A preservação de remanescentes de pequenos vertebrados é um evento bastante raro porque é necessário que fatores químicos, físicos, geológicos e biológicos atuem para que frágeis ossos e dentes não sejam destruídos pela decomposição, intempéries e processos geológicos. Apesar de raros, os testemunhos deste tipo de fauna são encontrados em escavações em abrigos sob rocha do nordeste (NE) do Rio Grande do Sul (RS). Muitas espécies de micromamíferos são excelentes bioindicadores porque possuem diferentes exigências ambientais e muitas ocupam nichos bastante específicos. Os estudos destes testemunhos contribuem para o entendimento da evolução morfológica e da história biogeográfica dos grupos preservados. Noutra via, o reconhecimento de comunidades pretéritas possibilita a reunião de informações que auxiliam no entendimento da história ambiental e climática de uma região. Portanto, a disponibilidade de coleções de fósseis e semi-fósseis de comunidades de pequenos mamíferos representa uma oportunidade única para compreendermos a história do estabelecimento de atuais padrões biológicos, ecológicos, ambientais e climáticos. Com base nas amostras de comunidades pretéritas de pequenos roedores (<1Kg) do NE do RS, meus objetivos são: descrever a história holocênica do clima e paisagem que resultaram na heterogeneidade de ambientes vista hoje na região de estudo (Capítulo 1) bem como também apresentar como àquelas mudanças afetaram as comunidades de roedores ao longo dos últimos 6.200 anos (Capítulo 2); utilizar dados novos de variações ao longo do tempo de três fontes (isótopos, fauna e pólen) associando-as as hipóteses disponíveis de trabalhos em palinologia principalmente, para contar a história dos processos naturais que resultaram nas riquezas de pequenos roedores e de ambientes hoje vistas na transição leste ente Pampa e Mata Atlantica (Capítulo 3) e; investigar na morfologia de Pseudoryzomys do passado buscando encontrar sinais de adaptação frente as mudanças de ambiente e discutir se tais diferenças são suficientes para reconhecer nas populações extintas do sul uma nova espécie (Capítulo 4). Para caracterizar os hábitats atuais e pretéritos, emprego dados de literatura, amostragem em campo de dados fisionômicos e florísticos e amostras de solo (para avaliação isotópicas), para inferir que, nas terras baixas da bacia do Sinos, até 8.600 anos AP o clima devia ser ameno e relativamente úmido possibilitando um ambiente de mistura entre plantas C3 e C4; entre 8.600 e 6.900 anos AP altas temperaturas e, provavelmente intensa pluviometria levam a um rápido domínio de campos de vegetação C4; de 6.900 a 5.600 as temperaturas se tornam mais amenas e o clima se mantêm úmido fomentando os primeiros avanços de formações florestais pioneiras associadas a Mata Atlantica; após 5.600, sobretudo após 4.000 anos AP., as florestas do bioma Atlântico avançam sobre as áreas abertas e úmidas formando a paisagem em mosaico característica atual. Para descrever a diversidade pretérita, analisei 13.617 ossos (inteiros e fragmentados) de pós-crânio e 1.716 partes cranianas e dentes de pequenos roedores, cujas idades inferidas vão desde 6.200 antes do presente até o recente e identifiquei 30 táxons. Para a descrição da diversidade atual, amostrei sete sítios nos quais coletei cerca de 5 Kg pelotas de corujas (provavelmente o mesmo agente formador das amostras pretéritas), que resultaram em 1.595 fragmentos, que permitiram a identificação de 18 táxons distintos. Reunindo as amostras pretéritas e atuais, pude organizar um catálogo desta fauna, que reúne 33 táxons dentre os quais destaco cinco extintos localmente, Kunsia sp., Clyomys sp., Pseudoryzomys simplex, Necromys cf. obscurus e cf. Thalpomys e, uma totalmente extintas, Dicolpomys fossor. A fim de estabelecer cenários paleoclimáticos e descrever as alterações nestas comunidades ao longo do Holoceno (Cap. 3), eu integrei as informações sobre a diversidade de hábitats e de espécies no passado e no presente, a dados palinológicos e isotópicos, e pude estabelecer que, no geral, há razoável coerência entre os cenários de mudança paleoambientais estabelecidos em trabalhos polínicos com as interpretações que pude fazer a respeito daquelas mudanças a partir de analises de mudanças de comunidade de roedores e de oscilações isotópicas no solo. Como principal ressalva as hipóteses de mudanças Holocênicas na paisagem, argumento que toda a região de várzea entre os rios Taquari, Jacui, Caí, Sinos e Gravataí deve ter sido dominada por amplas áreas alagadas num cenário muito próximo ao Pantanal devido a presença entre os semifosseis de táxons de roedores que hoje prosperam nesse bioma e pela presença de Blastocerus dichotomus, o qual era predado por índios no RS e hoje possui uma população relictual na APA do Banhado Grande, RS. No Cap. 4 realizo uma abordagem relativamente inédita para Sigmodontinae onde verifico através de morfometria geométrica que o efeito de desgaste dentário é bastante diferente entre populações antigas e atuais de Pseudoryzomys e, associando analises morfológica lineares discuto que o conjunto de variações dever ter estreita relação com a \"tentativa\" da população a se manter ante a mudança de cenário e, consequentemente, de dieta. / Small vertebrate\'s remnants preservation is rather rare event because is needed that specific factors occur together (chemical, physical, geological and biological) to not destroy fragiles bones and teeth by decomposition, weather and geological processes. Nonetheless, the evidences of this type of fauna are quite frequently found at rock shelters excavations at Rio Grande do Sul (RS). Many micro mammals species have different environmental requirements and occupy specific niches therefore are considered excellent bioindicators. Studies of these testimonies contribute to understanding the morphological evolution and of biogeographic history of these preserved groups. In another way, knowing past communities allows gathering a lot of information that helps understanding environmental and climatic history of a place. Therefore, the availability of fossil and semifossil collections from past small mammals communities is a odd opportunity to improve the current biological understanding of ecological, environmental and climatic patterns established along of the history. This study intends to contribute knowledge about northeast RS and about your Holocene rodent fauna. Based on past samples from small rodent communities (<1kg). The objectives of this thesis are: describe the climate and landscape Holocene history which resulted in current heterogeneity of northeast of RS (Chapter 1) as well as show how climatic and environmental changes affected rodent communities over past 6,200 years (Chapter 2); Use new data of three sources variation over time (isotopes, fauna and pollen) associating mainly with available palynology studies in order to interpret the natural processes history which resulted in small rodent richness and present environments at Atlantic Forest and Pampa transitions (Chapter 3) and; investigate past Pseudoryzomys morphology in order to find adaptation signs in face of environment changes and discuss whether these differences are enough to distinguish a new species in the South´s extinct populations (Chapter 4). To characterize current and past habitats (Chapter 1) literature, fisionomic and floristic field sampling and soil samples (for isotopic evaluation) data are used to infer that in Sinos´s basin lowlands up to 8600 years BP the climate would be moderate and relatively wet allowing a mixing environment of C3 and C4 plants; between 8,600 and 6,900 years high temperatures and probably intense rainfall lead to a domain of C4 vegetation filds. From 6,900 to 5,600 years the temperature become milder and the climat remains humid enabling the first advances of pioneer forest formations associated with Atlantic Forest. After 5,600 years especially after 4,000 years BP Atlantic biomes forests advance on open and humid areas forming the current characteristic mosaic landscape. To describe past diversity (chapter 2), 13,617 post-cranial skeleton\'s bones and 1,716 cranial parts and rodent teeth were analyzed. These samples have a inferred ages range from 6,200 years to present and 30 taxa were identified. To current diversity description were sample seven sites and was collected about 5 kg of owl\'s pellets (probably same forming agent of past samples) which 1,595 fragments were found and 18 taxa were identified. Combining present and past samples, a fauna catalog could be organized which includes 33 taxa among there are five locally extinct species (Kunsia sp., Clyomys sp., . Pseudoryzomys simplex, Necromys cf. obscurus e cf. Thalpomys) and one totally extinct (Dicolpomys fossor). In order to establish paleoclimatic scenarios and describe the changes of these communities throughout the Holocene, information on habitat diversity, past and present species diversity, palynological and isotopic data has been integrated (Chapter 3) and it has been found that there are generally reasonable coherence between paleoenvironmental change scenarios established in previous pollen studies with the interpretations suggested by the new analysis results in rodent, pollinic and isotopic communities presented in this work. The main exception to hypotheses for Holocene changes in landscape are that floodplain region among Taquari, Jacui, Caí, Sinos and Gravataí rivers must have been dominated by wide flooded areas very similar with Pantanal due to nowadays semi fossils rodent taxa presence and Blastocerus dichotomus presence (which was predated by indigenous in RS and today has a relictual population in APA do Banhado Grande, RS). In Chapter 4 was made a relatively new approach, using geometric morphometry to study Sigmodontinae. The results present that the effect of dental wear is quite diferente between past and presente populations of Pseudoryzomys. Associating linear morphological analyzes the set of variations should have close relation with the population´s \"attempt\" of keep up with scenery change and, consequently, of diet changes.

The aim of this thesis is to explain the production of urban space at the southwestern periphery of Ankara between 1985 and 2007. It has been argued that urban development is not a self-regulatory process / on contrary it is a process produced by urban planning practice. In this respect this thesis asks how and what extent urban planning produces particular urban pattern at the peripheral areas. The southwestern periphery is taken into account as a field of case study due to the peculiar development dynamics. Historical development in this area reveals a contrast between planned development directed by master plans and problematic development that has been produced by fragmented and incoherent planning processes. The difficulties of urban plans and urban planning are intimately related with the legal and administrative structures of the planning system. A methodology offered in this thesis is devised to analyze the incremental and piecemeal nature of planning process with reference to these structures. The results of the research has shown that when confronted with legal and administrative conflicts and struggles, fragmented planning decisions manipulating the existing master plan intensify and become the root cause of dispersed, awkward and haphazard spatial patterns of urban expansion.

The aim of this thesis is to explain the production of urban space at the southwestern periphery of Ankara between 1985 and 2007. It has been argued that urban development is not a self-regulatory process / on contrary it is a process produced by urban planning practice. In this respect this thesis asks how and what extent urban planning produces particular urban pattern at the peripheral areas. The southwestern periphery is taken into account as a field of case study due to the peculiar development dynamics. Historical development in this area reveals a contrast between planned development directed by master plans and problematic development that has been produced by fragmented and incoherent planning processes. The difficulties of urban plans and urban planning are intimately related with the legal and administrative structures of the planning system. A methodology offered in this thesis is devised to analyze the incremental and piecemeal nature of planning process with reference to these structures. The results of the research has shown that when confronted with legal and administrative conflicts and struggles, fragmented planning decisions manipulating the existing master plan intensify and become the root cause of dispersed, awkward and haphazard spatial patterns of urban expansion.

This study is based on a comparison of the spatial choices of two middle class groups residing in &Ccedil / ayyolu and Ke&ccedil / i&ouml / ren in Ankara. Spatial choices include the residences and neighborhood, the consumption of various places and activities in urban space and evaluations of the urban space. To search for the effects of alternative factors on the spatial choices along with well-known economic capital, two upper middle class groups are chosen as the basis of comparison. In line with the effects of Bourdieu&amp / #8217 / s cultural capital and social and symbolic capital on the differentiation of middle class / the location choice, spatial use and evaluation differences of the two groups at hand are investigated. Based on the effects of consumption sphere in class formation, the influence of the concept of &amp / #8216 / taste&amp / #8217 / and the differentiating aspect of lifestyle is discussed and how the resulting spatial tastes and choices may affect the development of urban space is presented in the case of Ankara. The importance of considering theoretically the local variations in studies conducted in urban space based on the daily practices of urbanites is revealed by the discussions of cultural factors that are special to Ankara and Turkey.

In Turkey, by 1980, a transformation has been observed on both the character of the societal opposition and the meaning, function, and spatial form of public spaces, which were characterized to be essential political spaces of a period. Kizilay Square was &lsquo / the preferred space&rsquo / by the opposition during the struggle against Democrat Party in 1960&rsquo / s / however demonstrations were expelled out of the square by legal regulations and sanctions. On one hand, legally, Kizilay Square could not be the scene of societal opposition / on the other hand the meaning on the base of being a &lsquo / political scene&rsquo / has continued. However, spatial implementations, regulated by Ankara Metropolitan Municipality, occurred as an attempt to turn the square from a possible pedestrian zone to a junction. Since the period it has been conceived and designed as a socio-spatial project of new established republic in 1925, Kizilay Square has been transformed within its (historical) meaning, (urban) function and (spatial) form through changing contradictions and actors within political, social and economic context. This transformation has been experienced through political contradiction and struggle. Between the years 1960 and 1980, during which the societal opposition arouse, with respect to differentiating actors and movements, the conflict over meaning, function and form of the square also has differentiated from the meaning, form and function determined in the nation state construction process. Through this research, it is aimed to examine how the political contradiction and struggle on three dimensions of Kizilay Square has been transformed, within a historical perspective.

Space is a social product and produced socially. For a social analysis, it is therefore necessary to put equal emphasis on conceptualisations of time and space and to analyse the production process of space. This thesis aims to analyse the production of capitalist space and it is based on Lefebvre&rsquo / s conceptualisation of &lsquo / production of space&rsquo / within the context of Marxist urban space theories. It is based on the argument that every mode of production creates its own spaces and the new spaces call for new social relations. In the analysis of space, historical geographical materialism and realist geography are used. In this thesis, the production of urban space of Ankara is analysed with an emphasis on social relations of planning and architecture. Ankara as the capital city is a spatial representation of nation state and national identity. Spatial representations and practices are analysed in terms of Atat&uuml / rk Boulevard and the squares of Ulus, Sihhiye and Kizilay. Within this scope, public buildings and monuments, housing, transportation and commercial spaces are examined by drawing on Lefebvre&rsquo / s conceptual triad of &lsquo / spatial practices&rsquo / , &lsquo / representations of space&rsquo / and &lsquo / spaces of representation&rsquo / . In the production process of the urban space of Ankara, history of space is considered as the history of its forms and representations and the production of urban space is examined in historical periods. The exploratory type of research used in this study is primarily based on documentary-historical data.

The aim of the master thesis is to understand how neighborhood, family and school influence on the educational attainment of young people. Within the scope of this work, I conducted thirty two in-depth interviews with youth living in the G&uuml / zelyaka gecekondu (squatter) neighborhood in Ankara. Gecekondu neighborhoods are residential areas where rural migrants might initially or permanently move when they come to the city in order to improve their life standards. However, many of them have to survive here against conditions such as poverty and the insufficiency of social services during the early years of their migration. Nevertheless, families can develop survival strategies based on self-help networks like kinship and hemSehri (people with same geographic origins) connections. Throughout this master thesis, I discuss how young people&rsquo / s interactions within the disadvantaged neighborhoods, school climate around the neighborhood, family background, conditions at home and parental involvement influence the educational attainment of youth The research revealed that despite the specific conditions of gecekondu neighborhoods and heterogeneity amongst working class families, there is little variation in educational attainment of the youth. The main reason for this low level of educational attainment is the poverty they experienced or are still experiencing at home. While such poverty may compel them to take up positions in the labor market participation early in life, the influence of peer groups also discourages school attendance, as the environment is one in which schools provide neither a good quality education, nor a competitive educational environment. Furthermore, poverty, the disadvantaged nature of the neighborhood and the strength of the family network among the residents all serve to reproduce the inferior value of iv education in their life. On the other hand, family practices regarding education vary with the transformation towards a nuclear family life, improvement in household income and with increasing length of stay. Early migrant families who have better life standards are more likely to encourage their children to stay in school in order to find regular income jobs than are newcomer families who need a supplement to the family budget since they are exposed to the worst conditions in the neighborhood. The younger parents among early migrant families are more involved in their children&rsquo / s schooling, and provide personal space for their children, enabling them to adequately complete school work.

The aim of this thesis is to examine the affects of mobile communication practices on urban public places, particularly on meeting places in urban space. The contribution of mobile communication technologies into daily practices and rapid penetration of them into everyday-life is quite obvious in the last decade. The inevitable presence of mobile phones in everyday-life practices encourages urban researchers to consider their impacts on urban social context and consequently on urban public places. The objective of the research is to understand the incompatibility between the existing urban image and the mental image of mobile society. Mobile phones enable people to organize meetings independent from the scheduled program. This device not only increases the mobility of the user within the city but also enhances the individual&rsquo / s ability to develop coherent cognitive maps / because it gives the freedom of choice to pick-up the location for &ldquo / meeting places&rdquo / . For instance, beside landmarks, paths have been given new identities by mobile society. An increase in the number of indoor or outdoor meeting places (some being entirely random in selection), contributes to the cognitive maps and thus to the identity of the city. This stands as a contradicting argument to the classical understanding of the city and its parts, which is by and large accepted to be based on visual experiences. The predetermined and limited components (nodes, landmarks) which help individuals meet (and socialize) are now modest items of a larger inventory of settings. This thesis is aiming to analyze the behavioral and perceptual changes that derive from mobile communication practices. Through this research, the architectural and spatial qualities of the old and new inventories of meeting places are also a part of the study to reveal the differences, if any.

To a large extent, natural phenomenon like earthquakes, floods, lanslides and etc may seem &ldquo / natural events&rdquo / which are out of human control. In fact, the sociopolitical structure is the main cause of earth tremors which turn into disasters. What is notable and striking is that, because of institutional and social vulnerabilities and little or misguided efforts for disaster loss mitigation, natural events may turn into disasters resulting negative and devastating consequences. Institutional vulnerabilities connote a lack of local administrations&rsquo / capacity for disaster mitigation planning, furthermore awareness for accreting local stakeholders for disaster loss reduction. Social vulnerabilities, refers to miss-knowledge and lack of awareness for disasters in the society. In Turkey, it is hard to say that there has never been efforts for disaster loss reduction, whereas / the main focus of the state agencies has been on post-disaster emergency relief, literally wound healing for decades. Generally speaking, localities which experience a disaster may encounter significant losses in development, hence a significant decrease in local capacities which takes enormous resources to restore. The housing stock and urban fabric, which inherit an historical background weaved by missguided disaster policy that only focus on post-disaster emergency relief phase, pictures the extent of the problem in Turkey. In addition, both &ldquo / institutional errors which lead to underachievement in disaster policy and practice&rdquo / and &ldquo / opportunities for building robust and resilient forms of institutions&rdquo / come into local agenda. Errors, which might have been altered by long term and comprehensive modes of local planning for disasters, may lead to underachievement by local agents. To achieve such a model, we are in need to carry out qualitative and quantitative data collecting and analyzing techniques in different phases. The two analysis techniques are in-depth interviews (IDI) and drawing Concept Maps that will be conducted in the analyses process with local respondents selected by snowball technique.

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