<p>Numerous studies have confirmed a statistically significant negative relationship between natural resource abundance and economic growth. This has been labeled “The Resource Curse”. In this paper we try to explain why Botswana, a country heavily dependent on its diamond industry, has managed to generate sustainable growth. Economists have advanced several explanations for the negative impact of natural resources on long-term growth. This paper focuses on the following important problems: First, a boom in a natural resource can pull resources away from other sectors of the economy, thus harming their international competitiveness, a phenomenon called the Dutch disease. Second, abundance in natural resources may lead to poor institutional quality in many countries. Thanks to conservative fiscal policies and accumulation of foreign reserves the local currency did not appreciate during the boom, and Botswana avoided the most severe symptoms of the Dutch disease. Historical tradition of democratic procedures and sound institutions at the time of diamond discovery has contributed to a high institutional quality in Botswana.</p>

I investigated the effect of energy sector development and introduced crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum) on grassland birds on Canadian Forces Base Suffield. I conducted point counts and mapped breeding territories in 2007 and 2008 for Savannah sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis), chestnut-collared longspurs (Calcarius ornatus), and Spragues pipits (Anthus spragueii). I found that Savannah sparrows favored areas with taller vegetation, human disturbances and crested wheatgrass in both years. Longspurs used shorter vegetation and in were tolerant of disturbance. Crested wheatgrass was avoided by longspurs in both years. Pipit territories contained similar vegetation to longspurs, were sensitive to disturbance, and avoided placing territories in areas containing crested wheatgrass or trails in both years. Well sites, pipelines and junctions were not avoided by the three species. My research suggests that reducing the number of trails and the spread of crested wheatgrass will increase habitat availability for sensitive species of grassland birds. / Ecology

Because of increasing frequency of bear sightings, vehicle collisions, and nuisance incidents in coastal South Carolina, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources is developing a comprehensive black bear management plan. However, no reliable estimates of population abundance or density are available. I used genotypes of black bears determined from hair samples collected in Lewis Ocean Bay and Carvers Bay to estimate population abundance and density. I obtained hair samples from snares during 8 weekly sampling periods in 2008 and 2009. I used Huggins closed population models to estimate abundance and spatially explicit capture- recapture models to estimate density. Based on model averaging, black bear abundance was 30 (SE = 9.3) on Carvers Bay and 42 (SE = 5.4) on Lewis Ocean Bay. Model-averaged density was 0.037 bears/km2 (SE = 0.003) for Carvers Bay. For Lewis Ocean Bay, population densities were much higher: 0.307 bears/km2 (SE = 0.025). I extrapolated the density estimates to the upper coastal region of South Carolina, using logistic regression to weight density based on similarity of the regional landscape with the 2 study areas. Predicted bear densities were low throughout the coastal region but several areas centered on more productive habitats (e.g., Carolina Bays, pocosin) and public lands (e.g., Francis Marion National Forest, Lewis Ocean Bay) had high densities. I also sampled an area in North Carolina and assessed genetic structure among the 3 areas. Based on heterozygosity, genetic distance, and genetic assignment, I found no evidence of historic or recent barriers to gene exchange among the 3 sampled populations. However, demographic connectivity may be a concern for areas such as Lewis Ocean Bay, which is surrounded by highways and development. If the goal is to maintain current black bear densities in those areas, maintaining connectivity with other habitat areas and mitigating impacts of highways would be important. The regional map of potential black bear density may be useful to identify areas that should be surveyed for occupancy or where additional studies may be conducted (e.g., Francis Marion National Forest).

In 1992, the Louisiana black bear (Ursus americanus luteolus) was granted threatened status under the Endangered Species Act primarily because of extensive habitat loss and fragmentation. Currently, the Louisiana black bear is restricted to 3 relatively small, disjunct breeding subpopulations located in the Tensas River Basin of northeast Louisiana, the upper Atchafalaya River Basin (ARB) of south-central Louisiana, and coastal Louisiana. The 1995 Recovery Plan mandates research to determine the viability of the remaining subpopulations. I conducted a capture-mark-recapture study during 2007–2009 to estimate population parameters for the ARB bear subpopulation by collecting hair samples (n = 2,977) from 115 barbed-wire hair traps during 8 1-week periods each summer. DNA was extracted from those hair samples and microsatellite genotypes were used to identify individuals. I analyzed encounter histories using the Huggins full heterogeneity estimator in a robust design framework in Program MARK. I compared candidate models incorporating heterogeneity, behavior, and time effects on capture using information-theoretic methods. I directly estimated apparent survival, temporary emigration, probability of capture and recapture, and probability of belonging to 1 of 2 mixtures; population abundance was a derived parameter. Apparent survival was 0.91 (SE = 0.06) and did not vary by gender or year. There was some evidence of temporary emigration for males only (0.10, 95% CI = 0.001–0.900). I modeled capture probabilities with a 2-mixture distribution for both male and females. Overall mean weekly capture probability was 0.12 (SE = 0.03) and 0.25 (SE = 0.04) for males and females, respectively. Recapture rates indicated a positive behavioral response to capture. Model-averaged mean annual abundance was 56 (SE = 4.5, 95% CI = 49–68). I calculated population density using spatially-explicit maximum-likelihood methods; model-averaged density was 0.15 bears/km2 (SE = 0.03). My results updated previous abundance estimates for the ARB bear subpopulation and will be used in a population viability analysis to determine if recovery criteria for the Louisiana black bear have been met.

The coastal zone of Belize is home to the largest recorded number of the threatened Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus) within the species' Caribbean range. The objectives of my study were: (1) to determine long-term trends in aerial survey counts and indices of the manatee population in the coastal zone of Belize; and (2) to examine the seasonal change in manatee distribution among habitats in the coastal zone. Standardized extended-area aerial surveys were conducted along the entire coastline of Belize in the dry and wet seasons of 1997, and 1999 - 2002. Manatees were counted in five habitat categories: cay, coast, estuary, lagoon, and river. Total sightings per survey ranged from 90 to 338; the greatest number was counted in the 2002 wet season. Calf percentage ranged from 5 to 13. A slight negative trend in total counts was significant for dry-season, not wet-season surveys, indicating an interactive effect of season and year. Based on analysis of variance, the Abundance Index (transformed manatee sightings per hour) did not differ significantly among years, although it varied significantly within year by season and habitat by season. In applying a spatial approach, the general survey route was buffered 1 km on both sides, and 1 km grids were overlaid and classified by habitat type. The presence or absence of each cell for each survey was used in likelihood ratio tests of the single and interactive effect of season and habitat. The Index for river habitat was higher in the dry season, while cay habitat was higher in the wet season. Overall, near-shore habitat (estuary, lagoon, and river) showed a higher Index than did the offshore habitat (cay and coast) although the total number of sightings was higher offshore. Considering the interactive effect of year, season, and habitat, long-term studies are needed, in both seasons, and among all habitats to account for variation. Continued broad-scale surveys, along with metapopulation analysis would fine-tune the understanding of specific sites, enhancing integrated coastal zone management for protected species and their habitat systems.

Climate and environmental change following the retreat of the last glacial ice sheet in the Antarctic Peninsula has been interpreted, employing diatom abundance, relative abundance of Chaetoceros resting spores and diatom assemblages as proxies. These together with sedimentological data and radiocarbon dating, suggest four major events that can be further subdivided. Deglaciation ~13.2-11.5 kyr BP with ice shelf breakup and strong surface water stratification from melting ice. Climate reversal ~11.5-9.0 kyr BP with turbulent water masses. Climate optimum ~9.0-4.0 kyr BP with intrusions of northern ´warm` water masses. Neoglacial ~4.0 kyr BP-present with extended periods of sea ice cover and increased storm frequency. One aspect of climate change is the stability of marine based ice sheets, and the interaction with underlying sediment. A pilot study on characterizing sediment influenced by past ice streaming (Ross Sea) was performed using diatom, texture and chemical analysis. The results show that: Diamictons are chemically and texturally well homogenized, whereas diatom assemblages suggest different degrees of stratigraphic mixing and reworking related to mode of glacial sediment transport. Mud appears in different stratigraphic sections deposited in sub-ice shelf or ice edge environment, or through winnowing by currents. This is evident through stratigraphically-diverse diatom assemblages and texture. Most sediment characterized as mud is enriched in zinc (Zn). Hemipelagic diatomaceous muds are enriched in barium (Ba) and the diatom assemblage is dominated by typical neritic post-glacial species.

I compared the utility of two continuous time-series data measures for applied conservation biology by investigating how well each could predict future local persistence of a diverse set of bird species. I used 37 years of data from the North American Breeding Bird Survey to calculate abundance from yearly point-counts and permanence (i.e., consistent occupancy over time) from yearly presence-absence data in the early portion of the study period, then used the later portion of data to empirically evaluate how well each measure predicted persistence two decades into the future. I found that permanence could only match the ability of abundance to accurately predict local species persistence if multiple within-year repeated observations contributed to its calculation. Neither measure was effective at predicting persistence for regionally rarer species. I suggest the yearly and within-year repeated collection of abundance estimating data for use in applied conservation biology to best ensure biodiversity persistence.

This thesis discusses the art of contemporary Canadian artist Douglas Coupland and his use of textual art. It will explore his combinations of text and art through four major themes that are recurrent in both his writings and visual art: abundance, advertising, technology and translation and draw conclusions on the various reasons that text has become such an important component of his body of work. Overall, the thesis seeks to show Coupland’s unique use of text to create a modern take on Pop art that is able to highlight issues in society.

Wetlands of the Prairie Pothole Region of North America provide habitat for over 50% of the continent's breeding waterfowl, but most of the region's wetlands have been lost or degraded through intensive agricultural development. Despite widespread wetland losses in much of the Canadian prairies, there is little information about trends in degradation of remaining wetlands. Using habitat data collected for ~10,500 wetlands across the Canadian prairies during annual waterfowl surveys, 1985-2005, I employed multistate models in Program MARK to estimate rates of impact and recovery of wetlands resulting from agricultural activities. Then, I characterized the incidence of agricultural degradation to these wetlands. Rates of impact to wetland margins (natural vegetation around flooded basins) declined over time, likely due to a decreasing percentage of unaffected wetlands; recovery rates for margins were always lower than impact rates, suggesting increased cumulative degradation of wetlands over time. Unlike margins, impact and recovery rates for basins fluctuated with spring pond densities. Shallow ephemeral wetlands located in agricultural fields had the highest impact and lowest recovery rates. Multistate modeling could also be used to estimate rates associated with other landscape processes.<p><p> My second objective was to determine whether physical characteristics of prairie Canada wetlands could be used to predict breeding duck abundance. First, I sought to determine how pre-existing models developed in the Dakotas (USA) performed when predicting breeding duck abundances on Canadian prairie wetlands. I related duck pair abundance to pond area, and then compared observed to predicted duck abundance. The Dakota models performed reasonably well in predicting numbers of blue-winged teal (<i>Anas discors</i>), gadwall (<i>A. strepera</i>), and northern pintail (<i>A. acuta</i>), but predicted fewer mallards (<i>A. platyrhynchos</i>) and northern shovelers (<i>A. clypeata</i>) than were observed on wetlands. Pond area was an important predictor of duck abundance in all models, but results were less biased and more consistent in models developed specifically for Canadian wetlands. Spatiotemporal variation in the relationship of breeding duck abundance and wetland characteristics was also affected by regional duck and pond densities. Overall, the new applications and models developed and validated in this study will be useful for wetland and waterfowl management in the Canadian prairies.

I compared the utility of two continuous time-series data measures for applied conservation biology by investigating how well each could predict future local persistence of a diverse set of bird species. I used 37 years of data from the North American Breeding Bird Survey to calculate abundance from yearly point-counts and permanence (i.e., consistent occupancy over time) from yearly presence-absence data in the early portion of the study period, then used the later portion of data to empirically evaluate how well each measure predicted persistence two decades into the future. I found that permanence could only match the ability of abundance to accurately predict local species persistence if multiple within-year repeated observations contributed to its calculation. Neither measure was effective at predicting persistence for regionally rarer species. I suggest the yearly and within-year repeated collection of abundance estimating data for use in applied conservation biology to best ensure biodiversity persistence.