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Thesis (Ph.D.)--Murdoch University, 2006. / Thesis submitted to the Division of Health Sciences. Bibliography: p. 198-222.

Thesis (M. Sc.), Memorial University of Newfoundland, 1998. / Restricted until November 1999. Bibliography: leaves 60-68.

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Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of St Andrews, April 2006.

Multi-species functional response models are required to model the predation of generalist preda- tors, which consume more than one prey species. In chapter 2, a new model for the multi-species functional response is presented. This model can describe generalist predators that exhibit func- tional responses of Holling type II to some of their prey and of type III to other prey. In chapter 3, I review some of the theoretical distinctions between Bayesian and frequentist statistics and show how Bayesian statistics are particularly well-suited for the fitting of functional response models because uncertainty can be represented comprehensively. In chapters 4 and 5, the multi- species functional response model is fitted to field data on two generalist predators: the hen harrier Circus cyaneus and the harp seal Phoca groenlandica. I am not aware of any previous Bayesian model of the multi-species functional response that has been fitted to field data. The hen harrier's functional response fitted in chapter 4 is strongly sigmoidal to the densities of red grouse Lagopus lagopus scoticus, but no type III shape was detected in the response to the two main prey species, field vole Microtus agrestis and meadow pipit Anthus pratensis. The impact of using Bayesian or frequentist models on the resulting functional response is discussed. In chapter 5, no functional response could be fitted to the data on harp seal predation. Possible reasons are discussed, including poor data quality or a lack of relevance of the available data for informing a behavioural functional response model. I conclude with a comparison of the role that functional responses play in behavioural, population and community ecology and emphasise the need for further research into unifying these different approaches to understanding predation with particular reference to predator movement. In an appendix, I evaluate the possibility of using a functional response for inferring the abun- dances of prey species from performance indicators of generalist predators feeding on these prey. I argue that this approach may be futile in general, because a generalist predator's energy intake does not depend on the density of any single of its prey, so that the possibly unknown densities of all prey need to be taken into account.

This thesis deal with three individual Pagophilus groenlandicus canin teeth from the location Asva, Estonia dating from the Late Bronze Age (here 700-900 B.C). The aim of this thesis is to find out whether the three harp seal individual was local or non-local to Asva and further if they were migrants from the Atlantic Sea. The teeth enamel are analysed for strontium isotopes using LA-ICP-MS and the result was compared against the strontium 87Sr/86Sr values in various rivers in the Baltic Sea. This is to see how the harp seal has migrated around in the Baltic Sea. By placing the 87Sr/86Sr values against the rivers, it may seem that the three harp seals were non-local and not from the Atlantic Sea.