Дисертації з теми "Selective dispersion"

Oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) steels contain a fine dispersion of nano-sized, typically Y based, oxide particles which result in the material displaying significantly better creep, irradiation and oxidation resistance when compared to conventional alloys. Thus, such materials are considered as candidate structural materials for a number of applications in the fossil and nuclear energy sectors and in other high-temperature applications. ODS steels are currently produced by powder metallurgy which includes mechanical alloying (MA) of master alloys or elemental powder, hot extrusion or hot isostatic pressing (HIP) followed by a final heat treatment. Recent studies revealed that Y added during MA in the form of yttria (Y2O3) breaks down and the elements go into supersaturated solution in the Fe matrix; and Y based dispersoids form during fabrication of the alloy. In this work, an additive manufacturing method, selective laser melting (SLM), was applied to as-MA ODS-PM2000 (Fe-19.0wt.%Cr-5.5Al-0.5Ti-0.5Y2O3) powder. SLM produces almost fully dense solid freeform components by successively melting thin layers of metal powder. In order to investigate the feasibility of SLM in an ODS alloy environment, a number of builds were fabricated. These included a complex thin walled structure, coatings on Inconel IN939 (Ni-22.5wt.%Cr-19.0Co-3.7Ti-2W-1.9Al-1.0Nb-1.4Ta-0.15C), a nickel based superalloy, and optimised wall and solid builds. A wide range of microstructural and mechanical characterisation techniques were carried out on these builds with the focus to study the fundamentals of SLM in ODS environment. The most important finding of this work was that a fine homogeneous dispersion of globular shaped nanoscopic particulates could be retained in the SLM build configurations investigated. Indications were found that there is a very low number of dispersoids in the deposited layer after it was put down. Repeated heating cycles during SLM deposition of further slices resulted in coarsening and growth of existing precipitates, but probably also in nucleation and growth of new dispersoids in the α-Fe matrix. Such heating cycles and post-build annealing trials resulted in modification of initially multiphased dispersoid compounds including originally a number of elements, such as O, Al, Si, Ti, Cr, Fe and Y, into structures having significantly increased concentrations of Al and Y. After post-build annealing, the particles were most frequently of the compound type yttrium aluminium monoclinic, Y4Al2O9. SLM processing parameters were developed leading to a relative density of >99.5 % for wall builds having different thicknesses and of >98.5 % for solid builds. Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) was conducted and revealed a strong [001] fibre texture along the growth direction of a wall build. For annealed walls, values of the 0.2% offset yield strength YS0.2 up to those of recrystallized conventional produced PM2000 could be achieved. Fracture behaviour and the individual key parameters determined, YS0.2 and Young's modulus were anisotropic due to this texture. In coatings, Y-rich dispersoids could be retained. When oxidised isothermally in laboratory air at 1100°, the SLM deposit PM2000 formed a mainly α-Al2O3 (alumina) scale, which was similar to conventionally fabricated PM2000. Oxidation at 870°C, however, resulted in different scale morphologies between both variants. Those were Al-rich equiaxed structures and nodules and Ti-rich needles for conventional PM2000. On the other hand, the SLM material exhibited Al-rich platelet structures and Al-rich equiaxed crystals in pores. The observations of this work confirmed the feasibility of SLM in ODS alloy environment, which may motivate further studies in this field.

The main aim of this thesis has been to contribute to the ongoing work with development of new diode-laser-based spectroscopic techniques and metho­do­lo­gies for sensitive detection of molecules in gas phase. The techniques under scrutiny are tunable diode laser absorption spectrometry (TDLAS) and Faraday modulation spectrometry (FAMOS). Conventional distributed-feedback (DFB) tele­communication diode lasers working in the near-infrared (NIR) region have been used for detection of carbon monoxide (CO) and temperature in hot humid media whereas a unique frequency-quadrupled external-cavity diode laser producing mW powers of continuous-wave (cw) light in the ultra violet (UV) region have been used for detection of nitric oxide (NO). A methodology for assessment of CO in hot humid media by DFB-TDLAS has been developed. By addressing a particular transition in its 2nd overtone band, and by use of a dual-fitting methodology with a single reference water spectrum for background correction, % concentrations of CO can be detected in media with tens of percent of H2O (≤40%) at T≤1000 °C with an accuracy of a few %. Moreover, using an ordinary DFB laser working in the C-band, a technique for assessment of the temperature in hot humid gases (T≤1000 °C) to within a fraction of a percent has been developed. The technique addresses two groups of lines in H2O that have a favorable temperature dependence and are easily accessed in a single scan, which makes it sturdy and useful for industrial applications. A technique for detection of NO on its strong electronic transitions by direct absorption spectrometry (DAS) using cw UV diode laser light has been deve­loped. Since the electronic transitions are ca. two or several orders of magnitude stronger than of those at various rotational-vibra­tional bands, the system is capable of detecting NO down to low ppb∙m concentrations solely using DAS. Also the FAMOS technique has been further developed. A new theoretical description expressed in terms of both the integrated line strength of the transition and 1st Fourier coefficients of a magnetic-field-modulated dispersive lineshape functions is presented. The description has been applied to both ro-vib Q-transitions and electronic transitions in NO. Simulations under different pressures and magnetic field conditions have been made that provide the optimum conditions for both cases. A first demonstration and characteri­zation of FAMOS of NO addressing its electronic transitions in the UV-region has been made, resulting in a detection limit of 10 ppb∙m. The characterization indicates that the technique can be significantly improved if optimum conditions can be obtained, which demonstrates the high potential of the UV-FAMOS technique.

L’objectif de cette thèse est d’ouvrir la voie à la démonstration de l’amplification parabolique à 2 μm en format tout fibré. La théorie sur l’amplification d’impulsions auto-similaires est d’abord présentée. Il en découle que le meilleur amplificateur tout fibré à 2 μm devra s’appuyer sur une fibre dopée aux ions Tm3+ présentant à la fois une forte dispersion normale et une grand aire effective. L’amplification parabolique ne peut pas être réalisée dans des fibres monomodes à base de silice à 2 μm du fait de la forte dispersion anormale présentée par le matériau. Afin de surmonter cette limitation, une fibre dont le mode LP02 présente à la fois une forte dispersion normale et une grande aire effective à 2 μm a été conçue et réalisée. Un convertisseur spatial de lumière dédié à la génération du mode LP02 a également été conçu et réalisé. La pureté d’excitation par ce convertisseur du mode LP02 de la fibre passive a été évaluée à 99,9% par la technique interférométrique d’imagerie spatialement et spectralement résolue. Une source d’impulsions ultrabrèves (100 fs) et accordable en longueur d’onde de 1,6 μm à 2 μm a été créée pour générer le signal de l’amplificateur. Cette source a en outre permis de mesurer la dispersion du mode LP02 de la fibre passive à la longueur d’onde de 1,95 μm, celle-ci vaut -106 ps/(nm.km) en excellent accord quantitatif avec les résultats numériques. Des modélisations numériques de l’amplificateur nonlinéaire basé sur la version active de cette fibre indiquent que des impulsions présentant une puissance crête de l’ordre du MW à 1,9 μm sont envisageables en sortie de l’amplificateur parabolique
The goal of this PhD thesis is to pave the way towards the demonstration of parabolic amplification at 2 μm in an all-fiber format. The physical theory on self-similar pulse amplification is first presented. The best all-fiber amplifier at 2 μm would need a special Tm-doped fiber with both high normal dispersion and large effective area. Parabolic amplification is however prohibited in silica based singlemode fiber working at 2 μm due to the large anomalous dispersion of silica. To overcome this limitation, a four-mode fiber in which the LP02 mode exhibits high normal dispersion combined with large effective area at 2 μm was designed and manufactured. A dedicated mode converter has also been designed and manufactured. Using the spatially- and spectrally-resolved imaging technique the purity of excitation of the LP02 mode in the passive fiber was evaluated to 99.9%. An ultrashort pulse (100 fs) source tunable from 1.6 μm to 2 μm was implemented to seed the amplifier. This source allowed to measure the LP02 mode dispersion of the passive fiber at the wavelength of 1.95 μm: D = -106 ps/(nm.km) in excellent quantitative agreement with the simulations. Numerical modeling of a nonlinear amplifier based on the realized active fiber shows that MW peak power class pulses centered at 1.9 μm can be obtained at the output of the parabolic amplifier

Antimoine (Sb) et tellure (Te), sont des contaminants peu étudiés (isotopes stables) et leurs radionucléides artificiels peuvent être rejetés dans le milieu aquatique lors des accidents nucléaires. La connaissance de leurs comportements biogéochimiques respectifs est nécessaire à l'évaluation du risque radiologique post-accidentel.Ce travail présente des données originales sur le comportement biogéochimique de Sb et de Te dans les systèmes de transition continent-océan, tels que l'estuaire de la Gironde et la rivière du Rhône. Un suivi de 14 ans et des campagnes océanographiques dans le bassin versant de l’estuaire de la Gironde ont permis d’identifier des concentrations, des flux, et des réactivités (variabilités spatio-temporelles et distribution solide/liquide) plus élevés pour Sb que pour Te, mettant en évidence un comportement additif pour Sb et de soustraction pour Te le long des gradients de salinité et de turbidité estuariennes. Des expériences couplant l’adsorption d’isotopes marqués sur des matières en suspension (MES) et des extractions sélectives des phases porteuses, suggèrent que les formes apportées de Sb et de Te sont plus mobiles et potentiellement plus biodisponibles que leurs équivalents naturels. De plus, l’observation de la bioaccumulation non-négligeable de Sb et de Te naturels dans les huîtres sauvages à l’embouchure de l’estuaire permet d’envisager une absorption potentielle de leurs homologues radioactifs.Ainsi, le développement de scenarios de dispersion de radionucléides rejetés dans les zones de transition dépendra (i) de la position géographique de la source (Rhône) et/ou de la zone de turbidité maximale (ZTM; système fluvio-estuarien de Gironde), (ii) de la situation hydrologique pendant et post accident, ainsi que (iii) de la réactivité biogéochimique et des temps de demi-vies des radionucléides. Les premiers scénarios de dispersion de radionucléides dans l'estuaire de la Gironde suggèrent (i) un transport préférentiel de Sb dissous vers la zone côtière, et (ii) une forte rétention de Te radioactif dans la ZTM si la dernière est présente en aval du site d’accident, impliquant le risque de migration saisonnière de la radioactivité vers la ville de Bordeaux pendant l’étiage suivant. Ainsi, la dynamique intra estuarienne (marée, débit et migration de la ZTM) sera le facteur prédominant dans le devenir de Te radioactif, depuis son rejet jusqu’à sa désintégration complète en iode radioactif. L’ensemble de ce travail met en évidence la nécessité d’une évaluation plus approfondie de la radiotoxicité potentielle de Sb et Te lors de leurs rejets en milieu aquatique
Antimony (Sb) and tellurium (Te) are relatively uncommon contaminants (stable isotopes) and may form short-lived fission products (radionuclides) released into the environment during nuclear power plants accidents. Little is known about their respective biogeochemical behaviours, necessary for general contamination studies and post-accidental radiological risk assessment.This work provides original knowledge on Sb and Te biogeochemical behaviour in highly dynamic continent-ocean transition systems: the Gironde Estuary and the Rhône River. Concentrations, spatial/temporal variations, solid/liquid partitioning (Kd), and fluxes are studied from long-term records at the watershed scale. Four estuarine sampling campaigns during contrasting hydrological conditions show higher Sb solubility and Te particle affinity in the estuary than in the upstream fluvial reaches. Historical records (1984-2017) in wild oysters from the estuary mouth do not show clear trends of past or recent contamination, but measurable bioaccumulation suggests that potential uptake of radionuclides is likely to occur. Combined adsorption experiments using isotopically-labelled (spiked) Sb and Te, and subsequent selective extractions of carrier phases from suspended particulate matter (SPM) suggest that spiked Sb and Te are more mobile and potentially bioaccessible than their environmental (inherited) equivalents. Radiotracer adsorption experiments using environmentally representative concentrations of both Gironde and Rhône systems underpin that highly soluble elements may show contrasting reactivity between inherited and spiked forms.Radionuclide dispersion will greatly depend on (i) the geographical position of the source (Rhône) and/or the maximum turbidity zone (MTZ; Gironde fluvial-estuarine system), (ii) the succession of hydrological situations during and after the accident, and (iii) the biogeochemical reactivity and half-lives of the radionuclides. First scenarios on hypothetical dissolved radionuclide dispersion in the Gironde Estuary suggest (i) low sorption of Sb to the SPM, implying a transport of radionuclides in dissolved phase towards the coast, and (ii) high retention of Te within the MTZ, especially for accidental releases during flood conditions, linking the fate of radioactive Te to long estuarine SPM residence times (1-2 years). Potential upstream migration of Te radionuclides in the MTZ towards the city of Bordeaux during the following summer season and Te decay into radioactive iodine warrants further evaluation of the associated potential radiotoxicity

Knowledge about dispersion is of utmost importance for understanding populations’ reaction to changes in the environment. Expansion of a population range brings with it both spatial sorting and over time, spatial selection. This means that dispersion rates increases over time at the expanding edge. Most studies have so far been performed on continuously expanding populations. This study aims to bring more knowledge about dispersal biology in dynamic systems. I studied dispersal traits in two permanent and two seasonal vegetation habitats of an isopod (Asellus aquaticus), for which differentiation between habitat types has previously been shown. I quantified differences in displacement (dispersal rate) and three morphological traits, head angle (body streamline) and leg of the third and seventh pair of legs. Isopods from the seasonal vegetation had higher displacement rates than animals from permanent vegetation. This inclines that mechanisms driving spatial selection in expanding population ranges also exist in dynamic systems. The more streamlined isopods found in seasonal sites further points towards spatial sorting by dispersion capability. Because no effect of permanence was found on leg length and there was no correlation between streamlining and displacement, the higher dispersion among animals from seasonal habitats most likely derives from behavioral differences.

The thesis focuses on exploring the sub-grain structure in stainless steel 316L prepared by additive manufacturing (AM). Two powder-bed based AM methods are involved: selective laser melting (SLM) and electron beam melting (EBM). It is already known that AM 316L has heterogeneous property and hierarchy structure: micro-sized melt pools, micro-sized grains, nano-sized sub-grain structure and nano-sized inclusions. Yet, the relation among these structures and their influence on mechanical properties have not been clearly revealed so far. Melt pool boundaries having lower amount of sub-grain segregated network structures (Cellular structure) are weaker compared to the base material. Compared with cell boundaries, grain boundaries have less influence on strength but are still important for ductility. Cell boundaries strengthen the material without losing ductility as revealed by mechanical tests. Cellular structure can be continuous across the melt pool boundaries, low angle sub-grain boundaries, but not grain boundaries. Based on the above understanding, AM process parameters were adjusted to achieve customized mechanical properties. Comprehensive characterization were carried out to investigate the density, composition, microstructure, phase, magnetic permeability, tensile property, Charpy impact property, and fatigue property of both SLM and EBM SS316L at room temperature and at elevated temperatures (250°C and 400°C). In general, SLM SS316L has better strength while EBM SS316L has better ductility due to the different process conditions. Improved cell connection between melt pools were achieved by rotating 45° scanning direction between each layer compared to rotating 90°. Superior mechanical properties (yield strength 552 MPa and elongation 83%) were achieved in SLM SS316L fabricated with 20 µm layer thickness and tested in the building direction. Y2O3 added oxide dispersed strengthening steel (ODSS) were also prepared by SLM to further improve its performance at elevated temperatures. Slightly improved strength and ductility (yield strength 574 MPa and elongation 90%) were obtained on 0.3%Y2O3-ODSS with evenly dispersed nanoparticles (20 nm). The strength drops slightly  but ductility drops dramatically at elevated temperatures. Fractographic analysis results revealed that the coalescence of nano-voids is hindered at room temperature but not at elevated temperatures. The achieved promising properties in large AM specimens assure its potential application in nuclear fusion. For the first time, ITER first wall panel parts with complex inner pipe structure were successfully fabricated by both SLM and EBM which gives great confidence to application of AM in nuclear industry.

At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 4: Manuscript. Paper 5: Manuscript.

L'apprentissage statistique cherche à modéliser un lien fonctionnel entre deux variables X et Y à partir d'un échantillon aléatoire de réalisations de (X,Y ). Lorsque la variable Y prend un nombre binaire de valeurs, l'apprentissage s'appelle la classification (ou discrimination en français) et apprendre le lien fonctionnel s'apparente à apprendre la frontière d'une variété dans l'espace de la variable X. Dans cette thèse, nous nous plaçons dans le contexte de l'apprentissage actif, i.e. nous supposons que l'échantillon d'apprentissage n'est plus aléatoire et que nous pouvons, par l'intermédiaire d'un oracle, générer les points sur lesquels l'apprentissage de la variété va s'effectuer. Dans le cas où la variable Y est continue (régression), des travaux précédents montrent que le critère de la faible discrépance pour générer les premiers points d'apprentissage est adéquat. Nous montrons, de manière surprenante, que ces résultats ne peuvent pas être transférés à la classification. Dans ce manuscrit, nous proposons alors le critère de la dispersion pour la classification. Ce critère étant difficile à mettre en pratique, nous proposons un nouvel algorithme pour générer un plan d'expérience à faible dispersion dans le carré unité. Après une première approximation de la variété, des approximations successives peuvent être réalisées afin d'affiner la connaissance de celle-ci. Deux méthodes d'échantillonnage sont alors envisageables : le " selective sampling " qui choisit les points à présenter à un oracle parmi un ensemble fini de candidats et l'" adaptative sampling " qui permet de choisir n'importe quels points de l'espace de la variable X. Le deuxième échantillonnage peut être vu comme un passage à la limite du premier. Néanmoins, en pratique, il n'est pas raisonnable d'utiliser cette méthode. Nous proposons alors un nouvel algorithme basé sur le critère de dispersion, menant de front exploitation et exploration, pour approximer une variété.

There are many regularization parameter selection methods that can be used when solving inverse problems, but it is not clear which one is best suited for the inverse dispersion problem. The suitability of three different methods for solving the inverse dispersion problem are evaluated here in order to pick a suitable method for these kinds of problems in the future. The regularization parameter selection methods are used to solve the separable non-linear inverse dispersion problem which is adjusted and solved as a linear inverse problem. It is solved with Tikhonov regularization and the model is a time integrated Gaussian puff model. The dispersion problem is used with different settings and is solved with the three methods. The three methods are generalized cross-validation, L-curve method and quasi-optimality criterion. They produce rather different solutions and the results show that generalized cross-validation is the best choice. The other methods are less stable and the errors are sometimes orders of magnitude larger than the errors from generalized cross-validation.

The goal of this thesis is to introduce the finite difference method (FDM) adjusted for usage in modeling of sound propagation, and other approaches that are used together with this method. These approaches include selective filtering and time integration using the Runge-Kutta method, which has low computer memory requirements. An important topic in modeling sound propagation are boundary conditions. The thesis examines and verifies several types of boundary conditions. Included in the thesis are solutions to example problems implemented in Matlab.

Dispersion and productivity of individual ptarmigan Lagopus mutus in North-east Scotland was compared with the food and cover available. Diet was studied by measuring the proportions of foods in faeces. Adults ate mostly shoots of crowberry Empetrum nigrum and heather Calluna vulgaris in late autumn, winter and early spring. In late spring and summer they ate mostly shoots of blaeberry Vaccinium myrtillus, herbs and moss capsules. In spring cocks gradually increased their intake of blaeberry and hens markedly so in April. These rates coincided with the onset of development of the sexes' gonads and breeding behaviour. Chicks ate mostly insects and herbs during their first two weeks, and after six weeks their diet was similar to that of the adults. Territories were on areas of blaeberry heath, springs and exposed rock and not on areas of grass, sedge tall heather and no rock. Mean territory size varied inversely with the number of territories in the total area occupied. 94% of resting birds were within 1m cover, mainly rock, and 81% of foraging birds were within 3m of cover. Chicks pecked faster and walked more slowly when they were close to cover. Ptarmigan foraged mostly in blaeberry heaths and springs with vegetation less than 7cm tall, whereas red grouse Lagopus l. socticus, used heather heaths, mires and grassland with vegetation taller than 7cm.

A Monte Carlo simulation is developed to study the performance of the closed-loop guidance, navigation, and control (GN&C) system of a lunar lander in powered descent. The simulation includes six-degrees-of-freedom dynamics, an extended Kalman �lter, guidance based upon modi�ed Apollo methods, an attitude control system, and several di�erent types of sensors. Sensors included in the sensor suite include accelerometers, gyroscopes, a star camera, an altimeter, a velocimeter, and a radio navigation system. The simulation is used to examine the e�ects of sensor errors and the number of navigation states on total fuel use.

La connaissance des facteurs determinant les comportements de dispersion et de selection de l'habitat est fondamentale pour la construction de modeles theoriques permettant de fournir des predictions quant a l'evolution de ces deux comportements. En regle generale, on peut distinguer trois types de facteurs pouvant intervenir dans le determinisme de ces comportements : les facteurs environnementaux, les effets maternels et enfin les determinants genetiques. A l'aide d'approches theoriques et empiriques nous avons donc etudie le role relatif de ces differents facteurs dans le cas d'un insecte diptere holometabole. Drosophila melanogaster. Apres une revue detaillee des resultats preexistant chez cette espece, des etudes preliminaires nous ont permis de montrer que d'une part, il existe des relations interindividuelles au sein des populations de drosophiles, et que d'autre part que les micro-organismes vehicules et consommes par les drosophiles ont un effet fortement attractif sur celles-ci lors du choix du site d'oviposition. Ces resultats nous ont permis de concevoir un protocole experimental permettant de determiner la part relative des facteurs environnementaux, maternels et genetiques dans le determinisme des comportements de dispersion et de selection de l'habitat. Nous avons ainsi pu montrer que les facteurs environnementaux et maternels, ainsi que leurs interactions avaient un effet significatif dans le determinisme des deux comportements etudies, tandis qu'il n'a pas ete possible de mettre en evidence un role significatif des facteurs genetiques. Ces resultats confirment la necessite de prendre en compte les strategies conditionnelles de dispersion et de selection de l'habitat dans les modeles theoriques. D'autre part, la mise en evidence d'interactions entre les effets maternels et environnementaux lors du developpement des comportements de dispersion et de selection de l'habitat confirme que ces comportements sont determines par de multiples effets qui peuvent interagir entre eux tout au long de la vie de l'animal.

Doctor of Philosophy
Department of Entomology
James F. Campbell
Thomas W. Phillips
Movement is a fundamental feature of animals that impacts processes across multiple scales in space and time. Due to the heterogeneous and fragmented nature of habitats that make up landscapes, movement is not expected to be random in all instances, and an increase in fitness is an expected consequence for those that can optimize movement to find valuable and scarce recourses. I studied the movement of Rhyzopertha dominica (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae), one of the most important pests of stored grain worldwide, within and between resource patches. At a fine spatial scale, I identified factors that contribute to overall and upward movement in the grain mass. Three-week-old insects tented to stay closer to the surface than one or two-week-old insects. Females tended to be more active and to explore more than males. I also found that males tended to stay closer to the surface than females and that might be related to the ability to attract females from outside the patch since there was no significant difference regarding female’s attraction within the grain patch. Interaction with feeding sites or other individuals of the same sex creates positive feedback and a more clumped spatial pattern of feeding and foraging behavior. On the other hand, interaction with individuals of different sex creates negative feedback and a more random or overdispersed pattern. At a broad spatial scale, I studied the long-term consequence of R. dominica movement on the development of population structure within the U.S. To evaluate population structure, I used reduced representation of the genome followed by direct sequencing of beetles collected from different locations across the U.S where wheat or rice is produced and stored. Ecoregions were more important in explaining structure of R. dominica populations than crop type. I also found significant isolation by distance; however, model selection primarily elected grain production and movement variables to explain population differentiation and diversity. Understanding animal movement is essential to establishing relationships between distribution and surrounding landscape, and this knowledge can improve conservation and management strategies.

Abstract Habitat selection decisions are crucial in determining fitness. Research indicates that individuals of many taxa are flexible in habitat selection and gather information prior to decision-making in order to control for environmental unpredictability. For time limited migrant birds, cues provide a quick and reliable information source with which to make habitat selection decisions. In this thesis I investigate habitat selection decisions, and their fitness consequences, of boreal passerines using heterospecifics or predators as cues. In support of the heterospecific attraction hypothesis, plots with augmented resident titmice densities attracted increased migrant densities. The predicted negative effects stemming from competition did not occur even at unnaturally high resident densities. This suggests that in the north it may always be beneficial for migrants to use residents as cues in habitat selection decisions. By manipulating habitat selection, I found that great tits (Parus major) had poorer reproductive success when forced to breed in close proximity to pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) compared to when breeding alone. Flycatchers, in contrast, did slightly better when breeding close to tits. These results indirectly suggest that heterospecific attraction may not be a mutually positive species interaction. Indeed, flycatchers seem to parasitize the high quality microhabitat indicated by breeding great tits. I also tested if residents provide a reliable cue relative to predation risk. However, willow tit (P. montanus) nest location appeared random relative to avian predator nests. They do not appear to reliably indicate safe breeding habitats to later arriving migrants. In addition, closer proximity to breeding avian predators had a negative impact on willow tit reproductive output. Later arriving migrants may be in a better position to avoid avian predator nests during habitat selection. Pied flycatchers avoid settling in the immediate vicinity of sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) nests. However, nest box occupation, laying dates and initial reproductive investment (clutch size) showed a unimodal relationship with distance to sparrowhawk. A unimodal trend in these measures indicates there may be a trade-off between the costs (increased adult predation risk) and potential benefits (decreased nest predation risk) of settling in proximity to avian predator nests. Spatially predictable predation risk gradients that emanate from predator nests are termed a "predation risk landscape". Furthermore, flycatchers nesting closer to sparrowhawks produced fewer and smaller nestlings than those farther away. In addition, measures of maternal physiological stress (body condition and stress protein levels) had a negative linear relationship with distance to sparrowhawk nest. It appears that increased perceived predation risk near avian predator nests results in stressful and poor conditions for adult passerines, which results in lower reproductive output. This thesis highlights the importance of information gathering prior to making habitat selection decisions in order to optimise territory location relative to heterospecifics or predators. These decisions clearly impact individual fitness.

Les feuilles hébergent une grande diversité de micro-organismes. Parmi les facteurs responsables de la structuration des communautés microbiennes foliaires, l’effet du processus de dispersion reste peu étudié. Les structures paysagères telles que les lisières ou l’hétérogénéité du paysage influencent la migration et la dispersion de nombreuses espèces de macro-organismes, mais l’effet de tels facteurs sur la composition des communautés microbiennes foliaires n’a jamais été testé.Nous faisons l’hypothèse que les parcelles forestières sont une source de champignons foliaires pour les vignes adjacentes. Nous avons comparé les communautés fongique foliaires et aériennes de la vigne et des forêts adjacentes au cours d’une saison de végétation, testé l’effet d’une lisière forestière sur ces communautés et évalué l’effet de la composition du paysage sur ces communautés. Les communautés fongiques ont été caractérisées par métabarcoding.Les communautés fongiques foliaires viticoles et forestières divergent au cours de la saison. Ni la distance à la lisière, ni la proportion de forêt dans le paysage n’affectent les communautés foliaires de la vigne, mais les communautés aériennes diffèrent en fonction de la distance à la lisière forestière. Ces résultats suggèrent que la dispersion ne joue qu’un rôle mineur dans la structure des communautés fongiques foliaires. De nombreuses pressions de sélection telles que les pratiques agricoles semblent en revanche avoir un effet fort sur ces communautés. Des études supplémentaires sont nécessaires pour vérifier la contribution relative de ces pressions de sélection, ainsi que le potentiel service de régulation fourni aux cultures par la forêt
Plant leaves host a large diversity of microorganisms. Among the factors shaping foliar microbial community structure, the effect of the dispersal process remain understudied. Landscape elements, such as edges or landscape heterogenity, influence migration and dispersal of many macro-organism species. However, the effect of such factors on foliar microbial communities has never been studied. We hypothesized that forests are a source of foliar fungi for adjacent vineyards. We compared foliar and airborne fungal communities in vineyard and adjacent forests along a vegetative season, we examined the effect of a forest edge on these communities in a vineyard, and weassessed the effect of landscape composition on these communities. Fungal communities were characterized with a metabarcoding method. Foliar fungal communities in vineyards and forests diverge over the course of the vegetative season. Neither the distance to the edge nor the proportion of forest in the landscape affect foliar fungal communities in vineyards, while airborne communities change with the distance to the forest edge. These results suggest that dispersal is not dominant in shaping foliar fungal communities. Instead, many selective pressures such as agricultural practices seem to shape strongly these communities. Further investigations are required in order to estimate the relative contribution of those processes, and the potential ecosystem service provided by the forest to crops

En Amérique du Nord, la superficie des monocultures utilisatrices d'intrants tels que des fertilisants et des pesticides couvre aujourd'hui 85% des surfaces agricoles et autant de pâturages ont disparu en 20 ans afin de répondre aux besoins de l'homme. Ces changements d'usage des terres ont profondément transformé le paysage et altéré la biodiversité des agro-écosystèmes. Parmi les espèces d'oiseaux champêtres, les insectivores aériens tel l'Hirondelle bicolore, Tachycineta bicolor, ici étudiée, présente un fort taux de déclin des effectifs, reflétant probablement une dégradation des agro-écosystèmes. Les mécanismes biologiques à l'origine de ce déclin sont encore méconnus ainsi que les patrons de dispersion chez les passereaux migrateurs. Le présent travail vise à étudier les effets environnementaux sur les traits individuels (survie et succès reproducteur) et la dispersion de reproduction (probabilité de disperser et taux d'occupation des sites de reproduction) chez l'Hirondelle bicolore. Pour ce faire, 2200 reproducteurs et 8000 oisillons ont été bagués entre 2004 et 2013 et suivis en reproduction pendant 10 ans sur une aire d'étude au Sud du Québec, laquelle est composée de 40 sites et couvre une mosaïque de paysages agricoles hétérogènes. Le développement d'un nouveau modèle de capture-marquage-recapture, flexible d'utilisation, a permis de réduire les biais d'estimation des probabilités de survie et de dispersion de l'espèce. Cette approche a permis de tester l'effet de plusieurs variables en lien avec la qualité de l'habitat, l'information publique et les caractéristiques individuelles sur la variabilité des paramètres de dispersion, de survie et de succès reproducteur au niveau individuel. Les milieux cultivés intensivement associés à la présence du Moineau domestique, Passer domesticus, un compétiteur pour les cavités de reproduction, diminuent jusqu'à 19% la survie des mâles. Les femelles sont quant à elles affectées par le coût de la reproduction, qui est d'autant plus grand en milieu intensif qu'il y a présence de moineaux et une disponibilité moindre en ressources alimentaires. Pour autant, la décision de disperser n'est pas affectée par les conditions environnementales que ce soit par la présence de compétiteurs ou la qualité du milieu, et ne dépasse pas les 4% chez les mâles. Les femelles dispersant jusqu'à 14 fois plus s'appuient sur leur expérience personnelle pour décider de disperser. Un échec de reproduction augmente jusqu'à 7 fois la probabilité de disperser et pour la première fois chez une espèce à courte durée de vie, nous montrons que la probabilité de disperser est augmentée l'année suivant une première dispersion. Ces patrons de dispersion sont stables dans le temps. La dispersion apparait donc comme un processus coûteux, comparé à la fidélité au site, qui apparaît comme un phénotype minoritaire dans la population. Elle répond à des conditions défavorables de reproduction. Enfin, ce travail montre l'utilisation de l'information publique (densité en partenaires, productivité en jeunes l'année précédente) dans la décision de s'établir sur un site et ce, une fois que la décision de disperser est amorcée. La présence de moineaux et la proportion de cultures intensives dans un rayon proche participent également à la sélection d'un site. D'après mes résultats, le milieu intensif contribuerait au déclin de l'Hirondelle bicolore
In North America, monoculture areas using high inputs of fertilizers and pesticides cover 85% of agricultural lands, and as many pastures disappeared in the past 20 years to satisfy human food needs. These land-use changes have deeply transformed landscapes and altered the biodiversity of agro-ecosystems. Among farmland birds, aerial insectivores such as Tree swallow, Tachycineta bicolor, studied here show a high rate of decline in their abundance, partly reflecting the degradation of agro-ecosystems where they breed. Biological mechanisms leading to the decline and dispersal patterns in migratory passerines are still poorly known. The present work quantifies the environmental effects on Tree swallow individual traits (survival, reproductive success) and breeding dispersal (probability to disperse and occupation rates of breeding sites). Between 2004 and 2013, 2200 breeders and 8000 chicks were ringed and monitored during 10 breeding seasons on a study area composed of 40 sites and covering a mosaic of heterogeneous agricultural landscapes in southern Québec. The development of a new, flexible capture-mark-recapture model has reduced estimate bias of survival and dispersal probabilities of Tree swallows. This approach allowed to assess the effect of several variables linked to habitat quality, public information and individual characteristics on dispersal, survival and reproductive success parameters of individuals. Within intensively cultivated landscapes associated to the presence of a nest site competitor, the House sparrow, Passer domesticus, male survival is up to 19% lower. Females are affected by the cost of reproduction, especially in intensive landscapes where House sparrows and found and where food resources and nest site appear limited. Dispersal probability is not affected by environmental conditions either through the presence of House sparrows or habitat quality, and is restricted to 4% in males. Females, which disperse up to 14 times more than males, base their decision on their personal experience. Breeding failure increases up to 7 times the probability to disperse and for the first time in a short-lived species, I show that dispersal likelihood increases if the individual has dispersed in the previous year. These dispersal patterns are stable in time. Dispersal appears as a costly process compared to site fidelity and is a minority phenotype in the population. It appears an answer to unfavorable condition for reproduction. Finally, this work shows the use of public information (partners density, fledglings productivity the previous year) on the decision to settle on a site and this, after the dispersal decision has been initiated. The presence of House sparrows and the proportion of intensive areas near nestboxes are used as information to select a breeding site. Based on my findings, agricultural intensification likely plays a role in the decline of Tree swallow populations

Résumé : En Amérique du Nord, la superficie des monocultures utilisatrices d’intrants tels que des fertilisants et des pesticides couvre aujourd’hui 85 % des surfaces agricoles et autant de pâturages ont disparus en 50 ans afin de répondre aux besoins de l’Homme. Ces changements d’usage des terres ont profondément transformé le paysage et altéré la biodiversité des agro-écosystèmes. Parmi les espèces d’oiseaux champêtres, les insectivores aériens tels l’Hirondelle bicolore, Tachycineta bicolor, ici étudiée, présentent un fort taux de déclin des effectifs, reflétant probablement une dégradation des agro-écosystèmes. Les mécanismes biologiques à l’origine de ce déclin sont encore méconnus ainsi que les patrons de dispersion chez les passereaux migrateurs. Le présent travail vise à étudier les effets environnementaux sur les traits individuels (survie et succès reproducteur) et la dispersion de reproduction (probabilité de disperser et taux d’occupation des sites de reproduction) chez l’Hirondelle bicolore. Pour ce faire, 2200 reproducteurs et 8000 oisillons ont été bagués entre 2004 et 2013 et suivis en reproduction pendant 10 ans sur une aire d’étude au Sud du Québec, laquelle est composée de 40 sites et couvre une mosaïque de paysages agricoles hétérogènes. Le développement d’un nouveau modèle de capture-marquage-recapture, flexible d’utilisation, a permis de réduire les biais d’estimation des probabilités de survie et de dispersion de l’espèce. Cette approche a permis de tester l’effet de plusieurs variables en lien avec la qualité de l’habitat, l’information publique et les caractéristiques individuelles sur la variabilité des paramètres de dispersion, de survie et de succès reproducteur au niveau individuel. Les milieux cultivés intensivement associés à la présence du Moineau domestique, Passer domesticus, un compétiteur pour les cavités de reproduction, diminuaient au maximum de 19 % la survie des mâles. Les femelles étaient quant à elles affectées par le coût de la reproduction, qui était d’autant plus grand en milieu intensif qu’il y avait une présence de moineaux et une disponibilité moindre en ressources alimentaires. Pour autant, la décision de disperser n’était pas affectée par les conditions environnementales que ce soit par la présence de compétiteurs ou la qualité du milieu, et ne dépassait pas les 4 % chez les mâles. Les femelles dispersant jusqu’à 14 fois plus s’appuyaient sur leur expérience personnelle pour décider de disperser. Un échec de reproduction augmentait jusqu’à 7 fois la probabilité de disperser et pour la première fois chez une espèce à courte durée de vie, nous avons montré que la probabilité de disperser était augmentée l’année suivant une première dispersion. Ces patrons de dispersion étaient stables dans le temps. La dispersion semblait donc être un processus coûteux, comparé à la fidélité au site, qui apparaissait comme un phénotype minoritaire dans la population. Elle répondait à des conditions défavorables de reproduction. Enfin, ce travail montre l’utilisation de l’information publique dans la décision de s’établir sur un site généralement fortement dense et productif en jeunes l’année précédente et ce, une fois que la décision de disperser est amorcée. La présence de moineaux et la forte proportion de cultures intensives dans un rayon proche participaient également à ll‘évitement des sites lors de l’établissement. D’après ces résultats, le milieu intensif contribuerait au déclin de l’Hirondelle bicolore.
Abstract : In North America, monoculture areas using high inputs of fertilizers and pesticides cover 85 % of agricultural lands, and as many pastures disappeared in the past 20 years to satisfy human food needs. These land-use changes have deeply transformed landscapes and altered the biodiversity of agro-ecosystems. Among farmland birds, aerial insectivores such as Tree Swallow, Tachycineta bicolor, studied here show a high rate of decline in their abundance, partly reflecting the degradation of agro-ecosystems where they breed. Biological mechanisms leading to the decline and dispersal patterns in migratory passerines are still poorly known. The present work quantifies the environmental effects on Tree Swallow individual traits (survival, reproductive success) and breeding dispersal (probability to disperse and occupation rates of breeding sites). Between 2004 and 2013, 2200 breeders and 8000 chicks were ringed and monitored during 10 breeding seasons on a study area composed of 40 sites and covering a mosaic of heterogeneous agricultural landscapes in southern Québec. The development of a new, flexible capture-mark-recapture model has reduced estimate bias of survival and dispersal probabilities of Tree Swallows. This approach allowed to assess the effect of several variables linked to habitat quality, public information and individual characteristics on dispersal, survival and reproductive success parameters of individuals. Within intensively cultivated landscapes associated to the presence of a nest site competitor, the House sparrow, Passer domesticus, male survival is up to 19 % lower. Females were affected by the cost of reproduction, especially in intensive landscapes where House sparrows and found and where food resources and nest site appear limited. Dispersal probability was not affected by environmental conditions either through the presence of House sparrows or habitat quality, and was restricted to 4 % in males. Females, which dispersed up to 14 times more than males, based their decision on their personal experience. Breeding failure increased up to 7 times the probability to disperse and for the first time in a short-lived species, I show that dispersal likelihood increased if the individual had dispersed in the previous year. These dispersal patterns were stable in time. Dispersal appeared as a costly process compared to site fidelity and was a minority phenotype in the population. It appeared an answer to unfavorable condition for reproduction. Finally, this work shows the use of public information (partners density, fledglings productivity the previous year) on the decision to settle on a site and this, after the dispersal decision had been initiated. The presence of House sparrows and the proportion of intensive areas near nest boxes were used as information to select a breeding site. Based on these findings, agricultural intensification likely plays a role in the decline of Tree swallow populations.

Choisir où et avec qui se reproduire constituent deux des décisions les plus importantes dans la vie des animaux, vu son impact sur la valeur adaptative. Cela implique que les animaux utilisent de l’information sur la qualité de l’environnement pour identifier laquelle des alternatives existantes semblent être la plus avantageuse. Pour cela, ils peuvent choisir de façon indépendante de leurs congénères par l’évaluation directe des différents paramètres environnementaux, ou ils peuvent choisir de façon non indépendante de façon à réduire le temps et l’énergie investie dans l’échantillonnage de l’environnement (information sociale par inadvertance – ISI). Avec mes expériences chez la Drosophile, et mon étude comparative sur l’évolution de la colonialité chez les oiseaux, je mets en évidence pour la première fois que les invertébrés peuvent aussi utiliser ISI, et que ISI est probablement le mécanisme le plus plausible à l’évolution de la vie en groupe.

Chez de nombreuses espèces, il a été montré que les stratégies de choix de partenaires socio-sexuels par un individu étaient liées aux qualités de ces partenaires (phénotypiques ou génétiques) et étaient susceptibles de maximiser la qualité de ses descendants et améliorer sa propre valeur adaptative. Nous nous sommes intéressés au choix de partenaires chez les femelles de gorille de plaines de l’ouest par une étude de leur dispersion sociale en lien avec l’influence relative de l’environnement social et des caractéristiques des mâles adultes dans les décisions des femelles à résider dans un groupe social ou à émigrer, et dans leur choix du groupe dans lequel immigrer. Nous avons montré que les femelles immigrent préférentiellement dans des groupes reproducteurs plutôt que vers des mâles solitaires et vers des groupes jeunes plutôt que vieillissants. Les groupes de 10-15 individus sont évités. Les femelles émigrent des groupes contenant une grande proportion d’individus affectés par une maladie de peau. A court terme après un effondrement démographique du à une épidémie à virus Ebola, le taux d’émigration des femelles diminue dans les groupes de grande taille, ce qui suggère une meilleure qualité reproductrice et protectrice des mâles survivants. Les caractéristiques génétiques des partenaires sexuels dans le choix des femelles, notamment les gènes du complexe majeur d’histocompatibilité (CMH) qui codent pour des protéines impliquées dans les défenses immunitaires, peuvent être impliquées dans le choix de partenaire chez certains primates. Son implication éventuelle n’avait jamais été étudiée chez le gorille. Dans cette perspective nous avons cherché à développer une méthode pour étudier ce complexe de gènes à partir d’échantillons d’ADN non invasifs (fèces), c’est-à-dire avec de l’ADN faiblement concentré et dégradé. Nous avons défini une nouvelle amorce puis utilisé des méthodes de séquençage haut débit, d’électrophorèse sur gel à gradient dénaturant et un marqueur microsatellite lié au CMH afin de déterminer une méthode d’analyse à l’échelle populationnelle. Huit nouveaux allèles de CMH ont été détectés par séquençage haut débit. Le marqueur microsatellite présente un schéma d’amplification complexe et nécessite une optimisation des protocoles qui permettra de réduire les couts d’analyses de la variabilité du CMH à l’échelle populationnelle. Nos développements ouvrent de nouvelles perspectives pour l’étude de l’influence du CMH sur le choix de partenaire dans des populations sauvages de primates
In many species, it has been shown that strategies of choice of socio-sexual partners by an individual are related to the phenotypic or genetic quality of these partners and are likely to maximize the quality of its descendants and improve its own fitness. We investigated the partner choice in western lowland gorilla females in studying their social dispersion and the relative influence of the social environment and the characteristics of adult males in females’ decisions, to stay in a social group or to emigrate, and in their choice of the group into which immigrate. We showed that females preferentially migrated towards breeding groups rather than solitary males and towards younger rather than aging groups. Groups of 10-15 individuals were avoided. Females emigrated from groups containing a large proportion of individuals affected by skin disease. In the short term after a demographic die-off due to an Ebola epidemic, female’s emigration rates declined in large groups, suggesting better reproductive and protective value of surviving males. The influence of the genetic characteristics of the sexual partners in the choice of females, in particular the genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes that encode proteins involved in immune defenses, may be involved in partner choice in some primates. Its possible involvement had never been studied in the gorilla. In this perspective we have sought to develop a method to study this gene complex from non-invasive DNA samples (feces), that is to say with weakly concentrated and degraded DNA. We defined a new primer and then used high throughput sequencing, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, and a MHC-linked microsatellite marker to determine a population-level analysis method. Eight new MHC alleles were detected by high throughput sequencing. The microsatellite marker has a complex amplification pattern and requires protocol optimization that will reduce the cost of analyzing MHC variability at the population level. Our developments open new perspectives for the study of the influence of CMH on partner choice in wild populations of primates

Tout au long de leur vie, les individus sont confrontés à deux décisions qui ont des conséquences majeures sur leur succès reproducteur : où et quand se reproduire. Cette thèse étudie les mécanismes sous-jacents à ces décisions, à travers trois études basées sur des données de suivis individuels chez la mouette tridactyle (Rissa tridactyla) et le goéland railleur (Chroicocephalus genei). La première étude porte sur la dispersion chez la mouette tridactyle. La probabilité de quitter le site de reproduction est décomposée selon une structure hiérarchique des patchs d'habitat. Une hypothèse synthétique est exposée pour expliquer la stratégie de sélection de l'habitat en intégrant les coûts de la dispersion et l'utilisation de l'information sur la qualité de l'habitat. La seconde étude s'appuie sur un modèle de population intégré chez la mouette tridactyle pour estimer l'immigration, le recrutement, et la reproduction intermittente. Cette étude interroge la relation entre information sociale sur l'habitat et décision de se reproduire dans une population qui est située en bordure d'aire de répartition. La troisième étude porte sur le recrutement et la dispersion chez le goéland railleur, caractérisé par un fort nomadisme de reproduction. Des modèles de capture-recapture multi-évènements sont employés pour quantifier les variations liées à l'âge et au sexe. Ces exemples permettent d'aborder l'importance des contraintes imposées par la variabilité de l'habitat et la compétition intraspécifique dans le processus d'accès à la reproduction
Throughout their lifetime, individuals face two decisions which have major consequences on the reproductive success: where and when to breed. This thesis explores the mechanisms underlying these decisions through three studies based on individual monitoring data in the black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) and the slender-billed gull (Chroicocephalus genei). The first study addresses hypotheses on dispersal in the kittiwake. The probability of leaving the nest site is sequenced according to the hierarchical structure of habitat patches. A synthetic hypothesis that integrates the costs of dispersal and the use of information on habitat quality is suggested to explain the strategy of habitat selection. The second study uses a population integrated model in the kittiwake to estimate immigration, recruitment, and intermittent reproduction. This study investigates the relationships between social information on the habitat and the decision to breed in a population which is located at the edge of the species range. The third study focuses on recruitment and dispersal in the slender-billed gull which is characterized by a high degree of nomadic breeding. Multievent capture-recapture models are used to quantify sex- and age-dependent variations. These examples enable to address how important the constraints of habitat variability and intraspecific competition are in the process of obtaining a breeding position

Les Sicydiinae amphidromes constituent une part importante des peuplements piscicoles insulaires de la région Indo-Pacifique et sont vulnérables à de nombreuses pressions anthropiques (i.e. pêcherie, dégradation et fragmentation des habitats). La reproduction a lieu en eau douce, puis les jeunes dévalent en mer où ils débutent leur croissance pendant quelques mois avant de coloniser les rivières. L’objectif est d’acquérir des connaissances sur les traits de vie de S. lagocephalus (cosmopolite) et de C. acutipinnis (endémique). Les travaux de terrain démontrent que le choix de l’habitat quotidien est fortement lié aux interactions sociales, alors que l’habitat de fraie montre une forte sélection pour des conditions morphodynamiques favorisant l’oxygénation des oeufs. Les mâles sélectionnent des sites de ponte et gardent les oeufs. L’étude expérimentale de la survie en eau douce confirme que tous les embryons libres possèdent la capacité à rejoindre la mer. L’analyse des traits de vie marins à partir des otolithes des post-larves révèle des variations saisonnières d’âge et de taille au recrutement, en lien avec la croissance et la température marine. L’examen histologique des ovaires permet de décrire les variations spatiales et temporelles de l’activité de reproduction chez les femelles en rivière et de déterminer la fécondité et la taille de première reproduction. Les variations inter et intra-spécifiques des traits de vie sontcomparées en lien avec la répartition géographique des deux espèces. Ces travaux permettent d’identifier des perspectives concrètes dans le domaine de la gestion et de la conservation sur la base des caractéristiques de la stratégie amphidrome
Amphidromous Sicydiinae are particularly widespread among fish freshwater assemblages of the Indo-Pacific region and are vulnerable to anthropogenic pressures (i.e. fishery, degradation and fragmentation of habitats). Spawning and hatching happen in freshwater, then offspring drift downstream to the sea where they begin their growth for a few months before recruiting in the rivers. This study aims at acquire knowledge about life traits of S. lagocephalus (cosmopolite) and C. acutipinnis (endemic). Field sampling shows that the usual habitat choice is related to social interactions, whereasspawning habitat shows a strong selection for morphodynamic conditions which favor eggs oxygenation. Males select spawning sites and care for the eggs. The experimental study of freshwater survival confirms that free embryos survival and swimming capacities are enough to drift to the ocean. Marine life history analysis, based on postlarvae otoliths examination, reveals a seasonal variation of both age and size-atrecruitment related to the larval growth rate and the sea temperature. Histological examination of ovaries is used to describe the spatial and temporal variation of reproductive activity of mature females in the rivers, and to determine fecundity and size at first reproduction. Inter and intra-specific variations of life history traits are compared in relation to the respective geographical distribution of both species. This study identifies concrete prospects for management and conservation based on the features of amphidromous life history strategy

Pela necessidade de reverter o atual quadro de degradação da Mata Atlântica, ações de restauração se fazem urgentes e devem ser pensadas a fim de restabelecer a biodiversidade nessas áreas, envolvendo as diversas formas de vida vegetal, animal e suas interações. O restabelecimento da relação planta-frugívoro e consequente dispersão de sementes certamente são essenciais não só para a conservação de uma floresta existente, mas também na aceleração do processo de restauração florestal. Portanto, a atração dos agentes dispersores de sementes deve fazer parte dos esforços empregados em ações restauradoras. Uma forma de avaliar a contribuição destes animais em áreas restauradas é através do estudo da chuva de sementes, mais especificamente aquela que é resultado dos eventos de dispersão pela fauna (zoocoria). Este estudo buscou caracterizar e comparar a composição da chuva de sementes zoocóricas em uma área em processo de restauração florestal na Mata Atlântica, submetidas a duas técnicas de manejo distintas, uma por meio de plantio de restauração em área total e outra, através da indução e condução da regeneração natural, originando uma área de capoeira. Ainda, utilizando a ferramenta de seleção de modelos pelo critério de Akaike, foram avaliadas se variáveis de estrutura e composição da vegetação arbustivo-arbórea influenciaram a riqueza e abundância da chuva de sementes zoocóricas total e imigrantes. O estudo foi conduzido em uma área em processo de restauração florestal, com seis anos de idade, que abrange 28,86 ha da Fazenda Intermontes (24°11\'17\" S, 42°24\'49\" O; 24°12\'47\" S, 42° 26\'15\" O), próximo ao município de Ribeirão Grande, SP. Propágulos depositados nos coletores foram retirados mensalmente pelo período de 1 ano. Utilizou-se um total de 100 coletores de sementes, de 1 m x 1 m. Para a caracterização da vegetação presente, foi realizado um levantamento dos indivíduos arbustivo-arbóreos, num raio de 5 metros no entorno de cada coletor de semente. Os resultados mostraram que a composição da comunidade da chuva de sementes zoocóricas diferiu entre os ambientes de capoeira e plantio, porém a riqueza e abundância médias das sementes não diferiram significativamente entre os ambientes. Apesar da composição da comunidade ter sido diferente, as categorias funcionais das sementes presentes na chuva, em ambas as áreas, foram semelhantes entre si. Avaliando se houve influência de variáveis relacionadas à estrutura e composição da vegetação arbustivo-arbórea na chuva de sementes zoocóricas, os modelos gerados e selecionados indicaram que as variáveis estudadas não influenciaram a riqueza e abundância da chuva de sementes zoocóricas total e imigrantes. O estudo concluiu também que o processo de chegada de propágulos alóctones a área já se iniciou, demonstrando um grande potencial de incremento de novas espécies, pertencentes a outras formas de vida e a diferentes funções ecológicas. Isto possibilita a aceleração do processo de restauração florestal, aumento da complexidade estrutural da vegetação e uma contribuição para a heterogeneidade da floresta implantada, fator este importante para o processo de retorno e incremento da fauna dispersora.
The need to reverse the current degradation of the Atlantic Forest requires urgent restoration actions aimed at reestablishing biodiversity in these areas, involving various plant and animal life forms and their interactions. The reestablishment of plant-frugivore interactions and subsequent seed dispersal are essential not only for the conservation of an existing forest, but also for the acceleration of forest restoration processes. Therefore, seed dispersal agents should be employed in restoration actions. One way to assess animals\' contribution in seed dispersion is through the study of seed rain, more specifically through results of dispersal events by fauna (zoochory). This study aimed to characterize and compare the composition of animal-dispersed seed rain in an area of the Atlantic Forest undergoing a restoration process using two different management techniques. One area comprised of tree planting and another comprising a \"capoeira\" through assisted natural regeneration. We also used an Akaike information criterion of model selection tool to evaluate whether structure and composition variables of arbustive-arboreal vegetation influenced the richness and abundance of total and immigrant animal-dispersed seed rain. The study was conducted in an area undergoing a forest restoration process with six years of age, covering 28.86 ha of the Intermontes Farm (24°11\'17\"S, 42°24\'49\"W; 24°12\'47\"S, 42°26\'15\"W), near Ribeirão Grande city, São Paulo State, Brazil. Propagules deposited in traps were removed monthly for a period of one year. We used 100 seed collectors 1 m x 1 m. To characterize the vegetation in the region, we surveyed the arbustive-arboreal species in a 5-meter radius around each seed collector. The results showed that the community composition of the animal-dispersed seed rain differed between tree planting and \"capoeira\" environments; however, the richness and abundance averages of seeds did not differ significantly between the environments. Although the community composition was different, functional categories of seeds in the rain in both areas were similar. Assessing whether there was influence of variables related to structure and composition of arbustive-arboreal species on animal-dispersed seed rain, generated and selected models indicated that these variables did not influence the richness and abundance of total and immigrant animal-dispersed seed rain. The results also showed the presence of alien propagules in the region, demonstrating great potential for the growth of new species belonging to other life forms with different ecological functions. This allows the acceleration of forest restoration processes, increased structural complexity of vegetation and contribution to heterogeneity of deployed forest, which is important for the return and increase of animal dispersers.

Ophioderma longicauda (Bruzelius, 1805) est un complexe d’espèces cryptiques incluant six lignées mitochondriales (L1-L6), dont certaines (L2-L3-L4) incubent leur descendance, alors que d'autres se reproduisent probablement via des larves lécithotrophes. Afin de définir les limites d’espèces dans le complexe O. longicauda, le statut reproductif des lignées L1 et L3 a été étudié. L’analyse morphologique et génétique a montré qu’il s’agissait d’espèces biologiques différentes, avec notamment différentes périodes de reproduction. De plus, l’analyse par DAPC de 31 marqueurs génétiques a montré que le complexe O. longicauda était constitué de six groupes génétiques distincts. Deuxièmement, l’influence des traits d’histoire de vie sur la connectivité et la diversité génétique a été étudiée. Pour ce faire, 10 marqueurs ont été séquencés pour six populations sympatriques des lignées L1 et L3 en Grèce. La structure génétique était très marquée pour l’espèce incubante L3, tandis que l’espèce dispersante L1 n’a pas montré de structure génétique à cette échelle. L’analyse de la diversité génétique pour ces 10 marqueurs a montré que celle des dispersantes était trois à quatre fois plus élevée que celle des incubantes. De plus, l’analyse de la diversité génétique dans les transcriptomes des L1 et L3 a montré qu’elle était 1.5 à 2 fois plus élevée chez les dispersantes que chez les incubantes. Finalement, deux canaux ioniques impliqués dans la mobilité des spermatozoïdes ont montré une évolution sous sélection positive. Ces résultats suggèrent que la compétition des spermatozoïdes pourrait être un mécanisme d’isolement pré-zygotique chez Ophioderma longicauda
Ophioderma longicauda (Bruzelius, 1805) is a cryptic species complex including six mitochondrial lineages (L1-L6), of which three (L2-L3-L4) brood their juveniles, whereas the other lineages most likely reproduce using lecithotrophic larvae. In order to define the species limits in the O. longicauda complex, the reproductive status of lineages L1 and L3 was studied. The morphological and genetic study showed that they were different biological species, with notably different reproductive periods. In addition, the analysis of 31 genetic markers using DAPC showed that the O. longicauda complex included six distinct genetic groups. Secondly, the influence of life-history traits on connectivity and genetic diversity was studied. To do so, 10 markers were sequenced for six sympatric populations of lineages L1 and L3 from Greece. The genetic structure was high for the brooding species, whereas the broadcasting species did not display any genetic structure at that scale. The analysis of genetic diversity for these 10 markers showed that diversity was three to four times higher in broadcasters than in brooders. In addition, the analysis of genetic diversity in the L1 and L3 transcriptomes showed that diversity was 1.5 to 2 times higher in broadcasters than in brooders. Finally, two ion channels involved in sperm motility showed an evolution under positive selection. These results suggest that sperm competition might be a mechanism of pre-zygotic isolation in Ophioderma longicauda

Dans certains écosystèmes et plus particulièrement dans certaines forêts tropicales, différentes espèces ayant les mêmes exigences écologiques cohabitent sur un même milieu. Par exemple, certaines forêts présentent plus de cent espèces d’arbres différentes sur un hectare. Pour expliquer cette étonnante diversité, les scientifiques ont construit des modèles dans lesquels la composition de la communauté est uniquement due à la dispersion stochastique des individus. Le modèle mathématique étudié dan thèse s’inscrit dans cette lignée. Il a été suggéré par M.Kalyuzhni dans un article [9] où il justifie sa pertinence. Il est connu sous le nom de modèle de Moran en environnement aléatoire. Il s'agit donc d'étudier un processus de naissance et mort qui tient compte des aléas environnementaux (climats, maladies etc...) qui favorisent ou défavorisent de façon aléatoire certaines espèces. Pour étudier cette dynamique, on s’intéresse à l’approximation par une diffusion du modèle de Moran dans l’ échelle classique où l’accélération en temps est donnée par le carré de la taille de la population, l’avantage sélectif et l'immigration sont inversement proportionnels à cette taille qui tend vers l’infini. L’avantage sélectif varie aléatoirement et est modélisé par un processus markovien de sauts. On étudie la convergence en loi de la suite de processus, et donnons une estimation quantitative de l’erreur commise pour une population donnée. On s’intéresse ensuite à l’estimation des moments des fréquences au sein de la population, motivé en particulier par les indices de biodiversité comme l’indice de Simpson et s’appuyant sur les approximations obtenues. Dans le cas d’une sélection non nulle, l’équation différentielle stochastique régissant un moment fait appel au moment d’ordre supérieure. Pour surmonter cette difficulté, on met en place une méthode de fermeture des équations pour ramener l’ étude des premiers moments à un système d’ équations différentielles finies. Elle nécessite de contrôler l’erreur commise en négligeant les termes de degrés supérieur. Enfin, dans le cas de deux espèces et toujours avec des coefficients constants, on donne une estimation de la vitesse de convergence de la diffusion limite vers la probabilité stationnaire. Dans un second temps, on s'intéresse cette fois à un changement de temps proportionnel à la taille de la population. Ceci conduit à une convergence en loi du processus vers une limite déterministe caractérisée par une équation différentielle ordinaire. Le coefficient évoluant de façon aléatoire, à nouveau suivant un processus markovien de sauts, ce processus est un PDMP.On étudie alors la persistance des différentes espèces et les potentielles coexistences en temps long en s'appuyant un cadre développé par Benaïm et Schreiber : la persistance stochastique. Dans cette partie, on s’intéresse en particulier au cas où toutes les espèces persistent, avec deux environnements seulement : on montre que deux espèces peuvent persister mais pas trois. Avec plus d’environnements, la classification explicite est laissée ouverte mais un exemple de persistance avec trois espèces et trois environnements est donné
In some ecosystems and more particularly in virgin tropical forests, different species having the same ecological requirements coexist in the same environment. For example, some forests have over a hundred different tree species on one hectare. To explain this incrediblediversity, scientists have built models in which the community composition isonly due to the stochastic dispersion of individuals.The mathematical model studied in this thesis follows this line. It was suggested by Mr. Kalyuzhni in an article where he justifies its relevance. It is known as the Moran model in random environment. It is therefore a question of studying a birth and death process taking into account the environmental stochasticity (climates, diseases, etc.) To study this dynamic, we use an approximation by a diffusion, on the classical scale where the acceleration in time is given by the square of the population size, moreover selective advantage and immigration are inversely proportional to thethis size. The selective advantage varies randomly and is modeled by a Markov jump process. We study the convergence in law of the processes sequence and give a quantitative estimate of the error made for a given population. We are then interested in the moments estimation of the population frequencies, motivated in particular by biodiversity indices such as the Simpson's index andbased on the approximations obtained before.In the case of a non-zero selection, the stochastic differential equation governing a moment appeals to the higher order moment. To overcome this difficulty, we create a closure method to reduce the study of the first moments to a finite system of differential equations. We give an estimation of the error made by neglecting the terms of higher degrees. Finally, in the case of two species and with constant coefficients, we give an estimate of the convergence speed of the diffusion towards the stationary measure. In a second time, we are interested in a time scale proportional to the size of the population. This leads to a convergence of the process law towards a deterministic limitcharacterized by an ordinary differential equation. The selection coefficient evolving randomly, still following a Markov jump process, this process is a PDMP.We then study the persistence of the different species and the potential coexistencethanks the persistence theory, developed by Benaïm and Schreiber. In this part, we are particularly interested in the case where all the species persist. With only two environments: we show that two species can persist but not three. With more environments,the explicit classification stay an open problem but an example of persistence with three speciesand three environments is given

Mes travaux de recherche ont eu pour but d'analyser la diversité des microorganismes des trois domaines du vivant présents dans des biofilms phototrophes exposés à l'air, se développant sur des substrats minéraux divers, afin d'essayer, d'une part, de répondre à des questions de diversité et de biogéographie et, d'autre part, d'étudier le processus de colonisation par le biais d'expériences d'exposition contrôlées.J'ai ainsi caractérisé, essentiellement par des approches moléculaires basées sur l'analyse des banques des gènes d'ARNr de la petite sous-unité (SSU rDNAs) et sur des analyses d'empreintes communautaires, la diversité microbienne (procaryote et eucaryote) formant des biofilms matures (exposés depuis plusieurs années) dans plusieurs sites géographiques en Irlande du Nord, en France et en Ukraine, dans la région de Chernobyl. Dans ces biofilms soumis à forte pression sélective, nous avons mis en évidence beaucoup de microorganismes hétérotrophes et phototrophes, mais avec une diversité relativement restreinte en comparaison à d'autres milieux comme les sols ou les systèmes aquatiques. Les archées étaient absentes. Les conditions environnementales auxquelles ce type de biofilm est constamment exposé comme l'irradiation, la dessiccation et la limitation des nutriments sélectionnent des microorganismes qui développent des stratégies pour s'adapter comme, entre autres, la production de pigments. Ce sont des microorganismes fréquemment retrouvés dans des milieux désertiques extrêmes et résistants aussi aux radiations ionisantes qui ont ainsi été identifiés, notamment des Deinococcales et des Actinobacteria, ou encore des champignons ascomycètes (Ascomycota). Parmi les organismes phototrophes, nous avons dénombré des Cyanobacteria, des algues vertes (Chlorophyta) et des Streptophyta. Nous avons mis en évidence que les facteurs environnementaux influencent la composition des biofilms. Toutefois, tandis que la composition de la communauté bactérienne est fortement dépendante de la nature du substrat ou elle se développe, la composition des communautés microbiennes eucaryotes dépend de la distance géographique. Nous avons également mené des expériences de colonisation en exposant un même substrat minéral dans trois sites géographiques en Irlande du Nord et en France. L'analyse de la diversité microbienne lors du processus de colonisation a révélé des changements importants dans la composition des communautés, que ce soit pour les procaryotes ou pour les eucaryotes avec, cependant, des comportements différents de ces deux groupes de microorganismes. Dans le cas des bactéries, on observe une transition des Gammaproteobacteria, qui dominent les temps 0-6 mois et qui correspondent vraisemblablement aux cellules inactives en dispersion, vers des Betaproteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Alphaproteobacteria et Actinobacteria dans des phases successives de formation du biofilm. Par contre, dès leur détection sur le substrat minéral, les eucaryotes sont massivement dominés par des champignons ascomycètes et basidiomycètes, des algues vertes ainsi que d'autres composantes minoritaires comme des ciliés, étant détectées dans des stades plus tardifs. Nos résultats montrent que les organismes hétérotrophes sont pionniers dans la formation de ces biofilms, ce qui permet d'émettre l'hypothèse qu'ils facilitent l'installation des cyanobactéries et surtout des algues vertes. Ils montrent aussi que le processus d'assemblage des communautés bactériennes dépend du temps de colonisation, alors que le site géographique détermine celui des microorganismes eucaryotes. Ces différences majeures de comportement pourraient être expliquées par des modes de vie différents entre les organismes de ces deux grands groupes.

Le changement climatique récent a des conséquences dramatiques pour la biodiversité, à travers des modifications des conditions abiotiques et biotiques. La vulnérabilité d'une espèce au changement climatique peut dépendre de son habitat, de sa position au sein de sa communauté ainsi que de sa physiologie thermique. A cet égard, les espèces ectothermes, dont la température interne dépend directement du milieu extérieur, sont considérées comme particulièrement vulnérables à l'augmentation de température. Nous avons étudié expérimentalement l'impact du réchauffement climatique futur sur une espèce de vertébré ectotherme, le lézard vivipare (Zootoca vivipara). Pour cela nous avons utilisé le Métatron, un système de grands enclos semi-naturels dans lesquels les conditions climatiques peuvent être manipulées. Nous avons étudié l'impact d'un climat futur plus chaud (+2°C) sur la dynamique des populations et leur risque d'extinction, ainsi que sur les capacités d'adaptation des populations par la plasticité phénotypique, la sélection et la dispersion. De plus, nous avons considéré l'impact du changement climatique à l'échelle de la communauté. Nous démontrons que le changement climatique futur a un impact négatif sur les populations de lézard vivipare, avec un risque d'extinction à court terme. Cependant, des moyens d'adaptation existent, à travers des changements de phénologie et de physiologie (mélanisme, préférences thermiques). Enfin, les conséquences du changement climatique ne sont pas limitées à l'impact sur les populations de lézard, mais affectent la communauté toute entière, depuis les communautés de plantes et d'insectes jusqu'aux communautés microbiennes
Recent global change has dramatic impacts on biodiversity, through modifications in abiotic and biotic factors. Species vulnerability to changing climates depend for instance of its habitat, its position within the community and its thermal physiology. In this respect, ectotherm species are considered particularly vulnerable as their body temperature depend directly on their environment. We experimentally studied the impact of future climate change on an ectotherm vertebrate species, the common lizard (Zootoca vivipara). We used the Metatron, a system of semi-natural enclosures in which climatic conditions can be manipulated. We studied the impact of warmer climatic conditions (+2°C) on common lizard's population dynamics and extinction risk, and on population adaptation capacity through plasticity, selection and dispersal. We further investigated the impact of climate change at the community scale. We demonstrated that future climatic conditions pose a threat to common lizard. However, possibilities of adaptation exist through changes in phenology and physiology (preferred temperature and melanism). Finally, we show that changing climatic conditions have an impact on the entire communities, from plants and insects to microbial communities

Nous avons étudiés des fils quantiques dopés de semi-conducteurs gravés par spectroscopie de diffusion Raman. Nous avons observés les excitations du gaz d'électrons. Celles-ci présentent des règles de sélection différentes de celles établies pour les systèmes bi-dimensionnels. Nous avons montré théoriquement qu'elles proviennent de la modification de la structure du champ électromagnétique local provoquée par la géométrie particulière des fils gravés. Pour cela nous avons dû calculer le champ local et l'introduire dans la section efficace de diffusion Raman pour en déduire les règles de sélection de toutes les excitations. Cela a permis de déterminer sans équivoque la nature des excitations qui sont des plasmons. Aucune excitations à une particule ni fluctuations de densité de spin n'a été observées. Nous avons étudié l'évolution continue des dispersions de ces plasmons lorsque la largeur du fil est réduite de 1 micromètre à 30 nm. Jusqu'à 60 nm, celles-ci sont en très bon accord avec les résultats d'un modèle hydrodynamique. Au dessous de 60 nm, la comparaison avec un modèle RPA s'impose. Le plasmon intra-bande dispersif est observé jusqu'à 45 nm, largeur en dessous de laquelle les spectres Raman sont dominés par des excitations localisées qui nécessitent une analyse ultérieure pour en déterminer clairement leur nature. Nous montrons à l'aide du modèle RPA que nous avons atteint la limite quantique pour un fil de largeur 55 nm. Une gamme étroite de fils dont les largeurs sont comprises entre 55 nm à 45 nm permet donc l'étude de gaz strictement unidimensionnel.
Nous avons cherché à déterminer la contribution de la forte illumination dans les conclusions précédentes. Nous avons utilisé pour cela la spectroscopie de magnéto-transmission infra-rouge qui ne modifie pas les conditions d'équilibre du gaz d'électrons. Une largeur critique de 130 nm a été extraite, en dessous de laquelle nous n'avons plus aucun signe de la présence d'électrons libres. La comparaison des mesures Raman et infra-rouge a permis l'établissement et la validation d'un modèle microscopique du potentiel de confinement présent dans les fils. Enfin nous avons fabriqués des échantillons de géométries plus complexes. L'observation et l'analyse par diffusion Raman des plasmons dans ces fils a montré que nous pouvions contrôler la géométrie du potentiel confinant les électrons et a mis en évidence des effets nouveaux tels que le repliement et le confinement de plasmons unidimensionnels.

The effect of dispersing discreet periclase (magnesium oxide) or brookite (titanium oxide) nanoparticles into poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) (i.e., a super glassy polymer) and 1,2-polybutadiene (i.e., a rubbery polymer) has been examined. Particle dispersion has been investigated using atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy to determine particle/aggregate size and distribution. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles dispersed into aggregates on the order of nanometers, as did magnesium oxide in 1,2-polybutadiene. However, the magnesium oxide filled poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) did not exhibit nanoparticle aggregates below approximately one micron in characteristic dimensions. Nanocomposite transport properties were studied, where permeability and solubility coefficients were determined for light gases with increasing pressure, and diffusion coefficients were calculated from the solution-diffusion model. The permeability of light gases in the heterogeneous films increased with increasing particle loading. Depending on particle loading, brookite filled nanocomposite light gas permeability increased to over four times that of the unfilled polymer, whereas at high periclase loadings the nanocomposites exhibited light gas permeabilities in excess of an order of magnitude higher than the unfilled materials. Even at these high loadings the light gas selectivities were higher than predicted for films containing transmembrane defects. Solubility was relatively unaffected by the void volume concentration, although it did increase to some extent depending on the nanoparticle concentration. Wide angle X-ray diffraction, nuclear magnetic resonance, and Fourier transform infra-red experiments were used to determine if the nanoparticles remained stable during film preparation. TiO₂ nanoparticles did not appear to react with water, the polymer matrixes or test gases used in this research. However, under certain circumstances, periclase reacted with adventitious water to form brucite. A desilylation reaction occurred when brucite was exposed to polymers or small molecule compounds that contained a trimethylsilyl group attached to a conjugated organic backbone. This reaction caused certain disubstituted polyacetylenes to become insoluble in common organic solvents.

碩士
國立成功大學
材料科學及工程學系
105
In this research, liquid phases of Poly(9,9-di-n-octylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl)(PFO) and Poly(methyl methacrylate)(PMMA)are developed in Toluene solution. By changing the compositional ratios, concentration, length of polymer side chain in solution, the morphology and two- phase distribution of spin- coated thin films are discussed. According to the pi-pi interaction between conjugated polymer and carbon nanotubes, we have observed the selective distribution of carbon nanotubes within PFO liquid phase. On spin-coated thin film, we’ve also observed the alignment of CNTs is further influenced by the stacking of PFO crystalline lamellae. The orientational alignment of CNTs could be developed at specific temperature and specific diameter of CNTs. When PFO is replaced by Poly (9, 9-di-n-dodecylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl) (PF12), the flow of liquid phase at selected temperatures is motivated to form rectangular board-like domains. CNTs are found to align vertically in PF12 domains in order to maintain the interactions with the matrix of PF12.

碩士
國立臺灣科技大學
化學工程系
107
Soft electronics require not only high electronic performance but also stretchable and flexible properties. Currently used in organic materials for soft electronic components, carrier mobility is poorer than traditional solid-state components. Therefore, the development of materials with tensile properties and high carrier mobility is currently the trend of research. Single-walled carbon nanotubes have the potential to be used in soft electronic components due to their tough but flexible physical properties and excellent electronic properties. However, single-walled carbon nanotubes have different conductive properties due to their structural changes, therefore the purification of single-conductor single-walled carbon nanotubes is very important for subsequent applications. Based on the method of conjugated polymer selective dispersion of single-walled carbon nanotubes, it is hoped that a standard procedure for purifying single-walled carbon nanotubes can be established. Different diameters of single-walled carbon nanotubes and different conjugated polymers were selected as research objects. To explore the mechanism of selective dispersion of single-walled carbon nanotubes. In Chapter 2, we used the conjugate polymer, polyfluorene and polythiophene, which are commonly used to selectively disperse single-walled carbon nanotubes, For dispersing single-walled carbon nanotubes with larger diameters. The single-walled carbon nanotubes obtained after selective dispersion have diameters of 1.42 nm and 1.74 nm. After the preparation of the field effect transistor, the analysis exhibited semiconducting properties, and the obtained carrier mobility was 4.21×10-2 cm2/(s×V). We tried to explain why PFO can sort relatively larger diameter of single-wall carbon nanotubes which is comparing with the reference. In Chapter 3, the effect of van der Waals force between single-walled carbon nanotubes and conjugated polymers is the object we want to study. It is first necessary to confirm whether the established process can be applied to single-walled carbon nanotubes with smaller diameters. Similarly, a conjugated polymer such as polyfluorene or polythiophene is used to selectively disperse carbon nanotubes with smaller diameter. Several kinds of chirality of semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes were confirmed by the photoluminescence result. The prepared transistor on/off current ratio reached 104, and the carrier mobility reached 9.95×10-2 cm2 /(s×V). After confirming the feasibility of the process, a block polymer containing a long hydrophobic chain was introduced to study the effect of different van der Waals strength on the selective dispersion of single-walled carbon nanotubes. From the results of UV/VIS/NIR, it was found that the longer the hydrophobic segment has higher selectively dispersion of the single-walled carbon nanotube. It has also been found from the photoluminescence result that different hydrophobic segment lengths also have different dispersing ability for the same chirality of carbon nanotubes.

碩士
國立臺灣科技大學
化學工程系
104
First of all, conjugated polymers, poly(phenylene-fluorene) P1 and poly(triphenylbenzene-fluorene) P2 with hexaphenylbenzene (HPB) as pending side group were prepared through Suzuki coupling. The HPB moiety of P1 and P2 can be oxidatively cyclodehydrogenated with FeCl3, yielding polymer P3 and P4 with hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene (i.e., nanographene) units. The cyclodehydrogenation of P3 and P4 was confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction of P3 and P4 both revealed the size of nanographene approximately 1.3 nm. The glass transition temperatures (Tg) of P1 and P2 were 202 °C and 235 °C, respectively. Both P3 and P4 with nanographenes possessed Tg higher than 300 °C. Compared to P3, P4 with triphenzlbenyene moiety in backbones can be well dispersed without aggregation in N-Cyclohexyl-2-pyrrolidone (CHP), confirmed by UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) and photoluminescence-excitation (PLE) maps. The second section, a new triphenylamine-alt-fluorene based conjugated copolymer, HPBPYFL6, with hexaphenylbenzene (HPB) and pyrene as asymmetrical pendant groups was synthesized. HPBPYFL6 possessed a high glass transition temperature at 260 °C and a 10% weight-loss temperature at 503 °C. HPBPYFL6 bearing a pyrene moiety had a solvatochromic fluorescence shift from a green to orange emission as the polarity of the solvent increased. Conjugated polymer films exhibited reversible electrochromic behaviour with a colour change from pale yellow to deep blue upon electrochemical oxidation and high absorbance in the near-infrared (NIR) region. The strong NIR electrochromic absorbance of HPBPYFL6 was attributed to intervalence charge transfer by the incorporation of the HPB moiety. Furthermore, the electrochromic mechanism was interpreted by DFT calculation and the simulated NIR electrochromic spectra of model compound HPBPYFL are in a good agreement with experimental data. The third part, a new approach for polytriarylamine (PTAA)-assisted selective dispersion for single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) in toluene solution has been developed. The triarylamine-based conjugated polymers are able to selectively wrap the SWNTs with specific chiral indices depending on their backbone structures (e.g., PTAA12, PTAA12-P and PTAA12-BP) and side-chain functionality (e.g., PTAA6, PTAA6-alt-PTAA and PTAA12-alt-PTAA). PTAA12 exhibits highly selective wrapping for the (6,5) chirality from CoMoCAT SWNTs but low selectivity in a dispersion of HiPCO SWNTs. Therefore, the selection for HiPCO SWNTs has been further improved via PTAA12-alt-PTAA wrapping with alternating side chains, which exhibits high affinity to (6,5), (7,5) and (9,8) chiralities. The limited conformations of PTAA12-alt-PTAA were due to incorporation of alternating side chains, which enhanced the selectivity of extraction of SWNTs. Finally, the saturated polynorbornene Poly(HNBOHPB) with a hexaphenylbenzene (HPB) moiety was prepared by ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) followed by hydrogenation. The nanographene-containing Poly(HNBOHBC) was prepared from Poly(HNBOHPB) via the Scholl reaction. The glass transition temperature of Poly(HNBOHPB) was 205 °C, and that of Poly(HNBOHBC) was higher than 300 °C. The temperatures required for a 10% weight loss (Td10) for Poly(HNBOHPB) and Poly(HNBOHBC) were 428 °C and 456 °C under a nitrogen flow, respectively, indicating the great improvement in thermal properties after the cyclodehydrogenation.The exfoliation of insoluble Poly(HNBOHBC) was prepared by bath sonication in CHP. The spectroscopic features of Poly(HNBOHBC) were investigated by UV-vis spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy and photoluminescence excitation (PLE) mapping.

Tanzania is endowed with rich mineral deposits containing gold, tanzanite, diamond, coal, uranium, iron ore, gemstones with low grade of the sulphide minerals namely chalcopyrite and pyrite. It is the third largest producer of gold in Africa after South Africa and Ghana. It is pertinent to note that the ores in Tanzania composed of mainly base metals, namely copper in the form of chalcopyrite, disseminated in silicates, in some locations of Mpanda Mineral Field (MMF) are rarely beneficiated. This is due to the presence of large proportions of silica slimes, present in the lean grade ores of copper in the form of chalcopyrite, thereby making it even more challenging for mining industries to process MMF ores. Taking into consideration the continuous depletion of the high grade mineral deposits, stricter environmental regulations and the necessity to utilize lean ores with complex and intricate mineralogy, it becomes germane to develop a beneficiation strategy to extract mineral values from the MMF ore of Tanzania. Towards this, polysaccharides have been evaluated as selective flocculants for chalcopyrite present in the MMF ore, after dispersion of the siliceous slimes. The chalcopyrite enriched pre-concentrate obtained after selective-dispersion-flocculation, was beneficiated by the froth flotation process. With this background, the present research investigation was taken up, with the following major objectives: 1) Evaluation of polysaccharides such as acacia gum (AG), xanthan gum (XG) and guar gum (GG) as well as polyethylene oxide (PEO) based on adsorption density measurements, on individual minerals such as chalcopyrite, pyrite and quartz as well as on the MMF ore. 2) Elucidation of the surface chemical changes brought about on the chosen minerals and MMF ore in the presence of the polymers and/or sodium trisilicate (STS) at the mineral-solution interface. 3) Delineation of the interaction mechanisms of the chosen polymers with the chosen minerals and MMF ore. 4) Assessment of the flocculation efficiency of the chosen polysaccharides based on selective-dispersion-flocculation studies on the MMF ore, as a pre-concentration step. 5) Beneficiation of the flocculated chalcopyrite enriched fraction of MMF ore by froth flotation. All the mineral samples used have been characterized using X-ray diffraction and FTIR spectroscopic techniques. Further, the characterization of the MMF ore has been carried out using petro-mineralogical analysis, X-ray diffraction and FTIR spectroscopy. The chemical analysis of the ore has also been performed. Extensive and detailed surface chemical studies, namely electrokinetic and adsorption-desorption measurements, have been carried out on the chosen mineral and ore samples as a function of pH, polymer and/or dispersant (STS) concentration, apart from adsorption kinetics. The dissolution tendencies of the minerals and ore have been ascertained as a function of time and pH, in the presence of the polymers. The complexation of the polymers with the metal ions of relevance has been examined in the bulk solution by co-precipitation studies as a function of pH. Based on results generated at the mineral/ore solution interface and that in the bulk solution, the mechanisms of adsorption of the polymers on the chosen minerals and ore have been delineated. The mechanisms proposed have been further confirmed by FTIR spectroscopic studies on the adsorbed polymeric reagents. In the light of the knowledge gained with the basic surface chemical studies, selective-dispersion-flocculation studies using AG, XG and GG as selective flocculants for the chalcopyrite component of the MMF ore, have been carried out in the presence of STS as a dispersant for the silica slimes present in the ore. The degree of flocculation has been determined as a function of desliming stages, to assess the flocculation efficiency of the chosen polysaccharides. The chalcopyrite enriched fraction of the MMF ore, obtained as a pre-concentrate, has been subjected to flotation using xanthate collector blends, in rougher and cleaner stages, to obtain chalcopyrite concentrate of optimum grade and recovery of copper, with a significantly reduced amount of silica. A novel approach has been the addition of PEO as a depressant of silica, in the flotation stage, which resulted in a higher grade and recovery of copper, obviating the need for the cleaner flotation stage. The salient findings of this research study are summarized below: The electrokinetic measurements indicate that the iso-electric points (IEPs) of chalcopyrite, pyrite, quartz mineral samples and the MMF ore are located at pH 5.6, pH 6.7, pH 2.3 and pH 2.7, respectively. All the mineral and ore samples are rendered more negative, proportionate to the concentration of STS added. Similarly, the mineral and ore samples become less positive below the IEP or more negative beyond the IEP, after the addition of AG or XG, and a shift in the IEP towards lower pH values is observed, especially discernable with respect to chalcopyrite and pyrite, indicative of specific adsorption. This can be attributed to the presence of carboxyl functional groups in AG and XG polymers. On the contrary, the addition of GG or PEO, reduces the magnitude of the negative zeta potential values of the mineral or ore samples, without altering their IEP values, due to the shift of the plane of shear, as a consequence of their high molecular weights. Adsorption kinetics studies reveal that the adsorption of all the chosen polymers takes place quite rapidly and equilibrium is attained within 0.5 h-1.5 h, for the chosen minerals and ore samples. However, it is found that no adsorption of AG and XG takes place on quartz. The adsorption densities of AG and XG continuously decrease with increase of pH, for chalcopyrite, pyrite and the MMF ore. Further, their adsorption densities are decreased in proportion with the concentration of STS added, with respect to the above – mentioned sulphide minerals and ore, though the trend with respect to pH is maintained. The decrease in the adsorption densities of AG and XG with increase of pH can be explained by the increase in the negative charge of the mineral and ore surfaces, with increase of pH and the anionic nature of the two polymers. It is interesting to note that the adsorption density of GG exhibits a maximum at pH 9.6 and pH 10.5 for chalcopyrite and pyrite, respectively, with the adsorption maxima coinciding with the pH of IEP of the copper or ferric hydroxide, respectively. The adsorption of GG for MMF ore is found to be independent of pH. Additionally, in the presence of STS, the adsorption density of GG, is reduced for the two sulphide minerals and the MMF ore, without altering the trend with respect to pH. The adsorption density of PEO for chalcopyrite and pyrite is found to continuously increase with increase of pH, while it is independent of pH for the MMF ore. Further, the adsorption of PEO remains unchanged in the presence of STS, for the sulphide minerals and the ore, maintaining the trend observed with respect to pH. As mentioned earlier, AG and XG do not adsorb on quartz, while the adsorption of GG and PEO on it, remains independent of pH. The adsorption density of GG for quartz is reduced with the proportional increase in the concentration of STS, while that of PEO on quartz is not affected by the addition of STS. The adsorption isotherms of the polymers for the chosen minerals and ore follow Langmuirian behavior, adhering to L1 or L2 type of the Giles classification. The Gibbs free energies of adsorption of the polymers are found to be in the range of -25 kJ/mol to -35 kJ/mole for the sulphide minerals and ore, attesting to chemisorption. However, the Gibbs free adsorption of GG and PEO for quartz is -8.8 kJ/mol and -14.4 kJ/mol, suggestive of a physisorption process. Desorption studies show only partial reversibility of adsorption for the sulphide minerals and ore, though a high degree of desorption could be achieved for the adsorption of GG and PEO on quartz and MMF ore. The results of the desorption tests lend support to the nature of the adsorption process observed for the polymers, with respect to the mineral and ore adsorbents investigated. Dissolution studies indicate release of the lattice metal ions from the sulphide minerals and MMF ore. Co-precipitation tests confirm complexation of copper, iron, aluminium and calcium ions with the polymeric reagents in the bulk solution. Consequent to the pre-treatment of the sulphide minerals and the ore with EDTA, a reduction in the adsorption density of the chosen polymers is observed, attesting to the importance of the lattice metal ions in facilitating adsorption. Based on the findings of the surface chemical studies carried out, both at the mineral/ore solution interface and in the bulk solution, the adsorption mechanisms of AG, XG and GG for the chosen sulphide minerals and ore have been elucidated, to be governed by hydrogen bonding, electrostatic and chemical forces of interaction. The mechanism of interaction of GG and PEO with quartz is found to be mainly by hydrogen bonding. FTIR spectroscopic studies provide evidence in support of the mechanisms proposed. As a follow up of the fundamental studies performed, the beneficiation of the MMF ore has been carried out. Initially, selective-dispersion-flocculation studies were undertaken in order to produce a pre-concentrate, enriched in chalcopyrite. The grade of chalcopyrite is enhanced to 19.8% using 30 mg/L concentration each of STS dispersant and XG as a flocculant. A separation efficiency (SE) of 84% has been achieved using XG as a flocculant. The SE for the flocculants can be arranged in the following sequence: XG > AG > GG. The pre-concentrate of chalcopyrite so obtained was used as the feed for the flotation process. The best results could be achieved with the chalcopyrite pre-concentrate obtained by using XG as a flocculant and PEO as a depressant for silica. These correspond to a copper grade of 29% with 90% recovery and containing silica of 0.9% grade with 1.1% recovery in the concentrate. The maximum selectivity index of 29.5 could be achieved, under the optimized conditions. A conceptual flowsheet has been proposed for the beneficiation of MMF ore.
Government of India (GoI) through the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD)

碩士
中原大學
電機工程研究所
97
The wireless communication systems have investigated over the recent years, the demand for data rates are more than before. Hence, the multiple input multiple output (MIMO) technique has been proposed to increase data rates by using several transmit and receive antennae. Of particular interset is multiple input single output (MISO) system where the base station (BS) equipped with multiple antennae sends its data to mobile units which possess a single receive antenna, which often employed in downlink mobile communications. However, in high data rate communications, the impacts of multipath propagation and intersymbol interference (ISI) have been increased and the resulting required equalizer. The equalizer is generally performed in time domain. However, with growing data rates the complexity of time domain equalizer (TDE) structures increases hugely. A process to overcome this problem is using single carrier frequency domain equalizer (SC-FDE). Since the convolution sequence in the time domain translate into product under frequency domain. Therefore, the FDE has lower computational complexity than TDE. Beside, in this thesis, under the MISO system, we propose a novel design, the carrier selection (CS) in the transmit-end, and the SC-FDE is applied at the receiver-end over dispersive Nakagami-m fading channels. Simulation results reveal that our proposed scheme is much greater than that without CS and other conventional coun- terparts and we find bit error rate (BER) performance limitation by various system parameters. Moreover, about the FDE, we will discuss the characterizations for two common strategies of the linear equalizer, zero-forcing (ZF) and minimum mean square error (MMSE).

Tese de doutoramento em Geografia, na especialidade de Geografia Física, apresentada à Faculdade de Letras da Universidade de Coimbra
O presente estudo desenvolveu-se através da análise dos dados acerca das ”quantidades de resíduos” provenientes da recolha seletiva dos ecopontos dos concelhos de Coimbra e Figueira da Foz do Distrito de Coimbra e dos “quilómetros percorridos” para a recolha desses resíduos e encaminhamento para a estação de triagem. Os anos em estudo foram de 2009 a 2013 e os dados anteriormente referidos foram obtidos através da consulta do sítio da internet da ERSUC, empresa gestora dos resíduos urbanos. Por outro lado, com a informação recolhida da tipologia dos camiões de recolha e do ano de matrícula, recorreu-se ao programa COPERT IV para obter as quantidades de CO2 emitidos por fluxo de resíduos, tendo conseguido fazer um balanço, recorrendo ao software do site norte americano STOPWASTE. Com esta calculadora, e fazendo as adaptações necessárias à realidade portuguesa, conseguimos calcular a quantidade de CO2 que se deixa de emitir para a atmosfera ao fazer a reciclagem das quantidades de resíduos recolhidos. De referir que foi usada a percentagem de 6% como taxa de refugo, segundo os dados obtidos através da ERSUC. Assim, verificou-se que temos um balanço muito positivo no que respeita às quantidades de CO2 que são poupadas com a reciclagem dos resíduos provenientes dos ecopontos comparativamente com a quantidade de CO2 emitido com a sua recolha e encaminhamento para a estação de triagem. É certo que no presente estudo não foram contemplados os quilómetros percorridos e as consequentes emissões de CO2 com o transporte da estação de triagem para as empresas recicladoras. Por outro lado, o presente estudo permitiu chegar à conclusão que também conseguimos poupar energia ao reciclarmos os materiais recolhidos, quando comparamos com a energia que é gasta com a recolha e transporte destes mesmos materiais. This study was developed by analyzing the data "quantities of waste" from the selective collection of waste recycling bins, for the municipalities of Coimbra and Figueira da Foz the district of Coimbra and "mileage" for such waste and referral to the station screening. The years in the study were from 2009 to 2013 and previously reported data were obtained through the Internet site of the ERSUC, company wich managing municipal waste. On the other hand, with the information collected from the type of truck collection and year of registration, he used the COPERT IV program to obtain the quantities of CO2 emitted with a waste stream and managed to take stock, using the site's software north American STOPWASTE. With this calculator, and making the necessary adjustments to the Portuguese reality, we can calculate the amount of CO2 that is allowed to emit into the atmosphere when you recycle the quantities of waste collected. Note that the percentage of 6% as scrap rate was used, according to data obtained by ERSUC. Thus it was found that we have a very positive with regard to the quantities of CO2 are saved with the recycling of waste from ecopoints compared to the amount of CO2 emitted to the collection and forwarding to the screening station. It is true that in this study the mileage and consequently CO2 emissions with transportation screening station at recycling companies were not included. Furthermore this study has lead to the conclusion that we can also save energy by recycling the collected materials, when compared to the energy that is spent on the collection and transport of these same materials. KEYWORDS: Municipal waste, selective collection, balance, Coimbra
This study was developed by analyzing the data "quantities of waste" from the selective collection of waste recycling bins, for the municipalities of Coimbra and Figueira da Foz the district of Coimbra and "mileage" for such waste and referral to the station screening. The years in the study were from 2009 to 2013 and previously reported data were obtained through the Internet site of the ERSUC, company wich managing municipal waste. On the other hand, with the information collected from the type of truck collection and year of registration, he used the COPERT IV program to obtain the quantities of CO2 emitted with a waste stream and managed to take stock, using the site's software north American STOPWASTE. With this calculator, and making the necessary adjustments to the Portuguese reality, we can calculate the amount of CO2 that is allowed to emit into the atmosphere when you recycle the quantities of waste collected. Note that the percentage of 4% as scrap rate was used, according to data obtained by ERSUC. Thus it was found that we have a very positive with regard to the quantities of CO2 are saved with the recycling of waste from ecopoints compared to the amount of CO2 emitted to the collection and forwarding to the screening station. It is true that in this study the mileage and consequently CO2 emissions with transportation screening station at recycling companies were not included. Furthermore this study has lead to the conclusion that we can also save energy by recycling the collected materials, when compared to the energy that is spent on the collection and transport of these same materials.

La conservation du caribou forestier est un enjeu clé de la gestion écosystémique. Le plan de rétablissement du caribou forestier, publié par le Québec en 2009, propose une approche de gestion forestière qui comprend le maintien de la connectivité entre des massifs de protection afin de faciliter les déplacements du caribou. Cependant, la majorité des études sur le caribou forestier se concentrent sur des périodes sédentaires soient l'hiver et la mise bas. Dans cette étude nous avons étudié le comportement du caribou boréal du Nord-du-Québec durant une période de déplacement, la dispersion printanière, afin de mieux caractériser les attributs d'habitats qui semblent faciliter la connectivité. Dans le premier chapitre de ce mémoire, nous privilégions une méthode d'analyse (partition récursive) à base individuelle qui permet d'obtenir des dates correspondant à trois saisons critiques dans le cycle de vie annuel du caribou forestier soient l'hiver, la dispersion printanière, et la mise bas. Ensuite nous comparons les dates obtenues par cette approche avec a) des dates obtenues par une méthode effectuée sur des données communes à la population (régression polynomiale mixte), et b) celles ayant été établies par consensus des experts pour notre région d'étude. Les résultats démontrent que même à l'intérieur d'une saison relativement stable il y a une variabilité individuelle et annuelle importantes quant à la période temporelle qui y correspond. Le modèle estimé sur les données communes de la population n'a pas obtenu les mêmes dates que celui estimé à l'échelle individuelle. Par ailleurs, les dates obtenues par consensus des experts différaient de façon importante des dates obtenues au moyen de l'étude du comportement des individus, particulièrement l'hiver et à la mise bas. Les dates correspondant à la mise bas étaient les moins différentes dans les trois cas. Nous concluons qu'afin de réduire le biais dans les études de sélection d'habitat, lors de la délimitation de la saison d'intérêt il est préférable d'utiliser des méthodes quantitatives qui sont basées sur le signal biologique de mouvements des individus d'une population plutôt que d'adopter des dates fixes et/ou établies a priori pour une région. Dans le deuxième chapitre nous abordons en premier lieu le patron de déplacement printanier du caribou forestier. En général, le caribou n'a pas utilisé les mêmes parcours de déplacement d'une année à l'autre, quoiqu'il semble avoir montré une certaine fidélité à sa destination finale (site de mise bas). Les mouvements des individus étaient orientés mais il n'y avait pas de direction prédominante à l'échelle de la population. Les caribous en déplacement à proximité d'un réseau routier important (>5km/km2) tendaient à tourner en rond sans se rendre très loin (i.e. tortuosité élevée), alors que les caribous en déplacement au-delà de 30 km d'un réseau routier important faisaient des déplacements plus directionnels (quasi-linéaire) et se rendaient nettement plus loin. Ceci pourrait indiquer que les chemins forestiers imposent un effet de barrière à la dispersion du caribou, ce qui pourrait avoir des conséquences néfastes pour la survie des populations sous forme de trappes écologiques. Le deuxième élément abordé dans chapitre deux est la sélection d'habitat du caribou forestier durant ses déplacements printaniers. Nous avons d'abord quantifié sa distribution printanière par le biais d'un modèle de mouvement Brownian bridge (MMBB), qui génère une surface de probabilité continue que nous avons ensuite utilisé comme variable réponse dans un modèle de sélection d'habitat. En général le caribou n'a pas démontré de sélection ou d'évitement fort vis-à-vis les attributs de son environnement durant ses déplacements saisonniers. Il a toutefois manifesté des tendances qui reflètent des compromis entre chercher une nourriture de qualité et minimiser le risque de prédation et les coûts énergétiques des déplacements. Par exemple, le caribou tendait à sélectionner des landes à lichen et des milieux humides tout en évitant des secteurs ayant une forte densité en coupes et/ou en chemins forestiers. Il tendait également à se tenir plus proche des basses terres et des cours d'eau lorsqu'accessible (à l'intérieur de 500 m). Par ailleurs, les chemins forestiers semblaient provoquer un comportement d'évitement chez le caribou boréal jusqu'à 15 kilomètres de distance, et les coupes forestières jusqu'à 10 kilomètres. Nous concluons que, étant donné le faible degré de fidélité aux parcours de déplacement printanier, planifier des corridors de déplacement fixes ne semble pas une approche très prometteuse pour maintenir la connectivité des paysages. Cela étant dit, la fidélité du caribou à ses parcours de déplacement risque d'être plus importante sur des territoires fortement aménagés puisque la connectivité de ses paysages serait moindre. Néanmoins, puisque le caribou en déplacement semble éviter les perturbations récentes, une densité accrue d'interventions forestières sur le paysage ne pourrait que nuire à la connectivité du territoire pour cet animal. Afin de mieux viser la conservation de cette espèce menacée, nous suggérons de minimiser la coupe ainsi que les chemins forestiers dans les secteurs encore occupés par le caribou forestier. Lorsque les interventions y sont envisagées, nous recommandons de ne passer qu'une fois par voie d'hiver en faisant des coupes localisées de petite envergure (coupe partielle, coupe sélective), tout en assurant la réhabilitation des chemins forestiers par la suite. ______________________________________________________________________________ MOTS-CLÉS DE L’AUTEUR : caribou forestier, écotype boréal, comportement de déplacement, dispersion printanière, méthodes quantitatives, variabilité temporelle, consensus des experts, connectivité du paysage, Brownian bridge movement model (BBMM), sélection d'habitat, resource selection probability function (RSPF), réponse fonctionnelle.

The Kittlitz's murrelet (Brachyramphus brevirostris) is a rare member of the seabird family Alcidae that breeds in coastal areas of Alaska and Beringian Russia. The species belongs to the genus Brachyramphus, an unusual seabird taxon in which all three extant species nest non-colonially, situating their nests up to 75 km inland from coastal marine waters. This nesting strategy is different from that of most seabird species, which tend to nest colonially on remote islands or sea cliffs, where terrestrial predators are generally absent or cannot easily access nests. Within the genus Brachyramphus, Kittlitz's murrelet is notable because a majority of the global population appears to nest on the surface of the ground in rocky alpine habitat near inland or tidewater glaciers, foraging in adjacent marine waters influenced by glacial outflows. The unusual nesting habits of Kittlitz's murrelet have made the study of its nesting ecology difficult, and gaps therefore exist in our understanding of the species' breeding biology. Kittlitz's murrelet populations have declined substantially in core areas of its range, causing the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service to designate the species as a candidate for protection under the Endangered Species Act. A better understanding of Kittlitz's murrelet nesting ecology is crucial for determining potential causes of these declines and for future management of the species. To this end, I studied Kittlitz's murrelet breeding ecology and nest site selection during 2008-2011 on Kodiak Island, Alaska, in an unglaciated area that was recently found to have large numbers of accessible nests. I and my colleagues found 53 active Kittlitz's murrelet nests in inland scree-dominated habitats and placed remote, motion-sensing cameras at 33 nests. Adults exchanged incubation duties at the nest every 24 or 48 h, almost exclusively during early morning twilight. Following hatching of eggs, parents provisioned their single nestling with an average of 3.9 to 4.8 fish per day, depending on the year. Parental visits to the nest during chick-rearing occurred primarily after sunrise in the early to mid-morning hours, and during evening twilight. Fish were delivered singly to the chick, and Pacific sand lance (Ammodytes hexapterus), a high-lipid forage fish, accounted for about 92% of all identifiable chick meal deliveries. Chick growth rates were high relative to confamilial species, consistent with the high quality of chick diets; the logistic growth rate constant (K) was 0.291, greater than that for any other semi-precocial alcid. Chicks fledged an average of 24.8 d after hatching and asymptotic chick body mass averaged about 135.5 g, approximately 58% of adult body mass. Age at fledging, asymptotic chick body mass (% adult mass), and the number of meal deliveries required to fledge a chick were all lower than or as low as any other species of semi-precocial alcid. The average estimated nest survival rate during 2008-2011 was 0.093 (95% CI = 0.01–0.30), which is extremely low compared to other species in the family Alcidae, and is almost certainly insufficient to sustain a stable population. The primary causes of nest failure were depredation (47% of total nest fates), mostly by red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), and unexplained nestling mortality on the nest (21% of nest fates). Saxitoxin and/or pathogenic endoparasite burdens were observed in five of six necropsied chick carcasses, suggesting possible causes for chick mortality not directly attributable to predation. Habitat characteristics of Kittlitz's murrelet nest sites differed significantly from unused sites at several scales. At a small scale (within 5 m of the nest), nest sites had a lower percent coverage of vegetation and higher percent coverage of intermediate-sized rocks (5–30 cm diameter), compared to randomly selected unused sites. Nest sites were also located on steeper, more north-facing slopes compared to randomly selected sites. Nest sites also had a lower percent coverage of vegetation than randomly-selected sites at larger scales (within 25 m and 50 m of the nest site). Nest sites were located significantly farther from the edge of densely-vegetated habitats than random sites. There was no evidence that nest sites were different from randomly-selected sites in terms of elevation, proximity to ridgelines, or proximity to the open ocean, although a low degree of variation within the study area for these habitat characteristics may have precluded detection of potential differences. Nest survival rates did not co-vary with slope, percent vegetation coverage, distance from vegetated edges, or percent cover of intermediate-sized rocks; however, this result may be an artifact of a limited sample size. The results of this thesis will provide managers with a better understanding of the factors that may limit Kittlitz's murrelet nesting success, such as nest predation and forage fish availability, as well as factors that may influence the quality and distribution of Kittlitz’s murrelet nesting habitat in the future, given on-going and progressive climate change.
Graduation date: 2013

This thesis focuses on 3D computer graphics and the continuous maximisation of rendering quality and performance. Its main focus is the critical analysis of numerous real-time rendering algorithms and the construction of an empirically derived system for the high-speed rendering of shader-based special effects, lighting effects, shadows, reflection and refraction, post-processing effects and the processing of physics. This critical analysis allows us to assess the relationship between rendering quality and performance. It also allows for the isolation of key algorithmic weaknesses and possible bottleneck areas. Using this performance data, gathered during the analysis of various rendering algorithms, we are able to define a selection engine to control the real-time cycling of rendering algorithms and special effects groupings based on environmental conditions. Furthermore, as a proof of concept, to balance Central Processing Unit (CPU) and Graphic Processing Unit (GPU) load for and increased speed of execution, our selection system unifies the GPU and CPU as a single computational unit for physics processing and environmental mapping. This parallel computing system enables the CPU to process cube mapping computations while the GPU can be tasked with calculations traditionally handled solely by the CPU. All analysed and benchmarked algorithms were implemented as part of a modular rendering engine. This engine offers conventional first-person perspective input control, mesh loading and support for shader model 4.0 shaders (via Microsoft’s High Level Shader Language) for effects such as high dynamic range rendering (HDR), dynamic ambient lighting, volumetric fog, specular reflections, reflective and refractive water, realistic physics, particle effects, etc. The test engine also supports the dynamic placement, movement and elimination of light sources, meshes and spatial geometry. Critical analysis was performed via scripted camera movement and object and light source additions – done not only to ensure consistent testing, but also to ease future validation and replication of results. This provided us with a scalable interactive testing environment as well as a complete solution for the rendering of computationally intensive 3D environments. As a full-fledged game engine, our rendering engine is amenable to first- and third-person shooter games, role playing games and 3D immersive environments. Evaluation criteria (identified to access the relationship between rendering quality and performance), as mentioned, allows us to effectively cycle algorithms based on empirical results and to distribute specific processing (cube mapping and physics processing) between the CPU and GPU, a unification that ensures the following: nearby effects are always of high-quality (where computational resources are available), distant effects are, under certain conditions, rendered at a lower quality and the frames per second rendering performance is always maximised. The implication of our work is clear: unifying the CPU and GPU and dynamically cycling through the most appropriate algorithms based on ever-changing environmental conditions allow for maximised rendering quality and performance and shows that it is possible to render high-quality visual effects with realism, without overburdening scarce computational resources. Immersive rendering approaches used in conjunction with AI subsystems, game networking and logic, physics processing and other special effects (such as post-processing shader effects) are immensely processor intensive and can only be successfully implemented on high-end hardware. Only by cycling and distributing algorithms based on environmental conditions and through the exploitation of algorithmic strengths can high-quality real-time special effects and highly accurate calculations become as common as texture mapping. Furthermore, in a gaming context, players often spend an inordinate amount of time fine-tuning their graphics settings to achieve the perfect balance between rendering quality and frames-per-second performance. Using this system, however, ensures that performance vs. quality is always optimised, not only for the game as a whole but also for the current scene being rendered – some scenes might, for example, require more computational power than others, resulting in noticeable slowdowns, slowdowns not experienced thanks to our system’s dynamic cycling of rendering algorithms and its proof of concept unification of the CPU and GPU.
Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2012.
Computer Science
unrestricted