Project (D. Min.)--Iliff School of Theology, 2006. / Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 162-166).

<p>Lieutenant James Cook claimed New South Wales for Great Britain in 1770. However, it was not until 1786 that a settlement was authorised there. The settlement was not for free men, but the for the unwanted convicts, their masters and protectors; the First Fleet convicts landed at Sydney Cove on January 26, 1788 and Governor Phillip lay claim officially to the country. </p><p>The decision to establish a settlement in New South Wales took sixteen years. It was not the clear-cut and positive beginning to a country that it could have been. </p><p>The emphasis of this report is to look at the factors that contributed to the decision and the line that the decision makers took. This has involved investigation of parliamentary debates, ministers’ letters and other sources relevant to the decision. The factors most pressing at the time for the government were the over abundance of criminals and the budget deficit. With a relatively simple move, Lord Sydney was able to relieve the first problem at the same time as his Prime Minister, William Pitt, took on the budget. It is clear that the settlement was established for the dubious benefit of relieving England of the convicts.</p>

Human activities have contributed to the increase in atmospheric greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2). This anthropogenic gas emission has led to a rise in the average Earth temperature. Moreover, the ocean constitutes the major sink for anthropogenic CO2 and its dissolution in surface waters has already resulted in an increase of seawater acidity since the beginning of the industrial revolution. This is commonly called ocean acidification. The increase in water temperature could induce modifications of the physical and chemical characteristics of the ocean. Also, the structure and the functioning of marine ecosystems may be altered as a result of ocean acidification. Phytoplankton productivity is one of the primary controls in regulating our climate, for instance via impact on atmospheric CO2 levels. Coccolithophores, of which Emiliania huxleyi is the most abundant species, are considered to be the most important pelagic calcifying organisms on Earth. Coccolithophores are characterized by calcium carbonate platelets (coccoliths) covering the exterior of the cells. They form massive blooms in temperate and sub-polar oceans and in particular along continental margin and in shelf seas. The intrinsic coupling of organic matter production and calcification in coccolithophores underlines their biogeochemical importance in the marine carbon cycle. Both processes are susceptible to change with ocean acidification and warming. Coccolithophores are further known to produce transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) that promote particle aggregation and related processes such as marine snow formation and sinking. Thus, the impact of ocean warming and acidification on coccolithophores needs to be studied and this can be carried out through a transdisciplinary approach. The first part of this thesis consisted of laboratory experiments on E. huxleyi under controlled conditions. The aim was to estimate the effect of increasing water temperature and acidity on E. huxleyi and especially on the calcification. Cultures were conducted at different partial pressures of CO2 (pCO2); the values considered were 180, 380 and 750 ppm corresponding to past, present and future (year 2100) atmospheric pCO2. These experiments were conducted at 13°C and 18°C. The cellular calcite concentration decreases with increasing pCO2. In addition, it decreases by 34 % at 380 ppm and by 7 % at 750 ppm with an increase in temperature of 5°C. Changes in calcite production at future pCO2 values are reflected in deteriorated coccolith morphology, while temperature does not affect coccolith morphology. Our findings suggest that the sole future increase of pCO2 may have a larger negative impact on calcification than its interacting effect with temperature or the increase in temperature alone. The evolution of culture experiments allows a better comprehension of the development of a bloom in natural environments. Indeed, in order to predict the future evolution of calcifying organisms, it is required to better understand the present-day biogeochemistry and ecology of pelagic calcifying communities under field conditions. The second part of this dissertation was dedicated to results obtained during field investigations in the northern Bay of Biscay, where frequent and recurrent coccolithophorid blooms were observed. Cruises, assisted by remote sensing, were carried out along the continental margin in 2006 (29 May – 10 June), 2007 (7 May – 24 May) and 2008 (5 May – 23 May). Relevant biogeochemical parameters were measured in the water column (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, Chlorophyll-a and nutrient concentrations) in order to determine the status of the bloom at the time of the different campaigns. Calcification has been shown to be extremely important in the study area. In addition, TEP production was significant at some stations, suggesting that the northern Bay of Biscay could constitute an area of important carbon export. Mortality factors for coccolithophores were studied and the first results of lysis rates measured in this region were presented. Results obtained during culture experiments and comparison with data reported in the literature help to better understand and to predict the future of coccolithophores in a context of climate change. Data obtained during either culture experiments or field investigations allowed a better understanding of the TEP dynamics. Finally, the high lysis rates obtained demonstrate the importance of this process in bloom decline. Nevertheless, it is clear that we only begin to understand the effects of global change on marine biogeochemistry, carbon cycling and potential feedbacks on increasing atmospheric CO2. Thus, further research with a combination of laboratory experiments, field measurements and modelling are encouraged.

Lieutenant James Cook claimed New South Wales for Great Britain in 1770. However, it was not until 1786 that a settlement was authorised there. The settlement was not for free men, but the for the unwanted convicts, their masters and protectors; the First Fleet convicts landed at Sydney Cove on January 26, 1788 and Governor Phillip lay claim officially to the country. The decision to establish a settlement in New South Wales took sixteen years. It was not the clear-cut and positive beginning to a country that it could have been. The emphasis of this report is to look at the factors that contributed to the decision and the line that the decision makers took. This has involved investigation of parliamentary debates, ministers’ letters and other sources relevant to the decision. The factors most pressing at the time for the government were the over abundance of criminals and the budget deficit. With a relatively simple move, Lord Sydney was able to relieve the first problem at the same time as his Prime Minister, William Pitt, took on the budget. It is clear that the settlement was established for the dubious benefit of relieving England of the convicts.

This thesis explores the history of Mounted Police and Cree relations on two Saskatchewan Reserves: Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation in the north-east of the province, and Poundmaker Cree Nation in the central south-western portion of Saskatchewan.<p> Sources include oral interviews of elders from each reserve as well as a wide variety of primary and secondary sources, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police records.<p> One of the main goals of this thesis is to present a Cree perspective on contact and interaction with the Mounted Police. Although police policies were supposedly the same towards all Indians, specific elements of the Mounted Police dealings were altered according to a variety of external influences. For example, different environmental features from one region to the other prohibited the adoption of agriculture in the north. Diverse patterns of Euro-Canadian settlement, concentrated in the north but widespread in the south, also influenced relations. In addition, differences in the two Cree groups forced the Mounted Police to realize that not all Indians were the same.<p> This thesis supplies a brief history of the two Cree groups to provide insight on the existing methods of Cree law enforcement long-established prior to the arrival of the Mounted Police, and the complexities encountered in adapting to the laws of the Canadian government. Consideration is given to the difficulties in creating a law enforcement group to police the newly acquired North West Territories, as well as the initial phases of Cree and police contact for each region.<p> Each region experienced its own history, which contributed to the relationship between the Cree and the Mounted Police. For example, in the Battleford region the 1885 Rebellion played a key role in denigrating the image of the Poundmaker Cree, whereas the Peter Ballantyne Cree experienced no such event which created such a negative image. Poverty, starvation, and disease among both Cree groups were unfortunate elements which resulted from police enforcement of certain detrimental government policies. All the same, the Cree perceived the police as "protectors", yet were fully aware that they were also forced to carry out the orders of the Canadian government. It is this delicate balance between duty and humanity that had the greatest impact on relations between the Cree and the Mounted Police in Saskatchewan.

The structure and function of coastal marshes results from a complex interaction of biotic and abiotic processes that continually influence the characteristics of marsh vegetation. A great deal of research has focused on how tidal processes influence vegetation dynamics along the Atlantic coast, but few studies have investigated the influence of similar processes in the marshes along the Gulf of Mexico. This study aims to identify the characteristic vegetation assemblages of the coastal marshes bordering the East Bay of Galveston Bay, Texas, and identify if elevation, inundation frequency and burning frequency are important to their structure. To identify characteristic vegetation assemblages, hierarchical cluster analysis was used. The cluster analysis resulted in seven statistically different vegetation assemblages that were used in diversity analysis and classification and regression analysis (CART) as dependent variables. Diversity measures were calculated at both the plot and assemblage scale using Shannon's diversity index and species richness. The resulting diversity measures were used as predictor variables in the CART analysis as well as regression analysis. Hydrologic modeling was accomplished using Mike 21, a flow and wave simulation model, along with a geographic information system (GIS), to model hourly inundation frequency at each of the sampled plots. The inundation frequency was then used as a predictor variable in the CART analysis and regression analysis. This study found that the main factor contributing to species richness was elevation. Vegetation assemblages at high elevations generally had high diversity, and assemblages at low elevations had lower diversity. Elevation and inundation frequency are inversely related, and the strong correlation between species richness and elevation also assumes that inundation frequency is important in structuring the marsh. Burn frequencies had no influence on diversity in general, but more frequent burning did result in monospecific stands of Spartina patens at Anahuac NWR.

This thesis looks at how the Cree people of Wemindji, James Bay, Québec, understand and live with ecological complexity and dynamism. The focus is on the interplay between variability, change, and continuity in the Canada goose (Branta canadensis) hunt. Looking at Cree goose-hunting in the light of cultural ecology and resilience thinking, the research suggests that Cree hunters are attentive and responsive to ecological fluctuations, fine-tuning local arrangements to local environmental conditions. Ecological variability and unpredictability, such as weather, goose population dynamics and migration patterns, are mediated by local management strategies in which goose hunting areas shift in space and time. However, whereas these strategies are still practiced nowadays, they are (to some extent) overwhelmed by changes occurring at larger scales. Some of these are related to climate change and anthropogenic disturbances; others are related to social-cultural changes that influence resource-use patterns. I discuss how these different drivers interact among themselves and impact the goose-hunt, and how the Wemindji Cree respond to these changes. / May 2008

My question here revolves around my orientation with my own work; my own frustrations and inability to so often answer the question “can a meaningful place be designed?” This journey examines the theory of semiotics. Through this, three strategies have been developed to explore the branches of semiotic research in Landscape Architecture. The first strategy allows meaning to develop through time, and it is with the repeated usage of people that meaning will accrue. The second strategy shows how meaning can be determined before the design through mapping current and desired locations of meaning in space. And, the third strategy reflects on how meaning emerges from the earth when no interference from designers or users occurs. The result of the three individual strategies is a combination of solutions, illustrating how to create places of true richness. This new space will engage visitors, pull in new visitors, and help create something memorable for those engaging in a space. / October 2008

This thesis explores the history of Mounted Police and Cree relations on two Saskatchewan Reserves: Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation in the north-east of the province, and Poundmaker Cree Nation in the central south-western portion of Saskatchewan.<p> Sources include oral interviews of elders from each reserve as well as a wide variety of primary and secondary sources, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police records.<p> One of the main goals of this thesis is to present a Cree perspective on contact and interaction with the Mounted Police. Although police policies were supposedly the same towards all Indians, specific elements of the Mounted Police dealings were altered according to a variety of external influences. For example, different environmental features from one region to the other prohibited the adoption of agriculture in the north. Diverse patterns of Euro-Canadian settlement, concentrated in the north but widespread in the south, also influenced relations. In addition, differences in the two Cree groups forced the Mounted Police to realize that not all Indians were the same.<p> This thesis supplies a brief history of the two Cree groups to provide insight on the existing methods of Cree law enforcement long-established prior to the arrival of the Mounted Police, and the complexities encountered in adapting to the laws of the Canadian government. Consideration is given to the difficulties in creating a law enforcement group to police the newly acquired North West Territories, as well as the initial phases of Cree and police contact for each region.<p> Each region experienced its own history, which contributed to the relationship between the Cree and the Mounted Police. For example, in the Battleford region the 1885 Rebellion played a key role in denigrating the image of the Poundmaker Cree, whereas the Peter Ballantyne Cree experienced no such event which created such a negative image. Poverty, starvation, and disease among both Cree groups were unfortunate elements which resulted from police enforcement of certain detrimental government policies. All the same, the Cree perceived the police as "protectors", yet were fully aware that they were also forced to carry out the orders of the Canadian government. It is this delicate balance between duty and humanity that had the greatest impact on relations between the Cree and the Mounted Police in Saskatchewan.

Before January 2003, the Dapeng Bay lagoon was occupied by oyster culture racks and fish farming cages. Along with the development of the Dapeng Bay National Scenic Area Administration, the government has started taking actions on removing oyster culture racks, and has kept improving the quality of lagoon water. Nowadays, the government is implementing sediment dredging plan. As to discuss the change of biogeochemical processes, this study is divided by three parts, including the first stage, before the removal of oyster culture rafts; second stage, after the removal of oyster culture rafts, and the third stage, after implementation of sediment dredging. At the first stage, the annual mean of water exchange time at the Dapeng Bay was approximately 10 days. At the second and third stage, the annual mean of water exchange time were 6.2 days and 8.3 days, respectively. The difference is not significant between the second stage and third stage. The trend of water exchange time is similar to the seawater exchange rate. Distributions of chlorophyll a were controlled by temperature and solar radiation, rather than by nutrient concentration throughout three-stage periods. Although the change tendency between chlorophyll a, DIN, and DIP at the third stage is similar, chlorophyll a correlated positively with DIN and DIP only in fall. The net ecosystem production (NEP) was positive (p¡Ðr > 0) at all three stages, so the Dapeng Bay was always an autotrophic system throughout the study period. Before the removal of the oyster culture racks, the NEP was 5.64 mole C m-2 yr-1, after that, it increase to 11.64 mole C m-2 yr-1. During the sediment dredging period, the NEP was 14.31 mole C m-2 yr-1. The NEP increases 106 % from the first stage to the second stage, and increases 23% from the second stage to the third stage. The environmental remediation appears to produce significant influence on NEP. The concentration of DIN¡BDSi¡BDIP decreases by removing the oyster culture of racks. But the concentrations of particulate and dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen increase sharply after removing the oyster culture racks. Nevertheless, the concentration of dissolved organic carbon, nitrogen and the phosphorus decreases during the third stage, resulted mainly from the improvement of water quality. The system changed from the condition of phosphorus surplus (Si/N=1.8¡Ó1.2 and N/P=7.4¡Ó5.2) during the first and second stage to the condition of phosphorus limitation (Si/N=1.0¡Ó1.2 and N/P=22.2¡Ó18.7) during the third stage. The ratios of particulate organic carbon and nitrogen (POC/PN) are 7.7¡Ó1.1, 8.0¡Ó1.0, 6.5¡Ó1.3, respectively. The ratio at the third stage is very close to the Redfield ratio (C/N=6.6), which may result from the improvement of water quality. In terms of temporal and spatial variation of various parameters, DO variability was strong in the time scale than in the spatial scale, but nutrients and POC show a decrease of spatial variability from the first stage to the third stage. The removal of oyster culture racks, and the implementation of sediment dredging plan at the Dapeng Bay have significant influence on the improvement of lagoon environment for the past ten years.