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Anthropogenic noise is increasingly widespread as human development continues. Noise can negatively affect humans and wildlife, but the most deleterious effects are incurred by species that rely on vocal communication for mating, territory defence, and other vital functions. Songbirds are particularly susceptible, often experiencing declines in richness and abundance in noise-affected areas. Yet, some species remain abundant in noisy environments. High frequency vocalizations, or the ability to shift to higher frequencies, is one adaptation that may allow birds to communicate above low frequency anthropogenic noise. However, the mechanisms underlying frequency shifting, and the relationship between vocal frequency and abundance, are still not fully understood. I examined whether black-capped chickadees produce songs at higher frequencies in noisy areas, and whether these differences could be due to altered vegetative structure rather than noise. I also examined whether chickadees could plastically change song frequencies as noise increased. Finally, I surveyed abundance and recorded vocalizations from several songbird species to evaluate whether plasticity in song frequency, or mean song frequency, could predict how abundance and urban prevalence would be affected by anthropogenic noise. I found that black-capped chickadees shifted to higher song frequencies in noise-affected areas, and that vegetative differences did not account for these changes. Further, chickadees at roadside locations plastically increased their song frequencies as noise levels increased. Vocal plasticity, however, was not related to abundance in my multi-species comparison. Instead, noise-related changes in abundance were predicted by a species minimum song frequency. Nevertheless, minimum song frequency did not necessarily predict whether a species would be widespread in urban areas. In addition to frequency parameters, urban species may avoid overlap with noise through spatial and temporal mechanisms, but those that lack any mechanisms to communicate within anthropogenic noise may experience declines. Thus, reducing anthropogenic noise may increase the quality of urban habitats for birds. / Ecology

Thesis (Ph.D.)--York University, 2004. Graduate Programme in Biology. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 109-136). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/yorku/fullcit?pNQ99143

This study investigates how best to solve difficulties that may arise when translating bird literature from English into Swedish. The focus of the study lies on the translation of attributive adjectives and bird terminology. The text chosen for the translation, which serves as the basis for the analysis, is the section on general habits of the Turdidae-family in the comprehensive work Handbook of the Birds of the World. Translation theory that proved helpful in the translation process and in the subsequent analysis was primarily that of Vinay and Darbelnet (1995, 2004), Nida (1964a) and Newmark (1981). In most cases a literal translation could be perfonned, both in regard to attributive adjectives and bird tenninology, however, in some cases other translation procedures, such as transposition and equivalence, proved useful. Attributive adjectives that could not be translated literally, or that were preferred not to be translated literally, were translated through the use of transposition, into for instance: compound nouns, prepositional phrases, relative clauses and that-clauses. Bird terminology for which no suitable corresponding terminology could be found in the target language, was translated non-literally through the use of equivalence, into structures maintaining the equivalent semantic meaning in a natural way.

This thesis experimentally investigates the effects of buffer regulation on the delivery of randomly spaced objects through a multi-conveyor system according to a demanded throughput and spacing. A regulator is developed and tested in conjunction with on ongoing research project at Georgia Tech investigating the automated transfer of live birds. In this thesis, an algorithm is proposed to identify and compensate for the spacing deviations of objects entering a system comprised of three serially connected conveyors. The regulator acts to delay the time each object spends on the middle conveyor, eliminating spacing variations by the time objects exit the system. The system is experimentally tested to determine how effectively the algorithm can locate and deliver objects onto specific moving points. The limits of the regulator and the considerations for practical implementation are investigated. The proposed buffering regulator has immediate applications in the poultry processing industry, wherein live birds must be sorted and hung on a uniform shackle line moving at a constant speed.

Digital birds are used in computer graphics to replace live animals both for the safety of the animal and to allow for more control over performance. The current treatment of avian wings in computer graphics is often over-simplified which results in a loss realism due to the incorrect form and motion of the feathers. This research attempts to address this problem by using the structure and motion of real bird anatomy to inform the creation of biologically accurate kinematic motion for wings. The hypothesis of this thesis is that a wing rig which follows biological accuracy will appear realistic in motion and facilitate efficient animation. This thesis describes the creation of a rig generation tool, called WingCreator, usable in 3D animation software to guide the construction of biologically accurate wings while maintaining a range of artistically-driven variability in form. The control system for the kinematic motion rig is designed to provide animators with intuitive control over wing behavior intended to result in efficient re-creation of realistic wing action including flapping and folding. WingCreator was tested by two riggers and one animator to gain feedback on the tools efficacy. The user feedback indicates that the resulting rig provides a control system that facilitates efficient animation while maintaining artistic control over the wing. Users reported that realism, however, could not be judged due to the numerous contributing outside factors, such as animation, lighting and texturing, that affect the perception of realism. WingCreator and its creation methodology is intended to be placed in the public domain for use by anyone and will add to the currently slim body of knowledge for creating realistic avian wings. Once placed in the public domain it is expected that this rig will be appropriated by animators who wish to create more accurate bird wing motion and by riggers who may use the biologically-driven methodology as a model for further exploration into depictions of other animals exhibiting complex form and structural motion behaviors.

Thesis (M.S.)--California State University, Chico. / Includes abstract. "Located in the Chico Digital Repository." Includes bibliographical references (p. 74-80).

No description available.

3 pp. / A description of the popular bird of paradise shrubberies available for use in the desert southwest.

No description available.