Master of Science / Department of Biology / David A. Haukos / Playa wetlands are unique ecological systems crucial to the ecology of the western Great Plains of North America. Playas offer a variety of ecological goods and services: flood water retention; water quality improvement; habitat for a distinctive assemblage of resident and migratory biota; and primary recharge points for the Ogallala Aquifer. The major threat to the function of playas is caused by watershed disturbance and habitat loss, primarily through sediment accumulation that decreases playa hydroperiod, density, and size. Previous research focused on playas in the Southern High Plains in Texas and the Rainwater Basin of Nebraska, with little playa studies located in the Central Great Plains. My objectives were to (1) identify the number and level of functionality of existing playas in the Smoky Hill River watershed, (2) determine the relative contribution of playas to the biodiversity of the landscape and influences from watershed disturbance levels, and (3) assess relationships among avian community composition and environmental variables through a canonical correlation analysis (CCA). To assess playa functionality, I randomly selected 20% of the 3,310 historical playas in the watershed and confirmed playa presence and anthropogenic modifications through imagery analysis (n = 608). To achieve the last two objectives, I conducted breeding bird surveys using point counts in >25 playas with paired, nonplaya sites. I recorded avian relative abundance and species richness. Plant species occurrence was detected using step-point methods along transects. Species diversity was derived using Simpson’s index. Approximately 22% of playas have been lost from the landscape. Of the remaining playas, only 3.15% were not affected by anthropogenic influences. Playas contribute greater than 40% and 16% greater avian species richness and diversity to the surrounding landscape, respectively. Playas located in grassland watersheds had a 63% and 35% greater avian species richness and diversity, as well as 57% and 66% greater floral species richness and diversity than playas located in croplands, respectively. CCA results identify playa soil moisture and watershed disturbance as significant influences to the playa avian community. It is important to reduce watershed disturbance and anthropogenic influence on playas to maintain biodiversity at local, regional, and continental scales.

Diversity training programmes are formal efforts to prepare the workforce to work with individuals from different cultural backgrounds and to improve organisational effectiveness. Although many studies have described diversity training programmes in the workplace, only a few have been evaluated to assess their effectiveness and impact on job outcomes. This thesis describes a study that assessed the impact of a diversity management-training programme on employee attitudes and behaviour towards diversity in a manufacturing company in Namibia. Kirkpatrick’s (1959) four-level model, which examines the trainees’ reactions to the training, the learning acquired, the behaviour change and improvement in organisational results, was used to measure the impact of the training programme. Data was collected through pre-and post-assessment semi-structured individual interviews and a focus group was conducted two months after the training. Data analysis indicates that the first two levels of the evaluation model showed an impact. The participants had positive reactions towards the course and said that they had learnt from the course. The data also showed that the training did not have any impact on the behaviour of the participants and on organisational outcomes. The research also revealed that lack of improved productivity and organisational results might have been influenced by unrealistic expectations, past political conditions, job insecurity and unemployment and the training context. Some recommendations for both the diversity training programme administrators as well as the management of the company are made.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:27:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-01-26Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:16:40Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 jandoti_d_me_botib.pdf: 755910 bytes, checksum: d3aaec5ee62c92fe2ef7571335380637 (MD5) / O presente estudo foi realizado em uma Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, localizada na Estação Ecológica do Caiuá, município de Diamante do Norte, Estado do Paraná, Brasil. Para o levantamento fitossociológico, em cada uma das parcelas demarcadas, foram amostrados todos os indivíduos com perímetro a altura do peito (PAP) igual ou superior a 15 cm, totalizando 1.200 indivíduos arbóreos distribuídos em 78 espécies, 64 gêneros e 31 famílias. As famílias de maior riqueza de espécies foram Leguminosae com 14 espécies, Meliaceae com nove, Myrtaceae, Rutaceae e Euphorbiaceae com cinco espécies cada, Lauraceae com quatro e Polygonaceae, Annonaceae e Flacuortiaceae com três espécies cada. Sloanea monosperma, Gallesia integrifolia, Guarea guidonea, Trichila casaretti, Nectandra sp., Chrysophyllum gonocarpum, Guarea kunthiana, Nectandra cuspidata, Campomanesia xanthocarpa e Endlicheria paniculata foram as espécies com maior valor de importância. O índice de diversidade de Shannon (H’) obtido foi de 3,37, corroborando com valores obtidos em outros estudos desenvolvidos em florestas ripárias no Noroeste do Paraná / This study was carried out in a Semi-deciduous Seasonal Forest located in the Estação Ecológica do Caiuá, city of Diamante do Norte, State of Paraná, Brazil. All plants with DBH greater than or equal to 15 cm were sampled within each parcel, totalizing 1,200 individuals distributed within 78 species, 64 genus and 31 families. Plant families with great species richness were Leguminosae with 14 species, Meliaceae with nine, Myrtaceae, Rutaceae and Euphorbiaceae with five species each, Lauraceae with four and Polygonaceae, Annonaceae and Flacuortiaceae with three species each. Sloanea monosperma, Gallesia integrifolia, Guarea guidonea, Trichila casaretti, Nectandra sp., Chrysophyllum gonocarpum, Guarea kunthiana, Nectandra cuspidata, Campomanesia xanthocarpa and Endlicheria paniculata were those species with high levels of importance. The Shannon’s diversity indices (H’) was 3.37, corroborating with other studies carried out in riparian forests in the Northwest region of Paraná

Submitted by JANDIR CRUZ SANTOS null (jandir_jc@hotmail.com) on 2017-05-15T18:13:46Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese_Jandir_Cruz Santos.pdf: 5587068 bytes, checksum: acb65ead4a03782c42c7fb8d0228224b (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luiz Galeffi (luizgaleffi@gmail.com) on 2017-05-16T14:46:03Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 santos_jc_dr_jabo.pdf: 5587068 bytes, checksum: acb65ead4a03782c42c7fb8d0228224b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-16T14:46:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 santos_jc_dr_jabo.pdf: 5587068 bytes, checksum: acb65ead4a03782c42c7fb8d0228224b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-04-20 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Em diversos países, muitas empresas têm investido valores significativos na viabilização do uso do controle biológico de pragas, em função da demanda do mercado por produtos alimentícios saudáveis, livres de resíduos químicos. O uso de ácaros predadores tem crescido significativamente nos últimos anos principalmente com ácaros das famílias Phytoseiidae, Laelapidae e Macrochelidae, no entanto outras famílias como Ascidae, Blattisociidae e Melicharidae têm demonstrado bons resultados em laboratório no controle de pragas. Dentro da linha de trabalho priorizada pelas instituições em que o presente trabalho foi conduzido (FCAV/UNESP e ESALQ/USP), o objetivo deste trabalho foi conhecer a fauna de ácaros das famílias Ascidae, Blattisociidae e Melicharidae nas diferentes regiões do Brasil e estabelecer bases de dados sobre a ocorrência destes no Globo Terrestre. Espécimes disponíveis na Coleção de Referência de Ácaros da ESALQ/USP e coletados pelo autor deste documento foram analisados e identificados, descrevendo-se três espécies novas para a ciência e redescrevendose uma espécie (Leioseius basis Karg, 1994). Foram também criadas bases de dados sobre a distribuição de ácaros destas três famílias e sobre os substratos em que foram encontrados, para disponibilização “on-line”. No total, foram examinados 1657 exemplares, de 76 espécies de 19 gêneros. Vinte e seis espécies e três dos gêneros encontrados eram novos para a ciência e destes taxa, três espécies novas (uma de Leioseius e duas de Cheiroseius) foram descritas. Duas chaves dicotômicas taxonômicas foram elaboradas, uma para as espécies de Leioseius do Globo e uma para as espécies de Cheiroseius conhecidas no Brasil. As bases de dados estabelecidas correspondem a uma complementação das informações taxonômicas constantes do catálogo destas famílias publicado em 2016. Cerca de 820 publicações foram obtidas e analisadas, correspondendo a cerca de 1,3 vezes o número de publicações citadas naquele catálogo. As bases de dados permitem o rápido acesso às informações sobre a distribuição por país (por estado ou divisão política correspondente nos sete maiores países) e sobre os substratos em que estes ácaros foram relatados. As bases constam de aproximadamente 2200 registros, cada um correspondente ao número de pontos de constatação citados em cada publicação de dados primários, para cada uma das quase 1000 espécies distribuídas em 45 gêneros destas famílias. Os países com maior diversidade conhecida em cada família são: Ascidae – Rússia (56), Estados Unidos da América (42), China (37) e Polônia (36); Blattisociidae – China (47), Estados Unidos da América (41), Equador (38), Índia (33) e Polônia (32); Melicharidae – Estados Unidos da América (46), Brasil (23), Equador (20) e Polônia e Alemanha (15). No entanto, nenhuma espécie destas famílias é conhecida em cerca de 44% dos países. / In several countries, many companies have invested significant amounts in making viable the use of biological control of pest organisms, due to the demand for healthy food products, free of chemical residues. The use of predatory mites have grown significantly in recent years especially with mites Phytoseiidae families, and Laelapidae Macrochelidae, however other families like Ascidae, Blattisociidae Melicharidae and have shown good results in the laboratory to control pests. In line the research priorities of the institutions in which this work was conducted (FCAV/UNESP and ESALQ/USP), the objective of this work was to investigate the mite fauna of the families Ascidae, Blattisociidae and Melicharidae in different regions of Brazil and to establish databases on the world occurrence and substrates of these mites. Specimens available at ESALQ/USP Mite Reference Collection and specimens collected by the author of this document were analyzed and identified, describing three species new to science and redescribing a species (Leioseius basis Karg, 1994). The work also involved the establishment of databases on the distribution of mites of these three families and on substrates that have been found, for online availability. In total, 1657 specimens from 76 species of 19 genera were examined. Six species and three genera found were new to science and from these taxa, three new species (one Leioseius and two Cheiroseius) were described. Two dichotomous taxonomic keys were elaborated, one for the species of Leioseius of the world and one for the species of Cheiroseius known in Brazil. The established databases correspond to a complementation of the taxonomic information included in the catalog of these families published in 2016. About 820 publications were obtained and analyzed, corresponding to about 1.3 times the number of publications cited in that catalog. The databases allow rapid access to information on the distribution by country (by state or corresponding political division in the seven largest countries) and on the substrates in which these mites have been reported. The bases contain approximately 2200 records, each corresponding to the number of observation points in each publication of primary data, for each of the nearly 1000 species in 45 genera of these families. The countries with the highest known diversity in each family are: Ascidae - Russia (56), United States of America (42), China (37) and Poland (36); Blattisociidae - China (47), United States of America (41), Ecuador (38), India (33) and Poland (32); Melicharidae - United States of America (46), Brazil (23), Ecuador (20) and Poland and Germany (15). However, no species of these families is known in about 44% of the countries.

The value add of gender diversity in the financial services industry has been overlooked. From providing capital for businesses to financing mortgages, it goes without question that financial institutions play a most critical role in the function of the economy. Our study poses a potential solution for managing the immense responsibility of these entities. The financial crisis of 2008 awakened the public to the high levels of risk that banks endure in the practice of their business. Banks often rely on a liquidity cushion in order to mitigate the risk of financial distress. Liquidity consists of the cash and other liquid assets that banks retain for times of unexpected demands for cash. Financial institutions often vary in their levels of liquidity due to different risk tolerances and appetites for return. This thesis contributes to existing literature by looking into the role that gender diverse boards play in managing liquidity risk and its transparent effect on bank performance. Through an analysis of seventy-four global, regional, small, mid and large cap commercial banks, we concluded that increased gender diversity results in increased liquidity and decreased risk to bank assets. In the process, we also test the effect of increased liquidity on bank performance, as it would likely be a concern for shareholders

Orientador: Marcos Aurélio Saquet / Banca: Eliseu Savério Sposito / Banca: Antonio Nivaldo Hespanhol. / Banca: Meri Lourdes Bezzi / Banca: Rosselvelt José Santos / Resumo: Território, cultura e tempo são referências basilares para entender a diversidade territorial que se manifesta no Globo, nos territórios nacionais, nas regiões e mesmo nos lugares, considerando a base espacial transformada pelo homem, como um ser social. Neste sentido, é necessário "recontar", resgatar a história do território e dos homens que o criaram, para entender a dinâmica atual, a organização e as possibilidades de desenvolvimento futuro. Nesta perspectiva, construímos uma base teórica para compreender o território numa perspectiva multidimensional, destacando os processos culturais e econômicos vinculados à colonização alemã e italiana no Rio Grande do Sul. Tratamos da construção histórica do território, identificando e explicando elementos simbólicos e materiais, isto é, atividades econômicas e políticas desenvolvidas pela sociedade que o constrói, dotando-o de significados. A (i)materialidade do território se reflete na organização da sociedade, em relação aos seus semelhantes e às diferenças, num movimento processual de constante (re)criação, (re)construção, isto é, de territorialização, desterritorialização e reterritorialização (T-D-R). No intuito de compreender a relação território-poder-apropriação simbólica, realizamos pesquisa bibliográfica e empírica, que proporcionou interpretar e analisar a territorialização dos imigrantes alemães e italianos no Rio Grande do Sul e a consequente formação dos territórios da imigração. O território como uma construção histórica, com mudanças e permanências... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Territory, culture and time are references to understand the basic territorial diversity manifested in the Globe, within the national territories, regions and even in places, considering the spatial base transformed by man, as a social being. In this sense, it is necessary to "retell", rescue the story of the territory and the men who created it, to understand the current dynamics, the organization and the possibilities for future development. In this perspective, we built a theoretical foundation for understanding the territory in a multidimensional perspective, highlighting the cultural and economic processes tied to the German and Italian colonization in Rio Grande do Sul. We treated the historical construction of the territory, identifying and explaining symbolic and material elements, that is, economic activities and policies developed by the society that builds it, giving it meaning. The (i) materiality of the territory is reflected in the organization of society in relation to their peers and to the differences, in a procedural motion of constant (re) creation, (re) construction, that is, territorialization, desterritorialization and reterritorialization (T-D-R). In order to understand the relationship between territory-power-symbolic appropriation, we conducted a bibliographical and empirical research, which allowed us to interpret and analyze the territorialization of German and Italian immigrants in Rio Grande do Sul and the consequent formation of the territory of immigration. The territory as a historic building, with... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:30:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-02-25Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T21:00:33Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 wunderlich_ac_me_botib.pdf: 566474 bytes, checksum: 0171c033f151c1c496f3c9115f005251 (MD5) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / A busca por fatores que levam a variação na composição e estrutura das comunidades de parasitas é um ponto chave nos estudos de ecologia do parasitismo. O presente estudo teve como objetivos avaliar se a composição, estrutura e diversidade das comunidades componentes de helmintos de Notothenia coriiceps podem variar em termos locais e temporais na baía do Almirantado, Ilha Rei George, Península Antártica. Os peixes foram coletados em cincos locais diferentes denominados, Arctowiski, Ipanema, Punta Ullman, Refúgio I e Smok Point, totalizando 126 indivíduos. Após capturados, os peixes foram necropsiados e os parasitas encontrados foram coletados, quantificados, fixados e identificados. Todos os peixes foram infectados por pelo menos uma espécie de helminto parasita. Das 13 espécies de helmintos encontradas, cinco eram larvas (2 cestóides, 2 nematóides e 1 acantocéfalo) e oito adultos (5 digenéticos e 3 de acantocéfalos). As espécies dominantes e com as maiores intensidades em todos os locais foram adultos de Macvicaria georgiana e Aspersentis megarhynchus e cistacanto de Corynosoma sp., com destaque para os locais Arctowiski e Smok Point. As espécies Genolinea bowesi, Pseudoterranova sp., Contracaecum sp., Metacanthocephalus johnstoni e larvas de Tetraphyllidae apresentaram um padrão relativamente semelhante de infecção. A riqueza local variou de 9-11 taxa, seguidos por 13 e 11 no primeiro e segundo verão, enquanto que a riqueza de toda a baía (regional) atingiu 13 taxa. O índice de diversidade e equitabilidade tiveram pouca variação entre os locais, enquanto que para a baía (regional) e entre os anos praticamente não diferiu. As comunidades componentes com base na diversidade exibiram pouca variação entre as localidades estudadas demonstrando que as espécies de helmintos se distribuem quase igualmente na baía do Almirantado. Apesar da distância entre os locais... / The search for factors that lead to variation in composition and community structure of parasites is a key point in studies of the ecology of parasitism. This study aimed to evaluate the composition, structure and diversity of helminth communities components of Notothenia coriiceps may vary on a local and temporal in Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctic Peninsula. Fish were collected at five different locations named as Arctowiski, Ipanema, Punta Ullman, Refuge I, and Smok Point, totaling 126 individuals. Once captured, fish were necropsied and the parasites found were collected, quantified, identified and fixed. All fish were infected with at least one species of helminth parasites. Of the 13 helminth species found, five were larvae (2 cestodes, 2 nematodes and 1 acanthocephalan) and eight adults (five digenean and three acanthocephalans). The dominant species and with greater intensities at all sites were adults of Macvicaria georgiana, Aspersentis megarhynchus and cistacanth of Corynosoma sp., with emphasis on Arctowiski and Smok Point places. The species G. bowersi, Pseudoterranova sp., Contracaecum sp., Metacanthocephalus johnstoni and Tetraphyllidae larvae showed a relatively similar pattern of infection. The local species richness ranged from 9-11 species, followed by 13 and 11 in the first and second summer, while the wealth of the entire bay (regional) species was 13. The diversity index and evenness had little variation among locations, while the bay (regional) and between the years virtually had no differences. Communities based on diversity components showed little variation among the areas studied, demonstrating that the helminth species are distributed almost equally in Admiralty Bay. Despite the distance between the sites have from 2 to 9 km, this does not influence this diversity, but to be a key factor for the variations in the levels of infection among... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Submitted by Erika Demachki (erikademachki@gmail.com) on 2016-01-07T15:35:40Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Fábio Martins Labecca - 2015.pdf: 2107333 bytes, checksum: cf5e7e0ac514e7f834e6ed7aab735b5d (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Erika Demachki (erikademachki@gmail.com) on 2016-01-07T15:37:02Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Fábio Martins Labecca - 2015.pdf: 2107333 bytes, checksum: cf5e7e0ac514e7f834e6ed7aab735b5d (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-01-07T15:37:02Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Fábio Martins Labecca - 2015.pdf: 2107333 bytes, checksum: cf5e7e0ac514e7f834e6ed7aab735b5d (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-04-29 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The increasing demand for timber and pulpwood has triggered an increase in areas of tree monocultures. The effects of native vegetation conversion in such monocultures have been extensively debated, but the consequences of this land use change to functionality and evolutionary history conservation have been little studied. Here, we evaluated how the avifauna responds to nature ecosystem conversion in tree monocultures by quantifying changes in local diversity (alpha diversity) and in assemblage composition (beta diversity), in their functional and phylogenetic components. We compiled forty paired bird lists in native vegetation areas and in comparable tree monoculture areas. Changes in alpha diversity were quantified by paired tests of observed values in native vegetation and in tree monocultures, and changes in assemblages composition through additive partitioning of beta diversity in nestedness and turnover components. We observed that tree monocultures are impoverished in number of species, supporting lower functional richness and less functionally similar assemblages. This demonstrates that environmental filter selecting and limiting similarity processes concurrently modify functional structure of bird assemblages, resulting in loss of functional complementarity and redundancy. Species in tree monocultures are also evolutionary younger and less related to each other. We showed that bird assemblages in tree monoculture are composed largely by functionally and phylogenetic different species from that assemblages in native vegetation. Body size, diet and foraging traits were the major functional traits in predicting the absence of the species in tree monocultures. Alson, we show that annual average temperature, annual average pluviosity and stage of understory development in tree monocultures are important predictors of diversity loss in these type of monoculture. / A crescente demanda por madeira e celulose tem desencadeado um aumento das áreas de monocultura florestal. Os efeitos da conversão de áreas de vegetação nativa nesse tipo de monocultura, por sua vez, vêm sendo extensamente debatidos. As consequências dessa mudança no uso do solo para a funcionalidade e conservação da história evolutiva foram até agora pouco estudadas. Neste estudo, nós avaliamos como a avifauna responde a conversão de ecossistemas naturais em monoculturas florestais, quantificando mudanças na diversidade local (diversidade alfa) e na composição dessas assembleias (diversidade beta) em seus componentes funcional e filogenético. Para isto, compilamos quarenta listas pareadas de aves em áreas de vegetação nativa e em áreas comparáveis de monocultura florestal. As mudanças na diversidade alfa foram testadas por testes pareados dos valores observados em vegetação nativa e em monoculturas florestais, e as mudanças na composição das assembleias através da partição aditiva da diversidade beta nos componentes de aninhamento e substituição. Observamos que as áreas de monocultura florestal são empobrecidas no número de espécies, suportam menor riqueza funcional e são menos similares funcionalmente. Isto demonstra que os processos de filtro ambiental e de similaridade limitante modificam a estrutura funcional das assembleias de aves de forma concomitante, resultando em perda de complementaridade e também de redundância funcional. As espécies presentes em áreas de monocultura são também evolutivamente mais jovens e menos aparentadas entre si. Mostramos que as assembleias de monoculturas florestais são compostas em grande parte por espécies funcionalmente e filogeneticamente diferentes daquela avifauna em vegetação nativa. Tamanho corpóreo, dieta e estratégias de forrageamento se mostraram as características funcionais importantes na predição da ausência das espécies em monoculturas florestais. Ainda, mostramos que temperatura e pluviosidade média anual, e o estádio de desenvolvimento do sub-bosque são importantes preditores da perda de diversidade nesse tipo de monocultura.

Tendo em vista a progressiva degradação e perda de habitats naturais, que resultam em declínios populacionais e extinções locais de espécies, torna-se imprescindível e urgente a realização de trabalhos de levantamento faunístico. Inventários são essenciais para melhorar a nossa compreensão da biogeografia da herpetofauna brasileira e para delinear estratégias de conservação efetivas que garantam a preservação do potencial evolutivo das espécies existentes. O nível de conhecimento acerca da biologia e da diversidade de anfíbios e répteis no Brasil, e particularmente no estado de São Paulo, ainda não é satisfatório e uma parcela significativa do que restou de seus ecossistemas foi pouco estudada. Este estudo visou determinar a composição de espécies das comunidades de serpentes, lagartos e anuros do Mosaico de Unidades de Conservação do Jacupiranga (SP) com base em dados coletados em duas localidades e em registros de museus. Foi obtida uma lista com 39 espécies de anuros, uma anfisbena, nove lagartos e 39 serpentes, que provavelmente compõem a herpetofauna do Mosaico. As espécies de anuros capturadas em armadilhas de interceptação e queda e por procura visual foram utilizadas para analisar a eficiência da amostragem. As análises indicaram que, provavelmente, em ambas as localidades e com os dois métodos utilizados, todas as espécies que compõem a comunidade local foram registradas. Com os dados de anuros coletados em armadilhas foram realizadas ainda análises comparando os diferentes ambientes amostrados. Os testes revelaram que há diferenças significativas entre ambientes antropizados e marginais com relação aos ambientes situados em mata melhor preservada. O pequeno número de espécies de répteis amostrados não permitiu que fossem feitas as mesmas análises realizadas para os anuros. A baixa abundância desses animais na natureza e as limitações dos métodos de captura utilizados impossibilitaram a realização de análises de desempenho da amostragem, de estimativas de riqueza e de uso de ambiente. A composição de espécies de anuros, lagartos e serpentes do Mosaico foi comparada com outras localidades a partir de dados disponíveis na literatura e as análises revelaram que, para todos os grupos, as espécies do Mosaico estão mais relacionadas com as comunidades ocorrentes na Floresta Ombrófilo Densa da encosta brasileira, em especial, com aquelas conhecidas para o contínuo de remanescentes florestais do estado de São Paulo que se inicia na Serra do Mar e termina na região do Vale do Ribeira. As informações de história natural, padrões de distribuição, composição de espécies e de seu estado de conservação geradas por esse trabalho podem ser utilizadas como base para o manejo da fauna estudada e para o estabelecimento de medidas conservacionistas pautadas em dados concretos. / Field surveys are urgently in need due to the continuing loss of natural habitats and resulting populational decline and local species extinction. Herpetofaunal surveys are essential to improve our understanding of biogeographical issues concerning this group, and to delineate effective conservation strategies to preserve the evolutionary potential of existing lineages. The knowledge of amphibian and reptile biology and diversity in Brazil, and particulary in the state of São Paulo, is still unsatisfactory. Additionally, a significative portion of the remaining natural areas of this state have been poorly studied. This study aims to determine species composition of anuran, lizard and snake communities from the biological reserve known as Mosaico de Unidades de Conservação do Jacupiranga (SP), and it is based on data collected in two localities as well as on records of museum specimens. As a result, a list with 39 anurans, 1 amphisbaenian, 9 lizards and 39 snakes was produced for the Mosaico. The specimens of anurans recorded during the study were used to analyze sampling effectiveness. This analysis indicated a high probability that all species composing the local community were actually registered. The data of anurans collected in pitfall traps were also used to compare the different environments sampled. The tests showed significant differences among secondary environments, modified by human activities, and mature forests. The same tests could not be done with reptiles due to the small samples captured in pitfall traps. The anuran, lizard and snake assemblages of the Mosaico were compared with other localities assemblages based on data from the literature. Analyses show that the herpetological fauna of the Mosaico resembles more closely to communites present in coastal Atlantic Rainforest, particulary to fauna of the remnants of this ecossistem located between Serra do Mar and Vale do Ribeira in the state of São Paulo. Information on natural history, distribution patterns, species composition and conservation status provided in the present work can be used for faunal management and lead to efficient species conservation planning.

M.Com. (Business Management) / Compliance with Employment Equity Act no 55 of 1998 is very important for organisations in South Africa. Recent reports attested that no significant change or progress achieved as far as Employment Equity (EE) is concerned. With no doubt South Africa faces shortage of skills and this may be a hindrance to EE Transformation. The Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) is not isolated from the skills shortage challenges, particularly because they seek specialised skills and competencies such as those of Chartered Accountants CA(SAs). The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA), stated in their press release (Olivier, 2012) that this particular institution has 33 167 registered Chartered Accountants in South Africa. This means a small pool from which the Auditor-General of South Africa can draw its potential employees. The AGSA is not unique to the changes and legislative requirements faced by other organisations. As a result, these organisations are required to embark on a transformation journey to ensure Employment Equity achievement within their respective environments. Although reports have been showing some encouraging progress towards achieving the objectives of the Employment Equity Act, the journey is still long. This research attempted to establish the state of transformation and the challenges faced when implementing EE in AGSA. Based on these, the researcher proposed a change process to increase attainment of EE targets. For this study, the researcher focused particularly within areas where the AGSA struggles to attract suitably qualified employees. The researcher further assessed the employees’ perceptions related to EE how these perceptions are addressed. The researcher collected by means of self-administered questionnaires, interviews, as well as a case study. The sample included Corporate Executives, Business Executives, Senior Managers, Managers and Trainee Auditors. The collected data was analysed both qualitatively and quantitatively. Findings of the study revealed that different business units were implementing different strategies in an attempt to address their Employment Equity challenges. Some areas within the AGSA realised progress while others made only minimal progress. The research further revealed the need for an integrated approach towards achievement of the EE target. This may ensure a concerted effort and eradicate working in silos. A need for appropriate and formal EE structures was also established. Recommendations for an integrated approach as well as required structures for EE were discussed in the last chapter of this research.