The main argument of this thesis is that the landscape and locality of Clarendon Forest and Park were strongly influenced by the presence (or, later, absence) of Clarendon Palace, which fell into decay in the late fifteenth century. This contention is addressed by taking the landscape as the unit for study, rather than focusing on the palace and extrapolating 'outwards'. A primary aim is to restore the wider conceptual landscape by considering the forest alongside the relict landscape of the park, and it is argued throughout that, because medieval forests are archaeologically elusive, the best way to achieve this is through an intensive documentary methodology. Attention is drawn throughout to the capacity of documents to illustrate how estates were managed over time. This is demonstrated particularly in Chapters Two and Three, the main findings of which (including observations of a major change in attitude and landscape use in the early- to mid- fourteenth century) are drawn together in the conclusions of those chapters. The thesis, representing an unprecedented systematic study of manuscript sources for Clarendon Park and Forest held at central and regional record offices, is supported by references to printed primary sources. It has resulted in the compilation of a main computer database listing over 800 relevant documents held at the Public Record Office alone (Appendix 11), from which those that might prove most useful were selected and transcribed. The transcriptions, arranged by subject, form several substantial and searchable electronic databases facilitating cross-checking and comparison, some of which are reproduced here as Appendices. The written sources themselves have informed the structure of the thesis. Their worth in a study such as this is explored in Chapter One, following a brief background history of Clarendon and an elucidation of the study's academic and historiographical context. Chapter Two then addresses ecology and economy, while the park's 'built environment' is considered in Chapter Three in order to provide new insights. Settlement is explored in Chapter Four, which reveals Clarendon Forest to have been a landscape of control in which assarting, in particular, was restricted. Chapter Five expands on this point by addressing 'closure' and conflict in the landscape. It examines also Clarendon's 'social topology', partly by employing gender as a tool to elucidate the nature of social closure, and ends by considering the palace as a scene of social negotiation. The Conclusion, Chapter Six, expands on the management of the forest and park and the phasing of the latter's use based largely on materials in Chapters Two and Three. It concludes that the hypothesis is supported; this unique landscape and locality was indeed profoundly influenced by the existence of a royal park and palace at its centre. Nevertheless, what has emerged strongly in the course of the study are the myriad ways in which the forest, in turn, shaped the lifecycle' of the palace.

Orientador: José Maurício Barbanti Duarte / Banca: Susana Ganzález / Banca: Kelly R. Zamúdio / Resumo: O Projeto de Reintrodução do Cervo-do-pantanal de Porto Primavera foi implementado pelos pesquisadores do Núcleo de Pesquisa e Conservação de Cervídeos (NUPECCE) da Universidade Estadual Paulista, na Estação Ecológica de Jataí (E.E.J.), a fim de conservar a espécie no estado de São Paulo. Para que o sucesso de um programa de reintrodução seja atingido, vários fatores devem ser levados em consideração, entre eles possíveis problemas genéticos decorrentes do pequeno número de indivíduos fundadores, como a perda da diversidade genética devido à deriva genética e a perda do vigor devido à endogamia. Assim, a partir de 6 locos microssatélites nós estimamos os níveis de variabilidade genética dessa população e, juntamente com dados de campo foi possível reconstruir a genealogia da mesma. Foram analisados no total 42 indivíduos: 8 fundadores, 14 nascidos no local e 20 indivíduos da população original. O número total de alelos encontrados na população original foi de 30, perfazendo uma média de 5 alelos por loco, com locos variando de 4 a 7 alelos. Já, na população reintroduzida, o número total de alelos encontrados foi 21, com média de 3,5 alelos por loco, e locos variando de 1 a 4 alelos. A grande perda alélica observada aqui indica que a população reintroduzida passou por um forte gargalo genético em decorrência do efeito fundador sofrido durante sua formação. Em contrapartida, a partir da geração fundadora até a segunda geração da E.E.J., a perda de alelos foi visivelmente menor, apenas 4 alelos foram perdidos. Em acréscimo, dados de heterozigosidade mostram que a população esta mantendo os níveis de diversidade genética (geração fundadora H=0,5; segunda geração H=0,625). A endogamia é um mecanismo inevitável... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The Reintroduced Project of marsh deer was implemented by the researchers from the Deer Research and Conservation Center (NUPECCE) of Unesp, in Jataí's Ecological Station (E.E.J.), to understand the process of colonization of small marshes patches that remain in the São Paulo state. In order to make a reintroduction project successful, several factors must be taken into account; among those, possible genetic problems arising from the small number of founding individuals, such as the loss of genetic diversity due to genetic drift and the loss of fitness due to inbreeding. Hence, from 6 microsatellite loci, we estimated the genetic variability levels of this population and, together with the field data, we were able to reconstruct the genealogy of the members. We analyzed 42 individuals: 8 founders, 14 individuals born into the reintroduced population and 20 individuals from the source population. The total number of alleles found in the original population was 30 (5 alleles per locus), with loci ranging from 4 to 7 alleles. In the reintroduced population, the total number of alleles found was 21 (3.5 alleles per locus) and loci ranging from 1 to 4 alleles. The major allelic loss observed indicates that the reintroduced population went through a strong genetic bottleneck resulting from the founding effect suffered during its establishment. On the other hand, in the generations of the reintroduced population of the E.E.J., the loss of alleles was noticeably smaller. Furthermore, heterozygosity data show that the population has been maintaining the levels of genetic diversity (Founder generation H=0.5; second generation H=0.625). Inbreeding is an inevitable mechanism in small populations; however, the indexes that... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Thesis (M.S.)--Montana State University--Bozeman, 2006. / Typescript. Chairperson, Graduate Committee: James E. Knight. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 39-42).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State University, 1982. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 222-230). Also available online.

Thesis (M.S.)--Eastern Illinois University. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 1975. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references. Also available via the World Wide Web.

Status assessments are compulsory to efficacious management of large-mammal populations, particularly for endangered species such as the Florida Key deer (Odocoileus virginianus clavium). However, a dearth of data regarding basic demographic parameters has limited status assessment and management of Key deer on outer islands. Traditional survey techniques for Key deer on Big Pine and No Name keys include road-counts, strip-counts, and mark-recapture methods. However, practical limitations render traditional survey techniques impractical for application on outer islands. Thus, assessment of current status and appropriate management is limited by a paucity of information regarding Key deer on outer islands. The purpose of my study was to evaluate the utility of infrared-triggered cameras and forward-looking infrared thermography (FLIR) to monitor occupancy and abundance of Key deer on outer islands, and to obtain baseline information regarding current distribution and abundance of Key deer in these areas. In addition, I wanted to further evaluate the advantages and disadvantages inherent in using baited camera-stations to estimate abundance of large mammal populations. I compared 3 frequently applied methods to estimate abundance from camera-based survey data. All outer islands exhibited estimated abundances considerably below carrying capacities, with larger populations occurring closer to Big Pine Key. Results indicated that other islands and complexes such as Ramrod Key, Water Key, and the Annette complex maintain only small sub-populations (e.g., ≤5 individuals) and other previously inhabited island complexes (i.e., Johnson complex and Summerland Key) no longer maintain sub-populations. Additionally, I compared abundance estimates from FLIR-based surveys to camera-based estimates. Although no test of accuracy was possible, camera-based survey methods consistently produced higher estimates of Key deer abundance on outer islands. Results indicate that aerial FLIR-based survey methods may be unreliable for the survey of large mammals in tropical habitats or areas exhibiting dense vegetation, and camera-based surveys should be the preferred method to survey Key deer abundance on outer islands.

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral infection that affects all Artiodactyls (cloven-hoofed) species. The United States has been free of FMD since 1929, and the entire population of cloven-hoofed species is therefore susceptible to FMD virus infection. In the face of an outbreak, it is crucial that appropriate control measures be applied rapidly to control the disease. However, in most cases decisions on mitigation strategies must be made with little current or empirical data and in the context of political, economic and social pressures. Disease spread models can be used to evaluate the design of optimal control strategies, for policy formulation, for gap analysis and to develop and refine research agendas when disease is not present. This research project is designed to investigate the potential role of wildlife (deer) in the transmission and spread of FMD in an extensive livestock management system in southern Texas. The spread of FMD was simulated in white tailed deer populations using a Geographic Automata model. Past research has focused primarily on modeling the spread of FMD in livestock populations. There has been limited research into the potential role of wildlife in the spread and maintenance of FMD, specifically in the United States and using a spatial modeling approach. The study area is a nine-county area located in southern Texas, bordering Mexico. It is a region of concern for the introduction of foreign animal diseases, particularly through the movement of wild and feral animal species. It is both a strategic location and is generally representative of the many similar eco-climatic regions throughout the world. It is an ideal model landscape to simulate FMD incursions. In this research project, the potential spread of FMD is simulated based on various spatial estimates of white tailed deer distribution, various estimates of critical model parameters (such as the latent and infectious periods), seasonal population variability and in the face of potential pre-emptive mitigation strategies. Significant differences in the predicted spread were found for each group of simulations. The decision-support system developed in the studies described in this dissertation provide decision-makers and those designing and implementing disease response and control policy with information on the potential spread of a foreign animal disease incursion with a likely wildlife reservoir. Use of such a decision-support system would enhance the disease incursion preparedness and response capacity of the United States.

Experiment I studied the effect of dietary gossypol (G) on antler and body growth traits of red deer stags, whereas Experiment II studied the effect of exogenous melatonin on female red deer reproductive traits. Specifically in Experiment I, thirty mature red deer stags were randomly allotted by weight, body condition score, and age to one of three treatment groups (n=10 each): control (C; 5:6 soybean meal:corn), extruded cottonseed pellet (P; 0.04 percent Free G, 0.36 percent Total G) and whole cottonseed-soybean meal (WCS; 5:3 cottonseed:soybean meal, 0.96 percent Free G & Total G). The supplements were mixed to be isocaloric (1661g/d TDN) and isonitrogenous (620-637g CP/d). Stags were fed daily for 155 d from antler casting (2/26/09) until hard antler had been reached (7/31/09). Antlers were measured using the Safari Club International (SCI) scoring method once hard antler was achieved. Hard antlers where removed just above the burr and allowed to dry (60 d) before weighing. Average daily gain did not differ (P > 0.10) among dietary treatment groups. However, average antler weights from C (1.130 plus/minus 0.068 kg) and P (1.297 plus/minus 0.068 kg) were greater (P < 0.04) than WCS (1.041 plus/minus 0.068 kg) weights upon completion of the trial. Although SCI measurements were numerically lowest for WCS, differences were not significant. In Experiment II, 60 mature and 24 yearling red deer hinds were assigned to two treatments on August 3rd; one received melatonin implants (MEL: n=42), while the other served as a control group (CNTRL: n=42). Hinds were evenly distributed to treatment by lactation status, age and body condition score. Antlerless stags were placed with the hinds (1:14) to provide natural service breeding during the trial. Implants were verified to be functional by a serum melatonin assay. Pregnancy status was determined by ultrasonography on d 105 and verified again on d 150. MEL treatment hinds displayed lower ADG (0.003 plus/minus 0.007 kg/d) than CNTRL (0.020 plus/minus 0.007 kg/d) hinds during the trial (P < 0.01). No advancement of estrous cycles was observed in red deer hinds implanted in early August (P > 0.10); however, pregnancy rates for yearling hinds were increased 36.4 percent (P < 0.04).

Conservation of native wildlife is becoming increasingly difficult due to continued human population growth and expansion. As the human population continues to increase, so does the rate of consumption of our natural resources. As competition for resources between man and wildlife continues, it is important to understand the effects of urbanization on species. Endangered Key deer (Odocoileus virginianus clavium) are endemic to the Florida Keys archipelago stretching southwest off the southern tip of peninsular Florida. Key deer range is restricted to the Lower Florida Keys with approximately 60% residing on Big Pine Key and 15% residing on No Name Key which have undergone rapid human population growth and development over the past 30 years. Urban development and its associated risk factors (i.e., habitat loss and fragmentation, deer domestication, and deer–vehicle collisions) have been cited as the greatest threat to the Key deer population. For my dissertation research, I evaluated the impacts of 30 years of development on the Key deer population. My results suggest that increased habitat fragmentation and increased road traffic have created areas of varying habitat quality and mortality risk and have resulted in a source-sink system for Key deer on Big Pine Key. In my examination of Key deer metapopulation dynamics, I found a low probability of deer colonizing 2 target outer islands (Sugarloaf and Cudjoe) through dispersal alone in the next 20 years. Further, I examined the impacts of urbanization on changes in Key deer population dynamics, behavior, and morphology. Collectively, my results suggest that over the past 30 years Key deer have become more urbanized, which in turn has influenced Key deer behavior and population viability. Behavioral adaptations due to deer plasticity appear to have provided Key deer with mechanisms to persist in a changing environment due to urbanization. However, the future ability of Key deer to persist in a continuously urbanizing environment cannot be predicted. At some threshold, urban development would become unsustainable, and, unlike other forms of habitat change or environmental disturbances, urban development is in most cases irreversible, requiring careful planning in habitat conservation strategies.