abstract: Readout Integrated Circuits(ROICs) are important components of infrared(IR) imag ing systems. Performance of ROICs affect the quality of images obtained from IR imaging systems. Contemporary infrared imaging applications demand ROICs that can support large dynamic range, high frame rate, high output data rate, at low cost, size and power. Some of these applications are military surveillance, remote sensing in space and earth science missions and medical diagnosis. This work focuses on developing a ROIC unit cell prototype for National Aeronautics and Space Ad ministration(NASA), Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s(JPL’s) space applications. These space applications also demand high sensitivity, longer integration times(large well capacity), wide operating temperature range, wide input current range and immunity to radiation events such as Single Event Latchup(SEL). This work proposes a digital ROIC(DROIC) unit cell prototype of 30ux30u size, to be used mainly with NASA JPL’s High Operating Temperature Barrier Infrared Detectors(HOT BIRDs). Current state of the art DROICs achieve a dynamic range of 16 bits using advanced 65-90nm CMOS processes which adds a lot of cost overhead. The DROIC pixel proposed in this work uses a low cost 180nm CMOS process and supports a dynamic range of 20 bits operating at a low frame rate of 100 frames per second(fps), and a dynamic range of 12 bits operating at a high frame rate of 5kfps. The total electron well capacity of this DROIC pixel is 1.27 billion electrons, enabling integration times as long as 10ms, to achieve better dynamic range. The DROIC unit cell uses an in-pixel 12-bit coarse ADC and an external 8-bit DAC based fine ADC. The proposed DROIC uses layout techniques that make it immune to radiation up to 300krad(Si) of total ionizing dose(TID) and single event latch-up(SEL). It also has a wide input current range from 10pA to 1uA and supports detectors operating from Short-wave infrared (SWIR) to longwave infrared (LWIR) regions. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Electrical Engineering 2019

Segregation, that animals of different sex and/or age do not spend time together all year round, is a common phenomenon. One example is that males and older individuals in migratory birds wintering further north. Migration time also affects the distribution of birds in the wintering area. European Robins that migrate in late autumn tend to winter farther east. Another factor that affects wintering areas is global warming. Today wintering birds do not migrate as far as they used to. The aim was therefore to investigate if Robins segregate during winter and if they segregate by sex, age and/or migration time and to see if the wintering area has changed since 1950. Analysis of Robins ringed at Ottenby Bird Observatory that has been recovered during winter was conducted. To obtain an indication on what influences Robins in their choice of wintering area, an analysis was done with migration year, age, and migration time (sex was excluded in this analysis) to analyse what effects migration distance. The geographical centroid was used for representing the wintering area. The difference between the group’s centroid was tested with a permutation test. The result indicated that migration time best explains the distribution of Robins in the wintering area. Robins that migrate late migrate shorter and winter further northeast, this is probably due to sequential migration of different populations. No effect of age or migration year was observed. The wintering area appears to have moved north, which indicates that Robins are affected by global warming.

1 Abstract: Multimodal signaling is quite common in nature. Even if we focus only on signaling among prey and its predator, we can still find many examples of communication combining more than one modality (vision, hearing, smell, taste). This thesis is about multimodal warning visual and olfactory signaling between true bugs (Heteroptera) and their avian predators. Aldehydes are an important compound of repellent secretion of most true bug species. They are considered to have defence effects against predators. In our experiments, we tested the effect of aldehydes mixture on behaviour of predators - naive hand-reared and experienced wild-caught adult great tits (Parus major) - towards several kinds of prey - aposematic true bugs Pyrrhocoris apterus, nonaposematic true bugs Pyrrhocoris tibialis and red painted mealworms (Tenebrio molitor larvae). We were focusing on the effect of aldehydes on initial reaction, learning process and predator's memory. Aldehydes elicited innate wariness in naive hand- reared great tits towards aposematic P. apterus, but not towards P. tibialis. Therefore it seems possible, that aldehydes act as a signal of unpalatability for naive predators, but only in multimodal combination with visual warning signal. Similar effect of aldehydes was not found in experiments with wild-caught...

The taxonomy of the taxa in the Prinia atrogularis-khasiana-superciliaris complex has changed several times in recent history. To this day, different world bird lists classify this complex as 1–3 species. These classifications are based mainly on morphological comparisons of museum specimens. No study has analysed the songs and genetics of this complex. This thesis focuses on the integrative taxonomy of this complex by analysing and comparing their song and mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb) gene. Seventeen different variables from in total 172 individual songs were measured and analysed. A linear discriminant analysis showed a clear separation in song between atrogularis, khasiana and the superciliaris group (latter including the taxa superciliaris, erythropleura, klossi, dysancrita and waterstradti). The mitochondrial cytb phylogenetic tree produced using Bayesian inference suggested that atrogularis and khasiana split from superciliaris around 4.9 million years ago (mya), with atrogularis and khasiana splitting from each other around 3.4 mya. Based on the combined results of the song and cytb analysis I propose to recognise three species: Black-throated Prinia Prinia atrogularis, Rufous-crowned Prinia P. khasiana and Hill Prinia P. superciliaris. The study also showed some support for classifying klossi as a separate species, but acquisition of additional information is needed to verify this.

This thesis discusses key conflicts in the Oostvaardersplassen. These conflicts include the contestation of the Oostvaardersplassen as wilderness, the debate on grazer mortality, and the debate on culling. Through Actor Network Theory, the actors involved in the Oostvaardersplassen are discussed. A number of documents are selected for the different actors to do a qualitative analysis of communication on the Oostvaardersplassen. The Oostvaardersplassen is a unique area, claimed from the sea and fully manmade, with a management philosophy with aspects from rewilding theories. Recurring themes in the actor documents are studied, such as the definitions of the terms ‘nature’ ‘wilderness’ and the use of interventions. In addition, the documents are analysed on their use of rhetoric tools and the way they discuss the general public in the Oostvaardersplassen debates. The nature of the Oostvaardersplassen as an experiment, the strong presence of emotions in the debates and the unclear definition of goals and purposes lead to a more fractured stage for the actors and the debate. While the Oostvaardersplassen is successful as an area for experimentation, learning, and as a nature reserve in the midst of the Netherlands, these concluding issues are an important consideration in making the Oostvaardersplassen’s debate less volatile.

<div>Human disturbance to birds is a subject of concern for bird conservation. Bird recreationalists, such as birders and bird photographers, who actively seek out birds, are identified as a broad group of people that contribute to bird disturbance. There are few studies on birders’ and bird photographers’ perceptions and behaviors related to bird disturbance, and these studies have conflicting results. Furthermore, little research identifies why bird recreationalists engage in behavior that disturbs birds. Understanding perceptions and behavior related to bird disturbance and the context behind engaging in this behavior is important for creating comprehensive solutions for preventing disturbance to birds. The purpose of this thesis is to create a typology of bird recreationalists, based on whether they engage in birding or bird photography as primary activities; identify the socio-demographic characteristics among bird recreationalists that are connected to an increased likelihood to engage in behavior that disturbs birds; assess perceptions of blame for disturbance to birds; and identify how motivations, barriers, challenges and trade-offs are associated with following ethical birding and bird photography guidelines. </div><div><br></div><div>The thesis used an online survey and in-person interviews of birders and bird photographers in two Midwestern states in the U.S., Illinois and Indiana, to achieve these objectives. Three sub-groups of bird recreationalists were identified through the online survey: individuals who only engage in birding; individuals who primarily engage in birding and secondarily, bird photography; and individuals who primarily engage in bird photography and secondarily, birding. Our findings indicate that individuals who 1) are male, 2) only engage in birding, 3) maintain life lists, 4) have more birds on their life lists, 5) can identify more birds by sight, 6) have more years of experience or 7) have a higher level of achievement-oriented motivation are more likely to engage in potentially harmful behaviors to birds. Additionally, quantitative findings suggest that birders and bird photographers may not perceive themselves as main contributors to bird disturbance. </div><div><br></div><div>The qualitative portion of the research identifies multiple ethical birding and bird photography guidelines that recreationalists found challenging to follow that had both ecological (e.g., maintaining distance) and social (e.g., respectfully educating others) implications. Recreationalists identified listing, photographing and seeing birds as key motivations to breaking ethical guidelines. Barriers to following guidelines included apathy, ignorance and improper technology. Finally, recreationalists identified bad photography and missed experiences as major trade-offs associated with following ethical guidelines. he concepts explored in this thesis research provide important management implications for natural resource managers and stakeholders in bird conservation and suggest a further need for examining bird recreationalists’ decision-making around bird disturbance.</div>

Die Studie untersucht im Lehr- und Versuchsgut in Köllitsch bei Torgau (Sachsen) die Wirkung von landwirtschaftlichen Vogelschutzmaßnahmen auf den Agrarflächen im Hinblick auf den Bestand an Brutvögeln und deren Nahrungsangebot. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass u. a. Feldlerchenfenster, neu angelegte Brachen und Ackerraine, reduzierter Einsatz von Pflanzenschutz und Düngung am Ackerrand sowie der Zwischenfruchtanbau deutlich positive Effekte auf den Brutvogelbestand und dessen Nahrungsangebot an Insekten, Spinnen und Samen haben. Auf den Untersuchungsflächen, insbesondere auf den Brachen und Ackerrainen, wurden bei Insekten 29 und bei Spinnen 19 Rote Liste-Arten festgestellt.

Seit 2006 sind in Sachsen 77 europäische Vogelschutzgebiete ausgewiesen und gesichert. Diese Gebiete umfassen rund 13 % der Landesfläche und werden zu 40 % landwirtschaftlich genutzt. Dies verdeutlicht: Die Landwirtschaft hat eine wichtige Bedeutung für die Erhaltung einer vielfältigen Vogelwelt. Gleichzeitig wird derzeit beklagt, dass bestimmte Vogelarten der Feldflur stark von Rückgängen betroffen sind. Für die zukünftige Landbewirtschaftung gilt es daher nutzungsintegrierte und praxisgerechte Bewirtschaftungsmaßnahmen zu entwickeln und zu erproben, um den Erhalt und die Entwicklung der Vögel zu sichern. Im Lehr- und Versuchsgut (LVG) Köllitsch, das im SPA-Gebiet »Elbaue und Teichgebiete bei Torgau« liegt, wurde dazu ein betriebsspezifisches Konzept erstellt. Nach Analyse der ornithologischen und betrieblichen Ausgangssituation werden zahlreiche Empfehlungen für die betriebliche Umsetzung von Vogelschutzmaßnahmen im LVG gegeben. Das Vorgehen und die Ergebnisse des Projektes können Landwirten, landwirtschaftlichen und naturschutzfachlichen Beratern sowie Behörden, Institutionen und Verbände, als Orientierung im Hinblick auf die Konzipierung und Umsetzung des europäischen Vogelschutzes im landwirtschaftlichen Bereich dienen.

The purpose of the study is to determine how the population of the ruff in Sweden has changed over the past 20 years and which reasons for the changes, if any, there are. The study also includes how the tourism regarding the ruff in Sweden is today and how it could be developed. The study is based on non-fiction literature, reports, diagrams and interviews. The population of the ruff in Europe has declined over the past years. In Sweden, the breed is classified as vulnerable on the IUCN Red list of threatened species due to the fast decline. The results show that the population of the ruff has changed in the whole country of Sweden. Today almost 99% of the population lives on tundra and wetlands in northern Sweden. Most of the decline has occurred in the south of Sweden where the population almost is extinct. In northern Sweden, the population also has declined but not as much as in the south. Nowadays the ruff only breeds in 8 out of 22 counties it used to occur in. Reasons of the decline are primarily changes in habitats, drainage of watercourses and wetlands, urbanization, agriculture and forestry. The decline also depends on changes along the migration routes and in northwest Africa where the breed winters. Also, climate change and higher predation are reasons for the decline. No tourism with focus on the ruff exists in Sweden today. There is a potential in developing a specific tourism focused on the ruff lek.

Bergmann’s and Allen’s rule suggest that for the same species individuals found further north, tend to have larger body sizes and smaller appendages compared to individuals further south, respectively, due to constraints for thermal regulation. This has shown especially true for birds and mammals.  In this paper, I test to see if global warming has led to a change in morphology for birds, i.e. body weight and wing size. We use year as a proxy for temperature as global warming has on average lead to an increase in the earth’s surface temperature over the last century with most of the change occurring since the 1980’s.  To test the hypothesis, I gathered data of male, young of the year birds during autumn migration for a select number of species with different wintering strategies, i.e. resident to long-distance migration. This data came from two Swedish bird observatories where standardized wing and weight measurements have been collected since 1986, coincident with the observed climate warming. The results of this study show that during this period, changes in body mass and wing length did not support the hypothesis that global warming has had a broad impact on the morphology of birds. Given that these results contradict that of other studies, analysis from species across a much wider latitudinal breadth of Europe, including, additional species and different age and sex classes should be investigated.