Os estudos de ecologia descritiva de comunidades marinhas bentônicas, tanto as de substratos consolidados (costões rochosos, recifes de corais, recifes de arenitos e bancos de algas calcárias) como as de substratos inconsolidados (areia, silte e sedimentos de baixa granulação), apontam para uma busca, ainda não finalizada, por padrões de distribuição que possam apresentar-se como modelo recorrente, sendo capazes de predizer sobre a composição de uma comunidade local. Como exemplos bem sucedidos, na busca de padrões, sendo marcos históricos no desenvolvimento da ecologia descritiva de comunidades marinhas bentônicas, temos as abordagens da zonação e de níveis de fundo, que buscaram encontrar um meio prático para descrições generalistas em larga escala que se apresentassem universais. No Brasil são caracterizados 3 momentos históricos sobre ecologia descritiva de comunidades marinhas bentônicas de substrato consolidado, que se caracterizam pelo uso de espécies como unidade operacional, recorrendo pouco a abordagens alternativas para ganho de conhecimento sobre grandes áreas. Neste estudo foi utilizado o método alternativo Caracterização fisionômica de comunidades marinhas de substrato consolidado para descrição dessas comunidades no infralitoral e busca por padrões de estruturação gerais visualmente evidentes. Este estudo foi realizado no Parque Estadual da Ilha Anchieta, Ubatuba SP, no infralitoral do costão oeste da Enseada das Palmas, compreendido entre as coordenadas 23°31\'44.37\"S / 045° 3\'38.07\"O e 23°32\'1.62\"S / 045° 3\'39.17\"O. Como principais resultados foram encontrados 24 povoamentos descritos na Abordagem 1, 20 povoamentos no inverno e 23 no verão . Na Abordagem 2, 19, povoamentos no inverno e, na Abordagem 3., 22 no verão. Os resultados quantitativos mostram, discriminados no costão estudado, a formação de 2 grupos gerais, que se mantiveram os mesmos no inverno e no verão, permitindo a conclusão de que há um padrão geral de estruturação da comunidade visualizada. Os povoamentos determinantes na divisão dos 2 grupos foram: Colônia de Palythoa, Tapete de Amphiroa e Jania, Banco de Dichotomaria e Região de Substrato Inconsolidado. Constata-se o mundo natural como um lugar desigual, que se manifesta em manchas ou remendos distintos, apresentando-se de muitas formas e com uma ampla gama de escalas. Os resultados foram vistos sob uma perspectiva exploratória, uma vez que se buscou encontrar padrões de distribuição das comunidades apenas a partir da unidade visual povoamento, sem o registro de dados de condições ambientais. Nessa busca, visualizando tal mosaico de distribuição de formas, cores, estrutura e composição em diferentes escalas encontramos padrões gerais de distribuição da comunidade, aqui representados por 2 grandes grupos, caracterizados por estarem em um nível acima de povoamentos ou supra povoamentos / The studies on descriptive ecology of marine benthic communities, hard bottom (Rocky Shores, Coral Reefs, Sandstone Rock Reefs and Rodolith Beds) as much as soft bottom communities (sand, silt and soft substrate of low granular material), lead to a non finished search for distribution patterns that may present it as a model able to predict about the local communities composition. As successful examples on searching for patterns as historical reference on the developing of descriptive ecology of marine benthic communities we have the zonation and bottom level approaches, that seek for a practical way to describe on a general and large scale universal patterns of distribution. In Brazil we found 3 historical moments about studies dealing with descriptive ecology of hard bottom marine benthic communities, which are characterized by the use of species as an operational unit, taking advantage of few alternative approaches to acquire knowledge about the communities in large areas. In this study the alternative methodology Physiognomic characterization of hard bottom marine benthic communities was applied, to describe such communities in infra-littoral regions and to search for general structural patterns visually evident. This study was made in Anchieta Island State Park, Ubatuba SP, Brazil, on the west rocky shore of Palmas Bay, located between the geographical positions 23°31\'44.37\"S / 045° 3\'38.07\"W and 23°32\'1.62\"S / 045° 3\'39.17\"W. As main results, 24 settlements described by the first approach were found; 20 settlements in winter season and 23 in summer season by the second approach ; 19 settlements in winter season e 22 in summer season by the third approach. The quantitative results show 2 general groups found on the studied rocky shore that were the same both in winter and summer seasons, allowing that we come to the conclusion that there is a general structural pattern visualized in the communities. The determinant settlements to the formation of the 2 groups were Palythoa Colony, Amphiroa and Jania Turf, Dichotomaria Bed and Soft Bottom Region. We face the fact that nature is an unequal place, which manifests this visual difference on patches of different sizes, showing many forms and colors on a huge range of scales. The results were reviewed under an exploratory perspective, searching first for structural patterns of these communities only from the visual unit called settlement, without the data of environmental conditions. On this search, visualizing the distribution of forms, colors, structure and composition mosaic on different scales we found general patterns of communities distribution that here are represented by 2 large groups, characterized by being on a higher level than the one of the settlement

Wong Kok Ming David. / "Architecture Department, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Master of Architecture Programme 2007-2008, design report." / Abstracts in English and Chinese.

So, Wai Yan. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 244-270). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract --- p.i / Acknowledgements --- p.vi / Table of contents --- p.viii / List of figures --- p.xii / List of tables --- p.xiv / List of plates --- p.xvii / List of appendices --- p.xviii / Chapter Chapter 1 --- General Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- General Information of Hong Kong Climate and Vegetation --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Grasslands in Hong Kong --- p.3 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Shrublands in Hong Kong --- p.4 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- Woodlands in Hong Kong --- p.5 / Chapter 1.1.4 --- Plantations in Hong Kong --- p.7 / Chapter 1.2 --- Quarries and Landfills in Hong Kong --- p.9 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Quarries in Hong Kong --- p.9 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Landfills in Hong Kong --- p.13 / Chapter 1.3 --- Ants as Bioindicators --- p.16 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- The Use of Bioindicators --- p.16 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- The Use of Ants as Bioindicators --- p.19 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- Ant Functional Groups --- p.21 / Chapter 1.3.4 --- Ants in Hong Kong --- p.22 / Chapter 1.4 --- Research Objectives --- p.24 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Ant Communities in Natural and Semi-natural Habitats in Hong Kong --- p.25 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.25 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Abiotic Factors --- p.25 / Chapter 2.1.1.1 --- Habitat complexity --- p.25 / Chapter 2.1.1.2 --- Elevation --- p.26 / Chapter 2.1.1.3 --- Soil properties --- p.27 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Biotic Factors --- p.30 / Chapter 2.1.2.1 --- Interaction with plants --- p.30 / Chapter 2.1.2.2 --- Interaction among ants --- p.31 / Chapter 2.1.2.3 --- Interaction with other fauna --- p.32 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Objectives --- p.33 / Chapter 2.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.34 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Study Sites --- p.34 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Ant Sampling --- p.41 / Chapter 2.2.2.1 --- Pitfall trapping --- p.42 / Chapter 2.2.2.2 --- Litter extraction --- p.43 / Chapter 2.2.2.3 --- Visual search --- p.44 / Chapter 2.2.2.4 --- Baiting --- p.45 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Ant Examination --- p.46 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Other Samplings --- p.46 / Chapter 2.2.4.1 --- Soil sampling --- p.46 / Chapter 2.2.4.2 --- Vegetation measurements --- p.47 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Data Analysis --- p.47 / Chapter 2.3 --- Results --- p.50 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Vegetation and Soil Properties --- p.50 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- "Species Diversity, Abundance and Frequency of Occurrence" --- p.63 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Ant Community --- p.72 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- Ant Species Analysis --- p.75 / Chapter 2.3.5 --- Functional Group Analysis --- p.78 / Chapter 2.3.6 --- Correlation of Ant Community with Vegetation and Soil Properties --- p.81 / Chapter 2.4 --- Discussion --- p.84 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Ant Species Richness in Different Habitats --- p.84 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Relationship of Ant Community and Vegetation and Soil Properties --- p.89 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- Indicator Species --- p.91 / Chapter 2.4.4 --- Changes in Community Structure --- p.92 / Chapter 2.4.5 --- Ant Functional Groups --- p.93 / Chapter 2.5 --- Conclusions --- p.95 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Ant Community on Rehabilitated Lands in Hong Kong --- p.97 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.97 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- "Restoration, Rehabilitation and Reallocation" --- p.97 / Chapter 3.1.1.1 --- Restoration --- p.97 / Chapter 3.1.1.2 --- Rehabilitation --- p.97 / Chapter 3.1.1.3 --- Reallocation --- p.98 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Ants as Biodiversity Indicators and Ecological Indicators of Disturbed Lands --- p.99 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- Factors Affecting Ant Community Structure on Rehabilitated Lands during Succession --- p.102 / Chapter 3.1.3.1 --- Dominance-controlled and founder-controlled model --- p.103 / Chapter 3.1.3.2 --- Time since last disturbance --- p.104 / Chapter 3.1.3.3 --- Proximity to undisturbed sites --- p.104 / Chapter 3.1.3.4 --- Habitat created --- p.105 / Chapter 3.1.3.5 --- Presence of invasive and weed species --- p.105 / Chapter 3.1.4 --- Objectives --- p.106 / Chapter 3.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.107 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Study Sites --- p.107 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Ant Sampling --- p.111 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Other Samplings --- p.116 / Chapter 3.2.3.1 --- Soil sampling --- p.116 / Chapter 3.2.3.2 --- Vegetation measurements --- p.116 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Data Analysis --- p.116 / Chapter 3.3 --- Results --- p.119 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Vegetation and Soil Properties --- p.119 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- "Species Diversity, Abundance and Frequency of Occurrence" --- p.140 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Ant Community --- p.153 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- Ant Species Analysis --- p.159 / Chapter 3.3.5 --- Functional Groups --- p.161 / Chapter 3.3.6 --- "Correlation of Ant Communities with Vegetation, Soil Properties and Rehabilitation Age" --- p.162 / Chapter 3.4 --- Discussion --- p.167 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Patterns of Ant Richness on Rehabilitated Quarries and Landfills --- p.169 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Ant Communities on Rehabilitated Quarries and Landfills --- p.173 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Species Analysis --- p.176 / Chapter 3.4.4 --- Functional Groups --- p.177 / Chapter 3.5 --- Conclusions --- p.178 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Ant Community Study-A Cost Effectiveness Analysis --- p.180 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.180 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Ant Sampling Methods --- p.181 / Chapter 4.1.1.1 --- Pitfall trapping --- p.181 / Chapter 4.1.1.2 --- Litter extraction by Winkler sack or Berlese funnel --- p.183 / Chapter 4.1.1.3 --- Baiting --- p.184 / Chapter 4.1.1.4 --- Direct sampling/Visual search --- p.185 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Increasing the Cost Effectiveness of Inventory --- p.185 / Chapter 4.1.2.1 --- Simplifying ant identification --- p.186 / Chapter 4.1.2.2 --- Other simplification methods --- p.187 / Chapter 4.1.3 --- Objectives --- p.188 / Chapter 4.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.188 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Study Sites --- p.188 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Ant Sampling --- p.189 / Chapter 4.2.2.1 --- Pitfall trapping --- p.190 / Chapter 4.2.2.2 --- Litter extraction --- p.190 / Chapter 4.2.2.3 --- Visual search (direct sampling) --- p.191 / Chapter 4.2.2.4 --- Baiting --- p.191 / Chapter 4.2.2.5 --- Ant examination --- p.192 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Data Analysis --- p.192 / Chapter 4.3 --- Results --- p.193 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Genus and Species Richness --- p.194 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Ant Community Structure --- p.204 / Chapter 4.4 --- Discussion --- p.212 / Chapter 4.5 --- Conclusions --- p.224 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- General Conclusions --- p.225 / Chapter 5.1 --- Ant Fauna on Natural Habitats --- p.225 / Chapter 5.2 --- Ant Fauna on Man-made Habitats --- p.227 / Chapter 5.3 --- Simplification of Ant Sampling --- p.229 / Chapter 5.4 --- Ants as Bioindicators --- p.230 / Chapter 5.5 --- Further Studies --- p.232 / Appendices --- p.233 / References --- p.244

During the early 1980s the Warlpiri at Yuendemu, a remote Aboriginal community in Central Australia, began their own experiments in local television and radio production. This was prior to the launch of the AUSSAT satellite in 1985 which brought broadcast television and radio to remote Australia for the first time. There was concern amongst remote Aboriginal communities, as well as policy makers, that the imposition of mass media without consultation could result in permanent damage to Aboriginal culture and language. As a result, a policy review 'Out of the Silent Land' was published in 1985 and from that developed the Broadcasting in Remote Aboriginal Communities Scheme (BRACS) which allowed communities to receive radio and television from the satellite. BRACS also provided the option to turn off mainstream media and insert locally produced material. This study of the Warlpiri at Yuendemu has found that, since the original experiments, they have enthusiastically used modern communication technology including radio, video making, locally produced television, and, more recently, on-line services. The Warlpiri have adapted rather than adopted the new technology. That is they have used modern communications technology within existing cultural patterns to strengthen their language and culture rather than to replace traditional practices and social structures. The Warlpiri Media Association has inspired other remote broadcasters and is now one of eight remote media networks that link to form a national network via the National Indigenous Media Association of Australia. The Warlpiri have actively adapted modern communication technology because it is to their advantage. The new technology has been used to preserve culture and language, to restore, and possibly improve, traditional communications and to provide employment and other opportunities for earning income. It appeals to all age groups, especially the elders who have retained control over broadcasts and it also provides entertainment.

<p><strong>Datum:</strong>         2008-11-13</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Nivå:             </strong>Kandidatuppsats i Företagsekonomi, 15 Högskolepoäng</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Författare:</strong>  Amina Ahmed Ibrahim                 Carol Nakajugo Basudde</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Handledare:</strong> Mats Viimne</p><p> </p><p><strong>Titel:             </strong>Communities – en marknadsföringskanal med effekt?<strong></strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Syfte:            </strong>Att beskriva communities som marknadsföringskanal och dess kommunikationseffekt.<strong></strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Metod:</strong>          Primärdatainsamlingen för denna uppsats har skett via intervjuer som utförts på tre olika sätt, personligt möte, telefonintervjun samt e-post intervju. Uppsatsen har baserats på fältstudier av fyra communities i Sverige, nämligen Lunarstorm, Glife, Nightlife och Nattstad. Sekundärdata har använts i form av böcker, artiklar och Internet.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Slutsats:        </strong>Fördelen av att företag använder sig av communities är bl.a. träffsäkerheten och att företag ska enklare kunna nå ut till målgruppen som deras reklamannonser riktar sig till. En nackdel är att det råder fortfarande en stor kunskapsbrist hos de olika företagen och de förlitar sig mest på dem traditionella marknadsföringssätt som TV, tidningar och radio. Den ökande publiciteten av communities i media har bidragit till att allt fler får upp ögonen för detta marknadsföringssätt och väljer att lära sig om de olika communities och vad de går ut på.</p> / <p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Date:             </strong>2008-11-13</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Level:           </strong>Bachelor Thesis in Business Administration, 15 ECTS<strong></strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Authors:      </strong>Amina Ahmed Ibrahim               Carol Nakajugo Basudde</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Tutor:           </strong>Mats Viimne</p><p> </p><p><strong>Title:             </strong>Communities – A marketing channel with effect?</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Purpose:       </strong>To describe communities as a marketing channel and its communication effect. </p><p> </p><p><strong>Method:       </strong>Primary data was collected through face-to-face, telephone and e-mail interviews. These interviews were used to gather information on the case studies used in this thesis. Four Swedish online communities namely Lunarstorm, Glife, Nightlife and Nattstad were used. Secondary data used in this thesis has consisted of books, articles and online sources.<strong></strong></p><p> </p><p><strong>Conclusion:  </strong>Companies using communities as marketing channels have the added advantage of a higher segmentation which means that they can easier find and reach their target audience. One of the problems associated with this medium is that today many companies still suffer from a lack of knowledge when it comes to communities due to the fact that this medium has not been paid the attention that it needs. Companies prefer to rely more on the traditional marketing channels like TV, newspapers and radio. With this new found interest in communities and the attention being paid to them in the media, more and more companies are opening their eyes to these new marketing channels and are choosing to learn more about them.</p><p> </p>

Datum:         2008-11-13   Nivå:             Kandidatuppsats i Företagsekonomi, 15 Högskolepoäng   Författare:  Amina Ahmed Ibrahim                 Carol Nakajugo Basudde   Handledare: Mats Viimne   Titel:             Communities – en marknadsföringskanal med effekt?   Syfte:            Att beskriva communities som marknadsföringskanal och dess kommunikationseffekt.   Metod:          Primärdatainsamlingen för denna uppsats har skett via intervjuer som utförts på tre olika sätt, personligt möte, telefonintervjun samt e-post intervju. Uppsatsen har baserats på fältstudier av fyra communities i Sverige, nämligen Lunarstorm, Glife, Nightlife och Nattstad. Sekundärdata har använts i form av böcker, artiklar och Internet.   Slutsats:        Fördelen av att företag använder sig av communities är bl.a. träffsäkerheten och att företag ska enklare kunna nå ut till målgruppen som deras reklamannonser riktar sig till. En nackdel är att det råder fortfarande en stor kunskapsbrist hos de olika företagen och de förlitar sig mest på dem traditionella marknadsföringssätt som TV, tidningar och radio. Den ökande publiciteten av communities i media har bidragit till att allt fler får upp ögonen för detta marknadsföringssätt och väljer att lära sig om de olika communities och vad de går ut på. / Date:             2008-11-13   Level:           Bachelor Thesis in Business Administration, 15 ECTS   Authors:      Amina Ahmed Ibrahim               Carol Nakajugo Basudde   Tutor:           Mats Viimne   Title:             Communities – A marketing channel with effect?   Purpose:       To describe communities as a marketing channel and its communication effect.    Method:       Primary data was collected through face-to-face, telephone and e-mail interviews. These interviews were used to gather information on the case studies used in this thesis. Four Swedish online communities namely Lunarstorm, Glife, Nightlife and Nattstad were used. Secondary data used in this thesis has consisted of books, articles and online sources.   Conclusion:  Companies using communities as marketing channels have the added advantage of a higher segmentation which means that they can easier find and reach their target audience. One of the problems associated with this medium is that today many companies still suffer from a lack of knowledge when it comes to communities due to the fact that this medium has not been paid the attention that it needs. Companies prefer to rely more on the traditional marketing channels like TV, newspapers and radio. With this new found interest in communities and the attention being paid to them in the media, more and more companies are opening their eyes to these new marketing channels and are choosing to learn more about them.

The notion of social capital (SC) is increasingly used as a framework for describing social issues in terrestrial communities. For more than a decade, researchers use the term to mean the set of trust, institutions, social norms, social networks, and organizations that shape the interactions of actors within a society and that are considered to be useful and assets for communities to prosper both economically and socially. Despite growing popularity of social capital especially, among researchers in the social sciences and the humanities, the concept remains ill-defined and its operation and benefits limited to terrestrial communities. In addition, proponents of social capital often use different approaches to analyze it and each approach has its own limitations. <p>This thesis examines social capital within the context of technology-mediated communities (also known as virtual communities) communities. It presents a computational model of social capital, which serves as a first step in the direction of understanding, formalizing, computing and discussing social capital in virtual communities. The thesis employs an eclectic set of approaches and procedures to explore, analyze, understand and model social capital in two types of virtual communities: virtual learning communities (VLCs) and distributed communities of practice (DCoP). <p>There is an intentional flow to the analysis and the combination of methods described in the thesis. The analysis includes understanding what constitutes social capital in the literature, identifying and isolating variables that are relevant to the context of virtual communities, conducting a series of studies to further empirically examine various components of social capital identified in three kinds of virtual communities and building a computational model. <p>A sensitivity analysis aimed at examining the statistical variability of the individual variables in the model and their effects on the overall level of social capital are conducted and a series of evidence-based scenarios are developed to test and update the model. The result of the model predictions are then used as input to construct a final empirical study aimed at verifying the model.<p>Key findings from the various studies in the thesis indicated that SC is a multi-layered, multivariate, multidimensional, imprecise and ill-defined construct that has emerged from a rather murky swamp of terminology but it is still useful for exploring and understanding social networking issues that can possibly influence our understanding of collaboration and learning in virtual communities. Further, the model predictions and sensitivity analysis suggested that variables such as trust, different forms of awareness, social protocols and the type of the virtual community are all important in discussion of SC in virtual communities but each variable has different level of sensitivity to social capital. <p>The major contributions of the thesis are the detailed exploration of social capital in virtual communities and the use of an integrated set of approaches in studying and modelling it. Further, the Bayesian Belief Network approach applied in the thesis can be extended to model other similar complex online social systems.

The notion of social capital (SC) is increasingly used as a framework for describing social issues in terrestrial communities. For more than a decade, researchers use the term to mean the set of trust, institutions, social norms, social networks, and organizations that shape the interactions of actors within a society and that are considered to be useful and assets for communities to prosper both economically and socially. Despite growing popularity of social capital especially, among researchers in the social sciences and the humanities, the concept remains ill-defined and its operation and benefits limited to terrestrial communities. In addition, proponents of social capital often use different approaches to analyze it and each approach has its own limitations. <p>This thesis examines social capital within the context of technology-mediated communities (also known as virtual communities) communities. It presents a computational model of social capital, which serves as a first step in the direction of understanding, formalizing, computing and discussing social capital in virtual communities. The thesis employs an eclectic set of approaches and procedures to explore, analyze, understand and model social capital in two types of virtual communities: virtual learning communities (VLCs) and distributed communities of practice (DCoP). <p>There is an intentional flow to the analysis and the combination of methods described in the thesis. The analysis includes understanding what constitutes social capital in the literature, identifying and isolating variables that are relevant to the context of virtual communities, conducting a series of studies to further empirically examine various components of social capital identified in three kinds of virtual communities and building a computational model. <p>A sensitivity analysis aimed at examining the statistical variability of the individual variables in the model and their effects on the overall level of social capital are conducted and a series of evidence-based scenarios are developed to test and update the model. The result of the model predictions are then used as input to construct a final empirical study aimed at verifying the model.<p>Key findings from the various studies in the thesis indicated that SC is a multi-layered, multivariate, multidimensional, imprecise and ill-defined construct that has emerged from a rather murky swamp of terminology but it is still useful for exploring and understanding social networking issues that can possibly influence our understanding of collaboration and learning in virtual communities. Further, the model predictions and sensitivity analysis suggested that variables such as trust, different forms of awareness, social protocols and the type of the virtual community are all important in discussion of SC in virtual communities but each variable has different level of sensitivity to social capital. <p>The major contributions of the thesis are the detailed exploration of social capital in virtual communities and the use of an integrated set of approaches in studying and modelling it. Further, the Bayesian Belief Network approach applied in the thesis can be extended to model other similar complex online social systems.

<p>Communities är ett hett ämne som idag ständigt diskuteras i media. Människor blir mer och mer benägna att interagera online och mängden med online communities ökar i takt med detta. I Sverige finns en community som heter Lunarstorm som har blivit ett fenomen som inte har skådats någon annanstans. Med sina 1,3 miljoner användare är det absolut störst i Sverige idag. Jag har i min uppsats tagit fram ett antal faktorer ur litteraturen som är avgörande för ett online communities framgång. Jag har även gjort en empirisk studie av företaget Lunarstorm och webbplatsen Lunarstorm. Jag har sedan i analysen använt mig av framgångsfaktorerna för att kunna dra slutsatser om hur Lunarstorm har kunnat bli ett sådant fenomen. Det som har framkommit av undersökningarna är att det framför allt är tre faktorer som har givit Lunarstorm den plats i rampljuset som det har idag, nätverkseffekter, att vara först, att de har skapat ett helt koncept och inte bara är en webbplats.</p> / <p>Online communities are today widely discussed in media and a very popular subject. People all around the world are more and more willing to interact online and the number of online communities are rising with this. Today we have a community in Sweden that is called Lunarstorm, this has become a phenomen not seen anywhere else. Whit its 1,3 million users, it is the absolut biggest in Sweden today. I have in my essay found a number of factors in the litteratur that are essential for an online communities succes. I have also done an empirical study on Lunarstorm as a company and Lunarstorm as a webbsite. I have then in my analys part applyed my success factors on Lunarstorm, to be able to make conclusions about why Lunarstorm have become such a success. What I can see from my researches there is especially three things that makes Lunarstorm speciell, and that is networkeffects, to be the first one and the entire koncept of Lunarstorm.</p>

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 144-149).