At present, species are faced with a host of human-induced impacts that have already led to a loss of biodiversity and shifts in species’ ranges. Knowledge of the ecological and evolutionary processes of dynamic species’ ranges, that are either shifting or expanding, will be key to understanding the ability of species to persist and adapt during periods of environmental change. The aim of this thesis is to investigate the effects of range expansion on the genetics and evolution of species, and understand the processes that facilitate the spatial spread of populations. Using individual-based simulation models, this work demonstrates that the unique selective environment of range expansion can have a significant effect on spatial genetics and the evolution of life-history traits. It is found that the survival and spread of mutations, of various fitness effects, is influenced substantially by landscape features encountered by the expanding range. The incorporation of more specific genetic architecture shows that a substantially increased frequency of fitness peak shifts may occur on the edge of an expanding range than would arise within a stationary population. Range expansion is shown to select for increased dispersal and reproduction at the expense of competitive ability on the front of the expanding wave which results in an accelerating spread rate. The survival and spread of a population during range expansion is also affected substantially by the specific movement behaviour of individuals. The exact nature of suitable habitat, in terms of the number of suitable habitat patches and level of fragmentation, will also greatly affect the ability of a population to survive and spread during a period of environmental change. These findings are synthesised within a conceptual framework that is proposed for the evolution of populations during range expansion, where a flattening of the fitness landscape leads to adaptive revolutions.

Orientador: Milton Vieira do Prado Junior / Resumo: RESUMO Os objetivos do presente estudo foram elaborar uma proposta com modificações no ambiente de desenvolvimento das aulas de Educação Física Escolar, inserida na disciplina Eletiva e na parte diversificada do Programa de Ensino Integral, envolvendo duas áreas de conhecimento; ampliar as situações didáticas planejadas a partir do interesse dos alunos, em uma escola pública estadual, e analisar as modificações ocorridas, em especial, no interesse e na adesão dos mesmos nas atividades propostas fora do ambiente escolar. Foram utilizados ambientes disponíveis no município, que oportunizaram habilidades físicas, cognitivas, sociais e psicológicas. A presente pesquisa teve caráter qualitativo, exploratório e descritivo. Participaram alunos do 6.º e 7.º anos do Ensino Fundamental. A partir da descrição das aulas e do questionário aplicado aos alunos, os resultados foram observados, organizados e analisados de forma qualitativa. Através dessa pesquisa, introduzi a mudança de ambiente, a diversificação das atividades interdisciplinares, socialização e organização a partir do interesse dos alunos e metodologias diferenciadas, fatores que geraram a participação e o envolvimento dos alunos; favoreceram a aquisição de habilidades e competências específicas para a continuidade dos estudos; envolveram professores de outras áreas, além de proporcionarem uma aprendizagem significativa e prazerosa para os alunos. / Abstract: ABSTRACT The objectives of this study were to develop a proposal with changes in the development environment of School Physical Education classes, inserted in the Elective discipline and in the diversified part of the Comprehensive Education Program, involving two areas of knowledge; expand the didactic situations planned from the students' interest, in a state public school, and analyze the changes that occurred, especially in their interest and adherence in the proposed activities outside the school environment. Environments available in the municipality were used, which provided physical, cognitive, social and psychological skills. The present research was qualitative, exploratory and descriptive. 6th and 7th year elementary school students participated. From the description of the classes and the questionnaire applied to the students, the results were observed, organized and analyzed in a qualitative way. Through this research, I introduced a change of environment, the diversification of interdisciplinary activities, socialization, organization based on the interest of students and different methodologies, factors that generated the participation and involvement of students; favored the acquisition of specific skills and competences for the continuity of studies; involved teachers from other areas, in addition to providing meaningful and enjoyable learning for students. / Mestre

The EU has, for a long time, portrayed itself as an international leader on climate change. Previous studies have tended to focus on the characteristics of EU leadership, but have failed to examine the extent to which EU leadership generates “followership”. Going beyond these existing approaches, this dissertation analyzes not just EU attempts at leadership but also the response of two potential followers: China and India. Based on extensive fieldwork, the dissertation explains the pattern of EU engagement and the response to engagement in each case, and makes three key arguments. First, EU engagement was driven by a desire to build the international role of the EU, but also from 2000 onwards in particular by growing normative concern and material interest within the EU regarding combating climate change. The development of engagement was also conditioned by the broader development of EU relations with China and India. Second, EU engagement took the form of institutionalized dialogue and capacity-building projects. These were generally more extensive in the EU-China case; the EU-India relationship was significantly more limited. Both cases were characterized by a lack of EU capacity—particularly the EU-India case—and to some extent by inconsistency and incoherence. Third, the Chinese Government responded through limited normative emulation and limited but growing lesson-drawing through bilateral cooperation in specific sectors. While the Indian Government also responded through limited normative emulation, the principal Indian response was resistance. Moreover, both the Chinese and Indian Governments resisted the EU approach to the international climate change negotiations. This pattern of engagement and significant resistance stemmed partly from the EU’s failure to develop sufficient capacity for effective engagement, but also partly due to significant differences in the way each side has framed the issue of climate change. Based on these findings, the dissertation concludes that while the EU was not entirely a leader without followers, it has acted as a highly restricted leader in its relations with China and India on climate change.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, 2010. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

This research addresses the dual challenge faced by Burkina Faso engineers to design sustainable low-energy cost public buildings and domestic dwellings while still providing the required thermal comfort under warmer temperature conditions caused by climate change. Past and potential climate induced future energy demand for air conditioning has been investigated. It was found based on climate change SRES scenario A2 that predicted mean temperature in Burkina Faso will increase by 2°C between 2010 and 2050. Therefore, in order to maintain a thermally comfortable 25°C inside public buildings, the projected annual energy consumption for cooling load will increase by 15%, 36% and 100% respectively for the period between 2020 to 2039, 2040 to 2059 and 2070 to 2089 when compared to the control case. It has also been found that a 1% increase in population growth will result in a 1.38% and 2.03% increase in carbon emission from primary energy consumption and future electricity consumption respectively. Furthermore, this research has investigated possible solutions for adaptation to the severe climate change and population growth impact on energy demand in Burkina Faso. It has been found that shading devices could potentially reduce the cooling load by up to 40%. Computer simulation programming of building energy consumption and a field study has shown that adobe houses have the potential of significantly reducing energy demand for cooling and offer a formidable method for climate change adaptation. Finally this research has shown, based on the Net Present Cost that hybrid photovoltaic (PV) and Diesel generator energy production configuration is the most cost effective local electricity supply system, for areas without electricity at present, with a payback time of 8 years when compared to the business as usual diesel generator stand-alone configuration. It is therefore a viable solution to increase electricity access to the majority of the population.

Durch seine Archivfunktion wird der Boden zum Informationsträger über vergangene Prozessabläufe und Umweltbedingungen in Zeit und Raum. Da sowohl für Böden als auch für Sedimente eine deutlich ausgeprägte Korrelation zum Klima besteht, lassen sich durch ihre Analyse wesentliche Hinweise auf das Paläoklima rekonstruieren. / Through its archive function, the soil becomes a source of information about past processes and environmental conditions in time and space. As both soils and sediments display a striking correlation to climate in many cases, their analysis permits reconstruction of the palaeoclimate.

Anpassung an den Klimawandel erfordert Wissen über die potenziellen regionalen und lokalen Wirkungen von Klima und Wetterextremen. Auswirkungen des Klimawandels können die Landwirtschaft, abhängig von Witterung, Standortqualität, Landnutzung und -management, sowohl positiv als auch negativ beeinflussen. Dabei ist zu berücksichtigen, dass der Klimawandel sich einerseits direkt auf Funktionen von Agrarökosystemen auswirkt, andererseits aber auch Anpassungsmaßnahmen der Landwirtschaft Ökosystemdienstleistungen im ländlichen Raum beeinträchtigen können. Gefordert ist daher eine integrative Sicht der Wechselwirkungen. Aufgrund der komplexen Zusammenhänge muss die Bewertung zukünftiger Entwicklungen durch Simulationsmodelle unterstützt werden. Der Beitrag fasst Kenntnisse über den Einfluss des Klimawandels auf die Landwirtschaft zusammen und stellt beispielhaft modellgestützte Werkzeuge vor, die Auswirkungen des Klimawandels auf Agrarökosysteme simulieren und derzeit durch das Verbundvorhaben LandCaRe (Land, Climate and Resources) 2020 entwickelt werden. / Adaptation to climate change requires knowledge of the potential regional and local impact of climate and weather extremes. The effects of climate change on agriculture may be positive or negative, depending on weather conditions, site quality, land use and management. It must be considered that, on the one hand, climate change will directly affect functions of agro-ecosystems, while on the other hand, adaptation measures in agriculture may influence ecosystem services in rural areas. Therefore, an integrative view of possible interactions is necessary. Given the complex interdependencies, the evaluation of future developments must be supported by simulation models. The paper summarises current knowledge on the influence of climate change on agriculture and presents the model-based instruments which being currently developed by the joint project “LandCaRe (Land, Climate and Resources) 2020” to simulate the impact of climate change on agroecosystems.

Cathedrals today are no longer sites of just religious worship, they must be many things to many people such as tourist attractions, heritage centres, and meeting places. Today, Durham Cathedral in the north-east of England is home to almost 900 people engaged on site, of which almost 700 are volunteers. Add to that number over 700,000 visitors and about 1,700 religious services annually, and a complex image of life within Durham Cathedral begins to take shape. Drawing on 14 months of ethnographic fieldwork between August 2013 and September 2014, this thesis takes a phenomenological approach in exploring the dynamic relationships that exist between a 900-year-old building and those who regularly come into contact with that building. It will consider the complex negotiations that take place between the many parts of the community and the building in a constantly changing environment, and will focus on the role sound, light, time, and space play in the constant challenge of change and negotiation. Finally, it will consider how buildings are not only constructed but are also cultivated through being built and rebuilt, spaces negotiated and improvised, as well as filled with stories and memories. The importance of this research is not just in observing and understanding the types of change and negotiation that occur between a building and those who inhabit it, but also in understanding the altering roles of religious buildings as they cope with the changing demands of running a site of both historical and continuing social, religious, and financial pressures, Durham Cathedral is a place that gives space to differing communities, allowing people to find in the building what they need from the building and as a result of this, Durham Cathedral is not a place in which life happens, it is a place with which life happens.

No description available.