A series of experiments were conducted during 2005 and 2006 to evaluate five perennial grass species for forage yield and quality, steer performance and grazing capacity, animal intake, plant energy reserves and economic return under grazed conditions. In 1999, two 0.8 ha replicates each of Paddock meadow bromegrass (<i>Bromus riparius</i>Rehm.), Carlton smooth bromegrass (<i>Bromus inermis</i>Leyss.) and AC Knowles hybrid bromegrass (<i>B. riparius</i> x <i>B. inermis</i>) were seeded. In 2003, two 0.8 ha replicates each of AC Goliath crested wheatgrass (<i>Agropyron cristatum </i> (L.) Gaertn.), hybrid bromegrass, and Courtenay tall fescue (<i>Festuca arundinacea </i> Schreb.) were seeded. A long established stand of crested wheatgrass acted as the control pasture. For 2003 established pastures, AC Goliath crested wheatgrass (7515 kg ha-1) had greater (P<0.05) cumulative dry matter yield than hybrid bromegrass (3136 kg ha-1) during the 2005 grazing season. Average (2005-2006) crude protein (CP) was greatest (P<0.05) for hybrid and smooth bromegrass for 1999 established pastures at start and middle of period one. Control pastures had the greatest (P<0.05) neutral detergent fiber (NDF) mid-grazing period. Over 2 years, smooth bromegrass had greater acid detergent fiber (ADF) (P<0.05) than control pastures at the end of the grazing period one. Average (2005-2006) in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) was greatest for hybrid and meadow bromegrass (P<0.05) at the start of grazing period one. Control pastures (129 g kg-1) had lower CP levels at the start of the 2005-2006 (average) grazing period 1 (P<0.05) compared to species seeded in 2003. Control and hybrid bromegrass pastures had the greatest NDF and ADF levels at the start of grazing period 1 (2005-2006 average) while tall fescue pastures had the lowest (P<0.05) NDF and ADF levels. Over 2 years, control pastures had the lowest IVOMD at start of grazing (P<0.05). In 2006, hybrid and smooth bromegrass had greater etiolated re-growth than control pastures (P<0.05). In 2006, grazed plants seeded in 1999 had greater (P<0.05) etiolated re-growth than ungrazed plants. For 2003 seeded grasses, crested wheatgrass produced greater (P<0.05) etiolated re-growth than tall fescue and control pastures. Average daily gain was similar (P>0.05) for all 1999 and 2003 seeded grasses. Overall, bromegrasses seeded in 1999 produced greater animal grazing days (AGD) than control pastures (P<0.05). Total beef production (TBP) was greater (P<0.05) for hybrid and meadow bromegrass compared to the control. All species seeded in 2003 produced greater AGD (P<0.05) compared to the control. Crested wheatgrass produced greater (P<0.05) TBP than the control over both years of the study. The C33:C32 alkane ratio estimated greater DMI (P<0.05) for hybrid bromegrass (9.9 kg d-1) and control pastures (9.6 kg d-1) compared to crested wheatgrass (6.8 kg d-1) or tall fescue (6.8 kg d-1) during period 1 in 2006. Over 2 years, net return to labor, equity and personal draw was greater (P<0.05) for hybrid bromegrass ($91.24 ha-1) compared to the control (-$54.32 ha-1). For 2003 seeded pastures, all pastures generated positive returns over 2 years. Crested wheatgrass ($92.49 ha-1) had greater net return than control pastures (-$54.32 ha-1) (P<0.05). Finally, the results of this grazing study indicate beef producers can manage these grasses during the summer grazing season and maintain high levels of animal performance and pasture production. This study has demonstrated that bromegrasses, crested wheatgrass and tall fescue could work well in a complementary grazing system.

Abstract Managing protected areas requires consideration of broad scale social, ecological and in some cases, political factors. Additionally, the impacts of hyperabundant species is often a concern in protected areas as increases in breeding and foraging pressures can alter habitats dramatically. The influences of hyberabundant nesting colonies of waterbird species are well documented. Many studies indicate that waterbird species can influence canopy species as especially on the shoreline of islands, where the most abundant nesting pressures occur. On Lake Erie, Phalacrocorax auritus populations have increased dramatically from a low of 87 nests in 1979 to 16,050 nests in 2007. However, most studies have failed to address the influences that mature tree death may have on the ground layer ecosystem, including increased litter depth, herbaceous species composition and abundance and seed bank composition and viability. Consequently this study sought to quantify the nesting colonies’ influence on coarse woody litter and how nest densities and litter depth influence the herbaceous layer, the seed bank composition and viability across the extent of three Lake Erie islands. My study was designed to quantify the nesting colonies’ influence on these variables across the extent of each island, rather than just the perimeters where the majority of cormorant nests and visible damage exists. I collected my data in the summer of 2008 on East Sister Island, Middle Island and West Sister Island, using plotless-point quarter method, herbaceous layer surveys (incorporating data collected by Parks Canada and Ontario Parks in 2004 and 2007), cormorant nest counts, soil seed bank cores, and litter depth measurements. To test whether there are specific impacts of cormorant nests relegated to the island perimeters versus the rest of the island, an available subset of data on East Sister Island and Middle Island were used. These were expressed as vegetation ‘damage indices’ as classified by Parks Canada and Ontario Parks staff. Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to determine if the different damage indices reveal any influence of cormorant nest density in smaller localized areas as opposed to testing the entirety of the islands. Kruskal-Wallis tests indicated that, island-wide, none of the herbaceous species abundance, diversity (total, native or exotic), seed bank composition, or seed viability has been affected significantly (P > 0.05) by either cormorant nest numbers or large-diameter litter-fall from cormorant nesting activities. However, damage indices (calculated using aerial photography) did indicate that, P .auritus nest density does influence litter depth, herbaceous species abundance and diversity in the island perimeter. Nest density has not significantly affected seed bank abundance or seed viability. My conclusion is that cormorants do not uniformly affect the islands as there is localized damage to the herbaceous layer, restricted primarily to the perimeters of the islands. However, there remains a risk to the interior herbaceous layer of the island if the effects of nesting pressures at the edges advance inward from this perimeter.

Abstract Managing protected areas requires consideration of broad scale social, ecological and in some cases, political factors. Additionally, the impacts of hyperabundant species is often a concern in protected areas as increases in breeding and foraging pressures can alter habitats dramatically. The influences of hyberabundant nesting colonies of waterbird species are well documented. Many studies indicate that waterbird species can influence canopy species as especially on the shoreline of islands, where the most abundant nesting pressures occur. On Lake Erie, Phalacrocorax auritus populations have increased dramatically from a low of 87 nests in 1979 to 16,050 nests in 2007. However, most studies have failed to address the influences that mature tree death may have on the ground layer ecosystem, including increased litter depth, herbaceous species composition and abundance and seed bank composition and viability. Consequently this study sought to quantify the nesting colonies’ influence on coarse woody litter and how nest densities and litter depth influence the herbaceous layer, the seed bank composition and viability across the extent of three Lake Erie islands. My study was designed to quantify the nesting colonies’ influence on these variables across the extent of each island, rather than just the perimeters where the majority of cormorant nests and visible damage exists. I collected my data in the summer of 2008 on East Sister Island, Middle Island and West Sister Island, using plotless-point quarter method, herbaceous layer surveys (incorporating data collected by Parks Canada and Ontario Parks in 2004 and 2007), cormorant nest counts, soil seed bank cores, and litter depth measurements. To test whether there are specific impacts of cormorant nests relegated to the island perimeters versus the rest of the island, an available subset of data on East Sister Island and Middle Island were used. These were expressed as vegetation ‘damage indices’ as classified by Parks Canada and Ontario Parks staff. Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to determine if the different damage indices reveal any influence of cormorant nest density in smaller localized areas as opposed to testing the entirety of the islands. Kruskal-Wallis tests indicated that, island-wide, none of the herbaceous species abundance, diversity (total, native or exotic), seed bank composition, or seed viability has been affected significantly (P > 0.05) by either cormorant nest numbers or large-diameter litter-fall from cormorant nesting activities. However, damage indices (calculated using aerial photography) did indicate that, P .auritus nest density does influence litter depth, herbaceous species abundance and diversity in the island perimeter. Nest density has not significantly affected seed bank abundance or seed viability. My conclusion is that cormorants do not uniformly affect the islands as there is localized damage to the herbaceous layer, restricted primarily to the perimeters of the islands. However, there remains a risk to the interior herbaceous layer of the island if the effects of nesting pressures at the edges advance inward from this perimeter.

A series of experiments were conducted during 2005 and 2006 to evaluate five perennial grass species for forage yield and quality, steer performance and grazing capacity, animal intake, plant energy reserves and economic return under grazed conditions. In 1999, two 0.8 ha replicates each of Paddock meadow bromegrass (<i>Bromus riparius</i>Rehm.), Carlton smooth bromegrass (<i>Bromus inermis</i>Leyss.) and AC Knowles hybrid bromegrass (<i>B. riparius</i> x <i>B. inermis</i>) were seeded. In 2003, two 0.8 ha replicates each of AC Goliath crested wheatgrass (<i>Agropyron cristatum </i> (L.) Gaertn.), hybrid bromegrass, and Courtenay tall fescue (<i>Festuca arundinacea </i> Schreb.) were seeded. A long established stand of crested wheatgrass acted as the control pasture. For 2003 established pastures, AC Goliath crested wheatgrass (7515 kg ha-1) had greater (P<0.05) cumulative dry matter yield than hybrid bromegrass (3136 kg ha-1) during the 2005 grazing season. Average (2005-2006) crude protein (CP) was greatest (P<0.05) for hybrid and smooth bromegrass for 1999 established pastures at start and middle of period one. Control pastures had the greatest (P<0.05) neutral detergent fiber (NDF) mid-grazing period. Over 2 years, smooth bromegrass had greater acid detergent fiber (ADF) (P<0.05) than control pastures at the end of the grazing period one. Average (2005-2006) in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) was greatest for hybrid and meadow bromegrass (P<0.05) at the start of grazing period one. Control pastures (129 g kg-1) had lower CP levels at the start of the 2005-2006 (average) grazing period 1 (P<0.05) compared to species seeded in 2003. Control and hybrid bromegrass pastures had the greatest NDF and ADF levels at the start of grazing period 1 (2005-2006 average) while tall fescue pastures had the lowest (P<0.05) NDF and ADF levels. Over 2 years, control pastures had the lowest IVOMD at start of grazing (P<0.05). In 2006, hybrid and smooth bromegrass had greater etiolated re-growth than control pastures (P<0.05). In 2006, grazed plants seeded in 1999 had greater (P<0.05) etiolated re-growth than ungrazed plants. For 2003 seeded grasses, crested wheatgrass produced greater (P<0.05) etiolated re-growth than tall fescue and control pastures. Average daily gain was similar (P>0.05) for all 1999 and 2003 seeded grasses. Overall, bromegrasses seeded in 1999 produced greater animal grazing days (AGD) than control pastures (P<0.05). Total beef production (TBP) was greater (P<0.05) for hybrid and meadow bromegrass compared to the control. All species seeded in 2003 produced greater AGD (P<0.05) compared to the control. Crested wheatgrass produced greater (P<0.05) TBP than the control over both years of the study. The C33:C32 alkane ratio estimated greater DMI (P<0.05) for hybrid bromegrass (9.9 kg d-1) and control pastures (9.6 kg d-1) compared to crested wheatgrass (6.8 kg d-1) or tall fescue (6.8 kg d-1) during period 1 in 2006. Over 2 years, net return to labor, equity and personal draw was greater (P<0.05) for hybrid bromegrass ($91.24 ha-1) compared to the control (-$54.32 ha-1). For 2003 seeded pastures, all pastures generated positive returns over 2 years. Crested wheatgrass ($92.49 ha-1) had greater net return than control pastures (-$54.32 ha-1) (P<0.05). Finally, the results of this grazing study indicate beef producers can manage these grasses during the summer grazing season and maintain high levels of animal performance and pasture production. This study has demonstrated that bromegrasses, crested wheatgrass and tall fescue could work well in a complementary grazing system.

Sharp crested rectangular weirs used for discharge measurement purposes in open channel hydraulics are investigated experimentally. A series of experiments were conducted by measuring discharge and head over the weir for different weir heights for full width weir. It is seen that after a certain weir height, head and discharge relation does not change. Hence a constant weir height is determined. For that height / discharge and head over the weir are measured for variable weir width, starting from the full width weir to slit weir. Description of the discharge coefficient valid for the full range of weir widths and an empirical expression involving dimensionless flow variables is aimed. Experimental data obtained for this purpose and the results of the regression analysis performed are represented.

No description available.

Information about tropical seabird communities is less abundant in the literature than for those that occur at higher latitudes. In research papers examining seabird breeding communities in tropical environments, it has been found that food availability was temporally and spatially variable in comparison to higher latitudes. This environmental variability would be expected to influence the life-history traits of tropical seabird species, and in turn, the structure of the communities in which they occur. To examine the impact of environmental variability upon the life-history traits and community structure of tropical seabirds, a comparative study of the breeding strategies of three tropical tern species and an outlier, shearwater species was carried out, at the Lowendal Islands, Western Australia (20o39’52S; 115o34’44E) between 1996 and 2000. Bridled Terns Sterna anaethetus and Wedge-tailed Shearwaters Puffinus pacificus shared the life-history traits of migration or dispersal from the breeding colony and east-Indian Ocean metapopulation when not breeding, a summer breeding schedule, nest-site fidelity, concealed nest-sites, clutch size of one, offshore and pelagic foraging regime, and protracted post-natal growth. Crested Terns Sterna bergii and Lesser Crested Terns Stern bengalenis bred within the same colony and shared the life-history traits of presence at the breeding colony when not breeding, an autumn breeding schedule, change in colony site each season, open dense nest-sites, brood size of one. inshore foraging regime (as well as offshore for Crested Terns) and rapid post-natal growth. It was found that each species experienced variation in nest-site occupancy and/or colony size, as well as variation in timing of breeding and breeding success between years. The effects upon each species seemed to operate independently, as concurrently breeding species did not appear affected by the same events, with the exception of cyclones. Late and/or poor breeding success in a species often coincided with oceanographic changes in the north-west region, such as fluctuations in the strength of flow and temperature of the Leewin Current. The Leewin Current is a warm water, low salinity current flowing southwards along most of the Western Australian coastline and has a stronger, warmer flow during El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events. Cyclone activity is also influenced by ENSO induced changes in the region’s water temperature. Changes in the Leewin Current affected the timing of breeding for Wedge-tailed Shearwaters, and feeding conditions for all study species, presumably as a result of changes in prey availability, while cyclone events delayed breeding for Crested Terns and Lesser Shearwaters in the years studied. Cyclone events were the most obvious cause of re-laying in the case of Crested Terns and Lesser Crested Terns, and breeding failure in the case of Bridled Terns and Wedge-tailed Shearwaters. Breeding failure was common among later breeders in the Crested Tern colonies. Breeding success was relatively high for lesser Crested Terns in all years studied, as they hatched and fledged their chicks within the Crested Tern colony among the first wave of breeders. There was some overlap in the diets and foraging grounds of the four study species. Crested terns and Lesser Crested Terns had the most similar diet, however, Crested Terns appeared to be the most opportunistic foragers, with the highest diversity of dietary prey, while Lesser Crested Terns diet consisted of a high proportion of atherinids. Bridled Terns has the next highest prey diversity, while half the diet of Wedge-tailed Shearwaters in this region, similar to conspecifics elsewhere, consisted of squid. Wedge-tailed Shearwaters were observed to be offshore and pelagic foragers. Their distribution in the waters surrounding the Lowendal Islands ranged to the full extent of observation transects(63 Km), and most likely beyond, excluding inshore waters (i.e. within 5 km of islands). They were not present in the vicinity of the Lowendal Islands when they were not breeding. Bridled Terns were observed to be offshore foragers, also ranging to the full extent of transects, and most likely beyond, occasionally including inshore waters. They were rarely observed when not breeding, with the exception of a small number of fledglings at the end of the breeding season. Crested Terns were observed to combine inshore and offshore foraging grounds, only ranging to the full extent of transects during their breeding season. Lesser Crested Terns were observed foraging inshore only. Chick provisioning, in terms of meal size and frequency, varied between years and within seasons for all species. It was demonstrated that there were differences in mean corrected meal sizes between years for Wedge-tailed Shearwaters, and the same was inferred from chick growth curves for Bridled Terns. Wedge-tailed Shearwaters provisioned their chicks with larger meal sizes and a higher occurrence of double feeds in 1996/97 than in other years studied. The amount of time spent feeding chicks in the burrow by Wedge-tailed Shearwaters adults became shorter as the breeding season progressed. It was demonstrated that all three tern species increased the meal size delivered to chicks as they grew. Wedge-tailed Shearwaters did not increase meal size as the season progressed, however they did increase feeding frequency. The feeding frequency of Crested Terns was highest in 1999, nearly doubling that observed in 1997 and 1998. In 1998 Lesser Crested Terns fed their chicks up to six times more frequently than Crested Terns. Chick growth varied for Wedge-tailed Shearwaters and Bridled Terns between seasons. Bridled Tern chicks grew more rapidly in 1997/98, were heavier and reached higher asymptotes for all linear parameters, the exception of wing length, than in 2000. On the other hand, Wedge-tailed Shearwater chicks grew more rapidly in 1999/2000 than in 1997/98, however, they attained similar asymototes for all parameters in both years. In the absence of repeat measures of same individuals, Crested Tern and Lesser Crested tern growth was examined using age categorization based on wing and tail feather development. Both species appeared to attain similar sizes at similar rates in each year. Wedge-tailed Shearwaters accumulated weight up to 30% in excess of mean adult weight in all seasons. This is a common trait exhibited in procellarigorms, and some weight loss occurs prior to fledging. It is suggested, based upon evidence from other studies in which weight loss prior to fledging was found to be water loss, that lipid accumulation acts as an insurance for the period after fledging when young are leaning to forage for themselves. The information gathered for this project found no direct evidence of competition among the species comprising the seabird community if Lowendal Islands. Niche overlap occurred amongst all species, particularly in the case of lesser Crested Terns and Crested Terns, which shared breeding phenology, breeding colonies, foraging grounds and dietary overlap. Niche overlap also occurred between Wedge-tailed Shearwaters and Bridled Terns, which shared breeding phenology and foraging grounds.

The aim of the thesis was the appraisal of Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) nesting biology aspects in relation to environmental conditions. The research took 6 months from the 2nd of April to the 2nd of October in 2013 and was realised in the Naděje fishpond system on the ponds Víra, Láska, Skutek, Dobrá Vůle, Rod and Naděje. This fishpond system is situated in CHKO Třeboňsko nearby villages Frahelž and Klec and it consists of total of 15 ponds which are used for intensive fish farming, partly for breeding of Wild Ducks for hunting purposes. The counting of birds, active searching of nests and measuring parameters of nests and eggs were carried out during the work. The nests were found on ponds Naděje, Skutek and Láska. In 2013 18 nests were measured altogether. On the fishpond Naděje 8 nests were situated, on the fishpond Láska 4 nests and on the fishpond Skutek 6 nests altogether. 13 nests of the total were found on a free water surface and 5 nests were situated in the vegetations of the Great Reedmace (Typha latifolia) at a maximum distance of 1 m from the free water surface. In 2013 64 eggs were measured altogether. On the fishpond Naděje parameters of 33 eggs were obtained, on the fishpond Láska 17 eggs and on the fishpond Skutek 14 eggs were found altogether.

Submitted by Natalia de Souza Gonçalves (natalia.goncalves@ufpe.br) on 2016-09-19T12:54:56Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) DISSERTAÇÃO DE WELLINGTON ALMEIDA 2016.pdf: 1101288 bytes, checksum: 07cca2fd811e664315f232195abc4703 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-19T12:54:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) DISSERTAÇÃO DE WELLINGTON ALMEIDA 2016.pdf: 1101288 bytes, checksum: 07cca2fd811e664315f232195abc4703 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-25 / O carcará (Caracara plancus) e o gavião-carijó (Rupornis magnirostris) são aves de rapina, predadores de topo, que habitam o território brasileiro. Possuem alimentação variada, desde animais vivos até àqueles em estado de decomposição. Diante disto, objetivou-se identificar possíveis endoparasitos do gavião-carijó e do carcará mantidos em cativeiro, além de descrever e comparar histomorfometricamente o intestino delgado de ambas as espécies. Foram utilizados seis espécimes de cada espécie. Para análise parasitológica as fezes foram coletadas e processadas pelo método de Hoffman simples. Para a histomorfometria amostras do duodeno, jejuno, íleo foram fixadas e submetidas ao processamento histológico de rotina. Finalmente, as lâminas foram fotografadas e cinco variáveis foram medidas: Tamanho da Vilosidade (TV), Largura da Vilosidade (LV), Profundidade da Glândula Intestinal (PGI), Espessura do estrato Muscular Interno (EMI) e Espessura do estrato Muscular Externo (EME). Obteve-se os seguintes resultados: na análise das fezes de Rupornis magnirostris foram encontrados ovos de Capillaria sp. Na histomorfometria, os intestinos delgados de ambas as aves, apresentaram padrão heterogêneo, com diferenças significativas (p<0,001) entre o duodeno e o íleo. A comparação das medidas nas duas aves demonstrou diferenças significativas na PGI e LV do duodeno, em todas variáveis do jejuno e no TV, EMI e EME do íleo. Este estudo fornece parâmetros histomorfométricos do intestino delgado do Rupornis magnirostris e Caracara plancus, que contribuirá para melhor entendimento da biologia e consequente auxílio em programas de preservação das espécies. / The Southern Crested Caracara (Caracara plancus) and the Roadside Hawk (Rupornis magnirostris) are raptors, top predators that inhabit the Brazilian territory. They have varied diet, from live animals to those in a state of decomposition. Given this, it aimed to identify possible endoparasites of Roadside Hawk and Southern Crested Caracara kept in captivity, besides describe and compare histomorphometric the small intestine of both species. six specimens of each species were used. For parasitological analysis feces were collected and processed by simple Hoffman method. For histomorphometry, samples of the duodenum, jejunum, ileum were fixed and submitted to routine histological processing. Finally, the slides were photographed and five variables were measured: villus size (TV), width villus (LV) Depth gland Intestinal (PGI), Internal muscle layer thickness (EMI) and Outer muscle layer thickness (EME). This yields the following results: In analysis of feces from Rupornis magnirostris eggs of Capillaria sp. were found. In histomorphometry, small intestines of both birds showed a heterogeneous standard, with significant differences (p <0.001) between the duodenum and the ileum. The comparison of measurements in both birds showed significant differences in PGI and LV of duodenum, all variables of jejunum and in TV, EMI and EME of ileum. This study provides morphometric parameters of the small intestine of Rupornis magnirostris and Caracara plancus, which will contribute to better understanding of the biology and consequently aid in conservation programs of species.

I have attempted to denaturalize and historicize tourism in Crested Butte as an economic, social, and physical phenomenon that fits into the broader histories of Colorado and the West, as well as the broader histories and realities of travel and tourism. Why do people seek out certain places and experiences in the name of pleasure? How did these activities and spaces come to qualify as desirable? What about people who fall outside temporally limited definitions of tourist, such as those who come to Crested Butte for only a season or a year, or second homeowners who stay for months at a time, or, really, any resident? All these people value the place and their experiences in the exact same ways, influenced by the same physical and psychic constructions of desirability. These current constructions are informed by a long history of evolving tastes and interests, the products of converging local, national, and international dynamics. In tracing a history of tourism and especially tourism in the West, I used a variety of secondary sources authored by scholars of tourism, the West, and Colorado. In charting a history of Crested Butte, I utilized archived local newspapers. I spoke to a number of current Crested Butte residents to understand how Crested Butte locals view themselves, their community, their lifestyles, and their town.