Most fish species tend to feed on larger prey as their size increases. The lack of suitable prey during critical periods of their life can prevent them from shifting their diet to larger prey and also from reaching larger body sizes. In this study, we compared the energy budget of lake trout ( Salvelinus namaycush) populations with contrasting food webs. Non-piscivorous lake trout (NPLT) populations reached a much smaller size and grew at a much slower rate than picivorous lake trout (PLT) populations. Food consumption rates were on average, 2--3 times higher in NPLT when they were expressed on a wet weight basis. However, only a slight difference in their energy intake was detected (less than 10%) once consumption rates were corrected for differences in prey caloric content. Growth efficiency was about two times lower in NPLT compared to PLT, while their metabolic costs were higher and assimilation efficiency was lower. It is most likely that the increased metabolic costs were associated with higher foraging costs, since more feeding attempts must be made to acquire a given quantity of food when fish are feeding on smaller prey. Furthermore, the portion of indigestible matter is likely to be higher in the diet of NPLT than in PLT (e.g. chitin versus bone). These results are consistent with theoretical models of fish growth that have showed that lake trout must have access to larger prey, even if they are rare, to reach larger body sizes. Our study also illustrates how the restructuring of a prey community by the arrival of an exotic species into a food web could alter the growth rate of a top predator. Furthermore, our study suggests that age at first maturity is influenced by growth efficiency in indigenous populations of fish. Therefore, the dynamic of a population and its vulnerability to exploitation are likely to be influenced by their energy allocation strategy.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 78-80).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2004. / Includes prospectus. Includes abstract. This is an electronic reproduction of TREN, #049-0422. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 294-308).

Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 107-115). Also available online.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2004. / Includes prospectus. Includes abstract. This is an electronic reproduction of TREN, #049-0422. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 294-308).

Thesis (M.A.)--Oregon State University, 2007. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 78-82). Also available via the World Wide Web.

No description available.

The Kruger National Park (KNP) management has recently made considerable progress in enacting new policies to address biodiversity conservation and management challenges. However, the interlinkages among the new policies to support biodiversity conservation and management have not been evaluated, particularly the principles and approaches, and how these interact in terms of policy decision-making at the economic and political levels. This study seeks to evaluate the interlinkages among the new policies and how they affect one another, as an avenue to promote a more integrated and comprehensive policy implementation. These policies include the tourism policy, the elephant management policy, and the water provision policy. At policy-making level, the integration of these three policies enhances the possibilities for balancing and controlling the pressures exerted on environmental resources. At the implementation level, it offers a framework for the coordination of the interventions of the policies in space so as to recognise and capitalize on their synergies. Given the inevitably multifarious and departmentalized nature of policy formulation in the KNP, there is a need for the analysis of interlinkages amongst policies. The conceptual framework underpinning this study derives much from Briassoulis’ (2004) policy integration. The research utilizes both qualitative and quantitative research methods, and focuses on selected camp sites within the Park. The findings indicate that current procedures for tourism policy-making and implementation are weak, and little is done by way of impact assessment. This has been attributed to the lack of capacity at the KNP. The findings also reconfirm that policy-making is too fragmented. As a result, policy coordination and cooperation among park managers is weak. This study suggests that an environmental policy integration approach can lead to improved policy-making and implementation. Informed by the data collected from interviews, questionnaires and document analyses, a management framework has been developed to demonstrate how an integrated approach to Environmental Policy Integration (EPI) or management can help sustain the practice of wildlife tourism and support biodiversity conservation. It is concluded that greater realisation of integrated policy-making and implementation in the KNP can be achieved by establishing a formal coordinating office. However, a special feature of KNP policy-making is its widespread consultation system that can provide a fertile ground for enhancing EPI.

The diploma thesis deals with the assessment of landscape at two locations. Each one has a different protection of nature and landscape. The first area is part of the natural park called Písecké hory. Second area consists of a cadastral area of Horní Ostrovec, in which part there is declared a natural monument called V Obouch. The practical part contains the characteristics of the landscape, determining of the indicators of natural values presence, cultural and historical characteristics and determination of expression, important and valuable landscape characteristics. Based on these characteristics the differences in monitored areas were evaluated and concrete proposals how to increase the value of the landscape were set out.

This thesis examines the influence of management on vegetation at selected locations in the natural park ?Straz nad Ohri?. The main objective is to determine the current botanical composition of the stands and compare it with the previously collected data. The work will also contain assess of the current management and a design of possible measures to protect nature. Botanical survey of selected sites was conducted during the 2012 period. There are protected species of plants at these locations that need special management for their maintenance or possibly reproduction.