaling. Utilising both mitochondrial and nuclear genetic markers, this thesis examines the population structure and distribution of humpback whales that migrate to separate winter breeding grounds along the north-western and north-eastern coasts of Australia, and their interaction with the endangered populations of the South Pacific. The project investigated three important gaps in knowledge: population structure among putative breeding populations, the mixing of breeding populations on high latitude Antarctic feeding grounds and evidence for sex-specific migration along the eastern Australian migratory corridor. The thesis also reports the discovery and utility of novel nuclear genetic markers (single nucleotide polymorphisms, SNPs). These markers hold promise for facilitating more effective multi-laboratory collaboration. Among the Australian putative populations, weak but significant differentiation was detected across ten microsatellite loci and mitochondrial control region sequences. This pattern of low level differentiation is emerging as a characteristic of Southern Hemisphere humpback whale populations indicating extensive movement at least historically, if not presently. As the first step towards assessing the mixing of Australian and endangered South Pacific humpback whale breeding populations on the Antarctic feeding grounds, a series of simulations were conducted to estimate the statistical power of both mitochondrial and nuclear microsatellite data from these populations for a mixed-stock analysis (MSA). The results of these simulations confirmed that we can draw robust conclusions from our MSA of Antarctic feeding ground samples collected south of eastern Australia and New Zealand in 2010. Using combined mtDNA and microsatellite datasets revealed substantial contributions from both eastern Australia and New Caledonia, but not western Australia; strengthening emerging evidence that these Antarctic waters are utilized by humpback whales from both eastern Australia and the more vulnerable breeding population of New Caledonia, representing Oceania. There was no compelling evidence for sex-specific migration within the eastern Australian breeding population as indicated by the lack of significant differences detected in the patterns of haplotype sharing, haplotype frequency or haplotype differentiation between males and females. Instead, the significant differentiation revealed between the sexes at the nucleotide level for one sampling location and between sampling locations at the haplotype level suggests that humpback whale migration along eastern Australia may be more complex than previously thought. Increasing the statistical power of our genetic datasets through the addition of new informative markers, including the SNPs discovered in this project, and incorporating non-genetic data, will assist in future studies of the population genetic structure and dynamics of Southern Hemisphere humpback whales.

University of Technology Sydney. Faculty of Health.
Background and aims: Diabetes during pregnancy – including pre-existing diabetes and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) – is an increasing public health problem worldwide. The objective of this thesis is to investigate the association between method of birth and the perinatal outcomes of women with diabetes during pregnancy. It aims to: • identify the main contributors to caesarean section amongst women with diabetes using the Robson classification for caesarean section • determine neonatal outcomes for babies born to women with diabetes by method of birth • compare the rate of obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIs) for women with and without GDM and investigate the association between combining episiotomy with method of birth and the risk of OASIs • compare the perinatal outcomes for women giving birth with diabetes by public and private hospital sector. Materials and method: Four population-based studies were conducted using the New South Wales (NSW) Perinatal Data Collection. The study population comprised 1,103,380 women who gave birth in NSW between 2002 and 2013 and their babies. Of these women 7,200 (0.7%) had pre-existing diabetes, 57,822 (5.2%) had GDM and 1,038,358 (94.1%) had no diabetes. Women were stratified by onset of labour, method of birth, and birthweight. Neonatal outcomes included perinatal death, five minutes Apgar score, admission to neonatal intensive care and/or special care nursery and neonatal resuscitation. The primary maternal outcome was OASI. Results: The total caesarean section rate was higher among women with pre-existing diabetes (53.6%) and women with GDM (36.8%) compared to women without diabetes (28.5%). Robson group five (multiparity with a history of caesarean section) was the main predictor of the total caesarean section rates in all women. Of the 39,625 women with diabetes who laboured, 32.1% had instrumental or caesarean births that were associated with poorer outcomes. Women with GDM who had an instrumental vaginal birth and gave birth to babies with birthweights ≥4000g had a significant increase in the odds of OASIs compared to women without diabetes. Combining episiotomy and forceps was a protective factor on OASIs. Similar proportions of no labour caesarean section were observed among women with pre-existing diabetes in private and public hospitals. Proportions of induction of labour were similar among women with GDM in private and public hospitals. Conclusion: The Robson classification can be used to benchmark and monitor method of birth for women with diabetes. Information, education and counselling on the risks and complications associated with different methods of birth, should routinely be provided for women with diabetes antenatally.

The world is continuously becoming a smaller and smaller place. It has become a global community of sorts merely divided by imperceptible borders that are easily transversed by ever-evolving technological advances in the fields of business, travel, communication and such, each regulated by its own set of domestic laws and regulations. Hordes of South Africans immigrate to Australia annually due to, among others, economic and political uncertainty. These ex-patriots generally leave behind assets and creditors in South Africa whilst acquiring new ones wherever they choose to establish themselves. This serves as basis for potential future cross-border insolvency issues. Furthermore, entities such as companies trading internationally, and multinational companies with branches and offices in more than one state, have property and creditors in many different jurisdictions. Should such a company be liquidated, it would give rise to questions of jurisdiction, the procedures to be followed, the appointment of a liquidator(s) and the distribution of assets, to name a few. The absence of a universal cross-border insolvency law leaves room for much uncertainty and confusion. What is of importance for purposes of this research is to clarify all prevailing uncertainties regarding the rights and obligations of the foreign representative and the foreign creditor in cross-border insolvency matters. The foreign representative is the person or entity appointed to administer the reorganisation or liquidation of the insolvent debtor’s assets in a foreign proceeding. The inconsistency in cross-border insolvency regulations between South Africa and Australia has the consequence that there is no guarantee that a foreign creditor in one state will be treated the same as a foreign creditor in terms of the domestic laws of the other, as the Model Law aims to do. The situation would have been significantly less complicated had the South African Cross-Border Insolvency Act been in force at present and had Australia been designated as a state to which this Act would apply. In that case, the treatment of foreign representatives and foreign creditors would be of a reciprocal nature. This dissertation attempts, through an investigation of the South African and Australian domestic insolvency laws, to ascertain the position of the foreign representative and foreign creditors pre and post incorporation of the Model Law. Consequently this dissertation compares the legal positions of these parties in terms of South African and Australian national insolvency legislation.
LLM (Import and Export Law), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The role of seagrass systems, including those of Zostera muelleri, in providing critical ecosystem services including provision of nursery habitat for economically important fish species and significant nutrient cycling services are well known (Orth et al., 2006). The current understanding of the population ecology of the species is however lacking, potentially leading to management decisions that fail to incorporate the ability of Z. muelleri to disperse, recruit and grow as well as the role the species plays in the development of microphytobenthic communities within seagrass systems. Important abiotic (non-living) variables that influence the growth and survival of Z. muelleri within the marine environment include near-shore and oceanic currents, light availability, nutrients, temperature and salinity levels, with the latter being predominantly driven by changes in freshwater inputs (Kaldy et al., 2015). Biotic factors include herbivorous predation which may assist in propagule release, competition and potential facillitatory roles of existing seagrasses that may aid in the ongoing productivity of populations (Holmgren et al., 1997).

This thesis examines Australia’s foreign policy engagement with African states and issues between 1996 and 2015. However, it effectively tells the story of Australia’s foreign policy engagement with Africa in the quarter century since the end of the Cold War. Examining the rule of three ideologically different Australian governments, the thesis argues that Australia’s foreign policy engagement with Africa between the mid-1990s and mid-2010s experienced notable changes. The purpose of this thesis is to explain why these changes came about and what drove them. It argues that in order to understand changes in Australia’s foreign policy towards Africa, it is necessary to appreciate both structural and agential factors which have jointly impacted this foreign policy engagement. On the structural side the thesis recognizes issues such as the end of the Cold War and particularly apartheid in South Africa, as well as Africa’s post-millennial economic growth and the global commodities boom as highly salient factors underpinning a changing foreign policy engagement with Africa. On the agential side, the thesis recognizes the primacy of the interconnectedness of political party foreign policy outlooks and Australia’s key decision-makers (prime and foreign ministers) in affecting that changing foreign policy engagement. In utilizing the case study of foreign policy towards Africa, the thesis highlights a significant degree of partisanship in Australian foreign policy. This has broader implications for the understanding of Australian foreign policy in general. The thesis makes a distinction between what are perceived as core or fundamental, versus marginal or peripheral areas of Australia’s overall foreign policy agenda. It argues that while on core or fundamental issues and relationships, Australian foreign policy may exhibit a great degree of bipartisanship, on what are perceived as marginal or peripheral issues and relationships, the country’s’ foreign policy can be quite partisan. This thesis offers a four-fold contribution: firstly, to the understanding of Australia’s foreign policy engagement with African states and issues; secondly, to the understanding of Australia’s foreign policy more broadly; thirdly, to the field of Foreign Policy Analysis and its emphasis on the importance of agents in foreign policy-making; and fourthly, to Political Science, recognizing the importance of both structure and agency in driving political change.

In recent years, South Africa has attracted migrants from other African countries, many of whom find work in the informal sector of the economy. At the same time, African migrants elsewhere in Europe and the US have been shown to have higher rates of HIV infection than the general population. In South Africa, however, little is known about the vulnerability of international migrants to HIV infection. This study explored HIV/AIDS risks among informal economy migrants in the broader context of migration. The objective is to explore HIV/AIDS risk among migrants and to understand how migration experiences shape vulnerability to HIV/AIDS. This is a case study of ten Nigerian migrant traders in the Church Walk flea market in Durban. Ethnographic methods such as participant observation, individual and key informant interviews, as well as informal group discussion were used to collect in-depth data on migrants' motivations for migrating, challenges faced upon arriving in South Africa and sexual risk behaviours. It was found that migrants become vulnerable to HIV/AIDS both during the process of migration and once settled in the informal economy. Migrants found it difficult to secure jobs once in South Africa. Consequently, they had to deal with disillusionment, hunger, homelessness and hopelessness. During this period of hardship, migrants indulged in risky sexual practices such as having unprotected sex with casual partners as a means of dealing with their precarious situation. Migrants also had unprotected sex with many regular and casual partners once in the flea market where, as a last resort, they had found self-employment but had no access to HIV/AIDS intervention programmes. Reasons cited for risky sexual behaviour included separation from regular partners, loneliness, sexual pressures and the lack of social sanctions, which regulated sexual behaviour in their home country. The findings show that international migrants in the informal economy are a potential high-risk group for HIV infection and could transmit HIV to local partners as well as regular partners in their home country. This study highlights the need for interventions to reach this population.
Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2007.

After European settlement, Australian rangelands especially in South Australia underwent significant changes because of the main land use of pastoralism. Many studies have revealed that the plant communities are negatively effected by herbivory mainly by sheep. The main aim of this study is to separate the different effects of sheep, rabbits and kangaroos. This was examined by survey supported by experimental and modelling research. A 32,000 km² area previously surveyed by Tiver and Andrew (1997) in eastern South Australia was re-surveyed to monitor populations of perennial plant species at sites of various intensity of grazing by sheep, rabbits and kangaroos (goats populations are low in the study area), the most important vertebrate herbivores. Plant population data were collected in both sheep paddocks and historically ungrazed by sheep (road reserves) by using the Random Walk method and analyzed using Generalized Linear Modelling (GLM) to separate the effects of sheep and rabbits on plant regeneration and their regeneration in response to grazing. These data were also compared to similar data collected by Tiver and Andrew in 1992 (1997) to ascertain if the reduction in rabbit numbers through introduction of RCV had allowed increased regeneration. Regeneration of many species inside paddocks were negatively affected and species in roadside reserves neither did not significantly increase from 1992 to 2004. However, some species showed increase of populations in spite of sheep grazing, with some species being less susceptible than others. This research also indicates kangaroo grazing impact on some plant species. Reduction in rabbit numbers following the 1995 release of calicivirus has not been effective in restoring regeneration. Another experiment was conducted at Middleback Field Station near Whyalla to identify herbivore grazing pressure on the arid zone plant species Acacia aneura using unfenced, sheep fenced and rabbit fenced grazing exclosures. This experiment was set up with seedlings in exclosures, ten replicates of each treatment, at plots four different distances from the watering point to identify the survivorship of seedlings. Data were collected by recording canopy volumes of seedling over an 18 month period and analyzed by Residual Maximal Likelihood (REML). Seedlings both near and far from the watering point were severely effected by large herbivores, either sheep, kangaroos or both, and in a separate experiment kangaroo grazing effects on the seedling were also identified. Seedlings browsed by the rabbits were recovered better than the seedlings grazed by the large herbivores. Decreasing kangaroo activities has been noticed when the rabbit movements increased. Computer modelling was conducted to predict the future plant population structure over 500 years using a matrix population model developed by Tiver et al. (2006) and using data collected in the survey as a starting point. Extinction probabilities of populations of Acacia aneura near watering points, far from watering points and under pulse grazing scenarios were compared. Sheep grazing was found to cause eventual extinction of populations in all parts of sheep paddocks. Together, the results indicate that sheep are the major herbivore suppressing regeneration of perennial plant species. Kangaroo and rabbits have an identifiable but lesser effect. The results have implications for conservation and pastoral management. To achieve ecological sustainability of arid lands a land-use system including a network of reserves ungrazed by sheep and with control of both rabbit and kangaroo numbers will be required.

The aim of this doctoral thesis was to study the incidence, risk factors and outcomes of type 1 diabetes for children in South Australia, born from 1999-2013. The incidence of type 1 diabetes has doubled in the last four decades in many countries including Australia, and has substantial individual and economic consequences. Evidence from studies on type 1 diabetes aetiology and its implications is mixed. In this thesis, the linkage of multiple population-wide administrative data over 15 years, and use of rigorous epidemiological approaches has resulted in a better understanding of the risk factors and implications of type 1 diabetes. There are four studies in this doctoral thesis. In the first descriptive study, the incidence of type 1 diabetes was estimated by individual and area-level socioeconomic characteristics among children (aged ≤11 years) in South Australia, born from 2002-2013. Findings of the study showed that type 1 diabetes incidence rates differed depending on the measures of socioeconomic characteristics. Individual-level indicators showed higher type 1 diabetes incidence among more advantaged children, however, there was no clear area-level socioeconomic patterning of type 1 diabetes. Area-level measures of socioeconomic position are likely to have a greater risk of misclassification from true socioeconomic position, which suggests that the use of area-level measures may be misleading. Socioeconomic position is a major determinant of health and can modify the risk factors of type 1 diabetes. For example, as per hygiene hypothesis, the socioeconomically dis-advantaged children are less likely to have type 1 diabetes, which is supported by the findings of individual-level socioeconomic patterning of type1 diabetes in the first study. In addition, socioeconomically disadvantaged women are less likely to have a caesarean birth and more likely to smoke in pregnancy. I chose to study these two risk factors of type 1 diabetes because the evidence was inconsistent, and some studies had methodical limitations. Evidence about the effect of caesarean section on childhood type 1 diabetes is mixed; ranging from very small or no risk to 20-30% increased risk. A prevailing theory is that exposure to the gut and vaginal microbiota during a vaginal birth protects against type 1 diabetes. Therefore, in the second study, the impact of caesarean birth on childhood type 1 diabetes (aged ≤15 years) was estimated. This involved linking multiple administrative datasets of children in South Australia, born from 1999-2013. The question was extended to whether type 1 diabetes risk differed for children born by prelabour or intrapartum caesarean to further test the idea of microbiota exposure on type 1 diabetes. That is because children born by prelabour caesarean do not get exposure to maternal vaginal microbiota, and intrapartum caesarean births may have some exposure. Findings of the study obtained from Cox proportional hazard regression analysis showed a negligible 5% higher incidence (HR = 1.05, 95% CI 0.86-1.28) for caesarean births compared with normal vaginal delivery, with wide confidence intervals including the null. Contrary to the hypothesis of a higher type 1 diabetes risk for prelabor caesarean (because of non-exposure to maternal vaginal microbiota) type 1 diabetes risk for intrapartum caesarean was slightly higher (HR = 1.08, 95% CI 0.82-1.41) than prelabor caesarean (HR = 1.02, 95% CI 0.79-1.32). This negligible risk of type 1 diabetes for children who had caesarean birth, either prelabor or intrapartum, and the potential for unmeasured confounding suggested that birth method induced variation in neonatal microbiota might not be involved in modifying type 1 diabetes risk. Like caesarean section, maternal smoking in pregnancy is also a debated risk factor for childhood type 1 diabetes. Evidence about maternal smoking on childhood type 1 diabetes is inconsistent; studies have been small, and many did not adjust for important confounders or address missing data. In the third study of this doctoral thesis, the effect of maternal smoking in pregnancy on childhood type 1 diabetes was estimated using Cox proportional hazard regression analysis, once again by linking multiple administrative datasets of children in South Australia, born from 1999-2013. The analytical approach for this study ranged; from Cox proportional hazard analysis with adjustment for wide range of confounders using the SA ECDP linked data, involving multiple imputation for missing data; to conducting meta-analysis in order to get more precise estimate. But smoking is notoriously residually confounded, therefore, I made special efforts to investigate the possibility of residual confounding by using a negative control and E-value. The findings demonstrated that maternal smoking in pregnancy was associated with a 16% (HR 0.84, 95% CI 0.67, 1.08) lower childhood type 1 diabetes incidence, compared with unexposed children, which was also supported by the meta-analytic estimates of population-based cohort studies (HR 0.72, 95% CI 0.62, 0.82) and case-control studies (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.55, 0.86). The negative control outcome and E-value analyses indicated the potential for residual confounding in the effect of maternal smoking on childhood type 1 diabetes. Triangulation of evidence from this study along with the results of similar population-based studies, suggested a small reduced risk of childhood type 1 diabetes for children exposed to maternal smoking in pregnancy. However, the mechanisms linking maternal smoking in pregnancy with childhood type 1 diabetes require further investigation. In the fourth study of this thesis, the impact of childhood type 1 diabetes on children’s educational outcomes in year/grade 5 at age ~10 were estimated, linking population-wide data of children in South Australia, born from 1999-2005. In this study, a doubly-robust analytical method called augmented inverse probability weighting (AIPW) was used to compute the average treatment effect of type 1 diabetes on children’s educational outcomes. AIPW gives an unbiased estimate if either the outcome model or the treatment model is correctly specified. The findings of this study demonstrated that children with type 1 diabetes are not disadvantaged in terms of educational outcomes in year 5, potentially reflecting improvement in type 1 diabetes management in Australia. In summary, the work in this doctoral thesis has demonstrated that type 1 diabetes incidence differed depending on the measure of socioeconomic position. The hygiene hypothesis was only supported by the individual-level socioeconomic pattering of type 1 diabetes incidence in South Australia. The involvement of birth method induced variation in neonatal microbiota in type 1 diabetes was not supported by the caesarean and childhood type 1 diabetes study. Despite the evidence of residual confounding in the estimate of maternal smoking in pregnancy on childhood type 1 diabetes, triangulation of the evidence suggested small reduced risk for children exposed to maternal smoking in pregnancy, but further research will be needed to understand the mechanism. The findings of similar educational outcomes for children with and without type 1 diabetes, highlighted the importance of improvements in diabetes management.
Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Public Health, 2020

The formation of student diasporas in western universities is a manifestation of the globalization and internationalization of higher education, and has necessitated studies about international students’ adaptation to such universities. Statistics of the last decade show that there has been a significant flow of international students to Australian universities, and a large proportion of this student cohort comes from South East Asian and South Asian countries. Whilst there has been a good deal of research on international students from South East and Far East Asia, who share a Confucian Heritage Culture (CHC) background, there are relatively very few studies on South Asian students, particularly postgraduate students from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh (defined as South Asian for this study). This qualitative study about the adaptation experiences of postgraduate coursework students from South Asian countries fills some of the gap that exists in the body of literature about international students. The study, conducted at a cross-sectoral Australian university in Melbourne, referred to with the pseudonym Southern University (SU), has utilised a longitudinal qualitative approach to explore from an ‘emic’ perspective the adaptation experiences of ten postgraduate coursework students from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The students were studying in four faculties at SU, and participated in in-depth interviews and focus group discussions over their first two semesters. The study considers the students’ adjustment process in the Australian academic landscape from their pre-arrival expectations to their settlement after two semesters, and is structured to consider three phases of their experiences – initial, transitional and endpoint – in negotiating new academic norms and genres, including spoken communication. The study identifies a number of dimensions along which differences are evident in the students’ approaches and strategies in adjusting to their studies and lives as postgraduates. In academic adjustment, all the postgraduates demonstrated incremental progress which was marked by varying levels of perceptual and attitudinal changes in understanding the new academic culture. Whilst the students shared a common goal of undertaking an Australian postgraduate degree to enhance their employment prospects, two broad types of strategists emerged: initiators of self-development and system compliers. The study also notes that the postgraduates, through their physical presence in Australia and becoming qualified with a western education, negotiated new, hybrid and empowered identities for themselves. In its limited exploration about the students’ social acculturation, the study notes that some of them followed a selective integrative approach while others adopted assimilatory process, and they all indicated a hybrid state of acculturation to Australian culture. The study also uncovers that, besides their academic goals, many of the postgraduates had a largely hidden agenda of long term settlement in Australia.

Research Doctorate - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
The Earth is experiencing a period of mass extinction due to human development and expansion (Wake & Vredenburg 2008). It has been estimated that 866 animal, plant, fungi and protist species have become extinct in recent history, and 25,821 species were declared either Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable in 2017 (IUCN 2017). Causal agents of population declines and biodiversity loss include climate change, land clearing, habitat modification and the introduction of exotic competitor or predator species (Vitousek et al. 1997) and disease (Skerratt et al. 2007) which affect species from global to local scales. The magnitude of species loss and threat of further extinctions has caused worldwide attention, instigating efforts to identify and conserve species at risk (Redford & Richter 1999). Species management programs typically aim to identify causal agents of decline, assess species requirements for survival and reproduction and understand population proce sses so that informed decisions can be made to reverse population declines. An important step in this process is gaining an understanding of the factors which affect species distribution (Guisan et al. 2013; Noss et al. 1997). Conservation programs often aim to understand an animal’s distribution by identifying what constitutes habitat. Factors commonly examined include abiotic and biotic attributes of the landscape including available shelter and food, as well as an animal’s interaction with heterospecifics (Campomizzi et al. 2008). In the instance that these factors or interactions correlate with species presence or abundance either positively or negatively, it is assumed that these factors are actively selected for or avoided (Batt 1992). However, additional behavioural factors can affect distribution, such as attraction to (Ahlering et al. 2010) or avoidance of conspecifics (same species) (Keren-Rotem et al. 2006; Stamps 1983), causing strong aggregations or segregation of animal distribution over a landscape, respectively. Despite the influence of these factors on distribution, conspecific attraction and avoidance are not commonly considered by conservation programs when attempting to understand, predict and alter species distributions (Campomizzi et al. 2008). As animals experiencing conspecific attraction or avoidance may deviate from the correlation model assumed by habitat selection, research programs aimed at assisting endangered species cannot afford to ignore conspecific interactions (Manly et al. 2009). A last resort for conservation initiatives is breeding animals in captivity, creating or restoring habitat and translocating animals back into populations that are experiencing population decline or have become locally extinct. Current research in conservation biology has focused on identifying and assessing animal behaviour which can limit the success of conservation initiatives such as; multi-spatial-level habitat selection (McGarigal et al. 2016), conspecific attraction (Campomizzi et al. 2008) and mate selection within captive breeding (Chargé et al. 2014a; Chargé et al. 2014b). As these factors influence species distribution and survival, they therefore affect the success of habitat construction programmes and the persistence of naturally occurring or translocated populations. Amphibians are a globally threatened taxon with 33 extinct species and 2,100 species declared either critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable (IUCN 2017). Factors causing amphibian decline include the human facilitated spread of chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) (Skerratt et al. 2007), global climate change, introduced species as well as habitat loss and modification (Brown et al. 2012; Stuart et al. 2004). Considerable research has been undertaken on causal agents of decline, along with understanding population processes and habitat requirements that affect the persistence of populations (Wake & Vredenburg 2008). Despite the fact that many amphibian species show signs of conspecific attraction and/or avoidance, the influence of conspecific interactions on spatial distribution and subsequent declines of amphibians is under-investigated. This current research project explores the potential for particular behaviours which may influence species distribution and the success of habitat creation and translocation programmes for the green and golden bell frog (Litoria aurea). For the first research paper, I assessed conspecific call attraction in L. aurea. Over a landscape, animal distributions can be skewed as a result of conspecific attraction and aggregation. This can hinder habitat restoration and creation programmes as species may fail to colonise available habitat, despite its suitability. It has been noted from past research that L. aurea uses particular habitat and has distributional traits which suggest the presence of conspecific attraction, and using speakers playing calls can successfully attracted L. aurea at short distances, forming new aggregations (James et al. 2015: Attachment 1). In the first research chapter, I aimed to use speaker systems playing calls to manipulate the landscape distribution of L. aurea. I placed a stand with a speaker playing call broadcast in a treatment waterbody (T), a stand with no calls broadcasted as a manipulative control (MC) and no stand or speakers as a control (C). This design was replicated in five areas on Kooragang Island, Australia, and waterbodies were surveyed to measure changes in abundance and calling over two and a half breeding seasons. We found that speaker introduction did not increase abundance or calling at T relative to MC and C. We did, however, find that the length of time males called was longer at T, compared to MC and C. As the length of calling time may be extended using conspecific call broadcast , provision of conspecific stimulation at translocation sites may improve breeding activity and retention of the population post-release by reducing dispersal. For the second research chapter, I assessed habitat selection of L. aurea. The site selection of breeding individuals is a crucial component of a species habitat selection and can help to direct conservation programmes. However, very little is known about the microhabitat selection of calling male L. aurea. This study aimed to distinguish if male aggregations are associated with specific habitat features within a waterbody and describe their use of available habitat structures. Within waterbodies we compared calling locations relative to non-calling locations for water variables (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen), microclimate (temperature, humidity, average and maximum wind speed) and habitat (percentage coverage of water, ground, emergent vegetation and floating vegetation). Overall, males were associated with lower salinity and higher dissolved oxygen, higher percentage coverage of emergent vegetation and bare ground, and low percentage coverage of open water. Males were most commonly found in the water floating between or beside emergent vegetation or perched on emergent vegetation above water level. This suggests that males may select habitat to protect themselves from predators, or for breeding; providing appropriate vegetation, dissolved oxygen and salinity for embryo and tadpole development. This provides supportive information for previous studies on habitat selection, indicating what habitat is preferred by breeding males to improve monitoring, habitat creation and rehabilitation. For the third research chapter, I assess a habitat construction programme. Habitat creation programmes are often used to compensate for the loss of habitat for endangered species, with varying results. I describe an early stage wetland construction programme implemented for L. aurea on Ash Island, NSW Australia. Seven ephemeral (flooding) and two permanent waterbodies were constructed near an existing population. The wetland was designed to increase landscape aquatic habitat, based on adaptive management learnings from past research. In this study, I assess the initial use of this habitat by L. aurea, and initial findings on the design suitability. Surveys in constructed wetlands and in the broader Kooragang area showed that L. aurea rapidly colonised and called at constructed ephemeral wetlands but not permanent wetlands. The chorus size in constructed wetlands was large in comparison to other populations in coastal NSW, and a range of other frog species also bred onsite. Female L. aurea used a nearby remnant wetland (adjacent to the constructed wetlands), and used different habitat to males. Similar habitat use variation between sexes was reflected in the broader population. Most male and female L. aurea captured on Ash Island were under 12 months of age, and body condition in the constructed wetlands was higher than in the broader population. Waterbody design successfully protected waterbodies from overland flooding, and ephemeral waterbodies dried, which suggests the drying regime may protect the constructed habitat long-term from infestation of predatory fish. Elevated salinity from ground water in permanent waterbodies (intended to ameliorate chytrid disease in the landscape) was higher than anticipated and requires further monitoring. It is hoped that this programme may help guide other conservation projects creating habitat for amphibians under threat. For the fourth research paper, I assess sexual selection in L. aurea. As a conservation strategy for L. aurea, captive breeding programmes supplement at-risk populations and translocate individuals to their former ranges. However, breeding programmes are undertaken with very little information on sexual selection and its exclusion can reduce the fitness of released animals. The aim of the fourth study was to assess whether forms of sexual selection occur for L. aurea to inform captive breeding programmes. In the wild I studied mate selection. Firstly, we aimed to assess if the size and body condition of amplexing individuals (grasping to breed), differed from other individuals in the population as an indication of female sexual selection or male-male competition. Secondly, we investigated if male and female amplexing pairs were size correlated as an indicator of size assortative mating, and thirdly we made observations on behavioural interactions in the breeding waterbody to complement the analysis. In Whangarei, New Zealand, we captured L. aurea over 4 survey nights, undertaking capture-mark-recapture and measuring morphometrics of snout vent length (SVL), right tibia length (RTL) and weight, calculated body condition. We compared the SVL, RTL and weight of breeding individuals to non-breeding individuals and found that amplexing males were larger with better body condition, however, female size did not differ. Male-female pairs were not size assortative and aggressive interactions were recorded between males. Larger male size may be an indicator of either female selectivity or larger-male mating advantage through aggressive interactions. As removal of sexual selection in captive breeding programmes can reduce fitness and place conservation initiatives at risk, I recommend incorporating sexual selection by placing multiple males of varying sizes in breeding tanks with females to facilitate female selectivity or larger-male mating advantage. Based on the results of the current studies, I have identified possible constraints on the use of conspecific attraction for this species, and also recognised its potential use in translocations programmes to improve project outcomes. As a result of microhabitat assessment, habitat creation and management programmes can use specific parameters to design, maintain and monitor habitat for calling males. Assessment of a habitat construction project designed from previous research recommendations shows initial project success and provides information to refine future habitat construction programmes. Finally, assessment of sexual selection in L. aurea provides vital information to conservation programmes breeding animals for translocation to work toward improving the fitness of released individuals. Overall, the current study provides key aspects of L. aurea’s biology and ecology that have not been clearly addressed in the literature and aims to improve conservation efforts. In light of recent extinctions and increasing pressures on wildlife, continued research on key threatening processes and behavioural ecology is crucial to help guide conservation.

Summaries in English and Afrikaans
In the study below, the phenomenon of "maximum security prisons" is described as it is applied in various parts of the world, according to capita selecta. The phenomenon is described as it occurs in four countries, namely Australia, the United States of America, England and South Africa. The primary aim of this study is to obtain the Magister Artium degree. Secondly, it will shed more light on the treatment of prisoners who have to be detained in maximum security conditions as a result of their type of offence, length of sentence and conduct. The philosopical framework for the detention of maximum security prisoners is taken into account, while certain generic aspects unique to prisons are examined as well. This study is of universal importance because long-term prison sentences are on the increase, in spite of the fact that other punitive measures exist.
In die hieropvolgende studie word die verskynsel "maksimum sekuriteitsgevangenisse" soos wat dit in verskeie werelddele toepassing vind aan die hand van capita selecta beskryf. Die verskynsel word ten opsigte van vier lande, naamlik Australie, die V erenigde State van Amerika, Engeland en Suid-Afrika beskryf. Die beskrywing het in die eerste plek ten doel om die graad Magister Artium te verwerf. Ten tweede werp dit meer lig op die bantering van gevangenes wat weens hul tipe oortreding, vonnislengte en gedrag in maksimum sekuriteitsomstandighede aangehou moet word. Die filosofiese raamwerk vir aanhouding van maksimumgevangenes word in oenskou geneem, maar daar word ook na verskeie generiese aspekte eie aan gevangenisse gekyk. Die studie is van globale belang weens die feit dat langtermyngevangenisstraf besig is om toe te neem, ten spyte daarvan dat alternatiewe vorme van straf bestaan.
Penology
M.A. (Penologie)

The diploma thesis deals with problems of depression in older people. Mainly the work is focused on identifying and analyzing the role of nurses in screening for depression in older people in primary care, acute care, long-term care and home care. This thesis was focused on theoretical direction and was used the method of design and demonstration. In this thesis was set one main goals with five research questions. The main goal was to identify and analyze the role of nurses in screening for depression in the elderly. RQ 1: What is the role of the nurse in screening for depression in the elderly? RQ 2: What is the role of the nurse in the primary care in screening for depression in the elderly? RQ 3: What is the role of the nurse in screening for depression in hospitalized patients in acute care? RQ 4: What is the role of the nurse in screening for depression in seniors in long-term and home care? RQ 5: What rating scales and methods are used in screening for depression in the elderly? The thesis introduce the concept of depression. The following are specified the causes of and the important factors that affect depression in the elderly. It also deals the differences in the clinical symptomatology of depression in old age. It explains possibilities and various barriers in the diagnosis of depression. Another chapter introduces complete geriatric examination, diagnostic classification systems, possible screening methods and scales for detection of depression in the elderly population. It also deals methods of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment and its possible complications associated with older age. By reason of increased suicide rate caused by depressive disorder the issue of suicidal behavior in the elderly is introduced. The next chapter deals with the nursing process, which is used by nurses in practice. It consists of the evaluation of the patient's health condition, making nursing diagnosis, creating nursing plan and subsequent implementation and evaluation. The nursing process is also needy for providing quality care. The nursing process in the stage of nursing diagnosis, introduces possible nursing diagnosis for a patient suffering from depression, which are based on the latest classification. Finally is described the role of nurses in screening for depression in the elderly in different health facilities and their contribution to the timely evaluation of depression in the elderly. This chapter introduces the role of nurses, nursing screening and collaboration with a physician. The role of nurses in screening for depression in different medical facilities is based on the first phase of the nursing process of assessment. On the basis of objective and subjective information, the nurse will assess the overall health and mental condition of the patient. Primarily, it was investigated what is the role of the nurse in screening for depression. On the basis of content analysis and synthesis it was necessary to used and processed domestic and foreign literature. A number of relevant sources are the results of various studies and Meta-analyzes, mostly from abroad, but also from the Czech Republic. The thesis can serve as a basis for nurses. The result of this thesis is to create e-learning material available for students in the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice in the tutorial called Moodle.