Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 187). / Also available by subscription via World Wide Web / xxiii, 187 leaves, bound ill. 29 cm

Much scientific and media attention has been devoted to the growing body of research into the genetic correlates of human phenomena. However, many of the resulting reports lead to a deterministic interpretation of the role of genes, and involve fundamental misunderstandings of genetics and heredity. Hence, questions arise regarding the ways in which people make sense of the behavioural genetics research they encounter in everyday life. Furthermore, essentialist accounts are often embedded within popular understanding of politically sensitive topics, such as eugenics, race, and sex, and therefore it is important to examine how people comprehend genetic influences on behaviour. In this dissertation, I review current findings regarding the effects of genetic attributions on beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours in the context of the social world. Particular attention is paid to such effects in the context of gender issues. Specifically, in three studies I examine the effects of exposure to scientific theories concerning human sexuality on attitudes towards and evaluations of men’s dubious sexual behaviors. The results indicate that among men exposure to evolutionary psychology arguments leads to more lenient evaluations and judgments of an array of dubious sexual behaviors, compared with exposure to social constructivist arguments. It also seems that men implicitly hold nativist perceptions with regards to male sexuality and promiscuity. The findings were less conclusive among women, with some indication that women are less affected by such exposure as well as less likely to naturally hold a nativist perspective in the context of human sexuality. This empirical research has direct implications for previously suggested intervention programs and adds to the incurrent resurgence of interest in the effects of genetic theories. Finally, I identify areas where further exploration is needed, suggest potential solutions for specific problems, and evaluate related individual and social implications.

Bird Island is a former flood tide delta occurring in the mouth of the River Murray, Encounter Bay, South Australia. The island has experienced a rapid development history; in around 60 years the formerly ephemeral deltaic deposits have rapidly become stabilised, forming a permanent island approximately 1 km in diameter. / It has been possible to place tight time restraints on the progressive development of Bird Island over this 60 year period. Its sand dunes and marshes of different ages can be distinguished clearly from an analysis of successive aerial photographs. Evidence suggests they represent different phases in the growth and development of the island, resulting from an interplay of factors including the position and migration of the Murray Mouth relative to the island as well as the availability of sediment and conditions conducive to aeolian sand transport. / The landforms of Bird Island present a unique opportunity for the assessment and study of progressive plant colonisation and succession on a pristine landscape in a coastal/estuarine setting. Bird Island comprises 19 different dune and marsh vegetation types. Research has identified several trends suggesting that the environmental gradients associated with the marsh-dune landforms has influenced some characteristics of species distribution. It also appears that in a general way, species distributions may represent succession on the sand dunes, but this was not as clearly demonstrated across the marshes of different ages on Bird Island. / Research suggests that the construction of the lower River Murray barrages in 1940, which has reduced the median annual flow to the estuary by nearly 75%, and has reduced the tidal prism by up to 90%; has facilitated the development of Bird Island. Bird Island contributed to the closure of the mouth of the River Murray in 1981; inlet behaviour not demonstrated in the 100 years prior to barrage construction according to the results of this research. / The continuing development of Bird Island suggests considerable potential for more blockages in the future. The continuing sedimentation in the Murray Mouth reflects the inability of the current flow regime and marine processes in maintaining the mouth as they did prior to the construction of regulatory works on the Lower River Murray. / Thesis (MApSc(EnvironmentRecreationMg))--University of South Australia, 2004

No description available.

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No description available.

Marsupial evolution and morphological diversity is traditionally viewed against the background of marsupial life history, central to which are the highly altricial neonates that actively move towards the teat. It has been suggested that this mode of birth leads to a constraint on the marsupial postcranial diversity. However, apart from phylogenetic investigations, few empirical studies have assessed diversity, patterns of adaptation, or ontogeny of the marsupial postcranium. This thesis contributes to the debate by providing diverse, large-scale empirical data on selected issues of marsupial postcranial evolution, using multidisciplinary approaches with focus on quantitative analysis. Chapter 1 provides an overview on previous research on this topic. Chapter 2 assesses the phylogenetic and functional-anatomical implications of marsupial carpal diversity. Chapter 3 is a phylogenetically informed morphometric analysis of diprotodontian manual digits, demonstrating locomotor adaptations similar to those in placentals and allowing the development of a new locomotor predictor ratio. Chapter 4 shows that functional correlates of digit proportions in Diprotodontia also exist in the placental hystricomorph rodents, which resemble Diprotodontia in ecological diversity. Chapter 5 applies the results from Chapters 2-4 to the mostly extinct diprotodontian suborder Vombatiformes, revealing functionally related parallelism in the hand of vombatiforms and kangaroos and questioning previous concepts of locomotion in early vombatiforms. Chapter 6 focuses on the evolution of marsupial syndactyly using a multidisciplinary approach including morphometrics and ossification sequence analysis. The results suggest that syndactylous digits evolve as a functional unit; syndactyly may arise through alteration of developmental patterns as suggested by ossification sequence heterochrony. Chapter 7 is a combined analysis of ossification sequences in marsupial and placental postcrania. The results suggest that the special locomotor and developmental requirements on marsupial neonates may metabolically and mechanically impact postcranial ossification patterns, delaying hindlimb development and accelerating ossification of the anterior torso. Chapter 8 summarises the research presented in this thesis and suggests directions for future work on marsupial postcranial evolution, particularly with respect to integrating information on postcranial diversity with ontogenetic work on morphogen expression patterns.

125 leaves ; 25cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.1974) from the Dept. of Botany, University of Adelaide

Bird Island is a former flood tide delta occurring in the mouth of the River Murray, Encounter Bay, South Australia. The island has experienced a rapid development history; in around 60 years the formerly ephemeral deltaic deposits have rapidly become stabilised, forming a permanent island approximately 1 km in diameter. / It has been possible to place tight time restraints on the progressive development of Bird Island over this 60 year period. Its sand dunes and marshes of different ages can be distinguished clearly from an analysis of successive aerial photographs. Evidence suggests they represent different phases in the growth and development of the island, resulting from an interplay of factors including the position and migration of the Murray Mouth relative to the island as well as the availability of sediment and conditions conducive to aeolian sand transport. / The landforms of Bird Island present a unique opportunity for the assessment and study of progressive plant colonisation and succession on a pristine landscape in a coastal/estuarine setting. Bird Island comprises 19 different dune and marsh vegetation types. Research has identified several trends suggesting that the environmental gradients associated with the marsh-dune landforms has influenced some characteristics of species distribution. It also appears that in a general way, species distributions may represent succession on the sand dunes, but this was not as clearly demonstrated across the marshes of different ages on Bird Island. / Research suggests that the construction of the lower River Murray barrages in 1940, which has reduced the median annual flow to the estuary by nearly 75%, and has reduced the tidal prism by up to 90%; has facilitated the development of Bird Island. Bird Island contributed to the closure of the mouth of the River Murray in 1981; inlet behaviour not demonstrated in the 100 years prior to barrage construction according to the results of this research. / The continuing development of Bird Island suggests considerable potential for more blockages in the future. The continuing sedimentation in the Murray Mouth reflects the inability of the current flow regime and marine processes in maintaining the mouth as they did prior to the construction of regulatory works on the Lower River Murray. / Thesis (MApSc(EnvironmentRecreationMg))--University of South Australia, 2004

No description available.