Dissertation (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The spatial distribution of animals and plants at different scales is a central theme in ecology. Knowledge of biodiversity distribution is essential, especially with the current threat of climate change and invasion by alien species. Since the impact of climate change and alien species will be, and has already been pronounced in polar regions, information on the current spatial distributions of biota in these regions is critical to predict the consequences of climate change and alien species on the future survival, distribution and abundance of indigenous biota. This study was conducted on the sub- Antarctic Prince Edward Islands (consisting of Marion Island and Prince Edward Island), which have experienced rapid climate changes over the past 50 years. Additionally, a number of alien plant, vertebrate and invertebrate (also microarthropod) species have been introduced to these islands. Since microarthropods (mites and springtails) play an essential role in decomposition and mineralization of plant material on the islands, the loss of microarthropods from decomposer communities might have disastrous results for ecosystem processes. Therefore it is essential to know the current distributions of microarthropods in order to predict future distributions patterns in reaction to climate change and invasive species. In this study, the spatial distribution of mites and springtails inhabiting the cushion plant Azorella selago Hook, were examined at different scales of observation. Firstly, the microarthropod community was examined at a fine scale. The relationship between microarthropod species richness and abundance and plant size, isolation, within-plant variability, grass cover and microclimate variables were investigated. Thereafter, the spatial variability of microarthropod abundances was examined within stands of plants, with statistical methods using varying degrees of locational information to determine if microarthropod abundance is random, regular or aggregated at this scale. Further, the spatial variability of microarthropod communities in A. selago at different altitudes and on different sides of Marion Island, i.e. island-wide scale, was examined. The last scale of observation was the island-wide scale, in which microarthropod assemblages were compared between Marion Island and Prince Edward Island, as well as in different plant species. Microarthropods showed spatial heterogeneity within A. selago plants (higher abundances in eastern and southern sides of plants), island-wide (lower springtail abundance on the eastern side of the island and at high altitudes) and between islands (more alien species on Marion Island). In contrast, microarthropod abundance was not spatially heterogeneous within a stand of plants, i.e. mostly randomly distributed. The possible mechanisms responsible for these patterns differ between scales, and range from temperature and nutrient availability at the within plant and island wide scale to alien species between islands. Climate change is likely to alter these distribution patterns of microarthropods, either directly (unfavourable climate for indigenous species growth, development and dispersal) or indirectly (favouring alien microarthropod species; increase in grass cover on A. selago plants may alter community structure). The information presented here, is essential for predicting the possible impacts of climate change on microarthropods in fellfield ecosystems on sub-Antarctic islands. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die ruimtelike verspreiding van diere en plante op verskillende skale is ‘n sentrale tema in ekologie. Kennis van die verspreiding van biodiversiteit is belangrik, veral met die huidige bedreiging van klimaatsverandering en indringerspesies. Omdat die impak van klimaatsverandering en indringerspesies in die poolstreke alreeds duidelik is en nog meer so sal word, is inligting oor die huidige ruimtelike verspreiding van biota in hierdie streke noodsaaklik. Hierdie studie is op die sub-Antarktiese Prins Edward-eilande (bestaande uit Marion Eiland en Prins Edward Eiland) uitgevoer, waar die klimaat vinnig verander het oor die afeglope 50 jaar. Bykomend is ‘n aantal indringer plant, vertebraat en invertebraat (ook mikroartropood) spesies op die eilande ingebring. Omdat mikroartropoda (myte en springsterte) ‘n baie belangrike rol in ontbinding en mineralisering van plantmateriaal op hierdie eilande speel, sal die verlies van mikroartropoda uit die ontbindingsgemeenskap rampspoedige gevolge vir die prosesse in die ekosisteem hê. Kennis van die huidige verpreiding van mikroartropoda is dus noodsaaklik om die toekomstige verspreidingspatrone, asook oorlewing en volopheid van inheemse spesies in reaksie op klimaatsveranding en indringerspesies, te voorspel. In hierdie studie is die ruimtelike verspreiding van myte en springsterte wat in die kussingplant Azorella selago Hook voorkom, op verskillende ruimtelike skale ondersoek. Eerstens is die mikroartropood gemeenskap op ‘n klein skaal ondersoek. Die verwantskap tussen mikroartropood spesies rykheid en volopheid en plantgrootte, isolasie, binne-plant variasie, gras bedekking en mikroklimaat faktore is ondersoek. Daarna is die ruimtelike variasie van mikroartropood volopheid binne in ‘n plantstand ondersoek deur gebruik te maak van metodes wat verskillende grade van ligging data gebruik. Dit is gedoen om uit te vind of mikroartropood volopheid lukraak, reëlmatig of versameld verspreid is. Verder is die ruimtelike verspreiding van mikroartropood gemeenskappe in A. selago op verskillende hoogtes bo seespieël en op verskillende kante van Marion Eiland ondersoek. Laastens is die mikroartropood gemeenskap op Marion Eiland en Prins Edward Eiland, asook die gemeenskap in verskillende plant spesies vergelyk. Mikroartropoda is ruimtelik heterogeen verspreid binne-in A. selago (meer individue in die oostelike en suidelike kante van plante), asook regoor Marion Eiland (minder springstert individue aan die ooste kant van die eiland asook minder op hoë hoogtes bo seespieël) en tussen eilande (meer indringerspesies op Marion Eiland). In teenstelling hiermee is mikroartropood volopheid ruimtelik homogeen oor ‘n plantstand, dus meestal lukraak verspreid. Die meganismes wat moontlik vir hierdie patrone verantwoordelik is wissel van temperatuur en voedselbeskikbaarheid op die binne-plant en oor die eiland skaal tot indringerspesies op die tussen-eiland skaal. Klimaatsverandering mag waarskynlik mikroartropood verspreidingspatrone direk (ongunstige klimaat vir inheemse spesies se groei, ontwikkeling en verspreiding), of indirek verander (indringer spesies word begunstig; toename in grasbedekking bo-op A. selago mag die gemeenskapstruktuur van mikroartropoda verander). Hierdie inligting is belangrik vir die voorspelling van die moontlike impak van klimaatsverandering op mikroartropoda in klipveld ekosisteme op sub-Antarktiese eilande.

Unearthing Edward Abbey's spiritual philosophy is not an easy task. One must sift through Abbey's humor, sort through Cactus Ed's flamboyant character, look under the veneer of this character, and beyond Abbey's overt objective of convincing readers to defy the destruction of wilderness, and only then does the spiritual philosophy of Abbey become visible. To understand his perception of spirituality, one must define what constitutes a mystic and determine what American theological philosophies mystics tend to adopt. Once these are defined, one can apply those principles to Abbey's Desert Solitaire, and determine that Abbey is a nature mystic who adheres to the ecocentric based immanence theology. This theology is contrary to the Judeo-Christian based emanation theology which supports anthropocentricism and resourcism.

Thesis (M.D.E.)--Dalhousie University, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references.

This study of the views of Edward Irving on the person and work of Jesus Christ has been long delayed in its preparation. It is to be hoped that the time which has elapsed since its inception has served a beneficent purpose. It was Charles Darwin who wrote of one of his books, long postponed: "The delay in this case, as with all my other books, has been a great advantage to me; for a man after a long interval can criticise his own work, almost as well as it were that of another person." For material on which this study is based takes in the full range from the coarse venom of the London pamphleteer to the strong words of Thomas Carlyle. Irving himself wrote volume after volume, and the student is almost embarrassed by the material from the pen of this eccentric preacher. Whole sections of this first-hand material dealing with subjects prophetical were passed by as irrelevant to the theme. The "Life" by Mrs. Oliphant is most readable and gives an attractive picture of the hero. But the sentimentalism of the book casts a shade upon its historical value, and the student is thrown back on accounts of the life which, though less complete, were written shortly after his time.

No description available.

Thesis advisor: Roberto S. Goizueta / We live in an age of globalization and exclusion. In light of this reality and context, I argue that a Christology of liberation is a critical resource that enables excluded people to resist, redeem and re-imagine globalization. The reality of globalization and exclusion is the setting and situation in which the Christology developed here takes shape. I critically analyze economic globalization, its neo-liberal ideology and the negative consequences of this type of globalization—economic and social exclusion of the poor and vulnerable. Finally, I reflect on a theological, more specifically, Christological response to this situation drawing on the Christological contributions of Jon Sobrino and Edward Schillebeeckx. Chapter one offers a descriptive and critical account of neo-liberal globalization and exclusion, and analyzes theological responses to this situation. Chapter two turns to the Christology of Jon Sobrino to describe and analyze some of the main tenets of Sobrino’s Christology. I argue that, at the heart of Jon Sobrino’s Christology is the liberating good news of the crucified and risen Jesus. The liberating good news enables people who have suffered de-humanization and have become victims of neo-liberal processes of globalization to resist, redeem, and re-imagine globalization. Chapter three focuses on Edward Schillebeeckx’s Christology. Here, as in chapter two, I offer a descriptive account of some of the main tenets of Schillebeeckx’s Christology. I argue that, according to Schillebeeckx, the story of Jesus, the living one, who in his liberating praxis reveals what it means to be human and what God is like, bears universal relevance, particularly as it relates to human suffering. Indeed the experience of salvation in Jesus empowers and requires believers to engage in a liberating praxis where there is unjust suffering and a peoples’ humanity is threatened. This story and experience enables people who suffer unjustly and whose humanity is threatened by neo-liberal processes of globalization to critique the neo-liberal ideology undergirding these processes and to resist, redeem, and re-imagine globalization. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2016. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Theology.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston University / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / The purpose or the dissertation is to compare the epistemology and theodicy or Edward John Carnell with that or Edgar Sheffield Brightman in order to draw out philosophic conructs between the two philosophers. Their basic epistemological conflict concerns philosophic starting point. For Brightman, epistemological starting points other than the diversified unity or present consciousness (datum self, shining present) are either limiting abstractions or inferences (reliable and unreliable) from this datum self. For Brightman the datum self (with its experiences immediately given) is undeniable tact. Since the truth or claims is not directly given, claims must be tested. However, insisting that starting point dominates method, conclusion, and criterion or truth, Carnell rates one area or experience (namely, "internal ertable experience," innate norms, or Augustine's "eternal concepts") as well as a truth-claim (namely, the Bible as infallible) as having superior epistemological value [TRUNCATED]. / 2031-01-01

Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

Cast in the dual genre of ethnographic biography, this thesis is focused on the life, work and vision of the late Edward Ned Mippy, an Aboriginal Elder of the Yuat Nyoongara Community who devoted the latter years of his life to promoting and developing the cultural identity of his people. As biography, it portrays the life of Mr. Mippy with particular emphasis on the factors which help to highlight his understandings and his vision for an Indigenous cultural renewal. As ethnography, the study is intended as a vehicle for wider concerns, evoking an interpretative glimpse of his community and contributing a new perspective of that community as a continuing social entity.These aims are broadly set forth in the brief introduction. The first chapter of the thesis then outlines the origin and development of the research project and the evolution of its methodology. Chapter two presents a picture of Mr. Mippys life experience, largely in terms of his own recorded memories and perceptions, while chapter three places his later life in a community context which includes historical, personal and demographic perspectives. The following two chapters, four and five, present various accounts of the work undertaken by Edward Mippy. They offer a glimpse of his cultural knowledge, seeking to explain the nature of his vision and the way in which his goals were implemented. The sixth chapter aims to situate his life and work in the wider social and academic discourses of Indigenous identity. The thesis then concludes with an interpretation of Mr. Mippys personal understandings regarding the dynamics of cultural transmission and its importance for future generations.

Th. doct.--Nijmegen--Katholische Universität, 2004. / Bibliogr. p. 216-229.