A stratigraphic reinterpretation of the Eocene-Oligocene Solent Group is presented here, based on the Whitecliff Bay section of the Isle of Wight, Hampshire Basin, UK. High resolution palaeontological, sedimentologica and mineralogical analyses allow the establishment of facies groups, which are used to demonstrate the presence of seven conspicuous sequences. For the first time, these are tied to an accurate magnetostratigraphic framework. Investigation of the cyclic signal in clay mineralogical data reveals that sea level was controlled by the ~400ka cycle of astronomical (Milankovitch) forcing at this critical period in Earth history, when the change from a greenhouse world to an icehouse world took place. This has also allowed uncertainty surrounding the location of the Eocene-Oligocene boundary within the Solent Group to be cleared up. A major incision event associated with glacial build up at the Eocene-Oligocene boundary is recorded, but is smaller than that predicted by isotope records (Miller et al. 1991), possibly as a result of rapid subsidence rates.

In recent years, the UK has positioned itself to become a global leader in addressing climate change. Alongside this positioning, there has been an increasing emphasis on the role of communities to facilitate and sustain carbon reduction practices. Community-based carbon reduction strategies are one example of action towards achieving sustainability and addressing climate change. Previous research into community-based sustainability projects has highlighted the difficulty of engaging the public with community initiatives and sustaining pro-environmental behaviours. The importance placed on major environmental issues such as climate change necessitates an understanding of how individuals respond to, and engage with, (or even ignore) the issue(s) of addressing climate change. This study explores public engagements with addressing climate change and community-based carbon reduction strategies, utilising a mixed methodological approach and underpinned by a pragmatic paradigm. The findings in this study demonstrate that there is a shift in public attitudes from whether climate change is occurring and if humans are the cause, to views considering whether and how climate change should be addressed. Whilst few identified formal community projects, collective action and community initiatives are identified as key components of sustainable living. The findings suggest that participants accept the concepts of community projects aiming to facilitate low-carbon living, and are prepared to engage with them on a number of cognitive, affective and behavioural levels, demonstrating intentions to (proactively) participate in such projects. Alongside this, participants suggested that other people’s (non)participation and the ability of community-based projects to effectively and meaningfully engage residents would contribute towards sustaining interest and enthusiasm to sustain participation, in ways that residents identify as what works for them. Consequently, projects should continuously engage the public through tailored information and feedback; social events and activities; and create as many opportunities for community members to participate as possible, in ways that they want to become involved.

No description available.

Haernatococcus pluvialis is a flagellated green alga that accumulates large quantities of the carotenoid astaxanthin. Astaxanthin is commercially important as a aquaculture pigment, and as a human health supplement. Currently the majority of astaxanthin used in aquaculture is synthetic. However recent advances in algal mass culture technology and growing consumer awareness about the origins of foodstuffs mean that the use of H. pluvialis for the production of astaxanthin may become a viable alternative to synthetically produced astaxanthin. This study focused on the development of a scaleable photobioreactor and a methodology that could be used for the commercial production of H. pluvialis. Four successive air-lift driven novel tubular photobioreactors (termed TBRI, TBR2, AAPS™I and AAPS™2) were developed for the photosynthetic cultivation of H. pluvialis. Physical assessment revealed that the four systems differed in terms of their mass transfer, gas hold-up, flow rate and photostage turbulence (Reynolds number). The photo stage of each photobioreactor acted as the main area for light absorbance, (analysis of the spectral absorbance of the tubing revealed that it transmitted light of 320 - 820nm). The AAPS™I and AAPS™2 had a manifold photo stage, comprising of three windings. They also had a riser and downcomer of increased length when compared to TBRI and TBR2. This increased the bulk density difference between these stages and resulted in an increased fluid flow rate and consequently improved turbulence within the photostage. As well as being longer, the riser of the AAPSTM systems also had an increased diameter. This, combined with the improved gas hold-up of the systems, increased the mass transfer of the AAPSTM 1 and AAPS™2. The manifold assembly also allowed the construction of a larger volume photo stage while frequently returning the cells to the riser/header tank where gas exchange occurred. This prevented the detrimental build-up of photosynthetic 0₂.

No description available.

No description available.

This thesis investigated graph theoretic analysis of connectivity and habitat availability for landscape scale management of Triturus cristatus, the Great Crested Newt. The ecological foundations of wider landscape management concepts and knowledge base on T. cristatus' habitat requirements, dispersal and migration were explored. Species presence, and aquatic and terrestrial habitat on the Cholmondeley Estate, Malpas, Cheshire, UK was mapped and land cover characterized for suitability and traversibility by T. cristatus. Habitat area available and accessible from ponds were identified. Analysis and modelling of pondscape connectivity using Probability of Connectivity (PC) and related indices, was carried out using Euclidean and Cost Weighted Distance and pond clustering at ecologically relevant scales was examined. Association or correlation of presence with proximity to breeding ponds, pond cluster size, proximity and available quantity of terrestrial habitat, proximity to roads and moving water, and connectivity of breeding ponds were examined at Cost Weighted and Euclidean distances. Connectivity, (PC index), pond count in clusters at 250 and 500m thresholds of connectivity, and proximity to core habitat (broad leaved woodland and rough grassland) using Cost Weighted distances were positively associated with breeding presence. Road proximity and density, proximity of core habitat at Euclidean distances and mean inter-pond distance were not significantly associated with breeding presence. Proximity to moving water was negatively associated with breeding presence. Resistance to movement of various land cover types has important implications for habitat availability and connectivity, , / and important questions are raised in terms of "rule of thumb" guidelines for estimation of connectivity between pond populations and habitat availability around breeding ponds. Graph analysis was used to identify priority areas for maintenance of landscape level connectivity, and enhancement of habitat connectivity and availability on the local population scale, with prioritization of pond creation/protection sites against their contribution to connectivity and habitat I availability, examining various scenarios.

Quantitative Structure-Activity relationship (QSAR) attempt statistically to relate the physico-chemical properties of a molecule to its biological activity. A QSAR analysis was performed on the toxicities of up to 75 organic chemicals to two aquatic species, Photobacterium phospherum (known as the Microtox test), and the fathead minnow. To model the toxicities 49 physico-chemical and structural parameters were produced including measures of hydrophobicity, molecular size and electronic effects from techniques such as computational chemistry and the use of molecular connectivity indices. These were reduced to a statistically more manageable number by cluster analysis, principal component analysis, factor analysis, and canonical correlation analysis. The de-correlated data were then used to form relationships with the toxicities. All the techniques were validated using a testing set. Some good predictions of toxicity came from regression analysis of the original de-correlated variables. Although successful in simplifying the complex data matrix, principal component analysis, factor analysis, and canonical content analysis were disappointing as predictors of toxicity. The performance of each of the statistical techniques is discussed. The inter-species relationships of toxicity between four Commonly utilised aquatic endpoints, fathead minnow 96 hour IC50, Microtox 5 minute EC50, Daphnia magna 48 hour IC50, and Tetrahymena pyriformis 60 hour IG50, were investigated. Good relationships was found between the fathead minnow and both T. pyriformis and D. magna toxicities indicating that these species could be used to model fish toxicity. The outliers from individual relationships were assessed in order to elucidate if any molecular features may be causing greater relative toxicity in one species as compared to another. It is concluded that in addition to the intrinsic differences between species, the greater length of the test time for any species may result in increases bioaccumulation, metabolism, and detoxification of certain chemical classes. The relationships involving fish toxicity were moderately improved by the addition of a hydrophobic parameter.

No description available.

No description available.