In Chapter 1, I posit a hypothesis about the way sensory input, memory, and imagination mingle in the mind, with the result that what we seem to experience is not actually all present in the outside world, but instead a blending of the three. External stimuli invoke, or call to mind, memories of old experiences as well as old imaginings ¡K which bring about newly blended images. Since these blended images are not based entirely on actual experiences but instead on imagined scenes that are often inspired by creative art, they are frequently inaccurate. Nevertheless, the mind does not always make a distinction between what is true and what is merely assumed, leading to synecdochic fallacies and misconfirmed assumptions. I also describe how the initial impression of the Romanies was specifically an intentional image-forging attempt, which would have given settled Europe a favorable impression if some of the Romanies had not been caught breaking the law; as it was, both the favorable and unpleasant sides became lasting elements of the image, developed during the two pioneering decades following the initial meetings in 1417. In the next two chapters, I examine how the processes I describe played out in Western culture, developed in the media of literature, which branched sharply off from reality and took on a stereotypical life all its own. The last chapter demonstrates how this divergence of reality and imagination is today as strong as ever, and also how the two are blended in the perceptions of today's Western mind. The end of the chapter takes all the preceding material into consideration, and proposes some ideas how the Western experience of interacting with the real Romany and the imaginary Gypsy¡Xand my examination of this interaction¡Xcan help us to learn from history, and historical errors¡Xto use the natural processes described to good purpose: to remove the unhealthy and harmful negative (i. e. false) Gypsy image from the Romanies. This sort of action is like removing the stigma of shame from someone who has reformed. Then the public imagination must be engaged, so that the stereotype-gap (one sort of information gap) is filled in with the image of the Romani as a real human group. If this ¡§paradigm shift,¡¨ if it is not too incorrect to term it so, is achieved skillfully, the Roma may soon have a better chance of being related to more fairly, and the Gypsy image, which many have implied is somehow ¡§needed¡¨ by the Western mind as the ¡§epitome of freedom,¡¨ will be seen as a false, though charming, image, and further, confidence tricksters might even be referred to as the criminals they really are, whether or not they are Roma¡Xwithout using the derogatory term ¡§gypsy criminal.¡¨

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2002. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vii, 109 p. : ill. (some col.), maps (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 44-50).

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2000. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vii, 59 p. : ill. (some col.), maps. Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 23-28).

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

The goal of this research was to improve the understanding of the dynamics of male gypsy moth-pheromone trap interactions and the ecological factors that influence moth capture in pheromone traps. Defoliation, the most obvious expression of high density gypsy moth populations, may have a significant influence on gypsy moth population dynamics. This research focused on the use of defoliation and defoliation related processes to study moth capture in pheromone traps. Male moth wing length was found to decrease substantially only when defoliation exceeded a threshold level of ca. 40%, resulting in moths with either large or small wings. Moth wing length, determined from moths captured in intensively monitored traps, was found to accurately estimate whether or not defoliation exceeded ca. 40% in the vicinity of the trap. However, for traps serviced less intensively, male wing length provided a poor estimate of defoliation. Larval development (using degree-days as a physiological measure of time) in sixteen plots was not altered as a result of varying levels of defoliation, but pupal phenology was significantly influenced by the level of defoliation . Despite distinct differences in pupal phenology, there were no differences in male moth capture over time in pheromone traps attributable to defoliation. A broad relationship between the number of moths captured and egg mass density was developed. The spatial and temporal characteristics of gypsy moth populations were examined using a combination of field studies and defoliation maps. This information, in conjunction with data on wing length and the relationship between moths per trap and egg mass density, was used to develop an algorithm to interpret moth capture in pheromone traps to monitor gypsy moth populations. / Ph. D.

A phenological model of gypsy moth egg development is proposed that distinguishes three phases of egg development, prediapause, diapause and postdiapause. A technique of measuring respiration rates of individual eggs was developed and respiration rate was used as a physiological variable to distinguish the phases. The pattern of respiration rate provided strong evidence in support of three distinct developmental phases. Respiration rate developed embryos declined sharply as prediapause was entered and rose sharply when diapause was completed. When the effect of age on respiration rate was removed, temperature had a uniform effect on respiration rate throughout the egg stage. A 10°C decrease in temperature caused an approximate 0.4 fold decrease in respiration rate, indicating that eggs in diapause are as equally responsive to temperature as egg in a nondiapause phase. Developmental rate in prediapause was strongly temperature-dependent, and the relationship was described by a non-linear function. Prediapause duration was approximately 13 days at 31°C. The depletion of stored triglycerides was strongly linked to the completion of prediapause. Developmental rate in postdiapause was found to be temperature- and age-dependent. Developmental response to temperature was relatively weak and linear at the onset of postdiapause. As postdiapause advanced, the response became stronger and non-linear. The temperature- and age-dependent developmental response was fully described by the temperature-dependent developmental response at the onset of postdiapause, and by a temperature-dependent rate change parameter. / Ph. D.

This field study investigated the short-term effects of riparian defoliation by gypsy moth larvae on three aspects of headwater stream ecology, water quality, benthic macroinvertebrate community structure, and benthic macroinvertebrate function (expressed as secondary production). The experimental design was to compare measurements in three streams that were extensively defoliated by gypsy moth larvae (defoliated treatment), with three streams that were not affected by gypsy moth larvae (reference treatment). Although the riparian canopy became much more open after defoliation, I observed no significant differences in any water quality parameters except temperature, which was slightly elevated for a brief period after defoliation. There was a significant increase in the amount of detritus (frass and orts) falling into defoliated streams in the spring, which was followed by a significant decrease in the of amount detritus falling into defoliated streams in autumn. Many measures of community structure were analyzed, but only the Index of Biotic Similarity demonstrated a significant difference, indicating that, at most, only slight changes in community structure occurred. Secondary production of two representative aquatic insects, Peltoperlidae (shredder) and Diplectrona modesta (collectorfilterer), was not affected by defoliation. Glossosoma nigrior (scraper) achieved higher production because of a second-generation being induced by elevated temperature. I conclude that the short-term effects of riparian defoliation by gypsy moth larvae were minor. / Master of Science

The goal of this research was to develop gypsy moth egg mass sampling plans that reflect the influence of habitat, changes in egg mass distribution, and provide populations densities or density categories for making control decisions. Sequential egg mass sampling plans for gypsy moth management programs in urban and suburban habitats were developed from 0.01 ha fixed-radius plot samples collected in Loudoun, Fairfax, and Arlington Counties, Virginia. The sampling plans were develop from Wald's sequential probability ratio test and is based on a negative binomial distribution. Operating characteristic and average sample number curves were used to determine the acceptability of the sampling plans. Three sampling plans were developed for the action thresholds of 618, 1,236, and 2,471 egg masses/ha. The use of binomial sampling for low density (<618 egg masses/ha) gypsy moth populations in continuously forested habitats was examined. Fixed- and variable-radius plot egg mass samples were collected in 28 study areas in Virginia, Maryland, and Massachusetts. The relationship between egg mass density and the proportion of trees with zero egg masses was developed. Binomial sampling resulted in a higher relative variability and lower relative efficiency than the fixed- and variable-radius plot sampling method. Binomial sampling was determined not to be an effective sampling method for gypsy moth populations below 618 egg masses/ha. Fixed- and variable-radius plot egg mass samples were taken when leaves were present (summer) and absent (winter) in 136 sample sites in Virginia. A significant difference between summer and winter counts was determined. The relationship between summer and winter counts was quantified using nonparametric Statistics. Winter egg mass counts were found to be 14 to 34 percent higher than summer egg mass counts . The probability of a summer egg mass count exceeding an action threshold was constructed by fitting a logistic curve to empirical data for the action thresholds of 618 and 1,236 egg masses/ha. Egg mass counts need to compensate for differences between summer and winter counts. Alternatively, the probability of a summer egg mass count exceeding an action threshold should be utilized. / Master of Science